(NU) Corsola & company

[infernosmeargle23]

Hola, Smeargle here for my first NU RMT. Let's dive right into it.


At a glance:

In Depth:

Corsola @ Focus Sash Trait: Natural Cure

EVs: 252 HP 252 SpD 4 SpA Nature: Calm

Moves:

- Scald
- Stealth Rock
- Recover
- Mirror Coat

Corsola works very well as a check to people who lead with Scarfed Electric types, i.e. Electrode & Raichu. I do have a strange spread, if anyone could give me a better one, then it would be much appreciated. Anyway, I chose Scald as my attacking move. Although I am sure that I am walled by Almomola, Corsola's main goal is getting up Rocks. Mirror Coat is there t' hit big special sweepers, i.e. Raichu & Shiftry. Recover is there as a filler, thinking of replacing it.

Throh @ Leftovers Trait: Guts
EVs: 252 HP 128 Def 48 SpD 82 Atk Nature: Adamant

Moves:

- Circle Throw
- Bulk Up
- Earthquake
- Taunt

Throh is a partial physical sweeper, but is mainly there as a Zangoose check. Looking at its set, Circle Throw is my main STAB, hitting things back into the party & dragging out (hopefully) that I can handle. Bulk up boosts my Attack & Defence (duh), and gives me bulk to take on Scarfed Braviary, as well as
Zangoose, as mentioned earlier. EQ hits annoying things, i.e. Ampharos and Electrode. Taunt seems odd, but it helps keep opposing Throhs and Shiftry from setting up, and hopefully forcing a switch.

Ampharos @ Leftovers Trait: Static
EVs: 252 HP 4 Def 252 SpD Nature: Calm

Moves:

- Volt Switch
- Heal Bell
- Toxic
- HP Water

Ampharos is my special wall, and a great check to Mantine. Volt Switch is there for retreating in a bad situation (like if I'm facing an Electrode, then switch in Throh). Heal Bell chimes and refreshes my Pokemon from afflicting status. Toxic hits walls, and sweepers. HP Water hits Golem for 4x Super effective-ness, not considering HP Grass any time soon. (possibly HP Ice, but idk)

Exploud @ Choice Specs Trait: Soundproof
EVs: 252 SpA 252 HP 4 SpD Nature: Modest

Moves:

- Hyper Voice
- Ice Beam
- Shadow Ball
- Surf

Exploud is a beast. Just simply put, a beast. While its defences are pretty lackluster, its HP really does make up for it. I made this thing Specsed for the suprise factor -- to spook an opponent, and break down thee opposition. Hyper Voice is STAB, nothing t' say there. Ice Beam is to hit Braviary & Swellow, as well as other flyers. Shadow Ball is to crush Haunter, but I think I might take that out for Flamethrower. Surf is to smash walls, i.e. Bastiodon & Regirock.

Carracosta @ Choice Band Trait: Solid Rock
EVs: 252 Atk 128 HP 128 Def Nature: Adamant


Moves:

- Waterfall
- Stone Edge
- Aqua Jet
- Earthquake/Superpower

Carracosta is my main physical attacker. It is actually pretty awesome as a bander. Waterfall and Aqua Jet are STAB, and AJ is for priority. Stone Edge is STAB, and crushes Braviary. (Waterfall might kill it, but idk). Now, let's look at the 4th slot & its trait. I went with Solid Rock simply because it shields me from Braviary's Superpower. Let's look at the pros & cons of the 2 moves: Earthquake doesn't hit flyers, but SP lowers my Atk & Def. Honestly, I prefer EQ, but meh.

Haunter @ Choice Scarf Trait: Levitate
EVs: 252 Spe 252 SpA 4 HP Nature: Timid

Moves:

- Shadow Ball
- Sludge Bomb
- Thunderbolt
- Psychic


Haunter is a standard choice scarf user. Shadow Ball hits for STAB, as does Sludge Bomb. T-bolt strikes Pelipper and Mantine. Psychic may seem odd, but it hits Throh and Sawk. (is Sawk NU, I forget).


This was my first NU RMT, feedback is much appreciated.

 

[WhiteDMist]

This team looks interesting. That does NOT mean that I find it quite as competitive as it could be. Many of your sets make little sense and could easily be improved.

Instantly Haunter's set needs some adjusting. Psychic is worthless on it since it hits nothing notable at all, and is just an invitation for Skuntank to destroy it. Trick or Destiny Bond are FAR, FAR, FAR superior in every possible way you can imagine. I also don't particularly care for Thunderbolt when Hidden Power Ground rounds out your coverage even better.

