Gengar and Hydreigon - Bros for life.

Danger Mouse · Oct 21, 2011

Gengar and Hydreigon both really wish they had nasty plot...

My two favorite pokes are by far Gengar and Hydreigon, and I have yet to make a team based on them. I decided to try and build a team around them, and have had moderate success with it. I am receptive to any and all recommendations for my team except getting rid of Gengar or Hydreigon, since they are obviously the reason the team exists in the first place.

Deoxys-S @ Focus Sash
Timid
252 HP/4 Sp. ATK/252 SPD.
HP Fire
Stealth Rock
Spikes
Taunt

Typical Deoxys-S. Taunts or starts setting up. HP Fire is for Forretress and Ferrothorn. Obviously, doesn't like rapid spin, prankster, or Espeon. Entry hazards are a valuable part of my team, but if anybody can think of one that would work better with my other team members, I'm open to suggestions.

Hydreigon @ Choice Specs
Timid
4 HP/252 Sp. ATK/252 SPD.
Draco Meteor
Dragon Pulse
Flamethrower
Focus Blast

My main special sweeper. This thing hits so hard with choice specs, it's ludicrous. Draco Meteor is there for hitting as hard as possible in one shot, while Dragon Pulse is for more reliable STAB. Flamethrower is to hit every steel type that isn't Heatran, while Focus Blast is there specifically to take out Heatran. I realize that Life Orb/Expert Belt provides more versatility, but at the moment, I like the raw power of specs.

Gengar @ Leftovers
Timid
4 HP/252 Sp. ATK/252 SPD.
Substitute
Disable
Shadow Ball
Focus Blast

Subdisable to mess up pokes that can't handle it. Very effective against walls and attackers with only one coverage move (Conkeldurr, for instance). Shadow Ball and Focus Blast hit pretty hard, too. I've heard that Subsplit Gengar is pretty good, but it sounds very difficult to use.

Magnezone @ Air Balloon
Timid
36 HP/252 Sp. ATK/220 SPD.
Thunderbolt
Charge Beam
HP Ice
Toxic

Steel trapper and revenge killer. This is my best way for getting rid of skarmory and cloyster, among other things. Toxic is there to mess up walls and tanks who can't afford to be poisoned. Especially effective against gastrodons that think they can safely switch in on me. I use HP Ice to deal with dragons, but I'd also consider HP Fire if that's better overall.

Landorus @ Choice Scarf
Naive
252 ATK/4 Sp. ATK/252 SPD.
Earthquake
Stone Edge
U-Turn
HP Ice

Good revenge killer, scout, and annoyer. Excellent for disposing of gliscor and ruining dragons. Good partner for terrakion, despite shared weaknesses.

Terrakion @ Life Orb
Jolly
4 HP/252 ATK/252 SPD.
Swords Dance
Close Combat
Stone Edge
X-Scissor

This guy is a beast even before he's used Swords Dance. After he has, watch out! I swept an entire team (after hazards were down) with just this guy without even setting up an SD. I find him to be incredibly useful. X-Scissor is used to hit bulky psychics who might otherwise survive one of his STABs.

doughboy · Oct 21, 2011

This team looks extremely weak to rain. Starmie in the rain could wreak havoc to a lot of your guys. Terrakion and Landourus make you have two water weaknesses and provide basically the same coverage (stone edge + u-turn/x-scissor).

I have a couple of suggestions:

1. Have Hydreigon carry a Choice Scarf and switch Focus Blast for U-turn.

By letting Hydreigon carry a Choice Scarf, we let it take over Landorus' role of a revenge killer and momentum gainer. Having focus blast on two of your pokes seems unnecessary and will make them walled by the same pokes. U-turn is a great substitute for focus blast on Hydreigon since it allows it to gain momentum, switch out of blissey/chansey, and possibly revenge a Starmie.

Now that we have a Free team slot, we should put in an anti-rain pokemon.

2. Replace Landorus with a Nasty Plot Celebi

Celebi will provide allow you to counter rain/gastrodon, add some bulk to this team, and allow you to replace toxic on magnezone with a better option. Such as Flash Cannon or Substitute.

I would much rather have a physical option on here, but can't think of one at the moment. Maybe Choice Band Ferrothorn? Ferrothorn seems a bit to weird and the spikes would overlap with deoxys-s.

Danger Mouse · Oct 22, 2011

ThePillsburyDoughBoy said:
This team looks extremely weak to rain. Starmie in the rain could wreak havoc to a lot of your guys. Terrakion and Landourus make you have two water weaknesses and provide basically the same coverage (stone edge + u-turn/x-scissor).

I have a couple of suggestions:

1. Have Hydreigon carry a Choice Scarf and switch Focus Blast for U-turn.

By letting Hydreigon carry a Choice Scarf, we let it take over Landorus' role of a revenge killer and momentum gainer. Having focus blast on two of your pokes seems unnecessary and will make them walled by the same pokes. U-turn is a great substitute for focus blast on Hydreigon since it allows it to gain momentum, switch out of blissey/chansey, and possibly revenge a Starmie.

