Introduction / Background / All the Good Stuff:
Hi all, DC here, bringing you another LC build. The last time I did a suspect test, I went 22-1 and forgot about it (thanks to a real-life heat wave). That was way back in August of 2020. This time, I actually completed my reqs and this was the team I used for the latter part of it in mid-high elo. I am happy to share the team and hope that other people might find a bit of inspiration in this.
The team was actually built back in December when LCWC was still happening, utilizing some cool sets and trends that I saw in the tournament. The main purpose of the team was to build a team that didn't utilize Vullaby as a challenge for myself. After going on a month hiatus, I came back just in time for the new metagame after the tour and this Vullaby suspect. During the course of re-learning the meta and playing thru the suspect, I have made some adjustments to the team to help it remain relevant and up-to-date. Without a further ado, lets get to the actual team.
Teambuilding Process:
The main Pokemon that I wanted to build around was Porygon. As probably the biggest Porygon enthusiast in LC, I think Porygon is quite frankly difficult to manage for the opponent, since a timely freeze can swing a game in your favor by a lot. Magnemite was the other focus of the team: a Pokemon that had favorable matchups against Screens and Web HO teams that were still prevalent in LC.
Building in LC is like crossing items off a grocery list.
Koffing: Fighting resist, Grookey check, Way to pressure Ferroseed + Spritzee
Mienfoo: Onix check, Knock support and absorber, Pivot support, Taunt user / Fake Out
No team is complete without the supporting cast!
Onix: Stealth Rock user, Vullaby check, Electric-immunity, Knock absorber, Boom user
Staryu: Fire and Water resist(lul), Entry hazard control, Offensive threat
The Actual Team
Le Duck (Porygon) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Download
Level: 5
EVs: 36 Def / 236 SpA / 196 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Tri Attack
- Ice Beam
- Psychic / Thunderbolt
- Trick
The star of the team and the savior of LC. Download Porygon is incredibly difficult to switch into since it can consistenly get a +1 Special Attack boost on many targets. However, its poor Speed, prior to Agility, makes it hard for it to attack without being greatly chipped in return. This is where the Choice Scarf comes in, helping remedy that mediocre Speed and making Porygon a fearsome offensive threat. Tri Attack basically nukes a majority of the Pokemon in LC and the few consistent switch-ins to it like Ferroseed and Pawniard do not like being statused. Ice Beam is actually the move that I used the most because it lets u hit Ferroseed, Onix, Vullaby, Grookey, and the fighters in one slot, which is extremely valuable. Plus, a timely freeze on Pawniard and Ferroseed means that the opponent no longer has a Porygon check. The third coverage is flexible and can be catered to what you need. Psychic is nice for bopping Foongus, Mareanie, and the Fighters, but its inconsistent if your opponent has a Dark-type remaining. Thunderbolt is nice for hitting Pawniard and opposing Water-types like Staryu and Mareanie and still hitting Vullaby. Trick is a nice way to cripple the foe, but you generally dont use it unless you have been Knocked off.
Magnet (Magnemite) @ Berry Juice
Ability: Sturdy
Level: 5
EVs: 36 Def / 236 SpA / 236 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Volt Switch
- Thunderbolt
- Flash Cannon
- Steel Beam
Sturdyjuice Magnemite is the second member of the team. I believe that Magnemite has a lot of value in the current metagame, helping pressure cores like Mareanie-Onix that are becoming popular again. With proper entry hazard control, Sturdyjuice gives you a way to softcheck many threats such as Abra, Tyrunt, and opposing Porygon. The move set is relatively simple; Volt Switch allows Magnemite to be an effective, dual STAB options in Thunderbolt and Flash Cannon. Steel Beam might be a surprise for some, since Sturdyjuice usually likes to run Recycle in the fourth slot. I think Recycle is often too slow for many games because you are giving the opponent free momentum by using Recycle. Steel Beam allows you to nuke a Pokemon, usually a troublesome foe like Foongus or Scraggy.
