INTRODUCTION
First of all, I’d like to thank Katakiri, whose team (Prelude of Light) I borrowed some ideas from. I’m posting this team because I need some suggestions, mostly to make it work better (I know it has some flaws, but I can’t identify them and can’t think of what to take out, since everything seems so useful from the inside), but also a good suggestion to differentiate this team from the one named before while keeping effectiveness wouldn’t hurt (I find the teams a bit too similar, maybe it’s just me, but I don’t know).
When suggesting stuff, please note that I’m playing in PO to test a team that, once perfected, can be replicated in my Pokemon Black game, so try to avoid suggesting hidden power or non-5th gen legendary pokemon.
So, let’s get started:
BACKGROUND STORY
CLOSER LOOK
Ninetales (M) @ Focus Sash
Trait: Drought
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Overheat
- Power Swap
- Safeguard
- Will-O-Wisp
The obvious choice for a sun team. I kept Katakiri’s moveset, but changed the EVs for an Overheat that packs more of a punch, and to outrun certain pokemon that need to get burnt, and also replaced its former ítem with Focus Sash, since I just can’t afford to lose Ninetales in a weather war in one hit. In those cases I just take it out with 1HP and bring it back after the war is won just to summon sun again. To avoid confusion, I'll add that I try to avoid these situations whenever possible, and make sure Ninetales never takes substantial damage. The Sash is more of a failsafe than a recurrent resource.
The set is really interesting, and won me many ragequits. It’s just soo awesome to burn a Gyarados while it sets up, and then steal its +1, or toy with pokemon like Toxicroack, predicting their Swords Dances and Sucker Punches and moving accordingly. Also Safeguard is really valuable in a metagame plagued with status. Finally, I like to use Will-o-Wisp as a way to give Haxorus a chance to switch in safely, so that it can set up and start sweeping or punching holes in my opponent’s team early game.
Infernape (M) @ Life Orb
Trait: Blaze
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Mach Punch
- Flare Blitz
- Stone Edge
- Close Combat
This blazing monkey gave me so much trouble, finding a team that makes it shine. Now I can say it’s a beast. NOTHING (well, almost) takes a sun boosted Flare Blitz, unless it resists it and/or has a massive bulk. I remember having a lot of trouble with Reuniclus, but under the harsh sunlight, only the ones with defense boosting natures can survive it. Also pokemon that switch into it will have serious issues surviving another hit. Close Combat is another move that hurts really bad, and Mach Punch is for a really needed priority move. I used to run Rock Slide since I HATE missing, but its main targets, Gyarados and Salamence, both have Intimidate, which make it useless outside of that flinch rate, and gives them free turns to set up, so I kept its more offensive version, which hits harder per se and can OHKO any of those with a critical hit.
Heatran (M) @ Air Balloon
Trait: Flash Fire
EVs: 52 HP / 204 SAtk/ 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Flame Charge
- Flamethrower
- Earth Power
- Dragon Pulse
After more testing and adjusting the EV spread, I made the perfect Tran for me. It's still bulky and takes Dragon moves like its nothing even without the EVs, and now it's strong enough to hit like a truck. I'd read many times in different RMTs that if Heatran nabs a Flash Fire Boost and +1 speed, it's game over, but really, this is totally true! I can't believe how many times I 5-0ed my opponents because of this guy, and sometimes even without the Flas Fire boost. I love it's bulk, versatility, power, and speed...I just love it! Sun makes Heatran shine, and Heatran makes the sun shine too! (no pun intended) The only downside is, well... he's pretty ugly. Considering Fire Blast over Flamethrower, because out of the sun (and sometimes even under it) Flamethrower lacks the power I need, dealing little damage. I don´t think Heat Wave will do the job. I hate missing, but oh well
Rotom-C @ Choice Specs
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP/ 252 SAtk / 4 SDef
Modest Nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Leaf Storm
- Thunder Wave
This lawn mower never disappoints me, and I like using it to mow down weather summoning pokemon. However, I also really enjoy using Volt Switch for damage-dealing scouting and it pairs well with Scizor’s U-Turn, causing some chaos and helping me when I don’t know what to do exactly. Trick usually lands on a different pokemon than the ones I intend to use it on, but wether this happens or not it always causes trouble and lets me use Leaf Storm and then Volt Switch.I rarely use Thunder, but against non-prepared rain teams, it simply wrecks havoc. Now I use Thunder Wave as a supreise move and after I Tricked away my specs. I like this guy since it’s original and functional. You only see Rotom-W around, and maaybe sometimes Rotom-H, but never this one, yet it works wonders. I highly recommend it.
