Butcher, Baker, Candlestick Maker, Carpenter, Oyster...Flower?

BUTCHER, BAKER, CANDLESTICK MAKER!
NOW WITH THE OYSTER, CARPENTER AND WALRUS...ERR FLOWER!
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I'm not sure what to say here. The BBBFC is a highly eclectic but highly effective all-tiers team made only from RU Pokemon: the brussel sprouts of the dessert selection. It started out basically as a futile attempt at entry into the RU metagame which is quite honestly in my opinion the most fascinating and versatile of all. Who wants homogenised Standard when you can have the creamy unpasteurised emulsion that is BW RU?

I started off basically, with my 3 favourite Pokemon, all of whom are RU. Lilligant, Altaria and Eelektross. Why? Because I had to start somewhere. I then considered a few POkemon that might pair well with each of the Pokemon. I ended up with a Dustox (Fuyuki would remain on the team for a long time), a Stunfisk and a Walrein. While the team seemed to be a nice combination of stall and offense, and won a few battles, the mismatch and prone weakness to threats such as Stall Ferroseed and just about any Fire type packing another coverage move. It went in all directions, attempting to utilise too many techniques at once, and ultimately got me locked into too many fated PP stall wars and 5-0 losses. In the end, I could not bear the horrible dead weight of Eelektross and sadly waved Sgt Tamama from the team. His speed was pathetic even with a Scarf and he lacked enough offense when running Timid to be useful, 2HKOED by every opponent or made into set up fodder.

I replaced him with a Stall Ferroseed a while later after seeing its absolute prowess on the battlefield, laying hazards and Seeding the crap out of even Ubers such as Darkrai and Zekrom. I eventually sacked Walrein also for Vanniluxe, his absolutely literal dead weight simply stalling the opponent for a few turns. No matter which moveset I gave him, it didn't work. Vanniluxe and Stunfisk similarly went out of popularity due to the simple fact that neither was defensive or offensive enough to make a difference in the team. Then I had to consider new options. I tweaked the set and spread of Lilligant to make it defensively capable, then introduced Venomoth and Qwilfish to the team. Qwilfish was my hazards go-to-guy alongside Ferroseed, but he was prone to midprediction and Exlploded at all the wrong moments, allowing threats like Stoutland and Yanmega to urinate over my whole team. Venomoth was intended to pass Speed and Special stats to Lilligant to void the need for her own setting up, or to any other member to protect their SPecial Defense and enhance their agility. BUt he didn't work. Even a Focus Sash couldn't help, because...I LACKED A RAPID SPINNER!

In the end, I churned through multiple movesets and Pokemon, such as Torkoal, Stunfisk again, Drapion, Nidoqueen (who kicked ass but was promoted to UU) and even Garbodor, but I had no success. I then realised what my team was becoming: offensive set up with hazards. And then I had that moment when I just decided the 4 Pokemon I was going to put into my team: Natu, who was perfect for bouncing back hazards and status, Pineco, a tri-hazards and Rapid Spinner (risky to have so much lying on its pine bark shoulders, I know), Archeops, THE offensive behemoth if it stayed faster than the opposition, and Magneton, able to spread Thunder Wave to Levitating enemies and scout with Volt Switch while remaining offensively amazing. Lilligant and Altaria were still in the team, of course. I did some further playtesting against most every tier: RU, Standard, DW tiers, UU, Ubers and even Doubles and Triples format (which I had never played before!) And in the end, I have around a 75% success rate!

MEET THE TEAM!!!!!! \('w^)/ (Note: NOt displayed in Lead order: it all depends on the team, as all of the members bar Altaria are sent out first in some situations!) Also please note Altaria and Lilligant, with SOME moveset or another, WILL always be on the team! Also I only use RU Pokemon in the team so don't suggest Ferrothorn or Jellicent!

The Flower (not the Walrus, I ditched that aaaages ago):Natsumi
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Lilligant @ Focus Sash
Trait: Own Tempo
EVs: 172 HP/180 SpAtk/32 Def/124 Spd
Modest Nature (+ SpAtk, -Attack)
- Quiver Dance
- Giga Drain
- Hidden Power Ice
- Sleep Powder

