As an introduction, I am quite different from the demographic here as I am a fairly old woman in my 20s (although I still have some of my youthful prepubescent appearance) and I was practically addicted to the English anime in college and even to this day. That's enough about me.
Here's my team:
Scizor @ Life Orb
Trait: Technician
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def
Adamant Nature
IVs: 30 Atk / 30 Def
- Bullet Punch
- Superpower
- Swords Dance
- Roost
Standard Sweeper, no explanation needed. I think I was trying to build this team around preparing a sweep for Scizor.
Bug Bite is most likely better than Roost. Scizor does benefit from paralysis support since it can achieve OHKO with Bug Bite on faster foes that do not resist Bug that would be 2HKOs with Bullet Punch. Superpower can deal with slower steal types.
Breloom
(M) @ Life Orb
Trait: Technician
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk
Adamant Nature
- Mach Punch
- Low Sweep
- Bullet Seed
- Spore
I do not have much experience using this Pokemon. The main upsides are that it addresses bulky water types, Tyranitar, ground physical walls Hippowdon (although Skarmory resists its grass and can sponge neutral Low Kicks, and Donphan has Ice Shard), Jellicent (hitting it with a physical grass attack), and Ferrothorn. Low Kick on a switch in makes Breloom faster unless that user is Scarfed or has higher base speed than Latios or Gengar (and Gengar resists it). Spore is nifty (and the 100% accuracy is needed since Breloom cannot take any hits, especially after entry hazard damage and orb recoil), but has negative synergy with Thunder Wave from Jirachi.
Aside from dealing with specific walls listed above, it is a power Pokemon that greatly benefits from paralysis support. It complements Scizor by using its fighting moves to kill Steel and Water types that would resist Bullet Punch.
Alakazam @ Focus Sash
Trait: Magic Guard
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature
- Psychic
- Focus Blast
- Signal Beam
- Hidden Power [Ice]
Focus Sash because this Pokemon is very vulnerable to Sucker Punch. You don't need be good at math to know that 2 > 1.3 (if the Pokemon survives any of Alakazam's attacks) or 0 > 1 (or Alakazam gets hit with priority, Scarf or Sand Rush or Chlorophyll).
I considered Jolteon and Starmie as replacements since they have a better STABs (electric and water is usually better than Psychic), or in the later case better coverage and Rapid Spin. Jolteon and Starmie would have more power due to life orbs and in the latter also having analytic to punish switch ins. Jolteon has Volt Switch However, these are not satisfactory solutions since they do not solve Alakazam's weaknesses to Sucker Punch (a move I consider to be worse than Pursuit) as Starmie is also vulnerable (and would have no Sash) and Jolteon cannot OHKO Toxicroak or Tyranitar.
Jirachi @ Leftovers
Trait: Serene Grace
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature
IVs: 30 Atk / 30 Def
- Iron Head
- Thunder Wave
- Wish
- Stealth Rock
I use this to spread paralysis. I do believe paraflinch is kind of gimmicky though. Iron Head is a calculated-risk move, since the 60% chance of a flinch (or 70% chance of a free turn) can regenerate Jirachi from Wish and switch out afterwards. But again, this is very risky I would not use U-turn, since it does not do enough damage to be worth a move slot since there is no offensive investment. If this fails, 70% of the time, it gets Koed by Earthquake. Maybe this is a good move set, but my team is not designed well, or my tactics are flawed.
Wish does has some synergy with Focus Sash Alakazam, so it can replete its HP and use its Sash if it gets hit by a special attack or resisted physical on the Switch.
This had Body Slam instead of Stealth Rock once to spread paralysis on ground types, but I realized that was a flawed tactic because max-speed Garchomp outspeeds and uses Substitute to set up, and Jirachi's Iron Head or Body Slam cannot break the sub.
