Hello guys,
This is my first RMT. I have been playing on Showdown for a lengthy period of time with various different teams. This team is the one that I had most success with and also enjoyed playing. Any comments, opinions and improvement that could be made are welcome!
Introduction
The Team!
Jirachi has always been my favorite pokemon and I wanted the team to center around. The idea behind this team is to abuse every single aspect of Jirachi. It's bulk and it's ability, Serene Grace. This is a Rain/Poison/Stall Team.
The Superstar
Jirachi @ Leftovers
Traits: Serene Grace
EVs: 252 HP/ 236 Def/ 20 Spe
Bold Nature
-Calm Mind
-Wish
-Thunder
-Water Pulse/Psychic
This is a 2 moves, Calm Mind/Wish, bulky set. The reason behind the Water Pulse/Thunder is with Serene Grace each of the moves have 60% chance to cause Confusion/Paralysis. Both moves hit the current OU meta game pretty hard. Yes yes, this set is completely walled by Grastrodon but thats what the teammates are for.
The biggest advantage of this build is that it can set up in the face of many common OU pokemons. Against a special attacker, if the opponent is not capable of dealing more than 50% of Jirachi's hp, it is practically game over. Each Calm Mind boost will reduce incoming damage and Wish will heal Jirachi back to full life. Soon the opponent will be facing a +4/+4 monster. However, you need to watch out for strong STAB fire attacks.
Jirachi's Steel typing will wall most form of physical attacks but the ever-present Earthquake can be troublesome. Get rid of any Ground pokemon.
Take note that Jirachi can set up and sweep through Paralyze/Burn due to its bulk and the ability to Parafusion opponent. Any team which relies on status/stall to deal with Jirachi will find themselves in deep trouble.
As Calm Mind is there to boost Special Defense, the EV spread is to ensure Jirachi survives the physical attacks.
The rest of the team is to assist Jirachi in eliminating those threats.
The Supports!
Politoad @ Choice Scarf
Traits: Drizzle
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Def / 252 Spe
Bold Nature
- Hydro Pump
- Ice Beam
- Encore
- Hidden Power Grass
The synergy between this Scarf Politoed and CM/Wish Jirachi is incredible. It's like there are made for each other. Let me explain.
Drizzle provides
1) Increase the power of Water Pulse
2) Increase the accuracy of Thunder
3) Most importantly remove the Fire Weakness of Jirachi
With Drizzle, most team who packs Fire attacks as Steel counter will be in trouble. After one Calm Mind. even a very strong STAB Fire attack will not be able to break Jirachi.
This leaves Jirachi with only one weakness; Earthquake (and Earth Power). Scarf Politoed can outspeed and OHKO most threats that fires off powerful STAB Earthquakes (Garchomp, Gliscor, Landorus, Dragonite, Hippodown, Salamence, Dugdrio).
Vaporeon @ Leftover
Traits: Hydration
EV: 248 Hp/ 252 Def / 8 Spe
Bold Nature
-Acid Armor
-Baton Pass
-Hydro pump
-Rest
This is the physical tank and a very good one at that. Many pokemon will be bait into 2HKO-ing Vaporeon, only to realized that Acid Armor ensure Vaporeon survives the 2nd hit and Rest back to full life.
To gives you an extreme example
Close Combat from a Choice Banded 252 Att Terrakion (Timid nature) deals 65% damage to Vaporeon.
Vaporeon use Acid Armor
The second Close Combat will almost always fail to KO Vaporeon, leaving him at around 5% hp.
Vaporeon use Rest. Hydration cure Sleep induced by Rest.
Rinse and repeat, stacking up more Acid Armor.
Vaporeon can then Baton Pass Acid Armor to Jirachi. With a only +2 Def, Jirachi takes 35% from +252Atk/Adament Garchomp's Earthquake and most likely lesser from others. This effectively leaves Jirachi with no weakness.
With the support of toxic spikes and rain (Hydration), this set allow Vaporeon to wall and kill almost any poisoned pokemon that are not capable of one shotting it.
Forretress @ Leftovers
Traits: Sturdy
EV: 252 HP/ 252 Def / 2 SpD
Relaxed Nature
-Toxic Spikes
-Stealth Rock
-Rapid Spin
-Volt Switch
Forrestress significance on the team depends on how many of opposing pokemons are susceptible to toxic.
