Greetings,
I am building a 4th generation team for a battle with mostly standard rules and clauses. The only changes in this battle are that every pokemon must have a different hold item from all other pokemon on the team, and I cannot use legendary pokemon.
Team at a glance:
My process for developing this team was to eliminate possible counters for Tyranitar, which would give him a chance to sweep (as I am using the Dragon Dance variant). Each pokemon's role towards that goal is described below.
In-depth Description:
Roserade (M) @ Focus Sash
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 4 HP/252 Spd/252 SAtk
Timid nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Toxic Spikes
- Sleep Powder
- Leaf Storm
- Sludge Bomb
Roserade is something that I am not entirely sure about. It seems that he performs quite well with the option of putting their lead or switch to sleep and setting up toxic spikes. I use Sludge Bomb because I need to breed these pokemon in the regular fashion, and I don't want to try to get the right Hidden Power. But Sludge Bomb does help me cover Celebi and Shaymin. It covers lead Swampert, non-Aerial Ace Gliscor, Empoleon, Gyarados, Vaporeon, Tyranitar, and others. But it has limited appeal in later game situations. And all it can do against Metagross is potentially put it to sleep.
Tyranitar (F) @ Lum Berry
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 4 HP/252 Atk/252 Spd
Jolly nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Dragon Dance
- Stone Edge
- Crunch
- Earthquake
Tyranitar funtions as a late game sweeper in this team. I went with Dragon Dance over Pursuit with a choice item in order to boost on a switch, which can often lead to a surprise KO to whatever is switching in. Earthquake is just for coverage. I feel like I have enough Fire Attacks on my team without adding in Fire Punch here. His lum berry aids in Dragon Dancing on a status move and delivering many KOs after Rock and sandstorm damage (such as Spititomb).
Bronzong @ Macho Brace
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP/84 Atk/80 Def/92 SDef
Sassy nature (+SDef, -Spd)
- Stealth Rock
- Gyro Ball
- Payback
- Earthquake Maybe Explosion is better? or something else?
I tried replacing my Heracross with this Bronzong. Overall, he has been more helpful because he can switch in on major threats like Electivire and Gengar and either force a switch or KO. He can mostly absorb lower-level fighting attacks, and his ability to come in on Earthquake can make him very useful in clearing the way for my other pokemon. Macho Brace is not my first choice for an item, but, as I said above, I'm not allowed to use an item more than once on this team, so leftovers is out of the question. However, this pokemon can be surprisingly short lived because of his lack of healing, so he relies on Blissey's Wish to stick around. This makes me think that Explosion may work better than Earthquake on him.
Dragonite (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Inner Focus
EVs: 116 Atk/192 Spd/200 SAtk
Rash nature (+SAtk, -SDef)
- Superpower
- Draco Meteor
- Fire Blast
- Earthquake Better suggestions for a fourth move?
Dragonite serves as a solid switch-in when faced with a fighting-type pokemon, which will need to be eliminated in order to make room for Tyranitar. His mixed set helps him maintain usefulness even if the opponent switches in a wall like Blissey (Superpower) or Skarmory (Fire Blast). Earthquake seems silly to have but I can't think of anything else. Advice here? Draco Meteor delivers solid damage against most switch-ins such as Swampert and opposing Dragon-types. Flamethrower hits Steel threats and Superpower aid in possible Ice/dark/rock/steel switch in, such as Weavile,Tyranitar, Empoleon, Magnezone, Mamoswine, etc.
Blissey (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 252 HP/252 Def/4 Spd
Bold nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Wish
- Seismic Toss
- Protect
- Thunderwave Would an attack like Flamethrower or Ice Beam be better?
Blissey serves as a wall for special attackers that give Tyranitar trouble, such as Heatran, Starmie, Vaporeon, Celebi, etc. Additionally, she allows the return of otherwise fragile sweepers like Heracross and Electivire using Wish. Wish also allows for Dragonite to switch in and out regardless of Stealth Rocks. Toxic seems to help hurt physical attackers that switch in on Blissey, but I have considered Thunderwave to give an advantage to slower pokemon like Heracross, Empoleon and Dragonite. Any ideas here?
