RMT Fossil Sandstorm

[Fierce Deity]

Well I've been away from Pokemon due to work and my DS breaking, but now I'm back and ready to take a crack at the 5th gen now that the dust has settled.

Last generation I ran a very successful bulky sandstorm team, so I decided to try it again this time round with a few tweaks, and it's been doing pretty well on PO so far, but I can see some room for improvement.

But thats up to you guys!

Here's the overview:

And here's the detail:

Kibokon (Hippowdon) (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Sand Stream
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SDef
Careful Nature (+SDef, -SAtk)
- Earthquake
- Ice Fang
- Stealth Rock
- Slack Off

I've always preferred Hippo over Tyranitar due to his general bulkiness at no great loss of power. This is a pretty standard Hippowdon set but it gets the job done, he sets up the weather and entry hazards, as well as hitting hard with EQ and Ice Fang. Many a Salamence/Dragonite have been surprised by his more aggressive posture, and he certainly takes chunks out of any poke that underestimates him. I would use an Impish nature for extra Def but as seen below Skarmory can take on Physical attackers, so the extra bulk provided by Careful and the Sp.Def EVs helps, especially against Sun teams. Even with this spread Hippowdon can still take on Physical attackers such as Scarf Terrakion.

Panzaeron (Skarmory) (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Sturdy
EVs: 252 HP / 232 Def / 24 Spd
Impish Nature (+Def, -SAtk)
- Brave Bird
- Whirlwind
- Spikes
- Roost

As well as Hippo and SR, Spikes also complement sandstorm very well, and a move is needed to shuffle between pokes, so I use a Skarmory that sets up hazards and then just uses WW to chip away at whatever comes out. BB also hits hard, and Roost gives Skarm longevity.

Euron (Magnezone) @ Air Balloon
Trait: Magnet Pull
EVs: 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Flash Cannon
- Hidden Power [Fire]
- Thunderbolt
- Volt Switch

To get some dearly needed Sp.Atk power on the team, I run a Steel Killer Magnezone. Been in love with him ever since I started using him, due to his massive power and surprise value at being able to bash in the common Steel types. Flash Cannon, HP Fire and TB gives great coverage, and the new Volt Switch move only makes Zone more versatile. I'm unsure as to the value of using Substitute instead of Volt Switch, but I'm open to reasoning. Does a great job of trapping Forretress, Ferrothorn, Skarm and other Physical Steel Walls, and makes short work of them with HP Fire.

Vacilon (Cradily) (F) @ Leftovers
Trait: Storm Drain
EVs: 252 HP / 164 Def / 92 SDef
Calm Nature (+SDef, -Atk)
- Energy Ball
- Protect
- Recover
- Toxic

The reason behind the name of the team, my Cradily. Cradily doesn't get a lot of love, but even last gen the 50% boost to Sp.Def in sandstorm makes him an incredibly bulky special, not quite a wall but very sturdy. Toxic adds to the general stalling theme, once I have spikes/SR/sandstorm running, using Toxic makes the swapping damage from Skarms WW all the more, and wears most foes down in no time. Protect goes very well with Toxic and increases the stall value, and Recover is vital. I used to run Rock Slide, but this team has more than enough physical attackers, and with the combination of Storm Drain (to increase Sp.Atk) and Energy Ball, Cradily makes a very good reply to Water pokemon looking to take advantage of the teams general weakness to water. Many a Politoed has put rain up over my sand and had his nose bloodied by Cradily. A vital member of the team. I'm open to the idea of using HP Fire instead of Energy Ball due to the coverage over VoltTurn teams and Scizor, but at the moment Energy Ball with its STAB after a Storm Drain packs a punch and has done well so far.

Victarion (Scizor) (M) @ Choice Band
Trait: Technician
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Bullet Punch
- Superpower
- U-turn
- Pursuit

Currently the team has a weakness to special attackers such as Latios and TR Reuniclus, with nothing to safely switch into them (TR Reunilcus can can muscle past Cradily with its immunity to Toxic). Using a CB Scizor helps dealing with Special attackers, particularly Latios and Reuniclus. Scizor is a great fit on the team, as it forms a good offensive core with Magnezone due to the fact that it lures in Steels, while also providing the team with some useful priority incase Magnezone isn't around to take care of setup sweepers such as +1 Dragonite.

Porthon (Terrakion) @ Life Orb
Trait: Justified
EVs: 252 Atk / 4SDef / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Swords Dance
- Rock Polish
- Close Combat
- Stone Edge

The team needs a late game sweeper and Physical powerhouse, so I turned to a bulky sandstorm-aligned attacker, Terrakion. Terrakion with Double Dance is an utter beast. This set is very useful in the team, and Terrakion can serve as an early game menacer or to mop up the opponent later on, with not much standing up to the brutal CC. The set can break down walls such as CB Terrakion, and can also clean up late game with a Rock Polish under it's belt.


So that was my sandstorm team, what do people think?