Unlike most Stall team which forces opponent to switch pokemon often, this team forces them to stay in longer. In most cases, always prioritize Toxic Spikes before Stealth Rock.
However, if there are too many pokemon with Flying/Steel/Poison/Levitate, feel free to set up Stealth Rock first instead. Take note that Stealth Rock is important in weather war against Sun Team as Ninetails take 25% damage with each switch in.
Rapid Spin is included but this team is very resilient to opposing Stealth Rocks. Do keep Forretress alive in matches where Volcarona is important.
Gastrodon@Leftovers
Traits: Storm Drain
EV: 252 HP / 84 Def / 172 SpD
Calm Nature
-Scald
-Earth Power
-Toxic
-Recover
Due to its nature, this team invites a lot of Electric and Water attacks. Inclusion on Gastrodon is to block them. Take note that without any Calm Mind, Jirachi cannot take STAB Water attacks in Rain. Gastrodon can switch in on predicted Volt Switches and toxic Rotom-W. Or whatever that switched in.
Volcarona @ Leftovers
Traits: Flame Body
EVs: 252 SpA / 252 Spe / 4 SpD
Timid Nature
-Quiver Dance
-Bug Buzz
-Hurricane
-Fire Blast
At first glance, it seems counter intuitive to include Volcarona on Rain Team. With three members who are weak to grass (Gastro has 4x weakness), opposing pokemon like Celebi/Ferrorthorn/Breloom/Venusaur can murder this team. Volcarona's job is to get rid of them. Note that Fireblast kill both Ferrorthorn and Scizor in Rain.
Hurricane get 100% accuracy in rain and OHKO Toxicroak who tends to wall this team. On matches where Volcanora is important, try to keep Forretress alive to get rid of Stealth Rocks.
There can be cases where you might not even switch in Volcarona. But on those that you need to, it will save your ass.
How to play this team
Pros
If opponent do not have any pokemon that can break through the rotation of Calm Mind and Wish, you have won. This make special attackers a very good target for Jirachi to come in and set-up. Unlike frail sweepers who need predicted switches to set-up, Jirachi can Calm Mind in the face of opponent while taking massive punishment.
Basically, if opponent fail to 2HKO, Jirachi can just Wish then Calm Mind, opponent is walled. Just to show how easy it is, here is the list of calculation from OU Special Sweeper.
Alakazam - 252 SpA Lifeorb Focus Blast is a 3HKO. If you get one Calm Mind off with Wish in the air, it's gg.
Gengar - 252SpA Lifeorb Focus Blast is a 3HKO. HP Fire is 2HKO but in the Rain, Gengar cannot break Jirachi.
Heatran - Earth Power from defensive version is a 3HKO. Fire Blast is a 3HKO in Rain.
Jolteon - 252SpA Lifeorb Thunderbolt is a 3HKO. Careful of sets that run Thunder or Choice Specs.
Kurem-B - Anything from a non-specs version is a 3HKO. Fusion Flare is 3HKO inRain.
Latios - Surf will 2HKO Jirachi in Rain. But anything else is a 3HKO.
Magnezone - Anything from a non-choice specs is a 3HKO. Even without rain, HP Fire fails to OHKO.
Reuniclus - Anything from Reuniclus is a 3HKO. Keep up in terms of Calm Mind Boost.
On the physical side, opponent needs a very strong STAB Earthquake/CloseCombat to break through. That can be remedied with Acid Armor baton passed from Vaporeon. Once again, if any physical Sweeper fails to 2HKO Vaporeon, he can Acid Armor and live to baton pass. Even if the attacker does over 50% damage, after one Acid Armor, Vaporeon can survive the next strike as it baton pass.
Do note that the main purpose of Drizzle is to remove the Fire Weakness from Jirachi. If there is no threat of a Fire attack, it is not necessary to get into useless weather war. Sandstorm from opponent can, sometimes, work for you.
As you will not be switching often, this team is very resilient to opposing Stealth Rocks and Spikes. Rapid Spin is only needed on matches where Volcarona matters. Jirachi is very resilient to both Burn and Paralyze, it can often set up and sweep through both if opponent lacks the firepower.
