Eccenditto's Scrafty tactics

[eccenditto]

Scafty Tactics v1.0​

Hey everyone my name is eccenditto and this is my very first but certainly not my last post on these forums. I've been lurking around Smogon for about 2 years now as a guest and I've finally decided to make an account so I can get involved in this great site. Now onto a little bit about the team in general: as the title suggests this team is built around my favorite pokemon Scrafty who just happens to be in OU. The set that I enjoy using the most is the Bulk Up set but right now I'm testing the DD set. The team has a some success but it seems to be missing something in order to really be good so thats why I'm here.

Team Building Process

Obviously my team started of with Scrafty and went from there. Scrafty is an excellent bulky attacker but really doesn't enjoy taking any super effective moves. The main weakness that I focused on solving right of was his fighting weakness. With an abundance of fighting types roaming in todays OU metagame it seemed only natural that I address that first so I added:

Luckily enough Scrafty and Gengar also cover all of the other weakness that the two have with the exception being Scrafty's flying type weakness. Gengar also adds several useful immunities that I can make use of. Now that I had an offensive core of sorts I focused my attention on allowing them to do what they do best:

Mienshao was added so that I could have a lead gain me momentum right away and so that hopefully through brute strength I can keep entry hazards of the playing field. With a combination of Life Orb and Regenerator it means that I can get off a few hits and then U-Turn out to safety all while regaining some of my health. After that I felt like I needed a true revenge killer so I chose:

Scizor can revenge kill weaker pokemon with a stupid strong Bullet Punch due to STAB, Technician and Choice Band. Scizor can also play tag with Mienshao and U-turn in and out with him. Scizor is also capable of trapping many ghost and psychic type pokemon that I would prefer not to have to use Gengar or Scrafty to deal with. After that I figured I might as well deal with Scizors fire type weakness so you can probably guess who comes next:

Not only does Heatran take care of Scizors one and only weakness but he can even take advantage of it to gain a quick boost and take out an opponent or two. I use Heatran mostly to soften up pokemon for either Gengar or Scrafty in the late game and so far he has done a nice job of that. Since the only weakness I have left to be checked is Heatran's water weakness I decided to address that with:

Gastrodon noms on water moves for breakfast and them fires back at any pokemon that switches in with its newly boosted Special Attacks. Any grass type attacks that are predicted are deferred to Heatran so those two have very nice synergy with each other as well. Gastrodon is also my only pokemon that deals out any form of residual damage in the form of Toxic. Toxic is useful to soften up any walls that my opponent may be using that are causing me trouble.

After looking at the responses by you guys I decided to test out both Landorus and Reuniclus and both have been better fits on the team and have helped me tremendously. Landorus does everything that Mienshao was able to do but has better coverage and deals with more threats. Reuniclus hits just as hard as Gengar but then he can Calm Mind and hit even hard plus the added bulk has really helped the team.
Now lets go into a little more detail shall we?

The Team

Landorus (M) @ Choice Scarf
Trait: Sand Force
EVs: 4 HP/ 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Stone Edge
- Earthquake
- U-turn
- Hidden Power [Ice]

Using Scarfed Landorus as a lead seemed strange to me when it was suggested but then I tested it and it hasn't let me down yet. If I play smart I can usually get at least a one pokemon advantage very quickly. EdgeQuake coverage has been tremendously helpful on my team and seems to have filled a gap in coverage overall that I needed. U-Turn allows me to scout which is always useful and something I'm not afraid to abuse. Hidden Power [Ice] simple offers just a little bit more coverage. The EVs are simple to allow Landorus to be as strong and fast as possible.

