A team I actually played and tested before posting!
Teambuilding.
I started out with Cobalion and Haxorus, as the UU matchmaking thread's first winner was a pair between Cobalion and Mega-Sceptile, but I wanted to use Scarf Haxorus instead due to mold breaker, and some mild success I had with a previous team using ScarfHax
I then added Krookodile, as I wanted a little more defensive pressure, and thought Krook could do a decent job doing it
I then added pidgeot, as a revenge sweeper, and a special attacker. It's speed and coverage in Hurricane and Heat Wave, along with U-turn for momentum with Cobalion's Volt Switch was too good to pass up.
Mienshao was added as a dedicated lead -- fake out, drain punch, Knock off, U-turn Regenerator
I first started with Porygon2, but it only saw one or two games under a subpar alt, so I don't really count it, I knew I wanted something bulky, but I didn't want anything "stall" I wanted more balance, so I tried out mons like Empoleon, but I ended up with Fatmence-- It pairs really well with Krook, with resistance to fighting and water, but a little less utility. This set was the standard defog set.
The problem came with having Haxorus and Mence. I was just too frail. I started by replacing FatMence with Reuniclus the Lord, but inevitably switched Haxorus and Kept FatMence to try and keep a bulky offense. I was also incredibly specially weak.
But inevitably, Mega Blastoise, Suicune (especially Suicune), Empoleon, and Tentacruel just walled me, so I switched Mienshao with Toxicroak.
It was here that I changed the FatMence set to a DDFatmence, with a bit higher speed and a little lower Defense.Pidgeot got suspect tested so I started with Mega Aerodactyl, which won me about 4 games, and lost me 1, but inevitably changed to Mega Sharpedo, as a revenge killer instead of a wallbreaker-- as DDFatmence is now doing.
After posting the RMT, I changed the Cobalion set to maximize speed, the Krook set from Utility to Banded, and changed Fatmence to Christo's Special Defog, as well as changing Reuniclus to Cresselia to give more defensive options with the new introduction of stronger offensive opportunity.
The Team
Cobalion @ Leftovers
Ability: Justified
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Close Combat
- Volt Switch
- Iron Head
Let's start out strange, shall we? Cobalion is (or was when creating the team) a really strange threat. It doesn't have the immediate stat presence of Lucario, but its natural defense means it takes a hit, so it can usually hit twice, and its ridiculous natural speed means it outspeeds Mienshao and Shaymin while Speed tying with Infernape, and its 8 resistances including Bug, Ice, Dragon and Grass make for good stops on Mega Aerodactyl, Lucario, Mega Beedrill when otherwise they could sweep. I opted for Volt Switch over Swords Dance after about a dozen or so tests on my main account because I liked the momentum, and because Krook doesn't often tempt to switch in. Stealth Rock is the crux of the set, often used when pressuring Blissey or Florges out, and allowing for its teammates to clean up. While it isn't often the most important, its role is still crucial. Cobalion, though seemingly designed as a lead, tends not to be, but more of an early to mid game player, and fodder for late game sweepers like Toxicroak and Sharpedo.
Cresselia @ Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 240 HP / 252 Def / 16 Spe
Bold Nature
- Calm Mind
- Psyshock
- Moonblast
- Moonlight
Reuniclus was replaced by Cresselia, who adds a more rounded defensive option, with more reliable recovery, and a chance to set-up sweep. Cress can Moonlight on Mamoswine at the expense of losing its item, and take any hit from Mega Sceptile, and Moonlight it off -- eliminating the problems of the old team.
Krookodile @ Choice Band
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Earthquake
- Knock Off
- Stone Edge
- Pursuit
Support Krook was replaced by Banded Krook, whose monstrous offensive capabilities allow it to be a powerhouse utility mon, as well as a wallbreaker and sweeper if needed. The set is standard with max speed to outspeed Timid Chandelure, 216+ speed Kyurem, Neutral Entei and OHKO and outspeed Modest Hydreigon and max speed Rotom Heat
Sharpedo @ Sharpedonite
Ability: Speed Boost
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Waterfall
- Crunch
- Ice Fang
- Protect
Standard Sharpedo, simple but effective. Revenge Killer most of the time, far too frail to switch in, though with some prediction, can be a worthy foe. I often will Cobalion Volt Switch off of Mega Sceptile, to get the "slow" Volt Switch and a clean switch into Sharpedo, but other than that cannot do too much other than wait for a KO.
