Welcome to my first AG RMT! I won't waste much time on introductions, and I'll jump right into teambuilding!
Teambuilding
So I made this team quite some time ago, so I might not be able to say too much here, but I'll do what I can.
I started this team by deciding to add one of the most potent and splashable Pokemon in the metagame: Darkrai. Darkrai seemed like a logical choice for a Pokemon to build around, as it can quite easily clean up enemy teams when quite a few key threats have been removed.
Next I thought it would be good to add a Pokemon that could just use brute force to break through Pokemon that Darkrai might struggle with, and this being AG that of course meant Mega Rayquaza. I decided to run an Adamant Life Orb set just to maximize its destructive power.
My next idea would be to add Thundurus in order to shut down Pokemon like Klefki and Baton Pass mons, which is what Thundurus excels at in AG, and Thundurus would also hit certain bulky Pokemon like Yveltal which Darkrai and Mega Ray struggle with.
In an extremely original twist, I added and Ekiller Arceus to my team. I barely even have to justify using Arceus on an AG team, but I felt it best to use this particular set to get a physical attacker with more longevity than LO Mega Ray, and Arceus seemed like the perfect Pokemon to do this.
Finally, I added Lugia and Ferrothorn to my team to give it more of a defensive backbone. Lugia takes on physical attackers and set-up sweepers like Groudon and Rayquaza, whereas Ferrothorn can take on more Special Pokemon like Kyogre, and Iron Barbs/Rocky Helmet allows it to punish moves like ExtremeSpeed and Fake Out hard. The Lugia was a Giratina-A at first, but I ultimately found that Lugia's not-weakness to Xerneas' STAB was a lot more useful.
The Main Team
Darkrai @ Leftovers
Ability: Bad Dreams
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Dark Void
- Dark Pulse
- Substitute
- Focus Blast
So, as stated earlier, Darkrai is what I started this team with, and this set does what many other Darkrai do. Max Speed investment allow Darkrai to fire off a Dark Void before many other Pokemon in tier can even get an attack off, and then the aim is to buy enough time in Sleep Turns to get safely behind a Substitute and start chipping away at the opponent with Dark Pulse and Bad Dreams. I use Focus Blast to do important damage to Arceus-Normal and -Steel. I chose to run Substitute over other sets such as Nasty Plot because I feel that it minimizes the amount of luck Darkrai needs to clean up the opposing teams, as when the opponent wakes up you can take a hit without losing a massive amount of health. Darkrai supports the rest of the team by removing many threatening offensive and defensive Pokemon like Yveltal, Primal Groudon and Lugia.
Rayquaza-Mega @ Life Orb
Ability: Air Lock
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Extreme Speed
- Earthquake
- Dragon Claw
- Dragon Ascent
The flagship Pokemon of Anything Goes, Mega Rayquaza needs no introduction. This set does what I believe it does best, punching huge holes in the enemy team with high power moves. I chose to use Dragon Claw over another coverage move as it allows Mega Rayquaza to still hit the opponent harder without having to lower its defences, which is useful for when you need Rayquaza to face a few Pokemon in a row and you need to minimize the damage you take, something already made hard by Life Orb. Extreme Speed is also there to do act as a kind of check for a Xerneas that has managed to get of a Geomancy, doing enough damage to either KO it from where it is or allowing Arceus to do so. In theory you would think Adamant would disadvantage Rayquaza against other Mega Rays, but I've never had much of that problem and the extra power is definitely appreciated.
Thundurus @ Leftovers
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk / 30 SpA / 30 SpD
- Taunt
- Thunderbolt
- Thunder Wave
- Hidden Power [Ground]
I feel that Thundurus is a somewhat under-appreciated Pokemon in the AG meta, as it has definite utility in Taunting Klefki, Deoxys-A/S, paralysing Pokemon like Xerneas despite their speed boost, hitting bulky Flying-types like Lugia and Yveltal hard with Tbolt and shutting down Baton Pass completely with just a bit of simple prediction. One unique thing about this Thundurus is that I decided to run HP Ground over the more standard HP Ice in order to hit Primal Groudon on the switch, which usually does between 30 and 40%, depending on the set, which may not sound like a lot but this team very much appreciates the damage on Pdon.
