International Challenge April 2017

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Arcanine is good against opposing celesteela but only if it has flare blitz. A lot of celesteela run EVs to get a +SpD beast boost, and at +1, arcanine loses to it.

This is the main reason why people run flare blitz.
My arcanine can 2HKO most Celesteelas (unless they have max Hp and SpD) and I don't really worry about them getting the Atk boost because I got intimidate.

It still would be, it just wouldn't be as passive. You could keep snarl on this set for example. I'm not sold on flare blitz with aguav berry myself, but it can proc it when Arcanine's health is dangerously low and it should be easier to pick up the 2hko on opposing celesteela with flare blitz than with flamethrower. His reasoning is sound. I think you should hear him out.
Even then, small tweak that you may or may not want to do out of preference. The team looks pretty solid to me.
Well I have enough physical attackers on my team and flamethrower really helps me more with killing Kartana's.

I am gonna use these 6 Pokémon:

-Arcanine

-Kartana

-Gyarados

-Tapu Koko

-Garchomp

-Alolan Ninetales



Kartana @ Focus Sash
Ability: Beast Boost
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Leaf Blade
- Smart Strike
- Sacred Sword
- Detect

Tapu Koko @ Life Orb
Ability: Electric Surge
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Thunderbolt
- Dazzling Gleam
- Volt Switch
- Protect

Ninetales-Alola @ Light Clay
Ability: Snow Warning
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Blizzard
- Freeze-Dry
- Moonblast
- Aurora Veil

Arcanine @ Choice Band
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Flare Blitz
- Wild Charge
- Extreme Speed
- Close Combat

Gyarados @ Waterium Z
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Waterfall
- Ice Fang
- Dragon Dance
- Protect

Garchomp @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Rough Skin
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Earthquake
- Rock Slide
- Poison Jab
- Fire Fang



This Team Is Weak Against:

Normal 0
Grass 0
Fire 2
Water 1
Fighting 1
Flying 0
Poison 2
Ground 2
Rock 3
Bug 0
Ghost 0
Electric 1
Psychic 0
Ice 1
Dragon 1
Dark 0
Steel 1
Fairy 1

This Team Is Immune To:

Normal 0
Grass 0
Fire 0
Water 0
Fighting 0
Flying 0
Poison1
Ground 1
Rock 0
Bug 0
Ghost 0
Electric 1
Psychic 0
Ice 0
Dragon2
Dark 0
Steel 0
Fairy 0

This Team Resists:

Normal 1
Grass 2
Fire 3
Water 2
Fighting 2
Flying 1
Poison 1
Ground 0
Rock 2
Bug 4
Ghost 0
Electric 2
Psychic 1
Ice 2
Dragon 1
Dark 2
Steel 3
Fairy 2
Interesting sets especially on the Arcanine considering I've never heard of anyone using a choice band over assault vest.
How does your team fare against trick room teams?







Also another note here: I've switched Tapu Koko with Modest Xurkitree that has 4 Hp/ 252 SpA / 252 Spe holds an Air Balloon and the moves Thunderbolt protect HP Ice and Energy Ball
I've given Tapu Fini a Rocky Helmet

I'm thinking of switching Fini with Gyarados but then I'll loose most of my support. What do you think?
 
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Pyritie

TAMAGO
is an Artist
My arcanine can 2HKO most Celesteelas (unless they have max Hp and SpD) and I don't really worry about them getting the Atk boost because I got intimidate.
Did you read what I said? Attack boosts don't matter. Special defense boosts do.

4 SpA Arcanine Flamethrower vs. +1 180 HP / 148+ SpD Celesteela: 54-66 (27.6 - 33.8%) -- 79.8% chance to 4HKO after Leftovers recovery

Well I have enough physical attackers on my team and flamethrower really helps me more with killing Kartana's.
Then fix your team. Kartana dies to flare blitz either way.

I've given Tapu Fini a Rocky Helmet

I'm thinking of switching Fini with Gyarados but then I'll loose most of my support. What do you think?
Don't. Give it a super sitrus berry instead. Rocky helmet is bad, considering most attacks directed at fini are going to be special moves.
 
