Dawn of a New Age: Ingenuity to Sand Offense
As with all things, I never presume that this is some earth-shattering idea as I’m sure at least one person out there in the Smogon Community has probably mentioned it. But I’m taking the time to put pen to paper, and I am asking you, fellow contributors, to let me know what you think about the team, I’m about to present to you.
With the recent bans of Deoxys and Aegislash, the one guy that came to mind that might receive a new lease on life is Terrakion. This dude was a beast in Gen V and his combination of power and speed is a force to be reckoned with. However, there are still a copious amount of Special attackers in the tier (Greninja, Keldeo, Latios, etc) that make using Terrakion a complex proposition still. Thankfully this Gen gave us the Assault Vest to help relegate the usual OHKOs into 2HKOs; giving him the opportunity to retort. AV combined with Sand thanks to his Rock typing allows him to endure even with virtually no investment into Special Defense. Normally, I would lean towards Tyranitar as my Sandstream user, but he and Terrakion share way too many weaknesses to justify having both on the same team. Therefore, Hippowdon was favored in this situation.
Despite trying to avoid common weaknesses; Grass and Water, with a lesser emphasis on Ice can prove lethal to the first two members of this team. Thus, we added Ferrothorn, who handles any version of Azumarill pretty effectively; unless it’s packing Superpower which appears to have fallen out of favor this Gen, while also able to survive a Secret Sword at full health if the situation arises from a Timid Choice Specs Keldeo. He also turns Breloom’s Mach Punch into a 3HKO while also being able to smash him back with Gyro Ball. He also laughs at Amoonguss (barring HP Fire, but that what the set is for) while making the lives of other grass mons Celebi, Chesnaught and Shaymin very stressful.
Despite everyone here; Mega Venusaur, despite doing squat to Ferrothorn barring HP Fire, is still very bulky and Ferrothorn, likewise can't really do anything other than scout for HP Fire on it, Keldeo just hits too friggin' hard and Clefable is just a nuisance. (My disdain for it knows no bounds) That still doesn't account for speedy mons like Greninja and Talonflame who just punch holes into any team, specifically my walls in general. With all these factors in mind, I decided to look for an Offensive core that is either fast or has priority to offset its speed and hits extremely hard; specifically to some or all of the aforementioned threats to the current members. With this in mind, I chose Gengar, who also gets a fresh look with Aegislash banned and Deosharp no longer in existence, though Bisharp is still around, but we have an attempt at an answer for him. Since he is my Glass Cannon (no matter how we slice it, Gengar is frail) I needed a physical attacker to compliment him with while being able to provide some form of Hazard removal. Though Excadrill is normally considered on Sand Teams thanks to Sand Rush doubling its speed, the sand won't be around long enough for both him and Terrakion to take advantage of and Excarill's typing would overlap too much with my defensive core. So I decided to try something unique and try Defog Scizor. (I always seem to do this to him) Scizor acts as a secondary option for Clefable in the event Gengar is down for the count, which might be more often than I like, but nonetheless we are in the composition stage still.
All that is left is a Mega to capitlize on all the team has to offer. Preferrably a mon that either had the typing to neutralize Talonflame and Greninja or the speed to outrun them without absorbing too much damage from Talonflame's priority Brave Bird. With this in mind; it only seemed obvious to choose Mega Manectric and its blistering speed combined with its ruthless Special Attack. Being able to OHKO Greninja and Talonflame is a blessing and, in general, Manectric is a very difficult mon to switch into once all Ground Types have been dealt with, which the rest of the team tries to accomplish. Once the red carpet has been rolled out its pretty much gg for most teams, in theory anyway.
Terror Squad @ Choice Scarf (Props to Abrams for showing me the light... or face palming me... :-/
EV: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Ability: Justified
Jolly Nature (+Spe,-SpA)
- Close Combat
- Rock Slide
- Earthquake
- Quick Attack
Old Role: Gimmicky AV Puncher (Worth a Shot) New Role: Revenge Killer
Terror Squad is here to play a bit of mind games. When leading with him people are assuming everything from Focus Sash Stealth Rock User to maybe this guy is a friggin' noob leading with a Choice User. Though the latter might have been true a week ago, j/k. But in all seriousness, his 108 speed stands out in a game that has seen a steady uptick in speed throughout the Generations only to have this Gen be raided by the priority craze. Though Priority is important, it almost appears as if it has made us numb to the fact that speed kills; especially when it’s packaged into a burly menace like Terror. AV adds to the formula as it actually surprises people who believe that their respective special attacker should be able to KO him. This only gets compounded if he can come in on a sandstorm. Calcs are below, but the basic point is that a lot of those definitive OHKOs become 2HKOs which then allow Terror to retaliate, which is all we can ask for.
EDIT: After seeing the responses, yes I will concede the fact that CharX is more than problematic, especially when going up against people who actually know how to switch and set up higher up the ladder... so Choice Scarf was implemented...