Arceus @ Lum Berry
Ability: Multitype
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- Extreme Speed
- Earthquake
- Shadow Claw
Arceus is here as an alternate way to clean the opponent's team if Darkrai fails, and a way to punch holes if Rayquaza isn't up for the job. Jolly Nature and Lum Berry allow Arceus to speed tie the many other Arceus that you encounter on ladder, and Lum Berry allows it to take a Dark Void / Will-O-Wisp / Swagger while it sets up a Swords Dance or attacks. Arceus is the team's main way to taking care of opposing Arceus and to deal damage to opposing faster threats. Honestly, I don't really know what else to put here. EKiller Arceus is just one of the most effective sets in the tier.
Lugia @ Leftovers
Ability: Multiscale
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
- Roost
- Whirlwind
- Toxic
- Ice Beam
Lugia adds some well needed bulk to the team, as between Multiscale and Roost it is incredibly hard to take down even with Pokemon like Arceus and Mega Ray running around. Whirlwind allows Lugia to shut down threatening set up sweepers like Arceus and Evasion spammers, which the teams somewhat struggles with otherwise and to force out Pokemon that Lugia dislikes facing. Ice Beam prevents Lugia from becoming total set-up bait for Thundurus and Yveltal, and allows it to do serious damage to to Mega Rayquazas who use Dragon Ascent repeatedly against you.
Ferrothorn @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Iron Barbs
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Atk / 200 Def / 52 SpD
Relaxed Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Leech Seed
- Protect
- Stealth Rock
- Gyro Ball
This last addition gives a the team an extra check to many of AG's most threatening Pokemon, as it hits Xerneas and Mega Diancie for huge damage with Gyro Ball and Rocky Helmet and Iron Barbs punished Extreme Speeds on the switches from Pokemon hoping to get in a quick Revenge Kill. Stealth Rock is the team's only form of hazards, and it does appreciated chip damage to Yveltal, Groudon and Rayquaza. Leech Seed and Protect allow Ferrothorn to recover HP with a few well played predicitions.
Threats:
There are a few Pokemon that can threaten this team, which are:
Despite the team having a few ways to check Pdon, especially in Darkrai and Rayquaza, the team still struggles to switch into offensive variants, and the lack of hazard control means that the team hates letting it get up a free layer of Stealth Rocks.
Bulky Yveltal sets can deal huge damage to Arceus and Mega Rayquaza with Foul Play and Rocky Helmet while taking little in return, and Taunt can shut down Ferrothorn and Lugia. Still, Darkrai can try and take it on and defeat it with a little luck and Thundurus can turn the tides on it with Taunt and Thunderbolt.
The team stuggles against Arceus spam, as once Ferrothorn and my Arceus begin to get worn down, the team struggles more and more greatly against opposing Arceus. Definitely a very great threat with just a few misplays.
Mega Gengar is hard for the team to deal with as although it goes down easily to EQs and Dark Pulses, it outspeeds the entire team, is immune to Extreme Speed and can deal massive damage with Sludge Wave.
The team's main problem with Mega Sableye is a lack of a way to hit it hard that doesn't fear a Will-O-Wisp
Between Regenerator, Spore, Poison-typing and high bulk, this thing is a pain to deal with, as it is generally smart enough to start a mile away from Rayquaza's Dragon Ascent.
Here's an importable version of the the team:
As for how this team's faired on ladder, it managed to get into the top 50 (approx. 1790 ELO) yesterday, but seeing how every other RMT on here from AG starts with 'Peaked #1 on ladder', perhaps that isn't that notable (but I'm proud of it, dammit).
Anyway, I think/hope I've done this right, but this is my first RMT so if I messed something up, let me know.
I started this team by deciding to add one of the most potent and splashable Pokemon in the metagame: Darkrai. Darkrai seemed like a logical choice for a Pokemon to build around, as it can quite easily clean up enemy teams when quite a few key threats have been removed.
Next I thought it would be good to add a Pokemon that could just use brute force to break through Pokemon that Darkrai might struggle with, and this being AG that of course meant Mega Rayquaza. I decided to run an Adamant Life Orb set just to maximize its destructive power.
My next idea would be to add Thundurus in order to shut down Pokemon like Klefki and Baton Pass mons, which is what Thundurus excels at in AG, and Thundurus would also hit certain bulky Pokemon like Yveltal which Darkrai and Mega Ray struggle with.
