The Team
The Strategy
Let me say how I usually go about dealing with a match. It may, of course, change depending on the opponent's choice of Pokémon (For instance, if the opponent had a Dugtrio, I probably wouldn't start out with Cobalion). But this would be the way I would be playing the match most of the time. The basic strategy is to 'Stack, Stall & Sweep' i.e. to stack up multiple Entry Hazards, Stall with Taunt + Spin Blocking + Toxic and then Sweep. The three Taunts is very essential to this strategy, as Defog is rampant in all tiers of Gen-VI. If you fail to prevent a Defog or Rapid Spin, you have more or less lost half of your chance to win.
I Am Rock
Cobalion @
Leftovers
Ability: Justified
EVs: 252 Spd / 4 Atk / 252 SDef
Jolly Nature
Stealth Rock
Taunt
Toxic/Thunder Wave
Iron Head
Cobalion is the quickest Taunter in RU as of now (There are some quicker Taunters, but they are unviable in one way or the other). That alone gives it a huge niche it the metagame. It can easily set up Stealth Rock while avoiding Taunt, Burn, Defog, Hazards or the more dangerous Trick Room. I've gone all-in with EVs because almost no Physical Attackers face Cobalion. All the time, they either switch into a Special Attacker or a Pivot. That's a very good space to use Toxic or Thunder Wave. Toxic is better. But with Thunder Wave, you can opt for ParaFlinch gimmicks in conjunction with Iron Head. It can also provide Taunt late-game or shut down Fairies or generally take down weakened foes.
Cold-hearted
Froslass (F) @
Focus Sash
Ability: Cursed Body
EVs: 252 Spd / 252 HP / 4 SAtk
Timid Nature
Spikes
Taunt
Destiny Bond
Ice Beam
When Cobalion has done its deed, Froslass comes in safely. Froslass was BL during the last few months of BW. That goes to show just how powerful it really is. Although it has dropped in usage due to Defog and Dark types, it has dropped into a tier where it can truly shine. The mind games playable with Taunt and Destiny Bond is complemented by setting up layers of Spikes. It is still a Spinblocker and with Taunt, it can avoid Defog as well. Usual switches into Froslass are Slowking or Steel types, all of them slower and vulnerable to Destiny Bond.
Death From Above
Golbat (M) @
Eviolite
Ability: Infiltrator
EVs: 96 SDef / 252 HP / 160 Def
Impish Nature
Toxic
Taunt
Roost
Super Fang
Froslass almost always dies, most of the time taking a foe down with it. Golbat is the crucial part of my tactic. By the time I switch in Golbat, the opponent probably took some passive damage from the stacked-up Hazards. Golbat's job is to Toxic Stall the opponent and chances are, you will be able to do it successfully (The EVs are to take all non-effective moves and many super-effective moves and still be able to Roost Off the damage) and the opponent will switch to avoid a faint. Now, this is where it all falls into place. The opponent will most probably switch into a Wish-passer, a Defogger or a Wall. You have to be keen here and predict the switch and Toxic the second Pokémon. They will attempt to use Wish or Heal Bell, of course, and that's when you'll use Taunt (Taunt is important in this step; even if you're at low HP, prefer Taunt to Roost). Super Fang in this place is also extremely annoying, but if it's an Aromatisse, you can only hope to Toxic it and switch into something else. Defog can also be avoid by Taunt. If you complete this successfully, you will feel the immense pressure weighing down on the opponent.
KO Duo
Yanmega (M) @
Life Orb
Ability: Speed Boost
EVs: 144 Spd / 252 SAtk / 112 HP
Modest Nature
Substitute
Bug Buzz
Air Slash
Giga Drain
Delphox (F) @
Leftovers
Ability: Blaze
EVs: 252 Spd / 148 SAtk / 108 HP
Timid Nature
Substitute
Calm Mind
Flamethrower
Psychic/Psyshock
This is where the strategy shifts from being Passive to Offensive. The switch-in depends on the opponent's remaining Pokémon, their moves and the damage they've taken overall. The EVs in Yanmega are to outspeed Scarf Heliolisk (Fastest viable Scarfer) after +2 Speed. The bulk is to enable it to take non-STAB Priorities (If it is at ~80%, it can even take non-boosted STAB Sucker Punch) I prefer Substitute to Protect because Yanmega can only 2OHKO certain things even after Passive damage, while also avoiding Toxic and Spore.