R.I.P
AV Terrakion
Last Night - Today
252 SpA Mega Charizard Y Solar Beam vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Assault Vest Terrakion: 222-262 (68.7 - 81.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252 SpA Life Orb Greninja Hydro Pump vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Assault Vest Terrakion in Sand: 195-229 (60.3 - 70.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252 SpA Thundurus Focus Blast vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Assault Vest Terrakion in Sand: 124-148 (38.3 - 45.8%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
252 SpA Heatran Earth Power vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Assault Vest Terrakion in Sand: 96-114 (29.7 - 35.2%) -- 16.6% chance to 3HKO
252 SpA Life Orb Sheer Force Landorus Earth Power vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Assault Vest Terrakion in Sand: 221-265 (68.4 - 82%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252 SpA Choice Specs Keldeo Hydro Pump vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Assault Vest Terrakion in Sand: 260-308 (80.4 - 95.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252 SpA Choice Specs Latios Draco Meteor vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Assault Vest Terrakion in Sand: 154-183 (47.6 - 56.6%) -- 85.9% chance to 2HKO
252 SpA Life Orb Greninja Hydro Pump vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Assault Vest Terrakion in Sand: 195-229 (60.3 - 70.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252 SpA Thundurus Focus Blast vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Assault Vest Terrakion in Sand: 124-148 (38.3 - 45.8%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
252 SpA Heatran Earth Power vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Assault Vest Terrakion in Sand: 96-114 (29.7 - 35.2%) -- 16.6% chance to 3HKO
252 SpA Life Orb Sheer Force Landorus Earth Power vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Assault Vest Terrakion in Sand: 221-265 (68.4 - 82%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252 SpA Choice Specs Keldeo Hydro Pump vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Assault Vest Terrakion in Sand: 260-308 (80.4 - 95.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252 SpA Choice Specs Latios Draco Meteor vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Assault Vest Terrakion in Sand: 154-183 (47.6 - 56.6%) -- 85.9% chance to 2HKO
Hungry Hippo @ Leftovers
EV: 248 HP / 8 Atk / 252 SpD
Ability: Sandstream
Careful Nature (+SpD,-SpA)
- Slack Off
- Rock Slide
- Earthquake
- Stealth Rock
Role: Specially Defensive Wall and Utility -> Sand Setter and Stealth Rock Support
In order for Terror to utilize AV, Sand is needed and Hippo provides this. The Special Defensive set was chosen to be able to go check Charizard Y who would otherwise effectively punch holes to my team. Rock Slide, even with no investment, can OHKO both Charizard Y, Talonflame [though CB Brave Bird would 2HKO Hippo otherwise] and 2HKO Thundurus-I while still being able to absorb at least 2 LO boosted HP Ice launches from Thundy. As his role implies, Hippo provides entry hazards while also having a means of recovery to maintain his longevity in battle, while the last slot is good ol' fashion STAB in EQ to spam when the opportunity presents itself.
Masochist @ Rocky Helmet
EV: 248 HP / 8 Atk / 252 Def
Ability: Iron Barbs
Relaxed Nature (+Def,-Spe)
IV: 0 Spe
- Power Whip
- Thunder Wave (Thanks Livio)
- Leech Seed
- Protect
Role: Physical Wall -> Attrition Embodied
Pretty straight forward Physically Defensive Ferrothorn who uses its bulk to absorb even the most ferocious of neutral hits while also making the attacker in question wince in pain afterwards from losing approximately 29% of its health. Protect is here to allow Leech Seed to sap away a hardheaded opponents precious HP while also scouting for HP Fire on mons like Greninja, Mega Venusaur and Amoonguss. Power Whip demolishes Water types when it decides to land and
EDIT: T-Wave seems more beneficial with more overall utility than a situational Gyro Ball... so the change has been made.
Assuming 48 HP / 252 Atk / 208 Spread for Talonflame:
309 HP - 117 HP (Ferrothorn HP = 351 / 3 = 117) = 196 - 90 (309 * .29 [7/24 = .291] = 89.6 round up to 90) = 106 - 39 (309/8 [Sandstorm Dmg = 1/8 Max HP] = 38.6 round up to 39) = 67 HP after the Flare Blitz on Ferrothorn while in the Sand-> Scizor LO Bullet Punch [Priority]:
140+ Atk LO Technician Scizor BP vs 48 HP / 0 Def Talonflame = 86-101 [27.8% - 32.6%] = M!DDLE F!NGER SALUTE to T-Flame ^_^
309 HP - 117 HP (Ferrothorn HP = 351 / 3 = 117) = 196 - 90 (309 * .29 [7/24 = .291] = 89.6 round up to 90) = 106 - 39 (309/8 [Sandstorm Dmg = 1/8 Max HP] = 38.6 round up to 39) = 67 HP after the Flare Blitz on Ferrothorn while in the Sand-> Scizor LO Bullet Punch [Priority]:
140+ Atk LO Technician Scizor BP vs 48 HP / 0 Def Talonflame = 86-101 [27.8% - 32.6%] = M!DDLE F!NGER SALUTE to T-Flame ^_^
Bug Transformer @ Metal Coat (Thanks Livio)
EV: 248 HP / 140 Atk / 120 SpD
Ability: Technician
Adamant Nature (+Atk,-SpA)
- Bullet Punch
- Roost
- Superpower
- Defog
Role: Defog User and Fairy Destroyer
This set, though unique, does have some merits, MC and Atk EVs are enough to guarantee a 2HKO on a 252 / 252+ Physically Defensive Clefable after Leftovers recovery, while the 248 / 120+ Special Bulk allows Scizor to take at most 82% from a Clefable Flamethrower. Roost provides healing when able, while Superpower OHKOs Bisharp who try to switch in and attempt to get a free +2 from the use of Defog. Aside from that, its pretty straight forward and is meant to accomplish the simple tasks of removing hazards to allow my primary attackers to switch in freely.