Meganium (M) @ Light Clay
Trait: Overgrow
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Def / 252 SDef
Careful Nature (+SDef, -SAtk)
- Reflect
- Light Screen
- Aromatherapy
- Dragon Tail/ Protect/Synthesis
After Trying Lilligant and Leafeon, I tried looking for something else with Aromatherapy, and I noticed Meganium.. Then I thought: Of course! A double screener aromatherapy Meganium! This dude is what my team was missing, and now I have it my team is more solid and consistent. I tend to have problems switching out, tough, for some reason. That's where Dragon Tail comes in, so that I force a switch and I'm no longer under pressure by the pokemon who was before. With Meganium's bulk, EVs, and screens, it should survive at least one hit and Dragon Tail back. My first move in that slot was Substitute, but I never used it. Protect might help with scouting, asn Synthesis for healing... not sure what to keep.
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Dragon Dance
- Outrage
This guy… he’s simply a beast. Having only a 2x weakness to Ice means I can survive a hit without Yache Berry, leaving ScarfChomp as the only pokemon which can OHKO Haxorus before it makes a move. I usually leave him against a Garchomp that switches in, and take its Dragon Claw like it’s nothing and either Dragon Dance or Outrage back, depending on the situation. Mold Breaker also means no levitators will be safe from EQ (most people forget about MB), and no lv.1 Arons will try to sweep my entire team since it also deactivates Sturdy. Dual Chop hits Subseeders and SubPassers, Multiscales, and Haban Berries, but I don’t tend to spam it since it can miss, and a miss sometimes equals death. I generally try to make sure my opponent has 3-4 pokemon left without steels and then Outrage, winning or leaving my opponent with only one pokemon, which won’t likely be able to beat the rest of my team, even if Haxorus dies from confusion.
Threat List: I'm glad to say that my team has no major weaknesses, maybe situational threats or pokemon combinations.
Future Plans
First of all, I’d like to thank Katakiri, whose team (Prelude of Light) I borrowed some ideas from. I’m posting this team because I need some suggestions, mostly to make it work better (I know it has some flaws, but I can’t identify them and can’t think of what to take out, since everything seems so useful from the inside), but also a good suggestion to differentiate this team from the one named before while keeping effectiveness wouldn’t hurt (I find the teams a bit too similar, maybe it’s just me, but I don’t know).
When suggesting stuff, please note that I’m playing in PO to test a team that, once perfected, can be replicated in my Pokemon Black game, so try to avoid suggesting hidden power or non-5th gen legendary pokemon.
So, let’s get started:
BACKGROUND STORY
I love Infernape. I’ve been trying with many, MANY teams in order to make him a sweeping beast. And I failed. After continously making teams with moderate success which then fall to a bottomless pit of doom, I figured the only way to make Infernape sweep effectively was by using the hated weather, which by the time I really didn’t hate too much since it wasn’t spammed as much as in the beginning. So, I decided to try a sun team for the first time in my life. Since I didn’t know anything about sun teams, I decided to check the ones in this RMT fórum, and that’s how I saw Prelude of Light. After Reading it, I learned some things that I’ll mention as I talk about the pokemon I chose.
