Welcome once again to Pokemon of the Week. This week I'll be discussing a Pokemon with a unique type combination which has fluctuated between tiers greatly since its introduction. This week we'll be discussing Ludicolo

Ludicolo is definitely an odd duck. The combination of Water/Grass is shared by no other Pokemon (except the pre-evolutions, Lotad and Lombre), at worst giving him a niche filled by no other Pokemon. After looking at Ludicolo's stats, they're below-average at best, with only the base 100 Sp. Defense worth mentioning, but when you look at the whole picture, you start to see a hidden gem.

If you ever wondered why Swift Swim was banned when used alongside Drizzle in all tiers below Uber, here is one of the main two. Ludicolo, when paired with Drizzle Politoed sent the OU tier spiraling into chaos. STAB, Rain boosted, Life Orb, Modest Ludicolo's Hydro Pump is so insanely powerful that it only Blissey and Pokemon with Water Absorb were safe from it... and then they aren't safe, because Ludicolo's secondary STAB will wreck all of those Pokemon. But wait! 5th gen brought us the bulky Ferrothorn, which resists both STABs! Well, Ludicolo prepared for this too. Focus Blast 2HKOs Ferrothorn, even if it's got max HP and Sp. Defense. Ice Beam rounded out the set, killing off all other Grass types that would try to take advantage of their resistance to Ludicolo's STABs. With Rain boosting Ludicolo's Speed beyond the entire tier's, and Hydro Pump threatening Tyranitar and Ninetales from switching in to change the weather, it is easy to see why Ludicolo dominated the tier until the Drizzle/Swift Swim combo ban.

For a brief moment, Ludicolo had it's torrential fame, but like all good things, it came to an end. Unable to rely on Politoed, Ludicolo's usage fell dramatically, so much that it has fallen five tiers, to NeverUsed tier. You wouldn't be able to tell, though, as Ludicolo continues his happy dance in the NU tier, being the ultimate check to Rain teams.

As I said, Ludicolo lives it's days in the depths of NU, however it is still viable in all tiers, due to being an excellent Swift Swimmer. I'll cover the NU sets, as well as briefly discuss it's role in OU and Ubers.

Ludicolo@ Life Orb Swift Swim Modest nature (+Sp. Attack, -Attack) EVs: 252 Speed / 252 Sp. Attack / 4 Sp. Defense IVs: 29 HP Rain Dance Hydro Pump / Surf Giga Drain Ice Beam

If there's one thing Ludicolo loves to do, it's dance. Ludicolo's Rain Dance brings about a downpour, giving it enough Speed to compete with Sonic's Blast Processing. Modest nature takes full advantage of this Speed boost and, when coupled with Life Orb, allows Ludicolo to deal tons of damage while still outspeeding everything it needs to. The choice of Water STAB is up to you. Hydro Pump allows Ludicolo to punch massive holes into every wall in NU that isn't resistant to it, allowing you to set this up early on in the game and tear down the opponent's defenses, clearing the way for a secondary sweeper, such as Absol, Sawk, or even Gorebyss, so can also take advantage of the rain, should it last. Surf is a lot less powerful, and allows Ludicolo the secondary role of cleaning up after another sweeper has weakened the opposing team. The choice depends on the needs of your team. Giga Drain is a really great STAB move for Ludicolo, being powerful, but also returning health to Ludicolo, making up for HP lost by Life Orb (though Life Orb damage will still apply after HP is regained), and destroying opposing Gorebyss. Ice Beam rounds out the set, making sure Grass types such as Tangela never stop your sweep. The 29 IV gives less Life Orb recoil, only losing 2 HP.

Ludicolo@ Leftovers Rain Dish Modest nature (+Sp. Attack, -Attack) EVs: 252 HP / 152 Sp. Attack / 104 Sp. Defense Scald Giga Drain Ice Beam / Toxic Synthesis / Leech Seed

Ludicolo's good Sp. Defense and good typing make it a good special wall in the NU tier. This Ludicolo checks not only Shell Smash Gorebyss, but also the Ludicolo listed in the first set. Scald is listed as the Water STAB of choice here, since the 30% Burn rate can be very handy in crippling physical attackers, as well as annoying for many Pokemon in general. Giga Drain once again serves as the Grass STAB, keeping Ludicolo healthy, and not hindered by Life Orb this time, but rather, helped by Leftovers.

