Double Double Dancers!
Hey all, this is my first RMT since the start of B/W, and my first team that isn't all-out offensive. I find it to be rather balanced. I appreciate any constructive criticism and suggestions, but please no hating. I am posting to improve my team, not have you call me a noob. Also, keep in mind I am hesitant about using SR weak pokemon without a rapid spinner.
Team building:
I appreciate any help or feedback given to me. However, please do not suggest toxic. I think Feraligatr and Haxorus do a fine job of working their way through walls.
Hey all, this is my first RMT since the start of B/W, and my first team that isn't all-out offensive. I find it to be rather balanced. I appreciate any constructive criticism and suggestions, but please no hating. I am posting to improve my team, not have you call me a noob. Also, keep in mind I am hesitant about using SR weak pokemon without a rapid spinner.
Team building:
This team started off with the idea of 2 double dancers. I had used Double Dance Haxorus in the past, and enjoyed using him. I decided I could use 2- one to crack the walls right off the bat, or pull off an early-game sweep, both to share the responsibility of mid-game smashing, and the second to pull off a late game sweep. Therefore, my first pokemon was Haxorus
Next I went to pick my second double dancer. I was surprised I only had 2 choices: Charizard or Feraligatr. I love Feraligatr, and use him in OU whenever I can, so I was happy to add him to my team. Also, even if there were another dragon able to double dance, I didn't want 2 dragons on one team. Feraligatr covers Haxorus' ice weakness, and Haxorus returns the favour with electric and grass. However, they cannot switch in to too powerful attacks anyways.
I needed a defensive core that resisted electric, grass, dragon, and ice. I had originally put this off, but upon learning that Celebi learns Healing Wish, which I find quite useful if I want to pull out Haxorus early, or if he faints and Feraligatr needs to finish the match. So I went with CeleTran, packing resistances to everything I had needed. And just look at Heatran. He's already teabagging something.
Now I had 2 pokemon remaining- my utility and revenger. I chose Gliscor as my utility, because I have had good experiences with him countering Excadrill and Blaziken, who my team would otherwise fall to (Celebi COULD be used for this, but 4-move syndrome). He also packs the fighting resist (specifically physical fighting moves) I was looking for.
Lastly, I had to chose my revenger. I decided I needed a prominent special attacker, and that it needed to have a base 115 speed so that I could run a Modest nature and troll +1 100's. I set on a Gen IV movie Raikou, one of my favourite pokemon, to fill the role.
As much as I love Raikou, the added ground weakness meant one more pokemon I couldn't switch in to take a ground move aimed at Heatran, and HP Ice just didn't cut it as far as BoltBeam goes. So I switched him with Starmie, who has superior coverage in less moves, and although I no longer have Volt Switch, Ferrathorns never see the Trick coming. Also, with 3 status absorbers, this team has no trouble taking Thunderwaves and Toxics
Next I went to pick my second double dancer. I was surprised I only had 2 choices: Charizard or Feraligatr. I love Feraligatr, and use him in OU whenever I can, so I was happy to add him to my team. Also, even if there were another dragon able to double dance, I didn't want 2 dragons on one team. Feraligatr covers Haxorus' ice weakness, and Haxorus returns the favour with electric and grass. However, they cannot switch in to too powerful attacks anyways.
I needed a defensive core that resisted electric, grass, dragon, and ice. I had originally put this off, but upon learning that Celebi learns Healing Wish, which I find quite useful if I want to pull out Haxorus early, or if he faints and Feraligatr needs to finish the match. So I went with CeleTran, packing resistances to everything I had needed. And just look at Heatran. He's already teabagging something.
Now I had 2 pokemon remaining- my utility and revenger. I chose Gliscor as my utility, because I have had good experiences with him countering Excadrill and Blaziken, who my team would otherwise fall to (Celebi COULD be used for this, but 4-move syndrome). He also packs the fighting resist (specifically physical fighting moves) I was looking for.
Lastly, I had to chose my revenger. I decided I needed a prominent special attacker, and that it needed to have a base 115 speed so that I could run a Modest nature and troll +1 100's. I set on a Gen IV movie Raikou, one of my favourite pokemon, to fill the role.
As much as I love Raikou, the added ground weakness meant one more pokemon I couldn't switch in to take a ground move aimed at Heatran, and HP Ice just didn't cut it as far as BoltBeam goes. So I switched him with Starmie, who has superior coverage in less moves, and although I no longer have Volt Switch, Ferrathorns never see the Trick coming. Also, with 3 status absorbers, this team has no trouble taking Thunderwaves and Toxics
The Team
Feraligatr@Life Orb
Adamant, Torrent
28 Hp, 252 Atk, 228 Spe
Swords Dance
Dragon Dance
Waterfall
Ice Punch
Feraligatr is the first of my 2 double dancers, and is the first sent out, except in special circumstances. She cracks walls early game and/or performs a sweep right off the bat, until she runs into a bulky water. She may perform a mid-game smash or sweep, and if Haxorus falls, I save her for my late-game sweep.