Delphox is a nuisance with its SubCM set. If the opponent is not prudent and lets you set up a +2 behind a Sub, you can punch holes into his/her already weak team. The choice between Psychic and Psychock should be carefully considered, as there are so many Defensively-oriented Water types in RU (Slowking is the biggest counter to all variants of Delphox). Then again, there are also several Special Walls. Psyshock is also nice when you're up against another SubCM Delphox.
Shocked!
Heliolisk (M) @
Choice Scarf
Ability: Dry Skin
EVs: 252 Spd / 252 SAtk / 4 HP
Timid Nature
Volt Switch
Thunderbolt
Focus Blast
Surf
Heliolisk is the backup plan. It's main duty is to revenge kill and finish off weakened Pokémon late-game. It also serves one more important niche in maintaining momentum to let Yanmega or Delphox sweep. Its ability is also hugely appreciated in a tier with a lot of Scald users. You can switch in on a lot of Water types, forcing them to switch out and take further Hazards damage, while you Volt-Switch out into letting your Sweepers take control.
Team Merits
1. Peaked at #24 in RU (Beta) Ladder. I'm not being proud, but I lost like a dozen matches to my bad internet connection. If I had won at least half of them, I would have been able to get into the Top 10 and possibly have had a crack at the top spot. In fact, at the peak I was able to face the #4 Player (Deej Dy) and successfully beat him. Unfortunately, Replays were down then and I wasn't able to get a link. So you're going to have to take my word for it.
2. Won a Mini-Tourney conducted in the PS RU Room (16 Competitors, I think).
3. Beat Lyto (PS RU Room Owner) and Kushalos (PS RU and UU Room Moderator).
Replays
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/rubeta-123790234 (Mini-Tourney Finals)
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/uu-124429230 (RU Beats UU)
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/uu-124487227 (Just so you think I didn't win by that hax, RU Beats UU again)
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/rubeta-124095071 (Beating Lyto, one of the Room Owners of PS RU Room)
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/rubeta-124096761 (Beating Kushalos, Moderator in both RU and UU PS Rooms and a prominent figure in PS Competitive Battles)
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/rubeta-124084268 (SR + 3 Spikes and Volt Switch; perfect example of what this Team can do)
Importable Text
Here is an Importable Text of my team:
I have indeed lost to a lot of teams, but to Aroma Veil/Oblivious because this strategy depends a lot on Taunt. Dugtrio is another huge problem, being able to set up Stealth Rock and also trap and kill Cobalion or Delphox, while also having Sucker Punch to dent Froslass or Delphox. I also lost to random strategies like Mental Herb Shuckle and Confuse Ray Spiritomb. So please Rate My Team and let me know how my strategy can be made better. Thank you in advance for your suggestions.
The Strategy
Let me say how I usually go about dealing with a match. It may, of course, change depending on the opponent's choice of Pokémon (For instance, if the opponent had a Dugtrio, I probably wouldn't start out with Cobalion). But this would be the way I would be playing the match most of the time. The basic strategy is to 'Stack, Stall & Sweep' i.e. to stack up multiple Entry Hazards, Stall with Taunt + Spin Blocking + Toxic and then Sweep. The three Taunts is very essential to this strategy, as Defog is rampant in all tiers of Gen-VI. If you fail to prevent a Defog or Rapid Spin, you have more or less lost half of your chance to win.
I Am Rock
Cobalion @
Ability: Justified
EVs: 252 Spd / 4 Atk / 252 SDef
Jolly Nature
Cobalion is the quickest Taunter in RU as of now (There are some quicker Taunters, but they are unviable in one way or the other). That alone gives it a huge niche it the metagame. It can easily set up Stealth Rock while avoiding Taunt, Burn, Defog, Hazards or the more dangerous Trick Room. I've gone all-in with EVs because almost no Physical Attackers face Cobalion. All the time, they either switch into a Special Attacker or a Pivot. That's a very good space to use Toxic or Thunder Wave. Toxic is better. But with Thunder Wave, you can opt for ParaFlinch gimmicks in conjunction with Iron Head. It can also provide Taunt late-game or shut down Fairies or generally take down weakened foes.
