first team: 5th Generation

blastoise863

blastoise863

So before I even start, I just want to say that this is my first RMT, and I'm relatively new to competitive battling so if there are obvious flaws, then that may be why.

Team at a glance:

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The lead:

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Gliscor @ Leftovers
EVs: 252 Spd/252 HP/ 4 Def
Nature: Jolly (+Spd/-SpA)
Ability: Sand Veil
-Stealth Rock
-Taunt
-Roost
-Earthquake

Notes: I'd like this pokemon to be able to simply set up Stealth Rock and then make him available for another time. His speed is maxed so it could Taunt anything trying to set up Stealth Rock. If I switch out after my Gliscor sets up Stealth Rock, I could probably use him to tank with Roost/Earthquake later in the game. Of all the possible leads I could use, I simply feel comfortable with Gliscor. He has all around good stats and a solid moveset to counter whatever other leads are out there. I considered U-Turn over Taunt but I like Taunt better. It gives him the opportunity to stop others from setting up Stealth Rock (which makes it easier to switch to Volcarona and allows Cloyster to attack instead of rapid spin).

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Cloyster @ Life Orb
EVs: 252 Atk/208 Spd/48 SpA
Nature: Naive (+Spd/-SpD)
Ability: Skill Link
-Shell Break
-Icicle Spear
-Rock Blast
-Shell Blade

Notes: Cloyster got buffed majorly in Generation 5 and I really like Shell Break. Mixed with White Herb, and I have 2 tiers to Atk, SpA, and Spd with only a 1 tier loss to SpD (like he has any SpD anyway). From there, simply Icicle Spear or Rock Blast. That's not his only purpose, though. As strong as that buff may be, I personally think Volcarona's sweeping is better. Volcarona's 4x weakness to rock forces me to put up rapid spin on him too, to create room for Volcarona. Hopefully it could also lure a SpA pokemon in too, so that I'd have a safer switch to Volcarona.

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Volcarona @ Leftovers
EVs: 252 SpA/252 Spd/4 HP
Nature: Modest (+SpA/-Atk)
Ability: Flame Body
-Butterfly Dance
-Flame Dance
-Bug Buzz
-Hidden Power (Ground)

Notes: Volcarona is just a basic Butterfly Dance and sweep pokemon. I wasn't sure quite what I wanted with my final attack, as it won't get that much use anyway. Flame Dance boosts SpA even more and Bug Buzz reduces the opponent's SpD. Both are STABs too. So, if the opponent dosen't get annihilated the first hit, they won't survive a second. If there is set up time, I can always get greedy and start Butterfly Dancing more, but I think that might not be smart. Hurricane does look like a good last move, though, since Confusion can be a pain. Regardless, I'm hoping since most of my team seems to have good Def but is a little weak on SpD, then I could lure a SpA pokemon out to be able to switch Volcarona in.

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Conkeldurr @ Leftovers
EVs: 252 HP/4 Atk/252 SDef
Nature: Adamant (+Atk/-SpA)
Ability: Guts
-Bulk Up
-Drain Punch
-Mach Punch
-Payback

Notes: This guy is a monster. He's in there to simply beat pokemon up. Bulk Up once and then fire away. He can take on Ghost types with Payback, but if a Ghost type is thrown at him, it would probably be in my favor to just switch out. Guts lets him take status effects like a champ, so if I could switch on him while I predict Thunder Wave or something, then that would be perfect (it may stop me from having to use Bulk Up, though I might want to anyway).

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Jirachi @ Leftovers
EVs: 252 HP/224 Def/32 Spe
Nature: Bold (+Def/-Atk)
Ability: Serene Grace
-Wish
-Calm Mind
-Thunder Bolt
-Psychic

Notes: After my first four pokemon, I realized I'm really lacking a SpD pokemon. Jirachi can come in and give me just that. I'm tempted to switch Thunder Bolt for U-Turn for the ability to use the Wish/U-Turn combo, but at the moment, most of my pokemon are based around being able to defend themselves and I'm hoping that with Calm Mind, it can do just that. The Psychic STAB is obviously the main attack, especially after a Calm Mind SpA and SpD boost.

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Scrafty @ Leftovers
EVs: 252 HP/8 Atk/248SpD
Nature: Careful (+SpD/-SpA)
Ability: Shed Skin
-Bulk Up
-Drain Punch
-Payback
-Rest

Notes: Scrafty can act as my second Conkeldurr, basically. It has the ability to Bulk Up, to raise its attack and defense, and then it can Drain Punch away. Just like Conkeldurr, it can use Payback for Ghost types, but switching out would be preferred. Rest is my final attack, mixed with Shed Skin, to hopefully heal up from any sort of wound. The only difference between Scrafty and Conkeldurr is that Scrafty can use his defenses a little bit, while Conkeldurr is a crazy, brute force attacker, whose only defense is through Bulk Up and from his naturally high health.

Final notes: Although the team feels pretty solid, I think I'm lacking a bit of SpD. All of the pokemon have the ability to sweep, but their roles take priority. For example, if I need Cloyster to Rapid Spin, then he's going to rapid spin before I worry about attacking with him. I never put U-Turn on any of the pokemon but I'm toying with the possibility of it. With U-Turn, they could act more as a unit and less as individuals. However, they are strong as individuals, so I'm split over that. For now, I'm leaving it out.
 
