TEAM TEUTONIC DRAGON
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WELCOME
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WELCOME
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Hello ~
Thanks for clicking on my RMT.
With my year-end Examinations coming soon (I’m 16 and studying in my last year of High School), I wanted to take a break from Competitive Pokémon for a month to concentrate on my studies. That Shoddy icon on my desktop is always such a temptation, haha. Since I never made the leaderboard before, I wanted to achieve before I let go. But you know, things like that never go according to plan – I think I managed to hit the 1400s before dropping down again, registering a winning rate of almost 75% over around 50 matches.
I want continue building on this team – it’s been a blast to use but it has its fair share of weaknesses. I’m hoping for some expert advice so I can attempt a ladder run before the hardcore revision begins! (Sorry that I didn’t pretty up my RMT very much since I can’t afford to invest that much time and effort anymore, but I still hope it’s a fluent read.)
I want continue building on this team – it’s been a blast to use but it has its fair share of weaknesses. I’m hoping for some expert advice so I can attempt a ladder run before the hardcore revision begins! (Sorry that I didn’t pretty up my RMT very much since I can’t afford to invest that much time and effort anymore, but I still hope it’s a fluent read.)
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INCEPTION
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INCEPTION
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My team is centred round a Dragonite sweep; it’s an incredible powerhouse and definitely a better sweeper than DD Salamence. NO JOKE. Firstly, I noticed that MixNite is such a dangerous threat that people try to abuse pivots to bring their Starmie, ScarfTar, Scizor or whatever counter they pack safely, giving me relatively easy chances to set-up – I’ve probably never been Taunted the first time I reveal it. Secondly, most answers to Dragon Dancers either fall to a +1 Extremespeed (Flygon, Jolteon) or can’t break through Dragonite’s natural bulk (Rotom-A). I’m not sure why but not many people expect an all-out offensive DDNite, and even less can read Extremespeed following a Dragon Dance.
I was also keen to test out Dual Screen Cresselia and Reachzero’s Gyarados and both of them eventually found their way into the team. I honestly can’t remember anything from the team-building process, except that I wanted a way to deal with bulky waters, Scizor and fast Scarfers that can survive Extremespeed (like Heatran). The original line-up was probably this:
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Thereafter, Aerodactyl was replaced with Metagross for greater reliability and an extra lure for Ground and Fire type moves, Shaymin was given a Life Orb and Magnezone was given a Choice Scarf. So presenting the final line-up:
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Metagross @ Lum Berry
Ability: Clear Body
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FULL-FLEDGED TEAM
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Metagross @ Lum Berry
EVs: 252 HP/252 Atk/4 Def
Adamant nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Stealth Rock
- Bullet Punch
- Meteor Mash
- Explosion
Comments: Metagross has always been a standard choice, but being able to deal with the three most used leads really lends it great utility and reliability. I wanted to get Stealth Rock up with my lead because honestly sticking it onto something like Heatran and hoping for chances to set them up later in the game rarely worked out, especially for offensive teams where momentum is hard to grab and easy to surrender. Metagross does its job against the majority of leads, and plays an important role in the mid- and end-game as well. I’ll never sacrifice Metagross by booming early because I need the resistances, priority and powerful Explosion it provides. For example, Gengar can be an ass to switch into, but thanks to Bullet Punch it won’t net more than one kill per game.
Moveset: Lum + Meteor Mash works better than Occa + Earthquake in this metagame, where Machamp, Roserade and Smeargle are really popular. The moveset is standard really, a simple 252/252 spread suffices because I’m not interested in speed creeping with Skarmory or other Metagross (especially without Earthquake).
Possible Changes: Maybe Iron Head > Meteor Mash because missing against status inducing leads sucks, but the loss of power and a chance to raise my attack might hurt. I also searched high and low for a bulkier spread because I really would appreciate more flexibility switching into threats, but 252/0/0 seems to be the bulkiest one people use. Does anybody have an effective spread to use?
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Cresselia (F) @ Light Clay
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP/100 Def/156 Spd
Bold nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Light Screen
- Reflect
- Psychic
- Ice Beam
Comments: Cresselia is CRAZILY GOOD; I would go so far as to name her my MVP. Basically, I was leafing through some of the archived RMTs and something I read in RaikouLover’s stuck onto me – how Bronzong could swap in on many threats easily and set-up 8-turn screens for the team. Cresselia reproduces that idea here, coming in on a wide array of Pokémon and using the chance to set-up. I have used dual screeners in the past, but only on pure hyper offensive teams. After using Cresselia I realized that you don’t have to base a team around screens for them to be effective. It’s my switch in to a lot of shit, acting as a counter to fighters like Infernape and Machamp, sponging random status and of course building up some handy screens.
