HI everyone, I recently made a baton pass rain team and I discovered that Espeon can be a very good sweeper and i have been toying around with Scrafty and this is the end result of the team.
Team Building Process
Espeon and Scrafty make up the core of the team, calm mind lets espeon boost its special stats while bulk up boots scrafty's physical stats forming a nice balance between the two. They also compliment each other nicely covering most weaknesses and threats between the two.
Next i wanted someone that could support the two to maximise their potential. the kind of support i was after was to cripple, paralyse, and wish, the perfect candidate seemed to be jirachi. Jirachi can give decent wishes to their pitiful HP stats as well as spread paralysis with body slam. Jirachi also takes some pressure off espeon being the main special attacking check.
Jirachi's best friends are levitating dragons and while gyarados isn't quite a dragon he still can perform a similar role. Gyarados can switch in on earthquakes and fire moves aimed at Jirachi and Jirachi can take rock and thunder moves with impunity. Gyarados also takes some pressure off scrafty being the only physical attacker.
After this i was in a bit of a dilemma in that i could not think of anyone else so i whacked on two random pokemons form my box, namely Starmie and i thought a bit of rain never hurt anyone so a Politoed.
After some playtime using this team i found that it lacked a reliable revenge killer so i tried Landorus and Rotom-W but that didnt really work out for me.
So i went back to Starmie and replaced Landorus with Weavile purely for ice shard and because it outspeeds a banded terrakion and OHKO's it 100% of the time with low kick. Starmie spin away entry hazards as with as pull off decent revenge kills.
I replaced Weavile with Mamoswine even though Weavile was performing nicely because my team tends to cause a lot of switch outs and Mamoswine can capitalize on that with stealth rocks. Mamoswine can also ice shard and its access to STAB earthquake and electric immunity fills a small hole in my team.
In Depth:
EDITED
Starmie @ Expert Belt
Trait: Natural Cure
EVs: 252 SAtk / 4 SDef / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Thunderbolt
- Ice Beam
- Hydro Pump
- Rapid Spin
Starmie is useful on my team because it is riddled with set up sweepers which leaves me vulnerable to dedicated counters, phazers and stallers, thus having a pokemon that can hit right off the bat is a crucial asset to the team. The moveset is to maximise its revenge killing capabilities while being able to rapid spin freely without being locked in because Espeon can't always be there to bounce the entry hazards back. Expert Belt can also help fake a choice item which is situationally advantageous. Otherwise it is a fairly standard BoltBeam + hydro pump coverage. The given EV's and nature are quite self-explanatory, maximum special attack and speed.
Mamoswine (M) @ Expert Belt
Trait: Snow Cloak
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Ice Shard
- Stone Edge
- Earthquake
- Stealth Rock
Mamoswine can bring dragons to an icy grave as well as set up stealth rocks which needless to say helpful on any team. Mamoswine is also a decent revenge killer and can hit like a truck. I use Expert Belt for a similar reason as Starmie's, it lets me freely set up stealth rocks and fake a choice band. Otherwise it's just EdgeQuake and Ice Shard.
Espeon (F) @ Leftovers
Trait: Magic Bounce
EVs: 252 HP / 4 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Hidden Power [Fighting]
- Stored Power
- Calm Mind
- Morning Sun
Espeon and Scrafty form the core of this team. Espeon is often overlooked as a sweeper due to its largely support based move pool, bad typing and lack of offense. This set proves that Espeon’s sweeping potential is nothing short of amazing. The only reason that Espeon is better than another eeveelution such as Jolteon is because of its access to calm mind. and magic bounce. Abusing Calm mind allows your special bulk to go sky high as well as the boosts in Special Attack; It becomes a neat special wall of sorts. Morning Sun is for instant recovery so it can last longer. The real star of this set is stored power. After 4 calm minds it reaches a base power of 180, 270 after STAB, plus the special attack boost makes it a 270 base power move off a whopping 871 SpAtk and after 6 calm minds it becomes base 420 move off a stupendous 1188 SpAtk. The former enough to OHKO a Choice Band Scizor and the latter enough to OHKO anything that you can think of in the OU metagame unboosted. You might say that easy enough to say but getting to 4 calm minds is nigh on impossible but that is the beauty of Espeon, it cannot be simply toxicstalled or crippled or phazed by the likes of Skamory ,due to its ability magic bounce, and any special powerhouse or an attempted stall will be set up fodder for Espeon. How many special sweepers can boast not being paralysed, poisoned, or burned or crippled in general? Basically any special attacking or stall Pokémon you can think of, Espeon can set up without hesitation and even some neutral physical attackers don't intimidate Espeon. The EV spread is designed to maximise initial bulk while the 252 and the timid nature is to maximise Espeon’s speed because its offensive capabilities don’t need boosting at all. The only real counter for Espeon are pursuit users such as Tyranitar and Scizor if they switch in before Espeon get too many calm minds up. A choice banded Tyranitar can be OHKO'd 87% of the time with Hidden Power fighting after one calm mind while Scizor remains Espeon’s best counter. Espeon works well with Scrafty because it can take focus blasts, from the likes of virizion, aimed at Scrafty to the knee andstill be an adventurer while Scrafty can set up on physical powerhouses which threaten Espeon like dragonite, metagross and haxorus to name a few.