Smog (Koffing) @ Eviolite
Ability: Neutralizing Gas
Level: 5
EVs: 36 HP / 196 SpA / 236 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Sludge Bomb
- Fire Blast
- Thunderbolt
- Will-O-Wisp
Koffing is the third member of the team, helping handle Mienfoo and Timburr that greatly pressure Porygon and Magnemite. Furthermore, it is the team's best answer to Grookey and helps the team handle Ferroseed + Spritzee which allows Porygon to wreak havoc. Fire Blast helps Koffing pressure Pawniard, Ferroseed, and Foongus, while Thunderbolt is great for chipping down Water-types like Mareanie and Staryu and KOing Vullaby after Stealth Rock. Will-O-Wisp is nice for weakening lead Mienfoo and usual switch-ins like Pawniard.
Kungfu Kid (Mienfoo) @ Eviolite
Ability: Regenerator
Level: 5
EVs: 76 HP / 196 Def / 236 Spe
Jolly Nature
- High Jump Kick
- Knock Off
- U-turn
- Fake Out / Taunt
Mienfoo is the fourth member of the team and the glue that helps it function effectively. You usually went to lead with this Pokemon, since it rarely has a bad lead matchup and those matchups can be avoided via U-turn. Standard trio: High Jump Kick for STAB, Knock Off to remove item, and U-turn to pivot and bring in one of the team's hard hitters. The last move really has a large impact on the team. Fake Out is the move I usually went with since it helps in revenge killing many weakened threats and shores up this team's lack of priority. Taunt was something I considered later to help me win specific interactions. Having Taunt means that you are able to handle lead Ferroseed on screens teams, avoid getting burned by Will-O-Wisp, and most importantly, prevent Foongus from getting a free Spore off.
Snake (Onix) @ Eviolite
Ability: Weak Armor
Level: 5
EVs: 236 Atk / 76 SpD / 196 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Rock Blast
- High Horsepower
- Explosion
The Rock Snake is the fifth member of the team. As you can see by now, I have no Vullaby check in a tier where Vullaby is S tier. There are two decent checks to it in the tier and I chose Onix over Pawniard, since I already had a Steel-type. With Weak Armor, it is able to provide the team with a form of Speed control, since the team is moderately slow and lacks a Choice Scarf user. Onix is the Stealth Rock user for the team and provides decent offensive pressure with Rock Blast and High Horsepower. Explosion is nice for chunking Trapinch, Foongus, and opposing Porygon while preventing Scraggy from setting up.
Star (Staryu) @ Eviolite
Ability: Analytic
Level: 5
EVs: 156 Def / 116 SpA / 236 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Hydro Pump
- Ice Beam
- Rapid Spin
- Thunderbolt / Recover
Staryu is the last member of the team, providing a good offensive presence and a check for Water-types. Hydro Pump is used over Scald because of its high power and to give you the chance to complain when you miss it. Ice Beam hits Grass-types that like to switch into Staryu like Grookey, Ferroseed, and Foongus (its a 2HKO with Analytic) and gives you an accurate move to hit Onix and Vullaby. Rapid Spin is necessary to have proper entry hazard control which keeps your other Pokemon healthy. Thunderbolt is the preferred fourth move since it lets you pressure opposing Water-types, which is needed for a team that is reasonably weak to opposing Water-types. I originally ran Recover since it keeps Staryu healthy to help it serve as a soft check to Vullaby, Onix, and Mienfoo.
Threat List:
Water-types: Offensive Water-types are a pain to handle for this team since it is reliant on Staryu being a Water-resist. Life Orb Staryu pretty much claims a kill whenever it enters the field, while defensive sets generally spread paralysis and burns that annoy the team. Although rarer, Chinchou was a big problem for the team since it nullified both Staryu and Magnemite while pressuring the whole team with Volt Switch. Best way to handle these threats is to consistently get Porygon into play since they dont want to be taking +1 Tri Attack repeatedly.
Koffing: The team does not switch well into Koffing if the opponent predicts correctly. Onix hates being burned, Magnemite does not take Fire Blast well, and Staryu dislikes Thunderbolt. The best way to handle it is to get a Taunt off early. Pretty much everyone on the team outspeeds it, so you can offensively pressure it well enough.
Scraggy: Do not let Scraggy set up or else it is gg when it does. You have both Steel Beam and Explosion from faster Pokemon to counteract that + Sturdyjuice for a soft check.
Pokepaste:
https://pokepast.es/fb66a4d92eb9056f
This is the version that I mostly used.
Acknowledgements:
Doggo Crew, Scrubs, WAP WAP WAP, LC Discord, Team 2018
It was fun to build without Vullaby, even if it was only one team. Thank you for reading this RMT and feel free to leave any suggestions!
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