"We're at war. No one wants to admit it but Humanity's under attack. One very specific man might be all that stands between Humanity and the greatest threat of our brief existence.
We need a leader, and surround him with the brightest, the toughest, the deadliest allies we can find. The team will have to be strong, their resolve unquestionable."
I)Introduction
Hi guys and welcome to my second UU RMT ! As always, I'm starting with a little intro. First of all, I want to apologize for the mistakes I will probably make, english is not my first language and I'm doing my best. Next, I'm not really seriously playing pokemon anymore, the competitive game I'm playing at the moment is Mass Effect 3 (Multiplayer). I REALLY loved the Mass Effect trilogy and so I decided to dedicate a RMT to one of the most badass moments in the history of video gaming : Mass Effect 2's Suicide Mission. Those who have played will understund the epicness I'm speaking about. Anyways... So yeah, I'm not really playing pokemon, but this is a serious build, maybe even my last one, as the team you're gonna see was built for the SPL. I got bought by the Stark Sharks and even if Upstart is an amazing player, I still wanted to be ready in case I would be needed. It ended up that I wasn't even allowed in the team's IRC channel and at the end got sold out for inactivity.. Kind of hard to be active when you don't even have acces to your team's channel lol But no hard feelings, Sharks are still the best and will still win this SPL ! Gogogogo Sharks !
So well, now that this team won't be really needed, I though I might as well ladder a little bit with it and finally, because it is a team I really enjoyed building and playing, share it.
AND YES I DO KNOW THIS SCREENSHOT DOES NOT SHOWS MY 1ST PLACE IN THE LADDER. But when I peaked 1 I randomly took -60 points for an unknown reason like 1 hour after I did so and I didn't immediately save the screenshot as I was not planning on doing a RMT at this moment. Well, I hope that my win/lose ratio of 92% will be enough to convince you I'm not lying. And of course it is not the only battles I have made with the team, I've played it a lot without really laddering.
II)Team Intro
A)Team Building Process
As most of my teams, this is an extremely agressive one, that almost doesn't allow switching. The idea behind that team was born when I realized one thing.. How do you think, which is the very best pokemon in Underused ? Some might say Heracross, others might say Mienshao or Mew... My answer would be Froslass. UU's best pokemon at the moment in my opinion is FROSLASS. Not only Froslass has one of the highest speed tiers in Underused, but also it has an amazing double type, a great move pool (it has Spikes, Taunt and Destiny Bond !), a good special attack (for a spiker at least) and a good offensive stab. I'll talk about that later. Anyways... I soon realized how hard is it to spin in Underused even against a team with only Froslass.. But mostly, I realized that it is IMPOSSIBLE to effectively spin against a team with 2 ghosts in UU.
So I had a good way to put on a lot of entry hazards. What was left was surrounding them with pokemons that could abuse of their presence. Sharpedo, Moxiecross, Rain Dance Kingdra and Dragon Dance Scrafty were the ones that came up to my mind first, because with spikes, they win REALLY a lot of KOs and can all be amazing finishers. But soon enough I've realized that even the most agressive team needs some safe switches. Especially when you have to deal with fire type berserkers like Victini and Darmanitran. Swampert seemed like the best check to both of them, but at the end I picked Rhyperior, for its ability to break trough subs and sashes with Rock Blast and of course because I wanted something as agressive as possible.
Then for my second ghost I added Trick Room Coffagrigus, because not only could he stop spinning, but also he was going along with my main goal which was to bring as much spike abusers as possible. Nasty Plot Trick Room Cofagrigus can take down A LOT of teams with the right amount of hazards.
Finally, I realized that I needed something to OHKO Blastoise as I really didn't want to immediately go for Cofagrigus after Froslass was dead. I also needed something that would go along well with Rhyperior. Something that resists water and grass attacks and OHKOs every form of Blastoise.. The obvious choice was Shaymin. Again, the most agressive form of Shaymin was picked to ensure the needed KOs.
All I had left to do was to pick the right pokemons between the finishers I spoke about earlier. Saying it was a hard decision would be lying, Sharpedo and Heracross naturally came up to me for obvious reasons of which you will hear more later.
B)The Strategy
The team can be separated in 2 parts. The spiking/anti-spinning group consisting of Rhyperior, Shaymin and Froslass and the finishers.
