https://pokepast.es/27df03f3cfc9f43f
I need some insight on this team I built, I feel like I've got something here but I can't quite tell what's missing. To be honest, a lot of instances where I've lost have been a result of either some sort of unfortunate circumstances (status/untimely crit) or careless play on my part. Donphan does a really good job being a pest in the lead slot and Heatran + Milo is a difficult defensive core to break, with Rose support to clear t-spikes.
Key Threats:
-Hazards outside the lead + spin block
-Last mon DDtar (or really if Metagross is out and Milo is chipped)
-Flygon variants (and more broadly earthquake)
-Mix Ape
-Offensive Starmie
-RNG (there is only so much you can control here but given the team is pretty slow, opp does get more bites at the apple for nonsense)
Here is the team:
Donphan
Adamant
-Rapid Spin
-Knock Off
-Earthquake
-Ice Shard
I wanted rapid spin support for the team and after playing around with the order settled on a donphan lead concept to prevent turn 1 hazards. Donphan nicely shuts down the garden variety lead azelf and aerodactyl. Some opponents will try and overthink what Donphan is going to do, and in the meantime you get decent chip with rapid spin. Aero is particularly vulnerable to just clicking rapid spin because you can eat whatever offense it might throw your way and then remove it with ice shard without hazards. You also get to neutralize lead skarmory (break sash and prevent hazards). Ice shard gives this team priority, which it needs because we're pretty slow. Dragonite is kind of a sticky lead match up because a combination of draco and extreme speed will always kill no matter the spread, and switching into tran is risky if you're wrong on the set.
Metagross (Scarf)
Timid
-Meteor Mash
-Earthquake
-Explosion
-Trick
Initially this was trick - iron ball but the team desperately needed a stop gap to dragon dancing tar and other boosting sweepers. Metagross is essential to both the offensive and defense backbone of the team. If the match-up is stall/something slower, trick is necessary to let Metagross change out roles. Running timid lets Metagross outspeed conventional boosted gyara, Dnite, and Tyranitar. Post trick, the speed tier also definitely appreciated. Metagross is also a nice switch in to stall teams relying on specs lati to break opposing cores because it sets up a free trick opportunity.
Latias (Specs)
Timid
-Draco Meteor
-Surf
-Trick
-Healing Wish
Specs lati is good at what it does, I think the most difficult usage here is that Lati also provides some defensive utility (levitate) that gives opponents opportunities to switch in Tyranitar. The set is fairly standard, and H-Wish sets up win conditions late in the game when there is usually a wall hanging on for life capable of finishing off the opponent. I'm running timid for the speed, which we are otherwise sorely lacking.
Milotic
Bold, 252 Def
-Surf
-Ice Beam
-Recover
-Haze
Milotic is a good bulky water with the toolset to synergize with other team members. Haze stops gyarados, suicune, and sometimes tyranitar from setting up and running amok. Milotic functions best when a toxic spike is sitting out on the field. Milotic in tandem with Heatran also does a good job of shutting down most Jirachi. If Jirachi wants to paralyze Milo, it becomes significantly more difficult to luck through. In my testing though, poor Milotic has been the victim of heinous crit after heinous crit. Some of those are unfortunate, but the team style I think is going to be more vulnerable given the speed and tendency to take repeated hits.
Roserade
Modest, 252 SpA
-Toxic Spikes
-Energy Ball
-Hidden Power Ice
-Stun Spore
Roserade and Milotic play well together - Milotic appreciates the toxic spike clearing/setting and rose appreciates cover from opposing Heatran. The EV spread is one I'm not really too confident about, I don't feel like SpDef rose is the right call because we already have a pretty stout defense, but it feels a little wasteful given that rose isn't attacking all too often. HP Ice over fire because I'm more concerned with dragonite than I am scizor. Stun spore is a nice option to catch incoming steel/levitating, and I prefer energy ball over leaf storm to not invite in trouble. Rose is a pretty essential partner to Milotic (and donphan) on the toxic spike clearing alone.
Heatran
Calm 252 SpDef
-Stealth Rock
-Lava Plume
-Protect
-Explosion
SpDef heatran is a staple on a lot of toxic spikes teams. The set is fairly straightforward but it provides crucial support against Latias and can explode late game or to try and get a shot at catching clef by surprise. I didn't want to put stealth rock on Donphan and it was difficult to fit on metagross, but Heatran gets lots of opportunities to switch in (rotom will come in on Donphan and usually try to burn). Protect also helps stall down poison damage and rain turns.
It's difficult to swap out any individual because the synergy, particularly among Milo - Roserade - Heatran, is pretty strong. Metagross provides the team with another steel type, and I am pretty sure I need rapid spin support here. Running any of the other options presents significant drawbacks. I went to play a few games to find replays where the defensive core got broken but of course I went on a win streak against quality opponents. Here are those replays:
Ransom II Regal (Ladder King !!!) - Donphan does its job on Aero
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen4ou-2649274234
megastaruniverse (1503) - Donphan takes one for the team again against Aero
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen4ou-2649286508-32j8ho8o5j8acip24lynbv3dyut1u72pw
kamaldeen (1582) - Donphan on Donphan violence, Roserade ends up being pretty crucial
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen4ou-2649288020-62p07nnmnnikeaprfje3me6vn7fqkdipw
ablacita - Donphan holds off Azelf, again
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen4ou-2649291132
I need some insight on this team I built, I feel like I've got something here but I can't quite tell what's missing. To be honest, a lot of instances where I've lost have been a result of either some sort of unfortunate circumstances (status/untimely crit) or careless play on my part. Donphan does a really good job being a pest in the lead slot and Heatran + Milo is a difficult defensive core to break, with Rose support to clear t-spikes.
