Hey guys, first rmt and first post here. I read all the required readings so I hope my rmt thread is up to standards with the smogon community. If not, I won't take offense and I'll try harder to make it up to standards.
I've been playing competitive pokemon for all of 2 weeks during which for the majority of it I've been using different variations of this team, constantly tweaking. I'm pretty happy overall with this team, it has a few weaknesses but nothing major. Still, maybe you guys can show me some faults with this team that I've overseen.
The theme behind this team is to trap the opponent with Wobbuffet, encore and then switch to Dugtrio if they use a non-attacking move. If they use an attacking move then I'll use either counter or mirror coat. Once I've gotten rid of all their counters and weakened their team I can sweep with Alakazam.
So without further ado here's the team:
Wobbuffet (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Shadow Tag
EVs: 252 HP / 164 Def / 92 SpD
Sassy Nature (+SpD, - Spe)
0 Spe IVs
- Encore
- Counter
- Mirror Coat
- Safeguard
Wobbuffet is such a boss. Wobbuffet will rarely ever go a game without claiming a ko, he usually gets two and sets at least one up for Dugtrio. As a lead he is especially dangerous, if they lead with something like Landorous I'm set. If they U-Turn I can counter and get a guaranteed kill unless they have a ghost. If they lead with something like Forretress I can encore and switch to Dugtrio to get the kill. The 0 speed IVs are so that I can always get the full three turns out of an encore. The only usable set so nothing can be changed with Wobbuffet except maybe the EVs but I think my team would be best with a balanced Wobbuffet.
Dugtrio (M) @ Choice Band
Trait: Arena Trap
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Spe / 4 HP
Jolly Nature (+Spe, -SpA)
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- Night Slash
- Sandstorm
Wobbuffet's partner in crime. The synergy between him and Wobbuffet has caused many many rage quits. If my opponent decides to setup on Wobbuffet then I'll encore it, switch to Dugtrio and decimate the opponent. As long as Dugtrio can 3hko the poke I'm set. During turn 1 of encore I switch into Dugtrio, during turns 2 and 3 I attack while they're using their setup move and since Dugtrio is faster than most pokes I attack before them on the third turn and hopefully ko them. 9/10 the best move to use is Earthquake, the other moves are there just in case. Again, this Dugtrio is very standard and there's not much leeway in movesets or EV spread with this guy. I briefly considered a life orb set replacing sucker punch with stealth rock because I think entry hazards on this team would be beneficial but the damage would build off if I encored a toxic and/or the opponent set up entry hazards already. Plus Dugtrio usually dips out once he gets the kill so being able to switch moves isn't that great.
Alakazam (F) @ Choice Scarf
Trait: Magic Guard
EVs: 252 SpA / 252 Spe / 4 HP
Timid Nature (+Spe, -Atk)
- Trick
- Torment
- Psychic
- Shadow Ball
I love this poke so much. If I'm not leading with Wobbuffet then I'm leading with Alakazam. Alakazam is so damn versatile. Depending on my opponent's team Alakazam can either function as a strong as shit sweeper that will never get outsped, a wall breaker by tricking a scarf, a poke to force switches by tormenting after Wobbuffet encores, or a suicide kill by tricking and then switching to Wobbuffet after they kill Alakazam (or switch to him if Alakazam is still alive). The best part about Alakazam is magic guard so he somewhat alleviates my teams weakness to entry hazards AND he can take encored will-o-wisps and toxics that I don't want my Dugtrio to take. You may think that I should replace Torment with anther attacking move on Alakzam but I don't really need it, plus I get a lot of use out of torment. It's especially good if they're down to their last pokemon.
Gliscor (F) @Toxic Orb
Trait: Poison Heal
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 Atk
Relaxed Nature (+Def, -Spe)
0 Spe IVs
- Protect
- Toxic
- Earthquake
- U-Turn
Now comes the part of the team that I'm not as confident about. Gliscor is good at absorbing hits and countering Tyranitar but not much else. He stalls out a few pokemon but there are too many steel pokemon out there to make toxic be of much use. His main use is performing a slow u-turn so that he absorbs hits and I can keep Wobbuffet healthy or switch Dugtrio into a pokemon that he counters 100% of the time. 0 Speed IVs are there to ensure that he will almost always take the hit but he still outspeeds Tyranitar so that's a plus. Don't get me wrong, Gliscor isn't completely useless, he sets up for Wobbuffet very well and can stall out when the situation arises but I feel like another pokemon or different set would be better. Some help with this slot would be much appreciated though.
