Queen of Queens: Fast-Paced Offense

Overview: This is likely my final team for the DP generation and is so far my first purely offensive team. The strategy is to use pokemon who have excellent offensive potential, but above average defenses, and further augment their abilities with three layers of Spikes and Stealth Rock. Backed by a Fire, Water, and Grass core, as well as two spinblockers, this team has multiple defensive pivots in a sea of heavy hitters. All in all, I'm satisfied with how this relatively balanced team has fared, but I'd love your opinion on it... Froslass and Milotic are non-negotiable members :)


White Queen
Froslass @ Focus Sash
Ability: Snow Cloak
EVs: 252 Atk/252 Spe/4 HP
Jolly nature (+Spe, -SpA)
- Ice Shard
- Spikes
- Taunt
- Destiny Bond

Considered by most to only be passable in OU (Credit for the set goes to Bologo), Froslass still remains the sole spinblocking entry hazard setter of its generation. Spikes, Taunt, and Destiny Bond are all quite standard as Froslass all but forces slower or bulkier leads like Roserade, Swampert, or Hippowdon into a corner. Ice Shard may seem like an odd choice over Ice Beam, but base power is a small price to pay when factoring in both the element of surprise and priority. It allows Froslass to 2hko the likes of faster leads like Aerodactyl or kill the likes of Dragonite later in the game, provided I decide to keep her alive. Froslass' only goal is to setup two+ layers of spikes, or die trying, and she's the perfect one for the job. Against faster leads like Azelf, I can most certainly switch, and save my Spikes for later.


Fairy Queen
Breloom @ Toxic Orb
Ability: Poison Heal
EVs: 236 HP / 248 Def / 24 Spe
Impish (+Def, -SpA)
- Focus Punch
- Spore
- Leech Seed
- Substitute
Breloom may have the least offensive investment out of anybody on this team, but that doesn’t change the fact that a 296 Attack, STAB Focus Punch will still be absolutely vicious. In my Grass + Water + Fire core, I had considered Celebi, but decided against it as the last thing I needed was a glaring Pursuit weakness. Despite existing as a defensive pokemon, Breloom is truly a saboteur for my enemies as Spore can check almost anything. Besides the one time sleep powder though, Breloom’s Leech Seed is also essential in disabling walls as many Pokemon my sweepers normally can’t take down enjoy the additional damage and recovery. Breloom is truly a team-player!


Mermaid Queen
Milotic @ Life Orb
Ability: Marvel Scale
EVs: 112 HP/60 Def/196 Spd/140 SAtk
Modest nature (+SpA, -Atk)
- Hydro Pump
- Ice Beam
- Hidden Power Electric
- Recover
After quite a bit of testing (credit for the spread goes to RaikouLover), I have come to the conclusion that this moveset is not outclassed by Life Orb Suicune because Milotic has Recover and incredible special attack. While Starmie was also considered for this spot, I disliked the idea of adding yet another pursuit weakness and with defensive stats of 359 HP/209 Defense/286 Special Defense, Milotic still has decent defensive prowess--Gyarados, for example, needs to have bounce (which is easily counterable) in its repertoire to OHKO Milotic at +1. Also of interest, is how Milotic will very rarely be KOed by a Heatran's Hidden Power Grass, AFTER switching into its Fire Blast.


Red Queen
Heatran@ Life Orb
EVs: 4 Atk/252 Spd/252 SAtk
Timid nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Stealth Rock
- Fire Blast
- Earth Power
- Explosion
Heatran is my second Life Orb special attacker and has incredible defensive type synergy with Froslass and excellent offensive type synergy with Milotic. The Scizor and Metagross that come in on Froslass don’t stand a chance against this spitfire! Heatran is usually the first to come out after Froslass as he tops off my spikestacking chain with Stealth Rock. Fire Blast + Earth Power round out my special offensive coverage, and Blissey? She gets an explosion in her chubby face!



Cyber Queen
RotomC@ Choice Scarf
EVs: 4 HP/252 Spd/252 SAtk
Timid nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Thunderbolt
- Overheat
- Shadow Ball
- Trick
Froslass never won any awards for defensive prowess, so we have a backup spinblocker in Rotom-C. Overheat is employed solely so that Heatran is not my only counter to the likes of ScizorTrick is yet another way to stab a hole in Blissey. Like just about every other member of its team, Rotom is moderately fast and powerful, but remains bulky enough to survive more than a hit, and lucky for the team, he also takes Rapid Spin AND Trick.



