[D/P/P] Mixed Tactics/Skarm Stall

Hello everyone! This is my first time posting on Smogon ever. I've gotten a little tired of battling people on Serebii and I want to see if my team I use could be viable. I'm very open to suggestion, don't hesitate to make one or two substitutions but I would like to keep the core of my team alive if possible.

Here's a little preview:





Also, here's a video link of them in action.

56-38280-06301


1. POLI(Poliwrath)@Salac Berry
EV: 252 Atk / 252 Speed / 4 HP
Nature: Jolly
Ability: Water Absorb
1. Substitute
2. Belly Drum
3. Waterfall
4. Brick Break


I know what your thinking; a Poliwrath lead? What in the hell is this guy thinking? Well, that's actually the mentality I go for, as most leads I come up against are caught completely off guard by his presence (I can't even find this exact set on Smogon). I find most opposing leads underestimate Poliwrath, and try to set up entry hazards in front of him, allowing him to easily SubSalac with Belly Drum and unleash the power of BellyWrath. Many bulky leads will switch out after seeing the substitute in fear of SubPunch strategy, giving him even more setup time and catching the newly switched Poke off guard with Belly Drum.




2.MAURY(Skarmory)@Leftovers
EV: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 Speed
Nature: Impish
Ability: Sturdy
1. Stealth Rock
2. Spikes
3. Whirlwind
4. Roost


After Poli's sweep comes to an end (if it comes to and end) then foe is met with my heavily armored pigeon. In order to stop BellyWrath, people resort to priority moves, the majority of which are physical or resisted by Skarmory. This usually gives Skarmory a free turn to set up rocks as the opponent switches out to its counter. The rest of this set is pretty self explanatory; switch in when possible, spikes, phaze, heal.




3. SHADOW(Gengar)@Focus Sash
EV: 252 Sp.A / 252 Speed / 4 HP
Nature: Timid
Ability: Levitate
1. Shadow Ball
2. Thunderbolt
3. Icy Wind
4. Destiny Bond


Gengar really is as deadly as they say. I get to switch him in freely when my Typhlosion is threatened by Earthquake, and he works in amazing tandem with my lead Poliwrath, switching in on the ever so common lead Aerodactyl while it Taunts and being able to beat its Focus Sash with the secondary effects of Icy Wind.



4. EVISCERATE(Sandslash)@BrightPowder
EV: 252 Atk / 252 Speed / 4 HP
Nature: Jolly
Ability: Sand Veil
1. Swords Dance
2. Earthquake
3. Stone Edge
4. Rapid Spin


I always knew Sandslash was more useful than he appears, and he never fails to prove it to me. Skarmory attracts electric attacks like light to flies, so Sandslash is able to take advantage of that fairly easily. He surprisingly outspeeds a decent amount of Pokemon with a positive nature, and Swords Dance and his coverage moves usually make him more than just my resident Rapid Spinner.



1. PSYTRANCE(Alakazam)@Choice Specs
EV: 252 Sp.A / 252 Speed / 4 HP
Nature: Modest
Ability: Inner Focus
1. Psychic
2. Shadow Ball
3. Focus Blast
4. Energy Ball


My revenge killer! Choice Specs lets him OHKO most things after SR and some Spikes. He also works well with Skarmory, as most things that would KO Alakazam barely scratch my iron chicken. I picked Energy Ball over Signal Beam because I found the redundant coverage of Dark wasn't necessary, and I rarely see grass types. Energy Ball is great for catching the enemy off guard; something I do like to do often.




1. Typhlosion@Choice Scarf
EV: 252 Sp.A / 252 Speed / 4 HP
Nature: Modest
Ability: Blaze
1. Eruption
2. Fire Blast
3. Focus Blast
4. Hidden Power Rock


Typhlosion is my "clean-up crew". With Choice Scarf and Eruption, he can easily wipe out a weakened team. He's also great for scaring off Scizor and Skarmory from the battlefield. He does have a SR weakness, which I really dislike, but his teammates can usually solve that problem.


Like I said, comment any tips you have, as I'll be very happy to receive them. I only got back into Pokemon in the last 6 months, and this is my first time trying competitively. Thank you :)

a few changes i see immediately, is to replace sandslash ability with sand rush, as it is illegal to have sand veil in ou on smogon. You also need to get rid of his item as it too is illegal. Use Lum berry, life orb, or leftovers any three of those items are useful.

also i would give alakazam life orb with it's hidden ability magic guard, this makes him much harder to counter, as his special attack is already high enough without choice specs. I would also replace typhlosion with victini I'll comment on which set would work later as these are just immediate changes i see.

This is DP, I don't have access to those abilities or Victini

I would replace energy ball on kazam to trick, thats great to criple staller.
Psyshock over psyshic might help you too, to rape the special walls.

DarkGira

Psyshock is also not an option

Then this should not even be in this section. Go to the Other Teams subforum.

Your entire team is incredibly weak to LO Starmie, it outspeeds and OHKO all of them with the proper attack (Hydro Pump, Thunderbolt, Ice Beam) since your Alakazam is Modest. Sub + 3 Attacks Gengar does almost the same, except that your own gengar have a chance to win the speed tie and OHKO it without a sub or destiny bond with it. Also Typhlosion can revenge kill without a sub, but those aren't exactly very good answers since you need luck in both scenarios.

Also Dragon dancers like Bulky Gyarados with Taunt will spell doom for you, as your Typhlosion will not be able to OHKO with hp rock and Skarmory can't phaze if it gets taunted.

Three of them are very suceptible to being trapped by Scarf Tyranitar (Gengar and the two choicers)

And your leads are suceptible to Lead Machamp, your only answer is to sacrifice Gengar and Destiny Bond him, but you'll lose your spin blocker too early (and also your only answer to SD Lucario, Skarmory gets OHKOed at +2). The rest of the team can't afford switching into Dynamic Punch (not even Alakazam), since the confusion screws them up.

Overall is really hard to suggest changes without completely dismantle the team.

I've moved this to the correct forum for you.