Every Time You Don't Rate This Team, a Puppy Dies

[kiwikomix]

Team No Creative Name

This is the team I've been using on Shoddy. I'd post my rank on the leaderboards but I have no idea what it is. I don't like writing long, boring summaries about my team's purpose, so I'll get right into it.

Team at a Glance

In-Depth

Hippowdon @ Leftovers
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 252 HP, 16 Atk, 152 Def, 88 SpDef
Impish Nature (-SpAtk, +SpDef)
- Earthquake
- Slack Off
- Roar
- Stealth Rock
​

Physical wall, stealth rocker, pseudohazer. Basically provides team support while sponging hits. Sand Stream helps wear down opponents, although I certainly wouldn't call this a Sandstorm team. EVs give plenty of defense while still allowing it to not get completely screwed over by surprise special threats like Boah. Not sure that the 16 Attack EVs posted on the Analysis page are really necessary, so I'm considering moving them into Defense.

Weezing @ Black Sludge
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP, 252 Def, 4 SpAtk
Bold Nature (-Atk, +Def)
- Flamethrower
- Thunderbolt
- Will-O-Wisp
- Pain Split
​

Two physical walls may seem redundant, but there are few Pokemon out there that can glue together my team the way this guy can. Flamethrower and Thunderbolt take care of Heracross, Lucario and Gyarados, who would otherwise attempt to sweep my team. Will-O-Wisp cripples physical attackers that don't expect it. Pain Split isn't really useful at all unless I want to stall an enemy Blissey, so I'm thinking of switching it out for Toxic to run a dual status set. However, the overpopularity of Heatran means that if you can find something else that can cover my weaknesses better than Weezing, I'd be happy to get it replaced.

Cradily @ Leftovers
Ability: Suction Cups
EVs: 252 HP, 160 Def, 96 SpDef
Careful Nature (-SpAtk, +SpDef)
- Recover
- Swords Dance
- Rock Slide
- Earthquake
​

In a sandstorm, this set makes Cradily an great special wall that can still set up. With such good defenses, it's not too difficult to get in a Swords Dance or two (or three), and Suction Cups lets Cradily laugh as Skarmory switches in and tries to Whirlwind them away. Only Infernape, Lucario, Scizor, and Machamp can consistently scare Cradily enough to threaten a switch, and Cradily can survive a hit from the first two and OHKO with Earthquake after Swords Dance. A very underrated and underestimated Pokemon that will sweep an unprepared team.

Heatran @ Choice Specs
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 40 HP, 252 SpAtk, 216 Spd
Modest Nature (-Atk, +SpAtk)
- Flamethrower
- Dragon Pulse
- Earth Power
- Explosion
​

Heatran is among the most popular Pokemon in the current metagame for a reason, and Specs only make him even more of a threat. The best Pokemon on my team for forcing switches and being an overall great special sweeper. Not really too much to explain here, because if you play Pokemon at all you should know how this guy works. Specs also make him a good anti-Trick switch-in, since the usual Scarves don't hinder him at all and the rarer Toxic Orbs don't affect him.

Blissey @ Leftovers
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 252 Def, 40 SpAtk, 216 SpDef
Calm Nature (-Atk, +SpDef)
- Thunderbolt
- Ice Beam
- Toxic
- Softboiled
​

I really hope I don't have to explain this one too much either. Although all the new physical threats running around make Blissey sometimes difficult to switch in, it's almost always rewarding. Toxic helps stall and Boltbeam helps deal with physical threats like Gyarados and Salamence that expect a switch. I'm considering running Seismic/Aromatherapy instead though.

Aerodactyl @ Life Orb
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 252 Atk, 252 Spd, 4 HP
Jolly Nature (-SpAtk, +Spd)
- Earthquake
- Rock Slide
- Ice Fang
- Crunch
​

With all the suicide Aerodactyl leads running around, people seem to have forgotten how great a late-game sweeper it makes. This guy will force switches about as much as Heatran does, and although Life Orb and Stealth Rock damage will add up quickly, it's good to avoid confining yourself to one attack as with a Choice Band. Earthquake and Rock Slide cover the majority of the enemy Pokemon, although Ice Fang hits Salamence and Flygon and Crunch helps against Psychics and Ghosts.

This team has been doing great for me on Shoddy, although, as I said earlier, I don't know where I am on the Leaderboard. On that note, please,

RATE
MY
TEAM!
​

 

[Aeroblacktyl]

Actaully, keep the Weezing, otherwise ScarfHeracross just rapes right through the team.

Also just slap Roost on that Aerodactyl or something, Stone Edge does more to Salamence then Ice Fang does anyways.

As for the Gyarados and Salamence weakness, I'd rather add in Cresselia to cripple both of them. Thunder Wave comes in handy here as well as Reflect. From there you can counter those and many other Pokes easier. It'd probably go over Cradily. It's not like you need anyone else to take in special attacks when you have Blissey.

 

[UltimoVenusaur]

I agree with the first rater in that Hippo shouldn't be investing many EVs into SpDef. However, use this spread:

236 HP/16 Atk/252 Def

It's all about precision when it comes to Lefties recovery. That way, you can boost other stats a little bit more.

Use these EV spreads for your other two non-Blissey recovery item users:

Weezing - 196 HP/252 Def/60 SpAtk
Cradily - 220 HP/36 Def/252 SpDef (you have SD to boost attack)

Blissey doesn't need much HP investment because its base HP is so huge that you can afford to spend more in Defense.

THis is all contingient on whether you're keeping all your Pokémon and not dropping one for Cresselia. It's up to you. Personally, I'd give you you cool points for using Cradily and if you were going to switch out, I'd take out Blissey just because I find the pink blob so boring. But then again you don't win battles on cool points, and Blissey's the best at what she does.

 

[kiwikomix]

Thanks for the suggestions. I'll fiddle around with Vaporeon, Rotom and Cress to see if I can get something to work better.

If I'm decide not to use Cradily anymore then there's really no need for Hippo to cause a Sand Stream anymore, so I'll start looking for another lead wall that gets the same job done, probably something like Gliscor. I don't want a suicide lead because those are lame.

Any other rates? I'm seeing a lot of dead puppies out there...

 

[UltimoVenusaur]

Gliscor works as a BP lead, but any other use is better suited to go down in the order. IF you're still in need of a lead, Scarf Gengar could work

Gengar @ Choice Scarf
Timid Nature, 4 HP/252 SpAtk/252 Spd
- Shadow Ball
- Hidden Power [Fight]/Focus Blast
- Thunderbolt
- Energy Ball/Hypnosis/Psychic/Hidden Power [Ice]

Ghost/Fight covers everything in the game. I prefer HP Fight becasue Gengar can't afford to miss, but Focus Blast works if you'd rather have HP Ice in there. Thunderbolt will help you out against Gyara leads. The last move is a grab-bag. Energy Ball helps against Swampert. HP Ice for Salamence. Psychic is probably the last move you'd want to consider unless you want something that can really knock the piss out of Fighting-types. Hypnosis is if you want to induce sleep and run, but if you're playing with the new accuracy, I'd leave that one out unless you're REALLY not enamored with the other three options.

 

[XtrEEmMaShEEn3k2]

What's up with people thinking Impish 252 Defense is good for Hippowdon? With 108 base HP and 118 base Defense, Hippowdon DOES NOT NEED that much defense. That's why he doesn't run max defense, his Hippowdon is the same one that's on the analysis page. Obi's spread of 252 HP / 24 Atk / 192 Def / 40 SpD is also usable.