EVIL QUEEN
Tyranitar@ Life Orb
EVs: 4 HP/252 Spd/252 Atk
Jolly nature (+Spd, -Spa)
- Stone Edge
- Crunch
- Dragon Dance
- Aqua Tail
Hopefully the numerous counters to Scizor were worth it. I needed at least one boosting sweeper on this team and Tyranitar was the only one who fit the profile as Dragon Dance. With his incredible offense and defense turning him into a monstrosity. In case you’re worried that sandstream and Froslass’ Focus Sash clash, fear not because Froslass is always sacrificed in the earlier moments of play, and Tyranitar is reserved for the endgame.

Um, I think you meant to place Toxic Orb on Breloom . ^_^;;

Currently, this team will be swept by Jolly SD Lucario if it comes in on Rotom locked into Shadow Ball. You have a similar issue with Boosting Infernape, who can come in on Breloom and sweep. A way to fix this situation is to switch Choice Specs on Rotom for Choice Scarf. Now, it can revenge both Infernape and Lucario without too many problems.

Good luck!

Super Mario Bro said:

Um, I think you meant to place Toxic Orb on Breloom . ^_^;;

Currently, this team will be swept by Jolly SD Lucario if it comes in on Rotom locked into Shadow Ball. You have a similar issue with Boosting Infernape, who can come in on Breloom and sweep. A way to fix this situation is to switch Choice Specs on Rotom for Choice Scarf. Now, it can revenge both Infernape and Lucario without too many problems.

Good luck!

Click to expand...

Fixed! Also, does Scarf-RotomH want Timid or Modest?
How does the team look otherwise?

Cipher Admin Lovrina said:

Fixed! Also, does Scarf-RotomH want Timid or Modest?
How does the team look otherwise?

Click to expand...

I usually use Timid on my Rotom to always outspeed Gyarados after it has use Dragon Dance once. It's up to you, though.

Otherwise, the team looks very good. LO Starmie can be annoying (not having Calm Milotic hurts here a little), but if you switch around intelligently, it will be at bay.

Hello Cipher Admin Lovrina interesting team you have there with a few odd move sets and item. This team has trouble against special attacking threats such as Life Orb/Specs Jolteon and LO Shaymin as well as LO Starmie as well as Substitute Gengar. Nasty Plot / Swords Dance Ape as well as Jolly Lucario can sweep your team once set up.

Life orb or specs variant of Jolteon have trouble switching into your team but once in play can cause havok. Once switched into Miltotic to scare it out spec Thunderbolt from Jolteon 2hko's and out speeds both your electric resist pokemon Breloom and choice specs Rotom-H. Even Tyranitar is 2hko'd and Jolteon even out speeds +1 Tyranitar. Basically your whole team is 1 to 2hko'd by Jolteon. As for Shaymin who I would consider the biggest threat for this team. It is able to switch into any of Milotics moves beside Ice Beam which it can still live. Shaymin also freely switches into Breloom, thats two possible safe switch ins. Once LO Shaymin entered play it has super effective moves on every pokemon beside Rotom who takes a whopping (83.4% - 98.3%) from Seed Flare which could result in a ko after Stealth Rock damage. As for Heatran who gets ko'd by Earthpower and Tyranitar departs to one Seed Flare. LO Starmie basically threatens your team exactly like Shaymin but instead is able to switch into Heatran's Fire Blast. Once Starmie is in play can instantly sweep your team with only Milotic able to survive a super effective Thunderbolt and hit back with hidden power ____. Since you didn't name the type of Hidden Power I would expect it's either Electric or Grass. This isn't always reliable since it basically depends on Milotics hp and you need to have 60% hp to survive a Thunderbolt and hit back with HP. Starmie also does (83.4% - 98.3%) to Rotom-H. SubSplit Gengar switches into Breloom once they decide a sleep fodder and it is immune to all your attacks. Once Gengar sets up a Substitute can start spamming Shadow Ball's and Focus Blasts with only Milotic who can survive either of those attacks. With the lack of speed on your team, these threats are able to out speed your pokemon placing you in many defensive situations.

I would also have to agree with Super Mario Bro you are in fact Jolly Lucario weak and I also approve of switching Specs with Scarf to provide your team instant speed also allowing you to revenge kill many of these threats. Just a small comment if you are using Overheat on your Rotom form you are Rotom - Heat not Cut form.

Rotom - H @ Choice Scarf | Levitate
Timid | 252 SpA | 4 HP | 252 Speed
Thunderbolt | Shadow Ball | Overheat | Trick

As for Breloom your item shouldn't be Focus Sash considering you do not have a spinner and Sand Storm will be present you should stick with Toxic Orb. I would use Sub Puncher set with Seed Bomb to help you hit ohko Swampert and not get walled by Rotom-A.

