Hey again Smogon! Now I want to preface this by saying I am STILL a competitive battling noob so this team is gonna have it obvious flaws, but I'd like to think I'm getting better with my team building! I have ALOT of fun battling with this team and it's become my favorite team to use, and I've secured a number of wins with it. I figured that there was only benefits to running this team by the nice RMT people on Smogon and getting some tips and critique on how to better this! It's pretty vanilla and standard by most accounts, but I enjoy it. I have another set pretty similar to this once others may have seen before- please note these are two separate, stand alone teams with different purposes.
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Leo (Arcanine) @ Assault Vest
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Flare Blitz
- Crunch
- Extreme Speed
- Close Combat
I know Arcanine is outclassed by Entei (and it's stupid Scared Fire) but I find I just... do better with Arcanine. So like the stubborn mule I am, I'm sticking with Kanto fire doge. Now, I wanted a bulky attacker on my team and Arcanine fit the bill! I chose Assault Vest as it does wonder for 'Canine's bulk that it missed out on without Intimidate and makes him a pretty nice tank! I know I have Florges, but I like Arcanine staying alive to fulfill it's role- and Florges is cleric support and dragon answer.
I chose Flash Fire over Intimidate as I use Arcanine as my fire immunity (despite Tentacruel- I'd rather have a Fire immunity than a fire resist all things considered, and Arcanine LOVES the boost.) I love this guy as a check for Darmanitan as well, though Earthquake is pretty scary.
I went with Crunch over Wild Charge to deal with Chandelure and Jellicent, without the additional recoil from Wild Charge- and Wild Charge can't do as much to bulky Waters anyways (I HAVE AN ANSWER TO THIS, DON'T WORRY.) Close Combat takes care of pesky Steel-types an can even take out Hyrdgeions- because AV Arcanine can take a Draco Metor. Flare Blitz is your usual STAB, the same way ESpeed is good priority and beats out Suckerpunch. (which is fun to do to Absol in particular.)
Scorpio (Crobat) @ Black Sludge
Ability: Infiltrator
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Brave Bird
- Roost
- U-turn
- Super Fang
I really love the bat. I really, really do. One of my star attackers who can run through a team with Brave Bird, Crobat finds it's spot on my team as a fast physical sweeper, excellent pivot and great Ground immunity- which 3 Pokemon on my team appreciate immensely. Maximum speed and attack makes this bat pretty nasty, even without the Band. Band was forgone, as having to stick with one move didn't allow Crobat it's full utility in my opinion. (then again, my predict game can be a little weak)
Brave Bird allows Crobat to clean up late game, or punch holes in opposing teams, and is generally easy to spam if necessary. Roost is the recovery Crobat really appreciates in case it takes a Knock Off, and can get this off for free when used as my Ground immunity. Super Fang may be an odd option but one I enjoy- taking off half an opponents health right off the bat literally always comes in handy, especially on mons my team struggles with- though I sometimes swap it out with Pursuit, as Pursuit is an answer to Alakazam. U-Turn is U-turn, and momentum on this team is great.
Cancer (Tentacruel) @ Black Sludge
Ability: Liquid Ooze
EVs: 252 Def / 4 SpA / 252 SpD
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Rapid Spin
- Toxic Spikes
- Scald
- Sludge Wave Sludge Bomb (thanks potato!)
I debated really, really hard between Tentacruel and Swampert. I love Swampert's Electric immunity, as Crobat really appreciates it, and it has great synergy with my team. In the end, I settled with the squid- my team hates Stealth Rocks and just can't do it's job properly with them on the field. Somebody needs to get them out, and Defog Crobat just wasn't doing it for me. While opposing Swampert poses a problem for my team, Toxic Spikes does great to whittle it down and has good use for other grounded pokemon. I chose a bulky Tentacruel so it can takes hits a little better and extend it's use on the field.
Scald is there as STAB, chance for burn, and stops Chandelure. Sludge Bomb is there for Fairy types (read: opposing Florges) and Grass types- despite Crobat because I like having more than one answer to something, just in case. It's also a really nice answer to Doublade if my Mien fails. I chose Liquid Ooze over Clear Body to really punish anything trying to Leech Seed.
Virgo (Florges) @ Leftovers
Ability: Flower Veil
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpA
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Aromatherapy
- Moonblast
- Protect
- Wish
Florges-Blue isn't an option on Showdown, but in my heart it is.
The teams cleric! Yes, yes I know this is a pretty vanilla set, but it does it's job so I can't complain at all! I saw no need to invest in Florges SpD since it's already so high, so I put it into the defense instead, so it can take a physical attack just well enough to get it's job done. It's also a wonderful Dragon check, since I otherwise have no Dragon answer outside of Arcanine for Hydregion. It's even a great answer to MAmpharos. It's an OK answer to the chandelier, but Trick variants mess up Florges up quite abit, so I try not to use her for that.
Florges really appreciates FF Arcanine taking any fire-type attacks on it's behalf. Aromatherapy + Wish to provide the team with the cleric support it (read: Tentacruel) really needs. Moonblast to take care of Dragons and Fighting types Crobat may have missed/if Crobat is downed (if it isn't obvious, I like having backups in case of fainted mons.) like Absol. Protect over Synthesis to ensure Florges' Wishes get passed and to also scout Choice Banded mons and Iron Tail Salamance.
Libra (Heliolisk) @ Choice Specs
Ability: Dry Skin
EVs: 252 SpA / 8 SpD / 248 Spe
IVs: 0 Atk
Timid Nature
- Grass Knot
- Hyper Voice
- Volt Switch
- Thunderbolt
A pretty vanilla set as well, but one that really does it's job. My answer to bulky waters and water types in general! Man, I love this thing. Heliolisk is my Water immunity- even with Tentacruel here, there's no reason to pass up an immunity over a resist. Heliolisk is here as my special attacker (obviously) Choice Specs over Life Orb was chosen to secure the KO on bulkier mons. VoltTurn core with Crobat or Mienshao is also really nice!
Volt Switch proves great momentum and STAB. Grass Knot is there mostly for Swampert, making it a little less of a threat (though we're still pretty afraid of it.) Hyper Voice and T-Bolt are more STAB moves. It also allows us to take on opposing Crobat and get it out of the way, and has a nice ghost immunity.
Gemini (Mienshao) @ Life Orb
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Naive Nature
- High Jump Kick
- Knock Off
- U-turn
- Fake Out
The team's queen sweeper! I really love this Pokemon and it's power. Life Orb to naturally give Mienshao even more power- and in this case, I chose Regenerator over Reckless for the health recovery with switching out, which works out thanks to Meinshao's pivoting. This girl can come in a sweep as necessary- without need for setting up. With everything invested totally in Speed and Attack Mien is ready to go. The extra is in SpD bc why not. With Heliolisk to take care of opposing Crobat, Tentacruel to take down Florges and Chandelure, even Crobat and the Canine for Whimisoctt, Mien is free to beat everything up without much worry.
High Jump Kick is your usual STAB move that plows through everything, and Regenerator makes it a little more bearable to take a miss. Since we don't have Reckless, Knock Off is here to cripple Pokemon that Mien otherwise can't take down with HJK, and also just because Ghost and Psychic types dislike it. Doublade REALLY hates it. Fake Out is just for priority and free damage, and U-Turn gives both something to hurt Psychic types and gives my team momentum madness.
Extra:
There's a number of Chandelure answers with this team because SubCM Chandelure can go through my team, and I'm not into that.
I noticed we're weak to most Psychic types such as Reuniclius, or more glaringly, Alakazam- though Pursuit Crobat takes care of that, the set displayed is not PCrobat. U-Turn on Crobat hurts, and U-Turn on Mienshao kills for sure- though its a risk I don't always want to take.
I've debated Hydregion ----> Crobat, but I'm still wary on giving up the bat for a mon I'm not as familiar with.
If Heliolisk somehow goes down before they are dealt with, bulky waters such as CroCune take my team without issues.
Entei is has a field day when Tentacruel isn't around. The Canine takes flames for days, but cant do much back, and can't take a Stone Edge.
[Courtesy of intellectual potato! ]
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Leo (Arcanine) @ Assault Vest
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Flare Blitz
- Crunch
- Extreme Speed
- Close Combat
I know Arcanine is outclassed by Entei (and it's stupid Scared Fire) but I find I just... do better with Arcanine. So like the stubborn mule I am, I'm sticking with Kanto fire doge. Now, I wanted a bulky attacker on my team and Arcanine fit the bill! I chose Assault Vest as it does wonder for 'Canine's bulk that it missed out on without Intimidate and makes him a pretty nice tank! I know I have Florges, but I like Arcanine staying alive to fulfill it's role- and Florges is cleric support and dragon answer.
I chose Flash Fire over Intimidate as I use Arcanine as my fire immunity (despite Tentacruel- I'd rather have a Fire immunity than a fire resist all things considered, and Arcanine LOVES the boost.) I love this guy as a check for Darmanitan as well, though Earthquake is pretty scary.
I went with Crunch over Wild Charge to deal with Chandelure and Jellicent, without the additional recoil from Wild Charge- and Wild Charge can't do as much to bulky Waters anyways (I HAVE AN ANSWER TO THIS, DON'T WORRY.) Close Combat takes care of pesky Steel-types an can even take out Hyrdgeions- because AV Arcanine can take a Draco Metor. Flare Blitz is your usual STAB, the same way ESpeed is good priority and beats out Suckerpunch. (which is fun to do to Absol in particular.)
Scorpio (Crobat) @ Black Sludge
Ability: Infiltrator
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Brave Bird
- Roost
- U-turn
- Super Fang
I really love the bat. I really, really do. One of my star attackers who can run through a team with Brave Bird, Crobat finds it's spot on my team as a fast physical sweeper, excellent pivot and great Ground immunity- which 3 Pokemon on my team appreciate immensely. Maximum speed and attack makes this bat pretty nasty, even without the Band. Band was forgone, as having to stick with one move didn't allow Crobat it's full utility in my opinion. (then again, my predict game can be a little weak)
Brave Bird allows Crobat to clean up late game, or punch holes in opposing teams, and is generally easy to spam if necessary. Roost is the recovery Crobat really appreciates in case it takes a Knock Off, and can get this off for free when used as my Ground immunity. Super Fang may be an odd option but one I enjoy- taking off half an opponents health right off the bat literally always comes in handy, especially on mons my team struggles with- though I sometimes swap it out with Pursuit, as Pursuit is an answer to Alakazam. U-Turn is U-turn, and momentum on this team is great.
Cancer (Tentacruel) @ Black Sludge
Ability: Liquid Ooze
EVs: 252 Def / 4 SpA / 252 SpD
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Rapid Spin
- Toxic Spikes
- Scald
-
I debated really, really hard between Tentacruel and Swampert. I love Swampert's Electric immunity, as Crobat really appreciates it, and it has great synergy with my team. In the end, I settled with the squid- my team hates Stealth Rocks and just can't do it's job properly with them on the field. Somebody needs to get them out, and Defog Crobat just wasn't doing it for me. While opposing Swampert poses a problem for my team, Toxic Spikes does great to whittle it down and has good use for other grounded pokemon. I chose a bulky Tentacruel so it can takes hits a little better and extend it's use on the field.
Scald is there as STAB, chance for burn, and stops Chandelure. Sludge Bomb is there for Fairy types (read: opposing Florges) and Grass types- despite Crobat because I like having more than one answer to something, just in case. It's also a really nice answer to Doublade if my Mien fails. I chose Liquid Ooze over Clear Body to really punish anything trying to Leech Seed.
