Team "SandRoom"

This is the very first time I have posted here at Smogon, and my first RMT i have made. Firstly, if you have any better ideas on a team name I will gladly listen to them :p, Secondly, this is the first time I've posted here, so Im hoping that the pictures I post actually come up, and its not just links to the pictures. I Apologize if the way i make this seems cluttered or unorganized, as its my first time posting here. Without further ado, lets get to my team.
(Edit: Gave Jirachi a Shuca Berry, traded Tentacruel for Slowbro)
Team at a Glance















Lead: *TTAR -Chesto Berry (Sandstream ) -Brave (+Atk, -Spe)
252 HP/32 ATK/ 224 SPD
-Stone Edge
-Payback
-Rest
-Stealth Rock
Counters Azelf Leads, sets up sandstorm which my team builds around. SR setup as well. Stone Edge for Roserade, Dragonite, Gyarados, Salamance and (?Aerodactyl?). Chesto Berry either stops Roserade Sleep Powders, or allows for a rest later in the game.

I chose the Nature for a better chance of moving 2nd for payback which is important for the Azelf/Celebi leads, also, once TR is up, Ttar can go first.









(Primary Trick Roomer)
*Bronzong -Macho Brace (Levitate) -Brave (+ATK, -Spe)
252 HP/252 ATK/4 SpD
-Trick Room
-Gyro Ball
-Explosion
-Earthquake



Bronzong can switch into, Metagross and Jirachi leads, that can give my Ttar lead trouble. My main Trick Room user, only has one weakness(fire) so it can switch in easily. Sets up for the Main Sweeper. Also gives me something to work with against a Swampert.
Item/Nature are to keep Gyro Ball at Max Damage.








(Main Sweeper)
*Rhyperior –Life Orb (Solid Rock) -Brave (+ATK, -Spe)
248 HP/252 ATK/8 Def
-Sword Dance
-Megahorn
-Earthquake
-Stone Edge

What the team is truly built around, Rhyperior is my favorite pokemon, and luckily, fits perfectly as the star of my team. With the Sandstorm Rhyperior gets a very crucial jump in SpD, Trick Room from either Jirachi, or Bronzong almost guarantees it goes first, and with a SD, it gets an Atk stat of 832!!!!
Also, with this moveset, it will always hit for at least, neutral damage, and it can easily switch in with Bronzong drawing in Fire moves. Also, resists rocks :D







(Another Trickroomer/Wish Support)
*Jirachi -Shuca Berry (Serene Grace) -Relaxed (+Def, -Spe)
252 Def/252 Hp/ 4SpD
-Trick Room
-Wish
-U-turn
-Thunderbolt

Shuca Berry lets it stay in an extra turn if an EQ is coming, which is extremely helpful as it lets me set up TR or Wish, when I would normally have to switch right away. Counters Gyarados and other waters or flyers. Obviously provides the team with Trick room/Wish Setup.





(MVP/Counter)
*Gengar -Expert Belt (Levitate) -Timid (+Spe, -Atk)
252 Spe/252 SpA/4 Hp
-Shadow Ball
-Energy Ball (Counters Swampert)
-Psychic (Counters Machamp/Infernape)
-Focus Blast (Used on a steel that switches in)

I desperately needed a counter to fighting/ground types that could destroy my ground/steel/rock members, predicting a fighting attack, or Earthquake isn’t too difficult. More than anything this is a counter to Machamp-leads, and Swamperts who give my team trouble. Can also come in to Infernape if it seems a Close Combat is coming. Comes into non-lead Roserades. Also is a GREAT spin blocker. Pretty much the most important member of my team.






(Trickroom)
*Slowbro –Leftovers (Own Tempo) Relaxed (+Def, -Spe)
252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
-Trick Room
-Surf
-Psychic
-Slack off
Another Trickroomer, gives me another Infernape/Machamp Counter. Cant get confused so it can come in to a Dynamic Punch. Can pretty easily come into a water move that will be directed to Rhyperior/Ttar. Trading this for Tentacruel leaves me without a Spinner or a Poison Spiker, but really this team isnt about wearing them down, its about blasting them with Rhyperior.