In the third slot, Ice Beam furthers Ludicolo's coverage, giving him a move to deal with Grass types, ensuring that Tangela will never wall Ludicolo, as well as giving him an attack to deal with Altaria and Fraxure, where these Pokemon would otherwise setup on Ludicolo without care (Altaria even having access to Natural Cure to wipe away Poison damage from Toxic). Toxic, on the other hand, allows Ludicolo a move to break down other special walls, such as Lickilicky, other bulky Ludicolo, and Rotom-Spin. The last slot gives Ludicolo a healing move. Synthesis gives Ludicolo and instant 50% recovery move under normal battle conditions, and is usable because this Ludicolo isn't specifically meant for use in Rain (though it is still very viable in Rain, healing more with Rain Dish and having double-STAB Water attacks). Leech Seed, however, gives Ludicolo an annoying move that forces many switches, annoys any Pokemon switching in to counter Ludicolo, has more PP, and still offers Ludicolo some modest recovery (which stacks onto Leftovers, potential Rain Dish recovery, and potential Giga Drain recovery).

One last thing worth noting is that Toxic Spikes will ruin this Ludicolo, so it is necessary to bring something that can remove or absorb them. Skuntank is a personal favorite of mine, as it not only absorbs them, but it deals with special walls, completely counters Musharna, and has a wonderful priority move, should you need it. Rapid Spinners work, but good luck finding a decent one in NU. Clerics can rid Ludicolo of the Poison temporarily, but it'll just come back as soon as he's switched back in, so it's almost pointless. Vileplume, however, absorbs Toxic Spikes and heals the Poison with Aromatherapy, so it is one cleric I'd recommend if you don't use Skuntank as a partner.

Ludicolo@ Life Orb Swift Swim Adamant nature (+Attack, -Sp. Attack) EVs: 252 Attack / 252 Speed / 6 Sp. Defense IVs: 29 HP Swords Dance Waterfall Seed Bomb Ice Punch

Given that Swords Dance is Ludicolo's only stat-boosting move, a moveset for it is viable, even with Ludicolo only sporting a base 70 Attack. As those special walls switch into Ludicolo, he's free to setup a Swords Dance and begin his sweep. Waterfall and Seed Bomb are both equally powerful, though Waterfall has a flinch rate, so it'll be your main STAB attack versus things with neutrality to both moves. Seed Bomb even OHKOs the bulky attacking set listed above after an SD, which shows you that SD Ludicolo is a threat capable of doing some serious damage. Ice Punch rounds out the set, dealing with Altaria and Fraxure. Something worth noting, however, is that Tangela isn't even 2HKOd by Ice Punch after a Swords Dance, and can put Ludicolo to Sleep with Sleep Powder, so be sure to have a way to deal with Tangela before you attempt to sweep.

Entry hazards, especially Toxic Spikes, are especially helpful to this Ludicolo, as they will severely hinder Tangela's ability to stay in the match, and help some 3HKOs become 2HKOs. Stealth Rock is also very useful in achieving this goal, so make sure to consider these for your team.

Ludicolo@ Life Orb Swift Swim Modest nature (+Sp. Attack, -Attack) EVs: 252 Speed / 252 Sp. Attack / 4 Sp. Defense IVs: 29 HP Hydro Pump / Surf Giga Drain Ice Beam Focus Blast / Rain Dance

Once upon a time, this was one of three Pokemon used on the same team that would scare the hell out of you (the other two being the Politoed setting up infinite rain, and Kingdra forming a Swift Swim core that destroyed everything in its path). With Swift Swim and Drizzle banned together, Ludicolo's usage has fallen considerably, but it is not without use in the OU tier. If a team is built around Rain Dance, with 2-3 bulky Rain Dancers on the team, Ludicolo is easily a fierce competitor for a spot on the team. Hydro Pump in rain absolutely devastates many Pokemon that aren't resistant or immune, with Giga Drain supplementing a secondary STAB and coverage move against Water types such as Vaporeon and Jellicent. Surf can be used instead of Hydro Pump for more accuracy, but you miss a lot of necessary OHKOs and 2HKOs that make it an unattractive option unless you're using a defensive team that aims to setup many entry hazards. Ice Beam brings down the many OU Dragons, OHKOing Dragonite after Stealth Rock damage, as well as dealing with Virizion.

In the last slot, Focus Blast gives Ludicolo the move it needs to 2HKO even the most specially defensive Ferrothorn, who'd otherwise wall Ludicolo. Rain Dance, however, can be used to make Ludicolo self-sufficient, setting it's own rain and attempted a sweep. If this route is taken, a good partner would be Choice Specs Magnezone with Hidden Power Fire can 2HKO standard Ferrothorn in Rain a majority of the time, especially if Stealth Rock is on the field, and it OHKOs standard Ferrothorn outside of Rain with Stealth Rock in play.

