SS LC It Feels like Magic! (Galarian Ponyta Offense; 666th Post)

[DC]

Introduction​

Hi everyone, DC here. For my 666th post and in honor of Pride month, I have decided to showcase a Galarian Ponyta team that has done wonders for me the past few months. The team was originally built by babyboyblues for the LPL 6 Scrubs to use about 4-5 months ago and modified by me to be a bit better in the current meta. The team has a few Pokemon that were lesser explored at that time and since has become staples on many teams. There hasn't been many LC teams posted in this forums in a while, and there likely won't be any in forseeable future as LCPL starts. Hopefully, this serves as a decent substitute . Without further ado, lets move on to the team!

Team Members & Building Process

Ponyta-Galar @ Eviolite
Ability: Pastel Veil
Level: 5
EVs: 236 SpA / 76 SpD / 196 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Psychic
- Mystical Fire
- Dazzling Gleam
- Morning Sun
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Galarian Ponyta is a Pokemon that was overshadowed by Abra for the longest period of time, since it was weaker and did not have the same revenge killing capabilities as Abra. I have advocated for it despite its flaws, as it is a Pokemon that is severely underrated in what it can do. Galarian Ponyta simplifies the game for its user because it makes wallbreaking standard defensive cores really easy. Its Psychic + Fire + Fairy coverage shreds standard Mienfoo + Poison + Steel + Rocker/Flying resist cores that roam SS LC. Mystical Fire in conjunction with its deceptive bulk makes 1v1ing problematic threats like Abra, Staryu, and Choice Scarf Porygon much more easy as well. This is a relatively standard 3 Attacks + MSun set, with the main twist being a Modest nature over a Timid nature. On sets without Calm Mind or Life Orb, a Modest nature is better to OHKO Vullaby after Stealth Rock with Dazzling Gleam.

Koffing @ Eviolite
Ability: Neutralizing Gas
Level: 5
EVs: 36 HP / 76 Def / 196 SpA / 156 Spe
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Sludge Bomb
- Thunderbolt
- Fire Blast
- Will-O-Wisp​

Koffing is another Pokemon that was underutilized at the time of making this build and became one of the superstars in the tiers. Neutralizing Gas is such a powerful ability to pair with Galarian Ponyta, as it basically negates Regenerator and makes wallbreaking against defensive cores so much easier. Koffing also has amazing offensive synergy with G-Pony, weakening problematic foes like Pawniard and Onix into KO range. Thunderbolt is to weaken Water-types like Staryu, while Fire Blast torches Pawniard, Ferroseed, and Magnemite. The EV spread makes Koffing 12 Speed, which is fast enough to outspeed Mareanie, while the remainder is put into HP and Defense to better handle Fighting-types like Mienfoo and Timburr.

Mienfoo @ Eviolite
Ability: Regenerator
Level: 5
EVs: 196 Def / 36 SpD / 236 Spe
Jolly Nature
- High Jump Kick
- Knock Off
- U-turn
- Taunt​

The rest of the team is made to complement Galarian Ponyta. As I noted earlier, LC building tends to be straightforward at times and its mostly about having the tools to outplay. Fast Mienfoo is here to serve as the glue Pokemon of the team. High Jump Kick and Knock Off to soften foes and U-turn to provide more opportunities to safely bring in G-Pony into play. On this build, Taunt is better than Fake Out to deny Foongus and Mareanie from recovering, Ferroseed from using Thunder Wave, and Koffing from running over the team.

Vullaby (F) @ Berry Juice
Ability: Weak Armor
Level: 5
EVs: 236 Atk / 76 Def / 196 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Brave Bird
- Knock Off
- Defog
- Endure / Heat Wave​

Vullaby is the so-called "Ground-resist" of the team (or does that even exist in LC?) and entry hazard remover. This is the classic offensive pivot Vullaby set, doing what Vullaby does best: click Knock Off and Brave Bird. Endure is the special tech on the set and helps in various matchups. Primarily, it allows Vullaby to successfully proc Berry Juice against foes like Choice Scarf Vulpix, Abra, Dragon Dance Scraggy, and Fake Out Mienfoo, which allows it to take another hit from them and check them. Endure is also useful for stalling out turns of Grassy Terrain and sun, also helping in the Grookey matchup. Heat Wave is another move I experimented with and is particularly useful to soften Pawniard and Ferroseed, which lowers Galarian Ponyta's need to predict.

