Ok once I saw Randorosu I had decided I would play a Sand Storm team in Gen 5, but sadly this generation had brought another ''great'' Sandstorm pokemon recognized a lot more than Randorosu is, we all know it Doryuuzu. Of course while it is mainly a Randorosu SS team this team has both.
This team has had moderate success on PO, but it just has something about it that makes it lose to Stall and Rain (only if I lose the weather war of course). I need help against Stall more than anything. Another great threat is Birijion. I need something to beat Stall and Birijion and maybe help vs Rain, but Rain isn't a priority with Politoed and Manaphy being still tested without the all overpowered ubers gone. Sun teams also are a decent size threat.
At a glance:
As you can see even at first glance it isn't what you expect. It has Rankurusu and Slowbro.
A look deeper:
Hippowdon (F) @ Leftovers Trait: Sand Stream
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SDef
Impish Nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Earthquake
- Stealth Rock
- Roar
- Slack Off
Hippowdon is my pokemon that sets up Stealth Rock and Sand Storm. It also an ok Physical wall along with Slowbro. What much else can I say? It is a Hippowdon it does what it does... The reason I chose Hippowdon over Tyranitar is just that I felt bulk is more needed than the power T-Tar gives. I have tried both naturally. Sorry for the short description. :(
Randorosu (M) @ Life Orb
Trait: Sand Power
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SAtk / 252 Spd
Naive Nature (+Spd, -SDef)
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Swords Dance
The main sweeper of the team as I stated in the beginning. After a Swords Dance almost nothing can take a hit from this monster it even does about 80% to the Skarmory I tend to face but I get Whirlwinded out and usually into something like DORYUUZU who can't do a whopping 20% to Skarmory. I mean really Doryuuzu is much too weak to be a sweeper, but I'll go deeper into that later. Earthquake and Stone Edge allow for the infamous QuakeEdge combo. Hidden Power Ice may seem out of place but it OHKOs all Gliscors that try to come in and troll me with Fling Acrobat thinking I can't touch them. I used to run Sub over HP Ice and Lefties over LOm, but I noticed LO had a great power boost KOing stuff that normally didn't die. I can't recall what they were any more though.... :( Most of the time I get an SD up I end up sweeping my enemy if the don't have anything faster (speed is Randorosu's downfall so I have been thinking of placing Rock Polish over HP Ice). This thing can OHKO stuff like Nattorei, Swampert, Hippowdon, Gliscor and other physical walls bar Bronzong and Skarmory but doing a hefty chunk to Skarm. This helps sweep with Doryuuzu (Don't worry I don't neglect the mole).
Slowbro (F) @ Leftovers
Trait: Regeneration
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SAtk
Bold Nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Boil Over
- Slack Off
- Flamethrower
- Toxic
My 2nd physical wall. Slowbro. I see no one use this EVER. I mean granted it is a Slowbro so what should I expect, but still. Regeneration is key here. Healing 33% upon switching is magnificent. If only this had Wish... (c'mon Mamanbou get that DW ability already). Yeah this can take hits from nearly every physical attacker. Scizor gives this poke problems, but if it gives me a chance I can Flamethrower it into oblivion. :) This is a great Toxic staller that causes many switches (on both sides xD). With SR and Spikes up this is just a monster. This is also helpful against rain, but Slowbro can take only so much beating and considering there is Ludicolo there as well to troll me with grass moves. :(
Doryuuzu (F) @ Balloon
Trait: Sand Throw
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Swords Dance
- Earthquake
- Rock Slide
- X-Scissor
The infamous mole thing is here. I did say Doryuuzu is too weak (granted I run Jolly and Balloon). Doryuuzu mainly functions as my revenge killer as most teams have atleast a check to Doryuuzu to prevent a sweep. This can SD up and clean the field after Rankurusu or Randorosu have dealt massive damage. Another much too Standard poke so I can't think much to say about it that isn't obvious. Balloon helps me against say Choiced Ground attacks poke that only one EQ as their attacking move (Hippowdon bar Ice Fang and Gen 4 Gliscor).
I might change this to Adamant.
Nattorei (F) @ Leftovers
Trait: Iron Barbs
EVs: 252 HP / 8 Def / 248 SDef
Sassy Nature (+SDef, -Spd)
- Spikes
- Leech Seed
- Gyro Ball
- Power Whip
Spiker to help compensate for Doryuuzu's weakness and extra damage is always nice. :) Leech Seed to heal itself. This is half a filler as I can't think of much anything else to put here... Set up spikes, Leech Seed, wall rain (till they hit you a million time and you die). This also is a great defensive core with Slowbro. Leftovers to heal.
Rankurusu (M) @ Life Orb
Trait: Magic Guard
EVs: 220 HP / 252 Def / 36 SAtk
Modest Nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Calm Mind
- Psychic
- Focus Blast
- Recover
CM set suggested to me to beat Stall and CM Birijion.
Offensive Threats
Azelf - Can cause me some trouble but with good switches this is beaten by getting Dory in for free. I can also set up Trick Room and then kill it with Rankurusu.
Birijion - Big threat. HUGE Threat. I've tried Scarf Fire types over Rankurusu but nothing seems to work. I just don't know what makes this so hard for me to beat.
Breloom - Not as bad as Birijion but still hard with his 100% sleep spore.
