I haven’t been on shoddy for a long time, so instead of using my old team (Very old, it wasn’t out of place before Garchomp was banned), I decided to embark on the perilous task of making and testing a new team from scratch.
The results were... for the first part, better than I thought. For some reason now, thought, it’s horrible. I can tell it’s mostly my incompetence, but I feel my team has a few glaring weaknesses, too. I would like a little help in improving.
At a glance, any glancing weaknesses?
(H)
Lead
Jirachi@Choice scarf
Ability: Serene grace
EVs:80Hp/252Att/176Speed
Nature:Jolly
-Iron head
-Fire punch
-Trick
-Stealth rock
I love this little guy. A fairly common lead with a standard set, but useful enough. He does tend to be slaughtered by random, annoying Magnezones however.
Stealth rock is rather self explanatory, as most of my Pokémon aren’t extremely strong sweepers anyway, so the extra damage is useful. U-turn is for scouting purposes, and for escaping Magnezone/Dugtrio. Trick is for effectively dealing with walls and dangerous set-up sweepers, as well as slower leads, stealth rock, such as Swampert and Bronzong. Iron head is the main attack, and mainly for a (hopeful) flinch-hax sweeper.
I was, at first, however, going to use a dual-screen Jirachi, given that my walls a
How Jirachi does against the top leads (this is from the smog article. Feel free to correct me on any I missed):
Metagross- Cannot truly defeat one-on-one, but can trick a scarf onto one, or U-Turn, giving Rotom/Salamence a free switch. Can also survive a non boosted earthquake, and still stealth rock. Can fire punch, though it's unlikely to 2 hit KO
Azelf- Iron head says Hi. They rarely Fire blast first, so, even if they get stealth rock up, Jirachi will mostly win this battle.
Infernape- Tricky, though I usually enjoy U-turning to Vaporeon, seeing as Jirachi is sometimes a little too valuable to waste, something. With luck though, if I wish to Iron head Infernape, I believe it’s about a 3 hit-ko. Scarf versions, I die. I cannot win against them.
Jirachi- I haven’t seen around as a lead, so it is hard to tell. Against another anti-lead set, the most I can do is stealth rock and switch the Heatran, which is about the same for them. Dual screen leads I cannot win against, but they’re rare. This team hasn’t seen one. I can Fire punch now, but again, I don't think it will KO
Aerodactyl- Iron head says Hi. I’m not sure, but Jirachi could survive an Earthquake? I’ll have to do a damage calculation. Either way, mostly lead Aerodactyls taunt of try to stealth rock
Swampert- Jirachi can barley scratch with Iron head or U-turn, but can trick a choice scarf onto it, making it quite useless for the rest of the battle. Jirachi usually has better opponents to trick, though.
Tyranitar- I usually just Iron head/U-turn the thing, though this team hasn’t yet seen a lead T-Tar. I don’t think any version of T-tar, as flexible as it is, has much chance against Jirachi, unless they have Earthquake.
Heatran- Uttely lost. I can at least Trick to get a useful Shuca berry, provided it Stealth rocks and I don’t get slaughtered by Fire Blast or some other Fire move.
Gengar- And, Iron head says hi. Scarf versions cannot KO, I believe, and Spec versions(Rare at they are) are outspeed. Jirachi mostly flinch haxes away at this lead.
Mamoswine- Never seen one as a lead, but I assume Iron head flinch hax says Hi? They can survive and Earthquake me, though. I can also trick and stealth rock with problems, I believe
Note- I’m a little rusty, so some of my information might be wrong. And, feel free to correct me.
(H)
Wall thingy
Rotom-H@Leftovers
Ability:Levitate
Evs: 252Hp/120Def/136Sp.Def
Nature:Bold
-Rest
-Discharge
-Sleep talk
-Will-o-wisp
On the recommendation of iKitsune, and, on common sense after replacing Breloom with Scizor(Leaving me with no status absorbers), I switched my Rotom into the Rest-talk variety. In this form, Rotom weathers attacks much better. Discharge is for the Para-hax, importantant, considering only one of the pokemon can outspeed the likes of Gengar and those at the 110-130 base speed line. It also supports Heatran indefinately, being a Spectran, not a Scarfed variety. Will-o-wisp is kept the same, burn is quite invaluable with such hard hitters as Metagross and T-tar. If Rotom is gone, whom else can stand up to them?
Overused Special sweeper
Heatran@Choice specs
Ability:Fire fire
EVs:40Hp/252Sp.att/216Spe
Nature:Modest
-Overheat
-Hp Grass
-Earth power
-Dragon pulse
My special sweeper and my only Salamence check. Heatran himself doesn’t actually get much sweeping done. He is mostly checking various threats. Gengar, Scizor, Azelf, Salamence... if prediction and luck is on my side, this beast can occasionally contain these threats.