Cold-hearted
Froslass (F) @
Ability: Cursed Body
EVs: 252 Spd / 252 HP / 4 SAtk
Timid Nature
When Cobalion has done its deed, Froslass comes in safely. Froslass was BL during the last few months of BW. That goes to show just how powerful it really is. Although it has dropped in usage due to Defog and Dark types, it has dropped into a tier where it can truly shine. The mind games playable with Taunt and Destiny Bond is complemented by setting up layers of Spikes. It is still a Spinblocker and with Taunt, it can avoid Defog as well. Usual switches into Froslass are Slowking or Steel types, all of them slower and vulnerable to Destiny Bond.
Death From Above
Golbat (M) @
Ability: Infiltrator
EVs: 96 SDef / 252 HP / 160 Def
Impish Nature
Froslass almost always dies, most of the time taking a foe down with it. Golbat is the crucial part of my tactic. By the time I switch in Golbat, the opponent probably took some passive damage from the stacked-up Hazards. Golbat's job is to Toxic Stall the opponent and chances are, you will be able to do it successfully (The EVs are to take all non-effective moves and many super-effective moves and still be able to Roost Off the damage) and the opponent will switch to avoid a faint. Now, this is where it all falls into place. The opponent will most probably switch into a Wish-passer, a Defogger or a Wall. You have to be keen here and predict the switch and Toxic the second Pokémon. They will attempt to use Wish or Heal Bell, of course, and that's when you'll use Taunt (Taunt is important in this step; even if you're at low HP, prefer Taunt to Roost). Super Fang in this place is also extremely annoying, but if it's an Aromatisse, you can only hope to Toxic it and switch into something else. Defog can also be avoid by Taunt. If you complete this successfully, you will feel the immense pressure weighing down on the opponent.
KO Duo
Yanmega (M) @
Ability: Speed Boost
EVs: 144 Spd / 252 SAtk / 112 HP
Modest Nature
Delphox (F) @
Ability: Blaze
EVs: 252 Spd / 148 SAtk / 108 HP
Timid Nature
This is where the strategy shifts from being Passive to Offensive. The switch-in depends on the opponent's remaining Pokémon, their moves and the damage they've taken overall. The EVs in Yanmega are to outspeed Scarf Heliolisk (Fastest viable Scarfer) after +2 Speed. The bulk is to enable it to take non-STAB Priorities (If it is at ~80%, it can even take non-boosted STAB Sucker Punch) I prefer Substitute to Protect because Yanmega can only 2OHKO certain things even after Passive damage, while also avoiding Toxic and Spore.
Delphox is a nuisance with its SubCM set. If the opponent is not prudent and lets you set up a +2 behind a Sub, you can punch holes into his/her already weak team. The choice between Psychic and Psychock should be carefully considered, as there are so many Defensively-oriented Water types in RU (Slowking is the biggest counter to all variants of Delphox). Then again, there are also several Special Walls. Psyshock is also nice when you're up against another SubCM Delphox.
Shocked!
Heliolisk (M) @
Ability: Dry Skin
EVs: 252 Spd / 252 SAtk / 4 HP
Timid Nature
Heliolisk is the backup plan. It's main duty is to revenge kill and finish off weakened Pokémon late-game. It also serves one more important niche in maintaining momentum to let Yanmega or Delphox sweep. Its ability is also hugely appreciated in a tier with a lot of Scald users. You can switch in on a lot of Water types, forcing them to switch out and take further Hazards damage, while you Volt-Switch out into letting your Sweepers take control.
