Hello and welcome to my RMT, now to business, I decided to create a whole new account after coming back to Pokemon to push from 1000 so I could see how far I could go, the catch? My plan is to push with Hail, as in gen 7 I used a hail team to get to a peak of around 1700 I believe, I enjoy the style and was planning on using one for gen 8, the team started off as a meme since I didn't think hail would work this gen, (I don't know how but I came up with the idea of Hailtler) but turned into what I believe could potentially be viable.
The Theory
Here I go over the idea behind the team and how I plan to capitalize on this idea.
So it started off with me having the basic knowledge of how hail works, Aurora Veil, Slush Rush, and the most undervalued part... poke, so of course I had to think of ways I could capitalize on these strengths. Eventually I settled with ditching a full hail based team in exchange for a more poke based that uses Aurora Veil to keep healthy and has a good speed and damage tier with hail up.
The Team Building Process
So of course if I wanted to capitalize on the strengths of hail I had to think of a setter, preferably one that can reliably set up Veil, I came up with two options Vanilluxe or Alolan Ninetales, of course although Vanilluxe hits harder and thus provides more of a threat but Ninetales had the better typing, utility and speed tier so I went with that.
Next up I needed a mon that could use hail to it's advantage, this time I had three options, Arctovish, Arctozolt, or Kyurem. I didn't want to use more than one to keep a good type balance. I quickly eliminated Arctovish so it came down to Kyurem or Arctozolt, I chose Arctozolt over Kyurem as under hail it has a better speed tier and hits like a truck with STAB Bolt Beak.
I was trying to think of another good mon I could use here with hail, Reuniclus and Mandibuzz came to mind due to overcoat but nothing really clicked, this was when I made the shift from full on hail to a more poke centered team, of course I needed to keep a good typing so a lot of the mons next were chosen for that very reason. Next I chose Swampert, he could bring rocks, toxic, and Flip Turn all while having the perfect typing to keep Zolt safe, Swampert also provided a lead conundrum for the enemy before the match, since I could choose to set up hail and Veil or Rocks and toxic due to two powerful leads, it keeps me mostly safe from losing round one, which of course is probably the most important round of a match. My team at this point was looking very off meta, however I love this as I've never really like relying on having the strongest mons to stat check me out of any situation, however my team IMO was looking solid.
Now I had some poke I wanted MORE, so of course I went for the greatest wall alive, again in my opinion, Toxapex, I went rocky helmet and the typical spike, scald, recover set up and the team was looking solid, however now I need a way to round out my type pool and have ways to capitalize on the poke, I started with Latios for levitate and CB BP Scizor but swapped Latios out for Dragapult since I needed a check for Spectrier and the team was done, and it had a near perfect type pool I might add.
I quickly found that poke teams are VERY hard to play since you have to consider every turn much more than other teams to even have a chance, especially since the team wasn't exactly META, but it was looking good and I took it into a match, it was successful and now I'm here about to dote over my team to somebody who's only here because they have nothing else to do (maybe)
Aisufokkusu (Ninetales-Alola) @ Light Clay
Ability: Snow Warning
EVs: 252 HP / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Aurora Veil
- Freeze-Dry
- Encore
- Hypnosis
Although the mon is pretty self explanatory, set up hail and veil, maybe do some utility then swap out, I need what 3 lines of detail? So I'll elaborate. Light clay was chosen over Icy Rock very easily when I made the switch to poke, as I only need 3 turns of Arctozolt to murder a team that hasn't prepared specifically for it, but more than that it can break Swampert, who absolutely craps on Arctozolt, and it does this is why I chose Freeze Dry over Blizzard. A Veil is why I chose Light Clay, who doesn't want to take next to no damage from things with your life orbed wall breaker that outspeeds almost every thing and has STAB Bolt Beak? I certainly wanted to, in any case, A Veil give Dragapult the opportunity to actually switch into things, changes Swamperts Lefties from average recovery to reliable sustain, and makes Scizor feel like a dedicated wall that also two shots things (yes I've calced stuff but I can't be bothered putting them here, do it yourself) Encore is THE anti setup machine and feels brilliant on a lead, I remember so many times in gen 7 when this absolutely saved my ass and it would feel like an insult to the move to not include it here (within reason of course). I don't know why I chose hypnosis, I brang it or hail during gen 7 but this seemed better, it isn't reliable due to being sleep and having 60 acc, which is the biggest problem but it can help if I predict a swap to counter my lead and incoming nuke (Arctozolt) Boring IV's and natures I haven't put to much thought into it.
