Hello! I'm quite new to competitive battling, and this is my first RMT, so I would greatly appreciate it if you could tell me how to improve both my team and the RMT in general. I have tried/tested a couple of teams on Pokemon Showdown, but none of these teams seemed to work too well, so I looked into Hyper Offence. One thing to note is that because I am a beginner, most of these sets are taken directly from Smogon. The team below is based on special attack. Without further ado, let's begin!
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Klefki @ Light Clay
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Reflect
- Light Screen
- Thunder Wave
- Foul Play
Every HO team needs a dual-screener, since the Pokemon in those teams are usually quite frail (I think), as is the case with mine. With its dual screens, which act as a temporary Def and SpD buff, which my whole team needs, since it is relatively frail. This tactic is especially useful for Volcarona, my setup sweeper, since it greatly appreciates the extra bulk, usually necessary for setting up more than one Quiver Dance. It can also stop impending sweeps with TWave, thus rendering any speed boosts useless, and Foul Play helps with physical setup sweepers such as DDancing Salamence.
Volcarona @ Life Orb
Ability: Flame Body
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Modest Nature (+SpA, -Atk)
As mentioned above, Volcarona is the setup sweeper of the team. After three Quiver Dances, nothing can stand in its way. My basic strategy with this is getting dual screens up, switching Volcarona in, setting up Quiver Dances and Roosting off the damage, before sweeping. The set listed is weird, because I have no bulk invested but am carrying Roost. However, the dual screens act as pseudo-bulk and it works alright. The problem is, after setting up, Volcarona usually has its HP below half, and since I’m running a LO set, it can seriously inhibit any attempt at a sweep, but Roost helps with that.
Alakazam @ Focus Sash
Ability: Magic Guard
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature (+Spe, -Atk)
I don’t really know what to do with Alakazam, it feels like I just added it in for no reason. I don’t really see Psyshock’s usefulness either, it 4HKOs defensive Chansey, and has around a 40% chance to 3HKO Blissey, which is why these two Pokemon in particular wall my team. I’m running HP Rock, which is unusual (I think), but it’s there because it OHKOs Talonflame 100% of the time, even with some HP investment, regardless of how many SDs or Bulk Ups it has. The opponent won’t expect it either, and they’ll leave their Talonflame in to attack my Alakazam. I’m not sure about Signal Beam, since I have yet to use it in a battle, but I’m considering changing it to Dazzling Gleam, because it also provides a way to deal with Dragons. Focus Blast is there for Ttar, which would wall it otherwise, but it seems a little repetitive since Dazzling Gleam is also super effective.
Gengar @ Life Orb
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature (+Spe, -Atk)
I don’t know about Gengar either. This set is completely attacking, but to be honest, I haven’t used Energy Ball and Dark Pulse at all, so I’m considering a SubSplit set with Focus Blast. This would be incredibly useful for Chansey or Blissey, since they completely wall my team. It would also provide some form of recovery for Gengar, because it doesn’t have any options otherwise. However, it is quite unreliable as in order to make it useful, Gengar has to be at low HP.
Noivern @ Choice Specs
Ability: Frisk
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature (+Spe, -Atk)
I’m trying out Noivern mainly because of its speed. Slap a Choice Specs on it and it turns into a fast, decently hard-hitting revenge killer. The set is quite standard; Draco Meteor hits substantially harder than DPulse, and since I’m choiced, Noivern is probably going to be switching out anyways. Hurricane is its strongest Flying-type STAB move, but I’m considering Air Slash because of its reliability. Flamethrower hits Pokemon like Scizor and Genesect hard, but since Genesect is often Scarfed, it doesn’t really see too much use against it, since an Ice Beam is definitely going to OHKO. Finally, U-Turn is there to retain momentum, and also deal some damage (though most likely not very much) to a Pokemon it can definitely outspeed before it switches out.
Lucario @ Lucarionite
Ability: Steadfast / Adaptability
Timid Nature (+Spe, -Atk)
Last but not least, we have Mega-Lucario. I personally think that Mega-Lucario has much better coverage on the special side of the spectrum, and it also gets Nasty Plot. Combine that with Adaptability boosting stab moves by 2x instead of 1.5x, and not many Pokemon are going to want to mess with it. Lucario also really appreciates the speed boost from base 90 to base 112, and this set fully capitalizes on this, with a Timid nature. Aura Sphere is a staple on special-attacking Lucario – it’s much more reliable than Focus Blast, which is really the only other Fighting-type special move. DPulse is incredibly useful for Dragons, since with base 112 Speed, it hits threats such as Salamence, Garchomp and Dragonite first, which deals massive amounts of damage (but not enough to OHKO, which will be discussed later). Flash Cannon is for any Fairies running around, such as Sylveon and Togekiss. Lastly, Nasty Plot is special-attacking Lucario’s best boosting move – it is an instant +2 and makes Mega-Lucario even more powerful.
Checks:
Status is a huge problem on any fast and frail offensive team, especially paralysis. After any of my Pokemon bar Klefki are paralyzed, they are pretty much useless because their speed is 75% lower. Take for example, a battle I had a few days ago. My Volcarona was up against a Ferrothorn with TWave, but at the time, because I was and am a beginner, I didn’t realize that Ferrothorn could learn and carry TWave, because whenever I used him, I opted for Gyro Ball since Ferrothorn is so slow anyways. Not realizing my Volcarona was at risk of being severely crippled, I proceeded to Quiver Dance. And then the Ferrothorn used TWave. That ended my Volcarona, since the turn after, my opponent sent out a Gliscor to set up a Sub, I got parahax, and Gliscor EQd to finish me off. Because my Volcarona was the only counter to my opponent’s Scizor and Genesect (and perhaps this is the problem), they was free to completely destroy my team. And it happened. Just like that.
Another thing that can severely wound my team is anything that can outspeed it, such as Mega-Manectric, with its gargantuan base 135 Speed. The only thing that can beat it is Volcarona with Bug Buzz (around 50% chance to OHKO without boosts), and since Mega-Manectric can outspeed and hit with TBolt, it leaves my Volcarona with around half-health factoring in LO recoil (if it is at full HP). If Bug Buzz fails to OHKO, then it is dead, and Mega-Manectric can proceed to deal a substantial amount of damage to the next Pokemon I send out before it faints. But now that I think of it, a +1 LO Volcarona will outspeed and OHKO it, again leaving it at half-health, but getting rid of the risk that Volcarona will faint, and Volcarona can proceed to Roost off the damage or deal a lot to the next Pokemon my opponent sends out.
Next up is Chansey/Blissey. These two Pokemon completely, completely, completely wall my team, mainly due to the fact that it is a special-attacking HO team. I simply can’t seem to get around either of them. And because they wall my team, they are often times the status afflicters that are the bane of my team’s existence, with either TWave or Toxic. The only member of my team that can do decent damage without boosts is Alakazam, but even then, it’s a shaky check.
Here are some damage calcs:
252 SpA Alakazam Psyshock vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Eviolite Chansey: 178-211 (25.2 - 29.9%) -- guaranteed 4HKO
252 SpA Alakazam Psyshock vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Blissey: 244-288 (34.1 - 40.3%) -- 42.4% chance to 3HKO after Leftovers recovery
Blissey is a bit easier to KO, but the both of them are still going to tank the hits. And what’s to say they won’t use Wish or Soft-Boiled? As mentioned earlier, a TWave to Alakazam or anything else would completely cripple it, and Chansey/Blissey definitely have time to afflict any one of my Pokemon with status.
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So, what do you think? How can I improve? What needs to be changed?
Personally, I really want to keep Volcarona on the team – it is my favorite Pokemon. Noivern is also a Pokemon that I want to try out. I feel that a dual-screener is necessary for a HO team, but if something else works, it works. Also, I mentioned that I would discuss that Mega-Lucario cannot OHKO Salamence/Garchomp/any other Dragon-type sweeper with DPulse, unless of course, it has gotten a Nasty Plot up. And don’t even talk about Multiscale DNite. What’s the first thing that comes to mind when there’s a situation like this? Bingo, Stealth Rocks. Viable dual-screeners which learn both the dual-screens and SR are Mew, Bronzong and Azelf (I believe). Out of all three, Azelf is the most likely to get at least SR or a screen up, but is also the most frail. However, I’m unsure is there is even a need for SR, so suggestions are greatly appreciated, as is the same for the rest of the issues with my team.
That’s it for now! I hope to hear your comments and suggestions! Criticism is appreciated (though it may hurt).
