Electrolyte
Wouldn't Wanna Know
~
THE YEAR OF THE SERPENT
~
Electrolyte's 1K RMT
PEAKED: #27
蛇年
So, as you know, I started off with Gyarados and his buddy, Politoed. SubDD Gyarados was a destructive, reliable sweeper that I fell in love with almost immediately- and it has not disappointed me since. The obligatory Politoed and Rain support followed, as Gyarados needed Sand and Sun to be off the field and the Rain boost made Gyarados all the more scary. Politoed also provided some defensive backbone and a way to check setup sweepers.
Next came Agility THundurus-T and Choice Scarf Terrakion to aid Gyarados's sweep. I already knew how powerful Nasty Plot Thundurus-T was, and I wanted to try its faster version, which could easily take apart hyper offense teams. Politoed's Rain support let Thundurus use its mighty Thunder, which provided paralysis and hit every opponent for a large chunk of damage. Thundurus's ability to feign a Choice set and nab surprise KO's was also really helpful in tackling defensive teams. Terrakion's role was to revenge kill and clean up after a Thundurus or Gyarados sweep. It checked Dragons such as Dragonite after they set up, and its Fighting-type STAB also helped me defeat Sand teams and specially defensive opponents. Its Rock type STAB also helped me tackle Sun.
Next up came my defensive core, Forretress and Celebi. I desperately needed a spinner to cover for the Stealth Rock weakness of Gyarados and Thundurus-T, and Forretress's Spikes and ability to wall physical attackers helped the team succeed. Celebi's role was to wall bulky water types, set Stealth Rock, act as a pivot, and lead for the team. It could eliminate Water types such as Jellicent or Gastrodon, and could also sponge special attacks such as Latios's Draco Meteor. I used drypass Celebi to escape Pursuit leads.
A couple of things were really problematic. Lati@s were really annoying, as they walled Thundy, Politoed, Celebi, and Gyarados, and could revenge kill Terrakion. The team also lacked priority, so things that could get past +1 and KO Terrakion could easily tear the team apart. So, I tried Choice Band Scizor instead of Terrakion, as it could revenge kill just as many things, trap and KO psychic types, and pivot with Celebi. The addition of Scizor made the team slightly weaker to Sun, so I replaced Forretress with Tentacruel, who could handle Sun teams and Sand teams with more ease. Plus, it could act as a backup check to Fighting-types. It was overall much more reliable spinner.
I realized that Scizor could not fully check everything I needed it to. My team was too slow. I lacked any pokemon faster than 101 base speed, making me extremely weak to opponents such as SD Garchomp or SubCM Latias. Plus, my Stealth Rock weakness was really bothersome. Thundurus-T didn't seem to be pulling its weight, so I replaced it with a Scarfed Keldeo-R. To give the team some special sweeping power, I gave Celebi Nasty Plot so it could hit by itself or pass to Keldeo to attack opponents. I also made Scizor Swords Dance for added offense.
Finally, there was an obvious Electric weakness in the team because of my four water types, so I decided that I would not be able to run a spinner. Forretress made me weak to Sun, Starmie and Tentacruel made me weak to Electric types, and Donphan just doesn't work with the synergy of the team. Instead, I put in Focus Sash Lead Terrakion, whose Taunt could prevent the lay of hazards on my side. Although it wasn't as reliable as a spinner was, it did get the job done most of the time, and even when it didn't, I could still overcome it because I no longer had THundy-T. Terrakion could also set Stealth Rock, so Celebi could run another coverage move and not have to Lead.
And that's how the team looks today.
POKEMON DESCRIPTIONS
GYARADOS
龙蛇
LongShe (Gyarados) @ Leftovers
Trait: Intimidate
EVs: 56 HP / 248 Atk / 204 Spd
Adamant Nature
- Bounce
- Dragon Dance
- Substitute
- Waterfall
POLITOED
青蛙
QingWa (Politoed) @ Leftovers
Trait: Drizzle
EVs: 252 HP / 164 Def / 92 Spe
Bold Nature
- Perish Song
- Scald
- Ice Beam
- Toxic
Gyarados performs well as a standalone sweeper, but giving it Rain support really drastically improves its effectiveness. Politoed is here to provide it with that Rain- as well as provide support and physical bulk. By erasing my opponent's weather and putting my own down, I can make sure that the most optimal positions for Gyarados's sweep are set in place. Sand hurts Gyarados because it can't receive Lefties Recovery, and Sun hurts Gyarados because it weakens Gyarados's Waterfall. To be able to erase both of those weathers, I chose to run Rain.
Politoed's moveset is pretty standard. I chose to use Physically Defensive Politoed, as it could handle Tyranitar with much more ease as well as cover some other important threats. I never really use it all that much other than for checking setup sweepers, crippling walls with Toxic, beating Sand with a bulky Scald, or as occasional fodder- as the Rain is all the team requires from it. However, Politoed's set gives it the ability to support should I need it- for instance, Perish Song is useful because it forces pokemon like SubCM Latias or DDnite out after three turns, lest they perish and lose their best sweeper. It can also force switches that Celebi can scout for, giving me momentum. Scald is Politoed's STAB move, and its burn chance is really helpful when it's trying to counter physical attackers such as SD Scizor. It also hits Sand walls such as Gliscor, Tyranitar, or Hippowdown for a decent amount of damage. Ice Beam is coverage so that Politoed won't be setup fodder for Grass and Dragon types. Toxic cripples walls and puts a timer on Latias, making them much less threatening to the team. Politoed can often bait pokemon such as Rotom-W in, Toxic it, and then play a game of bait-and-run which wears the Rotom down so Gyarados can sweep.
'QingWa' literally means 'Frog' in Chinese. Politoed is a Frog, so I named it accordingly.
