Greetings, Smogon community. Today, I introduce to you my Diamonds Are Forever team. This is a team I decided to make at the beginning of the Greninja suspect test. My team here consists of Pokemon who work together harmoniously. However, after some test playing, there are some weaknesses that must be addressed. In summary, I present my team to you, so you may help make my team more solid, stronger, powerful!
Looking at Mega Diancie, I just loved its mega ability magic bounce and fantastic base 160 special and physical stat. Seeing as how Diancie has potential to sweep late game, I wanted to build a solid team around her. So, that's where teammates come in hand.
I chose magnezone because magnezone can take care of mons who threaten her, most notably steel and water types. I use magnet pull to trap pesky steel types bar heatran. However, magnezone falls victim to ground types and fighting types. So, I decided I wanted a ground resist, especially a grass type to threaten water types.
I decided I partner up breloom with these two because they seem to cover each others weakness nicely. Any fire types shot towards breloom and Diancie can resit it. Any ground moves used and breloom can easily eat it and retaliate back. All in all, these 3 seem to forge a decent core. However, I felt that this team is lacking wall breaking capabilities.
Looking through the list of OU, Kyurem caught my eye. Use the right nature and slap on a life orb, and this thing can hit a lot of mons very hard for 55%+ damage some of the time. I felt that with water and grass scaring diancie, I can switch kyurem into those resisted attacks, and hit back hard.
Still eager for raw strength, I decided to add another wall breaker. I chose Keldeo. Keldo is known for its amazing wall breaking capabilities. However, I needed a revenge killer of a sort, so I decided to scarf Keldeo to out speed faster threats. Seeing that Keldeo is kinda weak on the non invested defensive side, I needed a pokemon who can pivot in to resisted attacks.
I chose Skarmory. I also needed someone to set hazards to wear down my opponent's team. Skarm has nice key resistances and is durable in my opinion. He's a great pokemon to phase out set up threats, too. All in all, this is the team.
Summary: Nature is Hasty to have a speed nature. The EVs are a smogon detail. Pretty straightforward.
Moonblast: Moonblast receives STAB. Thanks to its unique ability, I can have a chance to drop pokemon who rely on their special attacking power. Moonblast from Mega Diancie is really powerful, hitting every mon in the tier hard, bar steel types. Moonblast easily dents a lot of its counters too, like rotom-w, and belly drum azu.
Diamond Storm: This thing is a God send. It's an amazing 100 BP physical attack denting special walls really hard. The chance to receive a defensive boost is not that bad either. This thing is great for bird spam, and pink blobs, too. Nothing really wants to switch into this.
Earth Power: I have earth power for coverage. Sometimes, if the opponent chokes, and sends in their excadrill or heatran (bar air balloon) gets bopped hard! Pretty straightforward move, hitting mons who are weak to ground moves, when the opportunity arises.
Hidden Power Fire: I use this for steel types who like to think I'm going to click moonblast. Sometimes, the opponent likes to switch in their Scizor or Ferrothorn, predicting the moonblast, but gets hit hard with HP Fire. Great coverage move, in my opinion.
Summary: Good old fashion scarf zone. Magnet pull to trap annoying threats like ferrothorn, scizor, and skarm. As well as bisharp. Max speed and max special attack help ensure I hit things hard and out speed things like the lati twins. Faster scarfers with higher base speed do out speed, so I don't take the risk.
Volt Switch: I use this to scout sometimes, and allow some safe switch-ins for the other members on my team. Volt switch receives stab, and helps me escape other magnet pull HP Fire Magnezone. Volt switch also helps create some momentum for me, which this team appreciates very much.
Hidden Power Fire: HP Fire is pretty much here to eliminate ferrothorn, bisharp, and scizor (bar superpower). If these 3 main threats aren't specially defensive, then I can breath easier because I usually get off plenty damage off of them. That's pretty much it for this move, simply eliminate the steel types who give diancie nightmares.
Flash Cannon: Flash Cannon is a cool move. Hits fairies and rock types for super effective damage, plus STAB, equals fun. Usually, opponents who aren't thinking long term like to switch in their ground immunity assuming I'll use an electric move, but gets hit hard with flash cannon. This move serves well late game too, against dragon types, denting them decently.
Thunderbolt: Reliable thunderbolt. Once I've dealt with threats who resisted FC or immune to electric attacks, then I can safely spam thunderbolt hitting a lot of pokemon hard, bar specially defensive mons (chansey in particular). Great move against water types, and keldeo, who does not appreciate a STAB t-bolt.
