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Old Jun 20th, 2012, 12:01:06 PM   #1
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A RU RMT by TheMexican

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Well, hello everyone, this is TheMexican, some people already know me, and for the ones that don't, hai !. So I've been playing Rarelyused tier for like 3 months already and I gotta say it is pretty awesome. It's not playes by many, but its quite fun and has some cool people on the ladder.
So this team was based around Gallade, more specific, the Swords Dance set, which with the specific support, can demolish almost every team out there. This team has gone through lots of changes, but finally I decided to retire it after reaching 4th on the ladder. Anyways, thanks for viewing.

In-Depth Look.




Gallade (M) @ Lum Berry
Trait: Justified
EVs: 200 HP / 252 Atk / 56 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Swords Dance
- Drain Punch
- Night Slash
- Shadow Sneak

The Star of the team, where it all started off, this little monster 2hkos the entire metagame after a single boost. I was using the standard spread of all speed, but I got this suggestion on the ladder and decided to give it a try and It has been working decently, with drain punch its longetivity is quite increased making it easier to grab some boosts. I chose Night Slash over Zen Headbutt/Psycho Cut because hitting Cofagrious and Slowking is very important, when both can be threats for it. Shadow Sneak of standard on this guy, hitting faster psychic or ghost types such as rotom, mesprit or the forgotten haunter. Seriously this guy is a monster, and with the hazards support its very easy to sweep lategame. Seriously people, use Gallade. Abuse this monster.





Drapion (M) @ Black Sludge
Trait: Battle Armor
EVs: 248 HP / 244 SDef / 16 Spd
Careful Nature (+SDef, -SAtk)
- Toxic Spikes
- Taunt
- Crunch
- Whirlwind

Say hello to Drapion Cofagrigus, this awesome guy is a great team player, probably the best counter against OTR Cofagrigus, he makes excellent synergy with Gallade, and Toxic Spikes helps alot taking out foes like Tangrowth or Entei. These are usually either very helpful or useless against some teams. So taking out their Toxic Spikes absorber is important. Once I set them up I can stall for a bit until everyone has reached low wnough damage for gallade to sweep.






Flareon (F) @ Leftovers
Trait: Flash Fire
EVs: 252 HP / 4 SAtk / 248 SDef / 4 Spd
Calm Nature (+SDef, -Atk)
- Wish
- Protect
- Lava Plume
- Heal Bell

Ok, before everyone starts saying, what the hell? A Flareon?!? Just use Clefable or Lanturn. Flareon is here to stay, walling Magmortar, which has been increasing of popularity lately, Moltres which, I can only wall until I'm ready to pass a wish to another poke, mostly drapion, Special attacker Sceptile, and some other is very important and this guy can do that job. Besides wroking as an ultimate cleric and passing very usefull wishes to mostly Ferroseed and Drapion is crucial to this team. It has decent synergy with both, and besides look at her, she's adorable. The 4 Speed EVs might seem a bit unusefull but it helps me lava plume weakened Sandslash. I chose Lava Plume instead of flamethrower because the burn rate is appreciated, and it makes some pokes hard to switch in. Heal Bell in conjunction with Rest Spiritomb is awesome, letting me stall longer and longer, specially foes like Rest Poliwrath.






Sandslash (F) @ Leftovers
Trait: Sand Veil
EVs: 252 HP / 248 Def / 8 Spd
Impish Nature (+Def, -SAtk)
- Rapid Spin
- Earthquake
- Knock Off
- Stealth Rock

Another great team player, and I gotta say one of my favorite pokes in this team, Sandslash's role is not only to set rocks and rapis spin, but it also checks most kinds of drapion, and if I try to spin and I see a ghost trying to block it, I knock off its item. Knock Off might seem unappealing, but it has come very handy in some battles, and throwing off items like eviolite from Roselia, Munchlax or Misdreavus is great. The only scenario where I could be using Stone Edge is to hit moltres, but I already receive a bunch from Fire Blast so it just doesnt work well. Lastly, the 8 Speed EVs are there to outspeed other Sandslash and the problematic SubPunch Aggron, who under a sub and if it carries Magnet Rise can be a problem.





