I run a mostly defensive team, and I had a battle with someone who also played defensively. It ended up being a stallwar of Skarmory vs. Skarmory, ended by my Drill Peck's PP winning against Brave Bird (Lots of "Skarmory used Whirlwind/Spikes/Roost" XD).
Well, since then, I've been thinking of forming a super-stalling team, such that opponents end up killing themselves with Struggle. It might be a futile task, but I think it's interesting if this was pulled off. Though it might be annoying to the opponent cause PP would have to run out before it starts getting anywhere. Here's something I pieced together during my free hours today: (Pardon for the mass of Rest-talkers ><)
Zapdos @ Leftovers
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 252 HP/38 Spd/220 SDef
Calm nature (+SDef, -Atk)
- Thunderbolt
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Rest
- Sleep Talk
Rest-talker #1. Pressure is this guy's way of wasting PP, aided with Rest+Sleep Talk. Since a defensive team's main threat is Taunt, Zapdos is armed to fight against Pokémon who use it. Thunderbolt for Gyarados and Crobat and HP Ice for Ground-types.
Spiritomb (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 252 HP/144 Def/114 SDef
Careful nature (+SDef, -SAtk)
- Spite
- Sleep Talk
- Rest
- (Pursuit)
Rest-talker #2. This set gave me the inspiration to try to do this. A recommended set that utilizes Spite + Pressure, which takes away 6 PP from the enemy. No weaknesses help it survive, Pursuit in case there is a Taunt user. I'm thinking of just running three moves if I manage to remove Taunt from the battle.
Tentacruel (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Liquid Ooze
EVs: 204 HP/38 Spd/96 SAtk/172 SDef
Calm nature (+SDef, -Atk)
- Surf
- Rapid Spin
- Toxic Spikes
- Haze
Not a Rest-talker ^^. Spinner and negates Toxic Spikes. Surf for STAB, Haze to stop setting up. I feel this moveset is a bit shaky though, like I tried to accomplish too much and ended up not excelling.
Steelix (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 252 HP/122 Atk/136 SDef
Impish nature (+Def, -SAtk)
- Explosion
- Earthquake
- Stealth Rock
- Toxic
Physical wall. I have this specifically to go against Lucario with Spiritomb. Try to switch them back and forth, until I outpredict with Spiritomb's Spite or Steelix's Earthquake. Also a helpful switch to physical moves, and can support with Stealth Rock and Toxic. Explosion for that grand finale.
Suicune @ Leftovers
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 252 HP/252 Def/6 Spd
Bold nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Surf/Ice Beam
- Hidden Power [Electric]
- Rest
- Sleep Talk
Back to Rest-talkers :P Almost the same as Zapdos, except for my choice between Surf and Ice Beam. Surf stops Heatran from going crazy on my team, or Ice Beam for the Dragon types. HP Electric against other Water types.
Cresselia (F) @ Flame Orb
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP/110 Def/148 SDef
Bold nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Rest
- Psycho Shift
- Sleep Talk
A Psycho Shift Cresselia. Only three moves so I have a higher chance of using Psycho Shift (does it work like that?). Lets me pass on Burn or Sleep when I do Rest + Sleep Talk. Good to switch in Earthquake and try to cripple enemies with status while I wait for PP to drain.
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Well, there's my team. Feel free to pick out any wrong detail or to scrap some Pokés altogether. I know stalling at this level would be annoying, I'm trying to not produce that effect, just trying to speed up Struggle. Hopefully, I won't inadvertently draw in anger, so be nice with the comments/suggestions. Thanks in advance!
Well, since then, I've been thinking of forming a super-stalling team, such that opponents end up killing themselves with Struggle. It might be a futile task, but I think it's interesting if this was pulled off. Though it might be annoying to the opponent cause PP would have to run out before it starts getting anywhere. Here's something I pieced together during my free hours today: (Pardon for the mass of Rest-talkers ><)
Zapdos @ Leftovers
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 252 HP/38 Spd/220 SDef
Calm nature (+SDef, -Atk)
- Thunderbolt
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Rest
- Sleep Talk
Rest-talker #1. Pressure is this guy's way of wasting PP, aided with Rest+Sleep Talk. Since a defensive team's main threat is Taunt, Zapdos is armed to fight against Pokémon who use it. Thunderbolt for Gyarados and Crobat and HP Ice for Ground-types.
Spiritomb (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 252 HP/144 Def/114 SDef
Careful nature (+SDef, -SAtk)
- Spite
- Sleep Talk
- Rest
- (Pursuit)
Rest-talker #2. This set gave me the inspiration to try to do this. A recommended set that utilizes Spite + Pressure, which takes away 6 PP from the enemy. No weaknesses help it survive, Pursuit in case there is a Taunt user. I'm thinking of just running three moves if I manage to remove Taunt from the battle.
Tentacruel (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Liquid Ooze
EVs: 204 HP/38 Spd/96 SAtk/172 SDef
Calm nature (+SDef, -Atk)
- Surf
- Rapid Spin
- Toxic Spikes
- Haze
Not a Rest-talker ^^. Spinner and negates Toxic Spikes. Surf for STAB, Haze to stop setting up. I feel this moveset is a bit shaky though, like I tried to accomplish too much and ended up not excelling.
Steelix (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 252 HP/122 Atk/136 SDef
Impish nature (+Def, -SAtk)
- Explosion
- Earthquake
- Stealth Rock
- Toxic
Physical wall. I have this specifically to go against Lucario with Spiritomb. Try to switch them back and forth, until I outpredict with Spiritomb's Spite or Steelix's Earthquake. Also a helpful switch to physical moves, and can support with Stealth Rock and Toxic. Explosion for that grand finale.
Suicune @ Leftovers
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 252 HP/252 Def/6 Spd
Bold nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Surf/Ice Beam
- Hidden Power [Electric]
- Rest
- Sleep Talk
Back to Rest-talkers :P Almost the same as Zapdos, except for my choice between Surf and Ice Beam. Surf stops Heatran from going crazy on my team, or Ice Beam for the Dragon types. HP Electric against other Water types.
Cresselia (F) @ Flame Orb
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP/110 Def/148 SDef
Bold nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Rest
- Psycho Shift
- Sleep Talk
A Psycho Shift Cresselia. Only three moves so I have a higher chance of using Psycho Shift (does it work like that?). Lets me pass on Burn or Sleep when I do Rest + Sleep Talk. Good to switch in Earthquake and try to cripple enemies with status while I wait for PP to drain.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Well, there's my team. Feel free to pick out any wrong detail or to scrap some Pokés altogether. I know stalling at this level would be annoying, I'm trying to not produce that effect, just trying to speed up Struggle. Hopefully, I won't inadvertently draw in anger, so be nice with the comments/suggestions. Thanks in advance!
