Introduction
After a few months of lurking around this community and learning more about it, I've actually managed to work up the courage of posting my very first RMT here on smogon. For the record this is not some noob who is new into competitive battling posting this RMT, I'm actually a very skilled battler but anyways I'm getting a little off topic here. After being fed up of OU pokes I've decided to go to RU Tier to see what's it like. When I saw the usage list, my mind was simply blown away. There is so much pokemon in the RU then suddenly my battling juices began flowing inside my head. So after some time of team building and many trial and error, I've finally built a team that helped me peak #2 on smogon server. I'm really proud of how this team worked out and giving me a high rank. With great pride, I'm posting this team to get insights or ideas to help me improve this team even further. I'm open to all suggestions and criticism. Now let's take a closer look at this team.
Team Members
Venomoth @Black Sludge
Ability: Tinted Lens
EVs: 80 HP / 252 SAtk / 176 Spd
Nature: Modest Nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
-Quiver Dance
-Sleep Powder
-Bug Buzz
-Roost
Ability: Tinted Lens
EVs: 80 HP / 252 SAtk / 176 Spd
Nature: Modest Nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
-Quiver Dance
-Sleep Powder
-Bug Buzz
-Roost
Initially I had a Yanmega but I was worried about Stealth Rocks being all over the place and had to look elsewhere. After looking at the RU threat list posted by Xephyr, I was surprised on how much Venomoth is a threat in the RU so I wanted to test it out and see what's the deal with this bug pokemon. From laddering on PO, I've never realized what a menace this pokemon is. Venomoth is one of the most scariest set up sweepers in the tier. Quiver Dance allows Venomoth to outspeed many choice scarfers such as Galvantula, Primeape, and Typhlosion while at the same time increasing both special attack and defense so Venomoth won't die easily from an attack launched at it while at the same time hitting hard against other pokemon. Sleep Powder to induce sleep on my opponent buying me some to time to set up. Tinted Lens allow's Venomoth's STAB Bug Buzz to ignore the opponent's resistance against this attack. No Luck Involved gave me the idea of adding Roost to Venomoth to give it some longevity to tear through teams so I give him credit for this set. Sometimes I lead off with Venomoth (of course if the opponent doesn't look like he won't set up any entry hazards) to give me the early momentum of the battle and giving my opponent's an unstable mind. I also use Venomoth as a toxic absorber giving me a free turn of setting up.
Synergy:
Clefable @Leftovers
Ability: Magic Guard
EVs: 252 HP / 44 Def / 212 SDef
Nature: Careful Nature (+SDef, -SAtk)
-Wish
-Protect
-Seismic Toss
-Heal Bell
Ability: Magic Guard
EVs: 252 HP / 44 Def / 212 SDef
Nature: Careful Nature (+SDef, -SAtk)
-Wish
-Protect
-Seismic Toss
-Heal Bell
I consider Clefable as the "Nurse Joy" of my team. She plays a major role around this team in health consideration. Due to status being everywhere in the RU tier, I wanted to have an answer on how to get rid of status problems affecting my team members. Clefable was the solution to my problem. Thanks to Heal Bell I can cure any status problems on my team so I don't have to worry about things such as sleep, poison, etc. Due to the absence of a rapid spinner on my team I needed to be able to compensate that, I need her to get my wish up and switch into a pokemon, who is low on health, to recover from residual damage and act like as if entry hazards did nothing as well as recovering her own health (its the RU version of Blissey lol) and really annoying my opponent. Like Blissey, Clefable is my special wall. She can take many threating special attacks then recover most of the damage. I absolutely love her ability: Magic Guard one of the best abilities in this generation. I don't have to worry about entry hazards when I use this pokemon and use her as a status absorber. I had Flamethrower as my only attacking move but I realized "What the heck was I thinking?!" Seismic Toss does so much of a better job because Clefable's SAtk is mediocre. Seismic Toss ignores any opposing poke's defenses (except for ghost types of course). Therefore Clefable is the cleric of my team.
Synergy:
Sceptile @Leftovers
Ability: Overgrow
EVs: 6 Def / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Nature: Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
-Substitute
-Leech Seed
-Giga Drain
-Hidden Power [Fire]
Ability: Overgrow
EVs: 6 Def / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Nature: Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
-Substitute
-Leech Seed
-Giga Drain
-Hidden Power [Fire]
I've tried many sets with this pokemon and a subseeder set seemed to work the best in most of my battles lately. I didn't like the Special attacker with Life Orb set because the SAtk drop from Leaf Storm is really a turn off as well as Focus Blast's accuracy especially in one of those close matches and life orb just made it worse. So subseeding best fit my preferences for Sceptile. Thanks to substitute and Sceptile's high speed, I can scout my opponent's next move as well as block off any status moves aimed at Sceptile. It forces out many Water, Ground, Rock type pokemon allowing to set up a free substitute. Giga Drain works as well because I can recover from the cost of HP from substitute as well as the combo with leech seed. Hidden Power Fire destroys opposing Grass and Bug types who think they are safe. Overgrow is a pretty amazing ability because I can keep subbing down until I'm low on health then used a powerful STAB Giga Drain to really put a dent on pokes while recovering my health. Sadly I can't put Sceptile's speed and special attack to full potential due to Hidden Power Fire so I will have difficulty when it comes to speed ties. I've put the rest of the EVs in defense to give it a little support for physical attacks.
