Dragonite, the Dragon Pokemon.

[D-NITE]

Dragonite, The Dragon Pokemon.

Pokemon was my favorite show as I child and Pokemon dictated much of my life as a young boy, but unfortunately I gave it up when I went to middle school. A couple months on Youtube I saw a link to Pokemon Season 1 theme song and that renewed my interest and reminded me of how much fun I had with it when I was little. I started on Pokemon Silver and got every future game until Emerald. Then I stopped at gen 4 and then I also learned about a Silver remake and I was like I HAVE to get it and here I am now.

I'm fairly new to competitive battling, but I still like to think I am pretty good. The times I lose, I lose because I am outclassed by other teams and that's where I need your guys' help.

I usually pick cool looking pokemon and ones close to my heart from the show or from the first pokemon game I played- Silver. And no pokemon is cooler or closer to my heart than Dragonite. He has been my constant for all my pokemon teams and has never left my party after I got him in each game. He is the MVP of the team in my opinion and has single-handedly won games for me and has been absolutely clutch. His performances constantly remind me of why is and always will be the # 1 dragon pokemon, in fact the #1 pokemon.

All this being said, I tried to make the best possible team for Dragonite and myself to be successful in, but I find it hard to change my line-up because of my likes and childhood "connections" towards the pokemon, but if something absolutely is outclassed I will try to change it.

Here's my team:

Breloom @ Choice Scarf
Effect Spore
Jolly (+Speed, -Special Attack), Evs: 252 Attack, 252 Speed, 4 Defense

-Spore
-Mach Punch
-Superpower
-Seed Bomb

My first ever EV trained pokemon makes for a unique lead (Is it?). This speed gets me to 393 speed, which sucks since for this lead I just try to stop entry hazards (I know there are more effective ways but this is pretty cool too), but Aerodactyl gets 394 so I just go for the mach punch as any lead who has taunt will go for since they fear the Sub-Puncher. I use Seed Bomb for Swampert as it is a OHKO since Swampert's don't carry Focus Sash very often. Anyway I usually get some free damage or a free sleep with this. I usually try to keep the Choice Scarf hidden so I can come in and spore something else later on. After I get my free damage/sleep I switch into my own entry hazarder, Skarmory and whirlwind them away so I can scout and reset their sleep counter. So again, any other lead besides Swampert, Tyranitar and Aerodactyl, I spore. I am expecting this lead to be criticized as I know leads with Lum berry screw me.

Skarmory @ Leftovers
Keen Eye
Impish (+Defense. - Special Attack), Evs: 252 HP, 200 Defense, 56 Attack

-Brave Bird
-Whirlwind
-Stealth Rock
-Roost

My first legit shiny pokemon is really good at what it does, no need to say more. I Stealth Rock and then I whirlwind/roost as long as I can to scout and get some damage, it's really annoying for them. I switch to Tyranitar when a special attacker comes in as Ttar is my special wall. Brave Bird does a lot Machamp, I've been thinking of re-adjusting them just so I can OHKO that ____, I think it is possible. Once this dies, I really have no other physical wall/phaser, so I have been thinking of switching Leftovers for Shed Shell for that rare Magnezone ( in my experience). Also thinking about switching S.R for spikes as I have plenty of time to set them up, but I have no other S.R er on my team so I'm probably gonna give that job to Tyranitar or just another S.R lead or maybe even this as lead, help me decide.

Tyranitar @ Leftovers
Sandstream
Sassy (+Special Defense, - Speed), Evs: 252 HP, 216 Special Defense, 40 Attack

-Curse
-Earthquake
-Stone Edge
-Payback

I love this aesthetically appealing, monstrous pokemon. IMO I think it is one of the coolest pokemon ever created. Also this Advance sprite above is very relatable to when I get pissed off, since I do quite often. It is my special wall and it is very good at it, no I am not ever using that Blissey. It doesn't have recovery except for Leftovers, so I am considering Rest or Stealth Rock for one of those spots. Ttar causes many switches, in where I Curse it up. After I curse, my HP, Attack, Defense, and Special Defense are all OVER 9000, jk over 400. How many other pokemon can say that? The sandstream helps wear down other pokemon when my skarm stalls them.

