Oglemi
Borf
So, it had been a really long time since I played with full stall, and I figured I'd give it a shot again now that Honchkrow and Sharpedo were out of the tier. I absolutely detest laddering, mostly because I get sick of it after about 10 straight battles, but I did peak at about 1250 before tilting (which I'm proud of lol) and I know this is a good team since I can win consistently with it whenever I do get on the ladder. But, it is heavily flawed, which I figured I'd make my second RMT ever with it and see what the community can come up with to fix it.
The inspiration for the team name comes from the pic above. Zoidberg is just cool, and Tangrowth kinda reminds me of Zoidberg, whom the team is heavily based around.
Team at a Glance:
Also I'm not really one for words so the descriptions are going to be pretty short and sweet.
The Cleric + Stealth Rock setter
Uxie @ Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 Spe
Bold Nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Stealth Rock
- U-turn
- Psychic
- Heal Bell
Uxie does a couple things for the team. Firstly, it sets up Stealth Rock, which is the only form of entry hazards on team, keeping really dangerous threats such as Moltres and Scyther less of a threat. Beyond that though, SR isn't too important to the team since it doesn't rely on phazing, but more Toxic stalling and out-tanking the opponent. The second, and most important role that Uxie plays on the team is a cleric with Heal Bell. My team is super vulnerable to status, mostly to Toxic. So, if I see that the opponent may be carrying multiple forms of status I need to keep Uxie alive in order to get a Heal Bell off later so Tangrowth and Spiritomb can do what they need to do.
Otherwise, Uxie is actually the least important member of the team and the one I'm most ready to part with. However, if I give up Uxie, I need another cleric to replace it. Also, I like Uxie's ability to stand as a stalwart to most of the Fighting-types in the tier (not named Gallade), being able to blast them out with Psychic when it comes down to it. Beyond that though Uxie is pretty replaceable.
The Spinblocker
Spiritomb (M) @ Choice Band
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 172 HP / 252 Atk / 84 Spe
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SpA)
- Shadow Sneak
- Sucker Punch
- Trick
- Pursuit
I love CB Spiritomb for a couple of reasons. Firstly, the strong priority that Spiritomb packs has saved me on more than one occasion. Secondly, being able to Trick the CB onto a wall is usually my only way of getting past other stall teams, especially against enemy Clefable. Thirdly, CB Tomb is my enemy Ghost killer, allowing Cryogonal to spin later in the battle without a hitch. The Speed EVs let Spiritomb outrun minimum Speed Dusknoir and below, smashing them with one of Tomb's STAB moves. Typically as soon as Cofag or Rotom come in I'll send out Tomb and click Pursuit. If they switch out they're basically dead, and if they do anything else, I'm still in an OK position since they're now forced to stay in. Life Orb versions of both are a bit tricky to handle, since they can both 2HKO Tomb, but if I get them with Sucker Punch, then they're basically dead and Spiritomb will have done his job of eliminating the threat (for the most part anyway).
Spiritomb is also about my only real defense against SubBU Gallade, which can other sweep my team without much trouble, especially if Mandibuzz has taken some damage in the battle already. The only thing that sucks about CB Tomb is the damage from entry hazards and utter vulnerability he's left in if I mispredict a CB Sucker Punch.
The Spinner
Cryogonal @ Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Calm Nature (+SpD, -Atk)
- Ice Beam
- Rapid Spin
- Toxic
- Recover
Cryogonal is a fantastic spinner and really quite underrated. The reason I chose Cryogonal is because it's a nice wall to strong BoltBeam attackers, namely Manectric (as long as I avoid Overheat), Galvantula, and Lanturn. Usually when I bring out Cryo my opponent will switch to their Ghost predicting a Rapid Spin, and that's when I nail them with Toxic. From there I switch out to Spiritomb to finish the job. If they switch in Rotom and I hit it with Toxic I'll usually stay in and go for the 2HKO with Ice Beam. I also love Cryo because he's immune to Spikes and TSpikes, which my team is otherwise pretty weak to, and I really needed a spinner that can get rid of them.
As I said, Cryo is about my only real defense against strong Electric- and Ice-type attacks, forming an excellent core with the rest of the walls listed below, hence the full Special Defense EV spread. It's also nice being able to switch in Cryo against most of the Grass-types of the tier and threaten a OHKO or 2HKO against Grass-types. I've been thinking of running Haze somewhere since I have a bit of a Lilligant and Omastar weakness, but I'd have a real hard time replacing Toxic for it since it's so nice to nail the Ghosts with it. Thoughts here?
The Big Bad Walls
Mandibuzz (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Big Pecks
EVs: 248 HP / 244 SpD / 16 Spe
Careful Nature (+SpD, -SpA)
- Taunt
- Roost
- Whirlwind
- Brave Bird
I'm not really sure what to do with Mandibuzz. It fills a really nice roll in being able to kinda combat SubBU Gallade, and it's my only real defense against Clefable who otherwise completely owns my team, but beyond that the role it fills isn't all that important. She also gives me extra Ice- and Electric-type weaknesses that the team could really do without. However, she has come in handy in being able to outstall the opponent when the going gets tough, and having Taunt handy on the team is a real godsend against opposing stall teams. She's also a nice roadblock to Lilligant if another team member is already asleep. Finally, she's an important part of the defensive core, taking most special attacks like a freaking beast, and forming a nice duo with Cryogonal and the physical walls.
