While laddering with a standard bulky offense team the other night I ran into some guy who had a Scolipede. The team had a bunch of OU 'mons on it, so I figured that it was some new-ish player who was trying to pass Speed Boost + Swords Dance to Mega Kangaskhan and would therefore be easily outplayed.
...and then
Scolipede used Double Team!
Well, crap. I proceeded to get thoroughly pummeled by him (after using Whirlwind against an Espeon >.<)
To be fair I wasn't exactly playing the best that game, but the opposing team was remarkably effective, and more importantly, remarkably irritating. That got me thinking - three Pokemon get Speed Boost + Baton Pass, and everything except Ditto and Wobbufett gets Double Team...
After some brainstorming with a friend, here is the current team:
Scolipede @ Leftovers
Ability: Speed Boost
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Spd / 8 SDef
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Substitute
- Protect
- Double Team
- Baton Pass
Blaziken @ Leftovers
Ability: Speed Boost
EVs: 252 Spd / 248 HP / 8 Def
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Substitute
- Protect
- Double Team
- Baton Pass
Ninjask @ Leftovers
Ability: Speed Boost
EVs: 252 Spd / 252 HP / 4 Def
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Substitute
- Protect
- Double Team
- Baton Pass
These three Pokemon play the same role - Baton Passing Substitute, +6 Speed, and hopefully +6 Evasion. Ideally, one of them sets up a free Substitute on a boosting move, support move, or switch. After the Sub, Protect to recover health and get a free Speed Boost, then use Double Team as they break your sub.
At this point, you have enough HP left for 7 Substitutes (factoring in Leftovers recovery and Protect); this gives you a 86.7% chance of getting a second Evasion Boost, assuming all they do is attack you with a 100% accuracy move. I don't have calculations for further Evasion boosts, but my general experience has been that after reaching +2 Evasion, you are essentially guaranteed to reach +6 (in fact, after reaching +1 Evasion, you are almost guaranteed to reach +6).
If you don't find a free turn to get a Sub up, blindly using Double Team on the first turn gives an overall 57.8% chance that at least one of your Baton Passers will be able to get a free Substitute.
After gathering enough Speed and Evasion Boosts, if all is well you pass them to:
Togekiss @ Leftovers
Ability: Serene Grace
EVs: 252 SAtk / 252 HP / 4 Def
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Substitute
- Nasty Plot
- Baton Pass
- Air Slash
Togekiss was chosen as the Baton Pass recipient because Serene Grace + Air Slash allows it to flinch its way past counters, even if you get unlucky with the Evasion boosts. At +6 Evasion, the opposing Pokemon has a 14.2% chance of being able to do anything each turn. Furthermore, it 4x resists Aura Sphere (the most common no-miss move in Ubers), is immune to Dragon and Ground, and has good bulk and power, especially with fully invested HP (possible because it will almost certainly receive +6 Speed). Furthermore, it is immune to Dragon tail should it be unfortunate enough to get hit by the move without a Substitute.
At +6, even bulky resists can get muscled past:
+6 252+ SpA Togekiss Air Slash vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Tyranitar in Sand: 122-144 (30.1 - 35.6%) -- 32.3% chance to 3HKO
+6 252+ SpA Togekiss Air Slash vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Assault Vest Tyranitar in Sand: 81-96 (20 - 23.7%) -- Guaranteed 5HKO
In return:
0 Atk Tyranitar Stone Edge vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Togekiss: 288-342 (77 - 91.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after sandstorm damage and Leftovers recovery
and in order to inflict any damage Tyranitar has to hit with Stone Edge twice (1.2% chance of happening) and to KO, it needs to hit with Stone Edge twice and Crunch once, something which has a 0.17% chance of happening.
However, if the opponent has phazers, you will want to pass to:
Espeon @ Leftovers
Ability: Magic Bounce
EVs: 252 SAtk / 252 HP / 4 Def
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Substitute
- Calm Mind
- Baton Pass
- Stored Power
Stored Power Espeon can counter many of the things Baton Pass teams are weak to - Phazing, Taunt, and Status. The sheer brute power of Stored Power allows it to muscle past Ubers' premier phazer, Lugia:
+4 252+ SpA Espeon Stored Power (420 BP) vs. 252 HP / 80 SpD Multiscale Lugia: 365-430 (87.7 - 103.3%) -- 25% chance to OHKO
With no Evasion boosts, +4 Stored Power is still a 2HKO:
+4 252+ SpA Espeon Stored Power (300 BP) vs. 252 HP / 80 SpD Multiscale Lugia: 261-307 (62.7 - 73.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
Furthermore, the current most popular Lugia sets are completely walled by Calm Mind Espeon, forcing it to switch and giving Espeon a free Substitute.
The last slot on the team is dedicated to a niche counter to things that would otherwise ruin this team:
Drifblim @ Choice Specs
Ability: Aftermath
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Spd / 252 SAtk
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Substitute
- Baton Pass
- Trick
- Shadow Ball
Drifblim does two things:
Counters
Obviously this team is not entirely competitively viable, as otherwise Evasion Clause would still be in effect in Ubers. The top threat to this team is:
PRIORITY
Namely, Prankster Taunt and regular old 40BP priority. The latter is fairly rare in Ubers, but Scizor's Technician Bullet Punch poses a problem as usage is going up to counter Xerneas. This team has no ways to fight Prankster Taunt users - any ideas would be much appreciated.
...and then
Scolipede used Double Team!
