This is the first team I created after I resumed playing PO and PS a month or so back. This team had good success but it faces some severe problems. The main ones are Stall teams(once Manaphy is out) and Sand teams. Rain teams also give it some trouble. So, I was hoping to get some tips on countering them and making the team better.
Talonflame (F) @ Choice Band
Ability: Gale Wings
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Brave Bird
- U-turn
- Tailwind
- Flare Blitz
The priority user of my team. I use it to deal with all the fast but fragile Pokemon like Weavile, Alakazam, Mega lopunny and many more. It's uses are almost unlimited. With the band powering it up, it even does decent damage to some Pokemon that resist it.
Manaphy @ Leftovers
Ability: Hydration
EVs: 16 HP / 240 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Scald
- Tail Glow
- Rain Dance
- Energy Ball
This is the best answer for the stall teams. Rain Dance takes out any status condition that the opponent throws at it and with tail glow, it's mediocre special attack skyrockets allowing me to take out lots of Pokemon. The stalls kneel against Manaphy and the only problem that it faces are Gothitelle's Shadow Tag + Trick and Wobuffet at full health.
Excadrill (M) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Mold Breaker
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Rapid Spin
- Earthquake
- Iron Head
- Rock Slide
Excadrill is my much needed spinner. The reason for it having scarf is that I want the rocks removed at any cost. I have two Pokemon that take 50% from rocks and I can't have that. It's also my answer to annoying fairies like Clefable and Sylveon who can hardly do anything to it. With Mold Breaker, it can 2 OHKO Rotom-W, Latios and Latias. But, when I have a Pokemon who can easily defeat Excadrill late game but there are rocks set up too, then I have to sacrifice Excadrill and use Rapid Spin in order to ensure a safe entry for Charizard and Talonflame.
Thundurus @ Leftovers
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Thunderbolt
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Grass Knot
- Thunder Wave
With Prankster, I can paralyze a number of Pokemon that are faster and if the opponent doesnt have a Pokemon with Heal Bell/Aromatherapy, then paralysis cripples their team. Grass Knot is t take down Quagsire, against which most of team struggles. Thunberbolt does a huge amount of damage to anything that doesnt resist it. Hidden Power Ice takes out Garchomps, Landos and others which can cause Thundurus trouble.
Clefable (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Magic Guard
EVs: 252 HP / 172 Def / 84 SpD
Calm Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Moonblast
- Thunder Wave
- Soft-Boiled
Clefable is such an awesome Pokemon to have in your team. I can lead with it and set up rocks,, or paralyze a Pokemon with Thunderwave and then spam Moonblast. When its health is down, it only has to call for Soft Boiled. This is my ace that I throw right at the start and if the opponent isnt ready, it can paralyze half of their team and take out a couple in the process.
Charizard (M) @ Charizardite X
Ability: Blaze
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Dragon Claw
- Fire Punch
- Dragon Dance
- Earthquake
The undisputed star of the team, Mega Charizard X only needs one turn. If it gets a chance to use a Dragon Dance, it sweeps. It doesn't give the opponent a chance to recover after that. I mostly bring Charizard in mid game to get a Dragon Dance in. The only time I use it earlier is when there is Ferrothorn or a Scizor waiting for it. I switch it in as soon as a Ferrothorn appears and if my opponent doesnt have anything that can OHKO a boosted Charizard X. Simply one DD and it can sweep through teams. Dragon Claw, Fire Punch and Earthquake give it full coverage to hit every Pokemon for neutral if not super-effective damage.
But, even with its awesomeness, Charizard X has really big weaknesses, especially things like Talonflame. Because of no priority moves, a banded Talonflame can sometimes ko my Charizard X with 90% health.This one time, I had my Charizard X set up and was ready to sweep. He had around 65 % health. My opponent brought in his Talonflame and I was forced to switch out. And later, it turned out, that the Talon had leftovers and not band. I dont know if it was intentional or not but I lost that game just because Charizard can be OHKOd by Talon.
Mega Venusaur too can cause trouble if my Charizard and Talon have been taken down. The only answer to it is Excadrill's iron head which gives the occasional flinch and doesnt let M Venusaur use Synthesis and then Giga Drain(I have come across a number of situations where I am battling M Venu with my Excadrill and its the last battle).
