Other 1st RMT: Balanced PU

[AOJ]

Hi guys, this is my first post here. I apologize in advance for my bad English. I've been playing competitively for some months now, mainly in LC, but I decided to build a PU team about two weeks ago just to have some fun.

THE TEAM

Swoobat @ Leftovers
Ability: Simple
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Calm Mind
- Stored Power
- Signal Beam
- Substitute

He is the first pokemon I decided to use. Swoobat is so fun to play and just has insane power after a CM, and OHKOs most of the tier after a single boost. That said, there are lots of downsides that made me think I may find a better member for my team: foes who resist Stored Power don't take enough damage from Signal Beam, even at +2, and can in turn easily OHKO with basically any STAB move. Moreover, Swoobat is weak to priority and multy-hit attacks who break his frail Substitute. All things considered, even if in certain condition this thing can be devastating, I really feel I can find someone who better fits in this team.


Togetic @ Eviolite
Ability: Serene Grace
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
- Dazzling Gleam
- Roost
- Defog
- Heal Bell

Standard support Togetic Set. Checks fighting types (namely Poliwrath) and a multitude of threats like a boss. Heal Bell and Defog are necessary to protect my Volt-Turn Core when hazards are set or when they are hit by the common Scald/Toxic/Wisp. DazzGleam hits foes who are weak to it moderately hard.


Zebstrika @ Life Orb
Ability: Sap Sipper
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Volt Switch
- Thunderbolt
- Overheat
- Hidden Power Grass

Zebstrika hits like a truck and forms a strong VoltTurn Core with Purugly. I decided to use a Life Orb on him since I hate being locked in one move, especially when I have to sweep weakened foes late game. Nothing to say on moveset I guess, just decided to run HPG to hit Ground and Rock types.

Purugly @ Silk Scarf
Ability: Defiant
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Fake Out
- Return
- U-turn
- Knock Off

The other member of my VoltTurn Core. Fake Out gives this team some necessary priority on weakened and statused opponents. Knock Off is necessary to hit Eviolite walls and for general utility, U-Turn is for momentum, Return just hits hard with the STAB-Silk Scarf boost. I decided not to give Purugly a Life Orb in order to avoid having a too frail offensive core


Piloswine @ Eviolite
Ability: Thick Fat
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- Ice Shard
- Toxic

My main lead. Pilo sets up rocks, hits hard others leads (mainly Golem and Bastiodon) with Earthquake, also counters Electric types and may also serve as a priority revenge killer once Purugly is dead with priority Ice Shard. Toxic is there for anything EQ and Ice Shard don't hit hard enough and for random annoyance.

Poliwrath @ Leftovers
Ability: Water Absorb
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Def
Impish Nature
- Scald
- Circle Throw
- Rest
- Sleep Talk

Just a standard RestTalk Poliwrath set here. Poli forms my defensive core with Togetic and they both cover each other weaknesses pretty well.


THREAT LIST

Haunter:
Haunter is just the bane of this team. Togetic, who takes special hits like a boss, is weak to his strongest STAB and Poliwhrat is easily 2HKOed my Dazzling Gleam. Moreover, if Haunter has a Choice Scarf, he outspeeds my whole team, so I can't even revenge kill him. For this reasons, I really feel like I may have to sacrifice one of the members of my team (Swoobat I guess) for a reliable counter.

Marowak:
Marowak just hits like a train with that Thick Club and, just like for Haunter, I can do really few against him. I usually have to hit him as hard as possibly, sacrifice my pokemon and then either revenge kill him with Zebstrika HP or Poliwhrat. All in all, I definetily need someone to take care of Marowak.

I can't think at any other major threats to my team at the moment, but those two are big ones, and I anyway feel there may be some fixes to improve my team in general.




Thanks in advance for your help

 

[WhiteDMist]

Welcome to Smogon! This team has a few issues that need to be worked out, some that should be worked out before this gets rated tbh.

The biggest issue with this team is that it is all over the place. I see that you were going for a balanced team originally, but your offensive power is inferior to the defensive core you have. You also seemed to want to take Volt-Turn out for a spin, but your team lacks Pokemon that can take advantage of and maintain the offensive momentum that this strategy creates. Finally, your only true win condition (outside of getting lucky with Purugly and getting a Defiant boost) is Swoobat, which really requires a team devoted to creating: switch in opportunities, augmentations to support it long enough to set up (SubPass, Dual Screens, Memento, etc.), or even ways to deal with its checks and counters.

Cramming all 3 types of teams together just doesn't work, especially if you are aiming to get into higher ladder or tournament play. Once you decide on what you want your team to be, you can easily adjust many of the Pokemon on your own. Here are some tips to help you on your way, which helps deal with some of your other issues as well:

Balanced: Ditch Swoobat, it just doesn't work out with this team. Something less frail, more initial power, or at least able to take advantage of the free switches better would be ideal. SD Sneasel, SD Leafeon, SD Jumpluff, SS Carracosta, Ninetales, etc. These are all reliable sweepers that can take advantage of the switch in opportunities while not being absolutely pitiful without a boost. Personally, I would also EV Poliwrath to outspeed Marowak, especially if you are using a neutral speed nature (though Relaxed is usually better). The team is overly reliant on Togetic to tank hits as well as support the team, so out of the suggestions, something that can check either Poliwrath (Jumpluff) or Sneasel (your own Sneasel maybe) would help ease some of the pressure off it.

VoltTurn: This type of team works best with more offensive team members, making the most out of the offensive pressure and momentum you create. Poliwrath would be great sing its special Rain set, and Swoobat can be replaced by another set up sweeper, or even just a third Volt-Turn user. Togetic can also replace Heal Bell with Baton Pass, as the team wouldn't really need a cleric that much and would better appreciate the additional momentum control.

Swoobat: If you are adamant about using Swoobat, a team based around it works best. Dual Screens help a lot, though you would have to replace Piloswine for Solrock, or else replace a team member with Meowstic. While Volt-Turn is nice to create free switch ins, I would rethink them for this type of team. You need special wallbreakers to weaken opposing specially defensive Pokemon for Swoobat to sweep, and priority to control the opposing team's revenge killers. Purugly can handle the latter task if you replace U-turn with Sucker Punch, though there are options like Sneasel and Pawniard as well, who also help a bit against Haunter. If you are unsatisfied with Signal Beam on Swoobat, consider Heat Wave as well. It hits most Dark-types well enough (Swoobat doesn't care to deal with Zweilous regardless, and Signal Beam does less to Vullaby), strikes Steels better, and has more overall power so you can do something even without a boost.

These suggestions are rather vague, but they'll help jumpstart your changes once you decide on your team. Once you settle on a main strategy, and edit your OP, maybe other raters will rate as well.

 

[Dundies]

First off, welcome to PU :]
I really like your team and the synergy it has, but I just have one small suggestion:

Since the majority of you team is geared offensively and it's best not to try to fit all play styles into one team as WhiteDMist said, I suggest you change your Poliwrath to a more offensive set.

Poliwrath @ Leftovers
Ability: Water Absorb
EVs: 200 HP / 252 Atk / 56 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Substitute
- Focus Punch
- Waterfall
- Toxic

SubPunch Poliwrath still takes on the most common threats in the tier just like Defensive Poliwrath, but adds more offensive presence, which helps to balance out your team. This set hits extremely hard with Focus Punch and Waterfall behind a sub, while you can also wear down common switchins like Pelipper and Gourgeist with Toxic. The speed is enough for Adamant / Modest base 45s such as Golem, Marowak, and Armaldo, which is definitely helpful.