I am not new to VGC, I played around quite a bit in VGC '11, but this is my first serious VGC '14 team :D I call this set SafeSwag as I will quite a lot of the time get a safeguard up and Swagger my own physical attackers to get that free boost. I have run this team on Showdown for so many battles, and I would say the success is over 50%, and will probably get better once I learn a little more on what to expect from other people and to outpredict them.
Meowstic (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Prankster
Evs: 252 HP / 244 Def / 4 SDef / 8 Spe
Timid Nature
- Fake Out
- Safeguard
- Psychic/ Protect
- Swagger
I run Meowstic as my lead 90% of the time, he is obviously here for the fake-out support. The only reason I wouldn't run him as lead is if I feel that I need to run Garchomp EQ on turn one, and if I'm still iffy, I will switch Meowstic out on turn one if need be (should I run protect over Psychic?) I end up safeguarding whenever I know I will have a free turn, i.e. I'm expecting a double protect, or they can't really hit me. I then run swagger on either my attackers, or on them if a SAtk pokemon is on my side. I aim for whatever is more threatening on the other side that turn. I run Timid at 20 Spe to outrun a Jolly Liepard with 0 Spe. Leftovers helps me stay alive longer with burn damage, and just with general bulk. I have psychic so i am not taunt bait, and it's come in use quite a bit when the advantage to use it comes up.
Aegislash @ Weakness Policy
Ability: Stance Change
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SDef
IVs: 0 Spe
Brave Nature
- King's Shield
- Shadow Sneak
- Swords Dance
- Iron Head
I think this set answers itself, but I have the weakness policy and 4 SDef as most of the Pokemon that threaten him are special attackers, so there's the little bulk and then I get my free swords dance. I love working him with Meowstic and Safeguard to get that free boost, but that doesn't always work as I don't always get that free turn beforehand to set-up. I usually play him later in the match, if I choose him, as then the opponent is forced to either activate the policy, or I get boosted really high in Atk with the SD and swagger, then I sweep.
Garchomp @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Rough Skin
EVs: 4HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
-Dragon Claw
-Earthquake
-Rock Slide
-Protect
To my knowledge, this is the most standard set ever for Garchomp. I go with the rocky helmet and rough skin to deal with M-Kanga, who is usually faked out first by Meowstic anyway. And I just brute force anyone down. Again, as an Attacker, I do the SafeSwag technique to boost. Garchomp also will switch in if I can't get the KO on the surprise Manectric lead on that turn to deal with him.
Rotom-W @ Sitrus Berry
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 116 Def / 4 SpA / 128 SpD / 8 Spe
Calm Nature
-Will-O-Wisp
-Hydro Pump
-Volt Switch
-Protect
I honestly copied Ray's Rotom here, but switched out thunderbolt for volt switch as I can get Meowstic back out on the turn I switched him out to get another free fake out. I also subtracted some SDef for Spe to speed creep opposing Rotom-W that were copied from his set. And as I don't really need thunderbolt as much because Gengar runs thunderbolt to take care of anyone that might need it. I did add some more to the
Gengar @ Gengarite
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid nature
-Sludge Bomb
-Shadow Ball
-Hidden Power (Ice)
-Thunderbolt
My first of the two Mega's I have on my team. I have each of them for different purposes. I will run them both only if I feel I need both of them (Depends on what I see on the other team, but the other team usually is running a Charzard when I do this,) and then the mega usually ends up on Gengar as I will mostly lead with Gengar and if my predictions are correct I get a kill that turn with him, otherwise I will wait and try to keep levitate up for an EQ. I have HP Ice as it will OHKO any dragon that comes it's way, except that rare haxorous.
Charizard @ Charizardite Y
Ability: Solar Power
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature
- Heat Wave
- SolarBeam
- Air Slash
- Protect
The second of my two mega's. I love to Drought SB as it is a Guarenteed 2HKO on Ttar, I will only bother if I can fake him out that turn as Rock Slide will OHKO me while I wait. But Heat Wave is also an excellent spread move. I typically run M-Geng over M-Char as M-Geng is fast and hits harder, but M-Char is bulkier and I will run him if I can check the threats before he comes out.
Overall Synergy: Meowstic with pretty much anyone, as prankster support is awesome. Garchomp anyone that's immune to EQ. Aegislash and Rotom-W, as these two can usually win me the late game with their bulk, as long as the other team doesn't wall me.
Counter's: Intimidate teams that spam the intimidate function, especially in the late game when i can't switch or it's too risky too switch. Any Liepard that out speeds my Meostic. Talonflame with brave bird that targets my Meowstic. Also Ttar with choice scarf or anyone else faster than Garchomp that has a OHKO on him, notably Greninja and Aerodactyl. Haxorus also is a 2HKO from a HP Ice from M-Geng, but I don't think he's as prevalent in this meta.
