XY OU X Marks The Spot: Current Test Team

So this is my current testing team based around what I believe to be a pretty decent Charizard X/Skarmory core. I have a balanced playing style and I believe this team suits me pretty well so I'm quite likely to stick with it and improve it when possible. Any comments, rates, fixes are greatly appreciated.

Team Building Process


CharX1.jpg Skarm.jpg

So here we have the Charizard X/Skarmory core. Once mega evolved they both have great synergy together, with Skarmory's weaknesses to Fire/Electric being covered by Charizard X, whilst Skarmory covers X's Ground, Dragon weaknesses as well as mitigating Zard's Rock weakness with it's champion physical defensive stat.

CharX1.jpg Skarm.jpg Fable.png

In order to ensure Charizard's survivability against status, I needed a Cleric. After much thought I decided to do with Clefable, as Skarmory covers both of it's weaknesses as well as providing an additional Dragon check to aid Charizard.

CharX1.jpg Skarm.jpg Fable.png Terrak.png

I now needed an effective check against opposing Mega-Zards as the threat of critical hits potentially breaking through Clefable was something I didn't want to risk, therefore I opted for Terrakion.

CharX1.jpg Skarm.jpg Fable.png Terrak.png rotom.png

Zard always appreciates it when bulky ground types are either taken out of severely crippled and there's almost no pokemon that does this better then Rotom-W.

CharX1.jpg Skarm.jpg Fable.png Terrak.png rotom.png Scizor.jpg

Finally I needed something to check the likes of T-Tar, Latios, Latias and fairy types so Scizor was my ideal candidate.

Now for my team in full


THE TEAM


CharizardX2.jpg


Charizard (X-WING) @ Charizardite X Adamant
144 HP/252 Attack/112 Speed
Dragon Dance
Dragon Claw
Fire punch
Roost

Well here is undoubtedly one of the two MVP's for this team. Charizard X has always been my favourite mega pokemon , and this is the first time I've built a team around him. The EV's and nature are nothing too fancy but a lot of people might wonder why I have Fire Punch over Earthquake and the reason is quite simple. I feel that with Terrakion and Rotom-W I've already provided a sufficient answer to it, and most Specially defensive Heatran do not carry Earth Power and so a boosted Zard can defeat a weakened Heatran late in the game if it somehow survives that long. This I feel allows me to get a second STAB that can finish off things that a boosted Earthquake would simply not do, running the risk of them finishing Zard off. Roost is there to aid Zard's survivability.




Skarmory.png



Skarmory (METARIDLEY) Leftovers Impish
252HP/252 Def/4 Speed

Stealth Rock
Defog
Roost
Brave Bird

The second MVP of the team and it's no doubt one of the sturdiest physical walls you can get. Again there is nothing too special with the EV's and nature but the moveset might raise a few eyebrows. Stealth Rock is preferred over Spikes simply to cripple a lot more pokemon that Spikes would, Defog clears the filed of opposing hazards once there hazard setter has been KO'd and greatly aids Zard to get rid of Stealth Rock. Roost heals Skarmory and finally Brave Bird over Whirlwind. Brave Bird I consider necessary in order to stop the likes of Mega Heracross and Mega Medicham from doing serious damage to the team. That and I feel that having a pokemon so open to Taunt isn't the best thing to do with all the Stallbreaker Mew's/Gliscor I see running about and I don't want to give up either hazards or the chance to support Charizard, which after all is the entire point of a core. As for Leftovers, I'm seriously considering running Rocky Helmet to punish physical attackers a bit more, at the cost of a bit of Skarmory's survivability.


Fable.png


Clefable (MOONPIE) Leftovers Bold Unaware
252 HP/252 Def/4 Sp Atack
Moonblast
Wish
Protect
Heal Bell

Ah Clefable how you've been blessed with two great abilities but I was in need of your ability to forget stat changers even exist. You might argue there are better clerics but I think Clefable has two key advantages over Chans/Bliss. One is of course Unaware, which stops setup pokemon dead, something that neither of the blobs can effectively do and secondly it's typing means that Skarmory can cover both of it's weaknesses, something that Skarm wasn't quite able to do with Blissey/Chansey at times. Moonblast is a great STAB move that allows me to muscle past Fighting/Dark/Bug/Dragon types without too much damage in the process (of course secondary typing dependent). Wish/Protect/Heal Bell can keep both Clefable and the team healthy when necessary.