Hailtler (Arctozolt) @ Life Orb
Ability: Slush Rush
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
Naive Nature
- Icicle Crash
- Bolt Beak
- Freeze-Dry
- Stomping Tantrum
The big boy mvp / meme of the team, Hailtler here hates Jews non hail mons and Swampert. In all honesty I love this mon, it single handedly has kept hail alive, if not well and I feel is overlooked a tonne, this thing hits like a... not a truck, but a Dracovish, which I believe is a better complement, not much to go over here, Icicle Crash for STAB ice, Bolt Beak since this thing isn't a mon without it, Freeze Dry so Swampert doesn't set up on me and also because you never know when a special move will come in handy, stomping tantrum is brilliant for checking Heatran and Mag too, and chucks a heck tonne of mind games in when double switching from a flying type to a steel or ground type, again EV's and nature are nothing special, although Life Orb has been taken over CB to make use of it's movepool.
NotAKipper (Swampert) @ Leftovers
Ability: Damp
EVs: 252 HP / 20 Atk / 4 Def / 232 SpD
Sassy Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Stealth Rock
- Flip Turn
- Earthquake
- Toxic
Swampert is a beast for this team and marked my switch from full on hail to a poke style, it brings everything the team needs, Heatran and Mag counters, a Spectrier switch in, even beats out the odd Scizor, not only that but it's reliable (in fact those 20 attack IV's are there for the sole purpose of one shotting spectrier, very reliable) this thing can set up rocks into almost anything with the help of Ninetales mind-games (now that I think about it that's quite fitting), Toxic and Earthquake is a deadly duo as you can't reliably switch into it anymore (except for Ferro) Flip Turn not only helps embody the poke playstyle but also helps beat all it's obvious switch ins, seriously this thing is probably more valuable than Arctozolt for the team and it's only drawback is lack of sustain, although the synergy with Ninetales Veil softens this blow to it.
Queenie (Toxapex) @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 252 HP / 144 Def / 112 SpD
Bold Nature
- Scald
- Recover
- Haze
- Toxic Spikes
One word, wall. Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk. I feel like I'm making too many of these jokes to make myself feel comfortable with starting this up if it's getting repetitive feel free to laugh and pretend I'm a comedy genius. Seriously though who doesn't hate playing against this thing, although in this team the long games part is removed, the makes you wanna pull your hair out part sure hasn't, this Pex is just rocking a normal build with Rocky Helmet over Black Sludge (nvm I just checked the suggested build and Rocky Helmets right there, ah well it's a boring Pex build) Toxic Spikes over Toxic is the most important part to talk about here, Pex functions as a brilliant hazard setter and wall while also being great at stopping setup mons in their tracks.
Dreepyeet (Dragapult) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Infiltrator
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Shadow Ball
- Draco Meteor
- U-turn
- Flamethrower
As much as I don't like using boring builds there isn't much choice with Pult, it's mostly here to beat sub abusing like Spectrier (although it's only a check, and pivots do the job), and be a special threat with good type coverage, I had Latios here previously but Spectrier is that much of a deal and it doesn't have the speed tier so ofc I'm left with two unchecked ground weaknesses but I guess it'll have to do, not much to talk about here, it has probably the best speed tier and uninteresting natures and IV's moving on.
Threats
Although I haven't play tested enough to give many, nor a reliable, set of threats, I can certainly use the on paper method and my limited experience with this team to try my hardest (maybe)
Spectrier.
God this thing is annoying, it isn't like I'm immensely worried about it either, as my team can handle quite well, but will-o-wisp is very annoying and a good spectrier player can use a sack to absolutely ruin my day.
Ferrothorn.
It hits hard, pokes back, has reliable sustain, has a great typing to take on my team, if it weren't for Dragapult this team would be useless due to this monstrosity (then again I use Toxapex and should shut up)
Melmetal.
Okay so Swampert is again my lord and savior for this one, but anything without good sustain can get worn down and Swampert is no exception, after this I'm relying on Pult but Pult is only a check as it can't switch in and I'm forced to give up the Great NotAKipper.
Summary
The team has a strong defensive core with it's near perfect typing and Ninetales Veil, coupled with it's ability to wear down entire teams and sweep I find it quite enjoyable, although it needs touch ups, I suppose that's why I'm here.
PokePaste:
https://pokepast.es/bf2155d941260390
The Theory
Here I go over the idea behind the team and how I plan to capitalize on this idea.