At first this mon was Mega Pidgeot, which though I loved, kept constantly underwhelming me. It was the speed more than anything. Sharpedo with Speed Boost almost always hits that speed threshold, at +1 can outspeed Modest Mega Sceptile as standard Sharpedo, and Timid Mega Sceptile once mega Evolved, and OHKO either with Ice Fang. As a mind game, I tend to attack first turn, to get one speed boost, and then protect turn 2. +2 Mega Sharpedo is never outsped without wasting a turn setting up. I'm sure that's nowhere near as next level as I pretend it is on the lower ladder. Sharpedo is a late game sweeper, though can function as a mid-game wallbreaker if Toxicroak becomes a win-condition.
Toxicroak @ Life Orb
Ability: Dry Skin
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- Gunk Shot
- Drain Punch
- Sucker Punch
When Mienshao owned this slot, Suicune, Tentacruel, Mega Blastoise, Empoleon and Vaporeon were impenetrable walls. No longer. Standard Max Speed Toxicroak is amazing at taking out what the rest of the team cannot-- and as a second revenge killer, is much better if Sharpedo is needed to clean up later, or to lure out Azelf, Reuniclus, or Machamp (why people bring out Machamp I don't know, but it happens all the time on my alts.) It's another standard set that doesn't need too much explaining. Toxicroak is an alternate to Sharpedo, but is the only mon with Priority moves, so should be used to check fast threats that think their speed is their greatest strength.
Salamence @ Life Orb
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Draco Meteor
- Fire Blast
- Defog
- Roost
Special Mence was recommended by Christo, as it adds a second special attacker, the utility of defog: which often runs down the team, and still is a good fighting check. Max Speed and Special Attack pokes holes in walls that could otherwise stop Sharpedo and Krook from sweeping.
Threats :: Under analysis
I'm currently 16-3, 1 loss was to a Thunder Fang Krook and a team of choice scarfs (with Mega Aerodactly on the team), 1 was to Sub Sceptile, and 1 was because I disconnected.
I will continue laddering as well, with updates on progress over time.
Teambuilding.
I started out with Cobalion and Haxorus, as the UU matchmaking thread's first winner was a pair between Cobalion and Mega-Sceptile, but I wanted to use Scarf Haxorus instead due to mold breaker, and some mild success I had with a previous team using ScarfHax
I then added Krookodile, as I wanted a little more defensive pressure, and thought Krook could do a decent job doing it
I then added pidgeot, as a revenge sweeper, and a special attacker. It's speed and coverage in Hurricane and Heat Wave, along with U-turn for momentum with Cobalion's Volt Switch was too good to pass up.
Mienshao was added as a dedicated lead -- fake out, drain punch, Knock off, U-turn Regenerator
I first started with Porygon2, but it only saw one or two games under a subpar alt, so I don't really count it, I knew I wanted something bulky, but I didn't want anything "stall" I wanted more balance, so I tried out mons like Empoleon, but I ended up with Fatmence-- It pairs really well with Krook, with resistance to fighting and water, but a little less utility. This set was the standard defog set.
The problem came with having Haxorus and Mence. I was just too frail. I started by replacing FatMence with Reuniclus the Lord, but inevitably switched Haxorus and Kept FatMence to try and keep a bulky offense. I was also incredibly specially weak.
But inevitably, Mega Blastoise, Suicune (especially Suicune), Empoleon, and Tentacruel just walled me, so I switched Mienshao with Toxicroak.
It was here that I changed the FatMence set to a DDFatmence, with a bit higher speed and a little lower Defense.Pidgeot got suspect tested so I started with Mega Aerodactyl, which won me about 4 games, and lost me 1, but inevitably changed to Mega Sharpedo, as a revenge killer instead of a wallbreaker-- as DDFatmence is now doing.
After posting the RMT, I changed the Cobalion set to maximize speed, the Krook set from Utility to Banded, and changed Fatmence to Christo's Special Defog, as well as changing Reuniclus to Cresselia to give more defensive options with the new introduction of stronger offensive opportunity.
