I've been looking around on various RMTs, and a couple battles on the Skarmbliss VGC server, And I realized that mainly everyone tends to use essentially the same strategy. So, because I was bored, I decided to try and make a team that counters all of these, and so far I feel it looks decently well.Unfortunately, I don't think the VGC ever bothered to come to Canada, or I never knew where it was, so I can't actually use this many places, but nonetheless, tell me what you think.
TEAM AT A GLANCE
Doesn't look much different, does it? A Key point to this team is it being so similar to most others, you don't expect it to be an almost perfect counter to yours.Nonetheless....
IN DEPTH
Thundurus (M) @ Electric Gem
Trait: Prankster
EVs: 6 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Thunderbolt
- Hidden Power [Water]
- Taunt
- Focus Blast
Often One of My starters. Priority Taunt shuts down Tailwinders and Trick Roomers, While HP Water does around 90% damage to Terrakion and Chandelure without Sp.Defense Investment, putting two of VGCs Top threats to conditions making them unable to sweep well It also deals significant damage to less seen pokemon such as golurk.While HP Ice may be more usable, I can't really change his IV's.Focus Blast simply does good damage to several pokemon such as Hydreigon that can threaten my team. Thunderbolt is STAB.
Conkeldurr (M) @ Flame Orb
Trait: Guts
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 6 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Wide Guard
- Mach Punch
- Facade
- Rock Slide
An occasional starter, but not too often. Essentially a basic Conkledurr, just with Wide Guard because of all the Earthquakes and Rock Slides running around, which will become useless for that turn, giving my partner a chance to take out one or two pokemon at the time. And Facade gives me near perfect neutral coverage. Guts'ed mach punch has the possibility to OHKO pokemon such as hydreigon and Terrakion, so I don't have to use Hammer arm/Drain Punch.
Terrakion @ Chople Berry
Trait: Justified
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature
- Close Combat
- Quick Attack
- Rock Slide
- Earthquake
Also a Basic Terrakion. My Whimsicott doesn't carry Beat up, but his already impressive attack doesn't need a serious boost to it to cause damage.You should know what kind of damage Terrakion can cause with this.
Whimsicott (M) @ Mental Herb
Trait: Prankster
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Fake Tears
- Tickle
- Protect
- Energy Ball
Always a useful member of any team. Fake tears+Special Attack=dead Pokemon. Tickle+Physical Attack=Also dead pokemon.Priority on Tickle and Fake tears is just amazing,and Energy Ball is for coverage(albeit very little) and because I couldn't think of any other Status moves to put on him. Taunt is a possible replacement for Protect.Protect is also a moveslot possibility over Shadow Ball.The herb that prevents Taunting and Encore is also an item I may possibly use to replace Brightpowder, which is only there for hax.Mental Herb prevents Him from being taunted before letting loose a tickle or fake tears, most likely OHKO-ingthe taunting pokemon.
Chandelure (M) @ Choice Scarf
Trait: Flash Fire
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spe
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Overheat
- Heat Wave
- Shadow Ball
- Energy Ball
Choice Scarf on Chandy is again pretty standard, But scarfed Overheat is the only thing on my team that can easily take out Tornadus.Heat Wave is there for double attacking support in concoction with whimsicott and fake tears. Energy Ball is because my chandelure has hidden power ghost(Completely worthless>_>) So energy ball provides attempted coverage.
Mienshao (M) @ Salac Berry/Normal Gem
Trait: Inner Focus
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Endure
- Reversal
- Feint
- Stone Edge
A bit of a gimmick set here.an endrevver to start, I don't know if salac berry is considered legal in VGC though, so Normal gem is there to increase Feint's power. Speaking of which, feint is because not only is mienshao the only 5th gen pokemon that learns it, far too many pokemon in doubles use protect. Stone Edge takes care of various flying types that could be encountered.
EDIT:Thanks to Lucien Lachance & Muffinhead for the tips, but after a little more testing, I realize I have a rather big weakness to Water Spouting Jellicent, at least because I often encounter it while paired with Rage Powder Amoongus. Any Ideas?
So, What do you think?My attempt to counter 4 of the most common VGC strategies, I feel I at least did decently, but thatt's what I think about my own team, so that doesn't really count.
TEAM AT A GLANCE
Doesn't look much different, does it? A Key point to this team is it being so similar to most others, you don't expect it to be an almost perfect counter to yours.Nonetheless....
IN DEPTH
Thundurus (M) @ Electric Gem
Trait: Prankster
EVs: 6 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Thunderbolt
- Hidden Power [Water]
- Taunt
- Focus Blast
Often One of My starters. Priority Taunt shuts down Tailwinders and Trick Roomers, While HP Water does around 90% damage to Terrakion and Chandelure without Sp.Defense Investment, putting two of VGCs Top threats to conditions making them unable to sweep well It also deals significant damage to less seen pokemon such as golurk.While HP Ice may be more usable, I can't really change his IV's.Focus Blast simply does good damage to several pokemon such as Hydreigon that can threaten my team. Thunderbolt is STAB.
Conkeldurr (M) @ Flame Orb
Trait: Guts
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 6 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Wide Guard
- Mach Punch
- Facade
- Rock Slide
An occasional starter, but not too often. Essentially a basic Conkledurr, just with Wide Guard because of all the Earthquakes and Rock Slides running around, which will become useless for that turn, giving my partner a chance to take out one or two pokemon at the time. And Facade gives me near perfect neutral coverage. Guts'ed mach punch has the possibility to OHKO pokemon such as hydreigon and Terrakion, so I don't have to use Hammer arm/Drain Punch.
Terrakion @ Chople Berry
Trait: Justified
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature
- Close Combat
- Quick Attack
- Rock Slide
- Earthquake
Also a Basic Terrakion. My Whimsicott doesn't carry Beat up, but his already impressive attack doesn't need a serious boost to it to cause damage.You should know what kind of damage Terrakion can cause with this.
Whimsicott (M) @ Mental Herb
Trait: Prankster
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Fake Tears
- Tickle
- Protect
- Energy Ball
Always a useful member of any team. Fake tears+Special Attack=dead Pokemon. Tickle+Physical Attack=Also dead pokemon.Priority on Tickle and Fake tears is just amazing,and Energy Ball is for coverage(albeit very little) and because I couldn't think of any other Status moves to put on him. Taunt is a possible replacement for Protect.Protect is also a moveslot possibility over Shadow Ball.The herb that prevents Taunting and Encore is also an item I may possibly use to replace Brightpowder, which is only there for hax.Mental Herb prevents Him from being taunted before letting loose a tickle or fake tears, most likely OHKO-ingthe taunting pokemon.
Chandelure (M) @ Choice Scarf
Trait: Flash Fire
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spe
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Overheat
- Heat Wave
- Shadow Ball
- Energy Ball
Choice Scarf on Chandy is again pretty standard, But scarfed Overheat is the only thing on my team that can easily take out Tornadus.Heat Wave is there for double attacking support in concoction with whimsicott and fake tears. Energy Ball is because my chandelure has hidden power ghost(Completely worthless>_>) So energy ball provides attempted coverage.
Mienshao (M) @ Salac Berry/Normal Gem
Trait: Inner Focus
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Endure
- Reversal
- Feint
- Stone Edge
A bit of a gimmick set here.an endrevver to start, I don't know if salac berry is considered legal in VGC though, so Normal gem is there to increase Feint's power. Speaking of which, feint is because not only is mienshao the only 5th gen pokemon that learns it, far too many pokemon in doubles use protect. Stone Edge takes care of various flying types that could be encountered.
EDIT:Thanks to Lucien Lachance & Muffinhead for the tips, but after a little more testing, I realize I have a rather big weakness to Water Spouting Jellicent, at least because I often encounter it while paired with Rage Powder Amoongus. Any Ideas?
So, What do you think?My attempt to counter 4 of the most common VGC strategies, I feel I at least did decently, but thatt's what I think about my own team, so that doesn't really count.