Heya Smogon! I'd like to say that first of all, I am very new to Showdown and competitive Pokemon in general. I've been playing for about 2-3 weeks so I am basically brand new, so my team has a few flaws- but I've snagged a number of wins with this team though it is by no means perfect and I don't even want to reach calling it good. But I built this team pretty much by hand despite it being rather vanilla. I'm eager to learn so please rate away!
Leo (Arcanine) @ Assault Vest
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Extreme Speed
- Flare Blitz
- Close Combat
- Crunch
Now I know that Kanto fire doge is outclassed by Johto fire doge. But I've got such a soft spot for this doggy that I really wanted to stick with it and even build my team around it for your standard Fire/Grass/Water core.
A Vested Aracanine! A bit silly, but nothing too special or unexpected. I decided to go with the AV to make the dog a tank- able to take a HJK from Mienshao and kill it in return with a Flare Blitz and even killed a Hyrdegion with a Close Combat. It can also take any fire-type moves aimed at Whimsicott or Doublade and get a free boost.
Flash Fire is there to tempt the Fire attacks against my other Pokes and has come in crazy handy time after time. ExtremeSpeed is of course the beloved priority, and Flare Blitz your STAB fire type attack. It was a toss up between Wild Charge and Crunch, and while Wild Charge is useful against bulky waters Crunch proved to come in handy against Frosslass leads and Chandelure and to pick off weakened psychic types and other ghosts. Close Combat tackles Dark types and Rock types super effectively and was really useful in taking out a troublesome Umbreon.
Aries (Whimsicott) @ Pixie Plate
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
- Giga Drain
- Moonblast
- Encore
- U-turn
The grass portion f my F/W/G core, Whimiscott! A pretty standard kiddo, and shiny because shiny Whimsicott is just darn cool. I just love Whimsi, it does so much. It job is to stop setup sweepers and revenge kill most water, ground, and dragon types with ease, and use it's speed allows to pivot out of dangerous situations. Aries also loves to bait the fire types and allow Arcanine to come in, take the fire, and go to town.
Giga Drain is Aries's STAB move and my answer to Water and Ground types (like Swampert.) Encore is there to stop those pesky setup sweepers that otherwise give my team trouble and scout out any setup sweepers, though I'm tempted to use Stun Spore to stop things like Crobat. Moonblast is there for those dragons like Hydregion and Haxorus with the delightful plate boost, and U-Turn gives Aries a pivot role. Invested in Speed and SpA to allow it to outspeed whatever wants to threaten it and give it it's use offensively.
Cancer (Tentacruel) @ Black Sludge
Ability: Liquid Ooze
EVs: 252 HP / 4 SpA / 252 SpD
Calm Nature
- Rapid Spin
- Toxic Spikes
- Scald
- Knock Off
My water type comes in the pretty lady Cancer! I really love Tentacruel and I really wanted to use it so I found a spot and use for it on my team. It resists ALOT of things that threaten my team. Cancer exists on this team to spin away entry hazards such as rocks, but also finds more utility in a general support role.
Scald is your STAB move and getting off a burn on others is always appreciated. I really love the Toxic Spike and Rapid Spin support, since my team comes to really appreciate the lack of rocks and wearing down defensive cores with TS. Knock Off is there to get off extra damage and generally be annoying by removing items along with TS damage, wearing down the opposing team- and in some cases, crippling it.
Scorpio (Crobat)
Ability: Infiltrator
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Acrobatics
- Taunt
- U-turn
- Roost
Now I really wanted a Flying type on this team to tackle fighting types (especially Meinshao who can take my team unchecked) - that or I am incapable of making a team without Crobat on it. Not sure which yet. Scorpio is a great check to grass types and fighting types- such as guts Machamp, and can punch holes through the opponents team with STAB Acrobatic. It's also a stallbreaker with the Taunt and has saved me from a number of Substitute shenanigans. Has great synergy with Swampert as well, and can switch out on things like Heliolisk.