Did you read what I said? Attack boosts don't matter. Special defense boosts do.

4 SpA Arcanine Flamethrower vs. +1 180 HP / 148+ SpD Celesteela: 54-66 (27.6 - 33.8%) -- 79.8% chance to 4HKO after Leftovers recovery


Then fix your team. Kartana dies to flare blitz either way.


Don't. Give it a super sitrus berry instead. Rocky helmet is bad, considering most attacks directed at fini are going to be special moves.
I'll keep my Arcanine. I've always got roar to get rid of celesteela. And I'm still looking for the right item for tapu fini, and everyone I've fought usually targets it with a physical attacker.


And what's wrong with my team? T_T
 

Pyritie

TAMAGO
is an Artist
I'll keep my Arcanine. I've always got roar to get rid of celesteela.
Which won't work because a well-played celesteela is a celesteela that comes in late game to stall things out after all of its counters have been eliminated. Once you reveal flamethrower they can safely ignore it for the rest of the match.
 
Which won't work because a well-played celesteela is a celesteela that comes in late game to stall things out after all of its counters have been eliminated. Once you reveal flamethrower they can safely ignore it for the rest of the match.
Well I guess I just have to many Celesteela counters ^_^
Can you judge how well I'll fare against the meta? (Trickroom and Tailwind teams)
 
Due to work, I couldn't finish my previously mentioned team, so I went with this.


Bewear @ Choice Band
Ability: Fluffy
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Ice Punch
- Earthquake
- Hammer Arm
- Rock Slide

Garchomp @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Rough Skin
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Fire Blast
- Poison Jab
- Earthquake
- Dragon Claw

Minior @ White Herb
Ability: Shields Down
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- Shell Smash
- Acrobatics

Mimikyu @ Focus Sash
Ability: Disguise
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Shadow Sneak
- Shadow Claw
- Play Rough
- Return

Scizor @ Sitrus Berry
Ability: Technician
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Fury Cutter
- Acrobatics
- U-turn
- Metal Claw

Shiinotic @ Leftovers
Ability: Effect Spore
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 SpD
Serious Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Giga Drain
- Moonblast
- Leech Seed
- Spore
 
Due to work, I couldn't finish my previously mentioned team, so I went with this.


Bewear @ Choice Band
Ability: Fluffy
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Ice Punch
- Earthquake
- Hammer Arm
- Rock Slide

Garchomp @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Rough Skin
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Fire Blast
- Poison Jab
- Earthquake
- Dragon Claw

Minior @ White Herb
Ability: Shields Down
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- Shell Smash
- Acrobatics

Mimikyu @ Focus Sash
Ability: Disguise
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Shadow Sneak
- Shadow Claw
- Play Rough
- Return

Scizor @ Sitrus Berry
Ability: Technician
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Fury Cutter
- Acrobatics
- U-turn
- Metal Claw

Shiinotic @ Leftovers
Ability: Effect Spore
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 SpD
Serious Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Giga Drain
- Moonblast
- Leech Seed
- Spore
Dont run a serios nature on Shinnotic also Shinnotic is outclassed by Celesteela al Leech Seed user and Smeargle as Spore user. Give Mimikyu a jolly nature and replace Return with Swords Dance, you will alltimes get one because of Disguise. Replace Fire Blast on Garchomp for Fire Fang and think about replacing Dragon Claw with Rock Slide. Overral your team looks pretty gimmicky and i dont see much synergy in your team. Garchomp is the only really viable mon on your team because Mimikyu is only viable in Trick Room teams as a Trick Room setter.
 
Due to work, I couldn't finish my previously mentioned team, so I went with this.


