Hello fans of teams far and wide! This is a team that I made for the 1st RU Ladder Challenge, which featured using sun teams to combat the nature of the current RU metagame, particularly against hail teams (I have beaten every hail team I came across with this team, often by isolating and eliminating Snover and then putting up Sun undisrupted; it’s not like OU where it’s 100% obvious that the team is a sun team). I have grown fairly attached to this team after only about a week and would like to continue using this team on my main alt, but I would like some feedback from it by the public before I continue. Enjoy the show!
Altaria (M) @ Heat Rock
Trait: Natural Cure
EVs: 252 SDef / 252 HP / 4 SAtk
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Sunny Day
- Perish Song
- Roost
- Draco Meteor
Altaria is my special tank, thus explaining the IVs. It also absorbs Spore, Thunder Wave, Will-o-Wisp, and Toxic very well due to Natural Cure. Perish Song is my emergency stop to Pokemon such as Quiver Dance Lilligant (which this thing absorbs attacks from very well). Sunny Day makes this a good sun setter, and Roost gives Altaria great recovery (especially considering Altaria is week to Stealth Rock). Draco Meteor made for a natural choice in the final move slot because Altaria switches in and out a lot, so the SpA drop didn’t matter much. However, it is arguable that this should be replaced with Fire Blast, Dragon Pulse, or Toxic, and I need help deciding what to do here.
Armaldo (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Battle Armor
EVs: 32 Atk / 224 HP / 252 SDef
Careful Nature
IVs: 0 SAtk
- Rapid Spin
- Stealth Rock
- X-Scissor
- Stone Edge
Yeah, yeah, EVERYBODY in RU uses Kabutops as a spinner. However, I recently grew fond of using Armaldo instead, as it has better synergy with the team, has better defenses, and unlike Kabutops, defeats Snover 1-1 unless Snover freezes Armaldo with Blizzard. This slot was originally for Kabutops, but I ran out of room for Stealth Rock and realized that it was counterproductive to use Kabutops on a Sun-team. Armaldo has done a surprisingly good job for this team, being neutral to many types and having its Water weakness cancelled out by sun. Nobody expects Armaldo in RU so it really puts a nice dent in things. The 224 HP EVs give Armaldo a Stealth Rock number, important for spinning.
Bouffalant (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Sap Sipper
EVs: 4 Atk / 252 HP / 252 Def
Impish Nature
IVs: 0 SAtk
- Sunny Day
- Megahorn
- Head Charge
- Earthquake
If Amoonguss and Tangrowth weren’t everywhere, this Pokemon would hardly be viable here. It switches in on Spore, Stun Spore, Leech Seed, or Giga Drain and gets a free attack boost, and then either attacks or sets up sun, depending on the predicting switch-in. Amoonguss can remove the boost with Clear Smog, but at that point it’s almost too late, as at +1 Bouffalant easily 2HKOs with Head Charge. Bouffalant also destroys TanKing unless Tangrowth carries Focus Blast or Slowking has Fire Blast or burns with Scald.
Lilligant (F) @ Leftovers
Trait: Chlorophyll
EVs: 252 Spd / 252 SAtk / 4 SDef
Timid Nature
- Quiver Dance
- Giga Drain
- SolarBeam
- Hidden Power [Rock]
Lilligant is the main sweeper on this team, using a predicted switch to set up, and firing off the appropriate move repeatedly. Giga Drain is the best move and helps Lilligant recover in case it needs to switch in and out. If the sun is out and Lilligant is healthy, Solarbeam is significantly stronger and can get OHKOs and 2HKOs that Giga Drain cannot. Hidden Power Rock covers most of Lilligant’s weaknesses against Moltres and Cryogonal, among others. Quiver Dance is self-explanatory, and is what makes Lilligant so good.
Moltres @ Life Orb
Trait: Pressure
EVs: 252 Spd / 252 SAtk / 4 SDef
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- SolarBeam
- Fire Blast
- Substitute
- Roost
If I were to write a Top 10 list of top RU Pokemon, this would surely make the cut. This is the classic SubRoost set with a twist: rather than Air Slash or Hurricane, Solarbeam provides great coverage with Fire Blast and destroys things such as Rhydon on the switch-in. Roost is mandatory since I don’t have a Wish passer, and it makes Stealth Rock much easier to handle. Substitute is usually used upon predicting a switch, and it gives a buffer to Moltres so it can attack the new target without worry. It also blocks Thunder Wave and Toxic.
Amoonguss (M) @ Heat Rock
Trait: Regenerator
EVs: 4 SAtk / 252 HP / 252 Def
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Spore
- Sunny Day
- SolarBeam
- Clear Smog
Amoonguss does a great job of handling many opponents thanks to the only Spore around. Heat Rock is used over the usual Leftovers to prolong the effects of Sunny Day, and Leftovers are less necessary with Regenerator. After Sun is set, Solarbeam becomes the main attacking move with a much higher base power than Giga Drain. Clear Smog acts as a phasing move against Pokemon that like to set up (example: Amoonguss switches in on a Lilligant using Quiver Dance, takes the Hidden Power, and removes the boost with Clear Smog).
So this is a balanced sun team that, with good prediction, can destroy almost any unprepared team (I haven’t come across a rain team yet, but Amoonguss and Altaria should manage these well). Hopefully you enjoyed the show, and please provide feedback!