Perhaps a prankster can be more useful. Perhaps Ferrothorn with Thunder Wave would suit me as it can use with Stealth Rock or Spikes. Maybe another Thunder Wave user would be good too. I used Ferrothorn (Spikes, Leech Seed, Power Whip, and Protect; its technique outside of setting up hazards was to use leech and stall with Protect for an immense 12.5% recovery for Ferrothorn, which is amazing for a Pokemon with its typing and defenses) before, and it worked excellently, but it did not suit my playstyle at the time (it was not a replacement for Jirachi as it was being used with Jirachi which is bad as it gives the team another member weak to Fire. )
Landorus-Therian (M) @ Choice Scarf
Trait: Intimidate
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature
- U-turn
- Earthquake
- Superpower
- Hidden Power [Ice]
A pivot, usually U-Turns out, after the handy Intimidate drop. I do not like using Earthquake due to the risk of it being predicted and forcing a switch later. It does not function as a revenge killer due to opponent switching out from its STAB Earthquake and Superpower is not powerful enough Band or Orb or STAB. The Attack drop prevents it from being used repeatedly on Switch ins, even if I am willing to Sacrifice it.
I don't like Stone Edge do to its propensity to miss and it has no STAB. Superpower can deal about 50% to Ferrothorn and Skarmory, but it is not the optimal solution to the Steel wall problem.
I somewhat like this Pokemon, at least since it worked better than Choice Scarf Salamence, which I barely used since my previous teams lacked a Spinner and it had few opportunities to Outrage due to opposing Steel Types or other physical walls.
While I may use this before than Salamence, still, the omnipresence of Stealth Rock, lack of defensively strong switch in partners, would wear down Landorus and the switch in.
Landorus may be another case of a great Pokemon, but an inferior trainer and poorly constructed team.
Latios (M) @ Life Orb
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature
- Calm Mind
- Surf
- Psyshock
- Draco Meteor
It is just a special attacker with some decent special bulk augmented by Calm Mind. Of course, it has Pursuit or Sucker Punch liability (as accurate prediction of Sucker Punch does not alleviate it, except by switching out and losing a turn, since Calm Mind does nothing to its fairly weak defenses). More importantly, I intended to use it as a tactical nuke -- to punch strategic holes in opposing teams, such as levitate or flying types, so Landorus-T can put more offensive pressure with his Earthquake. Draco is more reliable than Outrage from Salamence (and it is so frail that it would be KOed by Sucker Punch after Stealth Rock), but at the cost of death from a Tyranitar with > 30% HP (surf does this much to Tyranitar in a Sand Storm).
Hydreigon has better typing, but Latios has better Speed, Calm Mind, and natural Special bulk. So I will stay with Latios for now.
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I will be least likely to compromise with Latios though.
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I do not want to use Keldeo or a Rain Team. I was using a Calm Mind Keldeo on a rain team and I love it. It can deal with anything with its dual STABs, Calm Mind boost, and a hidden power grass (to take out Gastrodon specifically and Water types in general.)
General notes on the Team's weaknesses:
(1) This team relies on hitting hard fast. It does not having many Pokemon that can take any hits or switch into any attacks (Jirachi and Scizor are partial exceptions). If my Pokemon gets outspeeded either by Scarf, weather, or Unburden, that Pokemon in question is useless, since it would mostly be killed or only use one attack that does not KO the opponent. Life Orb recoil just exacerbates the problem.
I had some experience using more bulky Pokemon, mainly defensive Politoed on a rain team and a Conkeldurr. Politoed's 30% burn from Scald is a nice tactical advantage against a physical attacker since it utilizes the statistically likely chance it would eventually get burned and effectively neutered. Automatic rain and STAB makes it do around ~25% damage on a neutral Pokemon without any Attack-enhancing items or Special Attack, EVs, 25% is quite respectable for a defensive Pokemon with some leftovers recovery. Politoed has decent offensive prowess for functionally defensive Pokemon, but that is due to rain boosting its STAB attacks. Also, water is a fairly good defensive type, as it is only weak to Grass and Electric.
