Pokemon Scarlet and Violet (SV)

How to Build a Weather Team

Weather Teams are a popular team archetype in Competitive Ranked Battles in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet (SV). Read on to learn what a weather team is, how to make a weather team in Gen 9, what strategies to use with one, and what strategies to use with and against weather teams.

What is a Weather Team?

A Game Changing Mechanic

First introduced in Generation II and further expanded in Generation III, weather is widely considered one the most influential mechanics in the competitive battling scene.

Take Advantage of Weather's Unique Mechanics

To succeed with a weather team, you need to take advantage of each weather's unique mechanics - choosing the right Pokemon, with the right Abilities, and building your team around the Weather.

The Four Types of Weather

In Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, there are four types of weather - excluding Clear Skies, which is the absence of weather.

Weather Effect
Harsh Sunlight ・Increases damage of Fire-type moves by 50%
・Decreases damage of Water-type moves by 50%
・Changes Weather Ball into a Fire-type move and doubles its power
・Activates Protosynthesis
・Removes charge time of Solar Beam and Solar Blade
・Lowers accuracy of Thunder and Hurricane
・Prevents Pokemon from being frozen
Rain ・Increases damage of Water-type moves by 50%
・Decreases damage of Fire-type moves by 50%
・Changes Weather Ball into a Water-type move and doubles its power
・Ensures Thunder and Hurricane will hit
Sandstorm ・Damages all non-Rock, Ground, or Steel-type Pokemon each turn by 1/16 of their maximum HP per turn
・Boosts the Special Defense stat of Rock-type Pokemon by 50%
・Changes Weather Ball into a Rock-type move and doubles its power
Snow ・Boosts the Defense stat of Ice-type Pokemon by 50%
・Changes Weather Ball into an Ice-type move and doubles its power
・Allows Aurora Veil to be used

Weather Team Building

Weather Cores

Weather teams are built around Cores that consist of Weather Setters and Abusers.

Sun

Pokemon Description
Torkoal ImageTorkoal Ranking: ★★★★★
・Naturally slow so it will often get Sun set up.
・Can threaten opponents with powerful Sun-boosted Eruption or Heat Waves
・Access to Solar Beam without having to take a turn to charge.
Hisuian Lilligant ImageHisuian Lilligant Ranking: ★★★★★
・Can be very disruptive with fast Sleep Powders
・Uniquely has Chlorophyll and Close Combat.
・Access to fast After You, which can allow Torkoal to dish out fast Eruptions.
Scovillain ImageScovillain Ranking: ★★★☆☆
・Unique coverage in Grass and Fire.
・Can support teammates or debuff opponents' defenses with Spicy Extract.

Rain

Pokemon Description
Pelipper ImagePelipper Ranking: ★★★★
・Can support its team mates with Tailwind or threaten opposing Pokemon with Rain-boosted Scald.
Basculegion (Male) ImageBasculegion (Male) Ranking: ★★★★
・Access to powerful Rain-boosted Wave Crash.
Overqwil ImageOverqwil Ranking: ★★★
・Access to powerful Rain-boosted Liquidation.

Sandstorm

Pokemon Description
Tyranitar ImageTyranitar Ranking: ★★★★☆
・Very capable offensively with its powerful STAB moves and great selection of coverage moves.
・Specially defensive thanks to Sand Stream.
Lycanroc (Midday Form) ImageLycanroc (Midday Form) Ranking: ★★★★☆
・Becomes extremely quick with Sand Rush.
・Can be run with Focus Sash and Endeavor for a devastating combo.
Houndstone ImageHoundstone Ranking: ★★★★☆
・Has access to Last Respects, which can steamroll through teams if Houndstone is the last Pokemon in your team.

Snow

Pokemon Description
Abomasnow ImageAbomasnow Ranking: ★★★★☆
・Access to powerful Blizzard but is impeded by its low Speed Stat
Iron Bundle ImageIron Bundle Ranking: ★★★★☆
・Has access to Blizzard and blazing Speed.
Glaceon ImageGlaceon Ranking: ★★★☆☆
・Can use Blizzard
・Has extra evasion thanks to Snow Cloak

Tornadus (Incarnate Forme)

Tornadus (Incarnate Forme) ImageTornadus (Incarnate Forme)

Tornadus-I is able to learn all four Weather-enabling Moves, namely, Rain Dance, Sunny Day, Sandstorm, and Snowscape. With its Prankster Ability, Tornadus will be able to reliably set up Weather first in turn order.

Which Weather Stays?

When two weather setters are sent out at the same time, the faster Pokemon first sets up their weather but is immediately overwritten by the slower Pokemon's weather effect.

In the event of a speed tie, the Pokemon that loses the coin flip moves second, which means it keeps it gets to keep its weather effect.

Weather Team Counters

Counter with Your Own Weather Team

The best counter to an opposing weather team is usually another weather team. This often turns into what the competitive battling community calls a Weather War.

Weather Wars are won by carefully switching in weather setters at the right time and taking out the opposing weather setter as soon as possible.

Related Guides

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Learn Competitive Battling

Team Building Guides
Competitive Team Building for Singles Ranked Battle Competitive Team Building for Doubles Ranked Battle
How to Build a Trick Room Team How to Build a Weather Team
How to Build a Hyper Offense Team Paradox Pokemon Builds for Competitive Battles and Tera Raids
Treasures of Ruin Builds for Competitive Battles and Tera Raids HOME Transfer Pokemon Builds for Ranked Battle and Raids
Competitive Strategy Guides
Best Abilities for Competitive Battle Best Held Items for Competitive Battle
When to Switch Pokemon Team Preview: Which Pokemon to Choose?
How to Use Substitute in Competitive Battle List of Competitive Terms
Battle Timer: Who Wins When Time Runs Out? New DLC Competitive Cores and Matchups
VGC Tournament Results
VGC Tournament Results: 2023 Oceania International Championships VGC Tournament Results: 2023 European International Championships
VGC Tournament Results: 2023 Portland Regional Championships VGC Tournament Results: 2023 Hartford Regional Championships
VGC Tournament Results: 2023 Milwaukee Regional Championships VGC Tournament Results: 2023 Fresno Regional Championships
VGC Tournament Results: 2023 Japan National Championships Pokemon World Championships 2023

Comment

1 Anonymousabout 2 years

fyi scald is only available for volcanion now

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