Infernape is Infernape, no way I was going to leave him out.
Ninetales was the obvious next choice since I was making a sun team. Instant, infinite sun… nuff said.
I liked Katakiri’s idea of using a grass pokemon against other weathers’ leads, since Tyrannitar, Hippowdon AND Politoed are all weak to grass, but in order to be more original, I used Rotom-C instead of Lilligant.
I also liked Healing Wish, so I used Latias. I tried with Wish too, so that I could heal without necessarily having to sacrifice her, and also double as an offensive pokemon. It utterly failed, I must say.
I needed another offensive sun abuser, since just infernape sort of didn’t make sun worth enough. Therefore I tried Chandelure. I used a Flame Charge set since I didn’t like scarf due to being too predictable and limited, but it ended up being sort of useless in the end.
Finally, I thought it could be nice to have a Zoroark, since I could disguise it as Chandelure, infernape, or Latias against Dark, Psychic and Ghost pokemon, and even without the disguise, fight those back when needed.
After a few battles, I noticed my team was too specially oriented, having Infernape as my sole physical sweeper, which is really fragile so once it’s KOd, any blissey or whatnot that was alive meant I lost. Also I was too weak to Outrage and Draco Meteor, AND I had two sash users (Ninetales and Zoroark). So my weak link was Zoroark, and as such I started trying with some replacements.
After trying with banded Staraptor and Flame Orb Swellow, I settled down with Scizor. It helped with all of my team’s weaknesses: I brought a physical sweeper, a Dragon-resistant pokemon, and no sash. I also thought of Conkeldurr, but since I like Scizor already, I never got to try it.
I noticed Latias couldn’t fulfill any of its roles at all. It never dealt enough damage to be useful, Wish didn’t work as well as with Vaporeo non previous teams, and Latias was too slow to use Healing Wish when it couldn’t fight any longer, so it was complete dead weight. I ended up replacing it for Lilligant since it could effectively use Healing Wish in the sun before her opponent, act as a secondary anti-weather lead pokemon, and disrupt with sleep powder.
Finally, after some time, I noticed that, while unexpected, Flame Charge Chandelure wasn’t really effective. Most of the time I just used Overheat after switching, and when I didn’t, I couldn’t find time to set up properly. Also without Zoroark’s help, it just bécame dead weight aswell. I tried with a failsafe pokemon that’s not named Garchomp. I find Haxorus more attractive since it has Mold Breaker, and no 4x Ice moves, not to mention Dragon Dance.
Heatran was an idea I had that was reinforced by the suggestions in this RMT, and so I added him. It really helps my team, since Scizor just wasn't bulky enough to tank any and all Outrages and Draco Meteors out there, and was 4x weak to HP Fire. At first I had issues with his EV spread since his attacks weren't strong enough, butnow he's one of the best additions to my team.
Leafeon was in this team for a short time. He was meant to be a cleric with a little disruption and a little damaging, but he couldn't fulfill any of his duties well.
Soon he was replaced by Meganium, who sets double screens and uses Aromatherapy at the same time, healing my pokemon and giving them opportunities to set up and start breaking things. Meganium is really overlooked -even by myself, I must admit- but it fits this team really well with its abilities... not so much with its typing, tough.
Infernape is Infernape, no way I was going to leave him out.
Ninetales was the obvious next choice since I was making a sun team. Instant, infinite sun… nuff said.
I liked Katakiri’s idea of using a grass pokemon against other weathers’ leads, since Tyrannitar, Hippowdon AND Politoed are all weak to grass, but in order to be more original, I used Rotom-C instead of Lilligant.
I also liked Healing Wish, so I used Latias. I tried with Wish too, so that I could heal without necessarily having to sacrifice her, and also double as an offensive pokemon. It utterly failed, I must say.
I needed another offensive sun abuser, since just infernape sort of didn’t make sun worth enough. Therefore I tried Chandelure. I used a Flame Charge set since I didn’t like scarf due to being too predictable and limited, but it ended up being sort of useless in the end.
