A (semi)different take on Sun

[Cuban Vader]

I just typed up my entire team building process only to have a power surge and lose everything. Out of laziness I'm not typing it again because it took quite some time. Anyway, I build this team starting with Charizard. I fell in love with the idea of Solar Powered Fire Blast having a BP of 300. To have that I obviously needed sun. This team hasn't been my most successful team, but it is very fun to play and wins more than it loses. I think has potential to be significantly better than it is, but being a newer player I'm not sure where to improve.

Ninetales (F) @ Leftovers
Trait: Drought
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid (+Spd, -Atk)
- Will-O-Wisp
- Overheat
- Power Swap
- Energy Ball

I know this isn't a common Ninetales set, but I'm in love with it. WOW is always nice to nerf Physical Attackers. Overeat allows her to do surprising amounts of damage. Power Swap nerfs Special Attackers , stops setups, and allows for repeated use of Overheat. Energy Ball is for coverage, but in most cases shes switching out. Considering switching it but not sure what for.

Venusaur (M) @ Life Orb
Trait: Chlorophyll
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Modest (+Satk, -Atk)
- Growth
- Energy Ball
- Hidden Power (Fire)
- Sleep Powder

A fairly standard special set. I prefer Sleep Powder over Sludge Bomb because it can give a free turn (more if they don't switch) to set up. I've had him sweep entire teams after because of sleep powder.

Tropius (M) @ Sitrus Berry
Trait : Harvest
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SDef
Impish (+Def, - Satk)
- Leech Seed
- Toxic
- Substitute
- Protect
I'm in love with Tropius. Harvest in Sun gives him his berry back instantly every time. Everytime he drops under 1/2 HP he gets healed for 1/4, so he has free subs until he runs out of PP. This combined with LS and Toxic if I get a chance makes him untouchable under the right conditions. I don't bring him out until I think they have no counters (taunt or trick). He has been the cause of many rage quits.

Charizard (M) @ Expert Belt (thinking of Lefties for longevity)
Trait: Solar Power
EVs : 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid (+Spd, -Atk)
- Fire Blast
- Aerial Ace
- Focus Blast
- Solar Beam
Fire Blasts power is insane. There's several occasions that it does more damage than the other moves, even if it's resisted. I'm thinking of changing to Lefties to help somewhat with the Solar Power damage.

Arcanine (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Flash Fire
EVs : 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Adamant (+Atk, - SAtk)
- Flare Blitz
- Wild Charge
- Extreme Speed
- Close Combat

This guy's important for my team. With my 2 grass types, switching in to eat fire attacks is huge. I originally had Heatran for this but he just wasn't working. He can also function as a revenge killer if needed. Lefties gives him some recovery from the recoil moves.

Hitmontop (M) @ Leftovers
Trait : Intimidate
EVs : 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 Sdef
Impish (+Def, -Sdef)
- Rapid Spin
- Foresight
- Close Combat
- Sucker Punch

I initially chose him for his ability to foresight spinblockers, but that honestly hasn't come up once. I'm considering switching foresight to toxic, or maybe to someone else altogether. He can do some minor revenge killing with sucker punch. I also might switch him to special defensive, as intimidate already helps on the physical side.

 

[Cuban Vader]

Threat List

Offensive Threats
Tyranitar:
Choice Band - Can cause minor problems but Venusaur, if needed Arcanine can come in as well as Hitmontop

Choice Scarf - If Venusaur is out he can cause problems, otherwise I'm dine

Dragon Dance - Again, Venusaur is my best bet. However if he attempts to set on Charizard he can get a Focus Blast off. Also I can risk him setting up and set up subseed with Tropius

Rotom-W:
Choice Scarf / Specs - Not a problem unless Venusaur is gone. Nintales is uusally my Trick fodder

Scizor:
Choice Band - Easily taken care of with fire pokes or Venusaurs HP fire

Swords Dance - Same as before. Can be a problem with Billet Punch if allowed to set up

Dragonite:
Choice Band - If he's banded I can easily set up with Tropius, and he usually allows it, I'm guessing due to surprise factor

Dragon Dance - Same as before. If I bring in Tropius he thinks he has easy set up so I can set up my subseed before he outrages

