XY RU Babbu Berd and the Goth Chick (Peaked #3)

[cuteflounder]

Hi, I'm cuteflounder, and I go by "i came from leddit" on Pokemon Showdown. I started off playing XY OU but after several months, the metagame has staled out a bit so I decided to migrate to RU. Fletchinder seemed fun to use after seeing that RU RMT that used all baby Pokemon so I decided to build a team based around it. The basic premise of this team is to support Fletchinder and get rid of certain things that resist its flying STAB with Specs Gothorita. This team has been successful on ladder, peaking #3 on the current RU Suspect ladder and peaking #9 on the previous RU Beta ladder when Froslass was still around. This team does very well against Sticky Web teams, ending up as an unintentional counterteam to those types of teams. This team has also done well for me in Scrub League for what it's worth. Anyways onto the mons :^)

Started off as a joke team and used this on the RU Beta ladder:

Realized team had some potential but I needed an actual reliable water switch-in and Jolteon dropped down, so I ended up with this:

Proof of peak on the current suspect ladder (lost my screenshot of the RU Beta ladder .>.)

Hide

totem babby (Xatu) @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Magic Bounce
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpD
Bold Nature
- Roost
- U-turn
- Heat Wave
- Grass Knot

I went with the lazy man's route of preventing hazards here with Xatu. I went with a physically defensive spread because the majority of hazard setters are physical attackers, and Rocky Helmet allows me to get nice chip damage off against mons like Cobalion and Registeel. I chose Heat Wave and Grass Knot as my attacking moves because they can hit some hazard setters decently hard, such as Cobalion and Rhyperior. They also let Xatu act as a decent lure for things like Escavalier and the aforementioned Rhyperior. U-turn is pretty straightforward, used to scout and pivot out into the appropriate teammate.

*ribbit* babby (Seismitoad) @ Leftovers
Ability: Water Absorb
EVs: 248 HP / 136 Def / 124 SpD
Relaxed Nature
- Scald
- Earthquake
- Stealth Rock
- Knock Off

I chose Seismitoad over something like Rhyperior for its access to Water Absorb, letting it check those pesky water types while still being able to handle most of the same threats that Rhyperior does. In all honesty, I forgot exactly what the EVs do other than remembering it allowed to me avoid some specific 2HKO after SR. Anyways, they give Seismitoad plenty of mixed bulk to work with. Scald + Earthquake for STAB, Stealth Rock because pebbles are always helpful, and Knock Off is a cool utility move to have.

doge babby (Jolteon) @ Choice Specs
Ability: Volt Absorb
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
IVs: 0 Atk / 30 Def
Timid Nature
- Volt Switch
- Thunderbolt
- Shadow Ball
- Hidden Power [Ice]

Jolteon gives me much needed speed, power, momentum, Flying resistance, and another valuable Electric immunity. It forms an integral core with Rocky Helmet Xatu that allows this team to be particularly effective at handling Sticky Web teams, as Jolteon can outspeed and hit most common threats on Sticky Web teams hard while Xatu completely cockblocks Shuckle. Overall, Jolteon's importance on this team really can't be overstated; the offensive presence it brings is just so useful and it serves as a great win condition for when everything on the opposing team has been worn down.

NOT A BABBY (Emboar) @ Leftovers
Ability: Blaze
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpD
Impish Nature
- Will-O-Wisp
- Flare Blitz
- Superpower
- Protect

Emboar is an unconventional choice for a defensive Pokemon but after stumbling upon this set while lurking through old analyses, I decided to pick it up for my team. Firstly, its underrated 110/65/65 defenses, unique typing, and ability to burn makes it surprisingly tough to break, allowing it to take on threats like Doublade and Zoroark with ease. For reference, this Emboar even has a 100% chance of living an Adamant Life Orb Sharpedo Waterfall (of course, this isn't my main answer to Pedo but this is simply a demonstration of its bulk). Secondly, this Emboar also functions as a lure for things that trouble Fletchinder, burning things like Slowking, Rhyperior, and Mola, to a name a few. The passive damage really helps in wearing these bulky threats down. Lastly, even when uninvested Emboar still has a great base 123 attack, allowing him to still hit hard with his high powered STAB moves. I've also considered putting Rock Slide over Superpower to hit Moltres, Fletchinder, and Delphox since I honestly don't use Superpower all that often.

powerful babby (Gothorita) @ Choice Specs
Ability: Shadow Tag
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Grass Knot
- Thunderbolt
- Psychic
- Trick

Despite its low base 75 special attack, Gothorita can hit relatively hard when equipped with a Choice Specs, allowing it to trap and KO things that wall Fletchinder, such as Rhyperior or Alomomola. The moves are all fairly straightforward for getting rid of Fletchinder's counters, the most common ones of which tend to be Rock or Water types. Trick cripples defensive Pokemon and boosting sweepers. Overall, Gothorita's performance on this team has pretty much been what I expected: it will either be a great asset that I try to keep alive until I can set up a trapping scenario, or it will be the go-to Pokemon that I sac. Although it hasn't been as consistently useful as I anticipated it's still a cool mon :^)

babbu berd (Fletchinder)
Ability: Gale Wings
EVs: 216 HP / 252 Atk / 40 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Acrobatics
- Swords Dance
- Will-O-Wisp
- Roost