Spiritomb (F) @ Leftovers
Trait: Pressure
EVs: 252 HP / 192 Def / 66 SDef
Impish Nature (+Def, -SAtk)
- Sucker Punch
- Shadow Sneak
- Rest
- Will-O-Wisp

Since I'm using all hazards I had to use a spin blocker, and I chose since the beggining Spiritomb over Cofragigus for 3 reasons, 1 carrying some priority attaks is very usefull, even tho they are weak, they come in handy. 2, because it has much bigger special defence making an excellent mixed wall instead of just a defensive one and 3 its a decent check to some gallades and Mesprits.
With Flareon takion out the sleep status from him this guy last alot and by alot I mean like until a crit happens. I've always tried to get a bit more offensive spread, which would allow me to always break moltres sub with shadow sneak and nearly KO after rocks Cryogonal with sucker punch, however I didnt want to sacrifice its bulk. Any suggestion here are appreciated.







Ferroseed (F) @ Eviolite
Trait: Iron Barbs
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SDef

Impish Nature (+Def, -SAtk)
- Leech Seed
- Gyro Ball
- Toxic
- Spikes

At last, but not least, here comes Ferroseed. Before everyone starts saying how easy this guy is to seet up into, yeah I totally agree, but having a nice check to most water types, specially Feraligatr is its job. Also it is fairly easy to set up spikes with him and the synergy it has with the rest of the team is wonderful. I've been thinking about putting bullet seed instead of gyro ball only to beat sub Dragon Dance Crawdaunt one on one, but its very situational and gyroball hits some other pokes hard enough. Oh, and also I have ferroseed to wall non-special dragons like Altaria and Drudiggon, however I must be aware of SuperPower from the latter one.

Playstyle:

I've always liked having like balanced/semi stall teams and this is no difference. Usually I try to put as many hazards as posible and the sooner the better, and depending which members I see on the opponent's team, for example, if I see a Moltres, setting rocks is my first priority, and If I see no poison types Toxic Spikes are very welcome. Sometimes I even get to win with this and not sending out Gallade. Talking about him, I usually never send him out until midgame, after its walls have been taking down or at low health. Here are some Logs as examples:

Logs


Thanks for viewing, and any suggestions are appreciated :).
Here is the exportable version of the team:
Good Luck


Last edited by TheMexican; Jul 31st, 2012 at 10:30:57 AM.
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Old Jun 20th, 2012, 12:03:05 PM   #2
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Threat List (Editing)
Offensive

Defensive

Last edited by TheMexican; Jun 21st, 2012 at 4:12:55 PM. Reason: I'll finish this later
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Old Jun 20th, 2012, 1:26:37 PM   #3
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I think I remember playing this team a few times. It is a very solid semi stall team but you do have some weaknesses. Taunt+SD Drapion really seems to give this team trouble. Your only real good check is sandslash. Taunt+SD Drapion really just annoys your team in general whether it be preventing hazards or preventing wish passing. Sandslash also has no reliable recovery so it can only take crunch's for so long.

Another poke i find that could trouble your team is support omastar. Because not only does it set up hazards up but it also beats your rapid spinner 1v1. Nothing on your team can really handle it as gallade and ferroseed are greatly crippled by scald burns.

I'm not exactly sure how to fix these problems but your best bet is to run a Taunt+SD Drapion of your own in place of your drapion. This will help you deal with those threats as well as help deal with stall teams. SD drapion also compliments gallade making a extremely dangerous dual-SD core. Taunt also stops annoying set up pokes like lilligant and sub split rotom. Although u will lose t-spikes and a phazer almost all good teams have a t-spike absorber via drapion or roselia.

Taunt+SD Drapion Set
...

Last edited by Double01; Jun 20th, 2012 at 5:25:25 PM.
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Old Jun 20th, 2012, 2:06:07 PM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Fat Double01 View Post
I think I remember playing this team a few times. It is a very solid semi stall team but you do have some weaknesses. Taunt+SD Drapion really seems to give this team trouble. Your only real good check is sandslash. Taunt+SD Drapion really just annoys your team in general whether it be preventing hazards or preventing wish passing. Sandslash also has no reliable recovery so it can only take crunch's for so long.

