Hello hello everyone. I made a team a few months ago that I have found to be extremely successful, but recently, due to a combination of a few team weakness and a few prediction errors, my win rate has declined and my rating continues to float between about 1460 and 1470, more or less. So, in hopes of improving my team, I present to you, Team Falling and Rising, named so for the falling that has already begun to occur and the rising that I hope soon follows.
Built around an endgame Empoleon sweep, Team FAR focuses on the following points of strategy:
1. Setting up Toxic Spikes
2. Setting up Stealth Rock
3. Weakening Opponents/Determining Presence of Empoleon Counters
[Counters include Bulky Waters, Max speed Choice-Scarfers with
speed stat of 428 or above, and Priority Users]
4. Fainting/Weakening Counters as much as possible
5. Find an opportunity to switch Empoleon in [More on that later]
6. FINISH HIM
Afronova (Lv 100 Roserade)
6 HP, 252 Spd, 252 SpA - Timid
Natural Cure - Focus Sash
-Sleep Powder
-Leaf Storm
-HP Fire
-Toxic Spikes
Roserade is an incredible lead, because even things that outspeed it and can OHKO it (ScarfTran, Azelf can also be managed) don't get the kill because of the sash, and are reliably (75%) put to sleep. Leaf Storm is wonderful on many, and HP Fire gets the kill on those Scizors that are particularly gutsy. I more often than not get one foe asleep and two layers down, but some roadblocks include other Roserade, Jirachi, Tyranitar, and the inaccuracy of Sleep Powder. Toxic Spikes are vital to my team as they wear down the spongey counters to Empoleon (Vaporeon, Blissey, Snorlax, etc.)
Clush (Lv 100 Swampert)
252 HP, 252 Def, 6 SpD - Impish
Torrent - Leftovers
-Stealth Rock
-Roar
-Waterfall
-Earthquake
Swampert is the glue of my team; the ever reliable Stealth Rocker, the handy Phazer, the Pokemon that can generally survive any unboosted hit barring Grass moves (which even then don't always OHKO). I have him using purely physical moves because only Scizor is also Physical, and I didn't want an overload of special. Swampert's STAB's are tried and truely effective, but I'm debating a switch from Waterfall to Avalanche? Swampert also lures out and scouts those 'dern bulky waters that threaten an Empy sweep.
Kite (Lv 100 Latias)
6 HP, 252 Spe, 252 SpA - Timid
Levitate - Life Orb
-Draco Meteor
-Surf
-Thunderbolt
-Recover
Latias has fantastic coverage, power, speed, bulk, and typing. It takes big chunks out of a huge number of Pokemon, and Recover is beautiful for when damage becomes an issue. However, Latias serves one key role more than any other on my team - Pursuit bait. There is nothing like a locked-in Tyranitar, Weavile (...), or Scizor to switch in an Empoleon and set up the sweep. I react differently to these (common) switch-ins depending on the phase of the battle, but Latias complements the team beautifully as well as matching Swampert's physical bulk with her own special bulk.
Butterfly (Lv 100 Scizor)
6 HP, 252 Atk, 252 SpD - Adamant
Technician - Choice Band
-U-Turn
-Superpower
-Pursuit
-Bullet Punch
Scizor is a really powerful, albeit the epitome of bog standard, force. He nabs those fast sweepers, allows for powerful scouting, and can nail more Pokemon than not with one smart prediction. I find the 252 EVs in SpD over HP works wonders: it compensates for the team's weakness to Pokemon like Gengar, Latias, and even Celebi, who has never OHKO'd Scizor with HP Fire and Stealth Rock.
Mittens (Lv 100 Rotom-H)
6 HP, 252 SpA, 252 Spe - Timid
Levitate - Choice Scarf
-Thunderbolt
-Shadow Ball
-Overheat
-Trick
Rotom-H, while undoubtedly the weak link, still serves very necessary purposes. These include halting Lucario sweeps, nailing Bulky Waters, Tricking Scarfs on: Empoleon Counters (Blissey, Vaporeon), Set-Uppers, and anything with a move ineffective against Empoleon. A good example of this is tricking a Scarf on Tyranitar who then uses Crunch, or on a Swampert who uses Waterfall, so Empoleon gets a free ride in. I used max speed to deal with Scarftran switch ins, but I found the SpA stat too weak, and am definitely in need of a modern spread.
Ready (Lv 100 Empoleon)
12 HP, 12 Def, 232 Spe, 252 SpA - Modest
Torrent - Petaya Berry
-Surf
-Ice Beam
-Agility
-Substitute
This is where the magic happens. Simply amazing with the right team support, which is what this team is all about. I experimented with many EV spreads and ultimately found this one from Smogon to be the best balance of power and speed. With great typing, Empoleon has multiple opportunities to switch in, speed up, sub up until Petaya activates, and spam Surf (or Ice Beam for things like Celebi, Latias, Kingdra, etc.) CBScizor Bullet Punch does about 18%, knowledge that always comes in handy. I still always need to watch out for the counters mentioned before, so I try and make sure that I am familiar with the foe's team enough before sending Ready in. If a situation arises, however, where I don't know the opponent's entire team, but am in a losing position, I will jump on any Pursuit I can get my hands on.
