This is a placeholder for the article to be written by Venser and I.
I created the thread because Venser said he would not have interent access for a few days.
Introduction
Although sandstorm was not well received upon its introduction in the 2nd Generation, it has grown into a dominent playstyle in the 3rd and 4th Generations. In 5th Generation, sandstorm continues to be a popular strategy. This is much helped by the fact that unlike other weather effects like Hail and Sun, GameFreak has been extremely generous to sandstorm teams. With the advent of abilites like Sand Stream and Sand Throw, sweepers like Landlos and Doryuuzu, and defensive beasts like Gliscor and Hippowdon, sandstorm looks to continue the trend of dominance in the 5th Generation.
In this guide, the focus will be on utilizing the beneficial effects of sandstorm to your advantage. After reading this guide, you should have gained all the knowledge necessary on building and playing with a sandstorm team.
Sandstorm Basics
Sandstorm can be brought onto the field in two ways. The first is when a pokemon uses the move sandstorm, which conjures up a sandstorm that will last up to five turns, unless said pokemon is holding a Smooth Rock, which allows sandstorm to last up to eight turns. However, this option is obsoleted by the fact that you can also set up sandstorm if you bring a pokemon with the Sand Stream ability into play, which casts a permanent sandstorm upon the field until the opposing team changes the weather.
Sandstorm already caused a myriad of effects when it was in play during earlier generations; however, Generation 5 adds new tricks and treats to sandstorm teams. The following are the effects that will occur if sandstorm is the field effect:
The Special Defense of Rock-type Pokemon is increased by 50%
All non-Rock-, Steel-, and Ground-type Pokémon and Pokémon without the ability Magic Guard or Sand Veil take 1/16 damage at the end of every turn.
The evasion of a Pokémon with the Sand Veil ability is increased by 20%.
Solarbeam's Base Power is reduced from 120 to 60.
Synthesis, Moonlight, and Morning Sun only recover 25% of the user's HP, as opposed to the standard 50%.
Weather Ball's base power is doubled to 100, and becomes a Rock-type move.
All Pokémon with Sand Throw have their speed doubled in sandstorm. In addition, non-Rock-, Steel-, and Ground-type Pokémon do not take residual damage from sandstorm.
All Pokémon with the ability Sand Power have their Ground-type, Rock-type, and Steel-type moves boosted by 33%.
Sandstorm Playstyles
Unlike other weather effects, Sandstorm is not limited to pure offense the way both sun and rain commonly are. Sandstorm teams are highly regarded for their flexibility in being either offensive or defensive. This is in part due to the large variety of both abusers and sandstorm setters. While most weather teams have only one auto-weather user, sandstorm teams get to choose between the defensive Hippowdon and the offensive Tyranitar, or both for more chances to keep the Sandstorm flying.With the plethora of sand sweepers out there, sand-abusing teams are not to be easily dismissed on the offensive side. Offensive teams usually have Pokemon that have an ability, which boosts its stats in sand in order to sweep through the opposing team. These teams make use of the fact that walls which not immune to the residual effects of sandstorm have their leftovers recovery cancelled out. This is crucial for offense teams as walls have to rely on instant-recovery moves more often and are also more vulnerable without leftovers slowly regaining their health. However, due to the residual damage caused by sandstorm, stall teams also employ sand setters on their teams. Sand stall teams are in complete contrast to offense teams and work by abusing sandstorm’s residual damage and setting up entry hazards like a normal stall teams. This is complemented by the fact that many walls are Steel-types and Ground-types and these two types excel in the sandstorm setting. Stall teams also utilize the boost to Special Defense that Rock-types get in order to sponge attacks from many powerful Special attackers.
Sand Setters
In order for a sandstorm team to succeed, it needs to have a Sand Streamer to be the foundation of the team. Although only Hippowdon and Tyranitar possess this ability, both of them are great choices and can be easily incorporated into a team.
Hippowdon
Hippowdon is a great option for a defensive team. With its great Hit Points and physical defensive stat, Hippowdon continues to be a premier physical wall in the Black and White metagame. It has a wealth of support options such as Stealth Rock, Roar, Toxic and a reliable recovery move in Slack Off. However, Hippowdon is no slacker in the offensive department. Possessing a hreatening base Attack of 112, its attack pack a punch. Its movepool gives it an abundance of attacks to run, which include Earthquake, Stone Edge, Superpower, Crunch, and Ice Fang. Hippowdon possesses a boosting option in Curse, which can sweep an opposing team and also has Stockpile to further boost its defenses.