I thought about using Rotom-W on this team, without rain, but it (no special attack item or) does not address issues with ground-based physical walls due its iffy accuracy with hydro pump (and even then, a Hydro Pump is calculated to do about 65% on mixed wall Hippowdon), but it does KO physical wall Hippowdon. A Hydro Pump without rain is a little more powerful than Politoed's Scald in the rain, but with the accuracy issues and without the burn. Volt Switch does not work on ground types though. Scald, instead of Hydro Pump, would make Rotom-W practically irresistible for me, since it offers a burn chance while, softening up other Pokemon.
Conkeldurr (Max HP and Attack) has quite impressive physical bulk, especially with Drain Punch to replenish some of its HP. It can even withstand a Psyshock from Alakazam! However, using a Flame Orb cuts its longevity down (similar to a life orb), since it loses 1/8 of its HP per turn instead of gaining 1/16. Also, having to resort to its coverage moves (Ice Punch and Payback) denies it from valuable HP from Drain Punch. Once its HP drops below 50%, it is practically dead and cannot be switched into anything, since it can only use Mach Punch, as it is too slow to hit back to regain some HP back.
Bulky slower Pokemon, would not have issues being Sucker Punched or hit with priority or by faster attackers. I thought this would be a moot issue if my Pokemon would withstand a hit regardless, or have other options besides attacking. If I am going to use walls, I prefer the wall to inflict paralysis instead of toxic.
(2) This team is prone to getting walled. I don't like the offensive coverage repertoire of the team, since it only has one Water on Latios, no Fire (as it relies on Breloom and Scizor fighting moves to break through steel walls), and a Ground on Choice Scarf user. Ice coverage are Hidden Power Ice, so it is general weak, and one is used on Landorus (and it cannot KO Gliscor with it), and an Alakazam without Life Orb.
Maybe Heatran would be good though, but I fear its slow speed and 4x weakness to Ground.
Vaporeon has all the qualities I want from a defensive sponge: high enough base Special Attack, Scald, Ice Beam (not hidden power ice which is only good to hit things with a 4x weakness), Roar, and perhaps Wish with a high base HP is quite useful.
Here's my team:
Scizor @ Life Orb
Trait: Technician
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def
Adamant Nature
IVs: 30 Atk / 30 Def
- Bullet Punch
- Superpower
- Swords Dance
- Roost
Standard Sweeper, no explanation needed. I think I was trying to build this team around preparing a sweep for Scizor.
Bug Bite is most likely better than Roost. Scizor does benefit from paralysis support since it can achieve OHKO with Bug Bite on faster foes that do not resist Bug that would be 2HKOs with Bullet Punch. Superpower can deal with slower steal types.
Breloom
(M) @ Life Orb
Trait: Technician
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk
Adamant Nature
- Mach Punch
- Low Sweep
- Bullet Seed
- Spore
I do not have much experience using this Pokemon. The main upsides are that it addresses bulky water types, Tyranitar, ground physical walls Hippowdon (although Skarmory resists its grass and can sponge neutral Low Kicks, and Donphan has Ice Shard), Jellicent (hitting it with a physical grass attack), and Ferrothorn. Low Kick on a switch in makes Breloom faster unless that user is Scarfed or has higher base speed than Latios or Gengar (and Gengar resists it). Spore is nifty (and the 100% accuracy is needed since Breloom cannot take any hits, especially after entry hazard damage and orb recoil), but has negative synergy with Thunder Wave from Jirachi.
Aside from dealing with specific walls listed above, it is a power Pokemon that greatly benefits from paralysis support. It complements Scizor by using its fighting moves to kill Steel and Water types that would resist Bullet Punch.
Alakazam @ Focus Sash
Trait: Magic Guard
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature
- Psychic
- Focus Blast
- Signal Beam
- Hidden Power [Ice]
Focus Sash because this Pokemon is very vulnerable to Sucker Punch. You don't need be good at math to know that 2 > 1.3 (if the Pokemon survives any of Alakazam's attacks) or 0 > 1 (or Alakazam gets hit with priority, Scarf or Sand Rush or Chlorophyll).