Most recent replays :
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/ou-291645196
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/ou-291646442
Talonflame (F) @ Choice Band
Ability: Gale Wings
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Brave Bird
- U-turn
- Tailwind
- Flare Blitz
The priority user of my team. I use it to deal with all the fast but fragile Pokemon like Weavile, Alakazam, Mega lopunny and many more. It's uses are almost unlimited. With the band powering it up, it even does decent damage to some Pokemon that resist it.
Manaphy @ Leftovers
Ability: Hydration
EVs: 16 HP / 240 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Scald
- Tail Glow
- Rain Dance
- Energy Ball
This is the best answer for the stall teams. Rain Dance takes out any status condition that the opponent throws at it and with tail glow, it's mediocre special attack skyrockets allowing me to take out lots of Pokemon. The stalls kneel against Manaphy and the only problem that it faces are Gothitelle's Shadow Tag + Trick and Wobuffet at full health.
Excadrill (M) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Mold Breaker
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Rapid Spin
- Earthquake
- Iron Head
- Rock Slide
Excadrill is my much needed spinner. The reason for it having scarf is that I want the rocks removed at any cost. I have two Pokemon that take 50% from rocks and I can't have that. It's also my answer to annoying fairies like Clefable and Sylveon who can hardly do anything to it. With Mold Breaker, it can 2 OHKO Rotom-W, Latios and Latias. But, when I have a Pokemon who can easily defeat Excadrill late game but there are rocks set up too, then I have to sacrifice Excadrill and use Rapid Spin in order to ensure a safe entry for Charizard and Talonflame.
Thundurus @ Leftovers
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Thunderbolt
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Grass Knot
- Thunder Wave
With Prankster, I can paralyze a number of Pokemon that are faster and if the opponent doesnt have a Pokemon with Heal Bell/Aromatherapy, then paralysis cripples their team. Grass Knot is t take down Quagsire, against which most of team struggles. Thunberbolt does a huge amount of damage to anything that doesnt resist it. Hidden Power Ice takes out Garchomps, Landos and others which can cause Thundurus trouble.
Clefable (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Magic Guard
EVs: 252 HP / 172 Def / 84 SpD
Calm Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Moonblast
- Thunder Wave
- Soft-Boiled
Clefable is such an awesome Pokemon to have in your team. I can lead with it and set up rocks,, or paralyze a Pokemon with Thunderwave and then spam Moonblast. When its health is down, it only has to call for Soft Boiled. This is my ace that I throw right at the start and if the opponent isnt ready, it can paralyze half of their team and take out a couple in the process.
Charizard (M) @ Charizardite X
Ability: Blaze
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Dragon Claw
- Fire Punch
- Dragon Dance
- Earthquake
The undisputed star of the team, Mega Charizard X only needs one turn. If it gets a chance to use a Dragon Dance, it sweeps. It doesn't give the opponent a chance to recover after that. I mostly bring Charizard in mid game to get a Dragon Dance in. The only time I use it earlier is when there is Ferrothorn or a Scizor waiting for it. I switch it in as soon as a Ferrothorn appears and if my opponent doesnt have anything that can OHKO a boosted Charizard X. Simply one DD and it can sweep through teams. Dragon Claw, Fire Punch and Earthquake give it full coverage to hit every Pokemon for neutral if not super-effective damage.
But, even with its awesomeness, Charizard X has really big weaknesses, especially things like Talonflame. Because of no priority moves, a banded Talonflame can sometimes ko my Charizard X with 90% health.This one time, I had my Charizard X set up and was ready to sweep. He had around 65 % health. My opponent brought in his Talonflame and I was forced to switch out. And later, it turned out, that the Talon had leftovers and not band. I dont know if it was intentional or not but I lost that game just because Charizard can be OHKOd by Talon.
Mega Venusaur too can cause trouble if my Charizard and Talon have been taken down. The only answer to it is Excadrill's iron head which gives the occasional flinch and doesnt let M Venusaur use Synthesis and then Giga Drain(I have come across a number of situations where I am battling M Venu with my Excadrill and its the last battle).
Most recent replays :
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/ou-291645196
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/ou-291646442
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