After browsing Smogon for a while, I appropriated the idea of a school-based Gym Leader challenge from some threads that vaguely mentioned it. A few of my friends have taken up the mantles of monotypes such as Bug, Ground, and Electric, but I chose an (arguably) more difficult monotype-- Normal. With no offensive strengths to it's STAB, plus two resistances and an immunity, a team composed entirely of Normal pokemon proved to be pretty challenging (not as bad as Poison monotype, amirite?). This is also my first ever post on Smogon, so if I screw up the formatting, I apologize in advance.
Anywho, down to the good stuff- i.e., the part where you tell me how bad my team is and how to make it any less shitty.
Anywho, down to the good stuff- i.e., the part where you tell me how bad my team is and how to make it any less shitty.
NOTE: WILD CARDS ARE NOT ALLOWED. PLEASE DO NOT MENTION ANY POKEMON THAT DOES NOT HAVE THE WORD "NORMAL" IN EITHER OF IT'S TYPINGS.
The Anti-Lead
Brombipom
Ambipom @ Life Orb
4HP / 252Atk / 252Spe
Ability: Technician
Nature: Jolly
Moves
Fake Out
Taunt
U-Turn
Pursuit
This little guy kicks major ass in and out of OU (why he is considered inferior to other anti-leads, I'll never know). The concept is simple enough (this is his standard set, after all)-- Fake Out for free damage (90 BP with STAB and Technician, if I calculated properly) and to break Sashes on Pokemon like Roserade, etc. Follow up with Taunt if it's something you predict to be able to handle. If it's something that isn't offensively powerful enough to OHKO Pory (which should be next to nothing without boosts), or if it's a physical attacker that requires boosts to get moving (i.e., most physical sweepers), U-Turn out to either Porygon2 or Lopunny depending on whether you want to play it safe or go for an early sweep.
The Big Guns
Brosaring
Ursaring @ Flame Orb
252Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Ability: Guts
Nature: Jolly
Moves
Swords Dance
Facade
Crunch
Close Combat/Earthquake
Ursaring is a monster. After considering Snorlax for the spot because of his immense special bulk, I realized my team was low on sweepers, so I slashed Lax and put in Ursaring. He has yet to dissapoint me-- after a Swords Dance and Guts boost, his Attack reaches 1017 after a single turn of setup. If you don't OHKO everything that doesn't resist the listed moveset, UR DOIN IT WRONG. Close Combat is probably the superior decision due to coverage of defensive types like Steel and Rock and strong offensive types like Dark, Ice, and opposing Normals. Earthquake is for super-effective Electric coverage, but given that most Electric types either have dual typing that allowed a super effective hit or thin defenses, Ursaring with Close Combat is the best choice. The strategy here is to get Lopunny to Baton Pass an Agility and a Substitute after Burning their physical sweeper and SD'ing up, then sweeping until your own burn cuts short your sweep.
Gay Little Fairy Boy
Brogekiss
Togekiss @ Life Orb
4HP / 252SpAtk / 252Spe
Ability: Serene Grace
Nature: Timid/Modest
Moves
Nasty Plot
Air Slash
Aura Sphere
Roost
Switch in on something Snorlax isn't too comfortable with initially or on a predicted Earthquake/Shadow Ball and Nasty Plot up, then use Air Slash or Aura Sphere depending on typing. As far as I know, Flying/Fighting offers perfect coverage (or very close to it), and there's not much that can handle a STAB Air Slash crit coming off a 744 (assuming you ran a Modest nature) Sp. Atk stat. If you can get off another Nasty Plot, it's GG for the opponent. Roost is to heal off Life Orb recoil and whatever hits you may take. I have some Speed problems with this guy sometimes, but that's nothing a little Paralysis support can't help with. Speaking of which...
