Welcome to...
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INTRO:
With my first team that I'm really actually trying to ladder with, and putting effort into making it the best it could be, I decided to make one of those fancy RMTs that are in the RMT archive. (Not like I'm expecting this to be archived.) So!
This team came about when I saw all the updates with the "Team Options". I thought that was brilliant, because it really helped with the team building process, which is my biggest problem. So, using the Team Option updates, and my own experiences, I made a team based around a simple Empoleon sweep. Each member helps with entry hazards, or just pounding the opponents defenses until the oppritune moment. Here's a little peek of the team:
Roserade @ Focus Sash
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Sp At / 252 Spd
Timid nature (+Spd -At)
Snorlax @ Leftovers
Ability: Thick Fat
EVs: 4 HP / 252 At / 252 Sp Def
Careful nature (+Sp Def, -Sp At)
Swampert @ Leftovers
Ability: Torrent
EVs: 252 HP / 170 Def / 88 Sp Def
Impish nature (+Def, -Sp At)
Rotom-H @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Sp At / 252 Spd
Timid nature (+Spd, -At)
Scizor @ Choice Band
Ability: Technician
EVs: 248 HP / 252 At / 8 Spd
Adamant nature (+At, -Sp At)
Empoleon @ Peteya Berry
Ability: Torrent
EVs: 12 HP / 12 Def / 232 Spd / 252 Sp At
Modest nature (+Sp At, -At)
So, this is my team. I'm still changing things here and there, tweaking, and I appreciate any and all suggestions.
THE FIRST RMT THAT I'M ACTUALLY putting effort into eh not really, that title is too much work.
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INTRO:
With my first team that I'm really actually trying to ladder with, and putting effort into making it the best it could be, I decided to make one of those fancy RMTs that are in the RMT archive. (Not like I'm expecting this to be archived.) So!
This team came about when I saw all the updates with the "Team Options". I thought that was brilliant, because it really helped with the team building process, which is my biggest problem. So, using the Team Option updates, and my own experiences, I made a team based around a simple Empoleon sweep. Each member helps with entry hazards, or just pounding the opponents defenses until the oppritune moment. Here's a little peek of the team:
I'm not one for judging a team by its basic overview, so let me go into more detail about their individual roles.
THE LEAD
Roserade @ Focus Sash
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Sp At / 252 Spd
Timid nature (+Spd -At)
- Sleep Powder: A vital asset for a lead, an accurate sleep move. Incapacitates the lead 75% of the time, giving me ample opprotunity to set up...
- Toxic Spikes: Toxic Spikes really wear the opponent down. Although it usually infects only about 1/3 of the average opponents team, thats all I need to stop threats from Empoleon's sweep, such as Vaporeon and Blissey.
- Leaf Storm: When Roserade is done, it can fire off a STAB Leaf Storm to deal a large amount of damage to the opponent if it doesn't resist it. And if it does...
- Hidden Power [Fire]: HP Fire gets decent coverage with Leaf Storm, and can damage steels, notably Forretress.
Roserade is a great partner to Empoleon, not only in setting up toxic spikes, but attracting Ice attacks for it to switch in, or sleeping an opponent, leaving it open to set up.
THE BULK
Snorlax @ Leftovers
Ability: Thick Fat
EVs: 4 HP / 252 At / 252 Sp Def
Careful nature (+Sp Def, -Sp At)
- Body Slam: A solid STAB attack. It also gives some cocky Levitators and Fliers some paralysis to suck on when they think they can just avoid Toxic Spikes.
- Earthquake: A neat coverage move. It makes Lax a very nice switchin to Heatran and Magnezone, and hits a lot of other steels.
- Crunch: Really only for the occasional Gengar, and WoWless Rotom-A.
- Selfdestruct: When somethings threatening my team, I just press the big red button and get rid of it. (Assuming it doesn't sub. ._.)
Snorlax is a very nice special sponge, with high HP and Sp Def, and Thick Fat. I have a Careful nature to capitalize on this, and make him even more difficult to take down. Although it's unfortunate he doesn't have a recovery move, he can still stop a special sweep. Selfdestruct is also a huge asset to my team because, well, its Selfdestruct.
I'M CURRENTLY TESTING A BULKY LATIAS OVER THIS, BUT I'M NOT SURE IF I'LL KEEP IT. The loss of physical attacks is noticable.
I'M CURRENTLY TESTING A BULKY LATIAS OVER THIS, BUT I'M NOT SURE IF I'LL KEEP IT. The loss of physical attacks is noticable.
