Weather effects in battles add a layer of strategy that can significantly impact the outcome. These weather conditions can boost specific moves, activate certain abilities, and even hinder opponents. Knowing how to use these elements to your advantage is crucial for building a competitive team and outsmarting your opponents. Let’s dive into the various weather conditions in Cobblemon, the Cobblemon and moves that thrive under these conditions, and how to counter weather-based strategies.
Types of Weather in Cobblemon
1. Sunny Weather
Sunny weather, often triggered by moves like Sunny Day or abilities like Drought, boosts Fire-type moves and empowers Grass-types, while weakening Water-type moves.
- Boosted Moves: Fire-type moves like Flamethrower, Fire Blast, and Heat Wave all receive a 50% power boost. Grass-types can take full advantage of Solar Beam, which usually requires a turn to charge but can be used instantly in sunny conditions.
- Weakened Moves: Water-type moves, such as Surf and Hydro Pump, lose 50% of their power under sunny weather, which can drastically reduce the effectiveness of Water-type Cobblemon.
Cobblemon with Beneficial Abilities:
- Solar Power increases Special Attack during sunny weather, though it comes at the cost of some HP. Cobblemon like Charizard can become even more powerful under these conditions.
- Chlorophyll doubles the Speed of Grass-type Cobblemon, like Venusaur, during sunny weather, making them incredibly fast and hard to outspeed.
Example Moves for Sunny Weather:
- Solar Beam (Grass-type): No charging needed, making it a powerful instant move in sunny weather.
- Flare Blitz (Fire-type): The added Fire-type boost makes this already powerful move even more deadly.
Strategy Tips:
- A sun-focused team should prioritize Fire- and Grass-type Cobblemon. Try leading with a Cobblemon that has Drought, like Ninetales or Torkoal, to set the sun automatically, and follow with Fire- or Grass-types that can sweep through your opponent's team.
- You can also use moves like Morning Sun and Synthesis, which heal more HP in sunny weather, to keep your Cobblemon healthy.
2. Rainy Weather
Rainy weather, triggered by moves like Rain Dance or abilities like Drizzle, is a paradise for Water-type Cobblemon, powering up their moves and giving certain Cobblemon a significant speed boost.
- Boosted Moves: Water-type moves like Hydro Pump, Surf, and Scald become 50% stronger. The accuracy of Thunder, which normally has a chance to miss, becomes perfect during rain, making it a deadly choice for Electric-types.
- Weakened Moves: Fire-type moves lose 50% of their power under rain, which can drastically reduce the effectiveness of Fire-type Cobblemon.
Cobblemon with Beneficial Abilities:
- Swift Swim doubles the Speed of Cobblemon like Kingdra and Ludicolo, making them incredibly fast and difficult to counter in rain.
- Rain Dish heals a small amount of HP every turn during rain, giving Cobblemon like Ludicolo extra durability in battle.
Example Moves for Rainy Weather:
- Thunder (Electric-type): Gains perfect accuracy during rain, turning this risky move into a reliable powerhouse.
- Hydro Pump (Water-type): Already strong, this move becomes even more destructive in the rain.
Strategy Tips:
- A rain-focused team can be built around Water-types with Drizzle, like Pelipper or Politoed, to automatically summon rain, and follow up with fast, powerful Water-type attackers like Kingdra or Ludicolo.
- Rain can also be used defensively to weaken Fire-type attacks that would otherwise threaten your team.
3. Hail
Hailstorms are an Ice-type Cobblemon’s best friend, causing residual damage to all non-Ice-type Cobblemon at the end of each turn and boosting the accuracy of Blizzard.
- Residual Damage: Hail deals damage to all Cobblemon that are not Ice-type at the end of each turn. This can help wear down your opponent’s team over time while your Ice-types remain unscathed.
- Move Boost: The move Blizzard hits with perfect accuracy during hail, turning it into a reliable nuke.
Cobblemon with Beneficial Abilities:
- Snow Warning, an ability possessed by Cobblemon like Alolan Ninetales, automatically summons hail upon entering the battlefield, making it easier to keep hail active.
- Ice Body heals Ice-type Cobblemon at the end of every turn during hail, giving them extra longevity.
Example Moves for Hail:
- Blizzard (Ice-type): Gains perfect accuracy in hail, making it a devastating move with high damage potential.
- Aurora Veil (Ice-type): Reduces damage from physical and special moves for five turns but can only be used in hail.
Strategy Tips:
- A hail team should be centered around Ice-types that can take full advantage of the weather, such as Alolan Ninetales or Glaceon.
- Using Aurora Veil in hail gives your team both offensive and defensive boosts, making it difficult for your opponent to break through your defenses.
4. Sandstorm
Sandstorms benefit Rock, Ground, and Steel-types by boosting their defenses and dealing residual damage to opponents that don’t resist it.
- Residual Damage: Just like hail, sandstorms cause residual damage to all non-Rock, Ground, or Steel-type Cobblemon.
- Stat Boosts: Rock-types receive a 50% boost to their Special Defense during sandstorms, making them much bulkier against special attacks.
Cobblemon with Beneficial Abilities:
- Sand Stream (like Tyranitar) automatically triggers a sandstorm when entering battle, ensuring your team always has the weather advantage.
- Sand Veil increases Evasion in a sandstorm, making Cobblemon like Garchomp harder to hit.
Example Moves for Sandstorm:
- Stone Edge (Rock-type): The increased Special Defense from sandstorm can make it easier for Rock-types to survive long enough to land this high-power, high-critical-hit-ratio move.
- Earthquake (Ground-type): This strong, reliable move can be spammed while your Rock- and Ground-type Cobblemon take advantage of the defensive boost from sandstorms.
Strategy Tips:
- A sandstorm team can revolve around Rock-types like Tyranitar and Excadrill, who become stronger and bulkier in a sandstorm.
- Utilize moves like Stealth Rock to chip away at your opponent’s Cobblemon as they switch in and out, making it harder for them to keep their team healthy.
How to Counter Weather-Based Teams
While weather can be a powerful tool, it’s important to know how to counter opponents who rely on these conditions. Here are a few strategies for dealing with weather teams:
- Change the Weather: Moves like Rain Dance or Sunny Day can quickly neutralize your opponent's weather advantage. Cobblemon with abilities like Cloud Nine can also negate weather effects entirely, giving you control over the battlefield.
- Use Cobblemon with Weather Immunities: Cobblemon that are naturally immune to weather effects, like Ice-types during hail or Rock-types during sandstorms, can mitigate the damage and turn the tables on weather teams.
- Hold Off on the Battle: Certain weather conditions, like sandstorms or hail, cause gradual damage over time. Stall tactics, such as healing or protecting, can buy time while your opponent's team takes damage every turn.
Conclusion
Weather conditions in Cobblemon battles add depth and strategy that can greatly influence the outcome of a match. By understanding how to harness the power of the elements and counter opponents who use them, you can gain the upper hand in battle. Whether you're summoning the sun to boost your Fire-type moves or unleashing a sandstorm to wear down your opponent's team, mastering weather mechanics is key to becoming a top-tier Cobblemon trainer.