5th Gen SandStall

[Dano454]

So this is my first RMT. I've been stalking the RMT forum for about a month now, learning as much as I can before testing it out. Finally I decided to start battling on PO two weeks ago, and here's the best team I've come up with so far. I've tried laddering Smogon, but haven't done insanely well (yet). I'm sure it has more to do with my battle skill, rather than my team.

Here's my team analysis:

Tyranitar (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Sand Stream
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 SDef / 4 Spd
Careful Nature (+SDef, -SAtk)
- Stealth Rock
- Stone Edge
- Pursuit
- Fire Punch

Analysis: 90% of the time Tyranitar is my lead (as long as there is no other weather starter). Boy is it my Lati@s killer or what. Pursuit WRECKS Lati@s, whether or not it stays in. With his EV investment in SDef, I hardly ever have to worry about them (unless Latias gets a CM or two up). Stealth Rock because TTar is the only one on my team who can afford the setup slot. Fire Punch because more TTars are running a Fire-Type move to deal with Steel Types, Whimsicot leads, and Breloom switch ins.

Changes to try: N/A

Heatran (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Flash Fire
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SDef
Modest Nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Stealth Rock
- Lava Plume
- Will-O-Wisp
- Roar

Analysis: I enjoy using Tran, but he is becoming a little easy to predict (unfortunately for me). I'd like to try a different approach with him, perhaps a Scarf set. I've tried the more defensive setup (Flamethrower, SRock, WoW, Roar), but I didn't like it. Tran is an essential part of this team, covering Fire, Ice, Grass weaknesses, while not taking SS damage. Like I said, I don't want to replace him, but this set is irking me. He is my Def wall at the moment, but I'm finding my team a little thin on that front. I wish Tran had a self-heal move (NOT Rest).

Changes to try: Find a new set

Jellicent (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Water Absorb
EVs: 252 HP / 96 Def / 160 SDef
Calm Nature (+SDef, -Atk)
- Taunt
- Will-O-Wisp
- Surf
- Recover

Analysis: MVP of this team. Jellicent is ridiculous. Papa Pringles creates the major stall for this team, considering that it's what this team is based on. Jellicent has to be my absolute favorite pokemon of Gen 5. With the EV investment in HP / SDef, he becomes a serious SDef wall.

Changes to try: Gave him 96 EVs in Def to raise Defense to 200, trying him as a better Gliscor counter.

Goomba (Breloom)(M) @ Toxic Orb
Trait: Poison Heal
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def (should probably put into Spd to outrun)
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Spore
- Substitute
- Seed Bomb
- Drain Punch

Analysis: Nothing has caused more ragequitting than this guy. People HATE to run into him. While this is a standard set to run, he is a little of a glass wall and dies fairly quickly. I'd like to find a way to keep him just as menacing, while keeping him around longer. I also find myself not using Seed Bomb all that much, I don't know if I'll miss it if I switch for a different move, even if it reduces my STAB hits.

Changes to try: Spd investment to outrun other Breloom, find replacement for Seed Bomb

Latias (F) @ Leftovers
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 4 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Calm Mind
- Dragon Pulse
- Hidden Power [Fire]
- Recover

Analysis: My team's favorite wall/sweeper. After a CM or two, she takes the game. I love bringing her out to have my opponent switch for the Scizor counter, only to die immediately from HP Fire. Best choice I ever made to run HP Fire. I'm pretty set on her moves as well, I don't think I could find a better set than this. She's this team's other SDef wall, especially if she gets a CM down.

Changes to try: None, she's perfect.

Excadrill (M) @ Air Balloon
Trait: Sand Rush
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Rapid Spin
- Earthquake
- Rock Slide
- X-Scissor

Analysis: Everyone's favorite SS Revenge killer. I now know why most SS teams runs this guy, he is a BEAST. He's so fast, I'm astounded. However, I'm finding myself not liking Rapid Spin on this set. I don't like wasting one of my precious hits on Rapid Spin, only to be set up on again later. I used to run X-Scissor instead of Return as a better counter to Gliscor, but I enjoy X-Scissor MUCH more. I think I'm gonna switch back to that instead.

Changes to try: Either switch RS for something else or lose Life Orb. (Choice Band could work), go back to X-Scissor instead of Return


Overall team changes/challenges:

- I don't have any sort of Electric or Ice moves, that is a BIG problem. (have Ice)
- Replace one of my sweepers for another wall/bulky sweeper
- NEED, repeat NEED a Gliscor counter (might have one now)


Any suggestions? Shout 'em out!

 

[Dano454]

Threat List: (Only listing HUGE threats that I cannot figure out)

Offensive Threats

Deoxys-S - My WORST NIGHTMARE!!!! I have NO counters for this, at all.

Excadrill - Smart players don't bring him out until the end, when every counter is gone. I need to learn to do the same.

Jirachi - Heatran is my best counter, although flinch hax really suck.

Kingdra - Best counter I have at the moment is CM Latias, but that only works if CM is already set up. I can't win if Latias has to switch in.

Landorus - Getting an Ice move would really help, as I don't have a hard counter yet.

Latios - Tyranitar w/ Pursuit, survives Surf and DM.

Mamoswine - Wow, didn't think this guy could sweep me, but it does. Having a fast, hard hitting fighter (like Conkeldurr) would help. Breloom just loses to priority Ice Shard.

Salamence - King of Dragons for a reason, Latias can sweep after CM, or Excadrill can revenge Rock Slide. Intimidate wrecks Excadrill on the switch in though.

Terakion - Also having more trouble than I thought, Excadrill for the revenge and Jellicent for the stall.

Thundurus - I love Revenging with Excadrill, or switching in on their NP.

Tornadus - See above. ^

Tyranitar - Can revenge with either Heatran or Excadrill, but have seen some pretty weird types out there. Must always be cautious.


Will add Defensive Threats in the morning.

 

[Ninjadolphin]

You usually want to invest in hp before going to defenses, especially on pokemon like heatran that have low hp and high defense

 

[monty1104]

You could try changing HP fire to Ice Beam on Latias. This solves your Gliscor problem, you have fire covered with Heatran. I know you like your Latias set, but you have 3 other pokemon with SE moves against steels, and as you said, no ice moves.

I'd suggest changing scald to surf. Jellicent can use the extra power. Scald's main use is to burn physical attackers, and WOW has this covered.

 

[monty1104]

Oh, and definitely run x-scissor over return, even if it is to just hit Reuniclus.

 

[Dano454]

Awesome suggestions. (It's always great to hear things you couldn't think of)

Suggestions that I am testing today are in Bold. I'll update after testing them out today.

Thanks!!

(Went back to X-Scissor last night, never going back)

 

[Dano454]

Ice Beam really is inferior to just about anything Latias could run in that slot. Go back to HP Fire. If you're hard pressed for a Gliscor counter, you should just run some Defense on Jellicent instead of that much Special Defense(I thought you were to begin with, but I apparently misread ;p). Surf or Hydro Pump would be better options over Scald in this case since they put Gliscor into an easier range for Latias to KO afterwards(you can go to Latias on the second EQ to preserve Jellicent). Scald's not too important when running Will-O-Wisp anyway. The only problem is it would become a little harder to stall Trick Room Reuniclus out of turns, but it can be beaten by clever switching or a sacrifice if necessary.

Awesome, will do. I'll change around Jellicent's EVs as well, see what I can do. Thanks!