ADV LC Lotad

Lotad: Ascend to Godhood

Lotad @ Miracle Seed
Ability: Swift Swim
Level: 5
EVs: 196 HP / 124 SpA / 116 Spe
Modest Nature
- Rain Dance
- Giga Drain
- Surf
- Ice Beam

Lotad looks to be the perfect water counter. It 4x resists water meaning it won't take damage from even the strongest water attack.

Wailmer Water Spout (150 BP) vs. Lotad: 5-7 (21.7 - 30.4%) -- 98.1% chance to 4HKO

Not only that, but it takes neutral damage from Electric, Grass and Ice, the three types often used for Water coverage. Its special bulk is decent and its slow without swift swim, meaning it can take a hit from a water type then heal it completely with giga drain.

Wailmer Ice Beam vs. Lotad: 11-13 (47.8 - 56.5%) -- 75% chance to 2HKO
Miracle Seed Lotad Giga Drain vs. Wailmer: 22-26 (73.3 - 86.6%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

As you can see, it can do massive damage to Wailmer, and Wailmer does literally no damage to it, as all damage it deals is entirely healed by Giga Drain. Thanks to this healing ability, Lotad doesn't need a sitrus berry, meaning it can instead use Miracle Seed to heal even more. Factor in the Miracle Seed and Stab, and Giga Drain has a Base Power of almost 100. Even Chinchou is terrified of this thing.

Chinchou Thunderbolt vs. Lotad: 16-19 (69.5 - 82.6%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
Miracle Seed Lotad Giga Drain vs. Chinchou: 20-24 (83.3 - 100%) -- 6.3% chance to OHKO

Sure, you may not have finished Chinchou and it now may not have much health to drain after its next Tbolt, but that's where Diglett comes in to partner with Lotad. chou is forced to Thunderbolt as you're at full health again and nothing else will do much damage, but you can then send in diglett and easily kill it.

The only water type that can OHKO Lotad is Clamperl with its DST Ice Beam, but Lotad outspeeds it and can OHKO it with giga drain.

Not only does Lotad take out other water types, it can also use their momentum against them

Horsea Ice Beam vs. Lotad: 11-13 (47.8 - 56.5%) -- 75% chance to 2HKO
Miracle Seed Lotad Giga Drain vs. Horsea: 25-30 (113.6 - 136.3%) -- guaranteed OHKO

You can send in Lotad on the turn Horsea sets up rain, take 2 damage from Ice Beam while killing Horsea thanks to leeching it, and then use the rain yourself to wreak havoc. Lotad may not be the best Swift Swim user, but it's still solid. The spread I gave it ensures it hits 22 speed in rain thus outspeeding everything unboosted. And it does nice damage too.

Lotad Surf vs. Elekid in Rain: 17-21 (80.9 - 100%) -- 6.3% chance to OHKO
Lotad Surf vs. Doduo in Rain: 21-25 (105 - 125%) -- guaranteed OHKO
Lotad Surf vs. Snubbull in Rain: 18-22 (72 - 88%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

However, Lotad has less physical bulk and won't be taking hits. You need to use it for taking on the many water types popular in ADV LC, not just have it go at whatever it can. If you're in rain, go for it. But some physical attackers can one shot it.

Snubbull Return vs. Lotad: 22-27 (95.6 - 117.3%) -- 93.8% chance to OHKO

Luckily, giga drain does massive damage to ground and rock types, and almost all of them are slow and Lotad resists earthquake, meaning you can still have lotad attack them and kill them first. You won't outspeed Onix though, so watch out.

Diglett is the omnipresent threat of ADV LC, and it can OHKO Lotad easily with HP Bug, so it's reccomended that unless the opponent's diglett is dead, you know they don't have any, or you're in rain, you don't KO with Lotad as Diglett can easily come in and kill it.

Lotad looks like it could be a major contender in ADV LC, so I hope we can get some testing going for it and see if it rises through the ranks.