Lilligant was the first Pokemon introduced to my team, and she has remained almost unchanged over her period of time staying in the team(she gained Sash and has had her EVs tweaked oddly). Natsumi is my answer to any Dragons that attempt to menace us, along with Magneton (but Maggiemite cannot take an EQ well). Surprisingly few teams are aware of HP Ice LIlligant and sit their big fat Salamence or Altaria in my face while I proceed to OHKO with Hidden Power. Modest and +1 SpAtk is necessary to do this in some of the bulkier cases (hence the lack of Timid, which does hurt if I can't QD in time). Even though there is a big status clash, when used as a lead Natsumi is usually able to get off 2 QDs (with or without SLeep Powder) and in any hazard-free zone is guaranteed one due to her Sash. She is a prime counter to slow behemoths of lower tiers and her odd defensiv EVs allow her to survive hits from some various physical attackers such as Fearow with a Sash JUST intact (I need to put a few more into Def though, and take some from SpAtk) and possibly recover her health with Giga Drain. Shell Smash shut-down, Rhyperior-killer, Quaggy-murderer, and Dragon destroyer, Natsumi is a driving force behind this team. However, status ABSOLUTELY cripples her so extra precaution is necessary when around TW users (Natu, or in a worst case scenario Altaria, can be ubbed in to reflect the blow) and Toxic. Furthermore, after even a layer of Spikes and Stealth Rock, her ability to survive hits on full HP or keep an intact Sash is severely compromised: she isn't THAT bulky. Nevertheless, this flower provides a solid stop to the strongest type in the game and shines even in the high tiers.

The Oyster (my whole world): Aki
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Altaria @ Leftovers
Trait: Natural Cure
EVs: 176 HP/108 Spd/124 Def
Adamant Nature (+ Attack, - SpAtk)
- Dragon Dance
- Roost
- Dragon Claw
- Earthquake
Aki is my favourite Pokemon, but he's the one I'm least sure about. His spread seems too multidirectional, and he never has the time to Roost before being KOed, even with Defense EVs. That said, his niche utility as a surprise sweeper and emergency status absorber are great. If Stealth Rock is off the field (this is a BIG IF), he can freely switch in and out to absorb a status, pass the baton on to a suitable team member to KO the opponent, then return unscathed. He takes out almost anything not named Heatran, Quagsire, Ferrothorn, Balloon Excadrill or Skarmory in OU PROVIDED he can set up. IN the lower tiers his ability to sweep is much increased, though Pokemon like Hitmontop in UU and Ferroseed in RU can lower the boosts and hit with Stone Edge or stall-troll-ololol me respectively. Aki is all about, WHAT IF, and sadly her abilities are compromised. She CAN survive a lot of HP Ices and physical Rock moves by a cotton fibre's breadth, but too often she is destroyed by priority or is destroyed before she can set up. T3O

The Butcher: Aaki (2 a's this time!)


Archeops @ Flight Gem
Trait: Defeatist (the pussy)
EVs: 4 HP/252 Atk/252 Spd
Nature: Jolly (+ SPd, -SpAtk)
- Acrobatics
- U-Turn
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge

Aaki really is the butcher. Flight Gem Acrobatics destroys and 2HKOes just about everything that doesn't resist it, and Stone Edge provides very strong STAB that sends those enemy Flying types running. Earthquake is insanely useful against Steel types, and U-Turn is my scouting option to deal a bit of damage (or a lot!) while swapping out to a teammate. She's THAT simple to use. However, Stealth Rock and faster enemies ruin er day big-time. Priority is death. End of story. Opponents such as Ubers Metagross, OU Scizor, UU Hitmontop and RU Qwilfish ruin her day. After Defeatist kicks in, if she isn't KOed, her Attack is nixed to a paltry 158, meaning only Ledian is going to be in much danger. Still, while EVERYTHING is a threat to Aaki, EVERYTHING is threatened in turn by her. If priority users in the enemy's team are cleared out (usually by Maggiemite or Utan) and SR can be avoided or spun away (Baguru!) Aaki WILL sweep late-game survivors with less than 350 Speed (this is quite fast in low tiers).

The Baker: Utan
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Natu @ Eviolite
Trait: Magic Mirror
EVs: 4 HP/252 Def/252 SpDef
Nature: Calm (+SpDef, -Atk)
- Calm Mind
- HP Fighting/Light Screen
- Stored Power/Reflect
- Roost

Natu. Is a carbon copy of Xatu. Only small, round and less powerful. WIth Eviolite, Utan reaches 304/304 Defenses, which is acceptable enough, and Calm MInd boosts the SpDef to 456. Her main purpose: reflect hazards. I rarely use her as a lead because she's too predictable that way. Leads do what they do: set up hazards. My usual technique is to switch on Turn 1 from an offensive mon to reflect the hazards back IF the opponent is a Taunt or Hazards lead. SHe has acceptable power after a few CMs, able to do such things as 2HKO Flygon and after 3, OHKO the Hitmons with Stored Power (no HP assumed), and reliable Roost recovery. Again, Stealth Rock is her Achilles heel if there ever was one, and her bulk is not nearly enough to switch into Electric, Dark, Ice, Rock OR Ghost type attacks-that's quite a list! Still, she's a valuable and unique member of the team.