So, this is my team, it is built around Sandstorm/Trickroom.
Main Questions:
I am wondering if TB is a better move for Gengar then perhaps SB or FB?
I am also wondering if SR on Ttar is even worth it? Could I give him a different move that would overall help my team more such as EQ?


Thanks for taking the time to Rate my Team!

a fast pokemon like gengar doesnt belong in a trick room team does it? if your going to use such a fast pokemon in a trick room team you should probably make it as slow as possible, with a quiet nature and maybe -252 speed evs? yes i said -252 evs if thats even possible.This may not be a good idea so you might want to just replace gengar with sumthing else to counter fight ground types. Hope i helped.

Well Gengar is more likely then not switching into Machamp/Swampert leads, and if he switches into those leads then Trick Room will not be up (yet). Also, chances are, Trick Room will not be up every single turn. I already have plenty of pokemon to use for the turns that Trick Room IS active. Gengar is there for when Trick Room is NOT active, and it would put me at a disadvantage to send out one of my Trick Roomers, as opposed to waiting for a better matchup to send one of them out.

I don't think Jirachi should have focus sash- if a lead sets up any entry hazards the item choice is useless. Also, Jirachi is bulky enough to actually take hits, unlike the frail Pokemon that normally wield it. Also, give her max HP over SpAtk.

I don't understand what Tentacruel is doing- you basically just took a stall Pokemon and slapped it on here. If you want an Infernape/Heatran counter, try Slowbro, the best trick room abuser/ set up-er in the game.

That's all I got- hope I helped.

I don't know about Sword's Dance on Rhyperior.

Bronzong uses trick room. 1 turn
Switch or explode to rhyperior 2 turns
Swords Dance 3 turns.
2 turns of attacks. With good prediction you can make a lot of those two attacks, sure, but I think having 3 turns open could do you better, while also allowing you slightly better coverage, with aqua tail, with less risk of a turn being wasted due to earthquake being predicted. That said, the ability to take out most of the metagame after a swords dance is pretty impressive too. So, just think about it.

Also, the analysis on this set (on site, not yours) is pretty bad, at least insofar as the author continuously increases the duration of trickroom. At first Rhyperior had 3 turns of ownage after a swords dance, then at the end it has 4 turns after a swords dance. I'm pretty sure 2 is the maximum after a swords dance right?

Yes, the only way I can get 3 turns after a SD is if the TR pokemon died the turn it used TR, which is unlikely considering its probably going to be moving second.
Also, I like SD there for the fact that its there if I want, but I dont necessarily have to use it, because Rhyperior will still be packing a punch without it. Also, if it seems they plan to switch out to a Levitating Pokemon, that would be a great time to use SD, as it can still give me 2 turns of absolute destruction.

I am switching the Tentacruel for Slowbro, having another Trick Roomer that can come in on Infernape and Machamp is reallly nice. I also gave Jirachi a Shuca Berry, so I dont have to switch immediately if an EQ is coming, and I can have another turn to use either Wish or Trick Room.
Slowbro just makes so much more sense, gives me more protection from fighting types. Fights Heatran and Infernape as I mentioned earlier.


Also, Aqua Tail doesnt really help me out much more, as Water is only SE to Fire, Ground, and Rock.
I can use EQ on Nape and Heatran, the two main fire pokemon in OU. I can also use EQ on any Rock pokemon. With the moves I have now, NO pokemon can take less then neutral damage assuming I chose the right move.

I cannot help but think that a Dusknoir is a much better fit for your team than Gengar, under Trick room Gengar loses its ground immunity whereas Dusknoir still can abuse its ability in Pressure. Dusknoir can still set up trick room and still gives you immunities to fighting. Dusknoir still hits fairly hard with its base 100 attack stat and can spread burns which will cripple the many physical sweepers in OU.

