Currently at rank #73 at 1170 Points
INTRODUCTION
Hello Smogon,
This is my first RMT EVER! I have fallen in love with competitive battling recently and decided that I would attempt to create a strong team in every tier. I decided to start with NU since it is the lowest tier and many of my favorite pokes haven fallen into this tier. I have changed up this team many times and finally feel that it is presentable. I am also looking for advice from the experts :D
TEAM BUILDING
Golem (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 212 HP / 252 Atk / 44 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
-Stealth Rock
-Earthquake
-Rock Blast
-Sucker Punch
This Golem is my dedicated lead. In Gen 5, dedicated leads haven't been used because of team preview, but Golem can still fit that role tremendously. By using a lead golem, I can guarantee my stealth rocks being setup atleast some point in the match thanks to sturdy, but usually I will not allow Golem to come to such low health due to its tremendous walling ability. If an opposing player has a Golem counter and leads with it then it is usually specially based and can be taken on by Cryogonal or if it is a water type then I get an easy switch into Ludicolo (happens a lot due to shell smash users). Golem will be able to check all bird pokemon and baton pass teams trying to exploit ninjask and illumise. This covers an entire section of the metagame with only one pokemon. A golem is deceivingly powerful and can inflict major damage on all pokemon that don't have defensive investment. There have been several times where pokemon come in to setup on Golem and underestimate the power from the set. An additional check that golem can provide is to facade users. Usually these pokemon are normal type and can inflict severe damage, but by getting extra damage off with sucker punch the rest of my team can clean them up effectively.
Ludicolo (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Swift Swim
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Modest Nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
-Hydro Pump
-Giga Drain
-Ice Beam
-Rain Dance
The next pokemon is everyone's favorite Mexican Ludicolo! This pokemon was the last addition to my team, but my most reliable sweeper! I would have never thought that Ludicolo could be such a beast. I first came upon ludicolo by getting swept by one. I decided to look into it on Smogon and found that it is a new addition to the NU tier. Ludicolo is one of the best shell smash counters in the tier Huntail, Gorebyss, and Clampearl cannot touch it. I play ludicolo to use its 4x resistance to water. By switching into any pokemon that relies on water type attacks Ludicolo can then safely setup a rain dance. Now as long as the rain is up you have an amazingly fast sweeper with a rain boosted life orb hydro pump. Even dedicated special walls fear this beast. If rain dance can be setup then it will always net a kill. Then when it is over a heavily dented team has to try and take hits from a choice specs magmortar. The combo is very deadly. One of the main problems with Ludicolo is that it doesn't tank powerful attacks well meaning that if you switch in on the wrong move you may lose a powerful pokemon early, but this can be easily prevented through proper planning.
Cryogonal @ Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 248 HP / 252 SDef / 8 Spd
Calm Nature ( +SDef, -Atk)
-Ice Beam
-Rapid Spin
-Recover
-Toxic
Cryogonal is the premier rapid spin user and special wall in the NU tier. Hardly anything can break this wall without super effective damage. At first when using Cryogonal I was upset with its typing. Losing 25 percent of your health every time you switch into stealth rocks is a major pain but I learned that by switching cryogonal into special attacks that wont do very much damage Cryogonal can recover and rapid spin clearing the way for the rest of the team. A primary objective of this team is to get rid of the stealth rock user so that Cryogonal and Magmortar can switch in constantly. I have had many battles where the opponent cannot break cryogonal's walling abilities. It provides a major check to any sub seed strategy. Most sub seeders use a specially based grass move like giga drain. Therefore I can bring in Cryogonal and wall their attacks, rapid spin away their seeds, and ice beam away their subs. A perfect counter to these sets. I have come to realize that Cryogonal is an integral wall and spinner for this team and it is key to keep it alive.
