Changes In Bold
Hello, I'm new to the smogon forums, but not as new to the competitive battling scene. Anyway onto my team.
Introduction/Team Building
I wanted to use a team with Empoleon. On Shoddy it is not used often and when it is used it is usually not used correctly. When one wants a water sweeper most would reach for Gyrados or Suicune. Many other people use a variety of bulky waters. The majority of those who use Empoleon which I have seen have just slapped it onto a team and expected it to do well. Regardless of all that I knew that this is where i wanted to start.
Empoleon hates bulky waters who wall it with little effort. Bulky waters on the other hand hate toxic and toxic spikes (Save Gyrados). I needed a toxic spiker for this team and I decided on using both Roserade and Tentacruel. Roserade is my lead, in my opinion the most dangerous role because you have no idea how your oponent will start and it relies so much on prediction. If something goes wrong with Roserade I can fall back on Tentacruel.
Empoleon also dislikes those who can stop it before it sets up and end its sweep prematurely with a super effective priority move. Together with Tentacruel Tyranitar brings in users of these moves very well allowing them to be dealt with.
With toxic spikes up it would be a pity to just have them blown away. I needed a spin blocker. Rotom-A met this need perfectly. I decided to go with Rotom-C to also check Swampert along side Gyrados and other general revenge killing duties.
My team is offensive. I need to keep the momentum going and keep my oponents on their toes. Scizor is a great pokemon to do this. Especially with everyone expecting a choice set.
With help from The LegendKiller my team looks like this.
Members
Hetran (Credit to The LegendKiller)
@Life Orb
Flash Fire
Modest
172 HP 252 Spd 252 SpAtk
-Stealth Rock
-Taunt
-Overheat
-Hidden Power Grass
This lead does well against a variety of things and if the match up doesn't look good I can easily switch to an apropriate counter. Stealth rock is always nice. Taunt stops some walls and stat uppers. Overheat tears through anything that isn't Blissey or resists it and somethings that do. Hidden power grass lets me damage switch ins on heatran that otherwise could cause problems. Pairs well with Scizor, Flygon, and Rotom-C. Also helps fight opposing Scizor.
Roserade (Credit to The LegendKiller)
@Black Sludge
Natural Cure
Calm
252 HP 4 SpAtk 252 SpDef
-Toxic Spikes
-Sleep Powder
-Energy Ball
-Rest
This is taking the place of Tentacruel while still doing the duties that both would acomplish. This Roserade is actually very difficult to kill despite it being thought of as a fragile pokemon. While it doesnt fair too well with physical attacks it can hold many special attackers at bay, sleep them, set up, rest off the damage they did. Then switch out to a counter to remove the sleep from rest. Energy ball is for STAB and bulky waters that Empoleon hates.
Rotom-C
@Choice Scarf
Levitate
Timid
4 SpDef 252 Spd 252 SpAtk
-Leaf Storm
-Shadow Ball
-Thunderbolt
-Trick
Rotom-C plays several vital parts to my team. It blocks rapid spin, keeps theats like Gyrados in line, cripples walls, and goes about its normal revenge kill duties. Shadow ball and tbolt are for STAB and coverage. Leaf storm is to ruin Swampert. However I'm considering Rotom-H to kill scizor.
Scizor
@Lum Berry
Technician
Jolly
40 HP 252 Atk 216 Spd
-Swords Dance
-Brick Break
-U-turn
-Bullet Punch
This thing catches a lot of guard. To start it forces switches allowing me to spread the love of toxic spikes. With the switches it forces I can either swords dance or bluff a choice set. I can out speed all non choice scarf magnezone and kill them with brick break after a swords dance or u-turn away. U-turn is also good for scouting. Bullet Punch is here because this is Scizor.
Flygon (Credit to The LegendKiller)
@Choice Scarf
Levitate
Naughty
252 Atk 252 Spd 4 SpAtk
-Earthquake
-Outrage
-U-turn
-Fire Blast
Fairly standard ScarfGon. Naughty as not much out speeds it and it could use the extra power. Most people assume that Flygon is alway physical and then decide to keep their skarmory in. Fire Blast will ko it. Skarmory obviously won't be staying in when Heatran and Rotom come out and this is a good way to elimate him. Earthquake is for coverage and STAB. U turn is for scouting. Outrage lets me clean up late game or go crazy if i know that there is no immediate threat to Flygon.
