March of the Penguins [OU RMT]
INTRODUCTION:
This is a team I built around a sweep with what is, in my opinion, one of if not the scariest sweeper when used properly. SubPetaya Empoleon. The biggest flaw SubPetaya Empoleon has is having only one chance to sweep, so there is a large importance of having the right preparation and team work.
I worked out a list of things a SubPetaya Empoleon team needs to beat to allow a sweep.
First is things that wall the sweep, your walls/counters:
Vaporeon, Tentacruel, Snorlax, Blissey, Suicune, Milotic, Gyarados
Next were things that could come in while I Agility and outspeed/take a boosted hit and KO in return, your checks or revenge killers:
Latias, ScarfFlygon, ScarfRotom, ScarfGengar, ScarfMence
And finally the bane of all pinch berry users, priority abusers, although some won't do enough to Empoleon to be worth a mention:
Infernape, Scizor, Lucario, Himontop, Breloom
The point of the rest of this team is to remove/cripple these threats until they cannot halt Empoleon's sweep, even together.
Type Chart:
INTRODUCTION:
This is a team I built around a sweep with what is, in my opinion, one of if not the scariest sweeper when used properly. SubPetaya Empoleon. The biggest flaw SubPetaya Empoleon has is having only one chance to sweep, so there is a large importance of having the right preparation and team work.
I worked out a list of things a SubPetaya Empoleon team needs to beat to allow a sweep.
First is things that wall the sweep, your walls/counters:
Vaporeon, Tentacruel, Snorlax, Blissey, Suicune, Milotic, Gyarados
Next were things that could come in while I Agility and outspeed/take a boosted hit and KO in return, your checks or revenge killers:
Latias, ScarfFlygon, ScarfRotom, ScarfGengar, ScarfMence
And finally the bane of all pinch berry users, priority abusers, although some won't do enough to Empoleon to be worth a mention:
Infernape, Scizor, Lucario, Himontop, Breloom
The point of the rest of this team is to remove/cripple these threats until they cannot halt Empoleon's sweep, even together.
Type Chart:
Main good things about the team:
- It does it's job nicely, Empoleon sometimes doesn't even have a chance to sweep due to the effectiveness of the other members.
- Despite my recent slump in play, it's preformed well for both me and others who have assisted in it's testing.
- It's fun to use. It employs sets that are both standard and those that deviate (deviating well, however).
- Latias + Machamp + Magnezone
- Since my lead is my Toxic Spiker and utilizes a Focus Sash, I get one chance in most games to set up, if my Toxic Spikes are absorbed I can't reset them unless I'm lucky enough to have Roserade intact with enough HP to survive coming in, or without Rocks down.
- 2 Resist Rocks, none weak to Rocks
- 5 Immune to Toxic Spikes
- 3 Immune to Spikes
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TEAM AT A GLANCE:
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TEAM AT A GLANCE:
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A CLOSER LOOK:
Roserade @ Focus Sash
Natural Cure
6 Def | 252 SpAtk | 252 Spe
Timid nature (+Spe, -Atk)
- Toxic Spikes
- Sleep Powder
- Leaf Storm
- Hidden Power [Ground]
Roserade came into this team for one main reason: Toxic Spikes. Empoleon loves Toxic Spikes as it helps weaken bulky waters, Blissey and Snorlax. Things that could potentially wall the sweep. Roserade also has a good amount of resists that link nicely with the rest of the team and the Sleep support is invaluable for set up room for any and all of my Pokes. Rose also boasts a very powerful STAB move in Leaf Storm, which can also help tear up bulky waters that could otherwise block Empoleon. Hidden power [Ground] is used here over the standard Hidden Power [Fire] because you don't lose coverage on Metagross (in a way you gain coverage because of Occa Berry), or almost any other common lead but you gain a way to deal with Heatran, as many stay in to set up assuming you'll swap. Sleeping Trans can be set up on and if they're stupid enough to stay in death awaits them.
Here's how I use Rose against some common leads:
Azelf: Sleep Powder first. If he Rocks, cool, even if Powder misses I have another shot to Powder it. If he attacks, Powder needs to hit or I have to bring out Latias or someone else to take the secondary attack. Leaf Storm brings it down to it's Sash and Toxic Spikes set up is my main priority after Sleep Powder.
Metagross: Sleep Powder first, set up Toxic Spikes, then KO. If he stays in after being slept I may go for the KO to prevent Rocks, and this is always helpful.
Jirachi: I go for the Powder. If it hits, fantastic I can set up. If not, I swap to something to take some hits.
Hippowdon: Leaf Storm OHKOs. I generally have to swap out against the swap in, or Sleep it, leaving set up until later.
Swampert: See Hippowdon except due to the lack of Sand, I can set up even on whatever comes in assuming Sleep Powder hits.
Heatran: Sleep Powder, then set up Toxic Spikes. Kill if it stays in.
Tyranitar: Sleep Powder, Toxic Spikes, Leaf Storm.
