Balanced Defence (An UU RMT)

[Midniiight]

Hey this is my second attempt at a RMT, and once again I'm looking for help to improve a team I put together. This team is more well thought out than my other RMT which was a psuedo offense team from the OU tier. All changes made to this team will be a different font and bolded.

The team at a glance...

Regirock@Leftovers
Ability: Clear Body
EV's: 252 Hp / 4 Spd / 252 SpD
Careful Nature (+SpD, -SpA)
Stealth Rock
Toxic
Stone Edge
Earthquake​

Regirock lead suggested by Haunter. I personally don't like Regirock, but I guess that's the cost of winning. Regirock's job is to scare away Crobat and set up Stealth Rock. Usually, I either use Stealth Rock, or Stone Edge the opposing Crobat lead. Pretty much just a sturdy Pokemon that sets up rocks more often than not. Unfortunately, doesn't learn Roar, so I switched in Toxic, and put Roar on Blastoise. Very imperfect lead, but this is a game of imperfects after all. ​

Chansey@Leftovers
Ability: Natural Cure
EV's: 252 Def / 40 Hp / 216 SpD
Calm Nature (+SpD, -Atk)
Aromatherapy
Seismic Toss
Thunder Wave
Softboiled​

Chansey can do a lot of useful things. First off Chansey was meant to be a special wall, but she became much more. Chansey acts as the status absorber on this team with Natural Cure making status harmless. If another member of the team is inflicted with a status, Chansey takes care of it with Aromatherapy. Softboiled allows Chansey to stay healthy and stall. Ice Beam hits a lot of switch-in's to Chansey for super effective or neutral damage. Thunder Wave helps to cripple incoming sweepers that try to set up on Chansey when they replace special attackers. Have been considering switching Ice Beam for Seismic Toss so I can move some EV's around and Chansey would do more damage in most cases.​

Venusaur@Leftovers
Ability: Overgrow
EV's: 252 Hp / 8 Spd / 248 SpD
Calm Nature (+SpD, -Atk)
Sleep Powder
Leech Seed
Energy Ball
Sludge Bomb​

Venusaur is the special sweeper of the group. Sweeper may not be the appropriate term, maybe like offensive tank. This thing is bulky enough to take a hit and retaliate with Sleep Powder. After the Sleep Powder, I use Leech Seed to hit the incoming Pokemon or seed the helpless sleeper. From there I go to work with the 2 STAB moves. Rinse and repeat. I'm unsure on whether I want to change its nature and EV's to take more physical attacks. My team is kind of Fighting weak, and Espeon doesn't take even NVE attacks very well. Physically defensive Venusaur could help plug that hole.​

Blastoise@Leftovers
Ability: Torrent
EV's: 252 Hp / 252 Def / 4 Spd
Bold Nature (+Def, -Atk)
Surf
Rapid Spin
Roar
Ice Beam​

Blastoise is a replacement pokemon. I used to run ScarfMoltres as a lead, but it didn't work out. Instead, I brought in Blastoise, a relatively bulky water, with the added bonus of Rapid Spin. Between Venusaur and Blastoise, all hazards are taken care of. Blastoise takes care of Stealth Rock and Spikes, and Venusaur takes care of Toxic Spikes with no side effects. Surf is basic STAB attack, and Rapid Spin is obvious. Toxic can wear down problem pokemon, leaving a mark before Blastoise leaves. Ice Beam is for Grass types and Flying types.​

Crobat@Leftovers
Ability: Inner Focus
EV's: 4 Hp / 252 Spd / 252 SpA
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
Nasty Plot
Roost
Air Slash
Heat Wave​

Special Sweeper of choice in the UU world. Big thanks to Haunter for this suggestion. Crobat is freaking fast, pretty much faster than anything else in UU. This Crobat deviates from the apparently standard Brave Bat, and gives me an element of suprise. Heat Wave destroys Steelix, and that alone is a reason to keep it. Air Slash makes for a haxathon that no one likes to deal with. Roost provides survivability. Crobat makes a great switch in on Fighting types and the ever present Shaymin. ​

Arcanine@Leftovers
Ability: Intimidate
EV's: 76 Hp / 252 Atk / 180 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SpA)
Howl
Extremespeed
Flare Blitz
Thunder Fang​

Mid-Late game physical sweeper. Main idea is to come in on something that has to switch out, then Howl or Thunder Fang the incoming water, whatever the situation may be. Thinking of putting more Hp EV's into Spd, hopefully getting me more sweeping power. Split between Intimidate and Flash Fire. Intimidate has its obvious uses, but with Flash Fire I could absorb attacks meant for Venusaur and Steelix, and save a turn with the boosted attack.​

Well, thats the team. I'm unsure about a couple things that I noted and may fare a little better with those uncertainties out the way. Hopefully with a little help from you guys I can get higher than my measly 1228 rating on the UU ladder right now.​

Here is how this team came to be.​

Started with Arcanine for no other reason that I like Arcanine and choose my Physical Sweepers First.