Starmie @ Choice Scarf Thanks to AlcadeiasX for this suggestion
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 252 Spd/252 SAtk/4 SDef
Modest nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Hydro Pump
- Ice Beam
- Thunderbolt
- Trick
One of my final concerns with this team was that I could not stop pokemon that use stat-boosting moves. This guy helps to address that concern along with handling a number of my threats. Ideally, I can switch in on a boost move (Dragon Dance for Gyarados, Kingdra; Calm Mind for Suicune; or Swords Dance for a number of others). Then my opponent will be Tricked into taking a Chocie Scarf, which will shut down the benefits from the move. I can also irritate Blissey (a common switch-in against Starmie) by tricking a Choice Scarf. Maybe most important is this Starmie's ability to switch in on Gengar and score a KO with its massive boosted speed, or shut down the popular Substitute Gengar by sending my opponent a Choice Scarf. Then of course there is the excellent coverage that helps me deal with bulky waters and even the speediest Dragon-types (Flygon or DDance Dragonite).
Threat List
Infernape - A mixed sweeper can use his fighting attacks to break t-tar, blissey and his special attacks to break Heracross. Dragonite is usually my only option, but he will be in trouble if he switches into rocks and a close combat. Starmie could work even better, unless we are looking at a Nasty plot/ Grassknot ape.
Metagross -Dragonite is a solid option to counter with Fire Blast. If it is a leading Metagross, then I can usually disable it with Sleep Powder and set up on it. But his ability to take down the rest of my team is unsettling.
Starmie -Starmie's coverage is a problem. I could use Bronzong's Payback to take it down, but Starmie can often do something annoying like Trick a Choice item to my Bronzong. Blissey can work well but same problem with the Choice item.
Kingdra -Again Blissey is the best bet, but a mixed or physical version would mess me up. A Dragon Dancing version usually really screws with my team. Starmie could come in on a DDance and send a Choice Scarf Kingdra's way. Then Starmie's Thunderbolt serves well.
Dragonite - Dragonite can mess me up sometimes. I have a solid chance of nailing it with a Stone Edge from t-tar or a Ice Beam from Starmie. But none of my team members want to switch in on his attacks comfortably, so good prediction is a must. If it is a DDance user, then Starmie pretty much handles it.
Swampert - My only sure OHKO against him is with my Roserade's Leaf Storm. But I cant switch Roserade in on his earthquake, so its a shaky option. Starmie can 2HKO with Hydro Pump. Bronzong can usually set up Stealth Rocks on Swampert. If it is a lead Swampert, then I'm usually in the clear.
Tentacruel -Tentacruel is mostly trouble, and his ability to take out my other team members and set up toxic spikes on Blissey make him an annoyance. Starmie can send a painful Thunderbolt his way, and Dragonite and Tyranitar can send him packing with a well aimed Earthquake.
Vaporeon - Blissey is a pretty good option, or I could hope to nail it with Roserade's Leaf Storm, but it is still tough to switch in against it if my Blissey is down. Starmie could Thunderbolt him. Otherwise I could paralyze/Poison him with Blissey or Roserade and then wear him down with Bronzong.
Starmie and Blissey are my best bets here; although, Blissey can't hurt him with Seismic Toss. Starmie can outspeed Gengar for a mighty Hydropump to the face or send Gengar a Choice scarf when he tries to use substitute. Otherwise I can switch in for a revenge kill from Bronzong's Payback.
Starmie outspeeds him and OHKOs him with Ice Beam. Failing that I would have to rely on Bronzong, provided no Fire Blast.
Starmie can take it again. Dragonite has a solid chance if it has no Stone Edge. But otherwise Im stuck.
Breloom- Newly added to the threat list because of the fact that I got rid of Heracross. I no longer have an option for a reliable sleep-absorbing pokemon, so when Breloom shows up, I have very few enjoyable options.
I am open to any constructive criticism and suggestions in the make up of the team and the list of threats.
Many thanks
I am building a 4th generation team for a battle with mostly standard rules and clauses. The only changes in this battle are that every pokemon must have a different hold item from all other pokemon on the team, and I cannot use legendary pokemon.
Team at a glance:
My process for developing this team was to eliminate possible counters for Tyranitar, which would give him a chance to sweep (as I am using the Dragon Dance variant). Each pokemon's role towards that goal is described below.
In-depth Description:
Roserade (M) @ Focus Sash
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 4 HP/252 Spd/252 SAtk
Timid nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Toxic Spikes
- Sleep Powder
- Leaf Storm
- Sludge Bomb
Roserade is something that I am not entirely sure about. It seems that he performs quite well with the option of putting their lead or switch to sleep and setting up toxic spikes. I use Sludge Bomb because I need to breed these pokemon in the regular fashion, and I don't want to try to get the right Hidden Power. But Sludge Bomb does help me cover Celebi and Shaymin. It covers lead Swampert, non-Aerial Ace Gliscor, Empoleon, Gyarados, Vaporeon, Tyranitar, and others. But it has limited appeal in later game situations. And all it can do against Metagross is potentially put it to sleep.
