I wanted to create a weather team. I know that people have done this before, but I really enjoy the pokemon that cause their opponents to suffer attrition damage, while they gain boosts so their defenses, or can hide in the sand itself, or can power down moves that would otherwise harm them.
Thus, the Sandstorm Swarm was born.
The Team
The Roaring Hippo
Hippowdon (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 252 HP/168 Def/88 SDef
Impish nature (+Def, -SAtk)
- Earthquake
- Stealth Rock
- Slack Off
- Roar
Ah the Roaring Hippo... He is invaluable to this team for many reasons. The first being that he sets up Sandstorm for the rest of the game. This alone gives me a huge advantage. Next, his stealth rocks destroy many a flying dragon, or other pokemon who constantly switch-in. If they are not deemed enough of a threat, he may just use Earthquake on them for the stab att, and finish them off, or he may just roar them away.
The Vengeful Mammoth
Mamoswine (M) @ Expert Belt
Ability: Snow Cloak
EVs: 160 HP/252 Atk/96 Def
Adamant nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Earthquake
- Ice Shard
- Superpower
- Avalanche
This guy has saved my life so many times. His Huge Attack stat allows him to pull off easy kills, especially on dragons, or grass types that want to harm the rest of my team. Also, his base speed is just high enough to out speed a scizor, even if it chooses to use Bullet Punch. The expert belt allows his huge type coverage to do more damage, without the fear of life loss from an LO.
The Misplaced Penguin
Empoleon (M) @ Choice Specs
Ability: Torrent
EVs: 252 HP/4 Spd/252 SAtk
Modest nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Surf
- Hydro Pump
- Ice Beam
- Grass Knot
Basic Special Sweeper build, that I desperately needed for this team. No other pokemon on my team really has a special move except for him. His huge resistances allow him an easy switch in, and his type coverage allows him to smash through almost any pokemon with something that is at least neutral.
The Fighting Bug
Scizor (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Technician
EVs: 4 HP/252 Atk/252 Spd
Adamant nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Bullet Punch
- Swords Dance
- Roost
- Brick Break
I really like Scizor. I know he is OU, but he is in that category for a reason. He is good. He doesn't take much damage from SR, he doesn't take ANY damage from SS, and roost allows him to shirk off hits that haven't killed him yet. I often SD on a switch, or will switch him into to any easy move, and roost if it does too much damage.
The Stoic Plant
Cradily (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Suction Cups
EVs: 252 HP/216 Def/40 SDef
Careful nature (+SDef, -SAtk)
- Stockpile
- Swords Dance
- Recover
- Seed Bomb
This Pokemon has saved me so many times. I have swept entire teams, with him as my only remaining pokemon. As long as SS is up, he can't get touched by special attacks, and if he gets off a stockpile, any attack that did more than 50% damage before, surely won't do it again, and he can recover the health with ease. I chose seed bomb over stone edge because I couldn't take out swamperts, and it was beginning to annoy me. If he gets off 2 SD's and at least 2 Stockpiles, he can sweep at his own leisure, and will do so, slowly but surely.
The Tremorous Titan
Rhyperior (M) @ Choice Band
Ability: Solid Rock
EVs: 252 Atk/252 Spd/4 SDef
Adamant nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Aqua Tail
- Earthquake
- Megahorn
- Stone Edge
The whole reason I created this team. I saw him in my Diamond version from a few years ago, looked him up on smogon, and realized how much of a beast he could be. Solid Rock saves him on dangerous switch ins, and often gives him the edge to finish off the counter. Megahorn almost always works for me, and usually allows me to sweep the remaining pokes late game.
Threat Down
1. Machamp with dynamic punch- This RIPS through my team, and I usually have to lose the mamoswine to take him down. An EQ, or two, and an Ice Shard usually finish him off, especially if SR, and SS are still up.
2. Focus sash leads- Most teams fear them , I don't SS will always break the sash if need be.
3. Suicune- His Physical bulk, and resistance to most of my attacks make him a hard one. I usually switch in the Cradily, and Stockpile on his calm mind, at least once, and SD/seed bomb until I can kill him.
4. Lucario- he can be a tricky one. If I have no one left to EQ, I usually am done by that point anyway. Hippo can scare him, or Roar him away if he shows up, or Empoleon can kill him with surf.
5. Gyrados- His intimidation can really throw a wrench into my tactics. I will usually attempt to counter with Rhyperior (stone edge), or go for the stab'ed Ice Shard with Mamo.
Alright I think I covered everything! I hope you all enjoy the team, and will rate it well.
