Welcome everyone. This is my Gen VI Monotype Steel team. The teambuilding for this squad has been in the works since the beginning of the new generation. I am very pleased with how it has evolved since then, and figured it was time for a write-up. Enjoy.
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@ Air Balloon
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 252 HP/252 SpDef/6 Spe
Calm Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Lava Plume
- Earth Power
- Will-o-Wisp
A staple to any successful Mono Steel team, Heatran is absolutely vital for its ability to eat Fire attacks. Heatran sets up Rocks for the team with his many resistances and immunities. Will-o-Wisp is a great tool to break down physical attackers and provides constant damage. Air Balloon is chosen to cover up the only thing keeping Heatran out of Ubers: his Ground weakness. A Calm Nature with max HP and SpDef allows Heatran to switch into a variety of attacks throughout the match. Earth Power is very important coverage, especially against Mono Fire teams.
@ Leftovers
Ability: Iron Barbs
EVs: 252 HP/252 Def/6 SpDef
IVs: 0 Speed
Relaxed Nature
- Leech Seed
- Protect
- Gyro Ball
- Power Whip
Ferrothorn was chosen for this team to cover the nasty weakness to water, while also providing immunity to Grass Status. Leech Seed is great for recovering some extra Health and works great with the whole team, most of who don’t have reliable recovery. Protect + Leech Seed + Leftovers is a deadly, (and admittedly annoying) strategy, but hey it works pretty damn well. Ferrothorn was the latest addition to the team, and has been an overall great weapon.
@ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 252 HP/252 Def/6 SpDef
Impish Nature
- Spikes
- Brave Bird
- Roost
- Whirlwind
Skarmory is the defensive tank of the team (sorry Ferrothorn). Skarm sets up Spikes for the team, phazes out the opponent with whirlwind, and has steady health recovery. As a defensive duo, Skarm and Ferrothorn can absorb a good amount of attackers while punishing them back with Rocky Helmet and Iron Barbs, respectively. Skarmory is also very important to this team for countering Garchomp (besides Mixed variants with Fire Blast), who otherwise can destroy this team. Rocky Helmet and Skarmory are like a match made in heaven. I prefer Rocky Helmet on Skarmory because He actually has reliable recovery, whereas Ferrothorn already has Iron Barbs and appreciates Leftovers recovery, especially when combined with Leech Seed + Protect. Skarmory is almost always able to get two layers of Spikes up, a tremendous advantage, especially in Monotype.
@ Air Balloon
Ability: Mold Breaker
EVs: 6 HP/252 Atk/252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Swords Dance
- Earthquake
- Iron Head
- Rapid Spin
Mold breaker EQ is such a cool perk. Excadrill’s EQ is so helpful for hitting Aegislash, Rotom-W, Heatran, slower M-Charizard, Bisharp, M-Mawile, Tyranitar, Gengar and the Lati twins. Iron Head is chosen over Rock Slide to hit Fairies, especially Togekiss who is seen on Flying Mono often. Air Balloon extends the list of immunities and potential switch in opportunities to either get rid of Hazards or to set them up. Adamant is used over Jolly for the extra power. Although Jolly allows Excadrill to outspeed max speed Rotom, most Rotom only run max speed if they’re holding a Scarf, which outspeeds the mole regardless. The extra power in Adamant is very appreciated, as I have tested both Jolly and Adamant, however it really is personal preference. Swords Dance provides this team with extra firepower and a sweeper.
@ Leftovers
Ability: Stance Change
EVs: 252 HP/6 Atk/252 SpAtk
IVs: 0 Speed
Quiet Nature
- Shadow Ball
- Sacred Sword
- King’s Shield
- Shadow Sneak
Aegislash is awesome on this team. He provides a Fighting immunity and a Spin Blocker, to a team who relies very heavily on stacking hazards. Shadow Ball hits a majority of the metagame for at least a 2HKO. I have found Sacred Sword to be much more useful over Iron Head, especially with Excadrill possessing the move with greater attack and ability to handle Fairies. Sacred Sword hits the Dark and Normal Types that resist/are immune to Shadow Ball, such as Tyranitar, Bisharp, Chansey/Blissey. Greninja, and Diggersby. Kings Shield to scout, weakens enemy attacks, and most importantly switches Aegislash from Blade to Shield mode after attacking. Shadow Sneak gives this team additional priority, which is also useful, especially on a Pokemon as slow as Aegislash. He can clean up weakened teams without having to take a hit himself. Leftovers gives Aegislash welcomed health restoration and is a great combo alongside King’s Shield.
