With the introduction of X and Y many changes had been made to the meta game, forcing once powerful threats into the lower tiers while unexpected pokemon gained all new toys to dominate others. And now after careful thought I have created a team which I believe should be watched out for in Doubles. The team being;
Mega Aggron
Noivern
Togekiss
Latias
Rotom W
Volcarona
Meet the new team. It might seem odd to put these pokemon together but all of them have unique purposes and flexibility. This took me ages to write (and test) so please read it all before judging my team choices. Also feel free to add other Pokemon suggestions :)
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Mega Aggron
Steel Type
70 / 140 / 230 / 60 / 80 / 50
Ability: Sturdy / Mega: Filter
Careful Nature
252 SpD / 252 Atk / 4 Hp
The Juggernaut @ Aggronite
*Iron Head
*Earthquake / Ice Punch
*Stone Edge / Rock Slide
*Automitize / Dragon Tail / Ice Punch / Taunt
Meet Aggron. Despite the fact that his defense stat is impressive, sadly his rock/steel typing and weak special defense pummeled him down to the depths of RU. And for a long time it didn't seem like Aggron would see the light of day in the OU tier until Game Freak decided to bless him with a mega form. And now instead of having an average Pokémon we instead get left with the definition of terror.
I'll stop praising Aggron now and get down to business. While you might ask yourself why waste a mega evolution on Aggron then the answer you are looking for is this: Fairy Type. With the new typing becoming one of the most popular types you would most likely find one on nearly every team. Aggron solves this problem by being able to defeat every single fairy Pokémon one-on-one. And while Aggron does not have access to a wide coverage move pool it can still handle on its own with Earthquake, Iron Head, Ice Punch, Stone Edge and Dragon Tail.
Moves
Iron Head is an obvious choice if I didn't make myself clear before.
Stone Edge is also important to Aggron; without it Mega Charizard can simply wipe Aggron out with a Fire Blast or Heat Wave (NOTE: Automatize and Tailwind are needed too because Aggron would still be too slow to finish Charizard off). However if you prefer Rock Slide then it is fine, but the decrease of damage for accuracy and coverage can change the results of a battle significantly, for better or worse.
Why Earthquake? Simple. Like Rock Slide, Earthquake hits multiple opponents for high damage and with the help of helping hand (No Pun Intended) can help Aggron wipe the opponents side of the field clean with the exception of land destruction. However, if you prefer, Ice Punch hits Dragon, Grass, Flying and Ground Types hard allowing Aggron, alongside Iron Head, to hit some of the most powerful threats in the game.
The last slot is the most important move of all. Automatize prevents Aggron from becoming set-up bait for other Pokémon and, along side tail wind, will change Aggron into a force to be reckoned with and is well worth the one, if not two, turns to set it up. But a cool trick up Aggron's metal sleeves is that it can also take on trick room teams, allowing the team to not be walled by trick room users. But if you prefer the coverage moves then go ahead, but remember that Aggron might miss the opportunity of the match by simply not being able to out speed the opponent.
Synergy
Being the Juggernaut that he is, Aggron has a few letdowns. Having no recovery moves, vulnerability to status and sometimes the occasional taunt or low-health priority moves, Aggron at times can lack the right moves to pull through. Thankfully, everyone on this team is there for Aggron. Noivern helps Aggrons speed stats with tailwind while also reducing a bulky opponents health to 50% with Super Fang; Latias heals and helps Aggron with removing certain threats with Roar; Togekiss can use follow me to allow Aggron some space to build up his speed or remove priority on him (e.g. sucker punch and some fake outs); Rotom-W can cripple opponents and remove bulky Ground and Flying types that are faster than him under tailwind while Volcarona can help Aggron weaken opponents.
The Bad News
While it might seem that Aggron is a godsend of a Pokémon, unfortunately there are some let downs. Charizard and other powerful fire types (under sun as well) are the bane of his existence. Mega Y Charizard can simply come in, set up drought and melt him away with a Fire Blast. Powerful Special Attacks can leave Aggron begging for mercy even if it doesn't out right faint him. Aggron sometimes has nightmares about status and, unfortunately, those nightmares are real. VERY REAL. Like they say "A sleeping Aggron is a useless Aggron". Aggron also relies a bit too much on support from it's fellow comrades, and can be a pain when Aggron is the last Pokémon left. And while it might not be much of a problem, priority moves (Mach Punch) and Fake Outs can also get on Aggrons nerves, preventing him from reaching his true potential (hence Togekiss). Aggrons move pool is also a let down, only hitting a few OU Pokémon effectively. It's not a bad thing, but it's still a bit annoying trying to take down an opposing Rotom-W with Will-O-Wisp.
Noivern
Flying / Dragon Type
85 / 70 / 80 / 97 / 80 / 123
Ability: Frisk
Timid Nature
252 SpA / 252 Spe / 4 Hp
The Kamikaze Set Up @ Focus Sash
*Draco Meteor / Dragon Pulse / Hurricane / Flamethrower / Focus Blast
*Tailwind
*Super Fang/ Taunt / The Previous Coverage Moves
*U-Turn
Meet Noivern, a Gen 6 Pokémon that has been gifted with the moves Tailwind and Super Fang. Now I know what you are thinking. "Two Dragons on the same team? Why don't you just let them commit suicide themselves and get on with it." And that is true in Noivern's case... kinda. But I'll explain why Latias later. You see, most people see Noivern as another Crobat, just with a Dragon typing instead. And yes, there are better users of tailwind out there. Players also see Noivern as a Special Sweeper than a Utility Support Pokémon. But the awesome thing about Noivern is that it possesses a few tricks that separate it from others. Its ability Frisk allows the opponents strategy to become a bit more clear preventing a surprise Power Gem Attack from landing on your Pokémon. Draco Meteor and Super Fang combined with U-Turn and Focus Sash allows Noivern to hit opponents hard before they can land the finishing blow. It's pretty funny seeing the opponent use a dragon pulse on a switched out Togekiss while also killing it with Aggron or Rotom-W. And so after much talk let me break down his move set.
Moves
Draco Meteor may seem a bit pathetic when Noivern could be running Dragon Pulse instead. But that is not it's job. Noivern is used to set up Tailwind and/or hit hard then get the hell out of there before being K.O. cold (literally with Ice Beam). Draco Meteor's power is needed to hit the dragon types hard (and sometimes other Pokémon) to increase the chances of other teammates of knocking them out of play. However if Noivern is the last to survive or you need him to constantly hit back then you might want him to pick up another move.
Tailwind is the pride and joy of this team as it can help change the outcome of the match. The Sweepers love it; Latias can Heal Aggron before getting hit and Noivern can U-Turn out before your opponent can say 'sonofabitch'.
Super Fang is an odd choice. It might look like it won't do much but in the field it prevents certain Pokémon from becoming a threat. Blissy and Chansey can be a pain, but when Noivern combines Super Fang with Togekiss's Focus Blast, it leaves your opponent wondering how they are going to handle the situation before Noivern U-Turn's on it, possibly fainting it. But sometimes that situation never arises, so Noivern is left with pretty bad offensive coverage especially against fairy Pokémon. Another coverage move is suitable if you'd like. As for taunt scroll down to Noiverns Synergy Section.
U-Turn is a great move for Noivern as it prevents Noivern from being excess weight and can also allow Noivern to set up Tailwind once more.
Synergy
If you already know what role each member has and their move slots you would notice that each one is set up bait for taunt. While none of them fully rely on it (Latias is the exception) then it would be pretty advisable to take out the taunt user(s). Also every member hates having status on them. Noivern can help ease these worries and problems by using taunt. Every Pokémon enjoys it immensely. But due to Noiverns role as a Kamikaze Support, only lasting about two hits, it prevents Noivern from using it effectively. Regardless though, every member enjoys Noiverns help. Increase speed and/or weakening opponents before your other Pokémon attack is an awesome trade off if done correctly.
