Hey all. Not new to Pokemon, but pretty new to the forums. Let's get right down to it.
Immediately, I saw a lot of weather teams getting love. TTar+Exca core is back in full swing, and Barra-I want to spew-da has rain in its pocket. However, I also saw a lot of slow, powerful attackers in this gen. So, screw it. Decided to pull out my favorite meme and whip a Trick Room balance team into play. I'm newish to teambuilding and could use some help, so please, be gentle.
Fair note - for most of these, I've slapped lefties on as a placeholder. Please, suggest to me some actual items. I'm at a loss.
Dear God Above, Help Me, It's TR-ea Time
Hatterene @ Leftovers
Ability: Magic Bounce
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpA
Quiet Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Trick Room
- Psychic
- Dazzling Gleam
- Mystical Fire
The usual lead. Because the team doesn't fit in a defogger or an R-Spin, Magic Bounce is my only real way to perform hazard "removal" by proactively yeeting that shit back over the fence. Hatterene itself is no joke - it can put in the work on most leads with Psychic/Fairy STAB coverage, even without the Calm Mind set that I've seen rolling about. That being said, we also have Mystical Fire for Ferrothorn coverage. And Corviknight, I guess, but I'm still seeing more Ferro.
Runerigus @ Leftovers
Ability: Wandering Spirit
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD
Brave Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Shadow Claw
- Earthquake
- Body Press
- Trick Room
The other TR setter. Two seemed to be a good number to me, so this is what mostly is used for midgame TR setup. It's just bulky enough to slap a TR down when necessary, but also has that beautiful ghost typing that can prevent R-Spin from removing a hazard if Rhyperior actually gets SR down. Not only that, but it hits like a bit of a truck with Body Press / EQ / Shadow Claw, so it's not just a suicide TR setter. Overall, a stong member of the core.
Vikavolt @ Life Orb
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpA / 4 SpD
Brave Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Flash Cannon / Volt Switch?
- Thunderbolt
- Bug Buzz
- Energy Ball
Vikavolt. Who doesn't enjoy the magic schoolbus? Well, a lot of people, I guess, but I never stopped loving the bug. The painfully slow speed and outrageous SpAtt makes it a powerful TR sweep. It's just bulky enough to take a hit or two outside of TR and against bulk and walls, with the power to bust down anything ahead of it. I'm not certain if I should be running Volt Switch for momentum or Flash Cannon for coverage, so some advice would be helpful there.
Polteageist @ Focus Sash
Ability: Weak Armor
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Shell Smash
- Stored Power
- Giga Drain
- Shadow Ball
I really like this pokemon. The design won me over somehow more than many other Gen 8 pokemon, but its actual viability pushed me onto using it. I would really prefer to have this on the team, and consider it a core member. Shell Smash Focus Sash is a good combination considering the sweeping power this thing has. Most of the team is TR-based, but this is my dedicated panic button for when TR setting just really isn't working out. A last ditch "switch in after death, Shell Smash, and hope to god they don't use Rock Blast or have hazards". I've found that it also catches out slow early setters without much offensive power, and can absolutely obliterate most leads on turn 2. Sweeping whole games with it is not uncommon.
Rhyperior @ Leftovers
Ability: Solid Rock
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- Rock Blast
- Crunch
An underappreciated pokemon in my opinion. Not only does it provide the glorious coverage against G-Darmanitan, which is painfully prevalent, but it can also slam opponents with or without TR. Sure, it performs better with, but its high Att and bulk allow it to turn the tide against particular threats like G-Darm and Choice Band users. I'm not sure what to have in the fourth move slot, so I've put Crunch down for now. SR is there for hazards, and honestly, I think it works in-slot. I could be wrong though.
Grimmsnarl (M) @ Choice Band
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Trick
- Play Rough
- Darkest Lariat
- Fire Punch
Absolute meme. Switching in with this first and Tricking a Choice item onto setters, most leads, and some sweepers can really screw with their day. It's a potential huge momentum shift. If that isn't needed, though, Grimmsnarl also provides coverage on Ghost/Dark types that can destroy Runerigus and Polteageist. If I can take out the usual threat or two against my midgame TR setter and Polteageist, then it's usually pretty close to GG. Susceptible to counter-memes, but still a powerful member of the team, and ties most of its loose ends.
I feel like this team may perform well, but I'm unsure. I'm mostly building this for Battle Spot singles in-game, but I may also end up using this on Showdown (more than likely). Any thoughts, advice, and otherwise are certainly appreciated. Thank you!
Immediately, I saw a lot of weather teams getting love. TTar+Exca core is back in full swing, and Barra-I want to spew-da has rain in its pocket. However, I also saw a lot of slow, powerful attackers in this gen. So, screw it. Decided to pull out my favorite meme and whip a Trick Room balance team into play. I'm newish to teambuilding and could use some help, so please, be gentle.
Fair note - for most of these, I've slapped lefties on as a placeholder. Please, suggest to me some actual items. I'm at a loss.
