a VGC team (without ubers)

[paintkiller93]

Azelf, Dusknoir, Heatran, and Machamp

This is a TR team. This one of my first posts as i am a newcomer here.

Azelf@choice band
naughty nature
-psychic
-explosion
-shadow ball
-trick

This lead azelf is mainly for exploding on the first (few) turn(s) so dusky can put up TR virtually unopposed. If I am unable to explode, azelf makes a good partner for heatran b/c it can switch into the earthquakes aimed for heatran and heatran can switch into dark/ghost attacks aimed at azelf. Its also a trick scarfer in case an opponent wants to taunt dusky they are stuck taunting or if an opposing TR user wants to use TR, they'll be stuck and thus a free switch. Psychic is for STAB and shadow ball is for hitting ghosts immune to explosion.

Dusknoir@leftovers
gentle nature
-shadow punch
-will-o-wisp
-pain split
-trick room

Dusky is here to set up TR and burn physically attacking opponents. It can also use will-o-wisp to power up heatran. pain split is for pseudo-healing and shadow punch is there for STAB and to hit ghost types. In case the opponent wants to attack with a dark or ghost move, i can switch machamp or heatran in there.

Heatran@shuca berry
quiet nature
-heat wave
-earth power
-explosion
-protect

Heatran is one of my main sweepers. With flash-fire boosted heat waves, potentially boosted by opponent's groudon's droughts, it'll do some damage. Earth power is there for covering other fire types and whatever else is weak to ground. protect is there to scout out moves as well as to allow TR to be set up without harm coming to heatran. Explosion is there when heatran is not needed anymore or is up against pokemon like kyogre.

Machamp@life orb
adamant nature
-dynamic punch
-stone edge
-rest
-sleep talk

And this machamp is for hitting hard with life-orb boosted dynamo punches. That confusion does come in handy. Stone edge is for flying types and ghosts. Rest and sleep talk are there b/c obviously damage accumulates quickly on this machamp.

 

[drcossack]

Use Ubers. You'll get destroyed otherwise.

Also, Heatran is virtually useless in a game with Kyogre, Palkia, and Groudon running around.

 

[andrea]

If you're sending out Azelf as a lead and you intend to use explosion, it really won't make such an awesome partner for Heatran with earthquakes etc. Switching isn't used all that much because this is quite a fast-paced game.

Let me echo drcossack and say that you'll need ubers for 2010. ;)

 

[Airfoil]

I agree that Ubers being allowed removes some strategy, and as much as I hate ubers, I have to agree they are a requirement. Normal Pokemon don't have the stats to take on Palkia, Dialga, Mewtwo, etc.

I would get rid of Azelf for Mewtwo (much better special attack, not killed by the common Weavile, can also explode w/ Selfdestruct) and Machamp for.....well.....any of the other ubers (bar, maybe Latios or Palkia because of their high speed). I highly recommend replacing Machamp w/ TR Dialga. While it adds a weakness to EQ, do you honestly think Machamp would survive with all the Kyogre and Mewtwo (w/ or w/o Psychic) running ramped?And it adds much more power to your team (150 Sp Attack easily beats 130 attack) + a second TR user when something happens to Dusknoir.

I'm going to assume you haven't tested this team for several reasons:

a) Tricking Band onto an enemy TR pokemon won't usually work, because the only leads that are ever used is Clefable + Dialga and Togekiss + Dialga. Follow Me will stop your Trick trick (although Clefable/Togekiss will be stuck in Follow Me w/ a useless Band, but they won't care because Dialga will go untouched for even longer). If you really wan't to stop TR, than give Dusknoir Imprison.

b) You probably would have realized Machamp would easily be OHKOd by over half the Pokemon at the VGC, and would never be able to use Rest/Wake up from it in time.

c) If Palkia or Kyogre show up (which you should have realized by now), the only way you have of hurting them is through Explosion. While Machamp can hurt and confuse one of them, the other OHKOs him. Easily.

I would appreciate it if you post some EVs, so we can do calculations and find a good way of covering your weaknesses/make sure your Pokemon will have enough power to counter what you think will be an issue.

The main reason your Machamp gets any KOs is because over 70% of the VGCs Pokemon are specially based (and as such, lower defense because of the low chance of running into a physical attacker).