My First RMT on Smogon

QuantumDerp

Warning: Entry Hazards Abundant, Fire Types Enter at Your Own Risk​

This is a team built around an idea I had a while ago for a hazard lead Skarm. It’s been fairly successful with about a .800 record on the PO server I frequent most often, Quantum.

Making the team:

First off Hazard Lead Skarm, he became the foundation of this team and without the mad hazards he sets up it often hard for me to win.

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Skarmory has two gaping holes, the commonly special (therefore exploiting his lower SpD) weaknesses he has Fire and Electric Type moves. These are easily removed with good prediction and 1 poke with Flash Fire and an Electivire (due to Motor Drive). For the Flash Fire poke I briefly flirted with Heatran but decided on Chandelure due to it's ability to multitask as a spinblocker which due to the hazards I set up is really important. Both act as support for Skarm and my physical and special sweepers respectively.

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Next I needed a mixed sweeper and decided that I was going to exploit a the weather based 5th gen metagame and have Kingdra on my team. Kingdra is a decent sweeper even without rain but if my opponent dares to have a Drizzle Politoed, then it's freakin' over, Kingdra just destroys everything.

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Next I wanted a phazer so that I could exploit the entry hazards I set up, usually Swampert would be the obvious choice but I try not to take obvious choices and with the addition of some good leaf types Swampert has had an increase in suckage. As such I decided to go with the unorthodox Torterra due to his ability to be an offensive threat, ground typing and the fact that his weaknesses were decently covered by the rest of the team.

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I had already basically done everything that I wanted here but I decided that due to my having a Fire type on my team and my lack of priority a Utility poke couldn't hurt so in a choice between Donphan and Hitmontop I chose Hitmon because I already had a ground type in Torterra.

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Aighty, new change due to a suggestion Kingdra's gone, he was sorta bad anyways, and Latios is in as my mixed sweeper

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Alright, as I was being walled by Gliscor I have swapped into a Landorus with HP Ice to lure and KO Gliscor.

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So that's how I built the team if it seems flawed at all don't hesitate to tell me ^_^

The Lead

Skarmory.png


Max Hazard (Skarmory) (M) @ Mental Herb
Trait: Sturdy
EVs: 72 Atk / 252 Def / 180 SDef / 4 Spd
Careful Nature (+SDef, -SAtk)
- Drill Peck
- Whirlwind
- Spikes
- Stealth Rock

Just consider the two Entry hazards I'm laying down here for a second and consider how potentially lethal they are. Anything grounded will start with 72% health at the most and folks with x4 SR weaknesses can start with 1/4 of their health left if grounded. Pokemon like Volcorona will be rendered completely ineffective. Obviously I can't always get these hazards up, Rapid Spin leads, special attacking SE leads and SpexDrizzToed are problems but I've filled my team with solutions to these. Against Taunt leads, which are less and less common I can simply Whirlwind them away with the help of my Mental Herb. The EVs and nature allow me to take most neutral Special hit and still have my massive physical D. Drill Peck can do decent damage on somethings if the Taunter decides to come back.

The Flash Fire Support/Spinblocker/Special Sweeper

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Max's Bro (Chandelure) (M) @ Life Orb/Balloon
Trait: Flash Fire
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Fire Blast
- Energy Ball
- Shadow Ball
- Calm Mind

An easy strategy to prevent Skarmory's demise, It's not hard to predict when a Fire attack is coming Skarm's way unless I'm up against something extremely versatile with a huge movepool (Nidoking, that bastard, predict a Tbolt and he uses Flamethrower). Anyways Chandy's switch in will often force a switch of it's own, on which I use Calm Mind and proceed to sweep with the good coverage on my attacks. Obviously this isn't a dedicated Spinblocker it doesn't have the right typing or stats but Rapid Spin can't be used while it's in play which is an added bonus.

The Motor Drive Support/Physical Sweeper

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Max's Bro #2 (Electivire) (M) @ Expert Belt/Balloon
Trait: Motor Drive
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Cross Chop
- Earthquake
- ThunderPunch
- Ice Punch

A pretty basic Vire set, the only real strategy is to use Skarm as a lure to get the Motor Drive boost and sweep with the excellent coverage that this set provides, with 13 SE hits and only 17 total types Expert Belt is a solid choice but the Balloon leaves it without a weakness for at least a turn.