General Weakness
1. Due to the Stall nature of the team, you will be taking a lot of damage to the face and healing them off. Thus the most common thing that can screw you over is Crit Hax. There are countless time where I have +2Def/+4SpD Jirachi and a Crit Earthquake OHKO it. The trick is to not get too greedy on Calm Mind boost as 1 or 2 extra turn means higher chance for opponent to score a crit.
2. Aside from Jirachi, there is practically no other offense on the team. Volcarona is very situational as rain prevent it from functioning beyond the threats it is designed to deal with. While Jirachi is hard to take down, you have to be careful not to let him get Sleeped, Destiny Bonded, Tricked with Choice items. Know your damage calculation well. Understand the mechanic of Wish. Know when to Calm Mind or Wish first when setting up.
3. Substitute/Set-up Physical attacker will tear this team apart. Opponent can easily get a substitute as this team focus a lot on Set-up and support moves. If it gets a Sword Dance/Dragon Dance behind a sub, the game can be pretty much over. Be very careful when facing such threats(E.g Garchomp, Terrakion, Toxicroak, Dragonite)
Threats and how to deal with them
Garchomp
This is no.1 threat for this team
Garchomp's Earthquake will murder Jirachi. Not to mention, it outspeed everything thing on the team. It is one of the few pokemon that prevent Jirachi from sweeping the entire opposing team. If it gets a Sword Dance, the game is pretty much over.
Vaporeon can come in on both Earthquake and Outrage, Rest up, Acid Armor and then Baton Pass it to Jirachi. If he is locked onto Outrage, you could go for a 2nd stack of Acid Armor.
If Toxic Spikes are up, Vaporeon can stall it with Acid Armor/Rest.
If it manage to get a Sword Dance off, sacrifice a pokemon and revenge kill with Scarf Politoed
Celebi
A close 2nd biggest threat
Any grass pokemon are a threat to this team but Celebi is the most dangerous one. It tends to carry Earth Power/HP Fire which are both Jirachi weakness.
Jirachi can Set Up through HP Fire in Rain but not Earth Power. Leaf storm threatens all the Water types. Perish Song can end Jirachi set up prematurely. It has Natural Cure which makes it impossible to kill via poison.
Volcarona is your answer. It runs a Timid nature to outspeed any Modest Celebi while speed-tying with the Timid one. Celebi can still U-Turn out on predicted Volcarona switch. You have to extremely careful of residual damage stacking up on Volcarona.
Toxic Spike are still helpful as it forces Celebi to switch out, raking up damage in the long run. Gastrodon can Ice Beam as Celebi switches in but it fails to one hit KO.
Breloom
Whether or not Breloom is a threat depends greatly on if it is running Subsitute and opponent's skill. Forrestress is your sleep fodder in most situation but if Breloom Sub as you switch Forrestress in, things can get tricky. Seedbomb/Bullet Seed will murder your water pokes and Spore will renders your Volcarona useless. Predict Well. DO NOT GET JIRACHI SPORED! If Jirachi is running Psychic instead of Water Pulse, he can outspeed and kill it.
Venusaur
Facing Venusaur is almost as troublesome as facing Breloom. Volcarona is a direct counter but there risk a high chance of it getting Sleeped. Unlike Breloom, Venusaur outspeed Vaolcarona in the sun. Switching in Forrestress as a sleep fodder could work but opponent can predict it and use Growth instead. In the sun, both Giga Drain and HP Fire will murder this team should your Volcarona get sleeped. You have to win the weather war at all cost.
Keldeo
Keldeo maybe the true counter to this team. Jirachi cannot take Specs Hydro Pump in Rain while Secret Sword 2HKO everyone else. Scarf sets are easier to deal with as it lacks the fire power. Politoed can toxic and then Stall it. Make sure you get Toxic Spike up as it is only way of killing the SubCM set.
Landorus
/Landorus-T
Not as threatening as Garchomp but it can be annoying as it can U-Turn out from predicted Vaporeon/Gastrodon switch in. It's unpredictability is also an issue (Special or Physical). Earth Power and Earthquake threatens Jirachi. Vaporeon can set up Acid Armor through Earthquake but not Earth Power. Try to find out what set it is running.
