Introduction
I was originally going to make a PU team, but the roles of my team members would be much more suited to NU. This team is centered around Kecleon as a Bulky attacker - its goal is to set up hazards and send out bulky attacking pokemon to force switches and deal damage.
The Team
Kecleon @ Life Orb
Ability: Protean
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Power-Up Punch
- Sucker Punch
- Shadow Sneak
- Recover
Kecleon is the focus of this team. It has an amazing ability in Protean, as well as a good range of moves. Power-Up Punch is used either on a predicted switch or to finish off a weakened pokemon. Although Kecleon is slow, it has excellent special bulk, which is easy to take advantage of. Shadow Sneak is a good priority move for finishing off faster, weakened pokemon, as well as voiding the drain punch from Gurdurr, scarfed Sawk's close combat, and other predicted fighting or normal moves. Sucker Punch is for taking out offensive threats, preferably after a +1 boost from Power-Up Punch. Its power is deceptively strong despite Kecleon's base 90 attack due to protean, life orb, and adamant nature. Recover is used to heal off life orb recoil or damage from special hits, typically on a switch.
Weezing @ Black Sludge
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 Spe
Bold Nature
- Will-O-Wisp
- Toxic Spikes
- Clear Smog
- Flamethrower
Weezing is my team's physical wall. Although its offensive presence is a bit lacking, its utility makes up for it. Will-o-wisp is there to cripple physical attackers, as well as get residual damage on a predicted switch. Toxic spikes is there to set more hazards after physical attackers are burned. It works really well for whittling down walls, especially as my team forces many switches. Clear smog is there to negate boosting moves such as Feraligatr's dragon/swords dange, lilligant's quiver dance, etc. and flamethrower is for steel-type coverage.
Lanturn @ Leftovers
Ability: Volt Absorb
EVs: 40 HP / 252 Def / 216 SpD
Bold Nature
IVs: 30 Atk / 30 SpA
- Volt Switch
- Scald
- Ice Beam
- Heal Bell
Lanturn is easily one of my favourite pokemon in NU. It has a massive HP stat to counter its less-than-impressive defences. A bold nature with max defense ensures it can survive any unstab earthquake and retaliate with a scald or ice beam, or get a crucial heal bell off. Volt switch is there for initiative, as it can switch in on a predicted electric move (notably choice scarf rotom) and volt switch out to gain momentum. Ice beam is to hit grass types on the switch, and scald is there for burns. Heal bell is crucial to get rid of any status that mitigate the team's walling power.
Crustle @ Leftovers
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Spikes
- Rock Blast
- Knock Off
Crustle is the hazard setter of the team. A jolly nature with max speed allows it to quickly set up hazards while maximum attack investment lets it nail pokemon like Xatu and Mesprit with a knock off. Rock blast is there to hit leads like ninjask or other focus sashers, as well as having good coverage. Crustle is used only when potential spinners/defoggers have been taken out or weakened to the point where they can be dealt with before clearing hazards.
Hariyama @ Assault Vest
Ability: Guts
EVs: 252 Atk / 128 Def / 128 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Knock Off
- Close Combat
- Bullet Punch
- Fake Out
Hariyama is there to provide a more immediate threat than Kecleon, especially to pokemon such as ferroseed (who Hariyama can always take out with a combination of Knock Off and Close Combat). Fake Out is important to stall a turn and let toxic damage rack up. Bullet Punch, when used with Fake Out, provide a good revenge killing combination and can pick off weakened threats before they can attack. Knock Off is great because with its bulk and investment, Hariyama can live stab psychics and psyshocks and either OHKO or deal heavy damage in return. Close Combat is there for STAB coverage and generally just big damage. Assault Vest is used over Toxic/Flame Orb to provide better bulk and longevity for Hariyama.
Kabutops @ Life Orb
Ability: Swift Swim
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
IVs: 29 HP
- Waterfall
- Stone Edge
- Rapid Spin
- Aqua Jet
Kabutops is there because, honestly, my team is really slow and weak to hazards (since I need to switch too). I didn't want to go with a defogger like Prinplup or Wartortle because that would defeat the purpose of Crustle's hazard stacking, and Sandslash was a bit too slow for me. Kabutops comes in on anything it would normally force out and either rapid spins or takes it out with one of its powerful STAB moves. Aqua Jet is there for priority, as with an adamant nature and Life Orb, it cleanly takes out Typlosion after stealth rocks and one layer of spikes (68.8% chance to OHKO after stealth rocks alone). There are times when Kabutop's utility is outweighed by the need to remove hazards, so max speed investment allows for a Rapid Spin against pokemon like Ludicolo and Vileplume that would normally force it out. Stone Edge deals huge damage to anything that doesn't resist it and Waterfall is good if accuracy is an issue. The 29 HP IVs are there to minmize Life Orb recoil
Conclusion
This team has a bit of trouble dealing with Seismitoad, but Kecleon can sponge hits and retaliate back, and Weezing can whittle it down with either toxic (from Toxic Spikes) or burn damage. Fighting-types pose a but of a problem as well (Hariyama can knock off Gurrdurr, but then it gets back a huge amount from Drain Punching back), but that's where Kecleon's Shadow Sneak comes in. It does a respectable amount of damage and thanks to its priority, makes Kecleon immune to fighting type attacks. Of course, Weezing must be healthy so it doesn't come down to Shadow Sneak mind games with Kecleon.
It's important to get Weezing in on setup pokemon to Clear Smog them before they get too stacked, or else the team can be swept. Kecleon or Kabutops make good late-game cleaners, as kecleon can pick off pokemon even with an unboosted sucker punch, and Kabutops has raw power behind its STABs. What's most important, though, is making sure hazards are up on the opponent's side of the field and not on yours, so take extra care of Kabutops and Crustle.
