Cressila Push
While browsing through one of the older smogs (Smog #1 in fact) I came across Astamatitos' Cresselia Push Team. It goes from the simple idea that few teams can counter a sweeper twice. Send them out the first time to lure the counters out, put some damage on them, and bring the sweeper out fresh by using Cresselia's signature move, Lunar Dance. While his team focused on DD Tyranitar and SD Lucario, mine focuses on clearing a way for Swords Dance Scizor and Dragon Dance Salamence. After that, I decided to add in another engine to help get the ball rolling. So without further ado, Cresselia Push!
Team at a Glance
Monet
Monet (Smeargle) @ Focus Sash
Trait: Own Tempo
EVs: 80 HP / 96 Def / 80 SDef
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Spore
- Shell Smash
- Baton Pass
- Magic Coat
Part one of my first offensive core. Yes I know what you are thinking. "Loki, Smeargle is a gimmick. It can't do anything offensively! Your starting the match 5-6!" Smash Pass may seem like a gimmick but it plays a very important role for my team. It helps to give Kryuem the necessary boost to occasionaly 6-0 a team that is unprepared to deal with a +2 Kryuem-B. Kryuem-B has enough power that it 2HKOs standard Ferrrothorn with Outrage. Spore is standard fare on anyone that can learn it as it can shut down multiple Pokemon as the sleeping Pokemon gets used as a sacrifice. I use Magic Coat over Taunt because 9/10 times (aka whenever I don't see Cloyser, Politoed, or Hippodown), I use Monet as a lead.It helps to deal with hazard setters that opponents often lead with to set up on it. The Sash is for extra protection since Monet has crap stats. At 1 HP he becomes my general use sacrifice. The EV spread is Smogon's idea for the most bulk.
Yin
Yin (Kyurem-Black) @ Life Orb
Trait: Teravolt
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spd
Adamant Nature
- Fusion Bolt
- Ice Beam
- Outrage
- Substitute
Part two. This orrigionaly was Haxorus but was switched due to Kryuem-B's larger bulk in order to take hits while at -1 defenses. It also doesn't have the Ice Shard weakness. Substitute is to help with this as well. Outrage, Ice Beam and Fusion Bolt wreck everything at +2 in Yin's path. Few can survive before his might. The purpose is to punch holes in everything to let the sweepers sweep. Scizor and Ferrothorn still give him trouble though. I'm debating on taking substitute out for HP Fire to deal with them on the switch. EVs are maximized for power. BTW if anyone has a better nickname, tell me.
Meteora
Meteora (Starmie) @ Life Orb
Trait: Natural Cure
EVs: 252 SAtk / 4 SDef / 252 Spd
Timid Nature
- Hydro Pump
- Ice Beam
- Thunderbolt
- Rapid Spin
Meteora is the other main option for the smash pass as well as my Rapid Spinner. Rapid spin is used to get the rocks away from Monet, Yin, and Salamence. Hydro Pump is for power. Meteora is also a good lead against Politoed with Perish Song and Hippodown. On the team, it works to break down the physical walls that stop my sweepers (mainly Skarmory). Offensive EVs are maximized.The one thing that I am debating on is Thunder over Thunderbolt due to the amount of rain teams that Meteora is supposed to help cover.
Aria
Aria (Cresselia) (F) @ Light Clay
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 148 Def / 108 SDef
Bold Nature
- Light Screen
- Reflect
- Lunar Dance
- Ice Beam
Aria is my defensive pivot. I've always been the fan of Dual Screens and this is what binds the team together. Meteora, Scizor, and Salamence all have decent bulk. Wait for either Scizor's or Salamence's counters to weaken, switch in Aria, set up screens and lunar dance for game. By bringing in Salamence or Scizor without status for a second time gives them a lightly countered sweep. Ice Beam is for dragons and grounds that try to set up on Aria. EVs focus on special bulk while maintaining good overall bulk.
Santa
Santa (Scizor) @ Life Orb
Trait: Technician
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
-Swords Dance
-Bullet Punch
-Bug Bite
-Superpower
Santa is one of my all time favorites. He plays the role of sweeper and revenge killer exceptionally well. Originally I went with the Bulky Swords Dance version but I disliked the power drop and the ability to hit counters hard early game. This guy is a menace coming back from the dead as he loses any burns he may have picked up. Santa takes care of the Ice types that plague Salamence. The two have great synergy as Santa is able to absorb (some) Dragon Type attacks. He has no problem sweeping a weakened team.