I like this particular Volcarona set, the only thing I disagree with is Hurricane. The only real reason to run Hurricane is if you're terrified of Blaziken, I'd suggest either HP Ice if youre having Dragon problems or HP Water to counter the rock/ground types he'll have trouble with.
 
maybe try running forretress over glyscor? you can give forry lefties withought wasting an item on focus sash no and he also has rapid spin so you can lead a stealth rock rapid spin, yes you lose taunt wich is a major loss but atleas your valcorana isn getting hurt by SR, its a tough call for te team but i'd say forry is better lead for you than glyscor
 
Ryuuk201 said:
maybe try running forretress over glyscor? you can give forry lefties withought wasting an item on focus sash no and he also has rapid spin so you can lead a stealth rock rapid spin, yes you lose taunt wich is a major loss but atleas your valcorana isn getting hurt by SR, its a tough call for te team but i'd say forry is better lead for you than glyscor
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Well I do have rapid spin on Cloyster, as its main priority, but like you said it's a tough call. The only fear I'd have with that strategy is that if the lead is a physical attacker, then a rapid spin and immediate switch to Volcarona would just get Volcarona killed anyway. My reasoning for Gliscor would be if I could out-speed most leads and Taunt them to avoid any SR setup in the first place. Plus I can earthquake/roost with him later in the game if I needed. I'll have to test Forretress and see what happens.
 
RyanTcone said:
I like this particular Volcarona set, the only thing I disagree with is Hurricane. The only real reason to run Hurricane is if you're terrified of Blaziken, I'd suggest either HP Ice if youre having Dragon problems or HP Water to counter the rock/ground types he'll have trouble with.
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Thanks. Good idea, I'll probably switch to HP water.
 
blastoise863 said:
Well I do have rapid spin on Cloyster, as its main priority, but like you said it's a tough call. The only fear I'd have with that strategy is that if the lead is a physical attacker, then a rapid spin and immediate switch to Volcarona would just get Volcarona killed anyway. My reasoning for Gliscor would be if I could out-speed most leads and Taunt them to avoid any SR setup in the first place. Plus I can earthquake/roost with him later in the game if I needed. I'll have to test Forretress and see what happens.
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Try a sashed Aerodactyl if you want to lead taunt, he`s naturally faster, physically stronger and a slight bit bulkier.
 
RyanTcone said:
Try a sashed Aerodactyl if you want to lead taunt, he`s naturally faster, physically stronger and a slight bit bulkier.
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Would the Aerodactyl lead be better considering that he's kinda worthless after SR is up? This lead position is terrible to determine, I'll have to test Aerodactyl and Forretress both.
 
You can run nearly an identical set with Aero to Gliscor, like I said the only difference is Aero is statistically a bit better. That being said he's more useful than Gliscor once SR is set up.
 
deoxys-s sets up stealth rock and spikes faster than aero and it has a faster taunt. In the lead position deoxys-s is a better setup poke.
 
RyanTcone said:
Try a sashed Aerodactyl if you want to lead taunt, he`s naturally faster, physically stronger and a slight bit bulkier.
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Bulkier, are you nuts?

Aerodactyl 80 / 105 / 65 / 60 / 75 / 130
Gliscor 75 / 95 / 125 / 45 / 75 / 95

Gliscor has almost TWICE the physical defense as Aerodactly as well as better typing. Aerodactly only have 5 more base HP and the same SpD. The only real advantage Aero has is a faster Taunt and STAB Rock. It's forced to run sash as an item because it IS so frail and never survives past the lead position. Gliscor has a useful Electric immunity with the Ground immunity, STAB Earthquake, Sand Veil and U-Turn. Gliscor is fast enough to Taunt most things that set up hazards and is a great mon for any team.
 
RyanTcone said:
You can run nearly an identical set with Aero to Gliscor, like I said the only difference is Aero is statistically a bit better. That being said he's more useful than Gliscor once SR is set up.
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I did some research and I'm liking the idea for the Aerodactyl lead, as it gives me the opportunity for at least a taunt and a stealth rock with probably at least 1 attack, before he goes down.

In addition, I've been considering switching Jirachi out for a Jellicent wall...thoughts? It leaves me wide open to electric attacks, but Jirachi just dosen't seem like he fits in the team.
 
In my experience Jellicent is only really a status inducer, personally I'd go with Shuckle as he does the same thing but higher defenses.
 
Forretress is so much better than Cloyster as a Spinner as Cloyster lost 1/4 of its HP everytime it switches to SR.
And Gliscor >>>>> Aero IMO.
 
This team is good, but a few things that i picked up after skimming this.

Switch Vulcarona's Hurricane with something else, i cant think of anything else except for U-Turn, which is pretty much a waste unless you like to do a lot of U-Turns. Also, i dont see why you would use a white herb, i think that LO would be a lot better, since Shell Break and Shell Blade pretty much wreck everything.
 
Current changes: changed Cloyster's White Herb to Life Orb, and his Rapid Spin to Shell Blade; changed Volcarona's Hurricane to HP Ground

I now need a Rapid Spinner and opinions on what to do with Jirachi, as he doesn't feel quite right.
 
^seconding.

And how about switching Drain Punch for HJK on Scrafty? HJK deals almost twice damage and Scrafty has Leftovers and can Rest when needed anyway, does the accuracy worth that much?
 
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