The Bad News
If you were to punch a Noivern with all your might, you would discover that Noivern would most likely faint. If you actually imagined yourself punching one and watching it cry in agony then you would make a pretty bad trainer. However I'll forgive you for reading this far. Regardless, Noivern is pretty weak. A 4x weakness to ice and 2x weakness from rock, dragon and fairy types are extremely undesirable being that most Pokémon use these types of moves. Thanks to the Focus Sash it can set up Tailwind unless:
1. Fake Out & Sucker Punch
2. Sleep or Paralyze Status
3. Priority moves plus other damaging attacks or damage (e.g. Ice Shard then Rock Slide or Sand Storm)
4. 'The Gang Up Technique'
5. Taunt is a given (ESPECIALLY PRANKSTER USERS)
6. Hazard damage like Stealth Rock then an attack
Also Noivern has low coverage or low usage depending on what moves you choose. Either way, if you know how to handle him then he can definitely change the tide of the battle, even if it is ever so slightly.
Latias
Dragon / Psychic Type
80 / 80 / 90 / 110 / 130 / 110
Ability: Levitate
Bold Nature
252 Hp / 252 Def / 4 Spe
The Specialist @ Sitrus Berry
*Ice Beam / Psychic / Energy Ball / Any Coverage Move
*Roar / Helping Hand / Icy Wind / Recover
*Heal Pulse
*Protect / Helping Hand / Reflect Type
Meet Latias, the glue that holds the team together. To answer your question before 'Why two dragon types?" To be honest I would prefer not to have two dragon types on my team. However there is one move that made me choose Latias over other Pokémon: Healing Pulse. It's an amazing move (if it doesn't miss) and can allow every member to live another turn as it also saves Aggron from his grave. I originally had both Gallade and Blissey run Heal Pulse. The problem was that Gallade always cowered behind protect while most people prepared for the likes of Blissey and Chansey. Latias also has a few niches over other heal pulse users. It's stats allow it to be effective under Tailwind, she has decent defense and high special defences and her typing, while being a double edged sword, can take Fire, Water, Grass, Electric, Fighting and Psychic attacks. It's typing and ability prevents entry hazards from becoming a major problem and allows Aggron to blast off Earthquakes with the help of Helping Hand (again, no pun). It also isn't left as set up bait, having 110 SpA and also access to Roar, which also prevents Substitutes thanks to X and Y. Capable of saving the team from failure, she is definitely a keeper.
Moves
Latias suffers from four-move syndrome to put it bluntly. It prevents Latias from covering all bases, as this team does suffer from not having Psychic and Grass moves (also Ice if Aggron is lacking). However she is still able to effectively support the team no matter the moves you choose.
The attacking move depends on what you want out of Latias. Ice Beam takes care of Ground, Flying, Grass and Dragon Pokémon, Psychic gets her STAB and takes care of Bulky Fighting types and Energy Ball prevents rain teams, ground and rock Pokémon and the infamous Water/Ground Pokémon from entering the spotlight. Either way each one has it's own use.
Roar is awesome. It prevents Shell Smashers, Cotton Guarders, Moxie Users, Bulk Uppers, Calm Minders, Sword Dancers, Cosmic Power Abusers, Dragon Dancers Etc. from building up to much power and sweeping your team. Must I go on? It is at the mercy at taunt but it can stop the opponent out right. However under Tailwind it kind of wastes a turn sweeping as other moves could be used. Helping Hand makes the other team squeals in fear as Boosted Volcarona Blasts them into oblivion. If it doesn't work then it gives the opposition a free turn. Icy Wind however prevents speedy sweepers from gaining too much speed as your team continues to boosts their stats. Recover speaks for itself, allowing Laitas to survive longer.
Heal Pulse. Prevents death even in the worst of times. This is the reason why Latias is here to stay. If the move misses however then the opposition gets a free turn.
While Latias has many resistances she also has too many weaknesses; Ice, Bug, Ghost, Dragon, Dark and Fairy. Protect allows Latias to survive the likes of Aegislash's boosted Shadow Sneaks to take her down as Aggron continues to spam Earthquake. However if you want Roar then feel free to use Helping Hand. OR you could go for Reflect Type. It's an interesting move that washes all of Latias's weaknesses away and replace them for better ones. If you play your cards right you can change to steel for all the wonderful resistances it brings; normal for immunity against ghosts and even fairy to go up against dragon and ice moves with little to worry about. You could switch types to your opponents to prevent super effective moves and annoy the opponent while also gaining STAB on your coverage move. And if it counts both types then you could switch in on a Mawile or Klefki to gain a 2x Fire Weakness or a 2x Grass weakness on Rotom-W. But the sweetest payoff will be when the very rare Sableye or Spiritomb comes along to create a very interesting battle. However, that being said it is a gimmicky move. If not used correctly it can break Latias and make it pretty much unusable. An example is using Reflect Type on a Jellicent and getting a Giga Drain to the face.
The Bad News
Yep. You could see this coming from a mile away. Don't be so modest. Having some pretty popular weaknesses leaves Latias in constant terror from some of the most dominating Pokémon in the OU Tier. With the introduction of Fairy types, it prevents Latias even further by having now 6 weaknesses; all of witch have special moves like pursuit to keep her in her place. Having four move syndrome puts Latias into a risky position too, as not having the right moves can make her useless in dire situations. She also hates being the last Pokémon left on the team as she cannot handle threats by herself. Which is why it is recommended that Latias should be one of the first Pokémon into play. Another minor problem is when the opposition has an ability or typing to prevent her attacking moves from causing harm. When carrying Psychic, Dark pokemon are her bane. Sap Sippers, while rare, can be a problem when facing Goodra. And Ice Beam is pretty pathetic against Cloyster and Heatran. However if you do decide to go Dragon Pulse or Draco Meteor then be wary against Fairy Types, plus it does not get good coverage for the team as it only hits neutral against everything but Steel Types.
Togekiss
Fairy / Flying Type
85 / 50 / 95 / 120 / 115 / 80
Ability: Serene Grace
Bold Nature
248 Hp / 252 Def / 8 Spe
The Saving Grace @ Leftovers
*Air Slash
*Dazzling Gleam
*Aura Sphere / Fire Blast / Any Coverage Move / Roost / Thunder Wave
*Follow Me
Meet Togekiss, the best thing since sliced bread. Not really, but it is still badass. Togekiss has been known for its unique ability Serene Grave which allows it to double the secondary effects on its moves. This one ability has also got it’s own role as ‘ParaFlinching’ to pretty much stun the opponent to death which as forced rage quits and left people at it’s mercy. If that isn’t a good reason to have it, it also gains the new fairy type to deal with dragons and gives it more resistances than before. But just like in past generations it also gains the move Follow Me, and it is a blessing to this team. Removing all damage from your teammate while they set up Tailwind or Automatize is something this team appreciates a lot. There’s a reason why Togekiss is one of the best Pokemon on this team.
Moves
Air Slash has no good reason to be removed. STAB and the flinching chance is all good for Togekiss even without Paralyze support.
Dazzling Gleam is one of the new toys Togekiss gained in X and Y, able to get STAB and hit multiple opponents is a good enough reason to have it on your team. And while some may argue that there are other good moves Togekiss can use, just remember that if Latias has helping hand Togekiss can deal massive damage.
The next move depends on what you want out of Togekiss; Coverage, Thunder Wave or Roost. Aura Sphere is preferred because it hits most Pokémon on the opposing team for good damage, even if Tyranitar has Assault Vest on. However most people would just like to keep Togekiss alive or would prefer to have her Paralyze the opponent. And while those options are pretty good too, Togekiss will miss out on supporting the team by lacking a coverage move.
Follow Me is the Ace up Togekiss’s sleeve, as it allows her to absorb all damage while a teammate sets up or takes down a powerful foe. It also has a couple of other cool tricks with the addition of Fairy typing, being able to absorb Draco Meteors for Latias and Hydro Blasts for Volcarona.
Synergy
Every Teammate loves Togekiss. Aggron can set up and continue to fire off Earthquakes, ditto with Volcarona. It saves Rotom-W from a grass move as well as saving Latias and Noivern from being taken down by Draco Meteor.
The Bad News
There is a reason why this set is called ‘The Saving Grace’. Unfortunately for Togekiss it can’t take all the damage all the time. Like a good solider it prevents it’s teammates from getting the super effective hits and instead inflicts them upon her self. What is also unfortunate is that Togekiss shares the same weaknesses as most of the team, being Rock, Electric and Ice. If Noivern is replaced by a particular Pokémon, the likeliness of super-effective moves hitting her are then reduced. If she also does not sport Roost, she will bleed out too quickly. She is also weak to Stealth Rock, which some teams are designed to incorporate into their strategy, while spike and toxic spikes don’t even touch her. Another thing is that without a coverage move she won’t be able to take down Rock and Ice Type Pokémon, and also the few others who resist all of her moves. However, a note here is that she can just Paraflinch them all to death with the exception of Ground and Electric type Pokémon, namely Thunderus. If she is taunted then it is not so bad, but prevents her to truly shine in the match. But sometimes it is a good thing, taking a Pokemons taunt and preventing Latias to set up.