SYNERGY:
- Celebi
- Celebi, Scizor
KELDEO
马马
MaMa (Keldeo-Resolute) (M) @ Choice Scarf
Trait: Justified
EVs: 252 SAtk / 252 Spd / 4 Def
Timid Nature
- Hydro Pump
- Secret Sword
- Icy Wind
- Hidden Power [Electric]
As a superfast revenge killer and a powerful special cleaner, Choice Scarf Keldeo holds its weight on this team by eliminating opposing setup sweepers and erasing what's left after Gyarados's sweep. It's fast, it's powerful, and it is a great answer to a lot of the walls that trouble Gyarados- such as Ferrothorn or Skarmory. In return, Gyarados can setup against Jellicent, Tentacruel, Slowbro, and Amoongus, four pokemon that give Keldeo a lot of trouble. Hydro Pump is insanely powerful STAB when boosted by Rain, muscling past a multitude of opposing walls and finishing off Gyarados's work. It easily blasts past Sand teams and Sun teams alike, and when backed up by a +2 Special Attack boost from Celebi, it can easily dismantle teams. Secret Sword is secondary STAB that hits Steel types and Normal types for a lot of damage. It beats Ferrothorn, which is often a major roadblock to Gyarados's sweep. It also nails Blissey and Chansey for a lot of damage, two pokemon that can take away my momentum by switching into Celebi and then paralyzing a switch in. Icy Wind is used instead of HP Ice because I want to use Hidden Power Electric to hit Gyarados and other Water types. Icy Wind hits Dragons such as Salamence or Dragonite not only hard but also with a crippling effect, so that other teammates can chip in and support the revenge killing effort. HP Electric checks Gyarados and other water types, and also hits Skarmory hard when being locked into Hydro Pump is a risky move.
Because of its power and speed, Keldeo is the dedicated revenge killer of the team. It's also the dedicated receiver to Celebi's passes, which turn it into even more of a monster than it already is. Its power, coverage, and speed let it check opposing set up sweepers and eliminate physical walls that block Gyarados. It is an important asset to the team.
Keldeo is more of a horse than a unicorn, in my opinion, so I named it 'Mama', which means 'Horsie' in Chinese. No, it's not the mom of anything; it's a horse. -.-
SYNERGY:
- Celebi
- Scizor, Celebi
- None
- Scizor, Celebi
SCIZOR
虫子
ChongZi (Scizor) @ Iron Plate
Trait: Technician
EVs: 148 HP / 252 Atk / 108 Spd
Adamant Nature
- Bug Bite
- Swords Dance
- Bullet Punch
- Superpower
Steel types, in my opinion, are amongst a few of the most powerful and effective set up sweepers in the whole metagame, in my opinion. Every single team I use always probably ends up with one Steel-type boosting sweeper (SubCM Jirachi in Songs About Jane and SD Lucario in Syndicate are two examples) Their bulk and resistances make them not only long lasting but also really easy to set up with, as they can wall many opponents by using sheer resistances alone. I've never really liked CB Scizor all that much, since its popularity sparked the rise of a greater amount of counters and checks to it, rendering it unable to do much whenever I used it. However, for this team, I'm using Swords Dance Scizor- and it is a powerful sweeper that definitely holds its weight each match and supports its team well with its coverage and ability. Swords Dance quickly turns Scizor into a monstrous attacker, boosting its already high 130 Attack to even higher levels, making its Technician boosted, STAB boosted Bullet Punch hit fast and hit hard like a truck. Because of Scizor's numerous resistances, it more often than not finds countless opportunities to set up and sweep, making it a major part of any sweeping done by my team. Bullet Punch is his obvious STAB move, hitting a decent base 90 power as well as going before nearly any other move my opponent can throw at me. Bullet Punch is also useful when I don't use Scizor for sweeping, such as when I want it to force Tyranitar out or threaten weakened opposing sweepers.
The next two moves are really for support purposes only, and do also provide Scizor with coverage to hit walls that resist Bullet Punch. Bug Bite is Scizor's secondary STAB move that hits Grass-types, Psychic-types, and Dark-types, primarily Celebi, Lati@s, Hydreigon, and Tyranitar, for a lot of damage. By removing Psychic types, Scizor aids Keldeo's sweep, since Keldeo often dislikes Psychic-type opponents. Removing Grass-types also helps the team succeed, as Chlorophyll sweepers such as Venasaur can hit half of my team super effectively with its Grass-STAB. Superpower, as suggested by a lot of the commentators, lets Scizor hit Steel types such as Heatran or Ferrothorn for a lot of damage. It also lets Scizor touch Skarmory, hitting it a decent chunk of damage, especially after a Roost.
In a way, Scizor is a standalone sweeper that happens to defeat pokemon that counter the rest of the sweepers on this team, and that is why I chose it for this slot. Not only is it able to and capable of tearing holes in my opponents defenses nearly any time during the match, it can also remove counters and pokemon that trouble the team. Plus, it can revenge kill things Keldeo can't, such as Scarfers that are faster or Chlorophyll sweepers in the Sun.
Because I couldn't tell what kind of insect it was, I just settled for 'ChongZi'- which means 'bug' in Chinese.
SYNERGY:
- Gyarados, Politoed, Keldeo, Terrakion
TERRAKION
牛
Niu (Terrakion) @ Focus Sash
Trait: Justified
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Taunt
- Stone Edge
- Close Combat
- Stealth Rock
Although it could be the most disposable member of the team, Terrakion is in no way wasting this slot. Its primary role is to weaken my opponent early in the match and maintain hazard control for my side with Stealth Rock and Taunt. It is my dedicated lead, and sets Stealth Rock quickly and efficiently, crippling any Flying-types or Bug-types that might annoy me later. It also forces teams with SR weak pokemon to forfeit a turn in order to spin, which I can utilize to my advantage and give myself momentum or nab a boost. It's an important move that every single team should carry. Taunt lets Terrakion prevent opponents from laying their hazards down on my own side, and also prevents any early setup attempts such as LeadNite. Terrakion's Taunt is extremely important not only during the early stages of the game but also during mid game, as it must switch in again to keep bulky hazard layers such as Skarmory in check.
The rest of Terrakion's movepool gives it a fair amount of offense that lets it put forth some offensive pressure, giving me momentum early in the match. Close Combat is powerful physical STAB that hits many things for quite a lot of damage, and is especially useful at hitting bulky Steel types such as Ferrothorn, who walls Gyarados, or Heatran, who walls Scizor. Stone Edge is useful to have and hit Sun teams with, as it gives me an edge against Ninetales leads. It also nails Flying and Bug types for a fair amount of damage should I need to hit them later too.
