For a while I've been tinkering with an idea for a team that revolved around using Wishpassing to heavy hitting Pokemon to "refuel" the glass cannons. This was the end result of such a process, and I'm enjoying enormously the team's ability to pressure offensively and defensively. I don't claim to be the best teambuilder, but when I do build a team I have a lot of fun (and battling successes with) I like to share it.
Volkraken @ Choice Specs
Ability: Infiltrator
EVs: 248 HP / 252 SpA / 8 Spe
Modest Nature
- Flamethrower
- Hydro Pump
- Power Gem
- Hidden Power [Ice]
Volkraken was the first Pokemon I thought of for this idea, specifically because of the power to bypass Substitutes and Screens with Infiltrator Specs boosted attacks. Volkraken has been the most difficult of the threats in this team to use effectively, but the ability to bypass Substitute along with its great coverage has made it earn its keep.
Vaporeon @ Leftovers
Ability: Water Absorb
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpA
Bold Nature
- Scald
- Wish
- Baton Pass
- Roar
Vaporeon is the glue that magnifies the offensive prowess of this team and really makes it work. Vaporeon's ability to DryPass Wishes to frailer teammates makes it ideal for "refueling" the glass cannons on the team, while Roar is a great utility in getting rid of stat-boosters on set-up sweepers that gain a favorable matchup. Scald is rarely used, but its burn chance can be quite useful, and Vaporeon still wins its traditional type matchups.
Landorus-Therian (M) @ Choice Band
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD
Adamant Nature
- U-turn
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- Superpower
Bulky Landorus-T hits like a truck, and its Intimidate cuts into the teeth of a lot of threats. The immediate power offered by the core of the team means losing a Pokemon with an immunity to attack is a huge setback. Landorus-T along with Volkraken and Talonflame can usually win damage wars, while Vaporeon and Blissey provide backup HP to get them back in the action.
Talonflame @ Choice Band
Ability: Gale Wings
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Brave Bird
- Flare Blitz
- U-turn
- Tailwind
Have you heard the word? The bird is the word. And Talonflame is the bird. Choice Band Priority Brave Bird offers immediate breaking power, and allows Talonflame to threaten revenge-kills or finishing blows on opponents weakened by the rest of the team. Talonflame's 4th slot goes to Tailwind, a move used as a sacrificial play late-game to let Landorus or Volkraken pick apart the rest of an opponent's team. Talonflame really doesn't need much more than Brave Bird, Flare Blitz, and U-turn. Tailwind is as good as any move in the last slot.
Zapdos @ Life Orb
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 248 HP / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Volt Switch
- Defog
- Heat Wave
- Roost
I'm still trying to determine if these are the right EVs for this set, but Zapdos has proven very valuable. This team switches a lot, and doesn't even have a rock resist, technically. Thus a Defogger or spinner was needed, and Zapdos fit the bill. Volt Switch to get in and out after Defogging, Heat Wave for coverage, and Roost to stay in the action. Life Orb was selected to make up for what would otherwise be a lack of offensive presence, and it keeps the targets Heat Wave is intended for (Cawmodore, Aurumoth) on edge.
Blissey (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 164 HP / 252 Def / 76 SpA / 16 SpD
Calm Nature
- Ice Beam
- Wish
- Heal Bell
- Stealth Rock
Most people forget that Blissey can use Stealth Rock, and as Stealth Rock users go it's hard to get more reliable than the unkillable pink blob. Blissey also provides an immense Wish, and has Heal Bell to remove bad statuses like Paralysis, Toxic, and Burn. Also notable is the use of Ice Beam as a special attack to deter the many Pokemon in CAP that leave themselves exposed because they expect the other thing they'll need to tank to be safe is Seismic Toss. Blissey works with Vaporeon as both a physical/special tanking core, and as Pokemon that together bring SR + Roar as a shuffling option. Naturally since this is Blissey, Leftovers is the preferred item.
How the Team Plays:
This team is very aggressive, and you'll want to lead with whichever Pokemon you predict will best frighten the opponent's lead. 1/2 of the Pokemon on the team have a switching move to gain a favorable matchup that you might want to lead with (don't lead with Vaporeon). Between these switching moves and double switching to gain advantages or pass a Wish, the team hates Stealth Rock, so try and get it removed with Zapdos as soon as you can. You also want to set up Stealth Rock at the first opportunity Blissey can get it (which is ironically most often against opposing defensive Pokemon). Vaporeon and Blissey also do a pretty good Wish + Switch play because the moves effective against them are so different, so don't be afraid to Wish with Blissey, switch to Vaporeon, Wish again, and then either switch or Baton Pass to determine if you need to stick with defense or go back to a Choiced Pokemon.
Major Threats:
Kyurem-B is extremely difficult, but not impossible to play around. If you anticipate it, switch in Landorus-T at the same time to Intimidate it, then move to Blissey to set up SR, and then go to Vaporeon to Roar. Repeat until it's in Talonflame's Brave Bird KO range. Fortunately, most of your wallbreakers can keep it from switching *in* effectively, since a hit will bring it into Talonflame's range. Late-game a Talonflame sac with Tailwind can give Landorus-T's Superpower or Stone Edge the ability to finish it.
Most other threats have difficulty winning in a straight damage war, but opponents with solid prediction to match your own will be more difficult to break down. Fortunately, the offensive Pokemon on this team are by and large bulky and don't fear Knock Off that much, as even without the Choice boost they still output tons of damage. Talonflame wants to avoid Knock Off most.
Replays (more to come):
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/cap-141686299 (Could have probably played more cautiously here. Infiltrator SpecsKraken went through a Sub, Landorus-T's Intimidates helped buffer the team, overall worked quite well.)