Terrak.png



Terrakion (HURTLOCKER) @Choice Scarf Jolly
252 Attack/252 Speed/4 Def
Close Combat
Stone Edge
X Scissor
Façade/Earthquake

There's a reason why "Terra" is part of Terrakion's name. Now with Aegislash gone, Terrakion can now see the light and become a force to be reckoned with again. Wearing a Choice Scarf it becomes nigh impossible to catch barring priority and provides a needed check to +1 Zard X, Zard Y, Heatran e.t.c. Close Combat/Stone Edge is a dangerous combination that can outright destroy frail sweepers and severely dent bulkier pokemon that are hit super effectively. X Scissor obliterates Celebi and also picks off weakened Latios/Latias, Alakazam and so on. The choice of the last move may be a bit of a surprise but I think in the event of Terrakion being burned without the chance to be healed, Façade can be used late game to finish off the opponents team but I think I might use Earthquake in order to be certain of a KO on Zard X rather than risk the "2 times out of ten" miss that could happen with Stone Edge. However, I not the biggest fan of being locked into Earthquake. It never usually works out to well for me at any stage of the game.


rotom.png

Rotom-W (CALGON) @Chesto Berry/Leftovers
248HP/216 Def/44 Speed
Volt Switch
Hydro Pump
Will-O-Wisp
Pain Split

"Washing Machine's live longer with Calgon." If you take my team to be a washing machine, then it's certainly true that Rotom-W keeps the team going. Whether it's spreading burns, taking out bulky ground types, Pain Splitting high HP defensive walls or providing momentum for the team it's always a constant nuisance. Chesto Berry is there so I can play dice with lead Breloom and hope I don't get critted and or 4-5 time Bullet Seed when going for the crippling burn. Volt Switch provides momentum/getting Wash out of tight spots, Hydro Pump is the main hard hitting STAB and Pain Split provides pseudo recovery.



Scizor.jpg



Scizor (BULLETBUG) @Assault Vest Adamant
248 HP/112Attack/144 Sp Def
U-Turn
Bullet Punch
Knock Off
Superpower

It might surprise some people, but Assault Vest Scizor is massively underrated when compared to SP Def Mega Scizor but it works just as well, if not better. U-Turn can provide a volt-turn core with Rotom-W, Bullet Punch severely dents, or KO's Terrakion, a potential threat to Zard and also picks off weakened fairies not named Azumarill/Klefki. Knock Off I think is the superior option to Pursuit as I would rather have the opportunity to remove a potential threats item than play dice with Latios/Latias (who in my experience usually stay in on a potential pursuit anyway.) It also provides an almost KO on the Lati-Twins, which spells their doom when they're struck by the incoming Bullet Punch.
 
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I would run 120 speed zardX to creep 112 speed zardXs and to outrun mega ttar. You also seem a bit weak to mega gyara once skarm is weakened. Also landorus and keldeo seem to be significant threats to ur team as well which you should address. I play very offensively so unfortunately I can't really give you any suggestions
 
I would run 120 speed zardX to creep 112 speed zardXs and to outrun mega ttar. You also seem a bit weak to mega gyara once skarm is weakened. Also landorus and keldeo seem to be significant threats to ur team as well which you should address. I play very offensively so unfortunately I can't really give you any suggestions

I'm seriously considering going up to 116 Speed to creep other 112's but unless I choose to run Earthquake over Fire Punch I see the 120 speed being somewhat unnecessary. Mega Gyarados isn't a major issue with Unaware Clefable being able to stop it quite easily unless it gets a couple of flinches. As for Landorus/Keldeo I do agree that Sheer Force Landorus is a big pain and quite difficult for me to check. Keldeo isn't quite so bad as Scizor can Knock Off Specs and with some prior damage +1 Zard is able to manage it. I am considering replacing Rotom-W with Cresselia now so I can stop Landorus and manage Keldeo a bit better. I'm thinking of also replacing Terrakion with Rhyperior as it can take over Rotom-W's role of stopping bird spam and can also manage Zard X.


Just so everyone is aware, I'm currently play testing the following changes.

Cresselia > Rotom-W
Rhyperior > Terrakion

Sets


cress.png



Cresselia (GALADRIEL) Leftovers Bold
248 HP/188 Def/56 Sp Attack/16 Sp Def (Although I'm thinking of investing more in Sp Def to have an easier time against the likes of Keldeo, Charizard Y e.t.c. without losing too much physical bulk to still reliably check Garchomp, Landorus T e.t.c. Any suggestions for the spread will be greatly appreciated.)

Thunder Wave
Psychic
Ice Beam
Moonlight

So yeah one of the key tasks of Cresselia is to take on the ground type pokemon that Rotom-W would have dealt with and is my primary check to Sheer Force Landorus. It also can be used to stop offensive Mega Venasaur and can also manage the defensive variant quite nicely with Psychic and it's potential Sp Def drops. It also does a good job of handling Scarf Keldeo and can take a Specs Hydro Pump if needed and retaliate with Psychic. Ice Beam deals with Ground types very nicely, Thunder Wave is to cripple Scarf/fast threats and Moonlight gives Cresselia a semi reliable healing method. In some circumstances Cress will be an decent switch to Charizard Y, as I can cripple it with Thunder Wave, heal significant HP with Moonlight because of sun and fish for a Fire Blast miss. If Zard Y has Flamethrower then Cress has a far easier time of it.


