So this is my team. I'm in the top 100 pages on the smogon PO ladder with it, out of 500 something I think. Not sure how good it is but hopefully people can provide some suggestions to make it better :)
I'm not sure how you'd categorize this team, it has a little bit of stall, a little bit of support, and a good bit of boosting offense. For those of you who can't be bothered with the tl;dr in depth descriptions below, the gist of it is this:
Most of my wins come from a Volcarona sweep, someone ragequitting against Dragonite, and occasionally a late-game sweep from Azumarill or Terrakion, hopefully having been passed some boosts from Gliscor. Espeon sets up screens repeatedly throughout the battle if possible and reflects any dirty attempts to screw up my team, Volcarona sets up and sweeps shit, Dragonite spreads paralysis, phazes, walls, and scouts, Terrakion is the revenge killer, Azumarill a CBer, and Gliscor is another wall for absorbing status, and building up boosts to pass to the others.
*****
Espeon (M) @ Light Clay
Trait: Magic Mirror
EVs: 252 HP / 16 Def / 240 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Light Screen
- Reflect
- Psycho Shock
- Shadow Ball
I set out to base a team around Volcarona as its my favorite gen 5 mon. So Espeon was a no-brainer. I don't even know how common SR or entry hazards are anymore because most leads don't dare use them on me, although some have goofed and forgotten. Needless to say I set up screens and then bail assuming I'm not up against something that is weak to Psychic or Ghost. I've been able to bring Espy back in many a time to reset the screens, and generally it doesn't even lose half its health before the screens are up. The EVs are to outspeed max speed 108's, whilst giving a pinch of physical bulk. I always use reflect first to cushion physical blows due to Espy's crap Defense, unless I'm up against something like Gengar or something.
Volcarona (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Flame Body
EVs: 248 HP / 100 Def / 160 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Butterfly Dance
- Flame Dance
- Bug Buzz
- Hidden Power [Electric]
The star of the team. This is one of the 3 mons I switch to after Espy sets up the screens. Back when the 5th gen meta was starting I toyed around with HP Rock/Ground, I've found HP Electric to be far more effective as it still gets neutral hits on the vast majority of opponents HP Rock and Ground are meant to hit, such as Terrakion and Heatran, whilst getting much greater neutral coverage and nuking bulky waters and flyers who have STABs I'm actually weak to. I run Flame Dance over Fire Blast as after a boost it has equal power and better PP/accuracy, and it only gets stronger. Plus there are times (albeit rare) that I don't find time for BD. I don't use Morning Sun because frankly I almost never need it (leftovers recover off the vast majority of damage I receive and any time I find myself in a situation where I wish I had Morning Sun I'd be OHKO'd anyway) and this team is designed to not require sun. The bulky spread is insanely helpful; I almost always get one BD off and there have been multiple occasions where my opponent has let me get 4 or 5. The EVs are for bulk, I use 248 HP in case I need to switch into SR twice (tho I never have) and the speed puts me ahead of Excadrill after two BDs.
Dragonite (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Multi-Scale
EVs: 244 HP / 96 Def / 156 SDef / 12 Spd
Impish Nature (+Def, -SAtk)
- Dragon Tail
- Roost
- Thunder Wave
- Substitute
This is the team troll and the reason people seem to love ragequitting on me. I T-wave them if they are boosting or moderately threatening, or Dragon Tail them immediately if I'm up against something immune to T-wave, otherwise I set up Sub first. Then I T-wave them and if the sub is still up I Dragon Tail them, Roost, and then Sub again if its been broken; if not I T-wave the switch-in. Then rinse and repeat. I try to sub/roost-stall until they are fully paralyzed before I Dragon Tail them so I can have a sub up against whatever comes out and then T-wave them without worry. Basically I paralyze half the team, shuffle 'em, and keep healing/subbing in between. If screens are still up even Ice moves are a joke, and I usually Roost when I'm predicting one, which always works because my opponent is paralyzed by then most of the time. This guy is ridiculous and pisses a lot of people off. By the time he's KO'ed if that ever happens, I usually have paralysis and/or damage on almost all of my opponent's team. The EVs are to give the highest equal bulk in both defenses. If Light Screen is up I regularly survive Ice Beams from things like Starmie.
