So I've been posting here for a year or so now (I lurked for a bit before and after that, but never mind), but this is still my first RMT (don't worry though, I won't subject you to the 'Export to Text => Post' style of newbie RMTs). I decided that I should finally make a team centred around my favourite, Lapras. 5th gen wasn't kind to it, between it not getting the evolution I have waited for since RBY and the deluge of fighting types in the scene now, but it got the boost of Hydration, so I thought it was time. To put it into perspective, an uninvested Lapras is around as bulky as an uninvested Manaphy, and it has an arguably better boosting move in Dragon Dance. This led to the obvious Dragon Dancer + HydraRest strategy which was the foundation of the team:
Lapras @ Life Orb
Jolly, 40 HP|252 Att|216 Spd
-Dragon Dance
-Rest
-Return
-Waterfall
So I had a core Pokemon to build the team around, but quite clearly it needs infinite rain in order to function properly, because without it it is outclassed completely by Gyarados. This can only give us Politoed, which unfortunately limits the Rain Abusers thanks to Aldaron's Proposal passing, but oh well.
So now we left the realm of necessities and moved into stuff that just looked like it would work. I had some huge holes in the two because of many common weaknesses (curse Lapras' Ice-typing) and I was also conscious that many people now only devote one pokemon to beating rain, now that it has been nerfed: Nattorei. One Pokemon solved all of these problems as well as adding a powerful STAB Thunder, which has helped a lot: Magnezone.
Now I decided that with all the bulk I had, I would like a few entry hazards to help Lapras sweep, and potentially some TS to help with Stall if necessary. I also still had some big weaknesses to SS and Terakion and other physical sweepers because of weaknesses to Fighting and Rock attacks. For this reason, I decided on Skarmory, the age-old Spike Stacker, because of the reliable recovery which Nattorei doesn't have, as well as the ground immunity and neutral hit from Fighting-type moves.
From here, I decided I needed Rapid Spin and the TS which Skarm didn't provide and which gave the full set of entry hazards. I also needed some special bulk and maybe a grounded poison, as well as another Fighting resist, which gave me Tentacruel.
Finally, I decided on Scizor. Not due to any real need, although I did need help with Rankurusu, and he also some nice resists and that great U-Turn/Pursuit/Bullet Punch movepool, which the team was lacking. This gave me:
So I tested it out and got thrashed. Lapras wasn't setting up because of all of its weaknesses, and the team had no real offense beside that, but it still wasn't really a stall team, because it was so easy to muscle through. I noticed a few big threats were countered by Skarmory being replaced by Nattorei:
But it still had the same underlying problems. I tested for a bit longer and realised that the entry hazard team in the middle of Skarm/Tenta or Natt/Tenta was not really helping at all, and that the positions could be much better filled by others. So the first change was Latios instead of Tentacruel, because it took advantage of Nattorei being gone because of Zone, added some raw power and had nice resistances in conjunction with the rest of the team.
This helped the team a lot, but I realised that Nattorei was still deadweight on the team. I needed something to have a greater offensive presence, while still walling physically and beating SS team reliably, as well as resisting Lapras' weaknesses, because I realised that not having a solid answer to them was what held back the team before. I considered Randurusu, but eventually decided on Gliscor, because of the superior healing and status immunity in Poison Heal and the higher defenses.
And this is the team you will be reviewing today. And for those who like Marriland's type chart:
This looks a lot better when you remember that everyone has a psuedo-Fire resistance due to the rain.
