Hi and welcome to my first RMT! This is a team that revolves around enabling Garchomp to act as a wincon with SD + Scale Shot, and Dragapult helps Garchomp break shared checks to enable Garchomp's sweep. This is an offensive team with backbones having good defensive synergy that do not lose momentum at all, which I believe is the most important aspect of an offensive team. I hope you enjoy it!
Team link : Garchomp + Dragapult BO
Real Dragon (Garchomp) @ Life Orb
Ability: Rough Skin
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- Scale Shot
The star of this team. It can be a deadly wincon if it gets an SD + Scale Shot up, which it can in many situations due to the many forces it switches and decent bulk. Earthquake is great STAB that hits like a truck. Stone Edge is to hit flying types that are immune to Earthquake like Zapdos, Moltres, Mandibuzz etc.. Overall, QuakeEdge hits almost every foe for neutral damage and gets very difficult to tank after an SD boost. Scale Shot increases speed and provides a decent dragon type attack, albeit it is a bit unreliable due to only 90% accuracy and uncertainty in number of hits.
Ethereal Dragon (Dragapult) @ Choice Specs
Ability: Infiltrator
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Shadow Ball
- Draco Meteor
- U-turn
- Fire Blast
This guy is really fast and has great Special movepool. Hence, it can run Specs. It can wallbreak early in the game and can also clean up what Garchomp could not finish. Shadow Ball hits most of the tier hard for neutral damage. Draco Meteor is Dragapult's strongest attack and can punish any non-Fairy switch-in (Steels resist it, but most lack reliable recovery and thus every damage counts against them). U-turn helps generate momentum as Dragapult forces a lot of switch-ins, upon which it can switch out and bring in a Pokemon with favourable matchup. Fire Blast is to roast Steel types that resist Garchomp's Earthquake such as Ferrothon, Corviknight etc.. on a predicted switch. It, alongside Garchomp, pressures stuff like Mandibuzz, Corviknight, Clefable etc.. Hence, both the dragons break checks for each other.
Diamond Cutter (Kartana) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Beast Boost
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Leaf Blade
- Smart Strike
- Sacred Sword
- Knock Off
Kartana is a great wallbreaker and with a Choice Scarf also provides much needed speed control against opponent setup sweepers. It can also sweep late game thanks to Beast Boost. Leaf Blade is its strongest STAB and hits anything that doesn't resist it very hard. Smart Strike is to hit Fairies like Scarf Lele and OHKOes Alolan-Ninetales to cripple Alola Veil HO teams. Sacred Sword hits Scarf Hydreigon, Cinderace stuck on Dark type and steel types like scarf Heatran, Sand Rush Excadrill, opposing Kartana etc.. Knock is for its utility and to revenge kill Spectier and opponent Dragapult.
Thunder Bird (Zapdos) @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Static
EVs: 248 HP / 220 Def / 40 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Volt Switch
- Roost
- Heat Wave
- Defog
Zapdos provides my team with a much needed Ground type switchin, grass type (Rilliaboom and Kartana in particular) switchin, Hazard Control (My Dragons hate toxic spikes or sticky web. Also, Zapdos can switch into Toxapex with not much fear of Scald Burn), occasional Speed control with Static and Pivoting Capabilties with Volt Switch. Heat Wave is to hit Grass Types like Rillaboom and Kartana that Zapdos usually switches into. I could consider Hurricane as an alternative over Heat Wave to hit Swampert and Garchomp neutrally for STAB, but misses out on SuperEffective damage against Excadrill. Volt Switch is selected over Discharge as it can bring in Garchomp, Dragapult and Kartana safely in quite some situations.
Molten Knight (Heatran) @ Leftovers
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 252 HP / 128 SpD / 128 Spe
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Magma Storm
- Earth Power
- Taunt
- Stealth Rock
Heatran provides tons of utility to my team. It is a great stealth rock setter, trapper, stallbreaker and a defog blocker with taunt. It checks non-Specs Spectrier (and that too only if Spectier has Mud Shot) and deals with Fairies that trouble Garchomp and Dragapult. It is also a good Magearna check if its not running Focus Blast or Aura Sphere. Finally, it hits other steels resisting ground type attacks like Ferrothon, Corviknight very hard. These EVs have been taken directly from Smogon, but I guess it could be tweaked in favour of more EVs in SpDef
Waterdummy (Slowbro) @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Relaxed Nature
IVs: 0 Atk / 0 Spe
- Scald
- Slack Off
- Future Sight
- Teleport
Slowbro is a good Cinderace switch in and a rain-team check, both of which my team could otherwise really struggle against. It can also switch in to most physical attacks and try to burn them with scald. Finally, it is a great pivot thanks to Teleport, and can support Garchomp, Dragapult and Kartana in their wallbreaking duties thanks to Future Sight.