Using Cresselia isn’t hard, but it often pays to 1) bring it in early and 2) keep it alive till late-game. Initially, I liked to bring Gyarados in to push the tempo in the initial stages of my games, and weaken counters for Dragonite. However, by opening with Cresselia during blind/double switches, I really swing the momentum in my favour. People deride it as set-up bait but really, who’s going to make any headway against damage-halving screens? As previously mentioned, screens aren’t essential, but I greatly benefit from being able to switch around and/or set-up my sweepers behind them. After it’s done its job early- to mid-game Cresselia serves mostly as a pivot or status absorber, but it’s handy to have later on because it can use its relatively high speed to screen again – something extremely useful for late-game match-ups. (Think Dragonite Dragon Dancing up against a Lucario.)
Moveset: I have enough speed for defensive Celebi and Zapdos, which means stuff like Tyranitar and Scizor are easily outsped. The rest were dumped into defences, focusing on Def because Cresselia is mainly threatened by physical attackers. This gives me incredible bulk, it’s almost disgusting – my two best counters in ScarfTar and Scizor barely knock off 30% with their attacks behind Reflect. Psychic and Ice Beam are logical coverage attacks, and I don’t intend to sacrifice either for Healing Wish or Thunder Wave. Cresselia doubles up as a utility counter to stuff like MixApe or Dragonite so both attacks are kind of essential.
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Shaymin @ Life Orb
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 252 Spd/252 SAtk/4 SDef
Modest nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Seed Flare
- Hidden Power [Fire]
- Earth Power
- Rest
Comments: LO Shaymin is crazy, it rips shit up and can even sweep underprepared teams single-handedly (assuming Seed Flare doesn’t miss x_x.) On this team it serves as an all-important answer to bulky waters which I need to eliminate ASAP, while providing immediate firepower. I loved using the fast Leech Seeder, which is an all-round awesome team player, but the special sweeper fits better here. Having not used it for some time, I was astounded by its strength. I still keenly recall the first time I KOed an incoming Flygon with Seed Flare lol. Basically I abuse its natural bulk and key resistances to Water, Ground and stuff to switch-in and from there I open with the logical move. Shaymin contributes defensively as well, being an effective counter to Kingdra, Gyarados and the like.
Comments: Standard 3 attacks + Rest, I’m more concerned about Skarmory/Forretress setting up Spikes all over me (and I want the SE hit on Scizor) than preventing Dragonite from coming in. Rest is a proven combination with Natural Cure; it keeps me healthy and even allows me to win last-Pokemon stall wars. The Modest nature might be strange but I’m kind of addicted to the power and I’m not missing much – I still outspeed Adamant Lucario, Timid Suicune and Jolly Gyarados either way. HP Fire lowers my speed IV but I invested 252 EVs anyway just to tie with other Shaymin, since a few more hit points won't do much in the long run.
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Gyarados (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 24 HP/252 Atk/232 Spd
Jolly nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Dragon Dance
- Taunt
- Waterfall
- Bounce
Comments: Originally I had Life Orb with this guy, forming a surprisingly effective set since Taunt + Life Orb is not something you see often. However, I found that Gyarados was dying too early to be an effective team player, and keeping it around to absorb Fighting and Fire type moves (since I don't want to bring out Dragonite) is really important. So I ended up using Leftovers with the offensive spread and it's proven to be much better in the long run. Offensively, Gyarados scouts out physical walls and weakens them so Dragonite can get a clean sweep later, though at times this guy can sweep on its own. Behind screens it contributes defensively as well, absorbing hits and abusing Intimidate since I don't want to reveal Dragonite or let it eat unnecessary damage. It fills in some holes for the team as well (like outspeeding and netting a kill on Shuca Heatran) or just getting Suicune down to ~50% so my Dragon Claw can kill it later.
Set: Waterfall + Bounce gives good coverage and dual STAB is awesome, allowing me to do more damage to bulky waters and grasses that can trouble Dragonite. The only reason I’m using Jolly is because of Heatran, honestly I don’t give a shit about outspeeding Jolteon but I need to get the jump on Naïve Heatran if I want to net a kill with Waterfall.
