
Art by me (did my best im not a grapher ehe)
Introduction/Teambuilding Process
At the end of all, the team resulted to be very similar to the team I've been using against pdc for OLT semis (replay) two weeks ago; however, this version is much more solid than the old one, as Hippowdon fits much better than Lando as the setter, and Keldeo didn't provide the fairy resist I needed. Many people don't like Ferrothorn because of his passivity, and I agree with most of them; this being said, I think that the Knock Off set makes it a much less passive presence than you would think. The team is one week old, even tho it only took me 2 days to peak 1 on the showdown ladder.

InDepth

Sableye @ Sablenite
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
- Will-O-Wisp
- Recover
- Calm Mind
- Shadow Ball
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
- Will-O-Wisp
- Recover
- Calm Mind
- Shadow Ball
Even tho I don't agree with S rank M-Sableye at all, it's an excellent mon able to perform a good number of roles very effectively. It's a pain for stall, because their Chansey isn't going to do shit, and it's a pain for Offense because their sr lead can't do shit too: Garchomp can have Lum Berry, but I usually don't mega evolve 1st turn in this case, so I will have Prankster the 2nd turn too; Skill Swap Azelf will have an hard time to set rocks too for the same reason, because I can choose when to Mega evolve. It's my 2nd win con behind Talonflame, since after 1-2 cms it becomes very dangerous for offensive and balanced styles, especially if their fairy type is gone.
Spread Explanation
I choose the physical set because I needed another physical wall after Hippowdon; then I choose Shadow Ball over Dark Pulse because it gives me more chances to win an eventual 1on1 against Bulk Up Talonflame, being able to drop the Special Defense; drops are something you always appreciate anyway.

Talonflame @ Leftovers
Ability: Gale Wings
EVs: 248 HP / 40 Atk / 220 SpD
Careful Nature
- Brave Bird
- Will-O-Wisp
- Taunt
- Roost
The thing I like more about this set is the fact that people thinks to Talonflame as an offensive
presence mostly, and therefore they prepare for all-out CB or SD version, without considering the bulky set in their teambuilding process; in fact many pokemons that can perfectly wall the offensive sets (like Alomomola and Heatran) are impotent against the SpeDef set, which makes it incredibly easy for Talon to break though the opposing team; even solid counters like Rotom-w and Zapdos can be crippled quite easily thanks to Will-o-Wisp (Knock Off Ferrothorn is also a nice lure for these mons). Talonflame results to be my win condition the 90% of the times I'd say, especially against stall and balance, and the synergy with M-Sableye and Starmie is out of question. The synergy with Rocky Helmet Hippowdon is very good too, because it takes well Electric types like Raikou and Manectric, and Scarf Lando-t and Tyranitar too. SpeDef Talon is also a reliable CharY/Gengar/Lando-I answer, which are notably the most dangerous mons to face for balanced-oriented playstyles like mine (and anyway, the only other possible choice was AV Tornadus-T). Together with Ferrothorn it also allows me to stop any Mega Altaria form (Ferro takes DDroostQuakeReturn form, Talonflame can take Special Altaria).
Spread Explanation
248 HP and 220 SpD allows me to take well CharY's Flamethrower under the Sun and Gengar's Sludge Wave, which are the most powerfull special attacks in the game right now. I gave 40 Atk evs because I felt like it needed some atk power, making me sure I 1hko Keldeo and 2kho Lat@s.presence mostly, and therefore they prepare for all-out CB or SD version, without considering the bulky set in their teambuilding process; in fact many pokemons that can perfectly wall the offensive sets (like Alomomola and Heatran) are impotent against the SpeDef set, which makes it incredibly easy for Talon to break though the opposing team; even solid counters like Rotom-w and Zapdos can be crippled quite easily thanks to Will-o-Wisp (Knock Off Ferrothorn is also a nice lure for these mons). Talonflame results to be my win condition the 90% of the times I'd say, especially against stall and balance, and the synergy with M-Sableye and Starmie is out of question. The synergy with Rocky Helmet Hippowdon is very good too, because it takes well Electric types like Raikou and Manectric, and Scarf Lando-t and Tyranitar too. SpeDef Talon is also a reliable CharY/Gengar/Lando-I answer, which are notably the most dangerous mons to face for balanced-oriented playstyles like mine (and anyway, the only other possible choice was AV Tornadus-T). Together with Ferrothorn it also allows me to stop any Mega Altaria form (Ferro takes DDroostQuakeReturn form, Talonflame can take Special Altaria).
Spread Explanation
252 SpA Life Orb Gengar Sludge Wave vs. 248 HP / 220+ SpD Talonflame: 191-226 (53.2 - 62.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery > Roost has priority so it can't beat me and it will eventually die to LO

