Hello party people! Welcome to my very first Gen 7 RMT. I haven't played competitively since HG/SS and haven't touched a Pokemon game since B/W (I wasn't a fan of the weather-centric meta in that gen), but Sun/Moon intrigued me enough to try my hand once again. I tinkered a lot with wildly different combinations, but this is the team I've mostly settled on. I feel that it's decent, but probably not great, so suggestions are appreciated. One thing I want to stress is that I will be creating this team in the actual game, and I do not have any of the previous titles. This means I don't have reliable access to the past gen legendaries. Although I'm sure that Heatran or one of the genies would be helpful on this team, please don't suggest them. I probably can't get them unless you happen to have a spare laying around. This team is legal in the pre-pokebank meta, but I've been testing it in the standard OU format on Pokemon Showdown and there are only a few minor changes I'm currently planning to make once the pokebank is available. Let's take a look at the team.
Mamoswine @ Focus Sash/Life Orb
Ability: Oblivious/Thick Fat
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Ice Shard
- Earthquake
- Icicle Crash
Mamoswine serves as my lead nine times out of ten due to his ability to always at least set up stealth rock with Focus Sash and Oblivious. Ice Shard allows for big damage against common lead dragon, ground, flying, and grass types (looking at you, Garchomp), while Earthquake handles top threats like Heatran. Icicle Crash is good as a more powerful STAB ice attack, but I find myself rarely using it. I've considered swapping it for Knock Off (a fun surprise for Tapu Lele) or other coverage options like Freeze Dry or Superpower. Opinions here would be appreciated. Mamoswine will likely undergo the largest change on this team once Pokebank is available, as Thick Fat will become available (it's currently unobtainable to my knowledge). Once that becomes available, I'll likely also swap the Focus Sash for a Life Orb, netting an OHKO on Toxapex with Earthquake, and shifting Mamo's function to a wallbreaker who can also set up rocks.
Azumarill @ Normalium Z
Ability: Huge Power
EVs: 92 HP / 252 Atk / 164 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Aqua Jet
- Play Rough
- Waterfall/Knock Off
- Belly Drum
Z Belly Drum is the crux of this set, allowing Azumarill to reliably set up in many situations, including after entry hazard damage. This seems to function best as a mid to late game sweeper, hitting anything that doesn't resist it for massive damage (I've used Aqua Jet alone to sweep through some teams). The EV spread was pulled directly from Smogon's Belly Drum set, which allows for outspeeding uninvested base 70 speed Pokemon while giving a bit of additional bulk. Azumarill can sometimes get away without even needing to set up, as Aqua Jet's priority and Knock Off's utility give it a ton of versatility. Right now I only have Waterfall slashed because Knock Off won't be available until Pokebank drops, but Knock Off seems to be far and away the preferred option.
Magnezone @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Magnet Pull
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Volt Switch
- Hidden Power Fire
- Flash Cannon
- Thunderbolt
Another pretty standard set, Magnezone serves as both a trapper for steel types and gives momentum utility with Volt Switch. HP Fire allows him to 2HKO Ferrothorn and Scizor, while Thunderbolt 2HKO's Celesteela (assuming she didn't Beast Boost her SpD, or isn't holding an Assault Vest). Flash Cannon is there for additional STAB, giving it a more reliable option against those pesky fairy types. As with any choice set, this set takes a fair amount of prediction, as it's not always advisable to be locked into any of these moves (especially Thunderbolt, damn Marowak).
Tapu Bulu @ Leftovers
Ability: Grassy Surge
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Horn Leech
- Stone Edge
- Substitute
- Bulk Up
Tapu Bulu finds plenty of opportunities to set up a Substitute and nab a Bulk Up or two, but it honestly isn't even all that necessary. Leftovers, Grassy Surge, and Horn Leech give him outstanding recovery, and no one wants to take a terrain boosted Horn Leech from this guy. Grassy Surge also allows Bulu to safely switch into Earthquakes that threaten much my team. Stone Edge seems to be a bit of a surprise on this set, as it's common to see flying or fire types switched in such as Charizard X/Y, Tornadus, and Marowak. Many sets use Brick Break, but Stone Edge is a little more powerful and seems to give me better coverage (when it doesn't miss, that is). Both Mamoswine and Azumarill also appreciate a way to get Psychic Terrain off the field.
Toxapex @ Black Sludge
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 248 HP / 148 Def / 112 SpD
Calm Nature
- Toxic
- Haze
- Scald
- Recover
Toxapex makes for a ridiculously sturdy wall with Black Sludge recovery, Regenerator, and Recover. He also has fantastic synergy with Tapu Bulu, resisting fire and poison moves that threaten him and soaking up even more recovery with Grassy Terrain (Earthquake is also not nearly as scary). I generally use Toxic on other walls and special attackers while Scald is very useful for crippling physical attackers (and prevents Tox from being Taunt bait). Haze is incredibly helpful in nullifying setups. I honestly pulled the EV spread and nature from his forum in the Uncharted Territory section of the site and don't remember exactly what it allows for, so if anyone has any better recommendations, I'd love to hear them.
Alakazam-Mega @ Alakazite
Ability: Magic Guard/Trace
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Psychic
- Focus Blast
- Shadow Ball
- Taunt
Alakazam works best as a late-game sweeper or revenge killer due to his paper thin defenses. His STAB Psychic is generally the move of choice, while Focus Blast and Shadow Ball give him near perfect coverage. Magic Guard allows Zam to switch into spikes/stealth rock without worrying about damage prior to mega evolving for Trace (which opens up for all sorts of fun possibilities) Smogon's analysis recommends Encore, but with Alakazam's high speed, I tend to get more use out of Taunt.
This team has some glaring weaknesses that I'm sure you've already noticed. I currently have no way of keeping hazards off my side of the field, one inaccurate fighting type move (Alakazam's Focus Blast), and no real way to deal with status ailments outside of Alakazam's Taunt. Metagross-Mega also tears through this team unless he's hit with a Belly Drum boosted Knock Off from Azumarill, or I get a lucky burn with Toxapex before he 2HKOs me with Zen Headbutt. Can't wait for your suggestions and advice.