Hey guys, I'm Seraph/FalSeraph. I've been lurking here for a while, but this is my first actual post. My most recent team has served me fairly well, but I'm afraid it still needs a bit of fine tuning. I would greatly appreciate any constructive criticism that anyone could provide.
Balanced Storm
Empress:
Tyranitar (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpD
Careful Nature (+SpD, -SpA)
- Stealth Rock
- Stone Edge
- Crunch
- Pursuit
Tyranitar fills a variety of roles for my team. I'm not big on weather teams, but the permanent sand-storm helps me to clear out rain/sun. In addition, the boost from sand-storm allows her to soak special hits like a boss, and crunch/pursuit weakened psychics. Finally Tyranitar lays down stealth rocks which really helps my sweepers.
Latios, and the like, are simply torn apart by this build. With stealth rocks on the field, crunch (or a full-powered pursuit) is a guaranteed KO; choice-specs Latios' surf manages a 3HKO at best.
Volcarona fails to KO with bug buzz, even at +1, and is immediately KO'd by any stone-edge that connects.
Tank
Skarmory (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 252 HP / 232 Def / 24 Spe
Impish Nature (+Def, -SpA)
- Brave Bird
- Spikes
- Whirlwind
- Roost
Perhaps the most famous physical wall in the game, Skarmory was destined to make an appearance on my team. I originally ran it with 232 EV's in SpD rather than Def, but I found that the loss in bulkiness was quite noticeable when dealing with powerful fighting types.
Skarmory's jobs are to wall physical hitters, lay down spikes, and phaze set-up sweepers. It generally functions well, and is a proud member of my team.
General
Conkeldurr (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Guts
EVs: 120 HP / 252 Atk / 136 SpD
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SpA)
- Bulk Up
- Drain Punch
- Mach Punch
- Pay Back
Despite his elderly appearance, Conkeldurr is a threat to be reckoned with the second it steps onto the battlefield. Respectable bulk and a sky-high attack set can tear through unprepared pokemon; with a few bulk-ups under his belt entire teams can be decimated.
This is the standard bulk-up set, and it generally works well. I've tried toying with the Ev's to make it bulkier, but I just love the power I get out of a fully-invested Drain Punch.
Foreigner
Starmie @ Expert Belt
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 252 Sp Atk / 4 HP / 252 Spe
Timid Nature (+Spe, -Atk)
- Thunderbolt
- Hydro Pump
- Icebeam
- Rapid Spin
I'm a little shaky on Starmie. While it is certainly a capable pokemon, it feels like all I use it for is rapid-spinning and firing off the occasional coverage move. I originally used Life Orb, but the recoil+sandstorm damage wore down my beautiful starfish too quickly. Since it has such amazing coverage, Expert Belt grants me a nice boost while keeping the star shining just a little longer. This isn't necessarily a bad set, but I'm not sure how well it works in conjunction with the rest of my team.
Knight
Scizor (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Technician
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 HP / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature (+Spe, -SpA)
- Swords Dance
- Bullet Punch
- Bug Bite
- Super Power
Scizor has been my favorite pokemon since generation 2, and he rarely lets me down. While the Jolly nature means a significant loss in power, the ability to outspeed and OHKO Magnezone and specially-defensive Heatran is just so lovely. In addition, after a Swords Dance or Two there are few pokemon that can take a Bullet Punch anyway.
Obviously, fire moves are a huge problem for Scizor.
Conqueror
Heatran (F) @ Air Balloon
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 252 Sp Atk / 4 HP / 252 Spe
Modest Nature (+SpA, -Atk)
- Fire Blast
- Hidden Power Ice
- Earth Power
- Flame Charge
Heatran was never been one of my favorite pokemon, but it synergizes so well with Scizor that I practically had to take it on. Since then, it has proven itself time and time again. Scizor readily attracts fire moves that Heatran can capitalize on. In return, the knowledge that I have a Heatran on my team can sometimes cause my opponents to over-predict against Scizor.
Heatran can come in for free on a dragon's earthquake or fire-move and immediately threaten it with Hidden Power. Alternatively, the Fire-Dome Pokemon can force out a potential threat and boost its own speed with Flame Charge. Flame Charge does negligible damage, even to pokemon with fire weaknesses, but a fast Heatran can do significant damage to just about any team.
Closing Thoughts:
Right now, the single greatest threat to my team is a powerful Fighting type. Terrakion is neutered by Scizor's Bullet Punch, but other threats such as Mienshao tear through my team with High-Jump Kicks. I've considered replacing Starmie with a Jellicent to keep many of the same resistances, but add some bulk as well as fighting and normal type immunity to the team. I'm not certain if the loss of Rapid Spin and coverage justified by this. I would greatly appreciate your insight, and I hope this wasn't too taxing of a read. Thank you for your time.