Starmie @ Leftovers
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 240 HP / 44 Def / 224 Spe
Timid Nature
- Scald
- Reflect Type
- Recover
- Rapid Spin
I firmly believe that the guy who first innovated Reflect Type Starmie should get a statue lol. Basically, this Starmie is there for Heatran, because as you can see the rest of the team is very weak to it, especially if it carries taunt. It easily wins the sr-rapid spin war against 3 of the most common and annoying sr users, Heatran, Clefable and Empoleon (all of 3 happen to be a solid M-Sableye counter). Starmie is more important than you would think against Stall, because scald is the only way I have to status opposing Sableye, and therefore my opponent will run out of heal bell very soon (sooner than me anyway). It can also spin at any moment against offense, which I often need to, since I will probably not be able to mega evolve immediately with Sableye. I can't afford to lose Starmie early game anyway.
Spread Explanation
24 Speed to outspeed Thundurus, rest in HP and Def to better counter Mega Metagross, especially if it carries Pursuit; Grass Knot isn't that big of a problem thanks to Reflect type. The trio Hippowdon-Starmie-Ferrothorn manages to deal with every Mega Meta variant anyway (because if it has Grass Knot it will probably lack Hammer Arm, and anyway it's likely gonna die to Rocky Helmet+Iron Barbs recoil).
Spread Explanation
24 Speed to outspeed Thundurus, rest in HP and Def to better counter Mega Metagross, especially if it carries Pursuit; Grass Knot isn't that big of a problem thanks to Reflect type. The trio Hippowdon-Starmie-Ferrothorn manages to deal with every Mega Meta variant anyway (because if it has Grass Knot it will probably lack Hammer Arm, and anyway it's likely gonna die to Rocky Helmet+Iron Barbs recoil).

Hippowdon @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 176 HP / 232 Def / 100 SpD
Impish Nature
- Earthquake
- Slack Off
- Stealth Rock
- Stone Edge
I'm genuinely surprised about how I didn't notice this fucking monster until now. Amazing physical bulk, decent special bulk even if univested, Hippowdon allowed the team to make the qualitative leap it needed. Perfect Lopunny and Char-X counter, it's also a reliable Bisharp (flinch permitting) and opposing Talonflame's answer. It's also bulky enough to avoid the 2kho from Manectric and stops Magnezone, 2 things I really neededto cover. I was initially running whirlwind instead of Stone Edge, but I then realized how stallbreaker Talonflame could have become a potential threat to my team.
Spread Explanation
Like I said, I wanted to survive the 2kho from things like Manectric and Raikou, this way I don't lose too much momentum; rest in Def and HP.
252 SpA Mega Manectric Hidden Power Ice vs. 176 HP / 100 SpD Hippowdon: 156-184 (38.9 - 45.8%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Leftovers recovery

Clefable @ Leftovers
Ability: Unaware
EVs: 252 HP / 164 Def / 92 SpD
Calm Nature
- Moonblast
- Wish
- Protect
- Heal Bell
Spread Explanation
You may ask, why not full Def on a fucking unaware Clefable. Thing is, full Def doesn't counter NP LO Thundurus, doesn't counter TG-Surf-under Rain-Manaphy; this spread was pretty much the only possible one: with 164 Def evs I can take well Latios LO Psyschok and BDrum Azumarill Play Rough.

Ferrothorn @ Leftovers
Ability: Iron Barbs
EVs: 252 HP / 100 Def / 156 SpD
Sassy Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Knock Off
- Gyro Ball
- Leech Seed
- Protect
Spread Explanation
Standard spread l0l. Should make it bulkier on the special side maybe.
Threat List






Nobody, I made this jewel by myself.
No actually shoutouts to dEnIsSsS who helped me to conceive the team
No actually shoutouts to dEnIsSsS who helped me to conceive the team
Starmie @ Leftovers
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 240 HP / 44 Def / 224 Spe
Timid Nature
- Scald
- Reflect Type
- Recover
- Rapid Spin
Sableye @ Sablenite
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
- Will-O-Wisp
- Recover
- Calm Mind
- Shadow Ball
Talonflame @ Leftovers
Ability: Gale Wings
EVs: 248 HP / 40 Atk / 220 SpD
Careful Nature
- Brave Bird
- Will-O-Wisp
- Taunt
- Roost
Hippowdon @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 176 HP / 232 Def / 100 SpD
Impish Nature
- Earthquake
- Slack Off
- Stealth Rock
- Stone Edge
Clefable @ Leftovers
Ability: Unaware
EVs: 252 HP / 164 Def / 92 SpD
Calm Nature
- Moonblast
- Wish
- Protect
- Heal Bell
Ferrothorn @ Leftovers
Ability: Iron Barbs
EVs: 252 HP / 100 Def / 156 SpD
Sassy Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Knock Off
- Gyro Ball
- Leech Seed
- Protect
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 240 HP / 44 Def / 224 Spe
Timid Nature
- Scald
- Reflect Type
- Recover
- Rapid Spin
Sableye @ Sablenite
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
- Will-O-Wisp
- Recover
- Calm Mind
- Shadow Ball
Talonflame @ Leftovers
Ability: Gale Wings
EVs: 248 HP / 40 Atk / 220 SpD
Careful Nature
- Brave Bird
- Will-O-Wisp
- Taunt
- Roost
Hippowdon @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 176 HP / 232 Def / 100 SpD
Impish Nature
- Earthquake
- Slack Off
- Stealth Rock
- Stone Edge
Clefable @ Leftovers
Ability: Unaware
EVs: 252 HP / 164 Def / 92 SpD
Calm Nature
- Moonblast
- Wish
- Protect
- Heal Bell
Ferrothorn @ Leftovers
Ability: Iron Barbs
EVs: 252 HP / 100 Def / 156 SpD
Sassy Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Knock Off
- Gyro Ball
- Leech Seed
- Protect
I'll be back with a Mega Altaria team soon.
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