So on to the team proper. Changes from the original will be in bold. It is in no particular order:
Politoed @ Choice Specs
Ability: Drizzle
Modest, 252 HP|252 SpA|4 SpD
-Hydro Pump
-Ice Beam
-Perish Song
-Toxic
Politoed is generally the lead I use, to try to get rain up early on, because of the large number of ways it helps my team. It is quite astounding how much power Hydro Pump gives, and it normally nets a KO per match, despite being intended as a support Pokemon. To be honest, Toxic and Perish Song are really fillers, so if you can think of anything better there then it would be welcome. There is not much more to say here except that I obviously play very cautiously with Politoed if there are opposing rain inducers, but even without I will generally not chance it beyond leaving it in for one turn to seriously dent switchins, because the synergy of the team can generally take most of those switchins. Towards the end of the game however, this acts as something of a clean-up sweeper before Lapras, because once Nattorei is taken care of by Magnezone, many teams are very exposed to Water-Type attacks. The EV spread is standard, to maximise Special Attack and then go for a bit of bulk.
In matches, Politoed is the standard switch-in to anything which can not hurt it: Skarmory/Bronzong, many weather inducers and Fire-Type attackers like Heatran, because it allows it to get off a Hydro Pump. It can also use Perish Song if it has to, but it never really does. It is just not really in the job description.
Magnezone @ Leftovers
Ability: Magnet Pull
Timid, 36 HP|252 SpA|220 Spe
-Substitute
-Hidden Power Fire
-Thunder
-Flash Cannon
This guy is a lot better in practice than I ever would have imagined him being. He generally tries to take out Nattorei before rain goes up, but still destroys Natt in the rain if he has to. A Nattorei which invests nothing in Attack can not break Zone's subs an is swiftly KO'd by Hidden Power, leaving Zone one last heavy-hitting attack before he has to switch out again. Zone brings some great resistances to the team and partners very well with Gliscor, as well as absorbing Electric- Grass- and Rock-Type attacks aimed at Lapras. The EV spread is to outrun Adamant, 252 Spe Scizor, Tyranitar Empoleon and such, but is really quite flexible. I'd be interested to see a better one, because I'm not sure this is doing much. I also decided on Lefties to restore some health after Substitutes and to enable a few more, because in the rain it takes to many hits to KO Nattorei for LO to be helpful, because of all the recoil damage, and this is the one thing that Zone does every single match (Seriously, how common is that thing now?).
Magnezone is the standard switch-in obviously to Nattorei, but also to some water types like Empoleon, as well as things which are throwing around Rock-Electric- or Grass- attacks which Zone can kill, like a weakened Tyranitar or the flying genies which the team hates so much.
Gliscor @ Toxic Orb
Ability: Poison Heal
Impish, 252 HP|252 Def|4 Att
-Earthquake
-Ice Fang
-Toxic
-Protect
Gliscor checks so many threats it is ridiculous. It single-handedly beats many SS teams because it takes nothing from Dory or Sand Power Randorosu, and can check other physcial sweepers like Terrakion (if Scizor is out of action), which is obviously a problem for Lapras and its lower Defence. The EV spread, ability and item all add to the survivability of Gliscor, but Gliscor still has enough power to seriously threaten all of the things it counters with STAB earthquake and Ice Fang for all Randurusu or ballooning Dorys or Terakions. I use Toxic now because Fling is one-use, and often Gliscor really wants to Toxic a Natural Cure Pokemon every time or something, or Toxic more than one thing, like Hippowdon and Tyranitar in a match.
It is very simple to play with; switch in on Fighting-, Ground- or Rock-Type moves and protect to scout for a weird Hidden Power on Mons like Rand which often have them. After that, wall to kingdom come, Protecting to gain HP unless you predict a setup move. Gliscor is so solid at what it does, that it is generally one of the last to be KO'd in a loss, and is almost always around at the end of a win. It only ever really is beaten by a mispredict on my part.
