Wrath of Breloom
Introduction:
Hello Smogon! This is not only my first RMT, but is also my first post here with you lovely fellow’s. I’m relatively new to competitive teambuilding, although I’ve been in the world of Pokémon since the beginning. I dabbled a little in PO during DPP, but I never fully understood some of the finer points of battling, and none of my teams amounted to much. I’ve been playing properly since the release of Gen 5. In terms of my style of play I enjoy balanced teams, and most of my teams have one or two defensive pivots, then an offensive core that compliments each other’s weaknesses.
My favourite Pokémon since it’s release in Gen 3 is Breloom. I love it. It’s featured, I’d say, in near to 90% of my teams. It looks awesome, it has a number of viable sets that keeps my opponents guessing, it has access to the sexiest move in the game Spore and it now has access to one of the most powerful abilities in the game in Technician. Needless to say now, he’s going to be the MVP of this team.
Teambuilding Process:
As I said above, Techniloom is going to be the centre of this team and therefore the Poké’s that I select are going to compliment him and allow him to wreak havoc. I decided to add Ferrothorn for his entry hazards, massive walling capabilities and Leech Seed.
Due to the massive presence of Rain in the BW2 metagame I decided to finish my defensive core with Jellicent. Awesome typing, superb stat spread and awesome synergy with Ferrothorn meant it had an automatic slot for this team.
I then decided I had need of a speedy sweeper, and decided to add Espeon. Despite it’s less-than-satisfactory typing, it has a sexy stat spread, decent move set and the ability Magic Bounce meaning I don’t need a rapid spinner. Beautiful.
I then felt I needed to bring in a counter for the Genies, who seem to be dominating the metagame at the moment, so I went with Mamoswine. BW2 was kind to Mamoswine, who gained his ability Thick Fat, allowing him to sponge Ice attacks beautifully and remove his weakness to Fire. He also checks Dragons and counters Gliscor.
I decided to round the team off with Sub Hydreigon.
In testing I decided that Tornadus-T was running rampant on my team and I struggled against Sun teams. I decided to replace Ferrothorn with Heatran, who offered almost complete walling of Sun teams, phasing and allowed me to take Stealth Rock away from Mamoswine and use the classic EdgeQuake combo.
Hydreigon wasn’t pulling his weight, so I decided to bring in Keldeo-R. It offers decent coverage, late-game sweeping potential and impressive bulk.
Is the newest member to my team. I decided to replace Keldeo with this. I am running Scarf on it, I can now reliably KO many would be checks to my team, as well as offering a source of momentum.
Close up’s:
Trait: Technician
EV’s: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature (+Spe, -SAtk)
-Spore
-Mach Punch
-Bullet Seed
-Stone Edge
What can I say about this Pokémon that you’ve not all heard before? Sexy attack stat, one of the best movesets in the game, an ability that turns his ordinarily weak STAB’s into devastating attacks and Spore. I love Spore. Spore is perhaps the most useful move in the game. He has a good chance to OHKO Heatran, as well as threats stupid enough to stick about such as Dragonite, Salamence and Tyranitar.
Trait: Magic Bounce
EV’s: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spe
Timid Nature (+Spe, -Atk)
-Calm Mind
-Psyshock
-Shadowball
-Hidden Power Fighting
Previously I lived for Alakazam alongside my Breloom’s, but now that Espeon has Magic Bounce, she’s awesome. Hidden Power Fighting and Shadowball offer neutral coverage for breaking walls down after a Calm Mind. She’s often the Poké that I rely on for late game sweeping. Pink Blob twins are fearful of Boosted Psyshocks. Hidden Power choice is debatable but atm I’m enjoying the coverage.
Trait: Thick Fat
EV’s: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
Ice Shard
Icicle Crash
Earthquake
Superpower
Beautiful Pokémon this thing. Expert Belt for faking out a Choice item and getting a cheeky KO or super effective hit. Beautiful counter to Gliscor, Genies and most Dragons. Jirachi should fear this thing too, which is always beneficial. I love Thick Fat, made him a whole lot more useable in my eyes. I’m fairly certain he’s a permanent member at the moment. Not much else to say.
Trait: Flash Fire
EVs: 248 HP / 252 SDef / 8 Spe
Calm Nature (+SDef, -Atk)
- Lava Plume
- Protect
- Stealth Rock
- Roar
Awesome check to many threats in the current meta, not easy to KO this thing when he’s juggling burns and protect stall. Solid layer of rocks, never a bad thing for any Pokémon. Sun teams cry when he’s out on the field, and along with Jellicent they don’t really worry me at all. Whereas with Ferrothorn feared Volcarona who also destroyed much of my last team, but this beauty walls it almost wholly. Phazing certain threats such as Lati@s and Dragon Dance dragons who would otherwise sweep.
Trait: Water Absorb
EVs: 248 HP / 216 Defense / 44 Spe
Bold Nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Scald
- Shadowball
- Recover
- Taunt
Part of an awesome defensive core with Heatran. Walls a lot of what would threaten my team. Scald seems to burn a lot more than only 30%! I ran Toxic, but based on Jimbon's advise and a quick test, Shadowball is a better move that helps break down some of the defensive threats to this team. Recover offers reliable recovery, nothing to sniff your nose at. Taunt is yet another way to interrupt Dragon Dancers and Bulk Up abusers such as Toxicroak who can’t do anything to this thing.
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spe
Timid Nature (+Spe, -Atk)
- Volt Turn
- Hydro Pump
- Hidden Power Fire
- Trick
This Poké has replaced Keldeo and already he's impressing me. Trick is one of the main reasons that I went for this member. I can do so much funky stuff with it and force many teams to have to change up their strategy. Volt Turn for scouting purposes, giving me momentum and annoying some teams. Hydro Pump for the huge STAB damage. Hidden Power Fire for coverage.
Threat List:
Thanks to all who offer their opinions and to anyone who leaves a rate!