Onix @ Eviolite
Ability: Weak Armor
Level: 5
EVs: 236 Atk / 76 SpD / 196 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Stealth Rock
- High Horsepower
- Rock Blast
- Explosion​

Onix is here to provide Stealth Rock and to make sure the team doesn't lose to Vullaby. Explosion is great for removing Scraggy that may try to take advantage of Onix and prevents this team from instantly losing to +1 Scraggy.

Ferroseed @ Eviolite
Ability: Iron Barbs
Level: 5
EVs: 84 HP / 108 Def / 84 SpA / 228 SpD
Bold Nature
- Spikes
- Giga Drain
- Knock Off
- Thunder Wave​

Ferroseed is the required Steel-type quota on this team. It handles Staryu and Porygon very effectively while also setting Spikes, which is crucial for G-Pony to pick up KOs. Thanks to Koffing's Neutralizing Gas, Spikes damage remains on Regenerator folks like Mienfoo, Foongus, and Mareanie. The set is very standard, with Knock Off to soften switch-ins like Timburr and Mienfoo and Thunder Wave to cripple them.

Threat List
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A well-played Galarian Ponyta is always difficult to handle, especially on teams without a Pawniard or trapper. In most scenarios, it will come down to a Galarian Ponyta mirror match where you need to outplay your opponent with Mystical Fire and Morning Sun.

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Fire resist Onix =(. Get up Stealth Rock as soon as possible and play your Onix carefully, as getting hit with an Energy Ball will basically sap all momentum against Vulpix.

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Ferroseed can handle it unless u get frozen by unbalanced Tri Attack and Ice Beam. G-Pony can 1v1 it with Mystical Fire and Morning Sun.

Shoutouts/Replays​

I want to give a shoutout to the LPL 6 Scrubs, Doggo Gang, 2018 Discord, LC Discord, and all the individuals I have interacted with (you all know who you are)

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Replays

https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8lc-1318398615-9lv022grli1yil4teflthc2dh2rd8q4pw
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8lc-1331847552-1j9ylcbrlm2zvrajr3kk9sc5q742d6mpw
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8lc-1335676505-a661wmug52p0m6rhxsdbqdyymaop2htpw
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8lc-1344350008

Paste

Ponyta-Galar @ Eviolite
Ability: Pastel Veil
Level: 5
EVs: 236 SpA / 76 SpD / 196 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Psychic
- Mystical Fire
- Dazzling Gleam
- Morning Sun

Koffing @ Eviolite
Ability: Neutralizing Gas
Level: 5
EVs: 36 HP / 76 Def / 196 SpA / 156 Spe
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Sludge Bomb
- Thunderbolt
- Fire Blast
- Will-O-Wisp

Mienfoo @ Eviolite
Ability: Regenerator
Level: 5
EVs: 196 Def / 36 SpD / 236 Spe
Jolly Nature
- High Jump Kick
- Knock Off
- U-turn
- Taunt

Vullaby (F) @ Berry Juice
Ability: Weak Armor
Level: 5
EVs: 236 Atk / 76 Def / 196 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Brave Bird
- Knock Off
- Defog
- Endure

Onix @ Eviolite
Ability: Weak Armor
Level: 5
EVs: 236 Atk / 76 SpD / 196 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Stealth Rock
- High Horsepower
- Rock Blast
- Explosion

Ferroseed @ Eviolite
Ability: Iron Barbs
Level: 5
EVs: 84 HP / 108 Def / 84 SpA / 228 SpD
Bold Nature
- Spikes
- Giga Drain
- Knock Off
- Thunder Wave

 

[LeGénoce]

Thats very accurate, WE LOVE DC