Battle Subway Sandstorm Team?

Chaosreaver · Dec 17th, 2012, 4:45:07 PM

Hello hello,
I'm presently setting up a battle subway sandstorm team and would like anyone's opinion.

Tyranitar /w Leftovers will be my lead, setting up sandstorm.
I was thinking either a 248 HP / 124 Def / 124 SpD EV spread, to help give him a mixed bulkiness, rather than the usual 248 HP / 248 SpD.

Moves will likely be Crunch / Low Kick (or Superpower) / Stone Edge, and then one of the elemental punches in the last slot. Another option is switching out Low Kick for Stealth Rock, allowing me to break sturdy/focus sashes for the next two 'mons, giving my others an easier time sweeping.

Excadrill (likely /w Expert Belt) will be my 2nd choice, to abuse the lovely Sandstorm and make him ultra speedy.
Earthquake is a must, as is Rock Slide for the pesky birds. My other choices are Brick Break (not feeling it), X-Scissor (might help vs. Dark and Psychic types), Return (no SE damage makes me sad), and Swords Dance.

Finally my third choice: I have no idea who to pick. Since my team has a glaring weakness to fighting, I was thinking of a Magic Guard Alakazam.

Garchomp is a nice option except it leaves me with no way of dealing with heavily armored opponents, as I have no special attackers.

Gastrodon is a nice option to counter my weakness to water, but it's too slow to help sweep like Excadrill can.

I was even thinking of Nidoking or Nidoqueen, as it can help defeat opponent fighting types but also has that glaring water/grass weakness that the other two party members share.

Now obviously it doesn't have to be a pokemon that works 100% in a sandstorm, but it's always nice to have that in my favor.

Any help figuring this out would be greatly appreciated.

JacobNinja · Dec 17th, 2012, 4:52:23 PM

have you considered alakazam? it works well with sand as it ignores weather damage via magic gaurd.

Chaosreaver · Dec 17th, 2012, 4:57:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fat JacobNinja

have you considered alakazam? it works well with sand as it ignores weather damage via magic gaurd.

Indeed I have! Magic Guard /w Life Orb is great and he's incredibly fast and powerful, good move coverage, definitely a strong choice for the 3rd slot.
Thank you for your suggestion :)

Tomaius · Dec 18th, 2012, 4:11:54 PM

Tried a very similar team once, anything with a ground or fighting attack, specifically mach punch, blows it apart. I tried a few things but it ultimately fell flat, performed so comically bad that it was just disheartening. Adding a 3rd pkmn to patch up the weakness won't be enough, you'll just find yourself in a situation where either most of your team is useless or in an winnable battle because your back up failed (and without proper support it will).

Committing yourself to the tactic of setting up sand is awkward when Ttar isn't that useful in the subway due to its severe weaknesses and lack of a healing move or a defensive ability that compensates in someway. The other alternative being Hippowdon which is unsuited in the Subway due to its speed and inability to boost up effectively.

I feel bad, I don't want to just point to a TruAnt set and say use that, nor do I want to point to Peterko or Jumpman16's sets, I understand the feeling of wanting to do something unique. But whilst the sandstorm idea sounds good in paper in practice its no where near as potent.

Dec 17th, 2012, 4:45:07 PM	#1
Chaosreaver Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 55 USA	Battle Subway Sandstorm Team? Hello hello, I'm presently setting up a battle subway sandstorm team and would like anyone's opinion. Tyranitar /w Leftovers will be my lead, setting up sandstorm. I was thinking either a 248 HP / 124 Def / 124 SpD EV spread, to help give him a mixed bulkiness, rather than the usual 248 HP / 248 SpD. Moves will likely be Crunch / Low Kick (or Superpower) / Stone Edge, and then one of the elemental punches in the last slot. Another option is switching out Low Kick for Stealth Rock, allowing me to break sturdy/focus sashes for the next two 'mons, giving my others an easier time sweeping. Excadrill (likely /w Expert Belt) will be my 2nd choice, to abuse the lovely Sandstorm and make him ultra speedy. Earthquake is a must, as is Rock Slide for the pesky birds. My other choices are Brick Break (not feeling it), X-Scissor (might help vs. Dark and Psychic types), Return (no SE damage makes me sad), and Swords Dance. Finally my third choice: I have no idea who to pick. Since my team has a glaring weakness to fighting, I was thinking of a Magic Guard Alakazam. Garchomp is a nice option except it leaves me with no way of dealing with heavily armored opponents, as I have no special attackers. Gastrodon is a nice option to counter my weakness to water, but it's too slow to help sweep like Excadrill can. I was even thinking of Nidoking or Nidoqueen, as it can help defeat opponent fighting types but also has that glaring water/grass weakness that the other two party members share. Now obviously it doesn't have to be a pokemon that works 100% in a sandstorm, but it's always nice to have that in my favor. Any help figuring this out would be greatly appreciated.

Dec 17th, 2012, 4:52:23 PM	#2
JacobNinja Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 171	have you considered alakazam? it works well with sand as it ignores weather damage via magic gaurd. __________________ this world is not real WAKE UP

Dec 18th, 2012, 4:11:54 PM	#4
Tomaius Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 45	Tried a very similar team once, anything with a ground or fighting attack, specifically mach punch, blows it apart. I tried a few things but it ultimately fell flat, performed so comically bad that it was just disheartening. Adding a 3rd pkmn to patch up the weakness won't be enough, you'll just find yourself in a situation where either most of your team is useless or in an winnable battle because your back up failed (and without proper support it will). Committing yourself to the tactic of setting up sand is awkward when Ttar isn't that useful in the subway due to its severe weaknesses and lack of a healing move or a defensive ability that compensates in someway. The other alternative being Hippowdon which is unsuited in the Subway due to its speed and inability to boost up effectively. I feel bad, I don't want to just point to a TruAnt set and say use that, nor do I want to point to Peterko or Jumpman16's sets, I understand the feeling of wanting to do something unique. But whilst the sandstorm idea sounds good in paper in practice its no where near as potent.