Jirachi @ Leftovers
Trait: Serene Grace
EVs: 252 HP / 224 SDef / 32 Spd
Careful Nature (+SDef, -SAtk)
- Iron Head
- Body Slam
- Wish
- Fire Punch
Jirachi provide support to Espeon and Scrafty tying to two together as fearsome and dreaded foes. It really is a pretty standard Specially Defensive HaxrachI but it fits in nicely to the team. Due to their low HP stat scrafty and Espeon greatly benefit from Jirachi's not so stellar 202 HP wishes, healing about 2 thirds of their HP providing them both with a second wind. Body Slam + Fire Punch are to cripple wil Iron Head is to maim and weaken. Fire punch is a silver bullet aimed at Scizor and Ferrothorn. Jirachi also takes some pressure off Espeon as a Specially bulky pokemon Jirachi completes the Scrafty, Espeon and Jirachi trio together walling countless pokemon and resisting a good deal of the OU common threats. Scrafy also has good synergy with gyarados, sponging off rock and electric moves while Gyrados can take the fire and ground moves aimed at Jirachi.
Scrafty (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Shed Skin
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SDef
Careful Nature (+SDef, -SAtk)
- Bulk Up
- Drain Punch
- Dragon Tail
- Rest
Scrafty forms the other half of the Scrafty plus Espeon core. I always thought that scrafty was somewhat of a gimmick but then thought I might try it out. It has now become, along with espeon, my favourite pokemon. it is hard to put on paper its capabilities but when you see the ghetto lizard in action it is amazing. it can simply sponge up hits and set up all day long. I prefer the bulk up variant because I am more thank happy to forgo the speed boosts for the extra physical bulk and the ability to make physical sweepers cower in fear against a 4 foot harlem lizard. Scrafty's bulk coupled with shed skin makes scrafty sponge of hits and recieve status conditions all while saying "Like a boss". Drain Punch gives Scrafty more than enough recovery while dragon tail is amazing for simply phazing out set up sweepers. I used to run Ice punch soley for dragons and Drain punch resistors although i found it is largely redundant because Drain Punch + Dragon tail can take care of just about anything so i have replaced it with rest for the instant recovery as well as the synergy it has with shed shell. The EV's are to maximise special bulk so it can take special hits with impunity seeing as is boosting defense. the rest goes in attack. careful nature also to maximise special bulk. Scrafty is my main physical powerhouse and works together nicely with espeon, with good prediction I can bounce across entry hazards and abuse them with dragon tail. Scizor gives scrafty considerable grief but after 2 bulk ups U-turn from a scizor will do about 25% damage while a drain punch will do about 50% damage back.
Lately i have been thinking about replacing it with a Dragon Dance counterpart because i am sick of it being revenge killed due to its abysmal speed.
Gyarados (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Intimidate
EVs: 176 HP / 128 Atk / 204 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Dragon Dance
- Waterfall
- Substitute
- Stone Edge
Gyarados is fearsome in every sense. It runs a similar set to Scrafty in that it is more orientated towards bulk than straight up hitting power. Gyrados can set up with impunity on Scizor, a primary threat most of my team, and can destroy stallers and walls with taunt + Dragon Dance combo. Gyrados fills the final gap in my Scrafty + Espeon core and Jirachi support unit making it largley impenetrable. Gyrados takes a good deal of pressure off Scrafty as a bulky physical powerhouse and works nicely together with Jirachi. Substitute is to prevent status and leech seeds etc which Gyrados hates, I use to run taunt but i was sick of scald ruining my day. Dragon Dance is quite self explanatory while waterfall is his main attack. Stone Edge is to hit water resists and dragons such as Salamence and Dragonite. I choose intimidate over Moxie to maximise the amount of hits Gyarados can take initially. It's synergy with Jirachi means that the unit can resist and wall basically everything that I have come across.
