Abusing Sleep Clause
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Teambuilding Process:
I didn’t come up with this idea. I ran into somebody on the ladder playing it and even though I had a sleep talking Heracross I lost. I decided to see if a team like this could become viable in this dumb metagame. I started with Liepard and Smeargle to give assist Spore and run a “viable” Destiny Bond CounterCoat set.
[pimg]538[/pimg][pimg]235[/pimg]
Next I needed some pokemon to trap threats so I added trick Gothitelle so the threats can’t set up and Wobbuffet to CounterCoat the problem away.
[pimg]538[/pimg][pimg]235[/pimg][pimg]606[/pimg][pimg]202[/pimg]
I had troubles with sandstorm damage whittling down my Liepard so I added Groudon to get rid of sand once I’d gotten rid of my opponent’s Tyranitar.
[pimg]538[/pimg][pimg]235[/pimg][pimg]606[/pimg][pimg]202[/pimg][pimg]383[/pimg]
I needed a viable attacker on this team to break substitutes and scout for sleep talk. After briefly considering Nature Power Shiftry, I realized that Ditto would be perfect for this role.
[pimg]538[/pimg][pimg]235[/pimg][pimg]606[/pimg][pimg]202[/pimg][pimg]383[/pimg][pimg]132[/pimg]
[pimg]538[/pimg]
Liepard @ Leftovers
Trait: Prankster
EVs: 252 Spd / 252 SAtk / 4 SDef
Modest Nature
- Assist
- Nasty Plot
- Substitute
- Dark Pulse
The all star of this team. It uses a +1 priority %100 accurate sleep inducing move to keep its opponent completely useless while it sets up. I always make sure I have a sub up before I attack because there is always the risk of being outsped. An optimum game consists of Assist, Substitute, Nasty Plot, Nasty Plot, and then they break my sub, Assist, Substitute, Nasty Plot and sweep. This may seem like a boring, gimmicky strategy, but it works. I only lost to a constantly broken substitute once and my opponent had an amazing string of second turn wake ups.
[pimg]606[/pimg]
Gothitelle @ Choice Scarf
Trait: Shadow Tag
EVs: 136 Spd / 252 HP / 120 Def
Timid Nature
- Trick
-
-
-
Like all sweepers Liepard needs support to work well. I want to trick a scarf onto my opponent so they are locked onto a move against Wobbuffet. It also ruins substitute and defensive pokemon. The evs are so I can outspeed max speed Manaphy, and the rest goes into bulk to survive (fingers crossed) Extremespeeds.
[pimg]202[/pimg]
Wobbuffet @ Custap Berry
Trait: Shadow Tag
EVs: 252 SDef / 252 HP / 4 Def
Calm Nature
- Counter
- Destiny Bond
- Mirror Coat
-
I have CounterCoat to take down the Choice locked attackers. I have a custap berry so that even after Wobbuffet has taken a hit he can still be useful and get a Destiny Bond off. This also beats subs some of the time. The Evs are to take hits well. I didn't put much thought into her evs, but I never had a problem with them. I could put in some defensive evs for Tyranitar, but Custap Destiny Bond works well since it is a surprise for most teams.
[pimg]235[/pimg]
Smeargle @ Focus Sash
Trait: Own Tempo
EVs: 252 Spd / 252 HP / 4 SDef
Timid Nature
- Destiny Bond
- Spore
- Counter
- Mirror Coat
From Smeargle’s set we can easily see that I don’t have many moves to work with that aren’t covered by Assist. I need spore for Liepard to copy. I tried a Breloom Spore, Focus Punch set, but there weren’t any practical uses for it. With Smeargle I have a chance of taken out at least one pokemon. The goal of this set is to get a free switch into Liepard after I’ve taken out one of its counters with my Goffet core. That needs a different name.