Latios @ Choice Specs
Ability: Levitate
Timid, 252 SpA|252 Spe|4 HP
-Draco Meteor
-Thunder / Trick
-Surf
-Psycho Shock
Latios brings a bit of raw power to the team. Choice Specs Draco Meteor is disgustingly powerful, and with Psycho shock it can break through foes it previously had trouble with, like Blissey. The EV spread is to have as much speed and power as possible, with a Timid nature to outrun threats like the many Fighting-Type base-108 Speed Pokemon and other threats, because this Latios really doesn't need more power. The moveset used to be DM/Surf/Psycho Shock/Recover to get some health back from switch-ins and such, but I found that another powerful, 100% accurate Thunder on the team was very helpful, and often acts as a strong neutral hit as they switch in. I decided on Draco Meteor before Dragon Pulse because of the large power increase, and because Latios is not really a clean-up sweeper any way. He serves to punch holes and lure Pokemon like Nattorei.
Latios generally comes in on resisted special attacks, although he does have a passable Defence stat. Games are often won by Latios coming in, using Draco Meteor, switching out and repeating once Magnezone has taken care of their Steel-type. More often than not, though, Latios really just acts as the "Oh Shitsticks" Pokemon, used to take out anything which has been boosting a bit and is getting too hot to handle with one of his STAB moves. I generally play quite riskily with Latios, because one good prediction can cripple a team when you have that sort of power, especially when you look at a team and it looks very resistant to the kind of onslaught that Specs Latios normally brings. I have thought about going Modest + Scarf with Latios, because the team occasionally has trouble with faster sweepers once key members have gone or been weakened, but this seems to disrupt the team more than it helps, because of the amount I rely on Latios' raw power. Trick isn't used much, because Latios really likes the power, but it can be used in a worst case scenario.
Scizor @ Life Orb
Ability: Technitian
Adamant, 252 HP|252 Att|4 Spe
-Bullet Punch
-U-Turn
-Pursuit
-Roost
Scizor is the utility of the team. All four moves are something which the team really needed, but didn't have, and at the same time has nice resistances and solid STAB attacks. The EV spread aims to maximise Attack and the ability to take damage while it does so. Life Orb is there almost purely because it essentially ensures the KO on Reuniclus, and Roost is to preserve theglue of the team, because it does a lot of switching in and out because so many things are countered by it and can't really hit it that hard. Bullet punch partially solves the speed issue that the team has, and U-Turn helps to keep momentum in matches. It also does very well in the rain, because its one weakness is less of an issue.
In games, Scizor counters or checks a long list: Reuniclus, Lati@s, Tyranitar, Deoxys, fast boosting sweepers, opposing Scizor, any Ice/Rock Pokemon which come out of left field which the team can't handle and more. It acts as a crutch against many threats which would otherwise destroy the team. However, despite this I can't play too conservatively with it because it does need to check all of these, so I just try to Roost one switches as often as possible. Scizor acts as another 'Oh Shitsticks' Pokemon, because the power and priority of Bullet Punch can help the team out of many tight spots. I have considered Choice Band + Brick Break on this guy, but switching attacks is one of his greatest strengths, and he really needs the recovery to cover everything which he does.
Lapras @ Leftovers
Ability: Hydration
Jolly, 148 Att|124 Sp Def|236 Spe
-Waterfall
-Return
-Dragon Dance
-Rest
So finally we get to the main man in the team. This set is designed to abuse HydraRest, with arguably a better boosting move than Manaphy had. For a point of comparison, an uninvested Lapras is around as bulky as an uninvested Manaphy, with its only curse being its horrible Ice-Typing. The EV spread enables it to outrun max speed base-111s, which obviously would be a problem for it now that Boruturusu is becoming popular and is a big problem for my team. The rest goes into Attack and into ensuring Kingdra cannot 2HKO with Dragon Pulse. Leftovers is also to help against Kingdra, and also to give a bit of bulk and thus get more boosts. Waterfall + Return is the best physical coverage it can get, which is why it is so vital that Nattorei is removed by Zone or Latios.
Lapras acts as the final clean-up sweeper, generally not coming out until late in the battle, except perhaps to absorb a status. It generally ends up sweeping 4+ of the opponent's Pokemon, or else doing nothing whatsoever. So far I have been very impressed by Lapras' admittedly average Attack Stat, because it can normally get up to around +3/+3 before it starts to sweep. This is the only thing I am not too willing to change, because it is the aim of the team as a whole.