As a final note, I realized that providing replays might help me to get better feedback, plus they're entertaining.
http://www.pokemonshowdown.com/replay/ru-17199871
http://www.pokemonshowdown.com/replay/ru-17322002
http://www.pokemonshowdown.com/replay/ru-17330173
http://www.pokemonshowdown.com/replay/ru-17331273
Altaria (M) @ Heat Rock
Trait: Natural Cure
EVs: 252 SDef / 252 HP / 4 SAtk
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Sunny Day
- Perish Song
- Roost
- Draco Meteor
Altaria is my special tank, thus explaining the IVs. It also absorbs Spore, Thunder Wave, Will-o-Wisp, and Toxic very well due to Natural Cure. Perish Song is my emergency stop to Pokemon such as Quiver Dance Lilligant (which this thing absorbs attacks from very well). Sunny Day makes this a good sun setter, and Roost gives Altaria great recovery (especially considering Altaria is week to Stealth Rock). Draco Meteor made for a natural choice in the final move slot because Altaria switches in and out a lot, so the SpA drop didn’t matter much. However, it is arguable that this should be replaced with Fire Blast, Dragon Pulse, or Toxic, and I need help deciding what to do here.
Armaldo (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Battle Armor
EVs: 32 Atk / 224 HP / 252 SDef
Careful Nature
IVs: 0 SAtk
- Rapid Spin
- Stealth Rock
- X-Scissor
- Stone Edge
Yeah, yeah, EVERYBODY in RU uses Kabutops as a spinner. However, I recently grew fond of using Armaldo instead, as it has better synergy with the team, has better defenses, and unlike Kabutops, defeats Snover 1-1 unless Snover freezes Armaldo with Blizzard. This slot was originally for Kabutops, but I ran out of room for Stealth Rock and realized that it was counterproductive to use Kabutops on a Sun-team. Armaldo has done a surprisingly good job for this team, being neutral to many types and having its Water weakness cancelled out by sun. Nobody expects Armaldo in RU so it really puts a nice dent in things. The 224 HP EVs give Armaldo a Stealth Rock number, important for spinning.
Bouffalant (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Sap Sipper
EVs: 4 Atk / 252 HP / 252 Def
Impish Nature
IVs: 0 SAtk
- Sunny Day
- Megahorn
- Head Charge
- Earthquake
If Amoonguss and Tangrowth weren’t everywhere, this Pokemon would hardly be viable here. It switches in on Spore, Stun Spore, Leech Seed, or Giga Drain and gets a free attack boost, and then either attacks or sets up sun, depending on the predicting switch-in. Amoonguss can remove the boost with Clear Smog, but at that point it’s almost too late, as at +1 Bouffalant easily 2HKOs with Head Charge. Bouffalant also destroys TanKing unless Tangrowth carries Focus Blast or Slowking has Fire Blast or burns with Scald.
Lilligant (F) @ Leftovers
Trait: Chlorophyll
EVs: 252 Spd / 252 SAtk / 4 SDef
Timid Nature
- Quiver Dance
- Giga Drain
- SolarBeam
- Hidden Power [Rock]
Lilligant is the main sweeper on this team, using a predicted switch to set up, and firing off the appropriate move repeatedly. Giga Drain is the best move and helps Lilligant recover in case it needs to switch in and out. If the sun is out and Lilligant is healthy, Solarbeam is significantly stronger and can get OHKOs and 2HKOs that Giga Drain cannot. Hidden Power Rock covers most of Lilligant’s weaknesses against Moltres and Cryogonal, among others. Quiver Dance is self-explanatory, and is what makes Lilligant so good.
Moltres @ Life Orb
Trait: Pressure
EVs: 252 Spd / 252 SAtk / 4 SDef
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- SolarBeam
- Fire Blast
- Substitute
- Roost
If I were to write a Top 10 list of top RU Pokemon, this would surely make the cut. This is the classic SubRoost set with a twist: rather than Air Slash or Hurricane, Solarbeam provides great coverage with Fire Blast and destroys things such as Rhydon on the switch-in. Roost is mandatory since I don’t have a Wish passer, and it makes Stealth Rock much easier to handle. Substitute is usually used upon predicting a switch, and it gives a buffer to Moltres so it can attack the new target without worry. It also blocks Thunder Wave and Toxic.
Amoonguss (M) @ Heat Rock
Trait: Regenerator
EVs: 4 SAtk / 252 HP / 252 Def
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Spore
- Sunny Day
- SolarBeam
- Clear Smog
Amoonguss does a great job of handling many opponents thanks to the only Spore around. Heat Rock is used over the usual Leftovers to prolong the effects of Sunny Day, and Leftovers are less necessary with Regenerator. After Sun is set, Solarbeam becomes the main attacking move with a much higher base power than Giga Drain. Clear Smog acts as a phasing move against Pokemon that like to set up (example: Amoonguss switches in on a Lilligant using Quiver Dance, takes the Hidden Power, and removes the boost with Clear Smog).
So this is a balanced sun team that, with good prediction, can destroy almost any unprepared team (I haven’t come across a rain team yet, but Amoonguss and Altaria should manage these well). Hopefully you enjoyed the show, and please provide feedback!
As a final note, I realized that providing replays might help me to get better feedback, plus they're entertaining.
http://www.pokemonshowdown.com/replay/ru-17199871
http://www.pokemonshowdown.com/replay/ru-17322002
http://www.pokemonshowdown.com/replay/ru-17330173
http://www.pokemonshowdown.com/replay/ru-17331273