Next, I like Espeon so I wanted to include him too. The BP set in the strategy Pokedex caught my eye since I wanted a more balanced team.

Then, I needed a Physical Wall. Every team needs one right? Steelix happened to double as a phazer and Stealth Rock user too, so it seemed a good idea.

After that, I decided I needed a Special Sweeper for Espeon to BP off to. Venusaur brought the additon of sleep to the table, so he was in.

Then it was time to find a Special Wall. Chansey boasted retardedly high SpD, and came to me as a cleric. I thought "clerics are nice" and added Chansey.

Lastly, I needed to replace my Moltres lead, because it wasnt working out. Stealth Rocks were a problem for Arcanine, so I decided a spinner would be nice. Blastoise brought a new type to the table in the form of water. Blastoise also brought the ability to use Toxic, so Steelix didn't have to carry it anymore. I included Blastoise, and thats what we have here.

 

[haunter]

Steelix@Leftovers
Ability: Rock Head
EV's: 252 Hp / 120 Atk / 136 SpD
Impish Nature (+Def, -SpA)
Stealth Rock
Earthquake
Gyro Ball
Roar​

My Lead, Steelix is incredibly durable. His high defense stats almost ensure that I get Stealth Rocks up. After rocks are up, his main job is a phazer, using roar to push out things like Mismagious that try to Calm Mind behind a Substitute. Steelix comes in on NVE special attackers and shuffles around the opponents team with roar while they try to take control of the situation. Brings the useful resistance to electric that is need on every team. When dealing with other leads, I generally use Stealth Rock immediately, then either Roar or switch. Pokemon likely to Taunt, like Crobat are met with a Gyro Ball for their trouble.​

I wouldn't use a Steelix lead, although you can hit Crobat with gyro ball, it will taunt you preventig to set up SR or simply u-turn out if it predicts the incoming GB. Roserade lead will have a free sleep or a free layer of spikes. Arcanine lead will 2hko with fllare blitz or ohko with overheat while only taking 47.97% - 56.37% from your -1 EQ. You'll wall Ambipom lead, but they may taunt you predicting SR. I believe that Legacy Raider's Arcanine lead is still one of the most effective lead at the moment, but since you're using an howl Arcanine already, what about replacing your Steelix with a Regirock lead?

Regirock@leftovers
nature: impish
EVs: 252 HP / 180 Atk / 76 Def
-stealth rock
-stone edge
-earthquake
-explosion\toxic

It serves the same Steelix role, but with those EVs is capable of ohkoing Crobat most of the times, and will also force out or ohko Arcanine while still walling Ambipom. Only Roserade will still give you problems. It still works perfectly as a physical wall.

Chansey@Leftovers
Ability: Natural Cure
EV's: 252 Def / 40 SpA / 216 SpD
Calm Nature (+SpD, -Atk)
Aromatherapy
Ice Beam
Thunder Wave
Softboiled​

Chansey can do a lot of useful things. First off Chansey was meant to be a special wall, but she became much more. Chansey acts as the status absorber on this team with Natural Cure making status harmless. If another member of the team is inflicted with a status, Chansey takes care of it with Aromatherapy. Softboiled allows Chansey to stay healthy and stall. Ice Beam hits a lot of switch-in's to Chansey for super effective or neutral damage. Thunder Wave helps to cripple incoming sweepers that try to set up on Chansey when they replace special attackers. Have been considering switching Ice Beam for Seismic Toss so I can move some EV's around and Chansey would do more damage in most cases.​

Definitely replace ice beam with seismic toss, who are you going to hurt with an unstabbed move coming off 35 base sp.atk? Also, consider giving her wish\protect over thunder wave\softboiled: you already have enough statuses on your team and wish will help keeping Chansey's team mates healtly.

Venusaur@Leftovers
Ability: Overgrow
EV's: 252 Hp / 8 Spd / 248 SpD
Calm Nature (+SpD, -Atk)
Sleep Powder
Leech Seed
Energy Ball
Sludge Bomb​

Venusaur is the special sweeper of the group. Sweeper may not be the appropriate term, maybe like offensive tank. This thing is bulky enough to take a hit and retaliate with Sleep Powder. After the Sleep Powder, I use Leech Seed to hit the incoming Pokemon or seed the helpless sleeper. From there I go to work with the 2 STAB moves. Rinse and repeat. I'm unsure on whether I want to change its nature and EV's to take more physical attacks. My team is kind of Fighting weak, and Espeon doesn't take even NVE attacks very well. Physically defensive Venusaur could help plug that hole.

