So I've tested this team a lot... As you read details about each pokemon, you'll see if I had chosen something before them but had the former replaced for something I thought had benefits that outweighed the drawbacks. Thanks ahead of time, I truly do appreciate it!
Also, something i've just recently become aware of, I think i may have a problem with grass coverage on my team... any fix ideas would be appreciated.
Gallade (M) @ Galladite
Ability: Justified
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Close Combat
- Psycho Cut
- Knock Off
- Protect
I love Gallade for several reasons: The typing gives STAB to some amazing coverage and resistance to some common types, such as Fighting and Rock. The main reason I use Mega Gallade, though, is because he counters SEVERAL relevant megas, the primary one being the dreaded Mega Kang. The flinch immunity on mega gallade is often overlooked, and is unforgiving when a close combat hits. The damage coming from that base 165 attack is absolutely brutal. Easily OHKO's mega kang, as well as doing severe damage to mega mawile, between 61-73%. It can also take most neutral hits, such as mega mawile's sucker punch, mega swampert's waterfall in rain and unboosted mega kang's return. I've toyed with the idea of Ice Punch, but Knock Off seems to be the better option so I don't get walled out by psychic types. I used leaf blade for a while too, just to get rid of mega swampert. What do you think? Knock Off, Shadow Sneak, Leaf Blade or Ice Punch?
Noivern (M) @ Choice Specs
Ability: Frisk
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Draco Meteor
- Air Slash
- Flamethrower
- Switcheroo
Now this one is tricky... I've bounced back and forth on this one many times, going between Scarfed Special Salamence and this. I settled on this for two reasons: 1.) Mence's draco has only about a 20% chance to OHKO greninja. That's a HUGE letdown for me. Noivern has a higher base speed than greninja by ONE BASE POINT, and specs draco does significantly more damage than scarfed mence draco. Flamethrower may not be as powerful as fire blast, but it serves its purpose with specs. 2.) NOBODY is expecting a switcheroo from this thing... especially since its a huge pain in the behind to chain breed. Another thing: IT GETS FRISK. i can know what i'm getting when i use it, or what would cripple an opponent such as prankster sableye. The only reason i would use mence is for the intimidate, but i still feel that the intimidate trade is a big loss because now i have to use intimidate elsewhere.
Side Note: Specs Draco from Noivern is also a solid mega mence counter, a mega i see WAY too often.
Garchomp (M) @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Rough Skin
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Earthquake
- Dragon Claw
- Rock Slide
- Protect
Standard 'chomp set. Aegislash counter. Mega Maw counter. Megazard Y and Talonflame counter. Little bit o' kang counter with rough skin rocky helmet. EQ is never a bad thing. Nuff said. maybe theres something better? that's what all of you are for! ;)
Gengar (M) @ Focus Sash
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Shadow Ball
- Sludge Bomb
- Thunderbolt
- Taunt
My shaky attempt to counter multiple flaws, such as the rare but present gyarados threat. Tbolt OHKO's no matter what. It also works as a talonflame counter, with tbolt focus sash. Taunt is also there as a means of stopping trick rooms when possible. Shadow ball and Sludge Bomb for coverage against Aegislash and Togekiss. I wouldn't mind trying to find something better, but i have no clue what that could be. Thoughts?
Staraptor (F) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Brave Bird
- Double-Edge
- Close Combat
- U-turn
This was previously Banded Talonflame, but when i replaced mence with Noivern, I had to get intimidate back. This is arguably better and worse. I can use intimidate, but im also prone to intimidate myself, whereas special mence wouldn't care about intimidate. But another interesting thing i found to be quite a big deal is the close combat, meaning the bane of intimidate, Bisharp, is gone, even after being intimidated myself. The only flaw i see is the possible Focus Sash, which is fairly common on Bisharp. I can also U-Turn out first turn if i feel the conditions are unfavorable. This also allows me to get a second intimidate at a later time. In the tradeoff from Talonflame to Staraptor, I lost a good bit of fire coverage, but replaced it with more damage and intimidate. Unsure if this was the right move, but that's what you are here to yell at me about, right? :D
Greninja (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Protean
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Ice Punch
- Rock Slide
- Low Kick
- Gunk Shot
Probably one of my favorite pokemon. Ever. I run physical greninja because 1.) its unexpected 2.) it outspeeds a ton of threats. Mega Mence? GONE. Terrakion? EAT A LOW KICK SON. Thundurus? GET REKT BY ICE PUNCH. Landorus? ALSO GET REKT BY ICE PUNCH. T-tar? Sylveon? Megazard-Y? Talonflame? okay well maybe not talonflame, but still... the wrath of greninja knows no bounds. Biggest flaw? intimidate weakness. Thats pretty much it.
Alrighty then, there's my team. I've worked really hard on it, but please, don't be afraid to harshly criticize. The only thing I truly would hate to see go is Mega Gallade. Other than that, fire away. I'd love to hear opinions. Thank you so much in advance!