Rhy.png



Rhyperior (ROCKY) Leftovers Adamant
212 HP/44 Attack/252 Def (I'm not familiar with Rhyperior so I went with a standard EV Spread, if anyone has any suggestions to change this feel free to suggest)
Stealth Rock
Earthquake
Rock Blast
Fire Punch

Ok Rhyperior takes over Terrakion with it's ability being able to deal with Zard X, but also offers the ability to be a stiffer check to Bird Spam than Rotom-W as well as being able to take on Mega Tyranitar, so I don't have to think about replacing Fire Punch with Earthquake so much on my Zard X. Being a reliable Stealth Rocker I can now opt to run Whirlwind on Skarmory to phase out setup sweepers if Clefable has already been KO'd. Earthquake/Rock Blast provide a powerful offensive combo and I opted for Fire Punch to stop myself being setup fodder to Scizor, as both changes aren't massive fans of Scizor.

Also Stealth Rock has been replaced by Whirlwind on Skarmory. I will update the original post with the changes later.

I feel the team is somewhat more open to Grass and Water typing now so any suggestions to fix this will be appreciated.
 
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I'm seriously considering going up to 116 Speed to creep other 112's but unless I choose to run Earthquake over Fire Punch I see the 120 speed being somewhat unnecessary. Mega Gyarados isn't a major issue with Unaware Clefable being able to stop it quite easily unless it gets a couple of flinches. As for Landorus/Keldeo I do agree that Sheer Force Landorus is a big pain and quite difficult for me to check. Keldeo isn't quite so bad as Scizor can Knock Off Specs and with some prior damage +1 Zard is able to manage it. I am considering replacing Rotom-W with Cresselia now so I can stop Landorus and manage Keldeo a bit better. I'm thinking of also replacing Terrakion with Rhyperior as it can take over Rotom-W's role of stopping bird spam and can also manage Zard X.


Just so everyone is aware, I'm currently play testing the following changes.

Cresselia > Rotom-W
Rhyperior > Terrakion

Sets


View attachment 25177


Cresselia (GALADRIEL) Leftovers Bold
248 HP/188 Def/56 Sp Attack/16 Sp Def (Although I'm thinking of investing more in Sp Def to have an easier time against the likes of Keldeo, Charizard Y e.t.c. without losing too much physical bulk to still reliably check Garchomp, Landorus T e.t.c. Any suggestions for the spread will be greatly appreciated.)

Thunder Wave
Psychic
Ice Beam
Moonlight

So yeah one of the key tasks of Cresselia is to take on the ground type pokemon that Rotom-W would have dealt with and is my primary check to Sheer Force Landorus. It also can be used to stop offensive Mega Venasaur and can also manage the defensive variant quite nicely with Psychic and it's potential Sp Def drops. It also does a good job of handling Scarf Keldeo and can take a Specs Hydro Pump if needed and retaliate with Psychic. Ice Beam deals with Ground types very nicely, Thunder Wave is to cripple Scarf/fast threats and Moonlight gives Cresselia a semi reliable healing method. In some circumstances Cress will be an decent switch to Charizard Y, as I can cripple it with Thunder Wave, heal significant HP with Moonlight because of sun and fish for a Fire Blast miss. If Zard Y has Flamethrower then Cress has a far easier time of it.


View attachment 25178


Rhyperior (ROCKY) Leftovers Adamant
212 HP/44 Attack/252 Def (I'm not familiar with Rhyperior so I went with a standard EV Spread, if anyone has any suggestions to change this feel free to suggest)
Stealth Rock
Earthquake
Rock Blast
Fire Punch

Ok Rhyperior takes over Terrakion with it's ability being able to deal with Zard X, but also offers the ability to be a stiffer check to Bird Spam than Rotom-W as well as being able to take on Mega Tyranitar, so I don't have to think about replacing Fire Punch with Earthquake so much on my Zard X. Being a reliable Stealth Rocker I can now opt to run Whirlwind on Skarmory to phase out setup sweepers if Clefable has already been KO'd. Earthquake/Rock Blast provide a powerful offensive combo and I opted for Fire Punch to stop myself being setup fodder to Scizor, as both changes aren't massive fans of Scizor.

Also Stealth Rock has been replaced by Whirlwind on Skarmory. I will update the original post with the changes later.

I feel the team is somewhat more open to Grass and Water typing now so any suggestions to fix this will be appreciated.
Unaware Clefable does not stop a Mega Gyarados that has a few DDs under its belt because Mold Breaker negates Unaware. So, you still have that weakness to Mega Gyara.
 
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