Finally, I thought it could be nice to have a Zoroark, since I could disguise it as Chandelure, infernape, or Latias against Dark, Psychic and Ghost pokemon, and even without the disguise, fight those back when needed.
After a few battles, I noticed my team was too specially oriented, having Infernape as my sole physical sweeper, which is really fragile so once it’s KOd, any blissey or whatnot that was alive meant I lost. Also I was too weak to Outrage and Draco Meteor, AND I had two sash users (Ninetales and Zoroark). So my weak link was Zoroark, and as such I started trying with some replacements.
After trying with banded Staraptor and Flame Orb Swellow, I settled down with Scizor. It helped with all of my team’s weaknesses: I brought a physical sweeper, a Dragon-resistant pokemon, and no sash. I also thought of Conkeldurr, but since I like Scizor already, I never got to try it.
I noticed Latias couldn’t fulfill any of its roles at all. It never dealt enough damage to be useful, Wish didn’t work as well as with Vaporeo non previous teams, and Latias was too slow to use Healing Wish when it couldn’t fight any longer, so it was complete dead weight. I ended up replacing it for Lilligant since it could effectively use Healing Wish in the sun before her opponent, act as a secondary anti-weather lead pokemon, and disrupt with sleep powder.
Finally, after some time, I noticed that, while unexpected, Flame Charge Chandelure wasn’t really effective. Most of the time I just used Overheat after switching, and when I didn’t, I couldn’t find time to set up properly. Also without Zoroark’s help, it just bécame dead weight aswell. I tried with a failsafe pokemon that’s not named Garchomp. I find Haxorus more attractive since it has Mold Breaker, and no 4x Ice moves, not to mention Dragon Dance.
Heatran was an idea I had that was reinforced by the suggestions in this RMT, and so I added him. It really helps my team, since Scizor just wasn't bulky enough to tank any and all Outrages and Draco Meteors out there, and was 4x weak to HP Fire. At first I had issues with his EV spread since his attacks weren't strong enough, butnow he's one of the best additions to my team.
Leafeon was in this team for a short time. He was meant to be a cleric with a little disruption and a little damaging, but he couldn't fulfill any of his duties well.
Soon he was replaced by Meganium, who sets double screens and uses Aromatherapy at the same time, healing my pokemon and giving them opportunities to set up and start breaking things. Meganium is really overlooked -even by myself, I must admit- but it fits this team really well with its abilities... not so much with its typing, tough.
CLOSER LOOK
Ninetales (M) @ Focus Sash
Trait: Drought
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Overheat
- Power Swap
- Safeguard
- Will-O-Wisp
The obvious choice for a sun team. I kept Katakiri’s moveset, but changed the EVs for an Overheat that packs more of a punch, and to outrun certain pokemon that need to get burnt, and also replaced its former ítem with Focus Sash, since I just can’t afford to lose Ninetales in a weather war in one hit. In those cases I just take it out with 1HP and bring it back after the war is won just to summon sun again. To avoid confusion, I'll add that I try to avoid these situations whenever possible, and make sure Ninetales never takes substantial damage. The Sash is more of a failsafe than a recurrent resource.
The set is really interesting, and won me many ragequits. It’s just soo awesome to burn a Gyarados while it sets up, and then steal its +1, or toy with pokemon like Toxicroack, predicting their Swords Dances and Sucker Punches and moving accordingly. Also Safeguard is really valuable in a metagame plagued with status. Finally, I like to use Will-o-Wisp as a way to give Haxorus a chance to switch in safely, so that it can set up and start sweeping or punching holes in my opponent’s team early game.