Tyranitar
Tyranitar is one of the keystones of a Sandstorm team if not only for his excellent bulk and attacking stats, but also for his ability. Sand Stream ensures that as long as Tyranitar doesn’t die to Spikes or Stealth Rocks upon switching in, sandstorm will remain on the field. However, due to the influx of sandstorm sweepers and a more widespread use of Fighting-type Pokémon, Tyranitar’s role on a sandstorm team has changed. Although having access to Dragon Dance makes Tyranitar a fearsome sweeper, it is the fact that Tyranitar can use Stealth Rock, which makes him so valuable. Having good stats across the board besides Speed does not hurt as Tyranitar can run a mixed set employing Fire Blast and Ice Beam or utilize Pursuit and Superpower.
Offensive Sandstorm
An offensive Sandstorm team usually focuses on setting up a sweep with some of the Pokemon with Sand Throw, such as Doryuuzu or Landlos. These Pokemon are fearsome sweepers in a sandstorm, given their plethora of boosting moves and bonuses, both inherent in their movepool and received from the sandstorm.
Abusers
Several Pokemon are more than capable of using the Sandstorm to great effect, be it for an evasion boost, a speed boost, or simply residual damage. These Pokémon are almost guaranteed to be on a sandstorm team due to the sweeping threat that they immediately impose upon entering the battle. The follower are key abusers of sandstorm and are great choices to keep in mind when constructing a sandstorm team.
Garchomp
Garchomp was the much feared sweeper during the early DP metagame. In the Black and White metagame, it makes a return. Its speed stat coupled with its attack power and great attack STABs turns Garchomp into a truly fearsome sweeper. Access to Swords Dance allows to boost its attack very quickly. Its ability, Sand Veil also makes it unreliable to revenge kill Garchomp in a sandstorm as many users can attest to. It can also utilize a Choice Scarf set in order to clean up late game. With defenses that exceed those of Swampert’s, Garchomp can also double as a supporter by laying down Stealth Rock and phazing with Dragon Tail.
Excadril
Excadril is one of the most threatening new Pokémon from Black and White. Its ability, Sand Throw, doubles its Speed, allowing it to reach a max of 604 Speed. As if this wasn’t enough, Excadrill boasts an Attack stat of 135. Swords Dance combined with a sufficient movepool containing Rock Slide, Earthquake, and several coverage moves means that Excadrill is able to take on the metagame. In addition to sweeping, Excadrill is an excellent Rapid Spinner, as its high attack causes spinblockers to think twice before switching in.
Landorus
Scizor
Lucario
Heatran
Due to its Fire- and Steel-typing, Heatran can be a very valuable player to a sandstorm team. It is immune to the hindering effects of sandstorm and its Fire STAB allows it to incinerate opposing Steel-types that are a hindrance to the plethora of physical sweepers commonly seen on a sandstorm team. However, Heatran possesses many other offensive options besides its STAB Fire Blast; it has Earth Power, Dragon Pulse, and a choice of Hidden Power as other coverage options. Its support moves include Roar, Taunt, Toxic as well as Stealth Rock. It can utilize a Choice Specs or Choice Scarf set along with a Substitute plus Three Attacks set along with other support sets.
Reuniclus
Reuniclus can become a natural fit on Sandstorm teams, as its ability, Magic Guard, prevents it from taking residual damage. Reuniclus has Recover which has great synergy with Magic Guard. Since most Sandstorm sweepers are physical, Reuniclus can provide a nice balance to sandstorm teams. With access to Calm Mind and Trick Room along with its inate bulk, Reuniclus has no problem sweeping as it possesses very few counters. The Trick Room version does well against opposing offensive teams, while a bulky Calm Mind set is effective against stall teams.
Magnezone
Magnezone is a Pokemon commonly seen on Sandstorm teams as its ability, Magnet Pull, allows it to trap and knock out the Steel-typed walls which are commonly seen as checks to Sandstorm sweepers such as Excadrill. Ferrothorn, and Skarmory. Steel-types resist the Rock-type moves that sandstorm teams generally use so it is useful to have an Pokémon that can easily eliminate these troublesome obstacles.
Terrakion
Terakion, another new Pokemon from Black and White, has excellent coverage with its dual STABs of Fighting and Rock, and a wide enough movepool to run either a Choice, Swords Dance, or Rock Polish set or it can run a Double Dance set by utilizing both Swords Dance and Rock Polish. Its primary STAB moves, Close Combat and Stone Edge, are very hard-hitting and can effectively sweep an opposing team. The special defense boost Sandstorm grants to Rock-typed Pokemon is especially useful, as it allows Terakion to boost its excellent 129 Attack and 108 Speed in relative safety to prepare for a sweep.
Jirachi
Flygon
Empoleon
Crustle
Escavalier
Sandstorm Stall
Skarmory
Bronzong
Gliscor
Ferrothorn
Forretress
I created the thread because Venser said he would not have interent access for a few days.