So it started off with me having the basic knowledge of how hail works, Aurora Veil, Slush Rush, and the most undervalued part... poke, so of course I had to think of ways I could capitalize on these strengths. Eventually I settled with ditching a full hail based team in exchange for a more poke based that uses Aurora Veil to keep healthy and has a good speed and damage tier with hail up.
The Team Building Process
So of course if I wanted to capitalize on the strengths of hail I had to think of a setter, preferably one that can reliably set up Veil, I came up with two options Vanilluxe or Alolan Ninetales, of course although Vanilluxe hits harder and thus provides more of a threat but Ninetales had the better typing, utility and speed tier so I went with that.
Next up I needed a mon that could use hail to it's advantage, this time I had three options, Arctovish, Arctozolt, or Kyurem. I didn't want to use more than one to keep a good type balance. I quickly eliminated Arctovish so it came down to Kyurem or Arctozolt, I chose Arctozolt over Kyurem as under hail it has a better speed tier and hits like a truck with STAB Bolt Beak.
I was trying to think of another good mon I could use here with hail, Reuniclus and Mandibuzz came to mind due to overcoat but nothing really clicked, this was when I made the shift from full on hail to a more poke centered team, of course I needed to keep a good typing so a lot of the mons next were chosen for that very reason. Next I chose Swampert, he could bring rocks, toxic, and Flip Turn all while having the perfect typing to keep Zolt safe, Swampert also provided a lead conundrum for the enemy before the match, since I could choose to set up hail and Veil or Rocks and toxic due to two powerful leads, it keeps me mostly safe from losing round one, which of course is probably the most important round of a match. My team at this point was looking very off meta, however I love this as I've never really like relying on having the strongest mons to stat check me out of any situation, however my team IMO was looking solid.
Now I had some poke I wanted MORE, so of course I went for the greatest wall alive, again in my opinion, Toxapex, I went rocky helmet and the typical spike, scald, recover set up and the team was looking solid, however now I need a way to round out my type pool and have ways to capitalize on the poke, I started with Latios for levitate and CB BP Scizor but swapped Latios out for Dragapult since I needed a check for Spectrier and the team was done, and it had a near perfect type pool I might add.
I quickly found that poke teams are VERY hard to play since you have to consider every turn much more than other teams to even have a chance, especially since the team wasn't exactly META, but it was looking good and I took it into a match, it was successful and now I'm here about to dote over my team to somebody who's only here because they have nothing else to do (maybe)
Aisufokkusu (Ninetales-Alola) @ Light Clay
Ability: Snow Warning
EVs: 252 HP / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Aurora Veil
- Freeze-Dry
- Encore
- Hypnosis
Although the mon is pretty self explanatory, set up hail and veil, maybe do some utility then swap out, I need what 3 lines of detail? So I'll elaborate. Light clay was chosen over Icy Rock very easily when I made the switch to poke, as I only need 3 turns of Arctozolt to murder a team that hasn't prepared specifically for it, but more than that it can break Swampert, who absolutely craps on Arctozolt, and it does this is why I chose Freeze Dry over Blizzard. A Veil is why I chose Light Clay, who doesn't want to take next to no damage from things with your life orbed wall breaker that outspeeds almost every thing and has STAB Bolt Beak? I certainly wanted to, in any case, A Veil give Dragapult the opportunity to actually switch into things, changes Swamperts Lefties from average recovery to reliable sustain, and makes Scizor feel like a dedicated wall that also two shots things (yes I've calced stuff but I can't be bothered putting them here, do it yourself) Encore is THE anti setup machine and feels brilliant on a lead, I remember so many times in gen 7 when this absolutely saved my ass and it would feel like an insult to the move to not include it here (within reason of course). I don't know why I chose hypnosis, I brang it or hail during gen 7 but this seemed better, it isn't reliable due to being sleep and having 60 acc, which is the biggest problem but it can help if I predict a swap to counter my lead and incoming nuke (Arctozolt) Boring IV's and natures I haven't put to much thought into it.
