So I've been playing around with a new team that focus more on an aggressive defense rather than the more common hyper-offense that has been popular this gen. I wanted to start with a fire-water-grass core and then throw in some other pokes that have good defensive synergy with immunities. So without further ado, let's get to it.
#1 Whimsicott
Bold/prankster Leftovers
252 hp/ 252 def
-toxic
-taunt
-leech seed
-encore
With an immunity to dragon types as well as to spore and other powder moves, Whimsicott is the first side to the core. Combined with Sableye, they makes a fantastic counter to almost every physical attacker in the metagame. Particularly though, his role is to counter ground types and setup sweepers by stalling them out or forcing a switch with priority encore. Prediction is important here as you don't want to waste a turn using encore when your opponent switches out. Taunt can be used in order to break enemy stall pokemon as well.
#2 Heatran
Calm/Flash fire Air balloon
252 hp/ 252 sp.def
-ancient power
-lava plume
-toxic
-roar
(goodbye talonflame and charzard y) With immunities to ground, fire, and poison, Heatran doesn't have a hard time switching in. Also, his typing has perfect synergy with whimsicott's by either having immunities or resistances to every one of whimsicott's weaknesses. Heatran also has the ability to poison the enemy as well as having a decently strong STAB lava plume that contains a high chance of burning the enemy. Prediction is still a big deal as it can force out a pokemon that's setting up (like cloyster or D-dance dragonite) with roar. Ancient power is a surprise tactic that does huge damage to talonflame and charzard-y plus has a cool chance to boost every one of heatran's stats. Ice types and steel types meet their match here.
#3 Tentacruel
Bold/liquid ooze Black Sludge
252 hp/252 def
-toxic
-scald
-knock off
-rapid spin
I needed a rapid spinner for what was coming later. Also, I knew I wanted a water type. After doing some research, I decided that tentacruel was an interesting pokemon for the job. With this EV spread, it works as a decent mixed wall and completes the FWG core. It also has the privilege of having knock off which lets it hurt/neuter many anti-spinners such as dusclops or trevenant. As usual, it has access to at least 1 status move. (toxic) As well as the ability to cause burns with scald and hurt physical attackers. It's immunity to being poisoned boosts its longevity.
#4 Sableye
bold/prankster Lum Berry
252 HP/ 252 def
-wil-o-wisp
-taunt
-recover
-foul play
The fourth and final side to my defensive core is none other than Sableye. Adding a few new immunities in normal, fighting, and psychic, as well as priority status moves in prankstar, Sableye was a shoe-in for my team. His moveset is pretty standard issue and doesn't need much explanation. It works with whimsicott to counter almost every physical opponent.
#5 Manectric (M)
timid/(lightning rod, intimidate) Manectite
252 sp.atk/252 speed
-overheat
-volt switch
-HP Ice
-thunder wave
Manectric provides an interesting offensive and defensive asset to the team. Before he mega-evolves, he can switch in on electric attacks and boost his special attack then when he mega-evolves, he he has access to intimidate and volt switch which not only boosts momentum, but also assists in weakening the enemies attack constantly as it uses its hit-and-run play style. This is a pretty normal set except for the addition of thunder wave over thunderbolt. I'm running a defensive team and if I need to slow down a pokemon that's giving me trouble, he can paralyze them and volt switch out. HP ice is useful in bringing down Common counters such as gliscor and non-scarfed garchomp.
#6 Dragonite
adamant/multiscale WeaKness policy
252 atk/252 speed
-dragon claw
-extremespeed
-fire punch
-dragon dance
This gives the set some teeth and is an absolutely brutal set to run for mid to late-game sweeping. With immunities to ground types, he helps cover manectric, heatran, and tentacruel against garchomp and excadrill. The set is plain and simple. Wait til the enemy's team has been weakened down and stealth rocks are absent, switch in, dragon dance while the enemy swaps or hits you with a rock, fairy, ice, or dragon move, then sweep at +2.5 attack. Extremespeed also helps pick off weakened talonflames with +2 priority.