Ludicolo@ Life Orb Swift Swim Modest nature (+Sp. Attack, -Attack) / Timid nature (+Speed, -Attack) EVs: 252 Speed / 252 Sp. Attack / 6 Sp. Defense IVs: 29 HP Hydro Pump Grass Knot Ice Beam Focus Blast

Why use Ludicolo in Uber? Because Kyogre exists, and continues to be one of the most dangerous threats in the Uber tier, not to mention the entire game. Taking advantage of Kyogre's torrential downpour, Ludicolo becomes blessed with great Speed (courtesy of Swift Swim) and respectable power and coverage. Hydro Pump backed by rain and Life Orb will deal out massive damage to almost anything in the tier that isn't resistant or named Chansey or Blissey. Grass Knot deals with opposing Kyogre, as well as making Groudon warry of switching in to remove rain and bring in sunlight, while also dealing a lot of damage to many heavy Pokemon in the tier. Ice Beam deals with Rayquaza, Latios, and Shaymin Sky Form (on the switch; it'll still outspeed Ludicolo in the rain, even if Ludicolo runs Timid nature). Focus Blast is for Ferrothorn, delivering a 2HKO, as well as dealing with Dialga. A note here is that Hydro Pump in rain will OHKO Darkrai, so use that instead, as it's 10% more accurate, and Focus Blast will screw you when you need it most.

The choice of nature is one of preference. Modest is almost always better, as there is little that Ludicolo won't outspeed in rain, but Timid can be used at the cost of a noticeable amount of power, to outspeed Choice Scarf Terrakion, Choice Scarf Palkia, and a few other random Scarfers. If you don't have an answer to these Pokemon, you may want to consider Timid nature.

Ludicolo@ Leftovers Rain Dish Calm nature (+Sp. Defense, -Attack) EVs: 252 HP / 216 Sp. Defense / 40 Defense Leech Seed Grass Knot Protect Ice Beam / Substitute

Off the top of my head, this is probably the closest thing to a full Kyogre counter there is, besides maybe Storm Drain Gastrodon or something else weird. Ludicolo quad resists Water Spout, and is neutral to both Thunder and Ice Beam, and will not be 2HKOd by either move. Simply put, this Ludicolo exists solely for countering Kyogre. Seem extreme? Play Ubers about 5 times, then come back. At the very least, 3 of those 5 times will have Kyogre, and far more likely, 5 out of 5 of them will.

Anyway, switching Ludicolo into Kyogre gives it a free turn to setup Leech Seed as Kyogre switches out. Rain Dish and Leftovers go a ways to recovering whatever damage Kyogre did to Ludicolo the previous turn, and Protect gives Ludicolo a free turn of extra healing from both of those things, as well as more healing from Leech Seed. Be careful of spamming it, however, as it can give many Pokemon a turn to setup. Grass Knot deals with Groudon and offensive Kyogre. Ice Beam deals with the Dragons mentioned in the previous set, but Substitute allows Ludicolo to be one of the best SubSeeders in the game, healing the damage from Substitute with Leftovers, Rain Dish and Leech Seed immediately, using Protect to gain even more healing and stall for more damage.

As good as all of this sounds, this Ludicolo is for a very specific job, and though it does it extremely well, it is not without major drawbacks. First off, Ferrothorn laughs at this set and sets up whatever entry hazards it wants, ignoring the pathetic damage from Ice Beams and Power Whiping Ludicolo off of the field. Grass Arceus doesn't care about underpowered Ice Beams, as it always packs Recover. Lugia can come in, setup a Substitute, and Roost off the damage from the Sub, activating Multiscale, meaning that Ice Beam does pathetic damage. Zekrom, Rayquaza and physical Dialga will all destroy Ludicolo, as well as most physical attackers in the Uber tier. Dialga is ironically a good partner for Ludicolo, as it deals with most of the threats listed here.

From this point forward, this section will assume Black2 and White2 to be the games you are using, mostly because writing these articles already takes me several days and several hours per day to finish, and they're the newest games. Lombre can be found in a Hidden Groto in Route 3 of Unova. These range in level from 55-60, so they're pretty much ready to evolve upon capture. All of Ludicolo's good moves are obtained via TM, so you don't need to waste any time in throwing a Water Stone at Lombre. A good in-game moveset would be:

Ludicolo Surf Energy Ball Ice Beam Focus Blast

Ludicolo basically does all the same stuff as it does in competitive. Surf and Energy Ball are your main STABs. Ice Beam provides coverage against Grass types, while Focus Blast dents Steel types. Basic stuff, really.

Whew... that was a lot of sets. Anyway, when I first got Ruby version, I went through all the version exclusives, and I thought I was lucky to have gotten the much cooler Shiftry in my version. I didn't really like Ludicolo much in terms of design, but that all changed... when I was met with the infamous Mirror B. from Pokemon Colosseum. His funky dance and completely bizarre personality was a perfect match for the dancing pineapple duck Pokemon. Beyond that, I learned that Ludicolo are very dangerous in rain, and a Pokemon I'd previously overlooked was suddenly one I was careful about playing against. In early gen 5, I named him as the most dangerous Pokemon in the OU metagame, before the Drizzle/Swift Swim combo ban, and I still attribute him (and Kingdra) to being the reason that the ban exists. Ludicolo, you have earned my respect, even if I have no idea what you are, or why you exist.

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