Gen 4 Gen 4 Balanced Sand

[covert_exhibitionist]

I got to #991 on the ShoddyBattle ladder with this back inna day. 10 years later still good for some fun, what u tink?

Hippowdon @ Leftovers
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Def
Impish Nature
- Earthquake
- Roar
- Slack Off
- Ice Fang/ Crunch/ Stone Edge


The lead. Sets the stage, lets 'em know what's in the show. No SR, Taunt leads always taunt and the 2nd attack is to punish their insolence. Roar prevents set up (back before Baton Pass ban, this was CRUCIAL), Slack Off to do the Not Die.

Cradily @ Leftovers
Ability: Suction Cups
EVs: 252 HP / 4 SpA / 252 SpD
Calm Nature
- Ancient Power
- Giga Drain
- Stealth Rock
- Recover
517 Sp Def, and a full stat boost that can't be PHazed. Specs Starmie does like... 20% dmg with an Ice Beam? Silly. Lots of healing as well, I put SR here because using Toxic would just mess with the next two Pokemon.

Breloom @ Toxic Orb
Ability: Poison Heal
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Spore
- Substitute
- Leech Seed
- Focus Punch
Oh boy, do people hate this guy. Simple to use, hit the Spore and start spamming Rogaine advertisements in the chat. Also very useful as a status absorber after the first switchin.

Gengar @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid/ Naive Nature
- Shadow Ball
- Focus Blast
- Psychic
- Thunderbolt / HP Ice/ HP Fire/ Explosion
Sometimes I use Latias/ special Lucario/ Infernape here, but Gengar is most suited to the main threats to my team - Gyara, pre-Uber move Garchomp, Agility Metagross, Infernape, basically anything fast and physical that can handle my sand setters.

Jirachi @ Leftovers
Ability: Serene Grace
EVs: 252 HP / 204 SpD / 52 Spe
Careful Nature
- Wish
- Protect
- Iron Head
- Body Slam
Parahax, Wish support. This team has a big problem pulling wins with a 'mon disadvantage, so this is to keep everyone alive while I continue to spam Rogaine ads in the chat. Bit of extra speed from the usual to make sure I get that first para.

Tyranitar @ Lum Berry
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Dragon Dance
- Stone Edge
- Crunch / Ice Punch/ Fire Punch
- Earthquake
You know what it do. Lum Berry to make 100% sure that some random sleep/ para doesn't ruin my reverse sweep dreams. Also useful for baiting status users in and getting a 2nd/ 3rd DD in to really lock it down. Also useful to have a 2nd SS to make sure other weather teams don't get the better of me, having SS down makes Cradily into a wasted slot.

 

[voyage]

Hi, I see that you don't seem very active but I will still try to help.

Well, the team at a glance looks good and you've been using it for a long time. It has a good structure and can currently continue to function without problem.

For my part, what I can contribute here are some small changes that can improve this a little to obtain a better result. Each one is free to try if they want.

Okay, step by step. Hippowdon seems to me a better SR user than Cradily and seeing that it is your lead it is not a bad idea to start playing with the most important move. In any case it would be for Roar. The last slot all depends on what gives you the most trouble. Ice Fang for Gliscor or dragons or even Thunder Fang for Gyara.

Now we go with Cradily, a great mon that may not have a high use but personally I like it. This set I do not see much future and I doubt that it improves its version with Curse. Besides that it depends a lot on luck with AP. It is more profitable Curse to increase your defense and Rock Slide + EQ as contact last Recover as a recovery method. It can be very annoying since the sand also increases its special defense.

I understand that it is a balanced team but that Gengar does not convince me much although it plays a good role in addition to looking a bit for the surprise factor with Scarf. As another similar option you can try some form of Rotom (H or M) Scarf as well. It doesn't change much, you eliminate Gyara, keep Levitate and gain more bulk. You can top things like Nape and better fit Gross / Scizor.

I would add one more thing that may just be important about Jirachi. Lucario can be a big problem and more if he has double priority, although in principle he can be controlled. Anyway, a set with FPunch and that exceeds the Jolly Lucario speed can be another way out.