@ Mawilite
Ability: Intimidate (Huge Power)
EVs: 252 HP/252 Atk/6 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Substitute
- Sucker Punch
- Iron Head
- Play Rough
The Mega of this team, and what a great one at that. Mawile usually cleans up the enemy team if played correctly. Mawile appreciates the support from the rest of the team from both the hazard support and the occasional Leech Seed pass from Ferrothorn. I have found more times to utilize Substitute as opposed to Swords Dance, but the two both have their uses and can be swapped. Play Rough does excellent damage to just about anything, while Iron Head is powerful, reliable STAB as well.
This team lives off of residual damage, namely hazards. Heatran + Skarmory are a great pair at setting up Rocks and Spikes, while Aegislash spin blocks and launches Shadow Balls. Ferrothorn covers a few of the team glaring weaknesses and is awesome at forcing out the opponent to rack up hazard damage. Leech Seed on the switch, and watch the damage rack up. As expected, the team does struggle with Ground and Fighting types, both of which are pretty common. Fire is also a problem, however it does help that this team is great at getting up hazards, especially Heatran who always performs well against Mono Fire. Dark is also a very difficult type to playa against since Steel no longer resists Dark, so Mawile must be played very strategically. This team use to be much more offensive-minded, with Bisharp filling in for Skarmory and Banded Scizor replacing Ferrothorn. Although Defiant was great for Defog teams, the Double weakness to Fighting was just too much; enter Skarmory. Choice Banded Scizor was great with his Bullet Punches to finish off weakened foes, momentum with U-Turn and Pursuit trapping, however the lack of any type of Water Resist made it near impossible to take on Water Mono teams. Ferrothorn was added to help against Water teams and absorb Grass status moves. This team has a member to absorb all type of Status moves which is always a cool feature. Hope you guys enjoyed reading :)
Replays:
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/oumonotype-134425297
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/oumonotype-134426399
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@ Air BalloonAbility: Flash Fire
EVs: 252 HP/252 SpDef/6 Spe
Calm Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Lava Plume
- Earth Power
- Will-o-Wisp
A staple to any successful Mono Steel team, Heatran is absolutely vital for its ability to eat Fire attacks. Heatran sets up Rocks for the team with his many resistances and immunities. Will-o-Wisp is a great tool to break down physical attackers and provides constant damage. Air Balloon is chosen to cover up the only thing keeping Heatran out of Ubers: his Ground weakness. A Calm Nature with max HP and SpDef allows Heatran to switch into a variety of attacks throughout the match. Earth Power is very important coverage, especially against Mono Fire teams.
@ LeftoversAbility: Iron Barbs
EVs: 252 HP/252 Def/6 SpDef
IVs: 0 Speed
Relaxed Nature
- Leech Seed
- Protect
- Gyro Ball
- Power Whip
Ferrothorn was chosen for this team to cover the nasty weakness to water, while also providing immunity to Grass Status. Leech Seed is great for recovering some extra Health and works great with the whole team, most of who don’t have reliable recovery. Protect + Leech Seed + Leftovers is a deadly, (and admittedly annoying) strategy, but hey it works pretty damn well. Ferrothorn was the latest addition to the team, and has been an overall great weapon.
@ Rocky HelmetAbility: Sturdy
EVs: 252 HP/252 Def/6 SpDef
Impish Nature
- Spikes
- Brave Bird
- Roost
- Whirlwind
Skarmory is the defensive tank of the team (sorry Ferrothorn). Skarm sets up Spikes for the team, phazes out the opponent with whirlwind, and has steady health recovery. As a defensive duo, Skarm and Ferrothorn can absorb a good amount of attackers while punishing them back with Rocky Helmet and Iron Barbs, respectively. Skarmory is also very important to this team for countering Garchomp (besides Mixed variants with Fire Blast), who otherwise can destroy this team. Rocky Helmet and Skarmory are like a match made in heaven. I prefer Rocky Helmet on Skarmory because He actually has reliable recovery, whereas Ferrothorn already has Iron Barbs and appreciates Leftovers recovery, especially when combined with Leech Seed + Protect. Skarmory is almost always able to get two layers of Spikes up, a tremendous advantage, especially in Monotype.