Rotom-W
Electric / Water Type
50 / 65 / 107 / 105 / 107 / 86
Ability: Levitate
Modest Nature
252 Hp / 252 Def / 4 SpA
The Grave Skipper @ Chesto Berry
*Hydro Pump
*Thunderbolt / Thunder
*Will-O-Wisp / Dark Pulse / Volt Switch / Thunder Wave / Psych Up
*Rest
Meet Rotom-W, a Pokémon that has truly shined in the OU tier, and also in this team. While it is true the Rotom-W does not bring anything new to the team, sometimes the classics are the best. The best thing about this Rotom is that you can replace it with a different Rotom-W set of your choice. Want a fast sweeper? Want a powerful Pokemon that can take a hit and hit back hard? Go for it. But this set is just the default as it provides Rotom-W with the staying power it needs to pull of a ChestoResto Set, fully replenishing his health and giving him another life to wreak even more havoc. After all, that face will be the last thing your opponent’s team will see after the world starts to turn black and cold.
Moves
Hydro Pump is a given. It’s the only one he’s got. Deal with it.
Thunderbolt was chosen over Volt Switch for the power it brings. It would be nice to be able to switch out of a powerful attack or status but it needs the power to actually cause gaping wounds in its opponents. If a particular pokemon were to replace Noivern and use Rain Dance, the team would actually benefit a lot. Volcarona can use Hurricane more effectively, Aggron doesn’t need to worry too much about powerful fire types and Rotom-W’s Hydro Pump becomes deadly on a Sweeper Set. Thunder could be used for Rain but outside of it the accuracy would not be worth it.
The third move slot is key. If the replacement Pokemon came in then Rotom-W could replace Will-O-Wisp with Thunder Wave to help Togekiss with her Paraflinch technique. OR it could go for a coverage move. Dark Pulse is good for taking down Ghost and Psychic Types while Volt Switch prevents weak or weakened Rotom-W from being hit super-effectively. Psych Up is a situational move, so it’s not used much. However, it is awesome for tackling down opponents who like to boost their stats to impressive heights. Sigilyph’s main stradegy is to just get as any Cosmic Powers as it can get to stall out other pokemon. If you have versed one before or a pokemon who does this, it can be annoying to take them down. So if you can’t beat them, join them! Rotom-W laughs in his opponent’s face when his stats are suddenly boosted to jaw dropping heights while the opponent has been worn down significantly. And if Rotom-W suffers from status then don’t worry, this set utilizes that problem by making Rotom-W sleep and wakeing it up ready to go another round. This move is a very, very nasty surprise for your opponent, as they will not know how to handle such a threat unless they have a healing move with a Status move.
Rest is necessary for this set as it needs it to gain momentum once more and to remove all stats from itself.
The Bad News
While Rotom-W does sound like it is unstoppable it is far from perfect. Rotom-W only has two good moves to use, which means that he will struggle under certain situations. In rain his Hydro Pump is boosted, however opposing rain teams have at least one pokemon that carries Thunder, which Rotom-W does not enjoy too much. Under the Sun, Rotom-W’s only good move is Thunderbolt, which is blocked by Ground type pokemon and is ineffective against Electric types. Certain Pokemon can become annoying too as the can put Rotom-W into a panic attack. If it goes up against Tyranitar in sandstorm while it has Assault Vest on it can be very hard to finish him off as Rotom-W’s attacks do minor damage. Grass Pokemon need to be taken care of first for Rotom-W to do any major damage as grass is the only type it is weakest to. Gang Up’s can be problematic as Rotom-W won’t be able to use Rest in time and will die in the process. If Rotom-W has already used its berry then it cannot do much else to heal itself outside of Latias. Also, depending on the set you use Rotom-W is going to miss out on either Hp, SpA or Spe outside of Tailwind. Regardless of these flaws, Rotom-W is a Pokemon to watch out for as it does not play nice despite it’s Modest nature.
Volcarona
Bug / Fire Type
85 / 60 / 65 / 135 / 105 / 100
Ability: Flame Body
Timid / Modest Nature
252 Hp / 252 Def OR 252 SpA / 4 SpA OR 4 Spe
The Annihilator @ Life Orb OR Leftovers
*Heat Wave
*Bug Buzz
*Quiver Dance / Hurricane
*Roost / Giga Drain / Hurricane
Meet Volcarona, the late game sweeper. Everyone knows Volcarona for being the best user of Quiver Dance, one of the best boosting moves in the game. And for this reason everyone is terrified when one of these powerhouses plows through everything you’ve got. The best thing about Volcarona is that it can act under the sun and in the rain with Hurricane. And while it’s stats are fitting, it also has the benefit of having 3 healing moves, allowing it to stop too much damage from accumulating and ruining it’s streak.
Moves
Heat Wave is awesome once there are a couple of Quiver Dances under Volcarona’s belt. It pretty much K.O.’s most pokemon, even those that do resist it! Having the sun set up makes it even better so you can abuse sun teams Chlorophyll Users.
Bug Buzz allows Volcarona to hit Reuniclus hard, preventing it from setting up Trick Room. In fact, Bug Buzz prevents Dark, Psychic and Grass Types from entering play, allowing Volcarona to stop some pretty powerful threats like Hydreigon, Trick Room abusers, Latios and Latias, Whimsicott and other powerful threats from doing too much to your team.
Quiver Dance boosts Special Attack, Special Defense and Speed. Nuf Said. But, if you prefer, hurricane is available, but will prevent Volcarona from becoming a bigger threat than before.
The last move depends on what you want out of Volcarona. Roost is more flexible being able to use it whenever you want to in most situations. However, Giga Drain allows Volcarona to hit major threats for great damage, and with enough QD’s you can K.O. most of them. Rock pokemon are not annoying to deal with, rain teams are much easier to deal with (exception of Sap Sipper, which no one uses) and can help Volcarona with its maneuverability. However, sometimes it is not recommended due to the fact that 1. It is not powerful 2. No STAB 3. You might not be able to get that much health back like roost does. Plus Tentacruel and the like can use Liquid Ooze to damage Volcarona, which never happens anyway. However, with Latias Support you can replace these moves with hurricane to deal with Rain Teams more easily.
Synergy
Volcarona is a sweeper, thus needing the help of others to plow through some threats and needed support. Aggron with boosts protects it from Rock pokemon while hitting Flying Types hard with Stone Edge, Noivern helps her speed with Tailwind while weakening opponents with Super Fang. Latias can heal support and can remove threats, Togekiss prevents attacks from touching Volcarona with Follow Me while Rotom-W helps with Rock, Ground, Water and Flying Type threats.
The Bad News
Rock Moves. Oh how Volcarona hates them. Rock and Ground Types are problematic for her even when using Giga Drain. Under Sandstorm Volcarona cannot stand a chance and is normally useless under rain without Giga Drain and Hurricane. Even in the sun, against other Fire Types she cannot over power some of them like Mega Charizard Y. But the thing Volcarona fears most is Stealth Rock and hazard damage, preventing her from becoming a monster and more of a waste. What hurts her even more is that no one on the team can stop Stealth Rocks. However, Latias under Tailwind solves this problem slightly by Heal Pulsing her to full Hp. Trick Room is a pain because Volcarona cannot use Quiver Dance, but will still be able to hit Dark and Psychic Type pokemon for good damage. Without a healing move it leaves Volcarona incredibly weak to continuous damage even with the Quiver Dances boosting her Special Defence stat. If Volcarona only has Heat Wave and Bug Buzz, she will not be able to hit some pokemon for effective damage while they set up. Taunt isn’t really a problem, but it can prevent Quiver Dances from being used. But while it sounds like Volcarona is a liability on this team, once it has set up it will destroy them in her wrath. And while Aggron and Volcarona work well, Aggron misses being able to use Earthquake on his foes without killing her in the process.