Hailtler (Arctozolt) @ Life Orb
Ability: Slush Rush
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
Naive Nature
- Icicle Crash
- Bolt Beak
- Freeze-Dry
- Stomping Tantrum
NotAKipper (Swampert) @ Leftovers
Ability: Damp
EVs: 252 HP / 20 Atk / 4 Def / 232 SpD
Sassy Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Stealth Rock
- Flip Turn
- Earthquake
- Toxic
Queenie (Toxapex) @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 252 HP / 144 Def / 112 SpD
Bold Nature
- Scald
- Recover
- Haze
- Toxic Spikes
Dreepyeet (Dragapult) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Infiltrator
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Shadow Ball
- Draco Meteor
- U-turn
- Flamethrower
Clamps (Scizor) @ Choice Band
Ability: Technician
EVs: 128 HP / 128 Atk / 252 Def
Impish Nature
- Bullet Punch
- U-turn
- Defog
- Knock Off
Finally a pick you don't see every other game, I chose this mon since it was the only thing with hard hitting STAB priority moves and the typing rounding off my comp so nicely, unfortunately this is my subpar defogger, nevertheless I console myself with the fact that this team uses hazards better than most and often doesn't need to defog, not much else to talk about but when a team has been poked down this thing is unstoppable when couples with, again Swampert (god what would I do without that absolute god of a mon) Knock off was protect earlier since I hate those weird times when they have fire coverage but I swapped it for Knock Off as you can reliably press knock if you don't know what they're gonna swap to and wanna ruin somebody's day, the ev's give you reliable damage for sweeping but at the same time are very tanky to use as a pivot pre sweep phase.Ability: Technician
EVs: 128 HP / 128 Atk / 252 Def
Impish Nature
- Bullet Punch
- U-turn
- Defog
- Knock Off
Threats
Although I haven't play tested enough to give many, nor a reliable, set of threats, I can certainly use the on paper method and my limited experience with this team to try my hardest (maybe)
Spectrier.
God this thing is annoying, it isn't like I'm immensely worried about it either, as my team can handle quite well, but will-o-wisp is very annoying and a good spectrier player can use a sack to absolutely ruin my day.
Ferrothorn.
It hits hard, pokes back, has reliable sustain, has a great typing to take on my team, if it weren't for Dragapult this team would be useless due to this monstrosity (then again I use Toxapex and should shut up)
Melmetal.
Okay so Swampert is again my lord and savior for this one, but anything without good sustain can get worn down and Swampert is no exception, after this I'm relying on Pult but Pult is only a check as it can't switch in and I'm forced to give up the Great NotAKipper.
Summary
The team has a strong defensive core with it's near perfect typing and Ninetales Veil, coupled with it's ability to wear down entire teams and sweep I find it quite enjoyable, although it needs touch ups, I suppose that's why I'm here.
PokePaste:
https://pokepast.es/bf2155d941260390
Aisufokkusu (Ninetales-Alola) @ Light Clay
Ability: Snow Warning
EVs: 252 HP / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Aurora Veil
- Freeze-Dry
- Encore
- Hypnosis
Hailtler (Arctozolt) @ Life Orb
Ability: Slush Rush
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
Naive Nature
- Icicle Crash
- Bolt Beak
- Freeze-Dry
- Stomping Tantrum
Dreepyeet (Dragapult) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Infiltrator
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Shadow Ball
- Draco Meteor
- U-turn
- Flamethrower
NotAKipper (Swampert) @ Leftovers
Ability: Damp
EVs: 252 HP / 20 Atk / 4 Def / 232 SpD
Sassy Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Stealth Rock
- Flip Turn
- Earthquake
- Toxic
Queenie (Toxapex) @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 252 HP / 144 Def / 112 SpD
Bold Nature
- Scald
- Recover
- Haze
- Toxic Spikes
Clamps (Scizor) @ Choice Band
Ability: Technician
EVs: 128 HP / 128 Atk / 252 Def
Impish Nature
- Bullet Punch
- U-turn
- Defog
- Knock Off
Ability: Snow Warning
EVs: 252 HP / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Aurora Veil
- Freeze-Dry
- Encore
- Hypnosis
Hailtler (Arctozolt) @ Life Orb
Ability: Slush Rush
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
Naive Nature
- Icicle Crash
- Bolt Beak
- Freeze-Dry
- Stomping Tantrum
Dreepyeet (Dragapult) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Infiltrator
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Shadow Ball
- Draco Meteor
- U-turn
- Flamethrower
NotAKipper (Swampert) @ Leftovers
Ability: Damp
EVs: 252 HP / 20 Atk / 4 Def / 232 SpD
Sassy Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Stealth Rock
- Flip Turn
- Earthquake
- Toxic
Queenie (Toxapex) @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 252 HP / 144 Def / 112 SpD
Bold Nature
- Scald
- Recover
- Haze
- Toxic Spikes
Clamps (Scizor) @ Choice Band
Ability: Technician
EVs: 128 HP / 128 Atk / 252 Def
Impish Nature
- Bullet Punch
- U-turn
- Defog
- Knock Off