Mixed - Can be much more problematic but I can uusally grind him down

Parashuffler - Never ran into it but it could cause problems

Politoed:
Choice Specs / Scarf - Not much of a problem. If I see him I lead with Venusaur and whatever reason they usually stay in for him to kill them *shrugs*

Heatran:
Standard - Arcanine easily takes him down with a Close Combat then Extreme Speed

Jirachi:
Substitute + Calm Mind / Wish + Calm Mind - None are a problem with all the fire attacks I have

Latios:
Life Orb - As long as I can get some damage on him Hitmontop can revenge him for surprising damage

Choice Scarf / Specs - Tropius either subseeds or forces a switch, assuming I have him locked into something thats not a OHKO

Calm Mind - Same as Dragonite, he think's Tropius is easy set up just for me to set up and subseed him.

Reuniclus:
Calm Mind - Arcanine can take him out. Venusaur can sleep him, set up and destroy him. If needed Hitmontop can revenge him. Ninetales can Overheat/Power Swap

Offensive Trick Room - Same as before, Venusaur obviously doesn't work if TR is already up however

Deoxys-S:
Standard - Since it's usually a hazard lead Ninetales makes quick work of him, then I either keep Ninetales in or Switch Hitmontop

Dual Screens - While he's setting up screens Tropius sets up and doesn't care about the screens

Life Orb Sweeper - Arcanine would be my main answer, if Ninetales got a burn up it would take him down quick

Haxorus:
Choice Scarf / Choice Band - No real answer to Outrage. If locked into something else Tropius sets up easy. If he switches into Venusaur I have to hope I get him asleep

Dragon Dance - Tropius sets up easily

Double Dance - Tropius again

Ninetales:
Nasty Plot - Switch in Arcanine and no problem

Choice Specs - If locked into fire then switch in Arcanine. Tropius likes the easy setup if shes locked into something else

Special Attacker - Same as nasty plot

Conkeldurr:
Bulk Up - Venusaur easily takes him down. If he doesn't have Stone Edge Charizard or Tropius have no problem

Celebi:
Nasty Plot Sweeper - Easily taken down with any fire attacks

Tinkerbell - Annoying but not a problem due to fire

Choice Specs / Choice Scarf - Hitmontop or Ninetales is my Trick fodder. Again not a problem at all

Terrakion:
Double Dance - Can set up with Tropius while he thinks he can set up. Venusaur can outspeed so not a problem for him.

Choice Scarf / Choice Band - Not much of a problem if Venusaur is up. Hitmontop can take him out if needed

Gyarados:
Offensive / Bulky Dragon Dance - If he has edgequake I'm in trouble. Venusaur has to hope to get a sleep off

Gengar:
Substitute + Disable / Pain Split - Really not a huge problem for anyone but Tropius. A big annoyance however

Starmie:
Life Orb - Due to Sun no problem. Venusaur easily outspeeds and Hitmontop can revenge. Anyone can take Surf as long as Sun is up and take him down, as everyone has a super effective attack. Tropius avoids coming in due to Ice Beam

Rapid Spin - Same as before

Choice Specs - Same as before but much easier due to being locked

Landorus:
Rock Polish / Swords Dance - Edgequake is a huge problem. Have to hope Venusaur can sleep him.

Choice Scarf - A bit of a problem but not as much due to him being locked

Substitute + 3 Attacks - Again edgequake. If he comes in on Venusaur I can surprise with sleep

Infernape:
Mixed Attacker - Arcanine switchs in, eats his fire and takes him down. If he comes in on Venusaur I may risk the sleep and setup. Once set up Venusaur can take him down despite resistance

Nasty Plot / Swords Dance Booster - The same but a bit easier as he tries to set up. Tropius can come in and set up while he thinks he has free set up

Choice Band - Same but easier due to locked

Volcarona:
Offensive Quiver Dance - Potentially a problem. Could probably set up with Tropius. Otherwise Arcanine could probably take him down. Charizard could as well

Bulky Quiver Dance - No different than before

Chesto Rest - Arcanine and Charizard are needed. If needed I could risk a sleep with venusaur

Substitute - No different than before, Although Tropius can't help. Due to Chlorophyll Venusaur could attempt a sleep before sub goes up

Magnezone:
Substitute - Not a problem with my fire attacks

Choice Scarf - Even easier. No one has a problem

Espeon:
Calm Mind - Arcanine is my best bet. Hitmontop can easily revenge

Salamence:
Dragon Dance -

Mixed - Arcanine hopes he doesn't carry earthquake. Otherwise Venusaur hopes he can get him asleep

