Only the roughest, toughest fruits survive through the sandstorm!?
Main Strategy: So, as you can see, this is a sandstorm team for ORAS. The main goal IS NOT to have Sandstorm be the core element of the team, but instead simply have Sandstorm be that little extra help the team can get. With Sandstorm, the team is extremely deadly, and without it..... It's still got some threats. Namely Excadrill, Venusaur, Talonflame, Excadrill, and that precious Clefable with Wish and its shenanigans... I'll get into everything about each pokemon in a more in depth look, but for now, let's start off with the main focus on the team. The most important threat! Clef- I mean EXCADRILL!!
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Avacado Jr. (Excadrill) @ Air Balloon
Ability: Sand Rush
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- Earthquake
- Iron Head
- Rapid Spin
The main focus of the team right here, while not always is used anymore, is still a very prominent threat to many teams that are unprepared for it. Looking at it, it's a standard Excadrill. Nothing really significant here, however, its nature, Jolly, is used to outspeed other Excadrill who have Sand Rush, or just have Adamant. Because nobody, really (for the most part anymore), puts Jolly on Sand Rush Excadrill.. When you put Sand Rush on Excadrill you expect it to be as fast as possible anyway! So put Adamant, to make it as strong as possible! But, Excadrill's Attack is so immensely huge that Adamant isn't usually a deciding factor in killing opponents. Speed is Excadrill's most powerful tool here. Simply Earthquake for STAB and Iron Head for flying opponents (except Skarmory, you can't really hit Skarmory hard because Sword Dancing will just result in Whirlwind :/). Rapid Spin, though, is kind of Risky on Excadrill, and is very hard to get out in the first place without losing Excadrill or just not getting Excadrill out at all. Nonetheless, Excadrill is still a very powerful pokemon, and combined with Tyranitar, its usefulness skyrockets!
Avacado (Tyranitar) @ Assault Vest
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 252 HP / 108 Atk / 148 Def
Relaxed Nature
- Pursuit
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- Fire Blast
Remember, every pokemon here provides a role. Excadrill sweeps; Tyranitar supports that while adding offensive support while being a tank that can take hits, while also enabling it to chip away at opponents health with Sandstorm and its already great attack stat. Tyranitar is also a great Pokemon for save switch ins. Excadrill out and all of a sudden: TALONFLAME? No problem, Tyranitar can come in. Tyranitar is very bulky and can even take one full Focus Blast from a Gengar with maximum Special Attack with Life orb at Full Health in Sand! Speaking of Gengars.. Pursuit traps pokemon, so if you're a latios caught in Tyranitar's attack, Latios is pretty much dead.. Earthquake is the main attacking move for on the ground opponents (Namely Heatran, for example), who might bother the team in some way. Stone Edge hits flying types like Talonflame, or just could be the other attacking move as it gets STAB and is very powerful. Fire Blast, lastly, is for pokemon like Skarmory, Ferrothorn, Forretress, and just pesky steel types like that. Fire Blast is over Fire Fang as Fire Blast hits all those hard switch ins (Like the aforementioned ones) harder because those have less Special Defense. Since Tyranitar is usually just setting up Sand, it needs to get in and out as quickly as possible, if it can. So, that's why it's not some Dragon Dancing Hyper Aggressive Rambo Tyranitar...
Tropical Dragon (Clefable) @ Leftovers
Ability: Magic Guard
EVs: 252 HP / 56 SpA / 200 SpD
Calm Nature
- Wish
- Moonblast
- Stealth Rock
- Magic Coat
Now here's a pokemon you don't see every day! Clefable, while not being all that popular in aggresive or balance teams, is very very VERY useful in this one! The new Fairy type deals coverage for Dragon types, and fighting types like Keldeo or Bisharp(although if this thing outsped a bisharp to KO, I'd be impressed)! Its EVs allow it to be the Special Defensive Wall using Magic Guard, allowing it to deal type coverage and be able to help out during the Sandstorm. It's also the only pokemon here that is relatively weak on its own. First off, since this is a more support pokemon, it sets up Stealth Rock! It's important for lots of teams, but since Excadrill and Tyranitar are too busy setting up Sand and sweeping, they can't afford to have SR on their moveset. Clefable covers this, and with Wish and Magic Guard, she can help counter attack other pokemon who try to set up spikes, or any entry hazard. Moonblast, btw, is extremely powerful too. You'd be surprised just how powerful Clefable's Moonblast is! Anyway, Wish as well, helps the team and Clefable as well, by bringing health support to pokemon that might have gotten their health diminished by numerous things, but specifically Sandstorm, but this usually isn't a problem.
Blueberry (Thundurus) @ Expert Belt
Ability: Prankster
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 36 Atk / 220 SpA / 252 Spe
Naive Nature
- Taunt
- Thunderbolt
- Superpower
- Hidden Power [Ice]
Thundurus gives Special attacking support (For the pesky Skarmories and Charizards..). Its focus is mainly on stopping threats with taunt, and just chipping away with damage with Thunderbolt and or Hidden Power Ice. SuperPower is there for well... Excadrills. Excadrills are actually a somewhat new threat to this team, as Rock slide covers Thundurus, Talonflame, Earthquake has both Excadrill and Tyranitar, and Iron Head takes out Clefable and Venusaur just isn't suited for such a thing. The EV spread is to OHKO a full HP tyranitar with a normal EV spread (because you don't run max Defense max HP tyranitar). Lastly, HP Ice is for things like Gliscor, or Garchomp.
