First team after 4 month hiatus. Critizise pl0x.

Upsided0wn7

The first thing you need to know is my view on pokemon, and thus my play strategy. It's that the entire game, you're trying to set-up for a late-game sweep. This sweep could be 1-2 pokes, or you could be wiping out 4-5 pokemon with one sweeper. The team is based around this play style and focuses on removing/weakening the counters to my sweepers, and giving them a safe turn to set-up. I've been playing it for about 2 weeks and it's given me more success than any of my other teams (Which isn't saying much).

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Metagross @ Occa Berry
Ability: Clear Body
EVs: 252 HP/252 Atk/4 Spd
Adamant nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Bullet Punch
- Explosion
- Stealth Rock
- Meteor Mash

Amazing lead set. Kills suicide leads, as well as setting up SR and doing big damage with Meteor Mash and Earthquake. Priority is always a nice thing to have on a team, and Metagross can back it up with STAB and a sky-high attack stat. BP breaks sashes.

Ground goes to Gyara and. Fire goes to Starmie or Gyara or Porygon2, if it's coming from Heatran.

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Starmie @ Life Orb
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 4 HP/252 Spd/252 SAtk
Timid nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Recover
- Ice Beam
- Hydro Pump
- Thunderbolt

Nice Life Orb build. Hydro Pump scores some key OHKOs and 2HKOs, namely OHKO on Zapdos after rock damage. I opted for Recovery over Ice Beam, as it helps to break down walls, and my team doesn't have very much in the defense department. Synergizes well with the two steels on the team. Can switch in to the fire attacks of Infernape and Heatran, force Scarf variations to switch, while OHKOing non-scarf variations.

Ghost Attacks are given to Magnezone and Porygon2, as well as Metagross to a lesser extent.
Bug attacks are tanked by Magnezone.
Magnezone takes electric attacks.
Grass goes to either of the steels and sometimes Gyara, if it's something he can take on

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Magnezone @ Leftovers
Ability: Magnet Pull
EVs: 40 HP/216 Spd/252 SAtk
Timid (+Spd, -Atk)
- Substitute
- Magnet Rise
- Thunderbolt
- Hidden Power [Fire]

Magnezone is the counter to so many things it's not even funny. Scizor is easy to set-up on (Provided it has no Brick Break, but magne survives to set-up sub still). Can switch to Starmie and Uxie on fire and ground attacks respectively, as well as passing both the Gyara for an easy set-up. HP Fire for the Scizors, as, without it, Magnezone will die or be forced to switch out if the Scizor carries Brick Break and gets a SD behind him. Also traps Bronzong, a possible stopper of my sweeper, as well as just about any other steel I want it to.

Fire attacks go to Starmie. If Starmie drops, they can also be tanked by Gyara, but I prefer to save him.
Gyara switches in on predicted ground attacks, but hopefully he has Magnet Rise set-up already.
Fighting attacks go to Gyara or Starmie

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Porygon2 @ Leftovers
Ability: Trace
EVs: 252 HP/212 Def/40 SpA
Bold nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Recover
- Ice Beam
- Thunderwave
- Thunderbolt

Good counter to a lot of things. Bounces Intimidate back at Mence and Gyara, while taking Fire attacks from Heatran. Synergizes well with the team by covering almost everyone in some way, while have a couple of people to take his sole weakness. Couldn't decide between TBolt or Discharge.

Fighting goes to Starmie or Gyara

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Gyarados (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 4 HP/252 Atk/252 Spd
Adamant nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Dragon Dance
- Waterfall
- Earthquake
- Ice Fang

Bulkydos is still a beast, even more so because it's not expected. Magnezone takes most hit pointed towards this guy. Taunt takes on walls attempting to PHaze him out. It becomes even more potent due to the fact that no one expects it. Waterfall and Stone Edge give enough coverage to beat most stuff. Speed EVs are to beat Timid Gengar after one DD IIRC. Synergizes well with Magnezone.

Magnezone takes electric attacks.

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Infernape @ Life Orb
Ability: Blaze
Hasty Natured (+Spd, -Def)
24 Atk/252 SAtk/232 Speed
- Fire Blast
- Grass Knot
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Close Combat

Simply a wall breaker capable of taking out just about anything in Gyara's way. Synergizes well with the rest of the team, as it can pass off every super effective attack to something else. Good coverage allow this guy to come and late-game sweep for me, or simply kill off a few counters to free up Gyara (Read: Die, Die, Swampert0

Flying attacks are given to Magnezone.
Earth and Water attacks go to Gyara.
Psychic Attacks can be tanked by just about anyone.



