Hi, after 2 years of maining, and really only playing NatDex, I've gotten a bit bored of the tier as it feels like I've reached the limit of how good of a player i could become in it, as i no longer really enjoy it I've decided to move away from the tier, ill probably still play in tournaments but i dont enjoy contributing to it anymore. Before i pack my bags and leave i wanted to RMT what is one of my favourite teams of the tier recently, it features a handful of interesting sets and its proven to be quite successful. Here is my personal peak with the team on ladder, as i decided to ladder with it to get some more replays and prove its consistency (when i started laddering i was 1610~ elo.
Teambuilding Process
SP Mega Latias is, in my opinion, an incredible win condition with how the current meta looks, and if you can remove the opposing teams Steel- and Dark-types it often wins on the spot. The rest of the team is built around trying to optimally support Lati so that it can win games with ease.
The second teammate i wanted to add was something to lure Steel- and Dark-types to allow Latias easy sweeps, and Non Choice-locked Tapu Lele does that amazingly thanks to Focus Blast. It's also the teams secondary wincon, as its incredibly difficult to switch into for alot of teams.
I needed entry hazards to properly support my two win conditions, so i went with ferrothorn, carrying both Spikes and Stealth Rock.
The team was a bit slow and i needed a ground-type, Choice Scarf Landorus-T hasn't looked that hot in the tier recently but i think its a fine option on balance teams like this one.
The last two slots needed to glue the team together, the first mon to fill this role is Rotom-W, acting as the teams check to Greninja and generally being able to pivot into and annoy alot of teams.
CB Weavile is the only reason this team functions, offensively using Pursuit is the way this team beats alot of offensive threats.
Sets
FANTASTIC MAGIC (Latias-Mega) @ Latiasite
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Def / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Calm Mind
- Stored Power
- Ice Beam
- Roost
Quite standard SP 2a Latias, being able to easily set up and win games. It also helps against the likes of Kartana, SD Gliscor, and Serperior thanks to Ice Beam, and Stored Power lets it beat Unaware walls and opposing CM users in 1v1s, incredibly potent wincondition.
KALEI DE SCOPE (Tapu Lele) @ Twisted Spoon
Ability: Psychic Surge
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Psyshock
- Psychic
- Moonblast
- Focus Blast
Modest with Twisted Spoon lets Tapu Lele bluff being Choice Specs and as such it can sufficiently lure Steel- and Dark-types like Heatran, Ferrothorn, and Mega Tyranitar, letting Mega Latias break through the opposing team once they're removed. Thanks to Ferrothorns Hazard Support it can also be a dangerous win condition in its own right, as its very difficult to switch into safely.
DRAMATIC SLOW-MO (Ferrothorn) @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Iron Barbs
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 HP / 248 Def / 8 SpD
Impish Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Spikes
- Stealth Rock
- Leech Seed
- Body Press
PhysDef RH dual hazard ferrothorn. Yup. While this set might look weird on first glance it fits this team perfectly. Spikes are interesting as it lets lati and lele pressure switch-ins like Heatran, Chansey, and Tyranitar. Rocky Helmet not only severely punishes Weavile for clicking Triple Axel, but it also helps wear down physical attackers like Kartana, Corviknight, Mega Lopunny, and Mega Mawile, helping the team handle them. Body Press helps wear down opposing Steel-types for the psyspam core to win.
AN ARTIST (Landorus-Therian) (M) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 12 HP / 252 Atk / 244 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- U-turn
- Defog
NGL, Scarf Lando kinda had a flop era recently, however it fits very well on balance teams like this one. The main reason i chose Lando over any other Scarfer is that it benefits greatly from alot of the teams synergy and lets it act like a cleaner. Rotom-W being able to surprise KO Gliscor and opposing Lando-T is amazing as alot of teams rely on those two to switch into Ground Moves. Similarly, Weavile and Tapu Lele are able to lure and weaken Steel-types and opposing Mega Latias to set the scene to Lando to clean up. Also, its the teams main Electric Switch-in and Can Defog in emergencies. A more offensive spread is affordable on this team thanks to Latias and Ferro checking basically every electric-type in the tier.
SPIRAL PARADE (Rotom-Wash) @ Waterium Z
Ability: Levitate
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 248 HP / 72 SpD / 188 Spe
Timid Nature
- Hydro Pump
- Volt Switch
- Pain Split
- Will-O-Wisp
The last truly innovative set on this team. Fast Spdef Rotom-W is super annoying for a lot of teams, and on this team its the main source of momentum, notably being able to safely bring in Lele, Weavile, and Lando. The shown spread lets it Outspeed Offensive Heatran, Spdef lets it better handle Ash-Greninja. Its incredibly annoying as it just clicks Volt Switch and spreads burn onto the opposing team. The main reason i opted to run Waterium Z is that the surprise factor lets it KO alot of things, and it also can help check SD Gliscor and Lando in matchups where Latias cant effectively do that. Also, its the teams main check to Mega Scizor, which is incredibly annoying otherwise.
UNRAVEL (Weavile) @ Choice Band
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Triple Axel
- Knock Off
- Pursuit
- Ice Shard
Weavile is what glues this team together, as it can check alot of the teams problem MUs through offensive pressure. Being able to get KOs with Ice Shard or remove threats like Greninja, Tapu Lele, and Hoopa-U with Pursuit. Knock Off is incredible for wearing down Steel-types, and it also helps against boots Pokemon. Its also the teams main Kyurem answer.
Threat List
Usually, with this team im able to outplay most bad MU's with offensive pressure, however there are some things that the team really struggles with at times.
Toxic Spikes are very annoying for this team, as its bad hazard support puts Tapu Lele and Weavile, two crucial members of the team, on a timer.
get the plays with Weavile Right or you lose on the spot, very annoying MU.