Lucario @ Life Orb
InnerFocus
Jolly (+Speed,-Special Attack), Evs: 252 Attack, 252 Speed, 4 HP

-Swords Dance
-Close Combat
-Extremespeed
-Ice Punch

I like this pokemon because of Brawl and the 7th movie. I bring this in to extremespeed a weakened poke or set up mid- to late game along with Dragonite. I do get many opportunities to set up and after that it's been successful sweeps. I don't like Gengar's with focus blast that come in on this though, even though focus blast has 70% accuracy they always hit Lucario while I always miss a crucial focus blast. I have been thinking to change this to a calm mind set since I only have one other special attacker on my team.

Gengar @ Choice Scarf
Levitate
Timid (+Speed, -Attack). Evs: 252 Speed, 252 Special Attack, 4 HP

-Focus Blast
-Shadow Ball
-Thunder Bolt
-Trick/ Destiny Bond

Anyone remember the Haunter licking Charmander? Obviouslly I can't use Haunter, but Gengar is much cooler, and a prankster. It has 3 immunities so I bring it on any of them or to revenge kill a Cocky DDance Gyarados. I can't figure out what to put in the last spot Trick/Destiny Bond, Destiny Bond seems like a great surprise move, but Trick is more reliable. Also this spot was being argued over Starmie @ Choice Scarf, but I really can't decide between the two, Shiny Starmie is eye candy and basically the same thing as Gengar, but IDK. This spot would also be useful as a dual screener so I get more chances to DDance/ Swords Dance, but Starmie can only learn those so I might change to Starmie. Help on this one in many places or even if a dual screener would benefit me enough to take out a move.

Dragonite @ Life Orb
InnerFocus
Adamant (+Attack, -Special Attack), Evs: 252 Speed, 252 Attack, 4 HP

-Dragon Dance
-Fire Punch
-Extremespeed
-Outrage

No need to further describe Dragonite. Anyone remember this episode, damn it was epic, until pikachu killed it. It took 4 of Ash's Pokemon to take it down! Ok anyway DDance first and choose an attack, simple and often it is game over.

Major Questions:

Breloom Lead?
Stealth Rock vs Spikes?
Shed skin vs Leftovers?
TTar, Stealth Rock/Rest?
Destiny Bond vs Trick?
Starmie vs Gengar
Any thing that would help this team greatly including replacing a pokemon
Rapid Spin vs Dual Screener
Who is a good Dual Screener? I tried Cresselia today cause it is a beauty, who to replace
Threats for my team
Anything that you feel is useful in telling me that will help




Thank you guys so much for your time to read this and helping me out, I know there is no better place on the internet for RMTs than here

 

[jc104]

Hello. This looks like a reasonably solid team, though I feel there are a few simple improvemements that could make it better.

I see little need for Mach punch on Breloom; it fails to 2HKO Aerodactyl, which means that you are better off using Seed Bomb. Stone Edge is a good move to replace it with, as it offers you coverage against Gyarados and Dragonite, the bulky versions of whom you can revenge-kill. It should be noted that with the prevalance of Machamp and Lum metagross leads at the moment, your breloom is not the best lead for the metagame. Skarmory could easily replace it in the lead position, allowing you to run a standard spore punch set.

Whether or not you move Skarm to the lead position, I would suggest SR over Brave Bird. Stealth Rock is the more important hazard of the two, and one layer of each hazard is hugely more potent than two layers of spikes. Brave Bird is a largely useless move; it is terribly weak and will unlikely do significant damage to anything that is not weak to it. Then I would suggest taking all the EVs out of attack, for obvious reasons. I find the specially defensive version of Skarm to be more effective than the physical one; it lets you set up weak attackers attacking from both sides of the spectrum. Finally, if you do run a lead set, you could consider Taunt over Whirlwind and a large speed investment, allowing you to prevent SR from a host of leads. A lum berry can also be used in that case to let you set up on sleep leads.

Your Lucario should run an Adamant nature and you should run Crunch over Ice Punch. Given that you have priority there is little need to run a Jolly nature. For most of the stuff for which it matters, like Gliscor, people take no chances and EV them to outrun all Lucario. Certainly Ice Punch carries little use besides Gliscor who outruns and OHKOes you. Crunch helps you past defensive Rotom-A, Dusknoir, Celebi and other Ghost and Psychic types.