And so that is it. But for some people, having two dragon types in the new fairy dominated tier, weaknesses to stealth rock, Ice and Rock problems, the problematic weather conditions and Taunt vulnerability, people would be very anxious about using a team like this. For those people there is a very good answer. If you replace Noivern with this Pokémon, have Togekiss learn Tailwind, have Rotom-W change Will-O-Wisp for another move and have Latias use Reflect Type, then this Prankster User will be the best thing you’ll ever use.
Sableye
Dark / Ghost Type
50 / 75 / 75 / 65 / 65 / 50
Ability: Prankster
Careful Nature
252 Hp / 252 SpD / 4 Def
The Prankster @ Leftovers
*Knock Off /Rain Dance
*Will-O-Wisp / Rain Dance
*Taunt / Rain Dance
*Recover / RAIN DANCE!!!!
Meet Sableye, the gremlin you once thought was horrible is now burning your opponent to a crisp. While the lost of Noivern is hard, Sableye can definitely make up for that with his ability Prankster, a wealth of great moves and his typing boasting three immunities, including Fake Out and Extreme Speed.
Moves
Knock Off might seem strange. There are other moves that would be better for Sableye to use, like Fake Out, Foul Play, Night Shade, Sucker Punch, Snarl, Payback and maybe Zen Headbutt, Low Sweep or Rock Tomb if you want to surprise your opponent. But with Steel Type resistances to Dark and Ghost being removed and Items being more important than ever, Knock Off holds up as one of Sableyes best move. Knocking off Leftovers, Life Orbs and Choice Items is awesome; it also prevents some users from using berries and rare items. Sableye also gets STAB if that’s a better way of looking at its awful 20 Base Power. If you want you could use another move, but Sableye loves to help his teammates out more than he loves using his 75 Attack and 65 Special Attack.
Will-O-Wisp is what makes Sableye only better, being the only Prankster user to get it. It not only helps Sableye get damage on its opponent, but also helps the entire team out with dealing major stalls. This is a must for him.
Taunt is what makes Sableye so different from Noivern. Prankster Taunt allows him to shut down stalls, boosting sweepers, Blissey and Chansey and other Taunt Users, though he must watch out for other Pranksters. By doing so Latias can go about doing her thing as Volcarona and Aggron can continue to boost themselves up with out worrying about status or hazard damage. This is what makes Sableye a diamond in the rough.
How do you make Sableye even worse to fight? By giving it a recovery move! Recover allows Sableye to stall out other pokemon and, with the ability Prankster, makes it hard to defeat without a priority move. It’s also useful because it allows Sableye to continue protecting the team from certain threats by breaking them entirely.
While all of these moves are important, there is *JUST* one move Sableye would love to get its greedy hands upon. Rain Dance might sound like an odd choice, considering that this team was not built to win under it. If you look more closely at the team’s weaknesses though, you’ll see how much they love getting drenched. Other weather teams are no longer a major problem; Sandstorm teams hate having their Rock Type pokemon from losing their 50% SpD boost while Rotom-W loves having its Hydro Pump blast them into rubble, Fire teams can no longer take on Mega Aggron so well, and Volcarona can go about using Hurricane more efficiently. But because Sableye already has a perfect move set, he just cannot afford to lose any moves to run Rain Dance. If however you can remove one (e.g. Rotom-W has Will-O-Wisp instead) then Sabley can further continue to support them team like no other Pokemon could.
Synergy
Sableye is the favorite of the team, as each Pokemon loves how well they can work with him. Aggron doesn’t need to worry about status and Mega Charizard because of Taunt and Rain Dance and can hurt walls even further with Sableyes Will-O-Wisp and Knock Off support. Sableye also prevents Trick Room and even when it is up Sableye gan run with Aggron to ruin teams. Volcarona is the same, but can now Quiver Dance with little to no fear of Status and non-already hazard set up. Rotom-W loves to prevent walls from tasting his pure awesome power and enjoys the Hydro Pump boost and can now run Thunder more effectively. Togekiss can safely set up Tailwind and also loves the support from Will-O-Wisp, Knock Off and Taunt.
Latias, out of all, loves this little guy for a reason; Reflect Type. A once gimmicky move becomes viable to Latias. You see as I stated before, Latias has too many weaknesses to worry about. Pursuit and Sucker Punch weakness is bad enough, being now weak to the new Fairy Type, Aegislashes Ghost Sneak and Ice Moves; it’s not hard to see why everyone doesn’t use it. All that can be changed with Sableyes Typing. Instead of Latias becoming a Dragon / Psychic Type Pokemon now instead becomes Ghost / Dark, granting itself 4 immunities and one weakness to the new Fairy Typing, which it had anyway. But not all is good with Reflect Type. She loses 6 of her resistances, meaning that she cannot go against Rain and Sun Teams as effectively. Common threats in the tier now become worse than before, even with Recover. It is up to you to decide when to use Reflect Type. Or don’t. Even without it Latias enjoys Sableyes presence, as she hates being taunted and walled herself. And while both of these Pokemon are not major threats to the opposition together, they can wear down stall teams and Status inducers if done correctly.
The Bad News
Not all is good for the Darkness Pokemon. With the loss of Noivern, the team does not have a quick way of setting up Tailwind, as against other Tailwind users it becomes more of a struggle than a battle. And while Togekiss is a good candidate for Tailwind many people see it coming miles away and normally prepare for it. Plus Togekiss losses a coverage move that would benefit the team. As for Super Fang it is not a major loss, but a loss at that. Draco Meteor is sorely missed as it would put a major dint in most pokemon that do not resist it, and Latias is better of using Ice Beam; even then Latias does not have the power to hurt opponents hard. As For Sableye itself, there are a few problems that must be watched out for. Sadly, X and Y brought bad news to him. Gifted with the rare Ghost / Dark typing that had no weaknesses, it now leaves him at the mercy of the ill-dreaded Fairy Types as Sableye tries to hide behind Aggron. His stats are also bad as they are. He cannot hit Pokemon well with his attacking move, as Will-O-Wisp will leave him in trouble with Fire Types like Heatran, Charizard Y and Infernape. Powerful Sweepers in general will mince him, as he is very fragile, even with his typing. And as Aggron loves having Sableye around, he just can’t stand not being able to fire off Earthquakes around him. Other Prankster users threaten his rein as they can simply Taunt him and leave Sableye running in circles, but Sableye can piss them off by knocking off their item while gracefully giving them the finger as he leaves the battlefield. And while these problems cause nightmares for Sableye, he himself is a nightmare to watch out for, ruining swell-prepared tactics whilst making room for his teammates to rip them apart.
And there you have it. I believe this team is well worth it. It might not be the best team, but it is definitely a breath of fresh air into the new Meta Game, using the mega evolution and Fairy Typing to its advantage. There are a few things to watch out for however since this team isn’t perfect:
1. Mega Charizard. Dought User that Fire Blast’s everything.
2. Tyranitar. Uses Sandstorm and has high Special Defenses to give the Special Sweepers a headache.
3. Mega Kangaskhan. This guy is a b**ch to deal with when having Fake Out, Sucker Punch and Power-Up punch on the same set.
4. Without rain support, weather becomes problematic.
5. Also, well-prepared Rain Teams can mean ill fortunes for this team.
6. Priority Attacks prevent low-health teammates from being revived as Latias using Heal Pulse or Helping Hand becomes useless when it misses, giving the opposition a free turn.
7. Without Sableye, there are many more threats to deal with. On the other hand, without Noivern you don’t get the cool tricks and the Speedy Tailwind set up that makes this team even better. Survival or Unpredictability.
8. While this team has a wealth of tactics and options, if even one Pokemon faints it prevents the team from striving and may make you lose the game entirely (e.g. Heal Pulse Support)
9. Certain Gang Up Techniques become annoying, as teammates don’t have enough power to wipe them out quickly enough and may be unable to heal in time.
10. Latias cannot heal herself without Recover, meaning that Aggon and the like will go down even quicker.
11. Coverage on this team is lacking, meaning that you won’t be able to hit all pokemon super-effectively
12. Don’t use this team in singles. If you do then it’s your fault for getting slaughtered.
Thank you for taking the time to read it. What do you think of it? Despite the massive amount of information, I think it was well worth the read. Besides, I am positive this is a team that must be on the look out for in doubles, as it has an answer to every problem out there, even the ones you don’t even realize.
