Team Frozen Dinner
INTRODUCTIONHi everyone. This is MewTen. I've been playing dreamworld for awhile now, and I have finally decided to make a RMT for my hail team. A lot of you probably battled it already, but I thought it would be fun to make an RMT; so that you guys can get to see the team building process and give feed back and what not. I like using this team because it is one of the few hail teams that has found success, and it is a nice change from the usual sandstorm teams that are everywhere. When I first made this team I did not expect it to be too successful, but I was gladly surprised. This team peaked 5th back when PO was the main server (though I have nothing to show for it), and peaked 1st on PS. (Though that really doesn't mean much)
Screenshot
Team Building Process
One day I was googling all the dreamworld abilities to see If I could find something interesting, and low and behold I found out Regice had the ability Ice Body. I thought to myself if this could ever be made to be successful in a actually high tier battle. So I decided to make a hail team with Regice as the main pokemon. So the 1st two pokemon were obvious. Abomasnow would obviously provide the hail, and Regice could perform Sallrein-like things especially with Sub-Protect.
The next step was to find a way to deal with Pokemon that have leftovers because I could not sub-protect them since they would just heal themselves every turn. So Tentacruel was and obvious choice due its great synergy with Abomasnow and access to Rapid Spin and Toxic Spikes.
Now this is where we start to get really weird and unconventional. Obviously hail has a lot problems, and this team is no exception. There are 2 ice types and on most teams that is a huge problem. After going through countless numbers of different Pokemon I finally settled for (THATS RIGHT) Moltres. Moltres counters two of hails bigger enemies Scizor and Breloom, and has some other tricks that I will go into detail later.
The next step was to find something that could counter some of the biggest threats in dream world: Excadrill, Garchomp, and Terrokion. I actually started off with Swampert, but after some play time I eventually changed Swampert to Bronzong. Bronzong is one of those Pokemon who is better in Dream World that in standerd, just because of the Pokemon that are more commonly present. Lastly he can set up Stealth Rocks witch is always cool, and he provides and all important rock resist.
The last Pokemon for this team was probably the hardest Pokemon to come up with. I don't even want to go through how many Pokemon I tried for this 6th spot. Hell, I'm not even sure If I like the one I am using now. But, I settled with Landorus, because this team really needed something that could sweep. Especially if I loose the weather war I needed something that could come in and let me not depend hail so much. With Landorus keeping hail up is not a 100% priority. It gives the team flexibility. Also with Landorus I don't have to have the 100% perfect game were everything goes my way to win. Landorus provides excellent insurance against sun and sand team and can sweep most of them with only 1 turn of setup. It also hold its own against rain team and can provide a quick 1-hit-ko for poison types that would otherwise absorb toxic spikes set up by tentacruel.
The next step was to find a way to deal with Pokemon that have leftovers because I could not sub-protect them since they would just heal themselves every turn. So Tentacruel was and obvious choice due its great synergy with Abomasnow and access to Rapid Spin and Toxic Spikes.
Now this is where we start to get really weird and unconventional. Obviously hail has a lot problems, and this team is no exception. There are 2 ice types and on most teams that is a huge problem. After going through countless numbers of different Pokemon I finally settled for (THATS RIGHT) Moltres. Moltres counters two of hails bigger enemies Scizor and Breloom, and has some other tricks that I will go into detail later.
The next step was to find something that could counter some of the biggest threats in dream world: Excadrill, Garchomp, and Terrokion. I actually started off with Swampert, but after some play time I eventually changed Swampert to Bronzong. Bronzong is one of those Pokemon who is better in Dream World that in standerd, just because of the Pokemon that are more commonly present. Lastly he can set up Stealth Rocks witch is always cool, and he provides and all important rock resist.
The last Pokemon for this team was probably the hardest Pokemon to come up with. I don't even want to go through how many Pokemon I tried for this 6th spot. Hell, I'm not even sure If I like the one I am using now. But, I settled with Landorus, because this team really needed something that could sweep. Especially if I loose the weather war I needed something that could come in and let me not depend hail so much. With Landorus keeping hail up is not a 100% priority. It gives the team flexibility. Also with Landorus I don't have to have the 100% perfect game were everything goes my way to win. Landorus provides excellent insurance against sun and sand team and can sweep most of them with only 1 turn of setup. It also hold its own against rain team and can provide a quick 1-hit-ko for poison types that would otherwise absorb toxic spikes set up by tentacruel.