Her nature and EVs are straightforward- Adamant with 252 EVs for maximum hurting potential, 228 speed EVs to reach 373 after a Dragon Dance, and the rest into HP in case she needs to switch in to a weak attack. Her movepool is also straightforward- the dances have been explained, Waterfall for some powerful STAB, and Ice punch to hit the Dragons that switch in, although I am considering putting in Superpower until DW Feraligatr (Sheer Force) is released in order to hit Bulky waters and Ferrathorn better.
Starmie@Choice Scarf
Modest, Natural Cure
4 Hp, 252 SpA, 252 Spe
Surf
Thunderbolt
Ice Beam
Trick
CS Starmie is amazing. BoltBeam provides excellent coverage, with Surf as a more reliable STAB than Hydro Pump (if I'm going to be locked in to it, it should be more reliable) and Trick cripples walls after the opponent's fastest threats have been dealt with. There really isn't much else to say.
Celebi@Leftovers
Bold, Natural Cure
248 Hp, 228 Def, 32 Spe
Thunderwave
Healing Wish
Leaf Storm
Recover
Celebi is my first physical wall, and half of my defensive core. It absorbs Earthquakes, Surfs, and Close Combats left, right and centre. It covers all of Heatran's weaknesses, and absorbs statuses. It also sponges grass and electric moves aimed at Feraligatr, provided she's still up and running. 248 Hp EVs are to switch in an extra time with SR up, 32 Spe EVs are to outrun any Tyranitar, and the rest is dumped into physical bulk to sponge hits. Leaf Storm is my main STAB move. I had Giga Drain, but Celebi never stays out for more than 2 damaging attacks anyways, and 2 Leaf Storms do 40% more than 2 Giga Drains. Thunderwave is to cripple special sweepers, so that they may be KO'd, and Healing Wish is to recover the health of either Haxorus or Feraligatr late-game so that they may perform a sweep. Recover is there for longetivity, although I find i only use it every few battles. I am considering putting in HP Fire so that Celebi may also be a counter to Excadrill. Any suggestions on another move to fill this slot? Perhaps Perish Song? No Toxic, I like to keep it to 2 statuses per team
Heatran@Leftovers
Calm, Flash Fire
252 Hp, 48 Def, 228 SpD
Stealth Rock
Flamethrower
Will-o-Wisp
Protect
Heatran is the second half of my defensive core, covering all of Celebi's weaknesses (bar Tyranitar) and covering Haxorus' Dragon and Ice weaknesses. She sponges special attacks like a champ, and retaliates with an offensive attack or SR. She Will-o-Wisps physical attackers, making it easier for my double dancers to set up, or Flamethrowers them to ashes. The EVs in defense are to absorb dragon-type moves better, as the majority of them are physical.
Gliscor@Toxic Orb
Impish, Toxic Heal
252 Hp, 184 Def, 72 Spe
Swords Dance
Earthquake
Ice Fang
Taunt
Gliscor is my very, very useful utility counter. She wrecks Excadrill and Blaziken, provides a needed ground immunity, and resists fighting. Although having 3 pokemon with Swords Dance may seem strange, Gliscor isn't exactly a sweeper, and uses it only when she needs to. Earthquake is for STAB, Ice Fang is for dragons and other Gliscor, and Taunt is for setup sweepers that try to scare Gliscor out.
Haxorus@Life Orb
Jolly, Mold Breaker
16 Hp, 252 Atk, 240 Spe
Swords Dance
Dragon Dance
Dual Chop
Earthquake
Haxorus is my second double dancer. She has more power and speed, but is also more fragile. She can smash walls and sweep, but we already covered this. She has max attack the highest damage output, and 240 speed to outspeed base 95's. The rest is put into some sort of survivability. Earthquake is obvious, as it hits the steel types that resist Haxorus' STAB, but Dual Chop needs some explanation. I cannot use Outrage on this set because it needs to be brought out more than once, and I can't just rely on Earthquake in these instances. Were I to be locked into Outrage, easy revenge kill. And I chose Dual Chop over Dragon Claw because my team has a weakness to subdancers, subseeders, and anything else sub. Dual Chop allows me to bypass the sub and damage the actual pokemon.