Retired Member(s) worth noting
Weavile (M) @ Choice Band
Trait: Pressure
EVs: 40 HP / 252 Atk / 216 Spd
Jolly Nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Ice Shard
- Pursuit
- Low Kick
- Punishment
Weavile is a solid revenge killer and can take care of a lot of counters to my Espeon, Scrafty, Jirachi, Gyarados core. Another advantage is its dragonslaying abilities which is a big plus to my team because, save Jirachi, not much can stand its ground against a dragon such a salamence or dragonite. It is a fairly standard OU Weavile set, Ice Shard to finish of a danced dragon, Pursuit to take care of switch-outs, Low kick of terrakion, Tyranitar and other bulky rock types and finally punishment for calm minded alakazams etc.
The EV's are to maximise attack, outspeed dugtrio and alakazam, and the rest goes into HP.
Possible Replacement
Latios (M) @ Choice Scarf
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Trick
- Dragon Pulse
- Surf
- Calm Mind
over starmie
Advantages: can revenge kill and abuse trick with calm mind becoming a set up sweeper
Disadvantages: No rapid spin
Importable
thanks for reading everyone, any suggestions would be great.
Team Building Process
Espeon and Scrafty make up the core of the team, calm mind lets espeon boost its special stats while bulk up boots scrafty's physical stats forming a nice balance between the two. They also compliment each other nicely covering most weaknesses and threats between the two.
Next i wanted someone that could support the two to maximise their potential. the kind of support i was after was to cripple, paralyse, and wish, the perfect candidate seemed to be jirachi. Jirachi can give decent wishes to their pitiful HP stats as well as spread paralysis with body slam. Jirachi also takes some pressure off espeon being the main special attacking check.
Jirachi's best friends are levitating dragons and while gyarados isn't quite a dragon he still can perform a similar role. Gyarados can switch in on earthquakes and fire moves aimed at Jirachi and Jirachi can take rock and thunder moves with impunity. Gyarados also takes some pressure off scrafty being the only physical attacker.
After this i was in a bit of a dilemma in that i could not think of anyone else so i whacked on two random pokemons form my box, namely Starmie and i thought a bit of rain never hurt anyone so a Politoed.
After some playtime using this team i found that it lacked a reliable revenge killer so i tried Landorus and Rotom-W but that didnt really work out for me.
So i went back to Starmie and replaced Landorus with Weavile purely for ice shard and because it outspeeds a banded terrakion and OHKO's it 100% of the time with low kick. Starmie spin away entry hazards as with as pull off decent revenge kills.
I replaced Weavile with Mamoswine even though Weavile was performing nicely because my team tends to cause a lot of switch outs and Mamoswine can capitalize on that with stealth rocks. Mamoswine can also ice shard and its access to STAB earthquake and electric immunity fills a small hole in my team.
In Depth:
EDITED
Starmie @ Expert Belt
Trait: Natural Cure
EVs: 252 SAtk / 4 SDef / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Thunderbolt
- Ice Beam
- Hydro Pump
- Rapid Spin
Starmie is useful on my team because it is riddled with set up sweepers which leaves me vulnerable to dedicated counters, phazers and stallers, thus having a pokemon that can hit right off the bat is a crucial asset to the team. The moveset is to maximise its revenge killing capabilities while being able to rapid spin freely without being locked in because Espeon can't always be there to bounce the entry hazards back. Expert Belt can also help fake a choice item which is situationally advantageous. Otherwise it is a fairly standard BoltBeam + hydro pump coverage. The given EV's and nature are quite self-explanatory, maximum special attack and speed.
Mamoswine (M) @ Expert Belt
Trait: Snow Cloak
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Ice Shard
- Stone Edge
- Earthquake
- Stealth Rock
Mamoswine can bring dragons to an icy grave as well as set up stealth rocks which needless to say helpful on any team. Mamoswine is also a decent revenge killer and can hit like a truck. I use Expert Belt for a similar reason as Starmie's, it lets me freely set up stealth rocks and fake a choice band. Otherwise it's just EdgeQuake and Ice Shard.
