Battle Spot, as many of us know, forces us to use only three Pokemon in a Single Battle. But what if we use an entirely new strategy? One where you have 2 Pokemon to fill in each role, thus being a rather modular team? This team I have devised is a thought experiment about this, and has brought me a good amount of success on Battle Spot Singles.
LEADS
Nihilego @ Focus Sash
Ability: Beast Boost
Level: 50
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Toxic Spikes
- Clear Smog
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Stealth Rock
Now, Nihilego's main purpose is to set up Hazards. As a Lead, it sets up 2x Toxic Spikes, then, if the turn allows it to, Stealth Rock. This enables Nihilego to be an incredibly valuable asset, as it saves Celesteela and Toxapex later down the line from having to use Toxic. Clear Smog is so that it can counter threats such as Eevium Z Eevee, Z Conversion Porygon Z, LO + SD Mimikyu, and any other opponent foolish enough to actually use a turn to try and set up. Hidden Power Ice is for Coverage against incredible Ground Type threats against Nihilego if it does actually survive, such as Garchomp.
Ninetales-Alola @ Light Clay
Ability: Snow Warning
Level: 50
EVs: 252 Def / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Blizzard
- Aurora Veil
- Encore
- Moonblast
Alolan Ninetales is the second Lead Pokemon I can possibly use. Thanks to its Hidden Ability, Snow Warning, Alolan Ninetales can easily set up Aurora Veil for Dual Screens, being extended thanks to the Light Clay. I maximized its Speed so that, if the opposing Pokemon sets up when I use Aurora Veil, I can very easily use Encore to trap them into using that move, allowing me to switch out. Blizzard and Moonblast are very great STAB moves, as Blizzard has 100% accuracy in Hail, and Moonblast has the added benefit of possibly lowering the opponent's Special Attack.
Toxapex @ Black Sludge
Ability: Regenerator
Level: 50
EVs: 252 Def / 4 SpA / 252 SpD
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Baneful Bunker
- Haze
- Scald
- Toxic
Now, Toxapex is more for abusing set up Pokemon with Haze and Scald. Haze, as many of us should know, resets the opponent's stat changes to 0, thus making their turn to set up absolutely pointless. Baneful Bunker is essentially a better Protect with the added benefit of poisoning an opponent on contact. Toxic is for the Special Attacking Pokemon such as Chandelure that don't often make contact, if at all. Scald is an amazing STAB move that can also Burn an opponent if they are resistant to Toxic, such as Alolan Muk.
Another Vanilla set, much like Celesteela. If Nihilego manages to set up Toxic Spikes or Alolan Ninetales manages to set up Aurora Veil without it breaking, then Mimikyu's job is infinitely easier. Swords Dance is to set up for free thanks to its ability, Disguise. And if the opponent decides to set up the same turn I do, I can use Swords Dance again without consequence. Mimikyu's Ghost Typing allows it to easily counter threats with Hi Jump Kick such as Pheromosa, making it an incredible switch-in for those kind of threats. Play Rough and Shadow Claw are amazing STAB moves, with Shadow Claw having more of a chance to Critically Hit, and Play Rough to counter the types resistant to Ghost-Type moves. Shadow Sneak allows it to gain priority over threats like Pheromosa with high speed. This is my Physical Sweeper option for teams with high Special Defense.
Porygon-Z @ Normalium Z
Ability: Adaptability
Level: 50
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Thunderbolt
- Conversion
- Charge Beam
- Hidden Power [Ice]
Porygon-Z was, at one point, a highly niche Pokemon in UU, but its ridiculous Special Attack was never forgotten. With Z Conversion, all of its stats can be raised at once, while also changing its type to Electric, thus minimizing weaknesses. Thunderbolt is an amazing STAB move for countering Toxapex, Celesteela, and more, while Charge Beam raises Special Attack by one stage with every successful use. Hidden Power Ice is for use against Ground types, and is an amazing coverage option for Grass Types, which are resistant to Porygon-Z's Electric-type attacks. This is my Special Sweeper option for teams with high Physical Defense.