I don’t like Overheat as a move in-general, and Rotom already has it, should I change it to Fire blast? My only qualm is the accuracy. Hp grass is for coverage against water types ,it damages water types badly and definitely takes out Swampert, leaving Jirachi or Salamence able to sweep. Earth power again, is for coverage and the added bonus of a special defence drop. Dragon pulse is necessary, it can KO Salamence stuck on Outrage.
Another wall thingy/Wish passer
Vaporeon@Leftovers
Ability:Water absorb
EVs:188Hp/252Def/68spe
Nature:Bold
-Wish
-Protect
-HP Electric
-Surf
My second ‘wall’. This one doesn’t wall as much as it does its other role, wish passing. One other the more replaceable members of the time, though, given that I just dropped it in. I was thinking of replacing it with an Umbreon, whom doesn’t have the electric weakness, but then Infernape becomes a big problem. Maybe Latias, since it can deal with Infernape, Heatran and Jolteon at the same time. Please advice.
Surf is for STAB; HP Electric is for Gyrados and his bulky water friends. Protect is for scouting, healing and for dodging those nasty explosions that Heatran and Metagross have. Wish is for self healing and, of course, team healing.
Salamence@Life orb
Ability: Intimidate
EVs:84Att/216Sp.att/208Spe
Nature: Rash
-Roost
-Earthquake
-Fire blast
-Draco meteor
A small change, recommended by locopoke, but one that helps Salamence a long way. Outrage was only used as a last ditch, it didn't often work anyway. This helps Salamence survive more then a few turns of battle, and switch in on stealth rock. Rash is the new nature, as it helps Salamence survive physical attacks, thanks to Intimidate.
Scizor @ Choice Band
Nature: Adamant
Ability: Technician
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 Spe
- Bullet Punch
- U-turn
- Superpower
- Quick attack
I chose QA as I seem to have problems with Specs Jolteon(Nothing on my team can really wall it effectively, Jirachi and Breloom often had to revenge it). At times, it works wonders, being much more powerful than Breloom at the start, and Bullet punching many things that gave Breloom problems(Gengar...) into oblivion.
But... There is no real surprise factor with this guy. Everyone has there counters, some has 2 or 3 checks. And my team can only do so much to support Scizor, the beast he is.
For the moment, I will continue using this pokemon.
The results were... for the first part, better than I thought. For some reason now, thought, it’s horrible. I can tell it’s mostly my incompetence, but I feel my team has a few glaring weaknesses, too. I would like a little help in improving.
At a glance, any glancing weaknesses?
Lead
Jirachi@Choice scarf
Ability: Serene grace
EVs:80Hp/252Att/176Speed
Nature:Jolly
-Iron head
-Fire punch
-Trick
-Stealth rock
I love this little guy. A fairly common lead with a standard set, but useful enough. He does tend to be slaughtered by random, annoying Magnezones however.
Stealth rock is rather self explanatory, as most of my Pokémon aren’t extremely strong sweepers anyway, so the extra damage is useful. U-turn is for scouting purposes, and for escaping Magnezone/Dugtrio. Trick is for effectively dealing with walls and dangerous set-up sweepers, as well as slower leads, stealth rock, such as Swampert and Bronzong. Iron head is the main attack, and mainly for a (hopeful) flinch-hax sweeper.
I was, at first, however, going to use a dual-screen Jirachi, given that my walls a
How Jirachi does against the top leads (this is from the smog article. Feel free to correct me on any I missed):
Metagross- Cannot truly defeat one-on-one, but can trick a scarf onto one, or U-Turn, giving Rotom/Salamence a free switch. Can also survive a non boosted earthquake, and still stealth rock. Can fire punch, though it's unlikely to 2 hit KO
Azelf- Iron head says Hi. They rarely Fire blast first, so, even if they get stealth rock up, Jirachi will mostly win this battle.
Infernape- Tricky, though I usually enjoy U-turning to Vaporeon, seeing as Jirachi is sometimes a little too valuable to waste, something. With luck though, if I wish to Iron head Infernape, I believe it’s about a 3 hit-ko. Scarf versions, I die. I cannot win against them.
Jirachi- I haven’t seen around as a lead, so it is hard to tell. Against another anti-lead set, the most I can do is stealth rock and switch the Heatran, which is about the same for them. Dual screen leads I cannot win against, but they’re rare. This team hasn’t seen one. I can Fire punch now, but again, I don't think it will KO
Aerodactyl- Iron head says Hi. I’m not sure, but Jirachi could survive an Earthquake? I’ll have to do a damage calculation. Either way, mostly lead Aerodactyls taunt of try to stealth rock
Swampert- Jirachi can barley scratch with Iron head or U-turn, but can trick a choice scarf onto it, making it quite useless for the rest of the battle. Jirachi usually has better opponents to trick, though.