Salamence
Vaporeon can take any attack from a MixMence set and pass Acid Armor to Jirachi. However, DD sets can be a pain. You can out-boost DD with Acid Armor to +4 Def, baton pass it to Jirachi in hope for a Paralyze from Thunder but this plan is risky. Vaporeon can stall DDmence with a +4 Def and Rest and hope it get locked onto Outrage. If Salamence get toxiced, Vaporeon can Rest Stall it. Gastrodon can survive +1 Outrage 80% of the time and OHKO with Icebeam. Politoed can revenge kill it.
Dragonite
The problem when facing Dragonite is trying to find out which set it is using. The bigger problem is every set that it can run is a huge problem for the team. If you see Dragonite on opposing team, get Stealth Rock up at all cost to break multiscale.
Dragon Dance set can be handle the same way as DDmence using Vaporeon. However, Multiscale prevent Gastrodon from OHKO-ing it. If it is not running Earthquake, Jirachi can wall it comfortably up to +3 DD in Rain (Fire Punch).
Choice Band set is a monster. Outrage 2HKO everything except Jirachi, but Jirachi needs to watch out for Earthquake again. CB outrage have 70% chance to OHKO Gastrodon, but Gastrodon cannot OHKO back with Ice Beam if Multiscale is intact. Your answer is to switch Jirachi in on locked Outrage or Vaporeon on locked Earthquake. However, one of your pokemon will suffer heavy damage in order to force it to lock onto one.
Dragon Tail sets can annoying if it hides behind a Sub. Hydro Pump/Scald can break sub in Rain as long as Multiscale is not in tact. Wait until Gastrodon get pulled in and then Icebeam. If it gets back to full health with Sub intact, you are in for a huge trouble. Your hope is to Encore it to mess up its Sub/Roost/DTail.
Politoed can revenge kill if Multiscale is not intact.
Terrakion
Choice banded Close Combat 2HKO everything. Vaporeon can take a Banded CC, Acid Armor up, it can survived the 2nd CC 60% of the time before resting up. It can then OHKO back with Hydro Pump or Baton Pass to Jirachi. Politoed can revenge kill with with Hydropump in Rain.
Toxicroak
Toxicroak annoys this team by absorbing water attacks and removing Toxic Spikes. Sets that run substitute are hard to deal. However it takes Toxicroak 4 hit to kill Vaporeon if Vaporeon can keep up with Acid Armor. Once Acid Armor reaches +4 he can simply Baton Passed to Jirachi. Volcanora can takes anything from Toxicroak and OHKO with Hurricane.
Ferrothorn
Ferrothorn is more of a annoyance than a threat. Fireblast from Volcarona will one shot it even in rain. Vaporeon use it as a set up bait as it can take Power Whip and then Acid Armor. Note that Leech Seed on Vaporeon is Baton Passed along as well to Jirachi, although it is merely a minor annoyance. Jirachi can set up through Leech Seed and Thunder Wave.
Blissey
Blissey is the same as Ferrorthorn, annoying but can be dealt with. Jirachi can set up in its face. If 2 layer of toxic spikes are up, simply outstall til he switches out. It takes 5 hits from Thunder/Water Pulse at +4 Calm Mind to kill Blissey. The high chance of parafusion makes it less annoying to do so. Jirachi have enough PP to outstall Wish/Softboil. Jirachi VS Blissey will be long and annoying but Parafusion hax ensure you are on the winning side.
Sample Matches
These are tournament matches on Showdown
Sand Team. Display the power of Vaporeon as it takes on Sword Danced Terrakion
http://www.pokemonshowdown.com/replay/ou-16347988
6-0. Not a boring Sweep. A lot of switching. Volcarona sweep.
http://www.pokemonshowdown.com/replay/ou-16348850
Against Sun Team.
http://www.pokemonshowdown.com/replay/ou-16349521
Not even Blissey can handle CM Jirachi.
http://www.pokemonshowdown.com/replay/ou-16347184
Jirachi setting up in the face of Earth Power
http://www.pokemonshowdown.com/replay/ou-16346364
Well thats all folks. Have fun with this team. I would really appreciate opinion as i feel there is still room for a lot of improvement!
Team Change History
29 April 2013
This is my first RMT. I have been playing on Showdown for a lengthy period of time with various different teams. This team is the one that I had most success with and also enjoyed playing. Any comments, opinions and improvement that could be made are welcome!
