Emproleon (Empoleon) (M) @ Chople Berry
Ability: Torrent
EVs: 224 HP/20 Atk/68 Def/4 Spd/194 SAtk
Quiet nature (+SAtk, -Spd)
- Aqua Jet
- Grass Knot
- Hydro Pump
- Stealth Rock
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Takes out a lot of common leads and sets up rocks. Empoleon also works as an effective Sweeper/Latias lure later in the game. Provides a solid Dragon resist while also helping me against bulky waters with grass knot. Chople allows Empoleon to survive fighting attacks aiming to OHKO him. I've seen him remove Swampert/Hippowdon leads, and then OHKO their Infernape/Lucario thinking to demolish Empoleon. Empoleon survives Fake Out + Close Combat from Leadape.
He's just useful enough to take out a few pokemon and set up rocks, but he's usually expendable enough to use as death fodder, or sleep taker. This empoleon serves as an anti-lead more than a lead, which is why it's EVs and item differ from the standard.
Copied and pasted from a thread my friend posted the set in:
Metagross - Hydro Pump + Aqua Jet 2HKOs after Torrent which EQ will put it into and Bullet Punch won't KO after the EQ. Metagross outspeeds. If Metagross doesn't EQ on the first turn Hydro Pump will 2HKO.
Azelf - Hydro Pump brings Azelf down to it's Sash as it Rocks, Taunts, or Attacks. Nothing Azelf carries can OHKO, even Explosion, while Hydro Pump + Aqua Jet is a kill.
Swampert - Grass Knot + Aqua Jet in Torrent will OHKO while Pert's EQ won't OHKO and Non-Torrent Aqua Jet will kill it if used twice. Empoleon will outspeed by 1 point.
Jirachi - Hydro Pump will 2HKO
Aerodactyl - Aqua Jet will 2HKO if Aero EQs, putting Empoleon into Torrent range, 3HKO if not Aero will likely get Rocks up, however.
Infernape - Chople Berry weakens CC and Empoleon will survive, even with Fake Out, and Hydro Pump + Aqua Jet will KO
Hippowdon - Hydro Pump OHKOs. If it misses Empoleon will survive an EQ and OHKO with a follow up Torrent Hydro Pump.
Ninjask - Empoleon will do more than 25% with Aqua Jet, can set up Rocks on a Protect and can break it's Subs, putting pressure on and preventing any later usage of Ninjask.
Bronzong - Hydro Pump won't 2HKO without Torrent, but Bronzong will only 3HKO with EQ and a Torrent Aqua Jet will ensure a 3HKO torrent Hydro Pump + Non-Torrent Hydro Pump will 2HKO as well.
Tyranitar - EQ won't OHKO Empoleon without Max Attack and Choice Band (which rarely, if ever lead) and Hydro Pump will even 2HKO SpDef T-tar.
Heatran - Earth Power won't OHKO, but Hydro Pump will.
Abomasnow - Can't win.
Smeargle - Spores you. Aqua Jets does around 50-60%
Gyarados - Bulky Gyara cannot Threaten and is 3HKO'd by Grass Knot. Offensive Gyaras carrying EQ can be annoying, meaning 40% of them.
Yanmega - It can't do anything without Hypnosis. About 52% carry Hypnosis which has 60% accuracy so Translate that to about 68% chance of them not getting me on the first turn.
"The name's Bubble Man and I got somethin' to say...
DEAD. I'm not fuckin' with you."
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Red Baroness (Latias) (F) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 80 HP/176 Spd/252 SAtk
Timid nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Draco Meteor
- Surf
- Thunderbolt
- Trick
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Moves allow for excellent coverage and trick cripples wall switchins. Latias scares off Gyarados while threatening to dent/OHKO the switchin if I predict correctly. Provides sexy electric, fighting, and fire resists, while also sporting a ground immunity. Generally a good idea to lure out Scizor before whipping this girl out.
"Look up in the sky, it's a bird, it's a plane.
It's Air Man bitch, and I'm bringin' the pain!
I got a fan installed, in my grill, no lie.
I'm gonna blow your ass straight off the map, GOODBYE."