FUN DETAILS!
Tentacruel (M) @ Black Sludge
Trait: Liquid Ooze
EVs: 252 HP / 132 Def / 108 SDef / 16 Spd
Calm Nature (+SDef, -Atk)
- Toxic Spikes
- Rapid Spin
- Scald
- Toxic
Well to start things off 9 times out of 10 I will lead with Tentacruel. This is because It actually can handle a lot of the Pokemon players tend to lead with. For example Genesect's thunderbolt is a 3 hit KO, Politoad and Ninetales can't hope to touch it, and Tyranitar fears either burned with scald or I can go ahead and toxic it. Tentacruel main job is to obviously set up Toxic Spikes and prevent other entry hazards from being set up. Especially Stealth Rocks, because 2 of my Pokemon will loose 1/4 of their health to stealth rocks and Moltres will loose 50% of its health to it. So keeping stealth rocks off the field is very important. Toxic Spikes also take Regice to another level allowing it to beat any Pokemon that is not a steal type, a Pokemon with magic guard, or a Pokemon with taunt or heal bell (which really aren't seen as much anymore). The last Move, Toxic, serves a very specific purpose. More skilled player will usually find ways around Toxic Spikes. Toxic makes Tentacruel a more solid counter to Keldeo because it can just sit their and set up Calm Minds. Same goes for Latias. For example a when Tentacruel is on the field, the opponents will switch to Latias, and on the switch I use toxic, hence beating Latias (one of the bigger threats to this team) before it can even make a move. Lastly the ev's allow me to do a couple of things. As already stated with the current ev's Genesect's thunderbolt is a 3 hit KO, the 16 Spd ev's allow me to out speed adamant Breloom (letting me set up TS before it can Spore me), and it can barely survive a Latias psyshock allowing me to toxic it.
Abomasnow (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Snow Warning
EVs: 252 HP / 112 Def / 144 SDef
Calm Nature (+SDef, -Atk)
- Substitute
- Protect
- Leech Seed
- Blizzard
Well this is the most obvious Pokemon for this team. People tend to think as Abomasnow as the worst weather summoner. They say that it has the worst typing, witch there is some truth to. The positives of its typing can realy shine too though. For example it is my check to electric sweepers as it resists electric attacts and takes nutural damage from ice types. Plus Thundurus-Therian's focus blast fails to 1-hit-Ko but Blizzard will KO it. When played correctly even Abomasnow can become a monster that can dismantle some teams. I always run subseed Abomasnow because with even 1 set of toxic spikes up Abomasnow is capable of beating Chandelure using the Sub Protect Strategy. I also like using this of offensive varients because Leech Seed gives Abomasnow and effective form of recovery, making it and Hippwodon and only 2 weather summoners that can can effectivly heal themselves. Abomasnow is also one of the few hard counters to Manamphy, because after 1 tail glow ice beam is a 3 hit KO. However Leech Seed can let abomasnow tank even boosted hits and switch to Tentacruel or Regice. My favorite thing about this Abomasnow is once sets up a sub it can effectivly counter Volt-Turn with what I like to call the AbomaTres combo. This is How it works. Abomasnow resists all of Rotoms Moves, and Moltres resists all of Scizors moves. Lastly, Blizzerd is the best compliment to Leech Seed, because if my trys to bring a grass type I can just Blizzard away.
For more details on the AbomaTres combo click the spoiler.
The AbomTres combo can counter both the Rotom-Scizor combo, and the even Rotom-Genesect combo. It all depends on Abomasnow setting up a Substitute. So once Abomasnow sets up the sub (lets say on Rotom volt switch) Scizor will come in. The Abomasnow protects. If Scizor uses U-tun, Abomasnow will set up another Sub. When Rotom (or who ever else) comes back in you have a fresh sub. None of Rotom's attacks will break Abomasnow's sub so your free to Leech Seed. If Scizor comes back in you have a seeded Scizor witch you can protect stall. Now if Scizor uses Swords Dance or Bullet Punch Moltres comes in. Laughs at Scizors pathetic attempt to hurt it. Maybe even burns in with flame body. Do other trollish thinks such as predict the switch to the bulky water and use toxic. Roost of Stealth Rock Damage. Set up a sub, or even go strait for and attack.