Skipping over your Waters for a few, Exploud would probably be better off for Fire Blast instead of Shadow Ball. You have no reliable way to deal with Steel-types like Metang and Klang and Fire Blast hits Grass-types much harder. Ice Beam can handle Drifblim better so the only Ghost that really tanks your set would be Frillish. A EV spread of 164 Spd / 252 SAtk / 92 HP would let Exploud outspeed Adamant Torterra and SubBU Braviary.

Ampharos is not a Special Wall. It cannot indefinitely tank hits without recovery and it also only has modestly high bulk. Having HP Water specifically for Golem is rather pointless when you would be better off either striking with Focus Blast or switch out.

I don't see the benefit of Throh on your team when you lack any hazards except for Stealth Rock. Gurdurr is far superior simply because it has decent bulk and power to go with invaluable priority. You fail to take advantage of Throh since it also lacks ChestoRest, so Gurdurr already works better, especially as a Zangoose and, more importantly, Golurk check.

Why are you using two Water/Rock types on your team? There is literally no reason for that except to invite Banded Sawk to 6-0 you every time. Carracosta should be using its Tank set, since it is very reliable at setting up Stealth Rocks and has decent power and priority.

Corsola is quite easily the most replaceable member of your team since it has very little benefit at all. Musharna is the best Pokemon I could think of to fill its slot because you lack a way to handle Fighting and Psychic types. You still lack a way to handle Water-types, but Musharna and Ampharos have enough combined bulk to handle a couple.

Changes:

Musharna>Corsola
Carracosta: Tank set>CB set
Gurdurr>Throh
Haunter: Better Scarf set>current set
Ampharos: Focus Blast/Thunderbolt>HP Water
Exploud: Fire Blast>Shadow Ball; 164 Spd / 252 SAtk / 92 HP

Sets

Musharna @ Leftovers
Trait: Synchronize
EVs: 248 HP / 244 Def / 16 Spd
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Calm Mind
- Moonlight
- Psychic
- Signal Beam

Carracosta @ Leftovers
Trait: Sturdy
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def
Adamant Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Stone Edge
- Waterfall
- Aqua Jet

Gurdurr @ Eviolite
Trait: Guts
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def
Adamant Nature
- Bulk Up
- Drain Punch
- Mach Punch
- Ice Punch

 

[infernosmeargle23]

This team looks interesting. That does NOT mean that I find it quite as competitive as it could be. Many of your sets make little sense and could easily be improved.

Instantly Haunter's set needs some adjusting. Psychic is worthless on it since it hits nothing notable at all, and is just an invitation for Skuntank to destroy it. Trick or Destiny Bond are FAR, FAR, FAR superior in every possible way you can imagine. I also don't particularly care for Thunderbolt when Hidden Power Ground rounds out your coverage even better.

Skipping over your Waters for a few, Exploud would probably be better off for Fire Blast instead of Shadow Ball. You have no reliable way to deal with Steel-types like Metang and Klang and Fire Blast hits Grass-types much harder. Ice Beam can handle Drifblim better so the only Ghost that really tanks your set would be Frillish. A EV spread of 164 Spd / 252 SAtk / 92 HP would let Exploud outspeed Adamant Torterra and SubBU Braviary.

Ampharos is not a Special Wall. It cannot indefinitely tank hits without recovery and it also only has modestly high bulk. Having HP Water specifically for Golem is rather pointless when you would be better off either striking with Focus Blast or switch out.

I don't see the benefit of Throh on your team when you lack any hazards except for Stealth Rock. Gurdurr is far superior simply because it has decent bulk and power to go with invaluable priority. You fail to take advantage of Throh since it also lacks ChestoRest, so Gurdurr already works better, especially as a Zangoose and, more importantly, Golurk check.

Why are you using two Water/Rock types on your team? There is literally no reason for that except to invite Banded Sawk to 6-0 you every time. Carracosta should be using its Tank set, since it is very reliable at setting up Stealth Rocks and has decent power and priority.

Corsola is quite easily the most replaceable member of your team since it has very little benefit at all. Musharna is the best Pokemon I could think of to fill its slot because you lack a way to handle Fighting and Psychic types. You still lack a way to handle Water-types, but Musharna and Ampharos have enough combined bulk to handle a couple.

Changes:

Musharna>Corsola
Carracosta: Tank set>CB set
Gurdurr>Throh
Haunter: Better Scarf set>current set
Ampharos: Focus Blast/Thunderbolt>HP Water
Exploud: Fire Blast>Shadow Ball; 164 Spd / 252 SAtk / 92 HP

Sets

Musharna @ Leftovers
Trait: Synchronize
EVs: 248 HP / 244 Def / 16 Spd
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Calm Mind
- Moonlight
- Psychic
- Signal Beam

Carracosta @ Leftovers
Trait: Sturdy
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def
Adamant Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Stone Edge
- Waterfall
- Aqua Jet

Gurdurr @ Eviolite
Trait: Guts
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def
Adamant Nature
- Bulk Up
- Drain Punch
- Mach Punch
- Ice Punch

I see many of your points, and will change a lot of things. Honestly, Corsola is meant t' be an electric check, but looking at all of your requests, I'll probably replace it w/ Musharna. On another hand, I really do think I should stay with the current Throh set, but replacing Circle Throw with something else. I'll try out Gurdurr, though. Looking back at a few of my replays, Carracosta crushed Raichu and Electrode with ease on his own, but the tank set seems a lot more beneficial. I'll definitely go with T-bolt over HP Water, and give Exploud Fire blast. Thank you for your feedback, I'll make the changes now.