So that's the team. It's taken a while, but I think everything interesting is in there. I'm interested in all opinions on the team. It has had reasonable success, and is now hovering around a CRE of 1250. Excuse my jumbled together Japanese/English names, but it's that period and I think we're all doing it. If you can think of anything it needs more, then feel free to tell me. However, I won't do a threat list. There are just too many this generation, and because many of them do the same thing, they should have been covered in groups throughout the RMT and in the Team Building section. If it looks like I don't have counter to something, then I may not. For instance, I find I often have to resort to clever switching and prediction in order to beat Boruturusu @ Thunder/Focus Blast/Hidden Power Ice/U-Turn, but if I see it I generally just try to make my offense start before he has a chance to get going. Oh, and read the team-building section, because it has gone through a few iterations, and your suggestion may be in there, along with reasoning why I haven't gone that way with the team.
Oh yes, and thanks to Yilx for the great picture of the Lapras up the top, and www.pokemonelite2000.com for the sprites.
Also, following the recent thread in the Suggestion Box, here is the text file for the team if anyone is interested, kept up to date with the changes:
Changelog:
-Changed the EV spreads to add in the final 4 EVs to the 252/252 spreads
-Changed to Toxic on Gliscor
-Added abilities
-Changed Zone's EV spread, to outrun Adamant Tyranitar by one point.
-Changed Politoed's Focus Blast to Perish Song
-Changed Zone's EV spread back, to allow it to sub before a potential Scizor Superpower.
-Slashed in Trick instead of Thunder, because I'm testing it.
-Changed Lapras' EV spread and Item, to survive two SpecsDra Dragon Pulses
Lapras @ Life Orb
Jolly, 40 HP|252 Att|216 Spd
-Dragon Dance
-Rest
-Return
-Waterfall
So I had a core Pokemon to build the team around, but quite clearly it needs infinite rain in order to function properly, because without it it is outclassed completely by Gyarados. This can only give us Politoed, which unfortunately limits the Rain Abusers thanks to Aldaron's Proposal passing, but oh well.
So now we left the realm of necessities and moved into stuff that just looked like it would work. I had some huge holes in the two because of many common weaknesses (curse Lapras' Ice-typing) and I was also conscious that many people now only devote one pokemon to beating rain, now that it has been nerfed: Nattorei. One Pokemon solved all of these problems as well as adding a powerful STAB Thunder, which has helped a lot: Magnezone.
Now I decided that with all the bulk I had, I would like a few entry hazards to help Lapras sweep, and potentially some TS to help with Stall if necessary. I also still had some big weaknesses to SS and Terakion and other physical sweepers because of weaknesses to Fighting and Rock attacks. For this reason, I decided on Skarmory, the age-old Spike Stacker, because of the reliable recovery which Nattorei doesn't have, as well as the ground immunity and neutral hit from Fighting-type moves.
From here, I decided I needed Rapid Spin and the TS which Skarm didn't provide and which gave the full set of entry hazards. I also needed some special bulk and maybe a grounded poison, as well as another Fighting resist, which gave me Tentacruel.
Finally, I decided on Scizor. Not due to any real need, although I did need help with Rankurusu, and he also some nice resists and that great U-Turn/Pursuit/Bullet Punch movepool, which the team was lacking. This gave me:
So I tested it out and got thrashed. Lapras wasn't setting up because of all of its weaknesses, and the team had no real offense beside that, but it still wasn't really a stall team, because it was so easy to muscle through. I noticed a few big threats were countered by Skarmory being replaced by Nattorei:
But it still had the same underlying problems. I tested for a bit longer and realised that the entry hazard team in the middle of Skarm/Tenta or Natt/Tenta was not really helping at all, and that the positions could be much better filled by others. So the first change was Latios instead of Tentacruel, because it took advantage of Nattorei being gone because of Zone, added some raw power and had nice resistances in conjunction with the rest of the team.
