(RU) First rate my team since Gen 4!

Burnside · Mar 3rd, 2013, 2:04:48 PM

Introduction
Greetings! After spending a lot of time following and playing in 4th gen I took a break from pokemon. However, I was recently introduced to showdown and would like to get back into things. I've decided to try and jump into the RU tier, building a team that consists of some of my favorite pokemon, and using builds that will net me an advantage through surprise.

Tangrowth @ Life Orb

Trait: Regenerator
EVs: 252 SAtk / 252 HP / 4 SDef
Modest Nature
- Leaf Storm
- Power Swap
- Focus Blast
- Hidden Power [Rock]

Quote:

Power swap, specially offensive Tangrowth functions mostly as the teams lead and offensive pivot. HP Rock allows her to threaten a number of the most common leads in the meta, especially Crustle and Aerodactyl. Power swap is helpful, both in passing SpA drops from Leaf Storm, and then hitting the opponent again with a full power Leaf Storm, and preventing others from setting up by stealing their boosts. Additionally, Tangrowth provides a much needed resistance to EQ to the team. Most of the time this set catches people with their guards down, expecting sleep powder and instead getting hit with a strong special attack.

Entei @ Choice Specs
Trait: Pressure
EVs: 252 Spd / 252 SAtk
Timid Nature
- Overheat
- Shadow Ball
- Hidden Power [Electric]
- Sleep Talk

Quote:

Entei sports a cool resistance to bug type moves, which my team needs as three of my pokes are weak to it. Sleep Talk makes Entei the perfect sleep fodder for the team, and keeps him active when he otherwise would have been decommissioned. Shadow Ball hits Uxie hard, and HP electric allows me to take out common switch ins such as Feraligator, or Kabutops. Though most of the time Entei's job is to spread damage through Overheat and cede to a teammate who can absorb hits better than he can. Choice Specs Entei is a fairly rare build that punishes people for switching into their physical walls to take the expected flair blitz. Overheat is taken over Fire Blast or Flamethrower because the additionally damage allows him to do decent damage to other threats, such as Lanturn who likes to switch in and threaten Entei.

Slowking @ Leftovers

Trait: Regenerator
EVs: 252 HP / 4 SAtk / 252 SDef
Calm Nature
- Thunder Wave
- Surf
- Ice Beam
- Slack Off

Quote:

Slowking is the team's SpD wall. T-Wave helps get status help to allows Tangrowth to be a greater threat, and Ice Beam is there to threaten Druddigon. Before a bit of tweaking this Slowking ran Fire Blast, which allowed him to take out Ferroseeds that liked to switch in and get leech seed or other support moves up. I've decided that this is a reasonable sacrifice as I have a number of other ways to take out Ferroseed, such as a Focus Blast from Tangrowth or an Overheat from Entei. Regenerator on both Slowking and Tangrowth allow them to support each other, often times jockeying between each other to keep their health up and damage their counterpart's threats.

Steelix @ Leftovers
Trait: Sturdy
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 HP / 4 SDef
Adamant Nature
- Earthquake
- Roar
- Stealth Rock
- Explosion

Quote:

Steelix is here to soak up damage, phase, stealth rock, and when things get tight, explode. Often times he's able to take at least one poke with him through a combination of EQ and Explode. Though he sports a weakness to fighting types he functions as a fairly decent counter to Gallade; he can phase out sub-bulk up types and take Drain Punches like a champ. One of this steel beast's largest drawbacks is that he lacks a reliable form of recovery. With access to a recovery move, besides rest, he is mostly on a counter. The question isn't if I'll lose Steelix, it's when will I lose him. So far this has been one of the largest problems with the team, as things, at times, seem to crumble when he does.

Drapion @ Black Sludge
Trait: Sniper
EVs: 252 Spd / 252 Atk / 4 Def
Jolly Nature
- Crunch
- Earthquake
- Poison Jab
- Swords Dance

Quote:

Drapion, the strange accordion scorpion that he may be, checks a lot of pokemon that would otherwise tear through my team. Rotom and Rotom Grass are two of the pokemon that Drapion can switch in on, and deal fatal blows in return (however he can't always take a hit as well as I would like him to be able to). Drapion really struggles with pokemon like Rhydon, Sandslash, and Poliwrath, which can make setting up conditions for a successful sweep difficult. Overall it seems to me Drapion is the weakest member of the team, not always being able to do enough of what he's supposed to be doing.

Gallade (M) @ Choice Scarf
Trait: Justified
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Spd / 4 HP
Adamant Nature
- Close Combat
- Psycho Cut
- Stone Edge
- Destiny Bond

Quote:

Gallade is one of the team's most important pokemon. He is the revenge killer and with Destiney Bond he is often able to get two or three KOs per match. Close combat is his most valuable asset allowing him to take out common threats that would otherwise challenge my team such as Sceptile and Clefable. If I am able to gain switch initiative Gallade can also take out Nidoqueen, a job that normally Sloking is more than capable of, but in a pinch Gallade works well. Stone Edge works well to revenge kill Galvantula, but the reliability of this technique is a bit troubling. Other Gallade's and Uxie are tough to break through, with the moveset that I have gone with, however, it seems like the benefit of the moves I've chosen outweigh their costs.