Also, something i've just recently become aware of, I think i may have a problem with grass coverage on my team... any fix ideas would be appreciated.
Gallade (M) @ Galladite
Ability: Justified
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Close Combat
- Psycho Cut
- Knock Off
- Protect
I love Gallade for several reasons: The typing gives STAB to some amazing coverage and resistance to some common types, such as Fighting and Rock. The main reason I use Mega Gallade, though, is because he counters SEVERAL relevant megas, the primary one being the dreaded Mega Kang. The flinch immunity on mega gallade is often overlooked, and is unforgiving when a close combat hits. The damage coming from that base 165 attack is absolutely brutal. Easily OHKO's mega kang, as well as doing severe damage to mega mawile, between 61-73%. It can also take most neutral hits, such as mega mawile's sucker punch, mega swampert's waterfall in rain and unboosted mega kang's return. I've toyed with the idea of Ice Punch, but Knock Off seems to be the better option so I don't get walled out by psychic types. I used leaf blade for a while too, just to get rid of mega swampert. What do you think? Knock Off, Shadow Sneak, Leaf Blade or Ice Punch?
Noivern (M) @ Choice Specs
Ability: Frisk
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Draco Meteor
- Air Slash
- Flamethrower
- Switcheroo
Now this one is tricky... I've bounced back and forth on this one many times, going between Scarfed Special Salamence and this. I settled on this for two reasons: 1.) Mence's draco has only about a 20% chance to OHKO greninja. That's a HUGE letdown for me. Noivern has a higher base speed than greninja by ONE BASE POINT, and specs draco does significantly more damage than scarfed mence draco. Flamethrower may not be as powerful as fire blast, but it serves its purpose with specs. 2.) NOBODY is expecting a switcheroo from this thing... especially since its a huge pain in the behind to chain breed. Another thing: IT GETS FRISK. i can know what i'm getting when i use it, or what would cripple an opponent such as prankster sableye. The only reason i would use mence is for the intimidate, but i still feel that the intimidate trade is a big loss because now i have to use intimidate elsewhere.
Side Note: Specs Draco from Noivern is also a solid mega mence counter, a mega i see WAY too often.
Garchomp (M) @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Rough Skin
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Earthquake
- Dragon Claw
- Rock Slide
- Protect
Standard 'chomp set. Aegislash counter. Mega Maw counter. Megazard Y and Talonflame counter. Little bit o' kang counter with rough skin rocky helmet. EQ is never a bad thing. Nuff said. maybe theres something better? that's what all of you are for! ;)
Gengar (M) @ Focus Sash
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Shadow Ball
- Sludge Bomb
- Thunderbolt
- Taunt
My shaky attempt to counter multiple flaws, such as the rare but present gyarados threat. Tbolt OHKO's no matter what. It also works as a talonflame counter, with tbolt focus sash. Taunt is also there as a means of stopping trick rooms when possible. Shadow ball and Sludge Bomb for coverage against Aegislash and Togekiss. I wouldn't mind trying to find something better, but i have no clue what that could be. Thoughts?
Staraptor (F) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Brave Bird
- Double-Edge
- Close Combat
- U-turn
This was previously Banded Talonflame, but when i replaced mence with Noivern, I had to get intimidate back. This is arguably better and worse. I can use intimidate, but im also prone to intimidate myself, whereas special mence wouldn't care about intimidate. But another interesting thing i found to be quite a big deal is the close combat, meaning the bane of intimidate, Bisharp, is gone, even after being intimidated myself. The only flaw i see is the possible Focus Sash, which is fairly common on Bisharp. I can also U-Turn out first turn if i feel the conditions are unfavorable. This also allows me to get a second intimidate at a later time. In the tradeoff from Talonflame to Staraptor, I lost a good bit of fire coverage, but replaced it with more damage and intimidate. Unsure if this was the right move, but that's what you are here to yell at me about, right? :D
Greninja (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Protean
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Ice Punch
- Rock Slide
- Low Kick
- Gunk Shot
Probably one of my favorite pokemon. Ever. I run physical greninja because 1.) its unexpected 2.) it outspeeds a ton of threats. Mega Mence? GONE. Terrakion? EAT A LOW KICK SON. Thundurus? GET REKT BY ICE PUNCH. Landorus? ALSO GET REKT BY ICE PUNCH. T-tar? Sylveon? Megazard-Y? Talonflame? okay well maybe not talonflame, but still... the wrath of greninja knows no bounds. Biggest flaw? intimidate weakness. Thats pretty much it.
Alrighty then, there's my team. I've worked really hard on it, but please, don't be afraid to harshly criticize. The only thing I truly would hate to see go is Mega Gallade. Other than that, fire away. I'd love to hear opinions. Thank you so much in advance!