Obligatory Wall
Brorygon2
Porygon2 @ Eviolite
252 HP / 128 Def / 132 SpDef
Nature: Bold
Ability: Trace
Moves
Thunderbolt/Swagger
Ice Beam
Thunder Wave
Recover
Eviolite is, without a doubt, the coolest thing to be introduced this generation. When Pory packs this bitch, both of his defenses skyrocket into the 400-ish range (Sp. Def is just shy of the 400 mark). Anything that can't kill this thing outright (i.e., nothing without a few boosts under it's belt) will be bitchslapped with some delicious Paralysis, which makes everything in the game fodder for a Togekiss sweep. Not only can Pory slow folks down though-- he can also do some decent damage himself using the infamous BoltBeam combo. Swagger is an option to induce confusion and piss people off even more, but it's very risky due to the +2 attack that comes with it. If you're running Swagger, make sure you use it on a special attacker that comes into Pory expecting a round of free boosts and bring in Togekiss to set up.
Supportalicious
Bropunny
Lopunny @ Flame Orb
252HP / 4Def / 252Spe
Nature: Jolly
Ability: Klutz
Moves
Agility
Substitute
Baton Pass
Switcheroo
Ah, I found my replacement for Meloetta-Piroutte! Lopunny is fast, has usable defenses, and probably one of the most incredible and diverse support movepools I've ever seen. The idea here is to Switcheroo her Flame Orb (which will not burn her due to Klutz, her unique ability) to a key physical sweeper or revenge killer on the opposing team, Substitute on the switch, allowing her to set up a free agility, and then Baton Passing that Agility to either Cinccino or Togekiss. I haven't playtested this set on Pokelab yet, but it works wonders when I use it against friends on my retail cartridge.
The Philanthropist (pronounced fuhl-on-ray-pist)
Broccino
Cinccino @ Life Orb
4HP / 252Atk / 252Spe
Nature: Adamant/Jolly
Ability: Skill Link
Moves
Tail Slap
Rock Blast
Bullet Seed
U-Turn
Oh, man. This guy. Nobody ever sees it coming: cute, fluffy little chinchilla comes out and everyone is like "wtf is this shit I see". Then the cute, fluffy chinchilla says "sup guys, just gonna smack your shit around with my 187.5 BP Tail Slap coming off a 317 Attack if you don't mind". Yes, you read correctly. With Skill Link and STAB, the equation look something like: (25*1.5) * 5 = 187.5. While Tail Slap is preferable, Rock Blast and Bullet Seed, both of which clock in at 125 BP are here for coverage, and U-Turn is to make a hasty escape when the opponent brings something in that you don't expect to be able to handle with Cinccino's relatively brittle defenses.
Please, feel free to offer suggestions, revamps of movesets, EV changes, and complete replacements. I'm open to anything you have to say, as I'm comparitively new on the competitive battling scene and don't completely and absolutely understand all game mechanics quite yet.
The Anti-Lead
Brombipom
Ambipom @ Life Orb
4HP / 252Atk / 252Spe
Ability: Technician
Nature: Jolly
Moves
Fake Out
Taunt
U-Turn
Pursuit
This little guy kicks major ass in and out of OU (why he is considered inferior to other anti-leads, I'll never know). The concept is simple enough (this is his standard set, after all)-- Fake Out for free damage (90 BP with STAB and Technician, if I calculated properly) and to break Sashes on Pokemon like Roserade, etc. Follow up with Taunt if it's something you predict to be able to handle. If it's something that isn't offensively powerful enough to OHKO Pory (which should be next to nothing without boosts), or if it's a physical attacker that requires boosts to get moving (i.e., most physical sweepers), U-Turn out to either Porygon2 or Lopunny depending on whether you want to play it safe or go for an early sweep.
The Big Guns
Brosaring
Ursaring @ Flame Orb
252Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Ability: Guts
Nature: Jolly
Moves
Swords Dance
Facade
Crunch
Close Combat/Earthquake
Ursaring is a monster. After considering Snorlax for the spot because of his immense special bulk, I realized my team was low on sweepers, so I slashed Lax and put in Ursaring. He has yet to dissapoint me-- after a Swords Dance and Guts boost, his Attack reaches 1017 after a single turn of setup. If you don't OHKO everything that doesn't resist the listed moveset, UR DOIN IT WRONG. Close Combat is probably the superior decision due to coverage of defensive types like Steel and Rock and strong offensive types like Dark, Ice, and opposing Normals. Earthquake is for super-effective Electric coverage, but given that most Electric types either have dual typing that allowed a super effective hit or thin defenses, Ursaring with Close Combat is the best choice. The strategy here is to get Lopunny to Baton Pass an Agility and a Substitute after Burning their physical sweeper and SD'ing up, then sweeping until your own burn cuts short your sweep.