Not sure if this is up to the standard of you're "REQUIRED READING" sections, as I have no way to judge myself. Feel free to close this if it breaks any of the rules.

NOTE: Copied almost directly from shoddy, because I'm lazy.​
 
Your Alakazam can't possibly do what it's intended to do. Too many leads run focus sash these days to just go for the KO... You also can't rely on switching to something else to handle dark types, they'll either carry a fighting move (nearly all of them), or have Pursuit.

If you're planning on beating Scizor with Magnezone, HP Fire is the way to go. However, this leaves it open to other threats...

The rest of the team looks OK to me... Barring Uxie.
 
Burnpsy: I know that, hence the "This lead is bad" part. I do realize that Pursuit is pretty nasty. I've actually only ran into a few Focus Sash leads, and most of them only set-up SR, then switch or die. Feel free to suggest a replacement. Zam switches out of this team easily and fixes up the slightly high amount of Psychics.

Mr. Skittle: I completely missed that <.<. My excuse is gonna be that most people carrying TBolt can take on Magnezone. Will edit to fix.
 
OK, well, agreed with burnspy, that lead isn't going to do anything. Since you have a bit of a problem with Weavile, who'll cream you... I've got a replacement...

Infernape @ Focus Sash
Ability: Blaze
Hasty Natured (+Spd, -Def)
64 Atck/252 Sp.Atck/192 Speed

~ Fake Out
~ Stealth Rock
~ Fire Blast
~ Close Combat

This will be your lead. Now, Weavile won't be able to get by you that fast, and you can finish Zong Leads as well.

OK, now, for the new weaknesses you'll get, and how you can cover them. Water attacks can be given right to your BulkyGyara, it won't mind them. Same with EQ's. Flying types to Magnezone, yada yada.

For other nitpicks, Starmie should take this spread:
136 HP / 156 Def / 216 Spe. This way you can outspeed +Speed Gengar and Infernape. The rest are put into Defense and HP to make it Bulkier in the face of Gyara. This spread is necessary so you can use Rapid Spin without fainting. You can keep LO, because Starmie would love that extra attack boost, and it can Recover it off.

Also, for Magnezone, you can keep HP Grass, because you now have Infernape. You really need to have something for Pert, because without that very, very important move, you're screwed all around, and the only thing that can save you is Gyara, which will, I guarantee you, faint to another of the opponent's Pokemon. If you're still worried about Scizor, you shouldn't be, BulkyGyara pretty much walls it, and can get DD's up and faint it.

Hope I helped, good luck with the team:D!!
 
Made the lead change (Didn't cahnge the picture because I'm lazy.) Slightly wary about changing Starmie, as the EVs I have allow it to beat Zapdos, who this team has trouble with.
 
UpsideDude, you should make Meta your lead and have:
Metagross @ Occa Berry
Ability: Clear Body
EVs: 252 HP/240 Atk/18 Spd
Adamant nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Bullet Punch
- Earthquake
- Stealth Rock
- Ice Punch/Thunderpunch

This works extremely well and gets the job done most of the time at beating leads with BP breaking sashes

this can also free up a move on uxie w/ SR

Hope it helps and nice team BTW.
 
joshe said:
UpsideDude, you should make Meta your lead and have:
Metagross @ Occa Berry
Ability: Clear Body
EVs: 252 HP/240 Atk/18 Spd
Adamant nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Bullet Punch
- Earthquake
- Stealth Rock
- Ice Punch/Thunderpunch

This works extremely well and gets the job done most of the time at beating leads with BP breaking sashes

this can also free up a move on uxie w/ SR

Hope it helps and nice team BTW.
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Hmm, and then we can move Infernape back and make it a MixSweeper. Actually, if you think about it, that is the best thing to do with the team. You retain synergy, and now you can do some damage. OK, then here we go. Just pick any set you think fit from Ape's analysis (Mix). But I prefer the second one. Anyways, gotta go, might edit in later.
 
While the Metagross set looks amazing (Will keep it in mind for later teams) this team was built around AgilityGross and his potent late-game sweeping capabilities (Good typing and only 1 turn needed to set-up). If the more experience players truly think that this change will improve the team, I'll do it, but I think that changing Metagross would severely change the playstyle of the team.