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Magnezone @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Magnet Pull
EVs: 20 Atk/236 Spd/252 SAtk
Naive nature (+Spd, -SDef)
- Thunderbolt
- Flash Cannon
- Hidden Power [Fire]
- Explosion
Comments: Pretty obvious by now, Magnezone eliminates Scarf Jirachi, Scizor, Bronzong and Skarmory which either revenge or wall my Dragonite. Few people bother with Shed Shell nowadays, given the relative rarity of Magnezone in this metagame, which means I can nail those suckers easily. (Skarmory is probably my favourite lead to face since I can get in on a Taunt and zap its ass.) Initially it carried Substitute, but I needed another answer to Gengar which could deal great damage to my team before being picked off by priority. This allows it to double up as a revenge-killer to a range of threats (though not other speed boosters) such as Aerodactyl and SD Lucario. It also provides easy set-up for Dragonite, since it’s a magnet for Fire and Ground attacks (unfunny pun intended).
Set: Thunderbolt and Flash Cannon are nice dual STABs, getting good coverage and power. I swept a weakened team with Flash Cannon before o.o anyway HP Fire is important to KO Forretress and Scizor; I would like something like HP Ground or Ice to screw up Heatran and Flygon but I won’t enjoy and extra layer of hazards or being killed by a Scizor not locked onto a NVE move. Explosion is something I rarely use but it’s nice to have as an offensive option. It’s not like I have any other choices really. I’m again forced to use a Naïve nature even though a Modest nature is much preferred to guarantee the KO of specially defensive Skamory/Forretress, because that’s the only way I can outspeed Gengar mathematically. Anyway coupled with the Spe EVs I beat out Starmie hanging at 352 along with everything below it. Max SpA because I need the oomph and the rest went into Atk to help Explosion.
Possible Changes: I’m actually considering using Magneton so I can outspeed LO Starmie. It’s as great a threat as Gengar really, being hit by Extremespeed but taking less from Bullet Punch, forcing me to weaken my own team through switching around until I can lower it into kill range. I’m not sure if Starmie alone justifies the power drop though, since I’ll still have to use Naïve but the lower base SpA means Skarmory and Forretress have a larger chance of surviving.
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Dragonite (F) @ Life Orb
Ability: Inner Focus
EVs: 16 HP/252 Atk/240 Spd
Adamant nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Dragon Dance
- Dragon Claw
- Earthquake
- Extremespeed
Comments: The guy the team was based around, Dragon Dance Dragonite is godly in the end-game; I sincerely believe it better than DDMence thanks to greater stats (I can afford to run Adamant > Jolly) and priority. Behind screens or on a choice-locked NVE move/immunity I get my boost in and from there I can usually sweep. Because I opted for Dragon Claw, I need to comprehensively scout the opponent’s team and weaken key Pokemon. I usually have a damage calculator on hand to determine how much I have to weaken Zapdos or Suicune or Celebi beforehand so by the time I reveal Dragonite I can get a clean sweep. Anyway I’m not sure how to explain this guy, it’s just an all-out sweeper. Extremespeed and nice defences mean it can function well in the mid-game though, revenge killing threats and providing a pivot to work around attacks, though I usually avoid this due to my Stealth Rock weakness and the importance of concealing Dragonite till the end.
Set: Standard stuff, DD + 3 attacks with Life Orb means I have a deadly force on my hands. This set works better than bulky DD to be honest since Dragonite can still be KOed by the ubiquitous Scarf Flygon and Ice Shard users and so many bulky waters carry Roar that attempting to set-up on them doesn’t work. Anyway I opted for Dragon Claw over Outrage because I don’t ever want to lock myself into a move with so many priority users and Scarf Flygon out to revenge me, and it has better early game utility as well. Earthquake was chosen over Fire Punch for the coverage, since Skarmory and Bronzong are being trapped by Magnezone. The Spe EVs let me outspeed Weavile after a DD so my Extremespeed hits before its Ice Shard, with 252 going into Atk and the rest spilling over into HP. Adamant is preferred since Jolly is only for Heatran really, which can be worked around, while the extra power is appreciated to compensate for the lower base power of Dragon Claw.
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RECAP / SYNERGIES
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RECAP / SYNERGIES
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They have good synergy together: Shaymin can get in on Celebi/Vaporeon that come in on Gyarados while Gyarados can take on Heatran effectively. Both can hit really hard with good type coverage and power. They provide early momentum through power and chemistry.
They resist all types between them apart from Fire, and take advantage of this typing synergy to perform their respective roles. Magnezone can kill of spikers which switch into Cresselia, while Cresselia comes in easily on Ground and Fighting moves to set up her dual screens. Scizor is also easy prey for Magnezone if I double-switch correctly.
Magnezone removes the steel types that threaten my sweep, and can even trap Scarf Jirachi and Scarf Heatran locked on a NVE move. It also provides easy set-up for Dragonite thanks to their good type synergy.
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CONCLUSION
CONCLUSION
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I hope you enjoyed my RMT, please offer your feedback and advice! I urgently need help actually, so I appreciate any comments you guys have to improve the team.
Thanks :]