Everyone knows what this thing does by now. Fletchinder is a massive threat in RU despite its pitiful base stats by virtue of its excellent ability and small but concise movepool. As this is the Pokemon that this team was built around, it is more often than not my win condition. To be honest, I first got the idea of using Fletchinder from seeing the babby RMT that was posted here a while ago and wanted to try it out. I went in not expecting much but this thing has definitely outperformed and substantially exceeded my expectations. Don't underestimate this thing ever, lest your team be crushed by its swift wings of justice.

THREATS
For the most part, the members on this team aren't particularly bulky and mostly rely on their resistances to handle things. As such, hard-hitters/wallbreakers can give occasionally give me trouble. It isn't too difficult to play around these threats but nevertheless they still need to be recognized as threats. Here are some noticeable ones off the top of my head:

Moltres / Delphox: Life Orb sets and their great coverage means that I'll either have to consistently switch around and predict correctly or sac something. Usually both. As mentioned before, I've considered putting Rock Slide on Emboar to lure out and hit these threats.

Exploud: I have no switch-ins so I'll usually have to sac something. Stupid volcano thing ;[

Hitmonlee: Emboar and Fletchinder can beat it 1v1 but don't like switching in directly

Clawitzer: 2HKOs my team at worst with its great coverage and power but I can revenge/force it out with Jolteon. If I am able to get a solid hit off on it with any mons, that it'll likely be in Fletchinder kill range as well.

Meloetta: This thing is strong and I don't have a solid switch-in into it. SubCM variants can be a pain as well.

Braviary: CB is strong, SubBU is annoying.

Toxic Spikes Stall with Drapion: I haven't personally played against a stall with Drapion, but it seems like it'd be a threat especially considering my main way of preventing hazards is Xatu, making me vulnerable to being stalled out.

Importable:

Hide

babbu berd (Fletchinder)
Ability: Gale Wings
EVs: 216 HP / 252 Atk / 40 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Acrobatics
- Swords Dance
- Will-O-Wisp
- Roost

powerful babby (Gothorita) @ Choice Specs
Ability: Shadow Tag
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Grass Knot
- Thunderbolt
- Psychic
- Trick

doge babby (Jolteon) @ Choice Specs
Ability: Volt Absorb
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
IVs: 0 Atk / 30 Def
Timid Nature
- Volt Switch
- Thunderbolt
- Shadow Ball
- Hidden Power [Ice]

totem babby (Xatu) @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Magic Bounce
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpD
Bold Nature
- Roost
- U-turn
- Heat Wave
- Grass Knot

NOT A BABBY (Emboar) @ Leftovers
Ability: Blaze
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpD
Impish Nature
- Will-O-Wisp
- Flare Blitz
- Superpower
- Protect

*ribbit* babby (Seismitoad) @ Leftovers
Ability: Water Absorb
EVs: 248 HP / 136 Def / 124 SpD
Relaxed Nature
- Scald
- Earthquake
- Stealth Rock
- Knock Off

SHOUTOUTS
My main shoutout here goes to MikeDawg. TYVM for giving me the opportunity to be a part of MOAR ASSAULT VEST; it's been a great learning experience and it's been real cool meeting everyone on the team. I really appreciate the fact that you've been especially supportive of me and it has really pushed me to continue getting more Tournament experience here on Smogon! tenk 4 bein a fren :^)

And speaking of mav, shoutouts to all of you guys, we're killing it in Scrubs :^)
Antemortem Celeberty Corporal Levi lrode Scizor4u TheBleachShadow Turtleye

Thanks Storm Zone, fingerscrossed, ben gay, MushMonkey, Lord Xen, and GenjiHyuuga for occasionally talking to me on Showdown. I don't think I ever told any of you my Smogon username but you peeps are cools .~.

 

[MikeDawg]

/the feels <3

But, yeah. Great team, especially because of how fresh and innovative it is. From what I can tell, Meloetta seems the most problematic. Rock slide can definitely help with delphox and the like, but having to switch around them is yucky. Have you considered Sucker Punch on emboar, over either protect or hypothetical rock slide? It does a healthy ~70% to delphox when uninvested, and a helpful ~55% to meloetta. It doesn't help much with moltres (though a last-ditch 25% could be nice), but choose your poison (or just hope for a hurricane miss imo ;D).