Key Threats:
-Hazards outside the lead + spin block
-Last mon DDtar (or really if Metagross is out and Milo is chipped)
-Flygon variants (and more broadly earthquake)
-Mix Ape
-Offensive Starmie
-RNG (there is only so much you can control here but given the team is pretty slow, opp does get more bites at the apple for nonsense)
Here is the team:
Donphan
Adamant
-Rapid Spin
-Knock Off
-Earthquake
-Ice Shard
I wanted rapid spin support for the team and after playing around with the order settled on a donphan lead concept to prevent turn 1 hazards. Donphan nicely shuts down the garden variety lead azelf and aerodactyl. Some opponents will try and overthink what Donphan is going to do, and in the meantime you get decent chip with rapid spin. Aero is particularly vulnerable to just clicking rapid spin because you can eat whatever offense it might throw your way and then remove it with ice shard without hazards. You also get to neutralize lead skarmory (break sash and prevent hazards). Ice shard gives this team priority, which it needs because we're pretty slow. Dragonite is kind of a sticky lead match up because a combination of draco and extreme speed will always kill no matter the spread, and switching into tran is risky if you're wrong on the set.
Metagross (Scarf)
Timid
-Meteor Mash
-Earthquake
-Explosion
-Trick
Initially this was trick - iron ball but the team desperately needed a stop gap to dragon dancing tar and other boosting sweepers. Metagross is essential to both the offensive and defense backbone of the team. If the match-up is stall/something slower, trick is necessary to let Metagross change out roles. Running timid lets Metagross outspeed conventional boosted gyara, Dnite, and Tyranitar. Post trick, the speed tier also definitely appreciated. Metagross is also a nice switch in to stall teams relying on specs lati to break opposing cores because it sets up a free trick opportunity.
Latias (Specs)
Timid
-Draco Meteor
-Surf
-Trick
-Healing Wish
Specs lati is good at what it does, I think the most difficult usage here is that Lati also provides some defensive utility (levitate) that gives opponents opportunities to switch in Tyranitar. The set is fairly standard, and H-Wish sets up win conditions late in the game when there is usually a wall hanging on for life capable of finishing off the opponent. I'm running timid for the speed, which we are otherwise sorely lacking.
Milotic
Bold, 252 Def
-Surf
-Ice Beam
-Recover
-Haze
Milotic is a good bulky water with the toolset to synergize with other team members. Haze stops gyarados, suicune, and sometimes tyranitar from setting up and running amok. Milotic functions best when a toxic spike is sitting out on the field. Milotic in tandem with Heatran also does a good job of shutting down most Jirachi. If Jirachi wants to paralyze Milo, it becomes significantly more difficult to luck through. In my testing though, poor Milotic has been the victim of heinous crit after heinous crit. Some of those are unfortunate, but the team style I think is going to be more vulnerable given the speed and tendency to take repeated hits.
Roserade
Modest, 252 SpA
-Toxic Spikes
-Energy Ball
-Hidden Power Ice
-Stun Spore
Roserade and Milotic play well together - Milotic appreciates the toxic spike clearing/setting and rose appreciates cover from opposing Heatran. The EV spread is one I'm not really too confident about, I don't feel like SpDef rose is the right call because we already have a pretty stout defense, but it feels a little wasteful given that rose isn't attacking all too often. HP Ice over fire because I'm more concerned with dragonite than I am scizor. Stun spore is a nice option to catch incoming steel/levitating, and I prefer energy ball over leaf storm to not invite in trouble. Rose is a pretty essential partner to Milotic (and donphan) on the toxic spike clearing alone.
Heatran
Calm 252 SpDef
-Stealth Rock
-Lava Plume
-Protect
-Explosion
SpDef heatran is a staple on a lot of toxic spikes teams. The set is fairly straightforward but it provides crucial support against Latias and can explode late game or to try and get a shot at catching clef by surprise. I didn't want to put stealth rock on Donphan and it was difficult to fit on metagross, but Heatran gets lots of opportunities to switch in (rotom will come in on Donphan and usually try to burn). Protect also helps stall down poison damage and rain turns.
It's difficult to swap out any individual because the synergy, particularly among Milo - Roserade - Heatran, is pretty strong. Metagross provides the team with another steel type, and I am pretty sure I need rapid spin support here. Running any of the other options presents significant drawbacks. I went to play a few games to find replays where the defensive core got broken but of course I went on a win streak against quality opponents. Here are those replays:
Ransom II Regal (Ladder King !!!) - Donphan does its job on Aero
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen4ou-2649274234
megastaruniverse (1503) - Donphan takes one for the team again against Aero
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen4ou-2649286508-32j8ho8o5j8acip24lynbv3dyut1u72pw
kamaldeen (1582) - Donphan on Donphan violence, Roserade ends up being pretty crucial
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen4ou-2649288020-62p07nnmnnikeaprfje3me6vn7fqkdipw
ablacita - Donphan holds off Azelf, again
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen4ou-2649291132
