Team at a Glance:
Team Building Process:
The Team In-Depth:
Sableye (M) @ Leftovers Trait: Prankster
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SDef
Calm Nature (+SDef, -Atk)
- Will-O-Wisp
- Swagger
- Taunt
- Recover
Sableye has been a fantastic lead for this team. Wow/Taunt/Recover is invaluable and forces the opponent to adjust to my game right off the bat. His typing works great with this team as well. Swagger helps deal with specially based pokemon although I am open to changing that move. Nothing seems too great as a replacement though. Seismic Toss perhaps to provide an attack? Rain Dance or some other weather inducer? Toxic?
He is another guy that works well as an illusion for Zoroark as he tends to force switches on physical attackers.
Heatran (M) @ Air Balloon
Trait: Flash Fire
EVs: 252 HP / 4 SAtk / 252 SDef
Calm Nature (+SDef, -Atk)
- Stealth Rock/Earth Power
- Dragon Pulse
- Flamethrower
- Roar
This guy covers a few holes on my team (mentioned in team building) and as such his potential as a poke is hindered by his role. I'm open to suggestions on other pokemon besides him or changes to his moveset or EVs. Should I invest more in SpA and drop the special defense a bit?
Dragon Pulse is a big help against dragons that Slowbro can't deal with. Roar provides phazing for baton passers that would otherwise be a big problem. Flamethrower for reliable stab (accuracy and power). Stealth Rock/Earth Power mess with sun teams and provide utility/coverage.
Heatran's typing offers a dragon resistance and a 4x bug resistance among other things. His high special defense is designed to account for dragons.
Umbreon (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Synchronize
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SDef
Careful Nature (+SDef, -SAtk)
- Wish
- Curse
- Payback
- Heal Bell
His clerical powers and special bulk (adequate physical bulk too) are huge boons to my team's cohesiveness. Heal bell is vital for dealing with stall and it keeps Zoroark and Toxicroak from being made useless by status. Synchronize is handy but I'm thoroughly pissed it doesn't work on sleep status - something I found out when I switched him into a Breloom.
Curse/Payback provide additional defense and an attacking capability. He is not the best Poke around but he fits in nicely with the team. I'm open to suggestions but somewhat skeptical that there is a better fit out there.
This guy rocks Chandelure's world and I like that very much.
Zoroark (M) @ Life Orb
Trait: Illusion
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Nasty Plot
- Dark Pulse
- Flamethrower
- Focus Blast/Sucker Punch/HP
As the founding member of my team, this guy is going nowhere. I've found that few things stand up to life orb'd Dark Pulse after a single Nasty Plot. Flamethrower has come up huge for me many times, punishing grass and steel types (I'm looking at you Ferrothorn). I hate Focus Blast. I'm considering switching to Sucker Punch or maybe even a Hidden Power type.
Toxicroak (M) @ Life Orb
Trait: Dry Skin
EVs: 64 HP / 252 Atk / 192 Spd
Jolly Nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Swords Dance
- Drain Punch
- Sucker Punch
- Earthquake/????
I really like this guy too. Drain Punch and Dry Skin give him some unexpected staying power considering his natures and EV investment. After a Swords Dance most things will die to one of its moves. I'm open to other suggestions instead of Earthquake and suggestions on the EV spread (which was taken from a Smogon thread while I was researching for the team).
I particularly like Toxicroak because I prefer to play around weather instead of playing with it. He can make rain teams regret ever using politoed. Since many if not all rain teams that feature politoed use it as a lead, moving Zoroark disguised as Toxicroak, to the lead spot can bait a psychic from the rain inducer and provide a free nasty plot early on. If they don't have psychic a switch is likely since his boosted stab water attack appears useless, toxic doesn't affect Toxicroak, and no rain team wants to risk their weather inducer on a weak ice beam. 6-0 sweeps against unprepared teams makes me smile.
Finally his typing helps out a lot. He can pick up toxic spikes which helps because I don't have a spinner. He can switch into bug attacks with a 4x resistance which is HUGE for a team using 2 dark pokemon and a psychic. His fighting/dark/grass resistances also help the team, allowing him to function against threats such as Breloom, lucario, scrafty. He's a nice Starmie counter too considering suckerpunch. If you haven't tried a croak yet I would suggest it.
Slowbro (M) @ Rocky Helmet
Trait: Regenerator
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SDef
Bold Nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Surf
- Slack Off
- Ice Beam
- Thunder Wave
With the Regenerator ability I didn't feel like I needed leftovers. Oftentimes I can heal him over the course of a battle simply by continually switching between pokes based on attack prediction and immunities/resistances of his teamates so Rocky Helmet offers some nice extra damage on the physical attackers he deals with. This guy spanks outrage users as he can switch in on the first outrage and ice beam on the second if the opponent doesn't think twice. Ice Beam is used to compliment stab Surf because of the prevalence of Dragons. Thunder Wave is thunder wave and it helps the most in providing free turns for healing and ensuring the sweep for Zoro and Toxi.