Infernape (M) @ Life Orb
Trait: Blaze
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Mach Punch
- Flare Blitz
- Stone Edge
- Close Combat
This blazing monkey gave me so much trouble, finding a team that makes it shine. Now I can say it’s a beast. NOTHING (well, almost) takes a sun boosted Flare Blitz, unless it resists it and/or has a massive bulk. I remember having a lot of trouble with Reuniclus, but under the harsh sunlight, only the ones with defense boosting natures can survive it. Also pokemon that switch into it will have serious issues surviving another hit. Close Combat is another move that hurts really bad, and Mach Punch is for a really needed priority move. I used to run Rock Slide since I HATE missing, but its main targets, Gyarados and Salamence, both have Intimidate, which make it useless outside of that flinch rate, and gives them free turns to set up, so I kept its more offensive version, which hits harder per se and can OHKO any of those with a critical hit.
Heatran (M) @ Air Balloon
Trait: Flash Fire
EVs: 52 HP / 204 SAtk/ 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Flame Charge
- Flamethrower
- Earth Power
- Dragon Pulse
After more testing and adjusting the EV spread, I made the perfect Tran for me. It's still bulky and takes Dragon moves like its nothing even without the EVs, and now it's strong enough to hit like a truck. I'd read many times in different RMTs that if Heatran nabs a Flash Fire Boost and +1 speed, it's game over, but really, this is totally true! I can't believe how many times I 5-0ed my opponents because of this guy, and sometimes even without the Flas Fire boost. I love it's bulk, versatility, power, and speed...I just love it! Sun makes Heatran shine, and Heatran makes the sun shine too! (no pun intended) The only downside is, well... he's pretty ugly. Considering Fire Blast over Flamethrower, because out of the sun (and sometimes even under it) Flamethrower lacks the power I need, dealing little damage. I don´t think Heat Wave will do the job. I hate missing, but oh well
Scizor (M) @ Choice Band
Trait: Technician
EVs: 252 Atk / 64 Def / 192 SDef
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Bullet Punch
- Superpower
- U-turn
- Pursuit
Choice Scizor… Why choice scizor? Well, it allows me to deal massive damage right off the bat without having to set up. It’s main reason to exist in my team is to tank a Draco Meteor and then Pursuit a Latios or Latias, but now I ain’t seeing any of those having Specs or Scarf, so it’s not that useful right now. Currently I spam U-turn to scout while dealing some serious damage, specially on Psychic and Dark pokemon that don’t switch out. Brick Break is for pokemon like Excadrill, and Bullet punch offers an utterly destructive source of priority.
Trait: Technician
EVs: 252 Atk / 64 Def / 192 SDef
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Bullet Punch
- Superpower
- U-turn
- Pursuit
Choice Scizor… Why choice scizor? Well, it allows me to deal massive damage right off the bat without having to set up. It’s main reason to exist in my team is to tank a Draco Meteor and then Pursuit a Latios or Latias, but now I ain’t seeing any of those having Specs or Scarf, so it’s not that useful right now. Currently I spam U-turn to scout while dealing some serious damage, specially on Psychic and Dark pokemon that don’t switch out. Brick Break is for pokemon like Excadrill, and Bullet punch offers an utterly destructive source of priority.
Rotom-C @ Choice Specs
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP/ 252 SAtk / 4 SDef
Modest Nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Leaf Storm
- Volt Switch
- Trick- Thunder Wave
This lawn mower never disappoints me, and I like using it to mow down weather summoning pokemon. However, I also really enjoy using Volt Switch for damage-dealing scouting and it pairs well with Scizor’s U-Turn, causing some chaos and helping me when I don’t know what to do exactly. Trick usually lands on a different pokemon than the ones I intend to use it on, but wether this happens or not it always causes trouble and lets me use Leaf Storm and then Volt Switch.