CM clefable can set up and win quite easily thanks to Ferro lacking moves to deal with it, however i find that you can get into CM wars with Latias against it or prevent it from setting up with offensive pressure through Lele.
Because of the fact that im physdef Ferro, its unable to safely switch into and deal with Kyurem. Usually i try to just win faster then the kyurem but alot of the time thats not possible. Tapu Lele and Weavile can both sorta eat hits depending on what the set is.Replays
Lily vs Bea for money tour, this team has an amazing MU against rain, which has recently resurfaced as a legit archetype, and here she plays the matchup Perfectly.
Me vs Ryuji for NDWC, NGL not the cleanest game in terms of both play and luck but its the only tour win i have with the team using it myself
Sage vs Chris for NDWC semis, this replay really good for showing how the team can beat pokemon it struggles against through offensive pressure, as in this game shes able to outplay sub+bu corv and Ash-Gren, two mons the team struggles alot against. also when i asked her if she was okay with me using the replay in this rmt she said it was a good squad so thank u for that it was nice to hear
also here are some replays i got while laddering up.
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8nationaldex-1589469362-czds31ursu5qbhfjqrcapr46yn7iomopw me owning lameflame as punishment for that time where he made me so mad at the game i quit for 3 months
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8nationaldex-1589486098-f7ahn9bmxtidjug6bk6n7ljb44ev2eupw playing vs TR, rlly this is only here bcuz i felt proud about my endgame sequencing
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8nationaldex-1589489268-zb8bitdq1p1a90w0fv6yn5vqsrihf21pw me owning that princesceptile guy or whatever that ppl keep losing to on ladder, also gatekept him out of 2000s RIP
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8nationaldex-1589501382-1w2j39ocuzuf28rs1ud2v1d569x4aqapw beating nvk stall
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8nationaldex-1589515006-doodpk3ptc0t34evyepwj355u8lc125pw game that got me to top 10
shoutouts
Ainzcrad ur probs my best mons friend, ur goofy as hell so u better be happy that someone thinks of u this highly. ty for always being there for me i hella appreciate it
avyrie i would probably call u my nr2 bestie, ngl idk if were actually dating or not i make alot of jokes about it and we flirt alot but i dont think we're dating? idk.
adem omicorio shouted u guys out together cuz idk we kinda got some trio rivalry shit g oin on ya feel jjk trio team 7 type beat, anyways you guys are two of the best friends I've made on this site and i really appreciate both of you alot. NGL im kinda falling behind vs u guys you're both doing amazing rn meanwhile im in my flop era.
Optify ik we dont rlly talk anymore, and idk if you still check this site, but you're an OG, thank u for being a good friend.
cy NGL im surprised u dont hate me after i cancered ndpl for u but thank u for that, ur a good friend and its been rlly impressive watching u grow from where you where when we first started interacting to now, gl in mpl and lets win blt :3
Lyss blce 413X Zephyri simp you guys are good friends who deserve shoutouts too
peap Lasen Lunala Jordy Guard astralydia i think that all of you can be credited to me no longer being totally ass at the game, ty for listening to me mald when i feel like im not good enough at playing, and for generally giving me good advice and motivating me to become a better player.
chlo Kate Fc Seldanna WSun1 and the rest of DC, thank u guys for standing out with my dumbass shit everyday, u might be the only jerk that hasn't disowned me ATP so thanks for that too.
Lastly, thank u to all of my good ND friends Mollymiltoast nvk Ryuji-Sempai kDCA Axzel ong 2020 idm boomer (and the rest of WLA) Phyn Milo, Solaros & Lunaris Kyo ChrisPBacon also fwiw for all the comments i make abt it being cringe how we have a TL that doesnt play the game Kaede you're doing an amazing job at leading the tier and im happy that you're around to lead the tier instead of some incompetent larper.
avyrie i would probably call u my nr2 bestie, ngl idk if were actually dating or not i make alot of jokes about it and we flirt alot but i dont think we're dating? idk.
adem omicorio shouted u guys out together cuz idk we kinda got some trio rivalry shit g oin on ya feel jjk trio team 7 type beat, anyways you guys are two of the best friends I've made on this site and i really appreciate both of you alot. NGL im kinda falling behind vs u guys you're both doing amazing rn meanwhile im in my flop era.
Optify ik we dont rlly talk anymore, and idk if you still check this site, but you're an OG, thank u for being a good friend.
cy NGL im surprised u dont hate me after i cancered ndpl for u but thank u for that, ur a good friend and its been rlly impressive watching u grow from where you where when we first started interacting to now, gl in mpl and lets win blt :3
Lyss blce 413X Zephyri simp you guys are good friends who deserve shoutouts too
peap Lasen Lunala Jordy Guard astralydia i think that all of you can be credited to me no longer being totally ass at the game, ty for listening to me mald when i feel like im not good enough at playing, and for generally giving me good advice and motivating me to become a better player.
chlo Kate Fc Seldanna WSun1 and the rest of DC, thank u guys for standing out with my dumbass shit everyday, u might be the only jerk that hasn't disowned me ATP so thanks for that too.
Lastly, thank u to all of my good ND friends Mollymiltoast nvk Ryuji-Sempai kDCA Axzel ong 2020 idm boomer (and the rest of WLA) Phyn Milo, Solaros & Lunaris Kyo ChrisPBacon also fwiw for all the comments i make abt it being cringe how we have a TL that doesnt play the game Kaede you're doing an amazing job at leading the tier and im happy that you're around to lead the tier instead of some incompetent larper.
importable incase you missed it at the start: https://pokepast.es/df9d093b5d841a4d
ay yuh cotta out