EDIT: I'm not trying to say that I'm better than you and you're set is dumb. I simply want a bit more information as to why to change the set.
 
Upsided0wn7 said:
While the Metagross set looks amazing (Will keep it in mind for later teams) this team was built around AgilityGross and his potent late-game sweeping capabilities (Good typing and only 1 turn needed to set-up). If the more experience players truly think that this change will improve the team, I'll do it, but I think that changing Metagross would severely change the playstyle of the team.

EDIT: I'm not trying to say that I'm better than you and you're set is dumb. I simply want a bit more information as to why to change the set.
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Actually, the set is very good. I encounter it in almost every single one of my battles. The set is very good for countering Azelf Suicide Leads as they can't do anything but SR or Fire Blast, which won't really do anything to Gross while he's holding an Occa Berry. So, while Azelf is doing it's business, you Meteor Mash it. It'll survive that onslaught, and then you Bullet Punch for the faint. Then you can set up SR as you please, opening up the opponents team. So, if you decide to use MixApe as a Mix Sweeper and not lead, the one that suits you would be:

Infernape @ Life Orb
Ability: Blaze
Hasty Natured (+Spe, -Def)
24 Atck/252 Sp.Atck/232 Speed

~ Fire Blast
~ Close Combat
~ Grass Knot
~ Hidden Power (Ice)

Now, Scizor and Swampert are covered, but because of the threat Scizor poses when it gets SD up, I suggest running HP Fire on Magnezone.
 
Made the recommended changes. A bit wary about changing HP to Fire on Magnezone, as Swampert walls me pretty bad if Ape drops. Did a bit of play testing (Didn't get much. Guild Wars monthly tournament was today, good stuff) and it seemed to do well. The lead worked out amazing and sometimes dropped 2 pokemon within a few turns. I do miss the come-back power of AgilityGross though.
 
You have two Stealth Rockers. I would fix that immeadiately. Generally I'd say NP over HP Ice on MixApe but since you're quite Salamence weak HP Ice does fit well for once.

Also another weak which is kind of funny is that you have quite the Electivire weakness if he pulls off a boost from a Starmie thunderbolt. Of course if you predict correctly you can get around it plus there aren't many Electivires anymore but still just a note. TTar can also do quite the damage to a good amount of your Pokemon(Metagross,Starmie,Uxie,Magnezone). Of course ape is an immeadiate counter but he doesn't exactly enjoy CB Crunch or CB Stone Edge. Gyara is the same way as he essentially "counters" TTar but be careful about mispredicting and getting hit by stone edge.

Other than that I don't see a whole lot of problems except maybe a few tiny nit picks here and there.
 
Upsided0wn7 said:
Yea. I don't really see a replacement for SR on Uxie though. Maybe Protect, but that's all I can see.
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Put in Light Screen. You lack a good Special Wall, so that could really help to soften Special Blows. If you want to go into a more offensive approach (though I don't recommend it), use Psychic. But again, Light Screen would be the best move to fill up that slot. But, because of the abundance of Tenta, you still might like SR there. Just test them, and choose which is best.
 
You don't need an occa berry on metagross, the only common lead you will beat with it is infernape, because heatran carry shuca berry. Replace occa with leftovers and Earthquake with explosion. Magnezone needs more speed, because it must outrun max speed adamant scizor.
 
panamaxis said:
You don't need an occa berry on metagross, the only common lead you will beat with it is infernape, because heatran carry shuca berry. Replace occa with leftovers and Earthquake with explosion. Magnezone needs more speed, because it must outrun max speed adamant scizor.
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You're overlooking one very, very common lead, and his name is Azelf. All Azelf is going to do is SR or Fire Blast, and if Azelf chooses the latter, Occa Berry helps soften that up big time. I do agree the set is odd though, use this:

Metagross @ Occa Berry
Adamant
252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Spe
- Meteor Mash
- Bullet Punch
- Stealth Rock/Earthquake
- Explosion

One of the best and common leads ATM. Set up Rocks to make 2HKO's 1HKO's, or 3HKO's 2HKO's, or EQ those other Meta's that look like this;).
 
Metagross is a great lead, nice choice.