Introduction
Although sandstorm was not well received upon its introduction in the 2nd Generation, it has grown into a dominent playstyle in the 3rd and 4th Generations. In 5th Generation, sandstorm continues to be a popular strategy. This is much helped by the fact that unlike other weather effects like Hail and Sun, GameFreak has been extremely generous to sandstorm teams. With the advent of abilites like Sand Stream and Sand Throw, sweepers like Landlos and Doryuuzu, and defensive beasts like Gliscor and Hippowdon, sandstorm looks to continue the trend of dominance in the 5th Generation.
In this guide, the focus will be on utilizing the beneficial effects of sandstorm to your advantage. After reading this guide, you should have gained all the knowledge necessary on building and playing with a sandstorm team.
Sandstorm Basics
Sandstorm can be brought onto the field in two ways. The first is when a pokemon uses the move sandstorm, which conjures up a sandstorm that will last up to five turns, unless said pokemon is holding a Smooth Rock, which allows sandstorm to last up to eight turns. However, this option is obsoleted by the fact that you can also set up sandstorm if you bring a pokemon with the Sand Stream ability into play, which casts a permanent sandstorm upon the field until the opposing team changes the weather.
Sandstorm already caused a myriad of effects when it was in play during earlier generations; however, Generation 5 adds new tricks and treats to sandstorm teams. The following are the effects that will occur if sandstorm is the field effect:
The Special Defense of Rock-type Pokemon is increased by 50%
All non-Rock-, Steel-, and Ground-type Pokémon and Pokémon without the ability Magic Guard or Sand Veil take 1/16 damage at the end of every turn.
The evasion of a Pokémon with the Sand Veil ability is increased by 20%.
Solarbeam's Base Power is reduced from 120 to 60.
Synthesis, Moonlight, and Morning Sun only recover 25% of the user's HP, as opposed to the standard 50%.
Weather Ball's base power is doubled to 100, and becomes a Rock-type move.
All Pokémon with Sand Throw have their speed doubled in sandstorm. In addition, non-Rock-, Steel-, and Ground-type Pokémon do not take residual damage from sandstorm.
All Pokémon with the ability Sand Power have their Ground-type, Rock-type, and Steel-type moves boosted by 33%.
Sandstorm Playstyles
Unlike other weather effects, Sandstorm is not limited to pure offense the way both sun and rain commonly are. Sandstorm teams are highly regarded for their flexibility in being either offensive or defensive. This is in part due to the large variety of both abusers and sandstorm setters. While most weather teams have only one auto-weather user, sandstorm teams get to choose between the defensive Hippowdon and the offensive Tyranitar, or both for more chances to keep the Sandstorm flying.With the plethora of sand sweepers out there, sand-abusing teams are not to be easily dismissed on the offensive side. Offensive teams usually have Pokemon that have an ability, which boosts its stats in sand in order to sweep through the opposing team. These teams make use of the fact that walls which not immune to the residual effects of sandstorm have their leftovers recovery cancelled out. This is crucial for offense teams as walls have to rely on instant-recovery moves more often and are also more vulnerable without leftovers slowly regaining their health. However, due to the residual damage caused by sandstorm, stall teams also employ sand setters on their teams. Sand stall teams are in complete contrast to offense teams and work by abusing sandstorm’s residual damage and setting up entry hazards like a normal stall teams. This is complemented by the fact that many walls are Steel-types and Ground-types and these two types excel in the sandstorm setting. Stall teams also utilize the boost to Special Defense that Rock-types get in order to sponge attacks from many powerful Special attackers.
Sand Setters
In order for a sandstorm team to succeed, it needs to have a Sand Streamer to be the foundation of the team. Although only Hippowdon and Tyranitar possess this ability, both of them are great choices and can be easily incorporated into a team.
Hippowdon
Hippowdon is a great option for a defensive team. With its great Hit Points and physical defensive stat, Hippowdon continues to be a premier physical wall in the Black and White metagame. It has a wealth of support options such as Stealth Rock, Roar, Toxic and a reliable recovery move in Slack Off. However, Hippowdon is no slacker in the offensive department. Possessing a hreatening base Attack of 112, its attack pack a punch. Its movepool gives it an abundance of attacks to run, which include Earthquake, Stone Edge, Superpower, Crunch, and Ice Fang. Hippowdon possesses a boosting option in Curse, which can sweep an opposing team and also has Stockpile to further boost its defenses.
