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So whadda ya think? At the time of writing this, this team is 13-4, an amazing record if I do say so. I hope for some solid input and I know that the Smogon community will not fail to deliver. Any recommended tweaks? Checks I haven't considered? Please let me know!
Hello all! So I'm just recently getting back into the monotype metagame, and I thought I'd start off with one of my top two types from back when I used to play this metagame: steel (duh, it's in the cleverly written title that's probably been used a thousand times). I've always loved the steel type and my other main, ground, simply because of their versatility and power. This team hopes to showcase this, of course. Anyway, this is a rate my team, so what am I doing with all of this not-a-team nonsense? Let's get right into it.
Klefki @ Leftovers
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Def
Impish Nature
- Play Rough
- Foul Play
- Thunder Wave
- Light Screen
So this set is fairly self explanatory, but I'll go ahead and explain my reasoning real quick. The Death Keys are a must have on a steel team, especially mine, because of their access to the amazing Prankster ability. To make the most of this ability, I'm running Thunder Wave to make sure that most threats to my team, such as the ever-common fighting mono, are kept slower than I am. Light Screen helps to make up for the special defense that any steel team finds itself lacking. Play Rough is a simple STAB so that Klefki isn't entirely screwed on its own, and Foul Play keeps boosting threats in check. Leftovers are used to give Klefki a bit more longevity, though I've also considered Light Clay, and the EV spread and nature give it enough physical bulk to set up what it needs to.
Lucario @ Life Orb
Ability: Justified
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Nasty Plot
- Flash Cannon
- Vacuum Wave
- Dragon Pulse
There aren't many special attacking steel types, but Lucario fits the bill just fine. From the top down on this set, the Life Orb lets Lucario hit for maximum power while still allowing it a chance to set up. Justified simply gives Lucario a great switch in tool, and the EV spread gives Lucario his maximum sweeping potential. Nasty Plot is a must, boosting Lucario's Special attack to extreme levels and allowing it to bust through almost anything. Flash Cannon is a simple STAB, Vacuum Wave makes up for my team's lack of priority, and Dragon Pulse checks Dragon mono teams for the most part.
Bisharp @ Lum Berry
Ability: Defiant
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Iron Head
- Swords Dance
- Sucker Punch
- Knock Off
On the other end of the sweeper spectrum we have Bisharp with its incredible attack stat. A Lum Berry forces the enemy to waste a turn if they decide that the best way to check Bisharp is to burn it to reduce its attack. Defiant allows Bisharp to switch into webs and get essentially a free Swords Dance, allowing it a chance to sweep with Sucker Punch. The EV spread isn't focused on speed because honestly base 75 won't really get it anywhere and it has priority in Sucker Punch as it is. Iron Head and Knock Off allow Bisharp to take advantage of its great offensive typing while keeping walls from healing with leftovers or Guts users from activating a flame orb. SD and SP are self explanatory I think.
Ferrothorn @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Iron Barbs
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Atk / 252 Def
Impish Nature
- Power Whip
- Stealth Rock
- Toxic
- Explosion
What steel team would be complete without a Ferrothorn? Incredible defense paired with an incredible typing makes Ferro an imperative member on this team. This is a fairly standard set, with Ferro setting up Rocks for the team if the opponent happens to be running a type weak to them and whittling away at them with Toxic when they resist Rocks. Power Whip gives Ferro some reliable damage output while Explosion is on this set with the hopes of taking someone with it when it inevitably gets taken out. Rocky Helmet allows ferro to punish physical attackers greatly thanks to also having iron barbs.
Heatran @ Air Balloon
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 248 HP / 252 SpA / 8 SpD
Modest Nature
- Dragon Pulse
- Flash Cannon
- Lava Plume
- Earth Power
If you have Ferrothorn, you've gotta have its polar opposite. This is where Heatran comes in. Thanks to Flash Fire, Heatran absorbs any attack the opposing Megazard Y might throw at Ferrothorn and Throws a devastating Dragon Pulse right back at it. This is a standard Bulky Special Sweeper set, and with stats like Heatran's that's an easy role to play. Air Balloon is a no brainer, of course, with Heatran's 4x weakness to ground.
Jirachi @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Serene Grace
EVs: 252 HP / 176 SpD / 80 Spe
Careful Nature
- Trick
- Iron Head
- Zen Headbutt
- Body Slam
Last but certainly not least, we have the tiny legendary Jirachi. With 100 in every stat, Jirachi can play many roles and has a moveset to match. Personally, I enjoy annoying the hell out of people, so I've developed the most obnoxious set I can think of. Trick forces a choice scarf onto any setup and practically has priority thanks to the Scarf itself. Body Slam has an amazing 60% paralysis chance thanks to Serene Grace, providing ample parahax, and Iron Head and Zen Headbutt both have 60% flinch chance AND get STAB thanks to Jirachi's once-amazing but still great typing. The EV spread gives jirachi some much needed bulk of course and some speed to outspeed paralyzed threats.
