Enter Vulture

[cb aaron judge]

Introduction: I made this team less than 2 days ago and it has accumulated a record of around 25-0 on the PS NU ladder on the alt cbttest (the losses on this alt are from another team or an earlier version with Kangaskhan over Sawk)

Klang @ Eviolite
Trait: Clear Body
EVs: 88 HP / 252 Atk / 168 Spd
Adamant Nature
- Gear Grind
- Shift Gear
- Return
- Substitute

One may think Klang is just another NU Steel-type, but its actually quite the hidden gem, as many Pokemon in NU aren’t prepared to face Steel-types, which can give Klang ample time to set up Substitute and boost with Shift Gear. Gear Grind and Return are the attacking moves of choice, with the former having STAB and breaking enemy Substitutes, and the latter
hitting Steel resists such as Charizard and Water-types. The EV spread maximizes power and bulk, and outspeeds all unboosted Pokemon up to 112 base speed after a Shift Gear boost.

Mandibuzz (F) @ Leftovers
Trait: Big Pecks
EVs: 240 HP / 8 Def / 252 SDef / 8 Spd
Careful Nature
- Substitute
- Toxic
- Roost
- Foul Play

The latest arrival to NU, Mandibuzz serves as a more defensive Pokemon for the team, with 110/105/95 defenses serving well with its relatively high speed for a defensive Pokemon. Substitute and Toxic serve as a combo that can be used to block and spread status, respectively, while Roost is a must, as it extends the longevity of Mandibuzz. Foul Play punishes Pokemon with high Attack that may choose to set up on Mandibuzz. It also notably OHKOes common variants of Golurk. The EVs are tailored to maximize Mandibuzz’s lower special bulk, while 8 Def slightly increases its physical bulk, and 8 Spd gets the jump on slower Mandibuzz and other uninvested base 80s.

Misdreavus @ Eviolite
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature
- Nasty Plot
- Shadow Ball
- Thunderbolt
- Taunt

Misdreavus serves as a Pokemon that can stop hazard setters, setup sweepers, and defensive Pokemon with Taunt, and can set up a Nasty Plot on Pokemon that it threatens out or Choice-locked Fighting moves, among other things. Shadow Ball serves as STAB, while Thunderbolt is mainly used to hit Pokemon such as Swellow hard, and other Pokemon that are immune to or resist Shadow Ball.

Sawk (M) @ Choice Band
Trait: Mold Breaker
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature
- Close Combat
- Stone Edge
- Ice Punch
- Earthquake

Sawk is one of the greatest wallbreakers in the tier, and this is boosted even more by Mold Breaker, which makes it able to OHKO common SR setters such as Golem and Bastiodon. Close Combat is an extremely powerful STAB boosted even more by Choice Band, while Earthquake, Stone Edge, and Ice Punch are used to hit Pokemon such as Garbodor, Scolipede, and Golurk super effectively, in that order.

Metang @ Eviolite
Trait: Clear Body
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def
Adamant Nature
- Meteor Mash
- Bullet Punch
- Stealth Rock
- Sleep Talk


Metang is one of the better SR setters in the tier, as it has a nice defensive typing that makes it neutral to Fighting, and the 4x Psychic resistance and the use of Sleep Talk on the set make it an instant fuck you to Jynx, which is OHKOed by Meteor Mash regardless and Bullet Punch after SR. The EVs make Metang more of an offensive tank than a defensive wall, which enhances its ability to take down common frail Pokemon and Steel-weak Pokemon such as Haunter and Regice.

Jynx (F) @ Choice Scarf
Trait: Dry Skin
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature
- Ice Beam
- Psychic
- Lovely Kiss
- Trick

One of the best Scarfers in the tier, Jynx serves the role well, as it sits in the pivotal base 95 speed tier, letting it speed tie with Scarf Primeape among other things, and has access to a fast Lovely Kiss to induce sleep and Trick to cripple defensive Pokemon such as Lickilicky and Alomomola. Psychic and Ice Beam are the best STAB options for Jynx given their relatively high Base Power and reliability.


Conclusion: This team is one of the better teams I’ve made personally, but the main flaw I see in it is the fact that Charizard (especially the Scarf variant) can break the team down relatively easily, especially if its in Blaze range.



