First team in a while.

[Demoncleaner]

And my first post on smogon; please let me know if there's something I'm doing wrong. Not pertaining to any tiers but what I consider (somewhat) competitive and fun nonetheless. It's probably worth noting that I don't consider playing a team with T-Tar, Garchomp, Metagross, Blissey, Heracross, and Salamence very fun.

Kabutops @ Focus Sash
Nature: Adamant (-Sp Atk, +Atk)
EVs: 112 HP, 252 Atk, 4 Def, 140 Spd
Ability: Swift Swim
Moveset:

Rain Dance
Waterfall
Rock Slide
X-Scissor

A self explanatory moveset; Focus Sash ensures he can take at least one hit before going down, hopefully screwing any opening Choice sets by giving me enough time to lay down the Rain, double his speed, and hit with a STABbed Waterfall or Rock Slide. X-Scissor is for grass types or Psychics like Alakazam that like to use Energy Ball.

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Roserade @ Life Orb
Nature: Timid (-Atk, +Spd)
EVs: 4 HP, 252 Sp. Atk, 252 Spd
Ability: Natural Cure
Moveset:

Sleep Powder
Energy Ball
Weather Ball
Shadow Ball

Goes right along with Kabutops, and the Sunnybeaming Charizard farther down the post. Even without weather, putting the opponent to sleep is never a bad idea and spare steels, Shadow Ball and Energy Ball have okay coverage. It can deal with Psychics that it's weak to, and depending on the weather can also deal with Fire or Ice types. If Sandstream is blowing, this set can also take advantage with a Rock-type Weather Ball, super effective against Ice, Flying, and Fire types Roseraid is weak to (leaving Shadow Ball for the remaining Psychics). Also is what I see as the obligatory Poison type to pick up Toxic Spikes.

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Hypno @ Leftovers
Nature: Adamant (-Sp. Atk, +Atk)
EVs: 40 HP, 252 Atk, 216 Sp. Def
Ability: Insomnia
Moveset:

Substitute
Thunder Wave
Focus Punch
Zen Headbutt

This should turn a few heads. Sub-punching special wall of a Hypno. The combination of Substitute and Thunder Wave make it especially good at walling tanks, since it can block status ailments with Substitute and psuedo-lock between Paralysis and Zen Headbutt's chance of flinching the slowed opponent. Good for switching in on tanks and to eat Focus Blasts aimed at other Pokemon (namely Kabutops and Forretress).

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Forretress @ Shed Shell
Nature: Relaxed (-Spd, +Def)
EVs: 252 HP, 162 Atk, 96 Def
Ability: Sturdy
Moveset:

Spikes
Revenge
Light Screen
Rapid Spin

Light Screen to help out the whole team, as it's based a lot more on physical defense than special. Spikes and Rapid Spin are obligatory, and Revenge is to be able to deal with both T-Tar and Magnezone. Shed Shell over Leftovers to switch from Magnezone.

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Charizard @ Power Herb
Nature: Timid (-Atk, +Spd)
EVs: 252 Sp. Atk, 4 Sp. Def, 252 Speed
Ability: Blaze
Moveset:

Sunny Day
Fire Blast
Solarbeam
Dragon Pulse

Fueling Roserade and doing a fairly good job of sweeping on it's own. Timid over Modest to ensure it can outspeed everything it possibly can on account of it's defenses and because Sunny Day gives quite a bonus to Fire Blast which is already overpowered. The Power Herb is to catch Waters and Rocks that think I need a turn to set up off guard with a suprise Solar Beam - it may seem inferior to Power Orb or Wise Glasses, but the that one shot can decide battles. Dragon Pulse over Substitute to allow for better type coverage; Fire Blast and Solarbeam would leave it practically defenseless against Dragons. However, Subbing into Blaze and a Petaya might make Fireblast capable of taking out some chunky dragons, so I'm not sure at the moment which would be more effective.

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Gliscor @ Leftovers (?)
Nature: Impish (-Sp. Atk, +Def)
EVs: 248 HP, 8 Atk, 180 Def, 72 Spd
Ability: Sand Veil
Moveset:

Earthquake
Aerial Ace
Taunt
Roost

Heracross counter is given, but aside rounds out the team very nicely with immunities to electric and good resistances. Also a great switch from Forretress when faced with Magnezone, as he can outspeed it's Magnet Rise with an Earthquake.

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That's the team thus far. I'm mainly concerned that there isn't enough special defense going around and that the heavy weaknesses to water, fire, and ice will be painfully exploited, aside from the fact that nothing on the team is using either an electric or an ice attack. Any and all suggestions and comments are appreciated. Thanks in advance.