The Mixed Sweeper

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Allandin (Landorus) (M) @ Life Orb
Trait: Sheer Force
EVs: 252 Atk / 100 SAtk / 156 Spd
Naughty Nature (+SAtk, -SDef)
- Rock Polish
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- Hidden Power [Ice]

A new set I stole from jds24, dunno if it works, as I haven't tried it, looks pree good. Also I hope you like the awful pun with the name.

The Phazer

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RAWR (Torterra) (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Overgrow
EVs: 252 HP / 136 Atk / 60 Def / 60 SDef
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Roar
- Stone Edge
- Earthquake
- Wood Hammer

Ummm... If you don't get this set your pretty much an idiot. But anyways, Roar deals residual damage and can be used on DO NOT WANT pokes, EQ and Wood Hammer are STAB (and Wood Hammer works well with Overgrow) and Stone Edge creates the infamous Ground/Rock coverage duo.

The Utility

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Problem? (Hitmontop) (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Technician
EVs: 252 HP / 156 Atk / 100 Def
Impish Nature (+Def, -SAtk)
- Rapid Spin
- Mach Punch
- Stone Edge
- Close Combat

Staying power, RS, BP 90 priority and decent attacking strength, Hitmontop is just a good poke in general. If you've got a free space on your team he's almost always a good choice. Hitmontop may not hit as hard as the rest of the Hitmons, but if there's a problem he usually can fix it.

Threat List Analysis

Offensive Threats

Aerodactyl - Skarm and Torterra got dis
Archeops - Vire, Torterra and Skarm
Azelf - Chandy's got it
Bisharp - Hitmontop has this one
Breloom - Chandy's got this in the bag
Chandelure - Latios and Chandy bra
Cobalion - Vire and Latios
Conkeldurr - Chandy and Latios
Darmanitan - Chandy and Latios
Deoxys-S - Chandy, though he might be problematic... Problem?
Dragonite - Latios, Vire, also Skarm and Torterra to an extent
Druddigon - Latios, Vire also Skarm to an extent
Eelektross - Vire, Latios, Torterra
Electivire - Vire, Latios, Torterra
Emboar - Latios, Chandy
Empoleon - Latios, Vire
Espeon - Latios, Chandy
Escavalier - Chandy
Excadrill - Skarm, Latios, Torterra, Hitmon and to an extent Vire
Garchomp - Skarm, Latios and to an extent Vire
Genesect - Chandy
Gengar - Chandy, could be a problem
Golurk - Chandy, Torterra
Gyarados - Vire, Skarm
Haxorus - Skarm, Latios, Vire
Heatran - Latios, Vire, Hitmon and to an extent Torterra
Heracross - Chandy, Skarm
Hydreigon - Hitmon, Latios, Vire
Infernape - Chandy, Latios
Jirachi - Chandy, Latios, Torterra, Vire
Jolteon - Latios, Torterra, Vire
Keldeo - Vire and Latios
Kingdra - Vire and Latios
Krookodile - Hitmon, Skarm
Kyurem - Hitmon, Vire, Latios
Landorus - Skarm sorta, could be very problematic
Latios - Latios, Vire, Skarm
Lilligant - Chandy
Lucario - Hitmon, Skarm, Chandy, Torterra, Latios and to an extent Vire
Machamp - Chandy, Latios
Magnezone - Latios, Chandy, Torterra, Vire, Hitmon
Mamoswine - Hitmon
Meloetta-S - Chandy, Latios
Meloetta-V - Hitmon, Latios, Chandy
Metagross - Torterra, Chandy, Skarm and to an extent Vire
Mienshao - Chandy, Latios
Reuniclus - Chandy, Latios
Roserade - Chandy, Vire
Salamence - Vire, Latios, to an extent Torterra and Hitmon
Sawsbuck - Chandy, Hitmon, Vire
Scizor - Chandy, Latios
Scrafty- Hitmon, Vire
Seismitoad - Torterra
Serperior - It's DW is hellspawn and must die. Skarm, x4 resist and OHKO despit lower SpD
Shaymin - Chandy, Latios
Sigilyph - Torterra, Vire
Smeargle - Hitmon, Vire
Starmie - Vire, Torterra, Latios
Terakion - Hitmon, Torterra, Latios and Vire, Skarm and Chandy to an extent
Thundurus - Torterra, Hitmon, Vire
Togekiss - Torterra, Hitmon, Vire
Tornadus - Hitmon, Vire
Tyranitar -Hitmon
Venusaur - Torterra, Chandy, Vire
Victini - Chandy, Latios
Virizion - Chandy
Volcarona - Chandy, MAD HAZARDS
Weavile - Hitmon
Zoroark -Hitmon (Jesus, anything, this thing is awful)

