Hello everyone! I'm pretty new to the whole posts part of Smogon, so hopefully this post ends up alright. Any advise is welcome!
Starmie @ Life Orb
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Thunderbolt
- Rapid Spin
- Recover
- Scald
Starmie is a great spinner for offensive based teams due to its high speed, special attack, and great movepool. Natural Cure also allows for some status absorption, and on top of that Starmie's high speed allows it to revenge kill Pokemon decently effectively.
When I started to sit down and think about the team, I decided that I wanted to make an offensive team. The first Pokemon that came to mind was Starmie due to its great utility as an offensive spinner. On this team it fills the role as a check to Heatran and Excadrill, and since it is a spinner also serves to keep Stealth Rocks off of my side.
Thunderbolt or Recover can both be swapped out for Ice Beam, depending on if you want to cover more specific threats or more coverage in general. The downside is that Starmie now has poor longevity due to Life Orb damage and often switching into the Rocks it wants to spin, as well as it serves less of a role as a check to Pokemon it otherwise wants to switch into and scare out. Hydro Pump is also an option over Scald, but has a lower accuracy and no chance to burn.
Tangrowth @ Assault Vest
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpD
Sassy Nature
- Giga Drain
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Sludge Bomb
- Knock Off
Tangrowth, particularly the Assault Vest variant, is a somewhat reliable check to certain threats in the tier due to its high bulk, decent special attack, and great ability in Regenerator.
Since I was opting for a more offensive team, Tangrowth came to mind very quickly. Since it has naturally high defense, an Assault Vest set can compliment its poor special defense and allow it to still heal through Regenerator. On this team it serves as more of a surprise check to certain special attacking Pokemon that normally can pray on its weaker stat, as well as having good enough natural bulk to live hits on the physical side. Sludge Bomb, although not the most effective move in most cases, serves the purpose of hitting fairy types that otherwise can hit it on its special side. Tangrowth can also check Pokemon like bulky Landorus-T with Hidden Power Ice, or defensive Tail Glow Manaphyn due to Giga Drain.
Earthquake can be subbed in for Sludge Bomb to serve as a more effective answer to Excadrill or in some cases Heatran, but fails to hit Clefable, who otherwise takes minimal damage from Giga Drain, doesn't mind losing its leftovers, and can set up with Calm Mind. Giga Drain can also be subbed out for Leaf Storm due to a higher base power, but has lower accuracy, lowers Tangrowth's special attack, and does not restore HP.
Heatran @ Air Balloon
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 252 HP / 4 SpA / 252 SpD
Calm Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Lava Plume
- Flash Cannon
- Toxic
Since this team needed a Stealth Rock Pokemon, Heatran comes in to fill that slot. It also serves as a strong anti-lead to Ferrothorn, one of the more common Pokemon in the tier., and with Air Balloon dodges Earthquake from Landorus-T and threatens with burn from Lava Plume.
Flash Cannon and Lava Plume offer effective STAB that can threaten many Pokemon in the tier who do not want to switch in. Stealth Rocks, as the best move in the game, serves the purpose of chip damage on switch-ins. Due to the tendency to see water types switch in, Toxic serves as a way to create residual damage to them. The Air Balloon allows Heatran to beat spinners with Earthquake, especially steel types such as Excadrill, and can help beat other leads such as the common bulky Landorus-T. The special defense investment allows this set to switch into Pokemon such as Clefable or Mega Charizard Y and threaten them out.
Earth Power can be switched in for Toxic in order to hit other Heatrans harder, but has no answer for the main counter in Keldeo, who hard counters the set. Fire Blast can be thrown on for more damage, but limits the utility that Lava Plume has, as well as has a lower accuracy.
Pinsir-Mega @ Pinsirite
Ability: Hyper Cutter
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Quick Attack
- Swords Dance
- X-Scissor
- Close Combat
Mega Pinsir serves to act as a revenge killer on an offensive team, and can threaten to sweep with Swords Dance. Due to having one of the strongest priority moves in the tier along with its high attack and speed, it serves to answer dangerous setup sweepers such as Dragon Dance Dragonite or Quiver Dance Volcarona.
This set is fairly self-explanatory and easy to understand. Quick Attack and X-Scissor offer strong STAB that hits a large part of the metagame for neutral damage. Close Combat is effective coverage and allows it to KO bulky Tyranitar or non Choice Scarf Excadrill. Swords Dance threatens to sweep on the forced switch and is generally very good at allowing a late game sweep.
