DDMence > YacheSDChomp

[Black Lotus]

This is a team that I have been using lately and it is running really well so I wanted to share it and see if anyone else can point out flaws that I don't see in it.

The Overview

Down Deeper

Azelf @ Focus Sash
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 6 Atk/252 Spd/252 SAtk
Naive nature (+Spd, -SDef)
- Explosion
- Psychic
- Stealth Rock
- Taunt
When I built this team I had the core all built and ready to go, but I needed a lead desperately. My team's core benefits greatly from Stealth Rock so I thought if that was all I needed the lead for I might as well go with a Suicide Lead. So Azelf and Aerodactyl both popped into my head, but as you can see I went with Azelf. I still debate on that matter every now and then, but I'm not complaining because its doing its job. This is just the standard Suicide Lead Azelf. Stealth Rock is the main reason for him being on the team, Explosion is what set it apart from Aerodactyl as it can act as a check for virtually anything my opponent can throw at me (if Azelf is still alive), I chose to use Taunt because I would like to prevent my opponent from setting up too, and Psychic for STAB. I haven't found a time when I would like Fire Blast on it instead so I don't think I need it.
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Salamence (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 232 Atk/252 Spd/24 SAtk
Naive nature (+Spd, -SDef)
- Dragon Dance
- Earthquake
- Fire Blast
- Outrage
As you can probably tell from the title this is the MVP of the team. This team is meant to get a Salamence sweep, but also be able to hold its own. The team in general accomplishes both jobs very well, when executed properly, but I have only gotten a handful of Salamence sweeps so I have no clue there. Very standard Dragon Dance Salamence here. Dragon Dance sets up for a sweep, Outrage is the main attack, Earthquake for coverage alongside Outrage on the physical side, and Fire Blast for hitting pesky Levitate Bronzong and Skarmory that attempt to threaten my sweep.
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Magnezone @ Leftovers
Ability: Magnet Pull
EVs: 40 HP/216 Spd/252 SAtk
Timid nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Hidden Power [Grass]
- Magnet Rise
- Substitute
- Thunderbolt
Though he is the one who is used the least he is a big asset to the team. Without Magnezone it would make sweeping with Salamence a lot harder. Magnezone is used to trap and kill Steel types that threaten to take Salamence's Outrages. I could've went for the Choice Scarf set, but I wanted to use the Steel Killer Magnezone set for testing the idea of the team and it has not failed me yet. Thunderbolt is STAB, Magnet Rise is to avoid pesky Ground type moves, Substitute gives Magnezone something to do while the trapped Steel types is completely helpless so it can take a hit from the incoming Pokemon (after it takes care of the Steel type) if need be, and Hidden Power Grass is to deal with pesky Ground types that would like to come in after a Steel type to scare off Magnezone. I was debating between Hidden Power Grass and Ice, but I went with Grass as I don't have too many outs to Swampert. I would've liked to put Explosion on Magnezone, but I felt at the time Magnet Rise would be more useful.
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Heatran (M) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 6 Atk/252 Spd/252 SAtk
Naive nature (+Spd, -SDef)
- Earth Power
- Explosion
- Fire Blast
- Hidden Power [Electric]
Choice Scarf Heatran is one of the best revenge killers in the game right now. Alongside Dragon Dance Salamence both of them are extremely hard to take down. Heatran also acts as another way to deal with Steel types if Magnezone fails somehow. Fire Blast is for STAB, Earth Power provides coverage, Explosion acts as a check for most Pokemon in the standard metagame, and Hidden Power Electric allows for a surprise on unexpecting Water types expecting to switch into a Fire attack. Flamethrower doesn't pack as much of a punch as Fire Blast does, but is more reliable so that was a viable option I chose otherwise though. I chose Electric as the Hidden Power type over Grass or Ice because I wanted something to take care of Gyarados, for the most part.
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Scizor (M) @ Choice Band
Ability: Technician
EVs: 248 HP/252 Atk/8 Spd
Adamant nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Bullet Punch
- Pursuit
- Superpower
- U-turn
You can't say that you didn't see this coming. Choice Band Scizor is the most overused Pokemon out there right now so you can expect it on most any team you find. Scizor takes care of fragile sweepers and weakened sweepers with Bullet Punch so it is useful on virtually any team. Bullet Punch is for STAB, Technician, and Priority, U-Turn is another STAB move and is for scouting, Superpower is for hitting things that resist the STAB moves hard, and Pursuit traps Ghost and Psychic types.
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Gengar (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 6 Def/252 Spd/252 SAtk
Timid nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Focus Blast
- Hidden Power [Fire]
- Protect
- Shadow Ball
Last but certainly not least is MYSTICGar. Gengar is extremely important for luring in Pokemon like Tyranitar and Scizor so they can be dealt with. As soon as something comes in Protect and act accordingly, this works best obviously if the opponent is choiced. Gengar also is my Go To Pokemon meaning when one of my guys goes down I go to Gengar most of the time. Shadow Ball is STAB, Focus Blast takes care of Pokemon like Tyranitar, Hidden Power Fire is mostly for Scizor, and Protect is for (as stated before) scouting purposes.
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[Godsendd]

I would recommend changing Azelf to a lead Swampert to help counter opposing Tyranitars and steel types as well as other Swamperts. I would recommend this set.

Swampert @ Leftovers
Relaxed
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Def
-Stealth Rock
-Earthquake
-HP Grass
-Surf

I would also change HP Grass to Fire on Magnezone as you want it to trap steels and HP Fire will mak eit easier to kill them rather than exploding.