OH!
I think I have only lost 5-7 times out of the 35-40 or so I have battled with it.
Thus, the Sandstorm Swarm was born.
The Team
The Roaring Hippo
Hippowdon (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 252 HP/168 Def/88 SDef
Impish nature (+Def, -SAtk)
- Earthquake
- Stealth Rock
- Slack Off
- Roar
Ah the Roaring Hippo... He is invaluable to this team for many reasons. The first being that he sets up Sandstorm for the rest of the game. This alone gives me a huge advantage. Next, his stealth rocks destroy many a flying dragon, or other pokemon who constantly switch-in. If they are not deemed enough of a threat, he may just use Earthquake on them for the stab att, and finish them off, or he may just roar them away.
The Vengeful Mammoth
Mamoswine (M) @ Expert Belt
Ability: Snow Cloak
EVs: 160 HP/252 Atk/96 Def
Adamant nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Earthquake
- Ice Shard
- Superpower
- Avalanche
This guy has saved my life so many times. His Huge Attack stat allows him to pull off easy kills, especially on dragons, or grass types that want to harm the rest of my team. Also, his base speed is just high enough to out speed a scizor, even if it chooses to use Bullet Punch. The expert belt allows his huge type coverage to do more damage, without the fear of life loss from an LO.
The Misplaced Penguin
Empoleon (M) @ Choice Specs
Ability: Torrent
EVs: 252 HP/4 Spd/252 SAtk
Modest nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Surf
- Hydro Pump
- Ice Beam
- Grass Knot
Basic Special Sweeper build, that I desperately needed for this team. No other pokemon on my team really has a special move except for him. His huge resistances allow him an easy switch in, and his type coverage allows him to smash through almost any pokemon with something that is at least neutral.
The Fighting Bug
Scizor (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Technician
EVs: 4 HP/252 Atk/252 Spd
Adamant nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Bullet Punch
- Swords Dance
- Roost
- Brick Break
I really like Scizor. I know he is OU, but he is in that category for a reason. He is good. He doesn't take much damage from SR, he doesn't take ANY damage from SS, and roost allows him to shirk off hits that haven't killed him yet. I often SD on a switch, or will switch him into to any easy move, and roost if it does too much damage.
The Stoic Plant
Cradily (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Suction Cups
EVs: 252 HP/216 Def/40 SDef
Careful nature (+SDef, -SAtk)
- Stockpile
- Swords Dance
- Recover
- Seed Bomb
This Pokemon has saved me so many times. I have swept entire teams, with him as my only remaining pokemon. As long as SS is up, he can't get touched by special attacks, and if he gets off a stockpile, any attack that did more than 50% damage before, surely won't do it again, and he can recover the health with ease. I chose seed bomb over stone edge because I couldn't take out swamperts, and it was beginning to annoy me. If he gets off 2 SD's and at least 2 Stockpiles, he can sweep at his own leisure, and will do so, slowly but surely.
The Tremorous Titan
Rhyperior (M) @ Choice Band
Ability: Solid Rock
EVs: 252 Atk/252 Spd/4 SDef
Adamant nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Aqua Tail
- Earthquake
- Megahorn
- Stone Edge
The whole reason I created this team. I saw him in my Diamond version from a few years ago, looked him up on smogon, and realized how much of a beast he could be. Solid Rock saves him on dangerous switch ins, and often gives him the edge to finish off the counter. Megahorn almost always works for me, and usually allows me to sweep the remaining pokes late game.
Threat Down
1. Machamp with dynamic punch- This RIPS through my team, and I usually have to lose the mamoswine to take him down. An EQ, or two, and an Ice Shard usually finish him off, especially if SR, and SS are still up.
2. Focus sash leads- Most teams fear them , I don't SS will always break the sash if need be.
3. Suicune- His Physical bulk, and resistance to most of my attacks make him a hard one. I usually switch in the Cradily, and Stockpile on his calm mind, at least once, and SD/seed bomb until I can kill him.
4. Lucario- he can be a tricky one. If I have no one left to EQ, I usually am done by that point anyway. Hippo can scare him, or Roar him away if he shows up, or Empoleon can kill him with surf.
5. Gyrados- His intimidation can really throw a wrench into my tactics. I will usually attempt to counter with Rhyperior (stone edge), or go for the stab'ed Ice Shard with Mamo.
Alright I think I covered everything! I hope you all enjoy the team, and will rate it well.
OH!
I think I have only lost 5-7 times out of the 35-40 or so I have battled with it.