Return can be subbed on for either Quick Attack or Close Combat, but removes the priority and coverage respectively. Stone Edge and Knock Off can be effective moves, but fail to offer the same amount of coverage that Close Combat offers.
Garchomp @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Rough Skin
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Stone Edge
- Earthquake
- Outrage
- Fire Fang
Garchomp also serves to be a revenge killer on this team. It serves as an effective answer to Choice Scarf Excadrill, Dragon Dance Tyranitar, and Swords Dance Mega Scizor.
Earthquake and Outrage offer STAB that hits a large portion of the tier for good damage. Stone Edge hits flying types for good numbers, and Fire Fang can hit Ferrothorn and Skarmory for decent damage on the switch. Overall I would call this Pokemon a niche pick on this team, but an effective answer to many setup sweepers that fail to KO it and fall to its strong attack stat.
Fire Blast is a strong alternative for Fire Fang due to a stronger check on Skarmory and Ferrothorn, but eats into Garchomp's bulk, uses its lower special attack stat, and has lower accuracy. Rock Slide can be used over Stone edge for higher accuracy, but has less power. Dragon Claw is more consistent than Outrage, but also has lower power and since Outrage is generally a late game option, in my opinion is a better option here.
Clefable @ Leftovers
Ability: Magic Guard
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpA / 4 SpD
Modest Nature
- Calm Mind
- Moonblast
- Flamethrower
- Moonlight
Clefable serves to counter Stall on this team.
Due to access to Magic Guard and Calm Mind, Clefable can counter almost any stall team. Moonblast is strong STAB and hits anything hard after setup, and Flamethrower hits the steel types that Stall teams utilize. Special attack investment makes KOing certain Pokemon such as Skarmory and Ferrothorn easier.
Thunderbolt can be used over Flamethrower, but has less coverage on Ferrothorn or the uncommon Forretress. Heal Bell can also be used for better team support, but Clefable strives to be an individual counter to Stall on this team, so in general it dislikes using it.
Conclusion: I think this team has some potential to be good, but at the same time I want to hear some opinions on what can be done better with either my thought process or individual moves on sets. Thanks for reading my post, and I hope you all have a great day!
Starmie @ Life Orb
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Thunderbolt
- Rapid Spin
- Recover
- Scald
Starmie is a great spinner for offensive based teams due to its high speed, special attack, and great movepool. Natural Cure also allows for some status absorption, and on top of that Starmie's high speed allows it to revenge kill Pokemon decently effectively.
When I started to sit down and think about the team, I decided that I wanted to make an offensive team. The first Pokemon that came to mind was Starmie due to its great utility as an offensive spinner. On this team it fills the role as a check to Heatran and Excadrill, and since it is a spinner also serves to keep Stealth Rocks off of my side.
Thunderbolt or Recover can both be swapped out for Ice Beam, depending on if you want to cover more specific threats or more coverage in general. The downside is that Starmie now has poor longevity due to Life Orb damage and often switching into the Rocks it wants to spin, as well as it serves less of a role as a check to Pokemon it otherwise wants to switch into and scare out. Hydro Pump is also an option over Scald, but has a lower accuracy and no chance to burn.
Tangrowth @ Assault Vest
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpD
Sassy Nature
- Giga Drain
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Sludge Bomb
- Knock Off
Tangrowth, particularly the Assault Vest variant, is a somewhat reliable check to certain threats in the tier due to its high bulk, decent special attack, and great ability in Regenerator.
Since I was opting for a more offensive team, Tangrowth came to mind very quickly. Since it has naturally high defense, an Assault Vest set can compliment its poor special defense and allow it to still heal through Regenerator. On this team it serves as more of a surprise check to certain special attacking Pokemon that normally can pray on its weaker stat, as well as having good enough natural bulk to live hits on the physical side. Sludge Bomb, although not the most effective move in most cases, serves the purpose of hitting fairy types that otherwise can hit it on its special side. Tangrowth can also check Pokemon like bulky Landorus-T with Hidden Power Ice, or defensive Tail Glow Manaphyn due to Giga Drain.
Earthquake can be subbed in for Sludge Bomb to serve as a more effective answer to Excadrill or in some cases Heatran, but fails to hit Clefable, who otherwise takes minimal damage from Giga Drain, doesn't mind losing its leftovers, and can set up with Calm Mind. Giga Drain can also be subbed out for Leaf Storm due to a higher base power, but has lower accuracy, lowers Tangrowth's special attack, and does not restore HP.