I considered Jolteon and Starmie as replacements since they have a better STABs (electric and water is usually better than Psychic), or in the later case better coverage and Rapid Spin. Jolteon and Starmie would have more power due to life orbs and in the latter also having analytic to punish switch ins. Jolteon has Volt Switch However, these are not satisfactory solutions since they do not solve Alakazam's weaknesses to Sucker Punch (a move I consider to be worse than Pursuit) as Starmie is also vulnerable (and would have no Sash) and Jolteon cannot OHKO Toxicroak or Tyranitar.
Jirachi @ Leftovers
Trait: Serene Grace
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature
IVs: 30 Atk / 30 Def
- Iron Head
- Thunder Wave
- Wish
- Stealth Rock
I use this to spread paralysis. I do believe paraflinch is kind of gimmicky though. Iron Head is a calculated-risk move, since the 60% chance of a flinch (or 70% chance of a free turn) can regenerate Jirachi from Wish and switch out afterwards. But again, this is very risky I would not use U-turn, since it does not do enough damage to be worth a move slot since there is no offensive investment. If this fails, 70% of the time, it gets Koed by Earthquake. Maybe this is a good move set, but my team is not designed well, or my tactics are flawed.
Wish does has some synergy with Focus Sash Alakazam, so it can replete its HP and use its Sash if it gets hit by a special attack or resisted physical on the Switch.
This had Body Slam instead of Stealth Rock once to spread paralysis on ground types, but I realized that was a flawed tactic because max-speed Garchomp outspeeds and uses Substitute to set up, and Jirachi's Iron Head or Body Slam cannot break the sub.
Perhaps a prankster can be more useful. Perhaps Ferrothorn with Thunder Wave would suit me as it can use with Stealth Rock or Spikes. Maybe another Thunder Wave user would be good too. I used Ferrothorn (Spikes, Leech Seed, Power Whip, and Protect; its technique outside of setting up hazards was to use leech and stall with Protect for an immense 12.5% recovery for Ferrothorn, which is amazing for a Pokemon with its typing and defenses) before, and it worked excellently, but it did not suit my playstyle at the time (it was not a replacement for Jirachi as it was being used with Jirachi which is bad as it gives the team another member weak to Fire. )
Landorus-Therian (M) @ Choice Scarf
Trait: Intimidate
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature
- U-turn
- Earthquake
- Superpower
- Hidden Power [Ice]
A pivot, usually U-Turns out, after the handy Intimidate drop. I do not like using Earthquake due to the risk of it being predicted and forcing a switch later. It does not function as a revenge killer due to opponent switching out from its STAB Earthquake and Superpower is not powerful enough Band or Orb or STAB. The Attack drop prevents it from being used repeatedly on Switch ins, even if I am willing to Sacrifice it.
I don't like Stone Edge do to its propensity to miss and it has no STAB. Superpower can deal about 50% to Ferrothorn and Skarmory, but it is not the optimal solution to the Steel wall problem.
I somewhat like this Pokemon, at least since it worked better than Choice Scarf Salamence, which I barely used since my previous teams lacked a Spinner and it had few opportunities to Outrage due to opposing Steel Types or other physical walls.
While I may use this before than Salamence, still, the omnipresence of Stealth Rock, lack of defensively strong switch in partners, would wear down Landorus and the switch in.
Landorus may be another case of a great Pokemon, but an inferior trainer and poorly constructed team.
Latios (M) @ Life Orb
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature
- Calm Mind
- Surf
- Psyshock
- Draco Meteor
It is just a special attacker with some decent special bulk augmented by Calm Mind. Of course, it has Pursuit or Sucker Punch liability (as accurate prediction of Sucker Punch does not alleviate it, except by switching out and losing a turn, since Calm Mind does nothing to its fairly weak defenses). More importantly, I intended to use it as a tactical nuke -- to punch strategic holes in opposing teams, such as levitate or flying types, so Landorus-T can put more offensive pressure with his Earthquake. Draco is more reliable than Outrage from Salamence (and it is so frail that it would be KOed by Sucker Punch after Stealth Rock), but at the cost of death from a Tyranitar with > 30% HP (surf does this much to Tyranitar in a Sand Storm).