Regice @ Leftovers
Trait: Ice Body
EVs: 204 HP / 252 Def / 52 SDef
Bold Nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Substitute
- Protect
- Blizzard
- Charge Beam
Well this is the quote on quote MVP/ Pokemon I built this team around. Though I don't get to use as much as I like with all the sand running around. (I usually have to resort to other methods to beat those pesky sand teams.) However Regice's mere presence is usually enough to keep my opponent on guard allowing the other Pokemon on this team to shine through. However when time finally comes for Regice to shine it can became a pretty unstoppable force. As already described with toxic spikes and hail, Regice is capable of beating any Pokemon that isn't a steal type with leftovers, or a magic guard Pokemon. Sub-Protect along with hail and TS provide the classic hail stall strategy. Blizzard KO's flying types. Charge Beam has a couple of very specific purposes. First if a Pokemon trys to use recovery charge beam provides a means of disposing of them. A perfect example is Skarmory. If it trys to roost to avoid being KO-ed by Blizzard I can charge beam. Allowing me to KO it anyways. Also it helps with those hydration Pokemon. Even in hail Regice would have some trouble taking care of Manamphy and Vaporeon. Charge Beam provides a means of taking care of them. Even in Hail Manamphy and Vaporeon can rest off the poison. So when they do that I charge beam. The biggest reason for using charge beam though is Charge Beam allows Regice to efficiently PP-stall Reuniclus if worse comes to worse. Because I can Charge Beam on the Calm Minds and Recovers. Sub/Protect on the psychic/psyshock/focus blasts. Once Focus Blast runs out of PP I can even bring in Bronzong to PP stall the psychic attacks or I can Sub-Protect Some More.
Moltres @ Leftovers
Trait: Flame Body
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SDef
Bold Nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Substitute
- Roost
- Flamethrower
- Toxic
This is the second part of what I call the AbomaTres combo. Moltres's main purpose is to absorb strong steal/fighting attacks, and precede to work from there. Toxic and roost are what really make Moltres shine. Nothing feels better than poisoning your opponents bulky water on the switch. The given evs are also important because it gives Moltres suprising good bulk. Also this Moltres is a good Tyranitar check because Tyranitars rarely carry stone edge any more, and crunch does about 25%. More over it can set up subs on the switch and can reak havoc that way. another Important note is that if genesect has the attack boost its thunderbolt will fail to KO making Moltres and emergancy genesect check. Now many of you may be wondering why you would use moltres over zapdos. Infact they are very similar pokemon, and perhaps on any other team I would use Zapdos over Moltres, however Moltres can do one thing Zapdos can't. Moltres can dismantle the rare sun team. Most sun teams are not prepared to handle Moltres, and with this being a hail team Moltres provides excellent insurance agaist those rare sun teams. Moltres also fairs well in checking dragon sweepers. Moltres laughs at Dragonites dragon claw, and can procede to toxic or burn it if im luck. Even boosted Outrages will fail to KO at full health, letting me toxic them and then switch to Bronzong. Lastly 248 HP evs allow Moltres to switch into stealth rocks 3 times, though I usually try my best to keep them off the feild.
Bronzong @ Leftovers
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SDef
Relaxed Nature (+Def, -Spd)
- Stealth Rock
- Gyro Ball
- Earthquake
- Hidden Power [Ice]
With sand teams team being so popular in the DW OU metagame (last time I checked tyranitar was like on 65% of 1337 teams), the two sand killers Excadrill and Garchomp can provide a huge problem to anyone. Second, before Bronzong the team has 3 pokemon who are weak to rock type attacks with nothing to check them. So Bronzong found its way on this team since it can activly counter Excadrill and Garchomp with little problem, and can counter almost all rock attackers due to the fact that most pokemon who carry a rock attack carry a ground type attack also. Excadrill can carry its weight in things outside of counter Excadrill and Garchomp. It sets up Stealth Rocks from my team, and provides dragon insurance. It provides a decent check for latios and latias, when I am not ready to bring Regice out. Can absorb a powerful flying attacks from Tornadus, and preed to threatan them. Overall Bronzong job is pretty simple and clear, so I won't go into to much more depth here.