Swampert @ Leftovers
Ability: Torrent
EVs: 252 HP / 170 Def / 88 Sp Def
Impish nature (+Def, -Sp At)
- Earthquake: A solid STAB that deals a very respectable amount of damage, even without invesment.
- Stealth Rock: Of course I have Stealth Rock, you twit! Stealth Rock helps get a few targets into KO range for my other Pokemon, and helps wear down threats like Zapdos and Gyarados.
- Ice Beam: A solid Ice attack, allowing Swampert to have some coverage against the likes of Zapdos and other fliers. Also it gets a solid hit on a grass type trying to switch in.
- Hydro Pump: A powerful secondary STAB, hitting many physically bulky Pokemon on their weaker end.
Swampert is my Stealth Rocker, and physical bulk. Due to the mixed attacks, he's not walled as easy, so he's not just floundering about against set-up sweepers that are resistant to ground, like Hippowdon was. Also, the lack of SandStream helps a few of my team members stick around for just a little while longer.
THE CHOICERS
Rotom-H @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Sp At / 252 Spd
Timid nature (+Spd, -At)
- Thunderbolt: A great STAB attack, that helps kill those threatening water types, like Gyarados and Suicune.
- Overheat: Rotom-H exclusive, a strong fire attack is really helpful in this metagame. If he still has his scarf, he can stop a Lucario sweep cold, which is something that everyone needs.
- Shadow Ball: When there are too many Grounds for comfort, Rotom just fires off Shadow Ball to nail 'em. A Sp Def drop is also very helpful.
- Trick: Trick is what makes Rotom-H so useful. Being able to cripple the most common counter to both Rotom and Empoleon, Blissey, with a useless Scarf is well, useful. It also give Rotom some freedom when he needs it, or it can just lock the opponent into something I can set up on.
Rotom-H is just a great Scarfer, who often doesn't even need for one of my 'mons to die to revenge kill. He just switches in with his great typing. He also gives me an immunity to Fighting, Ground, and Normal attacks. This is notable, because it prevents Rapid Spin from ruining my Toxic Spikes fun. He's pretty much my MVP.
Scizor @ Choice Band
Ability: Technician
EVs: 248 HP / 252 At / 8 Spd
Adamant nature (+At, -Sp At)
- U-Turn: "Hey it's Scizor! I'll just switch to Zapdos, aaaand now its Snorlax? Wut?" U-Turn is why Scizor is so good, but I don't need to say that. It really keeps the momentum going in my favor, being able to hit the opponent and get a free switch in.
- Bullet Punch: Pow, right in the kissah! Bullet Punch simply checks almost every frail heavy hitter in the OU metagame.
- Superpower: My thesis that only badass Pokemon get the move Superpower holds true with Scizor. Being able to deal heavy damage to the common Steel types, and Blissey and Snorlax, is another thing Scizor is so good for.
- Pursuit: Helpful against Starmie, Alakazam, or a frightened Blissey.
He's number one alright, (Although I'm not sure he'll remain that way forever) and he often shows it in battle. Even when everyone's prepared for it, Scizor can still beat holes into the opponent's team with his great attacks, serving both utility purposes, and power. After Scizor has left the team in ruin, the star can switch in and sweep...
THE SWEEPER
Empoleon @ Peteya Berry
Ability: Torrent
EVs: 12 HP / 12 Def / 232 Spd / 252 Sp At
Modest nature (+Sp At, -At)
- Substitute: What starts the sweep. A simple sub on the switch. When being attacked, he can just continue to sub until he gets to nom on his Berry...
- Agility: And now he outspeeds most everything! Empoleon outspeeds anything sitting below 428 now. (which unfortunately, Timid Scarf Rotom and Scarf Flygon outspeed...)
- Surf: The main sweeping move. With Torrent and Peteya Berry boosting it, Empoleon tears through everything that doesn't resist it or doesn't have ridiculous HP and Sp Def.
- Ice Beam: The coverage move. It hits Latias, and the other dragons, and Grass types like Celebi. Thanks to SR and Toxic Spikes, most things are put into KO range.
Not much stops an Empoleon sweep. The EVs are tried and true, as is the moveset. Leave even one opening, and Empoleon will set up, and its usually 'gg'.
THREAT DOWN
Aerodactyl-Swampert beats it, but doesn't prevent SR, or Taunt. Roserade can also beat it if it taunts first turn.
Alakazam-Snorlax, Scizor, and Rotom. Not too much of a threat.
Azelf-Usually a lead, Roserade can give it the ol' one-two with Leaf Storm, but it prevents me from setting up.