Chansey (F) @ Eviolite
Trait: Natural Cure
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 Spe
Bold Nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Toxic
- Softboiled
- Seismic Toss
- Healing Wish
Everyone here knows just how tough Chansey is. She can tank hits like a fucking boss, even physical hits. Nothing gets past Chansey. Unfortunately Chansey can't get past much either. She serves basically the same exact role of Gliscor except for Special hits. If they have a lot of steel or ghost pokemon then she pretty much has no use so help on an alternate set is needed. Healing wish is here to stay though, I can't describe in words how great of a move healing wish is. I need to have a healing wish user on this team. I already told you how Wobbuffet usually takes out at least one pokemon, with healing wish he'll take out two, maybe three pokemon. Basically, I toxic everything in sight and once Chansey has served her purpose I just sac her with healing wish. I get momentum on my side, I instantly get Wobbuffet on the field and I will have most likely killed another one of their pokemon. Great move.
Forretress (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Sturdy
EVs: 248 HP / 132 Def / 120 SpD / 8 Atk
Relaxed Nature (+Def, -Spe)
0 Spe IVs
- Stealth Rock
- Rapid Spin
- Gyro Ball
- Volt Switch
My stealth rock setter/spinner. I'll lead with Forretress every once in a while. His main purpose is to set down rocks but he does have a few surprising uses as a counter to certain pokemon. This team is very gengar weak so I can switch Forrestress in, take around 30% damage and gyro ball for over 50% or break a sub. I'll most likely lose my Forretress but I then get a free switch to Alakzam and force Gengar to switch and take stealth rock damage upon re-entry. Volt switch is there for scouting purposes. Forretress is not important to my team once I get rid of their stealth rock and set up my own so I can play recklessly with him. I'll often switch him into pokemon when I don't know if they have HP Ice or HP Fire so that Forretress can take the fall instead of Gliscor and I can learn more about their moveset. Once the rocks are set up he pretty much serves the same purpose as Gliscor, tank hits and switch out.
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The teams biggest weakness in order from most threatening to least are: Skarmory, Gengar, Steel types, and pranksters. Skarmory because it takes a lot of prediction skills to kill it. I either have to trick a scarf onto it, play around it until the very end after which I can shell smash twice and 1hko it, or torment it, then switch to Wobbuffet and hope he doesn't switch before I get to Wobbuffet. My counters all work in conjuction with each other so if I lose one of them Skarm becomes exponentially harder to deal with. Unfortunately if I send in Wobbuffet without tormenting first then I'll encore. They'll use either spikes, whirlwind, or roost and then just stall the fuck out of me.
Gengar is another pain in the ass, nothing switches in safely on it except for Chansey and Chansey can't do shit to Gengar. The only pokemon that can beat Gengar is Alakazam so if I lose Alakzam then I'm fucked. Likewise if I'm dealing with a sub Gengar then I'm similarly in trouble.
Update: Gengar is not much of a problem anymore now that I added Forretress to my team.
Steel types give me trouble only because Alakazam can't do much to them and Gliscor and Chansey can't stall them out. Gliscor has earthquake but with no attack EVs it doesn't do as much as you would think. They aren't that hard to deal with because typing makes no difference to Wobbuffet and Dugtrio can usually beat them out. The exception to this is Scizor who I have to play around until I can find out what set he's running. If I get lucky and get a scarf on him I'm good though.
Pranksters aren't impossible to deal with but still annoying. Them tricking items onto me can really fuck with my plans and they usually have taunt so my Wobbuffet can't do shit to them. Plus they can substitute so Gliscor and Chansey have nothing on them.
The thing I like about this team is that for the most part it tears through the meta. Heatran, Rotom, Landorous, Thunderus, Haxorous (once I know his set), and other popular pokemon have absolutely nothing on this team.