Aside from being a lead, Terrakion can also be a panic button if the conditions are right and it can preserve its Sash. It can come in after a fainted teammate and tear off a huge chunk of HP from my opponent while it survives with 1% because of its item. Terrakion is also a magnificent dry receiver from Celebi when it faces a Tyranitar, because almost all the time it can get hit by either Pursuit or Crunch, both of which give it an attack boost that immediately gives myself loads of momentum. Its powerful physical coverage is also helpful at removing Rain defensive cores such as FerroCent, FerroTent, or Heatran.
If you haven't caught the drift yet, I named Terrakion 'Niu' because that means 'cow' or 'bull' in Chinese. That's what it is (right?)
SYNERGY:
- Scizor, Celebi
- Gyarados, Celebi
- Gyarados, Celebi
- Scizor, Celebi
- Gyarados, Politoed, Keldeo, Scizor
- Gyarados, Politoed, Keldeo, Celebi
CELEBI
洋葱
YangCong (Celebi) @ Leftovers
Trait: Natural Cure
EVs: 108 Spd / 252 HP / 150 SDef
Calm Nature
- Baton Pass
- Giga Drain
- Psychic
- Nasty Plot
PEAKED: #27
蛇年
Hey there! It's me again, with another RMT- and this also happens to be my 1000th post here on Smogon! Not only do I have a team and a peak to 'show off', but I also have a few shout outs that I'd like to give about some people that have been not only a huge help but also an inspiration during my stay at Smogon. It is, after all, my 1K. Nevertheless, I'm sure you all want to see the team first, so let's get started!
2013.
The Year of the Serpent.
Honored by many cultures for its beauty, grace, and nobility, the serpent was often connected to royalty and beauty. But they were also feared because of their power.
Right around the end of my last RMT was Chinese New Year. Because this year is a Snake year, I decided to build a team around a Snake pokemon- and the snake pokemon that immediately came to mind was Gyarados. (haters who think Gyarados is not a Snake can go die in a hole) Not only is it one of the most aesthetically pleasing but also destructive pokemon in the OU tier, it's also a relatively underestimated Pokemln that has a lot of potential, which I think my team shows. SubDD Gyarados is a fearsome sweeper if left unchecked, and can rip apart Sun, Sand, and Rain teams alike with just one boost. It fit the bill, and I was eager to try it out. Here's the end product:
At first glance, it may seem similar to Kidogo's team, but there are quite a few differences in the way my team works. The team is centered around a Gyarados sweep, with Politoed's Rain as support. Then, I have a secondary and tertiary sweeping core in Scizor and Celebi+Keldeo, respectively, as well as hazard control and a panic button in Terrakion. Scizor plays an important role in Gyarados's sweep because it can KO Dragon types and defensive steel types that wall Gyarados. It covers Lati@s, too, who give Keldeo+Celebi trouble. Celebi not only passes boost to Keldeo but also acts as a special sponge, a bulky pivot, and a counter to bulky Water types. Keldeo is a revenge killer and also a cleaner, and is very deadly after Celebi passes to it. It, Gyarados, or Scizor end matches more often then not.
2013.
The Year of the Serpent.
Honored by many cultures for its beauty, grace, and nobility, the serpent was often connected to royalty and beauty. But they were also feared because of their power.
Right around the end of my last RMT was Chinese New Year. Because this year is a Snake year, I decided to build a team around a Snake pokemon- and the snake pokemon that immediately came to mind was Gyarados. (haters who think Gyarados is not a Snake can go die in a hole) Not only is it one of the most aesthetically pleasing but also destructive pokemon in the OU tier, it's also a relatively underestimated Pokemln that has a lot of potential, which I think my team shows. SubDD Gyarados is a fearsome sweeper if left unchecked, and can rip apart Sun, Sand, and Rain teams alike with just one boost. It fit the bill, and I was eager to try it out. Here's the end product:
At first glance, it may seem similar to Kidogo's team, but there are quite a few differences in the way my team works. The team is centered around a Gyarados sweep, with Politoed's Rain as support. Then, I have a secondary and tertiary sweeping core in Scizor and Celebi+Keldeo, respectively, as well as hazard control and a panic button in Terrakion. Scizor plays an important role in Gyarados's sweep because it can KO Dragon types and defensive steel types that wall Gyarados. It covers Lati@s, too, who give Keldeo+Celebi trouble. Celebi not only passes boost to Keldeo but also acts as a special sponge, a bulky pivot, and a counter to bulky Water types. Keldeo is a revenge killer and also a cleaner, and is very deadly after Celebi passes to it. It, Gyarados, or Scizor end matches more often then not.
So, as you know, I started off with Gyarados and his buddy, Politoed. SubDD Gyarados was a destructive, reliable sweeper that I fell in love with almost immediately- and it has not disappointed me since. The obligatory Politoed and Rain support followed, as Gyarados needed Sand and Sun to be off the field and the Rain boost made Gyarados all the more scary. Politoed also provided some defensive backbone and a way to check setup sweepers.
Next came Agility THundurus-T and Choice Scarf Terrakion to aid Gyarados's sweep. I already knew how powerful Nasty Plot Thundurus-T was, and I wanted to try its faster version, which could easily take apart hyper offense teams. Politoed's Rain support let Thundurus use its mighty Thunder, which provided paralysis and hit every opponent for a large chunk of damage. Thundurus's ability to feign a Choice set and nab surprise KO's was also really helpful in tackling defensive teams. Terrakion's role was to revenge kill and clean up after a Thundurus or Gyarados sweep. It checked Dragons such as Dragonite after they set up, and its Fighting-type STAB also helped me defeat Sand teams and specially defensive opponents. Its Rock type STAB also helped me tackle Sun.
Next up came my defensive core, Forretress and Celebi. I desperately needed a spinner to cover for the Stealth Rock weakness of Gyarados and Thundurus-T, and Forretress's Spikes and ability to wall physical attackers helped the team succeed. Celebi's role was to wall bulky water types, set Stealth Rock, act as a pivot, and lead for the team. It could eliminate Water types such as Jellicent or Gastrodon, and could also sponge special attacks such as Latios's Draco Meteor. I used drypass Celebi to escape Pursuit leads.
