Battle Spot [Singles] Mega Salamence & Raikou Bulky Offense

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Mega Salamence & Raikou Bulky Offense

Up until recently I was finding myself with some serious teambuilder's-block, nothing was really inspiring me to try new stuff out, and even when I was trying to build a new team I kept finding myself defaulting to mons that I used a lot before. Then comes along our Community Create-a-Team where specially-defensive Mega Salamence won to be our starting point, which prompted me to build my own team based around it for ideas on what I would nominate in the future rounds. Interestingly, this team and the CCaT have turned out quite different, so since I've really enjoyed using it I thought I would post it here!

I wanted to have a real go at grinding the on-cart ladder last season and try and aim for 1900+ but I didn't have that much time irl to do so, so I only managed to go 19W-6L with 1708 points. Hopefully I have more time this season so I can see if I didn't just fluke a 76% win rate...


go Australia
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Teambuilding Process:


So like I said, this specially-defensive Mega Salamence was what won the voting to be the starting point of the CCaT. Honestly, this set wins a lot of 1v1s on its own. The biggest problem is Thundurus, my favourite thing for dealing with that (as seen in my last RMT) is Specs Raikou, but since I wanted to try different stuff I went for a Substitute + Calm Mind set.



So now I've got my main core of the team, since they're two set up sweepers I figured I would use a dedicated lead that enables either of them to come in and set up for free. Hippowdon teams have been pretty successful on the ladder so I considered using one myself, but I really wanted to try Swampert out instead since it does basically the exact same thing, but trades recovery for Scald, and we all know how good that is...



At this point I was pretty worried about Greninja since Grass Knot variants steamroll my current three. Having a check to things like Garchomp, Kangaskhan, and Mamoswine in the same slot would give me great defensive synergy in just four Pokemon, so I added Porygon2 to do that job for me.



Now I'm kind of worried about Specs Sylveon. Specially defensive Talonflame is one of my favourite answers to it so I slapped it on without thinking too hard.



I was honestly pretty stuck for ideas for my last slot. I suggested to a few of the guys that I was thinking of adding Aegislash, but then the conversation shifted to this super risky Mega Gengar set that was popping up on the ladder and I thought it would be a perfect fit for the team, especially since I was a little weak to Azumarill.



Now I had my full squad and was ready to take on the ladder!

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Salamence @ Salamencite
Ability: Intimidate
Level: 50
EVs: 244 HP / 4 Atk / 4 Def / 228 SpD / 28 Spe
Careful Nature
- Dragon Dance
- Facade
- Earthquake
- Roost

This is the set NOVED came up with for our CCaT which I literally stole and used. The speed EVs allow non-mega Salamence to outspeed adamant Breloom so you can bop it without worrying about being Spored and Rock Tombed to death. It also allows +1 Mega Mence to outspeed Scarf Landorus-T. The rest goes into special bulk to be able to set up on as much as possible, such as things like Mega Gengar, non-Hidden Power Ice Rotom formes, Aegislash, and tanking Hidden Power Ice from things like Blaziken and Serperior while you KO them in return. This thing finds so many opportunities to get at least 2 boosts in, at which point it's stronger and faster than a standard offensive Mega Mence at +1 (which is usually all those ones can afford before going down). Facade is also really funny since there's so much Will-O-Wisp flying around.


Raikou @ Leftovers
Ability: Pressure
Level: 50
EVs: 252 SpA / 12 SpD / 244 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 16 Atk / 30 Def
- Thunderbolt
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Substitute
- Calm Mind

I'd never tried this set out much before using it in this team, since I like the Specs set so much, but it's pretty ridiculous if you manage to get a Sub up safely. Not heaps to say at all really, just use the omnipresent Thundurus as set up fodder and sweep.


Swampert @ Sitrus Berry
Ability: Torrent
Level: 50
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Scald
- Stealth Rock
- Roar
- Yawn

So this is the set I've been using to get my boosters in and sweeping. It also provides some physical defense which I kinda needed with two specially defensive mons. You want to try and get rocks set and then spam Yawn, which either racks up free damage (very helpful with Facade's lower damage output) or your opponent lets their Pokemon fall asleep. Roar is fun for shuffling the opposing team even more, and stops Substitute users from setting up on me. Scald is Scald. Great for Mamoswine who can give me a hard time otherwise.


Porygon2 @ Eviolite
Ability: Trace
Level: 50
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Foul Play
- Ice Beam
- Recover
- Thunder Wave

This is my blanket check to a lot of things, and basically holds the team together. All it needs to do is take out or incapacitate one scary threat and it's done its job, but Porygon2 usually does more than that, and that's why it's so good. Here's some calcs:
+2 252 Atk Garchomp Outrage vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Eviolite Porygon2: 106-126 (55.2 - 65.6%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

+1 252+ Atk Aerilate Mega Salamence Double-Edge vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Eviolite Porygon2: 123-145 (64 - 75.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

252+ Atk Mega Blaziken High Jump Kick vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Eviolite Porygon2: 146-174 (76 - 90.6%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

+2 252+ Atk Aegislash-Blade Sacred Sword vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Eviolite Porygon2: 130-154 (67.7 - 80.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

236 SpA Life Orb Greninja Hydro Pump vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Eviolite Porygon2: 71-86 (36.9 - 44.7%) -- guaranteed 3HKO

252 Atk Life Orb Protean Greninja Low Kick (60 BP) vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Eviolite Porygon2: 57-70 (29.6 - 36.4%) -- 27% chance to 3HKO

252 Atk Mamoswine Earthquake vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Porygon2: 67-79 (34.8 - 41.1%) -- guaranteed 3HKO (no Eviolite because Knock Off)

+2 252+ Atk Tough Claws Mega Charizard X Outrage vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Eviolite Porygon2: 154-183 (80.2 - 95.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

252 Atk Adaptability Mega Lucario Close Combat vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Eviolite Porygon2: 156-184 (81.2 - 95.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

252 Atk Life Orb Weavile Icicle Crash vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Porygon2: 70-83 (36.4 - 43.2%) -- guaranteed 3HKO (no Eviolite because Knock Off)
So yeah, this thing puts in some serious work and opens paths for either Salamence or Raikou to sweep.