Blissey-Ehhh.... Snorlax doesn't do enough to it without exploding, and a good opponent sees Superpower coming a mile away on Scizor. If I get lucky I can trick it, but otherwise it'll stop me if I don't sufficantly weaken it.
Breloom-Mostly a problem because it's fucking Breloom.
Bronzong-As a lead, Roserade shuts it down with Sleep Powder. It also takes big damage from Scizor and Rotom.
Celebi-Rotom and Scizor, if it avoids HP Fire. Empoleon can kill it in its sweep anyways.
Cresselia-Scizor, unless its one of those weird Psycho Shift ones. Rotom can nail it with Shadow Ball anyways, and Snorlax doesn't take a lot from Ice Beam or Psychic.
Donphan-Roserade, Rotom.
Dragonite-Haven't seen one quite yet, but it should'nt be too hard to beat. Empoleon has Ice Beam anyways.
Dugtrio-Scizor screws it over, as does Rotom.
Electivire-Swampert doesn't die to Hidden Power or Ice Punch, so he usually beats him, unless its HP Grass.
Empoleon-If it's set up, then I'm in for some damage. Thankfully timid Rotom outspeeds him.
Flygon-Swampert, Scizor, pretty much my whole team can deal with him. Scarfgon does outspeed Empoleon after Agility.
Forretress-Rotom
Gengar-If its not scarfed, Rotom revenges it. Scizor can pursuit it.
Gliscor-Swampert walls it. It's not much of an offensive threat, and it can't stop Empoleon.
Gyarados-If Rotom can't outspeed it, I'm in trouble. If I can I just blow up Snorlax.
Heatran-Snorlax
Heracross-Rotom
Hippowdon-Empoleon can't switch in, but when it is in, it doesn't need to worry about Hippo. Rotom can also trick it.
Infernape-I usually switch in Snorlax to take a Fire Blast, then Rotom on Close Combat, and kill it with a STAB move. Physical versions are taken care of by Swampert.
Jirachi-Swampert is a safe bet.
Jolteon-Snorlax can take whatever Jolt throws at him, and Hippo is just flat out immune to Thunderbolt. Both have Earthquake.
Kingdra-A problem for most of my team, but if its locked into Outrage, it give Empoleon a good opprotunity to set up.
Lucario-As long as Rotom is alive, and still has his scarf, I'm good.
Machamp-Rotom can't handle Payback, and Swampert doesn't like confusion. He's something I have to work around.
Magnezone-Snorlax mostly. However, it unfortunatly kills Empoleon and Scizor. However, if it switches in on Empoleon, I've already begun setting up.
Mamoswine-Ice Shard doesn't stop Empoleon, and he gets nailed by Bullet Punch and Overheat.
Metagross-As a lead, Roserade puts it to sleep. Otherwise, Swampert and Rotom can stop it
Porygon-Z-Lax
Porygon-Z-Lax
Rhyperior-Swampert, but Solid Rock makes it hard to take down. All of my Pokemon can hit him though, save Rotom.
Rotom-A-My own Rotom can kill it with Shadow Ball, and Scizor can pursuit a scarfer locked into something. Unfortunatley, timid scarftom outspeeds a set up Empoleon, so I do need to get rid of it.
Salamence-After it Draco Meteors, Swampert can hurt it with Ice Beam, Scizor can Bullet Punch, and it just gets worn down on its own.
Scizor-Rotom
Skarmory-Rotom. Unfortunately it walls the rest of my team save Empoleon.
Snorlax-Rotom can trick it, and if it doesn't Curse, Swampert can tank his attacks.
Starmie-Rotom stops spinning, and Scizor pursuits it. Snorlax doesn't take much from it either.
Suicune-If it's a Crocune, I'm in trouble. Suicune is also a huge threat to an Empoleon sweep, and Roserade is usually dead early on.
Swampert-Often a lead, and its put to sleep so I can set up on it. It is a bitch to take down after Roserade's gone, but the lack of recovory wears them down.
Tentacruel-It absorbs my Toxic Spikes, and stops Empoleon. Rotom has to kill it, or Snorlax.
Togekiss-Rotom, as long as I don't get para'd.
Tyranitar-Swampert to an extent. Scizor still has Bullet Punch.
Vaporeon-Again, a bulky water I must kill. If I have toxic spikes I win though.
Weavile-Scizor.
Yanmega-Rotom, although it takes a beating from Specs. It outspeeds Tinted Lens though. Snorlax can tank its hits.
Zapdos-Snorlax can blow up, and if I'm good with prediction, Swampert can beat it.
So, this is my team. I'm still changing things here and there, tweaking, and I appreciate any and all suggestions.
