Hail team for VGC.

[Gryphon]

I'm feeling around and trying different things for this, since this is my first time building weather teams, or at least something with a theme, so I'm still basically a newbie to double battles and pokemon that work well together. I was looking at what there was available, and came up with this. I know it's not perfect, so if anyone has any tips, I welcome them.

Abomasnow
A: Snow Warning
+ SpA/-Spd
@ Focus Sash
- Icy Wind
- Grass Knot
- Ice Shard
- Protect

Leads to get Hail started. Can stick around for a turn if there's something up-front that he would have an advantage against, or get in at least one Icy Wind to cut some Speed; if not, I'd swap him out to keep Hail from running out. He's kind of slow. Ice Shard in case of opportunity, like with Zapdos or some unlucky Garchomp/Kami trio member.

Dewgong
A: Ice Body
+Atk/-SpA
@ Leftovers
- Fake Out
- Ice Shard
- Aqua Jet
- Aqua Ring

When I saw it could learn Fake Out, I wanted it in. It also has some other nasty priority moves that could potentially knock down a Landorus, Tyranitar or Ninetales. Hail + Ice Body + Aqua Ring + Leftovers give it a bit of staying power.

Froslass
A: Snow Cloak
+ Spd/-Atk
@ Lax Incense
- Blizzard
- Shadow Ball
- Double Team
- Protect

One of the Blizzard-dishers, with starting evasion power from Hail + Snow Cloak and Lax Incense. Fairly speedy.

Mamoswine
A: Snow Cloak
+Atk/-Spd
@ Brightpowder
- Blizzard
- Earthquake
- Ice Shard
- Hail

Another Blizzard user with added evasion, plus a priority move to counter his slowness. Comes with Hail support in case Abomasnow gets KO'd.

Alakazam
A: Magic Guard
+Spd/-Atk
@ Flame Orb
- Psychic
- Shadow Ball
- Trick
- Energy Ball

It isn't just Ice types who are protected from damage by Hail; pokemon with Overcoat and Magic Guard are immune to it too, so why not consider them for Sandstorm/Hail teams? Trick a Flame Orb onto something with high Attack, or just blast away, since Magic Guard also keeps him from taking damage from being Burned (not to mention the self-inflicted Burn also protects him from getting Paralyzed or put to Sleep). Beats down Fighting types like Terrakion and Mienshao, also a threat to Amoongus and Reuniclus.

Rotom (Frost Forme)
A: Levitate
+SpA/-Atk
@ Ice Gem
- Thunderbolt
- Blizzard
- Reflect
- Thunder Wave

Kind of like Eelektross, except much faster, plus he can use Blizzard AND he's immune to Hail. Zippity zap. Sits in for when Mamoswine can get in an Earthquake, seeks out victims in Heavy Rain weather teams, plus any fliers, Ground-type or not.

 

[Team Rocket Elite]

I'll need to know your EVs for everything but here's a few comments for now.

Abomasnow
A: Snow Warning
+ SpA/-Spd
@ Focus Sash
- Icy Wind
- Grass Knot
- Ice Shard
- Protect

Drop Ice Wind and Grass Knot for Blizzard and Giga Drain. Perfect accuracy Blizzard is too good to pass up. I like Giga Drain over Grass Knot since a lot of the more commonly used Pokemon weak to Grass aren't that heavy.

Dewgong
A: Ice Body
+Atk/-SpA
@ Leftovers
- Fake Out
- Ice Shard
- Aqua Jet
- Aqua Ring

This thing is almost completely harmless. Your opponent will focus fire on Dewgong's ally and deal with Dewgong at the end. Priority is good in VGC but it causes Dewgong to lack offensive power if that's all it has. Aqua Ring is useless and you should get rid of it. With a weakness to Rock and Fighting, I don't see Dewgong being able to last very long.

Froslass
A: Snow Cloak
+ Spd/-Atk
@ Lax Incense
- Blizzard
- Shadow Ball
- Double Team
- Protect

Froslass is too frail to get much use out of Double Team. You also need to keep in mind that battles have a 15 minute time limit so even if you could Double Team 6 times, you'll waste over half the timer on it. I don't like evade items like Lax Incense. They rarely help you out and it's a pretty depressing way to lose a match from the opponent's perspective. For a Held item you could try something like an Ice Gem or a type resist berry.

Mamoswine
A: Snow Cloak
+Atk/-Spd
@ Brightpowder
- Blizzard
- Earthquake
- Ice Shard
- Hail

Mamoswine has awful Special Attack so ditch Blizzard. Give it Icicle Crash or Rock Slide instead. Like with Froslass, I don't like Brightpowder.. Choice Scarf, Life Orb, Gem or Type Resist berry could work.

Alakazam
A: Magic Guard
+Spd/-Atk
@ Flame Orb
- Psychic
- Shadow Ball
- Trick
- Energy Ball

I think you can replace Energy Ball with Protect here.

Rotom (Frost Forme)
A: Levitate
+SpA/-Atk
@ Ice Gem
- Thunderbolt
- Blizzard
- Reflect
- Thunder Wave

Get rid of either Reflect or Thunder Wave for Protect.

Tyranitar and Metagross are two of the most common Pokemon in VGC and both of them will run over this team. I don't think there's any simple answer to beating two with a Hail team. I realize this is a hail team, but you need to cut back a lot on the Ice Pokemon. Having so many Rock, Fighting and Steel weaknesses significantly harm the team. I also think it's a bit too reliant on Hail. It's needs to be able to fight without Hail a bit better..

An example of a good Hail team would be something like Prodigiosus's team. He used Infernape, Slowking, Abomasnow, Glaceon, Jellicent and Gallade. You can see that his team is more prepared for dealing with Metagross and Tyranitar. This is just an example so there's still tons of other ways you can try doing a Hail team.

 

[Gryphon]

Thanks for the advice! I can see that I'm totally going to have to change up this team. I'll work on that.