Singin' in the Rain: Lapras

Today, I'll be talking about a Pokémon that can work particularly well on rain-based weather teams...and that Pokémon is Lapras. I considered doing a "Competitive Pokémon of the Week" for this peaceful beast, but I thought that, because I'll be using one on my first-ever rain team, I might as well talk about how Lapras can be used very effectively in that weather condition.

1. Lapras can use Rain Dance, and generally not be too affected by using its first turn in this way.
If you have a rain team, you obviously need rain! Unless you happen to have a Politoed with Drizzle (or are using a Kyogre, in which case everything will end up fainting just because...it's a Kyogre!) you'll need to get the rain started. While a multitude of Pokémon can learn Rain Dance, you'll probably want whatever uses Rain Dance to not take a lot of damage in the first turn. Lapras' Defense and HP stats are hearty enough to where it will probably be just fine even if it needs to set up the rain.

2. Even if it does take a lot of damage in the first turn, Hydration can easily fix that. OR: Even if it does take a lot of damage, Hydration can easily fix that.
Having a Lapras with Hydration and Rest is a wonderful combination. Hydration heals any status conditions Lapras has-- provided that it's raining-- meaning that your Lapras can close their eyes, take a brief nap, and then wake up the next turn with full HP.

3. Lapras has Perish Song, and that is why this is called "Singin' in the Rain."
Lapras' ability to use Perish Song makes it incredibly dangerous as a foe in the rain. Why? Provided that you have another Pokémon Lapras can switch out to, whatever is fighting your Lapras-- even if it's difficult to KO-- can easily be defeated. How?
1. Have a Lapras equipped with Perish Song and another Pokémon equipped with a binding move (or, if you're willing to use eugenics, a Lapras equipped with Whirlpool).
2. Send out the Pokémon with the binding move (or, in Doubles, just use the binding move) and use it.
3. Send out Lapras (or, in Doubles, just use the move) and use Perish Song.
4. Switch out Lapras to another Pokémon.
5. Whatever is trapped in the binding move will faint in three turns provided that it does not become untrapped.

4. It's a Water/Ice type.
This is fun for a whole variety of reasons; mostly that you can down dragons and Grass-types with relative ease before they do serious damage to your team.

Will your Lapras sing in the rain?

(Via thvbh.wordpress.com.)