 

[ium]

i wholeheartedly agree with whitedmist's suggestions, because they help you take on fighting-type threats and sort out the inefficient sets/spreads that your pokemon currently have. i guess the easiest way to go about the issue with special attacking water-types is to replace exploud with ludicolo. the thing is that ludicolo has great power like exploud does, and both pokemon face similar issues like getting past lickilicky and regice; however, exploud just doesn't provide much else that differentiates itself. meanwhile, ludicolo's typing is great for your team since it has a resistance to water- and ground-type attacks. the quad-resistance is especially helpful for taking on other water-types and threatening most of them back with giga drain. finally, with rain dance and swift swim backing up ludicolo's good coverage and offense, it has sweeping potential, giving another possible win condition to your team.

Ludicolo @ Life Orb
Trait: Swift Swim
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature
- Rain Dance
- Hydro Pump
- Giga Drain
- Ice Beam

 

[infernosmeargle23]

i wholeheartedly agree with whitedmist's suggestions, because they help you take on fighting-type threats and sort out the inefficient sets/spreads that your pokemon currently have. i guess the easiest way to go about the issue with special attacking water-types is to replace exploud with ludicolo. the thing is that ludicolo has great power like exploud does, and both pokemon face similar issues like getting past lickilicky and regice; however, exploud just doesn't provide much else that differentiates itself. meanwhile, ludicolo's typing is great for your team since it has a resistance to water- and ground-type attacks. the quad-resistance is especially helpful for taking on other water-types and threatening most of them back with giga drain. finally, with rain dance and swift swim backing up ludicolo's good coverage and offense, it has sweeping potential, giving another possible win condition to your team.

Ludicolo @ Life Orb

Trait: Swift Swim
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature
- Rain Dance
- Hydro Pump
- Giga Drain
- Ice Beam

Honestly, I'll stick with Exploud. It crushes things in all directions, and it gets me at least 2 KOs.

 

[WhiteDMist]

Honestly, I'll stick with Exploud. It crushes things in all directions, and it gets me at least 2 KOs.

...So does Ludicolo. Exploud is Choiced as well, meaning you must take the drawbacks along with the bonus of a boosted base 91 SAtk. Tbh there a far better Specs users in the tier. But hey, your call.

 

[bobbyvaporeon]

I feel the grass weakness when ludicolo and sawsbuck are everywhere is too hard to ignore. listen to the others, exploud just isnt good. trust me, i used one. i would suggest ludicolo or sawsbuck in that spot.

 

[infernosmeargle23]

I feel the grass weakness when ludicolo and sawsbuck are everywhere is too hard to ignore. listen to the others, exploud just isnt good. trust me, i used one. i would suggest ludicolo or sawsbuck in that spot.

Fine, I'll give 'Colo a try.

 

[infernosmeargle23]

After playing around with it, Ludicolo is too predictable. People already know what it's going t' do, so I'd be happy w/ something else.

 

[WhiteDMist]

Well if you are adamant about sticking with Exploud, at least use Scrappy.

 

[Lolk]

I don't think Exploud is that bad. I agree Scrappy is the better ability, but it is the most effective special attacking normal type of the tier, if that's what your team wants. I do think having no offensive grass type move leaves a big hole in your coverage. 4 of your pokes have water type attacks, which is kinda overkill, so ludicolo might not fit into that slot as nicely as Sawsbuck. It still has normal STAB, if that's what you like about exploud, and will gladly take all grass type moves heading towards Carracosta.

 

[infernosmeargle23]

I don't think Exploud is that bad. I agree Scrappy is the better ability, but it is the most effective special attacking normal type of the tier, if that's what your team wants. I do think having no offensive grass type move leaves a big hole in your coverage. 4 of your pokes have water type attacks, which is kinda overkill, so ludicolo might not fit into that slot as nicely as Sawsbuck. It still has normal STAB, if that's what you like about exploud, and will gladly take all grass type moves heading towards Carracosta.

I actually have Exploud 'cause he has overall awesome coverage. Yes, having no grass moves is rough, but that's what Ampharos is for. Sawsbuck is basically Skuntank bait, so I'm thinkin' no on it. Does Leavanny/Torterra over Exploud sound like a good replacement?