I've been playing competitive pokemon for all of 2 weeks during which for the majority of it I've been using different variations of this team, constantly tweaking. I'm pretty happy overall with this team, it has a few weaknesses but nothing major. Still, maybe you guys can show me some faults with this team that I've overseen.
The theme behind this team is to trap the opponent with Wobbuffet, encore and then switch to Dugtrio if they use a non-attacking move. If they use an attacking move then I'll use either counter or mirror coat. Once I've gotten rid of all their counters and weakened their team I can sweep with Alakazam.
So without further ado here's the team:
Wobbuffet (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Shadow Tag
EVs: 252 HP / 164 Def / 92 SpD
Sassy Nature (+SpD, - Spe)
0 Spe IVs
- Encore
- Counter
- Mirror Coat
- Safeguard
Wobbuffet is such a boss. Wobbuffet will rarely ever go a game without claiming a ko, he usually gets two and sets at least one up for Dugtrio. As a lead he is especially dangerous, if they lead with something like Landorous I'm set. If they U-Turn I can counter and get a guaranteed kill unless they have a ghost. If they lead with something like Forretress I can encore and switch to Dugtrio to get the kill. The 0 speed IVs are so that I can always get the full three turns out of an encore. The only usable set so nothing can be changed with Wobbuffet except maybe the EVs but I think my team would be best with a balanced Wobbuffet.
Dugtrio (M) @ Choice Band
Trait: Arena Trap
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Spe / 4 HP
Jolly Nature (+Spe, -SpA)
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- Night Slash
- Sandstorm
Wobbuffet's partner in crime. The synergy between him and Wobbuffet has caused many many rage quits. If my opponent decides to setup on Wobbuffet then I'll encore it, switch to Dugtrio and decimate the opponent. As long as Dugtrio can 3hko the poke I'm set. During turn 1 of encore I switch into Dugtrio, during turns 2 and 3 I attack while they're using their setup move and since Dugtrio is faster than most pokes I attack before them on the third turn and hopefully ko them. 9/10 the best move to use is Earthquake, the other moves are there just in case. Again, this Dugtrio is very standard and there's not much leeway in movesets or EV spread with this guy. I briefly considered a life orb set replacing sucker punch with stealth rock because I think entry hazards on this team would be beneficial but the damage would build off if I encored a toxic and/or the opponent set up entry hazards already. Plus Dugtrio usually dips out once he gets the kill so being able to switch moves isn't that great.
Alakazam (F) @ Choice Scarf
Trait: Magic Guard
EVs: 252 SpA / 252 Spe / 4 HP
Timid Nature (+Spe, -Atk)
- Trick
- Torment
- Psychic
- Shadow Ball
I love this poke so much. If I'm not leading with Wobbuffet then I'm leading with Alakazam. Alakazam is so damn versatile. Depending on my opponent's team Alakazam can either function as a strong as shit sweeper that will never get outsped, a wall breaker by tricking a scarf, a poke to force switches by tormenting after Wobbuffet encores, or a suicide kill by tricking and then switching to Wobbuffet after they kill Alakazam (or switch to him if Alakazam is still alive). The best part about Alakazam is magic guard so he somewhat alleviates my teams weakness to entry hazards AND he can take encored will-o-wisps and toxics that I don't want my Dugtrio to take. You may think that I should replace Torment with anther attacking move on Alakzam but I don't really need it, plus I get a lot of use out of torment. It's especially good if they're down to their last pokemon.
Gliscor (F) @Toxic Orb
Trait: Poison Heal
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 Atk
Relaxed Nature (+Def, -Spe)
0 Spe IVs
- Protect
- Toxic
- Earthquake
- U-Turn
Now comes the part of the team that I'm not as confident about. Gliscor is good at absorbing hits and countering Tyranitar but not much else. He stalls out a few pokemon but there are too many steel pokemon out there to make toxic be of much use. His main use is performing a slow u-turn so that he absorbs hits and I can keep Wobbuffet healthy or switch Dugtrio into a pokemon that he counters 100% of the time. 0 Speed IVs are there to ensure that he will almost always take the hit but he still outspeeds Tyranitar so that's a plus. Don't get me wrong, Gliscor isn't completely useless, he sets up for Wobbuffet very well and can stall out when the situation arises but I feel like another pokemon or different set would be better. Some help with this slot would be much appreciated though.