Defensive - Not nearly as much of a problem. I can easily take him down with Arcanine or Charizard

Hydreigon:
Offensive - Any of my pokes with fighting moves take him down without a problem. If he surprises me with Surf it's usually no problem due to Sun, but that makes Venusaur or Tropius easy counters

Choice Specs / Choice Scarf - Really same as before

Breloom:
Sub Seed - Venusaur loves the easy set up. As soon as I get him to spore some fodder he's no problem

Sub Punch - A bit more of a threat, but I have plenty resistances, but overall same as before

Latias:
Calm Mind - Same as Latios but easier to handle, Tropius loves the easy set up

Toxicroak:
Swords Dance - Assuming I have his rain support out of the way he goes down very quick due to Dry Skin and fire attacks

Bulk Up - Same as before. Easy set up for Tropius

Lucario:
Swords Dance - Fire attacks take him down quick. Hitmontop can come in if necessary.

Nasty Plot - Same

Virizion:
Calm Mind - No problem with all the fire

Swords Dance - Same

Scrafty:
Dragon Dance - Not much of a problem, easy set up for Tropius. Can be a problem if allowed to set up, although Nintales can steal his attack boosts

Bulk Up - Same but obviously must focus on using Special Attacks

Venusaur:
Special Growth - Really anyone but Hitmontop and Tropius can take him down with ease

Mixed Growth - Same. Earthquake is problematic however

SubSeed - Again no different

Metagross:
Stealth Rock - Take him down with whoever is out then bring out Hitmontop for the spin

Choice Scarf / Choice Band - Not a problem at all. All the fire makes him OHKOed

Agility -Again, he goes down quick and has no chance to set up

Mienshao:
All-Out Attacker - Tropius sets up on easy and loves Protecting HJK. Charizard also finds easy to take down

Choice Scarf / Choice Band - No different, but a bit more annoying thanks to Stone Edge. Still easy once locked into a move

Cloyster:
Shell Smash - Doesn't get a chance to set up, if he does it's because Tropius is setting up on him

Mamoswine:
Physical Attacker - Not a real problem due to his speed and everyone can get a super effective STAB on him

Darmanitan:
Choice Scarf - Never went against one but I think Arcanine could take him down, with Hitmontop Revengin him if needed

Tornadus:
Rain Abuser - Hopefully his rain support is down. If not I'm not sure I could take him down (never had to in rain)


Defensive Coming Later

 

[Reiko]

Hey! I like your team idea.
One thing I'd reccomend would be Skarmory or Ferrothorn so you can get up entry hazards to help your team out. A lot.
Some other suggestions would be Volcarona over Charizard Being said Charizards Power in Sun is too damn powerful. But it just doesn't have the sweeping ability volcarona has.
That's about all I got.
Hope I Helped :]

 

[Cuban Vader]

I'll make sure to try out Volcarona. I'm not sure how I feel about Skarmory or Ferrothorn due to the increased fire weakness. I have however considered replacing Hitmontop with Donphan, as he appreciates the weakened power of water, can spin and set up rocks

 

[Gehenna]

Air Slash > Aerial Ace on Charizard.

 

[Cuban Vader]

Air Slash > Aerial Ace on Charizard.

That was a little derpy on my part. But I've been messing around with Volocarona in his place and may keep it. I've also been using Donphan over Hitmontop and it's looking to be better but I'm still testing before I make it a permanent change

 

[asterat]

I strongly suggest TAngela over TROpius. I know it's unusual but he is bulky, and has enough SpA to run HP fire for ferro.

Tangela@ Eviolite
Chlorophyll
252 HP, CAlm nautre, 252 special defense, 4 SpA.
sleep powder
HP fire
leech seed
substitute

 

[Cuban Vader]

I strongly suggest TAngela over TROpius. I know it's unusual but he is bulky, and has enough SpA to run HP fire for ferro.

Tangela@ Eviolite
Chlorophyll
252 HP, CAlm nautre, 252 special defense, 4 SpA.
sleep powder
HP fire
leech seed
substitute

One thing I must say is you can't understand the power of that tropius set unless you use or go against it. That being said, I love using stuff that's odd so I have to try out Tangela. That set seems like it'd be amazing