Threatlist :
Magearna - Though SpDef Heatran is a good switchin to Fleur Cannon and most other hits, it doesn't like taking a Focus Blast (if it doesnt miss) or even Aura Sphere for that matter. It also gets worn down eventually. Zapdos or Slowbro could take on these fighting moves from Mag, but cannot switch into Fleur Cannon or most other coverage moves.
Spectrier - Heatran could switch into most Spectier sets due to its Special Bulk and immunity to Will-o-wisp. However, it will get 2khoed by a Choice Specs Mud Shot. Additionally, if the opponent packs both Spectrier and Magearna, Heatran could get overwhelmed due to its lack of proper recovery.
Sucker Punch - My team doesn't like taking sucker punches from the likes of Cinderace and Bisharp. Garchomp may be almost unstoppable after a Scale Shot, but any sort of priority wrecks it due to the defense drop. Grassy Glide is manageable otherwise due to the presence of Zapdos and Kartana.
Choice Scarf - Zapods, Heatran and Slowbro can deal with most Choice Scarfers thanks to their good bulk. But if they are on low health, they would be unable to stop the opponent Scarfer. Scarf Kartana can help with opponent Scarfers like Tapu Lele, Tapu Fini, Lando-T etc.. but gets 1-2Kohed by faster choice scarfers like Latios.
Conclusion:
All in all, I think this team is pretty fun. Aim of this team is to apply maximum offensive pressure on the opponent without losing momentum. First goal is set up rocks quickly and remove opponent's fat walls like Toxapex, Blissey etc.. with Magma Storm + Taunt Heatran. Next is to use Zapdos or Slowbro to provide support (Defog and Paralysis in case of Zapdos, Scald Burn and Future Sight in Case of Slowbro) and then pivot into either Kartana, Garchomp or Dragapult based on opponent Pokemon. Once one of the 3 get a kill or dent a switchin, again switch into either Heatran, Zapdos or Slowbro to check opponent threats. Repeat the earlier steps, until it is right time to sweep with Garchomp. Finally, Dragapult or Kartana can clean up the remaining opponent Pokemon.
Though I am pretty fond of the mons I have, any feedback would be awesome.
Team link : Garchomp + Dragapult BO
Real Dragon (Garchomp) @ Life Orb
Ability: Rough Skin
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- Scale Shot
The star of this team. It can be a deadly wincon if it gets an SD + Scale Shot up, which it can in many situations due to the many forces it switches and decent bulk. Earthquake is great STAB that hits like a truck. Stone Edge is to hit flying types that are immune to Earthquake like Zapdos, Moltres, Mandibuzz etc.. Overall, QuakeEdge hits almost every foe for neutral damage and gets very difficult to tank after an SD boost. Scale Shot increases speed and provides a decent dragon type attack, albeit it is a bit unreliable due to only 90% accuracy and uncertainty in number of hits.
Ethereal Dragon (Dragapult) @ Choice Specs
Ability: Infiltrator
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Shadow Ball
- Draco Meteor
- U-turn
- Fire Blast
This guy is really fast and has great Special movepool. Hence, it can run Specs. It can wallbreak early in the game and can also clean up what Garchomp could not finish. Shadow Ball hits most of the tier hard for neutral damage. Draco Meteor is Dragapult's strongest attack and can punish any non-Fairy switch-in (Steels resist it, but most lack reliable recovery and thus every damage counts against them). U-turn helps generate momentum as Dragapult forces a lot of switch-ins, upon which it can switch out and bring in a Pokemon with favourable matchup. Fire Blast is to roast Steel types that resist Garchomp's Earthquake such as Ferrothon, Corviknight etc.. on a predicted switch. It, alongside Garchomp, pressures stuff like Mandibuzz, Corviknight, Clefable etc.. Hence, both the dragons break checks for each other.
Diamond Cutter (Kartana) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Beast Boost
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Leaf Blade
- Smart Strike
- Sacred Sword
- Knock Off
Kartana is a great wallbreaker and with a Choice Scarf also provides much needed speed control against opponent setup sweepers. It can also sweep late game thanks to Beast Boost. Leaf Blade is its strongest STAB and hits anything that doesn't resist it very hard. Smart Strike is to hit Fairies like Scarf Lele and OHKOes Alolan-Ninetales to cripple Alola Veil HO teams. Sacred Sword hits Scarf Hydreigon, Cinderace stuck on Dark type and steel types like scarf Heatran, Sand Rush Excadrill, opposing Kartana etc.. Knock is for its utility and to revenge kill Spectier and opponent Dragapult.