Meganium (M) @ Light Clay
Trait: Overgrow
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Def / 252 SDef
Careful Nature (+SDef, -SAtk)
- Reflect
- Light Screen
- Aromatherapy
- Dragon Tail/ Protect/Synthesis
After Trying Lilligant and Leafeon, I tried looking for something else with Aromatherapy, and I noticed Meganium.. Then I thought: Of course! A double screener aromatherapy Meganium! This dude is what my team was missing, and now I have it my team is more solid and consistent. I tend to have problems switching out, tough, for some reason. That's where Dragon Tail comes in, so that I force a switch and I'm no longer under pressure by the pokemon who was before. With Meganium's bulk, EVs, and screens, it should survive at least one hit and Dragon Tail back. My first move in that slot was Substitute, but I never used it. Protect might help with scouting, asn Synthesis for healing... not sure what to keep.
Lilligant (F) @ Wide Lens
Trait: Chlorophyll
EVs: 252 SAtk / 76 SDef / 180 Spd
Modest Nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Aromatherapy
- Leaf Storm
- Healing Wish
- Sleep Powder
I was reluctant to use it at first since I don’t want to steal Katakiri’s idea, but I really had no choice. Lilligant is hands-down the best Healing Wish user, and I need that kind of move. However, I wanted to use it as a support pokemon, so I replaced Life Orb with Wide Lens to ensure Sleep Powder lands, and gave it Aromatherapy so that I can remove status without having to sacrifice it to heal a paralyzed pokemon at full health. Leaf Storm really packs a punch, too. What really pisses me off is that when I shut something down with Sleep Powder and switch, the pokemon wakes up instantly, and then KOs my pokemon, leaving me without my best weapon against that pokemon, which sometimes is my only weapon. I remember staying in battle once against a Heatran so that it wouldn’t wake up when I switch, and it stayed asleep for like 3 turns, and when I switch on the fourth, it woke up and KO’d my Haxorus… That just drove me nuts.
Trait: Chlorophyll
EVs: 252 SAtk / 76 SDef / 180 Spd
Modest Nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Aromatherapy
- Leaf Storm
- Healing Wish
- Sleep Powder
I was reluctant to use it at first since I don’t want to steal Katakiri’s idea, but I really had no choice. Lilligant is hands-down the best Healing Wish user, and I need that kind of move. However, I wanted to use it as a support pokemon, so I replaced Life Orb with Wide Lens to ensure Sleep Powder lands, and gave it Aromatherapy so that I can remove status without having to sacrifice it to heal a paralyzed pokemon at full health. Leaf Storm really packs a punch, too. What really pisses me off is that when I shut something down with Sleep Powder and switch, the pokemon wakes up instantly, and then KOs my pokemon, leaving me without my best weapon against that pokemon, which sometimes is my only weapon. I remember staying in battle once against a Heatran so that it wouldn’t wake up when I switch, and it stayed asleep for like 3 turns, and when I switch on the fourth, it woke up and KO’d my Haxorus… That just drove me nuts.
Haxorus (M) @ Haban Berry
Trait: Mold Breaker EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Dragon Dance
- Dual Chop
- Earthquake - Outrage
This guy… he’s simply a beast. Having only a 2x weakness to Ice means I can survive a hit without Yache Berry, leaving ScarfChomp as the only pokemon which can OHKO Haxorus before it makes a move. I usually leave him against a Garchomp that switches in, and take its Dragon Claw like it’s nothing and either Dragon Dance or Outrage back, depending on the situation. Mold Breaker also means no levitators will be safe from EQ (most people forget about MB), and no lv.1 Arons will try to sweep my entire team since it also deactivates Sturdy. Dual Chop hits Subseeders and SubPassers, Multiscales, and Haban Berries, but I don’t tend to spam it since it can miss, and a miss sometimes equals death. I generally try to make sure my opponent has 3-4 pokemon left without steels and then Outrage, winning or leaving my opponent with only one pokemon, which won’t likely be able to beat the rest of my team, even if Haxorus dies from confusion.
Threat List: I'm glad to say that my team has no major weaknesses, maybe situational threats or pokemon combinations.
Future Plans