Quagsire (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Unaware
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SDef
Relaxed Nature (+Def, -Spd)
-Recover
-Scald
-Toxic
-Earthquake
One of the most Derp pokemon ever created...Quagsire. A pokemon so dopey that he is completely "unaware" of the opponent's setup sweeper. This is Quagsire's main use he walls almost any physical setup sweeper. These are the most threatening pokemon in the metagame in my opinion. With the development of my team I have always found that it was hard to stop a sweeper that got a chance to setup so this unique ability is extremely helpful for my team and playstyle. I find that there isn't a physical wall as effective as Cryogonal is specially so I would rather use a combination of Quagsire and Golem as my phsyical walls. Though they are both weak to grass types they provide too much defensive pressure to give up! Physical grass types may prove to be a problem but they are decimated by Magmortar and easily revenged by Sawk. By pivoting between these walls they both remain at respectable health and allows quagsire more opportunities to use recover. This allows my team to have a constant check to most physical pokemon.
Sawk (M) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
-Close Combat
-Stone Edge
-Earthquake
-Toxic
This is one of the strongest members of my team. It has always been key to its success. Without the speed and power this pokemon provides I wouldn't have succeeded as much as I have. I believe that it is the best choice scarf user in the tier. The only pokemon it doesn't hit hard are pokemon like musharna and fully defensive pokemon. The main purpose of Sawk is to clean up weakened teams and to revenge kill opposing pokemon. Usually if a pokemon has become out of hand and i can't handle it any longer I will switch in my Golem and tank a hit then sucker punch or death fodder my Golem to get a free switch into Sawk and it can hit it hard with a close combat. If the opponent is still alive then Sawk will tank a hit because of Sturdy. This is for extreme situations and my escape route if I do not play well early thus allowing me to keep a physical wall, Quagsire, and only lose a revenge killer. By having so many uses for a pokemon it becomes perfect choice in accordance with my playstyle.
Magmortar (M) @ Choice Specs
Ability: Vital Spirit
EVs: 24 HP / 252 SAtk / 232 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
-Fire Blast
-Thunderbolt
-Focus Blast
Hidden Power(Ice)
Magmortar is most used in NU for a reason. With the Choice Specs set Magmortar is impossible to wall. This pokemon is the key to the team. If it can be switched into for free then every pokemon will be destroyed. Any wall that can take one hit will be outspeed and most likely be 2hko'd. A team practically has to sack a pokemon just to take it out and i can just switch into one of my walls to deal with the new treat. Magmortar will dent any pokemon and clean up any weakened team. The combination of Ludicolo and Magmortar decimates teams. One of them will weaken a team while the other cleans up. One major problem is stealth rocks which limits the number of times Magmortar can switch in. Therefore for the team to work Cryogonal needs to stay alive and spin them away.
CONCLUSION
In Conclusion, I had a ton of fun making this team and would love criticism and advice. Thanks to anyone i battled and to any person that contributes to the team thanks.
IMPORTABLE
I WILL BE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A SUCCESSFUL TEAM FOR EVERY TIER SO PLEASE HELP ME
INTRODUCTION
Hello Smogon,
This is my first RMT EVER! I have fallen in love with competitive battling recently and decided that I would attempt to create a strong team in every tier. I decided to start with NU since it is the lowest tier and many of my favorite pokes haven fallen into this tier. I have changed up this team many times and finally feel that it is presentable. I am also looking for advice from the experts :D
TEAM BUILDING
First Team
This team was originally based around an Absol sweep. I had mixed success with the team, but in the end didn't enjoy using Absol. My opponent seemed to play around him, but I did realize that Specs Magmortar and Scarf Sawk posed an immediate threat...they were the star members of the team.
Changes #1
After some lurking on the forums, I decided to replace Absol with Shelgon attempting to take a bulkier approach to sweeping. I swept late game more, but found the sleep talk set unreliable. After playing for awhile I noticed that toxic spikes could become quite threatening and decided to try it out myself with Garbodor. Garbodor also helped me to take on opposing fighting types in the tier. Finally, I added Bastiodon because he replaced my stealth rock user and i needed a special wall.