Hydreigon has better typing, but Latios has better Speed, Calm Mind, and natural Special bulk. So I will stay with Latios for now.
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I will be least likely to compromise with Latios though.
-----
I do not want to use Keldeo or a Rain Team. I was using a Calm Mind Keldeo on a rain team and I love it. It can deal with anything with its dual STABs, Calm Mind boost, and a hidden power grass (to take out Gastrodon specifically and Water types in general.)
General notes on the Team's weaknesses:
(1) This team relies on hitting hard fast. It does not having many Pokemon that can take any hits or switch into any attacks (Jirachi and Scizor are partial exceptions). If my Pokemon gets outspeeded either by Scarf, weather, or Unburden, that Pokemon in question is useless, since it would mostly be killed or only use one attack that does not KO the opponent. Life Orb recoil just exacerbates the problem.
I had some experience using more bulky Pokemon, mainly defensive Politoed on a rain team and a Conkeldurr. Politoed's 30% burn from Scald is a nice tactical advantage against a physical attacker since it utilizes the statistically likely chance it would eventually get burned and effectively neutered. Automatic rain and STAB makes it do around ~25% damage on a neutral Pokemon without any Attack-enhancing items or Special Attack, EVs, 25% is quite respectable for a defensive Pokemon with some leftovers recovery. Politoed has decent offensive prowess for functionally defensive Pokemon, but that is due to rain boosting its STAB attacks. Also, water is a fairly good defensive type, as it is only weak to Grass and Electric.
I thought about using Rotom-W on this team, without rain, but it (no special attack item or) does not address issues with ground-based physical walls due its iffy accuracy with hydro pump (and even then, a Hydro Pump is calculated to do about 65% on mixed wall Hippowdon), but it does KO physical wall Hippowdon. A Hydro Pump without rain is a little more powerful than Politoed's Scald in the rain, but with the accuracy issues and without the burn. Volt Switch does not work on ground types though. Scald, instead of Hydro Pump, would make Rotom-W practically irresistible for me, since it offers a burn chance while, softening up other Pokemon.
Conkeldurr (Max HP and Attack) has quite impressive physical bulk, especially with Drain Punch to replenish some of its HP. It can even withstand a Psyshock from Alakazam! However, using a Flame Orb cuts its longevity down (similar to a life orb), since it loses 1/8 of its HP per turn instead of gaining 1/16. Also, having to resort to its coverage moves (Ice Punch and Payback) denies it from valuable HP from Drain Punch. Once its HP drops below 50%, it is practically dead and cannot be switched into anything, since it can only use Mach Punch, as it is too slow to hit back to regain some HP back.
Bulky slower Pokemon, would not have issues being Sucker Punched or hit with priority or by faster attackers. I thought this would be a moot issue if my Pokemon would withstand a hit regardless, or have other options besides attacking. If I am going to use walls, I prefer the wall to inflict paralysis instead of toxic.
(2) This team is prone to getting walled. I don't like the offensive coverage repertoire of the team, since it only has one Water on Latios, no Fire (as it relies on Breloom and Scizor fighting moves to break through steel walls), and a Ground on Choice Scarf user. Ice coverage are Hidden Power Ice, so it is general weak, and one is used on Landorus (and it cannot KO Gliscor with it), and an Alakazam without Life Orb.
Maybe Heatran would be good though, but I fear its slow speed and 4x weakness to Ground.
Vaporeon has all the qualities I want from a defensive sponge: high enough base Special Attack, Scald, Ice Beam (not hidden power ice which is only good to hit things with a 4x weakness), Roar, and perhaps Wish with a high base HP is quite useful.