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/cap-141712166 (This was a loss due to Stone Miss, but you can tell how much offensive pressure plays into making switches.
Volkraken @ Choice Specs
Ability: Infiltrator
EVs: 248 HP / 252 SpA / 8 Spe
Modest Nature
- Flamethrower
- Hydro Pump
- Power Gem
- Hidden Power [Ice]
Volkraken was the first Pokemon I thought of for this idea, specifically because of the power to bypass Substitutes and Screens with Infiltrator Specs boosted attacks. Volkraken has been the most difficult of the threats in this team to use effectively, but the ability to bypass Substitute along with its great coverage has made it earn its keep.
Vaporeon @ Leftovers
Ability: Water Absorb
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpA
Bold Nature
- Scald
- Wish
- Baton Pass
- Roar
Vaporeon is the glue that magnifies the offensive prowess of this team and really makes it work. Vaporeon's ability to DryPass Wishes to frailer teammates makes it ideal for "refueling" the glass cannons on the team, while Roar is a great utility in getting rid of stat-boosters on set-up sweepers that gain a favorable matchup. Scald is rarely used, but its burn chance can be quite useful, and Vaporeon still wins its traditional type matchups.
Landorus-Therian (M) @ Choice Band
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD
Adamant Nature
- U-turn
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- Superpower
Bulky Landorus-T hits like a truck, and its Intimidate cuts into the teeth of a lot of threats. The immediate power offered by the core of the team means losing a Pokemon with an immunity to attack is a huge setback. Landorus-T along with Volkraken and Talonflame can usually win damage wars, while Vaporeon and Blissey provide backup HP to get them back in the action.
Talonflame @ Choice Band
Ability: Gale Wings
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Brave Bird
- Flare Blitz
- U-turn
- Tailwind
Have you heard the word? The bird is the word. And Talonflame is the bird. Choice Band Priority Brave Bird offers immediate breaking power, and allows Talonflame to threaten revenge-kills or finishing blows on opponents weakened by the rest of the team. Talonflame's 4th slot goes to Tailwind, a move used as a sacrificial play late-game to let Landorus or Volkraken pick apart the rest of an opponent's team. Talonflame really doesn't need much more than Brave Bird, Flare Blitz, and U-turn. Tailwind is as good as any move in the last slot.
Zapdos @ Life Orb
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 248 HP / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Volt Switch
- Defog
- Heat Wave
- Roost
I'm still trying to determine if these are the right EVs for this set, but Zapdos has proven very valuable. This team switches a lot, and doesn't even have a rock resist, technically. Thus a Defogger or spinner was needed, and Zapdos fit the bill. Volt Switch to get in and out after Defogging, Heat Wave for coverage, and Roost to stay in the action. Life Orb was selected to make up for what would otherwise be a lack of offensive presence, and it keeps the targets Heat Wave is intended for (Cawmodore, Aurumoth) on edge.
Blissey (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 164 HP / 252 Def / 76 SpA / 16 SpD
Calm Nature
- Ice Beam
- Wish
- Heal Bell
- Stealth Rock
Most people forget that Blissey can use Stealth Rock, and as Stealth Rock users go it's hard to get more reliable than the unkillable pink blob. Blissey also provides an immense Wish, and has Heal Bell to remove bad statuses like Paralysis, Toxic, and Burn. Also notable is the use of Ice Beam as a special attack to deter the many Pokemon in CAP that leave themselves exposed because they expect the other thing they'll need to tank to be safe is Seismic Toss. Blissey works with Vaporeon as both a physical/special tanking core, and as Pokemon that together bring SR + Roar as a shuffling option. Naturally since this is Blissey, Leftovers is the preferred item.
How the Team Plays:
This team is very aggressive, and you'll want to lead with whichever Pokemon you predict will best frighten the opponent's lead. 1/2 of the Pokemon on the team have a switching move to gain a favorable matchup that you might want to lead with (don't lead with Vaporeon). Between these switching moves and double switching to gain advantages or pass a Wish, the team hates Stealth Rock, so try and get it removed with Zapdos as soon as you can. You also want to set up Stealth Rock at the first opportunity Blissey can get it (which is ironically most often against opposing defensive Pokemon). Vaporeon and Blissey also do a pretty good Wish + Switch play because the moves effective against them are so different, so don't be afraid to Wish with Blissey, switch to Vaporeon, Wish again, and then either switch or Baton Pass to determine if you need to stick with defense or go back to a Choiced Pokemon.
Major Threats:
Kyurem-B is extremely difficult, but not impossible to play around. If you anticipate it, switch in Landorus-T at the same time to Intimidate it, then move to Blissey to set up SR, and then go to Vaporeon to Roar. Repeat until it's in Talonflame's Brave Bird KO range. Fortunately, most of your wallbreakers can keep it from switching *in* effectively, since a hit will bring it into Talonflame's range. Late-game a Talonflame sac with Tailwind can give Landorus-T's Superpower or Stone Edge the ability to finish it.
Most other threats have difficulty winning in a straight damage war, but opponents with solid prediction to match your own will be more difficult to break down. Fortunately, the offensive Pokemon on this team are by and large bulky and don't fear Knock Off that much, as even without the Choice boost they still output tons of damage. Talonflame wants to avoid Knock Off most.
Replays (more to come):
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/cap-141686299 (Could have probably played more cautiously here. Infiltrator SpecsKraken went through a Sub, Landorus-T's Intimidates helped buffer the team, overall worked quite well.)
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/cap-141712166 (This was a loss due to Stone Miss, but you can tell how much offensive pressure plays into making switches.
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