@ Air BalloonAbility: Mold Breaker
EVs: 6 HP/252 Atk/252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Swords Dance
- Earthquake
- Iron Head
- Rapid Spin
Mold breaker EQ is such a cool perk. Excadrill’s EQ is so helpful for hitting Aegislash, Rotom-W, Heatran, slower M-Charizard, Bisharp, M-Mawile, Tyranitar, Gengar and the Lati twins. Iron Head is chosen over Rock Slide to hit Fairies, especially Togekiss who is seen on Flying Mono often. Air Balloon extends the list of immunities and potential switch in opportunities to either get rid of Hazards or to set them up. Adamant is used over Jolly for the extra power. Although Jolly allows Excadrill to outspeed max speed Rotom, most Rotom only run max speed if they’re holding a Scarf, which outspeeds the mole regardless. The extra power in Adamant is very appreciated, as I have tested both Jolly and Adamant, however it really is personal preference. Swords Dance provides this team with extra firepower and a sweeper.
@ LeftoversAbility: Stance Change
EVs: 252 HP/6 Atk/252 SpAtk
IVs: 0 Speed
Quiet Nature
- Shadow Ball
- Sacred Sword
- King’s Shield
- Shadow Sneak
Aegislash is awesome on this team. He provides a Fighting immunity and a Spin Blocker, to a team who relies very heavily on stacking hazards. Shadow Ball hits a majority of the metagame for at least a 2HKO. I have found Sacred Sword to be much more useful over Iron Head, especially with Excadrill possessing the move with greater attack and ability to handle Fairies. Sacred Sword hits the Dark and Normal Types that resist/are immune to Shadow Ball, such as Tyranitar, Bisharp, Chansey/Blissey. Greninja, and Diggersby. Kings Shield to scout, weakens enemy attacks, and most importantly switches Aegislash from Blade to Shield mode after attacking. Shadow Sneak gives this team additional priority, which is also useful, especially on a Pokemon as slow as Aegislash. He can clean up weakened teams without having to take a hit himself. Leftovers gives Aegislash welcomed health restoration and is a great combo alongside King’s Shield.
@ MawiliteAbility: Intimidate (Huge Power)
EVs: 252 HP/252 Atk/6 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Substitute
- Sucker Punch
- Iron Head
- Play Rough
The Mega of this team, and what a great one at that. Mawile usually cleans up the enemy team if played correctly. Mawile appreciates the support from the rest of the team from both the hazard support and the occasional Leech Seed pass from Ferrothorn. I have found more times to utilize Substitute as opposed to Swords Dance, but the two both have their uses and can be swapped. Play Rough does excellent damage to just about anything, while Iron Head is powerful, reliable STAB as well.
This team lives off of residual damage, namely hazards. Heatran + Skarmory are a great pair at setting up Rocks and Spikes, while Aegislash spin blocks and launches Shadow Balls. Ferrothorn covers a few of the team glaring weaknesses and is awesome at forcing out the opponent to rack up hazard damage. Leech Seed on the switch, and watch the damage rack up. As expected, the team does struggle with Ground and Fighting types, both of which are pretty common. Fire is also a problem, however it does help that this team is great at getting up hazards, especially Heatran who always performs well against Mono Fire. Dark is also a very difficult type to playa against since Steel no longer resists Dark, so Mawile must be played very strategically. This team use to be much more offensive-minded, with Bisharp filling in for Skarmory and Banded Scizor replacing Ferrothorn. Although Defiant was great for Defog teams, the Double weakness to Fighting was just too much; enter Skarmory. Choice Banded Scizor was great with his Bullet Punches to finish off weakened foes, momentum with U-Turn and Pursuit trapping, however the lack of any type of Water Resist made it near impossible to take on Water Mono teams. Ferrothorn was added to help against Water teams and absorb Grass status moves. This team has a member to absorb all type of Status moves which is always a cool feature. Hope you guys enjoyed reading :)
Replays:
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/oumonotype-134425297
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/oumonotype-134426399
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