This helped the team a lot, but I realised that Nattorei was still deadweight on the team. I needed something to have a greater offensive presence, while still walling physically and beating SS team reliably, as well as resisting Lapras' weaknesses, because I realised that not having a solid answer to them was what held back the team before. I considered Randurusu, but eventually decided on Gliscor, because of the superior healing and status immunity in Poison Heal and the higher defenses.
And this is the team you will be reviewing today. And for those who like Marriland's type chart:
This looks a lot better when you remember that everyone has a psuedo-Fire resistance due to the rain.
So on to the team proper. Changes from the original will be in bold. It is in no particular order:
Politoed @ Choice Specs
Ability: Drizzle
Modest, 252 HP|252 SpA|4 SpD
-Hydro Pump
-Ice Beam
-Perish Song
-Toxic
Politoed is generally the lead I use, to try to get rain up early on, because of the large number of ways it helps my team. It is quite astounding how much power Hydro Pump gives, and it normally nets a KO per match, despite being intended as a support Pokemon. To be honest, Toxic and Perish Song are really fillers, so if you can think of anything better there then it would be welcome. There is not much more to say here except that I obviously play very cautiously with Politoed if there are opposing rain inducers, but even without I will generally not chance it beyond leaving it in for one turn to seriously dent switchins, because the synergy of the team can generally take most of those switchins. Towards the end of the game however, this acts as something of a clean-up sweeper before Lapras, because once Nattorei is taken care of by Magnezone, many teams are very exposed to Water-Type attacks. The EV spread is standard, to maximise Special Attack and then go for a bit of bulk.
In matches, Politoed is the standard switch-in to anything which can not hurt it: Skarmory/Bronzong, many weather inducers and Fire-Type attackers like Heatran, because it allows it to get off a Hydro Pump. It can also use Perish Song if it has to, but it never really does. It is just not really in the job description.
vs. 252/252 +SpD Tyranitar in Rain: OHKO
vs. 252/252 +SpD Tyranitar in Sand: 59.9% - 71.3%
vs. 0/0 Tyranitar in Sand: 98.5% - 116.1%
vs. 252/252 +SpD Hippowdon in Sand: OHKO
vs. 252/252 +SpD Ninetales in Sun: 52.0% - 61.7%
vs. 252/252 +SpD Ninetales in Rain: OHKO
vs. 252/252 +SpD Tyranitar in Sand: 59.9% - 71.3%
vs. 0/0 Tyranitar in Sand: 98.5% - 116.1%
vs. 252/252 +SpD Hippowdon in Sand: OHKO
vs. 252/252 +SpD Ninetales in Sun: 52.0% - 61.7%
vs. 252/252 +SpD Ninetales in Rain: OHKO
Magnezone @ Leftovers
Ability: Magnet Pull
Timid, 36 HP|252 SpA|220 Spe
-Substitute
-Hidden Power Fire
-Thunder
-Flash Cannon
This guy is a lot better in practice than I ever would have imagined him being. He generally tries to take out Nattorei before rain goes up, but still destroys Natt in the rain if he has to. A Nattorei which invests nothing in Attack can not break Zone's subs an is swiftly KO'd by Hidden Power, leaving Zone one last heavy-hitting attack before he has to switch out again. Zone brings some great resistances to the team and partners very well with Gliscor, as well as absorbing Electric- Grass- and Rock-Type attacks aimed at Lapras. The EV spread is to outrun Adamant, 252 Spe Scizor, Tyranitar Empoleon and such, but is really quite flexible. I'd be interested to see a better one, because I'm not sure this is doing much. I also decided on Lefties to restore some health after Substitutes and to enable a few more, because in the rain it takes to many hits to KO Nattorei for LO to be helpful, because of all the recoil damage, and this is the one thing that Zone does every single match (Seriously, how common is that thing now?).
