Dragorona isn't a real word

[JMTL]

I've been trying to create a team based around Dragonite, and the following team seems to be doing well in Pokemon Showdown, but there is always room for improvement. I'm hovering around the 1670 level but that number involved using other teams before so that number is not as accurate.

This team is the first one where I've had several Pokemon try to support one or two others on the team, as opposed to a balanced team or a straight offense team, and I think this type of team works well.

The team:

Ferrothorn @ Focus Sash
Brave, Iron Barbs
252Atk / 252Def / 4SDef

Spikes
Leech Seed
Power Whip
Thunder Wave

I typically lead with Ferrothorn, but sometimes I'll use someone else, depending on the Team Preview. Ferrothorn is seen so often on OU teams that I have decided to try something slightly different. Instead of giving it Leftovers or Rocky Helmet, I gave it a Focus Sash... which means that I can put all the HP EVs into Attack instead. Sometimes I don't expect a Pokemon to have a Fire type move and I lose Ferrothorn before it can set up its Spikes, so at least this way, I can let it survive through at least one turn. Thunder Wave is typically helpful when paralysis activates and if Ferrothorn survives, it can spread the fun. I gave Ferrothorn Leech Seed so that if it comes across an opposing Dragonite before Stealth Rock is set, I can nullify its Multiscale despite a potential Roost and/or Leftovers, and let my other Pokemon deal with it (most likely Mamoswine).

Synergy:
Fire -> Starmie, Dragonite
Fighting -> Starmie, Dragonite, Espeon, Volcarona

Mamoswine @ Focus Sash
Adamant, Snow Cloak
4HP / 252 Atk / 252 Speed

Earthquake
Ice Shard
Stealth Rock
Endeavor/Roar

Mamoswine is my answer to opposing Dragon types that outspeed my Dragonite. It has Stealth Rock since I use it as my auxiliary lead if I feel that Ferrothorn should hold back, and it has the typical Earthquake and Ice Shard combination. I gave it a Focus Sash as well. For the last move, I'm not sure if Endeavour or Roar would be the better option, if at all. I've rarely used the move in competitive battles. Focus Sash, Endeavor and Ice Shard would work great if an opposing Skarmory or Bronzong somehow got Mamoswine to 1 HP, I suppose.

Synergy:

Steel -> Ferrothorn, Volcarona
Fighting -> Starmie, Dragonite, Espeon, Volcarona
Fire -> Starmie, Dragonite
Water -> Starmie, Dragonite, Ferrothorn

Dragonite @ Life Orb
Mild, Multiscale
252 Atk / 252 SpA / 4 Speed

Draco Meteor
Fire Blast
Superpower
Extremespeed

Dragonite is the team's mascot, thus, this is a given. At first, I wanted to use the Dragon Dance physical attacker version but I found that I was stopped by the likes of Gliscor and other physical walls, so this led me to use the classic mixed attacker Dragonite, and thanks to BW2, Dragonite can have Superpower with Multiscale. Draco Meteor is to inflict a lot of damage to non-steel types, Fire Blast is for the steel types, Superpower is for Blissey, Chansey, and Heatran, and Extremespeed is for +2 priority over Choice Scarfed Pokemon who have a higher base speed or Pokemon who only have +1 priority. I'm using Life Orb to get in more damage but I'm wondering about the synergy with Multiscale, but Inner Focus doesn't seem to be a much better option since Dragonite's not going to be a lead that potentially faces Fake Out. I'm also concerned about how Draco Meteor and Superpower lower offensive stats, which usually get me to switch out Dragonite more frequently than I would like, and Stealth Rock will be a bane. Thus, I will need a spinner and a dual screener.

Synergy:
Dragon -> Ferrothorn
Ice -> Starmie, Volcarona
Rock -> Ferrothorn

Starmie @ Life Orb
Timid, Natural Cure
4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Speed

Surf
Thunderbolt
Ice Beam
Rapid Spin

Starmie has access to Rapid Spin. Three Pokemon on the team desperately want a clear field so that move is essential. Starmie resists Ice attacks which Dragonite does not like, so I thought it was a great choice. Surf for an accurate STAB attack, Thunderbolt and Ice Beam for coverage.

Synergy:
Bug -> Volcarona, Dragonite
Electric -> Mamoswine, Ferrothorn
Grass -> Volcarona, Ferrothorn, Dragonite
Dark -> Ferrothorn
Ghost -> Ferrothorn

Espeon @ Light Clay
Calm, Magic Bounce
4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Speed

Psychic
Hidden Power Fighting
Light Screen
Reflect

I chose Espeon to support Dragonite with dual screens, as well as use its Magic Bounce to stop new hazards or moves which serve only to induce permanent status. Psychic is the STAB attack, and Hidden Power Fighting serves to attack Steel and Dark types that Psychic cannot dent. In the past few battles, though, I've kept Espeon away from battle because I keep seeing opportunities for another sweeper to come in without the need of screens.

Synergy:
Bug -> Volcarona, Dragonite
Dark -> Ferrothorn
Ghost -> Ferrothorn

Volcarona @ Leftovers
Timid, Flame Body
252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Speed

Bug Buzz
Fiery Dance
Quiver Dance
Hidden Power Ground

For instance, if the field is clear of hazards, I may decide to switch in Volcarona and begin a Quiver Dance while the opponent switches. Volcarona is a great Pokemon if my opponent does not have any physical sweepers with priority left. I've given it Hidden Power Ground instead of Rock because most of my opponents send in Heatran or Terrakion to respond to Volcarona. This Pokemon is my backup plan in case Dragonite falls early.