Introduction
The Team!
Jirachi has always been my favorite pokemon and I wanted the team to center around. The idea behind this team is to abuse every single aspect of Jirachi. It's bulk and it's ability, Serene Grace. This is a Rain/Poison/Stall Team.
The Superstar
Jirachi @ Leftovers
Traits: Serene Grace
EVs: 252 HP/ 236 Def/ 20 Spe
Bold Nature
-Calm Mind
-Wish
-Thunder
-Water Pulse/Psychic
This is a 2 moves, Calm Mind/Wish, bulky set. The reason behind the Water Pulse/Thunder is with Serene Grace each of the moves have 60% chance to cause Confusion/Paralysis. Both moves hit the current OU meta game pretty hard. Yes yes, this set is completely walled by Grastrodon but thats what the teammates are for.
The biggest advantage of this build is that it can set up in the face of many common OU pokemons. Against a special attacker, if the opponent is not capable of dealing more than 50% of Jirachi's hp, it is practically game over. Each Calm Mind boost will reduce incoming damage and Wish will heal Jirachi back to full life. Soon the opponent will be facing a +4/+4 monster. However, you need to watch out for strong STAB fire attacks.
Jirachi's Steel typing will wall most form of physical attacks but the ever-present Earthquake can be troublesome. Get rid of any Ground pokemon.
Take note that Jirachi can set up and sweep through Paralyze/Burn due to its bulk and the ability to Parafusion opponent. Any team which relies on status/stall to deal with Jirachi will find themselves in deep trouble.
As Calm Mind is there to boost Special Defense, the EV spread is to ensure Jirachi survives the physical attacks.
The rest of the team is to assist Jirachi in eliminating those threats.
The Supports!
Politoad @ Choice Scarf
Traits: Drizzle
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Def / 252 Spe
Bold Nature
- Hydro Pump
- Ice Beam
- Encore
- Hidden Power Grass
The synergy between this Scarf Politoed and CM/Wish Jirachi is incredible. It's like there are made for each other. Let me explain.
Drizzle provides
1) Increase the power of Water Pulse
2) Increase the accuracy of Thunder
3) Most importantly remove the Fire Weakness of Jirachi
With Drizzle, most team who packs Fire attacks as Steel counter will be in trouble. After one Calm Mind. even a very strong STAB Fire attack will not be able to break Jirachi.
This leaves Jirachi with only one weakness; Earthquake (and Earth Power). Scarf Politoed can outspeed and OHKO most threats that fires off powerful STAB Earthquakes (Garchomp, Gliscor, Landorus, Dragonite, Hippodown, Salamence, Dugdrio).
Vaporeon @ Leftover
Traits: Hydration
EV: 248 Hp/ 252 Def / 8 Spe
Bold Nature
-Acid Armor
-Baton Pass
-Hydro pump
-Rest
This is the physical tank and a very good one at that. Many pokemon will be bait into 2HKO-ing Vaporeon, only to realized that Acid Armor ensure Vaporeon survives the 2nd hit and Rest back to full life.
To gives you an extreme example
Close Combat from a Choice Banded 252 Att Terrakion (Timid nature) deals 65% damage to Vaporeon.
Vaporeon use Acid Armor
The second Close Combat will almost always fail to KO Vaporeon, leaving him at around 5% hp.
Vaporeon use Rest. Hydration cure Sleep induced by Rest.
Rinse and repeat, stacking up more Acid Armor.
Vaporeon can then Baton Pass Acid Armor to Jirachi. With a only +2 Def, Jirachi takes 35% from +252Atk/Adament Garchomp's Earthquake and most likely lesser from others. This effectively leaves Jirachi with no weakness.
With the support of toxic spikes and rain (Hydration), this set allow Vaporeon to wall and kill almost any poisoned pokemon that are not capable of one shotting it.
Forretress @ Leftovers
Traits: Sturdy
EV: 252 HP/ 252 Def / 2 SpD
Relaxed Nature
-Toxic Spikes
-Stealth Rock
-Rapid Spin
-Volt Switch
Forrestress significance on the team depends on how many of opposing pokemons are susceptible to toxic.