Terrakion @ Choice Scarf
Trait: Justified
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Close Combat
- Earthquake
- X-Scissor
- Rock Slide
Terrakion is my Scarfer. Most of my team lacks immediate speed and that's where Terrakion comes in. If I'm up against something I can't sweep with Volcarona, disable with Dragonite, or wall with Gliscor, this is usually who I go to, especially if they're fast. And of course he's a potent revenge killer.
Azumarill (M) @ Choice Band
Trait: Huge Power
EVs: 88 HP / 252 Atk / 84 Def / 84 SDef
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Superpower
- Aqua Jet
- Ice Punch
- Waterfall
Azumarill is my Banded team member, and exists solely for Water and Ice coverage, priority, and to just hit shit stupid-hard. I split all of its non-attack EVs equally in its defenses and its pretty bulky especially when screens are up.
Gliscor (M) @ Toxic Orb
Trait: Poison Heal
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SDef
Careful Nature (+SDef, -SAtk)
- Earthquake
- Rock Polish
- Swords Dance
- Baton Pass
Gliscor is mostly another support pokemon/wall. I've EVed him to be ridiculously hard to take down, and with Light Screen up, like Dnite, he survives his fair share of Ice attacks. When I switch in Gliscor I use SD or RP, rinse and repeat depending on what my opponent is doing. If its something I can kill with EQ I'll usually go ahead and do it if they aren't switching as I boost, if not I'll just keep boosting. If they bring in a counter I baton pass to one of my Choice pokemon. Aside from walling duties, this is his main purpose, to BP +2 boosts to Terrakion/Azumarill. I almost never bring the latter two out if I know I can bring out Gliscor first and beef them up, and if either of them gets +2/+2 its GG. The other 3 pokemon on my team are pretty autonomous so Gliscor exists mostly for Terrakion and Azumarill, so that even though they are choiced, if I get them their boosts they rarely have to switch out.
*****
So thats it. Give me your suggestions and constructive criticism and if you can think of any. Also, recommendations for what to do when Espeon has to switch out prematurely giving my opponent a window to set up entry hazards. This has been very annoying...
I'm not sure how you'd categorize this team, it has a little bit of stall, a little bit of support, and a good bit of boosting offense. For those of you who can't be bothered with the tl;dr in depth descriptions below, the gist of it is this:
Most of my wins come from a Volcarona sweep, someone ragequitting against Dragonite, and occasionally a late-game sweep from Azumarill or Terrakion, hopefully having been passed some boosts from Gliscor. Espeon sets up screens repeatedly throughout the battle if possible and reflects any dirty attempts to screw up my team, Volcarona sets up and sweeps shit, Dragonite spreads paralysis, phazes, walls, and scouts, Terrakion is the revenge killer, Azumarill a CBer, and Gliscor is another wall for absorbing status, and building up boosts to pass to the others.
*****
Trait: Magic Mirror
EVs: 252 HP / 16 Def / 240 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Light Screen
- Reflect
- Psycho Shock
- Shadow Ball
I set out to base a team around Volcarona as its my favorite gen 5 mon. So Espeon was a no-brainer. I don't even know how common SR or entry hazards are anymore because most leads don't dare use them on me, although some have goofed and forgotten. Needless to say I set up screens and then bail assuming I'm not up against something that is weak to Psychic or Ghost. I've been able to bring Espy back in many a time to reset the screens, and generally it doesn't even lose half its health before the screens are up. The EVs are to outspeed max speed 108's, whilst giving a pinch of physical bulk. I always use reflect first to cushion physical blows due to Espy's crap Defense, unless I'm up against something like Gengar or something.