Bewear @ Choice Band
Ability: Fluffy
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Ice Punch
- Earthquake
- Hammer Arm
- Rock Slide

Garchomp @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Rough Skin
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Fire Blast
- Poison Jab
- Earthquake
- Dragon Claw

Minior @ White Herb
Ability: Shields Down
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- Shell Smash
- Acrobatics

Mimikyu @ Focus Sash
Ability: Disguise
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Shadow Sneak
- Shadow Claw
- Play Rough
- Return

Scizor @ Sitrus Berry
Ability: Technician
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Fury Cutter
- Acrobatics
- U-turn
- Metal Claw

Shiinotic @ Leftovers
Ability: Effect Spore
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 SpD
Serious Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Giga Drain
- Moonblast
- Leech Seed
- Spore
You should run bullet punch instead of metal claw and give it a life orb (you deal more damage and can OHKO most fairies) and put a defense boosting nature on Shiinotic.
 
You should run bullet punch instead of metal claw and give it a life orb (you deal more damage and can OHKO most fairies) and put a defense boosting nature on Shiinotic.
I should have thought about Bullet Punch for Scizor, as well as the Life Orb. As for my Shiinotic, it actually has a Quiet nature.


Dont run a serios nature on Shinnotic also Shinnotic is outclassed by Celesteela al Leech Seed user and Smeargle as Spore user. Give Mimikyu a jolly nature and replace Return with Swords Dance, you will alltimes get one because of Disguise. Replace Fire Blast on Garchomp for Fire Fang and think about replacing Dragon Claw with Rock Slide. Overral your team looks pretty gimmicky and i dont see much synergy in your team. Garchomp is the only really viable mon on your team because Mimikyu is only viable in Trick Room teams as a Trick Room setter.
As for my Garchomp, that Fire Blast was supposed to be Fire Fang and I toyed with Rock Slide on him but I was using it less often then I have Dragon Claw.

And I agree on the gimmicky part, and lack of synergy. I really wish I had the time to have gotten the team I wanted. I felt way more confident with it.

Ribombee @ Focus Sash
Ability: Shield Dust
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Baton Pass
- Quiver Dance
- Dazzling Gleam
- Pollen Puff

Oricorio-Pom-Pom @ Flyinium Z
Ability: Dancer
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Revelation Dance
- Protect
- Hurricane
- Tailwind

Vikavolt @ Assault Vest
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpA / 4 SpD
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Thunderbolt
- Energy Ball
- Bug Buzz
- Flash Cannon

Garchomp @ Groundium Z
Ability: Rough Skin
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Rock Slide
- Fire Fang
- Earthquake
- Poison Jab

Tapu Koko @ Life Orb
Ability: Electric Surge
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Dazzling Gleam
- Thunderbolt
- Volt Switch
- Protect

Marowak-Alola @ Thick Club
Ability: Lightning Rod
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Shadow Bone
- Flare Blitz
- Bonemerang
- Protect
 
I should have thought about Bullet Punch for Scizor, as well as the Life Orb. As for my Shiinotic, it actually has a Quiet nature.




As for my Garchomp, that Fire Blast was supposed to be Fire Fang and I toyed with Rock Slide on him but I was using it less often then I have Dragon Claw.

And I agree on the gimmicky part, and lack of synergy. I really wish I had the time to have gotten the team I wanted. I felt way more confident with it.

Ribombee @ Focus Sash
Ability: Shield Dust
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Baton Pass
- Quiver Dance
- Dazzling Gleam
- Pollen Puff

Oricorio-Pom-Pom @ Flyinium Z
Ability: Dancer
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Revelation Dance
- Protect
- Hurricane
- Tailwind

Vikavolt @ Assault Vest
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpA / 4 SpD
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Thunderbolt
- Energy Ball
- Bug Buzz
- Flash Cannon

Garchomp @ Groundium Z
Ability: Rough Skin
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Rock Slide
- Fire Fang
- Earthquake
- Poison Jab

Tapu Koko @ Life Orb
Ability: Electric Surge
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Dazzling Gleam
- Thunderbolt
- Volt Switch
- Protect

Marowak-Alola @ Thick Club
Ability: Lightning Rod
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Shadow Bone
- Flare Blitz
- Bonemerang
- Protect
If you run life orb on Scizor you should switch it's acrobatics for protect or pursuit (Pursuit will help with ghost types). You could also run trickroom on mimikyu Because it looks like three of your pokemon could benefit from that (Scizor, Bewear and Shiinotic).
 