In an extremely original twist, I added and Ekiller Arceus to my team. I barely even have to justify using Arceus on an AG team, but I felt it best to use this particular set to get a physical attacker with more longevity than LO Mega Ray, and Arceus seemed like the perfect Pokemon to do this.
Finally, I added Lugia and Ferrothorn to my team to give it more of a defensive backbone. Lugia takes on physical attackers and set-up sweepers like Groudon and Rayquaza, whereas Ferrothorn can take on more Special Pokemon like Kyogre, and Iron Barbs/Rocky Helmet allows it to punish moves like ExtremeSpeed and Fake Out hard. The Lugia was a Giratina-A at first, but I ultimately found that Lugia's not-weakness to Xerneas' STAB was a lot more useful.
The Main Team
Darkrai @ Leftovers
Ability: Bad Dreams
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Dark Void
- Dark Pulse
- Substitute
- Focus Blast
So, as stated earlier, Darkrai is what I started this team with, and this set does what many other Darkrai do. Max Speed investment allow Darkrai to fire off a Dark Void before many other Pokemon in tier can even get an attack off, and then the aim is to buy enough time in Sleep Turns to get safely behind a Substitute and start chipping away at the opponent with Dark Pulse and Bad Dreams. I use Focus Blast to do important damage to Arceus-Normal and -Steel. I chose to run Substitute over other sets such as Nasty Plot because I feel that it minimizes the amount of luck Darkrai needs to clean up the opposing teams, as when the opponent wakes up you can take a hit without losing a massive amount of health. Darkrai supports the rest of the team by removing many threatening offensive and defensive Pokemon like Yveltal, Primal Groudon and Lugia.
Rayquaza-Mega @ Life Orb
Ability: Air Lock
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Extreme Speed
- Earthquake
- Dragon Claw
- Dragon Ascent
The flagship Pokemon of Anything Goes, Mega Rayquaza needs no introduction. This set does what I believe it does best, punching huge holes in the enemy team with high power moves. I chose to use Dragon Claw over another coverage move as it allows Mega Rayquaza to still hit the opponent harder without having to lower its defences, which is useful for when you need Rayquaza to face a few Pokemon in a row and you need to minimize the damage you take, something already made hard by Life Orb. Extreme Speed is also there to do act as a kind of check for a Xerneas that has managed to get of a Geomancy, doing enough damage to either KO it from where it is or allowing Arceus to do so. In theory you would think Adamant would disadvantage Rayquaza against other Mega Rays, but I've never had much of that problem and the extra power is definitely appreciated.
Thundurus @ Leftovers
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk / 30 SpA / 30 SpD
- Taunt
- Thunderbolt
- Thunder Wave
- Hidden Power [Ground]
I feel that Thundurus is a somewhat under-appreciated Pokemon in the AG meta, as it has definite utility in Taunting Klefki, Deoxys-A/S, paralysing Pokemon like Xerneas despite their speed boost, hitting bulky Flying-types like Lugia and Yveltal hard with Tbolt and shutting down Baton Pass completely with just a bit of simple prediction. One unique thing about this Thundurus is that I decided to run HP Ground over the more standard HP Ice in order to hit Primal Groudon on the switch, which usually does between 30 and 40%, depending on the set, which may not sound like a lot but this team very much appreciates the damage on Pdon.
Arceus @ Lum Berry
Ability: Multitype
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- Extreme Speed
- Earthquake
- Shadow Claw
Arceus is here as an alternate way to clean the opponent's team if Darkrai fails, and a way to punch holes if Rayquaza isn't up for the job. Jolly Nature and Lum Berry allow Arceus to speed tie the many other Arceus that you encounter on ladder, and Lum Berry allows it to take a Dark Void / Will-O-Wisp / Swagger while it sets up a Swords Dance or attacks. Arceus is the team's main way to taking care of opposing Arceus and to deal damage to opposing faster threats. Honestly, I don't really know what else to put here. EKiller Arceus is just one of the most effective sets in the tier.
Lugia @ Leftovers
Ability: Multiscale
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
- Roost
- Whirlwind
- Toxic
- Ice Beam
Lugia adds some well needed bulk to the team, as between Multiscale and Roost it is incredibly hard to take down even with Pokemon like Arceus and Mega Ray running around. Whirlwind allows Lugia to shut down threatening set up sweepers like Arceus and Evasion spammers, which the teams somewhat struggles with otherwise and to force out Pokemon that Lugia dislikes facing. Ice Beam prevents Lugia from becoming total set-up bait for Thundurus and Yveltal, and allows it to do serious damage to to Mega Rayquazas who use Dragon Ascent repeatedly against you.