Macbeth
Macbeth (Salamence) @ Choice Scarf
Trait: Moxie
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpA / 252
Naive Nature
-Dragon Claw
-Outrage
-Earthquake
-Fire Blast
Also a target for Smash Pass, albeit unlikely except when they are packing Scizor. If I manage to get screens up and Smeargle out for a second time, I usually go to this guy. Macbeth helps with the mid-game sweeps. The double dragons in Yin and Macbeth helps break down steels. Bringing Macbeth is from the dead is game ending. Choice Scarf helps to get the first moxie boost. With a scarf, all of my main offensive pokemon have the ability to revenge kill. EVs maximize sweeping potential. Lum Berry might be an option to help him absorb status but with Luna Dance he can already do that.
And that's the team. Any help on the team is appreciated. My major problem right now is Ferrothorn. It can switch in on most of my team and I'm left with my dragons to power through it. I would also like to add in a Hail user to help combat rain teams.
Exportable
While browsing through one of the older smogs (Smog #1 in fact) I came across Astamatitos' Cresselia Push Team. It goes from the simple idea that few teams can counter a sweeper twice. Send them out the first time to lure the counters out, put some damage on them, and bring the sweeper out fresh by using Cresselia's signature move, Lunar Dance. While his team focused on DD Tyranitar and SD Lucario, mine focuses on clearing a way for Swords Dance Scizor and Dragon Dance Salamence. After that, I decided to add in another engine to help get the ball rolling. So without further ado, Cresselia Push!
Team at a Glance
Monet
Monet (Smeargle) @ Focus Sash
Trait: Own Tempo
EVs: 80 HP / 96 Def / 80 SDef
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Spore
- Shell Smash
- Baton Pass
- Magic Coat
Part one of my first offensive core. Yes I know what you are thinking. "Loki, Smeargle is a gimmick. It can't do anything offensively! Your starting the match 5-6!" Smash Pass may seem like a gimmick but it plays a very important role for my team. It helps to give Kryuem the necessary boost to occasionaly 6-0 a team that is unprepared to deal with a +2 Kryuem-B. Kryuem-B has enough power that it 2HKOs standard Ferrrothorn with Outrage. Spore is standard fare on anyone that can learn it as it can shut down multiple Pokemon as the sleeping Pokemon gets used as a sacrifice. I use Magic Coat over Taunt because 9/10 times (aka whenever I don't see Cloyser, Politoed, or Hippodown), I use Monet as a lead.It helps to deal with hazard setters that opponents often lead with to set up on it. The Sash is for extra protection since Monet has crap stats. At 1 HP he becomes my general use sacrifice. The EV spread is Smogon's idea for the most bulk.
Yin
Yin (Kyurem-Black) @ Life Orb
Trait: Teravolt
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spd
Adamant Nature
- Fusion Bolt
- Ice Beam
- Outrage
- Substitute
Part two. This orrigionaly was Haxorus but was switched due to Kryuem-B's larger bulk in order to take hits while at -1 defenses. It also doesn't have the Ice Shard weakness. Substitute is to help with this as well. Outrage, Ice Beam and Fusion Bolt wreck everything at +2 in Yin's path. Few can survive before his might. The purpose is to punch holes in everything to let the sweepers sweep. Scizor and Ferrothorn still give him trouble though. I'm debating on taking substitute out for HP Fire to deal with them on the switch. EVs are maximized for power. BTW if anyone has a better nickname, tell me.
Meteora
Meteora (Starmie) @ Life Orb
Trait: Natural Cure
EVs: 252 SAtk / 4 SDef / 252 Spd
Timid Nature
- Hydro Pump
- Ice Beam
- Thunderbolt
- Rapid Spin
Meteora is the other main option for the smash pass as well as my Rapid Spinner. Rapid spin is used to get the rocks away from Monet, Yin, and Salamence. Hydro Pump is for power. Meteora is also a good lead against Politoed with Perish Song and Hippodown. On the team, it works to break down the physical walls that stop my sweepers (mainly Skarmory). Offensive EVs are maximized.The one thing that I am debating on is Thunder over Thunderbolt due to the amount of rain teams that Meteora is supposed to help cover.