Changes #2
In an attempt to make the team stronger I removed Musharna for Gardevoir. I used this team for only a few matches because i felt as though Musharna was much more useful in the long run
Changes #3
I quickly got rid of Gardevoir and placed in Musharna. I didn't like using garbodor and wanted a physically bulky poke with recovery. I came to tangela which is a total beast. With regenerator tangela becomes impossible to kill on the physical side. The team was rather sturdy at this point, but was still only about even with my original team.
HUGE CHANGE
My walls were failing me constantly so I went back to Golem and Cryogonal. This allowed me to get Magmortar in more with rapid spin on Cryogonal. That choice specs fire blast will dent anything in the tier. While my Golem provided a lead and a reliable check to any birds in the tier bar Braviary. One thing i did notice was that golem would be worn down quickly by the physical attackers in NU especially the water and fighting types.
Additions #1
Quagsire is key to this team. He provides a check to physically based setup sweepers and allows me to keep my golem alive incase of baton pass teams(usually has bug types) or the powerful birds. This is my most valued wall on the team and helped me out of many situations.
Additions #2
I wanted a pokemon that could smash through a weakened team and a reliable check to shell smash. I noticed that Ludicolo had dropped to NU and now was my chance to exploit it. After Magmortar dents any special walls on the opposing team. Ludicolo can come in setup a rain dance and sweep with rain boosted life orb hydro pumps. Even if the opponent brings in a grass type to resist it. Ludicolo can ice beam and be faster than almost everything in the tier with rain up.
This team was originally based around an Absol sweep. I had mixed success with the team, but in the end didn't enjoy using Absol. My opponent seemed to play around him, but I did realize that Specs Magmortar and Scarf Sawk posed an immediate threat...they were the star members of the team.
Changes #1
After some lurking on the forums, I decided to replace Absol with Shelgon attempting to take a bulkier approach to sweeping. I swept late game more, but found the sleep talk set unreliable. After playing for awhile I noticed that toxic spikes could become quite threatening and decided to try it out myself with Garbodor. Garbodor also helped me to take on opposing fighting types in the tier. Finally, I added Bastiodon because he replaced my stealth rock user and i needed a special wall.
Changes #2
In an attempt to make the team stronger I removed Musharna for Gardevoir. I used this team for only a few matches because i felt as though Musharna was much more useful in the long run
Changes #3
I quickly got rid of Gardevoir and placed in Musharna. I didn't like using garbodor and wanted a physically bulky poke with recovery. I came to tangela which is a total beast. With regenerator tangela becomes impossible to kill on the physical side. The team was rather sturdy at this point, but was still only about even with my original team.
HUGE CHANGE
My walls were failing me constantly so I went back to Golem and Cryogonal. This allowed me to get Magmortar in more with rapid spin on Cryogonal. That choice specs fire blast will dent anything in the tier. While my Golem provided a lead and a reliable check to any birds in the tier bar Braviary. One thing i did notice was that golem would be worn down quickly by the physical attackers in NU especially the water and fighting types.
Additions #1
Quagsire is key to this team. He provides a check to physically based setup sweepers and allows me to keep my golem alive incase of baton pass teams(usually has bug types) or the powerful birds. This is my most valued wall on the team and helped me out of many situations.
Additions #2
I wanted a pokemon that could smash through a weakened team and a reliable check to shell smash. I noticed that Ludicolo had dropped to NU and now was my chance to exploit it. After Magmortar dents any special walls on the opposing team. Ludicolo can come in setup a rain dance and sweep with rain boosted life orb hydro pumps. Even if the opponent brings in a grass type to resist it. Ludicolo can ice beam and be faster than almost everything in the tier with rain up.