Gay Little Fairy Boy
Brogekiss
Togekiss @ Life Orb
4HP / 252SpAtk / 252Spe
Ability: Serene Grace
Nature: Timid/Modest
Moves
Nasty Plot
Air Slash
Aura Sphere
Roost
Switch in on something Snorlax isn't too comfortable with initially or on a predicted Earthquake/Shadow Ball and Nasty Plot up, then use Air Slash or Aura Sphere depending on typing. As far as I know, Flying/Fighting offers perfect coverage (or very close to it), and there's not much that can handle a STAB Air Slash crit coming off a 744 (assuming you ran a Modest nature) Sp. Atk stat. If you can get off another Nasty Plot, it's GG for the opponent. Roost is to heal off Life Orb recoil and whatever hits you may take. I have some Speed problems with this guy sometimes, but that's nothing a little Paralysis support can't help with. Speaking of which...
Obligatory Wall
Brorygon2
Porygon2 @ Eviolite
252 HP / 128 Def / 132 SpDef
Nature: Bold
Ability: Trace
Moves
Thunderbolt/Swagger
Ice Beam
Thunder Wave
Recover
Eviolite is, without a doubt, the coolest thing to be introduced this generation. When Pory packs this bitch, both of his defenses skyrocket into the 400-ish range (Sp. Def is just shy of the 400 mark). Anything that can't kill this thing outright (i.e., nothing without a few boosts under it's belt) will be bitchslapped with some delicious Paralysis, which makes everything in the game fodder for a Togekiss sweep. Not only can Pory slow folks down though-- he can also do some decent damage himself using the infamous BoltBeam combo. Swagger is an option to induce confusion and piss people off even more, but it's very risky due to the +2 attack that comes with it. If you're running Swagger, make sure you use it on a special attacker that comes into Pory expecting a round of free boosts and bring in Togekiss to set up.
Supportalicious
Bropunny
Lopunny @ Flame Orb
252HP / 4Def / 252Spe
Nature: Jolly
Ability: Klutz
Moves
Agility
Substitute
Baton Pass
Switcheroo
Ah, I found my replacement for Meloetta-Piroutte! Lopunny is fast, has usable defenses, and probably one of the most incredible and diverse support movepools I've ever seen. The idea here is to Switcheroo her Flame Orb (which will not burn her due to Klutz, her unique ability) to a key physical sweeper or revenge killer on the opposing team, Substitute on the switch, allowing her to set up a free agility, and then Baton Passing that Agility to either Cinccino or Togekiss. I haven't playtested this set on Pokelab yet, but it works wonders when I use it against friends on my retail cartridge.
The Philanthropist (pronounced fuhl-on-ray-pist)
Broccino
Cinccino @ Life Orb
4HP / 252Atk / 252Spe
Nature: Adamant/Jolly
Ability: Skill Link
Moves
Tail Slap
Rock Blast
Bullet Seed
U-Turn
Oh, man. This guy. Nobody ever sees it coming: cute, fluffy little chinchilla comes out and everyone is like "wtf is this shit I see". Then the cute, fluffy chinchilla says "sup guys, just gonna smack your shit around with my 187.5 BP Tail Slap coming off a 317 Attack if you don't mind". Yes, you read correctly. With Skill Link and STAB, the equation look something like: (25*1.5) * 5 = 187.5. While Tail Slap is preferable, Rock Blast and Bullet Seed, both of which clock in at 125 BP are here for coverage, and U-Turn is to make a hasty escape when the opponent brings something in that you don't expect to be able to handle with Cinccino's relatively brittle defenses.
Please, feel free to offer suggestions, revamps of movesets, EV changes, and complete replacements. I'm open to anything you have to say, as I'm comparitively new on the competitive battling scene and don't completely and absolutely understand all game mechanics quite yet.