-TheClownNuker
Mega Aggron
Noivern
Togekiss
Latias
Rotom W
Volcarona
Meet the new team. It might seem odd to put these pokemon together but all of them have unique purposes and flexibility. This took me ages to write (and test) so please read it all before judging my team choices. Also feel free to add other Pokemon suggestions :)
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Mega Aggron
Steel Type
70 / 140 / 230 / 60 / 80 / 50
Ability: Sturdy / Mega: Filter
Careful Nature
252 SpD / 252 Atk / 4 Hp
The Juggernaut @ Aggronite
*Iron Head
*Earthquake / Ice Punch
*Stone Edge / Rock Slide
*Automitize / Dragon Tail / Ice Punch / Taunt
Meet Aggron. Despite the fact that his defense stat is impressive, sadly his rock/steel typing and weak special defense pummeled him down to the depths of RU. And for a long time it didn't seem like Aggron would see the light of day in the OU tier until Game Freak decided to bless him with a mega form. And now instead of having an average Pokémon we instead get left with the definition of terror.
I'll stop praising Aggron now and get down to business. While you might ask yourself why waste a mega evolution on Aggron then the answer you are looking for is this: Fairy Type. With the new typing becoming one of the most popular types you would most likely find one on nearly every team. Aggron solves this problem by being able to defeat every single fairy Pokémon one-on-one. And while Aggron does not have access to a wide coverage move pool it can still handle on its own with Earthquake, Iron Head, Ice Punch, Stone Edge and Dragon Tail.
Moves
Iron Head is an obvious choice if I didn't make myself clear before.
Stone Edge is also important to Aggron; without it Mega Charizard can simply wipe Aggron out with a Fire Blast or Heat Wave (NOTE: Automatize and Tailwind are needed too because Aggron would still be too slow to finish Charizard off). However if you prefer Rock Slide then it is fine, but the decrease of damage for accuracy and coverage can change the results of a battle significantly, for better or worse.
Why Earthquake? Simple. Like Rock Slide, Earthquake hits multiple opponents for high damage and with the help of helping hand (No Pun Intended) can help Aggron wipe the opponents side of the field clean with the exception of land destruction. However, if you prefer, Ice Punch hits Dragon, Grass, Flying and Ground Types hard allowing Aggron, alongside Iron Head, to hit some of the most powerful threats in the game.
The last slot is the most important move of all. Automatize prevents Aggron from becoming set-up bait for other Pokémon and, along side tail wind, will change Aggron into a force to be reckoned with and is well worth the one, if not two, turns to set it up. But a cool trick up Aggron's metal sleeves is that it can also take on trick room teams, allowing the team to not be walled by trick room users. But if you prefer the coverage moves then go ahead, but remember that Aggron might miss the opportunity of the match by simply not being able to out speed the opponent.
Synergy
Being the Juggernaut that he is, Aggron has a few letdowns. Having no recovery moves, vulnerability to status and sometimes the occasional taunt or low-health priority moves, Aggron at times can lack the right moves to pull through. Thankfully, everyone on this team is there for Aggron. Noivern helps Aggrons speed stats with tailwind while also reducing a bulky opponents health to 50% with Super Fang; Latias heals and helps Aggron with removing certain threats with Roar; Togekiss can use follow me to allow Aggron some space to build up his speed or remove priority on him (e.g. sucker punch and some fake outs); Rotom-W can cripple opponents and remove bulky Ground and Flying types that are faster than him under tailwind while Volcarona can help Aggron weaken opponents.
The Bad News
While it might seem that Aggron is a godsend of a Pokémon, unfortunately there are some let downs. Charizard and other powerful fire types (under sun as well) are the bane of his existence. Mega Y Charizard can simply come in, set up drought and melt him away with a Fire Blast. Powerful Special Attacks can leave Aggron begging for mercy even if it doesn't out right faint him. Aggron sometimes has nightmares about status and, unfortunately, those nightmares are real. VERY REAL. Like they say "A sleeping Aggron is a useless Aggron". Aggron also relies a bit too much on support from it's fellow comrades, and can be a pain when Aggron is the last Pokémon left. And while it might not be much of a problem, priority moves (Mach Punch) and Fake Outs can also get on Aggrons nerves, preventing him from reaching his true potential (hence Togekiss). Aggrons move pool is also a let down, only hitting a few OU Pokémon effectively. It's not a bad thing, but it's still a bit annoying trying to take down an opposing Rotom-W with Will-O-Wisp.
Noivern
Flying / Dragon Type
85 / 70 / 80 / 97 / 80 / 123
Ability: Frisk
Timid Nature
252 SpA / 252 Spe / 4 Hp
The Kamikaze Set Up @ Focus Sash
*Draco Meteor / Dragon Pulse / Hurricane / Flamethrower / Focus Blast
*Tailwind
*Super Fang/ Taunt / The Previous Coverage Moves
*U-Turn
Meet Noivern, a Gen 6 Pokémon that has been gifted with the moves Tailwind and Super Fang. Now I know what you are thinking. "Two Dragons on the same team? Why don't you just let them commit suicide themselves and get on with it." And that is true in Noivern's case... kinda. But I'll explain why Latias later. You see, most people see Noivern as another Crobat, just with a Dragon typing instead. And yes, there are better users of tailwind out there. Players also see Noivern as a Special Sweeper than a Utility Support Pokémon. But the awesome thing about Noivern is that it possesses a few tricks that separate it from others. Its ability Frisk allows the opponents strategy to become a bit more clear preventing a surprise Power Gem Attack from landing on your Pokémon. Draco Meteor and Super Fang combined with U-Turn and Focus Sash allows Noivern to hit opponents hard before they can land the finishing blow. It's pretty funny seeing the opponent use a dragon pulse on a switched out Togekiss while also killing it with Aggron or Rotom-W. And so after much talk let me break down his move set.
Moves
Draco Meteor may seem a bit pathetic when Noivern could be running Dragon Pulse instead. But that is not it's job. Noivern is used to set up Tailwind and/or hit hard then get the hell out of there before being K.O. cold (literally with Ice Beam). Draco Meteor's power is needed to hit the dragon types hard (and sometimes other Pokémon) to increase the chances of other teammates of knocking them out of play. However if Noivern is the last to survive or you need him to constantly hit back then you might want him to pick up another move.
Tailwind is the pride and joy of this team as it can help change the outcome of the match. The Sweepers love it; Latias can Heal Aggron before getting hit and Noivern can U-Turn out before your opponent can say 'sonofabitch'.
Super Fang is an odd choice. It might look like it won't do much but in the field it prevents certain Pokémon from becoming a threat. Blissy and Chansey can be a pain, but when Noivern combines Super Fang with Togekiss's Focus Blast, it leaves your opponent wondering how they are going to handle the situation before Noivern U-Turn's on it, possibly fainting it. But sometimes that situation never arises, so Noivern is left with pretty bad offensive coverage especially against fairy Pokémon. Another coverage move is suitable if you'd like. As for taunt scroll down to Noiverns Synergy Section.
U-Turn is a great move for Noivern as it prevents Noivern from being excess weight and can also allow Noivern to set up Tailwind once more.
Synergy
If you already know what role each member has and their move slots you would notice that each one is set up bait for taunt. While none of them fully rely on it (Latias is the exception) then it would be pretty advisable to take out the taunt user(s). Also every member hates having status on them. Noivern can help ease these worries and problems by using taunt. Every Pokémon enjoys it immensely. But due to Noiverns role as a Kamikaze Support, only lasting about two hits, it prevents Noivern from using it effectively. Regardless though, every member enjoys Noiverns help. Increase speed and/or weakening opponents before your other Pokémon attack is an awesome trade off if done correctly.
The Bad News
If you were to punch a Noivern with all your might, you would discover that Noivern would most likely faint. If you actually imagined yourself punching one and watching it cry in agony then you would make a pretty bad trainer. However I'll forgive you for reading this far. Regardless, Noivern is pretty weak. A 4x weakness to ice and 2x weakness from rock, dragon and fairy types are extremely undesirable being that most Pokémon use these types of moves. Thanks to the Focus Sash it can set up Tailwind unless:
1. Fake Out & Sucker Punch
2. Sleep or Paralyze Status
3. Priority moves plus other damaging attacks or damage (e.g. Ice Shard then Rock Slide or Sand Storm)
4. 'The Gang Up Technique'
5. Taunt is a given (ESPECIALLY PRANKSTER USERS)
6. Hazard damage like Stealth Rock then an attack
Also Noivern has low coverage or low usage depending on what moves you choose. Either way, if you know how to handle him then he can definitely change the tide of the battle, even if it is ever so slightly.