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Bronzong @ Leftovers
Levitate
252 HP | 86 Atk | 80 Def | 92 SpDef (0 Spe EVs)
Sassy nature (+SpDef, -Spe)
- Gyro Ball
- Explosion
- Earthquake
- Stealth Rock
Comments/Description:
Originally this slot was filled by Swampert, but Bronzong has replaced it. He still checks Mence, MixMence in particular, while adding so much more to the team than Swampert did. Gyro Ball allows me a way of checking Gengar and Latias that Swampert didn't have, while Explosion allows me a "random threat I can no longer check so I'mma blow up on it" button that I lacked previously. If you look at the type chart, it also affords me a lot more resistances and immunities that I lacked before, as well as making stall easier to beat by making Ape effectively my only Pokemon vulnerable to Toxic Spikes and Spikes (since Rose will likely die early on), and Ape isn't meant to live terribly long anyway. Gyro Ball from Bronzong is amazing due to Zong's low speed and STAB, Stealth Rock is almost necessary, making Pokes like Gyarados and Mence far easier to check, Earthquake is for Magnezone, Tentacruel, and others vulnerable to it, and finally Explosion is for, as previously stated, any threat I lose my check to or that comes in on my weakened Bronzong after it's accomplished it's job.
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Latias @ Choice Scarf
Levitate
6 Def | 252 SpAtk | 252 Spe
Timid nature (+Spe, -Atk)
- Draco Meteor
- Trick
- Surf
- Thunderbolt
Latias helps to cripple walls and Waters who could wall Empoleon by Tricking or attacking them. Latias's high speed also allows it to be a secondary check, along with Bronzong, to Salamence, outspeeding +1 Mence and OHKOing with Draco Meteor, which does massive damage even to those that resist it. This Latias, unfortunately, can also hurt me if Trick is used too hastily or if I trick something like a RestTalk Rotom when a Blissey I haven't seen could be the bigger problem on their team. This Poke has been all about decision making because the Trick Scarf is the essential element of Latias, as well as her checking ability, coverage, and resistence synergy. This was originally CM Latias, but I've found Trick Scarf Latias to be far more useful, fulfilling a much more useful capacity on the team. It is also one of my ways of removing opposing Latias, Scarf Flygon, ScarfGar, and ScarfRotom and damaging opposing Tentacruel who could otherwise give this team a bit of trouble.
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Rotom-H @ Leftovers
Levitate
64 HP | 248 SAtk | 196 Spe
Timid nature (+Spe, -Atk)
- Substitute
- Charge Beam
- Shadow Ball
- Hidden Power [Fighting]
I was suggested this Rotom over my original Trick Scarf Rotom (the role of which was given to Latias upon the switch of this set), and I've loved it. I had decided on Rotom because he holds a position as the bet Spin Blocker in the current metagame, and for good reason. I didn't want my Toxic Spikes or Stealth Rocks removed, as they are extremely helpful. Rotom also helps me by being able to heavily damage or beat mc of Stall, coming in on Skarmory and subbing on the swap, Charge Beaming from behind the Sub and boosting its damage, the sweeping with it's STAB and Hidden Power [Fighting]. Not only does Sub allow it to boost while limiting damage it takes, but it also allows it to stall out the Toxic on the opponent's Pokemon, such as Blissey. I was shown a RMT by the person who suggested this that used this Rotom with Toxic Spikes to great success. The EVs allow it maximum damage while outspeeding Adamant Lucario, the rest of the EVs put into Bulk. With a Sub up this guy allows me to beat Latias, Blissey, ScarfGar/Rotom and Tentacruel who, as mentioned in Latias's description, can give this team trouble. At +6 he can 2HKO Blissey with Hidden Power [Fighting], not accounting for Toxic Spikes or SR damage.
Rotom's EVs have been altered slightly to prevent Blissey from breaking my Subs.
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Infernape @ Life Orb
Blaze
252 Atk | 6 SDef | 252 Spe
Jolly nature (+Spe, -SpAtk)
- Swords Dance
- Close Combat
- Flare Blitz
- Stone Edge
This guy is one of the stars of the show, being the draw of many of the same things that would block or counter Empoleon, an being able to beat most of them. Obviously I'm talking about Bulky Waters. Even Vaporeon, a well known MixApe counter, is OHKO'd by Close Combat after a boost. Rotom is removed by a boosted Flare Blitz, and it's very funny to see Gyarados or Salamence come in only to be taken out by a +1 Stone Edge. Obviously it can't beat all of it's counters, being blocked by Tentacruel and Latias, but generally those are taken care of by my other members. This Infernape is meant to set up, kill as much as possible, then die. This guy also allows me to check Scizor beyond Swampert and Latias trying to simply overpower him/Trick him, or a set up Rotom trying to hit him with a powerful Charge Beam.
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Empoleon @ Petaya Berry
Torrent
12 HP | 12 Def | 252 SAtk | 232 Spe
Modest nature (+SpAtk, -Atk)
- Agility
- Substitute
- Surf
- Ice Beam
And here it is, our tuxedo'd star! SubPetaya Empoleon is one of, if not the, best late game sweeper in the metagame. Due to Sandstorm immunity, good typing (for sweeping and allowing set up), Torrent, and access to Agility and high Special Attack, Empoleon is currently the best pinch berry user in the game. The EVs here are standard, allowing maximum damage dealing, outspeeding of +Nature Base 80s that hold a Choice Scarf (Like Jolly Mamoswine or a +1 DD Dragonite) after one Agility, and almost everything in the metagame after a second Agility. With the addition of Toxic Spikes, Stealth Rock, a phazer, and Pokemon intent on weakening Empoleon's common counters/responses, Empoleon tends to have unhindered sweeps when the team is played correctly. Not much to say here...The team is made to allow his sweep, so all he does is set up and sweep away...
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LAST GLANCE:
LAST GLANCE:
CHANGES LOG:
- Rotom's EVs were slightly altered
- Pert's spread was changed to a simple 252/252/6 spread.
- Swampert ----> Bronzong
- Change of Rotom Spread (somewhat unlikely)