Unlike most Stall team which forces opponent to switch pokemon often, this team forces them to stay in longer. In most cases, always prioritize Toxic Spikes before Stealth Rock.
However, if there are too many pokemon with Flying/Steel/Poison/Levitate, feel free to set up Stealth Rock first instead. Take note that Stealth Rock is important in weather war against Sun Team as Ninetails take 25% damage with each switch in.
Rapid Spin is included but this team is very resilient to opposing Stealth Rocks. Do keep Forretress alive in matches where Volcarona is important.
Gastrodon@Leftovers
Traits: Storm Drain
EV: 252 HP / 84 Def / 172 SpD
Calm Nature
-Scald
-Earth Power
-Toxic
-Recover
Due to its nature, this team invites a lot of Electric and Water attacks. Inclusion on Gastrodon is to block them. Take note that without any Calm Mind, Jirachi cannot take STAB Water attacks in Rain. Gastrodon can switch in on predicted Volt Switches and toxic Rotom-W. Or whatever that switched in.
Volcarona @ Leftovers
Traits: Flame Body
EVs: 252 SpA / 252 Spe / 4 SpD
Timid Nature
-Quiver Dance
-Bug Buzz
-Hurricane
-Fire Blast
At first glance, it seems counter intuitive to include Volcarona on Rain Team. With three members who are weak to grass (Gastro has 4x weakness), opposing pokemon like Celebi/Ferrorthorn/Breloom/Venusaur can murder this team. Volcarona's job is to get rid of them. Note that Fireblast kill both Ferrorthorn and Scizor in Rain.
Hurricane get 100% accuracy in rain and OHKO Toxicroak who tends to wall this team. On matches where Volcanora is important, try to keep Forretress alive to get rid of Stealth Rocks.
There can be cases where you might not even switch in Volcarona. But on those that you need to, it will save your ass.
How to play this team
Pros
If opponent do not have any pokemon that can break through the rotation of Calm Mind and Wish, you have won. This make special attackers a very good target for Jirachi to come in and set-up. Unlike frail sweepers who need predicted switches to set-up, Jirachi can Calm Mind in the face of opponent while taking massive punishment.
Basically, if opponent fail to 2HKO, Jirachi can just Wish then Calm Mind, opponent is walled. Just to show how easy it is, here is the list of calculation from OU Special Sweeper.
Alakazam - 252 SpA Lifeorb Focus Blast is a 3HKO. If you get one Calm Mind off with Wish in the air, it's gg.
Gengar - 252SpA Lifeorb Focus Blast is a 3HKO. HP Fire is 2HKO but in the Rain, Gengar cannot break Jirachi.
Heatran - Earth Power from defensive version is a 3HKO. Fire Blast is a 3HKO in Rain.
Jolteon - 252SpA Lifeorb Thunderbolt is a 3HKO. Careful of sets that run Thunder or Choice Specs.
Kurem-B - Anything from a non-specs version is a 3HKO. Fusion Flare is 3HKO inRain.
Latios - Surf will 2HKO Jirachi in Rain. But anything else is a 3HKO.
Magnezone - Anything from a non-choice specs is a 3HKO. Even without rain, HP Fire fails to OHKO.
Reuniclus - Anything from Reuniclus is a 3HKO. Keep up in terms of Calm Mind Boost.
On the physical side, opponent needs a very strong STAB Earthquake/CloseCombat to break through. That can be remedied with Acid Armor baton passed from Vaporeon. Once again, if any physical Sweeper fails to 2HKO Vaporeon, he can Acid Armor and live to baton pass. Even if the attacker does over 50% damage, after one Acid Armor, Vaporeon can survive the next strike as it baton pass.
Do note that the main purpose of Drizzle is to remove the Fire Weakness from Jirachi. If there is no threat of a Fire attack, it is not necessary to get into useless weather war. Sandstorm from opponent can, sometimes, work for you.
As you will not be switching often, this team is very resilient to opposing Stealth Rocks and Spikes. Rapid Spin is only needed on matches where Volcarona matters. Jirachi is very resilient to both Burn and Paralyze, it can often set up and sweep through both if opponent lacks the firepower.