Virgo (Florges) @ Leftovers
Ability: Flower Veil
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpA
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Aromatherapy
- Moonblast
- Protect
- Wish
Florges-Blue isn't an option on Showdown, but in my heart it is.
The teams cleric! Yes, yes I know this is a pretty vanilla set, but it does it's job so I can't complain at all! I saw no need to invest in Florges SpD since it's already so high, so I put it into the defense instead, so it can take a physical attack just well enough to get it's job done. It's also a wonderful Dragon check, since I otherwise have no Dragon answer outside of Arcanine for Hydregion. It's even a great answer to MAmpharos. It's an OK answer to the chandelier, but Trick variants mess up Florges up quite abit, so I try not to use her for that.
Florges really appreciates FF Arcanine taking any fire-type attacks on it's behalf. Aromatherapy + Wish to provide the team with the cleric support it (read: Tentacruel) really needs. Moonblast to take care of Dragons and Fighting types Crobat may have missed/if Crobat is downed (if it isn't obvious, I like having backups in case of fainted mons.) like Absol. Protect over Synthesis to ensure Florges' Wishes get passed and to also scout Choice Banded mons and Iron Tail Salamance.
Libra (Heliolisk) @ Choice Specs
Ability: Dry Skin
EVs: 252 SpA / 8 SpD / 248 Spe
IVs: 0 Atk
Timid Nature
- Grass Knot
- Hyper Voice
- Volt Switch
- Thunderbolt
A pretty vanilla set as well, but one that really does it's job. My answer to bulky waters and water types in general! Man, I love this thing. Heliolisk is my Water immunity- even with Tentacruel here, there's no reason to pass up an immunity over a resist. Heliolisk is here as my special attacker (obviously) Choice Specs over Life Orb was chosen to secure the KO on bulkier mons. VoltTurn core with Crobat or Mienshao is also really nice!
Volt Switch proves great momentum and STAB. Grass Knot is there mostly for Swampert, making it a little less of a threat (though we're still pretty afraid of it.) Hyper Voice and T-Bolt are more STAB moves. It also allows us to take on opposing Crobat and get it out of the way, and has a nice ghost immunity.
Gemini (Mienshao) @ Life Orb
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Naive Nature
- High Jump Kick
- Knock Off
- U-turn
- Fake Out
The team's queen sweeper! I really love this Pokemon and it's power. Life Orb to naturally give Mienshao even more power- and in this case, I chose Regenerator over Reckless for the health recovery with switching out, which works out thanks to Meinshao's pivoting. This girl can come in a sweep as necessary- without need for setting up. With everything invested totally in Speed and Attack Mien is ready to go. The extra is in SpD bc why not. With Heliolisk to take care of opposing Crobat, Tentacruel to take down Florges and Chandelure, even Crobat and the Canine for Whimisoctt, Mien is free to beat everything up without much worry.
High Jump Kick is your usual STAB move that plows through everything, and Regenerator makes it a little more bearable to take a miss. Since we don't have Reckless, Knock Off is here to cripple Pokemon that Mien otherwise can't take down with HJK, and also just because Ghost and Psychic types dislike it. Doublade REALLY hates it. Fake Out is just for priority and free damage, and U-Turn gives both something to hurt Psychic types and gives my team momentum madness.
Extra:
There's a number of Chandelure answers with this team because SubCM Chandelure can go through my team, and I'm not into that.
I noticed we're weak to most Psychic types such as Reuniclius, or more glaringly, Alakazam- though Pursuit Crobat takes care of that, the set displayed is not PCrobat. U-Turn on Crobat hurts, and U-Turn on Mienshao kills for sure- though its a risk I don't always want to take.
I've debated Hydregion ----> Crobat, but I'm still wary on giving up the bat for a mon I'm not as familiar with.
If Heliolisk somehow goes down before they are dealt with, bulky waters such as CroCune take my team without issues.
Entei is has a field day when Tentacruel isn't around. The Canine takes flames for days, but cant do much back, and can't take a Stone Edge.
[Courtesy of intellectual potato! ]
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