VGC 2021 Series 8 TR/Sun Team (Advice Greatly Appreciated)

[Hobie]

Full Team

Calyrex-Ice @ Weakness Policy
Ability: As One (Glastrier)
Level: 50
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD
Brave Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- High Horsepower
- Glacial Lance
- Heavy Slam
- Protect

Rillaboom-Gmax @ Assault Vest
Ability: Grassy Surge
Level: 50
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpD
Careful Nature
- Fake Out
- Grassy Glide
- U-turn
- High Horsepower

Hatterene-Gmax (F) @ Focus Sash
Ability: Magic Bounce
Level: 50
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpA / 4 SpD
Quiet Nature
IVs: 0 Atk / 0 Spe
- Trick Room
- Dazzling Gleam
- Psychic
- Protect

Porygon2 @ Eviolite
Ability: Download
Level: 50
EVs: 244 HP / 148 Def / 116 SpD
Sassy Nature
IVs: 0 Atk / 0 Spe
- Trick Room
- Recover
- Ally Switch
- Tri Attack

Torkoal @ Charcoal
Ability: Drought
Level: 50
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpA / 4 SpD
Quiet Nature
IVs: 0 Atk / 0 Spe
- Eruption
- Protect
- Heat Wave
- Earth Power

Venusaur-Gmax @ Life Orb
Ability: Chlorophyll
Level: 50
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Sludge Bomb
- Earth Power
- Leaf Storm
- Sleep Powder

This is the first team I have made for Season 8, and only the second one I made for 2021 VGC in general, however this team has taken me to over 1500 so I'm fairly confident that the team is at least half decent. I really like playing TR teams so I wanted to make this team a primarily TR team, however I wanted a second mode that I could use in the early game/in case TR has an awful m/u. I recognize that this team could definitely be improved but I don't know what to do to make it better so any advice would be more than welcome, be it changing evs, movesets, or even changing mons.

Calyrex-Ice Set

Calyrex-Ice @ Weakness Policy
Ability: As One (Glastrier)
Level: 50
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD
Brave Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- High Horsepower
- Glacial Lance
- Heavy Slam
- Protect

The main TR abuser on this team and my biggest wincon. Its a pretty standard ev spread focusing on maximizing attack while minimizing speed. Weakness Policy is very helpful, particularly while dynamaxed, as it turns the Ice type into a boon rather than a clearly exploitable weakness. Glacial Lance is an incredible move in general and theres no reason not to run it, High Horsepower and Heavy Slam are good coverage moves and allow for defense boosts when dynamaxed. Protect is helpful for increasing longevity and potentially surviving a turn where I need to get TR up.

Porygon 2 Set

Porygon2 @ Eviolite
Ability: Download
Level: 50
EVs: 244 HP / 148 Def / 116 SpD
Sassy Nature
IVs: 0 Atk / 0 Spe
- Trick Room
- Recover
- Ally Switch
- Tri Attack

P2 is the best TR setter in the format and was a clear pick for this team. The ev spread is one I stole took from Pikalytics and focuses on survivability, which is also why eviolite is run. TR is essential, and Recover is very important for increased survivability. Ally Switch is great for ladder games and lets P2 play mindgames and greatly increase the threat of more highly damaging allies. Tri Attack is there simply so that P2 can deal damage, and with a +1 boost it can do a decent amount of damage.

Rillaboom Set

Rillaboom-Gmax @ Assault Vest
Ability: Grassy Surge
Level: 50
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpD
Careful Nature
- Fake Out
- Grassy Glide
- U-turn
- High Horsepower

Rillaboom is here as a supportive specially defensive mon, and is a great answer to Kyogre. Fake Out is a great move for setting up Trick Room, especially when I outspeed the most common Fake Out mon in the tier, Incineroar. Grassy Glide lets me deal decent damage and let Rillaboom still function under TR despite Rillabooms decent speed. U-Turn is great for momentum and lets me bring in threatening TR mons that don't want to take any more damage than necessary. High Horsepower is a very good coverage move, don't have much other reason for running it.

Hatterene Set

Hatterene-Gmax (F) @ Focus Sash
Ability: Magic Bounce
Level: 50
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpA / 4 SpD
Quiet Nature
IVs: 0 Atk / 0 Spe
- Trick Room
- Dazzling Gleam
- Psychic
- Protect

I wanted a second TR setter which could also function as a secondary TR wincon in case Calyrex goes down early. Evs are made to maximize offensive potential while minimzing speed. Focus sash is extremely helpful as I can get an emergency TR up or get off an extra attack, helping Hatternes not great bulk. Trick Room is the whole point of running Hatt, while Dazzling Gleam and Psychic are strong STAB moves that have good coverage between them. Protect is helpful to increase Hatts survivability.