Espeon (F) @ Leftovers
Trait: Magic Bounce
EVs: 252 HP / 4 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Hidden Power [Fighting]
- Stored Power
- Calm Mind
- Morning Sun
Espeon and Scrafty form the core of this team. Espeon is often overlooked as a sweeper due to its largely support based move pool, bad typing and lack of offense. This set proves that Espeon’s sweeping potential is nothing short of amazing. The only reason that Espeon is better than another eeveelution such as Jolteon is because of its access to calm mind. and magic bounce. Abusing Calm mind allows your special bulk to go sky high as well as the boosts in Special Attack; It becomes a neat special wall of sorts. Morning Sun is for instant recovery so it can last longer. The real star of this set is stored power. After 4 calm minds it reaches a base power of 180, 270 after STAB, plus the special attack boost makes it a 270 base power move off a whopping 871 SpAtk and after 6 calm minds it becomes base 420 move off a stupendous 1188 SpAtk. The former enough to OHKO a Choice Band Scizor and the latter enough to OHKO anything that you can think of in the OU metagame unboosted. You might say that easy enough to say but getting to 4 calm minds is nigh on impossible but that is the beauty of Espeon, it cannot be simply toxicstalled or crippled or phazed by the likes of Skamory ,due to its ability magic bounce, and any special powerhouse or an attempted stall will be set up fodder for Espeon. How many special sweepers can boast not being paralysed, poisoned, or burned or crippled in general? Basically any special attacking or stall Pokémon you can think of, Espeon can set up without hesitation and even some neutral physical attackers don't intimidate Espeon. The EV spread is designed to maximise initial bulk while the 252 and the timid nature is to maximise Espeon’s speed because its offensive capabilities don’t need boosting at all. The only real counter for Espeon are pursuit users such as Tyranitar and Scizor if they switch in before Espeon get too many calm minds up. A choice banded Tyranitar can be OHKO'd 87% of the time with Hidden Power fighting after one calm mind while Scizor remains Espeon’s best counter. Espeon works well with Scrafty because it can take focus blasts, from the likes of virizion, aimed at Scrafty to the knee andstill be an adventurer while Scrafty can set up on physical powerhouses which threaten Espeon like dragonite, metagross and haxorus to name a few.
Jirachi @ Leftovers
Trait: Serene Grace
EVs: 252 HP / 224 SDef / 32 Spd
Careful Nature (+SDef, -SAtk)
- Iron Head
- Body Slam
- Wish
- Fire Punch
Jirachi provide support to Espeon and Scrafty tying to two together as fearsome and dreaded foes. It really is a pretty standard Specially Defensive HaxrachI but it fits in nicely to the team. Due to their low HP stat scrafty and Espeon greatly benefit from Jirachi's not so stellar 202 HP wishes, healing about 2 thirds of their HP providing them both with a second wind. Body Slam + Fire Punch are to cripple wil Iron Head is to maim and weaken. Fire punch is a silver bullet aimed at Scizor and Ferrothorn. Jirachi also takes some pressure off Espeon as a Specially bulky pokemon Jirachi completes the Scrafty, Espeon and Jirachi trio together walling countless pokemon and resisting a good deal of the OU common threats. Scrafy also has good synergy with gyarados, sponging off rock and electric moves while Gyrados can take the fire and ground moves aimed at Jirachi.
Scrafty (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Shed Skin
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SDef
Careful Nature (+SDef, -SAtk)
- Bulk Up
- Drain Punch
- Dragon Tail
- Rest
Scrafty forms the other half of the Scrafty plus Espeon core. I always thought that scrafty was somewhat of a gimmick but then thought I might try it out. It has now become, along with espeon, my favourite pokemon. it is hard to put on paper its capabilities but when you see the ghetto lizard in action it is amazing. it can simply sponge up hits and set up all day long. I prefer the bulk up variant because I am more thank happy to forgo the speed boosts for the extra physical bulk and the ability to make physical sweepers cower in fear against a 4 foot harlem lizard. Scrafty's bulk coupled with shed skin makes scrafty sponge of hits and recieve status conditions all while saying "Like a boss". Drain Punch gives Scrafty more than enough recovery while dragon tail is amazing for simply phazing out set up sweepers. I used to run Ice punch soley for dragons and Drain punch resistors although i found it is largely redundant because Drain Punch + Dragon tail can take care of just about anything so i have replaced it with rest for the instant recovery as well as the synergy it has with shed shell. The EV's are to maximise special bulk so it can take special hits with impunity seeing as is boosting defense. the rest goes in attack. careful nature also to maximise special bulk. Scrafty is my main physical powerhouse and works together nicely with espeon, with good prediction I can bounce across entry hazards and abuse them with dragon tail. Scizor gives scrafty considerable grief but after 2 bulk ups U-turn from a scizor will do about 25% damage while a drain punch will do about 50% damage back.
Lately i have been thinking about replacing it with a Dragon Dance counterpart because i am sick of it being revenge killed due to its abysmal speed.