Gengar - Actually I haven't thought of this at all. I think this might actually be a threat to my team.
Infernape - Revenged and depending on the set Slowbro.
Latios - Nattorei.
Randorosu - Slowbro but I'm not sure if a +2 EQ kills me actually. If it is choiced smart switches are enough.
Rankurusu - Can be a pain but Randorosu and Doryuuzu can handle this.
Roserade - Same as the Breloom.
Sazandora - Smart switches and revenge. So this means it is a threat.
Scizor - SD set and be some trouble but otherwise Hippowdon and deal with it.
Shandera - Nothing much, but nobody uses it.
Starmie - Nattorei
This team has had moderate success on PO, but it just has something about it that makes it lose to Stall and Rain (only if I lose the weather war of course). I need help against Stall more than anything. Another great threat is Birijion. I need something to beat Stall and Birijion and maybe help vs Rain, but Rain isn't a priority with Politoed and Manaphy being still tested without the all overpowered ubers gone. Sun teams also are a decent size threat.
At a glance:
As you can see even at first glance it isn't what you expect. It has Rankurusu and Slowbro.
A look deeper:
Hippowdon (F) @ Leftovers Trait: Sand Stream
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SDef
Impish Nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Earthquake
- Stealth Rock
- Roar
- Slack Off
Hippowdon is my pokemon that sets up Stealth Rock and Sand Storm. It also an ok Physical wall along with Slowbro. What much else can I say? It is a Hippowdon it does what it does... The reason I chose Hippowdon over Tyranitar is just that I felt bulk is more needed than the power T-Tar gives. I have tried both naturally. Sorry for the short description. :(
Randorosu (M) @ Life Orb
Trait: Sand Power
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SAtk / 252 Spd
Naive Nature (+Spd, -SDef)
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Swords Dance
The main sweeper of the team as I stated in the beginning. After a Swords Dance almost nothing can take a hit from this monster it even does about 80% to the Skarmory I tend to face but I get Whirlwinded out and usually into something like DORYUUZU who can't do a whopping 20% to Skarmory. I mean really Doryuuzu is much too weak to be a sweeper, but I'll go deeper into that later. Earthquake and Stone Edge allow for the infamous QuakeEdge combo. Hidden Power Ice may seem out of place but it OHKOs all Gliscors that try to come in and troll me with Fling Acrobat thinking I can't touch them. I used to run Sub over HP Ice and Lefties over LOm, but I noticed LO had a great power boost KOing stuff that normally didn't die. I can't recall what they were any more though.... :( Most of the time I get an SD up I end up sweeping my enemy if the don't have anything faster (speed is Randorosu's downfall so I have been thinking of placing Rock Polish over HP Ice). This thing can OHKO stuff like Nattorei, Swampert, Hippowdon, Gliscor and other physical walls bar Bronzong and Skarmory but doing a hefty chunk to Skarm. This helps sweep with Doryuuzu (Don't worry I don't neglect the mole).
Slowbro (F) @ Leftovers
Trait: Regeneration
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SAtk
Bold Nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Boil Over
- Slack Off
- Flamethrower
- Toxic
My 2nd physical wall. Slowbro. I see no one use this EVER. I mean granted it is a Slowbro so what should I expect, but still. Regeneration is key here. Healing 33% upon switching is magnificent. If only this had Wish... (c'mon Mamanbou get that DW ability already). Yeah this can take hits from nearly every physical attacker. Scizor gives this poke problems, but if it gives me a chance I can Flamethrower it into oblivion. :) This is a great Toxic staller that causes many switches (on both sides xD). With SR and Spikes up this is just a monster. This is also helpful against rain, but Slowbro can take only so much beating and considering there is Ludicolo there as well to troll me with grass moves. :(
Doryuuzu (F) @ Balloon
Trait: Sand Throw
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Swords Dance
- Earthquake
- Rock Slide
- X-Scissor
The infamous mole thing is here. I did say Doryuuzu is too weak (granted I run Jolly and Balloon). Doryuuzu mainly functions as my revenge killer as most teams have atleast a check to Doryuuzu to prevent a sweep. This can SD up and clean the field after Rankurusu or Randorosu have dealt massive damage. Another much too Standard poke so I can't think much to say about it that isn't obvious. Balloon helps me against say Choiced Ground attacks poke that only one EQ as their attacking move (Hippowdon bar Ice Fang and Gen 4 Gliscor).
I might change this to Adamant.
Nattorei (F) @ Leftovers
Trait: Iron Barbs
EVs: 252 HP / 8 Def / 248 SDef
Sassy Nature (+SDef, -Spd)
- Spikes
- Leech Seed
- Gyro Ball
- Power Whip
Spiker to help compensate for Doryuuzu's weakness and extra damage is always nice. :) Leech Seed to heal itself. This is half a filler as I can't think of much anything else to put here... Set up spikes, Leech Seed, wall rain (till they hit you a million time and you die). This also is a great defensive core with Slowbro. Leftovers to heal.
Rankurusu (M) @ Life Orb
Trait: Magic Guard
EVs: 220 HP / 252 Def / 36 SAtk
Modest Nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Calm Mind
- Psychic
- Focus Blast
- Recover
CM set suggested to me to beat Stall and CM Birijion.
Offensive Threats