My next possible suggestion is real strange, and that is Sucker Punch on Xatu. Univested, it does hilarious amounts of damage:

0 Atk Xatu Sucker Punch vs. 4 HP / 0 Def Delphox: 120-142 (41 - 48.6%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
0 Atk Xatu Sucker Punch vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Meloetta: 112-134 (27.7 - 33.1%) -- 82% chance to 4HKO after Leftovers recovery
0 Atk Xatu Sucker Punch vs. 4 HP / 0 Def Meloetta: 112-134 (32.7 - 39.1%) -- 9.6% chance to 3HKO after Leftovers recovery

If xatu's services are no longer needed, it can chip off a very nice amount of health from these problem-pokes, usually allowing fletchinder to come in and finish the job. If you were to replace heat wave, then escav could still be handled by emboar in general (especially with a surprise will-o-wisp). Fletch fares rather well as well. Emboar and jolteon (and even fletch) help you check cobalion. I prefer it over grass knot because gothorita >>>, but either works.

I think that you can handle exploud a bit better than you may thing. It is typically exclusive to sticky web teams, and you can easily block shuckle and u-turn out of the obvious doublade/exploud/magneton switch. (magneton seems problematic if seismi is gone or taken out by an hp grass) From there, jolteon can do some huge volt-switch damage into the practically useles gothorita and then exploud is pretty much down for the match. If things don't go as planned (especially because lol ladder), you fare real well against sticky web anyway so who cares.

If you do adopt Sucker Punch onto the lovely psychic bird, heat wave could def obtain a spot over grass knot (cuz gothorita traps rhyp anyway). If you really want both, it could go over u-turn, though you'll have to do craftier switching (against something like shuckle, though, you are faster anyway so if you u-turn when you shouldn't have, you get screwed just as much as if you switch. do you want the bag on or off your head when facing the firing squad? you decide). In all seriousness, xatu is most useful-early game, so the switches should be relatively obvious. It's all up to your preference but by natural instinct is to place spunch over grass knot if you choose to.

Again, great job. It was fantastic getting to know and work with you! :) I can't wait to see you in tournament finals.

 

[g]

Pls tell me this is the team that smacked Arikado twice while he was clicking buttons with my sticky web team lol

Only a small suggestion then
Hidden Power Ice is really not needed on Jolteon to kill Gligar as the flying scorp thing is massive setup fodder so you can change it to HP Grass or Water to scare rhyperior even more and hit Gastrodon with the former and still 2 shot gligar with the latter.
A more "drastic" change would be using subpass to gain setup opportunities against grass types like amoongus that will switch in.
It also gives you another Zoroark check that at+2 kinda murders your team when emboar is below 50 and toad is not very very healthy.

Edit: I'm retarded and the team is illegal now :c
I guess SD 3 attacks virizion would solve some problems with delphox and is still a reliable rhyperior switch. You could also use a completely different mon in that slot (cb druddigon might be cool) and change jolteon to scarf rotomow c:

 

[cuteflounder]

Pls tell me this is the team that smacked Arikado twice while he was clicking buttons with my sticky web team lol

LOL yes it was

Only a small suggestion then
Hidden Power Ice is really not needed on Jolteon to kill Gligar as the flying scorp thing is massive setup fodder so you can change it to HP Grass or Water to scare rhyperior even more and hit Gastrodon with the former and still 2 shot gligar with the latter.
A more "drastic" change would be using subpass to gain setup opportunities against grass types like amoongus that will switch in.
It also gives you another Zoroark check that at+2 kinda murders your team when emboar is below 50 and toad is not very very healthy.

I had HP Grass before changing it to HP Ice after being in a situation where I was locked into HP Grass against a Gligar. In the bigger scheme of things, HP Water would probably work best for smacking both Rhyperior and Gligar simultaneously so I might try that.

I haven't had too many problems with Zoroark so I'm not too keen on changing Jolteon's set for it. It is an interesting idea though, and I will keep it in mind!

Edit: I'm retarded and the team is illegal now :c
I guess SD 3 attacks virizion would solve some problems with delphox and is still a reliable rhyperior switch. You could also use a completely different mon in that slot (cb druddigon might be cool) and change jolteon to scarf rotomow c:

Antegeezy on PS suggested specs Mismagius over Gothorita which I have been liking so far. 3 attacks SD Virizion sounds cool as well and I will try it out too.
TY for the rate!!! :^)

 

[chimpact]

I think a quick and easy fix you can make to this team is to give jolteon life orb and change the hidden power to grass. the recoil does get annoying when going up against priority from zoroark/doublade/hitmonlee but if you manage your attacks carefully that shouldnt be an issue.

hp grass is cool because pokemon like rhyperior and gastrodon handle fletchinder pretty well and hp grass just annihilates them.

solid team.

 

[cuteflounder]

I think a quick and easy fix you can make to this team is to give jolteon life orb and change the hidden power to grass. the recoil does get annoying when going up against priority from zoroark/doublade/hitmonlee but if you manage your attacks carefully that shouldnt be an issue.

hp grass is cool because pokemon like rhyperior and gastrodon handle fletchinder pretty well and hp grass just annihilates them.

solid team.

Hi, I think I still prefer HP Water since Gastrodon isn't too common and HP Water is still able to hit Gligar pretty hard. LO is something I didn't really consider but it could be a viable option since I generally keep Jolteon away from priority and because Xatu is a semi-reliable way of keeping off entry hazards.

Thanks for the rate and I like the vids :]