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Klefki @ Light Clay
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Reflect
- Light Screen
- Thunder Wave
- Foul Play
Every HO team needs a dual-screener, since the Pokemon in those teams are usually quite frail (I think), as is the case with mine. With its dual screens, which act as a temporary Def and SpD buff, which my whole team needs, since it is relatively frail. This tactic is especially useful for Volcarona, my setup sweeper, since it greatly appreciates the extra bulk, usually necessary for setting up more than one Quiver Dance. It can also stop impending sweeps with TWave, thus rendering any speed boosts useless, and Foul Play helps with physical setup sweepers such as DDancing Salamence.
Volcarona @ Life Orb
Ability: Flame Body
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Modest Nature (+SpA, -Atk)
- Fiery Dance
- Bug Buzz
- Quiver Dance
- Roost
As mentioned above, Volcarona is the setup sweeper of the team. After three Quiver Dances, nothing can stand in its way. My basic strategy with this is getting dual screens up, switching Volcarona in, setting up Quiver Dances and Roosting off the damage, before sweeping. The set listed is weird, because I have no bulk invested but am carrying Roost. However, the dual screens act as pseudo-bulk and it works alright. The problem is, after setting up, Volcarona usually has its HP below half, and since I’m running a LO set, it can seriously inhibit any attempt at a sweep, but Roost helps with that.
Alakazam @ Focus Sash
Ability: Magic Guard
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature (+Spe, -Atk)
- Psyshock
- Focus Blast
- Signal Beam
- HP Rock
I don’t really know what to do with Alakazam, it feels like I just added it in for no reason. I don’t really see Psyshock’s usefulness either, it 4HKOs defensive Chansey, and has around a 40% chance to 3HKO Blissey, which is why these two Pokemon in particular wall my team. I’m running HP Rock, which is unusual (I think), but it’s there because it OHKOs Talonflame 100% of the time, even with some HP investment, regardless of how many SDs or Bulk Ups it has. The opponent won’t expect it either, and they’ll leave their Talonflame in to attack my Alakazam. I’m not sure about Signal Beam, since I have yet to use it in a battle, but I’m considering changing it to Dazzling Gleam, because it also provides a way to deal with Dragons. Focus Blast is there for Ttar, which would wall it otherwise, but it seems a little repetitive since Dazzling Gleam is also super effective.
Gengar @ Life Orb
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature (+Spe, -Atk)
- Shadow Ball
- Energy Ball
- Dark Pulse
- Dazzling Gleam
I don’t know about Gengar either. This set is completely attacking, but to be honest, I haven’t used Energy Ball and Dark Pulse at all, so I’m considering a SubSplit set with Focus Blast. This would be incredibly useful for Chansey or Blissey, since they completely wall my team. It would also provide some form of recovery for Gengar, because it doesn’t have any options otherwise. However, it is quite unreliable as in order to make it useful, Gengar has to be at low HP.
Noivern @ Choice Specs
Ability: Frisk
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature (+Spe, -Atk)
- Draco Meteor
- Hurricane
- Flamethrower
- U-Turn
I’m trying out Noivern mainly because of its speed. Slap a Choice Specs on it and it turns into a fast, decently hard-hitting revenge killer. The set is quite standard; Draco Meteor hits substantially harder than DPulse, and since I’m choiced, Noivern is probably going to be switching out anyways. Hurricane is its strongest Flying-type STAB move, but I’m considering Air Slash because of its reliability. Flamethrower hits Pokemon like Scizor and Genesect hard, but since Genesect is often Scarfed, it doesn’t really see too much use against it, since an Ice Beam is definitely going to OHKO. Finally, U-Turn is there to retain momentum, and also deal some damage (though most likely not very much) to a Pokemon it can definitely outspeed before it switches out.