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Rock (Machamp) (M) @ Choice Band
Ability: Guts
EVs: 252 HP/252 Atk/4 Spd
Adamant nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Close Combat
- Payback
- Thunderpunch
- Ice Punch
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I originally had ScarfGon over Machamp, fuck that. This is my first time using CB Guts Machamp and I am amazed. He usually doesn't last very long, but he takes at least 2 pokemon with him. Counters Blissey and relies on prediction to pop a cap in switchins with his pretty good coverage and monstrous attack. Payback does 886 Atk vs 308 Def & 304 HP (100 Base Power): 412 - 486 (135.53% - 159.87%) if Rotom switches into Machamp expecting Close Combat. I just dumped his speed EVs into HP as smogon's analysis said it was to Outspeed Skarmory, which I found unnecessary.
"My name is Mega Man you can call me "Rock".
'Cause I'll be rockin' your shit up and down the block.
And that's how we ROLL.
Need my help?
Nuh-uh, get back in the kitchen, shit is under control."
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Auschwitz (Rotom-h) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 4 HP/252 Spd/252 SAtk
Modest nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Thunderbolt
- Overheat
- Trick
- Shadow Ball
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Outspeeds scarfed base 85s, and plus natured max speed base 130s and down(Think Jolteon, Weavile, and Aerodactyl).
Provides another great ground immune, as well as a fighting immune. Thunderbolt and Shadowball provide dual STAB while Overheat allows me to smack around Scizor and Lucario. Trick lets me dump off Choice Scarf when I know I don't need it and that the opponent's wall totally does. I've vaguely considered running HP[Ice]>Shadow Ball to hit Gliscor and other ground types/dragons a bit harder. I've also thought about just running the run of the mill "Defensive" set so as to provide burn support(Which helps his pursuite weakness) and give him nice bulk.
"Check it out, I'm tired of you.
I gotta get to Light before his time is through.
I got my cannon ready, I got huntin' to do.
I've got more hot than a cow has moo."
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Fallin Star (Jirachi) @ Leftovers
Ability: Serene Grace
EVs: 240 HP/160 Def/32 Spd/76 SDef
Impish nature (+Def, -SAtk)
- Iron Head
- Wish
- U-turn
- Thunder Wave
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Standard WishRachi is standard. Bulky as hell and has some good resistances in Grass, Rock, Steel, and Dragon. Thunder wave is a wonderful support move for this team as Machamp is quite slow, while Iron Head provides amazing STAB and flinch hax. U-turn scouts for counters, although in most cases I'd just as soon Thunder wave the switch. The only times I could see that sucking hard balls is if they switch in a threatening ground type like Dugtrio, Mamoswine, Gliscor, or Flygon. This set seems to come as a surprise to some people in regards to switching in, as ScarfRachi has become so damn popular.
"If I'm gonna win I'll have to upgrade my shit.
Remember when I beat 'em to steal their power chips.
Charge my power beam when I enter the room.
And then boom-ba da-boom-boom boom-de-boom-boom."
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Lemonparty (Salamence) (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 84 Atk/208 Spd/216 SAtk
Mild nature (+SAtk, -Def)
- Draco Meteor
- Fire Blast
- Roost
- Earthquake
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I chose the "New" spread over the "Classic" set because they're essentially the same, except this one is faster and has lower special attack. Cracks stall like a fucking Egg and outspeeds neutral natured max speed base 90s and down. Provides a wonderful ground immunity, while also provide nice fire, grass, and water resists. Roost>Outrage to recover from Life Orb and Stealth Rock damage and because Blissey is covered by Machamp and trickery. As for Cresselia.. Well I honestly don't see Cresselia that often and it's only 44 on July's usage statistics, while I can usually take it out through flinchaxing, smashing repeatedly with whatever side she doesn't appear to be EVd in(Usually special), or trickery. Brick Break>Earthquake as I assume Earthquake was mostly on the "New" set to catch 4x on Heatran and better combat steels for Outraguous sweeping. Brick Break hits those silly Tars for OHKO(iirc), smacks Blissey with 2x, and Heatran with 2x.
"Saw blade the Mecha Dragon I just won't quit.
Quick Boomerang the Guts Dozer hit the switch.
Mega Man motherfucker and I'm rockin' this bitch!
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OH DEM ASSES
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Closing remarks:
My team relies a lot on my ability to predict and gets put into high risk high reward situations a lot, which I think has really improved my ability to predict and learn to accept that hax is part of the game. If I make a mistake I generally lose a pokemon or two, or the entire game.