Latias
Dragon / Psychic Type
80 / 80 / 90 / 110 / 130 / 110
Ability: Levitate
Bold Nature
252 Hp / 252 Def / 4 Spe
The Specialist @ Sitrus Berry
*Ice Beam / Psychic / Energy Ball / Any Coverage Move
*Roar / Helping Hand / Icy Wind / Recover
*Heal Pulse
*Protect / Helping Hand / Reflect Type
Meet Latias, the glue that holds the team together. To answer your question before 'Why two dragon types?" To be honest I would prefer not to have two dragon types on my team. However there is one move that made me choose Latias over other Pokémon: Healing Pulse. It's an amazing move (if it doesn't miss) and can allow every member to live another turn as it also saves Aggron from his grave. I originally had both Gallade and Blissey run Heal Pulse. The problem was that Gallade always cowered behind protect while most people prepared for the likes of Blissey and Chansey. Latias also has a few niches over other heal pulse users. It's stats allow it to be effective under Tailwind, she has decent defense and high special defences and her typing, while being a double edged sword, can take Fire, Water, Grass, Electric, Fighting and Psychic attacks. It's typing and ability prevents entry hazards from becoming a major problem and allows Aggron to blast off Earthquakes with the help of Helping Hand (again, no pun). It also isn't left as set up bait, having 110 SpA and also access to Roar, which also prevents Substitutes thanks to X and Y. Capable of saving the team from failure, she is definitely a keeper.
Moves
Latias suffers from four-move syndrome to put it bluntly. It prevents Latias from covering all bases, as this team does suffer from not having Psychic and Grass moves (also Ice if Aggron is lacking). However she is still able to effectively support the team no matter the moves you choose.
The attacking move depends on what you want out of Latias. Ice Beam takes care of Ground, Flying, Grass and Dragon Pokémon, Psychic gets her STAB and takes care of Bulky Fighting types and Energy Ball prevents rain teams, ground and rock Pokémon and the infamous Water/Ground Pokémon from entering the spotlight. Either way each one has it's own use.
Roar is awesome. It prevents Shell Smashers, Cotton Guarders, Moxie Users, Bulk Uppers, Calm Minders, Sword Dancers, Cosmic Power Abusers, Dragon Dancers Etc. from building up to much power and sweeping your team. Must I go on? It is at the mercy at taunt but it can stop the opponent out right. However under Tailwind it kind of wastes a turn sweeping as other moves could be used. Helping Hand makes the other team squeals in fear as Boosted Volcarona Blasts them into oblivion. If it doesn't work then it gives the opposition a free turn. Icy Wind however prevents speedy sweepers from gaining too much speed as your team continues to boosts their stats. Recover speaks for itself, allowing Laitas to survive longer.
Heal Pulse. Prevents death even in the worst of times. This is the reason why Latias is here to stay. If the move misses however then the opposition gets a free turn.
While Latias has many resistances she also has too many weaknesses; Ice, Bug, Ghost, Dragon, Dark and Fairy. Protect allows Latias to survive the likes of Aegislash's boosted Shadow Sneaks to take her down as Aggron continues to spam Earthquake. However if you want Roar then feel free to use Helping Hand. OR you could go for Reflect Type. It's an interesting move that washes all of Latias's weaknesses away and replace them for better ones. If you play your cards right you can change to steel for all the wonderful resistances it brings; normal for immunity against ghosts and even fairy to go up against dragon and ice moves with little to worry about. You could switch types to your opponents to prevent super effective moves and annoy the opponent while also gaining STAB on your coverage move. And if it counts both types then you could switch in on a Mawile or Klefki to gain a 2x Fire Weakness or a 2x Grass weakness on Rotom-W. But the sweetest payoff will be when the very rare Sableye or Spiritomb comes along to create a very interesting battle. However, that being said it is a gimmicky move. If not used correctly it can break Latias and make it pretty much unusable. An example is using Reflect Type on a Jellicent and getting a Giga Drain to the face.
The Bad News
Yep. You could see this coming from a mile away. Don't be so modest. Having some pretty popular weaknesses leaves Latias in constant terror from some of the most dominating Pokémon in the OU Tier. With the introduction of Fairy types, it prevents Latias even further by having now 6 weaknesses; all of witch have special moves like pursuit to keep her in her place. Having four move syndrome puts Latias into a risky position too, as not having the right moves can make her useless in dire situations. She also hates being the last Pokémon left on the team as she cannot handle threats by herself. Which is why it is recommended that Latias should be one of the first Pokémon into play. Another minor problem is when the opposition has an ability or typing to prevent her attacking moves from causing harm. When carrying Psychic, Dark pokemon are her bane. Sap Sippers, while rare, can be a problem when facing Goodra. And Ice Beam is pretty pathetic against Cloyster and Heatran. However if you do decide to go Dragon Pulse or Draco Meteor then be wary against Fairy Types, plus it does not get good coverage for the team as it only hits neutral against everything but Steel Types.
Togekiss
Fairy / Flying Type
85 / 50 / 95 / 120 / 115 / 80
Ability: Serene Grace
Bold Nature
248 Hp / 252 Def / 8 Spe
The Saving Grace @ Leftovers
*Air Slash
*Dazzling Gleam
*Aura Sphere / Fire Blast / Any Coverage Move / Roost / Thunder Wave
*Follow Me
Meet Togekiss, the best thing since sliced bread. Not really, but it is still badass. Togekiss has been known for its unique ability Serene Grave which allows it to double the secondary effects on its moves. This one ability has also got it’s own role as ‘ParaFlinching’ to pretty much stun the opponent to death which as forced rage quits and left people at it’s mercy. If that isn’t a good reason to have it, it also gains the new fairy type to deal with dragons and gives it more resistances than before. But just like in past generations it also gains the move Follow Me, and it is a blessing to this team. Removing all damage from your teammate while they set up Tailwind or Automatize is something this team appreciates a lot. There’s a reason why Togekiss is one of the best Pokemon on this team.
Moves
Air Slash has no good reason to be removed. STAB and the flinching chance is all good for Togekiss even without Paralyze support.
Dazzling Gleam is one of the new toys Togekiss gained in X and Y, able to get STAB and hit multiple opponents is a good enough reason to have it on your team. And while some may argue that there are other good moves Togekiss can use, just remember that if Latias has helping hand Togekiss can deal massive damage.
The next move depends on what you want out of Togekiss; Coverage, Thunder Wave or Roost. Aura Sphere is preferred because it hits most Pokémon on the opposing team for good damage, even if Tyranitar has Assault Vest on. However most people would just like to keep Togekiss alive or would prefer to have her Paralyze the opponent. And while those options are pretty good too, Togekiss will miss out on supporting the team by lacking a coverage move.
Follow Me is the Ace up Togekiss’s sleeve, as it allows her to absorb all damage while a teammate sets up or takes down a powerful foe. It also has a couple of other cool tricks with the addition of Fairy typing, being able to absorb Draco Meteors for Latias and Hydro Blasts for Volcarona.
Synergy
Every Teammate loves Togekiss. Aggron can set up and continue to fire off Earthquakes, ditto with Volcarona. It saves Rotom-W from a grass move as well as saving Latias and Noivern from being taken down by Draco Meteor.
The Bad News
There is a reason why this set is called ‘The Saving Grace’. Unfortunately for Togekiss it can’t take all the damage all the time. Like a good solider it prevents it’s teammates from getting the super effective hits and instead inflicts them upon her self. What is also unfortunate is that Togekiss shares the same weaknesses as most of the team, being Rock, Electric and Ice. If Noivern is replaced by a particular Pokémon, the likeliness of super-effective moves hitting her are then reduced. If she also does not sport Roost, she will bleed out too quickly. She is also weak to Stealth Rock, which some teams are designed to incorporate into their strategy, while spike and toxic spikes don’t even touch her. Another thing is that without a coverage move she won’t be able to take down Rock and Ice Type Pokémon, and also the few others who resist all of her moves. However, a note here is that she can just Paraflinch them all to death with the exception of Ground and Electric type Pokémon, namely Thunderus. If she is taunted then it is not so bad, but prevents her to truly shine in the match. But sometimes it is a good thing, taking a Pokemons taunt and preventing Latias to set up.