So that's it! A great team, in my opinion, but needs a few bits of help on certain EV Spreads, the effectiveness of Rotom-H, the attacks of Swampert, and even strategical advices.
Thank you so so much, and please don't hesitate to scroll down and start typing!
Built around an endgame Empoleon sweep, Team FAR focuses on the following points of strategy:
1. Setting up Toxic Spikes
2. Setting up Stealth Rock
3. Weakening Opponents/Determining Presence of Empoleon Counters
[Counters include Bulky Waters, Max speed Choice-Scarfers with
speed stat of 428 or above, and Priority Users]
4. Fainting/Weakening Counters as much as possible
5. Find an opportunity to switch Empoleon in [More on that later]
6. FINISH HIM
Afronova (Lv 100 Roserade)
6 HP, 252 Spd, 252 SpA - Timid
Natural Cure - Focus Sash
-Sleep Powder
-Leaf Storm
-HP Fire
-Toxic Spikes
Roserade is an incredible lead, because even things that outspeed it and can OHKO it (ScarfTran, Azelf can also be managed) don't get the kill because of the sash, and are reliably (75%) put to sleep. Leaf Storm is wonderful on many, and HP Fire gets the kill on those Scizors that are particularly gutsy. I more often than not get one foe asleep and two layers down, but some roadblocks include other Roserade, Jirachi, Tyranitar, and the inaccuracy of Sleep Powder. Toxic Spikes are vital to my team as they wear down the spongey counters to Empoleon (Vaporeon, Blissey, Snorlax, etc.)
Clush (Lv 100 Swampert)
252 HP, 252 Def, 6 SpD - Impish
Torrent - Leftovers
-Stealth Rock
-Roar
-Waterfall
-Earthquake
Swampert is the glue of my team; the ever reliable Stealth Rocker, the handy Phazer, the Pokemon that can generally survive any unboosted hit barring Grass moves (which even then don't always OHKO). I have him using purely physical moves because only Scizor is also Physical, and I didn't want an overload of special. Swampert's STAB's are tried and truely effective, but I'm debating a switch from Waterfall to Avalanche? Swampert also lures out and scouts those 'dern bulky waters that threaten an Empy sweep.
Kite (Lv 100 Latias)
6 HP, 252 Spe, 252 SpA - Timid
Levitate - Life Orb
-Draco Meteor
-Surf
-Thunderbolt
-Recover
Latias has fantastic coverage, power, speed, bulk, and typing. It takes big chunks out of a huge number of Pokemon, and Recover is beautiful for when damage becomes an issue. However, Latias serves one key role more than any other on my team - Pursuit bait. There is nothing like a locked-in Tyranitar, Weavile (...), or Scizor to switch in an Empoleon and set up the sweep. I react differently to these (common) switch-ins depending on the phase of the battle, but Latias complements the team beautifully as well as matching Swampert's physical bulk with her own special bulk.
Butterfly (Lv 100 Scizor)
6 HP, 252 Atk, 252 SpD - Adamant
Technician - Choice Band
-U-Turn
-Superpower
-Pursuit
-Bullet Punch
Scizor is a really powerful, albeit the epitome of bog standard, force. He nabs those fast sweepers, allows for powerful scouting, and can nail more Pokemon than not with one smart prediction. I find the 252 EVs in SpD over HP works wonders: it compensates for the team's weakness to Pokemon like Gengar, Latias, and even Celebi, who has never OHKO'd Scizor with HP Fire and Stealth Rock.
Mittens (Lv 100 Rotom-H)
6 HP, 252 SpA, 252 Spe - Timid
Levitate - Choice Scarf
-Thunderbolt
-Shadow Ball
-Overheat
-Trick
Rotom-H, while undoubtedly the weak link, still serves very necessary purposes. These include halting Lucario sweeps, nailing Bulky Waters, Tricking Scarfs on: Empoleon Counters (Blissey, Vaporeon), Set-Uppers, and anything with a move ineffective against Empoleon. A good example of this is tricking a Scarf on Tyranitar who then uses Crunch, or on a Swampert who uses Waterfall, so Empoleon gets a free ride in. I used max speed to deal with Scarftran switch ins, but I found the SpA stat too weak, and am definitely in need of a modern spread.
Ready (Lv 100 Empoleon)
12 HP, 12 Def, 232 Spe, 252 SpA - Modest
Torrent - Petaya Berry
-Surf
-Ice Beam
-Agility
-Substitute
This is where the magic happens. Simply amazing with the right team support, which is what this team is all about. I experimented with many EV spreads and ultimately found this one from Smogon to be the best balance of power and speed. With great typing, Empoleon has multiple opportunities to switch in, speed up, sub up until Petaya activates, and spam Surf (or Ice Beam for things like Celebi, Latias, Kingdra, etc.) CBScizor Bullet Punch does about 18%, knowledge that always comes in handy. I still always need to watch out for the counters mentioned before, so I try and make sure that I am familiar with the foe's team enough before sending Ready in. If a situation arises, however, where I don't know the opponent's entire team, but am in a losing position, I will jump on any Pursuit I can get my hands on.
So that's it! A great team, in my opinion, but needs a few bits of help on certain EV Spreads, the effectiveness of Rotom-H, the attacks of Swampert, and even strategical advices.
Thank you so so much, and please don't hesitate to scroll down and start typing!