Here's the full importable if anyone is interested in trying this team out for themselves:

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I'm excited to hear what you guys think, and where the team has room for improvement. Thank you so much!

New Breed · Mar 4th, 2013, 3:08:43 AM

Hi there Burnside this is a nice team you have here but I feel that I have some suggestions that could help improve your team.

I recommend you replace your current Entei set with a Choice Banded set, this will give you an extremely powerful physical attacker and also a form of priority in Extremespeed. I think that Sleep Powder would be a much better option on Tangrowth rather than Power Swap, Power Swap is nice and all but you will be switching out alot already anyway due to Regenerator, Sleep Powder will let you possibly incapacitate a problem Pokemon to your team.

I suggest you fix your Steelix's Ev's and use the standard spread which is 252 Hp/ 220 Def / 36 SDef with an Impish nature as Steeix really is not hitting hard even with fuly invested attack, this will also somewhat fix the problem that you mentioned about Steelix not lasting long enough, with that Ev spread Steelix will last much longer. You shoud also probably replace Explosion with Gyro Ball, this will give you a decent STAB attack to hit faster Pokemon who resist Earthquake such as Sceptile.

Third and final thing, I think Medicham would make a much better replacement for your current Choice Scarf user Gallade, with the ability Pure Power and a Jolly nature Medicham will be hitting just as hard as Gallade and will also be faster too. It can run almost the exact same set and essentially do the same job, just a little bit better.

So in Summary

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Here are the two sets I suggested:

Entei

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Medicham

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Anyway I hope I helped and gl with the team :]

Burnside · Mar 6th, 2013, 6:19:43 PM

Thank you so much for the reply New Breed. Your recommendations were very helpful, and while I was hesitant about switching Sleep Powder for Power Swap, as Power Swap had saved me a number of times in the past, the utility of Sleep Powder was undeniably greater than that of Power Swap.

Additionally, your Steelix recommendation was a godsend. I can't remember why I'd thought it would be a good idea to EV in a more offensive way, but the old adage of "the best offense is good defense" is quite true, at least in Steelix's case.

With your changes implemented the team peaked at 1866, which I consider a great success for one of my first teams of this, now waning, generation. I'm going to keep at it, maybe tweaking things as they seem fit, and hopefully eclipse that last personal best.

Thanks again New Breed!

Mar 4th, 2013, 3:08:43 AM	#2
New Breed Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 160	Hi there Burnside this is a nice team you have here but I feel that I have some suggestions that could help improve your team. I recommend you replace your current Entei set with a Choice Banded set, this will give you an extremely powerful physical attacker and also a form of priority in Extremespeed. I think that Sleep Powder would be a much better option on Tangrowth rather than Power Swap, Power Swap is nice and all but you will be switching out alot already anyway due to Regenerator, Sleep Powder will let you possibly incapacitate a problem Pokemon to your team. I suggest you fix your Steelix's Ev's and use the standard spread which is 252 Hp/ 220 Def / 36 SDef with an Impish nature as Steeix really is not hitting hard even with fuly invested attack, this will also somewhat fix the problem that you mentioned about Steelix not lasting long enough, with that Ev spread Steelix will last much longer. You shoud also probably replace Explosion with Gyro Ball, this will give you a decent STAB attack to hit faster Pokemon who resist Earthquake such as Sceptile. Third and final thing, I think Medicham would make a much better replacement for your current Choice Scarf user Gallade, with the ability Pure Power and a Jolly nature Medicham will be hitting just as hard as Gallade and will also be faster too. It can run almost the exact same set and essentially do the same job, just a little bit better. So in Summary ... Choice Banded Entei > Your current set 252 Hp/220 Def/36 SDef > Your current Steelix spread, Gyro Ball > Explosion Choice Scarf Medicham > Your Choice Scarf Gallade Here are the two sets I suggested: Entei ... Entei @ Choice Band Trait: Pressure EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spd Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk) - Flare Blitz - ExtremeSpeed - Stone Edge - Sleep Talk Medicham ... Medicham (F) @ Choice Scarf Trait: Pure Power EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spd Jolly Nature (+Spd, -SAtk) - Hi Jump Kick - Zen Headbutt - Ice Punch - Trick Anyway I hope I helped and gl with the team :] __________________ burgled

Mar 6th, 2013, 6:19:43 PM	#3
Burnside Join Date: Mar 2013 Posts: 13	Thank you so much for the reply New Breed. Your recommendations were very helpful, and while I was hesitant about switching Sleep Powder for Power Swap, as Power Swap had saved me a number of times in the past, the utility of Sleep Powder was undeniably greater than that of Power Swap. Additionally, your Steelix recommendation was a godsend. I can't remember why I'd thought it would be a good idea to EV in a more offensive way, but the old adage of "the best offense is good defense" is quite true, at least in Steelix's case. With your changes implemented the team peaked at 1866, which I consider a great success for one of my first teams of this, now waning, generation. I'm going to keep at it, maybe tweaking things as they seem fit, and hopefully eclipse that last personal best. Thanks again New Breed!