Hi everyone, I'm nostos and since the beginning of XY era I've started to play competitively (mostly OU) on the PO server. I spent a lot of time reading the analysis of older gen pokemon here in smogon in order to get a general idea of the previous metagame and threats. After that, I decided to try some already made teams with mixed success; I gained knowledge of the actual metagame and so I felt like I could finally make my own team. I don't really remember from where or who this team started to take life, maybe I only put some pokemon I like together; the only thing I remember is that I wanted to use a volturn team. So I'll skip the team building process and get to the team itself.
AH and please, bear my pitiful english, as it is not my native language. I tried to make as few mistakes as possible, but I do not trust myself too much.
The team as a whole:
Individual analysis:
Landorus-Therian (M) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 Spd / 252 Atk / 4 SAtk
Naive Nature
- Earthquake
- Superpower
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- U-turn
Pretty much the standard scarfed set. At the very beginning I had a Mienshao, which was by no means bad, but in the end it didn't work: too many HJK miss and too frailness for my tastes. So i searched for a replacement which could hit hard the same way, and possibly a more bulky one. Finally I tried out this man, and oh my god he's really good. First of all he has decent (I guess?) sinergy with Suicune, as he can RELATIVELY take the grass and electric moves directed to my beautiful dog if for some reason I can't or don't want to send Rotom. I like to have Superpower to heavily dent Mamoswine and Ferrothorn on the switch. I also decided to put HP ice over Stone Edge for the like of Gliscor and Breloom (and opposing Lando), as well as to revenge kill rampaging dragons.
Heliolisk @ Choice Specs
Ability: Dry Skin
EVs: 252 Spd / 252 SAtk / 4 HP
Timid Nature
- Thunderbolt
- Volt Switch
- Surf
- Hidden Power [Fire]
One of the original members of the team, and also one of the best pokes of the new gen. Originally, looking at the old volturn teams, I thought of using the classic Rotom-W or Jolteon, but then I was like "Uhm, this should be a X and Y team, so why not try this guy?". I've never regret that decision; he has amazing coverage as well as good speed and power. Surf and HP fire are here to surprise the omnipresent Excadrill, Hippowdon and Ferrothorn which love to switch in. I don't really miss Focus Blast for Tyranitar as I usually easily predict the switch and go to my Gene (and of course I HATE its accuracy). I like also the fact that this little lizard is a fantastic check to defensive Rotom-W, as he doesn't really mind the burn, hydro pump heals him and can take volt switch all day.
Rotom-Heat @ Chesto Berry
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 SDef / 252 HP / 4 SAtk
Calm Nature
- Rest
- Will-O-Wisp
- Volt Switch
- Overheat
This guy is a defensive monster. He has perfect sinergy with Suicune, Genesect and can check a lot of dangerous threats, such as Talonflame, Genesect, Charizard Y (and to a certain extend also the X form), Heatran, Scizor, MegaSaur... Do I have to continue? In the end I think that in this generation Rotom-H is definitely better than his ugly and overused brother. Icing on the cake he can keep the so wanted momentum with volt switch.
Mandibuzz (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Overcoat
EVs: 252 SDef / 252 HP / 4 Def
Careful Nature
- Knock Off
- Roost
- Defog
- Toxic
Of course a volturn team needs a defogger, and I decided to use the most common and reliable one. He brings a lot of utility and nice resistances to the team, and also has the niche of being the best check to Aegislash. He does what he's supposed to do, defog nasty hazards and sponge attacks like a boss. If Rotom-H is gone my defensive pokes would fall prey to thunder-things, but smart switching between them and Lando/Helio usually prevents it.
Genesect @ Choice Band
Ability: Download
EVs: 252 Spd / 252 Atk / 4 SDef
Hasty Nature
- U-turn
- Extreme Speed
- Blaze Kick
- Iron Head
The standard banded set, and also my late game cleaner. Banded Genesect = pure power; if he gets the attack boost, something has to die. To be honest I started with Scizor, but I found him too slow for the dinamic of the team; Gene moreover has better coverage and overall much more power. Unfortunately he's utterly walled by a very common poke like Heatran, but usually Lando with quake and sometimes Helio with surf can deal with him. As a funny bonus people usually expect the scarf set and tend to misplay around him, letting me get 1 free kill.
Suicune @ Leftovers
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 252 Def / 252 HP / 4 SAtk
Bold Nature
- Scald
- Calm Mind
- Rest
- Sleep Talk
The physical tank of the team, and occasionally the late game sweeper. I don't really need a wall, as my team usually forces a lot of switches, so Suicune can come in, take hits and threaten with a burn. If a see a chance I don't always wait untill late game to set up and sweep, as most of the times I only need to get rid of one pokemon in order to let my Crocune sweep. I thought of replacing him with a more "solid" tank/wall like Slowbro (which has also fantastic sinergy with Rotom-H and Mandibuzz, and utility in TWave), but he has never failed me and I would miss a lot on the offensive side.
So this is my team. It is obviously offensive oriented, and in order to work it needs a lot of predictions and smart switching, but I think I did a pretty decent job by creating it. I have reached ~1350 on PO using it, not bad considering that unluckily I am not a good player. I've never encounter a single pokemon or team that threaten or destroy my team (maybe baton pass? I don't know, never played against one for now), and I'm strongly convinced that all the losses I have (not so many though) were caused by misplay rather than inner team weakness. I'll really appreciate any kind of advice and suggestion you guys want to give me about improving myself and my team, so feelobliged free to comment!