Pear (Venusaur) @ Venusaurite
Ability: Chlorophyll
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpA
Modest Nature
- Giga Drain
- Hidden Power [Fire]
- Sludge Bomb
- Sleep Powder
Venusaur is essentially the counter threat pokemon for this team. Its bulkiness, as well as sheer attacking power, gives it a very hard reputation to beat. Coupled with switch ins, such as Tyranitar, its type weakness are basically covered, with a few pokemon that can actually take it out. Since sand could be up, Synthesis cannot be used. Instead, Sleep Powder is an excellent choice! It puts opponents or threats to sleep, and allows for numerous things. Venusaur shuts down threats like Keldeo or Azumarill, or bulky water types like Vaporeon or Gastrodon. It also gains HP, further solidifying its bulky tank like strategy. HP Fire takes away any Ferrothorns, Skarmories, or any other steel walls. Sludge Bomb is Great for when your HP is near full and you need to do as much damage as possible, but really, Venusaur is more like a counter threat to this team. It attacks threats like Vaporeon, Gastrodon, or any real annoying water pokemon. Also, its ability gives it great surviving chances! A banded max attack talonflame using Flare Blitz is nothing due to Thick Fat. (252+ Atk Choice Band Talonflame Flare Blitz vs. 252 HP / 4 Def Thick Fat Mega Venusaur: 54-66 (14.8 - 18.1%) -- possible 6HKO)
Carolina Reaper (Talonflame) @ Sharp Beak
Ability: Gale Wings
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 188 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 64 Spe
Adamant Nature
- U-turn
- Brave Bird
- Flare Blitz
- Roost
Lastly, we have Talonflame.. Probably the most threatening besides Excadrill out of all the pokemon here. It's a great offensive Physical attacker, with immense Speed and priority, and it can safely scout for thing with U-Turn. Its EV Spread might look weird, but its to ensure it survives the most amount of hits as possible, and utilizing Brave Bird as well. Sharp Beak, unlike Life Orb, gives Brave Bird a great boost in attack without getting any more damage to Talonflame. The main move for talonflame to be using is in fact, Brave Bird. Flare Blitz is usually used for bulky steel types like Forretress, Ferrothorn, (which is rare because of the barbs), and all around just isn't as strong as Brave Bird anyway. U-Turn, though, makes Talonflame a great lead with its speed, and Roost just gives it that extra bit of health :p
Welp! All done, but I will say a few things: There are a couple threats still, but nothing too specific I think. The only real threat to this team are bulky teams, which this team simply can't deal with for the most part. The overly Hyper Defensive teams are just too much, but I dunno, I'm probably wrong.. Anyway, what do you guys think of the fruitty team? :) But suggestions to the team, or just criticisms or anything would be fine :D
Avacado Jr. (Excadrill) @ Air Balloon
Ability: Sand Rush
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- Earthquake
- Iron Head
- Rapid Spin
Tropical Dragon (Clefable) @ Leftovers
Ability: Magic Guard
EVs: 252 HP / 56 SpA / 200 SpD
Calm Nature
- Wish
- Moonblast
- Stealth Rock
- Magic Coat
Blueberry (Thundurus) @ Expert Belt
Ability: Prankster
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 36 Atk / 220 SpA / 252 Spe
Naive Nature
- Taunt
- Thunderbolt
- Superpower
- Hidden Power [Ice]
Pear (Venusaur) @ Venusaurite
Ability: Chlorophyll
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpA
Modest Nature
- Giga Drain
- Hidden Power [Fire]
- Sludge Bomb
- Sleep Powder
Avacado (Tyranitar) @ Assault Vest
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 252 HP / 108 Atk / 148 Def
Relaxed Nature
- Pursuit
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- Fire Blast
Carolina Reaper (Talonflame) @ Sharp Beak
Ability: Gale Wings
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 188 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 64 Spe
Adamant Nature
- U-turn
- Brave Bird
- Flare Blitz
- Roost
Ability: Sand Rush
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- Earthquake
- Iron Head
- Rapid Spin
Tropical Dragon (Clefable) @ Leftovers
Ability: Magic Guard
EVs: 252 HP / 56 SpA / 200 SpD
Calm Nature
- Wish
- Moonblast
- Stealth Rock
- Magic Coat
Blueberry (Thundurus) @ Expert Belt
Ability: Prankster
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 36 Atk / 220 SpA / 252 Spe
Naive Nature
- Taunt
- Thunderbolt
- Superpower
- Hidden Power [Ice]
Pear (Venusaur) @ Venusaurite
Ability: Chlorophyll
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpA
Modest Nature
- Giga Drain
- Hidden Power [Fire]
- Sludge Bomb
- Sleep Powder
Avacado (Tyranitar) @ Assault Vest
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 252 HP / 108 Atk / 148 Def
Relaxed Nature
- Pursuit
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- Fire Blast
Carolina Reaper (Talonflame) @ Sharp Beak
Ability: Gale Wings
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 188 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 64 Spe
Adamant Nature
- U-turn
- Brave Bird
- Flare Blitz
- Roost