Another poke i find that could trouble your team is support drapion. Because not only does it set up hazards up but it also beats your rapid spinner 1v1. Nothing on your team can really handle it as gallade and ferroseed are greatly crippled by scald burns.

I'm not exactly sure how to fix these problems but your best bet is to run a Taunt+SD Drapion of your own in place of your drapion. This will help you deal with those threats as well as help deal with stall teams. SD drapion also compliments gallade making a extremely dangerous dual-SD core. Taunt also stops annoying set up pokes like lilligant and sub split rotom. Although u will lose t-spikes and a phazer almost all good teams have a t-spike absorber via drapion or roselia.

Taunt+SD Drapion Set
...
Hey thanks for your rate. Even thought Taunt SD drapion is problematic, I dont really think it deserves to change something to check it. I mean, here is a calc:
252 +2 Atk Drapion Crunch vs 252 HP/248 Def Sandslash (+Def) : 38.98% - 46.05%
252 +2 Atk Drapion Earthquake vs 252 HP/252 Def Eviolite Ferroseed (+Def) : 29.79% - 35.27%

While:
0 Atk Sandslash Earthquake vs 4 HP/0 Def Drapion: 71.28% - 84.04%
0 Atk Ferroseed Gyro Ball vs 4 HP/0 Def Drapion: 30.14% - 36.17%

I think I mentioned something like that on the threat list. Besides Toxic Spikes on my drapion is sometimes crucial to win a game. Thanks for the rate though, I appreciate it.
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Old Jun 20th, 2012, 5:23:16 PM   #5
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Umm... Ferroseed is not a counter to taunt+SD...


Lets say your sandslash dies because it doesnt have a reliable recovery. If you switch ferroseed in to Drapion as the drapion SD's then he is at +2. You go for a gyro ball as the drapion SD's again. Then Drapion at +4 does w/ Earthquake: 130-152 (44.52 - 52.05%) which is has a high chance to 2hko after SR (even a low chance to 2hko with no hazards). Now Drapion proceeds to OHKO the rest of your team...

I mean your calcs on ferroseed don't really prove anything. Once sandslash is dead you get swept by drapion. I guess you have to play very carefully with your sandslash or you have to predict the taunt with ferroseed to prevent being swept.

Also to the above post of mine I meant to say support Omastar not drapion sry.
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Old Jun 20th, 2012, 5:39:53 PM   #6
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I agree with Double01. I don't know of I was battling you, but I caught the Sandslash on the switch with a Toxic from my clefable and after wearing it out, the minute I saw the ferroseed and switched into Drapion, it was GG. Lillugant with HP Rock is also kind of annoying. SD Drapion of your own could deal with these problems or a Choice Scarf one
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Old Jun 20th, 2012, 5:47:55 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Fat Double01 View Post
Umm... Ferroseed is not a counter to taunt+SD...


Lets say your sandslash dies because it doesnt have a reliable recovery. If you switch ferroseed in to Drapion as the drapion SD's then he is at +2. You go for a gyro ball as the drapion SD's again. Then Drapion at +4 does w/ Earthquake: 130-152 (44.52 - 52.05%) which is has a high chance to 2hko after SR (even a low chance to 2hko with no hazards). Now Drapion proceeds to OHKO the rest of your team...

I mean your calcs on ferroseed don't really prove anything. Once sandslash is dead you get swept by drapion. I guess you have to play very carefully with your sandslash or you have to predict the taunt with ferroseed to prevent being swept.

Also to the above post of mine I meant to say support Omastar not drapion sry.
I never said Ferroseed is a counter to taunt SD =/. I was just explaining how it can tank some hits. Drapion is indeed a problem, but with those wishes from Flareon, I can keep my health good enough to beat drapion, and beside, the same drapion to beat the other one isnt a good idea, I would prefer not to rely on speed ties.
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Old Jun 20th, 2012, 7:50:59 PM   #8
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Ok fair enough lol. Also I would also like to know how u deal with support omastar. Because it seems like a real pain to you team not letting your sandslash set up because of scald, setting up it's own hazards which you won't be able to spin away, and basically nothing can really switch into it fearing a burn from scald. The best you can do to it is try and to leech seed it with ferroseed. But ferroseed won't even like switching in because it fears getting burned.