Summary: This set here takes on a more defensive role. I run toxic orb to take advantage of poison heal. My EVs are mostly invested into HP and SpD to serve as a specially bulky pokemon, who can take on threats like keldeo and thundurs more sufficiently. This is something pretty interesting -
(252 SpA Thundurus Hidden Power Ice vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Breloom: 126-150 (33.8 - 46.2%) -- 99.8% chance to 3HKO after Stealth Rock and Poison Heal) Although I might die in 3 turns, I can pressure my opponent with leech seed or spore, gaining some momentum. Breloom is also excellent in absorbing non attacks (para, w-o-w, etc.)
Leech Seed: Leech is the move of choice, half the time. I use leech seed to wear down the opponent, have the stay in and reduce their health, or force a switch. Leech seed in combination with poison heal is a great form of recovery, sustaining health for breloom to live longer and accomplish something.
Drain Punch: STAB. My only means of attack. Fortunately, paired with leech seed and poison heal, breloom actually becomes annoying because he's always restoring his health above 65% most of the time. Drain punch is good too, against the likes of chansey, mega gyardos, dark and steel types in general. Can probably beat mega slowbro 1v1, bar psyshock.
Protect: Protect helps ensure I activate my toxic orb safely, avoiding any status moves from my opponent. Protect also serves me in scouting my opponent. Lately, I've learned that it's important and smart to protect turn 1 because you never know what the opponent might carry, like explosion or a status move like t-wave. Protect is just an all around great move for this set because it helps get health back freely.
Spore: Gotta love spore. Spore is here to simply put a pokemon to sleep, bar grass types and overcoat. Spore can help in many ways, preventing my opponent from gaining momentum, or setting up a dragon dance. Spore is excellent in that it can change the tide of the game, in a heart beat, in my opinion.
Summary: My decent wall breaker. Lonely nature helps boost my attack and take on special attacks that are grass, water, or electric. My speed helps me out speed a physically defensive lando, and OHKO him with Ice Beam. Kyurem-B is here to switch in on any incoming grass, water, or electric attacks. He can resist it taking light damage and retaliate back with my move of choice. I just have to predict correctly, and everything is fine. My life orb helps boosts my attack making me 2HKO Chansey with FB.
Dragon Claw: I run dragon claw over outrage because I don't like locking myself into a fairy immunity. It'll be very disappointing letting Clef to come in and set up with calm mind. Dragon claw hits things very hard, even physically defensive rotom. Usually does like 65%+ to rotom. Dragon claw is great against slower dragons like Goodra.
Fusion Bolt: This move is here because it does wonders. Hits the whole tier hard minus ground types. Fusion Bolt takes care of keldeo, water types in general actually. Steel types who come in on the switch don't appreciate FB either. Fusion Bolt is great coverage and slowbro thinks twice switching in. Actually helps force him out if he isn't boosted.
Ice Beam: Ice beam is for coverage, as well. If i didn't run life orb, I can bluff FB, and then when I sense lando is coming in on the switch, I send him to the grave with Ice beam. Just a great move to have against pesky grass types and ground types.
Iron Head: I chose iron head over earth power because I felt like I needed to wear down fairies long term. If they feel like switching in on my dragon claw, I can surprise them with a strong iron head, usually an OHKO. I felt like since my team is fairy weak, I needed a super effective move to deal with them. Iron Head fits the bill. The flinch chance is very fortunate, too... not for my opponent though.
Summary: Max speed and max SpA help me out speed everything that isn't boosted or scarf. My timid helps me ensure I out speed everything minus scarf and boosted mons. I run choice scarf because I needed a revenge killer who can kill some threats that are weakened enough. Keldeo fits this role nicely on this team. Keldeo is also my bisharp check, forcing him out, allowing me to spam my move of choice.
Icy Wind: Icy Wind helps me lower my opponent's pokemon speed, paving the way for Kyurem black to hit something for a nice chunk of damage. Icy Wind isn't the strongest though, it can't even OHKO latios. But, it's here to ensure my team can out speed faster threats, because my team is fairly slow. I tend to spam this more for the nice speed drops, so I can gain momentum.