Dear God Above, Help Me, It's TR-ea Time
Hatterene @ Leftovers
Ability: Magic Bounce
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpA
Quiet Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Trick Room
- Psychic
- Dazzling Gleam
- Mystical Fire
The usual lead. Because the team doesn't fit in a defogger or an R-Spin, Magic Bounce is my only real way to perform hazard "removal" by proactively yeeting that shit back over the fence. Hatterene itself is no joke - it can put in the work on most leads with Psychic/Fairy STAB coverage, even without the Calm Mind set that I've seen rolling about. That being said, we also have Mystical Fire for Ferrothorn coverage. And Corviknight, I guess, but I'm still seeing more Ferro.
Runerigus @ Leftovers
Ability: Wandering Spirit
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD
Brave Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Shadow Claw
- Earthquake
- Body Press
- Trick Room
The other TR setter. Two seemed to be a good number to me, so this is what mostly is used for midgame TR setup. It's just bulky enough to slap a TR down when necessary, but also has that beautiful ghost typing that can prevent R-Spin from removing a hazard if Rhyperior actually gets SR down. Not only that, but it hits like a bit of a truck with Body Press / EQ / Shadow Claw, so it's not just a suicide TR setter. Overall, a stong member of the core.
Vikavolt @ Life Orb
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpA / 4 SpD
Brave Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Flash Cannon / Volt Switch?
- Thunderbolt
- Bug Buzz
- Energy Ball
Vikavolt. Who doesn't enjoy the magic schoolbus? Well, a lot of people, I guess, but I never stopped loving the bug. The painfully slow speed and outrageous SpAtt makes it a powerful TR sweep. It's just bulky enough to take a hit or two outside of TR and against bulk and walls, with the power to bust down anything ahead of it. I'm not certain if I should be running Volt Switch for momentum or Flash Cannon for coverage, so some advice would be helpful there.
Polteageist @ Focus Sash
Ability: Weak Armor
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Shell Smash
- Stored Power
- Giga Drain
- Shadow Ball
I really like this pokemon. The design won me over somehow more than many other Gen 8 pokemon, but its actual viability pushed me onto using it. I would really prefer to have this on the team, and consider it a core member. Shell Smash Focus Sash is a good combination considering the sweeping power this thing has. Most of the team is TR-based, but this is my dedicated panic button for when TR setting just really isn't working out. A last ditch "switch in after death, Shell Smash, and hope to god they don't use Rock Blast or have hazards". I've found that it also catches out slow early setters without much offensive power, and can absolutely obliterate most leads on turn 2. Sweeping whole games with it is not uncommon.
Rhyperior @ Leftovers
Ability: Solid Rock
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- Rock Blast
- Crunch
An underappreciated pokemon in my opinion. Not only does it provide the glorious coverage against G-Darmanitan, which is painfully prevalent, but it can also slam opponents with or without TR. Sure, it performs better with, but its high Att and bulk allow it to turn the tide against particular threats like G-Darm and Choice Band users. I'm not sure what to have in the fourth move slot, so I've put Crunch down for now. SR is there for hazards, and honestly, I think it works in-slot. I could be wrong though.
Grimmsnarl (M) @ Choice Band
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Trick
- Play Rough
- Darkest Lariat
- Fire Punch
Absolute meme. Switching in with this first and Tricking a Choice item onto setters, most leads, and some sweepers can really screw with their day. It's a potential huge momentum shift. If that isn't needed, though, Grimmsnarl also provides coverage on Ghost/Dark types that can destroy Runerigus and Polteageist. If I can take out the usual threat or two against my midgame TR setter and Polteageist, then it's usually pretty close to GG. Susceptible to counter-memes, but still a powerful member of the team, and ties most of its loose ends.
I feel like this team may perform well, but I'm unsure. I'm mostly building this for Battle Spot singles in-game, but I may also end up using this on Showdown (more than likely). Any thoughts, advice, and otherwise are certainly appreciated. Thank you!
Hatterene @ Leftovers
Ability: Magic Bounce
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpA
Quiet Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Trick Room
- Psychic
- Dazzling Gleam
- Mystical Fire
Runerigus @ Leftovers
Ability: Wandering Spirit
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD
Brave Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Shadow Claw
- Earthquake
- Body Press
- Trick Room
Vikavolt @ Life Orb
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpA / 4 SpD
Brave Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Flash Cannon
- Thunderbolt
- Bug Buzz
- Energy Ball
Polteageist @ Focus Sash
Ability: Weak Armor
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Shell Smash
- Stored Power
- Giga Drain
- Shadow Ball
Rhyperior @ Leftovers
Ability: Solid Rock
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- Rock Blast
- Crunch
Grimmsnarl (M) @ Choice Band
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Trick
- Play Rough
- Darkest Lariat
- Fire Punch
Ability: Magic Bounce
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpA
Quiet Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Trick Room
- Psychic
- Dazzling Gleam
- Mystical Fire
Runerigus @ Leftovers
Ability: Wandering Spirit
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD
Brave Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Shadow Claw
- Earthquake
- Body Press
- Trick Room
Vikavolt @ Life Orb
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpA / 4 SpD
Brave Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Flash Cannon
- Thunderbolt
- Bug Buzz
- Energy Ball
Polteageist @ Focus Sash
Ability: Weak Armor
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Shell Smash
- Stored Power
- Giga Drain
- Shadow Ball
Rhyperior @ Leftovers
Ability: Solid Rock
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- Rock Blast
- Crunch
Grimmsnarl (M) @ Choice Band
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Trick
- Play Rough
- Darkest Lariat
- Fire Punch
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