A couple of things were really problematic. Lati@s were really annoying, as they walled Thundy, Politoed, Celebi, and Gyarados, and could revenge kill Terrakion. The team also lacked priority, so things that could get past +1 and KO Terrakion could easily tear the team apart. So, I tried Choice Band Scizor instead of Terrakion, as it could revenge kill just as many things, trap and KO psychic types, and pivot with Celebi. The addition of Scizor made the team slightly weaker to Sun, so I replaced Forretress with Tentacruel, who could handle Sun teams and Sand teams with more ease. Plus, it could act as a backup check to Fighting-types. It was overall much more reliable spinner.
I realized that Scizor could not fully check everything I needed it to. My team was too slow. I lacked any pokemon faster than 101 base speed, making me extremely weak to opponents such as SD Garchomp or SubCM Latias. Plus, my Stealth Rock weakness was really bothersome. Thundurus-T didn't seem to be pulling its weight, so I replaced it with a Scarfed Keldeo-R. To give the team some special sweeping power, I gave Celebi Nasty Plot so it could hit by itself or pass to Keldeo to attack opponents. I also made Scizor Swords Dance for added offense.
Finally, there was an obvious Electric weakness in the team because of my four water types, so I decided that I would not be able to run a spinner. Forretress made me weak to Sun, Starmie and Tentacruel made me weak to Electric types, and Donphan just doesn't work with the synergy of the team. Instead, I put in Focus Sash Lead Terrakion, whose Taunt could prevent the lay of hazards on my side. Although it wasn't as reliable as a spinner was, it did get the job done most of the time, and even when it didn't, I could still overcome it because I no longer had THundy-T. Terrakion could also set Stealth Rock, so Celebi could run another coverage move and not have to Lead.
And that's how the team looks today.
GYARADOS
龙蛇
Trait: Intimidate
EVs: 56 HP / 248 Atk / 204 Spd
Adamant Nature
- Bounce
- Dragon Dance
- Substitute
- Waterfall
Gyarados is the centerpiece of the team. It is powerful, bulky, and fast, and can easily turn tables around during a match or sweep my opponent clean. I chose to use its SubDD set, which gives it a lot of bulk without sacrificing much power. Substitute and Intimidate along with Gyarados's good natural special bulk let Gyarados grab free turns behind a Sub to set up a Dragon Dance, which boosts its Attack and speed to monstrous levels. This lets it set up against many common opposing walls, such as Jellicent, Donphan, or Forretress. Intimidate lowers Gyarados's opponents attack stats too, making them weaker so they too can not break its Sub. Because of this, Gyarados can also easily set up against priority attackers such as Mamoswine, Scizor, or Breloom who are locked into their weaker, resisted attacks after they revenge kill one of Gyarados's teammates. Subsitute also lets Gyarados defeat one of its worst enemies, Volt Switch Rotom-W, who is forced to switch in order to hit Gyarados past its Sub. Substitute also lets Gyarados avoid crits, status, and flinching effects. It is a useful tool for setup.
The rest of the moves in Gyarados's moveset are its attacking moves. Waterfall is obligatory STAB that's boosted by Rain and is super useful at checking Sand and Sun teams, who don't often carry many pokemon that can handle multiple boosted Waterfalls. It's solid STAB that can hit quite hard out of Rain as well, and the added flinch chance only makes it even more reliable. Bounce is secondary STAB, hitting Dragon and Grass types for quite a lot of damage. Although it's more powerful outside of Rain than Waterfall, its low accuracy makes it a bit unreliable occasionally but it's still a great move. Its paralysis chance also creates an interesting combo with Waterfall's flinch chance, forming a pseudo (though not often very notable) paraflinch core. Bounce is very useful at defeating Sun teams and Lati@s, both of whom are hit very hard by the move and definitely do not like the paralysis that could come with it.
Other than sweeping, Gyarados's role on the team also includes checking certain opposing sweepers as well as acting as an Anti-Opposing-Weather pokemon. Because of its unique resistances and Intimidate, it is a good check to a lot of notable top threats in BW2, such as Keldeo, Lando-I, or Volcarona. It can check choice locked opponents too by lowering their attack stat and then setting up and threatening to sweep. Since it has powerful physical Water-type STAB, it can handle Sand and Sun teams too, who often fall apart from continuous onslaught. Plus, Substitute blocks status that Sun teams like to run, which is a useful bonus. Gyarados is often the source of my winning the weather war because it can defeat Tyranitar and Ninetales 1 v 1.
In Chinese, 'LongShe' basically means 'DragonSnake'. Both creatures were praised for their nobility and grace, as well as for their mysterious power. Gyarados seemed to me like a mix between the two, so I named it so.
SYNERGY:
- Celebi
- Keldeo, Terrakion
The rest of the moves in Gyarados's moveset are its attacking moves. Waterfall is obligatory STAB that's boosted by Rain and is super useful at checking Sand and Sun teams, who don't often carry many pokemon that can handle multiple boosted Waterfalls. It's solid STAB that can hit quite hard out of Rain as well, and the added flinch chance only makes it even more reliable. Bounce is secondary STAB, hitting Dragon and Grass types for quite a lot of damage. Although it's more powerful outside of Rain than Waterfall, its low accuracy makes it a bit unreliable occasionally but it's still a great move. Its paralysis chance also creates an interesting combo with Waterfall's flinch chance, forming a pseudo (though not often very notable) paraflinch core. Bounce is very useful at defeating Sun teams and Lati@s, both of whom are hit very hard by the move and definitely do not like the paralysis that could come with it.
Other than sweeping, Gyarados's role on the team also includes checking certain opposing sweepers as well as acting as an Anti-Opposing-Weather pokemon. Because of its unique resistances and Intimidate, it is a good check to a lot of notable top threats in BW2, such as Keldeo, Lando-I, or Volcarona. It can check choice locked opponents too by lowering their attack stat and then setting up and threatening to sweep. Since it has powerful physical Water-type STAB, it can handle Sand and Sun teams too, who often fall apart from continuous onslaught. Plus, Substitute blocks status that Sun teams like to run, which is a useful bonus. Gyarados is often the source of my winning the weather war because it can defeat Tyranitar and Ninetales 1 v 1.