Slowbro also works well as the illusion for Zoroark. Both are weak to bug attacks but those are fairly predictable. Slowbro scares away fighting attacks and discourages strong physical attackers. Plus Zoroark can actually survive the Dark and Ghost attacks that are frequently aimed at Slowbro.
Team Issues:
Final thoughts:
I really love the way Zoroark, Toxicroak, and Sableye work together, and I don't want to change that core. I feel Umbreon and Heatran could be improved upon but I am at a loss as to which direction to go. I am more than satisfied with Slowbro although I could be convinced to move off him depending on the changes made on Umbreon and Heatran.
Thoughts? Suggestions?
I started here because this guy is just too cool. He's fantastic at turning the tides of games mid-match. Its always fun to fool your opponent. He functions as a frail but powerful setup special sweeper.
Next I needed someone who is a good match with illusion. Toxicroak resists bug and fighting while also being able to run nasty plot and suckerpunch so the illusion may last longer than one turn in some cases. His fighting stab can lure in ghosts and psychics on the illusion. On his own Toxicroak is no joke of a pokemon either.
With two attackers - one special, one physical - already in place I needed some defense. Slowbro provides nice typing for this team with water/psychic and slack off/regenerate would mean that he could hang around for some time as a physical wall.
Next up, I needed a special wall. Umbreon's dark typing is repeat's Zoroark's but Zoroark's typing means very little defensively due to illusion and the fact that he can't take hits anyway. Heal bell and wish are excellent support that help keep Zoroark and Toxicroak clean.
Looking at my team, I felt like I was susceptible to entry hazards and fighting/dark or fighting/ghost attack combinations. I've never been particularly fond of rapid spin so I went for more preventative measures. A lead Sableye helps stop early hazards with taunt and his typing provides the ability to switch into fighting/dark/ghost attacks. Priority WoW adds to my teams overall durablity - something Zoroark and Toxicroak could use.
Finally I looked around and noticed a glaring weakness to sun teams, a problem with specially based dragons, and the desperate need for some phazing or entry hazards..... Heatran fills all those needs.
The Team In-Depth:
Sableye (M) @ Leftovers Trait: Prankster
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SDef
Calm Nature (+SDef, -Atk)
- Will-O-Wisp
- Swagger
- Taunt
- Recover
Sableye has been a fantastic lead for this team. Wow/Taunt/Recover is invaluable and forces the opponent to adjust to my game right off the bat. His typing works great with this team as well. Swagger helps deal with specially based pokemon although I am open to changing that move. Nothing seems too great as a replacement though. Seismic Toss perhaps to provide an attack? Rain Dance or some other weather inducer? Toxic?
He is another guy that works well as an illusion for Zoroark as he tends to force switches on physical attackers.
Heatran (M) @ Air Balloon
Trait: Flash Fire
EVs: 252 HP / 4 SAtk / 252 SDef
Calm Nature (+SDef, -Atk)
- Stealth Rock/Earth Power
- Dragon Pulse
- Flamethrower
- Roar
This guy covers a few holes on my team (mentioned in team building) and as such his potential as a poke is hindered by his role. I'm open to suggestions on other pokemon besides him or changes to his moveset or EVs. Should I invest more in SpA and drop the special defense a bit?
Dragon Pulse is a big help against dragons that Slowbro can't deal with. Roar provides phazing for baton passers that would otherwise be a big problem. Flamethrower for reliable stab (accuracy and power). Stealth Rock/Earth Power mess with sun teams and provide utility/coverage.
Heatran's typing offers a dragon resistance and a 4x bug resistance among other things. His high special defense is designed to account for dragons.
Umbreon (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Synchronize
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SDef
Careful Nature (+SDef, -SAtk)
- Wish
- Curse
- Payback
- Heal Bell
His clerical powers and special bulk (adequate physical bulk too) are huge boons to my team's cohesiveness. Heal bell is vital for dealing with stall and it keeps Zoroark and Toxicroak from being made useless by status. Synchronize is handy but I'm thoroughly pissed it doesn't work on sleep status - something I found out when I switched him into a Breloom.
Curse/Payback provide additional defense and an attacking capability. He is not the best Poke around but he fits in nicely with the team. I'm open to suggestions but somewhat skeptical that there is a better fit out there.
This guy rocks Chandelure's world and I like that very much.
