(the squadron)
A.D. 79 - Volcanion + M-Scizor Bulky Offense
I just got back into competitive Pokemon, after a few years hiatus. I played competitively when I was younger, but never got into the community on Smogon (This is my first RMT) or got very high on the ladder. And now during the summer since I have nothing else to do, I decided to return to battling. And the first thing to do was make a team.
I took inspiration from pokeaim Joey and blunder, after watching binge watching many of their videos. And so I want to become better as a battler (I've peaked only around the 1500s on the ladder so I'm not that good).
I really like bulky offense because they can not only take hits well but also hit very hard. I combined this offense type with voltturn so I could bring in my heavy hitters or pivot around a Pokemon. I'm quite comfortable with voltturn bulky offense. (Therefore, I'm not used to the likes of Bisharp HO and Chansey Stall)
I have tested this team in the 1500s and did decently, but I did see some problems that I saw. But no matter how many problems I solved with the team, more kept popping up. Without further ado, here is the team...
The Squadron
Volcanion @ Choice Specs
Ability: Water Absorb
EVs: 72 HP / 252 SpA / 184 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk / 30 SpA
- Steam Eruption
- Flamethrower
- Sludge Wave
- Hidden Power [Grass]
When I decided to return to competitive battling, I met on the ladder a great deal of stall. And after losing to Sableye, Chansey, Skarmory, etc. a great too many times, I finally realized how easily Specs Volcanion destroyed stall. (Of course, I know Chansey walls Volcanion but if Chansey is fainted, Volcanion will wreak havoc)
The given EV's allow Volcanion to outspeed Defensive Lando-T and still maintain its immense firepower and its bulk. (However, I do see people running more speed on their Lando's now, so I might need to make Volcanion max speed.) Steam Eruption and Flamethrower are great STAB moves. Steam Eruption, although marketed as a stronger Scald, never burns. Also, I don't need Fire Blast because Flamethrower with Specs is enough to KO any steel type. Sludge Wave hits Fairies. And HP Grass hits the likes of Seismitoad. I realized I didn't need Earth Power because I have Lando-T.
Scizor-Mega @ Scizorite
Ability: Light Metal
EVs: 248 HP / 44 Atk / 16 Def / 200 SpD
Impish Nature
- Swords Dance
- Roost
- Bullet Punch
- U-turn
Mega Scizor forms a beautiful core with Volcanion. Volcanion helps in getting rid of many of Scizor's counters: Heatran, Ferrothorn, Lando-T are all blown away with Steam Eruption and Flamethrower. Scizor helps mitigate the Ground and Rock weakness, softchecking offensive Ground types. Scizor can set up late game and sweep. Also, Scizor provides a slow U-turn on the likes of Weavile and Lati@s so that Volcanion can come in unscathed.
The set is the standard Bulk Sweeper set on Smogon.
Landorus-Therian @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 248 HP / 240 Def / 20 SpD
Impish Nature
- Earthquake
- Stealth Rock
- U-turn
- Stone Edge
Landorus Therian is the epitome of Overused, but it's so good at its job. Lando-T has perfect synergy with Volcanion: able to switch into the Electric and Ground attacks directed at Volcanion. Also, Volcanion can take the Ice or Water type attacks directed at Lando. I run defensive Lando because I needed a birdcheck and also I need a fighting type check.
This Defensive Lando-T has no speed investment so it can again provide a slow U-turn to bring in Volcanion. Also, I like to run Rocky Helmet so Lopunny doesn't get any free Fake Out's of and other physical attackers take residual from it.
Raikou @ Assault Vest
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk / 30 Def
- Thunderbolt
- Volt Switch
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Shadow Ball
I really like the voltturn core of Landorus and Raikou, so I decided to slap on Raikou. Raikou gives this team some speed and electric STAB. After Volcanion destroys whatever ground type the other team has (i.e. Landorus-T, Hippowdon, Quagsire), Raikou to Volt around freely, gaining momentum for me and forcing sacks. I wanted to run SubCM Raikou but I realized that I didn't have a designated Specially Defensive wall, so I slapped on an Assault Vest and made Raikou a temporary check to Latios.
I'm really not that sure about Raikou's place on the team so I've experimented with various other Pokemon on its position. I tried AV Torn-T, but it made me too weak to Rotom and I missed having electric STAB. I tried Serperior, but I not only missed having electric STAB, I also missed the voltturning. I also tried Rotom-W but it was too slow. Also, I would have to run SpDef Rotom, which really doesn't wall anything.
Latios @ Life Orb
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Draco Meteor
- Psyshock
- Roost
- Defog
What is an offense team without Latios? I put Latios on this team to patch up the Keldeo weakness. Also, having a Pokemon that can nuke the other team is very helpful when running voltturn. Also, Latios provides Defog support for Volcanion who is weak to rocks.
I wanted to run Latias with Healing Wish support but Latias is not as powerful as Latios and I miss Latios's power. I opted out of running HP Fire because I already had Volcanion to deal with Ferrothorns and Scizors. Roost is for longevity.
Tyranitar @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Stone Edge
- Crunch
- Superpower
- Pursuit
And finally, the last member of the team, Tyranitar helps trap Lati@s and other bulky Pokemon that check Volcanion. Tyranitar can also be used as a late game cleaner if needed. (But only for very weakened slower Pokemon)
Scarf allows it to outspeed base 110s, hitting 364.
Threats
Mega Scizor with an SD up will straight up sweep my team. However, none of the members of my team lets it set up. However, whenever this monster comes in, Lando-T is weakened.
These two monsters can easily run through my team. Lopunny outspeeds everything on my team and can murder each member. But with enough playing around, I can defeat Lopunny. But Medicham is a monster able to 2HKO all of my Pokemon. However, Medicham is slower so Latios, Raikou and Scarf Ttar can defeat it.
...any more?
Conclusion
In conclusion, my bulky offense team is meant to use voltturn to bring in my heavy hitters and sweep with Scarf Tar or SD bulky Scizor late game. I have spent countless hours laddering up and fixing the team, but I realized that I couldn't find the answer to my problems, so I started this thread. I really wish someone can help me fix this team! My team has many flaws but I hope they will be patched. I want to become a better battler and to do that I need a good original team.
My biggest problems with this team is the lack of speed. If anyone can help me with these problems, that would be great! Also, please critique the technical parts of this thread like how can I improve the quality of this RMT. Not only do I want to become a good battler, I also want to join into this community on Smogon.
Appendix
Volcanion @ Choice Specs
Ability: Water Absorb
EVs: 72 HP / 252 SpA / 184 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk / 30 SpA
- Steam Eruption
- Flamethrower
- Sludge Wave
- Hidden Power [Grass]
Scizor-Mega @ Scizorite
Ability: Light Metal
EVs: 248 HP / 44 Atk / 16 Def / 200 SpD
Impish Nature
- Swords Dance
- Roost
- Bullet Punch
- U-turn
Landorus-Therian @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 248 HP / 240 Def / 20 SpD
Impish Nature
- Earthquake
- Stealth Rock
- U-turn
- Stone Edge
Raikou @ Assault Vest
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk / 30 Def
- Thunderbolt
- Volt Switch
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Shadow Ball
Latios @ Life Orb
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Draco Meteor
- Psyshock
- Roost
- Defog
Tyranitar @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Stone Edge
- Crunch
- Superpower
- Pursuit
Ability: Water Absorb
EVs: 72 HP / 252 SpA / 184 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk / 30 SpA
- Steam Eruption
- Flamethrower
- Sludge Wave
- Hidden Power [Grass]
Scizor-Mega @ Scizorite
Ability: Light Metal
EVs: 248 HP / 44 Atk / 16 Def / 200 SpD
Impish Nature
- Swords Dance
- Roost
- Bullet Punch
- U-turn
Landorus-Therian @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 248 HP / 240 Def / 20 SpD
Impish Nature
- Earthquake
- Stealth Rock
- U-turn
- Stone Edge
Raikou @ Assault Vest
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk / 30 Def
- Thunderbolt
- Volt Switch
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Shadow Ball
Latios @ Life Orb
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Draco Meteor
- Psyshock
- Roost
- Defog
Tyranitar @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Stone Edge
- Crunch
- Superpower
- Pursuit
soon to come
Pastebin: http://pastebin.com/EFwd2Hvu
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