Magnezone is the standard switch-in obviously to Nattorei, but also to some water types like Empoleon, as well as things which are throwing around Rock-Electric- or Grass- attacks which Zone can kill, like a weakened Tyranitar or the flying genies which the team hates so much.
vs. 252/0 Nattorei in Rain: 38.6% - 46.6%
vs. 252/252 +SpD Nattorei in Rain: 28.4% - 34.1%
vs. 252/252 +SpD Nattorei in Rain: 28.4% - 34.1%
Gliscor @ Toxic Orb
Ability: Poison Heal
Impish, 252 HP|252 Def|4 Att
-Earthquake
-Ice Fang
-Toxic
-Protect
Gliscor checks so many threats it is ridiculous. It single-handedly beats many SS teams because it takes nothing from Dory or Sand Power Randorosu, and can check other physcial sweepers like Terrakion (if Scizor is out of action), which is obviously a problem for Lapras and its lower Defence. The EV spread, ability and item all add to the survivability of Gliscor, but Gliscor still has enough power to seriously threaten all of the things it counters with STAB earthquake and Ice Fang for all Randurusu or ballooning Dorys or Terakions. I use Toxic now because Fling is one-use, and often Gliscor really wants to Toxic a Natural Cure Pokemon every time or something, or Toxic more than one thing, like Hippowdon and Tyranitar in a match.
It is very simple to play with; switch in on Fighting-, Ground- or Rock-Type moves and protect to scout for a weird Hidden Power on Mons like Rand which often have them. After that, wall to kingdom come, Protecting to gain HP unless you predict a setup move. Gliscor is so solid at what it does, that it is generally one of the last to be KO'd in a loss, and is almost always around at the end of a win. It only ever really is beaten by a mispredict on my part.
Adamant Doryuuzu @ LO using Rock Slide: 20.9% - 24.9%
Jolly Randorosu @ LO using Stone Edge: 24.0% - 28.5%
+2 Jolly Terakion @ LO using Stone Edge: 73.7% - 86.7%
Jolly Randorosu @ LO using Stone Edge: 24.0% - 28.5%
+2 Jolly Terakion @ LO using Stone Edge: 73.7% - 86.7%
Latios @ Choice Specs
Ability: Levitate
Timid, 252 SpA|252 Spe|4 HP
-Draco Meteor
-Thunder / Trick
-Surf
-Psycho Shock
Latios brings a bit of raw power to the team. Choice Specs Draco Meteor is disgustingly powerful, and with Psycho shock it can break through foes it previously had trouble with, like Blissey. The EV spread is to have as much speed and power as possible, with a Timid nature to outrun threats like the many Fighting-Type base-108 Speed Pokemon and other threats, because this Latios really doesn't need more power. The moveset used to be DM/Surf/Psycho Shock/Recover to get some health back from switch-ins and such, but I found that another powerful, 100% accurate Thunder on the team was very helpful, and often acts as a strong neutral hit as they switch in. I decided on Draco Meteor before Dragon Pulse because of the large power increase, and because Latios is not really a clean-up sweeper any way. He serves to punch holes and lure Pokemon like Nattorei.
Latios generally comes in on resisted special attacks, although he does have a passable Defence stat. Games are often won by Latios coming in, using Draco Meteor, switching out and repeating once Magnezone has taken care of their Steel-type. More often than not, though, Latios really just acts as the "Oh Shitsticks" Pokemon, used to take out anything which has been boosting a bit and is getting too hot to handle with one of his STAB moves. I generally play quite riskily with Latios, because one good prediction can cripple a team when you have that sort of power, especially when you look at a team and it looks very resistant to the kind of onslaught that Specs Latios normally brings. I have thought about going Modest + Scarf with Latios, because the team occasionally has trouble with faster sweepers once key members have gone or been weakened, but this seems to disrupt the team more than it helps, because of the amount I rely on Latios' raw power. Trick isn't used much, because Latios really likes the power, but it can be used in a worst case scenario.
