[SET]
name: Rain Setter
move 1: Rain Dance
move 2: Explosion
move 3: Thunder
move 4: Taunt
item: Silk Scarf
ability: Static
nature: Naive
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
With the highest unboosted Speed in ZU, Voltorb cements itself as the best dedicated rain setter. This utility is further augmented by access to Explosion, which lets Voltorb sacrifice itself to threaten its target with significant damage and safely bring in its offensive teammates. Explosion generally guarantees its teammates three turns of rain; some leads can OHKO Voltorb, though that gives its team four turns, which is often better due to the sheer power of rain sweepers like Seaking and Castform. Thunder serves as Voltorb's primary STAB attack—with perfect accuracy in rain, it provides Voltorb the means to threaten foes without KOing itself, and it can OHKO some Pokemon like Taillow. However, Voltorb generally prefers to use Explosion as quickly as possible in order to maximize the amount of rain turns given to its teammates. Taunt lets Voltorb deny utility from opposing leads, such as Snorunt's Spikes, Spoink's Substitute + Calm Mind, and Onix's Sunny Day. Bulky foes like Lileep can attempt to switch in and tank its Explosion, so Taunt can deny them the ability to use recovery moves against Voltorb's teammates. However, given its frailty Voltorb should be careful about using Taunt, as most opposing leads can 2HKO it, and some like Onix can even OHKO it. The Attack investment and Silk Scarf maximize the power of Voltorb's Explosion, letting it OHKO most neutral targets and even deal significant damage to foes that resist Normal—for example, Magnemite and offensive Rhyhorn can find themselves taking over 50% from it. Static is Voltorb's most useful ability, with it able to sometimes punish leads like Choice Band Aipom.
Voltorb fits exclusively on dedicated rain teams, almost always as a lead. Its ability to set up virtually-guaranteed rain makes it a natural partner to Swift Swim users like Seaking and Horsea. Other rain setters like Grimer and Castform can further support the rain sweepers. Castform deserves a special mention, as Forecast lets it take on Electric-types like Elekid outside of rain and Sunny Day sweepers like Sunflora, making it a staple on dedicated rain teams. Bulky Pokemon like Nosepass and Rhyhorn do a good job checking speedy offensive threats like Elekid and Aipom, as they can sweep rain teams once rain ends. Speedy wallbreakers that function outside of rain, such as Aipom and Taillow, aid Voltorb's team by breaking through special walls and cleaning late-game.
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/gangsta-spongebob.535530/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sleid.601970/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/bp.272450/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/tea-guzzler.577920/
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Rain setter Voltorb can use maximum Special Attack investment to increase the power of Thunder, though it's easily walled, Voltorb's teammates do more damage, and Explosion is much weaker with minimal investment. Voltorb also has the option to run maximum Special Attack investment to surprise Rhyhorn and Onix with an OHKO using Hidden Power Water or Grass, though it has minimal utility against most other foes. Voltorb's blistering fast Speed and usable enough base 55 Special Attack can let it act as a decent offensive threat, though its movepool limiting it to Electric-type moves, Hidden Power, and Explosion leave it largely outclassed by Elekid.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Rock-types**: Voltorb has no way to break through Lileep, Rhyhorn, and Nosepass, though Explosion can take away a decent chunk of their HP, and they have no way to stop rain from being set.
**Sunny Day Users**: Given that they're initially slower than Voltorb, Sunny Day users like Grimer and Onix will replace Voltorb's rain even if they use it on the same turn as Rain dance. Voltorb can use Taunt to stop them, but its frailty means if it predicts wrong, it risks taking significant damage, notably an OHKO in Onix's case.