Now that we have a Free team slot, we should put in an anti-rain pokemon.

2. Replace Landorus with a Nasty Plot Celebi

Celebi will provide allow you to counter rain/gastrodon, add some bulk to this team, and allow you to replace toxic on magnezone with a better option. Such as Flash Cannon or Substitute.

I would much rather have a physical option on here, but can't think of one at the moment. Maybe Choice Band Ferrothorn? Ferrothorn seems a bit to weird and the spikes would overlap with deoxys-s.

yeah, my only concern with replacing landorus is that i'd be left with only terrakion as a physical attacker. i'd need to replace something else on my team...i'd be willing to drop deoxys-s for a good physical attacker who can set up rocks...

Hotrocket · Oct 22, 2011

Donphan might be the physical attacker you want. Especially if you are replacing him with your taunter. He can set up rocks but also is a rapid spinner. This way you can deal with opposing hazards. He also learns priority ice move, which can be used to pack a punch on gliscor and dragons.

Reiko · Oct 22, 2011

Teams pretty solid ill post an actual rate pretty soon

Cuban Vader · Oct 22, 2011

I agree on putting in Celebi and Donphan. I absolutely love Donphan for putting up rocks he also gives you a spinner which your team could use

doughboy · Oct 22, 2011

Danger Mouse said:
yeah, my only concern with replacing landorus is that i'd be left with only terrakion as a physical attacker. i'd need to replace something else on my team...i'd be willing to drop deoxys-s for a good physical attacker who can set up rocks...

Since his team is not really Stealth Rock weak, I would say that a Rapid Spinner would be necessary. I would suggest a Stealth Rock Metagross.

Metagross @ (Leftovers)
Trait: Clear Body
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Stealth Rock
- Bullet Punch
- Meteor Mash
- Earthquake/Hammer Arm

Metagross can set up Stealth Rock for you and act as a bulky attacker. Metagross also adds something your team lacks, priority with Bullet Punch. Metagross makes a great partner with Hyderigon, since Hydeirgon resists fire types and is immune to ground-type attacks that would hit Metagross. Likewise, Metagross resists the Dragons and Ice types Hydreigon dislikes. Magenezone takes out those steels that Metagross especially dislikes.

Personally, I would choose Earthquake for this set, since you already have fighting type attacks with Gengar and Terrakion. Also, it allows it to replace Landorus' role of a strong Earthquake user.

Danger Mouse · Oct 22, 2011

ThePillsburyDoughBoy said:
Since his team is not really Stealth Rock weak, I would say that a Rapid Spinner would be necessary. I would suggest a Stealth Rock Metagross.

Metagross @ (Leftovers)
Trait: Clear Body
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Stealth Rock
- Bullet Punch
- Meteor Mash
- Earthquake/Hammer Arm

Metagross can set up Stealth Rock for you and act as a bulky attacker. Metagross also adds something your team lacks, priority with Bullet Punch. Metagross makes a great partner with Hyderigon, since Hydeirgon resists fire types and is immune to ground-type attacks that would hit Metagross. Likewise, Metagross resists the Dragons and Ice types Hydreigon dislikes. Magenezone takes out those steels that Metagross especially dislikes.

Personally, I would choose Earthquake for this set, since you already have fighting type attacks with Gengar and Terrakion. Also, it allows it to replace Landorus' role of a strong Earthquake user.

Sounds like it could work, and celebi also sounds good. Donphan doesn't sound half bad either, though...

Hotrocket · Oct 22, 2011

Cuban Vader said:
I agree on putting in Celebi and Donphan. I absolutely love Donphan for putting up rocks he also gives you a spinner which your team could use

Great minds think a like vadar :P

telling ya man, im currently testing out donphan on my team and hes doing really well. I'd at least test him out.

Danger Mouse · Oct 22, 2011

BankaiBro said:
Great minds think a like vadar :P

telling ya man, im currently testing out donphan on my team and hes doing really well. I'd at least test him out.

i think i'll try out celebi + donphan first and see how they do.

i might sub in metagross for donphan if he doesn't perform well enough.

Danger Mouse · Oct 23, 2011

Danger Mouse said:
i think i'll try out celebi + donphan first and see how they do.

i might sub in metagross for donphan if he doesn't perform well enough.

Okay, so celebi works pretty well. Donphan isn't bad, but if i lose terrakion, donphan can't do enough physical damage to pick up the slack.

I guess I'll give metagross a try.

Danger Mouse · Oct 23, 2011

Danger Mouse said:
Okay, so celebi works pretty well. Donphan isn't bad, but if i lose terrakion, donphan can't do enough physical damage to pick up the slack.

I guess I'll give metagross a try.

Metagross is okay, but it doesn't really add anything to my team.

I'm at a loss. I think I'll have to try something else.