The Team
Cobalion @ Leftovers
Ability: Justified
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Close Combat
- Volt Switch
- Iron Head
Let's start out strange, shall we? Cobalion is (or was when creating the team) a really strange threat. It doesn't have the immediate stat presence of Lucario, but its natural defense means it takes a hit, so it can usually hit twice, and its ridiculous natural speed means it outspeeds Mienshao and Shaymin while Speed tying with Infernape, and its 8 resistances including Bug, Ice, Dragon and Grass make for good stops on Mega Aerodactyl, Lucario, Mega Beedrill when otherwise they could sweep. I opted for Volt Switch over Swords Dance after about a dozen or so tests on my main account because I liked the momentum, and because Krook doesn't often tempt to switch in. Stealth Rock is the crux of the set, often used when pressuring Blissey or Florges out, and allowing for its teammates to clean up. While it isn't often the most important, its role is still crucial. Cobalion, though seemingly designed as a lead, tends not to be, but more of an early to mid game player, and fodder for late game sweepers like Toxicroak and Sharpedo.
Cresselia @ Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 240 HP / 252 Def / 16 Spe
Bold Nature
- Calm Mind
- Psyshock
- Moonblast
- Moonlight
Reuniclus was replaced by Cresselia, who adds a more rounded defensive option, with more reliable recovery, and a chance to set-up sweep. Cress can Moonlight on Mamoswine at the expense of losing its item, and take any hit from Mega Sceptile, and Moonlight it off -- eliminating the problems of the old team.
Krookodile @ Choice Band
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Earthquake
- Knock Off
- Stone Edge
- Pursuit
Support Krook was replaced by Banded Krook, whose monstrous offensive capabilities allow it to be a powerhouse utility mon, as well as a wallbreaker and sweeper if needed. The set is standard with max speed to outspeed Timid Chandelure, 216+ speed Kyurem, Neutral Entei and OHKO and outspeed Modest Hydreigon and max speed Rotom Heat
Sharpedo @ Sharpedonite
Ability: Speed Boost
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Waterfall
- Crunch
- Ice Fang
- Protect
Standard Sharpedo, simple but effective. Revenge Killer most of the time, far too frail to switch in, though with some prediction, can be a worthy foe. I often will Cobalion Volt Switch off of Mega Sceptile, to get the "slow" Volt Switch and a clean switch into Sharpedo, but other than that cannot do too much other than wait for a KO.
At first this mon was Mega Pidgeot, which though I loved, kept constantly underwhelming me. It was the speed more than anything. Sharpedo with Speed Boost almost always hits that speed threshold, at +1 can outspeed Modest Mega Sceptile as standard Sharpedo, and Timid Mega Sceptile once mega Evolved, and OHKO either with Ice Fang. As a mind game, I tend to attack first turn, to get one speed boost, and then protect turn 2. +2 Mega Sharpedo is never outsped without wasting a turn setting up. I'm sure that's nowhere near as next level as I pretend it is on the lower ladder. Sharpedo is a late game sweeper, though can function as a mid-game wallbreaker if Toxicroak becomes a win-condition.
Toxicroak @ Life Orb
Ability: Dry Skin
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- Gunk Shot
- Drain Punch
- Sucker Punch
When Mienshao owned this slot, Suicune, Tentacruel, Mega Blastoise, Empoleon and Vaporeon were impenetrable walls. No longer. Standard Max Speed Toxicroak is amazing at taking out what the rest of the team cannot-- and as a second revenge killer, is much better if Sharpedo is needed to clean up later, or to lure out Azelf, Reuniclus, or Machamp (why people bring out Machamp I don't know, but it happens all the time on my alts.) It's another standard set that doesn't need too much explaining. Toxicroak is an alternate to Sharpedo, but is the only mon with Priority moves, so should be used to check fast threats that think their speed is their greatest strength.
Salamence @ Life Orb
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Draco Meteor
- Fire Blast
- Defog
- Roost
Special Mence was recommended by Christo, as it adds a second special attacker, the utility of defog: which often runs down the team, and still is a good fighting check. Max Speed and Special Attack pokes holes in walls that could otherwise stop Sharpedo and Krook from sweeping.
Threats :: Under analysis
I'm currently 16-3, 1 loss was to a Thunder Fang Krook and a team of choice scarfs (with Mega Aerodactly on the team), 1 was to Sub Sceptile, and 1 was because I disconnected.
I will continue laddering as well, with updates on progress over time.
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