In Chinese, 'LongShe' basically means 'DragonSnake'. Both creatures were praised for their nobility and grace, as well as for their mysterious power. Gyarados seemed to me like a mix between the two, so I named it so.
SYNERGY:
POLITOED
青蛙
Trait: Drizzle
EVs: 252 HP / 164 Def / 92 Spe
Bold Nature
- Perish Song
- Scald
- Ice Beam
- Toxic
Gyarados performs well as a standalone sweeper, but giving it Rain support really drastically improves its effectiveness. Politoed is here to provide it with that Rain- as well as provide support and physical bulk. By erasing my opponent's weather and putting my own down, I can make sure that the most optimal positions for Gyarados's sweep are set in place. Sand hurts Gyarados because it can't receive Lefties Recovery, and Sun hurts Gyarados because it weakens Gyarados's Waterfall. To be able to erase both of those weathers, I chose to run Rain.
Politoed's moveset is pretty standard. I chose to use Physically Defensive Politoed, as it could handle Tyranitar with much more ease as well as cover some other important threats. I never really use it all that much other than for checking setup sweepers, crippling walls with Toxic, beating Sand with a bulky Scald, or as occasional fodder- as the Rain is all the team requires from it. However, Politoed's set gives it the ability to support should I need it- for instance, Perish Song is useful because it forces pokemon like SubCM Latias or DDnite out after three turns, lest they perish and lose their best sweeper. It can also force switches that Celebi can scout for, giving me momentum. Scald is Politoed's STAB move, and its burn chance is really helpful when it's trying to counter physical attackers such as SD Scizor. It also hits Sand walls such as Gliscor, Tyranitar, or Hippowdown for a decent amount of damage. Ice Beam is coverage so that Politoed won't be setup fodder for Grass and Dragon types. Toxic cripples walls and puts a timer on Latias, making them much less threatening to the team. Politoed can often bait pokemon such as Rotom-W in, Toxic it, and then play a game of bait-and-run which wears the Rotom down so Gyarados can sweep.
'QingWa' literally means 'Frog' in Chinese. Politoed is a Frog, so I named it accordingly.
SYNERGY:
KELDEO
马马
Trait: Justified
EVs: 252 SAtk / 252 Spd / 4 Def
Timid Nature
- Hydro Pump
- Secret Sword
- Icy Wind
- Hidden Power [Electric]
As a superfast revenge killer and a powerful special cleaner, Choice Scarf Keldeo holds its weight on this team by eliminating opposing setup sweepers and erasing what's left after Gyarados's sweep. It's fast, it's powerful, and it is a great answer to a lot of the walls that trouble Gyarados- such as Ferrothorn or Skarmory. In return, Gyarados can setup against Jellicent, Tentacruel, Slowbro, and Amoongus, four pokemon that give Keldeo a lot of trouble. Hydro Pump is insanely powerful STAB when boosted by Rain, muscling past a multitude of opposing walls and finishing off Gyarados's work. It easily blasts past Sand teams and Sun teams alike, and when backed up by a +2 Special Attack boost from Celebi, it can easily dismantle teams. Secret Sword is secondary STAB that hits Steel types and Normal types for a lot of damage. It beats Ferrothorn, which is often a major roadblock to Gyarados's sweep. It also nails Blissey and Chansey for a lot of damage, two pokemon that can take away my momentum by switching into Celebi and then paralyzing a switch in. Icy Wind is used instead of HP Ice because I want to use Hidden Power Electric to hit Gyarados and other Water types. Icy Wind hits Dragons such as Salamence or Dragonite not only hard but also with a crippling effect, so that other teammates can chip in and support the revenge killing effort. HP Electric checks Gyarados and other water types, and also hits Skarmory hard when being locked into Hydro Pump is a risky move.
Because of its power and speed, Keldeo is the dedicated revenge killer of the team. It's also the dedicated receiver to Celebi's passes, which turn it into even more of a monster than it already is. Its power, coverage, and speed let it check opposing set up sweepers and eliminate physical walls that block Gyarados. It is an important asset to the team.
Keldeo is more of a horse than a unicorn, in my opinion, so I named it 'Mama', which means 'Horsie' in Chinese. No, it's not the mom of anything; it's a horse. -.-
SYNERGY:
SCIZOR
虫子
Trait: Technician
EVs: 148 HP / 252 Atk / 108 Spd
Adamant Nature
- Bug Bite
- Swords Dance
- Bullet Punch
- Superpower
Steel types, in my opinion, are amongst a few of the most powerful and effective set up sweepers in the whole metagame, in my opinion. Every single team I use always probably ends up with one Steel-type boosting sweeper (SubCM Jirachi in Songs About Jane and SD Lucario in Syndicate are two examples) Their bulk and resistances make them not only long lasting but also really easy to set up with, as they can wall many opponents by using sheer resistances alone. I've never really liked CB Scizor all that much, since its popularity sparked the rise of a greater amount of counters and checks to it, rendering it unable to do much whenever I used it. However, for this team, I'm using Swords Dance Scizor- and it is a powerful sweeper that definitely holds its weight each match and supports its team well with its coverage and ability. Swords Dance quickly turns Scizor into a monstrous attacker, boosting its already high 130 Attack to even higher levels, making its Technician boosted, STAB boosted Bullet Punch hit fast and hit hard like a truck. Because of Scizor's numerous resistances, it more often than not finds countless opportunities to set up and sweep, making it a major part of any sweeping done by my team. Bullet Punch is his obvious STAB move, hitting a decent base 90 power as well as going before nearly any other move my opponent can throw at me. Bullet Punch is also useful when I don't use Scizor for sweeping, such as when I want it to force Tyranitar out or threaten weakened opposing sweepers.
