. O V E R V I E W .
Everybody who plays Pokemon competitively knows that battling slumps are bound to happen, eventually. Well, ever since I've been grounded about 8 months ago, I've steadily decreased in my ability to fight competitivly. I went from one of the most well-known battlers at my old home at Neoseeker.com, to kicked out of my own clan (which I founded and led) for inactivity when I was grounded and unable to get on, to just some free-loader roaming the net looking for another battling home. Well, I finally put the search back on and started playing again. For around 3 months, I was contemplating quitting. However, after trying a few teams that won for a while, I was still hoping to find a team that was both fun to use and effective. And then...before you know it...I put together this team. After its recent success, I think it'll take the place of any of my classic teams that I once thought superior. Ladies and Gentlemen, Team Nindrana.
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BringUDown @ Focus Sash
Ability: Snow Cloak
EVs: 4 Def/252 Spd/252 SAtk
Timid nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Thunder Wave
- Spikes
- Ice Beam
- Destiny Bond
- Why Froslass?
+ I'm often asked why I chose Froslass to lead this team (You know how it is when you 6-0 the kind of people who actually like to talk about their teams after a match. ;P). Well, the simple answer is that it works well both as a lead and late-game assistance. Froslass' typing and speed allow it to have immunity over Fake-Out leads, beat Infernape to the setup and then threaten it with DBond, set up Spikes and then play mind-games with setup and my status move. Also, it's Ghost typing allows it to block Rapid Spinners, which is where TWave comes in. After people see that they can't spin way the Spikes or hit it with Gyro Ball (Foretress) thanks to DBond, they usually switch. However, Paralysis is usually the welcoming message to their switch-in. This lets my setup sweepers get in and begin their onslaught.
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BeerBelly @ Leftovers
Ability: Simple
EVs: 212 HP/168 Def/128 SDef
Careful nature (+SDef, -SAtk)
- Curse
- Amnesia
- Waterfall
- Return
- BIBAREL?! Seriously?
+ Yes! Why else would I have a Bibarel on my team?! ;P Bibarel has been considered by many, but then instantly laughed at because of its normally being seen as an inferior Pokemon in-game. However, after I took the leap of faith, I don't think I'll ever jump back. Bibarel can come in on many Defensive Pokemon (Dusknoir, Foretress, etc.) and even offensive ones (such as Latias) and setup to the point where people just either disconnect or try to throw in their Phazer as quick as possible. However, thanks to Spikes and Stealth Rock support, Bibarel can come in and KO many things after setup. The trick is getting people to switch in defensive Pokemon on my Jirachi, and then switching into Bibarel to start using Curse to boost both my defenses and attacking ability as they switch in something else. Because I can have Pokemon on my team that can cause switches fairly easily, I can see whether I need to use Curse or Amnesia first. Then, I can boost the other stats while they desperatly run to a counter or try to setup at a much slower rate than "BeerBelly" here. I can't count how many times a Latias has come in after Bibarel used Amnesia and they just get so ticked and D/C. xD Before they can setup to many CMs I usually KO with Return and have 2 SD boosts, 2 Acid Armor boosts, and even 2 Amnesia boosts under my belt. GG SUCKERS!
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Antagonizer @ Leftovers
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 4 HP/252 Def/252 SAtk
Modest nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Calm Mind
- Softboiled
- Ice Beam
- Thunderbolt
- Umm...Are You Mad? Calm Mind Blissey?
+ Once again, this team is down-right amazing (to me) and original. I never knew how effective some of these guys were until I tried them. Calm Mind Blissey is better at causing switches than any other member of my team. Because the metagame today is so fixed on Physical moves, Blissey usually is doomed. However, this team's prediction factor eases the pain. Blissey can come in on Latias for once and not get completely screwed over by over Calm-Minded Dragon Dances, and then come around and Ice Beam it to death. It can even setup on the Swamperts that tend to give this team a little bit of trouble provided they don't use Roar. It also doubles as the second half to SkarmBliss. :D More classic fun!
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Papercut @ Shed Shell
Ability: Keen Eye
EVs: 252 HP/252 Def/4 Spd
Impish nature (+Def, -SAtk)
- Whirlwind
- Rest
- Sleep Talk
- Stealth Rock
- Sleep Talking Skarmory?
+ Skarmory is an excellent status absorber when used in this manor. Because of his decent speed for a wall, he can also use Whirlwind on things like Swampert that I hate when under Sleeping condition and ignore the -5 priority multiplier. He can last a fairly long time and help reveal the opponents team to me as they take damage. Once again, he is the second half to the SkarmBliss combo. I don't need to worry about an attack because he probably will die as he shuffles the opponents Pokemon around and when he gets hit with strong Fighting moves meant for Blissey if Froslass has already been knocked out. On top of that, Rest is also a more effective way of healing than Roost because it allows Skarmory to keep its neutral defenses to Fighting and Ground moves, and also heals the metal bird completely.
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MistRider @ Leftovers
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 252 HP/252 Def/4 SAtk
Bold nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Calm Mind
- Roar
- Rest
- Surf
- Why only Surf?
+ For starters, the threat of Vaporeon coming in to ruin me is unlikely with Roar and all of the hazards floating around the team. Therefore, Surf can work when all alone. Although I need to watch out for Gyarados and other Pokemon with Taunt, they should all be fairly close to dying at that point, anyways. Calm Minding up is fairly easy on the common Latias because of Roar. After about 4 Calm Minds from me when they're one away from a full 6 CM boost, I know they're going to try and get the last boost. That's when I phaze them. :D Cune then gets to smash the next Pokemon that comes in after taking Spikes and/or Stealth Rock damage. >:3 Sweet, sweet irony. That just comes to show that what seems like a clean sweep isn't always one.
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Cosmo @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Serene Grace
EVs: 80 HP/252 Atk/176 Spd
Adamant nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Thunderpunch
- Fire Punch
- Ice Punch
- Zen Headbutt
- Choice Scarf.
+ This Jirachi serves its purpose by revenge killing my team's weaknesses. Thunder[unch helps kill threats like Gyarados, Fire Punch removes Scizor and Metagross as well as other Jirachi, and Ice Punch takes care of Gliscor, Salamence, Latias, etc. Zen Headbutt is chosen over Iron Head for one reason and one reason alone. It can take care of Infernape quickly. I just gotta hope it doesn't miss. :/
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. T H R E A T . L I S T .
Swampert - The Shrek-like menace often comes in and uses Roar and wrecks most of my strategies. On top of that, most of my team lacks a clean counter to Swampy.
Scizor - With the right timing, Scizor can come in to wreak havoc on my team. Without Scarmory or Suicune in play, Scizor can devastate me. Is Jirachi's Fire Punch the answer?
Celebi - The Grass-type pixie poses a threat simply because of its Leech Seeding and Paralyzing talents. Seeds can ruin walls like Blissey and Skarmory when they are coupled with TWave.
Salamence - Due to Mence's unpredictability, I have to resort to having Stealth Rock in play. Without it, my lack of absolute Mence counters will be the death of me.
Suicune - Also a threat because of its phazing talents. Crocune would demolish me if I didn't have my own Suicune available.
Latias - Sure, if Blissey were already damaged a lot and had been harmed by Toxic Spikes, it could lose to Latias.
Infernape - If brought out late game with my walls dead, it could kill me. This is one of the reasons why I might use Choice Scarf instead on Jirachi.
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. A F T E R W O R D .
And that's all! ^^ Please rate this if you can and comment anywhere you see fit. I'd also like some suggestions on Jirachi or anything else that you want to add. Thanks in advance!