 

[Aasgier]

Sawsbuck has Nature Power, mind it, which deals a lot of damage to Skuntank and avoids Sucker Punch.

I know from experience Leavanny without Synthesis have trouble beating Skuntank as Life Orb nabs away on Leavanny's health, causing Skuntank to defeat Leavanny.

Sawsbuck is weak to Gurdurr and you don't have a real Gurdurr counter, half your team gets knocked around by it. Haunter is your best bet but still takes 80% or so from Ice Punch. Shadow Claw variants of Leavanny do the same to your team as Haunter is dead if it switches in and the rest is dead within no time anyway.

Replacing one of your Water/Rock types is necessary, I suggest to kick Corsola out and dump Metang in that slot.

Corsola -> Metang

Metang @ Eviolite
Trait: Clear Body
EVs: 252 HP / 240 Atk / 16 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Meteor Mash
- Earthquake
- Toxic

Ampharos should run Hidden Power Ice, which grants near-perfect coverage in NU.
Exploud should run Fire Blast instead of Shadow Ball, for obvious reasons. Haunter is already dead if it switches into Scrappy Hyper Voice anyway.

Then, the grass type for your team. I think Sawsbuck is the best option, it usually is. If Golurk is really causing you nightmares and you want to OHKO it, look at Leavanny or Leafeon, but both have bad coverage, and have a chance to lose to Skuntank. And immunities are always nice, just be prepared to deal with the Gurdurr that Sawsbuck attracts. Replace Carracosta, even though it costs you a great deal of bulk.

If you want to try Leavanny, Leavanny's set is down here as well.

Carracosta -> Sawsbuck

Sawsbuck @ Life Orb
Trait: Sap Sipper
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Horn Leech
- Return
- Nature Power
- Swords Dance

OR

Leavanny @ Life Orb
Trait: Chlorophyll
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Leaf Blade
- X-Scissor
- Synthesis
- Magic Coat

 

[infernosmeargle23]

Sawsbuck has Nature Power, mind it, which deals a lot of damage to Skuntank and avoids Sucker Punch.

I know from experience Leavanny without Synthesis have trouble beating Skuntank as Life Orb nabs away on Leavanny's health, causing Skuntank to defeat Leavanny.

Sawsbuck is weak to Gurdurr and you don't have a real Gurdurr counter, half your team gets knocked around by it. Haunter is your best bet but still takes 80% or so from Ice Punch. Shadow Claw variants of Leavanny do the same to your team as Haunter is dead if it switches in and the rest is dead within no time anyway.

Replacing one of your Water/Rock types is necessary, I suggest to kick Corsola out and dump Metang in that slot.

Corsola -> Metang

Metang @ Eviolite
Trait: Clear Body
EVs: 252 HP / 240 Atk / 16 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Meteor Mash
- Earthquake
- Toxic

Ampharos should run Hidden Power Ice, which grants near-perfect coverage in NU.
Exploud should run Fire Blast instead of Shadow Ball, for obvious reasons. Haunter is already dead if it switches into Scrappy Hyper Voice anyway.

Then, the grass type for your team. I think Sawsbuck is the best option, it usually is. If Golurk is really causing you nightmares and you want to OHKO it, look at Leavanny or Leafeon, but both have bad coverage, and have a chance to lose to Skuntank. And immunities are always nice, just be prepared to deal with the Gurdurr that Sawsbuck attracts. Replace Carracosta, even though it costs you a great deal of bulk.

If you want to try Leavanny, Leavanny's set is down here as well.

Carracosta -> Sawsbuck

Sawsbuck @ Life Orb
Trait: Sap Sipper
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Horn Leech
- Return
- Nature Power
- Swords Dance

OR

Leavanny @ Life Orb
Trait: Chlorophyll
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Leaf Blade
- X-Scissor
- Synthesis
- Magic Coat

Summary of changes:

Throh -> Gurrdurr
Corsola -> Musharna
Haunter -> Better Haunter
CB Carracosta -> Tank
Hp Water & Volt Switch -> T-bolt & Focus Blast
Shadow Ball and Soundproof -> Fire Blast & Scrappy

If I were to remove Carracosta, who'd be my Stealth Rocker?

I think Torterra would be better than Sawsbuck because it takes basically nothing from Skuntank's Sucker Punch (252+ Atk Skuntank Sucker Punch vs. 252 HP / 200+ Def Torterra: 84-99 (21.31 - 25.12%) -- possible 5HKO) and has a huge chance to OHKO with EQ (56 Atk Torterra Earthquake vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Skuntank: 338-402 (97.4 - 115.85%) -- 87.5% chance to OHKO)