Defensive Threats

Alomomola - Never freakin heard of it, probably Torterra/Vire
Blissey - Hitmon, Vire
Bronzong - Chandy, Latios
Celebi - Chandy, Latios
Chansey - Hitmon, Vire
Deoxys-D - Chandy
Cofagrigus - Chandy
Crustle - Vire
Dusclops - Chandy
Ferrothorn - Chandy, Latios
Forretress - Chandy, Latios
Garbodor - Not a threat AT ALL
Gigalith - Torterrra, Hitmon, Latios
Gliscor - Vire sorta, potential problematic
Hippowdon - Torterra
Jellicent - Torterra, Vire
Latias - Latios
Mandibuzz - Vire
Murkrow - Vire
Ninetales - Chandy, Latios
Politoed - Torterra, Vire
Porygon2 - Vire, Hitmon
Rotom-H - Hitmon
Rotom-W - Vire, Torterra
Scolipede - Chandy
Skarmory - Chandy, Vire
Snorlax - Vire, Hitmon
Suicune - Torterra, Vire
Swampert - Torterra
Tentacruel - Vire, Latios, Torterra
Vaporeon - Vire, Torterra
Whimsicott - Chandy, Vire, Latios
Xatu - Torterra, Vire, Chandy
Zapdos - Torterra, Latios, Hitmon

Removed from the Team:

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Anti-Toed (Kingdra) (M) @ Life Orb
Trait: Swift Swim
EVs: 80 Atk / 252 SAtk / 176 Spd
Mild Nature (+SAtk, -Def)
- Hydro Pump
- Draco Meteor
- Outrage
- Waterfall

Anyways, that's my team any and all constructive criticism is welcome just don't be a dick ;D
 
First I would like to say I <3 your Torterra :)
Second of all I would recommend you change Thunder Punch on your Electivire to Wild Charge because it’s more powerful STAB

Second of all I would recommend you change your Kingdra to:

Latios @ Life Orb
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 108 Atk / 148 SAtk / 252 Spd
Naughty Nature (+Atk, -SDef)
- Dragon Dance
- Earthquake
- Outrage
- Hidden Power [Fire]

The Evs might be a little screwy because I don’t know what the actual ones are. But this set is somewhat brand new and its becoming very popular and it can rape the shit off of kids’ faces.
 
Alright Kingdra was basically the whole reason I came here, he's been less than solid and I was looking for a replacement, so that's done. Ima test Wild Charge but I think sacrificing longevity for 15 base power is sorta a bad idea. Also nice DP. OH YEAH LUDICOLO YEAH.
 
I'm like a Gen II player, but as far as i'm concerned it is impossible to get Drill Peck + Whirlwind on Skarmory. Is this still correct?
 
