NationalDex
ludicolo
#272

Ludicolo

Carefree Pokémon

WaterGrass

If it hears festive music, all its muscles fill with energy. It can’t help breaking out into a dance.

Base Stats

HP 80
Attack 70
Defense 70
Sp. Atk 90
Sp. Def 100
Speed 70
Total 480

Type Effectiveness

Abilities

Held Items

Evolution Chain

Moves

Details

Category Carefree Pokémon
Height 1.5 m
Weight 55.0 kg
Base Exp 216
Growth Rate Medium Slow
Capture Rate 45
Base Happiness 70
Gender 50% ♂ / 50% ♀
Habitat Waters Edge
Egg Groups Water1 ,Plant

Sprites

ludicolo Front Front
ludicolo Back Back
ludicolo Front Shiny Front Shiny
ludicolo Back Shiny Back Shiny
ludicolo Front ♀ Front ♀
ludicolo Back ♀ Back ♀
ludicolo Front Shiny ♀ Front Shiny ♀
ludicolo Back Shiny ♀ Back Shiny ♀
ludicolo Official Art Official Art
ludicolo Official Art (Shiny) Official Art (Shiny)

Competitive

Swift Swim
Moves
Hydro Pump / Surf
Fake Out / Rain Dance / Protect
Item
Life Orb
Nature
Modest
EVs
HP 4
SpA 252
Spe 252
Assault Vest
Moves
Scald / Hydro Pump
Item
Assault Vest
Ability
Rain Dish / Swift Swim
Nature
Bold
EVs
HP 164
Def 140
SpA 68
SpD 4
Spe 132

Strategy Overview

Ludicolo is synonymous with rain; although rain only lasts five turns, Ludicolo can sweep through entire teams in that duration. Its ability Swift Swim doubles its Speed in rain, allowing Ludicolo to outspeed most other Pokemon. Although Ludicolo's offensive movepool is small, it has all it needs. Its STAB moves Hydro Pump and Giga Drain threaten common Pokemon like Rotom-W, Rotom-H, and Tyranitar for super effective damage. Dragon-types which would otherwise pose problems for Ludicolo, Salamence for instance, are OHKOed by Ice Beam. Ludicolo also has access to Rain Dish, which, alongside Ludicolo's good defensive typing and decent special bulk, can make it surprisingly hard to take down, especially when you factor in that most defensive sets use an Assault Vest. Fake Out is a staple move in Doubles, as it gives Ludicolo the option of stopping one of the enemy Pokemon for a turn.

Regardless of the set, Ludicolo is dependent on rain, and thus Politoed by extension. Ludicolo has a mediocre Speed stat outside of rain, so many Pokemon threaten it; this is very limiting to teambuilding. As Ludicolo will almost always run the same moves, regardless of set, it can be very predictable. Although Ludicolo has good Special Defense, its Defense is lackluster. Talonflame's ever-present Brave Bird causes huge problems, as it can easily OHKO Ludicolo. Even with Ice Beam, Ludicolo has problems with common bulky Grass-types like Ferrothorn, Mega Venusaur, and Amoonguss.

Competitive data from Smogon University via data.pkmn.cc