Bulky Balance [Pre-Bank OU]

[goodwinter]

First, a disclaimer that this is my first competitive team and while I tried to be creative, these movesets aren’t extremely original. BUT I did try to give the team a purpose – in short, it tries its best to clear the field of entry hazards (and keep them off) and hit hard with a few key players. Pretty basic I think.

Noivern @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Frisk
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Nature: Timid
~ Dragon Pulse
~ U-Turn
~ Flamethrower
~ Taunt

Noivern is my anti-lead, with Frisk to check what the opponent’s lead is holding, and Taunt to prevent entry hazards. Choice Scarf helps guarantee that Taunt or U-Turn can be pulled off first. Initially considered @ Life Orb and Leftovers but I they’re better used by Noivern’s teammates Togekiss and Scizor. Dragon Pulse for STAB and better accuracy than Draco Meteor, and Flamethrower for coverage – in testing, Flamethrower has been particularly useful against Steel types that aren’t quite expecting it.

Chansey @ Eviolite
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Nature: Bold
~ Softboiled
~ Aromatherapy
~ Thunder Wave
~ Seismic Toss

Chansey is a pretty straightforward cleric – Softboiled and Aromatherapy for healing/status support. I REALLY wanted Stealth Rock on her but it’s not available this gen. I considered the Toxic/Protect combo, but didn’t want to lose the 4th spot so I went with Thunder Wave for support – again, in testing TW has worked wonders on slowing down threats. Seismic Toss is there for potential heavy hits, but I’m not crazy about it. Would love suggestions on the moveset of this gal!

Blastoise @ Blastoisinite
Ability: Mega Launcher
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpA / 4 SpD
Nature: Modest
~ Rapid Spin
~ Water Pulse
~ Dark Pulse
~ Ice Beam

Mega Blastoise’s main role is rapid spin support of course. Water Pulse is used for a balance of power and accuracy, but I’ve been considering Scald for the burn (haven’t tested). Dark Pulse to deal with Ghost types, which has had a decent chance of getting pulled off because of his bulk. Ice Beam is used for better overall coverage – Aura Sphere and Dragon Pulse would be redundant on this team I think.

Scizor @ Leftovers
Ability: Technician
EVs: 252 HP / 40 Atk / 216 SpD
Nature: Adamant
~ U-turn
~ Bullet Punch
~ Swords Dance
~ Roost

A standard bulky offensive Scizor. Against the right pokes, he can set up and destroy – or he can force a switch, which I try to predict and use U-Turn for an added health boost. Didn’t think Roost would work but it’s performed very well in testing. Not much to say besides I love him :)

Togekiss @ Life Orb
Ability: Serene Grace
EVs: 120 HP / 136 SpA / 252 Spe
Nature: Timid
~ Nasty Plot
~ Air Slash
~ Dazzling Gleam
~ Fire Blast

Air Slash and Dazzling Gleam are used for great STAB and overall coverage. Fire Blast is also used for coverage and has come in very handy for bulky Steel types. Nasty Plot is great when I can pull one off, but I find this difficult – not sure how other people feel who have used this moveset, so suggestions to that effect would be great.

Alakazam @ Focus Sash
Ability: Magic Guard
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Nature: Timid
~ Psyshock
~ Focus Blast
~ Energy Ball
~ Shadow Ball

Alakazam is my only straight-up sweeper/revenge killer who doesn’t have any bulk (unlike Togekiss, Blastoise, and Scizor). His moveset has good coverage like all Alakazam sets. Honestly, I didn’t choose HP Fire/Ice because I don’t know how to breed for it – and Energy Ball has come in handy for bulky Water types which would wall my team otherwise. Also, Focus Blast misses SO MUCH, I’m thinking of replacing with Dazzling Gleam or something else, but not sure – again, thought are welcome.

Final thoughts:
I have a couple of concerns after testing. Bulky Water types (Rotom-W!) are killing me. Advice to deal with them is appreciated – apart from Energy Ball on Alakazam, the team is unprepared for them. Also, I’m not sure I love Noivern – his results are mixed, so suggestions for improving his moveset or an alternative poke are especially welcome.

 

[dragonhide]

First, a disclaimer that this is my first competitive team and while I tried to be creative, these movesets aren’t extremely original. BUT I did try to give the team a purpose – in short, it tries its best to clear the field of entry hazards (and keep them off) and hit hard with a few key players. Pretty basic I think.