I would suggest that you use the RestTalking variant of CurseTar. It gets reasonable coverage with Payback, and can act as a status absorber for your team (if you opt not to go for Spore Punch Breloom, and even then it can help before Breloom comes out). Tyranitar will become too easily worn down to achieve anything without recovery.

I would suggest a slightly bulky version of Scarf Rotom-W over your scarf Gengar. Remember that Gengar is your spin blocker, but is very frail and very easily trapped by Pursuit. Rotom-W is bulkier and has better resistances, and can make use of effective dual STAB. With a Scarf it is faster than most boosting threats, so the extra speed gengar packs is not all that relevant. The set should be Tbolt /Shadow Ball/Hydro Pump/Trick but the spread is a little more open. A timid nature and 216 speed EVs lets you outrun +1 Jolly Gyarados and so is needed. Significant but not necessarily full special attack investment is also needed to help you damage threats like Lucario and Dragonite significantly. The rest of the EVs can go into HP for bulk.

Good luck.

 

[360Swampert]

I agree with jc104 and feel he has coverd the main points of Swapping gengar for rotom-w and taking breloom of the lead spot, my advice though would be to change your Dragonite to an anti lead set which then allows you to clear the field in readiness for a lucario sweep.

These are the sets i would run

-Dragonite
Anti-Lead
Life Orb Inner Focus
Quiet
EVs 252 Atk / 252 SpA / 4 Spe
~ Draco Meteor
~ Fire Blast
~ ExtremeSpeed
~ Earthquake

-Rotom - W spin blocker
Life Orb Timid

EVs 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
~ Thunderbolt
~ Shadow Ball
~ Hydro Pump
~ Pain Split

-Breloom Sub Pawncher

Toxic Orb Poison Heal Adamant

EVs12 HP / 252 Atk / 244 Spe
~ Spore
~ Focus Punch
~ Seed Bomb
~ Stone Edge / Substitute

Hope this helps

 

[alexripper13]

agreed with most of what he said↑
but try switching places with breloom to lucario anti-lead and use sub punch breloom

you can try giving t-tar fire blast over curse since it will 2 jo skarmory if its brave nature
give spikes to skarmory over SR

your team has decent synergy

 

[SmileZ]

Firstly, I use Skarm as a lead at the moment and when you get down those spikes and rocks you are in a very good position. As a result I tend to use both with Roost and Whirlwind. But that being said, as a lead he just can't set up in today's metagame. I'm working on moving him out and replacing him with something quick which can taunt. Most likely Azelf for the Explosion. Unfortunately, the most common leads outrun him or are named Machamp and that's not fun. The only thing I found myself setting up on was Swampert.

You can, however, use him in the team to great effect but not without reliable spinblocking. I found a bulky Rotom-A works wonders.

SD Lucario's ES absolutely adores Stealth rock and a couple of layers so he's worth keeping.

Sorry about the shitty rate. Good luck with the team.

 

[D-NITE]

Rotom-W seems like a great addition, but I can't do wi-fi battles with it. That stinks because it seemed like it would work extremely well scarfed. I only do wi-fi battles and it freaking changes it back to its original form, so that sucks.

 

[chewyourfood]

Hi, got your message.

Breloom Lead?
Stealth Rock vs Spikes?
Shed skin vs Leftovers?
TTar, Stealth Rock/Rest?
Destiny Bond vs Trick?
Starmie vs Gengar
Rapid Spin vs Dual Screener
Threats for my team
Anything that you feel is useful in telling me that will help

I'll try to address these one by one, and jc104 probably has already given some good suggestions (i'm just too lazy to read his gigantic post lol), so if you see a repeating suggestion ignore it...

Breloom Lead?
Hmm... pretty skeptical about this thing. You might want to take off Mach Punch as its effect is pretty much limited by Choice Scarf. You might find additional usage with Stone Edge as it hits fliers who otherwise block your two STAB moves. Anti-lead Dragonite, Zapdos, etc. are hit hard by Stone Edge.

Stealth Rock vs Spikes?
First things first: When I first looked at your team, I thought it would be semi-stall/stall because of you Skarmory. If you're finding opportunities to put in Spikes, then by all means do so. In fact, I suggest running Spikes over Brave Bird as you really have no need for it (will explain this later).