**Protect Users**: With proper prediction, Protect users like Delcatty can stall rain turns and take no damage from Explosion, limiting Voltorb's effectiveness. However, they cannot stop it from setting up rain and tend to be overwhelmed by Voltorb's rain-sweeping teammates.
name: Rain Setter
move 1: Rain Dance
move 2: Explosion
move 3: Thunder
move 4: Taunt
item: Silk Scarf
ability: Static
nature: Naive
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
With the highest unboosted Speed in ZU, Voltorb cements itself as the best dedicated rain setter. This utility is further augmented by access to Explosion, which lets Voltorb sacrifice itself to threaten its target with significant damage and safely bring in its offensive teammates. Explosion generally guarantees its teammates three turns of rain; some leads can OHKO Voltorb, though that gives its team four turns, which is often better due to the sheer power of rain sweepers like Seaking and Castform. Thunder serves as Voltorb's primary STAB attack—with perfect accuracy in rain, it provides Voltorb the means to threaten foes without KOing itself, and it can OHKO some Pokemon like Taillow. However, Voltorb generally prefers to use Explosion as quickly as possible in order to maximize the amount of rain turns given to its teammates. Taunt lets Voltorb deny utility from opposing leads, such as Snorunt's Spikes, Spoink's Substitute + Calm Mind, and Onix's Sunny Day. Bulky foes like Lileep can attempt to switch in and tank its Explosion, so Taunt can deny them the ability to use recovery moves against Voltorb's teammates. However, given its frailty Voltorb should be careful about using Taunt, as most opposing leads can 2HKO it, and some like Onix can even OHKO it. The Attack investment and Silk Scarf maximize the power of Voltorb's Explosion, letting it OHKO most neutral targets and even deal significant damage to foes that resist Normal—for example, Magnemite and offensive Rhyhorn can find themselves taking over 50% from it. Static is Voltorb's most useful ability, with it able to sometimes punish leads like Choice Band Aipom.
Voltorb fits exclusively on dedicated rain teams, almost always as a lead. Its ability to set up virtually-guaranteed rain makes it a natural partner to Swift Swim users like Seaking and Horsea. Other rain setters like Grimer and Castform can further support the rain sweepers. Castform deserves a special mention, as Forecast lets it take on Electric-types like Elekid outside of rain and Sunny Day sweepers like Sunflora, making it a staple on dedicated rain teams. Bulky Pokemon like Nosepass and Rhyhorn do a good job checking speedy offensive threats like Elekid and Aipom, as they can sweep rain teams once rain ends. Speedy wallbreakers that function outside of rain, such as Aipom and Taillow, aid Voltorb's team by breaking through special walls and cleaning late-game.
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/gangsta-spongebob.535530/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sleid.601970/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/bp.272450/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/tea-guzzler.577920/
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Rain setter Voltorb can use maximum Special Attack investment to increase the power of Thunder, though it's easily walled, Voltorb's teammates do more damage, and Explosion is much weaker with minimal investment. Voltorb also has the option to run maximum Special Attack investment to surprise Rhyhorn and Onix with an OHKO using Hidden Power Water or Grass, though it has minimal utility against most other foes. Voltorb's blistering fast Speed and usable enough base 55 Special Attack can let it act as a decent offensive threat, though its movepool limiting it to Electric-type moves, Hidden Power, and Explosion leave it largely outclassed by Elekid.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Rock-types**: Voltorb has no way to break through Lileep, Rhyhorn, and Nosepass, though Explosion can take away a decent chunk of their HP, and they have no way to stop rain from being set.
**Sunny Day Users**: Given that they're initially slower than Voltorb, Sunny Day users like Grimer and Onix will replace Voltorb's rain even if they use it on the same turn as Rain dance. Voltorb can use Taunt to stop them, but its frailty means if it predicts wrong, it risks taking significant damage, notably an OHKO in Onix's case.
**Protect Users**: With proper prediction, Protect users like Delcatty can stall rain turns and take no damage from Explosion, limiting Voltorb's effectiveness. However, they cannot stop it from setting up rain and tend to be overwhelmed by Voltorb's rain-sweeping teammates.
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