Hi, I've been playing mainly Smogon DW for a few months now, mostly under the name lostaurora, a rain team, which is currently ranked #1. Having made Rain, Sand, and Sun team each with to degree of success, I decided that it was time to try out the weather that makes everyone go "lolhail sucks". It's been relatively successful, although it's naturally had a very difficult time breaking the top 5 due to the prevalence of high-powered offensive Rain and Sand teams that give my Hail team a hard time. Nevertheless, I present to you Team Frozen Dragon, based on getting a Kyurem sweep lategame.
This team is on the ladder under the name Deep Freeze.
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In-Depth Analysis:
Abomasnow @ Leftovers
Calm Nature (+SpDef, -Atk)
Ability: Snow Warning
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpDef
- Blizzard
- Substitute
- Protect
- Leech Seed
- Substitute
- Protect
- Leech Seed
Abomasnow is clearly mandatory for a Hail team, regardless of how bad it may be. Its typing is far from ideal, as it's weak to SR, weak to Bullet and Mach Punch, and vulnerable to both types of Spikes, and holds a 4x Fire weakness to top it all off. Nonetheless, it was necessary to include the big yeti to run Hail. I originally used an offensive set with Giga Drain and Focus Blast, but K' Genesis suggested this specially defensive set, and I've been happy with its performance against rain teams, allowing me to switch into Politoed more easily. Blizzard is standard because its accuracy is boosted to 100% in hail, and it can actually do decent damage even with Abomasnow's subpar Special Attack. Leech Seed helps Abomasnow regain the damage lost from hazards, which often take their toll on this snowman, and also helps wear down the opposing team when used in conjunction with Hail. Substitute forms the other half of the SubSeed combination, easing prediction and protecting Abomasnow from status. Finally, Protect is used to amplify Leech Seed healing and also continue to wear down the opponent with Hail, and is also useful to scout against Choiced Pokemon.
Kyurem @ Choice Scarf
Modest Nature (+SpAtk, -Atk)
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 160 HP / 252 SpAtk / 96 Spe
- Blizzard
- Draco Meteor
- Focus Blast
- Hidden Power [Fire]
- Draco Meteor
- Focus Blast
- Hidden Power [Fire]
Kyurem is the star of this Hail team, serving as an excellent Pokemon to clean up with late-game when the opponent has (hopefully) been worn down by Hail, SR, Leech Seed, and various attacks. With the given spread, Kyurem reaches 373 Speed with Scarf, enough to outspeed +natured base 120s and up. Draco Meteor is obligatory for the massive damage it does to anything that isn't a Steel or Blissey/Chansey, and Blizzard backs it up nicely with a 100% accurate, 120 BP STAB move that doesn't cause -2 SpA. Focus Blast hits Steels and Tyranitar hard, while Outrage has been changed to HP Fire, which lets Kyurem easily OHKO Genesect and Scizor while doing more reliable damage to Jirachi. Beyond its attacking capabilities, Kyurem also has nice bulk, reaching 431 HP with the given spread, allowing it to take a hit or two, even if it's Bullet/Mach Punch. Modest was chosen because I don't feel the need to outspeed anything faster than 372 Spe and it makes Kyurem hit as hard as possible.
Genesect @ Choice Scarf
Naive Nature (+Spe, -SpDef)
Ability: Download
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpAtk / 252 Spe
- U-Turn
- Blizzard
- Thunder
- Flamethrower
- Blizzard
- Thunder
- Flamethrower
Genesect serves as the main revenge killer on the team, and mainly forcing out Lati@s. Its excellent ability, Download, allows for either extra power U-Turns, which help keep momentum while denting many Pokemon, or adds 50% more power to all of its Special attacks. Blizzard is again chosen for 100% accuracy in hail, and is an excellent move for revenging Dragons. Thunder does a lot of damage to bulky Waters, which hinder Kyurem and Feraligatr's effectiveness, and is chosen for the extra power and paralysis rate over Thunderbolt. Furthermore, Genesect is often used as a pivot when the opposing team's Rain is up, making Thunder 100% accurate. Finally, Flamethrower is for roasting Steels, which are naturally a pain for Hail Teams. Genesect serves as a fantastic check and utility Pokemon for many of the top threats in DW.
Latias @ Soul Dew
Timid Nature (+Spe, -Atk)
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 12 HP / 252 SpAtk / 244 Spe
- Draco Meteor
- Surf
- Hidden Power [Fighting]
- Psyshock
- Surf
- Hidden Power [Fighting]
- Psyshock
This is a rather unorthodox Latias set I came up with that I thought would help the team against both of the two prevalent weathers. With its excellent Special Defense boosted by Soul Dew, it can take even SpecsToed's Hydro Pump and immediately threaten with Draco Meteor. Surf provides good coverage against things like Heatran and also hits Genesect hard, especially in rain, and is a decent move to spam in rain when I don't want to fire off a DM. Because Latias attracts Tyranitar like crazy, HP Fighting was chosen as a nice way to dispatch of or severely weaken opposing Tar, which is essential if I want my Hail up permanently. Finally, Recover was originally the fourth move but has now been replaced with Psyshock. Recover was so Latias could act as an offensive tank against Politoed, but with Abomasnow's new Specially Defensive spread, less pressure is on Latias to tank boosted moves. Because Kyurem no longer has Outrage, I put Psyshock on Latias to make her a great stallbreaker, with Psyshock allowing it to beat Chansey and Blissey while also hitting things like Conkeldurr and Tentacruel slightly harder.
Jirachi @ Leftovers
Careful Nature (+SpDef, -SpAtk)
Ability: Serene Grace
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpDef
- Iron Head
- Body Slam
- Wish
- Stealth Rock
- Body Slam
- Wish
- Stealth Rock
This spot was formerly filled by Heatran, and I'm currently testing a standard SpDef Jirachi in place of it. Body Slam has a nice 60% paralysis rate that makes many standard Jirachi checks think twice about switching in, and is a great move to spam. Iron Head is the second half of the ParaFlinch combo, and when used against a paralyzed opponent, leaves them with only a 20% chance of successfully attacking. Wish provides some necessary healing for Jirachi because it will often be used as a special sponge, and Stealth Rock is standard to help wear down the opponent. Heatran did provide nice Fire STAB, but could do next to nothing against Rain teams and although it could sponge Draco Meteors from the Lati twins, Surf easily KOed it in Rain. Jirachi boasts nice resistances and a lot of special bulk, and is one of my favorite defensive Pokemon.
Gliscor @ Toxic Orb
Impish Nature (+Def, -SpAtk)
Ability: Poison Heal
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Def
Gliscor @ Toxic Orb
Impish Nature (+Def, -SpAtk)
Ability: Poison Heal
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Def
- Earthquake
- Acrobatics
- Fling
- Protect
This teamslot was formerly occupied by Feraligatr, then Rotom. Although both had their merits, they were not suited to taking the strong Fighting-type attacks that were this team's bane. Gliscor solves that problem nicely, being able to counter the majority of common Fighting-types, including Conkeldurr, Breloom, Mienshao, and Infernape while also providing a nice check against Terrakion. Also, it importantly gives me the perfect Excadrill counter, meaning that I have to worry much less about Sand teams based on Excadrill. Although some might argue that the AcroFling set is outclassed, it is needed for this team. Gliscor cannot beat Bulk Up Conkeldurr without either Acrobatics or Swords Dance, and the latter is completely unviable in Dream World because of Genesect, Latios, and Latias. If I see a notable Fighting-type on the other team, I'll Fling the Toxic Orb as soon as possible so that when Gliscor next comes in, its Acrobatics will be fully boosted. Earthquake is obligatory STAB, Fling doubles Acrobatics' power while hopefully allowing me to poison a Latios or Latias, and Protect racks up Hail and Toxic damage while also being a great scouting move against Choiced Pokemon, especially Genesect.
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- Acrobatics
- Fling
- Protect
This teamslot was formerly occupied by Feraligatr, then Rotom. Although both had their merits, they were not suited to taking the strong Fighting-type attacks that were this team's bane. Gliscor solves that problem nicely, being able to counter the majority of common Fighting-types, including Conkeldurr, Breloom, Mienshao, and Infernape while also providing a nice check against Terrakion. Also, it importantly gives me the perfect Excadrill counter, meaning that I have to worry much less about Sand teams based on Excadrill. Although some might argue that the AcroFling set is outclassed, it is needed for this team. Gliscor cannot beat Bulk Up Conkeldurr without either Acrobatics or Swords Dance, and the latter is completely unviable in Dream World because of Genesect, Latios, and Latias. If I see a notable Fighting-type on the other team, I'll Fling the Toxic Orb as soon as possible so that when Gliscor next comes in, its Acrobatics will be fully boosted. Earthquake is obligatory STAB, Fling doubles Acrobatics' power while hopefully allowing me to poison a Latios or Latias, and Protect racks up Hail and Toxic damage while also being a great scouting move against Choiced Pokemon, especially Genesect.
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Current Objectives:
Testing Gliscor.
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Threat List:
