Second team. Gogogo rate.

Upsided0wn7

My second fully competitive team. So far, it's been doing well; however, I believe it could be better. This team is a nice mix between defense and offense, but if I lose my sweeper, it usually ends up with Zapdos attempting to stall out/kill the opponent.


Bronzong @ Macho Brace
Ability: Heatproof
EVs: 252 HP/86 Atk/40 Def/132 SDef
Sassy nature (+SDef, -Spd)
- Stealth Rock
- Trick
- Explosion
- Gyro Ball

Stealth Rock always plays an important role in primarily offensive teams, and mine is no different. I generally attempt to sleep their lead right off the bat, get some rocks up, and explode. Gyro Ball takes out pesky taunt lead, who can come back late-game after and clean up my team. Sleep support fits very well in here, as my team is lacking on Conditions, and the slight advantage is always welcome. Heatproof vs Levitate is very debatable. I chose Heatproof because my common leads tend to pack Flamethrower, Fire Blast, or some other fire move. Generally, by the time the opponent realizes Zong doesn't have levitate, he's done his job. Macho Brace is there for pesky trickers, although I'm thinking about changing it, as it commonly gets tricked back to me.

This section is for a list of switches; however, as a suicide lead, Zong won't be switching out very often.


Porygon2 @ Leftovers
Ability: Trace
EVs: 252 HP/40 SAtk/216 Def
Bold nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Recover
- Thunderbolt
- Ice Beam
- Thunder Wave

Stops Salamence, Gyara, and ScarfTran in their track. Generally serves as a utility for the team by Paralyzing sweepers and stopping many attempted sweeps. The 40 SAtk EVs guarantee an OHKO on Gyara. I needed a counter to the Dragon Dancing pokemon, as they can commonly come in on CBPert and attempt to get a free set-up.

Fighting Attacks can go to Starmie or Zapdos


Tyranitar (M) @ Choice Band
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 176 HP/252 Atk/80 Spd
Adamant nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Stone Edge
- Crunch
- Pursuit
- Earthquake

CBTar kills just about anything it can hit. Pursuit is nice to kill just about anything. This thing can take out the bulky waters that tend to give my team a bit of trouble. Sand Stream doesn't particularly hurt any of my pokemon, so that's fine. I really need to playtest this guy a bit more to get a better idea of how he plays with the team.

Grass attacks can go to Zapdos and Infernape.
Fighting goes to Starmie or Zapdos.
Ground goes to Zapdos.


Starmie @ Life Orb
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 252 Spd/252 SAtk
Timid nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Hydro Pump
- Thunderbolt
- Ice Beam
- Recover

Offensive Starmie my early game sweeper, as well as a cleanup sweeper if Ape goes down. This is my main Celebi counter, as Recover allows it bash around any Celebi without LeafStorm, and thanks to Natural Cure, it doesn't fear TWave. If Celebi enters on a predicted Ice Beam, I have a pretty good chance of killing it.

Grass attacks go to Ape or Zapdos.
Electric attacks go to Swampert.
Ghost attacks go to Porygon2.
Bug attacks don't have anywhere to go.
Can't really say that Ape is a switch for Dark, due to Pursuit.

Zapdos @ Leftovers
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 252 HP/36 Spd/220 SDef
Calm nature (+SDef, -Atk)
- Roost
- Thunderbolt
- Hidden Power [Grass]
- Heat Wave

Specially Defensive Zapdos saves me from a whole bunch of threats. I would like Hidden Power Grass and Heatwave on the same set, due to the large amount of coverage it provides; however, Hidden Power Grass is pretty interchangeable, as it was mainly there to deal with Swampert before Ape has Grass Knot.

Ice attacks go to Starmie and Ape


Infernape (M) @ Expert Belt
Ability: Blaze
EVs: 24 Atk/232 Spd/252 SAtk
Hasty nature (+Spd, -Def)
- Close Combat
- Fire Blast
- Grass Knot
- Hidden Power [Ice]

MixApe without Nasty Plot. The amount of coverage provided by the set is amazing, as well as allowing for many mindgames. By showing Grass Knot or HP Ice, I can lure out Swampert and Mences then OHKO them. The EVs deal with Ape's unique speed level. I prefer Expert Belt over Life Orb, as the damage can be quite annoying.

Water attacks go to Starmie and Zapdos.
Ground attacks go to Zapdos.
Flying attacks don't have anywhere to go.
Psychic attacks also don't have anywhere to go


As you can see, a few of the less common attack types don't have anywhere to go. Any help with the team if appreciated.
 
Even though common leads have fire moves, ground moves are still as common (metagross?). Two pokes weak to ground can be a pain sometimes.

I'd give your starmie rapid spin as well.

A powerful physical hitter could potentially do some damage.

Just some basic suggestions (:
 
Cost said:
Even though common leads have fire moves, ground moves are still as common (metagross?). Two pokes weak to ground can be a pain sometimes.

The thing is, no one evens tries to earthquake Zong, because everyone assumes it has levitate. Due to this fact, I find Heatproof much more useful

I'd give your starmie rapid spin as well.

While I do like the concept of removing rocks, taking Rapid Spin in Starmie forces me to switch out a moveslot. Almost all the moves on Starmie are required for it to fucntion the way I require it to function on this team.