Chansey (F) @ Eviolite
Trait: Natural Cure
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 Spe
Bold Nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Toxic
- Softboiled
- Seismic Toss
- Healing Wish
Everyone here knows just how tough Chansey is. She can tank hits like a fucking boss, even physical hits. Nothing gets past Chansey. Unfortunately Chansey can't get past much either. She serves basically the same exact role of Gliscor except for Special hits. If they have a lot of steel or ghost pokemon then she pretty much has no use so help on an alternate set is needed. Healing wish is here to stay though, I can't describe in words how great of a move healing wish is. I need to have a healing wish user on this team. I already told you how Wobbuffet usually takes out at least one pokemon, with healing wish he'll take out two, maybe three pokemon. Basically, I toxic everything in sight and once Chansey has served her purpose I just sac her with healing wish. I get momentum on my side, I instantly get Wobbuffet on the field and I will have most likely killed another one of their pokemon. Great move.
Forretress (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Sturdy
EVs: 248 HP / 132 Def / 120 SpD / 8 Atk
Relaxed Nature (+Def, -Spe)
0 Spe IVs
- Stealth Rock
- Rapid Spin
- Gyro Ball
- Volt Switch
My stealth rock setter/spinner. I'll lead with Forretress every once in a while. His main purpose is to set down rocks but he does have a few surprising uses as a counter to certain pokemon. This team is very gengar weak so I can switch Forrestress in, take around 30% damage and gyro ball for over 50% or break a sub. I'll most likely lose my Forretress but I then get a free switch to Alakzam and force Gengar to switch and take stealth rock damage upon re-entry. Volt switch is there for scouting purposes. Forretress is not important to my team once I get rid of their stealth rock and set up my own so I can play recklessly with him. I'll often switch him into pokemon when I don't know if they have HP Ice or HP Fire so that Forretress can take the fall instead of Gliscor and I can learn more about their moveset. Once the rocks are set up he pretty much serves the same purpose as Gliscor, tank hits and switch out.
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The teams biggest weakness in order from most threatening to least are: Skarmory, Gengar, Steel types, and pranksters. Skarmory because it takes a lot of prediction skills to kill it. I either have to trick a scarf onto it, play around it until the very end after which I can shell smash twice and 1hko it, or torment it, then switch to Wobbuffet and hope he doesn't switch before I get to Wobbuffet. My counters all work in conjuction with each other so if I lose one of them Skarm becomes exponentially harder to deal with. Unfortunately if I send in Wobbuffet without tormenting first then I'll encore. They'll use either spikes, whirlwind, or roost and then just stall the fuck out of me.
Gengar is another pain in the ass, nothing switches in safely on it except for Chansey and Chansey can't do shit to Gengar. The only pokemon that can beat Gengar is Alakazam so if I lose Alakzam then I'm fucked. Likewise if I'm dealing with a sub Gengar then I'm similarly in trouble.
Update: Gengar is not much of a problem anymore now that I added Forretress to my team.
Steel types give me trouble only because Alakazam can't do much to them and Gliscor and Chansey can't stall them out. Gliscor has earthquake but with no attack EVs it doesn't do as much as you would think. They aren't that hard to deal with because typing makes no difference to Wobbuffet and Dugtrio can usually beat them out. The exception to this is Scizor who I have to play around until I can find out what set he's running. If I get lucky and get a scarf on him I'm good though.
Pranksters aren't impossible to deal with but still annoying. Them tricking items onto me can really fuck with my plans and they usually have taunt so my Wobbuffet can't do shit to them. Plus they can substitute so Gliscor and Chansey have nothing on them.
The thing I like about this team is that for the most part it tears through the meta. Heatran, Rotom, Landorous, Thunderus, Haxorous (once I know his set), and other popular pokemon have absolutely nothing on this team.