vs. 252/252 +Def. Blissey using Psycho Shock: 50.0% - 58.8%
vs. 0/0 Tyranitar using Draco Meteor: 67.2% - 79.2%
vs. 252/252 +SpD Tyranitar using Draco Meteor: 40.8% - 48.3%
vs. 252/252 +SpD Skarmory using Thunder: OHKO
vs. 252/252 +SpD Bronzong using Surf: 44.4% - 52.4%
vs. 252/252 +SpD Nattorei using Draco Meteor: 31.5% - 37.2%
vs. 0/0 Tyranitar using Draco Meteor: 67.2% - 79.2%
vs. 252/252 +SpD Tyranitar using Draco Meteor: 40.8% - 48.3%
vs. 252/252 +SpD Skarmory using Thunder: OHKO
vs. 252/252 +SpD Bronzong using Surf: 44.4% - 52.4%
vs. 252/252 +SpD Nattorei using Draco Meteor: 31.5% - 37.2%
Scizor @ Life Orb
Ability: Technitian
Adamant, 252 HP|252 Att|4 Spe
-Bullet Punch
-U-Turn
-Pursuit
-Roost
Scizor is the utility of the team. All four moves are something which the team really needed, but didn't have, and at the same time has nice resistances and solid STAB attacks. The EV spread aims to maximise Attack and the ability to take damage while it does so. Life Orb is there almost purely because it essentially ensures the KO on Reuniclus, and Roost is to preserve theglue of the team, because it does a lot of switching in and out because so many things are countered by it and can't really hit it that hard. Bullet punch partially solves the speed issue that the team has, and U-Turn helps to keep momentum in matches. It also does very well in the rain, because its one weakness is less of an issue.
In games, Scizor counters or checks a long list: Reuniclus, Lati@s, Tyranitar, Deoxys, fast boosting sweepers, opposing Scizor, any Ice/Rock Pokemon which come out of left field which the team can't handle and more. It acts as a crutch against many threats which would otherwise destroy the team. However, despite this I can't play too conservatively with it because it does need to check all of these, so I just try to Roost one switches as often as possible. Scizor acts as another 'Oh Shitsticks' Pokemon, because the power and priority of Bullet Punch can help the team out of many tight spots. I have considered Choice Band + Brick Break on this guy, but switching attacks is one of his greatest strengths, and he really needs the recovery to cover everything which he does.
vs. 0/0 Tyranitar using BP: 49.9% - 59.8%
vs. 0/0 Tyranitar using U-Turn: 88.6% - 104.4%
vs. 252/0 Reuniclus using U-Turn: 97.6% - 115.1%
vs. switching 0/0 Latias using Pursuit: 90.4% - 107.0%
vs. 0/0 Tyranitar using U-Turn: 88.6% - 104.4%
vs. 252/0 Reuniclus using U-Turn: 97.6% - 115.1%
vs. switching 0/0 Latias using Pursuit: 90.4% - 107.0%
Lapras @ Leftovers
Ability: Hydration
Jolly, 148 Att|124 Sp Def|236 Spe
-Waterfall
-Return
-Dragon Dance
-Rest
So finally we get to the main man in the team. This set is designed to abuse HydraRest, with arguably a better boosting move than Manaphy had. For a point of comparison, an uninvested Lapras is around as bulky as an uninvested Manaphy, with its only curse being its horrible Ice-Typing. The EV spread enables it to outrun max speed base-111s, which obviously would be a problem for it now that Boruturusu is becoming popular and is a big problem for my team. The rest goes into Attack and into ensuring Kingdra cannot 2HKO with Dragon Pulse. Leftovers is also to help against Kingdra, and also to give a bit of bulk and thus get more boosts. Waterfall + Return is the best physical coverage it can get, which is why it is so vital that Nattorei is removed by Zone or Latios.