A powerful physical hitter could potentially do some damage.

I do like this suggestion, and a slightly bulky Physical Sweeper could do wonders in Swampert spot. If you have any suggestions, feel free to say some

Just some basic suggestions (:
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If you're looking for bulky sweepers, you could try a curse mamoswine or a rhyperior if you want, or even just a metagross. Dragonite is very bulky and powerful as well. (:

For your starmie, I'm pretty sure T-bolt can be taken out (you have two other T-bolt users). (;
 
Cost said:
If you're looking for bulky sweepers, you could try a curse mamoswine or a rhyperior if you want, or even just a metagross. Dragonite is very bulky and powerful as well. (:

Metagross s a viable option, especially with a CB. Normally, I would prefer Dragonite in that spot, but this team tends to be slightly Dragon weak because of the lack of a steel type.

For your starmie, I'm pretty sure T-bolt can be taken out (you have two other T-bolt users). (;

Generally, what you said would be right; however, both my other TBolt users don't pack enough power to take on bulky water. By losing TBolt on Starmie, I'm extremely vulnerable to CMCune and can be stalled pretty easily by Vaporeon. Potentially, the Metagross change you recommended could fix up those problems by bring Thunder Punch into the picture. I will have to think about it.
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I would use Trick on Bronzong over Hypnosis. Hypnosis has a pretty unreliable rate of hitting while Trick can really mess up sweepers that decide to switch in on Bronzong (Infernape, Heatran, Gyarados, etc...). If you don't use Trick, then I would try to use Earthquake on the set. You are using heatproof to survive fire attacks right? Then what? Explode? Earthquake is your best counter-attack to Heatran, Magnezone, and even Infernape. You can really net a good amount of KOs with a surprise EQ coming from Heatproof Bronzong.

Everything else seems alright but you've got very little against CM Latias after Bronzong and/or Swampert is taken out. In fact, you've got no priority users which could hurt if your opponent Dragon Dances. Perhaps you could switch Infernape for Scizor. Scizor helps with Latias, too.
 
Scarlet Spyder said:
I would use Trick on Bronzong over Hypnosis. Hypnosis has a pretty unreliable rate of hitting while Trick can really mess up sweepers that decide to switch in on Bronzong (Infernape, Heatran, Gyarados, etc...). If you don't use Trick, then I would try to use Earthquake on the set. You are using heatproof to survive fire attacks right? Then what? Explode? Earthquake is your best counter-attack to Heatran, Magnezone, and even Infernape. You can really net a good amount of KOs with a surprise EQ coming from Heatproof Bronzong.

Everything else seems alright but you've got very little against CM Latias after Bronzong and/or Swampert is taken out. In fact, you've got no priority users which could hurt if your opponent Dragon Dances. Perhaps you could switch Infernape for Scizor. Scizor helps with Latias, too.
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Or just give the soon-to-be metagross BP or something.
 
If you want a bulky sweeper that can hit hard look no further than AgiliGross:

Metagross @ Life Orb
Ability: Clear Body
EVs: 56 HP/252 Atk/200 Spd
Adamant nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Earthquake
- Meteor Mash
- Agility
- Thunderpunch
Good ole AgiliGross. Just set up and sweep simple as that. With its bulk, its easy to set up then attack. Life orb for power with different choice of moves. Meteor Mash for STAB and if you get an Atk boost it is game over. Earthquake for steels, Agility to speed up, and thunderpunch for gyara and excellent coverage alongside earthquake. 200 spd evs to out-speed all neutral nature base 100's that are scarfed after an agility.

Then RS on starmie over t-bolt

Well anyways hope I helped, and good luck with the team =)
 
joshe said:
If you want a bulky sweeper that can hit hard look no further than AgiliGross:

Metagross @ Life Orb
Ability: Clear Body
EVs: 56 HP/252 Atk/200 Spd
Adamant nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Earthquake
- Meteor Mash
- Agility
- Thunderpunch
Good ole AgiliGross. Just set up and sweep simple as that. With its bulk, its easy to set up then attack. Life orb for power with different choice of moves. Meteor Mash for STAB and if you get an Atk boost it is game over. Earthquake for steels, Agility to speed up, and thunderpunch for gyara and excellent coverage alongside earthquake. 200 spd evs to out-speed all neutral nature base 100's that are scarfed after an agility.

Then RS on starmie over t-bolt

Well anyways hope I helped, and good luck with the team =)
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That's exactly what I was saying lol
Except I think CB is wanted, and BP as well.
 
Cost said:
That's exactly what I was saying lol
Except I think CB is wanted, and BP as well.
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Just giving him some options and after an agility no priority is needed, and this meta needs those moves to be a late-game sweeper.
 
Pretty good team.

Metagross might not fit in well to your type switch in thing. So I suggest a CB tyranitar. It can definetally take hits and give them. Use pursuit, crunch, stone edge, and earthquake over aqua tail as your team has a waer move and not a strong ground move. Also, It's pursuits can really help your team.

On another note, just a nitpick, I think u should use discharge/toxic over tbolt/twave on porygon. Your team will benifit much more from toxic support rather thar paralys.

By the way, you forgot to add the 6HP evs on your starmie.
 
Made some of the recommended changes. I'm still debating removing TBolt on Starmie and doing the Discharge/Toxic thing on Porygon2.
 
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