Heatran @ Air Balloon
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 252 HP / 4 SpA / 252 SpD
Calm Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Lava Plume
- Flash Cannon
- Toxic
Since this team needed a Stealth Rock Pokemon, Heatran comes in to fill that slot. It also serves as a strong anti-lead to Ferrothorn, one of the more common Pokemon in the tier., and with Air Balloon dodges Earthquake from Landorus-T and threatens with burn from Lava Plume.
Flash Cannon and Lava Plume offer effective STAB that can threaten many Pokemon in the tier who do not want to switch in. Stealth Rocks, as the best move in the game, serves the purpose of chip damage on switch-ins. Due to the tendency to see water types switch in, Toxic serves as a way to create residual damage to them. The Air Balloon allows Heatran to beat spinners with Earthquake, especially steel types such as Excadrill, and can help beat other leads such as the common bulky Landorus-T. The special defense investment allows this set to switch into Pokemon such as Clefable or Mega Charizard Y and threaten them out.
Earth Power can be switched in for Toxic in order to hit other Heatrans harder, but has no answer for the main counter in Keldeo, who hard counters the set. Fire Blast can be thrown on for more damage, but limits the utility that Lava Plume has, as well as has a lower accuracy.
Pinsir-Mega @ Pinsirite
Ability: Hyper Cutter
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Quick Attack
- Swords Dance
- X-Scissor
- Close Combat
Mega Pinsir serves to act as a revenge killer on an offensive team, and can threaten to sweep with Swords Dance. Due to having one of the strongest priority moves in the tier along with its high attack and speed, it serves to answer dangerous setup sweepers such as Dragon Dance Dragonite or Quiver Dance Volcarona.
This set is fairly self-explanatory and easy to understand. Quick Attack and X-Scissor offer strong STAB that hits a large part of the metagame for neutral damage. Close Combat is effective coverage and allows it to KO bulky Tyranitar or non Choice Scarf Excadrill. Swords Dance threatens to sweep on the forced switch and is generally very good at allowing a late game sweep.
Return can be subbed on for either Quick Attack or Close Combat, but removes the priority and coverage respectively. Stone Edge and Knock Off can be effective moves, but fail to offer the same amount of coverage that Close Combat offers.
Garchomp @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Rough Skin
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Stone Edge
- Earthquake
- Outrage
- Fire Fang
Garchomp also serves to be a revenge killer on this team. It serves as an effective answer to Choice Scarf Excadrill, Dragon Dance Tyranitar, and Swords Dance Mega Scizor.
Earthquake and Outrage offer STAB that hits a large portion of the tier for good damage. Stone Edge hits flying types for good numbers, and Fire Fang can hit Ferrothorn and Skarmory for decent damage on the switch. Overall I would call this Pokemon a niche pick on this team, but an effective answer to many setup sweepers that fail to KO it and fall to its strong attack stat.
Fire Blast is a strong alternative for Fire Fang due to a stronger check on Skarmory and Ferrothorn, but eats into Garchomp's bulk, uses its lower special attack stat, and has lower accuracy. Rock Slide can be used over Stone edge for higher accuracy, but has less power. Dragon Claw is more consistent than Outrage, but also has lower power and since Outrage is generally a late game option, in my opinion is a better option here.
Clefable @ Leftovers
Ability: Magic Guard
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpA / 4 SpD
Modest Nature
- Calm Mind
- Moonblast
- Flamethrower
- Moonlight
Clefable serves to counter Stall on this team.
Due to access to Magic Guard and Calm Mind, Clefable can counter almost any stall team. Moonblast is strong STAB and hits anything hard after setup, and Flamethrower hits the steel types that Stall teams utilize. Special attack investment makes KOing certain Pokemon such as Skarmory and Ferrothorn easier.
Thunderbolt can be used over Flamethrower, but has less coverage on Ferrothorn or the uncommon Forretress. Heal Bell can also be used for better team support, but Clefable strives to be an individual counter to Stall on this team, so in general it dislikes using it.
Conclusion: I think this team has some potential to be good, but at the same time I want to hear some opinions on what can be done better with either my thought process or individual moves on sets. Thanks for reading my post, and I hope you all have a great day!