THE TEAM
Golem (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 212 HP / 252 Atk / 44 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
-Stealth Rock
-Earthquake
-Rock Blast
-Sucker Punch
This Golem is my dedicated lead. In Gen 5, dedicated leads haven't been used because of team preview, but Golem can still fit that role tremendously. By using a lead golem, I can guarantee my stealth rocks being setup atleast some point in the match thanks to sturdy, but usually I will not allow Golem to come to such low health due to its tremendous walling ability. If an opposing player has a Golem counter and leads with it then it is usually specially based and can be taken on by Cryogonal or if it is a water type then I get an easy switch into Ludicolo (happens a lot due to shell smash users). Golem will be able to check all bird pokemon and baton pass teams trying to exploit ninjask and illumise. This covers an entire section of the metagame with only one pokemon. A golem is deceivingly powerful and can inflict major damage on all pokemon that don't have defensive investment. There have been several times where pokemon come in to setup on Golem and underestimate the power from the set. An additional check that golem can provide is to facade users. Usually these pokemon are normal type and can inflict severe damage, but by getting extra damage off with sucker punch the rest of my team can clean them up effectively.
Ludicolo (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Swift Swim
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Modest Nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
-Hydro Pump
-Giga Drain
-Ice Beam
-Rain Dance
The next pokemon is everyone's favorite Mexican Ludicolo! This pokemon was the last addition to my team, but my most reliable sweeper! I would have never thought that Ludicolo could be such a beast. I first came upon ludicolo by getting swept by one. I decided to look into it on Smogon and found that it is a new addition to the NU tier. Ludicolo is one of the best shell smash counters in the tier Huntail, Gorebyss, and Clampearl cannot touch it. I play ludicolo to use its 4x resistance to water. By switching into any pokemon that relies on water type attacks Ludicolo can then safely setup a rain dance. Now as long as the rain is up you have an amazingly fast sweeper with a rain boosted life orb hydro pump. Even dedicated special walls fear this beast. If rain dance can be setup then it will always net a kill. Then when it is over a heavily dented team has to try and take hits from a choice specs magmortar. The combo is very deadly. One of the main problems with Ludicolo is that it doesn't tank powerful attacks well meaning that if you switch in on the wrong move you may lose a powerful pokemon early, but this can be easily prevented through proper planning.
Cryogonal @ Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 248 HP / 252 SDef / 8 Spd
Calm Nature ( +SDef, -Atk)
-Ice Beam
-Rapid Spin
-Recover
-Toxic
Cryogonal is the premier rapid spin user and special wall in the NU tier. Hardly anything can break this wall without super effective damage. At first when using Cryogonal I was upset with its typing. Losing 25 percent of your health every time you switch into stealth rocks is a major pain but I learned that by switching cryogonal into special attacks that wont do very much damage Cryogonal can recover and rapid spin clearing the way for the rest of the team. A primary objective of this team is to get rid of the stealth rock user so that Cryogonal and Magmortar can switch in constantly. I have had many battles where the opponent cannot break cryogonal's walling abilities. It provides a major check to any sub seed strategy. Most sub seeders use a specially based grass move like giga drain. Therefore I can bring in Cryogonal and wall their attacks, rapid spin away their seeds, and ice beam away their subs. A perfect counter to these sets. I have come to realize that Cryogonal is an integral wall and spinner for this team and it is key to keep it alive.
Quagsire (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Unaware
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SDef
Relaxed Nature (+Def, -Spd)
-Recover
-Scald
-Toxic
-Earthquake
One of the most Derp pokemon ever created...Quagsire. A pokemon so dopey that he is completely "unaware" of the opponent's setup sweeper. This is Quagsire's main use he walls almost any physical setup sweeper. These are the most threatening pokemon in the metagame in my opinion. With the development of my team I have always found that it was hard to stop a sweeper that got a chance to setup so this unique ability is extremely helpful for my team and playstyle. I find that there isn't a physical wall as effective as Cryogonal is specially so I would rather use a combination of Quagsire and Golem as my phsyical walls. Though they are both weak to grass types they provide too much defensive pressure to give up! Physical grass types may prove to be a problem but they are decimated by Magmortar and easily revenged by Sawk. By pivoting between these walls they both remain at respectable health and allows quagsire more opportunities to use recover. This allows my team to have a constant check to most physical pokemon.