Ik support omastar is quite rare but I bring it up mainly cause I use it and I'm noticing a slight increase in support omastars.
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Old Jun 20th, 2012, 8:56:12 PM   #9
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Originally Posted by Fat ThunderBlunder View Post
I agree with Double01. I don't know of I was battling you, but I caught the Sandslash on the switch with a Toxic from my clefable and after wearing it out, the minute I saw the ferroseed and switched into Drapion, it was GG. Lilligant with HP Rock is also kind of annoying. SD Drapion of your own could deal with these problems or a Choice Scarf one
I dont think it was me, I haven't battled a cleafable for a long time, besides I have heal bell on flareon to cure status. Hp rock lilligant is indeed annoying, however, that means ferroseed can toxic it without fearing hp fire. Choice scarf drapion sounds like an idea, but I still would prefer to have toxic spikes.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Fat Double01 View Post
Ok fair enough lol. Also I would also like to know how u deal with support omastar. Because it seems like a real pain to you team not letting your sandslash set up because of scald, setting up it's own hazards which you won't be able to spin away, and basically nothing can really switch into it fearing a burn from scald. The best you can do to it is try and to leech seed it with ferroseed. But ferroseed won't even like switching in because it fears getting burned.

Ik support omastar is quite rare but I bring it up mainly cause I use it and I'm noticing a slight increase in support omastars.
Omastar is indeed a big threat, its so easy how it sets up hazards, usually I first taunt with drapion and then try to scare it aways with gallade, but if it happens to get 2 burns from scald It would be quite annoying. I dont really know how to deal with him without letting people getting burns here and there.
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Old Jun 21st, 2012, 12:54:41 AM   #10
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I love this playstyle! This team is really helping me get into RU!

I'll be sure to get this team to #1 for you.

I'm testing it a lot right now, and if the whole team is healthy, I have no problems what so ever. How ever, if I play badly for a turn or so, I usually lose. The title really means what it says.

I'll post again if I have any specific problems.
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Old Jun 21st, 2012, 4:28:04 PM   #11
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Originally Posted by Fat Gone to the beach View Post
I love this playstyle! This team is really helping me get into RU!

I'll be sure to get this team to #1 for you.

I'm testing it a lot right now, and if the whole team is healthy, I have no problems what so ever. How ever, if I play badly for a turn or so, I usually lose. The title really means what it says.

I'll post again if I have any specific problems.
Thanks for the comments :). Good luck.
Also finished the threatlist so rating is easier.
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Old Jun 23rd, 2012, 12:00:22 AM   #12
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i will say, this is a really good team, and i love the use of flareon to take out threatening pokemon such as moltres and magmortar while also supporting your team with wish and heal bell. that battle was really fun as well, in hindsight i could have won by sleep powdering sandslash instead of using leaf storm, but i honestly dont know if leaf storm would KO that thing, so yeah. Im also going to test out my own version of the team using Calm Mind Spiritomb!

So basically, other than that match that you showed, we played each other a bunch of other times, and i was able to pull a win i think once, and that was because of 1) you overpredicting with flareon, and 2) sandslash dying before it could rapid spin. All your pokemon take full hazards damage upon switching in so just play more conservatively with sandslash, dont let it die when your opponent has a threatening sweeper and there are multiple layers of hazards on the field. Also, if you decide to keep using this team on PS! ferroseed can now have rocks+spikes+seed which could free up a moveslot on your sandslash.

Good luck with future teams and i hope you keep playing RU!
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Old Jun 23rd, 2012, 4:17:44 PM   #13
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Nice team The Mexican, nice to see someone using Bulky SD Gallade to great success.

You mentioned that Night Slash is used to hit Slowking and Cofagrigus and i have to say this... Zen Headbutt also 2hkoes any Cofa after SR (TR Cofa doesn't need SR) and since you have Lum Berry you are not afraid of the burn and can easily survive 1 hit from any Cofa. Night Slash only 2hkoes defensive Cofa, as does Zen Headbutt, and without Spikes, it only 2hkoes offensive Cofa too, as does Zen Headbutt. So yeah Zen Headbutt >>> Night Slash. Not to mention that with Zen Headbutt you can ohko Qwilfish at +1 (Intimidate), meaning that you no longer have to eliminate him in order to sweep! Finally with Zen Headbutt you are no longer stopped by defensive Poliwrath.