Might as well chuck in the team I plan to use for both the IC and a PC on the Saturday.

Lillie (Nihilego) @ Life Orb
Ability: Beast Boost
Level: 50
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Sludge Bomb
- Power Gem
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Protect

Layla (Tapu Lele) @ Psychium Z
Ability: Psychic Surge
Level: 50
EVs: 164 HP / 76 Def / 236 SpA / 4 SpD / 28 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Moonblast
- Psychic
- Taunt
- Protect

Hindenburg (Drifblim) @ Psychic Seed
Ability: Unburden
Level: 50
EVs: 4 HP / 132 Def / 148 SpA / 60 SpD / 164 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Shadow Ball
- Tailwind
- Will-O-Wisp
- Sunny Day

Ramsey (Kartana) @ Focus Sash
Ability: Beast Boost
Level: 50
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Leaf Blade
- Smart Strike
- Sacred Sword
- Protect

Rufus (Arcanine) (M) @ Iapapa Berry
Ability: Intimidate
Level: 50
EVs: 212 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def / 4 SpD / 36 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Flare Blitz
- Extreme Speed
- Wild Charge
- Protect

Dave (Snorlax) (M) @ Aguav Berry
Ability: Gluttony
Level: 50
EVs: 68 HP / 136 Atk / 148 Def / 156 SpD
Brave Nature
IVs: 2 Spe
- Return
- High Horsepower
- Curse
- Recycle

Thoughts? It's mainly weak to Muk, Celesteela and Kartana, especially if the Kartana is under Tailwind. Arcanine was added mainly to deal with these 3 but even with FireDoge I still find myself struggling against these 3.
 
What exactly are you using Nihilego for? Garchomp could be a replacement for it as it takes out Fire-types and will destroy Muk with Tectonic Rage. It can also deal a lot of damage to Celesteela and OHKO Kartana if it runs Fire Fang.
 
I was wondering where this thread was! Anyways, I'm entering with Glidoler the Porygon 2, Here's Hari the Hariyama, Gastrodon, Tough Muck the Muk, Titanium the Metagross, and Ghost Rider the Marowak.

Hopefully, this team will yield me some wins. It will be interesting balancing the Comp with work over the weekend!

1st Match: 4 kills, 3 casualties

Win

Notes: my first match was a trial by fire, and I nearly failed. My British opponent had a Celesteele, Tapu Koko, Tapu Lele, and Mimikyu. That was all he had, apparently confident these four would be suitable to any situation.

He was nearly right. Celesteela is a very effective wall, soaking up non-stab Super Effective moves, and recovering the damage with Leech Seed and Leftovers. My kind of Pokémon.

He had hoped that Mimikyu would be able to set up on my +1 Stockpiled (then +2) Muk. A Gunk Shot and Thunderbolt showed him otherwise.

Speaking of Muk, one of his biggest weakness is Poison. A Gunk Shot killed both Tapus, with Earthquakes from Celesteela proving to be an infective defense. If he had a Garchomp, he might have been able to give Tough Muk some trouble.

After he lost Mimikyu, he tried to get back in the game with a surprise Z-Powered Shattered Psyche from Tapu Lele against Glidoler before I could restart Trick Room. It nearly worked, but it wasn't enough.

Again, Celesteela is a tough cookie, but when it came down to Ghost Rider and Tough Muk, his Earthquake didn't quite cut it. And he certainly didn't like that Flare Blitz. But it was close, and Ghost Rider went down to recoil (and previous damage from a Shadow Ball and Earthquake), while Tough Muk couldn't have hoped to take down Celesteela (that, and I had to go to work).
 
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For now I'm 13-2 with double duck team passed to me by a friend of mine (Z-Golduck, Sash Pelipper, AV Buzzwole, WP Metagross, Scarf Xurkitree, Miracle Seed Bulu).
I did far better than my previous day1 online competitions, so I'm very happy with that!