-I haven't fought any TR teams with this yet, so I'm not sure if they would be a nuisance yet, assuming I can't fake them out trun 1 and kill them to stop it from happening.
Meowstic (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Prankster
Evs: 252 HP / 244 Def / 4 SDef / 8 Spe
Timid Nature
- Fake Out
- Safeguard
- Psychic/ Protect
- Swagger
I run Meowstic as my lead 90% of the time, he is obviously here for the fake-out support. The only reason I wouldn't run him as lead is if I feel that I need to run Garchomp EQ on turn one, and if I'm still iffy, I will switch Meowstic out on turn one if need be (should I run protect over Psychic?) I end up safeguarding whenever I know I will have a free turn, i.e. I'm expecting a double protect, or they can't really hit me. I then run swagger on either my attackers, or on them if a SAtk pokemon is on my side. I aim for whatever is more threatening on the other side that turn. I run Timid at 20 Spe to outrun a Jolly Liepard with 0 Spe. Leftovers helps me stay alive longer with burn damage, and just with general bulk. I have psychic so i am not taunt bait, and it's come in use quite a bit when the advantage to use it comes up.
Aegislash @ Weakness Policy
Ability: Stance Change
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SDef
IVs: 0 Spe
Brave Nature
- King's Shield
- Shadow Sneak
- Swords Dance
- Iron Head
I think this set answers itself, but I have the weakness policy and 4 SDef as most of the Pokemon that threaten him are special attackers, so there's the little bulk and then I get my free swords dance. I love working him with Meowstic and Safeguard to get that free boost, but that doesn't always work as I don't always get that free turn beforehand to set-up. I usually play him later in the match, if I choose him, as then the opponent is forced to either activate the policy, or I get boosted really high in Atk with the SD and swagger, then I sweep.
Garchomp @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Rough Skin
EVs: 4HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
-Dragon Claw
-Earthquake
-Rock Slide
-Protect
To my knowledge, this is the most standard set ever for Garchomp. I go with the rocky helmet and rough skin to deal with M-Kanga, who is usually faked out first by Meowstic anyway. And I just brute force anyone down. Again, as an Attacker, I do the SafeSwag technique to boost. Garchomp also will switch in if I can't get the KO on the surprise Manectric lead on that turn to deal with him.
Rotom-W @ Sitrus Berry
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 116 Def / 4 SpA / 128 SpD / 8 Spe
Calm Nature
-Will-O-Wisp
-Hydro Pump
-Volt Switch
-Protect
I honestly copied Ray's Rotom here, but switched out thunderbolt for volt switch as I can get Meowstic back out on the turn I switched him out to get another free fake out. I also subtracted some SDef for Spe to speed creep opposing Rotom-W that were copied from his set. And as I don't really need thunderbolt as much because Gengar runs thunderbolt to take care of anyone that might need it. I did add some more to the
Gengar @ Gengarite
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid nature
-Sludge Bomb
-Shadow Ball
-Hidden Power (Ice)
-Thunderbolt
My first of the two Mega's I have on my team. I have each of them for different purposes. I will run them both only if I feel I need both of them (Depends on what I see on the other team, but the other team usually is running a Charzard when I do this,) and then the mega usually ends up on Gengar as I will mostly lead with Gengar and if my predictions are correct I get a kill that turn with him, otherwise I will wait and try to keep levitate up for an EQ. I have HP Ice as it will OHKO any dragon that comes it's way, except that rare haxorous.
Charizard @ Charizardite Y
Ability: Solar Power
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature
- Heat Wave
- SolarBeam
- Air Slash
- Protect
The second of my two mega's. I love to Drought SB as it is a Guarenteed 2HKO on Ttar, I will only bother if I can fake him out that turn as Rock Slide will OHKO me while I wait. But Heat Wave is also an excellent spread move. I typically run M-Geng over M-Char as M-Geng is fast and hits harder, but M-Char is bulkier and I will run him if I can check the threats before he comes out.
Overall Synergy: Meowstic with pretty much anyone, as prankster support is awesome. Garchomp anyone that's immune to EQ. Aegislash and Rotom-W, as these two can usually win me the late game with their bulk, as long as the other team doesn't wall me.
Counter's: Intimidate teams that spam the intimidate function, especially in the late game when i can't switch or it's too risky too switch. Any Liepard that out speeds my Meostic. Talonflame with brave bird that targets my Meowstic. Also Ttar with choice scarf or anyone else faster than Garchomp that has a OHKO on him, notably Greninja and Aerodactyl. Haxorus also is a 2HKO from a HP Ice from M-Geng, but I don't think he's as prevalent in this meta.
-I haven't fought any TR teams with this yet, so I'm not sure if they would be a nuisance yet, assuming I can't fake them out trun 1 and kill them to stop it from happening.
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