Pokémon Weather Effects & Competitive Strategies

Weather Overview

Weather is a battle mechanic in Pokémon games that modifies various aspects of a Pokémon battle, similar to terrains. Weather effects last for 5 turns (or 8 turns if the Pokémon activating it holds the item Damp Rock for rain, Heat Rock for sun, Smooth Rock for sandstorm, or Icy Rock for snow). When a new weather condition is set, it replaces the existing one. Weather is activated by specific moves or abilities and affects all Pokémon on the field, though some effects are type-specific. Here are all the primary weather effects:

• Sunlight (Harsh Sunlight): Boosts the power of Fire-type moves by 50% and reduces the power of Water-type moves by 50%. Halves the accuracy of Thunder and Hurricane. Causes Solar Beam and Solar Blade to execute in one turn. Activates abilities like Chlorophyll and Leaf Guard.
• Rain (Rain Dance): Boosts the power of Water-type moves by 50% and reduces the power of Fire-type moves by 50%. Guarantees accuracy for Thunder and Hurricane. Activates abilities like Swift Swim and Rain Dish.
• Sandstorm: Deals 1/16 of max HP damage each turn to all non-Rock, Ground, or Steel-type Pokémon. Boosts the Special Defense of Rock-type Pokémon by 50%. Activates abilities like Sand Rush and Sand Force.
• Snow: Boosts the Defense of Ice-type Pokémon by 50%. Activates abilities like Ice Body and Slush Rush. (Note: Snow replaced Hail in Generation IX. Hail did damage over time and did not boost Defense)

Weather Strategy

Weather adds a significant strategic layer to Pokémon battles, particularly in competitive play. Understanding how to utilize and counter it can be key to victory.

• Offensive Boosts: Both Sunlight and Rain provide a 50% boost to specific types' moves, making Pokémon of those types, or those with moves of those types, excellent offensive threats under the right weather. For example, a Water-type attacker under Rain has both STAB and weather bonus for a 1.5 (STAB) * 1.5 (Weather) = 2.25 damage multipier.
• Defensive and Support Benefits: Sandstorm provides a valuable Special Defense boost to Rock-type Pokémon, making them incredibly tanky. Snow can offer passive recovery for Ice-type Pokémon (via Ice Body) and significantly boosts their Defense.
• Ability Activation: Many abilities are designed to synergize with specific weather conditions. For example, Swift Swim doubles a Pokémon's Speed in Rain. Chlorophyll does the same for Grass-types in Sunlight.
• Move Interactions: Certain moves have altered effects under specific weather. Solar Beam and Solar Blade become one-turn moves in Sunlight, while Thunder and Hurricane gain perfect accuracy in Rain.
• Weather control: Competitive battles often involve weather control where both players try to set their preferred weather to gain an advantage. This often involves strategic switching of Pokémon with weather-setting abilities. The lowest speed stat of the Pokémon setting the weather determines which weather ultimately takes effect if multiple are set in the same turn.

• Weather-Specific Items: Items like Damp Rock, Heat Rock, Smooth Rock, and Icy Rock extend the duration of their respective weather conditions from 5 to 8 turns, allowing for more sustained strategies.
• Counterplay: Just as important as setting your own weather is the ability to counter an opponent's. This can involve switching in your own weather setter to override theirs, or having Pokémon that are unaffected by the damaging effects of Sandstorm (e.g., Rock, Ground, Steel types or those with abilities like Magic Guard). Using moves like Cloud Nine or Air Lock can also temporarily nullify weather effects.

The History of Weather in Pokémon

Weather mechanics have been a part of Pokémon battles since early generations, evolving and expanding their strategic depth over time.

Generation I (Red, Green, Blue, Yellow) - Basic Weather Moves

• Rain Dance and Sunny Day were introduced as moves that could alter the weather for a few turns. These were primarily used for specific move interactions (e.g., boosting STAB moves).

Generation II (Gold, Silver, Crystal) - Introduction of Permanent Weather Abilities

• Sandstorm was introduced as a move and a damaging weather condition.

Generation III (Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald) - Expansion of Weather Abilities and Effects

• Abilities like Drizzle (Pelipper) and Drought (Groudon) were introduced that set the weather upon entering battle. These were permanent weather effects until another weather was set, greatly increasing their strategic impact.
• Weather-dependent abilities like Swift Swim, Chlorophyll, and Sand Veil were introduced, further deepening the synergy between Pokémon and weather.
• Items like Damp Rock, Heat Rock, Smooth Rock, and Icy Rock were introduced to extend weather duration of a move when held.

Generation IV (Diamond, Pearl, Platinum) - Refinement and Balance

• The mechanics of existing weather effects were refined. The permanent weather abilities (Drizzle, Drought, Sand Stream, Snow Warning) were particularly dominant in competitive play.

Generation V (Black, White, Black 2, White 2) - Weather wars and Power Creep

• The power of permanent weather teams became a significant force in competitive Pokémon, leading to what was often referred to as "weather wars" due to the overwhelming offensive presence of teams built around these abilities.

Generation VI (X, Y) - Nerf to Permanent Weather

• The duration of weather set by abilities like Drizzle, Drought, Sand Stream, and Snow Warning was reduced from permanent to 5 turns (or 8 turns with the respective weather-extending items). This was a balancing effort to reduce the dominance of weather teams.

Generation VII (Sun, Moon) - Further Weather-Related Abilities

• New abilities like Drought (Torkoal) and Drizzle (Pelipper) were given to more accessible Pokémon, and new weather-dependent abilities continued to be introduced.

Generation VIII (Sword, Shield) - Dynamax Interaction

• Weather effects interacted with the Dynamax mechanic, with some Max moves having the ability to set weather.

Generation IX (Scarlet, Violet) - Hail replaced by Snow

• Hail was replaced by Snow. Unlike Hail, Snow does not deal damage over time to non-Ice-type Pokémon. Instead, it provides a 50% Defense boost to Ice-type Pokémon.