You seem to be wanting to do two things with Starmie. You want it to be support and offensive. Use offensive. Just swap out Rapid Spin for Ice Beam, and Recover for Psychic.

Magnezone is currently very lol. Timid 252 SpA / 216 Spe / 40 Def outspeeds Max speed Scizor (as panamaxis said), and still gets some nice power. Substitute is pretty iffy, as he takes the brunt of attacks on your team (or so it seems), so I suggest a Screen over it.

Uxie? No other Options? You make me laugh. Try Thunder Wave over Stealth Rock, paralysis is always nice.

BulkyDos is soooo last season. Try Offensive.

Gyarados @ Life Orb
Adamant 252 Atk / 252 Spe / 4 Def

~ Dragon Dance
~ Waterfall
~ Earthquake
~ Ice Fang

You know the drill with him. Ice Fang is much better than Stone Edge, as the latter has awful PP, and abysmal accuracy.

Mixape is Mixape is Mixape.

SpecsJolt gives you trouble. He can manage a 3HKO on Magnezone, so he isn't switching in too many times. Nothing bar Zone likes to eat a Stone Edge from a CBTar, and with the way you rely on him he isnt lasting long.

Hope I helped!
 
Made the recommend Magnezone change; however, I'm wary of making some of the other changes recommended by the above poster. I don't agree with most of his post but, most of the time, I go with the advice of more experienced players. He's only joined this January, but I have no idea if he's become an acomplished battler on Marriland or something. If someone could back his opinions or dismiss them, it would be greatly appreciated.
 
I will support his oppinions for you ;)

I think you rely on magnezone way to heavily and you need more than just him to counter some of the main threats that you have heaped on him right now. CB tyranitar just eats you up right now, as it can ohko everything on your team with a little prediction, and when used with gyrados to pursuit starmie and Uxie, you are hoplessly swept by gyarados once it gets a dd in. Now I know that once anything is gone anyone is weak to something, but I find teams that use a psychic as their sole gyardos counter are in for some trouble. Problem is, most of gyarados's counters are psychics. The one that isn't, and is the best counter for gyrados and could also steel you against heatran and salamence, is porygon2. Porygon2 could easily slip into Uxie's role doing literally the same thing minus yawn and u-turn. It can thunderbolt gyarados to hell after bouncing its intimidation tactics back at it with trace. It can also swap in on heatran and take the fire attack for no damage and toxic/t-wave the switch in with whichever status move you choose to utilize. The analysis spread for porygon2 is 252 hp 216 def 40 sp. atk with ice beam, thunderbolt, recover, and t-wave/toxic. This will allow you to remove your gyarados weak completely when used in tandem with starmie, somthing not many teams can say. This also lessens the threat of tyranitar because it removes Uxie, a pursuitable psychic, from the mix. You don't need the stealth rocks that uxie had anyway because of metagross. Just remember to play on resistances against tar and you should be fine.

Also, making magnezone a scarfer might be helpful as it can revenge kill scizor, tyranitar, and lucario after a CC, but that is up to your personal preference becausey you would lose the coverage on bronzong that you mentioned.

Pretty solid team, and hope I helped,

-chaos 9
 
Bad Ass said:
Hey buddy, I can get on the leaderboard starting from 100 in a few hours. If you somehow doubt me, go pm skarm.
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What the hell does that have to do with rating a team >__>

anyways i don't see why you use Uxie a UU when there are other things that can set up sr and counter gyarados such as celebi or bronzong (As in go boom :naughty:)
 
Light-Kun said:
What the hell does that have to do with rating a team >__>

anyways i don't see why you use Uxie a UU when there are other things that can set up sr and counter gyarados such as celebi or bronzong (As in go boom :naughty:)
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This. A celebi with thunder wave could help your team tremendously. It allows Gyarados to sweep without set-up which will be very useful when you find yourself in a tight spot.
 
Edited for some of the recommended changes. Left Psychic off of Starmie, as it's coverage is pretty meh, and recover helps a lot. Changed Gyara due to a better players advice; however, Bulky Gyara is a potent sweeper and I'me wary of changing him. Left Uxie as he is for now. Still trying to decide between Porygon2, Celebi, or Uxie. I like Uxie simply because of the potent Yawn/U-turn combo. I'm not sure if any other bulky pokemon have access to that combo, as I've neglected to look it up. Would like a few more opinions on Uxie/Porygon2/Celebi.
 
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