Torkoal Set

Torkoal @ Charcoal
Ability: Drought
Level: 50
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpA / 4 SpD
Quiet Nature
IVs: 0 Atk / 0 Spe
- Eruption
- Protect
- Heat Wave
- Earth Power

While I was looking for a secondary mode for my team Torkoal immediately came to mind as a mon that can function under TR as well as allow for the secondary mode of sun. Charcoal is helpful to increase Torkoals offensive potential greatly, and the ev spread is a fairly standard TR ev spread. Eruption is incredibly strong when Torkoal is at full health, and Heat Wave is a good alternative when Torkoal has taken damage. Protect is good for keeping Torkoal healthy and letting it fire off powerful Eruptions later. Earth Power is a strong coverage move, I don't have it for any particular reason.

Venusaur Set

Venusaur-Gmax @ Life Orb
Ability: Chlorophyll
Level: 50
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Sludge Bomb
- Earth Power
- Leaf Storm
- Sleep Powder

The wincon for my secondary mode, Venusaur is a powerful mon under sun, especially when Gigantamaxed. The evs are meant to maximize damage, and Life Orb doubles down on Venusaurs power while not sacrificing much due to its general frailty, especially in the restricted metagame. Leaf Storm is the main attack, turning into an extremely powerful G-Max Vine Lash when gigantamaxed. Sludge Bomb is good to power up both Venusaurs future attacks as well as its main partner Torkoals attacks. Earth Power is great to boost up special defense and hit mons that Venus STABs do not. Sleep powder allows for Venu to be extremely threatening even when not Gigantamaxed.

 

[Giokio]

Full Team

Calyrex-Ice @ Weakness Policy
Ability: As One (Glastrier)
Level: 50
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD
Brave Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- High Horsepower
- Glacial Lance
- Heavy Slam
- Protect

Rillaboom-Gmax @ Assault Vest
Ability: Grassy Surge
Level: 50
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpD
Careful Nature
- Fake Out
- Grassy Glide
- U-turn
- High Horsepower

Hatterene-Gmax (F) @ Focus Sash
Ability: Magic Bounce
Level: 50
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpA / 4 SpD
Quiet Nature
IVs: 0 Atk / 0 Spe
- Trick Room
- Dazzling Gleam
- Psychic
- Protect

Porygon2 @ Eviolite
Ability: Download
Level: 50
EVs: 244 HP / 148 Def / 116 SpD
Sassy Nature
IVs: 0 Atk / 0 Spe
- Trick Room
- Recover
- Ally Switch
- Tri Attack

Torkoal @ Charcoal
Ability: Drought
Level: 50
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpA / 4 SpD
Quiet Nature
IVs: 0 Atk / 0 Spe
- Eruption
- Protect
- Heat Wave
- Earth Power

Venusaur-Gmax @ Life Orb
Ability: Chlorophyll
Level: 50
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Sludge Bomb
- Earth Power
- Leaf Storm
- Sleep Powder

This is the first team I have made for Season 8, and only the second one I made for 2021 VGC in general, however this team has taken me to over 1500 so I'm fairly confident that the team is at least half decent. I really like playing TR teams so I wanted to make this team a primarily TR team, however I wanted a second mode that I could use in the early game/in case TR has an awful m/u. I recognize that this team could definitely be improved but I don't know what to do to make it better so any advice would be more than welcome, be it changing evs, movesets, or even changing mons.

Calyrex-Ice Set

Calyrex-Ice @ Weakness Policy
Ability: As One (Glastrier)
Level: 50
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD
Brave Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- High Horsepower
- Glacial Lance
- Heavy Slam
- Protect

The main TR abuser on this team and my biggest wincon. Its a pretty standard ev spread focusing on maximizing attack while minimizing speed. Weakness Policy is very helpful, particularly while dynamaxed, as it turns the Ice type into a boon rather than a clearly exploitable weakness. Glacial Lance is an incredible move in general and theres no reason not to run it, High Horsepower and Heavy Slam are good coverage moves and allow for defense boosts when dynamaxed. Protect is helpful for increasing longevity and potentially surviving a turn where I need to get TR up.

Porygon 2 Set

Porygon2 @ Eviolite
Ability: Download
Level: 50
EVs: 244 HP / 148 Def / 116 SpD
Sassy Nature
IVs: 0 Atk / 0 Spe
- Trick Room
- Recover
- Ally Switch
- Tri Attack

P2 is the best TR setter in the format and was a clear pick for this team. The ev spread is one I stole took from Pikalytics and focuses on survivability, which is also why eviolite is run. TR is essential, and Recover is very important for increased survivability. Ally Switch is great for ladder games and lets P2 play mindgames and greatly increase the threat of more highly damaging allies. Tri Attack is there simply so that P2 can deal damage, and with a +1 boost it can do a decent amount of damage.