General Weakness
1. Due to the Stall nature of the team, you will be taking a lot of damage to the face and healing them off. Thus the most common thing that can screw you over is Crit Hax. There are countless time where I have +2Def/+4SpD Jirachi and a Crit Earthquake OHKO it. The trick is to not get too greedy on Calm Mind boost as 1 or 2 extra turn means higher chance for opponent to score a crit.
2. Aside from Jirachi, there is practically no other offense on the team. Volcarona is very situational as rain prevent it from functioning beyond the threats it is designed to deal with. While Jirachi is hard to take down, you have to be careful not to let him get Sleeped, Destiny Bonded, Tricked with Choice items. Know your damage calculation well. Understand the mechanic of Wish. Know when to Calm Mind or Wish first when setting up.
3. Substitute/Set-up Physical attacker will tear this team apart. Opponent can easily get a substitute as this team focus a lot on Set-up and support moves. If it gets a Sword Dance/Dragon Dance behind a sub, the game can be pretty much over. Be very careful when facing such threats(E.g Garchomp, Terrakion, Toxicroak, Dragonite)
Threats and how to deal with them
Garchomp
This is no.1 threat for this team
Garchomp's Earthquake will murder Jirachi. Not to mention, it outspeed everything thing on the team. It is one of the few pokemon that prevent Jirachi from sweeping the entire opposing team. If it gets a Sword Dance, the game is pretty much over.
Vaporeon can come in on both Earthquake and Outrage, Rest up, Acid Armor and then Baton Pass it to Jirachi. If he is locked onto Outrage, you could go for a 2nd stack of Acid Armor.
If Toxic Spikes are up, Vaporeon can stall it with Acid Armor/Rest.
If it manage to get a Sword Dance off, sacrifice a pokemon and revenge kill with Scarf Politoed
Celebi
A close 2nd biggest threat
Any grass pokemon are a threat to this team but Celebi is the most dangerous one. It tends to carry Earth Power/HP Fire which are both Jirachi weakness.
Jirachi can Set Up through HP Fire in Rain but not Earth Power. Leaf storm threatens all the Water types. Perish Song can end Jirachi set up prematurely. It has Natural Cure which makes it impossible to kill via poison.
Volcarona is your answer. It runs a Timid nature to outspeed any Modest Celebi while speed-tying with the Timid one. Celebi can still U-Turn out on predicted Volcarona switch. You have to extremely careful of residual damage stacking up on Volcarona.
Toxic Spike are still helpful as it forces Celebi to switch out, raking up damage in the long run. Gastrodon can Ice Beam as Celebi switches in but it fails to one hit KO.
Breloom
Whether or not Breloom is a threat depends greatly on if it is running Subsitute and opponent's skill. Forrestress is your sleep fodder in most situation but if Breloom Sub as you switch Forrestress in, things can get tricky. Seedbomb/Bullet Seed will murder your water pokes and Spore will renders your Volcarona useless. Predict Well. DO NOT GET JIRACHI SPORED! If Jirachi is running Psychic instead of Water Pulse, he can outspeed and kill it.
Venusaur
Facing Venusaur is almost as troublesome as facing Breloom. Volcarona is a direct counter but there risk a high chance of it getting Sleeped. Unlike Breloom, Venusaur outspeed Vaolcarona in the sun. Switching in Forrestress as a sleep fodder could work but opponent can predict it and use Growth instead. In the sun, both Giga Drain and HP Fire will murder this team should your Volcarona get sleeped. You have to win the weather war at all cost.
Keldeo
Keldeo maybe the true counter to this team. Jirachi cannot take Specs Hydro Pump in Rain while Secret Sword 2HKO everyone else. Scarf sets are easier to deal with as it lacks the fire power. Politoed can toxic and then Stall it. Make sure you get Toxic Spike up as it is only way of killing the SubCM set.
Landorus
Not as threatening as Garchomp but it can be annoying as it can U-Turn out from predicted Vaporeon/Gastrodon switch in. It's unpredictability is also an issue (Special or Physical). Earth Power and Earthquake threatens Jirachi. Vaporeon can set up Acid Armor through Earthquake but not Earth Power. Try to find out what set it is running.