Empoleon
@Petaya Berry
Torrent
Modest
24 Def 252 SpAtk 232 Spd
-Agility
-Substitute
-Surf
-Ice Beam
Tried and true Empoleon. Not much to say here as this is here because I want it to be while the rest of the team supports it. Surf sweeps through anything that doesn't resist it. Ice beam catches grass and dragon types. It really is necessary to remove the opponent’s bulky waters before bringing Empoleon in to play.
Ex-Members
Roserade
@Focus Sash
Natural Cure
Modest
252 Spd 252 SpAtk 4 SpDef
-Toxic Spikes
-Sleep Powder
-Leaf Storm
-Worry Seed
This is lead Roserade with a few tweaks. First of all I'm running modest for that extra omph to my attack as everything that wants to taunt me is already faster than I can be. Depending on what comes out I will either sleep them, attack, or just start my set up. Instead of another offensive move for my fourth slot I decided to try Worry Seed. My team dislikes Lead Machamp, but taking away it's unique No Guard ability allows me to set up on him with Scizor. Overall Roserade is a fairly succesful lead and I haven't noticed any problems from using modest.
Tentacruel
@Black Sludge
Liquid Ooze
Calm
252 HP 120 Def 136 SpDef
-Rapid Spin
-Knock Off
-Surf
-Toxic Spikes
Tentacruel acts as my backup toxic spiker. Thanks to him I rarely don't get 2 layers of toxic spikes up. He also serves as my rapid spinner which is good for anyteam. Surf is there for STAB. Knock off weakens a pokemon by removing its item, often this lets me know its set as well. Knock off may cause my Rotom to trick it's item away for nothing if the opponent predicts I'm going to use trick and brings in a pokemon hit by knock off. While Tentacruel is useful I'd have to say that he is the weakest link.
Tyranitar
@Choice Scarf
Sand Stream
Jolly
4 Hp 252 Atk 252 Spd
-Earthquake
-Stone Edge
-Crunch
-Pursuit
Ttar brings in many pokemon who could threaten Empoleon allowing me to attempt to remove them. It also gets starmie, whom Empoleon can't handle on its own as well as a variety of fragile sweepers. Sand stream wears down a lot of pokemon that could also prove dificult. Scizor is a threat to this as well as the team in general.
Closing
That’s it for my team, do what you want with it: Rate, comment, criticize. Thanks in advance for any help toward making it better.
Hello, I'm new to the smogon forums, but not as new to the competitive battling scene. Anyway onto my team.
Introduction/Team Building
I wanted to use a team with Empoleon. On Shoddy it is not used often and when it is used it is usually not used correctly. When one wants a water sweeper most would reach for Gyrados or Suicune. Many other people use a variety of bulky waters. The majority of those who use Empoleon which I have seen have just slapped it onto a team and expected it to do well. Regardless of all that I knew that this is where i wanted to start.
Empoleon hates bulky waters who wall it with little effort. Bulky waters on the other hand hate toxic and toxic spikes (Save Gyrados). I needed a toxic spiker for this team and I decided on using both Roserade and Tentacruel. Roserade is my lead, in my opinion the most dangerous role because you have no idea how your oponent will start and it relies so much on prediction. If something goes wrong with Roserade I can fall back on Tentacruel.
Empoleon also dislikes those who can stop it before it sets up and end its sweep prematurely with a super effective priority move. Together with Tentacruel Tyranitar brings in users of these moves very well allowing them to be dealt with.
With toxic spikes up it would be a pity to just have them blown away. I needed a spin blocker. Rotom-A met this need perfectly. I decided to go with Rotom-C to also check Swampert along side Gyrados and other general revenge killing duties.
My team is offensive. I need to keep the momentum going and keep my oponents on their toes. Scizor is a great pokemon to do this. Especially with everyone expecting a choice set.
With help from The LegendKiller my team looks like this.
My Team at a Glance
Members
Hetran (Credit to The LegendKiller)
@Life Orb
Flash Fire
Modest
172 HP 252 Spd 252 SpAtk
-Stealth Rock
-Taunt
-Overheat
-Hidden Power Grass
This lead does well against a variety of things and if the match up doesn't look good I can easily switch to an apropriate counter. Stealth rock is always nice. Taunt stops some walls and stat uppers. Overheat tears through anything that isn't Blissey or resists it and somethings that do. Hidden power grass lets me damage switch ins on heatran that otherwise could cause problems. Pairs well with Scizor, Flygon, and Rotom-C. Also helps fight opposing Scizor.