Zoroark (M) @ Life Orb
Trait: Illusion
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Nasty Plot
- Dark Pulse
- Flamethrower
- Focus Blast/Sucker Punch/HP
As the founding member of my team, this guy is going nowhere. I've found that few things stand up to life orb'd Dark Pulse after a single Nasty Plot. Flamethrower has come up huge for me many times, punishing grass and steel types (I'm looking at you Ferrothorn). I hate Focus Blast. I'm considering switching to Sucker Punch or maybe even a Hidden Power type.
Toxicroak (M) @ Life Orb
Trait: Dry Skin
EVs: 64 HP / 252 Atk / 192 Spd
Jolly Nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Swords Dance
- Drain Punch
- Sucker Punch
- Earthquake/????
I really like this guy too. Drain Punch and Dry Skin give him some unexpected staying power considering his natures and EV investment. After a Swords Dance most things will die to one of its moves. I'm open to other suggestions instead of Earthquake and suggestions on the EV spread (which was taken from a Smogon thread while I was researching for the team).
I particularly like Toxicroak because I prefer to play around weather instead of playing with it. He can make rain teams regret ever using politoed. Since many if not all rain teams that feature politoed use it as a lead, moving Zoroark disguised as Toxicroak, to the lead spot can bait a psychic from the rain inducer and provide a free nasty plot early on. If they don't have psychic a switch is likely since his boosted stab water attack appears useless, toxic doesn't affect Toxicroak, and no rain team wants to risk their weather inducer on a weak ice beam. 6-0 sweeps against unprepared teams makes me smile.
Finally his typing helps out a lot. He can pick up toxic spikes which helps because I don't have a spinner. He can switch into bug attacks with a 4x resistance which is HUGE for a team using 2 dark pokemon and a psychic. His fighting/dark/grass resistances also help the team, allowing him to function against threats such as Breloom, lucario, scrafty. He's a nice Starmie counter too considering suckerpunch. If you haven't tried a croak yet I would suggest it.
Slowbro (M) @ Rocky Helmet
Trait: Regenerator
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SDef
Bold Nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Surf
- Slack Off
- Ice Beam
- Thunder Wave
With the Regenerator ability I didn't feel like I needed leftovers. Oftentimes I can heal him over the course of a battle simply by continually switching between pokes based on attack prediction and immunities/resistances of his teamates so Rocky Helmet offers some nice extra damage on the physical attackers he deals with. This guy spanks outrage users as he can switch in on the first outrage and ice beam on the second if the opponent doesn't think twice. Ice Beam is used to compliment stab Surf because of the prevalence of Dragons. Thunder Wave is thunder wave and it helps the most in providing free turns for healing and ensuring the sweep for Zoro and Toxi.
Slowbro also works well as the illusion for Zoroark. Both are weak to bug attacks but those are fairly predictable. Slowbro scares away fighting attacks and discourages strong physical attackers. Plus Zoroark can actually survive the Dark and Ghost attacks that are frequently aimed at Slowbro.
Team Issues:
Excadrill (mostly the swords dance variant with X-scissor) can give me problems in the sand, particularly if Heatran's balloon has been popped, thereby preventing me a chance to phaze or flame. Exca's boosted X-scissor can do a number on Slowbro and Umbreon. My best strategy against it is to somehow work Sableye out and get a Wow on the mole. Barring that I can use Slowbro to tank one hit and get a surf in but that doesn't always cut it and may leave me scrambling to regenerate slowbro while trying to manuever around X-scissors and Earthquakes. If Toxicroak had only gotten mach punch......
Thundurus can priority taunt Sableye, thunderbolt Slowbro, hit Toxicroak with a flying attack or wall him pretty well. He out-speeds zoroark and can taunt Umbreon leaving me with only payback. If he has hammerarm then he can hit Umbreon and Heatran for super effective damage. One pokemon can more or less beat my whole team. Tornadus can do much of the same but can dark pulse Slowbro instead of thunderbolt.
Thundurus can priority taunt Sableye, thunderbolt Slowbro, hit Toxicroak with a flying attack or wall him pretty well. He out-speeds zoroark and can taunt Umbreon leaving me with only payback. If he has hammerarm then he can hit Umbreon and Heatran for super effective damage. One pokemon can more or less beat my whole team. Tornadus can do much of the same but can dark pulse Slowbro instead of thunderbolt.
Final thoughts:
I really love the way Zoroark, Toxicroak, and Sableye work together, and I don't want to change that core. I feel Umbreon and Heatran could be improved upon but I am at a loss as to which direction to go. I am more than satisfied with Slowbro although I could be convinced to move off him depending on the changes made on Umbreon and Heatran.
Thoughts? Suggestions?