I'd get rid of earthquake on one of your two pokemon that have it... (I'd recommend a FULL special latios... his special is better anyway)

I run Chandelure...
Shell Bell/Flash Fire
Modest Nature (+10% Sp. Atk/-10% Atk)
+244 Sp. Atk +136 Sp. Def +16 Def +96 HP +16 Speed
resulting stats:
285 - HP
130 - Atk - 30 IV's (mainly out of CDoO)
220 - Def
425 - Sp. A
250 - Sp. D
200 - Spd

Energy Ball
Will-O-Wisp
Flamethrower
Hex

The speed EV's are mainly to outspeed pokemon. He's a special tank. Tank. Between Flash Fire, Ghost/Fire's double strength to Bug type attacks, and the fact that ALL Ice attacks are typically special + fire is resistant to them, you'll get plenty of opportunities to switch in.
Most of the time you'll be able to predict a switch-out, to which you use a W-o-W.
A. Halved damage from whoever it hits that comes in.
B. Hex double damage.
C. Flamethrower speaks for itself. 425 Sp. Atk? Hell Yes. (I can use hell like that, right?)
D. Energy Ball: He has 5 weaknesses. Water/Rock/Ground/Ghost/Dark
Water/Rock/Ground - All weak to grass. Someone once sent out a swampert v. my Chandelure and mistakenly took it to be faster or bulky enough. Needless to say, energy ball proved to be the perfect move to round out the set.

you can take out Hex for Shadow Ball and I forget what, but W-o-W for something else, and change flash fire for shadow tag with +Spe/-Atk nature and Choice Scarf for a revenge killer. Option 2. -I like these two setups but #1 more.

Hitmontop
I wouldn't use CC on Hit. I'd switch for Rock Slide. I run him with Sucker Punch/Mach Punch/Rock Slide and rapid spinner, he's my spinner/priority revenge killer... maxed attack but I haven't gotten use to him yet. I run him with Quick Claw. QC + RS can get a flinch if you're lucky, or faster and less lucky...

Just what I'd suggest... I'm still kinda new... but from what i've experienced with latios, he's best left to special attacking.


EDIT: You could run special latios (gliscor is weak to special attacks more than physical attacks)
Life Orb/Levitate

Timid nature (+10% Speed/-10% Attack)
16 HP/24 Def/216 Sp. Atk/252 Speed

305 - HP
194 - Atk
202 - Def
350 - Sp. A
256 - Sp. D
350 - Speed

Ice Beam
Calm Mind
Dragon Pulse
Psychic

Typical, but typical b/c it works.
and what the person said above.

Electivire w/

Fire Punch (Weaker than most, but... it will get the job done, to replace Latios' HP Fire)
Rock Slide (with speed, can cause flinch)
Volt Tackle
Cross Chop (inaccurate, may wanna go with Brick Break or similar, more accurate something)

You could take out Rock Slide and Cross Chop for SubPunch (Substitute + Focus Punch)
With Motor Drive (do NOT use with Rock Slide) Hammer Arm over Cross Chop for Accuracy
 
Okay Blaze, the point of Latios here is not to be a FULL special sweeper, I already have a special sweeper, I need a MIXED sweeper and this is what was recommended to me, you know, mixed sweepers like the kind that are important to have on nearly every team? Also running Quick Claw is stupid it is a hax item that no one ever uses because it's got a 10% chance of working when your already running a priority move anyways so there's no point and perhaps you haven't notice Hitmon has pree good defensive stats so Leftovers is a good item. And why run 2 priority attacks on him, or run Rock Slide when he has Stone Edge. Running balanced EVs like your running on your Chandy is stupid and Chandy doesn't work defensively because it's got 60/90/90 defenses. Also can't have special tank a tank refers to something that takes both physical and special attacks equally, you can have a special wall. And Also EQ is the best attacking move in the game, it's worth running on multiple things... so no to everything. Also Jolt, HP Ice is an option, I love coverage on Ice types forcing me to switch and lose my boosts, but I really need something to kill Gliscor, so I guess I'll try it.
EDIT: Changed my mind I'm stealing a mixed Landorus from jds24, I hope he don't mind.
 
Apologies, I'm new to this, but:

Chandelure could take a physical attack... the point is, his role, he's mainly going to end up taking special attacks, thus being a Special-based tank.

Your mixed sweeper? I see why they're a pull; no one can switch on a the pokemon and throw in a special wall or physical wall and stop it due to one-way attacks, but that's, IMO, the point of having physical sweepers/tanks and special sweepers/tanks, but a successful mixed sweeper (I think) is too difficult to pull off...