The next two moves are really for support purposes only, and do also provide Scizor with coverage to hit walls that resist Bullet Punch. Bug Bite is Scizor's secondary STAB move that hits Grass-types, Psychic-types, and Dark-types, primarily Celebi, Lati@s, Hydreigon, and Tyranitar, for a lot of damage. By removing Psychic types, Scizor aids Keldeo's sweep, since Keldeo often dislikes Psychic-type opponents. Removing Grass-types also helps the team succeed, as Chlorophyll sweepers such as Venasaur can hit half of my team super effectively with its Grass-STAB. Superpower, as suggested by a lot of the commentators, lets Scizor hit Steel types such as Heatran or Ferrothorn for a lot of damage. It also lets Scizor touch Skarmory, hitting it a decent chunk of damage, especially after a Roost.
In a way, Scizor is a standalone sweeper that happens to defeat pokemon that counter the rest of the sweepers on this team, and that is why I chose it for this slot. Not only is it able to and capable of tearing holes in my opponents defenses nearly any time during the match, it can also remove counters and pokemon that trouble the team. Plus, it can revenge kill things Keldeo can't, such as Scarfers that are faster or Chlorophyll sweepers in the Sun.
Because I couldn't tell what kind of insect it was, I just settled for 'ChongZi'- which means 'bug' in Chinese.
SYNERGY:
TERRAKION
牛
Trait: Justified
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Taunt
- Stone Edge
- Close Combat
- Stealth Rock
Although it could be the most disposable member of the team, Terrakion is in no way wasting this slot. Its primary role is to weaken my opponent early in the match and maintain hazard control for my side with Stealth Rock and Taunt. It is my dedicated lead, and sets Stealth Rock quickly and efficiently, crippling any Flying-types or Bug-types that might annoy me later. It also forces teams with SR weak pokemon to forfeit a turn in order to spin, which I can utilize to my advantage and give myself momentum or nab a boost. It's an important move that every single team should carry. Taunt lets Terrakion prevent opponents from laying their hazards down on my own side, and also prevents any early setup attempts such as LeadNite. Terrakion's Taunt is extremely important not only during the early stages of the game but also during mid game, as it must switch in again to keep bulky hazard layers such as Skarmory in check.
The rest of Terrakion's movepool gives it a fair amount of offense that lets it put forth some offensive pressure, giving me momentum early in the match. Close Combat is powerful physical STAB that hits many things for quite a lot of damage, and is especially useful at hitting bulky Steel types such as Ferrothorn, who walls Gyarados, or Heatran, who walls Scizor. Stone Edge is useful to have and hit Sun teams with, as it gives me an edge against Ninetales leads. It also nails Flying and Bug types for a fair amount of damage should I need to hit them later too.
Aside from being a lead, Terrakion can also be a panic button if the conditions are right and it can preserve its Sash. It can come in after a fainted teammate and tear off a huge chunk of HP from my opponent while it survives with 1% because of its item. Terrakion is also a magnificent dry receiver from Celebi when it faces a Tyranitar, because almost all the time it can get hit by either Pursuit or Crunch, both of which give it an attack boost that immediately gives myself loads of momentum. Its powerful physical coverage is also helpful at removing Rain defensive cores such as FerroCent, FerroTent, or Heatran.
If you haven't caught the drift yet, I named Terrakion 'Niu' because that means 'cow' or 'bull' in Chinese. That's what it is (right?)
SYNERGY:
CELEBI
洋葱
Trait: Natural Cure
EVs: 108 Spd / 252 HP / 150 SDef
Calm Nature
- Baton Pass
- Giga Drain
- Psychic
- Nasty Plot
Part of the original 6 pokemon of the team, Celebi has kept its spot the whole time because of its magnificent support capabilities. Its typing, resistances, and movepool are perfectly tailored to help it support this team to the max. Originally, it was the layer of Stealth Rock on the team, but the inclusion of Terrakion rendered this no longer necessary, so I used the slot to try out a new trick that a few people have also used before, Nasty Plot. I had already been running Baton Pass to pivot and escape Pursuiters because Celebi was an important wall for the team, so Nasty Plot accompanied it well, letting Celebi pass power boosts over to Keldeo to try to pull off a sweep. It also let Celebi itself hit things for quite a lot of power even though it doesn't have any investments- as +2 Giga Drain can 2HKO SpDef TTar in the Sand, and Celebi can easily sponge a Crunch.
Of course, passing is only a small part of what Celebi does to support the team. As a bulky pivot, it is my go-to when I need to check or counter most of the special attackers of the tier, such as Choice Scarf Latios, LO Latias, Scarf Keldeo, SpDef Rotom-W, or Def Politoed. Because of its Psychic typing, I can also use Celebi to check Fighting types, something Gyarados is capable of but can't afford to sustain damage while doing. Psychic lets Celebi hit all of those Fighting (and Poison!) types very hard, often for the OHKO. This way, Celebi can safely and solidly check opponents such as Toxicroak, Breloom, Conkeldurr, or Tentacruel. In fact, Celebi's EVs are tailored specifically for this role. 108 Speed EVs let it outspeed Jolly Breloom, which also lets Celebi outspeed Adamant Mamoswine and SubPunch / Bulk Up Toxicroak. I have considered using 116 Spe EVs to outspeed Swords Dance Toxicroak, but they usually carry Sucker Punch, so outspeeding them is not as important. Giga Drain is secondary STAB that lets Celebi hit water types, ground types, and rock types AND heal itself. This lets it keep itself in a relatively good shape to continue checking opponents that I need a check to.
In terms of synergy, Celebi is absolutely vital. It resists a majority of the weaknesses of the team. It walls and handles Water-types, Ground-types, Grass-types, Electric-types, Fighting-types, and special attackers, passes special attack boosts to Keldeo, and acts as a bulky tank for the team. It checks threats such as Rotom-W, Breloom, Mamoswine, Thundurus, Lati@s, or Politoed, and puts forth a fair amount of offensive pressure too because of Nasty Plot. It is extremely vital to the success of the team.
YangCong means 'onion' in Chinese. Don't worry, I've takked to experts. Celebi is not celery, nor is it garlic, nor is it a watermelon. It's an onion.