Rotom-W
Electric / Water Type
50 / 65 / 107 / 105 / 107 / 86
Ability: Levitate
Modest Nature
252 Hp / 252 Def / 4 SpA
The Grave Skipper @ Chesto Berry
*Hydro Pump
*Thunderbolt / Thunder
*Will-O-Wisp / Dark Pulse / Volt Switch / Thunder Wave / Psych Up
*Rest
Meet Rotom-W, a Pokémon that has truly shined in the OU tier, and also in this team. While it is true the Rotom-W does not bring anything new to the team, sometimes the classics are the best. The best thing about this Rotom is that you can replace it with a different Rotom-W set of your choice. Want a fast sweeper? Want a powerful Pokemon that can take a hit and hit back hard? Go for it. But this set is just the default as it provides Rotom-W with the staying power it needs to pull of a ChestoResto Set, fully replenishing his health and giving him another life to wreak even more havoc. After all, that face will be the last thing your opponent’s team will see after the world starts to turn black and cold.
Moves
Hydro Pump is a given. It’s the only one he’s got. Deal with it.
Thunderbolt was chosen over Volt Switch for the power it brings. It would be nice to be able to switch out of a powerful attack or status but it needs the power to actually cause gaping wounds in its opponents. If a particular pokemon were to replace Noivern and use Rain Dance, the team would actually benefit a lot. Volcarona can use Hurricane more effectively, Aggron doesn’t need to worry too much about powerful fire types and Rotom-W’s Hydro Pump becomes deadly on a Sweeper Set. Thunder could be used for Rain but outside of it the accuracy would not be worth it.
The third move slot is key. If the replacement Pokemon came in then Rotom-W could replace Will-O-Wisp with Thunder Wave to help Togekiss with her Paraflinch technique. OR it could go for a coverage move. Dark Pulse is good for taking down Ghost and Psychic Types while Volt Switch prevents weak or weakened Rotom-W from being hit super-effectively. Psych Up is a situational move, so it’s not used much. However, it is awesome for tackling down opponents who like to boost their stats to impressive heights. Sigilyph’s main stradegy is to just get as any Cosmic Powers as it can get to stall out other pokemon. If you have versed one before or a pokemon who does this, it can be annoying to take them down. So if you can’t beat them, join them! Rotom-W laughs in his opponent’s face when his stats are suddenly boosted to jaw dropping heights while the opponent has been worn down significantly. And if Rotom-W suffers from status then don’t worry, this set utilizes that problem by making Rotom-W sleep and wakeing it up ready to go another round. This move is a very, very nasty surprise for your opponent, as they will not know how to handle such a threat unless they have a healing move with a Status move.
Rest is necessary for this set as it needs it to gain momentum once more and to remove all stats from itself.
The Bad News
While Rotom-W does sound like it is unstoppable it is far from perfect. Rotom-W only has two good moves to use, which means that he will struggle under certain situations. In rain his Hydro Pump is boosted, however opposing rain teams have at least one pokemon that carries Thunder, which Rotom-W does not enjoy too much. Under the Sun, Rotom-W’s only good move is Thunderbolt, which is blocked by Ground type pokemon and is ineffective against Electric types. Certain Pokemon can become annoying too as the can put Rotom-W into a panic attack. If it goes up against Tyranitar in sandstorm while it has Assault Vest on it can be very hard to finish him off as Rotom-W’s attacks do minor damage. Grass Pokemon need to be taken care of first for Rotom-W to do any major damage as grass is the only type it is weakest to. Gang Up’s can be problematic as Rotom-W won’t be able to use Rest in time and will die in the process. If Rotom-W has already used its berry then it cannot do much else to heal itself outside of Latias. Also, depending on the set you use Rotom-W is going to miss out on either Hp, SpA or Spe outside of Tailwind. Regardless of these flaws, Rotom-W is a Pokemon to watch out for as it does not play nice despite it’s Modest nature.
Volcarona
Bug / Fire Type
85 / 60 / 65 / 135 / 105 / 100
Ability: Flame Body
Timid / Modest Nature
252 Hp / 252 Def OR 252 SpA / 4 SpA OR 4 Spe
The Annihilator @ Life Orb OR Leftovers
*Heat Wave
*Bug Buzz
*Quiver Dance / Hurricane
*Roost / Giga Drain / Hurricane
Meet Volcarona, the late game sweeper. Everyone knows Volcarona for being the best user of Quiver Dance, one of the best boosting moves in the game. And for this reason everyone is terrified when one of these powerhouses plows through everything you’ve got. The best thing about Volcarona is that it can act under the sun and in the rain with Hurricane. And while it’s stats are fitting, it also has the benefit of having 3 healing moves, allowing it to stop too much damage from accumulating and ruining it’s streak.
Moves
Heat Wave is awesome once there are a couple of Quiver Dances under Volcarona’s belt. It pretty much K.O.’s most pokemon, even those that do resist it! Having the sun set up makes it even better so you can abuse sun teams Chlorophyll Users.
Bug Buzz allows Volcarona to hit Reuniclus hard, preventing it from setting up Trick Room. In fact, Bug Buzz prevents Dark, Psychic and Grass Types from entering play, allowing Volcarona to stop some pretty powerful threats like Hydreigon, Trick Room abusers, Latios and Latias, Whimsicott and other powerful threats from doing too much to your team.
Quiver Dance boosts Special Attack, Special Defense and Speed. Nuf Said. But, if you prefer, hurricane is available, but will prevent Volcarona from becoming a bigger threat than before.
The last move depends on what you want out of Volcarona. Roost is more flexible being able to use it whenever you want to in most situations. However, Giga Drain allows Volcarona to hit major threats for great damage, and with enough QD’s you can K.O. most of them. Rock pokemon are not annoying to deal with, rain teams are much easier to deal with (exception of Sap Sipper, which no one uses) and can help Volcarona with its maneuverability. However, sometimes it is not recommended due to the fact that 1. It is not powerful 2. No STAB 3. You might not be able to get that much health back like roost does. Plus Tentacruel and the like can use Liquid Ooze to damage Volcarona, which never happens anyway. However, with Latias Support you can replace these moves with hurricane to deal with Rain Teams more easily.
Synergy
Volcarona is a sweeper, thus needing the help of others to plow through some threats and needed support. Aggron with boosts protects it from Rock pokemon while hitting Flying Types hard with Stone Edge, Noivern helps her speed with Tailwind while weakening opponents with Super Fang. Latias can heal support and can remove threats, Togekiss prevents attacks from touching Volcarona with Follow Me while Rotom-W helps with Rock, Ground, Water and Flying Type threats.
The Bad News
Rock Moves. Oh how Volcarona hates them. Rock and Ground Types are problematic for her even when using Giga Drain. Under Sandstorm Volcarona cannot stand a chance and is normally useless under rain without Giga Drain and Hurricane. Even in the sun, against other Fire Types she cannot over power some of them like Mega Charizard Y. But the thing Volcarona fears most is Stealth Rock and hazard damage, preventing her from becoming a monster and more of a waste. What hurts her even more is that no one on the team can stop Stealth Rocks. However, Latias under Tailwind solves this problem slightly by Heal Pulsing her to full Hp. Trick Room is a pain because Volcarona cannot use Quiver Dance, but will still be able to hit Dark and Psychic Type pokemon for good damage. Without a healing move it leaves Volcarona incredibly weak to continuous damage even with the Quiver Dances boosting her Special Defence stat. If Volcarona only has Heat Wave and Bug Buzz, she will not be able to hit some pokemon for effective damage while they set up. Taunt isn’t really a problem, but it can prevent Quiver Dances from being used. But while it sounds like Volcarona is a liability on this team, once it has set up it will destroy them in her wrath. And while Aggron and Volcarona work well, Aggron misses being able to use Earthquake on his foes without killing her in the process.