[pimg]383[/pimg]
Groudon @ Leftovers
Trait: Drought
EVs: 252 SAtk / 252 Spd / 4 SDef
Modest Nature
-
- Dragon Tail
-
- Protect
What a set! Groudon’s unassist copied move pool is pretty dry. The residual damage from sandstorm and hail stopped my Liepard cold. I needed a counter to set up a safe weather after I killed (hopefully) their sandstormer. I choose a sun summoner because rain just helps hydration Manaphy. I’ve been thinking about replacing Groudon with Ninetales because it would die easier and all this team wants is a free switch into a trapper or Liepard. Thank you Fireburn for giving me the idea of putting Dragon Tail on Groudon. It helps stop pokes from setting up, offers free switches and helps counter physical hitters. It made the team a lot better!
[pimg]132[/pimg]
Ditto @ Choice Scarf
Trait: Imposter
EVs: 252 Def / 248 HP / 8 SDef
Bold Nature
IVs: 2 Spd
- Transform
Ditto is actually a really good fit for this team. He can be used to weaken Extremekiller Arceus and then Life Orb recoil it to death if the rest of my counters are dead. I can use him to scout out sleep talkers as well. This is his most important use. Normally, I’ll start with Liepard and switch out to Ditto if I want to look for sleep talk. He’s just a very useful pokemon for this team. I uses 248 HP to minimize Stealth Rock damage. I use 2 speed ivs for hidden power ice and to speed drop other Dittos so they recoil themselves to death. Shout out to Syndicate for that idea, although if it ever happens I will be amazed.
[pimg]538[/pimg][pimg]235[/pimg][pimg]606[/pimg][pimg]202[/pimg][pimg]383[/pimg][pimg]132[/pimg]
This is my first RMT so I wanted this team to be elaborately tested, but my internet hasn't been working properly so I was only able to ladder once.
http://imageshack.us/content_round.php?page=done&id=4tHclKOinZyqlKTT1Nba4evJp9jf1pTW6cs
I couldn't figure out how to post a picture. :p Checking now it looks like I even messed that one up. I guess you'll just have to take my word that I went 42 and 15 and had a glicko 2 rating of 1903 +- 60 Could someone let me know how to fix this. I've been working on this for a while and I just want to post it.
I couldn't figure out how to post a picture. :p Checking now it looks like I even messed that one up. I guess you'll just have to take my word that I went 42 and 15 and had a glicko 2 rating of 1903 +- 60 Could someone let me know how to fix this. I've been working on this for a while and I just want to post it.
If you want a more in depth description of assist click http://www.smogon.com/bw/moves/assist , but basically it is a non-attacking move that copies moves that other members of your team have. There are some moves however that it doesn’t copy. My strategy involves using Assist to solely copy Spore. Through a combination of prankster Spore, Substitute, seeing if they stay asleep, and then Nasty Ploting, I get my Liepard to +6 and then sweep the rest of his team using dark pulse.
Let’s get something straight right way. This is not a good team. It has a list of counters a mile long and if my opponent plays them smartly they will beat me every time. But if they don’t have a counter, or if I manage to take out one of their counters, then it’s game over Chicago. The entire time I play tested this team it only lost to constant attacking twice. Although this team is bad I would argue that it is competitive. I had a great win/loss ratio with it and there were only a few times I was absolutely wrecked. I really hope that in the suspect vote next week they’ll bring back sleep clause because a metagame where a team like this can be viable is not a metagame I want to play in.
Teambuilding Process:
I didn’t come up with this idea. I ran into somebody on the ladder playing it and even though I had a sleep talking Heracross I lost. I decided to see if a team like this could become viable in this dumb metagame. I started with Liepard and Smeargle to give assist Spore and run a “viable” Destiny Bond CounterCoat set.
[pimg]538[/pimg][pimg]235[/pimg]
Next I needed some pokemon to trap threats so I added trick Gothitelle so the threats can’t set up and Wobbuffet to CounterCoat the problem away.
[pimg]538[/pimg][pimg]235[/pimg][pimg]606[/pimg][pimg]202[/pimg]
I had troubles with sandstorm damage whittling down my Liepard so I added Groudon to get rid of sand once I’d gotten rid of my opponent’s Tyranitar.
[pimg]538[/pimg][pimg]235[/pimg][pimg]606[/pimg][pimg]202[/pimg][pimg]383[/pimg]
I needed a viable attacker on this team to break substitutes and scout for sleep talk. After briefly considering Nature Power Shiftry, I realized that Ditto would be perfect for this role.
[pimg]538[/pimg][pimg]235[/pimg][pimg]606[/pimg][pimg]202[/pimg][pimg]383[/pimg][pimg]132[/pimg]
[pimg]538[/pimg]
Liepard @ Leftovers
Trait: Prankster
EVs: 252 Spd / 252 SAtk / 4 SDef
Modest Nature
- Assist
- Nasty Plot
- Substitute
- Dark Pulse
The all star of this team. It uses a +1 priority %100 accurate sleep inducing move to keep its opponent completely useless while it sets up. I always make sure I have a sub up before I attack because there is always the risk of being outsped. An optimum game consists of Assist, Substitute, Nasty Plot, Nasty Plot, and then they break my sub, Assist, Substitute, Nasty Plot and sweep. This may seem like a boring, gimmicky strategy, but it works. I only lost to a constantly broken substitute once and my opponent had an amazing string of second turn wake ups.
[pimg]606[/pimg]
Gothitelle @ Choice Scarf
Trait: Shadow Tag
EVs: 136 Spd / 252 HP / 120 Def
Timid Nature
- Trick
-
-
-
Like all sweepers Liepard needs support to work well. I want to trick a scarf onto my opponent so they are locked onto a move against Wobbuffet. It also ruins substitute and defensive pokemon. The evs are so I can outspeed max speed Manaphy, and the rest goes into bulk to survive (fingers crossed) Extremespeeds.
[pimg]202[/pimg]
Wobbuffet @ Custap Berry
Trait: Shadow Tag
EVs: 252 SDef / 252 HP / 4 Def
Calm Nature
- Counter
- Destiny Bond
- Mirror Coat
-
I have CounterCoat to take down the Choice locked attackers. I have a custap berry so that even after Wobbuffet has taken a hit he can still be useful and get a Destiny Bond off. This also beats subs some of the time. The Evs are to take hits well. I didn't put much thought into her evs, but I never had a problem with them. I could put in some defensive evs for Tyranitar, but Custap Destiny Bond works well since it is a surprise for most teams.
[pimg]235[/pimg]
Smeargle @ Focus Sash
Trait: Own Tempo
EVs: 252 Spd / 252 HP / 4 SDef
Timid Nature
- Destiny Bond
- Spore
- Counter
- Mirror Coat
From Smeargle’s set we can easily see that I don’t have many moves to work with that aren’t covered by Assist. I need spore for Liepard to copy. I tried a Breloom Spore, Focus Punch set, but there weren’t any practical uses for it. With Smeargle I have a chance of taken out at least one pokemon. The goal of this set is to get a free switch into Liepard after I’ve taken out one of its counters with my Goffet core. That needs a different name.
[pimg]383[/pimg]
Groudon @ Leftovers
Trait: Drought
EVs: 252 SAtk / 252 Spd / 4 SDef
Modest Nature
-
- Dragon Tail
-
- Protect
What a set! Groudon’s unassist copied move pool is pretty dry. The residual damage from sandstorm and hail stopped my Liepard cold. I needed a counter to set up a safe weather after I killed (hopefully) their sandstormer. I choose a sun summoner because rain just helps hydration Manaphy. I’ve been thinking about replacing Groudon with Ninetales because it would die easier and all this team wants is a free switch into a trapper or Liepard. Thank you Fireburn for giving me the idea of putting Dragon Tail on Groudon. It helps stop pokes from setting up, offers free switches and helps counter physical hitters. It made the team a lot better!
[pimg]132[/pimg]
Ditto @ Choice Scarf
Trait: Imposter
EVs: 252 Def / 248 HP / 8 SDef
Bold Nature
IVs: 2 Spd
- Transform
Ditto is actually a really good fit for this team. He can be used to weaken Extremekiller Arceus and then Life Orb recoil it to death if the rest of my counters are dead. I can use him to scout out sleep talkers as well. This is his most important use. Normally, I’ll start with Liepard and switch out to Ditto if I want to look for sleep talk. He’s just a very useful pokemon for this team. I uses 248 HP to minimize Stealth Rock damage. I use 2 speed ivs for hidden power ice and to speed drop other Dittos so they recoil themselves to death. Shout out to Syndicate for that idea, although if it ever happens I will be amazed.
Gothitelle @ Choice Scarf
Trait: Shadow Tag
EVs: 136 Spd / 252 HP / 120 Def
Timid Nature
- Trick
-
-
-
Liepard @ Leftovers
Trait: Prankster
EVs: 252 Spd / 252 SAtk / 4 SDef
Modest Nature
- Assist
- Nasty Plot
- Substitute
- Dark Pulse
Wobbuffet @ Custap Berry
Trait: Shadow Tag
EVs: 252 SDef / 252 HP / 4 Def
Calm Nature
- Counter
- Destiny Bond
- Mirror Coat
-
Ditto @ Choice Scarf
Trait: Imposter
EVs: 252 Def / 248 HP / 8 SDef
Bold Nature
IVs: 2 Spd
- Transform
Smeargle @ Focus Sash
Trait: Own Tempo
EVs: 252 Spd / 252 HP / 4 SDef
Timid Nature
- Destiny Bond
- Spore
- Counter
- Mirror Coat
Groudon @ Leftovers
Trait: Drought
EVs: 252 SAtk / 252 Spd / 4 SDef
Modest Nature
-
- Dragon Tail
-
- Protect
Trait: Shadow Tag
EVs: 136 Spd / 252 HP / 120 Def
Timid Nature
- Trick
-
-
-
Liepard @ Leftovers
Trait: Prankster
EVs: 252 Spd / 252 SAtk / 4 SDef
Modest Nature
- Assist
- Nasty Plot
- Substitute
- Dark Pulse
Wobbuffet @ Custap Berry
Trait: Shadow Tag
EVs: 252 SDef / 252 HP / 4 Def
Calm Nature
- Counter
- Destiny Bond
- Mirror Coat
-
Ditto @ Choice Scarf
Trait: Imposter
EVs: 252 Def / 248 HP / 8 SDef
Bold Nature
IVs: 2 Spd
- Transform
Smeargle @ Focus Sash
Trait: Own Tempo
EVs: 252 Spd / 252 HP / 4 SDef
Timid Nature
- Destiny Bond
- Spore
- Counter
- Mirror Coat
Groudon @ Leftovers
Trait: Drought
EVs: 252 SAtk / 252 Spd / 4 SDef
Modest Nature
-
- Dragon Tail
-
- Protect
This is going to be a strange threatlist. I’m not going to post pokemon, but movesets and items and tell you how I deal with them.
Lum Berry: It is normally very obvious when my opponent has a Lum Berry. When they lead with it, I normally switch out to either Ditto or Gothitelle. I send out Gothitelle to trick it and Ditto to get a free switch to Smeargle to spore it and break the Lum Berry. It depends what I see in team preview and what I’ll need in the matchup. If Liepard is behind a sub when the lum berry pokemon comes in I’m safe to Spore it.
SandStorm: I have only beaten a sandstorm team once. Thankfully they aren’t that common in Ubers. I try to kill Tyranitar as soon as possible using WobbuTelle and then switch in Groudon.
ExtremeSpeed: This sucks. When I see Arceus I switch into WobbuTelle to Counter on Extremespeed. I can use Ditto to take down Rayquaza to a range where life orb might kill it. If my opponent has both of these pokemon, I pretty much lose.
Substitutes: No problem if Liepard can break them. I just set up normally with an extra turn of breaking their subs. If I can’t I try to A) Destiny Bond them, B) Break their sub with Ditto or MirrorCoat and C)WobbuTelle them. I could put roar on one of my pokemon, but then set-up on Liepard would probably take forever.
Hydration: WobbuTelleing Manaphy is the most consistent approach. If I know that Kyogre is a Sleep Talker I’ll try to take that out and use Groudon.