Noivern @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Frisk
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Nature: Timid
~ Dragon Pulse
~ U-Turn
~ Flamethrower
~ Taunt

Noivern is my anti-lead, with Frisk to check what the opponent’s lead is holding, and Taunt to prevent entry hazards. Choice Scarf helps guarantee that Taunt or U-Turn can be pulled off first. Initially considered @ Life Orb and Leftovers but I they’re better used by Noivern’s teammates Togekiss and Scizor. Dragon Pulse for STAB and better accuracy than Draco Meteor, and Flamethrower for coverage – in testing, Flamethrower has been particularly useful against Steel types that aren’t quite expecting it.

Chansey @ Eviolite
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Nature: Bold
~ Softboiled
~ Aromatherapy
~ Thunder Wave
~ Seismic Toss

Chansey is a pretty straightforward cleric – Softboiled and Aromatherapy for healing/status support. I REALLY wanted Stealth Rock on her but it’s not available this gen. I considered the Toxic/Protect combo, but didn’t want to lose the 4th spot so I went with Thunder Wave for support – again, in testing TW has worked wonders on slowing down threats. Seismic Toss is there for potential heavy hits, but I’m not crazy about it. Would love suggestions on the moveset of this gal!

Blastoise @ Blastoisinite
Ability: Mega Launcher
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpA / 4 SpD
Nature: Modest
~ Rapid Spin
~ Water Pulse
~ Dark Pulse
~ Ice Beam

Mega Blastoise’s main role is rapid spin support of course. Water Pulse is used for a balance of power and accuracy, but I’ve been considering Scald for the burn (haven’t tested). Dark Pulse to deal with Ghost types, which has had a decent chance of getting pulled off because of his bulk. Ice Beam is used for better overall coverage – Aura Sphere and Dragon Pulse would be redundant on this team I think.

Scizor @ Leftovers
Ability: Technician
EVs: 252 HP / 40 Atk / 216 SpD
Nature: Adamant
~ U-turn
~ Bullet Punch
~ Swords Dance
~ Roost

A standard bulky offensive Scizor. Against the right pokes, he can set up and destroy – or he can force a switch, which I try to predict and use U-Turn for an added health boost. Didn’t think Roost would work but it’s performed very well in testing. Not much to say besides I love him :)

Togekiss @ Life Orb
Ability: Serene Grace
EVs: 120 HP / 136 SpA / 252 Spe
Nature: Timid
~ Nasty Plot
~ Air Slash
~ Dazzling Gleam
~ Fire Blast

Air Slash and Dazzling Gleam are used for great STAB and overall coverage. Fire Blast is also used for coverage and has come in very handy for bulky Steel types. Nasty Plot is great when I can pull one off, but I find this difficult – not sure how other people feel who have used this moveset, so suggestions to that effect would be great.

Alakazam @ Focus Sash
Ability: Magic Guard
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Nature: Timid
~ Psyshock
~ Focus Blast
~ Energy Ball
~ Shadow Ball

Alakazam is my only straight-up sweeper/revenge killer who doesn’t have any bulk (unlike Togekiss, Blastoise, and Scizor). His moveset has good coverage like all Alakazam sets. Honestly, I didn’t choose HP Fire/Ice because I don’t know how to breed for it – and Energy Ball has come in handy for bulky Water types which would wall my team otherwise. Also, Focus Blast misses SO MUCH, I’m thinking of replacing with Dazzling Gleam or something else, but not sure – again, thought are welcome.

Final thoughts:
I have a couple of concerns after testing. Bulky Water types (Rotom-W!) are killing me. Advice to deal with them is appreciated – apart from Energy Ball on Alakazam, the team is unprepared for them. Also, I’m not sure I love Noivern – his results are mixed, so suggestions for improving his moveset or an alternative poke are especially welcome.

First of all this is a pretty nice team!If u want to change noivern i would suggest crobat cause he is an anti-lead as well and he gets defog+hypnosis+taunt to annoy pretty much any slower pokemon!Also have you considered using paraflinch togekiss?

 

[goodwinter]

First of all this is a pretty nice team!If u want to change noivern i would suggest crobat cause he is an anti-lead as well and he gets defog+hypnosis+taunt to annoy pretty much any slower pokemon!Also have you considered using paraflinch togekiss?

Thanks dragonhide. Good suggestion with Crobat, I'll definitely consider using him. Not sure about para-flinch Togekiss though because I already have a poke using Leftovers and another poke with Thunderwave

 

[dragonhide]

Thanks dragonhide. Good suggestion with Crobat, I'll definitely consider using him. Not sure about para-flinch Togekiss though because I already have a poke using Leftovers and another poke with Thunderwave

Well if u dont want to use paraflinch toge u can swap him with something like a salamence!without noivern u wont have a dragon and u have many special attackers as well!Salamence can land easy kills and he can help you vs rotom!

 

[bobismoi]

If you choose to keep Noivern you could use Switcheroo to cripple opposing leads with a Scarf. If you go with Crobat than you could try Scarf Garchomp over Togekiss, especially since you find NP Togekiss difficult to pull off (believe me I agree).