SYNERGY:
So, that's the team! I've had quite a lot of success with it, peaking at #27 on the OU ladder, and rising. The team has a lot of great offensive synergy inside of it, and many offensive checks to offensive pokemon. Plus, it has many pokemon that have the capability of sweeping, giving me many different angles in which I can hit my opponent. Despite this, there are still some weaknesses in the team:
Opponents that I find annoying:
- Skarmory
Skarmory is a big threat, and probably the biggest threat to this team of all other OU pokemon. Skarmory is quite annoying for this team to handle, especially when it is supported by other bulky pokemon. It totally walls Scizor, Gyarados, Terrakion, and Celebi, and forces me to use Politoed or Choiced Keldeo to take it down, making me forfeit a lot of momentum. Plus, it sets hazards all over my face, annoying my spinner-less team and breaking Terrakion's Sash if it's still intact. Whirlwind and Sturdy makes it nigh impossible to take down quickly and efficiently, as it can just sponge a hit, Whirlwind, and recover back HP as a switch and take more hazard damage. Still, Gyarados can defeat it if it's weakened, Keldeo can OHKO with Hydro Pump, and Politoed can burn it with Scald. The trick is to wear it down enough so that more teammates can take it down.
- Latias
Although it's not as annoying as Skarmory, Latias still poses a threat to this team because of her speed, power, and bulk. Psychic hits Keldeo and Terrakion hard, and HP Fire beats Scizor. My only hopes of beating her are to catch her on the switch in with Terrakion, or Pursuit her with Scizor while in Rain, because she totally walls everyone else. Politoed can Toxic her, however, which really helps when I'm trying to take her down.
- Latios
Choice Scarf Latios is the only real threat to the team, but it can still deal an unpleasant amount of damage. It soundly checks Gyarados until it gets to +3, and can OHKO Keldeo and Terrakion with Psyshock. To beat it, I need to keep Scizor alive, so that I can trap and and be done.
- Ferrothorn
Ferrothorn has always been a massive roadblock to this team, even with the inclusion of Terrakion and Keldeo. It walls Celebi, Politoed, and Gyarados to the Sun and back, and can Leech Seed stall a weakened Scizor to death. Power Whip makes the thought of switching in my Fighting types unbearable, so it's often extremely tough for me to take down. To take it down, I usually make a daring switch with Keldeo / Ferrothorn or boost up with Scizor and then 2HKO with Bug Bite.
Opponents that I find annoying:
Skarmory is a big threat, and probably the biggest threat to this team of all other OU pokemon. Skarmory is quite annoying for this team to handle, especially when it is supported by other bulky pokemon. It totally walls Scizor, Gyarados, Terrakion, and Celebi, and forces me to use Politoed or Choiced Keldeo to take it down, making me forfeit a lot of momentum. Plus, it sets hazards all over my face, annoying my spinner-less team and breaking Terrakion's Sash if it's still intact. Whirlwind and Sturdy makes it nigh impossible to take down quickly and efficiently, as it can just sponge a hit, Whirlwind, and recover back HP as a switch and take more hazard damage. Still, Gyarados can defeat it if it's weakened, Keldeo can OHKO with Hydro Pump, and Politoed can burn it with Scald. The trick is to wear it down enough so that more teammates can take it down.
Although it's not as annoying as Skarmory, Latias still poses a threat to this team because of her speed, power, and bulk. Psychic hits Keldeo and Terrakion hard, and HP Fire beats Scizor. My only hopes of beating her are to catch her on the switch in with Terrakion, or Pursuit her with Scizor while in Rain, because she totally walls everyone else. Politoed can Toxic her, however, which really helps when I'm trying to take her down.
Choice Scarf Latios is the only real threat to the team, but it can still deal an unpleasant amount of damage. It soundly checks Gyarados until it gets to +3, and can OHKO Keldeo and Terrakion with Psyshock. To beat it, I need to keep Scizor alive, so that I can trap and and be done.
Ferrothorn has always been a massive roadblock to this team, even with the inclusion of Terrakion and Keldeo. It walls Celebi, Politoed, and Gyarados to the Sun and back, and can Leech Seed stall a weakened Scizor to death. Power Whip makes the thought of switching in my Fighting types unbearable, so it's often extremely tough for me to take down. To take it down, I usually make a daring switch with Keldeo / Ferrothorn or boost up with Scizor and then 2HKO with Bug Bite.
LongShe (Gyarados) @ Leftovers
Trait: Intimidate
EVs: 56 HP / 248 Atk / 204 Spd
Adamant Nature
- Bounce
- Dragon Dance
- Substitute
- Waterfall
MaMa (Keldeo) (M) @ Choice Scarf
Trait: Justified
EVs: 252 SAtk / 252 Spd / 4 Def
Timid Nature
- Hydro Pump
- Secret Sword
- Icy Wind
- Hidden Power [Electric]
QingWa (Politoed) @ Leftovers
Trait: Drizzle
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpA
Bold Nature
- Perish Song
- Scald
- Ice Beam
- Toxic
Niu (Terrakion) @ Focus Sash
Trait: Justified
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Taunt
- Stone Edge
- Close Combat
- Stealth Rock
ChongZi (Scizor) @ Leftovers
Trait: Technician
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 Spd
Adamant Nature
- Bug Bite
- Swords Dance
- Bullet Punch
- Superpower
YangCong (Celebi) @ Leftovers
Trait: Natural Cure
EVs: 108 Spd / 252 HP / 150 SDef
Calm Nature
- Baton Pass
- Giga Drain
- Psychic
- Nasty Plot
Trait: Intimidate
EVs: 56 HP / 248 Atk / 204 Spd
Adamant Nature
- Bounce
- Dragon Dance
- Substitute
- Waterfall
MaMa (Keldeo) (M) @ Choice Scarf
Trait: Justified
EVs: 252 SAtk / 252 Spd / 4 Def
Timid Nature
- Hydro Pump
- Secret Sword
- Icy Wind
- Hidden Power [Electric]
QingWa (Politoed) @ Leftovers
Trait: Drizzle
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpA
Bold Nature
- Perish Song
- Scald
- Ice Beam
- Toxic
Niu (Terrakion) @ Focus Sash
Trait: Justified
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Taunt
- Stone Edge
- Close Combat
- Stealth Rock
ChongZi (Scizor) @ Leftovers
Trait: Technician
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 Spd
Adamant Nature
- Bug Bite
- Swords Dance
- Bullet Punch
- Superpower
YangCong (Celebi) @ Leftovers
Trait: Natural Cure
EVs: 108 Spd / 252 HP / 150 SDef
Calm Nature
- Baton Pass
- Giga Drain
- Psychic
- Nasty Plot
MADE CHANGES
~Pursuit --> Superpower
~Lefties on Scizor --> Iron Plate
~Scizor's spread
~Politoed's spread
POTENTIAL CHANGES:
~Life Orb > Swords Dance on Terrakion
~Politoed --> Offensive
~Terrakion --> SpDef Jirachi
~Terrakion --> Lando-T
~Terrakion --> Lead Garchomp
~Celebi --> Starmie / Tentacruel
I'd like to thank you all for taking the time to read this RMT. I've hoped you enjoyed it! If so, don't forget to drop a comment and click that heart-shaped pokemon-shaped button up at the top!