Also check out my team below as it is very close to yours but is a little more effective, maybe it can help you.

 

[Towelie]

First, I'm going to point out some major threats to your team. The first threat I see is DD Tar with a Babiri Berry. It can set up on your Azelf, Heatran, and Magnezone, and proceeds to 0HKO your whole entire team. The only thing you can do against it is pray for a stone edge miss on mence, or hope hes at low enough hp to ko with earth power or bullet punch. you also get 6-0ed by a DD LO gyara who can set up on scizor and heatran and preoceed to 6-0 you wit waterfall, earthquake, and stone edge. to help patch up these few weaknesses, i recommend you switch your scarf heatran to a scarf jirachi with a set of:
Jirachi@Choice Scarf
Jolly, 252 Atk 252 Spd 4 Hp
-Iron Head
-Fire Punch
-Thunderpunch/Thunderbolt
-Ice Punch
another thing i noticed, is that, bar mence, you get DEMOLISHED by stall. skarm bliss walls your whole team, except for mence, so you should probly throw a wallbreaker in there, or something with trick. im pretty limited for time, so i hope i helped a little.

 

[nesan]

K I did some research and found a huge weakness in your team.
For example lets say you bring in Magnezone to trap a Skarmory. So you use thunder bolt but Skarmory switches out (shed shell) and your opponent goes into a Electivire.

Now Electivire with Jolly will out speed everything on your team after one boost.
With the following moveset it will take out pretty much all your Pokemon.



EV: 6 HP / 252 Att / 252 Spe
Nature: Jolly
~Thunder Punch
~Fire Punch
~Ice Punch
~Earthquake

This may look silly but most of my Pokemon run three element set.

Scizor will fail to do more than 25.8% - 30.2% damage with Bullet Punch.

Earthquake knocks out both Heatran and Magnezone. Ice Punch takes out Salamence. Fire Punch for Scizor. Surprisingly Gengar will survive a Thunder Punch. Electivire fails to do more than 53.6% - 63.2% damage. In return Gengar deal no more than 61.2% - 72.2% damage; resulting in a 2 hit knock out.

So Scizor and Gengar can work together to takeout Electivire. If one of them is no longer in the game then it is good game.


I like Godsendd's idea. Swampert can put a stop to Electivire. Unlike Scizor and Gengar, Swampert lasts longer in a battle. Seldom Electivire's carry Hidden Power Grass so beware.


I'll recommend that you change Gengar for a Scarfed Celebi.

Item: Choice Scarf
Nature: Timid
Ev: 6 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
~ Leaf Storm
~ Earth Power
~ Hidden Power Fire
~ Trick

Tyranitar, Scizor and Electivire are covered.
Also Celebi is a good bulky water counter.

Supporting Towelie's idea, trick is a decent move to counter stall/Skarmbliss combo.
Leaf Storm does about 58.4% - 69.8% damage to a Tyranitar that is under Sand Storm with Max HP and Special defense EV + Calm nature. Which is an unusual Tyranitar. -_-lol

DD Tar with a Babiri Berry is easily countered by this Celebi.


I agree 100% with Godsendd's idea of a Swampert lead because it will cover the 3x fire weakness (Celebi,Scizor and Magnezone) if Heatran is no longer in play.

So yeah replace Gengar with Celebi.
Hope I helped.^^

 

[aburame_shino]

I think Scarf Latias would work better than Scarf Heatran. It can still handle DD Gyarados, but it also gives you some good resistances and can hurt Stall Teams with Trick.

 

[connoisseur]

I think Scarf Latias would work better than Scarf Heatran. It can still handle DD Gyarados, but it also gives you some good resistances and can hurt Stall Teams with Trick.

I would have to disagree. 2 pursuit baits (3 if you count azelf) is generally not a good idea unless one is rotom-A who can cripple things with will-o-wisp.
I also struggle to see why you have mystic gar and zone on the same team. You really do not need 2 pokemon to take down scizor, magnezone should definitely do his job admirably. Maybe use a regular LO Gengar, specs latias, or starmie in its place?

 

[Towelie]

Um first of all, Celebi isnt that great of a ttar revenger because of spdef boost. jirachi is one of the best, because even through babiri it can flinch it to death. and i really suggest jirachi, just dont be a dumbass and let electivire switch in for free

 

[Black Lotus]

Changes that will be made, eventually.

Taking the advice of Towelie, connoisseur, and Godsendd I will replace Azelf, Heatran, and Latias with the following sets and test them before placing them on this thread.

Swampert @ Leftovers
Relaxed
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Def
-Stealth Rock
-Earthquake
-HP Grass
-Surf

Jirachi@Choice Scarf
Jolly, 252 Atk 252 Spd 4 Hp
-Iron Head
-Fire Punch
-Thunderpunch/Thunderbolt
-Ice Punch

Latias (F) @ Choice Specs
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 6 HP/252 Spd/252 SAtk
Timid nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Draco Meteor
- Surf
- Thunderbolt
- Trick

Also I will be changing Magnezone's Hidden Power to Ice rather than Grass.

CORRECTION: I will be keeping Hidden Power Grass on Magnezone. Ice isn't as useful as Grass on Magnzone, in my opinion, and I don't like Fire because I can 2HKO pretty much any Steel type that I will need to with Thunderbolt, bar some Jirachi which are 3HKO.