Trait: Flame Body
EVs: 248 HP / 100 Def / 160 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Butterfly Dance
- Flame Dance
- Bug Buzz
- Hidden Power [Electric]
The star of the team. This is one of the 3 mons I switch to after Espy sets up the screens. Back when the 5th gen meta was starting I toyed around with HP Rock/Ground, I've found HP Electric to be far more effective as it still gets neutral hits on the vast majority of opponents HP Rock and Ground are meant to hit, such as Terrakion and Heatran, whilst getting much greater neutral coverage and nuking bulky waters and flyers who have STABs I'm actually weak to. I run Flame Dance over Fire Blast as after a boost it has equal power and better PP/accuracy, and it only gets stronger. Plus there are times (albeit rare) that I don't find time for BD. I don't use Morning Sun because frankly I almost never need it (leftovers recover off the vast majority of damage I receive and any time I find myself in a situation where I wish I had Morning Sun I'd be OHKO'd anyway) and this team is designed to not require sun. The bulky spread is insanely helpful; I almost always get one BD off and there have been multiple occasions where my opponent has let me get 4 or 5. The EVs are for bulk, I use 248 HP in case I need to switch into SR twice (tho I never have) and the speed puts me ahead of Excadrill after two BDs.
Trait: Multi-Scale
EVs: 244 HP / 96 Def / 156 SDef / 12 Spd
Impish Nature (+Def, -SAtk)
- Dragon Tail
- Roost
- Thunder Wave
- Substitute
This is the team troll and the reason people seem to love ragequitting on me. I T-wave them if they are boosting or moderately threatening, or Dragon Tail them immediately if I'm up against something immune to T-wave, otherwise I set up Sub first. Then I T-wave them and if the sub is still up I Dragon Tail them, Roost, and then Sub again if its been broken; if not I T-wave the switch-in. Then rinse and repeat. I try to sub/roost-stall until they are fully paralyzed before I Dragon Tail them so I can have a sub up against whatever comes out and then T-wave them without worry. Basically I paralyze half the team, shuffle 'em, and keep healing/subbing in between. If screens are still up even Ice moves are a joke, and I usually Roost when I'm predicting one, which always works because my opponent is paralyzed by then most of the time. This guy is ridiculous and pisses a lot of people off. By the time he's KO'ed if that ever happens, I usually have paralysis and/or damage on almost all of my opponent's team. The EVs are to give the highest equal bulk in both defenses. If Light Screen is up I regularly survive Ice Beams from things like Starmie.
Trait: Justified
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Close Combat
- Earthquake
- X-Scissor
- Rock Slide
Terrakion is my Scarfer. Most of my team lacks immediate speed and that's where Terrakion comes in. If I'm up against something I can't sweep with Volcarona, disable with Dragonite, or wall with Gliscor, this is usually who I go to, especially if they're fast. And of course he's a potent revenge killer.
Trait: Huge Power
EVs: 88 HP / 252 Atk / 84 Def / 84 SDef
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Superpower
- Aqua Jet
- Ice Punch
- Waterfall
Azumarill is my Banded team member, and exists solely for Water and Ice coverage, priority, and to just hit shit stupid-hard. I split all of its non-attack EVs equally in its defenses and its pretty bulky especially when screens are up.
Trait: Poison Heal
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SDef
Careful Nature (+SDef, -SAtk)
- Earthquake
- Rock Polish
- Swords Dance
- Baton Pass
Gliscor is mostly another support pokemon/wall. I've EVed him to be ridiculously hard to take down, and with Light Screen up, like Dnite, he survives his fair share of Ice attacks. When I switch in Gliscor I use SD or RP, rinse and repeat depending on what my opponent is doing. If its something I can kill with EQ I'll usually go ahead and do it if they aren't switching as I boost, if not I'll just keep boosting. If they bring in a counter I baton pass to one of my Choice pokemon. Aside from walling duties, this is his main purpose, to BP +2 boosts to Terrakion/Azumarill. I almost never bring the latter two out if I know I can bring out Gliscor first and beef them up, and if either of them gets +2/+2 its GG. The other 3 pokemon on my team are pretty autonomous so Gliscor exists mostly for Terrakion and Azumarill, so that even though they are choiced, if I get them their boosts they rarely have to switch out.
*****
So thats it. Give me your suggestions and constructive criticism and if you can think of any. Also, recommendations for what to do when Espeon has to switch out prematurely giving my opponent a window to set up entry hazards. This has been very annoying...