Feraligatr@Life Orb
Adamant, Torrent
28 Hp, 252 Atk, 228 Spe
Swords Dance
Dragon Dance
Waterfall
Ice Punch
Feraligatr is the first of my 2 double dancers, and is the first sent out, except in special circumstances. She cracks walls early game and/or performs a sweep right off the bat, until she runs into a bulky water. She may perform a mid-game smash or sweep, and if Haxorus falls, I save her for my late-game sweep.
Her nature and EVs are straightforward- Adamant with 252 EVs for maximum hurting potential, 228 speed EVs to reach 373 after a Dragon Dance, and the rest into HP in case she needs to switch in to a weak attack. Her movepool is also straightforward- the dances have been explained, Waterfall for some powerful STAB, and Ice punch to hit the Dragons that switch in, although I am considering putting in Superpower until DW Feraligatr (Sheer Force) is released in order to hit Bulky waters and Ferrathorn better.
Starmie@Choice Scarf
Modest, Natural Cure
4 Hp, 252 SpA, 252 Spe
Surf
Thunderbolt
Ice Beam
Trick
CS Starmie is amazing. BoltBeam provides excellent coverage, with Surf as a more reliable STAB than Hydro Pump (if I'm going to be locked in to it, it should be more reliable) and Trick cripples walls after the opponent's fastest threats have been dealt with. There really isn't much else to say.
Celebi@Leftovers
Bold, Natural Cure
248 Hp, 228 Def, 32 Spe
Thunderwave
Healing Wish
Leaf Storm
Recover
Celebi is my first physical wall, and half of my defensive core. It absorbs Earthquakes, Surfs, and Close Combats left, right and centre. It covers all of Heatran's weaknesses, and absorbs statuses. It also sponges grass and electric moves aimed at Feraligatr, provided she's still up and running. 248 Hp EVs are to switch in an extra time with SR up, 32 Spe EVs are to outrun any Tyranitar, and the rest is dumped into physical bulk to sponge hits. Leaf Storm is my main STAB move. I had Giga Drain, but Celebi never stays out for more than 2 damaging attacks anyways, and 2 Leaf Storms do 40% more than 2 Giga Drains. Thunderwave is to cripple special sweepers, so that they may be KO'd, and Healing Wish is to recover the health of either Haxorus or Feraligatr late-game so that they may perform a sweep. Recover is there for longetivity, although I find i only use it every few battles. I am considering putting in HP Fire so that Celebi may also be a counter to Excadrill. Any suggestions on another move to fill this slot? Perhaps Perish Song? No Toxic, I like to keep it to 2 statuses per team
Heatran@Leftovers
Calm, Flash Fire
252 Hp, 48 Def, 228 SpD
Stealth Rock
Flamethrower
Will-o-Wisp
Protect
Heatran is the second half of my defensive core, covering all of Celebi's weaknesses (bar Tyranitar) and covering Haxorus' Dragon and Ice weaknesses. She sponges special attacks like a champ, and retaliates with an offensive attack or SR. She Will-o-Wisps physical attackers, making it easier for my double dancers to set up, or Flamethrowers them to ashes. The EVs in defense are to absorb dragon-type moves better, as the majority of them are physical.
Gliscor@Toxic Orb
Impish, Toxic Heal
252 Hp, 184 Def, 72 Spe
Swords Dance
Earthquake
Ice Fang
Taunt
Gliscor is my very, very useful utility counter. She wrecks Excadrill and Blaziken, provides a needed ground immunity, and resists fighting. Although having 3 pokemon with Swords Dance may seem strange, Gliscor isn't exactly a sweeper, and uses it only when she needs to. Earthquake is for STAB, Ice Fang is for dragons and other Gliscor, and Taunt is for setup sweepers that try to scare Gliscor out.
Haxorus@Life Orb
Jolly, Mold Breaker
16 Hp, 252 Atk, 240 Spe
Swords Dance
Dragon Dance
Dual Chop
Earthquake
Haxorus is my second double dancer. She has more power and speed, but is also more fragile. She can smash walls and sweep, but we already covered this. She has max attack the highest damage output, and 240 speed to outspeed base 95's. The rest is put into some sort of survivability. Earthquake is obvious, as it hits the steel types that resist Haxorus' STAB, but Dual Chop needs some explanation. I cannot use Outrage on this set because it needs to be brought out more than once, and I can't just rely on Earthquake in these instances. Were I to be locked into Outrage, easy revenge kill. And I chose Dual Chop over Dragon Claw because my team has a weakness to subdancers, subseeders, and anything else sub. Dual Chop allows me to bypass the sub and damage the actual pokemon.
I appreciate any help or feedback given to me. However, please do not suggest toxic. I think Feraligatr and Haxorus do a fine job of working their way through walls.