 

[Lavos]

Hey there, Fierce Deity,

Interesting team. I can't figure out if it's supposed to be sand offense + Skarmory or sand semi-stall + Terrakion. The team seems to check most standard threats, though there are a few big weaknesses I'm noticing. First, your team is very weak to Calm Mind Keldeo, which essentially 6-0's your team unless it loses the speed tie with Terrakion, and relying on a speed tie to stop any Pokemon is never a good strategy. For this reason (as much as I like it) I'm going to recommend Physically Defensive Gastrodon over Cradily. Gastrodon doesn't share the same Fighting-type weakness as Cradily, and furthermore, it's immune to Keldeo's most powerful attack, Surf/Hydro Pump, because of the ability it shares with Cradily, Storm Drain. It can also learn Toxic, enabling it to stall out Keldeo much the same way that Cradily stalls things out for your team. Gastrodon is not even 2HKO'd by a max SpA Keldeo Secret Sword, allowing it to get off Toxic safely and then stall out with Recover. The suggested set is below.

Gastrodon

Gastrodon @ Leftovers
Trait: Storm Drain
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SDef
Relaxed Nature (+Def, -Spd)
- Scald
- Earthquake
- Toxic
- Recover

You're also quite weak to Tornadus-T, as Hippowdon is easily 2HKO'd by Hurricane and 2HKO'd even easier by Grass Knot, which some carry. Magnezone is OHKO'd by a Life Orb Focus Blast after Stealth Rock, so assuming it hits, you really have no way to stop this thing from sweeping through your team. For this reason, I'm going to suggest Specially Defensive Jirachi over Magnezone. Not only does SDef Rachi practically wall Tornadus-T (bar confusion hax), it also helps alleviate your weakness to Specs Latios, who can lock into Draco Meteor and do some real harm to your team otherwise. Magnezone isn't really needed for this team, as Terrakion can blow through common Steel-types such as Ferrothorn and Skarmory at +2 anyways. And, as an added bonus, Jirachi can pass its Wish to any member of your team if they happen to be getting low on health! The suggested set is below.

Jirachi

Jirachi @ Leftovers
Trait: Serene Grace
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SDef
Careful Nature (+SDef, -SAtk)
- Protect
- Wish
- Body Slam
- Iron Head

Finally, your team looks very weak to hazards, particularly Toxic Spikes. Furthermore, you're weak to Breloom, particularly the Bulk Up variety. To solve this problem, I'm going to suggest an interesting set that you might not agree with at first glance - Sludge Bomb Tentacruel. This Pokemon, while unorthodox, is the perfect fit for your team over Scizor; it can Rapid Spin, remove Toxic Spikes simply by switching in, set up Toxic Spikes itself (thus completing the hazard trifecta of SR, Spikes, and TSpikes), and Sludge Bomb is a guaranteed 2HKO on standard Bulk Up Breloom with Sandstorm damage accounted for. Tentacruel's ability, Liquid Ooze, will even prevent Breloom from recovering HP with its Drain Punch. It's a perfect fit. The suggested set is below.

Tentacruel

Tentacruel @ Black Sludge
Trait: Liquid Ooze
EVs: 248 HP / 240 Def / 4 SAtk / 16 Spd
Bold Nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Scald
- Rapid Spin
- Toxic Spikes
- Sludge Bomb

Well, that's all I have for you. Please consider the changes I suggested, and good luck with your future endeavors!

 

[PDC]

Hello, interesting team here.

Right off the bat I notice the lack of a Fighting resist, which means Breloom, Lucario, and Terrakion can really hammer you hard, especially if Skarmory or Hippowdon are weakened. I notice the weakness to Nasty Plot Celebi along with other bulky waters aside from Cradily also, so I suggest trying out instead of Cradily, a Defensive Calm Mind Roar Latias who not only handles those threats, but provides a way to gain residual damage through Roar. I also suggest removing Magnezone for a spinner, which this team really would appreciate. I suggest trying a Defensive Starmie for this job, who not only provides a check to Terrakion, but also gives the team a reliable switch in to the likes of Heatran without any permanent damage. Trying a Specially Defensive Jirachi is also a worthwhile option like Lavos Spawn said.

sets

Latias @ Leftovers
252 HP / 228 Def / 28 Spe
Bold Nature
Calm Mind
Dragon Pulse
Recover
Roar

Starmie @ Leftovers
252 HP / 44 Def / 216 Spe
Timid Nature
Scald
Psyshock
Recover
Rapid Spin

 

[Fierce Deity]

As useful as Starmie/Tentacruel are I'm sure, but I'm just a bit uncomfortable about having pokemon that don't resist Sandstorm on the sandstorm team.

Although maybe this way of thinking is outdated and limits me a bit :/

 

[Jstan]

How well does this team do against
timid latios with expert belt?

 

[Ninetale3]

As useful as Starmie/Tentacruel are I'm sure, but I'm just a bit uncomfortable about having pokemon that don't resist Sandstorm on the sandstorm team.

Although maybe this way of thinking is outdated and limits me a bit :/

I wouldn't say outdated just very difficult to pull off nowadays.

I can say that fighting types look like a pain for this team. SD Lucario with dual priority and ice punch can wreck 4 out of 6 of your team. Techniloom can do this too unless it gets terrible luck on the bullet seeds.

I would say to remove magnezone in exchange for Alakazam. This gives you the ability to revenge kill fighting types reliably. I would say sash alakzam would be better since then if a fighting type packs something that can kill it. It would garunteed to be 2HKOed by the attack.