I will start with Rhyperior or Froslass depending on the opponent’s team and put as much hazards as I can, losing Rhyperior and Froslass in the process is more than acceptable if the main goal is completed (= the right amount of hazards depending on the opponent’s team has been set up)
I will be switching almost only between the "Spiking core". Switches on Sharpedo are not allowed. Switching on Heracross and Cofagrigus is never a good thing to do either even if sometimes it is necessary.
After that it's easy : EVERY TEAM will be destroyed by at least one pokemon between Sharpedo, Cofagrigus and Heracross with the support of Shaymin if you have the right amount of spikes on the field. And I dare you to prove me wrong !
III)A closer look at the team
A)The "Spiking Core"
"After time adrift among open stars, along tides of light and through shoals of dust, I will return to where I began."
Tali'Zorah (Froslass) (F) @ Focus Sash
Trait: Cursed Body
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Destiny Bond
- Ice Beam
- Spikes
- Taunt
Trait: Cursed Body
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Destiny Bond
- Ice Beam
- Spikes
- Taunt
- Why using Froslass ?
- Moveset, Nature, EVs :
0 IVs in atk is to reduce the damage taken on Foul Play and confusion hits.
- In game :
- Froslass's place in the team's balance ?
- Other options ?
"I don’t need luck ! I have ammo."
Grunt (Rhyperior) (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Solid Rock
EVs: 152 HP / 104 Atk / 252 SDef
Adamant Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- Rock Blast
- Dragon Tail
- Why using Rhyperior ?
- Moveset, Nature, EVs :
Dragon Tail is amazing, as Rhyperior forces really a lot of switches and so if you already have your spikes, it can become really annoying for the opponnent.
- In game :
1) He has a terrible machup and won't do a lot, OR I need to setup Stealth Rock really early even if it means sacrificing Rhyperior. In that case I just setup rocks and throw it away.
2) He's a huge annoyance for the opp. In that case I will save him and switch a lot on him abusing Dragon Tail.
But in both cases Rhyperior won't be used in late game and won't switch a lot, as he allows easy enemy switches on rapid spinners and forces me to switch on Cofagrigus. I don't like switching on my finishers. I actually don't like switching at all with this team.
- Rhyperior's place in the team's Balance :
- Other options ?
-I've been thinking about using a berry that reduces the power of water or grass attacks, but Leftovers do look better at the end. If it could do some serious damage against stuff like Virizion, Blastoise or Milotic, I would probably go for it, but right now Leftovers look like a better option
"Had to be me. Someone else might have gotten it wrong."
Mordin Solus (Shaymin) @ Life Orb
Trait: Natural Cure
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Modest Nature (+SAtk -Atk)
- Seed Flare
- Hidden Power Fire
- Earth Power
- Synthesis
Trait: Natural Cure
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Modest Nature (+SAtk -Atk)
- Seed Flare
- Hidden Power Fire
- Earth Power
- Synthesis
- Why using Shaymin ?
- Moveset, Nature, EVs :
Synthesis gives Shaymin a surprisingly good staying power and is easy to use because Shaymin will force a lot of switches by the fact that a lot of pokemons are completely powerless against it.
- In game :
- Shaymin's place in the team's Balance
- Other options ?
Rest could be used over Synthesis, but it forces me to switch and as I said this team doesn't really like switching.
A Choice Spec could be a good option, but I need versatility and the ability to use Synthesis more than rough power.
Finally, Virizion over Shaymin could really bring a lot to the team especially in mid/late game, but I really can't play without Shaymin's brute power, it would cost me just too much in early game.
B)The "Sweeping Core"
"Amonkira, Lord of Hunters, grant that my hands be steady, my aim be true, and my feet swift. And should the worst come to pass, grant me forgiveness."
Thane Krios (Cofagrigus) (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Mummy
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SAtk / 4 Def
Quiet Nature (+SAtk, -Spe)
Trait: Mummy
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SAtk / 4 Def
Quiet Nature (+SAtk, -Spe)
IVs : 2 Atk / 2 Spe
- Shadow Ball
- Trick Room
- Nasty Plot
- Hidden Power Fighting
- Shadow Ball
- Trick Room
- Nasty Plot
- Hidden Power Fighting
- Why using Cofagrigus ?