Rillaboom Set

Rillaboom-Gmax @ Assault Vest
Ability: Grassy Surge
Level: 50
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpD
Careful Nature
- Fake Out
- Grassy Glide
- U-turn
- High Horsepower

Rillaboom is here as a supportive specially defensive mon, and is a great answer to Kyogre. Fake Out is a great move for setting up Trick Room, especially when I outspeed the most common Fake Out mon in the tier, Incineroar. Grassy Glide lets me deal decent damage and let Rillaboom still function under TR despite Rillabooms decent speed. U-Turn is great for momentum and lets me bring in threatening TR mons that don't want to take any more damage than necessary. High Horsepower is a very good coverage move, don't have much other reason for running it.

Hatterene Set

Hatterene-Gmax (F) @ Focus Sash
Ability: Magic Bounce
Level: 50
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpA / 4 SpD
Quiet Nature
IVs: 0 Atk / 0 Spe
- Trick Room
- Dazzling Gleam
- Psychic
- Protect

I wanted a second TR setter which could also function as a secondary TR wincon in case Calyrex goes down early. Evs are made to maximize offensive potential while minimzing speed. Focus sash is extremely helpful as I can get an emergency TR up or get off an extra attack, helping Hatternes not great bulk. Trick Room is the whole point of running Hatt, while Dazzling Gleam and Psychic are strong STAB moves that have good coverage between them. Protect is helpful to increase Hatts survivability.

Torkoal Set

Torkoal @ Charcoal
Ability: Drought
Level: 50
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpA / 4 SpD
Quiet Nature
IVs: 0 Atk / 0 Spe
- Eruption
- Protect
- Heat Wave
- Earth Power

While I was looking for a secondary mode for my team Torkoal immediately came to mind as a mon that can function under TR as well as allow for the secondary mode of sun. Charcoal is helpful to increase Torkoals offensive potential greatly, and the ev spread is a fairly standard TR ev spread. Eruption is incredibly strong when Torkoal is at full health, and Heat Wave is a good alternative when Torkoal has taken damage. Protect is good for keeping Torkoal healthy and letting it fire off powerful Eruptions later. Earth Power is a strong coverage move, I don't have it for any particular reason.

Venusaur Set

Venusaur-Gmax @ Life Orb
Ability: Chlorophyll
Level: 50
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Sludge Bomb
- Earth Power
- Leaf Storm
- Sleep Powder

The wincon for my secondary mode, Venusaur is a powerful mon under sun, especially when Gigantamaxed. The evs are meant to maximize damage, and Life Orb doubles down on Venusaurs power while not sacrificing much due to its general frailty, especially in the restricted metagame. Leaf Storm is the main attack, turning into an extremely powerful G-Max Vine Lash when gigantamaxed. Sludge Bomb is good to power up both Venusaurs future attacks as well as its main partner Torkoals attacks. Earth Power is great to boost up special defense and hit mons that Venus STABs do not. Sleep powder allows for Venu to be extremely threatening even when not Gigantamaxed.

This team is almost perfect, it looks like some other standard Sun Trick Room teams but on paper it is really good. I have only a few changes i would suggest.


My only suggestion is to drop Ally Switch and add Eerie Impulse, this is not because ally switch is cancer or other things i might say as an ally switch hater, but a huuge suggestion to make your team better in BO3s. With Eerie impulse you can cripple threats like Yveltal, boosted Galarian Moltres, Gmax Charizard, Dragapult etc.
In this way you can bring Calyrex even in harder matchups and win with its super powerful moves.


I suggest giving both Yawn and Burning jealousy to Torkoal, in this way you can force opposing dynamaxes out with yawn or burn them with Burning jealousy, allowing it to support Calyrex much better.


Probably you want to drop high horsepower to get Wood Hammer in, it does so much more damage and you have ground and fire moves spread all over your team so you don't have to worry too much about Zacian-C.

All the spreads for these mons might get fixed a bit with more bulk, tell me if you want a spreads tune up.
I have nothing more to say, hope you find this Useful

 

[Hobie]

I suggest giving both Yawn and Burning jealousy to Torkoal, in this way you can force opposing dynamaxes out with yawn or burn them with Burning jealousy, allowing it to support Calyrex much better.

What moves do you suggest swapping out? Earth Power for sure but what do you suggest I swap Burning Jealousy out for? Also if you have better ev spreads that would be greatly appreciated, I don't really know how to make ev spreads for VGC so it would be a big help.

 

[Giokio]

allright, let me think about it for a copule of minutes and i'll write something about evs, i gotta make some calcs.
Also i suggest to drop heat wave for Burning Jealousy and probably eruption for yawn but you can also swap earth power, remember you're losing coverage tho

 

[Giokio]

I'm back with adjusted spreads, not many of them changed much tho

Porygon2 @ Eviolite
Ability: Download
Level: 50
EVs: 244 HP / 148 Def / 116 SpD
Sassy Nature
IVs: 0 Atk / 0 Spe
- Trick Room
- Recover
- Ally Switch
- Tri Attack

244 HP/ 124 Def / 140 Spd
Sassy Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
You need to tank Yveltal since it is Calyrex's main counter.