Ferrothorn @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Iron Barbs
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Atk / 200 Def / 52 SpD
Relaxed Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Leech Seed
- Protect
- Stealth Rock
- Gyro Ball
This last addition gives a the team an extra check to many of AG's most threatening Pokemon, as it hits Xerneas and Mega Diancie for huge damage with Gyro Ball and Rocky Helmet and Iron Barbs punished Extreme Speeds on the switches from Pokemon hoping to get in a quick Revenge Kill. Stealth Rock is the team's only form of hazards, and it does appreciated chip damage to Yveltal, Groudon and Rayquaza. Leech Seed and Protect allow Ferrothorn to recover HP with a few well played predicitions.
Threats:
There are a few Pokemon that can threaten this team, which are:
Despite the team having a few ways to check Pdon, especially in Darkrai and Rayquaza, the team still struggles to switch into offensive variants, and the lack of hazard control means that the team hates letting it get up a free layer of Stealth Rocks.
Bulky Yveltal sets can deal huge damage to Arceus and Mega Rayquaza with Foul Play and Rocky Helmet while taking little in return, and Taunt can shut down Ferrothorn and Lugia. Still, Darkrai can try and take it on and defeat it with a little luck and Thundurus can turn the tides on it with Taunt and Thunderbolt.
The team stuggles against Arceus spam, as once Ferrothorn and my Arceus begin to get worn down, the team struggles more and more greatly against opposing Arceus. Definitely a very great threat with just a few misplays.
Mega Gengar is hard for the team to deal with as although it goes down easily to EQs and Dark Pulses, it outspeeds the entire team, is immune to Extreme Speed and can deal massive damage with Sludge Wave.
The team's main problem with Mega Sableye is a lack of a way to hit it hard that doesn't fear a Will-O-Wisp
Between Regenerator, Spore, Poison-typing and high bulk, this thing is a pain to deal with, as it is generally smart enough to start a mile away from Rayquaza's Dragon Ascent.
Here's an importable version of the the team:
Darkrai @ Leftovers
Ability: Bad Dreams
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Dark Void
- Dark Pulse
- Substitute
- Focus Blast
Rayquaza-Mega @ Life Orb
Ability: Air Lock
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
IVs: 0 SpA
- Extreme Speed
- Earthquake
- Dragon Claw
- Dragon Ascent
Thundurus @ Leftovers
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk / 30 SpA / 30 SpD
- Taunt
- Thunderbolt
- Thunder Wave
- Hidden Power [Ground]
Arceus @ Lum Berry
Ability: Multitype
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
IVs: 0 SpA
- Swords Dance
- Extreme Speed
- Earthquake
- Shadow Claw
Lugia @ Leftovers
Ability: Multiscale
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
- Roost
- Whirlwind
- Toxic
- Ice Beam
Ferrothorn @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Iron Barbs
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Atk / 200 Def / 52 SpD
Relaxed Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Leech Seed
- Protect
- Stealth Rock
- Gyro Ball
Ability: Bad Dreams
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Dark Void
- Dark Pulse
- Substitute
- Focus Blast
Rayquaza-Mega @ Life Orb
Ability: Air Lock
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
IVs: 0 SpA
- Extreme Speed
- Earthquake
- Dragon Claw
- Dragon Ascent
Thundurus @ Leftovers
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk / 30 SpA / 30 SpD
- Taunt
- Thunderbolt
- Thunder Wave
- Hidden Power [Ground]
Arceus @ Lum Berry
Ability: Multitype
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
IVs: 0 SpA
- Swords Dance
- Extreme Speed
- Earthquake
- Shadow Claw
Lugia @ Leftovers
Ability: Multiscale
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
- Roost
- Whirlwind
- Toxic
- Ice Beam
Ferrothorn @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Iron Barbs
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Atk / 200 Def / 52 SpD
Relaxed Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Leech Seed
- Protect
- Stealth Rock
- Gyro Ball
Anyway, I think/hope I've done this right, but this is my first RMT so if I messed something up, let me know.