Tyranitar (F) @ Lum Berry
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 4 HP/252 Atk/252 Spd
Jolly nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Dragon Dance
- Stone Edge
- Crunch
- Earthquake
Tyranitar funtions as a late game sweeper in this team. I went with Dragon Dance over Pursuit with a choice item in order to boost on a switch, which can often lead to a surprise KO to whatever is switching in. Earthquake is just for coverage. I feel like I have enough Fire Attacks on my team without adding in Fire Punch here. His lum berry aids in Dragon Dancing on a status move and delivering many KOs after Rock and sandstorm damage (such as Spititomb).
Bronzong @ Macho Brace
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP/84 Atk/80 Def/92 SDef
Sassy nature (+SDef, -Spd)
- Stealth Rock
- Gyro Ball
- Payback
- Earthquake Maybe Explosion is better? or something else?
I tried replacing my Heracross with this Bronzong. Overall, he has been more helpful because he can switch in on major threats like Electivire and Gengar and either force a switch or KO. He can mostly absorb lower-level fighting attacks, and his ability to come in on Earthquake can make him very useful in clearing the way for my other pokemon. Macho Brace is not my first choice for an item, but, as I said above, I'm not allowed to use an item more than once on this team, so leftovers is out of the question. However, this pokemon can be surprisingly short lived because of his lack of healing, so he relies on Blissey's Wish to stick around. This makes me think that Explosion may work better than Earthquake on him.
Dragonite (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Inner Focus
EVs: 116 Atk/192 Spd/200 SAtk
Rash nature (+SAtk, -SDef)
- Superpower
- Draco Meteor
- Fire Blast
- Earthquake Better suggestions for a fourth move?
Dragonite serves as a solid switch-in when faced with a fighting-type pokemon, which will need to be eliminated in order to make room for Tyranitar. His mixed set helps him maintain usefulness even if the opponent switches in a wall like Blissey (Superpower) or Skarmory (Fire Blast). Earthquake seems silly to have but I can't think of anything else. Advice here? Draco Meteor delivers solid damage against most switch-ins such as Swampert and opposing Dragon-types. Flamethrower hits Steel threats and Superpower aid in possible Ice/dark/rock/steel switch in, such as Weavile,Tyranitar, Empoleon, Magnezone, Mamoswine, etc.
Blissey (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 252 HP/252 Def/4 Spd
Bold nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Wish
- Seismic Toss
- Protect
- Thunderwave Would an attack like Flamethrower or Ice Beam be better?
Blissey serves as a wall for special attackers that give Tyranitar trouble, such as Heatran, Starmie, Vaporeon, Celebi, etc. Additionally, she allows the return of otherwise fragile sweepers like Heracross and Electivire using Wish. Wish also allows for Dragonite to switch in and out regardless of Stealth Rocks. Toxic seems to help hurt physical attackers that switch in on Blissey, but I have considered Thunderwave to give an advantage to slower pokemon like Heracross, Empoleon and Dragonite. Any ideas here?
Starmie @ Choice Scarf Thanks to AlcadeiasX for this suggestion
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 252 Spd/252 SAtk/4 SDef
Modest nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Hydro Pump
- Ice Beam
- Thunderbolt
- Trick
One of my final concerns with this team was that I could not stop pokemon that use stat-boosting moves. This guy helps to address that concern along with handling a number of my threats. Ideally, I can switch in on a boost move (Dragon Dance for Gyarados, Kingdra; Calm Mind for Suicune; or Swords Dance for a number of others). Then my opponent will be Tricked into taking a Chocie Scarf, which will shut down the benefits from the move. I can also irritate Blissey (a common switch-in against Starmie) by tricking a Choice Scarf. Maybe most important is this Starmie's ability to switch in on Gengar and score a KO with its massive boosted speed, or shut down the popular Substitute Gengar by sending my opponent a Choice Scarf. Then of course there is the excellent coverage that helps me deal with bulky waters and even the speediest Dragon-types (Flygon or DDance Dragonite).
Threat List
I am open to any constructive criticism and suggestions in the make up of the team and the list of threats.
Many thanks
