Passing (Nasty) Plots - Mega Altaria Offense
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Introduction
Good day to you guys! I'm Gareth, and I whipped this team up just a few weeks back. As you might've noticed, there's a Generation of Miracles picture above. I'd save the reason for that later. I hope you like it, and please do give suggestions at the end okay? I am quite new to the whole RMT thing, so please tell me changes and all to further improve this awesome team. Without further ado, let's begin.
Teambuilding Process
Here’s how I managed to come up with this squad.
Heatran - I wanted to use Heatran as part of a certain core I saw at the ORAS OU Good Cores thread. I wanted it to be a stallbreaker at first, but its Choice Scarf set worked better for me in the long run.
Azumarill - Also part of the aforementioned core was Azumarill. It was supposed to hold an Assault Vest, but I changed it to a Choice Band set so that it breaks specially defensive Pokemon better, since my main selling point would be Baton Passing Nasty Plot boosts around.
Celebi - This was my recommended substitute for Mega Sceptile by Master Sunny-EX. Celebi is a good user of Baton Pass given its wide movepool whilst maintaining great bulk. It would also be a great momentum grabber at times.
Landorus-Therian - Landorus-Therian always fitted the bill for me as a great Stealth Rock setter whilst maintaining offensive presence and good bulk via Intimidate.
Rotom-Wash - Along with Landorus-Therian, Rotom-Wash was my go-to Pokemon with Volt-Turn support. It also takes hits from the ever-prominent Birdspam whilst softening physical attacks (and providing chip damage) with Will-O-Wisp.
Mega Altaria - Mega Altaria was also a recommended recipient of Nasty Plot as it would be a good answer against Mega Charizard X/Y. It also boasts good offensive stats and bulk so that it makes full use of Nasty Plot.
In-Depth Look
I’m no Satsuki Momoi, but I know how to manage my players well. Here are the members of my squad.
Akashi (Heatran) (M) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Flash Fire
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Fire Blast
- Flash Cannon
- Earth Power
- Stone Edge
“My orders are absolute.” – Seijuro Akashi
Akashi is the absolute beast, like Heatran. This Heatran set is used as a revenge killer, as without it opposing Mega Altaria will demolish the team apart, especially the Dragon Dance variants. It’s also nifty to surprise-kill things like Weavile who expect to be faster than Heatran. The moves here are quite standard and all, and
Kuroko (Celebi) @ Leftovers
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 248 HP / 140 Def / 8 SpD / 112 Spe
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Baton Pass
- Nasty Plot
- Giga Drain
- Recover
(Suggested set by Master Sunny-EX)
Celebi @ Colbur Berry
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 180 HP / 40 SpA / 180 SpD / 108 Spe
Calm Nature
- Nasty Plot
- Earth Power
- Giga Drain
- Baton Pass
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 180 HP / 40 SpA / 180 SpD / 108 Spe
Calm Nature
- Nasty Plot
- Earth Power
- Giga Drain
- Baton Pass
"I am a supporting actor, a shadow." – Tetsuya Kuroko
This Celebi uses a NastyPass set to support its team, like the “Phantom Sixth Man” Kuroko. I wanted something to pass around boosts for my teammates so they’ll hit noticeably harder. Also, I really like the idea of free switches so Baton Pass is there to switch into a more favorable match-up. I don’t intend sweeping though, but if I see the opportunity to do so, I’ll take it. The EVs on this Celebi are just enough to speed-creep Jolly Bisharp (Bisharp is generally a big pain on this team, but let’s dive into that later on.), as well as putting the remaining EVs to bulk so it takes hits better. I won’t run it any faster as to move last with Baton Pass, getting the recipient unscathed.
EDIT: The Colbur Berry set was suggested to deal with Bisharp better.
EDIT2: I had Celebi learn Leaf Storm to surprise kill things as well, shooting up my power benchmarks noticeably (as suggested by Cheek Pouch )
EDIT3: Let it have Giga Drain again for reliable STAB.
Aomine (Azumarill) (M) @ Choice Band
Ability: Huge Power
EVs: 172 HP / 252 Atk / 84 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Play Rough
- Waterfall
- Aqua Jet
- Superpower
“The only one who can beat me, is me.” – Daiki Aomine
Our blue bunny breaks a lot of faces, like its counterpart Aomine. Azumarill is my primary answer against fat special walls like Chansey and Clefable, who wall my Nasty Plot benefactors even at +6. I made it hold a Choice Band so it provides immediate wallbreaking power since its main job is taking down walls so others can go forth and sweep later on. I run 2 Water-type STABs since my other teammates can work on item removal instead via Knock Off. This thing also sponges hits from other Pokemon if Heatran and Celebi can’t handle it.