Gastrodon (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Storm Drain
EVs: 252 HP / 4 SAtk / 252 SDef
Sassy Nature (+SDef, -Spd)
- Earthquake
- Scald
- Toxic
- Recover

Gastrodon is a double-edged sword on this team. He is perfectly capable of firing of strong STAB Earthquakes and Scalds (especially if I've gotten a Special Attack boost for the latter), but he can also stall out pokemon quite effectively using Toxic + Recovery. I tend to switch Gastrodon in on Rotom-W a lot, especially if I'm pretty sure its scarfed so that I can get a free switch and then either us Scald to try and get a burn or Toxic depending on what pokemon I've predicted will come in to try to get rid of Gastrodon. Gastrodon is the pokemon that I rely on to help me cripple stronger physical attackers and soften up walls as well. Gastrodon has proven effective against the three common weather inducers as well as Tyranitar 3HKOs with Crunch and I can easily 2HKO with EQ, Ninetales doesn't appreciate a Scald very much, and Politoed is easily stalled with toxic. Storm Drain is the obvious nature of choice due to the nice water immunity on the team and also the potential to make Scald even stronger. The EVs and nature are used to make Gastrodon as bulky as possible.

Heatran (M) @ Air Balloon
Trait: Flash Fire
EVs: 252 SAtk / 4 SDef / 252 Spd
Modest Nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Fire Blast
- Earth Power
- Hidden Power [Grass]
- Stealth Rock

Heatran is an absolute power house and always deserves consideration while building a new team. Heatran had great nature bulk which allows one to invest EVs into Heatrans already impressive Special Attack and lackluster Speed. Steel/Fire typing gives Heatran a smorgasbord of resistances and immunities which means that I have no shortage of time that I can't switch on a resisted attack and hit the switch in hard. Nothing really enjoys taking a Fire Blast directly besides maybe Dragonite, the pink blobs and bulky waters the latter of which Heatran has no business messing with. Earth Power is useful in dealing with other Heatran and pokemon that resist Fire Blast. Hidden Power [Grass] can be used to catch a water type coming in before you eventually switch out yourself. I rarely ever put up Stealth Rocks but when I do its usually right before Heatran goes down or if my opponent is switching a lot.

Scizor (F) @ Choice Band
Trait: Technician
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Bullet Punch
- U-turn
- Superpower
- Pursuit

I would consider Scizor the MVP in a lot of the matches that I play. As mentioned before and as many of you know Bullet Punch is very strong. When I'm using it I consider it a blessing but when its being used against me I absolutely hate it. U-Turn is used mainly to scout or to U-Turn pass with Mienshao but I have made use of it as a legitimate attacking move from time to time. Superpower is used mainly for annoying pink blobs that get in the way of my team. Pursuit is amazing and I love using it to catch ghosts and the Lati twins switching out from Scizor. Scizor has really secured quite a few victories for me through the use of plain brute strength. The EV spread allows Scizor to be surprisingly bulky and also hit very hard alongside his Adamant nature.

Reuniclus (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Magic Guard
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SDef
Bold Nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Psychic
- Focus Blast
- Recover
- Calm Mind

Reuniclus is everythig that Gengar could hope to be. He has the bulk that would make Gengar a phenom and also has the Special Attack to deal out quiet a bit of damage. On top of that if Reuniclus is allowed to set up you can basically say lights out and just back out then because you've really messed up. If I can even get 2 boosts of Psychic becomes scary strong and not a lot of pokemon who don't resist can take a +2 Psychic bar maybe Blissey or Chansey. Focus Blast picks up great coverage with Psychic and allows me to hit Steel types hard when need be. Recover really ups Reuniclus' staying power and allows me to keep him alive for quite some time. The EVs and Nature allow Reuniclus to be as bulky as possible.

Scrafty (F) @ Leftovers
Trait: Moxie
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Dragon Dance
- Drain Punch
- Ice Punch
- Crunch

And now for the star of the show Scrafty. She is absolutely unstoppable after even just one Dragon Dance if you can get a KO and grab a Moxie boost. On the surface Scrafty may not look like much but if you use it you realize it can be a real force to be reckoned with. After a Dragon Dance, and any subsiquent boosts afterward, Hi Jump Kick knocks holes in teams. But for those pokemon such as Dragons or Ghosts that Hi Jump Kick isn't useful for Ice Punch and Crunch fill the Gaps. I chose to use leftovers as opposed to Life Orb because I wanted Scrafty to maintain some longevity if needed. The EVs make Scrafty quite strong to begin with and look to make up for her abismal speed.Drain Punch has been substituted for Hi Jump Kick so I don't have to rely on shaky accuracy and so Scrafty has a way of healing of damage reliably.