 

[goodwinter]

If you choose to keep Noivern you could use Switcheroo to cripple opposing leads with a Scarf. If you go with Crobat than you could try Scarf Garchomp over Togekiss, especially since you find NP Togekiss difficult to pull off (believe me I agree).

Hmm Switcheroo sounds intriguing (hadn't considered it), and could be the extra oomph that Noivern needs. And while I'm partial to keep Noivern on the team, Choice Garchomp may be just what the team needs to get past bulky walls. NP Togekiss is just not happening...

 

[goodwinter]

Bump for feedback on changes - I've been trying new versions of Noivern and Togekiss with their items swapped, and NP swapped for Aura Sphere on Togekiss (with SpA/Spe EVs maxed). It's doesn't really get around my problem with bulky Water types, but it's been much better in recent testing. Thoughts?

Noivern @ Life Orb
Ability: Frisk
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Nature: Timid
~ Draco Meteor
~ U-Turn
~ Flamethrower
~ Taunt

Togekiss @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Serene Grace
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Nature: Timid
~ Aura Sphere
~ Air Slash
~ Dazzling Gleam
~ Fire Blast

 

[TerminusTactican]

If your only reason for using Blastoise is spin support, I recommend you ditch Blastoisanite. There is not much of a reason to be using it, and Scizor, along with Alakazam can happily take it's spot as your mega.

Chansey's spread is strange, as it makes no sense to be running 252 def, as your putting all the good special bulk to waste. If you're looking for a mixed wall, you should be using one with better stat distribution.

I recommend against using Togekiss as your nasty plotter. It simply is not fast enough, and it's not strong enough, nor bulky.

Noivern running taunt is alright, but running a choice scarf is really strange. Noivern outspeeds most leads anyways, so it's not much of an issue.

Alakazam can easily run dazzling gleam, as it has the some motive behind focus blast, hitting dark types, but you might miss the coverage on other types.

have fun with your team, and good luck. :p

 

[goodwinter]

If your only reason for using Blastoise is spin support, I recommend you ditch Blastoisanite. There is not much of a reason to be using it, and Scizor, along with Alakazam can happily take it's spot as your mega.

Chansey's spread is strange, as it makes no sense to be running 252 def, as your putting all the good special bulk to waste. If you're looking for a mixed wall, you should be using one with better stat distribution.

I recommend against using Togekiss as your nasty plotter. It simply is not fast enough, and it's not strong enough, nor bulky.

Noivern running taunt is alright, but running a choice scarf is really strange. Noivern outspeeds most leads anyways, so it's not much of an issue.

Alakazam can easily run dazzling gleam, as it has the some motive behind focus blast, hitting dark types, but you might miss the coverage on other types.

have fun with your team, and good luck. :p

Great input - your suggestion to drop Blastoisinite and add a MegaEvo to Scizor is very well taken. Blastoise is really not going to miss it, and Scizor (over Alakazam) would be much better off with the boosts.

I also realized that Choice Scarf on Noivern is actually quite dumb and negates his role as an anti-lead - he's now got Life Orb, which works much better and I've come to like him a lot more.

I want to run Dazzling Gleam on Alakazam - especially because I'm 99% sure I'm dropping Togekiss altogether - but not sure what to swap out. Focus Blast has come in handy...

 

[TerminusTactican]

Try energy ball. It may work better in testing, and you're free to swap back if you find it lackluster. I recommend you do the same process for focus blast.

 

[ouchalargerock]

Great input - your suggestion to drop Blastoisinite and add a MegaEvo to Scizor is very well taken. Blastoise is really not going to miss it, and Scizor (over Alakazam) would be much better off with the boosts.

I also realized that Choice Scarf on Noivern is actually quite dumb and negates his role as an anti-lead - he's now got Life Orb, which works much better and I've come to like him a lot more.

I want to run Dazzling Gleam on Alakazam - especially because I'm 99% sure I'm dropping Togekiss altogether - but not sure what to swap out. Focus Blast has come in handy...

Maybe it's just me, but I feel like you should keep Blastoise, but switching out Ice Beam for Dagon Pulse. Water-Pulse hits Ground-Types harder anyways, and Dragon Pulse has far better neutral coverage, not to mention, you keep a Rapid-Spinner that has very few counters.

I second getting rid of Togekiss as a special sweeper. Unless you are running it as a NastyPasser, or a ParaFlinch Haxor, there is no reason to use it.

For Alakazam, if you are still having qualms about it I would run Dazzling Gleam in lieu of Shadow Ball, as it doesn't have too much power behind it, and you can hit just about everything hard without it.