Gyarados (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Intimidate
EVs: 176 HP / 128 Atk / 204 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Dragon Dance
- Waterfall
- Substitute
- Stone Edge
Gyarados is fearsome in every sense. It runs a similar set to Scrafty in that it is more orientated towards bulk than straight up hitting power. Gyrados can set up with impunity on Scizor, a primary threat most of my team, and can destroy stallers and walls with taunt + Dragon Dance combo. Gyrados fills the final gap in my Scrafty + Espeon core and Jirachi support unit making it largley impenetrable. Gyrados takes a good deal of pressure off Scrafty as a bulky physical powerhouse and works nicely together with Jirachi. Substitute is to prevent status and leech seeds etc which Gyrados hates, I use to run taunt but i was sick of scald ruining my day. Dragon Dance is quite self explanatory while waterfall is his main attack. Stone Edge is to hit water resists and dragons such as Salamence and Dragonite. I choose intimidate over Moxie to maximise the amount of hits Gyarados can take initially. It's synergy with Jirachi means that the unit can resist and wall basically everything that I have come across.
Retired Member(s) worth noting
Weavile (M) @ Choice Band
Trait: Pressure
EVs: 40 HP / 252 Atk / 216 Spd
Jolly Nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Ice Shard
- Pursuit
- Low Kick
- Punishment
Weavile is a solid revenge killer and can take care of a lot of counters to my Espeon, Scrafty, Jirachi, Gyarados core. Another advantage is its dragonslaying abilities which is a big plus to my team because, save Jirachi, not much can stand its ground against a dragon such a salamence or dragonite. It is a fairly standard OU Weavile set, Ice Shard to finish of a danced dragon, Pursuit to take care of switch-outs, Low kick of terrakion, Tyranitar and other bulky rock types and finally punishment for calm minded alakazams etc.
The EV's are to maximise attack, outspeed dugtrio and alakazam, and the rest goes into HP.
Possible Replacement
Latios (M) @ Choice Scarf
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Trick
- Dragon Pulse
- Surf
- Calm Mind
over starmie
Advantages: can revenge kill and abuse trick with calm mind becoming a set up sweeper
Disadvantages: No rapid spin
Importable
Starmie @ Choice Specs
Trait: Natural Cure
EVs: 252 SAtk / 4 SDef / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Thunderbolt
- Ice Beam
- Rapid Spin
- Trick
Scrafty (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Shed Skin
EVs: 252 HP / 8 Atk / 248 SDef
Careful Nature (+SDef, -SAtk)
- Bulk Up
- Drain Punch
- Dragon Tail
- Rest
Jirachi @ Leftovers
Trait: Serene Grace
EVs: 252 HP / 224 SDef / 32 Spd
Careful Nature (+SDef, -SAtk)
- Iron Head
- Body Slam
- Wish
- Fire Punch
Espeon (F) @ Leftovers
Trait: Magic Bounce
EVs: 252 HP / 4 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Calm Mind
- Stored Power
- Hidden Power [Fighting]
- Morning Sun
Mamoswine (M) @ Expert Belt
Trait: Snow Cloak
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Ice Shard
- Stone Edge
- Earthquake
- Stealth Rock
Gyarados (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Intimidate
EVs: 176 HP / 128 Atk / 204 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Dragon Dance
- Waterfall
- Substitute
- Stone Edge
Trait: Natural Cure
EVs: 252 SAtk / 4 SDef / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Thunderbolt
- Ice Beam
- Rapid Spin
- Trick
Scrafty (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Shed Skin
EVs: 252 HP / 8 Atk / 248 SDef
Careful Nature (+SDef, -SAtk)
- Bulk Up
- Drain Punch
- Dragon Tail
- Rest
Jirachi @ Leftovers
Trait: Serene Grace
EVs: 252 HP / 224 SDef / 32 Spd
Careful Nature (+SDef, -SAtk)
- Iron Head
- Body Slam
- Wish
- Fire Punch
Espeon (F) @ Leftovers
Trait: Magic Bounce
EVs: 252 HP / 4 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Calm Mind
- Stored Power
- Hidden Power [Fighting]
- Morning Sun
Mamoswine (M) @ Expert Belt
Trait: Snow Cloak
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Ice Shard
- Stone Edge
- Earthquake
- Stealth Rock
Gyarados (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Intimidate
EVs: 176 HP / 128 Atk / 204 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Dragon Dance
- Waterfall
- Substitute
- Stone Edge
thanks for reading everyone, any suggestions would be great.