I was originally going to make a PU team, but the roles of my team members would be much more suited to NU. This team is centered around Kecleon as a Bulky attacker - its goal is to set up hazards and send out bulky attacking pokemon to force switches and deal damage.
The Team
Kecleon @ Life Orb
Ability: Protean
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Power-Up Punch
- Sucker Punch
- Shadow Sneak
- Recover
Kecleon is the focus of this team. It has an amazing ability in Protean, as well as a good range of moves. Power-Up Punch is used either on a predicted switch or to finish off a weakened pokemon. Although Kecleon is slow, it has excellent special bulk, which is easy to take advantage of. Shadow Sneak is a good priority move for finishing off faster, weakened pokemon, as well as voiding the drain punch from Gurdurr, scarfed Sawk's close combat, and other predicted fighting or normal moves. Sucker Punch is for taking out offensive threats, preferably after a +1 boost from Power-Up Punch. Its power is deceptively strong despite Kecleon's base 90 attack due to protean, life orb, and adamant nature. Recover is used to heal off life orb recoil or damage from special hits, typically on a switch.
Weezing @ Black Sludge
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 Spe
Bold Nature
- Will-O-Wisp
- Toxic Spikes
- Clear Smog
- Flamethrower
Weezing is my team's physical wall. Although its offensive presence is a bit lacking, its utility makes up for it. Will-o-wisp is there to cripple physical attackers, as well as get residual damage on a predicted switch. Toxic spikes is there to set more hazards after physical attackers are burned. It works really well for whittling down walls, especially as my team forces many switches. Clear smog is there to negate boosting moves such as Feraligatr's dragon/swords dange, lilligant's quiver dance, etc. and flamethrower is for steel-type coverage.
Lanturn @ Leftovers
Ability: Volt Absorb
EVs: 40 HP / 252 Def / 216 SpD
Bold Nature
IVs: 30 Atk / 30 SpA
- Volt Switch
- Scald
- Ice Beam
- Heal Bell
Lanturn is easily one of my favourite pokemon in NU. It has a massive HP stat to counter its less-than-impressive defences. A bold nature with max defense ensures it can survive any unstab earthquake and retaliate with a scald or ice beam, or get a crucial heal bell off. Volt switch is there for initiative, as it can switch in on a predicted electric move (notably choice scarf rotom) and volt switch out to gain momentum. Ice beam is to hit grass types on the switch, and scald is there for burns. Heal bell is crucial to get rid of any status that mitigate the team's walling power.
Crustle @ Leftovers
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Spikes
- Rock Blast
- Knock Off
Crustle is the hazard setter of the team. A jolly nature with max speed allows it to quickly set up hazards while maximum attack investment lets it nail pokemon like Xatu and Mesprit with a knock off. Rock blast is there to hit leads like ninjask or other focus sashers, as well as having good coverage. Crustle is used only when potential spinners/defoggers have been taken out or weakened to the point where they can be dealt with before clearing hazards.
Hariyama @ Assault Vest
Ability: Guts
EVs: 252 Atk / 128 Def / 128 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Knock Off
- Close Combat
- Bullet Punch
- Fake Out
Hariyama is there to provide a more immediate threat than Kecleon, especially to pokemon such as ferroseed (who Hariyama can always take out with a combination of Knock Off and Close Combat). Fake Out is important to stall a turn and let toxic damage rack up. Bullet Punch, when used with Fake Out, provide a good revenge killing combination and can pick off weakened threats before they can attack. Knock Off is great because with its bulk and investment, Hariyama can live stab psychics and psyshocks and either OHKO or deal heavy damage in return. Close Combat is there for STAB coverage and generally just big damage. Assault Vest is used over Toxic/Flame Orb to provide better bulk and longevity for Hariyama.
Kabutops @ Life Orb
Ability: Swift Swim
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
IVs: 29 HP
- Waterfall
- Stone Edge
- Rapid Spin
- Aqua Jet
Kabutops is there because, honestly, my team is really slow and weak to hazards (since I need to switch too). I didn't want to go with a defogger like Prinplup or Wartortle because that would defeat the purpose of Crustle's hazard stacking, and Sandslash was a bit too slow for me. Kabutops comes in on anything it would normally force out and either rapid spins or takes it out with one of its powerful STAB moves. Aqua Jet is there for priority, as with an adamant nature and Life Orb, it cleanly takes out Typlosion after stealth rocks and one layer of spikes (68.8% chance to OHKO after stealth rocks alone). There are times when Kabutop's utility is outweighed by the need to remove hazards, so max speed investment allows for a Rapid Spin against pokemon like Ludicolo and Vileplume that would normally force it out. Stone Edge deals huge damage to anything that doesn't resist it and Waterfall is good if accuracy is an issue. The 29 HP IVs are there to minmize Life Orb recoil
Conclusion
This team has a bit of trouble dealing with Seismitoad, but Kecleon can sponge hits and retaliate back, and Weezing can whittle it down with either toxic (from Toxic Spikes) or burn damage. Fighting-types pose a but of a problem as well (Hariyama can knock off Gurrdurr, but then it gets back a huge amount from Drain Punching back), but that's where Kecleon's Shadow Sneak comes in. It does a respectable amount of damage and thanks to its priority, makes Kecleon immune to fighting type attacks. Of course, Weezing must be healthy so it doesn't come down to Shadow Sneak mind games with Kecleon.
It's important to get Weezing in on setup pokemon to Clear Smog them before they get too stacked, or else the team can be swept. Kecleon or Kabutops make good late-game cleaners, as kecleon can pick off pokemon even with an unboosted sucker punch, and Kabutops has raw power behind its STABs. What's most important, though, is making sure hazards are up on the opponent's side of the field and not on yours, so take extra care of Kabutops and Crustle.
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