Laughing Wraith @ Life Orb
EV: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Ability: Levitate
Timid Nature (+Spe,-Atk)
IV: 0 Atk
- Sludge Bomb
- HP Fighting
- Pain Split (Props to Livio and cookeemonstah.. thanks frens ^_^)
- Psychic
Role: Glass Cannon... Duh...
The first thing everyone is saying is, where the F*CK is Shadow Ball!?!? Well give me a second to... ok your clicking on the forum link aren't you... sigh... I'll wait... while I'm doing that for you guys who are suspicious, please allow me to elaborate. Sludge Bomb is obvious for Fairies and Grass mons, Pain Split, though not common, has been seen before and provides recovery as the LO damage starts building up. Where things start getting weird for people is Psychic and HP Fighting. Psychic 2HKOs Mega Venusaur while Mega Venusaur can only hope to put him asleep. Keldeo, if locked into Sacred Sword is an excellent switch into Keldeo, forcing my opponent to switch and battle from a position of weakness; though they most likely will be switching in Bisharp, Weavile or Tyranitar. 3 mons who tend to find themselves on ALOT of XY OU teams. This is where HP Fighting comes into play as it OHKOs Weavile and Bisharp while delivering a 2HKO to non-invested Tyranitar even with Sand up. Sure, people will be saying that Focus Blasts is a deterrent as well, but Focus Blasts tends to go wide left like a Billy Cundiff Field Goal try (sorry Ravens fan, couldn't thing of another big miss in recent memory) so sometimes trainers will be feeling a little frisky, especially Bisharp users and if Bisharp comes in with suffering for it, it becomes a 50/50 game of cat and mouse between first CORRECTLY guessing whether its safe to switch out without being Pursuit Trapp'd, OR launching another assault and praying they don't use Sucker Punch. Weavile outright out-speeds me, so I need to pray that there isn't someone wacky like me out there whose running Pursuit on this guy and Tyranitar tend to run Pursuit barring the Mega forme.
252 SpA Life Orb Gengar Hidden Power Fighting vs. 4 HP / 0 SpD Tyranitar in Sand: 234-276 (68.4 - 80.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252 SpA Life Orb Gengar Hidden Power Fighting vs. 4 HP / 0 SpD Bisharp: 458-541 (168.3 - 198.8%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252 SpA Life Orb Gengar Hidden Power Fighting vs. 4 HP / 0 SpD Weavile: 390-463 (138.2 - 164.1%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252 SpA Life Orb Gengar Hidden Power Fighting vs. 4 HP / 0 SpD Bisharp: 458-541 (168.3 - 198.8%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252 SpA Life Orb Gengar Hidden Power Fighting vs. 4 HP / 0 SpD Weavile: 390-463 (138.2 - 164.1%) -- guaranteed OHKO
Manectric @ Manectite
EV: 40 Def / 252 SpA / 216 Speed
Ability: Lightningrod -> Intimidate
Timid Nature (+Spe,-Atk)
IV: 0 Atk
- Thunderbolt
- Flamethrower
- Volt Switch
- HP Ice
Role: Time to bring (out) the b(r)oom
Speed allows him to outrun base 100 speed mons prior to mega evolution while being able to outrun 130 speed mons after evolving and some notable mons like Adamant Gyarados and Adamant Dragonite after 1 Dragon Dance. Thunderbolt is the primary STAB of this set, shocking Greninja and Talonflame. Flamethrower provides coverage against steel types and while HP Ice handles ground types. Volt Switch provides pivoting into one of our bulkier mons as to avoid unnecessary damage. Thanks to Intimidate, Mega Pinsir and Talonflame won't do too much damage after one Intimidate, thus making a switch into these mons all the more desirable. In the end, whip out the broom and SWEEP... PERIOD!!!
Hope you enjoyed reading this installment of RMT and hope to hear some critical but insightful thoughts as a means for improvement. Until then, happy battling ^_^
Sincerely,
Prof. R. Feliciano
Director of Metagame Studies, Smogon University, New York Campus
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