Synergy:
Entei @Choice Band
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 252 Atk / 6 SAtk / 252 Spd
Nature: Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
-Flare Blitz
-Extremespeed
-Hidden Power [Grass]
-Stone Edge
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 252 Atk / 6 SAtk / 252 Spd
Nature: Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
-Flare Blitz
-Extremespeed
-Hidden Power [Grass]
-Stone Edge
This pokemon is simply outstanding. He blows holes into many teams Choice Band + Adamant + Max Attack = Hits like a Truck. Most of the time I lead with Entei to prevent my opponent from setting up and forced to switch out hitting any switch in with a powerful STAB Flare Blitz giving me the early advantage in battle and sometimes getting the burn off to really damage physical attackers. Sometimes I overpredict with Hidden Power Grass when my opponent switches into a Water, Ground, or Rock type pokemon only to get hit with a surprising move. This really throws off the opponent's balance because its not everyday where you see Entei packing HP Grass. The reason why I added HP Grass is because I needed a way to counter bulky water types such as Quagsire and Gastrodon, in case if Sceptile were to ever go down and I want something to check those two pokes so that they don't have a field day on Entei. I had Iron Head before HP Grass but it doesn't have very nice coverage in the RU tier. Despite the Adamant Nature hindering SAtk, HP Grass still does decent damage. Entei is also my answer to dangerous threats such as Alakazam and the infamous Speed Boost Sharpedo. Both pokemon are taken care of because Entei has extremespeed to destroy the fast but frail pokes and to annihilate Smashpassers like Gorebyss, Smeargle and beat Honchkrow's suckerpunch at its own game.He finishes off Eviolite Ferroseed who walls Rhyperior. So Entei is my MVP because he checks so many threats in the RU Tier.
Synergy:
Rhyperior @Leftovers
Ability: Solid Rock
EVs: 252 HP / 6 Atk / 252 Def
Nature: Impish Nature (+Def, -SAtk)
-Stealth Rocks
-Stone Edge
-Earthquake
-Roar
Ability: Solid Rock
EVs: 252 HP / 6 Atk / 252 Def
Nature: Impish Nature (+Def, -SAtk)
-Stealth Rocks
-Stone Edge
-Earthquake
-Roar
Rhyperior is one of the heavy fitters in RU. Stone Edge and Earthquake really does a nice job for excellent coverage. I prefer Rhyperior over Eviolite Rhydon because even Rhydon has very good defenses but he has no other reliable form of recovery. So I chose Rhyperior over him because I need that recovery to make a difference when I'm battling. Rhyperior checks many threats such as Swellow, who can't even touch Rhyperior, and Subroost Moxie Honchkrow. I also switch him in if I predict the incoming electric type move from a Choice Scarf Rotom-C like Volt Switch. I force my opponent out which grants me a free turn of setting up Stealth Rocks. I only use this guy as a lead if I'm resorted to use him to take of pokes that threaten both Venomoth and Entei. He always gets rid of my problems of pokemon hiding behind substitute such as a subpunching Golurk. I can use roar to phaze those subs, set-up sweepers and drag in some random pokemon then having my other pokes counter their switch in. Rhyperior is a good pokemon all around. He has excellent defense to soften up physical attacks aimed at him as well as his ability Solid Rock to sponge up his weaknesses. Rhyperior also has very good synergy with Cresselia because Cress can set up a reflect giving Rhyperior extra defense power.
Synergy:
Cresselia @Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 236 HP / 176 Def / 96 Spd
Nature: Bold (+Def, -Atk)
-Thunder Wave
-Moonlight
-Ice Beam
-Reflect
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 236 HP / 176 Def / 96 Spd
Nature: Bold (+Def, -Atk)
-Thunder Wave
-Moonlight
-Ice Beam
-Reflect
Cress is my favorite pokemon of them all. She is the glue of this team and really holds the team together. She has very high defenses and HP so I've titled her as the support of the team as well as a physical wall. Due to her levitate ability and resistance to fighting moves, I can switch her in and cripple many physical attackers or sweepers with Thunder Wave so that Venomoth can come in and finish it off. Usually after crippling them, I use Reflect to increase some defense around my team so that way my pokes aren't frail from physical attacks such as Sceptile. At first I had Psychic as my only attacking move because I wanted the STAB but it doesn't have very nice coverage so replaced with Ice Beam instead to hit ground types. Since weather isn't common (thank God) Moonlight can recover Cresselia more reliably emphasizing on her physical bulk and crippling those who stand in her way. I'm pretty content with Cress as she really puts some support into the team.
Synergy:
Conclusion
I hope you guys enjoy this RMT. I'm open to all criticism and ideas to this team. I've taken great pride on how far this team has gotten me. This team has very good synergy with each other and pulling off strategies to help me win even the closest matches. It took awhile after laddering for hours on PO seeing what threats are out there and making sure I have the answers for those threats. To wrap things up, I hope you guys enjoy rating this team and giving me advice on how to improve it.