LEADS
Nihilego @ Focus Sash
Ability: Beast Boost
Level: 50
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Toxic Spikes
- Clear Smog
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Stealth Rock
Now, Nihilego's main purpose is to set up Hazards. As a Lead, it sets up 2x Toxic Spikes, then, if the turn allows it to, Stealth Rock. This enables Nihilego to be an incredibly valuable asset, as it saves Celesteela and Toxapex later down the line from having to use Toxic. Clear Smog is so that it can counter threats such as Eevium Z Eevee, Z Conversion Porygon Z, LO + SD Mimikyu, and any other opponent foolish enough to actually use a turn to try and set up. Hidden Power Ice is for Coverage against incredible Ground Type threats against Nihilego if it does actually survive, such as Garchomp.
Ninetales-Alola @ Light Clay
Ability: Snow Warning
Level: 50
EVs: 252 Def / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Blizzard
- Aurora Veil
- Encore
- Moonblast
TANKS
Celesteela @ Leftovers
Ability: Beast Boost
Level: 50
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpD
Careful Nature
- Toxic
- Leech Seed
- Substitute
- Earthquake
This is a standard, vanilla Celesteela set. Toxic and Leech Seed allow it to stall out several threats that aren't Poison, Steel, Grass Type, or with Sap Sipper such as Goodra. Substitute allows it to tank a good amount of damage from an enemy's Flamethrower and Thunderbolt, which this set maximizes HP and Special Defense to counter both. Earthquake counters Magnezone so that it can't counter Celesteela as well as it could with Magnet Pull.Celesteela @ Leftovers
Ability: Beast Boost
Level: 50
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpD
Careful Nature
- Toxic
- Leech Seed
- Substitute
- Earthquake
Toxapex @ Black Sludge
Ability: Regenerator
Level: 50
EVs: 252 Def / 4 SpA / 252 SpD
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Baneful Bunker
- Haze
- Scald
- Toxic
Now, Toxapex is more for abusing set up Pokemon with Haze and Scald. Haze, as many of us should know, resets the opponent's stat changes to 0, thus making their turn to set up absolutely pointless. Baneful Bunker is essentially a better Protect with the added benefit of poisoning an opponent on contact. Toxic is for the Special Attacking Pokemon such as Chandelure that don't often make contact, if at all. Scald is an amazing STAB move that can also Burn an opponent if they are resistant to Toxic, such as Alolan Muk.
SWEEPERS
Mimikyu @ Life Orb
Ability: Disguise
Level: 50
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Swords Dance
- Play Rough
- Shadow Claw
- Shadow Sneak
Mimikyu @ Life Orb
Ability: Disguise
Level: 50
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Swords Dance
- Play Rough
- Shadow Claw
- Shadow Sneak
Another Vanilla set, much like Celesteela. If Nihilego manages to set up Toxic Spikes or Alolan Ninetales manages to set up Aurora Veil without it breaking, then Mimikyu's job is infinitely easier. Swords Dance is to set up for free thanks to its ability, Disguise. And if the opponent decides to set up the same turn I do, I can use Swords Dance again without consequence. Mimikyu's Ghost Typing allows it to easily counter threats with Hi Jump Kick such as Pheromosa, making it an incredible switch-in for those kind of threats. Play Rough and Shadow Claw are amazing STAB moves, with Shadow Claw having more of a chance to Critically Hit, and Play Rough to counter the types resistant to Ghost-Type moves. Shadow Sneak allows it to gain priority over threats like Pheromosa with high speed. This is my Physical Sweeper option for teams with high Special Defense.
Porygon-Z @ Normalium Z
Ability: Adaptability
Level: 50
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Thunderbolt
- Conversion
- Charge Beam
- Hidden Power [Ice]
Porygon-Z was, at one point, a highly niche Pokemon in UU, but its ridiculous Special Attack was never forgotten. With Z Conversion, all of its stats can be raised at once, while also changing its type to Electric, thus minimizing weaknesses. Thunderbolt is an amazing STAB move for countering Toxapex, Celesteela, and more, while Charge Beam raises Special Attack by one stage with every successful use. Hidden Power Ice is for use against Ground types, and is an amazing coverage option for Grass Types, which are resistant to Porygon-Z's Electric-type attacks. This is my Special Sweeper option for teams with high Physical Defense.
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