Now for the last slot... If you want to ohko Slowking at +2 you can use Leaf Blade, which also ohkoes defensive Rhydon at +2 after SR + Spikes, which is a bit problematic as you said. Also you can ohko Sandslash at +2 after SR + Spikes with Leaf Blade, so this is nice too! You can still stick with Shadow Sneak though, as most of the times it 2hkoes at +2 after SR, and you have Lum Berry for the status move or the Scald burn... Oh and Leaf Blade also ohkoes defensive Quagsire after SR + Spikes, which is a bit troubling for your team especially the Curse set, which walls everything in your team, and can eventually sweep you.

Also seconding Double's suggestion! Bulky SD Drapion is amazing in combination with Bulky SD Gallade since each of them can handle some of the other's checks/counters. And T-Spikes are not so good in general in RU, as Drapion and Roselia are everywhere... I am using this combo myself and it has been amazing so far, putting really great pressure to the opponent!

I hope i helped and good luck!
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Old Jun 24th, 2012, 11:44:31 PM   #14
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Originally Posted by Fat Molk View Post
i will say, this is a really good team, and i love the use of flareon to take out threatening pokemon such as moltres and magmortar while also supporting your team with wish and heal bell. that battle was really fun as well, in hindsight i could have won by sleep powdering sandslash instead of using leaf storm, but i honestly dont know if leaf storm would KO that thing, so yeah. Im also going to test out my own version of the team using Calm Mind Spiritomb!

So basically, other than that match that you showed, we played each other a bunch of other times, and i was able to pull a win i think once, and that was because of 1) you overpredicting with flareon, and 2) sandslash dying before it could rapid spin. All your pokemon take full hazards damage upon switching in so just play more conservatively with sandslash, dont let it die when your opponent has a threatening sweeper and there are multiple layers of hazards on the field. Also, if you decide to keep using this team on PS! ferroseed can now have rocks+spikes+seed which could free up a moveslot on your sandslash.

Good luck with future teams and i hope you keep playing RU!
Thanks alot ^^. I will play sandslash more carefully now, thanks for your rate.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Fat alexwolf View Post
Nice team The Mexican, nice to see someone using Bulky SD Gallade to great success.

You mentioned that Night Slash is used to hit Slowking and Cofagrigus and i have to say this... Zen Headbutt also 2hkoes any Cofa after SR (TR Cofa doesn't need SR) and since you have Lum Berry you are not afraid of the burn and can easily survive 1 hit from any Cofa. Night Slash only 2hkoes defensive Cofa, as does Zen Headbutt, and without Spikes, it only 2hkoes offensive Cofa too, as does Zen Headbutt. So yeah Zen Headbutt >>> Night Slash. Not to mention that with Zen Headbutt you can ohko Qwilfish at +1 (Intimidate), meaning that you no longer have to eliminate him in order to sweep! Finally with Zen Headbutt you are no longer stopped by defensive Poliwrath.

Now for the last slot... If you want to ohko Slowking at +2 you can use Leaf Blade, which also ohkoes defensive Rhydon at +2 after SR + Spikes, which is a bit problematic as you said. Also you can ohko Sandslash at +2 after SR + Spikes with Leaf Blade, so this is nice too! You can still stick with Shadow Sneak though, as most of the times it 2hkoes at +2 after SR, and you have Lum Berry for the status move or the Scald burn... Oh and Leaf Blade also ohkoes defensive Quagsire after SR + Spikes, which is a bit troubling for your team especially the Curse set, which walls everything in your team, and can eventually sweep you.

Also seconding Double's suggestion! Bulky SD Drapion is amazing in combination with Bulky SD Gallade since each of them can handle some of the other's checks/counters. And T-Spikes are not so good in general in RU, as Drapion and Roselia are everywhere... I am using this combo myself and it has been amazing so far, putting really great pressure to the opponent!

I hope i helped and good luck!
I'll try Zen Headbutt then. It sounds like it'll be very usefull. As for leaf blade, even though it sounds cool, shadow sneak is abit more necesarry if I need to hit rotom and some other fast ghosts. I'll give it a try alongside with SD drapion!
Thanks alot guys.
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