I also think that Cressilia should be given due consideration on your trick room team. It has huge defenses allowing it to set up Trick Room multiable times with ease. I was thinking that it could be used over Slowbro since both are very defensive pokemon that are intended to set up trick room for your team.

Have a Nice Day!

ginganinja said:

I cannot help but think that a Dusknoir is a much better fit for your team than Gengar, under Trick room Gengar loses its ground immunity whereas Dusknoir still can abuse its ability in Pressure.

Click to expand...

you are confusing trick room with gravity ^^

for trickroom users, have you tried sash/t.room/explode exeggutor/claydol? i've loved using them.. as long as the opponent has no entry hazard this nets you some kills and saves t.room turns..

Ah yes I did slightly get mixed up (making my own gravity team for a test) however the point still stands, Dusknoir makes for an excellent user of Trick Room and is slower than Gengar which means that it can function very well under trick room. Aditionally Dusknoir can actually set up Trick Room while Gengar cannot

I agree with ginganinja; Dusknoir is a much better choice in Trick Room than Gengar. Not only does it gain from the effects of Trick Room, but it can set up Trick Room itself.

One of the pluses to Slowbro, is that he is a water type, allowing for a switch-in to either Heatran, or especially Infernapes that give my team trouble.

I would potentially switch Gengar for Dusknoir, because I enjoy the thought of will'o wisp, however, many of my members already have large Def ratings as it is, and it brings up another question of "Do I really want another Trick Room user?" Not really, I already have 3 TR users at this point, and Gengar helps deal with Swamperts who I dont have a solid answer for. Also, as I said before, its almost impossible to keep TR up, every single turn, and Gengar can help fill in the holes between Trick Rooms.

Exeggutor is a big no-no as it would just make my team even weaker to Infernape, Claydol is a possibility, as I could use a rapid spinner, but Ive already explained the reason I want Gengar, and also I would rather have Slowbro, who resists CC, then Claydol who takes neutral damage from it.

A couple more questions I have is whether or not Thunderbolt is better then SB, or FB on gengar.
Also, would EQ be better then SR on Ttar? As I see it right now, SR might mean I dont have to SD on Rhyperior, but with a SD, It pretty much OHKO everything without SR damage.

The main thing keeping me on Gengar right now is that I dont have an answer to Swamperts.

I would keep Gengar. What if Trick Room isn't up and you need a revenge killer? I would change to a Modest Scarf set.

after running a trick room team for some time i noticed your goin to want something quick to attack when trick room is over. There will be situations where you will be taunted and gettin trick room up will become a problem. If you choose to switch gengar then definitely consider somethin fast. Another problem i noticed is that all of the natures on your pokemon other gengar are speed reducing. This will become a major issue because if you can't get trick room up, then your pokemon will constantly be out-sped, giving your opponent two opportunities to attack before you can strike back(eventually racking up a lot of damage switching to "counter somethin"). Lastly I noticed is that you have three trick roomers, which isn't a bad thing but it only looks as though rhyperior(your main sweeper) will basically be the only thing sweeping with trickroom seeing as though t-tar is lead. I use the same bronzong set, which i got to say is beast, but again there are pokemon that shut it down like skarmory. If rhyperior is dead, and t-tar is weak due to being lead, who will sweep? espeically if/when zong uses explosion to get rhyperior a free switch in. my suggustion is to either switch out a trick roomer for another attacking pokemon, and change jirachi from wish support, because if he is taunted he is limited to using t-bolt, or u-turn, which u will then have to decide to switch out,(having your incoming pokemon take damage),use u-turn(having jirachi take a hit(because of nature) and the pokemon u switch in will more and likely be slower due to the nature as well racking up damage) or t-bolt(which may be resisted depending upon the pokemon)