I doubt you will be going to sweep with this pokemon. I suppose that Crobat would be better in this spot, being also an effective Shaymin counter, but if you like sleep powder and a TS absorber, then keep it. Consider hp fire over energy ball (I suggest to keep sludge bomb if only for Shaymin, unless you decide to run Crobat in place of Espeon, of course) or leech seed (if you want coverage against waters), steel pokemons, especially Registeel, are a problem for your team. If you replace leech seed, then you could still keep Venusaur healtly passing it wishes from Chansey.
​

Blastoise@Leftovers
Ability: Torrent
EV's: 252 Hp / 252 Def / 4 Spd
Bold Nature (+Def, -Atk)
Surf
Rapid Spin
Toxic
Ice Beam​

Blastoise is a replacement pokemon. I used to run ScarfMoltres as a lead, but it didn't work out. Instead, I brought in Blastoise, a relatively bulky water, with the added bonus of Rapid Spin. Between Venusaur and Blastoise, all hazards are taken care of. Blastoise takes care of Stealth Rock and Spikes, and Venusaur takes care of Toxic Spikes with no side effects. Surf is basic STAB attack, and Rapid Spin is obvious. Toxic can wear down problem pokemon, leaving a mark before Blastoise leaves. Ice Beam is for Grass types and Flying types.​

I was going to suggest Milotic in this spot to be an effective receiver of Espeon's baton passes, but then you would have lost your spinner, so, since your team is very defensive, keep it. I would suggest adding roar somwhere, maybe replace ice beam, Blastoise is a fine pseudo-hazer.

Espeon@Leftovers
Ability: Synchronize
EV's: 252 Hp / 192 Spd / 64 SpD
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
Substitute
Calm Mind
Baton Pass
Psychic​

Baton Passer. Espeon is rather speedy compared to the rest of my team. Espeon comes in on something it scares, and uses Substitute on the switch. While the new Pokemon breaks the Substitute I use Calm Mind. Then, according to the situation, I start firing of Psychics or Baton Pass out to either Venusaur, Blastoise, or Steelix. I feel like I have a habit of forgetting that Espeon can actually attack, and often forget that set ups aren't always necessary. I often feel like I BP out of a Pokemon Espeon could've handled itself. Overall, Espeon is probably the least used member, and the one most open to replacement.

Nothing really benefits from the calm mind boosts in your team, so, definitely replace this pokemon. I was thinking of a nasty plot Crobat:

Crobat@leftovers
nature: timid
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Satk / 252 Spe
-nasty plot
-roost
-air slash
-heat wave
​

This pokemon would help with your stated fighting weakness and will be an effective sweeper late game. It would also be an extra insurance agains Shaymin and Steelix. I always run max speed on it to at least tie with other Crobats, but just be sure to outspeed Swellow investing at least 216 Spe EVs. That's only an idea, just be sure to replace Espeon which doesn't fit in this team.

Arcanine@Leftovers
Ability: Intimidate
EV's: 76 Hp / 252 Atk / 180 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SpA)
Howl
Extremespeed
Flare Blitz
Thunder Fang​

Mid-Late game physical sweeper. Main idea is to come in on something that has to switch out, then Howl or Thunder Fang the incoming water, whatever the situation may be. Thinking of putting more Hp EV's into Spd, hopefully getting me more sweeping power. Split between Intimidate and Flash Fire. Intimidate has its obvious uses, but with Flash Fire I could absorb attacks meant for Venusaur and Steelix, and save a turn with the boosted attack.

Fine, Arcanine is another effective late game sweeper. Although flash fire may be tempting, I always suggest intimidate, it gives plenty of opportunities to switch in into physical neutral attacks and since you have a spinner on yor team, it will help your Arcanine to last longer.

​

Hope this helps.

 

[BurtonEarny]

haunter really said it all pretty much... I would consider not running a howl variant and just run a bulkier version on arcanine to help with the overall stalling nature of this team.
This team seems to want spikes and roserade is bulky on the special side just like venusaur, can sleep support, and has the same stabs and still absorbs toxic spikes.

 

[Midniiight]

Sizable Update to the main thread. Replaced 2 pokemon.

I kinda wanna replace Blastoise with another spinner, but that would leave me with any roar/whirlwind.

Regirock is a workable lead, but would Registeel work? It isn't weak to grass and is neutral to water.. unlike Regirock.

Any more critiques, ideas, opinions, etc?