Tyranitar- I usually just Iron head/U-turn the thing, though this team hasn’t yet seen a lead T-Tar. I don’t think any version of T-tar, as flexible as it is, has much chance against Jirachi, unless they have Earthquake.
Heatran- Uttely lost. I can at least Trick to get a useful Shuca berry, provided it Stealth rocks and I don’t get slaughtered by Fire Blast or some other Fire move.
Gengar- And, Iron head says hi. Scarf versions cannot KO, I believe, and Spec versions(Rare at they are) are outspeed. Jirachi mostly flinch haxes away at this lead.
Mamoswine- Never seen one as a lead, but I assume Iron head flinch hax says Hi? They can survive and Earthquake me, though. I can also trick and stealth rock with problems, I believe
Note- I’m a little rusty, so some of my information might be wrong. And, feel free to correct me.
Wall thingy
Rotom-H@Leftovers
Ability:Levitate
Evs: 252Hp/120Def/136Sp.Def
Nature:Bold
-Rest
-Discharge
-Sleep talk
-Will-o-wisp
On the recommendation of iKitsune, and, on common sense after replacing Breloom with Scizor(Leaving me with no status absorbers), I switched my Rotom into the Rest-talk variety. In this form, Rotom weathers attacks much better. Discharge is for the Para-hax, importantant, considering only one of the pokemon can outspeed the likes of Gengar and those at the 110-130 base speed line. It also supports Heatran indefinately, being a Spectran, not a Scarfed variety. Will-o-wisp is kept the same, burn is quite invaluable with such hard hitters as Metagross and T-tar. If Rotom is gone, whom else can stand up to them?
Overused Special sweeper
Heatran@Choice specs
Ability:Fire fire
EVs:40Hp/252Sp.att/216Spe
Nature:Modest
-Overheat
-Hp Grass
-Earth power
-Dragon pulse
My special sweeper and my only Salamence check. Heatran himself doesn’t actually get much sweeping done. He is mostly checking various threats. Gengar, Scizor, Azelf, Salamence... if prediction and luck is on my side, this beast can occasionally contain these threats.
I don’t like Overheat as a move in-general, and Rotom already has it, should I change it to Fire blast? My only qualm is the accuracy. Hp grass is for coverage against water types ,it damages water types badly and definitely takes out Swampert, leaving Jirachi or Salamence able to sweep. Earth power again, is for coverage and the added bonus of a special defence drop. Dragon pulse is necessary, it can KO Salamence stuck on Outrage.
Another wall thingy/Wish passer
Vaporeon@Leftovers
Ability:Water absorb
EVs:188Hp/252Def/68spe
Nature:Bold
-Wish
-Protect
-HP Electric
-Surf
My second ‘wall’. This one doesn’t wall as much as it does its other role, wish passing. One other the more replaceable members of the time, though, given that I just dropped it in. I was thinking of replacing it with an Umbreon, whom doesn’t have the electric weakness, but then Infernape becomes a big problem. Maybe Latias, since it can deal with Infernape, Heatran and Jolteon at the same time. Please advice.
Surf is for STAB; HP Electric is for Gyrados and his bulky water friends. Protect is for scouting, healing and for dodging those nasty explosions that Heatran and Metagross have. Wish is for self healing and, of course, team healing.
Salamence@Life orb
Ability: Intimidate
EVs:84Att/216Sp.att/208Spe
Nature: Rash
-Roost
-Earthquake
-Fire blast
-Draco meteor
A small change, recommended by locopoke, but one that helps Salamence a long way. Outrage was only used as a last ditch, it didn't often work anyway. This helps Salamence survive more then a few turns of battle, and switch in on stealth rock. Rash is the new nature, as it helps Salamence survive physical attacks, thanks to Intimidate.
Scizor @ Choice Band
Nature: Adamant
Ability: Technician
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 Spe
- Bullet Punch
- U-turn
- Superpower
- Quick attack
I chose QA as I seem to have problems with Specs Jolteon(Nothing on my team can really wall it effectively, Jirachi and Breloom often had to revenge it). At times, it works wonders, being much more powerful than Breloom at the start, and Bullet punching many things that gave Breloom problems(Gengar...) into oblivion.
But... There is no real surprise factor with this guy. Everyone has there counters, some has 2 or 3 checks. And my team can only do so much to support Scizor, the beast he is.
For the moment, I will continue using this pokemon.