Entry hazards really make it easier for other mons to sweep. Gengar loves Spikes, as does Lucario and DNite, as it nabs them their OHKOs and 2HKOS.

Shed skin vs Leftovers?
Leftovers.

TTar, Stealth Rock/Rest?
I'm going to suggest changing your Tyranitar to a Choice Scarf Set because ironically, your own Gengar set can run through your entire team. In fact, LO Gengar outspeeds your entire team and can 2HKO it. Tyranitar can come in on a Shadow Ball and either Crunch/Pursuit to get rid of that silly ghost.

Tyranitar @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 4 HP/252 Atk/252 Spd
Jolly nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Crunch
- Pursuit
- Stone Edge
- Earthquake/Superpower

Destiny Bond vs Trick?
Hmm... I honestly don't quite like your Gengar, as it dies too easily to pursuit users. By utilizing Sub-split Gengar, you can set-up a substitute as they switch in their TTar/whatever and proceed to Focus Blast/whatever. With Spikes support from Skarmory, Gengar nabs useful OHKOs and 2HKOs by hitting everything in the OU metagame for at least neutral damage.

Yes, I know what you're thinking: "OMG WHAT ABOUT DDGYARA?"
That brings me back to your Breloom. Outside of Spore, Breloom really won't be doing much. Most people right off the bat know that a lead Breloom is scarfed, and will be prepared to bring in their rest-talker/Breloom counter. And once it puts something to sleep, Breloom becomes soooo predictable. What I suggest is changing your Breloom to a Pokemon that can support your team better than Breloom can. DDGyara's worst enemy is Vaporeon with HP Electric. It is worth certain consideration, as Vaporeon coming in on resisted attacks can scare off other Pokemon with Surf, racking up some switch in damage, while while utilizing Wish to pass health to other members who support Vaporeon (Grass moves are NFE against Skarmory, who can setup Spikes, Lucario, who can fire off Close Combats or Swords Dances when it's ready to sweep, Gengar who can setup Subs, and DNites who can hit hard with Draco Meteor. Not much to say for Electric resists as I cannot find any room for one on your team lol.)

Vaporeon @ Leftovers
Ability: Water Absorb
EVs: 188 HP/252 Def/68 Spd
Bold nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Wish
- Protect
- Surf
- HP Electric

Starmie vs Gengar
Gengar; it hits harder and outspeeds a good portion of the Metagame. Faster threats can be handled by Tyranitar with its massive Special Defense (As for Starmies, switch to Vaporeon to absorb the Hydro Pump/Surf, and double switch to TTar to absorb the TBolt, and then Pursuit/Crunch)

Rapid Spin vs Dual Screener
I see no particular need.

Threats for my team
Your team actually handles a number of threats quite nicely. The only problem I see is Offensive Suicune, but it can hopefully be whirlwinded away by Skarmory (consider a Specially Defensive Skarmory to achieve this defense) and get hit by a possible 75% damage from two turns of switching in.

Anything that you feel is useful in telling me that will help
Good luck!


Hope this helps!

 

[KidX]

Hello! I got your PM

Breloom Lead? Used one before, not a bad lead, it can stay, but change mach punch to stone edge to hit gyara hard on the switch.

Stealth Rock vs Spikes? Well, IMO SR>Spikes because nothing is immune to it

Shed skin vs Leftovers? I use lefties for survivability, but shed shell can be used in case your scared of magnezone, but its not much of a problem.

TTar, Stealth Rock/Rest? Well for my curse tar that I run I just simply use rest talk + payback and curse with the same evs and nature.

Destiny Bond vs Trick? Well since you got both breloom and luc I guess destiny bond for a late game kill.

Starmie vs Gengar Honestly, use starmie over gengar, just use a scarf one with Hydro Pump | Thunderbolt | Ice Beam | Trick.

Any thing that would help this team greatly including replacing a pokemon
Generally I like to change as little as possible when rating

Rapid Spin vs Dual Screener
None.
Who is a good Dual Screener? I tried Cresselia today cause it is a beauty, who to replace
Cress works ok, but bronzong is also nice

Oh and tryout EQ over ES on dragonite

Good Luck!