Well, crap. I proceeded to get thoroughly pummeled by him (after using Whirlwind against an Espeon >.<)
To be fair I wasn't exactly playing the best that game, but the opposing team was remarkably effective, and more importantly, remarkably irritating. That got me thinking - three Pokemon get Speed Boost + Baton Pass, and everything except Ditto and Wobbufett gets Double Team...
After some brainstorming with a friend, here is the current team:
Scolipede @ Leftovers
Ability: Speed Boost
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Spd / 8 SDef
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Substitute
- Protect
- Double Team
- Baton Pass
Blaziken @ Leftovers
Ability: Speed Boost
EVs: 252 Spd / 248 HP / 8 Def
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Substitute
- Protect
- Double Team
- Baton Pass
Ninjask @ Leftovers
Ability: Speed Boost
EVs: 252 Spd / 252 HP / 4 Def
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Substitute
- Protect
- Double Team
- Baton Pass
These three Pokemon play the same role - Baton Passing Substitute, +6 Speed, and hopefully +6 Evasion. Ideally, one of them sets up a free Substitute on a boosting move, support move, or switch. After the Sub, Protect to recover health and get a free Speed Boost, then use Double Team as they break your sub.
At this point, you have enough HP left for 7 Substitutes (factoring in Leftovers recovery and Protect); this gives you a 86.7% chance of getting a second Evasion Boost, assuming all they do is attack you with a 100% accuracy move. I don't have calculations for further Evasion boosts, but my general experience has been that after reaching +2 Evasion, you are essentially guaranteed to reach +6 (in fact, after reaching +1 Evasion, you are almost guaranteed to reach +6).
If you don't find a free turn to get a Sub up, blindly using Double Team on the first turn gives an overall 57.8% chance that at least one of your Baton Passers will be able to get a free Substitute.
After gathering enough Speed and Evasion Boosts, if all is well you pass them to:
Togekiss @ Leftovers
Ability: Serene Grace
EVs: 252 SAtk / 252 HP / 4 Def
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Substitute
- Nasty Plot
- Baton Pass
- Air Slash
Togekiss was chosen as the Baton Pass recipient because Serene Grace + Air Slash allows it to flinch its way past counters, even if you get unlucky with the Evasion boosts. At +6 Evasion, the opposing Pokemon has a 14.2% chance of being able to do anything each turn. Furthermore, it 4x resists Aura Sphere (the most common no-miss move in Ubers), is immune to Dragon and Ground, and has good bulk and power, especially with fully invested HP (possible because it will almost certainly receive +6 Speed). Furthermore, it is immune to Dragon tail should it be unfortunate enough to get hit by the move without a Substitute.
At +6, even bulky resists can get muscled past:
+6 252+ SpA Togekiss Air Slash vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Tyranitar in Sand: 122-144 (30.1 - 35.6%) -- 32.3% chance to 3HKO
+6 252+ SpA Togekiss Air Slash vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Assault Vest Tyranitar in Sand: 81-96 (20 - 23.7%) -- Guaranteed 5HKO
In return:
0 Atk Tyranitar Stone Edge vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Togekiss: 288-342 (77 - 91.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after sandstorm damage and Leftovers recovery
and in order to inflict any damage Tyranitar has to hit with Stone Edge twice (1.2% chance of happening) and to KO, it needs to hit with Stone Edge twice and Crunch once, something which has a 0.17% chance of happening.
However, if the opponent has phazers, you will want to pass to:
Espeon @ Leftovers
Ability: Magic Bounce
EVs: 252 SAtk / 252 HP / 4 Def
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Substitute
- Calm Mind
- Baton Pass
- Stored Power
Stored Power Espeon can counter many of the things Baton Pass teams are weak to - Phazing, Taunt, and Status. The sheer brute power of Stored Power allows it to muscle past Ubers' premier phazer, Lugia:
+4 252+ SpA Espeon Stored Power (420 BP) vs. 252 HP / 80 SpD Multiscale Lugia: 365-430 (87.7 - 103.3%) -- 25% chance to OHKO
With no Evasion boosts, +4 Stored Power is still a 2HKO:
+4 252+ SpA Espeon Stored Power (300 BP) vs. 252 HP / 80 SpD Multiscale Lugia: 261-307 (62.7 - 73.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
Furthermore, the current most popular Lugia sets are completely walled by Calm Mind Espeon, forcing it to switch and giving Espeon a free Substitute.
The last slot on the team is dedicated to a niche counter to things that would otherwise ruin this team:
Drifblim @ Choice Specs
Ability: Aftermath
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Spd / 252 SAtk
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Substitute
- Baton Pass
- Trick
- Shadow Ball
Drifblim does two things:
- Fully counters most Mega Kangaskhan (PuP/Sucker Punch/Return/Earthquake); Drifblim is literally immune to this Megakhan's entire moveset, and can cripple it by Tricking it Choice Specs. Mega Kangaskhan would otherwise destroy this team by breaking my Substitutes with Parental Bond.
- Checks certain variants of Extreme Killer Arceus, the most common priority user in the tier. With most Extreme Killer sets running two of Brick Break/Earthquake/Shadow Claw as their coverage moves, Drifblim can sacrifice itself to lock the Extreme Killer into something other than ExtremeSpeed, thereby removing one of the few ways this team can be outsped.
Counters
Obviously this team is not entirely competitively viable, as otherwise Evasion Clause would still be in effect in Ubers. The top threat to this team is:
PRIORITY
Namely, Prankster Taunt and regular old 40BP priority. The latter is fairly rare in Ubers, but Scizor's Technician Bullet Punch poses a problem as usage is going up to counter Xerneas. This team has no ways to fight Prankster Taunt users - any ideas would be much appreciated.
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