Adamant Zoroark
catchy catchphrase
#571 - Zoroark - The Illusion Fox Pokemon
Dark Horse RMT
Why, hello Smogon! I feel great today! So, when Birkal started up the Dark Horse Project again, I knew for sure what I was using - none other than Zoroark! Yeah, it's my favorite Pokemon, so.... Why not? I just love Illusion, it's a great ability, and since Showdown now fully supports it... It's even better!
The team started off seeming rather mediocre, but as I gradually made improvements, it got better and got me to #96, just above the requisite Glicko2 rating, therefore getting me into the Dark Horse Project's Hall of Fame.
And now, for the team!
Mamoswine @ Life Orb
Trait: Thick Fat
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature
- Earthquake
- Ice Shard
- Icicle Crash
- Superpower
Mamoswine is pretty important on this team - First, it's my primary way of revenge killing Dragon Dance Dragonite, Choice Scarf Salamence, Landorus, and stuff like that. Second, it prevents Chlorophyll sweepers from having a field day with my team. Originally on this team, Mamoswine also served the role of setting up Stealth Rock. However, I quickly changed that because I found out that it was putting too much work on Mamoswine, causing it to die faster, while I would often fail to get up Stealth Rock. So, I added Heatran, and even though I ended up compounding Fighting weaknesses even more, it helped me reliably set up Stealth Rock.
Keldeo-Resolution @ Life Orb
Trait: Justified
EVs: 252 SAtk / 252 Spd / 4 SDef
Timid Nature
- Calm Mind
- Surf
- Secret Sword
- Hidden Power [Electric]
This thing sweeps. Plain and simple. At first, I was unsure of its effectiveness, but then I took it for a spin. Wow. How is this thing not in the top 10? This thing's amazing. Basically, it goes like this: Set up Calm Mind, sweep. Okay, you have to get rid of shit like Latios, but that's easy. I use Surf on this thing because I found Hydro Pump to be horribly inaccurate, and I already have enough hax in the form of Focus Blast on Zoroark. Now, what I didn't consider for a while was Hidden Power Electric - At first I was using Ice to help against things like Celebi, Dragons, and Amoonguss, but then found that using Ice made me weaker to Jellicent, as all of a sudden Zoroark was my only way of handling Jellicent. So, I added HP Electric to cover Jellicent, while also doing major damage to Tentacruel, another Pokemon I found I was having trouble with. Additionally, HP Electric gives Gyarados a run for its money.
Zoroark @ Choice Specs
Trait: Illusion
EVs: 252 SAtk / 4 SDef / 252 Spd
Timid Nature
- Dark Pulse
- Flamethrower
- Focus Blast
- Trick
Star of the show. Amazing in UU and great in OU, Zoroark seriously deserves more respect. Many times I have Tricked (pun intended) multiple Pokemon such as Gyarados and Deoxys-D, making these Pokemon significantly easier for me to handle. In addition, although Zoroark is not really intended to sweep, it can pull off a late-game sweep with its powerful Specs Dark Pulse if you need it to. When disguised as Scizor, it can bait Heatran and 2HKO (pretty sure) with Focus Blast. It also baits Jellicent and smashes it with Dark Pulse. If I ever think they'll switch to Blissey, try to set up, or something along those lines, I'll go for Trick and make their shit easy to deal with. I've tricked Blisseys and shit and then they eventually end up dying because Blissey does not like having Choice Specs.
Scizor @ Choice Band
Trait: Technician
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 Spd
Adamant Nature
- Bullet Punch
- U-turn
- Superpower
- Pursuit
Although now overshadowed by Genesect and Breloom, Scizor still plays an important role. First, it's probably one of the best (if not the best) offensively-oriented checks to Reuniclus in the game. Second, it lets me handle Terrakion (although Breloom can do this too, lol, but hey Genesect can't really do that). And finally, this is my first go-to Pokemon when considering disguises for Zoroark. As said in the description for Zoroark, disguising Zoroark as Scizor lets me bait Heatran and Jellicent, allowing Scizor to wreck later on. Of course, Scizor can also provide some momentum with U-turn, and momentum is great for offensive teams. Need to trap a Latios? Scizor's your man.
Heatran (M) @ Air Balloon
Trait: Flash Fire
EVs: 252 SAtk / 252 Spd / 4 SDef
Timid Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Flamethrower
- Earth Power
- Hidden Power [Ice]
Heatran was added to my team as a reaction to the fact that Mamoswine was not really the best option for Stealth Rock support. Additionally, Heatran can handle the omnipresent Genesect with ease. With its Air Balloon intact, it can also serve as a back-up to a rampaging Dragonite or Scarfmence if Mamoswine is down (and trust me, I manage to keep that balloon intact very well). Additionally, it beats many defensively inclined Steel-types one-on-one, such as Ferrothorn and Skarmory, allowing Scarfmence to destroy later on. And Flamethrower > Fire Blast for the same reason of Surf > Hydro Pump on Keldeo.
Salamence @ Choice Scarf
Trait: Moxie
EVs: 4 SAtk / 252 Spd / 252 Atk
Hasty Nature
- Outrage
- Dragon Claw
- Earthquake
- Fire Blast
Thing's amazing. Serves as my revenge killer, primary way of beating Volcarona, and yet another late-game sweeper alongside Keldeo. Oh, another cool thing! Keldeo and Scizor beat Mamoswine one-on-one, making it even easier for Salamence to destroy things! It also outspeeds Scarf Genesect, so if Heatran's down I'm not entirely screwed. Basically, I just send this out late-game when the opponent's Steel-types have been weakened, and let it basically win me the game by pretty much KOing everything with Moxie + Outrage.
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Well, that's the team! Hope you enjoyed this RMT and any advice is greatly appreciated!
Importable:
Code:
Mamoswine @ Life Orb
Trait: Thick Fat
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature
- Earthquake
- Ice Shard
- Icicle Crash
- Superpower
Keldeo-Resolution @ Life Orb
Trait: Justified
EVs: 252 SAtk / 252 Spd / 4 SDef
Timid Nature
- Calm Mind
- Surf
- Secret Sword
- Hidden Power [Electric]
Zoroark @ Choice Specs
Trait: Illusion
EVs: 252 SAtk / 4 SDef / 252 Spd
Timid Nature
- Dark Pulse
- Flamethrower
- Focus Blast
- Trick
Scizor @ Choice Band
Trait: Technician
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 Spd
Adamant Nature
- Bullet Punch
- U-turn
- Superpower
- Pursuit
Heatran (M) @ Air Balloon
Trait: Flash Fire
EVs: 252 SAtk / 252 Spd / 4 SDef
Timid Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Flamethrower
- Earth Power
- Hidden Power [Ice]
Salamence @ Choice Scarf
Trait: Moxie
EVs: 4 SAtk / 252 Spd / 252 Atk
Hasty Nature
- Outrage
- Dragon Claw
- Earthquake
- Fire Blast