Klefki @ Leftovers
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Def
Impish Nature
- Play Rough
- Foul Play
- Thunder Wave
- Light Screen
So this set is fairly self explanatory, but I'll go ahead and explain my reasoning real quick. The Death Keys are a must have on a steel team, especially mine, because of their access to the amazing Prankster ability. To make the most of this ability, I'm running Thunder Wave to make sure that most threats to my team, such as the ever-common fighting mono, are kept slower than I am. Light Screen helps to make up for the special defense that any steel team finds itself lacking. Play Rough is a simple STAB so that Klefki isn't entirely screwed on its own, and Foul Play keeps boosting threats in check. Leftovers are used to give Klefki a bit more longevity, though I've also considered Light Clay, and the EV spread and nature give it enough physical bulk to set up what it needs to.
Lucario @ Life Orb
Ability: Justified
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Nasty Plot
- Flash Cannon
- Vacuum Wave
- Dragon Pulse
There aren't many special attacking steel types, but Lucario fits the bill just fine. From the top down on this set, the Life Orb lets Lucario hit for maximum power while still allowing it a chance to set up. Justified simply gives Lucario a great switch in tool, and the EV spread gives Lucario his maximum sweeping potential. Nasty Plot is a must, boosting Lucario's Special attack to extreme levels and allowing it to bust through almost anything. Flash Cannon is a simple STAB, Vacuum Wave makes up for my team's lack of priority, and Dragon Pulse checks Dragon mono teams for the most part.
Bisharp @ Lum Berry
Ability: Defiant
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Iron Head
- Swords Dance
- Sucker Punch
- Knock Off
On the other end of the sweeper spectrum we have Bisharp with its incredible attack stat. A Lum Berry forces the enemy to waste a turn if they decide that the best way to check Bisharp is to burn it to reduce its attack. Defiant allows Bisharp to switch into webs and get essentially a free Swords Dance, allowing it a chance to sweep with Sucker Punch. The EV spread isn't focused on speed because honestly base 75 won't really get it anywhere and it has priority in Sucker Punch as it is. Iron Head and Knock Off allow Bisharp to take advantage of its great offensive typing while keeping walls from healing with leftovers or Guts users from activating a flame orb. SD and SP are self explanatory I think.
Ferrothorn @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Iron Barbs
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Atk / 252 Def
Impish Nature
- Power Whip
- Stealth Rock
- Toxic
- Explosion
What steel team would be complete without a Ferrothorn? Incredible defense paired with an incredible typing makes Ferro an imperative member on this team. This is a fairly standard set, with Ferro setting up Rocks for the team if the opponent happens to be running a type weak to them and whittling away at them with Toxic when they resist Rocks. Power Whip gives Ferro some reliable damage output while Explosion is on this set with the hopes of taking someone with it when it inevitably gets taken out. Rocky Helmet allows ferro to punish physical attackers greatly thanks to also having iron barbs.
Heatran @ Air Balloon
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 248 HP / 252 SpA / 8 SpD
Modest Nature
- Dragon Pulse
- Flash Cannon
- Lava Plume
- Earth Power
If you have Ferrothorn, you've gotta have its polar opposite. This is where Heatran comes in. Thanks to Flash Fire, Heatran absorbs any attack the opposing Megazard Y might throw at Ferrothorn and Throws a devastating Dragon Pulse right back at it. This is a standard Bulky Special Sweeper set, and with stats like Heatran's that's an easy role to play. Air Balloon is a no brainer, of course, with Heatran's 4x weakness to ground.
Jirachi @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Serene Grace
EVs: 252 HP / 176 SpD / 80 Spe
Careful Nature
- Trick
- Iron Head
- Zen Headbutt
- Body Slam
Last but certainly not least, we have the tiny legendary Jirachi. With 100 in every stat, Jirachi can play many roles and has a moveset to match. Personally, I enjoy annoying the hell out of people, so I've developed the most obnoxious set I can think of. Trick forces a choice scarf onto any setup and practically has priority thanks to the Scarf itself. Body Slam has an amazing 60% paralysis chance thanks to Serene Grace, providing ample parahax, and Iron Head and Zen Headbutt both have 60% flinch chance AND get STAB thanks to Jirachi's once-amazing but still great typing. The EV spread gives jirachi some much needed bulk of course and some speed to outspeed paralyzed threats.
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So whadda ya think? At the time of writing this, this team is 13-4, an amazing record if I do say so. I hope for some solid input and I know that the Smogon community will not fail to deliver. Any recommended tweaks? Checks I haven't considered? Please let me know!