Went with Acrobatics over Brave Bird as that recoil just does nothing for me though I'm still debating giving up the extra power of BB and the passive recovery items. Also because A-CROBAT-ics. Taunt was chosen over Defog to stop things from setting up and stopping other Defoggers from removing our entry hazards. U-Turn of course to give it a pivot role and I really love that, and Roost as the recovery of course. There's nothing his bat can't outspeed, and also allows me to deal early on with any Floreges or other Whimsicott, though Scorpio doesn't appreciate being spored.
Aquarius (Swampert) (F) @ Swampertite
Ability: Damp
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Waterfall
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- Roar
This mon was coming sooner or later despite it's pretty vanilla set. Man I love my swamp frog though I admittedly rely on them alot. Aquarius works as my standard hazard + roar mon that can also stomach blow or two. Also works nice protecting both Crobat and Tenecruel from any Thunderbolts, and can take the Nidoqueens that Cancer can't. My answer to MAero with Waterfall OKHOing. Generally pretty bulky and tough and can take a few hits.
Stealth Rocks is always appreciated to wear down other pokes. EQ is your usual STAB option and also handles Empoelon really well, which my team otherwise doesn't like- it also just hurts in general. Went with Waterfall over Scald as my secondary STAB option for the extra power. Roar is there to phaze out anything such as 'Cune and rack up your SR damage which my team really loves.
Gemini (Doublade) @ Eviolite
Ability: No Guard
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Iron Head
- Shadow Sneak
- Swords Dance
- Sacred Sword
The twin swords! Your standard Doublade set. I really wanted a Steel type on this team to prevent Fairy spamming. This guy is another tank for the team, taking physical hits, and can also happily sweep through once a SD is set up. Also scares away the icetypes that could otherwise hurt Crobat and Whimsicott. It also stops strong pokes from having a field say with my team.
Swords Dance allows Gemini to become my win-condition and makes this thing a threat pretty fast! Shadow Sneak is pretty standard and bypasses Gem's pretty awful speed and is pretty nice priority. Iron Head hits Florges hard, and is a pretty reliable STAB move. Sacred Sword is there for those pesky dark types, and generally just hurts.
So tell me what you think should be changed or removed! Again I am eager to learn so please don't hold back!
Leo (Arcanine) @ Assault Vest
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Extreme Speed
- Flare Blitz
- Close Combat
- Crunch
Now I know that Kanto fire doge is outclassed by Johto fire doge. But I've got such a soft spot for this doggy that I really wanted to stick with it and even build my team around it for your standard Fire/Grass/Water core.
A Vested Aracanine! A bit silly, but nothing too special or unexpected. I decided to go with the AV to make the dog a tank- able to take a HJK from Mienshao and kill it in return with a Flare Blitz and even killed a Hyrdegion with a Close Combat. It can also take any fire-type moves aimed at Whimsicott or Doublade and get a free boost.
Flash Fire is there to tempt the Fire attacks against my other Pokes and has come in crazy handy time after time. ExtremeSpeed is of course the beloved priority, and Flare Blitz your STAB fire type attack. It was a toss up between Wild Charge and Crunch, and while Wild Charge is useful against bulky waters Crunch proved to come in handy against Frosslass leads and Chandelure and to pick off weakened psychic types and other ghosts. Close Combat tackles Dark types and Rock types super effectively and was really useful in taking out a troublesome Umbreon.
Aries (Whimsicott) @ Pixie Plate
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
- Giga Drain
- Moonblast
- Encore
- U-turn
The grass portion f my F/W/G core, Whimiscott! A pretty standard kiddo, and shiny because shiny Whimsicott is just darn cool. I just love Whimsi, it does so much. It job is to stop setup sweepers and revenge kill most water, ground, and dragon types with ease, and use it's speed allows to pivot out of dangerous situations. Aries also loves to bait the fire types and allow Arcanine to come in, take the fire, and go to town.