I run my hitmontop like that b/c i found a good combo of 5 that went well together, but it still sucked. I saw it lacked a few things: A resistance to rock to switch into & priority moves including sucker punch, a GREAT priority move for revenge kills from what I see...

I run Rock Slide for 2 reasons:
1. Even if he doesn't have points invested in speed, he's still pretty fast. It can cause a Flinch.
2. Accuracy. You bet on 80% and 1/5th - 1 out of every 5 - you're chancing a loss. Once single miss-call can ---- you. w/ quick claw, you can sucker punch someone before they sucker punch you, or mach them before they mach/sucker/shard/bullet you, etc. or even Rock Slide them and get a flinch... Hoping for QC + Flinch is iffy, but if you're using it, most likely, you have no better option, or the rock type attack has more benefit than being just a flinch-move (I.E. trying to kill a flyer)

Does my logic make sense? -If there's some things my logic overlooks, can you PM or explain?
Mind you, I said, "Just what I'd suggest... I'm still kinda new... " I mean that... D:

EDIT: P.S. With your new add, Landorus and Torterra, you now have TWO pokemon 4x weak to ice types. You need that special Tank more than ever. Most ice moves are special, so a decent Sp. D fire type special tank would be pretty good... *shrug* My n00b (literally, I'm a noob) advice
 
Once again, Chandy has 60/90/90 defenses THAT IS SHIT, he is a sweeper, he cannot be defensive, he has awful defensive typing, your wasting a base 145 SpA, the list goes on and on. A mixed sweeper is not a new idea, if you think it is difficult to pull of you are right but it must be done for a offensive team to work, that's what makes things like Salamence and Dragonite so popular, the fact that they can be mixed sweepers. Hitmontop has 70 base speed, that is TERRIBLE, Quick Claw never activates, priority moves are for revenge killing and honestly I think I can get ghosts fine anyways so Sucker Punch is unnesescary. When you argue against Stone Edge you argue against Quick Claw, which has only 10% chance of activating. Okay Done.
 
(Please try to keep in mind I'm a noob, but if you could further explain past stating his stats, it'd be appreciated) Yeah, sure, hitmontop's speed is 70, I drop my suggestion

but Chandelure's Speed is 80. A sweep-gallade can match that - from what I've read, and about 50 other pokemon at least. It's a common speed - from my experience. IMO, the only way to make Chandelure a quality, reliable sweep/revenge killer is to scarf it. I understand "90" isn't a GREAT defense, but that's why you sink more into Sp. D. I'm saying this from experience. 250 Sp. D is what my setup reads, that + the fact that "you" use him on switch-ins of moves that either aren't very effective or, due to my use of flash fire, not effective at all (not to mention normal and fighting type attacks), he works well in the role as a "Special" Tank.

I specify special. Thus it can exist. I am new here so if I just made up a new term, sorry, but imagine a tank (assuming I understand what a tank is) and imagine it's stats, both defensive and offensive leaning to be towards special stats.

Sorry if I sound ignorant and argumentative, I'm just looking to give insight to improve your team and my experience. I don't see how 90 Sp. D is so horrible, considering in all of my battles, it's one of the things that keeps him alive.
 
the only thing I can say is: give Skarmory Max HP, then add the rest of the EV's into defences, this is a general rule of thumb when a Pokemon has a lower HP stat than their Defences (and Skarm has 65/140/70, HP is lowest out of the 3)

a better EV spread would be:

252 HP / 72 ATK / 180 S-def / 4 Speed

this will not only allow you to tank physical hits much better than 252 def, but will also improve your special defensive walling...

also, your EV spread looks a little... strange on Landorus... could you show me the exact stats? I'd actually like to look over that.

Other than that, you're team looks pretty good... could you have a look at mine? (Don't worry if you can't rate well, I just prefer if people look over it to try and spot flaws anyone else can see)
http://www.smogon.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3446711

EDIT: Ok, I had a look at your previous comments, and read a few analysis's on chandelure. Now I understand that Chandelure is very weak defensively, but you might want to consider giving it a few EV's in S-def, because that will actually make you surprisingly bulky when you CM up...
 
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