Alright everyone there is my team. Any help that I can get would be helpful so let's pull together as a community to make this as good a team as it can be. I look forward to hopefully meeting as many as you as possible in a battle. Here's to what I hope will be a long and enjoyable run for me on this forum!
​

 

[bluehoundoom]

Hey there! Scrafty also happens to be my favorite Pokémon and I'm glad you are using it!
Also, this is a really nice team you've got there and I do have suggestions to make. If you want Scrafty to live longer, I suggest replacing Hi Jump Kick for Drain Punch. You may be the losing the extra power but Scrafty will have a little more recover and it will be harder to take down. For Gengar, give it a Life Orb so it can inflict more damage because Gengar doesn't really need the Leftovers; it's pretty frail.
Hope this helps!

 

[doughboy]

This is a solid team that seems to have its bases covered, however it doesn't worry you that you run so many inaccurate fighting moves >_>

Anyway, Mienshao and Gengar (especially) seem like the odd ones out for this team. Mienshao and Scarfty have different purposes, but very similar movesets. In place of Mienshao, as a scout, I am going to suggest Choice Scarf Landorus.

Landorus (M) @ Choice Scarf
Trait: Sand Force
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Stone Edge
- Earthquake
- U-turn
- Hidden Power [Ice]

Landorus performs a very similar role to Mienshao with U-turn and HP Ice. He adds a very nice revenge killer for your team, as well as a scout (he's the Flygon of 5th Gen) EdgeQuake coverage was something this team lacked and gives a bit of movepool diversity.

Next, I've found Gengar a very shaky check to fighting types at best. He immune, but so damn frail :( Bulky Psychic type looks like the best fit on your team; specifically one that can break stall and absorb status. Calm Mind Reuniclus is my suggestion, forming a nice pair with Scrafty. In addition Reuniclus' awesome bulk and access to recover make him an awesome check to fighting types. Landorus and Heatran can take on those pesky Volcaronas, Tyranitar, and Scizors that bother Reuniclus.

Reuniclus (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Magic Guard
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SDef
Bold Nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Psychic
- Focus Blast
- Recover
- Calm Mind

I hope my suggestions helped your team, let me know if they did.

 

[eccenditto]

Thank you both for your suggestions I will test out all of these suggestions especially the pokemon switches because I have to agree with you that the inaccurate fighting attacks have hurt me

 

[qwertybanana]

You should try replacing earthquake on gastrodon with earth power as gastrodon has more special attack and might get a special attack boost from storm drain.

 

[eccenditto]

I have considered it but earthquake hits more things more reliably

 

[bygbyrd]

I would second a reuniclus as a Terrakion only has to stone edge gengar then have a feild day with fighting stabs. If you do keep Gengar, I have to ask how much you use thunderbolt because freeing up the space for pain split would allow you to run LO and have some more power. Good luck with the team !

 

[eccenditto]

Hey everyone just a quick update I've been trying out the suggestions and they are working out well except I can seem to beat Breloom

 

[eccenditto]

Alright everyone updates are in red. Still have trouble with Breloom so I would love some help with that.