And so that is it. But for some people, having two dragon types in the new fairy dominated tier, weaknesses to stealth rock, Ice and Rock problems, the problematic weather conditions and Taunt vulnerability, people would be very anxious about using a team like this. For those people there is a very good answer. If you replace Noivern with this Pokémon, have Togekiss learn Tailwind, have Rotom-W change Will-O-Wisp for another move and have Latias use Reflect Type, then this Prankster User will be the best thing you’ll ever use.
Sableye
Dark / Ghost Type
50 / 75 / 75 / 65 / 65 / 50
Ability: Prankster
Careful Nature
252 Hp / 252 SpD / 4 Def
The Prankster @ Leftovers
*Knock Off /Rain Dance
*Will-O-Wisp / Rain Dance
*Taunt / Rain Dance
*Recover / RAIN DANCE!!!!
Meet Sableye, the gremlin you once thought was horrible is now burning your opponent to a crisp. While the lost of Noivern is hard, Sableye can definitely make up for that with his ability Prankster, a wealth of great moves and his typing boasting three immunities, including Fake Out and Extreme Speed.
Moves
Knock Off might seem strange. There are other moves that would be better for Sableye to use, like Fake Out, Foul Play, Night Shade, Sucker Punch, Snarl, Payback and maybe Zen Headbutt, Low Sweep or Rock Tomb if you want to surprise your opponent. But with Steel Type resistances to Dark and Ghost being removed and Items being more important than ever, Knock Off holds up as one of Sableyes best move. Knocking off Leftovers, Life Orbs and Choice Items is awesome; it also prevents some users from using berries and rare items. Sableye also gets STAB if that’s a better way of looking at its awful 20 Base Power. If you want you could use another move, but Sableye loves to help his teammates out more than he loves using his 75 Attack and 65 Special Attack.
Will-O-Wisp is what makes Sableye only better, being the only Prankster user to get it. It not only helps Sableye get damage on its opponent, but also helps the entire team out with dealing major stalls. This is a must for him.
Taunt is what makes Sableye so different from Noivern. Prankster Taunt allows him to shut down stalls, boosting sweepers, Blissey and Chansey and other Taunt Users, though he must watch out for other Pranksters. By doing so Latias can go about doing her thing as Volcarona and Aggron can continue to boost themselves up with out worrying about status or hazard damage. This is what makes Sableye a diamond in the rough.
How do you make Sableye even worse to fight? By giving it a recovery move! Recover allows Sableye to stall out other pokemon and, with the ability Prankster, makes it hard to defeat without a priority move. It’s also useful because it allows Sableye to continue protecting the team from certain threats by breaking them entirely.
While all of these moves are important, there is *JUST* one move Sableye would love to get its greedy hands upon. Rain Dance might sound like an odd choice, considering that this team was not built to win under it. If you look more closely at the team’s weaknesses though, you’ll see how much they love getting drenched. Other weather teams are no longer a major problem; Sandstorm teams hate having their Rock Type pokemon from losing their 50% SpD boost while Rotom-W loves having its Hydro Pump blast them into rubble, Fire teams can no longer take on Mega Aggron so well, and Volcarona can go about using Hurricane more efficiently. But because Sableye already has a perfect move set, he just cannot afford to lose any moves to run Rain Dance. If however you can remove one (e.g. Rotom-W has Will-O-Wisp instead) then Sabley can further continue to support them team like no other Pokemon could.
Synergy
Sableye is the favorite of the team, as each Pokemon loves how well they can work with him. Aggron doesn’t need to worry about status and Mega Charizard because of Taunt and Rain Dance and can hurt walls even further with Sableyes Will-O-Wisp and Knock Off support. Sableye also prevents Trick Room and even when it is up Sableye gan run with Aggron to ruin teams. Volcarona is the same, but can now Quiver Dance with little to no fear of Status and non-already hazard set up. Rotom-W loves to prevent walls from tasting his pure awesome power and enjoys the Hydro Pump boost and can now run Thunder more effectively. Togekiss can safely set up Tailwind and also loves the support from Will-O-Wisp, Knock Off and Taunt.
Latias, out of all, loves this little guy for a reason; Reflect Type. A once gimmicky move becomes viable to Latias. You see as I stated before, Latias has too many weaknesses to worry about. Pursuit and Sucker Punch weakness is bad enough, being now weak to the new Fairy Type, Aegislashes Ghost Sneak and Ice Moves; it’s not hard to see why everyone doesn’t use it. All that can be changed with Sableyes Typing. Instead of Latias becoming a Dragon / Psychic Type Pokemon now instead becomes Ghost / Dark, granting itself 4 immunities and one weakness to the new Fairy Typing, which it had anyway. But not all is good with Reflect Type. She loses 6 of her resistances, meaning that she cannot go against Rain and Sun Teams as effectively. Common threats in the tier now become worse than before, even with Recover. It is up to you to decide when to use Reflect Type. Or don’t. Even without it Latias enjoys Sableyes presence, as she hates being taunted and walled herself. And while both of these Pokemon are not major threats to the opposition together, they can wear down stall teams and Status inducers if done correctly.
The Bad News
Not all is good for the Darkness Pokemon. With the loss of Noivern, the team does not have a quick way of setting up Tailwind, as against other Tailwind users it becomes more of a struggle than a battle. And while Togekiss is a good candidate for Tailwind many people see it coming miles away and normally prepare for it. Plus Togekiss losses a coverage move that would benefit the team. As for Super Fang it is not a major loss, but a loss at that. Draco Meteor is sorely missed as it would put a major dint in most pokemon that do not resist it, and Latias is better of using Ice Beam; even then Latias does not have the power to hurt opponents hard. As For Sableye itself, there are a few problems that must be watched out for. Sadly, X and Y brought bad news to him. Gifted with the rare Ghost / Dark typing that had no weaknesses, it now leaves him at the mercy of the ill-dreaded Fairy Types as Sableye tries to hide behind Aggron. His stats are also bad as they are. He cannot hit Pokemon well with his attacking move, as Will-O-Wisp will leave him in trouble with Fire Types like Heatran, Charizard Y and Infernape. Powerful Sweepers in general will mince him, as he is very fragile, even with his typing. And as Aggron loves having Sableye around, he just can’t stand not being able to fire off Earthquakes around him. Other Prankster users threaten his rein as they can simply Taunt him and leave Sableye running in circles, but Sableye can piss them off by knocking off their item while gracefully giving them the finger as he leaves the battlefield. And while these problems cause nightmares for Sableye, he himself is a nightmare to watch out for, ruining swell-prepared tactics whilst making room for his teammates to rip them apart.
And there you have it. I believe this team is well worth it. It might not be the best team, but it is definitely a breath of fresh air into the new Meta Game, using the mega evolution and Fairy Typing to its advantage. There are a few things to watch out for however since this team isn’t perfect:
1. Mega Charizard. Dought User that Fire Blast’s everything.
2. Tyranitar. Uses Sandstorm and has high Special Defenses to give the Special Sweepers a headache.
3. Mega Kangaskhan. This guy is a b**ch to deal with when having Fake Out, Sucker Punch and Power-Up punch on the same set.
4. Without rain support, weather becomes problematic.
5. Also, well-prepared Rain Teams can mean ill fortunes for this team.
6. Priority Attacks prevent low-health teammates from being revived as Latias using Heal Pulse or Helping Hand becomes useless when it misses, giving the opposition a free turn.
7. Without Sableye, there are many more threats to deal with. On the other hand, without Noivern you don’t get the cool tricks and the Speedy Tailwind set up that makes this team even better. Survival or Unpredictability.
8. While this team has a wealth of tactics and options, if even one Pokemon faints it prevents the team from striving and may make you lose the game entirely (e.g. Heal Pulse Support)
9. Certain Gang Up Techniques become annoying, as teammates don’t have enough power to wipe them out quickly enough and may be unable to heal in time.
10. Latias cannot heal herself without Recover, meaning that Aggon and the like will go down even quicker.
11. Coverage on this team is lacking, meaning that you won’t be able to hit all pokemon super-effectively
12. Don’t use this team in singles. If you do then it’s your fault for getting slaughtered.
Thank you for taking the time to read it. What do you think of it? Despite the massive amount of information, I think it was well worth the read. Besides, I am positive this is a team that must be on the look out for in doubles, as it has an answer to every problem out there, even the ones you don’t even realize.
-TheClownNuker