Decade of Statues
Introduction: This is a Generation 5 revamp of my Generation 4 team, Hearts Alive. I tried to keep the overall synergy of the old team while trying to tackle the new metagame. The goal remains unchanged: Lay down entry hazards, break down walls that otherwise are a huge detriment to my sweep, then sweep (derp).
I want to apologize in advance, as I've been out of the competitive battling circuit for a good while now and therefore only barely beginning to learn the new metagame. Any help would be appreciated. A few things had to be changed due to the fact that some Pokemon just can't do what I needed them to do anymore.
WEAKNESS
A.K.A. - TYPE CHART
A.K.A. - TYPE CHART
DECADE OF STATUES
AT A GLANCE
AT A GLANCE
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DECADE OF STATUES
A CLOSER LOOK
Tyranitar @ Lum Berry
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 252 HP / 188 Atk / 68 SDef
Nature: Brave
I originally used Skarmory as my lead on my Hearts Alive team, but looking back now I can see that I'm basically sacrificing Skarmory by giving it a Lum Berry and not leftovers when using it as a lead.
Anyway, back to Tyranitar. I love this dude for many reasons. Right off the bat, we get Sand Stream in play. I find this extremely useful in my gameplan. Most of my team is immune to Sandstorm. Stealth Rocks are a must, as I'm all about entry hazards. They make things so much easier when setting up a sweep. Pursuit is another obvious one as it's pretty easy to predict when a switch is going to be made, especially when dealing with a lead. Crunch wrecks shit, and Fire Blast wrecks Nattorei and other steel types who think they are free to switch in.
Skarmory @ Leftovers
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 252 HP / 200 Def / 56 SDef
Nature: Careful
Skarmory is another key to the team's success. Not only is it extremely spongy, able to shrug off a plethora of attacks, but it is a great user of one of my favorite moves: Spikes! With spikes down, the opponent will have to rethink that crazy switching that commonly occurs in the metagame, and that's magnified when multiple layers of spikes (And hopefully Stealth Rock as well) are down. Roost is for longevity and Whirlwind is obviously for shuffling the team around to prevent stall and to spread that lovely entry hazard damage around. Brave Bird just so I'm not stuck without an attack.
The old version of Skarmory I ran was a lead version, which I really liked as it emplored taunt. Taunt really screwed over a lot of leads. However, like I mentioned earlier, I'm not sure which is a better fit.
Gengar @ Life Orb
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Nature: Timid
Rotom-H losing it's Ghost Typing was one of the hugest blows this team took in transferring from Generation Four to Five. I didn't have a successful spinblocker anymore. I loved the bulkiness of Rotom, and I really liked Rest Talking and screwing with Will-O-Wisp. I needed someone to at least spin block for me.
That's where Gengar comes into play. Another great asset to my team and it's philosophy. Gengar is and always has been one of my favorite Pokemon since the beginning. Gengar does his job extremely well. He's an incredible offensive Spinblocker with great typing, giving it three immunities and allowing it to switch in on a variety of things. Keeping entry hazards on the field is huge for this team, as I like to force switches and get the opponent to help me out as much as possible.
Latios @ Choice Specs
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Nature: Timid
To say this thing is anything less than sweet is a ridiculous understatement. This guy is a pro at getting switches. Choice specs-boosted Draco Meteor will be able to heavily dent even the Pokemon that resist it. Offensively, Surf compliments Draco Meteor coverage-wise. Hidden Power [Fire] is for steel types that think they are safe to switch into Latios and just shrug off the expected minimal damage. Trick is great for screwing with late-game stats boosters as well as with stallers and walls such as Chansey/Blissey, Nattorei, etc.
Lucario really appreciates this dude! both Latios and Latias resist all of Lucario's weaknesses while Lucario resists all of theirs. Latios can launch off Choice Specs boosted Draco Meteors to break holes in the opposing team to help set up for a Lucario sweep.
Garchomp @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Sand Veil
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Nature: Jolly
This here is one of my favorite pokemon. Words can't describe the havoc Choice Scarf Garchomp unleashes upon the opponent's team, especially later in the game. This dude tears open the opponent's defenses and in it's wake, allows me to set up a Lucario sweep. It has some of the best typing in the game, an immunity to sand stream, an overpowered ability, and the stats, etc. to be one of -the- top revenge killers in Generation Five. It also provides a very useful immunity to Thunder Wave, which a good number of my other Pokemon hate with a passion.
It revenges Blaziken after a speed boost, Tyranitar, and others with Earthquake. Outrage is rarely used, but has it's niche at certain times, especially in the middle of the game and/or dealing with Dragon Dance and/or Mixed Salamence, Dragonite, etc. After testing Fire Blast against Stone Edge, I found the latter more useful, so naturally I went with that.
I originally had Scarf Tyranitar on my Hearts Alive team, but after some testing I've discovered it's not the same beast it was before. Garchomp's 102 Base Speed is a big "lol i trol u" to many, and I always love a good trolling.
Lucario @ Life Orb
Ability: Inner Focus
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Nature: Adamant
Ah, Lucario. One of my favorites since the beginning of Generation Four.
Unprepared teams fall to the sheer power of Lucario while even prepared teams can have difficulty if they falter. When I successfully stick to my plan and keep this dude for the later stages of the game, almost nothing can stop it.
Lucario and Latios go hand in hand. When a Tyranitar, Scizor, [Insert Pokemon that royally fucks Latios here] traps and kills Latios, Lucario steps in and is able to set up with incredible ease. With a single Swords Dance Boost, this guy goes from a beast to a one man wrecking crew. +2 Close Combat is a force to be reckoned with, while Extremespeed is generally used to kill off enemies with little health or to outspeed a pokemon that would normally be faster than Lucario.
I decided to go with Ice Punch as Gliscor, who would otherwise bring my Lucario sweep to a screeching halt. I rarely ever found myself using Crunch in a game situation in both Generation Four and Five (so far, for the latter at least), so it's the superior option.
DECADE OF STATUES
Conclusion
Well thanks for Rating My Team (or at least reading it). Please help me out as I'm still very new to this Metagame and such. The break has not been kind to me! Let me know if there's anything I should add/remove/etc. There's also some possible replacements down below.
POSSIBLE REPLACEMENTS
Possible Replacements:
Feel free to make suggestions as to whether I should implement one or more of these :)
Celebi @ Leftovers
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 252 HP / 96 Def / 124 SpDef / 36 Spe
Nature: Bold