Rillaboom-Gmax @ Assault Vest
Ability: Grassy Surge
Level: 50
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpD
Careful Nature
- Fake Out
- Grassy Glide
- U-turn
- High Horsepower

EVs: 236 HP / 60 Atk / 4 Def / 148 SpD / 60 Spe
Adamant Nature

better damage and fixed speed make sure you can hit more enemies with wood hammer and also inflict huge damage to threats like Kyogre
60+ Atk Rillaboom Grassy Glide vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Kyogre in Grassy Terrain: 156-186 (89.1 - 106.2%) -- 31.3% chance to OHKO

Torkoal @ Charcoal
Ability: Drought
Level: 50
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpA / 4 SpD
Quiet Nature
IVs: 0 Atk / 0 Spe
- Eruption
- Protect
- Heat Wave
- Earth Power

Relaxed
212 HP/ 156 Def / 140 Spa
This is a spread that can take one hit more from Landorus-T, but if you feel like you need that damage don't use this

 

[Giokio]

Enjoy your team man, really good tbh, you lack a redirector but i know you can still figure out something

 

[Hobie]

Bumping this and posting the slightly updated team with the tweaked P2, Rilla, and Torkoal

Updated Team

Calyrex-Ice @ Weakness Policy
Ability: As One (Glastrier)
Level: 50
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD
Brave Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- High Horsepower
- Glacial Lance
- Heavy Slam
- Protect

Rillaboom-Gmax @ Assault Vest
Ability: Grassy Surge
Level: 50
EVs: 236 HP / 84 Atk / 188 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Fake Out
- Grassy Glide
- U-turn
- Wood Hammer

Hatterene-Gmax (F) @ Focus Sash
Ability: Magic Bounce
Level: 50
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpA / 4 SpD
Quiet Nature
IVs: 0 Atk / 0 Spe
- Trick Room
- Dazzling Gleam
- Psychic
- Protect

Porygon2 @ Eviolite
Ability: Download
Level: 50
EVs: 244 HP / 124 Def / 140 SpD
Sassy Nature
IVs: 0 Atk / 0 Spe
- Trick Room
- Recover
- Eerie Impulse
- Tri Attack

Torkoal @ Charcoal
Ability: Drought
Level: 50
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpA / 4 SpD
Quiet Nature
IVs: 0 Atk / 0 Spe
- Eruption
- Protect
- Heat Wave
- Yawn

Venusaur-Gmax @ Life Orb
Ability: Chlorophyll
Level: 50
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Sludge Bomb
- Earth Power
- Leaf Storm
- Sleep Powder

 

[Giokio]

Bumping this and posting the slightly updated team with the tweaked P2, Rilla, and Torkoal

Updated Team

Calyrex-Ice @ Weakness Policy
Ability: As One (Glastrier)
Level: 50
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD
Brave Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- High Horsepower
- Glacial Lance
- Heavy Slam
- Protect

Rillaboom-Gmax @ Assault Vest
Ability: Grassy Surge
Level: 50
EVs: 236 HP / 84 Atk / 188 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Fake Out
- Grassy Glide
- U-turn
- Wood Hammer

Hatterene-Gmax (F) @ Focus Sash
Ability: Magic Bounce
Level: 50
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpA / 4 SpD
Quiet Nature
IVs: 0 Atk / 0 Spe
- Trick Room
- Dazzling Gleam
- Psychic
- Protect

Porygon2 @ Eviolite
Ability: Download
Level: 50
EVs: 244 HP / 124 Def / 140 SpD
Sassy Nature
IVs: 0 Atk / 0 Spe
- Trick Room
- Recover
- Eerie Impulse
- Tri Attack

Torkoal @ Charcoal
Ability: Drought
Level: 50
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpA / 4 SpD
Quiet Nature
IVs: 0 Atk / 0 Spe
- Eruption
- Protect
- Heat Wave
- Yawn

Venusaur-Gmax @ Life Orb
Ability: Chlorophyll
Level: 50
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Sludge Bomb
- Earth Power
- Leaf Storm
- Sleep Powder

Hey! Hope you’re doing well! Are you enjoying the team so far?

 

[Hobie]

Hey! Hope you’re doing well! Are you enjoying the team so far?

Yeah I'm really enjoying it, the evs spreads have saved me quite a bit and Yawn on Torkoal has been extremely helpful.

 

[CreeperClash]

this is a vey nice team with a strong core and good type matchups, hope you have sucess!