Instead of using Noivern as your anti-lead, using Mandibuzz may work a bit better. It has access to Defog, Taunt, Whirlwind, and Foul Play or Knock Off. This allows you to get rid of Blastiose if you are only using him as a Spinner, and using Noivern as a Special-Sweeper, or something else as one. Also, Mandibuzz is as bulky as a large bulky man, and has overcoat, allowing him to completely counter good 'ol Smeargle the best lead in the game. Defog also has the bonus of getting rid of those goddamned Dual Screens.

As someone had already said, fix Chansey's EV distribution.

Hope I could help! Good Luck!

 

[goodwinter]

Maybe it's just me, but I feel like you should keep Blastoise, but switching out Ice Beam for Dagon Pulse. Water-Pulse hits Ground-Types harder anyways, and Dragon Pulse has far better neutral coverage, not to mention, you keep a Rapid-Spinner that has very few counters.

I second getting rid of Togekiss as a special sweeper. Unless you are running it as a NastyPasser, or a ParaFlinch Haxor, there is no reason to use it.

For Alakazam, if you are still having qualms about it I would run Dazzling Gleam in lieu of Shadow Ball, as it doesn't have too much power behind it, and you can hit just about everything hard without it.

Instead of using Noivern as your anti-lead, using Mandibuzz may work a bit better. It has access to Defog, Taunt, Whirlwind, and Foul Play or Knock Off. This allows you to get rid of Blastiose if you are only using him as a Spinner, and using Noivern as a Special-Sweeper, or something else as one. Also, Mandibuzz is as bulky as a large bulky man, and has overcoat, allowing him to completely counter good 'ol Smeargle the best lead in the game. Defog also has the bonus of getting rid of those goddamned Dual Screens.

As someone had already said, fix Chansey's EV distribution.

Hope I could help! Good Luck!

Very helpful!

I'm officially getting rid of Togekiss, and swapping Dazzling Gleam for Shadow Ball (which rarely gets used).

I love the idea of using Mandibuzz since encountering a few in Showdown, but I'm hesitant to use Noivern as a specify sweeper - I feel like another poke would be better?

I'm currently testing Trevanent in place of Blastoise, and using Defog on Mega Scizor instead of rapid spin. I really want a counter to Rotom-W who normally wrecks my team. We'll see how it goes...

And the stats for Chansey have been performing pretty well, so I'm not sure I wanna change em

Thanks for the great suggestions guys :)

 

[Banzaii^^]

Try running a 252Def/252SDef/4HP Chansey. Other than that, the team's good!

 

[ouchalargerock]

but I'm hesitant to use Noivern as a specify sweeper - I feel like another poke would be better?

There is definitely other (and better, depending on how you look at it) Sweepers you can use. The few that come to mind are all Physical, mainly because all you have on your team is Scizor, and he can only Spam one Move. Meaning, aside from Psyshock and Bullet Punch, you have no reliable way to hit any Special Walls, which are pretty common, considering the Assault Vest. Anyways, the things I would run would either be Scarfmence, or Weakness Policy Dragonite. Both of which I would run a pretty standard set on (see below if needed).

I'm currently testing Trevanent in place of Blastoise, and using Defog on Mega Scizor instead of rapid spin. I really want a counter to Rotom-W who normally wrecks my team. We'll see how it goes...

How is that working out? It seems like it would be okay. As for Rotom-Wash, stuff should be able to take care of him.

 

[goodwinter]

There is definitely other (and better, depending on how you look at it) Sweepers you can use. The few that come to mind are all Physical, mainly because all you have on your team is Scizor, and he can only Spam one Move. Meaning, aside from Psyshock and Bullet Punch, you have no reliable way to hit any Special Walls, which are pretty common, considering the Assault Vest. Anyways, the things I would run would either be Scarfmence, or Weakness Policy Dragonite. Both of which I would run a pretty standard set on (see below if needed).



How is that working out? It seems like it would be okay. As for Rotom-Wash, stuff should be able to take care of him.

So Trevanant is a GREAT check for Rotom-W, and performs pretty well against Mega Kangaskhan (a beast). I tried out Meag Venusaur for a bit, but it underperformed in comparison.

And I took your advice and I'm using Dragonite except @ Lum Berry (Weakness Policy doesn't do it for me) - he has great coverage and I like how his movesets are generally unpredictable. I'm using ThunderPunch/FirePunch/Outrage/Dragon Dance for example

Now that I've replaced Noivern with Dragonite I'm looking for a new lead - right now I'm trying out Talonflame and Greninja. Not sure who I like better yet! (I think Talonflame as a suicide lead)

So the team is Alakazam/Mega-Scizor/Chansey/Trevanant/Dragonite/Talonflame OR Greninja. Doesn't look very much like more original team though lol