 

[kd24]

Before I actually go on to the team you have to explain to me that point of Kabutops. Rain benefits no one else on your team and actually hurts a few of them like gliscor and charizard. There are also a few moveset moveset problems. Also running Sunny day and rain dance on the same team for one pokemon is actually somewhat redundant. I think we can maybe play with a more of a Sunny day team for this.

First things first and that is the lead. Now remember this is actually a sunny day team now unless you decide that you would rather have rain dance. So a lead that could fit in this team could possibly be jumpluff over kabutops. Jumpluff with a set of

item - leftovers / heat rock
jolly
188 def / 68 SpD / 252 spe
-sleep powder
-leech seed
-u-turn
-sunny day

I would use chlorophyll to raise you speed to make you the fastest pokemon in the gme. If you worry more about status then leaf guard can work as it will heal you at the end of each turn.

Now we actually have a bit of a fire weak but we shouldn't add kabutops as he needs rain dance to function and that hurts the team. With Jumpluff sleep powder and other pokemon doing it better I think we need a good wall in here. This would go over roserade to get rid of the fire weakness we created on ourselves-

item- leftovers
relaxed
240 hp / 208 def / 60 SpA
-earthquake
-ice beam
-stealth rock
-hydro pump / roar

The next pokemon we have on the list is hypno. Im sure he can stay but he has better things to be doing. This team lacks recovery which will end up killing you. I suggest using wish on hypno over zen headbutt may help. Im not too big on the subpunching but if it works keep it but if not go with reflect or light screen over its place. seismic toss also would work well.

Forretress does not need light screen or revenge. I would go with earthquake as it still deals with those 2 pokemon you mentioned before in magnezone and tyranitar. With shed shell magnezone isn't something you should stay in on anyway. Over light screen I suggest toxic spikes as it gives you something to do when you have advantage.

Charizard would actually prefer more of a specs or life orb set over that on. This allows him to play off sunny day more and not use it himself. Remember power herb is useless as solarbeam will work with sunny day out anyway. I suggest a life orb set of overheat/fire blast, air slash/solarbeam, dragon pulse, hidden power electric/flamethrower.

Gliscor seems out of place I would suggest maybe putting another sunny day user who is also bulky. I'm partial to pokemon who can moonlight or use morning sun/synthesis myself. If hypno is not working cresselia could go over him with moonlight healing you as well as sunny day. Over gliscor though you could also consider a good clean up pokemon for late game. Perhaps Garchomp for lategame sweeping or if you don't like him at all you can use Mamoswine who will take nuetral damage from water attacks.

 

[Demoncleaner]

Before I actually go on to the team you have to explain to me that point of Kabutops. Rain benefits no one else on your team and actually hurts a few of them like gliscor and charizard. There are also a few moveset moveset problems. Also running Sunny day and rain dance on the same team for one pokemon is actually somewhat redundant. I think we can maybe play with a more of a Sunny day team for this.

I think you're missing the fact that Rain Dance eliminates Roserade's weakness to Fire and makes Weather Ball a Water type move. It also helps Forretress take a Fire hit by halving his weakness to fire. It doesn't help Charizard or Gliscor at all, no, but then that's why Charizard has Sunny Day - not only for the obvious Sunnybeaming and the cut down of weaknesses to water, but to give Roserade even more variability. This isn't a weather-revolved team and I don't want it to be one - I don't like teams dependent on any given weather effect. However, Kabutops and Charizard can both hit very hard and the fact that Roserade's typage and moveset works well to balance out the team is nothing to complain out. I don't think Sunny Day and Rain Dance on the same team are redundant - running Sunny Day on 3 Pokemon to fuel a team is redundant.

First things first and that is the lead. Now remember this is actually a sunny day team now unless you decide that you would rather have rain dance. So a lead that could fit in this team could possibly be jumpluff over kabutops. Jumpluff with a set of

item - leftovers / heat rock
jolly
188 def / 68 SpD / 252 spe
-sleep powder
-leech seed
-u-turn
-sunny day

I would use chlorophyll to raise you speed to make you the fastest pokemon in the gme. If you worry more about status then leaf guard can work as it will heal you at the end of each turn.

Now we actually have a bit of a fire weak but we shouldn't add kabutops as he needs rain dance to function and that hurts the team. With Jumpluff sleep powder and other pokemon doing it better I think we need a good wall in here. This would go over roserade to get rid of the fire weakness we created on ourselves-

I'd prefer not to drop Kabutops. He's a good starter because he can always take at least one hit (assuming he doesn't get killed by some kind of critical-hit Sludge Bomb or Flamethrower, both of which he's resistant to), allowing him to set up Rain and then either switch to counter or sweep. He can trump opening T-Tars or Hippowdons with his okay defense and Rain Dance, and otherwise outspeed anything come turn two. Plus, he's a great switch in against a fire type I'd likely see switched in on Roserade or Forretress, with a 4x resistance.

item- leftovers
relaxed
240 hp / 208 def / 60 SpA
-earthquake
-ice beam
-stealth rock
-hydro pump / roar

I'm assuming this is Blastoise or Swampert, but you didn't give a name to this set so I don't know what Pokemon this is supposed to be.

