An NU Sandstorm Team

[crystle]

Hello! Although I joined smogon quite some time ago, I really haven’t actually done anything. This is my first RMT and attempt at NU (and kind of competitive battling as a whole). This team came about because sandstorm is nonexistent in NU, and I thought it would be fun to try and make a team around it. The main sandstorm abuser (and only) that I have is Stoutland with Sand rush at the moment, and I find that it’s difficult to find Pokémon that either do well in sandstorm, take no damage from it, and support each other. So sandstorm is only helping Stoutland at the moment, which is a bit unfortunate. This team needs a lot of work so any suggestion at all would be appreciated!

The Team

Garbodor @ Black Sludge
Ability: Aftermath
252HP/240Def/16 Spe
Impish Nature (+Def, -SAtk)

-Clear Smog
-Spikes
-Drain Punch
-Gunk Shot

Details: I tend to lead with Garbodor, and he can get a few layers of spikes down with his nice bulk. Clear smog debuffs potential sweepers; drain punch gives decent coverage and good recovery. I’m not a fan of Gunk Shot because it seems to be very rarely useful, but I’m not sure what to replace it with.

Regirock @ Leftovers
Ability: Clear body
252 HP/252Atk/ 4SpD
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SpA)
-Curse
-Earthquake
-Stone Edge
-Sandstorm

Details: A sandstorm set-upper. I’ve shifted through a few sets for it, and I’m using this one because my team lacks a bit of offensive prowess. Leftovers over smooth rock because of lack of recovery. Regirock is okay it can sometimes take down a few things, but special attackers are a pain. Curse to boost stats, Earthquake for covrage, Stone Edge for stab, sandstorm for, well, sandstorm.

Miltank @ Smooth Rock
Ability: Sap Sipper
252 HP/4atk/ 252Def
Impish Nature (+Def, -SpA)
-Sandstorm
-Stealth Rock
-Body Slam
-Milk Drink

Details: My secondary sand storm and entry hazard user. Miltank works quite nicely, I like it quite a bit. Sap sipper is especially useful to absorb attacks directed at regirock,. I wish that miltank had an extra move slot. She’s walled by ghosts without scrappy, and doesn’t have space for heal bell. If anything I’d replace stealth rock for something like that. Sandstorm and Stealth Rock are self-explanatory, body slam for stab and paralysis (always nice) , Milk Drink to stay alive

Stoutland @ Life Orb
Ability: Sand Rush
253 Atk/ 4spd/252 spe
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SpA)
-Wild Charge
-Return
-Superpower
-Crunch

Details: the star of the show. Stoutland is most certainly the best member of the team. Sand Rush boosts his speed once sandstorm is under play, and then he can sweep like crazy. I chose life orb over choice band so that I’m not locked into a move since stoutland tends to stay in for quite a while. I almost want muscle band over life orb so stountland can stay in even longer, but the loss in power is a bit sad. Return gives stab, wild charge for those annoying water types, superpower for rocks and steels, and crunch to round it off.

Zebstrika @ Life Orb
Ability: Lightningrod
4HP/242SpA/252 spe
Modest Nature (+SpA, -Atk)
-Overheat
-Thunderbolt
-Volt Switch
-Hidden Power Grass

Details: The second sweeper. Zebstrika is a great special attacker, and can absorb electric attacks, while raising its special attack, which is always nice. The set is standard, Overheat to deal with grass types, thunderbolt for stab, volt switch for scouting, and hidden power grass for coverage. Not much else to say about this one.

Eggsecutor @ Sitrus Berry
Ability: Harvest
252HP/172 Def/84 Spe
Bold Nature (+Def, -Atk)
-Leech Seed
-Sleep Powder
-Substitute
-Hidden Power Ice

Details: Although I really like this set, I feel that it would be better suited to a sun team rather than this one but I don’t know what to replace it with. Harvest is a neat ability along with the sitrus berry. Sleep powder gets rid of any threats, leech seed for recovery, substitute is obvious. HP Ice over Psychic is good for grass types which can’t be seeded and those tunktanks who love to taunt this thing. (taunt is really really annoying)


There you have it. :D

 

[Jajub123]

I've noticed that you're team is very weak to Sawk and Jynx; they could potentially take out every member together (or at least half by themselves). Jynx OHKO's Zebstrika with Ice Beam after rocks no matter what (you don't have a spinner on your team), and has a good chance to OHKO without rocks anyway (it'll also OHKO no matter what after LO recoil). Oh yeah, this Jynx is a LO set. Sawk can also OHKO Stoutland and Miltank with CC, and outspeeds both of them if sandstorm is not up. CC can also 2HKO Regirock after rocks. Jynx can also OHKO Garbodor and Eggsecutor. To solve this problem, I would suggest adding CS Swanna; it'll OHKO both with hazards:

Swanna@Choice Scarf
EV's: 4HP, 252 SAtk, 252 Spe
Hurricane
Surf
Hidden Power [Ice]
Protect
This Swanna set outspeeds both Jynx and Sawk, and can OHKO them both. Surf and Hurricane are for strong STAB moves, HP Ice is for coverage, and Protect is for scouting (Protect is the most replacable move). Swanna will replace either Zebstrika or Eggsecutor. I feel like you could also replace Eggsecutor with a strong special wall (this'll help with the special sweepers). I suggest something like Grumpig; it's an amazing special wall, but since it doesn't have reliable recovery, I suggest you send it out when Sandstorm isn't up (sorry for no set, I'm running out of time). One final suggestion is that you give Stoutland a Choice Band. Choice band is better than LO in most situations, as you get an extra punch as well as not being worn down (you can keep LO if you wnat the ability to switch moves). Anyway, good luck with your team!

 

[Anty]

Hello, nice pseudo sand team, you don't see many.

Firstly I would suggest toxic spikes over drain punch on garbodor, because garbodor is more of a suicide lead so drain punch isn't necessary.

Secondly I would put choice scarf over life orb on zebstrika which will help you with your sawk/jynx/salac scolipede problem.

By the looks of this team eggy isn't doing much and you don't have a special wall, so I suggest cradily;
Cradily@leftovers/smooth rock
252hp,252sp def,4 Atk
+sp def -sp atk nature (sorry forgot which one)
Storm drain
-recover
-stealth rock
-toxic/seed bomb
-sandstorm/seed bomb

If you have stealth rocks on him you can have heal bell on milktank and if you use sandstorm on him you may not need sandstorm on milk tank so you can have toxic/t wave. Also have thick fat over sap sipper.

Also you need to right a threat list or this thread will be locked.

Changes;
Life orb--->scarf on zen
Drain punch--->toxic spikes on garb
Eggy--->cradily
Milk tank to what I suggested

 

[Adtherens]

Sandslash and Cradily can both take advantage of sandstorm. Sandslash has sand rush and cradily is a rock type, it gets a SDef increase from being in the storm.

 

[Jajub123]

Adtherens:
Sandslash is RU. -.-