 

[New World Order]

Hi, got the request. Solid team overall, although your Scrafty is incredibly weak. Leftovers Drain Punch is a laughable Attack even at +1 thanks to Scrafty's low Attack. If Hi Jump Kick's low accuracy isn't your thing, at least use a Life Orb. That way, Scrafty can have more oomph behind Crunch at least. The recoil shouldn't be an issue, as you can just heal it off with Drain Punch. I personally like the combination of Hi Jump Kick+Shed Skin+Leftovers most, as you have yourself power, pseudo-status immunity, and healing all in one, but if Hi Jump Kick doesn't work for you, go with Life Orb Drain Punch, once you nab a few KOs, Moxie will take care of power issues later on. Your only answer to opposing Landorus is your own Landorus, which is just plain not reliable. Hidden Power Grass is pretty useless on Heatran, so I suggest dropping it for Hidden Power Ice. With that, Heatran is also able to back up Scizor against DD Dragonite and DD Salamence, provided you keep that Air Balloon in tact.

Now, I don't see your apparent problem with Breloom, as Reuniclus handles it quite nicely. As long as you have somebody else absorb the Spore, you should have no trouble taking it out with Psychic. Just pick to least valuable member of your team, as determined by Team Preview, have them take the Spore, and bring in Reuniclus. If you're really really paranoid of Spore, you could try running a Flame Orb on Reuniclus, which does nothing to Reuniclus but protect it from status. While the loss of Leftovers is incredibly bothersome, it does indeed improve Reuniclus's chances of defeating Breloom. If all else fails, Heatran outspeeds Breloom and can revenge kill it with Fire Blast.

Now, one problem is ironically, opposing DD Scrafty! With Choice Scarf and no Sand support, Landorus is just not powerful enough to take out Scrafty in one shot. Your best bet is to sacrifice a Pokemon, bring in Landorus to hit it with Earthquake, and close it off with Scizor, effectively trading 2 Pokes for one. The biggest problem of all though, is SD Lucario, who can set up against Scizor and proceed to maul your team. Landorus takes 75.3% - 88.8% from +2 Extremespeed and is certainly not a viable check. Everyone else has no chance. I suggest swapping Landorus for a Sub DD Gyarados, who can Intimidate Scrafty as it comes in, and either set up itself or take it out with Bounce. You won't open up a Volcarona weakness, as Gyarados does just fine against everything besides HP Rock Volcarona, which is handled by Heatran. Gyarados and Scrafty can also form a "dual Dragon combination" (yeah I know, neither of them are actually Dragons) where each can weaken the other's checks counters for the other to sweep.

GL

TLDR version

Life Orb>Leftovers on Scrafty
pros: Drain Punch+Leftovers is pathetically weak, definitely need Life Orb for power, Drain Punch can heal off that recoil
cons: Drain Punch+Leftovers is just terrible

Hidden Power Ice>Hidden Power Grass on Heatran
pros: emergency Landorus check, back up against DD Dragons
cons: I guess you can't hit bulky waters as hard...

Flame Orb>Leftovers on Reuniclus
pros: status immunity, which helps against Breloom
cons: lose out on Leftovers recovery

Warning: only do this if Breloom is completely unhandleable, as you may be overrating your Breloom problems

SubDD Gyarados>Scarf Landorus
pros: checks SD Lucario and DD Scrafty, doesn't open up Volcarona weakness, forms "double dragons" with Scrafty
cons: lose out on Landorus's U-turn/ STAB Earthquake

Sets

Scrafty @ Life Orb
Trait: Moxie
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Dragon Dance
- Drain Punch
- Ice Punch
- Crunch

Heatran @ Air Balloon
Trait: Flash Fire
EVs: 252 SAtk / 4 SDef / 252 Spd
Modest Nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Fire Blast
- Earth Power
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Stealth Rock

Reuniclus @ Flame Orb
Trait: Magic Guard
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SDef
Bold Nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Psychic
- Focus Blast
- Recover
- Calm Mind

Gyarados @ Leftovers
Trait: Intimidate
EVs: 52 HP / 252 Atk / 204 Spe
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -Spe)
- Dragon Dance
- Substitute
- Waterfall
- Bounce

 

[eccenditto]

Ok the switch the HP Ice on Heatran makes a lot of sense because I find myself not using HP Grass much at all. The use of a life orb on Scrafty may also prove to be pretty useful so I will have to test that out to see if it makes a difference as well. The only this I'm shaky about is switching Landorus out for Gyarados but again I'll have to test it out to see.

