At a Glance:
In-Depth Team Analysis:
Swalot (M) @ Shuca Berry
Ability: Liquid Ooze
Level: 50
EVs: 252 HP / 68 Atk / 84 Def / 12 SpA / 92 SpD
Brave Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Gastro Acid
- Gunk Shot
- Ice Beam
- Protect
In-Depth Team Analysis:
Swalot (M) @ Shuca Berry
Ability: Liquid Ooze
Level: 50
EVs: 252 HP / 68 Atk / 84 Def / 12 SpA / 92 SpD
Brave Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Gastro Acid
- Gunk Shot
- Ice Beam
- Protect
I thought I'd start the party by using my favorite Pokemon, Swalot. This is a tradition I have; I always build my teams around my favorite Pokemon, whether they're competitively viable or not.
Gastro Acid suppresses Pokemon's abilities, crippling Pokemon such as Mega Kangaskhan, Mega Mawile, Mega Salamence, Sylveon, and much more. Gunk Shot is a strong STAB attack that has a nifty 30% chance to poison its target. Ice Beam hits Pokemon such as Mega Salamence, Garchomp, and Landorus-T. Protect is staple in VGC.
A Shuca Berry lets Swalot survive attacks such as Choice Band-boosted Earthquake from Adamant Landorus-T. Liquid Ooze cripples Giga Drain and Drain Punch users as Swalot switches into them.
252 HP EVs increases Swalots overall bulk, helping him take physical and special attacks easier. 84 Defense EVs let Swalot survive a Double-Edge from Adamant Mega Kangaskhan, while 92 Special Defense EVs makes Timid Mega Gengar's Shadow Ball a 3HKO. 12 Special Attack EVs ensure that Swalot can OHKO max HP Landorus-T with a Helping Hand-boosted Ice Beam. The remaining EVs are put into Attack to buff the power of Gunk Shot. A Brave nature further boosts Gunk Shot's power. 0 Speed IVs make Swalot as slow as possible, making it faster under Trick Room.
Cresselia (F) @ Sitrus Berry
Ability: Levitate
Level: 50
EVs: 252 HP / 220 Def / 36 SpD
Sassy Nature
IVs: 0 Atk / 0 Spe
- Trick Room
- Safeguard
- Helping Hand
- Psychic
I needed a bulky Pokemon that could set up Trick Room and support its teammates. Cresselia stood out to me the most.
Trick Room is obvious, because it, well, sets up Trick Room. Safeguard prevents Cresselia and her teammates from being crippled by status. Helping Hand boosts the power of teammates' attacks, letting them do more damage or gain more KOs. Psychic is a reliable STAB attack that has a 10% chance to lower its target's Special Defense; however, due to Cresselia's low base 75 Special Attack, it is mainly used for chip damage.
A Sitrus Berry drastically increases Cresselia's longevity, turning Timid Mega Gengar's Shadow Ball and Adamant Mega Salamence's Double-Edge into a 3HKO. Levitate is Cresselia's only legal ability, but it helps against Pokemon who like using Earthquake, such as Garchomp and Landorus-T.
252 HP EVs increases Cresselia's natural bulk. A Sassy nature and 36 Special Defense EVs turns Timid Mega Gengar's Shadow Ball into a 3HKO, with the help of Cresselia's Sitrus Berry. The remaining EVs are placed into Defense to help Cresselia take physical hits better, and it turns Adamant Mega Salamence's Double-Edge into a 3HKO, too, with the help of Cresselia's Sitrus Berry. 0 Attack IVs reduces the amount of damage taken from Foul Play and self-inflicted confusion, while 0 Speed IVs make Cresselia as slow as possible.
Hariyama (M) @ Assault Vest
Ability: Thick Fat
Level: 50
EVs: 252 Atk / 140 Def / 116 SpD
Brave Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Close Combat
- Knock Off
- Stone Edge
- Fake Out
I needed a slow Fighting-type Pokemon with access to Fake Out to help support Cresselia, so I chose Hariyama.
Close Combat is Hariyama's main attack, as it gains STAB and has a great offensive type. Knock Off hits Ghost- and Psychic-type Pokemon who are immune to or resist Close Combat. Stone Edge targets Mega Charizard Y, Volcarona, and Talonflame; I chose it instead of Rock Slide due to its higher base power and inability to be nullified by Wide Guard. Fake Out is a nice move that helps Cresselia have an easier time setting up Trick Room.
An Assault Vest increases Hariyama's Special Defense by 50%. Thick Fat gives Hariyama a pseudo-resistance to Fire- and Ice-type attacks. Guts isn't as helpful because Cresselia has Safeguard.
252 Attack EVs enables Hariyama to hit as hard as he possibly can. 140 Defense EVs turns Adamant Landorus-T's Earthquake into a 3HKO, while 116 Special Defense EVs turn Sylveon's Choice Specs-boosted Hyper Voice into a 2HKO. 0 Speed IVs make Hariyama as slow as possible, making him fater when in Trick Room.
