So I made a sand team, and I rather like it. The only problem is I feel like I'm wasting a bunch of potential, and I can't figure out why. I'd say I have a slightly above 50% win rate with it, which is good, I guess, but I've never been good at building competitive teams, just themed or gimmicky ones. Care to help a brother out?
Gliscor/Tyranitar/Stoutland/Gastrodon/Mandibuzz/Mawile
Gliscor @ Toxic Orb
Ability: Poison Heal
EVs: 144 Atk / 200 HP / 72 Spd / 92 Def
Impish Nature
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- Swords Dance
- Roost
I've had a lot of experience with a stalling set before, but this, oh man. I love this thing. Stalling is cool 'n all, but I feel like this thing's awesome bulk and decent move-pool was better used as a tanky sweeper, and man, is it fun. This thing has managed to sweep whole teams and tank things it probably shouldn't. With the orb active, it's immune to burn, already immune to paralysis, has a better than leftovers heal, decent speed, and it has access to roost. Oddly enough, I've never had the time or the need to roost. If I need to roost, I'm already dead, and if I'm set-up, things just die before I take too much damage. I was thinking of replacing roost, but outside of acrobatics (which needs toxic orb gone to work) its got balls for flying STAB. I was thinking Icefang, but I dunno.
Tyranitar @ Leftovers
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 252 HP / 60 Atk / 196 SDef
Careful Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Stone Edge
- Pursuit
- Crunch
Now I'm gonna be real with you, I'm not a Tyranitar expert. In fact, I was thinking of subbing this guy out for Hippodon so it can hold a smooth stone and use Slack-off for recovery. I essentially use this guy for two things: rocks if I see Charizard/Talonflame or a ridiculous amount of rock weaknesses, and set up the sand. That's what he does, that's how he do. Occasionally he'll snag a kill with Pursuit or a Charizard gets over-zealous and stays in on a Stone Edge, but beyond that he's just there to look pretty, and I think that's wrong.
Stoutland @ Choice Band
Ability: Sand Rush
EVs: 80 HP / 176 Spd / 252 Atk
Adamant Nature
- Play Rough
- Return
- Superpower
- Wild Charge
Muttstache. This dude's awesome, I love him. He also has my only water coverage move and fighting type move, and I don't think that's bad that he has it, but it's bad that he's the only one who does. There have been times where I was thinking of replacing him for something that doesn't need the sand and gets stuck in one move, but then games like this happen, and I just can't. He's too cool, and great for cleaning up late-game, or revenge killing if the sand is raging.
Gastrodon @ Leftovers
Ability: Storm Drain
EVs: 252 HP / 4 SAtk / 252 SDef
Calm Nature
- Scald
- Ice Beam
- Recover
- Toxic
There it is, my sole ice move. This guy serves to save me from water types statuses and special attacks in general, and he does a good job of it. He has the potential to inflict three statuses and halt a special sweeper in his tracks. Plus, Toxic, I can stall out Rotom-Wash with this guy, that's a plus for me.
Mandibuzz (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Overcoat
EVs: 232 Def / 252 HP / 24 Spd
Bold Nature
- Defog
- Roost
- Whirlwind
- Foul Play
When I heard about Defog and Overcoat, I knew I needed this thing. It's move-pool has gone through a lot of changes, but I've decided on this one being the best for me. I used to have Taunt, but replaced it with Whirlwind because it works really well against Belly Drum. It also used to have Knock-off, however I decided power was needed instead of a niche move. The tankiness of this thing surprises me a lot, and gets me out of messes I shouldn't have gotten myself in to begin with. I tried replacing it with a Skarmory since it, too, could have Defog with rocks and Whirlwind, but Foul Play is pretty fowl.
Mawile @ Mawilite
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 HP / 4 Def
Adamant Nature
- Swords Dance
- Sucker Punch
- Play Rough
- Iron Head
This slot has changed a lot, from M-Scizor to M-Venusaur to M-Garchomp and even Slowbro, (which was pretty alright actually.) I'm still not 100% sure I like Mawile in this slot, but it puts a stop to dragons, and even when burned it still demolishes everything, something Garchomp and Scizor can't boast about.