Tyranitar
Tyranitar is one of the keystones of a Sandstorm team if not only for his excellent bulk and attacking stats, but also for his ability. Sand Stream ensures that as long as Tyranitar doesn’t die to Spikes or Stealth Rocks upon switching in, sandstorm will remain on the field. However, due to the influx of sandstorm sweepers and a more widespread use of Fighting-type Pokémon, Tyranitar’s role on a sandstorm team has changed. Although having access to Dragon Dance makes Tyranitar a fearsome sweeper, it is the fact that Tyranitar can use Stealth Rock, which makes him so valuable. Having good stats across the board besides Speed does not hurt as Tyranitar can run a mixed set employing Fire Blast and Ice Beam or utilize Pursuit and Superpower.
Offensive Sandstorm
An offensive Sandstorm team usually focuses on setting up a sweep with some of the Pokemon with Sand Throw, such as Doryuuzu or Landlos. These Pokemon are fearsome sweepers in a sandstorm, given their plethora of boosting moves and bonuses, both inherent in their movepool and received from the sandstorm.
Abusers
Several Pokemon are more than capable of using the Sandstorm to great effect, be it for an evasion boost, a speed boost, or simply residual damage. These Pokémon are almost guaranteed to be on a sandstorm team due to the sweeping threat that they immediately impose upon entering the battle. The follower are key abusers of sandstorm and are great choices to keep in mind when constructing a sandstorm team.
Garchomp
Garchomp was the much feared sweeper during the early DP metagame. In the Black and White metagame, it makes a return. Its speed stat coupled with its attack power and great attack STABs turns Garchomp into a truly fearsome sweeper. Access to Swords Dance allows to boost its attack very quickly. Its ability, Sand Veil also makes it unreliable to revenge kill Garchomp in a sandstorm as many users can attest to. It can also utilize a Choice Scarf set in order to clean up late game. With defenses that exceed those of Swampert’s, Garchomp can also double as a supporter by laying down Stealth Rock and phazing with Dragon Tail.
Excadril
Excadril is one of the most threatening new Pokémon from Black and White. Its ability, Sand Throw, doubles its Speed, allowing it to reach a max of 604 Speed. As if this wasn’t enough, Excadrill boasts an Attack stat of 135. Swords Dance combined with a sufficient movepool containing Rock Slide, Earthquake, and several coverage moves means that Excadrill is able to take on the metagame. In addition to sweeping, Excadrill is an excellent Rapid Spinner, as its high attack causes spinblockers to think twice before switching in.
Landorus
Scizor
Lucario
Heatran
Due to its Fire- and Steel-typing, Heatran can be a very valuable player to a sandstorm team. It is immune to the hindering effects of sandstorm and its Fire STAB allows it to incinerate opposing Steel-types that are a hindrance to the plethora of physical sweepers commonly seen on a sandstorm team. However, Heatran possesses many other offensive options besides its STAB Fire Blast; it has Earth Power, Dragon Pulse, and a choice of Hidden Power as other coverage options. Its support moves include Roar, Taunt, Toxic as well as Stealth Rock. It can utilize a Choice Specs or Choice Scarf set along with a Substitute plus Three Attacks set along with other support sets.
Reuniclus
Reuniclus can become a natural fit on Sandstorm teams, as its ability, Magic Guard, prevents it from taking residual damage. Reuniclus has Recover which has great synergy with Magic Guard. Since most Sandstorm sweepers are physical, Reuniclus can provide a nice balance to sandstorm teams. With access to Calm Mind and Trick Room along with its inate bulk, Reuniclus has no problem sweeping as it possesses very few counters. The Trick Room version does well against opposing offensive teams, while a bulky Calm Mind set is effective against stall teams.
Magnezone
Magnezone is a Pokemon commonly seen on Sandstorm teams as its ability, Magnet Pull, allows it to trap and knock out the Steel-typed walls which are commonly seen as checks to Sandstorm sweepers such as Excadrill. Ferrothorn, and Skarmory. Steel-types resist the Rock-type moves that sandstorm teams generally use so it is useful to have an Pokémon that can easily eliminate these troublesome obstacles.
Terrakion
Terakion, another new Pokemon from Black and White, has excellent coverage with its dual STABs of Fighting and Rock, and a wide enough movepool to run either a Choice, Swords Dance, or Rock Polish set or it can run a Double Dance set by utilizing both Swords Dance and Rock Polish. Its primary STAB moves, Close Combat and Stone Edge, are very hard-hitting and can effectively sweep an opposing team. The special defense boost Sandstorm grants to Rock-typed Pokemon is especially useful, as it allows Terakion to boost its excellent 129 Attack and 108 Speed in relative safety to prepare for a sweep.
Jirachi
Flygon
Empoleon
Crustle
Escavalier
Sandstorm Stall
Skarmory
Bronzong
Gliscor
Ferrothorn
Forretress