There you have it. A total of 9 immunities and resistances to every single other type except rock.
#1 Whimsicott
Bold/prankster Leftovers
252 hp/ 252 def
-toxic
-taunt
-leech seed
-encore
With an immunity to dragon types as well as to spore and other powder moves, Whimsicott is the first side to the core. Combined with Sableye, they makes a fantastic counter to almost every physical attacker in the metagame. Particularly though, his role is to counter ground types and setup sweepers by stalling them out or forcing a switch with priority encore. Prediction is important here as you don't want to waste a turn using encore when your opponent switches out. Taunt can be used in order to break enemy stall pokemon as well.
#2 Heatran
Calm/Flash fire Air balloon
252 hp/ 252 sp.def
-ancient power
-lava plume
-toxic
-roar
(goodbye talonflame and charzard y) With immunities to ground, fire, and poison, Heatran doesn't have a hard time switching in. Also, his typing has perfect synergy with whimsicott's by either having immunities or resistances to every one of whimsicott's weaknesses. Heatran also has the ability to poison the enemy as well as having a decently strong STAB lava plume that contains a high chance of burning the enemy. Prediction is still a big deal as it can force out a pokemon that's setting up (like cloyster or D-dance dragonite) with roar. Ancient power is a surprise tactic that does huge damage to talonflame and charzard-y plus has a cool chance to boost every one of heatran's stats. Ice types and steel types meet their match here.
#3 Tentacruel
Bold/liquid ooze Black Sludge
252 hp/252 def
-toxic
-scald
-knock off
-rapid spin
I needed a rapid spinner for what was coming later. Also, I knew I wanted a water type. After doing some research, I decided that tentacruel was an interesting pokemon for the job. With this EV spread, it works as a decent mixed wall and completes the FWG core. It also has the privilege of having knock off which lets it hurt/neuter many anti-spinners such as dusclops or trevenant. As usual, it has access to at least 1 status move. (toxic) As well as the ability to cause burns with scald and hurt physical attackers. It's immunity to being poisoned boosts its longevity.
#4 Sableye
bold/prankster Lum Berry
252 HP/ 252 def
-wil-o-wisp
-taunt
-recover
-foul play
The fourth and final side to my defensive core is none other than Sableye. Adding a few new immunities in normal, fighting, and psychic, as well as priority status moves in prankstar, Sableye was a shoe-in for my team. His moveset is pretty standard issue and doesn't need much explanation. It works with whimsicott to counter almost every physical opponent.
#5 Manectric (M)
timid/(lightning rod, intimidate) Manectite
252 sp.atk/252 speed
-overheat
-volt switch
-HP Ice
-thunder wave
Manectric provides an interesting offensive and defensive asset to the team. Before he mega-evolves, he can switch in on electric attacks and boost his special attack then when he mega-evolves, he he has access to intimidate and volt switch which not only boosts momentum, but also assists in weakening the enemies attack constantly as it uses its hit-and-run play style. This is a pretty normal set except for the addition of thunder wave over thunderbolt. I'm running a defensive team and if I need to slow down a pokemon that's giving me trouble, he can paralyze them and volt switch out. HP ice is useful in bringing down Common counters such as gliscor and non-scarfed garchomp.
#6 Dragonite
adamant/multiscale WeaKness policy
252 atk/252 speed
-dragon claw
-extremespeed
-fire punch
-dragon dance
This gives the set some teeth and is an absolutely brutal set to run for mid to late-game sweeping. With immunities to ground types, he helps cover manectric, heatran, and tentacruel against garchomp and excadrill. The set is plain and simple. Wait til the enemy's team has been weakened down and stealth rocks are absent, switch in, dragon dance while the enemy swaps or hits you with a rock, fairy, ice, or dragon move, then sweep at +2.5 attack. Extremespeed also helps pick off weakened talonflames with +2 priority.
There you have it. A total of 9 immunities and resistances to every single other type except rock.
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