Murasakibara (Landorus-Therian) @ Leftovers
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 HP / 240 Def / 8 SpD / 8 Spe
Impish Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- U-turn
- Knock Off
"'I hate practice but I hate losing even more." - Atsushi Murasakibara
The two big guys are quite large and intimidating, right? Giving VoltTurn support is Landorus-Therian. It acts as my setter of Stealth Rock (a necessity in pretty much all teams), as well as providing safe switches to my other teammates. I wanted to use Heatran as a Stealth Rock setter at first, but it’s quite prone to the likes of Terrakion and Garchomp. I run Knock Off since Volt-Turn teams love item removal. Landorus-Therian also lowers Attack by Intimidate so my other teammates can take softened hits better.
Kise (Rotom-Wash) @ Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 248 HP / 132 Def / 128 Spe
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Volt Switch
- Hydro Pump
- Will-O-Wisp
- Pain Split
"... I never forget to return a favour" - Ryota Kise
Kise has this swoon-worthy and dashing smile, making Rotom-Wash the perfect counterpart. Rotom-Wash provides pivoting opportunities for the other teammates. It’s also the go-to Pokemon of mine to handle those birds that are a threat to a lot of teams. Rotom-Wash is also a good Nasty Plot recipient with its passable Special Attack stat. As you might have noticed I ran 128 Speed EVs; quite too much for the normal enough-for-BD-Azumarill one. The reason why I did this is to outspeed Adamant Bisharp, crippling it by Will-O-Wisp. Believe me – Swords Dance Bisharp is a pain for this team. (As suggested by Cyndequil)
Midorima (Altaria-Mega) (M) @ Altarianite
Ability: Pixilate
EVs: 72 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpA / 180 Spe
Modest Nature
- Hyper Voice
- Fire Blast
- Earthquake
- Roost
"There's not a single player on this team who's a hindrance." - Shintaro Midorima
Midorima believes that everyone in a team contributes to its victory, like Mega Altaria. Mega Altaria is my bulky special attacker, providing key resistances to a lot of. It is my main recipient of Nasty Plot, and it boasts quite the good offensive firepower as well. I find the Roost + 3 Attacks variant a good fit on this team, luring in would-be checks to the expected Dragon Dance set (a normal Heatran gets 2HKOed by Earthquake, Scizor gets annihilated by Fire Blast, etc.) I suppose I could run a few more EVs into bulk, but the spread here puts in more offensive firepower in most matches.
Threat List
Even if the Generation of Miracles are practically overpowered in the anime, my team is not as OP as them. Here are the few Pokemon that threaten this team.
Mamoswine: Life Orb or otherwise, Mamoswine can be quite the trouble sometimes. No one in my team is a safe switch-in to the beast.
Kyurem-Black: Good coverage moves means it can rip through the team flat. Scarfed variants are rather easy to deal with, but the Substitute variants are more the problem. (Fusion Bolt, Ice Beam and Earth Power will usually do the trick.)
Bisharp: Swords Dance variants can just plow with Sucker Punch and all. Since my team only outspeeds the Adamant ones, the Jolly variants can outspeed and take down the team.
Thundurus: Its flexibility means that it can hit the team for at least neutral damage. It can sack (and cripple) my squad with Prankster Thunder Wave.
Stealth Rock hurts this team as well (given the fact I use Volt-Turn for the most part), making them easy to wear down.
Sticky Web's a decent mention, as passing Speed drops is horrible.
(A few other threats go here too)
Kyurem-Black: Good coverage moves means it can rip through the team flat. Scarfed variants are rather easy to deal with, but the Substitute variants are more the problem. (Fusion Bolt, Ice Beam and Earth Power will usually do the trick.)
Bisharp: Swords Dance variants can just plow with Sucker Punch and all. Since my team only outspeeds the Adamant ones, the Jolly variants can outspeed and take down the team.
Thundurus: Its flexibility means that it can hit the team for at least neutral damage. It can sack (and cripple) my squad with Prankster Thunder Wave.
Stealth Rock hurts this team as well (given the fact I use Volt-Turn for the most part), making them easy to wear down.
Sticky Web's a decent mention, as passing Speed drops is horrible.
(A few other threats go here too)
Importable
Akashi (Heatran) (M) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Flash Fire
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Fire Blast
- Flash Cannon
- Earth Power
- Stone Edge
Ability: Flash Fire
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Fire Blast
- Flash Cannon
- Earth Power
- Stone Edge
Shout-outs!
Master Sunny-EX for telling the necessary steps to take in order to improve this team.
Cyndequil for sharing insights about this team. He was the one to say my team was kind of Bisharp weak too.
Latios pls for giving his opinions on the sets I run on this team.
I might’ve missed a few people but you’ll feel the love.
Concluding Message
Again I am Gareth, and I hope you liked this team of mine! Please do leave things on what I can change to further improve this team.
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