Sawk (M) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
-Close Combat
-Stone Edge
-Earthquake
-Toxic
This is one of the strongest members of my team. It has always been key to its success. Without the speed and power this pokemon provides I wouldn't have succeeded as much as I have. I believe that it is the best choice scarf user in the tier. The only pokemon it doesn't hit hard are pokemon like musharna and fully defensive pokemon. The main purpose of Sawk is to clean up weakened teams and to revenge kill opposing pokemon. Usually if a pokemon has become out of hand and i can't handle it any longer I will switch in my Golem and tank a hit then sucker punch or death fodder my Golem to get a free switch into Sawk and it can hit it hard with a close combat. If the opponent is still alive then Sawk will tank a hit because of Sturdy. This is for extreme situations and my escape route if I do not play well early thus allowing me to keep a physical wall, Quagsire, and only lose a revenge killer. By having so many uses for a pokemon it becomes perfect choice in accordance with my playstyle.
Magmortar (M) @ Choice Specs
Ability: Vital Spirit
EVs: 24 HP / 252 SAtk / 232 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
-Fire Blast
-Thunderbolt
-Focus Blast
Hidden Power(Ice)
Magmortar is most used in NU for a reason. With the Choice Specs set Magmortar is impossible to wall. This pokemon is the key to the team. If it can be switched into for free then every pokemon will be destroyed. Any wall that can take one hit will be outspeed and most likely be 2hko'd. A team practically has to sack a pokemon just to take it out and i can just switch into one of my walls to deal with the new treat. Magmortar will dent any pokemon and clean up any weakened team. The combination of Ludicolo and Magmortar decimates teams. One of them will weaken a team while the other cleans up. One major problem is stealth rocks which limits the number of times Magmortar can switch in. Therefore for the team to work Cryogonal needs to stay alive and spin them away.
CONCLUSION
In Conclusion, I had a ton of fun making this team and would love criticism and advice. Thanks to anyone i battled and to any person that contributes to the team thanks.
IMPORTABLE
Golem (F) @ Leftovers Trait: Sturdy
EVs: 212 HP / 252 Atk / 44 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- Rock Blast
- Sucker Punch
Ludicolo (M) @ Life Orb
Trait: Swift Swim
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Modest Nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Hydro Pump
- Giga Drain
- Ice Beam
- Rain Dance
Cryogonal @ Leftovers
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 248 HP / 252 SDef / 8 Spd
Calm Nature (+SDef, -Atk)
- Ice Beam
- Rapid Spin
- Recover
- Toxic
Quagsire (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Unaware
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SDef
Relaxed Nature (+Def, -Spd)
- Recover
- Scald
- Toxic
- Earthquake
Sawk (M) @ Choice Scarf
Trait: Sturdy
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Close Combat
- Stone Edge
- Earthquake
- Toxic
Magmortar (F) @ Choice Specs
Trait: Vital Spirit
EVs: 24 HP / 252 SAtk / 232 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Fire Blast
- Thunderbolt
- Focus Blast
- Hidden Power [Ice]
EVs: 212 HP / 252 Atk / 44 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- Rock Blast
- Sucker Punch
Ludicolo (M) @ Life Orb
Trait: Swift Swim
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Modest Nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Hydro Pump
- Giga Drain
- Ice Beam
- Rain Dance
Cryogonal @ Leftovers
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 248 HP / 252 SDef / 8 Spd
Calm Nature (+SDef, -Atk)
- Ice Beam
- Rapid Spin
- Recover
- Toxic
Quagsire (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Unaware
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SDef
Relaxed Nature (+Def, -Spd)
- Recover
- Scald
- Toxic
- Earthquake
Sawk (M) @ Choice Scarf
Trait: Sturdy
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Close Combat
- Stone Edge
- Earthquake
- Toxic
Magmortar (F) @ Choice Specs
Trait: Vital Spirit
EVs: 24 HP / 252 SAtk / 232 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Fire Blast
- Thunderbolt
- Focus Blast
- Hidden Power [Ice]
I WILL BE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A SUCCESSFUL TEAM FOR EVERY TIER SO PLEASE HELP ME