Salamence
Vaporeon can take any attack from a MixMence set and pass Acid Armor to Jirachi. However, DD sets can be a pain. You can out-boost DD with Acid Armor to +4 Def, baton pass it to Jirachi in hope for a Paralyze from Thunder but this plan is risky. Vaporeon can stall DDmence with a +4 Def and Rest and hope it get locked onto Outrage. If Salamence get toxiced, Vaporeon can Rest Stall it. Gastrodon can survive +1 Outrage 80% of the time and OHKO with Icebeam. Politoed can revenge kill it.
Dragonite
The problem when facing Dragonite is trying to find out which set it is using. The bigger problem is every set that it can run is a huge problem for the team. If you see Dragonite on opposing team, get Stealth Rock up at all cost to break multiscale.
Dragon Dance set can be handle the same way as DDmence using Vaporeon. However, Multiscale prevent Gastrodon from OHKO-ing it. If it is not running Earthquake, Jirachi can wall it comfortably up to +3 DD in Rain (Fire Punch).
Choice Band set is a monster. Outrage 2HKO everything except Jirachi, but Jirachi needs to watch out for Earthquake again. CB outrage have 70% chance to OHKO Gastrodon, but Gastrodon cannot OHKO back with Ice Beam if Multiscale is intact. Your answer is to switch Jirachi in on locked Outrage or Vaporeon on locked Earthquake. However, one of your pokemon will suffer heavy damage in order to force it to lock onto one.
Dragon Tail sets can annoying if it hides behind a Sub. Hydro Pump/Scald can break sub in Rain as long as Multiscale is not in tact. Wait until Gastrodon get pulled in and then Icebeam. If it gets back to full health with Sub intact, you are in for a huge trouble. Your hope is to Encore it to mess up its Sub/Roost/DTail.
Politoed can revenge kill if Multiscale is not intact.
Terrakion
Choice banded Close Combat 2HKO everything. Vaporeon can take a Banded CC, Acid Armor up, it can survived the 2nd CC 60% of the time before resting up. It can then OHKO back with Hydro Pump or Baton Pass to Jirachi. Politoed can revenge kill with with Hydropump in Rain.
Toxicroak
Toxicroak annoys this team by absorbing water attacks and removing Toxic Spikes. Sets that run substitute are hard to deal. However it takes Toxicroak 4 hit to kill Vaporeon if Vaporeon can keep up with Acid Armor. Once Acid Armor reaches +4 he can simply Baton Passed to Jirachi. Volcanora can takes anything from Toxicroak and OHKO with Hurricane.
Ferrothorn
Ferrothorn is more of a annoyance than a threat. Fireblast from Volcarona will one shot it even in rain. Vaporeon use it as a set up bait as it can take Power Whip and then Acid Armor. Note that Leech Seed on Vaporeon is Baton Passed along as well to Jirachi, although it is merely a minor annoyance. Jirachi can set up through Leech Seed and Thunder Wave.
Blissey
Blissey is the same as Ferrorthorn, annoying but can be dealt with. Jirachi can set up in its face. If 2 layer of toxic spikes are up, simply outstall til he switches out. It takes 5 hits from Thunder/Water Pulse at +4 Calm Mind to kill Blissey. The high chance of parafusion makes it less annoying to do so. Jirachi have enough PP to outstall Wish/Softboil. Jirachi VS Blissey will be long and annoying but Parafusion hax ensure you are on the winning side.
Sample Matches
These are tournament matches on Showdown
Sand Team. Display the power of Vaporeon as it takes on Sword Danced Terrakion
http://www.pokemonshowdown.com/replay/ou-16347988
6-0. Not a boring Sweep. A lot of switching. Volcarona sweep.
http://www.pokemonshowdown.com/replay/ou-16348850
Against Sun Team.
http://www.pokemonshowdown.com/replay/ou-16349521
Not even Blissey can handle CM Jirachi.
http://www.pokemonshowdown.com/replay/ou-16347184
Jirachi setting up in the face of Earth Power
http://www.pokemonshowdown.com/replay/ou-16346364
Well thats all folks. Have fun with this team. I would really appreciate opinion as i feel there is still room for a lot of improvement!
Team Change History
29 April 2013
These changes were made after testing. Credit to Honus for these improvement.
1. Politoed now run Choice Scarf and more offensive set.
2. Replaced Water Pulse with Psychic on Jirachi
1. Politoed now run Choice Scarf and more offensive set.
2. Replaced Water Pulse with Psychic on Jirachi