The next pokemon we have on the list is hypno. Im sure he can stay but he has better things to be doing. This team lacks recovery which will end up killing you. I suggest using wish on hypno over zen headbutt may help. Im not too big on the subpunching but if it works keep it but if not go with reflect or light screen over its place. seismic toss also would work well.

I'd wholeheartedly agree with you if it weren't for the fact that I'm planning on building this team without Action Reply in-game, and I don't have a promotional Drowzee (it should be noted that this is also why I'm not relying on running Hidden Power [Ice] and Hidden Power [Electric] on Roserade and Charizard respectively). Subpunching is really just for the shock value, though I only even threw in Focus Punch after I already decided Substitute+Thunder Wave+Zen Headbutt was a nice walling lock. If I could I'd replace Focus Punch with Wish, but given my options either Focus Punch or Seismic Toss would be the best choice. I'm thinking that giving him Seismic Toss and tossing the Attack EVs and nature for more HP and Defense might be better, though I'm still unsure. More testing on the current set is needed.

Forretress does not need light screen or revenge. I would go with earthquake as it still deals with those 2 pokemon you mentioned before in magnezone and tyranitar. With shed shell magnezone isn't something you should stay in on anyway. Over light screen I suggest toxic spikes as it gives you something to do when you have advantage.

I was debating on EQ over Revenge in that spot myself, but still can't decide. Revenge would be hit harder against most Rocks and Steels than EQ would, and Gliscor does already have Earthquake itself. I know EQ would be better against Magnezone, but like you said, I'd just be switching on that if possible anyway. Are there other serious threats that EQ would be better against than Revenge? Keep in mind that, against a neutral type, Revenge would do more damage than Earthquake because of the anti-speed nature and the fact that I would aim for an IV of 0. I was initially afraid of Toxic Spikes for Guts Heracross, but I'll try it over Light Screen and see which works better. I just don't think I'd have enough turns to set up both Spikes and Toxic Spikes before I'm sweeped out, especially without that Sp. Def boost.

Charizard would actually prefer more of a specs or life orb set over that on. This allows him to play off sunny day more and not use it himself. Remember power herb is useless as solarbeam will work with sunny day out anyway. I suggest a life orb set of overheat/fire blast, air slash/solarbeam, dragon pulse, hidden power electric/flamethrower.

Life Orb is definitely an option, but I don't want to use Solar Beam without Sunny Day on the same Pokemon on the offchance I get stuck unable to use it because my opponent is Hailing or Sandstorming or whatever. I could run Life Orb and the only difference between the set you suggest and what I'd actually be running is Sunny Day over Flamethrower / Hidden Power [Electric] (which I can't get guaranteed, in game). The Power Herb is not useless, though - upon first seeing a Charizard, my opponent doesn't know if I'm Choice Banding, Scarfing, or Spec'ing, or whether I'm running a Bellyzard variant or a Mixed Sweeper or a Life Orb set or a Sunnybeamer or what. Most people are unsure of what to do except switch into a wall or something faster than it when they see it, and the last thing they expect regardless is a first-turn Solarbeam - I know I would be caught off guard to be Beamed without a Sunny Day (because it's obvious what's coming once you do use Sunny Day, and destroying the counter before it even knows what to expect is invaluable). I'd probably vary between the Life Orb and the Herb.

Gliscor seems out of place I would suggest maybe putting another sunny day user who is also bulky. I'm partial to pokemon who can moonlight or use morning sun/synthesis myself. If hypno is not working cresselia could go over him with moonlight healing you as well as sunny day. Over gliscor though you could also consider a good clean up pokemon for late game. Perhaps Garchomp for lategame sweeping or if you don't like him at all you can use Mamoswine who will take nuetral damage from water attacks.

How does Gliscor seem out of place? I think he's a good way to round out the team because he can Recover, taunt out slow tanks and Recover to act as a good physical wall. I'm open to suggestions on that if you have something specifically that could go better than Gliscor or Hypno on this team (keeping in mind that at least for the time being I want to hold on to both Rain Dance and Sunny Day as minor strategies).

Thanks for all the input, though. I'm trying not to remain completely closeminded about this and take advice well, but if I were to make a full-blown Sunny Day team it would probably be nothing like this. More perspectives on the team would be much appreciated.