Team Merits
1. Peaked at #24 in RU (Beta) Ladder. I'm not being proud, but I lost like a dozen matches to my bad internet connection. If I had won at least half of them, I would have been able to get into the Top 10 and possibly have had a crack at the top spot. In fact, at the peak I was able to face the #4 Player (Deej Dy) and successfully beat him. Unfortunately, Replays were down then and I wasn't able to get a link. So you're going to have to take my word for it.
2. Won a Mini-Tourney conducted in the PS RU Room (16 Competitors, I think).
3. Beat Lyto (PS RU Room Owner) and Kushalos (PS RU and UU Room Moderator).
Replays
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/rubeta-123790234 (Mini-Tourney Finals)
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/uu-124429230 (RU Beats UU)
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/uu-124487227 (Just so you think I didn't win by that hax, RU Beats UU again)
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/rubeta-124095071 (Beating Lyto, one of the Room Owners of PS RU Room)
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/rubeta-124096761 (Beating Kushalos, Moderator in both RU and UU PS Rooms and a prominent figure in PS Competitive Battles)
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/rubeta-124084268 (SR + 3 Spikes and Volt Switch; perfect example of what this Team can do)
Importable Text
Here is an Importable Text of my team:
Cobalion @ Leftovers
Ability: Justified
EVs: 252 Spd / 4 Atk / 252 SDef
Jolly Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Taunt
- Toxic
- Iron Head
Froslass (F) @ Focus Sash
Ability: Cursed Body
EVs: 252 Spd / 252 HP / 4 SAtk
Timid Nature
- Spikes
- Taunt
- Destiny Bond
- Ice Beam
Golbat (M) @ Eviolite
Ability: Infiltrator
EVs: 96 SDef / 252 HP / 160 Def
Impish Nature
- Toxic
- Taunt
- Roost
- Super Fang
Yanmega (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Speed Boost
EVs: 144 Spd / 252 SAtk / 112 HP
Modest Nature
- Substitute
- Bug Buzz
- Air Slash
- Giga Drain
Delphox (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Blaze
EVs: 252 Spd / 148 SAtk / 108 HP
Timid Nature
- Substitute
- Calm Mind
- Flamethrower
- Psyshock
Heliolisk (M) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Dry Skin
EVs: 252 Spd / 252 SAtk / 4 HP
Timid Nature
- Volt Switch
- Thunderbolt
- Focus Blast
- Surf
Ability: Justified
EVs: 252 Spd / 4 Atk / 252 SDef
Jolly Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Taunt
- Toxic
- Iron Head
Froslass (F) @ Focus Sash
Ability: Cursed Body
EVs: 252 Spd / 252 HP / 4 SAtk
Timid Nature
- Spikes
- Taunt
- Destiny Bond
- Ice Beam
Golbat (M) @ Eviolite
Ability: Infiltrator
EVs: 96 SDef / 252 HP / 160 Def
Impish Nature
- Toxic
- Taunt
- Roost
- Super Fang
Yanmega (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Speed Boost
EVs: 144 Spd / 252 SAtk / 112 HP
Modest Nature
- Substitute
- Bug Buzz
- Air Slash
- Giga Drain
Delphox (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Blaze
EVs: 252 Spd / 148 SAtk / 108 HP
Timid Nature
- Substitute
- Calm Mind
- Flamethrower
- Psyshock
Heliolisk (M) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Dry Skin
EVs: 252 Spd / 252 SAtk / 4 HP
Timid Nature
- Volt Switch
- Thunderbolt
- Focus Blast
- Surf
I have indeed lost to a lot of teams, but to Aroma Veil/Oblivious because this strategy depends a lot on Taunt. Dugtrio is another huge problem, being able to set up Stealth Rock and also trap and kill Cobalion or Delphox, while also having Sucker Punch to dent Froslass or Delphox. I also lost to random strategies like Mental Herb Shuckle and Confuse Ray Spiritomb. So please Rate My Team and let me know how my strategy can be made better. Thank you in advance for your suggestions.
- Replaced Yanmega with Physical Sceptile because there are too many Special Walls in RU. I use Lum Berry to capitalize on Unburden.
- Replaced Heliolisk with Exploud for the Suspect Test Ladder. Just want to see how useful it is. So far, so good.
Last edited:
