After I went to the Houston Regional last month and got 8th place in the Senior's, My parents and I decided that we'd get to Nationals one way or another. Here's the team I used at Regional's and more than likely National's (With changes if you guys suggest them.)
Also, I cannot change the nature of any Pokemon on my team. Unless it's a completely new member. Here’s My Rockin' Sockin' BBQ Luvin' VGC'12 Team!
Garchomp (Jolly) @ Yache Berry
Sand Veil
252 Attack/252 Speed/4 HP
Garchomp was the MVP of my team at regionals, it bulldozed through most of my opponents and stayed around until the end. This Pokemon, to me, is irreplaceable.
Zapdos (Modest) @ Sitrus Berry
Pressure
140 HP/252 Sp. Attack/ 116 Spd
Thunderbolt
Heat Wave
Tailwind
Detect
My second lead is Zapdos. I chose Thunder Bolt as it hurts stuff, a lot and doesn’t damage my team.Heat Wave takes out pesky Scizors and other Pokemon that have a quadruple Fire-type weakness, and also is used as an alternate spread move in case Garchomp goes down. Tailwind is used to help make the team even more devastating. Detect is an Imprison-proof Protect.
Zapdos and Garchomp were my leads for the majority of the eight rounds at Houston, and they did their job well. I’d prefer to keep this trusty bird, but if needed, I can let it go.
Abomasnow (Timid) @ Focus Sash
Snow Warning
248 Sp Attack/ 8 HP/ 252 Speed
Blizzard
Giga Drain
Hidden Power [Ground]
Ice Shard
This Yeti-tree… thing has so much destructive potential and Weather controlling power. 100% accuracy Blizzard are already brutal, but with STAB, it wipes all of those who are weak to it. Giga Drain is an alternative STAB, which also is my main counter to Rain Teams. Hidden Power Ground is a great coverage move hit 4 of Abomasnow’s 7 weakness super-effectively. Ice Shard is priority used in Trick Room. Focus Sash allows Abomasnow to survive many attacks, particularly Fire-type moves, and then strike back with Hidden Power Ground. Also, the lack of Choice Scarf allows Abomasnow to switch Attacks if needed.
Abomasnow saw some action in Houston. In one round, It took out the majority of one of my opponents’s team. For a weather-changer, I had two choices: Tyranitar and Abomasnow. I wanted an Ice Type user anyway, so Abomasnow it was.
Chandelure (Modest) @ Choice Scarf
Flash Fire
252 Sp Attack/ 252 Speed/ 6 HP
Heat Wave
Shadow Ball
Hidden Power [Ice]
Overheat
Chandelure, the haunted fancy lighting unit. I moved the recommended EVs from HP to Speed to out speed other Chandelures and to gain a larger Tailwind boost. Heat Wave and Shadow Ball are STAB. Hidden Power is my back up Ice move if Abomasnow is down or isn’t even being used. Overheat is a new move, as it can either OHKO or severely dent the Standard EV spread (140 HP/252 Sp Attack/116 Speed) Zapdos. Choice Scarf replaced the previous item, Focus Sash, as if my Abomasnow's hail was out, the Sash would be useless. Choice Scarf allows Chandelure to hit fast and very hard.
Surprising, Chandelure did not participate in one battle at Houston. I would of used it in one battle later in the tournament, but I didn’t and lost.
Gastrodon (Bold) @ Rindo Berry
Storm Drain
252 HP/252 Defense/6 Sp Defense
Muddy Water
Ice Beam
Earth Power
Recover
Gastrodon, my answer to my team’s Ice and Rock weakness. Rain teams have worried me, too, so Gastrodon gets an even more important spot on my team. Anyway, Muddy Water is STAB. I chose it over Surf because not one of my team members are immune to it. The possible Accuracy drop is a plus, makes the opponents (maybe) rage and me (most likely) laugh. A lot. Ice Beam is coverage, while Earth Power is STAB #2. Recover is to extend life and troll my opponents. “Almost gone… NOOO!!! It HEALED!!!”
Gastrodon is a new member of my team, so he wasn’t even around at Regionals. He works pretty well on PO, though.
Hitmontop (Adamant) @ Fight Gem
Intimidate
216 HP/252 Attack/ 40 Speed
Close Combat
Fake Out
Sucker Punch
Wide Guard
I originally had a Technician-abusing Hitmontop. After getting some help and suggestions though, I decided to use a Intimidate set. A gem boosted STAB Close Combat KO’s or puts a huge dent in almost anything. Fake Out is to (potentially) stop Trick Room from going up, and to stall, annoy, and anything else Fake Out does. Sucker Punch hurts annoying Sweepers, and Wide Guard stops multi-target moves for a turn.
This Hitmontop is another new member of my team and wasn’t around during Regionals. On PO, like Gastrodon, he does a good job at what he does.
My team landed me 8th place in the Senior’s division at Houston, which is (what I believe) amazing for my first year in VGC. I was happy with how I did. Now, I am (most likely) going to National’s to compete.
Sid’s Rockin’ Sockin’ BBQ Luvin’ Team is ready to be rated, so,uh, Rate Away?
Also, I cannot change the nature of any Pokemon on my team. Unless it's a completely new member. Here’s My Rockin' Sockin' BBQ Luvin' VGC'12 Team!
Garchomp (Jolly) @ Yache Berry
Sand Veil
252 Attack/252 Speed/4 HP
- Earthquake
- Dragon Claw
- Rock Slide
- Protect
Garchomp was the MVP of my team at regionals, it bulldozed through most of my opponents and stayed around until the end. This Pokemon, to me, is irreplaceable.
Zapdos (Modest) @ Sitrus Berry
Pressure
140 HP/252 Sp. Attack/ 116 Spd
Thunderbolt
Heat Wave
Tailwind
Detect
My second lead is Zapdos. I chose Thunder Bolt as it hurts stuff, a lot and doesn’t damage my team.Heat Wave takes out pesky Scizors and other Pokemon that have a quadruple Fire-type weakness, and also is used as an alternate spread move in case Garchomp goes down. Tailwind is used to help make the team even more devastating. Detect is an Imprison-proof Protect.
Zapdos and Garchomp were my leads for the majority of the eight rounds at Houston, and they did their job well. I’d prefer to keep this trusty bird, but if needed, I can let it go.
Abomasnow (Timid) @ Focus Sash
Snow Warning
248 Sp Attack/ 8 HP/ 252 Speed
Blizzard
Giga Drain
Hidden Power [Ground]
Ice Shard
This Yeti-tree… thing has so much destructive potential and Weather controlling power. 100% accuracy Blizzard are already brutal, but with STAB, it wipes all of those who are weak to it. Giga Drain is an alternative STAB, which also is my main counter to Rain Teams. Hidden Power Ground is a great coverage move hit 4 of Abomasnow’s 7 weakness super-effectively. Ice Shard is priority used in Trick Room. Focus Sash allows Abomasnow to survive many attacks, particularly Fire-type moves, and then strike back with Hidden Power Ground. Also, the lack of Choice Scarf allows Abomasnow to switch Attacks if needed.
Abomasnow saw some action in Houston. In one round, It took out the majority of one of my opponents’s team. For a weather-changer, I had two choices: Tyranitar and Abomasnow. I wanted an Ice Type user anyway, so Abomasnow it was.
Chandelure (Modest) @ Choice Scarf
Flash Fire
252 Sp Attack/ 252 Speed/ 6 HP
Heat Wave
Shadow Ball
Hidden Power [Ice]
Overheat
Chandelure, the haunted fancy lighting unit. I moved the recommended EVs from HP to Speed to out speed other Chandelures and to gain a larger Tailwind boost. Heat Wave and Shadow Ball are STAB. Hidden Power is my back up Ice move if Abomasnow is down or isn’t even being used. Overheat is a new move, as it can either OHKO or severely dent the Standard EV spread (140 HP/252 Sp Attack/116 Speed) Zapdos. Choice Scarf replaced the previous item, Focus Sash, as if my Abomasnow's hail was out, the Sash would be useless. Choice Scarf allows Chandelure to hit fast and very hard.
Surprising, Chandelure did not participate in one battle at Houston. I would of used it in one battle later in the tournament, but I didn’t and lost.
Storm Drain
252 HP/252 Defense/6 Sp Defense
Muddy Water
Ice Beam
Earth Power
Recover
Gastrodon, my answer to my team’s Ice and Rock weakness. Rain teams have worried me, too, so Gastrodon gets an even more important spot on my team. Anyway, Muddy Water is STAB. I chose it over Surf because not one of my team members are immune to it. The possible Accuracy drop is a plus, makes the opponents (maybe) rage and me (most likely) laugh. A lot. Ice Beam is coverage, while Earth Power is STAB #2. Recover is to extend life and troll my opponents. “Almost gone… NOOO!!! It HEALED!!!”
Gastrodon is a new member of my team, so he wasn’t even around at Regionals. He works pretty well on PO, though.
Hitmontop (Adamant) @ Fight Gem
Intimidate
216 HP/252 Attack/ 40 Speed
Close Combat
Fake Out
Sucker Punch
Wide Guard
I originally had a Technician-abusing Hitmontop. After getting some help and suggestions though, I decided to use a Intimidate set. A gem boosted STAB Close Combat KO’s or puts a huge dent in almost anything. Fake Out is to (potentially) stop Trick Room from going up, and to stall, annoy, and anything else Fake Out does. Sucker Punch hurts annoying Sweepers, and Wide Guard stops multi-target moves for a turn.
This Hitmontop is another new member of my team and wasn’t around during Regionals. On PO, like Gastrodon, he does a good job at what he does.
My team landed me 8th place in the Senior’s division at Houston, which is (what I believe) amazing for my first year in VGC. I was happy with how I did. Now, I am (most likely) going to National’s to compete.
Sid’s Rockin’ Sockin’ BBQ Luvin’ Team is ready to be rated, so,uh, Rate Away?