Amoonguss (M) @ Black Sludge
Ability: Regenerator
Level: 50
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Relaxed Nature
IVs: 0 Atk / 0 Spe
- Rage Powder
- Spore
- Giga Drain
- Protect
I needed a Pokemon that could redirect moves, such as Taunt, that prevent Cresselia from setting up Trick Room. Amoonguss seemed pretty solid for this; and it also has access to Spore for even more team support.
Rage Powder redirects moves, while Spore puts its target to sleep. When I use these moves, I must be aware of any Safety Goggles users. Giga Drain is a reliable STAB attack that heals Amoonguss by 50% of the HP dealt. Protect is a staple move in VGC.
Black Sludge increases Amoonguss's longevity. Regenerator restores 1/3 of Amoonguss's HP each time he switches out. Both of these in combination with each other keep Amoonguss healthy throughout the match.
The EV spread is simple; 252 HP EVs increases Amoonguss's overall bulk. 252 Defense EVs and a Relaxed nature make Amoonguss as physically bulky and as slow as possible. The remaining EVs were placed into Special Defense to take special attacks slightly better. 0 Attack IVs reduces the amount of damage taken from Foul Play and self-inflicted confusion, while 0 Speed IVs make Amoonguss even slower.
Mawile (F) @ Mawilite
Ability: Intimidate
Level: 50
EVs: 252 HP / 204 Atk / 52 SpD
Adamant Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Play Rough
- Iron Head
- Sucker Punch
- Protect
I needed another powerful Pokemon who could take advantage of Trick Room. Mawile stood out to me thanks to its Mega Evolution.
Play Rough and Iron Head are standard STAB attacks, while Sucker Punch is a nice priority attack that helps Mawile pick off weakened foes. Protect is a staple move to have in VGC.
Mawilite enables Mawile to Mega Evolve, gaining an amazing ability in Huge Power as well as better overall stats. Intimidate, Mawile's ability prior to Mega Evolving, lowers the attack stat of the foes, and is one of the best abilities in VGC.
252 HP and 52 Special Defense EVs let Mawile survive a Heat Wave from Modest Heatran. The remaining EVs were placed into Attack to let Mawile hit as hard as possible. An Adamant nature further boosts her Attack stat. I didn't use a Brave nature because Mawile is already pretty slow, and I usually use her to clean up late-game; during that time, Trick Room has usually worn out. Just in case Trick Room is still up, I use 0 Speed IVs to become slower.
Landorus-T (M) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Intimidate
Level: 50
EVs: 100 HP / 248 Atk / 4 SpA / 156 Spe
Naive Nature
IVs: 30 Atk / 30 Def
- Earthquake
- Rock Slide
- U-turn
- Hidden Power Ice
I couldn't have every single Pokemon on my team be slow, and I needed a fast late-game cleaner. To fit this role, I chose Landorus-T.
Earthquake is Landorus-T's STAB attack, and hits everything on the field. Rock Slide has EdgeQuake coverage when alongside Earthquake, hits both targets, and has a nifty 30% chance to flinch the foes. U-turn lets Landorus-T switch out as it deals damage to its target. Hidden Power Ice targets Mega Salamence, Garchomp, and opposing Landorus-T.
A Choice Scarf boosts Landorus-T's Speed, helping him clean up late-game. Intimidate is Landorus-T's only legal ability, and is great in VGC.
30 Attack and Defense IVs give Landorus-T Hidden Power Ice. With a Naive nature and 156 Speed EVs, Landorus-T can outspeed everything including Adamant Choice Scarf Landorus-T and below. 248 Attack EVs maximize Landorus-T's Attack stat, letting him hit as hard as possible, and compensates for the Attack IV he has to use. The remaining EVs were placed into HP to increase Landorus-T's overall bulk, with the exception of 4 Special Attack EVs due to how EVs work at level 50.
Importable:
Code:
Swalot (M) @ Shuca Berry
Ability: Liquid Ooze
Level: 50
EVs: 252 HP / 68 Atk / 84 Def / 12 SpA / 92 SpD
Brave Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Gastro Acid
- Gunk Shot
- Ice Beam
- Protect
Cresselia (F) @ Sitrus Berry
Ability: Levitate
Level: 50
EVs: 252 HP / 220 Def / 36 SpD
Sassy Nature
IVs: 0 Atk / 0 Spe
- Trick Room
- Safeguard
- Helping Hand
- Psychic
Hariyama (M) @ Assault Vest
Ability: Thick Fat
Level: 50
EVs: 252 Atk / 140 Def / 116 SpD
Brave Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Close Combat
- Knock Off
- Stone Edge
- Fake Out
Amoonguss (M) @ Black Sludge
Ability: Regenerator
Level: 50
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Relaxed Nature
IVs: 0 Atk / 0 Spe
- Rage Powder
- Spore
- Giga Drain
- Protect
Mawile (F) @ Mawilite
Ability: Intimidate
Level: 50
EVs: 252 HP / 204 Atk / 52 SpD
Adamant Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Play Rough
- Iron Head
- Sucker Punch
- Protect
Landorus-Therian (M) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Intimidate
Level: 50
EVs: 100 HP / 248 Atk / 4 SpA / 156 Spe
Naive Nature
- Earthquake
- Rock Slide
- U-turn
- Hidden Power [Ice]
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