Landorus (M) @ Life Orb
Trait: Sheer Force
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Rock Polish
- Earth Power
- Focus Blast
- Gravity
Ah, the 6th Pokemon. This was so hard to come up with. Without trying to flame, a lot of the hail guides out there are pretty horrible. I can't count how many pokemon I tried in the 6th spot before Landorus found its way here. The first thing you might notice about Landorus is how strange the set is (as if this team wasn't already strange enough). However, Landorus serves a great purpose on this team. Part of what makes a team great is being able to pull out wins when things aren't going your way. Landorus allows me to do just that. Sheer force / Life Orb Landorus's earth power is stronger than Landorus-Therian's earthquake. So spamming earth power can be alot of fun. Landorus is my cleener. Through battling this team my apponend will have a lot of battered Pokemon so after a rock polish landorus can dispose of them. Focus Blast helps agaist random air baloons. Now this is were the weirdness comes in. Landorus is absolutly stuck agaist flying types, latios, and latias. If they are still alive I can set up gravity. This will make flying types get poisoned from toxic spikes, and vunerable to Landorus's all powerful earth power. It also gives Focus Blast perfect accuracy (though earth power pretty much beats everything focus blast beats). Lastly with sand teams being so popular (i hate to beat the dead horse) its nice to have something that can potentially sweep them with one set-up.
IMPORTABLE
Tentacruel (M) @ Black Sludge
Trait: Liquid Ooze
EVs: 252 HP / 132 Def / 108 SDef / 16 Spd
Calm Nature (+SDef, -Atk)
- Toxic Spikes
- Rapid Spin
- Scald
- Toxic
Abomasnow (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Snow Warning
EVs: 252 HP / 112 Def / 144 SDef
Calm Nature (+SDef, -Atk)
- Substitute
- Protect
- Leech Seed
- Blizzard
Regice @ Leftovers
Trait: Clear Body
EVs: 204 HP / 252 Def / 52 SDef
Bold Nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Substitute
- Protect
- Blizzard
- Charge Beam
Moltres @ Leftovers
Trait: Pressure
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SDef
Bold Nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Substitute
- Roost
- Flamethrower
- Toxic
Bronzong @ (No Item)
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SDef
Relaxed Nature (+Def, -Spd)
- Stealth Rock
- Gyro Ball
- Earthquake
- Hidden Power [Ice]
Landorus (M) @ Life Orb
Trait: Sheer Force
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Rock Polish
- Earth Power
- Focus Blast
- Gravity
Trait: Liquid Ooze
EVs: 252 HP / 132 Def / 108 SDef / 16 Spd
Calm Nature (+SDef, -Atk)
- Toxic Spikes
- Rapid Spin
- Scald
- Toxic
Abomasnow (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Snow Warning
EVs: 252 HP / 112 Def / 144 SDef
Calm Nature (+SDef, -Atk)
- Substitute
- Protect
- Leech Seed
- Blizzard
Regice @ Leftovers
Trait: Clear Body
EVs: 204 HP / 252 Def / 52 SDef
Bold Nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Substitute
- Protect
- Blizzard
- Charge Beam
Moltres @ Leftovers
Trait: Pressure
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SDef
Bold Nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Substitute
- Roost
- Flamethrower
- Toxic
Bronzong @ (No Item)
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SDef
Relaxed Nature (+Def, -Spd)
- Stealth Rock
- Gyro Ball
- Earthquake
- Hidden Power [Ice]
Landorus (M) @ Life Orb
Trait: Sheer Force
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Rock Polish
- Earth Power
- Focus Blast
- Gravity
A Final Look
Conclusion
Overall this team has brought me a lot of success. It manages to survive and win in what is a otherwise unforgiving tier in DW OU. What excites the most about this team is the fact that nothing on it is going to get banned anytime soon. So, when all the appropriate Pokemon finally get released, I am hoping it will have even more success in standard OU.