- Movepool, Nature, EVs :
- In game :
- Cofagrigus's place in the team's Balance :
- Other options :
-I could also weaken my Hidden Power to make it even slower, but I didn't find that to be necessary as until now I haven't encountered a single slower pokemon that can make a difference (including Trick Room users)
"Does this unit... Have a soul ?"
Legion (Heracross) @ Choice Scarf
Trait: Moxie
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Spd / 4 Def
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Close Combat
- Megahorn
- Stone Edge
- Pursuit
- Why using Heracross ?
- Moveset, Nature, EVs :
The EVs are classic I guess.
But what could be surprising to some of you is Pursuit. Why using Pursuit ? Actually for only 1 purpose : Chandelure. This pokemon is a plain annoyance in early game and as the opponnent will almost always have a perfect counter to Heracross in early game and will know that I'm scarfed, he will almost always switch out because Pursuit is almost never used on Heracross.
- In game :
- Heracross's place in the team's Balance :
- Other options ?
"I don't know if they can feel fear, but we're damned sure going to give them the opportunity. Hit them hard. One way or another, it ends here ! "
Commander Shepard (Sharpedo) @ Life Orb
Trait: Speed Boost
EVs: 6 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Waterfall
- Crunch
- Protect
- Earthquake
Commander Shepard (Sharpedo) @ Life Orb
Trait: Speed Boost
EVs: 6 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Waterfall
- Crunch
- Protect
- Earthquake
- Why using Sharpedo ?
- Movepool, Nature, EVs :
- In game :
- Sharpedo's place in the team's Balance :
- Other options ?
Legion (Heracross) @ Choice Scarf
Trait: Moxie
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Adamant Nature
- Close Combat
- Megahorn
- Stone Edge
- Pursuit
Thane Krios (Cofagrigus) (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Mummy
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SAtk
Quiet Nature
IVs: 0 Atk / 30 Def / 30 SAtk / 30 SDef / 2 Spd
- Nasty Plot
- Shadow Ball
- Trick Room
- Hidden Power [Fighting]
Mordin Solus (Shaymin) @ Life Orb
Trait: Natural Cure
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Modest Nature
- Seed Flare
- Earth Power
- Hidden Power [Fire]
- Synthesis
Urdnot Grunt (Rhyperior) (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Solid Rock
EVs: 152 HP / 104 Atk / 252 SDef
Adamant Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- Rock Blast
- Dragon Tail
Tali'Zorah (Froslass) (F) @ Focus Sash
Trait: Cursed Body
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Destiny Bond
- Ice Beam
- Spikes
- Taunt
Commander Shepard (Sharpedo) (M) @ Life Orb
Trait: Speed Boost
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SDef / 252 Spd
Adamant Nature
- Crunch
- Waterfall
- Protect
- Earthquake
Trait: Moxie
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Adamant Nature
- Close Combat
- Megahorn
- Stone Edge
- Pursuit
Thane Krios (Cofagrigus) (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Mummy
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SAtk
Quiet Nature
IVs: 0 Atk / 30 Def / 30 SAtk / 30 SDef / 2 Spd
- Nasty Plot
- Shadow Ball
- Trick Room
- Hidden Power [Fighting]
Mordin Solus (Shaymin) @ Life Orb
Trait: Natural Cure
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Modest Nature
- Seed Flare
- Earth Power
- Hidden Power [Fire]
- Synthesis
Urdnot Grunt (Rhyperior) (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Solid Rock
EVs: 152 HP / 104 Atk / 252 SDef
Adamant Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- Rock Blast
- Dragon Tail
Tali'Zorah (Froslass) (F) @ Focus Sash
Trait: Cursed Body
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Destiny Bond
- Ice Beam
- Spikes
- Taunt
Commander Shepard (Sharpedo) (M) @ Life Orb
Trait: Speed Boost
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SDef / 252 Spd
Adamant Nature
- Crunch
- Waterfall
- Protect
- Earthquake
Note : in the team preview, Heracross is the lead and Froslass and Rhyperior are in the middle of the team, that's not much I know, but this way I don't give my opponnent a single clue about whom I will lead with between Froslass and Rhyperior.
In Conclusion
With this my second BW UU RMT on Smogon ends. I just wanted to apologize for all the grammar mistakes I have probably made, I tried my best but I do know my english is far from being perfect yet ! Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed.