After testing with a bunch of teams, I picked up my Advance team and modified it. Surprisingly, it's working wonders.
Rhyperior @ Choice Band --- SWORDSTEALER
Ability: Solid Rock
EVs: 192 HP / 252 Atk / 64 Spe
Adamant nature (+Atk, -SpA)
- Stone Edge
- Earthquake
- Megahorn
- Fire Punch
What used to be Rhydon has turned into the beast that is Rhyperior. Now that Tauros can't deal with Focus Sash Infernape and Bronzong leads, Rhyperior does decently as a lead. Stealth Rock doesn't really harm my team that much, so an Azelf, Infernape and Aerodactyl setting up rocks is fine. I can respond in turn with Fire Punch / EQ / Stone Edge respectively.
Later in the game, Rhyperior helps me absorb hits from Tyranitar and HP Ice Electrics. Rhyperior's sheer amazing defensive stats helps me check against a great many threats. In return, it deals massive damage and is thus the damage-dealer of my team. Megahorn + Fire Punch is necessary as Celebi and Bronzong are greater problems to my team than Hippowdon. 64 EVs to outspeeds most Skarmory, and usually beats it with Stone Edge / Fire Punch.
Magnezone @ Choice Scarf --- MEGATRON
Ability: Magnet Pull
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Thunderbolt
- Hidden Power [Fire]
- Explosion
- Flash Cannon
Two purposes: Firstly, to trap steels which can wall the crap out of Tauros and Salamence. Most Skarmory, Forretress and Bronzong die to this, and Salamence can begin to sweep. Secondly, Magnezone checks against Outraging Mence, SDLucario and SDScizor. Magnezone also helps kill off unsuspecting Gengar as well, which is a great threat to my team.
Tauros @ Choice Band --- WRETCHED
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly nature (+Spe, -SpA)
- Return
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- Zen Headbutt / Sleep Talk
With Magnezone destroying non-Shed Shell Skarmory, Tauros is actually pretty good. Although he's no
Intimidate really helps here, as a double Intimidate game with Salamence and Tauros helps me check against a lot of threats. For lack of a sleep absorber, I am considering Sleep Talk.
Blissey @ Leftovers --- CHLOE
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Def / 252 SpD
Calm nature (+SpD, -Atk)
- Wish
- Protect
- Seismic Toss
- Flamethrower
Blissey helps wall special threats to which I am weak, such as Empoleon, Zapdos and so on. Seismic Toss is for Raikou, Suicune and others, and is pretty much a must. Flamethrower / Protect ruins so many Choice Banders, and Protect is especially vital considering my lack of a true physical wall. Blissey + Celebi beats Life Orb Gengar most of the time, but I have some problems with SubPunch / Hypnosis / Shadow Ball Gengar.
Celebi @ Leftovers --- ETERNA
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 252 HP / 216 Def / 40 SpD
Bold nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Recover
- Stealth Rock
- Grass Knot
- Hidden Power [Fire]
Lasts forever, and Hidden Power Fire punishes Scizor for switching in, and also helps with my Agility Metagross problem. I wanted to put Stealth Rock on Blissey, but then I would be walled by SubGengar. Helps against Gyarados, Breloom, the list goes on...
Salamence @ Leftovers / Life Orb --- GATEKEEPER
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 236 HP / 64 Atk / 112 SpD / 96 Spe
Adamant nature (+Atk, -SpA)
- Dragon Dance
- Outrage / Dragon Claw
- Earthquake
- Roost
In addition to helping beat everything from Infernape to Fighters, Salamence can wreck havoc late game. Swampert can't reliably beat this since Ice Beam won't OHKO. Considering two things: no. 1, shifting to Dragon Claw since the opponent usually revenge kills with Heatran or something. no. 2, using Life Orb to deal more damage.
Rate away, please!
Rhyperior @ Choice Band --- SWORDSTEALER
Ability: Solid Rock
EVs: 192 HP / 252 Atk / 64 Spe
Adamant nature (+Atk, -SpA)
- Stone Edge
- Earthquake
- Megahorn
- Fire Punch
What used to be Rhydon has turned into the beast that is Rhyperior. Now that Tauros can't deal with Focus Sash Infernape and Bronzong leads, Rhyperior does decently as a lead. Stealth Rock doesn't really harm my team that much, so an Azelf, Infernape and Aerodactyl setting up rocks is fine. I can respond in turn with Fire Punch / EQ / Stone Edge respectively.
Later in the game, Rhyperior helps me absorb hits from Tyranitar and HP Ice Electrics. Rhyperior's sheer amazing defensive stats helps me check against a great many threats. In return, it deals massive damage and is thus the damage-dealer of my team. Megahorn + Fire Punch is necessary as Celebi and Bronzong are greater problems to my team than Hippowdon. 64 EVs to outspeeds most Skarmory, and usually beats it with Stone Edge / Fire Punch.
Magnezone @ Choice Scarf --- MEGATRON
Ability: Magnet Pull
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Thunderbolt
- Hidden Power [Fire]
- Explosion
- Flash Cannon
Two purposes: Firstly, to trap steels which can wall the crap out of Tauros and Salamence. Most Skarmory, Forretress and Bronzong die to this, and Salamence can begin to sweep. Secondly, Magnezone checks against Outraging Mence, SDLucario and SDScizor. Magnezone also helps kill off unsuspecting Gengar as well, which is a great threat to my team.
Tauros @ Choice Band --- WRETCHED
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly nature (+Spe, -SpA)
- Return
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- Zen Headbutt / Sleep Talk
With Magnezone destroying non-Shed Shell Skarmory, Tauros is actually pretty good. Although he's no
Intimidate really helps here, as a double Intimidate game with Salamence and Tauros helps me check against a lot of threats. For lack of a sleep absorber, I am considering Sleep Talk.
Blissey @ Leftovers --- CHLOE
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Def / 252 SpD
Calm nature (+SpD, -Atk)
- Wish
- Protect
- Seismic Toss
- Flamethrower
Blissey helps wall special threats to which I am weak, such as Empoleon, Zapdos and so on. Seismic Toss is for Raikou, Suicune and others, and is pretty much a must. Flamethrower / Protect ruins so many Choice Banders, and Protect is especially vital considering my lack of a true physical wall. Blissey + Celebi beats Life Orb Gengar most of the time, but I have some problems with SubPunch / Hypnosis / Shadow Ball Gengar.
Celebi @ Leftovers --- ETERNA
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 252 HP / 216 Def / 40 SpD
Bold nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Recover
- Stealth Rock
- Grass Knot
- Hidden Power [Fire]
Lasts forever, and Hidden Power Fire punishes Scizor for switching in, and also helps with my Agility Metagross problem. I wanted to put Stealth Rock on Blissey, but then I would be walled by SubGengar. Helps against Gyarados, Breloom, the list goes on...
Salamence @ Leftovers / Life Orb --- GATEKEEPER
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 236 HP / 64 Atk / 112 SpD / 96 Spe
Adamant nature (+Atk, -SpA)
- Dragon Dance
- Outrage / Dragon Claw
- Earthquake
- Roost
In addition to helping beat everything from Infernape to Fighters, Salamence can wreck havoc late game. Swampert can't reliably beat this since Ice Beam won't OHKO. Considering two things: no. 1, shifting to Dragon Claw since the opponent usually revenge kills with Heatran or something. no. 2, using Life Orb to deal more damage.
Rate away, please!