Lapras acts as the final clean-up sweeper, generally not coming out until late in the battle, except perhaps to absorb a status. It generally ends up sweeping 4+ of the opponent's Pokemon, or else doing nothing whatsoever. So far I have been very impressed by Lapras' admittedly average Attack Stat, because it can normally get up to around +3/+3 before it starts to sweep. This is the only thing I am not too willing to change, because it is the aim of the team as a whole.
LO Adamant Roobushin using Mach Punch: 58.1% - 69.5%
So that's the team. It's taken a while, but I think everything interesting is in there. I'm interested in all opinions on the team. It has had reasonable success, and is now hovering around a CRE of 1250. Excuse my jumbled together Japanese/English names, but it's that period and I think we're all doing it. If you can think of anything it needs more, then feel free to tell me. However, I won't do a threat list. There are just too many this generation, and because many of them do the same thing, they should have been covered in groups throughout the RMT and in the Team Building section. If it looks like I don't have counter to something, then I may not. For instance, I find I often have to resort to clever switching and prediction in order to beat Boruturusu @ Thunder/Focus Blast/Hidden Power Ice/U-Turn, but if I see it I generally just try to make my offense start before he has a chance to get going. Oh, and read the team-building section, because it has gone through a few iterations, and your suggestion may be in there, along with reasoning why I haven't gone that way with the team.
Oh yes, and thanks to Yilx for the great picture of the Lapras up the top, and www.pokemonelite2000.com for the sprites.
Also, following the recent thread in the Suggestion Box, here is the text file for the team if anyone is interested, kept up to date with the changes:
Politoed (M) @ Choice Specs
Trait: Drizzle
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SAtk / 4 SDef
Modest Nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Hydro Pump
- Perish Song
- Toxic
- Ice Beam
Scizor (M) @ Life Orb
Trait: Technician
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Bullet Punch
- U-turn
- Pursuit
- Roost
Latios (M) @ Choice Specs
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Surf
- Draco Meteor
- Psycho Shock
- Thunder
Gliscor (M) @ Toxic Orb
Trait: Poison Heal
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 Atk
Impish Nature (+Def, -SAtk)
- Protect
- Toxic
- Earthquake
- Ice Fang
Magnezone @ Leftovers
Trait: Magnet Pull
EVs: 36 HP / 252 SAtk / 220 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Substitute
- Thunder
- Hidden Power [Fire]
- Flash Cannon
Lapras (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Hydration
EVs: 148 Atk / 124 SDef / 236 Spd
Jolly Nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Waterfall
- Return
- Dragon Dance
- Rest
Trait: Drizzle
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SAtk / 4 SDef
Modest Nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Hydro Pump
- Perish Song
- Toxic
- Ice Beam
Scizor (M) @ Life Orb
Trait: Technician
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Bullet Punch
- U-turn
- Pursuit
- Roost
Latios (M) @ Choice Specs
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Surf
- Draco Meteor
- Psycho Shock
- Thunder
Gliscor (M) @ Toxic Orb
Trait: Poison Heal
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 Atk
Impish Nature (+Def, -SAtk)
- Protect
- Toxic
- Earthquake
- Ice Fang
Magnezone @ Leftovers
Trait: Magnet Pull
EVs: 36 HP / 252 SAtk / 220 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Substitute
- Thunder
- Hidden Power [Fire]
- Flash Cannon
Lapras (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Hydration
EVs: 148 Atk / 124 SDef / 236 Spd
Jolly Nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Waterfall
- Return
- Dragon Dance
- Rest
Changelog:
-Changed the EV spreads to add in the final 4 EVs to the 252/252 spreads
-Changed to Toxic on Gliscor
-Added abilities
-Changed Zone's EV spread, to outrun Adamant Tyranitar by one point.
-Changed Politoed's Focus Blast to Perish Song
-Changed Zone's EV spread back, to allow it to sub before a potential Scizor Superpower.
-Slashed in Trick instead of Thunder, because I'm testing it.
-Changed Lapras' EV spread and Item, to survive two SpecsDra Dragon Pulses