Sleep Talk: Choiced Sleep Talk isn’t that bad because they’ll be stuck on sleep talk even when they wake up which still gives me a chance to set up. My strategy on non-choiced Sleep Talk is to choice them with Gothitelle.
Vital Spirit/Breloom: These aren’t common enough to be a problem, but WobbuTelle although Spore, substitute Poison Heal Breloom just beats me.
Red Card/Toxic Spikes: If my opponent sets up toxic spikes while Liepard is off the field, I lose. If it’s a Forretress I can Ditto Rapid Spin, but that probably won’t happen. This is on the list because I almost lost to a Red Card Forretress. Luckily, he had no spin blockers for Ditto.
Phazing: I try to trick a scarf on the phazor and then wear it down with Ditto. I can also still win if I let all my pokemon die except for Liepard.
Taunt: This would screw me over, but the pokemon that know taunt in Ubers are mostly psychic types, and Liepard loves frail psychic types. Deoxys-D is annoying, but Liepard can handle it.
Evasion: If there is one thing I hate more than no sleep clause, it’s no evasion clause. I need time to set-up with Liepard and if my opponent is at +6 evasion, I’m screwed. I try to attack immediately against these teams because they normally have frail attackers.
Lum Berry: It is normally very obvious when my opponent has a Lum Berry. When they lead with it, I normally switch out to either Ditto or Gothitelle. I send out Gothitelle to trick it and Ditto to get a free switch to Smeargle to spore it and break the Lum Berry. It depends what I see in team preview and what I’ll need in the matchup. If Liepard is behind a sub when the lum berry pokemon comes in I’m safe to Spore it.
SandStorm: I have only beaten a sandstorm team once. Thankfully they aren’t that common in Ubers. I try to kill Tyranitar as soon as possible using WobbuTelle and then switch in Groudon.
ExtremeSpeed: This sucks. When I see Arceus I switch into WobbuTelle to Counter on Extremespeed. I can use Ditto to take down Rayquaza to a range where life orb might kill it. If my opponent has both of these pokemon, I pretty much lose.
Substitutes: No problem if Liepard can break them. I just set up normally with an extra turn of breaking their subs. If I can’t I try to A) Destiny Bond them, B) Break their sub with Ditto or MirrorCoat and C)WobbuTelle them. I could put roar on one of my pokemon, but then set-up on Liepard would probably take forever.
Hydration: WobbuTelleing Manaphy is the most consistent approach. If I know that Kyogre is a Sleep Talker I’ll try to take that out and use Groudon.
Sleep Talk: Choiced Sleep Talk isn’t that bad because they’ll be stuck on sleep talk even when they wake up which still gives me a chance to set up. My strategy on non-choiced Sleep Talk is to choice them with Gothitelle.
Vital Spirit/Breloom: These aren’t common enough to be a problem, but WobbuTelle although Spore, substitute Poison Heal Breloom just beats me.
Red Card/Toxic Spikes: If my opponent sets up toxic spikes while Liepard is off the field, I lose. If it’s a Forretress I can Ditto Rapid Spin, but that probably won’t happen. This is on the list because I almost lost to a Red Card Forretress. Luckily, he had no spin blockers for Ditto.
Phazing: I try to trick a scarf on the phazor and then wear it down with Ditto. I can also still win if I let all my pokemon die except for Liepard.
Taunt: This would screw me over, but the pokemon that know taunt in Ubers are mostly psychic types, and Liepard loves frail psychic types. Deoxys-D is annoying, but Liepard can handle it.
Evasion: If there is one thing I hate more than no sleep clause, it’s no evasion clause. I need time to set-up with Liepard and if my opponent is at +6 evasion, I’m screwed. I try to attack immediately against these teams because they normally have frail attackers.
This is an example of me taking down a few threats for this team. I made a few mistakes in the game, but it shows an example of how to survive extremespeeds, subs, whirlwind and long games.
http://pokemonshowdown.com/replay/uberssuspecttest-30634325
p.s. Used a different alt for this one, but you can tell it's me
http://pokemonshowdown.com/replay/uberssuspecttest-30634325
p.s. Used a different alt for this one, but you can tell it's me