AH and please, bear my pitiful english, as it is not my native language. I tried to make as few mistakes as possible, but I do not trust myself too much.
The team as a whole:
Individual analysis:
Landorus-Therian (M) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 Spd / 252 Atk / 4 SAtk
Naive Nature
- Earthquake
- Superpower
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- U-turn
Pretty much the standard scarfed set. At the very beginning I had a Mienshao, which was by no means bad, but in the end it didn't work: too many HJK miss and too frailness for my tastes. So i searched for a replacement which could hit hard the same way, and possibly a more bulky one. Finally I tried out this man, and oh my god he's really good. First of all he has decent (I guess?) sinergy with Suicune, as he can RELATIVELY take the grass and electric moves directed to my beautiful dog if for some reason I can't or don't want to send Rotom. I like to have Superpower to heavily dent Mamoswine and Ferrothorn on the switch. I also decided to put HP ice over Stone Edge for the like of Gliscor and Breloom (and opposing Lando), as well as to revenge kill rampaging dragons.
Heliolisk @ Choice Specs
Ability: Dry Skin
EVs: 252 Spd / 252 SAtk / 4 HP
Timid Nature
- Thunderbolt
- Volt Switch
- Surf
- Hidden Power [Fire]
One of the original members of the team, and also one of the best pokes of the new gen. Originally, looking at the old volturn teams, I thought of using the classic Rotom-W or Jolteon, but then I was like "Uhm, this should be a X and Y team, so why not try this guy?". I've never regret that decision; he has amazing coverage as well as good speed and power. Surf and HP fire are here to surprise the omnipresent Excadrill, Hippowdon and Ferrothorn which love to switch in. I don't really miss Focus Blast for Tyranitar as I usually easily predict the switch and go to my Gene (and of course I HATE its accuracy). I like also the fact that this little lizard is a fantastic check to defensive Rotom-W, as he doesn't really mind the burn, hydro pump heals him and can take volt switch all day.
Rotom-Heat @ Chesto Berry
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 SDef / 252 HP / 4 SAtk
Calm Nature
- Rest
- Will-O-Wisp
- Volt Switch
- Overheat
This guy is a defensive monster. He has perfect sinergy with Suicune, Genesect and can check a lot of dangerous threats, such as Talonflame, Genesect, Charizard Y (and to a certain extend also the X form), Heatran, Scizor, MegaSaur... Do I have to continue? In the end I think that in this generation Rotom-H is definitely better than his ugly and overused brother. Icing on the cake he can keep the so wanted momentum with volt switch.
Mandibuzz (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Overcoat
EVs: 252 SDef / 252 HP / 4 Def
Careful Nature
- Knock Off
- Roost
- Defog
- Toxic
Of course a volturn team needs a defogger, and I decided to use the most common and reliable one. He brings a lot of utility and nice resistances to the team, and also has the niche of being the best check to Aegislash. He does what he's supposed to do, defog nasty hazards and sponge attacks like a boss. If Rotom-H is gone my defensive pokes would fall prey to thunder-things, but smart switching between them and Lando/Helio usually prevents it.
Genesect @ Choice Band
Ability: Download
EVs: 252 Spd / 252 Atk / 4 SDef
Hasty Nature
- U-turn
- Extreme Speed
- Blaze Kick
- Iron Head
The standard banded set, and also my late game cleaner. Banded Genesect = pure power; if he gets the attack boost, something has to die. To be honest I started with Scizor, but I found him too slow for the dinamic of the team; Gene moreover has better coverage and overall much more power. Unfortunately he's utterly walled by a very common poke like Heatran, but usually Lando with quake and sometimes Helio with surf can deal with him. As a funny bonus people usually expect the scarf set and tend to misplay around him, letting me get 1 free kill.
Suicune @ Leftovers
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 252 Def / 252 HP / 4 SAtk
Bold Nature
- Scald
- Calm Mind
- Rest
- Sleep Talk
The physical tank of the team, and occasionally the late game sweeper. I don't really need a wall, as my team usually forces a lot of switches, so Suicune can come in, take hits and threaten with a burn. If a see a chance I don't always wait untill late game to set up and sweep, as most of the times I only need to get rid of one pokemon in order to let my Crocune sweep. I thought of replacing him with a more "solid" tank/wall like Slowbro (which has also fantastic sinergy with Rotom-H and Mandibuzz, and utility in TWave), but he has never failed me and I would miss a lot on the offensive side.
So this is my team. It is obviously offensive oriented, and in order to work it needs a lot of predictions and smart switching, but I think I did a pretty decent job by creating it. I have reached ~1350 on PO using it, not bad considering that unluckily I am not a good player. I've never encounter a single pokemon or team that threaten or destroy my team (maybe baton pass? I don't know, never played against one for now), and I'm strongly convinced that all the losses I have (not so many though) were caused by misplay rather than inner team weakness. I'll really appreciate any kind of advice and suggestion you guys want to give me about improving myself and my team, so feel