Hello, my name is ez. A team rater and tutor on smogon and a random who recently had a nice run in OST and made top 16. I started playing pokemon at a pretty young age but only got into the competitive scene around 2 years ago. Today I would like to share a team that was made for my round 6 opponent. Those replays can be found here and here. This team was made with the help of Isza who I approached to help me prep for my r6 opponent. We noticed that my opponent liked to use Baton Pass or Stall a lot. Which is how we decided on building around Choice Specs Gengar who matches up well vs both of those playstyles. With this in mind, let's get right into the team.
TEAMBUILDING PROCESS
As mentioned in the Introduction, this team was built around Choice Specs Gengar. Choice Specs allows gengar to wallbreak pretty nicely. However, it does have to be wary about mons that may abuse its choice lock which can allow the opponent to set up or take momentum.
Since we were prepping for stall, we wanted something that could absorb the wil-o-wisp from Sabeleye-Mega while also threatening it to switch out to allow us to get stealth Rocks. Which is why we decided to chose Clefable who can do both of those roles while not getting worn down or trapped by dugtro.
Both Gengar and Clefable were pretty much walled by the special walls on stall. Also, the team lacked counter measures for hard hitting psychic types like Tapu Lele. We also wanted a physical attacker that can pressure both stall and baton pass. Which is how we decided on Mega Metagross, who can help pressure stall and pivit into the tapus.
Our team lacked a ground immunity making us vulnerable to common ground types like Lando, Exca, Garchomp. We decided on our own Landorus-therian who can also us break through stall by weakening the Skarmory for Mega Metagross.
Our team lacked a water resist making things like Keldeo and Tapu Fini very threatening. Which is why we chose Tangrowth. Tangrowth is a nice piviot and has knock off support which help the rest of the team members.
The team had no fire resist and lacked speed control. Which made Keldeo the final member of the team as Keldeo can help pivit into fire types like Heatran while also giving us a solid revenge killer.
TEAM ANALYSIS
Gengar @ Choice Specs
Ability: Cursed Body
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
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Choice Specs Gengar hits very hard especially with teams usually lacking a ghost resist. However, be wary about your opponent abusing Gengar being Choice Locked as using it as an opportunity to set up / gain momentum. Shadow Ball and Sludge Wave as Gengar's main stab moves, Thunderbolt allows gengar to hit flying and water types harder like Toxapex and Mandibuzz. Focus Blast as coverage for steel types like Heatran and Ferrothron. The evs are standard Max attack, Max Spe to allow Gengar to hit as hard as possible while being as fast as possible.
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Clefable @ Leftovers
Ability: Magic Guard
EVs: 248 HP / 172 Def / 88 SpD
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
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Clefable's usage has dropped in SM due to how many things pressure it. However, Clefable can still be used. Clefable acts as the status absorber so the team wont get worn down by mons like Mega Sableye. It also acts as the Stealth Rocker for the team. Moonblast as a it's main stab to force out Sableye. Soft-boil is for longevity and Flamethrower to punish steel types like Mega Scizor and Ferrothorn. Clefable was also my Pheromosa check in case Gengar got to weak. Do be wary of Posion Jab.
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Metagross-Mega @ Metagrossite
Ability: Clear Body
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
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Metagross-Mega is one of the most common megas in Sun and Moon. Metagross-Mega hits very hard making it difficult to switch into. Standard Evs with Max Attack and Max Speed. Meteor Mash and Zen Headbutt were chosen as Metagross's main stab move. Thunder Punch to punish water types like Toxapex and Tapu Fini and Earthquake for coverage for steel types like Heatran and other Mega Metagross. This is your only Psychic resist on the team. This means that you have to watch out for it's HP so things like Lele have a harder time winning.......
Landorus-Therian @ Rockium Z
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
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Landorus-therian has the highest usage in Sun and Moon with good reasoning. It's ability to check so many things while also having the ability to set up and sweep/weaken teams. As mentioned before, Landorus-therian can weaken things like Skarmory which can open for other members on the team. Max attack and Max speed to hit and be as fast as possible. Earthquake as the main stab move with Stone Edge to hit mons that are not effected by Earthquake. Sword Dance And Rock Polish to aid Landorus-Therian sweep. We decided to put the Z move on Landorus-therian to help it break through more teams.
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Keldeo-Resolute @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Justified
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Hasty Nature
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Keldeo usage dropped with the new addition of Tapus in Sun and Moon. However, it recently has been used more and more. I ran Toxic on my Keldeo as my ost opponent liked to use Calm Mind Slowbro-Mega. However, I would personally go with Stone Edge to help the team check Volcarona. This does mean u have to run a Hasty Nature so you do not weaken the Stone Edge. The evs are standard Max Spa and Max Spe. The other 3 moves are the standard 3 moves on Choice Locked Keldeo being Scald, Hydro Pump and Secret Sword. The Scarf was chosen to allow the team to have a reliable revenge killer and more speed control.
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Tangrowth @ Assault Vest
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 252 HP / 72 Def / 184 SpD
Sassy Nature
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Tangrowth is an amazing pivot in Sun and Moon. It's also one of the few mons who dont mind the Nature Mindess from Tapu Fini. 72 Evs were put into Def to allow Tangrowth to avoid the 2ko from U-turn Mega Scizor while also avoiding the oko from +2 U-turn Mega Scizor. Other things the 72 Def Evs does is allow Tangrowth to avoid the 2ko from Choice Specs Keldeo's Secret Sword and Mega Metagross's Meteor Mash. THe rest was dumped into maxing HP and Spd. Leaf Storm as Tangrowth's Main Stab with Knock off to get rid of items. Earthquake to lure steel types like Heatran and Hidden Power Fire was needed to hit Mega Scizor and preventing Ferrothorn from setting up layers.
CONCLUSION
OST was a fun first tournament experience. This is where I took pokemon seriously for the first time and actually prepped and practiced before getting into the real game. It also got me closer with some of my friends who were already in tournament. I hope that I can continue playing mons at a high level and improve my battling skills. Oh and here is the importable if anyone wishes to use this team. Thanks for checking out my rmt btw. >_<
Bloo- You helped me a lot over the time we known each other. You helped me notice my mistakes in battling and improve as a battler. Just talking to you was also fun, so thank you and good luck with your HPL!
Isza- lmao thanks for helping me prep and stuff for ost bro. You're a great battler and a great friend. Thanks for the help in making this team too :x
mil- You helped me get more serious with smogon. Thanks for the advice and tips that helped me achieve my first badge here. JK i am your alt lel xD.
Hector Hard Mode - yo, I got an essay I have to write on Canada, ghost me.
Hiye- Lmao why did you quit mons for Clash Royale.
godphil- Ur stoopid. Jk ur prob my oldest friend on this site. Come back tho idiot.
Isza- lmao thanks for helping me prep and stuff for ost bro. You're a great battler and a great friend. Thanks for the help in making this team too :x
mil- You helped me get more serious with smogon. Thanks for the advice and tips that helped me achieve my first badge here. JK i am your alt lel xD.
Hector Hard Mode - yo, I got an essay I have to write on Canada, ghost me.
Hiye- Lmao why did you quit mons for Clash Royale.
godphil- Ur stoopid. Jk ur prob my oldest friend on this site. Come back tho idiot.
