Welcome to Smogon! Take a moment to read the Introduction to Smogon for a run-down on everything Smogon, and make sure you take some time to read the global rules.
Welcome to RMT's first RU Team Rating Tournament! In this tournament, we will provide each of you with a team to rate every round. You will then rate the given team and submit it to the Team Raters you are assigned. When the round is over, the participants who submitted the best rates will move on to the next round.
Important notes:
Signups will be first come first serve. We're probably looking at a 16-man tournament, maybe more depending on how many people sign up.
The rates in the final two rounds will count towards the Team Rater
The winner will be awarded voice status in the RMT room on PS if they have shown an interest in getting involved (If you are currently an active voice and win, you may be promoted to driver).
Each round will last one week. Failure to rate the team within the one week time period will result in disqualification unless you're able to give us a valid reason. Please only sign up if you can commit to rating one team every week for the next month.
If you are eliminated and would like some feedback on your rate and how you can improve going forward, feel free to ask us.
Participants please PM your rate to Arifeen. You have until 23:59 EST on Saturday, 14 May to submit your rate.
Here's the team for Round 1. Major credits to fran17 for making it and writing the descriptions.
Escavalier (M) @ Choice Band
Ability: Overcoat
EVs: 172 HP / 252 Atk / 84 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Megahorn
- Drill Run
- Iron Head
- Pursuit
CB Escavalier is the pokémon I decided to build around. Its impressive attack stat, increased by the Band boost and a very good coverage is what makes Escavalier a really powerful wallbreaker in RU. Bug/Steel is a good typing which allows it to threaten many defensive core in the tier, while also being a good pivot. Pursuit allows Escavalier to trap weaker mons and Psychic-types.
Houndoom (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Hasty Nature
- Sucker Punch
- Dark Pulse
- Fire Blast
- Hidden Power [Water]
With fire being the only Escavalier weakness I thought Houndoom was a good fit, as Flash Fire lets it to be a much powerful wallbreaker, and they formed a nice offensive core too. Hidden Power Water hits Emboar and Diancie, weakening the former for Escavalier and hitting the latter, which could otherwise take on Houndoom's STAB moves very well. Sucker Punch gives a nice priority to take on weakened mons.
At this point the team struggled a bit againist bulky water types, so Tangrowth was added to check them better. Leaf Storm hits really hard thanks to the LO boost, Sleep Powder can cripple usual Grass type checks like Garbodor, Weezing and Bronzong. Sludge Bomb and HP Fire gives coverage to hit Grass and Steel types which resists Tangro STAB. Regenerator gives Tangrowth more longevity and less recoil from the Life Orb, so it can act better as a pivot.
At this point the team was really weak to Fighting mons and to Fletchinder, so I felt like Jellicent was a good fit, being a good check to both these mons, while also acting as a decent stall breaker with his combination of WoW and Taunt. Recover gives Jellicent more longevity.
Granbull (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Impish Nature
- Heal Bell
- Thunder Wave
- Play Rough
- Earthquake
Jellicent helped with the fight problem, though a single check weak to Knock Off or to secondary STABs wasn't enough, so I went for Granbull, which helps againist Dragon types as well. Heal Bell gives the team cleric support, while Thunder Wave gives some speed control, which is something the team is missing as it is fairly slow. Earthquake does some good damage to Steel, Fire and Poison types that likes to switch on Granbull.
Rhyperior @ Leftovers
Ability: Solid Rock
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Atk / 252 SpD
Careful Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Ice Punch
- Earthquake
- Rock Blast
At this point I needed of a Stealth Rock user, and since the team looked weak to Fletch, Houndoom and Tyrantrum I went for Rhyperior. EdgeQuake STAB is really nice, and Ice Punch hits Virizion and other grass types which threaten Rhyperior, and it hits Flygon which can switch on Rhyperior and defog the hazards he sets.
Escavalier (M) @ Choice Band
Ability: Overcoat
EVs: 172 HP / 252 Atk / 84 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Megahorn
- Drill Run
- Iron Head
- Pursuit
Houndoom (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Hasty Nature
- Sucker Punch
- Dark Pulse
- Fire Blast
- Hidden Power [Water]
Alright so the rates are in, expect the next round to be up by Thursday latest! If you are eliminated feel free to ask for feedback and ways to improve going forward.