So yeah, that's my team. I feel like I could use significantly more fire, but I don't know where to put it, and I also feel like I may require an alternative ice-move, but like I said, I'm horrible with team building.
If only Mega-Weezing was a thing.
Gliscor/Tyranitar/Stoutland/Gastrodon/Mandibuzz/Mawile
Gliscor @ Toxic Orb
Ability: Poison Heal
EVs: 144 Atk / 200 HP / 72 Spd / 92 Def
Impish Nature
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- Swords Dance
- Roost
I've had a lot of experience with a stalling set before, but this, oh man. I love this thing. Stalling is cool 'n all, but I feel like this thing's awesome bulk and decent move-pool was better used as a tanky sweeper, and man, is it fun. This thing has managed to sweep whole teams and tank things it probably shouldn't. With the orb active, it's immune to burn, already immune to paralysis, has a better than leftovers heal, decent speed, and it has access to roost. Oddly enough, I've never had the time or the need to roost. If I need to roost, I'm already dead, and if I'm set-up, things just die before I take too much damage. I was thinking of replacing roost, but outside of acrobatics (which needs toxic orb gone to work) its got balls for flying STAB. I was thinking Icefang, but I dunno.
Tyranitar @ Leftovers
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 252 HP / 60 Atk / 196 SDef
Careful Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Stone Edge
- Pursuit
- Crunch
Now I'm gonna be real with you, I'm not a Tyranitar expert. In fact, I was thinking of subbing this guy out for Hippodon so it can hold a smooth stone and use Slack-off for recovery. I essentially use this guy for two things: rocks if I see Charizard/Talonflame or a ridiculous amount of rock weaknesses, and set up the sand. That's what he does, that's how he do. Occasionally he'll snag a kill with Pursuit or a Charizard gets over-zealous and stays in on a Stone Edge, but beyond that he's just there to look pretty, and I think that's wrong.
Stoutland @ Choice Band
Ability: Sand Rush
EVs: 80 HP / 176 Spd / 252 Atk
Adamant Nature
- Play Rough
- Return
- Superpower
- Wild Charge
Muttstache. This dude's awesome, I love him. He also has my only water coverage move and fighting type move, and I don't think that's bad that he has it, but it's bad that he's the only one who does. There have been times where I was thinking of replacing him for something that doesn't need the sand and gets stuck in one move, but then games like this happen, and I just can't. He's too cool, and great for cleaning up late-game, or revenge killing if the sand is raging.
Gastrodon @ Leftovers
Ability: Storm Drain
EVs: 252 HP / 4 SAtk / 252 SDef
Calm Nature
- Scald
- Ice Beam
- Recover
- Toxic
There it is, my sole ice move. This guy serves to save me from water types statuses and special attacks in general, and he does a good job of it. He has the potential to inflict three statuses and halt a special sweeper in his tracks. Plus, Toxic, I can stall out Rotom-Wash with this guy, that's a plus for me.
Mandibuzz (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Overcoat
EVs: 232 Def / 252 HP / 24 Spd
Bold Nature
- Defog
- Roost
- Whirlwind
- Foul Play
When I heard about Defog and Overcoat, I knew I needed this thing. It's move-pool has gone through a lot of changes, but I've decided on this one being the best for me. I used to have Taunt, but replaced it with Whirlwind because it works really well against Belly Drum. It also used to have Knock-off, however I decided power was needed instead of a niche move. The tankiness of this thing surprises me a lot, and gets me out of messes I shouldn't have gotten myself in to begin with. I tried replacing it with a Skarmory since it, too, could have Defog with rocks and Whirlwind, but Foul Play is pretty fowl.
Mawile @ Mawilite
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 HP / 4 Def
Adamant Nature
- Swords Dance
- Sucker Punch
- Play Rough
- Iron Head
This slot has changed a lot, from M-Scizor to M-Venusaur to M-Garchomp and even Slowbro, (which was pretty alright actually.) I'm still not 100% sure I like Mawile in this slot, but it puts a stop to dragons, and even when burned it still demolishes everything, something Garchomp and Scizor can't boast about.
So yeah, that's my team. I feel like I could use significantly more fire, but I don't know where to put it, and I also feel like I may require an alternative ice-move, but like I said, I'm horrible with team building.