 

[eccenditto]

bump

 

[rylau00]

leftovers+moxie in my previous experience with scrafty is usually a bad idea as status can quickly ruin your fun. traditionally, lum berry is the given choice with moxie, whilst leftovers is left to shed skin sets. life orb isnt that conventional on scraftys mainly because either youll have enough boosts for the LO not to matter or youll be taken out by something because of loosing health to LO

as a scrafty user myself, id highly recommend running shed skin+lefties+dd. it definitely has its merits over moxie in better survivability and can remove status quite reliably. for example, prankster sableye can wall you to earth's end without shed skin, while scarf users can take you out if you dont have 3+ dances. since scrafty has such wonderful natural bulk, why not try and abuse him as a bulky sweeper?

unfortunately, after using scrafty a lot, ive found that terrakions of any set usually have better usability due to the immediate power and speed without having to boost, as well as having better boosting moves.

cool team though, good luck with it =]

 

[Tomahawk]

Dragon Dance Gyarados has quite an easy time against your team. He can set up on almost anything; Scrafty is set up on thanks to a possible Intimidate as well as your Scrafty being fairly weak, Scizor is set up on thanks to its typing and Intimidate, Heatran is walled as all of its moves bar Hidden Power Grass are neutral and Heatran also fears being KOed by Waterfall. Landorus is set up on when it's locked in anything but Stone Edge, and finally Gastrodon is set up on if Gyarados has Substitute or Taunt and you don't get a lucky Scald burn. Reuniclus can't exactly take boosted Waterfalls in the rain and can't KO back with Psychic either.
Jellicent walls pretty much all of your team as well, with really only Scrafty being able to hurt it, though even that does only 50% and Jellicent will just burn you and Recover up. Gastrodon can be outstalled with Taunt, Will-O-Wisp and Recover, Landorus can be taken down with Scald, Scizor is walled and burned, Heatran is walled and Scalded, Reuniclus stands a chance but loses to Cursed Body sets.

A Rotom-W in the place of Gastrodon would be a good solution in my opinion. Gastrodon just seems like the odd man out to me, as he really invites a lot of sweepers to set up all over you, and really slows down your team which can grab a lot of momentum with Landorus and Scizor; wasting it with Gastrodon seems useless. Rotom-W, on the other hand, has a good offensive force, and more importantly: Volt Switch. Rotom-W forms an excellent Volt-Turning combination with Scizor (and Landorus) and keeps the momentum on your side most of the time. Rotom-W also deals with both Gyarados and Jellicent. Gyarados is walled thanks to Rotom-W resisting both of Gyarados's STAB moves. He also strikes back with 4x super effective STAB moves. Jellicent is also walled and hit extremely hard with STAB Thunderbolt. The exact set is:

Hide

Rotom-W @ Leftovers or Choice Specs| Levitate
Modest | 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpA
Thunderbolt / Hydro Pump / Volt Switch / Pain Split or Trick

It may seem odd to use both Thunderbolt and Volt Switch. However, they are both very useful. Volt Switch keeps the momentum, which is great when combined with Scizor and Landorus. Thunderbolt, on the other hand, is necessary when dealing with SubDD Gyarados and Jellicent, as Volt Switch's effect of switching out lets them have a slightly easier time against Rotom. I advice that you use Leftovers and Pain Split for more survivability and not locking yourself into one move, but Choice Specs is also viable if you want more power.

I also second New World Order's suggestion of using Life Orb on Scrafty. Personally I would go with Hi Jump Kick, though you may not like the added side effect. However, Scrafty is very weak for a sweeper, and he needs the Life Orb to punch through some walls.

Good luck!

 

[eccenditto]

hmmm rotom-w could certainly help swing offensive momentum my way so i will certainly have to check it out