Importable:

Klang @ Eviolite
Trait: Clear Body
EVs: 240 HP / 136 Def / 40 SDef / 92 Spd
Impish Nature
- Rest
- Sleep Talk
- Shift Gear
- Gear Grind

Mandibuzz (F) @ Leftovers
Trait: Big Pecks
EVs: 240 HP / 8 Def / 252 SDef / 8 Spd
Careful Nature
- Substitute
- Toxic
- Roost
- Foul Play

Misdreavus @ Eviolite
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature
- Nasty Plot
- Shadow Ball
- Thunderbolt
- Taunt

Garbodor (M) @ Black Sludge
Trait: Aftermath
EVs: 252 HP / 240 Def / 16 Spd
Impish Nature
- Spikes
- Toxic
- Pain Split
- Gunk Shot

Carracosta (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Solid Rock
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def
Adamant Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Stone Edge
- Aqua Jet
- Waterfall

Jynx (F) @ Choice Scarf
Trait: Dry Skin
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature
- Ice Beam
- Psychic
- Lovely Kiss
- Trick

 

[JCM.]

Hey CBTerrakion, this is a really neat team you got here, but I see some problems so let me help you.

First of all, Fire-types are a major problem for your team. You have 3 Pokemon weak to it, with no resists, and only Mandibuzz to sponge the hits. Charizard is a big problem, as it outspeeds the majority of your team and hits it hard. LO Charizard can 2hko Mandibuzz with Fire Blast after Rocks, so that's really dangerous to your team. To fix this problem, we'll make a couple of changes. Change your Metang to Stealth Rock Seismitoad, and make your Klang ResTalk. The first change is so you can check Charizard even if Mandibuzz is weakened (with prediction you can beat Hidden Power Grass variants), but then you lose your Jynx counter. To fix that, turning Klang into CroKlang is a good solution to the problem, as it also acts as a neat status sponge.

Some other nitpicks include Modest ---> Timid on Misdreavus, and Taunt ----> Will-O-Wisp because I find it has more utility.

Summary of changes:

Misdreavus: Timid Nature > Modest

• Seismitoad over Metang

Seismitoad @ Leftovers
Trait: Water Absorb
EVs: 252 SAtk / 252 HP / 4 SDef
Quiet Nature
- Scald
- Earthquake
- Stealth Rock
- Toxic

• ResTalk Klang over current Klang

Klang @ Eviolite
Trait: Clear Body
EVs: 240 HP / 136 Def / 40 SDef / 92 Spd
Impish Nature
- Rest
- Sleep Talk
- Shift Gear
- Gear Grind

Good luck with your team!

 

[cb aaron judge]

Hey CBTerrakion, this is a really neat team you got here, but I see some problems so let me help you.

First of all, Fire-types are a major problem for your team. You have 3 Pokemon weak to it, with no resists, and only Mandibuzz to sponge the hits. Charizard is a big problem, as it outspeeds the majority of your team and hits it hard. LO Charizard can 2hko Mandibuzz with Fire Blast after Rocks, so that's really dangerous to your team. To fix this problem, we'll make a couple of changes. Change your Metang to Stealth Rock Seismitoad, and make your Klang ResTalk. The first change is so you can check Charizard even if Mandibuzz is weakened (with prediction you can beat Hidden Power Grass variants), but then you lose your Jynx counter. To fix that, turning Klang into CroKlang is a good solution to the problem, as it also acts as a neat status sponge.

Some other nitpicks include Modest ---> Timid on Misdreavus, and Taunt ----> Will-O-Wisp because I find it has more utility.