The thing that really irks me about Mandi though is that she's basically a free switch in for Steel-types, and I can't have that kind of pressure on a stall team. Granted, Alomomola and Tangrowth can handle most of the Steel-types in the tier, so it isn't that big of a deal, but it's something I'd really like to avoid with this team.
Alomomola (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Hydration
EVs: 36 HP / 252 Def / 220 SpD
Impish Nature (+Def, -SpA)
- Waterfall
- Wish
- Protect
- Toxic
Alomomola is a really cool, and it does a couple of major things for the team, and the team definitely wouldn't be as good without it. Firstly, it's my hard counter to any Fire-type in the tier, bar Magmortar and LO HP Grass Moltres (but even Moltres isn't that big of a deal if I can get off a Wish). Secondly, Alomomola's Wishes are amazing, basically fully healing Spiritomb and Cryogonal. Most Pokemon that can take advantage of Alomomola hate Toxic, and is its only real weapon against much of the tier, since Waterfall is pretty weak (though it does do about 20% to most threats on average). The only suckish thing about Alom is that it's basically a free switch for Heal Bell Lanturn, as well as things like Clefable and Sigilyph. However, I'm not really willing to part with the big fish, too many times has it come down to just Alomomola and it's come out on top.
It's also physical wall number one on the team. It's not quite bulky enough to switch into really strong attackers like CB Aggron (it takes about 60% from CB Head Smash) or Medicham, but most other physical attackers don't even come close to 2HKOing it, and the physical attackers that Alom can't take on, Tangrowth can with stride.
Tangrowth (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Relaxed Nature (+Def, -Spe)
- Giga Drain
- Hidden Power Fire
- Leech Seed
- Sleep Powder
Ahhh, my pride and joy. Tangrowth is pretty much the reason that team Zoidberg can even really work as all. The number of threats that Tangrowth just outright counters is amazing, from Aggron, Medicham, Aerodactyl, to Hitmonlee, all fall before Tangrowth. And the Fire-types that Tangrowth can't take on, especially Entei, Alomomola just eats alive. The set is simple, though I'm willing to shake up the second slot. Giga Drain serves as the token STAB move, and breaks the Substitute of just about any attacker in the tier uninvested (except for SubBU Gallade, which I'll get to). Leech Seed is also an awesome tool to let a teammate heal up some damage when Tangrowth needs to switch out. Sleep Powder is the ace in the hole, and lets me put a sweeping threat out of commission.
I just haven't found much use for Hidden Power Fire, but it's such a nice tool to have against special attacking or SubSeed Sceptile, as well as stuff like Ferroseed and Whimsicott. But beyond that it doesn't fine much use, but I know that as soon as I get rid of it I'll miss it. Any suggestions for this slot?
Finally, I've been thinking of dumping some EVs into Special Attack so that Tangrowth can break the Subs of SubBU Gallade, but I'm afraid to move any EVs away from Tangrowth's bulk, since I'm so reliant on him to take on Aggron and Medicham. Any thoughts here?
Alright, well there's the team. Hope you liked it! I can't wait to hear what you guys have to say about it, and hopefully we can turn it into a really solid team with a couple of fixes.
Threatlist:
I'm lazy, so I'm only going to list the stuff that this team has major problems against in the threatlist:
Uxie @ Leftovers
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 Spd
Bold Nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Stealth Rock
- U-turn
- Psychic
- Heal Bell
Mandibuzz (F) @ Leftovers
Trait: Big Pecks
EVs: 248 HP / 244 SDef / 16 Spd
Careful Nature (+SDef, -SAtk)
- Taunt
- Roost
- Toxic
- Brave Bird
Spiritomb (M) @ Choice Band
Trait: Pressure
EVs: 172 HP / 252 Atk / 84 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Shadow Sneak
- Sucker Punch
- Trick
- Pursuit
Alomomola (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Hydration
EVs: 36 HP / 252 Def / 220 SDef
Impish Nature (+Def, -SAtk)
- Waterfall
- Wish
- Protect
- Toxic
Tangrowth (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Regenerator
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SDef
Relaxed Nature (+Def, -Spd)
- Giga Drain
- Hidden Power [Fire]
- Leech Seed
- Sleep Powder
Cryogonal @ Leftovers
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SDef
Calm Nature (+SDef, -Atk)
- Ice Beam
- Rapid Spin
- Toxic
- Recover
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 Spd
Bold Nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Stealth Rock
- U-turn
- Psychic
- Heal Bell
Mandibuzz (F) @ Leftovers
Trait: Big Pecks
EVs: 248 HP / 244 SDef / 16 Spd
Careful Nature (+SDef, -SAtk)
- Taunt
- Roost
- Toxic
- Brave Bird
Spiritomb (M) @ Choice Band
Trait: Pressure
EVs: 172 HP / 252 Atk / 84 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Shadow Sneak
- Sucker Punch
- Trick
- Pursuit
Alomomola (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Hydration
EVs: 36 HP / 252 Def / 220 SDef
Impish Nature (+Def, -SAtk)
- Waterfall
- Wish
- Protect
- Toxic
Tangrowth (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Regenerator
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SDef
Relaxed Nature (+Def, -Spd)
- Giga Drain
- Hidden Power [Fire]
- Leech Seed
- Sleep Powder
Cryogonal @ Leftovers
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SDef
Calm Nature (+SDef, -Atk)
- Ice Beam
- Rapid Spin
- Toxic
- Recover
Rate away!