Team At A Glance
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Not long ago i found myself experiencing yet another team-building block.
I've struggled for weeks to get myself onto building a new decent team, whereas i could produce 2-3 on regular basis.
After wondering around, taking a break from battling and watching as much battles as i could, i realised it was time i built a team with a solid plan. One way or another i found out that i was trying to build the better Scizor and whatnot team, forgetting what was the main point of building a great DP team in the first place. Synergy, and a plan.
Do your thing before your opponent gets to do his, was my motto ever since early DP.
And yea, i should start listening to myself a bit more.
Moving right along,
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In Depth
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In Depth
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Bronzong @ Iron Ball
Ability: Levitate / Heatproof
EVs: 252 HP/58 Atk/32 Def/168 SDef
Sassy nature (+SDef, -Spd)
- Gyro Ball
- Explosion
- Stealth Rock
- Trick
Pretty much an invaluable member.
Stealth Rocks first turn on nearly everything, with the exceptions of Azelf and Aerodactyl, in which case i Gyro Ball right off the bat.
Once Stealth Rock is down, i'lll usually randomly Attack to see whether their switch in is something that will detest Iron Ball. My favorite targets, and fortunately, the two most common switch ins to Bronzong are Skarmory and Rotom-A.
After Bronzong has fullfilled those two tasks, i might keep it or boom it accordingly to my opponent's team. (Exploding too early against someone with Latias could become troublesome)
Once Skarmory, Rotom-A or even Zapdos and Gyarados hold Iron Ball, my sweeping plan will be set in motion, as you'll also witness yourself.
Rotom-h @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 6 HP/252 Spd/252 SAtk
Timid nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Thunderbolt
- Shadow Ball
- Overheat
- Trick
Scarf Rotom-H, here to provide me with extra Steel/Fighting/Normal resistance while also serving as my revenge killer of sorts.
Comes in to predicted Explosions and Close Combats, a Dragon Dancing Gyarados, a Scizor using Superpower in order to get the obvious incoming Heatran on the switch in, and virtually anything my team hates.
I use Trick whenever i feel like Choice Scarf is not useful anymore, or when i anticipate an incoming Blissey, allowing Celebi and Heatran to spread havoc.
This Pokemon filled my last slot, and if anything, it has been working great for me. I haven't found the Choice item being redudant to my team, seeing as i have Bronzong, Suicune and many other defensive Pokemon to back it up. Personally i dislike using Choicers without having the defenses to afford switching out a lot.
Suicune @ Leftovers
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 240 HP/136 Def/134 SDef
Bold nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Calm Mind
- Surf
- Rest
- Sleep Talk
Crocune, and words are not enough to describe how much of a deadly Pokemon it is.
It easily walls all of the Fire Pokemon, that like to switch in to Bronzong, Celebi and Rotom forcing them out or setting up on them while at it.
What's funnier is that most Pokemon that like to switch in on this are weak to my Tinkerbell set, boosting me a turn or two ahead of my opponent.
Celebi @ Life Orb
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 32 HP/252 Spd/226 SAtk
Timid nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Leaf Storm
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- U-turn
- Recover
And the aforementioned Celebi.
Leaf Storm is is obviously a great move, especially with Life Orb. It deals as much damage as a Salamence's Draco Meteor would on things that do not resist it, which is always great.
Amongst others, it KOes the standard Tyranitar.
I am running max Speed as well as Hidden Power Ice because i consider Salamence to be a much more potent threat against my team rather than Scizor. Scizor is already handled by Heatran perfectly well while Rotom and Gliscor can prove as secondary counters of sorts.
U-turn is great, racking up damage on Blissey as it attempts to absorb a Leaf Storm while adding up to the Stealth Rock damage. It synergies well with Leaf Storm, but i am also debating Earth Power as an option here. (Heatran and Infernape can be annoying at times, but Suicune completely walls the former)
Earth Power could be added over Recover as well.
I'll leave that up to your judgement, raters.
Heatran (M) @ Salac Berry
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 6 HP/252 Spd/252 SAtk
Hasty nature (+Spd, -Def)
- Fire Blast
- Earth Power
- Explosion
- Substitute
Heatran to form the forever spontaneous Celetran combo. Switches in on everything Celebi hates and vice-versa.
Salac Berry Heatran is a really awesome Pokemon. Not only does it heighten the mind games having your opponent guess whether its Scarfed or not possibly granting you a free Explosion on their Blissey, it also allows Heatran to go rampage once whatever resists its Attacks is out.
Scizor and Mamoswine being the most common priority hitters means that only other faster Scarfers will be able to take out Heatran once it gets its Salac Boost. If i manage to get a substitute along with the boost, then you might as well consider it good game.
Gliscor (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Hyper Cutter
EVs: 32 HP/252 Atk/10 Def/216 Spd
Jolly nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- Swords Dance
- Roost
And here comes the most underrated sweeper around. Gliscor.
Provides me with a secondary Lucario/Fighting counter as well as a sweeper immune to Electric moves.
Adding up to that, it packs a powerful Earthquake, which accompanied with a Sword Dance boost, it will make no discriminations!
Tricking Iron Ball to Skarmory, Bronzong and Rotom-A really helps here, allowing me to OHKO both with Earthquake. Well, even if Bronzong didn't fullfill that role i won't mind much, seeing as Gliscor can take out Skarmory one on one thanks to Life Orb.
Hyper Cutter is a really useful trait on the Sword Dance set obviously. Gyarados is OHKOed with Stone Edge after a Sword Dance, Bulky EVd or not, which is always a plus. :)
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Closing Words
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Closing Words
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This has been quite a succesfull team, solid may i add.
Sadly it still has some really exploitable flaws, most notably being:
1) Raikou. This guy can virtually 6-0 my team should it have HP Ice. And what's sadder, i can't do anything about it. I can only hope on Tricking it with either Iron Ball or Scarf, but if both fail, then its game over. I have managed to work around Raikou a couple of times (getting Heatran a Salac Boost and then finishing it off) but i really have to resort to risky and inconsistent tactics.
Outside that there's
2) Latias. To a much lesser extent than Raikou, i have found Latias to be a threat as well. Bronzong counters it just fine but when its out i'll have to Trick/Kill it with Rotom, get it on a U turn with Celebi, and/or boom on it with Heatran. All of those are not really good answers as you have already guessed.
I'd certainly make use of some tips on how to counter those two above more efficiently.
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Thanks for reading,
~Astamatitos.