Summary of changes:

Misdreavus: Timid Nature > Modest

• Seismitoad over Metang

Seismitoad @ Leftovers
Trait: Water Absorb
EVs: 252 SAtk / 252 HP / 4 SDef
Quiet Nature
- Scald
- Earthquake
- Stealth Rock
- Toxic

• ResTalk Klang over current Klang

Klang @ Eviolite
Trait: Clear Body
EVs: 240 HP / 136 Def / 40 SDef / 92 Spd
Impish Nature
- Rest
- Sleep Talk
- Shift Gear
- Gear Grind

Good luck with your team!

thanks for the rate jcm. :) lol apparently teambuilder was dumb and set modest on missy, but i fixed that because it was meant to be timid n_n. but taunt is more of a personal preference as i can prevent hazards, setup, and status, but i'll see which move does me better on missy. also i like your other two changes so i'll implement them (i actually thought of running toad over metang myself to combat my zard troubles)

 

[Kierany9]

I would disagree on RestTalk Klang since RestTalk only has a 1/3 chance of actually harming the opponent.
Pretty sure I lost to your team. My sun sweepers kept on dying to Mandibuzz's Foul Play. After seeing JirachiCelebiMew's post, I feel kinda bad for losing since I had 3 fire types(one of which was a Zard) and they all got their rears handed to them. A great team and gg on that battle.

Klang didn't do shit before eating a Flare Blitz though.

 

[JCM.]

RestTalk may have only 1/3 chance of hitting the opponent, but it also has 1/3 chance of boosting its Attack and Speed. Eviolite and the given EV Spread give Klang a lot of bulk, so even if it doesn't attack, it can easily tank the hits. Have you even ever used that set?

 

[Dell]

I would disagree on RestTalk Klang since RestTalk only has a 1/3 chance of actually harming the opponent.
Pretty sure I lost to your team. My sun sweepers kept on dying to Mandibuzz's Foul Play. After seeing JirachiCelebiMew's post, I feel kinda bad for losing since I had 3 fire types(one of which was a Zard) and they all got their rears handed to them. A great team and gg on that battle.

Klang didn't do shit before eating a Flare Blitz though.

JCM has rude with his response, but he is correct. The disadvantage of the mechanics of Rest Talk Klang aren't necessarily sufficient to discount it for a team that would reasonably benefit from such support. That particular set is not particularly powerful enough to tailor-make itself towards attacking immediately. Bulky Klang is supposed to use its overall bulk to pivot against threats that can't necessarily touch it and obtain as many boosts as possible in order to pull off a potential late game clean. I also would agree with this suggestion for the aforementioned reasons.

Regarding the rate itself, there was a bit of talk about how much of a threat Life Orb Charizard (and admittedly, Rapidash as well) is for the team, but I don't think that the option of Stealth Rock Seismitoad is the proper way of going about fixing this situation. This team isn't tailor-made to play around Life Orb Charizard without making some significant risks, simply by of the fact of it being able to outpace everything on this team and responding with an outright KO, with the exception of two Pokemon that are weak to Stealth Rock with one not being able to switch in at all and the other being flat-out 2HKO as JCM as mentioned. The next best thing to really suggest for this case would have to be bulky Carracosta instead, who can switch in on a Fire-type move likewise and has a better chance of threatening Charizard with a powerful Aqua Jet, hitting it extremely hard before it attempts to hit you with HP-Grass.

On IRC, you mentioned about a Sawk weakness, as it evidently 2HKO's most of the team. What I'm looking at in addition towards suggesting this change is something that can help support your team in the form of hazards, since I've found that your team really benefits from the support of it and most of the threats that you're aiming to wall-break are threats that you already have opportunities of setting up on. This is the kind of thing that would conflict strategy and render some of your team less useful than what they could be. A suggestion would be to try Garbodor, who stacks up Spikes rather nicely in general and can buy opportunities to check opposing Sawk with its typing and item of choice (you can play around with options like Black Sludge, Air Balloon or Rocky Helmet based on what's more necessary). Such placement would be most suitable over Sawk's spot on the team, as most of what you're trying to wallbreak with it are things that you already set up on with the rest of your team members that appreciates Garbodor's ability to rack up hazards.

Hope these changes are helpful.

Carracosta @ Leftovers
Trait: Solid Rock
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Stealth Rock
- Stone Edge
- Aqua Jet
- Waterfall
 
Garbodor @ Black Sludge
Trait: Aftermath
EVs: 252 HP / 240 Def / 16 Spd
Impish Nature (+Def, -SAtk)
- Spikes
- Toxic
- Pain Split / Toxic Spikes
- Rock Blast / Gunk Shot

 

[cb aaron judge]

thx dell, ive implemented your changes since i think they will be useful.