Now, since this is also my 1K post, I'd like to give a few thanks, shoutouts, and reflections on my stay here at Smogon.
The first group of people that I'd like to thank are my now-fellow RMT'ers here on Smogon. You guys are all awesome and I'm honored that you guys have recognized my efforts here in the RMT forums! I'd like to take a moment and thank some of you who've truly made a difference to me during my stay here on Smogon. I'll try not to be too sappy.
Delko- Mr. Delko, I know you might not ever see this RMT, but I'd like to thank you for everything you've done regardless. You gave me useful advice back when I was a wee rater, and our discussions on PS! regarding girls have been interesting and fun! I hope you're having fun in Austr. if you're reading this! :]
Jirachi- Jirachee you are actually a pretty good uzr :P Thanks for all of your advice and support as I've grown and improved as a rater. They were really helpful and I'm glad they have helped me improve so much. I'm happy to have worked with you n_n
TNT- because you wanted a shoutout and because you make good RMT's and because you like Naruto and because MY AVATAR IS BETTER THAN URS
haunter- We haven't really talked much but I still would like to thank you for not only leading this site but also giving me all of my badges :P You're an awesome guy and it's good to know that people like you run this place :)
Jirachi- Jirachee you are actually a pretty good uzr :P Thanks for all of your advice and support as I've grown and improved as a rater. They were really helpful and I'm glad they have helped me improve so much. I'm happy to have worked with you n_n
TNT- because you wanted a shoutout and because you make good RMT's and because you like Naruto and because MY AVATAR IS BETTER THAN URS
haunter- We haven't really talked much but I still would like to thank you for not only leading this site but also giving me all of my badges :P You're an awesome guy and it's good to know that people like you run this place :)
Also, I'd like to thank a few people that have made my endeavors and shenanigans on PS! worthwhile as well.
MJB- I know you don't like sap so I'll make this short and sweet- you're a good guy. Keep it up. ;P
Closet- Remember when I was anothing and you were aVoice? Haven't times passed quickly? Haha, nostalgia. It's nice to have you as a 'co-worker' now, and I'll never forget the things we've done on PS! together :D
Nixhex- Teambuilding with you has always been fun, since your ideas and creativity as well as your interesting view of the OU metagame has given a lot of my very own teams spark and zing. Plus, you're an awesome guy and easy to approach, even if your music tastes are a bit... odd. :P
Arcticblast- Duo mods ftw. You too are very unique when it comes to teambuilding, and I've enjoyed our little 'pep talks'. Congrats on the forum mods! You deserve it!
oarpheus- I've had so much fun with you man, and all those hours have definitely been worth it :] Our dream (;D) might not ever come true but we've had fun nevertheless!
all the other staff members- because you guys would eat me alive if I didn't ;) When I first become a Driver, I felt happy that I could finally control some parts of the chat- but I never would have thought that the best parts of being in the staff would be the staff members themselves! You guys are awesome; keep it up.
Closet- Remember when I was anothing and you were aVoice? Haven't times passed quickly? Haha, nostalgia. It's nice to have you as a 'co-worker' now, and I'll never forget the things we've done on PS! together :D
Nixhex- Teambuilding with you has always been fun, since your ideas and creativity as well as your interesting view of the OU metagame has given a lot of my very own teams spark and zing. Plus, you're an awesome guy and easy to approach, even if your music tastes are a bit... odd. :P
Arcticblast- Duo mods ftw. You too are very unique when it comes to teambuilding, and I've enjoyed our little 'pep talks'. Congrats on the forum mods! You deserve it!
oarpheus- I've had so much fun with you man, and all those hours have definitely been worth it :] Our dream (;D) might not ever come true but we've had fun nevertheless!
all the other staff members- because you guys would eat me alive if I didn't ;) When I first become a Driver, I felt happy that I could finally control some parts of the chat- but I never would have thought that the best parts of being in the staff would be the staff members themselves! You guys are awesome; keep it up.
And, there are some LC people that I want to thank for making my transition into LC smooth, easy, and fun.
blarajan- you're a (BAN ME PLEASE) but you're still cool because you tutored me and shit. You know you'll never have as cool of a tutee as me ;P
Charmander- you're so creepily obsessed with your violin; it's not even funny. But hey, that's one of the best parts about you! Oh, and you're good at LC and stuff but who cares about that lol
Delver- Are you ready to win LCPL? I sure as hell am. I'm honored that you not only bid for me for quite a hefty price but also made me Co-Captain of the Murkrow Mafia. Here's to a win!
Charmander- you're so creepily obsessed with your violin; it's not even funny. But hey, that's one of the best parts about you! Oh, and you're good at LC and stuff but who cares about that lol
Delver- Are you ready to win LCPL? I sure as hell am. I'm honored that you not only bid for me for quite a hefty price but also made me Co-Captain of the Murkrow Mafia. Here's to a win!
Now, I'd like to give a shoutout to everyone I've talked with or done something with in the recent past. I can't fit all of your names here; but if I've appreciated things that you've done, you'll know it! You guys know who you are. n_n
Once again, I'd like to thank the community of Smogon for being awesome. Every single one of my now 1000 posts have been worth the time and thought, and I'm happy to know so many of you. Hopefully, I'll get to know even more of you in the future!
THANKS FOR READING~