The thing I don't get is why people bring Koko as a lead against double ducks and then don't even Protect on him: he always gets slaughtered by Golducks Hydro Pump / Z-Move. So far I encountered like 7-8 koko and 2-3 lele leads and no one expected (?) the Z-Move on them.
Is that normal? Or is it just me playing too aggressively the archetype?

I lost to a team with Gastrodon (I made a switch at the wrong time, and probably made a mistake in team preview), and to a team with Metagross, Garchomp, Arcanine and a Trick Room core: got flinched at the right time and lost all my momentum.
I had Metagross+Buzzwole against his Metagross and Garchomp. I went with Protect on Metagross which ate a Z-Quake from Chomp and Ice Punch with Buzzwole on Garchomp. He used Zen Headbutt on Buzzwole and flinched me before I could hit Chomp. I think I lost it here, I even tilted a bit after that, but I guess it's okay, it happens to me as much it happens to my opponents, it's variance!
 
Results so far:
Wins: 6
Losses: 1 (Gotta save Drifblim for a Pheromosa in the back.)
Opponent DCs: 4 (3 of these were guaranteed wins for me. The 4th happened on the 1st or 2nd turn, so I wouldn't be able to call it.)

Team is:
Psychic Seed Drifblim
LO Tapu Lele
Groundium Z SD Garchomp
Rockium Z Gigalith
Focus Sash Kartana
Aguav Berry Arcanine
 
So far for me it's 12-3 in Seniors, two losses were to unfortunate hax (muddy water acc drop), and one I just plain got outplayed, anyway, I got some recovering to do if I am to hit my goal of 40-5, but I like a challenge

Team is:
PsySeed Drifblim
LO Lele
Fightinium Buzzwole
Sash TR Nihi
AV Arc
CurseCycle Lax
 
I'm doing a lot better than my previous IC run, winning 8 games and 2 games. My first lost was me switching in Mismagius on Koko's Tbolt. The 2nd was an Alolan Persian who screwed me over. Team: LO Salazzle, Flynium Z Braviary, Ghostium Z Mismagius, Focus Sash Xurkitree, AV Metagross, and Leftovers Tapu Fini.
 

Ending the first day 14W-1L and probably 1680ish in Masters'. Some of the memes I have fought against are:

- Silvally-Ground
- berryless Muk
- Pulverizing Pancake Lax
- Toxapex
- Nihilego with Stealth Rock and Toxic Spikes
- an Eeveeboost team that Baton Passed into its Snorlax, which proceeded to Belly Drum. (almost lost too)
- Fightinium-Z Machamp (I actually lost to this one)
- a Kang + Salamence lead (what year is it)
- Weavile without Fake Out, instead opting to Swords Dance turn 1
 
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Back from work, so onto my next battle!

2nd Battle: 1 casualty

Result: win

Notes: given that he had nothing but Ultra Beasts (and his rank), I have to wonder if he SRed for them. I almost felt sorry for him.

3rd Battle: Loss

Lessons learned (hopefully): Xurktree carries Energy Ball; Fake Out is useless with Tapu Lele around (I keep forgetting that!).

4th Battle: Win; 1 loss (due to Destiny Bond!)

Edit: I'm done for the night. I knew I might only get a few matches in with work. This is a hobby after all, and there is little point in staying up and tiring myself out. I knew going in I wouldn't be able to do the max amount of matches. But I won 3 out of 4 my battles, and proved that I could build a capable team today. I kicked the asses off of Ultra Beasts and those Tapus. Add that to working hard at work today, and overall, it was a good day. Other players around the world should be glad I'm calling it a day!

Tomorrow will be another day.
 
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I'm doing a lot better than my previous IC run, winning 8 games and 2 games. My first lost was me switching in Mismagius on Koko's Tbolt. The 2nd was an Alolan Persian who screwed me over. Team: LO Salazzle, Flynium Z Braviary, Ghostium Z Mismagius, Focus Sash Xurkitree, AV Metagross, and Leftovers Tapu Fini.
How often do they run these tournaments if you don't mind me asking? This is my first time competing in a long time - since D/P/P.
 
What's a good rating to have at 30 games in and how do I check where I rate? Additionally, how do Championship Points work in the ranking?
 
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