Breloom @ Toxic Orb | Poison Heal
Adamant | 12 HP | 252 Atk | 244 Spe
Spore | Focus Punch | Seed Bomb | Substitute

---
Good Luck

I am thinking of giving Rotom HP evs so that it has a better chance of surviving an attack from Jolteon and maybe Earthquake on Tyranitar, but either way, I simply cannot afford to lose any offensive momentum.

LO Milotic is not outclassed by Vaporeon in the least--in fact, Vaporeon doesn't even outclass defensive Milotic, but that is an argument for another day. This team simply needed a Water type with offensive momentum and Milotic met that requirement easily... you can say Starmie outspeeds it, Vaporeon has wish, and Suicune can Calm Mind, but at the end of the day Milotic outspeeds Vaporeon, outlives and hits the same as Starmie, and recovers in a way Suicune would kill for.

Instead of telling me to replace a pokemon I marked as non-negotiable, I'd prefer if you helped me address some of the threats you outlined... Shall I make a threat list?

I personally think a Modest Scarf Rotom-H would be a better idea, but it's still up to you. I like Starmie on this team more than Milotic for it's versatility, but this still works. I advise you to be wary, as Gengar can easily come in on your switches (or explosion) and always outspeed/OHKO Breloom, Rotom-C, TTar and Heatran after rocks with Shadow Ball and Focus Blast. In fact, the best reason I can think of for keeping your Milotic is that the rest of your team is fatally weak to Gengar.

Anyways, Good luck!

Okay first off there isn't anything you can do about Rotom's HP ev's to survive a specs Shadow Ball from Jolteon. "Rotom HP evs so that it has a better chance of surviving an attack from Jolteon" Some offensive momentum when all of your special and physical attacking threats out speed your whole team..... If By momentum you mean switching around constantly or sacking pokemon against those threats. I wouldn't consider that "offensive momentum" at all... As for Scarf Rotom you are better of Timid allowing you to out speed Empoleon after an Agility etc...

Scimjara said:

Okay first off there isn't anything you can do about Rotom's HP ev's to survive a specs Shadow Ball from Jolteon. "Rotom HP evs so that it has a better chance of surviving an attack from Jolteon" Some offensive momentum when all of your special and physical attacking threats out speed your whole team..... If By momentum you mean switching around constantly or sacking pokemon against those threats. I wouldn't consider that "offensive momentum" at all... As for Scarf Rotom you are better of Timid allowing you to out speed Empoleon after an Agility etc...

Click to expand...

Okay, um, since Jolteon, Gengar, and Shaymin look like real threats--would I be justified in switching Tyranitar to a curser so it can take special hits? Really, I just chose him to absorb the super effective ghost and dark moves that may or may not plague this team.

Like I said, I'm open to switching anything but Froslass and Milotic.

IMO, I think that Toxic Spikes would be more beneficial to this team since Blissey and Swampert are your biggest defensive threats. That being said, I suggest that you replace Breloom with Roserade:

Roserade (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 252 HP/80 Def/120 Spd/56 SDef
Calm nature (+SDef, -Atk)
- Toxic Spikes
- Energy Ball
- Hidden Power [Fire]
- Sleep Powder

A bulkier spread ensures that Roserade won't be come instant Pursuit bait, and can effectively lure in and OHKO Scizor with HP Fire. It also makes for a better check to Jolteon and Gengar if that's temping for you. SubSeed Breloom doesn't really support your team well considering that Milotic has Recover, Heatran is a flaming nuke, and Tyranitar is usually left for endgame fun. Sure you can switch into other Tyranitar and get a free sub, but you won't be able to touch DD variants if something else takes the Spore.

Froslass doesn't really do much for this team since Spikes won't really stop Machamp and bulky waters from walking all over you. I'm not suggesting to replace it, but instead try ScarfUxie or Hariyama in the lead position. Running Uxie ensures that you can almost always get some much needed momentum by crippling bulkier leads and/or getting up SR from the start. Hariyama on the other hand, can net you a KO from the start, weaken Swampert / Hippowdon so Tyranitar has an easier time sweeping, and provide your team with a more reliable answer to Tyranitar. On a smaller note, if you run Uxie, you can free up a slot on Heatran, making room for HP Grass so you can nail Swampert and Suicune in the face.

Speaking of whom, I'd recommend Taunt > Explosion on Heatran. Taunt helps a LOT against stall, which can outright fuck this team up.

I am actually considering switching Froslass out for lead Roserade, Rotom for Gengar, and Breloom for Skarmory, slowing the pace of the team down, but providing it with much needed entry hazards and defensive bulk.