Scald: Scald is here to basically hit stuff hard. I chose scald over hydro pump because I don't like hydro missing and hydro only has 8 PP I believe. I can easily get stalled out in worst case scenarios, especially against a trapper or something. I like scald because it hits fairly decent, and has a chance to burn. If i get lucky, physical attackers who get burned have a tougher time, because their attack is reduced. All around great move to spam.
Hidden Power Flying: This move is questionable. I have it because I needed a way to deal with venu and fighting types. Doesn't do a lot to these threats but it's here. I honestly don't know what move to use in this slot. Help.
Secret Sword: The best move in the game against that ugly pink blob. This move is great against steel types, especially against ttar and bisharp. Chansey is also afraid of taking this hit because it does a lot! Pretty handy move against specially defensive walls, like crocune and the like.
Summary: Standard 252/252 spread. Bold nature to max out my physical bulk. 252 HP to allow me to roost twice, to gain my sturdy again, I think. Honestly, this mon was the only one I had in mind as my stealth rocker. I don't even run defog in fear of fighting types and venu, so I run brave bird to deal with those threats. I chose rocky helmet, so I can potentially brake a sash and wear my opponent down, to help aid my team in defeating that mon later with ease. Skarm is hear to take resisted hits, he's my punching bag.
Roost: Pretty self explanatory. Roost up whenever I'm low on health, especially since I have no other means of recovery. I have to be careful though, because if my opponent can predict correctly, I fall victim to EQ. Roost is good though, because it can help intact my sturdy ability, aiding me in preventing OHKOs.
Whirlwind: I have this over other moves because I like to phase out set up threats, or mons behind subs. Whirlwind is an excellent combination with Stealth Rock, racking up overtime damage to my opponent, wearing them down, so diancie can sweep late game.
Stealth Rock: My hazards. Helps deal damage to t-flame and thundurs. Everyone at that. It helps me secure some knockouts too, once my opponent has suffered decent damage from taking SR. Great move that is a must have in my opinion.
Brave Bird: I have brave bird to deal with mega venu and fighting types in general. I feel like my team lacks the power to deal with these threats, so I rely on Skarm to hit them with a super effective STAB, paving the way for my other teammates to have an easier time in the battle.
Diancie @ Diancite
Ability: Clear Body
EVs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Shiny: Yes
Hasty Nature
- Moonblast
- Diamond Storm
- Earth Power
- Hidden Power Fire
Magnezone @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Magnet Pull
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Shiny: Yes
Timid Nature
- Volt Switch
- Hidden Power Fire
- Flash Cannon
- Thunderbolt
Breloom @ Toxic Orb
Ability: Poison Heal
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpD
Shiny: Yes
Careful Nature
- Leech Seed
- Drain Punch
- Protect
- Spore
Keldeo @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Justified
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Shiny: Yes
Timid Nature
- Icy Wind
- Scald
- Secret Sword
- Hidden Power Flying
Skarmory @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Def
Shiny: Yes
Bold Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Whirlwind
- Brave Bird
- Roost
Kyurem-Black @ Life Orb
EVs: 252 Atk / 56 SpA / 200 Spe
Shiny: Yes
Lonely Nature
- Dragon Claw
- Fusion Bolt
- Ice Beam
- Iron Head
Ability: Clear Body
EVs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Shiny: Yes
Hasty Nature
- Moonblast
- Diamond Storm
- Earth Power
- Hidden Power Fire
Magnezone @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Magnet Pull
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Shiny: Yes
Timid Nature
- Volt Switch
- Hidden Power Fire
- Flash Cannon
- Thunderbolt
Breloom @ Toxic Orb
Ability: Poison Heal
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpD
Shiny: Yes
Careful Nature
- Leech Seed
- Drain Punch
- Protect
- Spore
Keldeo @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Justified
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Shiny: Yes
Timid Nature
- Icy Wind
- Scald
- Secret Sword
- Hidden Power Flying
Skarmory @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Def
Shiny: Yes
Bold Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Whirlwind
- Brave Bird
- Roost
Kyurem-Black @ Life Orb
EVs: 252 Atk / 56 SpA / 200 Spe
Shiny: Yes
Lonely Nature
- Dragon Claw
- Fusion Bolt
- Ice Beam
- Iron Head
Diamonds are forever. I hope you enjoyed my RMT. I hope that you can find it in your heart, a fren, to help make this team better and help me achieve #1 on the ladder with this team, by suggesting better sets or replacements. Be a fren, do the right thing, and rate! Thank you for your time, it is greatly appreciated! And, thanks to Smogon for being a lovely community!