Aria
Aria (Cresselia) (F) @ Light Clay
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 148 Def / 108 SDef
Bold Nature
- Light Screen
- Reflect
- Lunar Dance
- Ice Beam
Aria is my defensive pivot. I've always been the fan of Dual Screens and this is what binds the team together. Meteora, Scizor, and Salamence all have decent bulk. Wait for either Scizor's or Salamence's counters to weaken, switch in Aria, set up screens and lunar dance for game. By bringing in Salamence or Scizor without status for a second time gives them a lightly countered sweep. Ice Beam is for dragons and grounds that try to set up on Aria. EVs focus on special bulk while maintaining good overall bulk.
Santa
Santa (Scizor) @ Life Orb
Trait: Technician
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
-Swords Dance
-Bullet Punch
-Bug Bite
-Superpower
Santa is one of my all time favorites. He plays the role of sweeper and revenge killer exceptionally well. Originally I went with the Bulky Swords Dance version but I disliked the power drop and the ability to hit counters hard early game. This guy is a menace coming back from the dead as he loses any burns he may have picked up. Santa takes care of the Ice types that plague Salamence. The two have great synergy as Santa is able to absorb (some) Dragon Type attacks. He has no problem sweeping a weakened team.
Macbeth
Macbeth (Salamence) @ Choice Scarf
Trait: Moxie
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpA / 252
Naive Nature
-Dragon Claw
-Outrage
-Earthquake
-Fire Blast
Also a target for Smash Pass, albeit unlikely except when they are packing Scizor. If I manage to get screens up and Smeargle out for a second time, I usually go to this guy. Macbeth helps with the mid-game sweeps. The double dragons in Yin and Macbeth helps break down steels. Bringing Macbeth is from the dead is game ending. Choice Scarf helps to get the first moxie boost. With a scarf, all of my main offensive pokemon have the ability to revenge kill. EVs maximize sweeping potential. Lum Berry might be an option to help him absorb status but with Luna Dance he can already do that.
And that's the team. Any help on the team is appreciated. My major problem right now is Ferrothorn. It can switch in on most of my team and I'm left with my dragons to power through it. I would also like to add in a Hail user to help combat rain teams.
Exportable
Monet (Smeargle) @ Focus Sash
Trait: Own Tempo
EVs: 80 HP / 96 Def / 80 SDef
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Spore
- Shell Smash
- Baton Pass
- Magic Coat
Yin (Kyurem-Black) @ Life Orb
Trait: Teravolt
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SAtk / 252 Spd
Adamant Nature
- Fusion Bolt
- Ice Beam
- Outrage
- Substitute
Meteora (Starmie) @ Life Orb
Trait: Natural Cure
EVs: 252 SAtk / 4 SDef / 252 Spd
Timid Nature
- Hydro Pump
- Ice Beam
- Thunderbolt
- Rapid Spin
Aria (Cresselia) (F) @ Light Clay
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 148 Def / 108 SDef
Calm Nature
- Light Screen
- Reflect
- Lunar Dance
- Ice Beam
Macbeth (Salamence) @ Choice Scarf
Trait: Moxie
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SAtk / 252 Spd
Naive Nature
- Outrage
- Earthquake
- Dragon Claw
- Fire Blast
Santa (Scizor) @ Life Orb
Trait: Technician
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
-Swords Dance
-Bullet Punch
-Bug Bite
-Superpower
Trait: Own Tempo
EVs: 80 HP / 96 Def / 80 SDef
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Spore
- Shell Smash
- Baton Pass
- Magic Coat
Yin (Kyurem-Black) @ Life Orb
Trait: Teravolt
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SAtk / 252 Spd
Adamant Nature
- Fusion Bolt
- Ice Beam
- Outrage
- Substitute
Meteora (Starmie) @ Life Orb
Trait: Natural Cure
EVs: 252 SAtk / 4 SDef / 252 Spd
Timid Nature
- Hydro Pump
- Ice Beam
- Thunderbolt
- Rapid Spin
Aria (Cresselia) (F) @ Light Clay
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 148 Def / 108 SDef
Calm Nature
- Light Screen
- Reflect
- Lunar Dance
- Ice Beam
Macbeth (Salamence) @ Choice Scarf
Trait: Moxie
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SAtk / 252 Spd
Naive Nature
- Outrage
- Earthquake
- Dragon Claw
- Fire Blast
Santa (Scizor) @ Life Orb
Trait: Technician
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
-Swords Dance
-Bullet Punch
-Bug Bite
-Superpower