The Candlestick Maker-Maggiemite



Magneton @ Eviolite
Trait: Sturdy (Rhyperior EQ a-go-go!)
EVs: 76 Def /180 SpAtk /252 SpDef
Nature: Modest (+ SpAtk, -Atk)
- Thunder Wave
- HP Ice
- Volt Switch
- Flash Cannon

Maggiemite is honestly my MVP to date. She (technically it) has five abilities that make her integral to this team. 1) Thunder Wave. This cripples Empoleon and all those enemies that come in and float over the Spikes on the ground (except CLaydol and Flygon). Especially Empoleon. If my hazards have not been put up, have been removed, or did not consist of Toxic Spikes, despite the status conflict, Maggiemite WILL cripple them. 2) Volt Switch. She can scout and deal a lot of damage at the same time, a rare trait for a U-TUrn/Volt Switcher. This is frequently a way to KO and then switch Maggiemite out stock free while dtermining the foe's moves (or killing the foe!) 3) HP Ice MORE Dragon support, you ask? Well, no. This is more for those omnipresent weak Grass types. If Archeops is gone, this is my only stop to them, but her typing and defensive ability make dispatching the foe an easy job. 4) Tremendous bulk. OK, not tremendous, but damn good. Sturdy protects against Rhyperior EQ and other similar moves, but against neutral physical moves the damage is laughable. Even SE priority isn't too much for Maggiemite. Also a great switch in on predictable Fake Outs due to this. And lastly, 5) An ability to help every team member with a threat they face and counter with high power. She can switch into Ice, Rock AND Dragon attacks AND destroy the user with SE moves 90% of the time, which is great for Naru, Aaki and Utan in particular. She can scout to check their moves on variants where a super-effective move for a teammate may or may not be present: if they have a base speed of >65 this is useful. WILL they pack HP Fire to kill Baguru? Or is it safe? She can tank Flying and Normal types....she's just amazing! Though she IS threatened by EQ and Eruption Typhlosion...

The Carpenter: Baguru



Pineco @ Eviolite
Trait: Sturdy
EVs: 252 HP/4 Def/252 SpDef
Nature: Impish (+Def, -SpAtk)
- Stealth Rock
- Spikes
- Toxic Spikes
- Rapid Spin

Baguru is that guy. The one who furnishes the battlefield. With all sorts of nasty objects. This little guy MAY be Taunt bait and MAY have some exploitable Fire weakness, but if he can get off ALL his hazards (Which he often does, too!), the enemy suddenly becomes OHKOed by something or other that my team packs. The kinds of hazards he lays down depend on the enemy's team, and if they pack a Rapid Spinner he is basically useless. Being 2HKOed by just about ALL Fire attacks (if Sturdy is broken a few OHKO, not counting Specs) hurts, but this cone of fun can make it or break it, as well as luring in Taunters like Persian that can then be countered by Maggiemite. The foundations he lays essentially help my late-game sweepers (everyone else bar Utan) achieve their goal. Toxic SPikes damage abuse can be racked up by Utan with Roost and Archeops or Lilligant can dispose of the common Spinners: Hitmontop, Claydol, Donphan and Sandslash. The team often functions well without Baguru, making his slot on the team even more useful, because he does not hold a crucial role in my victory (this does not apply to OU and Ubers where he is fucking indispensible)!

AND THAT'S THE TEAM!

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THREATS AND ALL THAT JAZZ

Basically, any Fire type with a versatile movepool who outruns Archeops and is not killed by a boosted EQ from Aki. THe worst in various tiers would presumably be Ho-Oh/Reshiram, Balloon/Scarf Heatran, Chandelure, Eruption Typhlosion, Charizard, Hypnosis Rapidash and Magmortar. All of these pack moves to cripple my entire team, though I can generally check them with Archeops or Altaria. Slowbro and Empoleon are also Bulky pains in the side, especially if Maggiemite has been KOed, and if Stone Edge is unavailbale Stallrein will troll all over my lol. Hitmontop is dangerous because he can nullify my hazards and priority-fuck me over. Alakazam and Venomoth are the last 2 main Pokemon I have trouble overcoming: Zam can hurt most everything and Magic Guard variants (the majority) are immune to my hazards while being fast, and Venomoth will always Sleep me then Baton Pass QDs to another opponent if I do not outspeed it or KO it. Clefable is a threat but is so rare I have no problem with its antics. This doesn't include OU threats bar Fire types or Uber threats bar Fire types. Like I said, CBF threat list.

OK, thanks for rating my team, and I look forward to constructive criticism!

\('W^)/ LL

 
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