Thunder Bird (Zapdos) @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Static
EVs: 248 HP / 220 Def / 40 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Volt Switch
- Roost
- Heat Wave
- Defog
Zapdos provides my team with a much needed Ground type switchin, grass type (Rilliaboom and Kartana in particular) switchin, Hazard Control (My Dragons hate toxic spikes or sticky web. Also, Zapdos can switch into Toxapex with not much fear of Scald Burn), occasional Speed control with Static and Pivoting Capabilties with Volt Switch. Heat Wave is to hit Grass Types like Rillaboom and Kartana that Zapdos usually switches into. I could consider Hurricane as an alternative over Heat Wave to hit Swampert and Garchomp neutrally for STAB, but misses out on SuperEffective damage against Excadrill. Volt Switch is selected over Discharge as it can bring in Garchomp, Dragapult and Kartana safely in quite some situations.
Molten Knight (Heatran) @ Leftovers
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 252 HP / 128 SpD / 128 Spe
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Magma Storm
- Earth Power
- Taunt
- Stealth Rock
Heatran provides tons of utility to my team. It is a great stealth rock setter, trapper, stallbreaker and a defog blocker with taunt. It checks non-Specs Spectrier (and that too only if Spectier has Mud Shot) and deals with Fairies that trouble Garchomp and Dragapult. It is also a good Magearna check if its not running Focus Blast or Aura Sphere. Finally, it hits other steels resisting ground type attacks like Ferrothon, Corviknight very hard. These EVs have been taken directly from Smogon, but I guess it could be tweaked in favour of more EVs in SpDef
Waterdummy (Slowbro) @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Relaxed Nature
IVs: 0 Atk / 0 Spe
- Scald
- Slack Off
- Future Sight
- Teleport
Slowbro is a good Cinderace switch in and a rain-team check, both of which my team could otherwise really struggle against. It can also switch in to most physical attacks and try to burn them with scald. Finally, it is a great pivot thanks to Teleport, and can support Garchomp, Dragapult and Kartana in their wallbreaking duties thanks to Future Sight.
Threatlist :
Magearna - Though SpDef Heatran is a good switchin to Fleur Cannon and most other hits, it doesn't like taking a Focus Blast (if it doesnt miss) or even Aura Sphere for that matter. It also gets worn down eventually. Zapdos or Slowbro could take on these fighting moves from Mag, but cannot switch into Fleur Cannon or most other coverage moves.
Spectrier - Heatran could switch into most Spectier sets due to its Special Bulk and immunity to Will-o-wisp. However, it will get 2khoed by a Choice Specs Mud Shot. Additionally, if the opponent packs both Spectrier and Magearna, Heatran could get overwhelmed due to its lack of proper recovery.
Sucker Punch - My team doesn't like taking sucker punches from the likes of Cinderace and Bisharp. Garchomp may be almost unstoppable after a Scale Shot, but any sort of priority wrecks it due to the defense drop. Grassy Glide is manageable otherwise due to the presence of Zapdos and Kartana.
Choice Scarf - Zapods, Heatran and Slowbro can deal with most Choice Scarfers thanks to their good bulk. But if they are on low health, they would be unable to stop the opponent Scarfer. Scarf Kartana can help with opponent Scarfers like Tapu Lele, Tapu Fini, Lando-T etc.. but gets 1-2Kohed by faster choice scarfers like Latios.
Conclusion:
All in all, I think this team is pretty fun. Aim of this team is to apply maximum offensive pressure on the opponent without losing momentum. First goal is set up rocks quickly and remove opponent's fat walls like Toxapex, Blissey etc.. with Magma Storm + Taunt Heatran. Next is to use Zapdos or Slowbro to provide support (Defog and Paralysis in case of Zapdos, Scald Burn and Future Sight in Case of Slowbro) and then pivot into either Kartana, Garchomp or Dragapult based on opponent Pokemon. Once one of the 3 get a kill or dent a switchin, again switch into either Heatran, Zapdos or Slowbro to check opponent threats. Repeat the earlier steps, until it is right time to sweep with Garchomp. Finally, Dragapult or Kartana can clean up the remaining opponent Pokemon.
Though I am pretty fond of the mons I have, any feedback would be awesome.
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