Synergy:
Water-> Starmie, Dragonite, Ferrothorn
Rock -> Ferrothorn
Flying -> NONE


Team's weaknesses that I've found:

When playing this team, I've noticed that Tornadus can spam Hurricane while in a rain team and pretty much destroy the team bar Mamoswine, but Mamoswine is usually taken out pretty quickly in the rain, especially when a lucky Scald burns it while it's on its Sash.

Jirachi also loves to paraflinch a lot, and Dragonite is slower than the Jirachi as it is. Starmie needs 2 to 3 Surfs to defeat Jirachi, while Jirachi's well-placed Thunder or the rare Psychic fells Starmie in 1 hit.

I have trouble against Swords Dance Scizor, despite having Volcarona on the team, but maybe that's just my play style and always thinking Scizor's a Choice Band variant.

Hail and Sandstorm teams make wear on my Dragonite that doesn't have any recovery and the former weather nullifies the need for Ferrothorn's sash, who probably didn't need it to go against a hail team and thus wasted a hold item spot.

Having no spin blocker, despite having two hazard layers and a reliance on residual damage if Dragonite has reduced stats, seems like a foolish move, but I'm not sure who I should replace, if anyone.

Status ailments really wreck my team's longevity, since Dragonite and Starmie use Life Orb (Starmie can use Natural Cure but that's giving a free turn), and even with Espeon stopping Toxic, Thunder Wave, Will-o-Wisp, Spore, and Confuse Ray, it can't stop secondary effects of attacks.

Ferrothorn is listed as a synergistic partner for a lot of the RMT, but again, I don't find that Ferro lasts too long... again, it might be my play style.

Please give your comments.

 

[Asek]

Hey,

First off, nice team man. Anyway I saw a massive weakness on this team to Terrakion, especially the Choice Scarf/ Rock Polish variants. He out speeds your whole team, and carries a Super effective move for you whole team, meaning he can rip into you throughout the battle.

Well first off, Focus Sash is a wasted item slot on Ferrothorn. Its bulk means it very rarely can be OHKO'd by moves that aren't fire, and it needs a bit of bulk to set up the layers of hazards it should be able to. Thats why an EV spread of 252HP/ 98Def/ 160SpD with a Relaxed nature would work far better to help ensure you get all of your layers up and makes Ferrothorn a great mixed wall that can switch into threatening many pokemon and start getting hazards up. You should also use Leftovers > Focus Sash for the fact that Leftovers lasts the whole match and is superior to Focus Sash in any possible way. Since Leech Seed is now legal with Stealth Rock, a good change could be Stealth Rock > Thunder Wave which makes Ferrothorn the complete hazard layer of your team, and you no longer have to switch out to get a different type of hazard up. Since your team is relatively fast, Thunder Wave support is not that necessary for it.

With Ferrothorn now carrying Stealth Rock, Mamoswine is now freed up to carry another attacking move in its place. Superpower > Stealth Rock gives you perfect coverage, and it hits Air Balloon Heatran hard, which is occasionally lured in by some Mamoswine as the user could be expecting Stone Edge to be used over it. This helps ferrothorn out immensly as one of its top counters is out of the picture. A very easy fix for Tornadus was in front of you the whole time, simply use Life Orb > Focus Sash to be an awesome revenge killer to the genies and dragons with a powerful Ice Shard that OHKO's all genies after SR IIRC. Icicle Crash > Roar/ Endeavor as Mamoswine doesn't really have the bulk to utilize Roar, and now that focus sash is gone Endeavor is a pointless move to have. Icicle Crash is a powerful STAB useful for some Physically defensive pokemon, such as Hippowdon.

Dragonite needs a bit of speed, to help it out as maximizing both offenses makes it relatively slow, and very easy to outspeed, even by stall standards. An EV spread of 112Atk/ 200SpA/ 196Spe works far better, in the way you still do massive damage to stall standards such as Skarmory and Gliscor, but it gives you some speed to utilize against random threats such as Techniloom not running full speed. The power drop is not that noticeable anyway, so try out those EV's and I'm sure they won't disappoint.

Looking at the team, I thought that Dual Screens support wasn't really that necessary, considering that your only set up sweeper in Volcarona boost's its bulk with its offenses. Alternatively, your team would greatly appreciate the abilty to protect its hazards and burn physical sweepers. I think Jellicent > Espeon would fit right into your team, as it handles most terrakion very comfortably, and the variant's it doesn't Starmie does. Scald and Toxic are 2 moves your team would love to have, and Jellicent's synergy with Ferrothorn is amazing, making for a solid defensive backbone that can help sponge hits for the team. Jellicent also stops Swords Dance Lucario who don't pack crunch, who is also a ,massive threat to your team. Taunt is also a great addition to your team, stopping the status that Espeon was there to bounce back from happening altogether, and breaking stall well too.

GL with the team

Jellicent

Jellicent @ Leftovers
Nature: Bold (+Def -Atk)
Trait: Water Absorb
EV's: 248HP/ 216Def/ 44Spe
Scald/ Toxic/ Recover/ Taunt