Roserade (Credit to The LegendKiller)
@Black Sludge
Natural Cure
Calm
252 HP 4 SpAtk 252 SpDef
-Toxic Spikes
-Sleep Powder
-Energy Ball
-Rest
This is taking the place of Tentacruel while still doing the duties that both would acomplish. This Roserade is actually very difficult to kill despite it being thought of as a fragile pokemon. While it doesnt fair too well with physical attacks it can hold many special attackers at bay, sleep them, set up, rest off the damage they did. Then switch out to a counter to remove the sleep from rest. Energy ball is for STAB and bulky waters that Empoleon hates.
Rotom-C
@Choice Scarf
Levitate
Timid
4 SpDef 252 Spd 252 SpAtk
-Leaf Storm
-Shadow Ball
-Thunderbolt
-Trick
Rotom-C plays several vital parts to my team. It blocks rapid spin, keeps theats like Gyrados in line, cripples walls, and goes about its normal revenge kill duties. Shadow ball and tbolt are for STAB and coverage. Leaf storm is to ruin Swampert. However I'm considering Rotom-H to kill scizor.
Scizor
@Lum Berry
Technician
Jolly
40 HP 252 Atk 216 Spd
-Swords Dance
-Brick Break
-U-turn
-Bullet Punch
This thing catches a lot of guard. To start it forces switches allowing me to spread the love of toxic spikes. With the switches it forces I can either swords dance or bluff a choice set. I can out speed all non choice scarf magnezone and kill them with brick break after a swords dance or u-turn away. U-turn is also good for scouting. Bullet Punch is here because this is Scizor.
Flygon (Credit to The LegendKiller)
@Choice Scarf
Levitate
Naughty
252 Atk 252 Spd 4 SpAtk
-Earthquake
-Outrage
-U-turn
-Fire Blast
Fairly standard ScarfGon. Naughty as not much out speeds it and it could use the extra power. Most people assume that Flygon is alway physical and then decide to keep their skarmory in. Fire Blast will ko it. Skarmory obviously won't be staying in when Heatran and Rotom come out and this is a good way to elimate him. Earthquake is for coverage and STAB. U turn is for scouting. Outrage lets me clean up late game or go crazy if i know that there is no immediate threat to Flygon.
Empoleon
@Petaya Berry
Torrent
Modest
24 Def 252 SpAtk 232 Spd
-Agility
-Substitute
-Surf
-Ice Beam
Tried and true Empoleon. Not much to say here as this is here because I want it to be while the rest of the team supports it. Surf sweeps through anything that doesn't resist it. Ice beam catches grass and dragon types. It really is necessary to remove the opponent’s bulky waters before bringing Empoleon in to play.
Ex-Members
Roserade
@Focus Sash
Natural Cure
Modest
252 Spd 252 SpAtk 4 SpDef
-Toxic Spikes
-Sleep Powder
-Leaf Storm
-Worry Seed
This is lead Roserade with a few tweaks. First of all I'm running modest for that extra omph to my attack as everything that wants to taunt me is already faster than I can be. Depending on what comes out I will either sleep them, attack, or just start my set up. Instead of another offensive move for my fourth slot I decided to try Worry Seed. My team dislikes Lead Machamp, but taking away it's unique No Guard ability allows me to set up on him with Scizor. Overall Roserade is a fairly succesful lead and I haven't noticed any problems from using modest.
Tentacruel
@Black Sludge
Liquid Ooze
Calm
252 HP 120 Def 136 SpDef
-Rapid Spin
-Knock Off
-Surf
-Toxic Spikes
Tentacruel acts as my backup toxic spiker. Thanks to him I rarely don't get 2 layers of toxic spikes up. He also serves as my rapid spinner which is good for anyteam. Surf is there for STAB. Knock off weakens a pokemon by removing its item, often this lets me know its set as well. Knock off may cause my Rotom to trick it's item away for nothing if the opponent predicts I'm going to use trick and brings in a pokemon hit by knock off. While Tentacruel is useful I'd have to say that he is the weakest link.
Tyranitar
@Choice Scarf
Sand Stream
Jolly
4 Hp 252 Atk 252 Spd
-Earthquake
-Stone Edge
-Crunch
-Pursuit
Ttar brings in many pokemon who could threaten Empoleon allowing me to attempt to remove them. It also gets starmie, whom Empoleon can't handle on its own as well as a variety of fragile sweepers. Sand stream wears down a lot of pokemon that could also prove dificult. Scizor is a threat to this as well as the team in general.
Closing
That’s it for my team, do what you want with it: Rate, comment, criticize. Thanks in advance for any help toward making it better.
