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The first thing I had in mind when making this team was mainly a Sandstorm based team, as weather teams are very scarce in the OU metagame, or any metagame for that matter. I also really wanted to use M-Garchomp, just because of how underused it is in OU, and becuase it's ability, Sand Force, benefited from the Sandstorm. I've used this team for a few battles, and I've won a majority of them, but I need a second opinion. Any replies or feedback would be great!
Like I said, my main focus on the team is M-Garchomp. With an insane 170 base attack stat, decent defensive and special attack stats, along with Swords Dance and a powerful movepool, M-Garchomp is a threat to any team. On the other hand, M-Garchomp loses a bit of speed upon mega evolving, but luckily isn't too much of a problem, as it still outspeeds most Pokemon. With this, Garchomp makes a great wallbreaker and sweeper.
Tyranitar @ Smooth Rock
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 248 Atk / 80 Def / 180 SpD
Relaxed Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Stone Edge
- Pursuit
- Crunch / Fire Blast
Tyranitar's main job is to set up Sand Stream, but it still has a use outside of weather. Setting up Stealth Rock can be helpful, and Pursuit works great along with it. Stone Edge hits hard against almost anything, and Crunch's great accuracy works well. Fire Blast hits Steel and Grass types, which are unsurprisingly a threat to T-Tar. Once it has set up Rocks and Sand Stream, it's done its job.
Skarmory @ Leftovers
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Careful Nature
- Brave Bird / Iron Head
- Roost
- Toxic / Spikes
- Taunt
Considering I needed something to counter Fairies, I figured Skarmory would work great with it's defensive movepool and stats. Skar works great if I need something to switch into, as I can easily set up hazards or status, heal with Roost, or just deal damage. It's definitely the most flexible member of the team.
Clefable @ Leftovers / Life Orb
Ability: Magic Guard
EVs: 252 HP / 172 Def / 84 SpD
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Moonblast
- Flamethrower / Thunderbolt / Psychic
- Calm Mind
- Soft-Boiled
When building this team, I wanted to make sure I had different types rather than Rock, Ground, and Steel, and I also needed a good special attacker. Clefable manages to be the perfect fit. With decent defenses and high HP, Clefable can take a few hits, and along with that, it has Soft-Boiled, which is probably the best move on this set. Calm Mind also provides offensive and defensive support. Moonblast in conjunction with Calm Mind deals with anything that isn't resistant, and the second slot moves covers its weaknesses well. If Clefable manages to set up, it can be a huge threat if you're not prepared.
Scizor @ Choice Band
Ability: Technician
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Bullet Punch
- U-turn
- Superpower / Bug Bite
- Knock Off / Pursuit
Scizor can take damage, and deal damage. Especially deal damage. With the Choice Band, Scizor turns from powerful, to even more powerful. Bullet Punch can successfully 2-hit anything that isn't resistant, U-Turn is great if waiting for a switch-in, and Knock-Off hits hard and gets rid of annoying items like Leftovers or Eviolite. Other moves are there to deal insane amounts of damage to anything that dares to challenge it. Unless it's Heatran.
Starmie was a must on my team. It's a very fast Pokemon, and it deals alot of damage if you can hit with Hydro Pump. Along with that, Rapid Spin is helpful if I need to get rid of hazards. Thunderbolt is so much better than Psychic, as it deals with some of this teams biggest threats, like Volcanion, Keldeo, and Slowbro.
Aaaaaaand we're done. If you feel something is lacking or underwhelming, leave some feedback. Other than that, thanks for reading this far!
Hey man, nice team you have there. After analyzing the build I can see that you're utilizing a standard Tyranitar+Garchomp sand core to take advantage of Mega Garchomp's ability, Sand Rush. After that you added a defensive spike stacking core to not only assist Garchomp in picking up kills, but allow it to switch on its checks safely.
However, there are a couple of things I'm not in love with. For one, Swords Dance Bisharp is a huge problem for the team because without Whirlwind, Skarmory is essentially setup fodder. In addition, because of its deadly offensive typing, the presence of SD Bisharp puts so much strain on Garchomp to kill it, not to mention that a +2 Jolly Bisharp Sucker Punch OHKOes after a little bit of prior damage; and if it's Adamant, then it's going to limit your chances of winning the game even lower. Specs Keldeo is a huge threat to the team as your Water resist, Starmie, can only come in on one Hydro Pump. Manaphy is a problem to the build as well since it can find setup opportunities vs Skarmory as well as Clefable. Now it won't be able to sweep your team due to the fact that Clefable can survive a +3 Scald and go for Moonblast, followed up by Starmie's Thunderbolt and Scizor's Bullet Punch. However, to make that many sacrifices before you can kill a Pokemon could be very detrimental. Charizard Y is a huge problem to the team as well, due to the lack of switch-ins to its STAB and coverage attacks, SolarBeam and Focus Blast. Banded Azumarill is a bit of a nuisance since every time it gets sent on your Clefable, Skarmory, or Tyranitar, it essentially gets a kill. However, with dual hazards, Scizor, Garchomp, and Starmie, it's not the biggest threat to the team. Lastly, while Mega Garchomp is a fantastic stallbreaker in Sand, I feel like you could add another one as well to put less strain on it.
My first suggestion will be to change Starmie to a Defensive variant. Life Orb Starmie usually fit on more offensive teams rather than balanced teams like this one. Defensive Starmie is a solid Keldeo counter, being able to switch into any viable attack it wants to go for bar an HP Electric and recover the damage. In addition, with Reflect type, you'll be able to handle Bisharps, resisting any attack it goes for bar Low Kick, and then repeatedly going for Scalds and Recovers, slowly beating it 1v1. Reflect type isn't just great for Bisharps, but also other things as well. It can copy Scizor's typing, preventing Starmie from being Pursuit trapped. And lastly, it can copy Ferrothorns typing, allowing it Rapid Spin freely without being Leech Seeded, and then spamming Scald fishing for a burn.
My next suggestion will be Taunt Talonflame>Choice Band Scizor. With Tyranitar to Pursuit the Lati-Twins and Specially Defensive Skarmory to deal with the Fairy Megas, i'm not sure if Banded Scizor really fits. In addition, after the Starmie set change, there are a couple of drawbacks. Charizard Y becomes even a huger conundrum to the build since Starmie's Scald in the Sun does minimal damage. You could argue that you can Reflect Type Charizard Y in order to stall it out of Flamethrowers until the Sun dies so you can go for Scald again, but to waste 4 Recovers in order to pull that off is not ideal. Serperior also becomes an issue to the build since you lost your only offensive presence that outsped it, and SpDef Skarmory is 2HKOed by +2 HP Fire and cannot retaliate back(assuming you have Iron Head for Mega Diancie and Clefable). Taunt Talonflame is a Pokemon that can switch into any attack Serperior or Charizard Y wants to go for, and beat it 1v1. In addition, the acquisition of SpDef Talonflame gives your team another stallbreaker, putting less strain on Mega Garchomp. Lastly, it has great synergy with Mega Garchomp. With Talonflame's ability to lure in Garchomp's checks such as Rotom-W, Landorus-T, Quagsire, and Slowbro(especially since you don't have Leftovers for Acrobatics, so your opponents will think you're Swords Dance), and crippling them with Will-O-Wisp, it simply paves the way for Mega Garchomp to decimate.
After both of these changes, Manaphy outright 6-0es the team. Skarmory can take a +3 Scald and Toxic it, but if it's the Tail Glow+Rain Dance, it's over because Hydration gets rid of the Poison in the Rain. Azumarill and Volcanion are threates to the team since nothing on your team can switch into its STABs. Magnezone is a huge problem to the team as nothing can come in on its STABs; and nothing really checks it bar Garchomp. Nasty Plot Thundurus also 6-0es the team with its ability to break Magic Guard Clefable with a +2 Special Attack boost, and knock Tyranitar and Mega Garchomp out with its coverage. This got me thinking. Now Clefable is one of the best Pokemon in the tier and fits practically every balanced team. However, I think Raikou is the better fit for this team. With Raikou's speed and offensive typing, it can check all the aforementioned threats(Manaphy, Magnezone, Azumarill, etc) in this paragraph! It can switch into Keldeo's HP Electric, the one move Starmie cannot switch into from Keldeo; and it gives your team another win condition with the Sub+Calm Mind set. Lastly, when I was testing Clefable over Raikou, I realized that I was very vulnerable to opposing SpDef Talonflames, since Tyranitar hates Will-O-Wisp. On the flip side, Raikou after a Calm Mind boost checks and beats SpDef Talonflame 1v1.
I'd have Toxic and Spikes on the same set with Spikes over Taunt, as I think they are both necessary. Toxic Skarmory lures in SpDef Talonflame and crippling it for the rest of the match, unless of course your opponent has Heal Bell/Aromatherapy support. Spikes are nice for your team because they're stackable, racking up the damage on your opponent's Pokemon, especially if Stealth Rocks are on the field as well.
With all of this said, they're definitely some notable weaknesses to the new team. For one, Weavile becomes a problem to the build due to the lack of switch-ins to its STABs. However, I think it can be dealt with with dual hazards to pressure it, Talonflame, and Raikou(use this as a last resort though, since Knock Off still does a lot: 252 Atk Life Orb Weavile Knock Off (97.5 BP) vs. 112 HP / 4 Def Raikou: 246-290 (70.4 - 83%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery). Mega Lopunny becomes a problem as well but can be checked by Mega Garchomp, Talonflame, and hazards. Gliscor becomes very annoying because outside of Raikou's HP Ice, there's not much that can touch it bar Mega Garchomp after a Swords Dance. What you can do if you find these Pokemon annoying is add CM+Ice Beam Clefable over Raikou. Clefable isn't 2HKOed by any of Weavile's attacks bar Poison Jab, can take two Returns from Mega Lopunny, and with Ice Beam, you'll be able to beat Taunt Gliscor 1v1. If you choose to do this, then I recommend Toxic>Reflect type on Starmie which gives your team another way to cripple SpDef Talonflame.
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/ou-395397996 I misplayed so hard here. But when you watch the replay, you'll see how to use this team :] First I crippled Rotom-W and had to play accordingly, only I screwed up haha. Very Fun game though :]
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/ou-395415092 This is the game I realized SpDef Talonflame was a problem, but I still had a ton of fun playing my opponent. I think the turning point of this game was when Earthquaked the incoming Talonflame. Had I Swords Danced with my Mega Garchomp, it was gg. Lesson: Hindsight is 20/20 :3.
creds to AMEutychios (thanks m8s, means a lot) Good luck man, Hope I helped!
Hey man, nice team you have there. After analyzing the build I can see that you're utilizing a standard Tyranitar+Garchomp sand core to take advantage of Mega Garchomp's ability, Sand Rush. After that you added a defensive spike stacking core to not only assist Garchomp in picking up kills, but allow it to switch on its checks safely.
However, there are a couple of things I'm not in love with. For one, Swords Dance Bisharp is a huge problem for the team because without Whirlwind, Skarmory is essentially setup fodder. In addition, because of its deadly offensive typing, the presence of SD Bisharp puts so much strain on Garchomp to kill it, not to mention that a +2 Jolly Bisharp Sucker Punch OHKOes after a little bit of prior damage; and if it's Adamant, then it's going to limit your chances of winning the game even lower. Specs Keldeo is a huge threat to the team as your Water resist, Starmie, can only come in on one Hydro Pump. Manaphy is a problem to the build as well since it can find setup opportunities vs Skarmory as well as Clefable. Now it won't be able to sweep your team due to the fact that Clefable can survive a +3 Scald and go for Moonblast, followed up by Starmie's Thunderbolt and Scizor's Bullet Punch. However, to make that many sacrifices before you can kill a Pokemon could be very detrimental. Charizard Y is a huge problem to the team as well, due to the lack of switch-ins to its STAB and coverage attacks, SolarBeam and Focus Blast. Banded Azumarill is a bit of a nuisance since every time it gets sent on your Clefable, Skarmory, or Tyranitar, it essentially gets a kill. However, with dual hazards, Scizor, Garchomp, and Starmie, it's not the biggest threat to the team. Lastly, while Mega Garchomp is a fantastic stallbreaker in Sand, I feel like you could add another one as well to put less strain on it.
My first suggestion will be to change Starmie to a Defensive variant. Life Orb Starmie usually fit on more offensive teams rather than balanced teams like this one. Defensive Starmie is a solid Keldeo counter, being able to switch into any viable attack it wants to go for bar an HP Electric and recover the damage. In addition, with Reflect type, you'll be able to handle Bisharps, resisting any attack it goes for bar Low Kick, and then repeatedly going for Scalds and Recovers, slowly beating it 1v1. Reflect type isn't just great for Bisharps, but also other things as well. It can copy Scizor's typing, preventing Starmie from being Pursuit trapped. And lastly, it can copy Ferrothorns typing, allowing it Rapid Spin freely without being Leech Seeded, and then spamming Scald fishing for a burn.
My next suggestion will be Taunt Talonflame>Choice Band Scizor. With Tyranitar to Pursuit the Lati-Twins and Specially Defensive Skarmory to deal with the Fairy Megas, i'm not sure if Banded Scizor really fits. In addition, after the Starmie set change, there are a couple of drawbacks. Charizard Y becomes even a huger conundrum to the build since Starmie's Scald in the Sun does minimal damage. You could argue that you can Reflect Type Charizard Y in order to stall it out of Flamethrowers until the Sun dies so you can go for Scald again, but to waste 4 Recovers in order to pull that off is not ideal. Serperior also becomes an issue to the build since you lost your only offensive presence that outsped it, and SpDef Skarmory is 2HKOed by +2 HP Fire and cannot retaliate back(assuming you have Iron Head for Mega Diancie and Clefable). Taunt Talonflame is a Pokemon that can switch into any attack Serperior or Charizard Y wants to go for, and beat it 1v1. In addition, the acquisition of SpDef Talonflame gives your team another stallbreaker, putting less strain on Mega Garchomp. Lastly, it has great synergy with Mega Garchomp. With Talonflame's ability to lure in Garchomp's checks such as Rotom-W, Landorus-T, Quagsire, and Slowbro(especially since you don't have Leftovers for Acrobatics, so your opponents will think you're Swords Dance), and crippling them with Will-O-Wisp, it simply paves the way for Mega Garchomp to decimate.
After both of these changes, Manaphy outright 6-0es the team. Skarmory can take a +3 Scald and Toxic it, but if it's the Tail Glow+Rain Dance, it's over because Hydration gets rid of the Poison in the Rain. Azumarill and Volcanion are threates to the team since nothing on your team can switch into its STABs. Magnezone is a huge problem to the team as nothing can come in on its STABs; and nothing really checks it bar Garchomp. Nasty Plot Thundurus also 6-0es the team with its ability to break Magic Guard Clefable with a +2 Special Attack boost, and knock Tyranitar and Mega Garchomp out with its coverage. This got me thinking. Now Clefable is one of the best Pokemon in the tier and fits practically every balanced team. However, I think Raikou is the better fit for this team. With Raikou's speed and offensive typing, it can check all the aforementioned threats(Manaphy, Magnezone, Azumarill, etc) in this paragraph! It can switch into Keldeo's HP Electric, the one move Starmie cannot switch into from Keldeo; and it gives your team another win condition with the Sub+Calm Mind set. Lastly, when I was testing Clefable over Raikou, I realized that I was very vulnerable to opposing SpDef Talonflames, since Tyranitar hates Will-O-Wisp. On the flip side, Raikou after a Calm Mind boost checks and beats SpDef Talonflame 1v1.
I'd have Toxic and Spikes on the same set with Spikes over Taunt, as I think they are both necessary. Toxic Skarmory lures in SpDef Talonflame and crippling it for the rest of the match, unless of course your opponent has Heal Bell/Aromatherapy support. Spikes are nice for your team because they're stackable, racking up the damage on your opponent's Pokemon, especially if Stealth Rocks are on the field as well.
With all of this said, they're definitely some notable weaknesses to the new team. For one, Weavile becomes a problem to the build due to the lack of switch-ins to its STABs. However, I think it can be dealt with with dual hazards to pressure it, Talonflame, and Raikou(use this as a last resort though, since Knock Off still does a lot: 252 Atk Life Orb Weavile Knock Off (97.5 BP) vs. 112 HP / 4 Def Raikou: 246-290 (70.4 - 83%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery). Mega Lopunny becomes a problem as well but can be checked by Mega Garchomp, Talonflame, and hazards. Gliscor becomes very annoying because outside of Raikou's HP Ice, there's not much that can touch it bar Mega Garchomp after a Swords Dance. What you can do if you find these Pokemon annoying is add CM+Ice Beam Clefable over Raikou. Clefable isn't 2HKOed by any of Weavile's attacks bar Poison Jab, can take two Returns from Mega Lopunny, and with Ice Beam, you'll be able to beat Taunt Gliscor 1v1. If you choose to do this, then I recommend Toxic>Reflect type on Starmie which gives your team another way to cripple SpDef Talonflame.
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/ou-395397996 I misplayed so hard here. But when you watch the replay, you'll see how to use this team :] First I crippled Rotom-W and had to play accordingly, only I screwed up haha. Very Fun game though :]
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/ou-395415092 This is the game I realized SpDef Talonflame was a problem, but I still had a ton of fun playing my opponent. I think the turning point of this game was when Earthquaked the incoming Talonflame. Had I Swords Danced with my Mega Garchomp, it was gg. Lesson: Hindsight is 20/20 :3.
creds to AMEutychios (thanks m8s, means a lot) Good luck man, Hope I helped!