Talonflame @ Lum Berry
Ability: Gale Wings
Level: 50
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 236 HP / 4 Atk / 44 Def / 188 SpD / 36 Spe
Careful Nature
- Acrobatics
- Will-O-Wisp
- Roost
- Taunt

Another integral gluemon, and one of the more fun sets to use. This puts a stop to Sylveon spamming Hyper Voice against me, as well as whittling down things like Cresselia and Ferrothorn so I can sweep unhindered. Also really good for Mega Mawile which I don't have many answers to otherwise. The EVs are designed to live a burned Rock Tomb + Mach Punch from adamant Breloom, so you can burn it to break its Sash and then KO with Acrobatics. You have enough speed to get the jump on Modest Hydreigon so you can burn before potentially getting OHKOed by Draco Meteor (which allows Raikou to get free Subs) and Jolly non-mega Pinsir, so you can burn it and avoid getting KOed by a Return + Feint combo. Could probably drop speed for more bulk but this is a really old set that I just haven't retrained from an old team.


Gengar @ Gengarite
Ability: Levitate
Level: 50
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 188 HP / 116 Def / 4 SpA / 4 SpD / 196 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Hypnosis
- Hex
- Sludge Bomb
- Destiny Bond

The infamous "CasinoGar" set, except I opt for Sludge Bomb instead of Focus Blast to hit Azumarill and Sylveon. This works as a super annoying lead, where if you land Hypnosis you basically win. Hex is also cool when paired with Porygon2 and Talonflame (which I do quite often, they seem to be a great core) since the status they spread allows for easy cleaning up with Gengar if I leave it in the back. Destiny Bond is the panic button for when it all goes bad. The EVs give some cool physical bulk, here's some calcs:
Non-Mega:

252 Atk Garchomp Outrage vs. 188 HP / 116 Def Gengar: 130-154 (81.7 - 96.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

252+ Atk Guts Heracross Rock Blast (5 hits) vs. 188 HP / 116 Def Gengar: 145-175 (91.1 - 110%) -- approx. 62.5% chance to OHKO

252+ Atk Mega Heracross Rock Blast (5 hits) vs. 188 HP / 116 Def Gengar: 135-160 (84.9 - 100.6%) -- approx. 6.3% chance to OHKO

Mega:

244+ Atk Choice Band Talonflame Brave Bird vs. 188 HP / 116 Def Mega Gengar: 127-151 (79.8 - 94.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

252+ Atk Mega Blaziken Flare Blitz vs. 188 HP / 116 Def Mega Gengar: 136-162 (85.5 - 101.8%) -- 12.5% chance to OHKO

252+ Atk Huge Power Mega Mawile Iron Head vs. 188 HP / 116 Def Mega Gengar: 135-160 (84.9 - 100.6%) -- 6.3% chance to OHKO
The speed EVs allow non-mega Gengar to outspeed Garchomp, and mega Gengar to outspeed Greninja. It's a really good ladder set, since the odds are in your favour to win more games than you lose in the long run, but I've found it to be unreliable in roomtours.

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Threatlist:
Ferrothorn
Apart from Talonflame I sometimes struggle to take this thing down. Salamence can't fight through without getting burned or somehow getting to +6, Gengar can luck a win against it sometimes too.

Heatran
If I can't use Salamence for whatever reason then this thing walls me. Swampert usually does ok but SubToxic is really annoying.

Hydreigon
I don't have any resists so it punches holes. If Talonflame gets a low roll from Specs Draco Meteor it can stall it out, and Raikou can set up on it if it does KO or locks itself into Dark Pulse.

Mega Charizard X
Apart from Porygon2 being able to tank a +2 Outrage and paralyze + Foul Play before going down, I don't have much else!

aka Stall
I have no real stallbreakers on the team. If they lack Clefable or Quagsire then Salamence can setup and bust through, otherwise Mence gets walled hard. Gengar can annoy all except Chansey.

probably more but I can't think of them at the moment

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Importable:
Gengar @ Gengarite
Ability: Levitate
Level: 50
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 188 HP / 116 Def / 4 SpA / 4 SpD / 196 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Hypnosis
- Hex
- Sludge Bomb
- Destiny Bond

Salamence @ Salamencite
Ability: Intimidate
Level: 50
EVs: 244 HP / 4 Atk / 4 Def / 228 SpD / 28 Spe
Careful Nature
- Dragon Dance
- Facade
- Earthquake
- Roost

Raikou @ Leftovers
Ability: Pressure
Level: 50
EVs: 252 SpA / 12 SpD / 244 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk / 30 Def
- Thunderbolt
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Substitute
- Calm Mind

Porygon2 @ Eviolite
Ability: Trace
Level: 50
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Foul Play
- Ice Beam
- Recover
- Thunder Wave

Talonflame @ Lum Berry
Ability: Gale Wings
Level: 50
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 236 HP / 4 Atk / 44 Def / 188 SpD / 36 Spe
Careful Nature
- Acrobatics
- Will-O-Wisp
- Roost
- Taunt

Swampert @ Sitrus Berry
Ability: Torrent
Level: 50
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Scald
- Stealth Rock
- Roar
- Yawn
 

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