Balanced Storm
Empress:
Tyranitar (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpD
Careful Nature (+SpD, -SpA)
- Stealth Rock
- Stone Edge
- Crunch
- Pursuit
Tyranitar fills a variety of roles for my team. I'm not big on weather teams, but the permanent sand-storm helps me to clear out rain/sun. In addition, the boost from sand-storm allows her to soak special hits like a boss, and crunch/pursuit weakened psychics. Finally Tyranitar lays down stealth rocks which really helps my sweepers.
Latios, and the like, are simply torn apart by this build. With stealth rocks on the field, crunch (or a full-powered pursuit) is a guaranteed KO; choice-specs Latios' surf manages a 3HKO at best.
Volcarona fails to KO with bug buzz, even at +1, and is immediately KO'd by any stone-edge that connects.
Tank
Skarmory (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 252 HP / 232 Def / 24 Spe
Impish Nature (+Def, -SpA)
- Brave Bird
- Spikes
- Whirlwind
- Roost
Perhaps the most famous physical wall in the game, Skarmory was destined to make an appearance on my team. I originally ran it with 232 EV's in SpD rather than Def, but I found that the loss in bulkiness was quite noticeable when dealing with powerful fighting types.
Skarmory's jobs are to wall physical hitters, lay down spikes, and phaze set-up sweepers. It generally functions well, and is a proud member of my team.
General
Conkeldurr (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Guts
EVs: 120 HP / 252 Atk / 136 SpD
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SpA)
- Bulk Up
- Drain Punch
- Mach Punch
- Pay Back
Despite his elderly appearance, Conkeldurr is a threat to be reckoned with the second it steps onto the battlefield. Respectable bulk and a sky-high attack set can tear through unprepared pokemon; with a few bulk-ups under his belt entire teams can be decimated.
This is the standard bulk-up set, and it generally works well. I've tried toying with the Ev's to make it bulkier, but I just love the power I get out of a fully-invested Drain Punch.
Foreigner
Starmie @ Expert Belt
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 252 Sp Atk / 4 HP / 252 Spe
Timid Nature (+Spe, -Atk)
- Thunderbolt
- Hydro Pump
- Icebeam
- Rapid Spin
I'm a little shaky on Starmie. While it is certainly a capable pokemon, it feels like all I use it for is rapid-spinning and firing off the occasional coverage move. I originally used Life Orb, but the recoil+sandstorm damage wore down my beautiful starfish too quickly. Since it has such amazing coverage, Expert Belt grants me a nice boost while keeping the star shining just a little longer. This isn't necessarily a bad set, but I'm not sure how well it works in conjunction with the rest of my team.
Knight
Scizor (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Technician
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 HP / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature (+Spe, -SpA)
- Swords Dance
- Bullet Punch
- Bug Bite
- Super Power
Scizor has been my favorite pokemon since generation 2, and he rarely lets me down. While the Jolly nature means a significant loss in power, the ability to outspeed and OHKO Magnezone and specially-defensive Heatran is just so lovely. In addition, after a Swords Dance or Two there are few pokemon that can take a Bullet Punch anyway.
Obviously, fire moves are a huge problem for Scizor.
Conqueror
Heatran (F) @ Air Balloon
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 252 Sp Atk / 4 HP / 252 Spe
Modest Nature (+SpA, -Atk)
- Fire Blast
- Hidden Power Ice
- Earth Power
- Flame Charge
Heatran was never been one of my favorite pokemon, but it synergizes so well with Scizor that I practically had to take it on. Since then, it has proven itself time and time again. Scizor readily attracts fire moves that Heatran can capitalize on. In return, the knowledge that I have a Heatran on my team can sometimes cause my opponents to over-predict against Scizor.
Heatran can come in for free on a dragon's earthquake or fire-move and immediately threaten it with Hidden Power. Alternatively, the Fire-Dome Pokemon can force out a potential threat and boost its own speed with Flame Charge. Flame Charge does negligible damage, even to pokemon with fire weaknesses, but a fast Heatran can do significant damage to just about any team.
Closing Thoughts:
Right now, the single greatest threat to my team is a powerful Fighting type. Terrakion is neutered by Scizor's Bullet Punch, but other threats such as Mienshao tear through my team with High-Jump Kicks. I've considered replacing Starmie with a Jellicent to keep many of the same resistances, but add some bulk as well as fighting and normal type immunity to the team. I'm not certain if the loss of Rapid Spin and coverage justified by this. I would greatly appreciate your insight, and I hope this wasn't too taxing of a read. Thank you for your time.