Giga Drain is Aries's STAB move and my answer to Water and Ground types (like Swampert.) Encore is there to stop those pesky setup sweepers that otherwise give my team trouble and scout out any setup sweepers, though I'm tempted to use Stun Spore to stop things like Crobat. Moonblast is there for those dragons like Hydregion and Haxorus with the delightful plate boost, and U-Turn gives Aries a pivot role. Invested in Speed and SpA to allow it to outspeed whatever wants to threaten it and give it it's use offensively.
Cancer (Tentacruel) @ Black Sludge
Ability: Liquid Ooze
EVs: 252 HP / 4 SpA / 252 SpD
Calm Nature
- Rapid Spin
- Toxic Spikes
- Scald
- Knock Off
My water type comes in the pretty lady Cancer! I really love Tentacruel and I really wanted to use it so I found a spot and use for it on my team. It resists ALOT of things that threaten my team. Cancer exists on this team to spin away entry hazards such as rocks, but also finds more utility in a general support role.
Scald is your STAB move and getting off a burn on others is always appreciated. I really love the Toxic Spike and Rapid Spin support, since my team comes to really appreciate the lack of rocks and wearing down defensive cores with TS. Knock Off is there to get off extra damage and generally be annoying by removing items along with TS damage, wearing down the opposing team- and in some cases, crippling it.
Scorpio (Crobat)
Ability: Infiltrator
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Acrobatics
- Taunt
- U-turn
- Roost
Now I really wanted a Flying type on this team to tackle fighting types (especially Meinshao who can take my team unchecked) - that or I am incapable of making a team without Crobat on it. Not sure which yet. Scorpio is a great check to grass types and fighting types- such as guts Machamp, and can punch holes through the opponents team with STAB Acrobatic. It's also a stallbreaker with the Taunt and has saved me from a number of Substitute shenanigans. Has great synergy with Swampert as well, and can switch out on things like Heliolisk.
Went with Acrobatics over Brave Bird as that recoil just does nothing for me though I'm still debating giving up the extra power of BB and the passive recovery items. Also because A-CROBAT-ics. Taunt was chosen over Defog to stop things from setting up and stopping other Defoggers from removing our entry hazards. U-Turn of course to give it a pivot role and I really love that, and Roost as the recovery of course. There's nothing his bat can't outspeed, and also allows me to deal early on with any Floreges or other Whimsicott, though Scorpio doesn't appreciate being spored.
Aquarius (Swampert) (F) @ Swampertite
Ability: Damp
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Waterfall
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- Roar
This mon was coming sooner or later despite it's pretty vanilla set. Man I love my swamp frog though I admittedly rely on them alot. Aquarius works as my standard hazard + roar mon that can also stomach blow or two. Also works nice protecting both Crobat and Tenecruel from any Thunderbolts, and can take the Nidoqueens that Cancer can't. My answer to MAero with Waterfall OKHOing. Generally pretty bulky and tough and can take a few hits.
Stealth Rocks is always appreciated to wear down other pokes. EQ is your usual STAB option and also handles Empoelon really well, which my team otherwise doesn't like- it also just hurts in general. Went with Waterfall over Scald as my secondary STAB option for the extra power. Roar is there to phaze out anything such as 'Cune and rack up your SR damage which my team really loves.
Gemini (Doublade) @ Eviolite
Ability: No Guard
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Iron Head
- Shadow Sneak
- Swords Dance
- Sacred Sword
The twin swords! Your standard Doublade set. I really wanted a Steel type on this team to prevent Fairy spamming. This guy is another tank for the team, taking physical hits, and can also happily sweep through once a SD is set up. Also scares away the icetypes that could otherwise hurt Crobat and Whimsicott. It also stops strong pokes from having a field say with my team.
Swords Dance allows Gemini to become my win-condition and makes this thing a threat pretty fast! Shadow Sneak is pretty standard and bypasses Gem's pretty awful speed and is pretty nice priority. Iron Head hits Florges hard, and is a pretty reliable STAB move. Sacred Sword is there for those pesky dark types, and generally just hurts.
So tell me what you think should be changed or removed! Again I am eager to learn so please don't hold back!
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