[Hiphiphooray]

Originally Posted by Fat Smilodon

Hello,

Your team is really interesting, and well explained.
I love using what I would call defensive baton pass (that means no smash pass), but I don't appreciate having only one reliable sweeper.
I think it's really important to hva a few attacks somewhere, because espeon is quite frail, and at the beginning i can't come on anything to sweep. So I think having scald on Vaporeon (grabbing a burn is amazing to set-up easily) and thunder on M.mime. I use thunderbolt on my M.mime, but thunder seems better, as m.mime is mostly used against rain teams).

I see a few weakness on your team, tell me how you face them please. Sorry if I made mistakes analysing your weaknesses.

First of all, some rarely used dark pokemon seems to be a pain. Sash Zoroark lead (and often disguised) or Weavile, who can both learn taunt, are hard to face for Ninjask and espeon won't like switching in, even with a speed boost. Hydregon with taunt or choice spec can be a pain too.

I also think Volcarona lead with Giga drain can be hurt only by toxik, and it might be even worse if it is the chesto rest or substitute (I still see them sometimes).

Maybe the worse threat if Ninjask have to go out quickly (maybe fearing a roar from ninetailes) is nasty plot Shiftry under the sun, can oko your whole team with his stabs and hp fire. Happily, very few people use it.

Another one could be Gyarados, because of it versatility. If you mispredict the set, then it's game over. Dragon dance, substitute, dragon tail and especially roar and taunt are useful tools that can ruin your sweep.

Good luck for trying to seek the perfect baton pass team.

Encore on Mr. Mime is much better than any attack imo. I find that it is the most reliable way to deal with Pokemon who attempt to setup. Scald or Surf on Vaporeon is also what I currently use. Zoroark normally isn't that big of a threat, since you can normally tank the hits decently. Always protect first turn to if the enemy team has Zoroark, since choice scarf could outspeed you and OHKO. Then get your speed and switch in to Vaporeon to tank the common flamethrower, and then kill it with Surf. If it is Sashed you can most likely tank the attacks easily enough to setup with Mr. Mime. Make it use a move other than Dark Pulse, then Encore lock it and setup. If they Taunt, you get a free Substitute on Ninjask, so I don't see the problem. That gives an easy switch into Vaporeon or Espeon. Volcarona isn't that big of a threat to me either, since Mr. Mime is immune to Bug Buzz and can Encore Quiver Dance or Bug Buzz and setup, then kill with Espeon behind a Substitute. Having Giga Drain doesn't change much, since you shouldn't rely on Vaporeon to be killing it, since Quiver Dance sets can probably tank surfs easily.

Vs Ninetails you can often substitute the first turn and then protect twice to scout for Roar or Nasty Plot. From there you can switch to Mr. Mime and Encore either, or simply start boosting. Fireblast has shaky accuracy so you can often spam Substitute until they miss, or switch into Vaporeon and tank a hit easily. I've never encountered Shiftry, as far as I'm concerned its like trying to build a team around countering Mold Breaker Roar Haxorus, which is pointless.

Gyarados is definitely a tricky pokemon because of its set diversity. To me, prediction on these sets is what makes a good player. Look at the team composition. If its a defensive team that already put down stealth rock and spikes, then its probably a Roar + Rest combo. If its an aggressive team, then its probably a Dragon Dance version. If I am unsure I swap to Mr. Mime and Encore the Roar / DD. Gyarados with Taunt is annoying, but Vaporeon can kill it slowly. I've beaten several DD Gyarados by simply switch into Vaporeon on the Waterfall. Then Acid Armor before the Taunt. They often use that time to setup, at which point deal damage with Surf. You can continue to Acid Armor, or Baton Pass to Ninjask to immune the Earthquake, then Substitute until he Taunts. Then you can Immune the Waterfall with Vaporeon and Acid Armor again, or just kill it with Espeon if you fear another Taunt.


Hope that helps a bit with your matchups. From what I am seeing, you need to adapt to using Encore on Mr. Mime, because it offers a great way to beat many Pokemon. This is a change I have loved so far. And I am still testing to find out the last pokemon on the team.

You just gave me a very good idea. Use Charge instead of Roar on Zapdos. By the way, the red card on Espeon can help you out of many tight situations: against those pokemon who use calm mind(Jirachi is the most problematic).

Here is a replay showing aqua ring's usefulness: http://pokemonshowdown.com/replay/ou4247778
LOL! The guy could have lead with his cloyster.

Currently I am using Emogla with Charge, Substitute, and Encore. With Motor Drive, Emogla can be a great way to gain speed boosts. You can easily force electric attacks by using Vaporeon. Then Encore them and Substitute + Charge to boost up. Roost could replace Encore and you could use Zapdos, but then you miss out on the immunity to electric attacks and ability to gain speed / encore moves.