Lucario @ Lucarionite
Ability: Steadfast / Adaptability
Timid Nature (+Spe, -Atk)
- Aura Sphere
- Dragon Pulse
- Flash Cannon
- Nasty Plot
Last but not least, we have Mega-Lucario. I personally think that Mega-Lucario has much better coverage on the special side of the spectrum, and it also gets Nasty Plot. Combine that with Adaptability boosting stab moves by 2x instead of 1.5x, and not many Pokemon are going to want to mess with it. Lucario also really appreciates the speed boost from base 90 to base 112, and this set fully capitalizes on this, with a Timid nature. Aura Sphere is a staple on special-attacking Lucario – it’s much more reliable than Focus Blast, which is really the only other Fighting-type special move. DPulse is incredibly useful for Dragons, since with base 112 Speed, it hits threats such as Salamence, Garchomp and Dragonite first, which deals massive amounts of damage (but not enough to OHKO, which will be discussed later). Flash Cannon is for any Fairies running around, such as Sylveon and Togekiss. Lastly, Nasty Plot is special-attacking Lucario’s best boosting move – it is an instant +2 and makes Mega-Lucario even more powerful.
Checks:
Status is a huge problem on any fast and frail offensive team, especially paralysis. After any of my Pokemon bar Klefki are paralyzed, they are pretty much useless because their speed is 75% lower. Take for example, a battle I had a few days ago. My Volcarona was up against a Ferrothorn with TWave, but at the time, because I was and am a beginner, I didn’t realize that Ferrothorn could learn and carry TWave, because whenever I used him, I opted for Gyro Ball since Ferrothorn is so slow anyways. Not realizing my Volcarona was at risk of being severely crippled, I proceeded to Quiver Dance. And then the Ferrothorn used TWave. That ended my Volcarona, since the turn after, my opponent sent out a Gliscor to set up a Sub, I got parahax, and Gliscor EQd to finish me off. Because my Volcarona was the only counter to my opponent’s Scizor and Genesect (and perhaps this is the problem), they was free to completely destroy my team. And it happened. Just like that.
Another thing that can severely wound my team is anything that can outspeed it, such as Mega-Manectric, with its gargantuan base 135 Speed. The only thing that can beat it is Volcarona with Bug Buzz (around 50% chance to OHKO without boosts), and since Mega-Manectric can outspeed and hit with TBolt, it leaves my Volcarona with around half-health factoring in LO recoil (if it is at full HP). If Bug Buzz fails to OHKO, then it is dead, and Mega-Manectric can proceed to deal a substantial amount of damage to the next Pokemon I send out before it faints. But now that I think of it, a +1 LO Volcarona will outspeed and OHKO it, again leaving it at half-health, but getting rid of the risk that Volcarona will faint, and Volcarona can proceed to Roost off the damage or deal a lot to the next Pokemon my opponent sends out.
Next up is Chansey/Blissey. These two Pokemon completely, completely, completely wall my team, mainly due to the fact that it is a special-attacking HO team. I simply can’t seem to get around either of them. And because they wall my team, they are often times the status afflicters that are the bane of my team’s existence, with either TWave or Toxic. The only member of my team that can do decent damage without boosts is Alakazam, but even then, it’s a shaky check.
Here are some damage calcs:
252 SpA Alakazam Psyshock vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Eviolite Chansey: 178-211 (25.2 - 29.9%) -- guaranteed 4HKO
252 SpA Alakazam Psyshock vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Blissey: 244-288 (34.1 - 40.3%) -- 42.4% chance to 3HKO after Leftovers recovery
Blissey is a bit easier to KO, but the both of them are still going to tank the hits. And what’s to say they won’t use Wish or Soft-Boiled? As mentioned earlier, a TWave to Alakazam or anything else would completely cripple it, and Chansey/Blissey definitely have time to afflict any one of my Pokemon with status.
––––––––––––
So, what do you think? How can I improve? What needs to be changed?
Personally, I really want to keep Volcarona on the team – it is my favorite Pokemon. Noivern is also a Pokemon that I want to try out. I feel that a dual-screener is necessary for a HO team, but if something else works, it works. Also, I mentioned that I would discuss that Mega-Lucario cannot OHKO Salamence/Garchomp/any other Dragon-type sweeper with DPulse, unless of course, it has gotten a Nasty Plot up. And don’t even talk about Multiscale DNite. What’s the first thing that comes to mind when there’s a situation like this? Bingo, Stealth Rocks. Viable dual-screeners which learn both the dual-screens and SR are Mew, Bronzong and Azelf (I believe). Out of all three, Azelf is the most likely to get at least SR or a screen up, but is also the most frail. However, I’m unsure is there is even a need for SR, so suggestions are greatly appreciated, as is the same for the rest of the issues with my team.
That’s it for now! I hope to hear your comments and suggestions! Criticism is appreciated (though it may hurt).