Gravity? Isn't that just a gimmick?

[TwinkyFist]

Hello raters, so recently I decided to put myself up to a huge challenge. I wanted to make a team based on Gravity that DIDN'T suck. Pretty tough to manage, but this is my final product. Admittedly it still isn't great, but maybe some of you can help out with that.

AT A GLANCE

AND NOW FOR A CLOSER LOOK

Skarmory

Ability - Sturdy
Item - Shed Shell
Nature - Impish
EV's - 252 HP/232 Def/24 Spe
- Spikes
- Whirlwind
- Brave Bird
- Roost
When building team, after many failures, it hit me that the old SkarmBliss combo could fit perfectly on a Gravity team. Skarmory is my main defensive wall, sponging many physical hits and racking up Spikes damage with Whirlwind. If Gravity is up, Skarmory loses its ground immunity, which can spell its doom. However, normally if I'm in a situation where I HAVE to send out Skarmory against something with a ground move while Gravity is up, I've probably alreadthisy lost the match anyway. Spikes affects everyone while Gravity is in play, which makes Whirlwind phazing much more effective. Shed Shell was chosen to escape Mangezone as he already has recovery with Roost. Mostly a pretty standard set that we've all seen before, moving on

Blissey

Ability - Natural Cure
Item - Leftovers
Nature - Calm
EV's - 252 HP/252 SpD/4 Def
- Gravity
- Toxic
- Heal Bell
- Softboiled
Blissey rounds out my defensive core, any special attack aimed at Skarmory, Blissey can pretty much handle. Great at setting up Gravity, although she can't utilize it very well herself. Blissey pops in and out of the match setting up Gravity, poisoning the opponent, and eliminating statuses from the team. She can usually stall out any opponent not packing strong physical attacks or Taunt. Softboiled heals obviously, and is better for this set than Wish in my opinion. Wish usually requires Protect to go along with it, and the other moves here are too valuable to my team.


Mew

Ability - Synchronize
Item - Life Orb
Nature - Modest
EV's - 4 HP/252 SpA/252 Spe
- Gravity
- Fire Blast
- Blizzard
- Thunder
This set normally comes as a huge surprise. One turn of setup (or none if Gravity is already in place) and you have 3 100% accuracy 120BP moves with great coverage. Mew's bulk usually gives it the opportunity for a turn of setup, and even if you don't have time for setup, Fire Blast still has 85% accuracy. Since he is such a diverse Pokemon, few know what counter to send out. Anything with Sucker Punch can OHKO Mew, but he almost always punches a few holes in the opponents team.


Starmie

Ability - Natural Cure
Item - Life Orb
Nature - Modest
EV's - 4 HP/252 SpA/252 Spe
- Gravity
- Hydro Pump
- Rapid Spin
- Thunder
Starmie fills a role similar to Mew as a secondary special sweeper. A Rapid Spinner was absolutely necessary for this team, as I tend to do a lot of switching around, and Starmie fits the role perfectly. She can set up Gravity, spin away hazards, absorb status, and sweep weakened teams with a STAB Hydro Pump and Thunder.


Dugtrio

Ability - Arena Trap
Item - Choice Band
Nature - Jolly
EV's - 4 HP/252 Atk/252 Spe
- Earthquake
- Sucker Punch
- Stone Edge
- Aerial Ace
Dugtrio is a terrific revenge killer to have under Gravity, with nothing being immune to Earthquake and Stone Edge having 100% accuracy. Arena trap prevents anything without a Shed Shell from escaping and Sucker Punch hits hard with priority. Aerial Ace is mostly there just as a filler, but it hits Breloom harder than any other move.


Mamoswine

Ability - Thick Fat
Item - Lum Berry
Nature - Adamant
EV's 4 HP/252 Atk/252 Spe
- Ice Shard
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- Superpower/Stealth Rock
Mamoswine truly appreciates Gravity support, but can shine without it as well. Ice Shard hits bulky dragons hard and the EdgeQuake combo provide great coverage. Superpower gives Mamo better type coverage, as well as filling my teams only fighting type move, but Stealth Rock greatly supports phazing fun with Skarmory. Both have been used to success on this team and I haven't decided which I like better. Lum Berry was chosen to protect Mamos momentum, but maybe something else would be better suited on him, opinions?


Well that's it for the Gravity team, let me know what you all think. Happy rating!​

 

[Sayonara]

Hey!

Solid team, Twinkyfist! I find that Dugtrio would really appreciate the ability to switch moves, especially with Gravity being up. That's why I would recommend a Focus Sash Dugtrio, with a moveset consisting of Stealth Rock / Earthquake / Stone Edge / Reversal. By giving Dugtrio Stealth Rock, that allows Mamoswine to use Superpower in the 4th slot, enabling it to get past Ferrothorn and Air Balloon Heatran with more ease. With a Focus Sash, Dugtrio can't be OHKO'd, allowing it to get Stealth Rock up before dying. At 1 HP, Reversal becomes extremely powerful, giving you a strong coverage move. I don't have much else to add - cool team, and good luck!

 

[Bugdomking]

Hey!

Solid team, Twinkyfist! I find that Dugtrio would really appreciate the ability to switch moves, especially with Gravity being up. That's why I would recommend a Focus Sash Dugtrio, with a moveset consisting of Stealth Rock / Earthquake / Stone Edge / Reversal. By giving Dugtrio Stealth Rock, that allows Mamoswine to use Superpower in the 4th slot, enabling it to get past Ferrothorn and Air Balloon Heatran with more ease. With a Focus Sash, Dugtrio can't be OHKO'd, allowing it to get Stealth Rock up before dying. At 1 HP, Reversal becomes extremely powerful, giving you a strong coverage move. I don't have much else to add - cool team, and good luck!

Thankfully Air Balloon is negated by gravity. But in case of no gravity, its good to have.

I'd recommend a grass or bug type pokemon, rather than Skarmory, because they resist ground which can help against a Landorus rampage. Aggressively Heracross makes great use of gravitated Megahorn, Stone Edge and Earthquake. Shaymin doesn't mind not missing seed flare or leech seed, and dispatches balooning heateans with earth power. Just a thought. Best of luck!!

 

[TwinkyFist]

Originally Posted by Fat Expert Physics
Hey!

Solid team, Twinkyfist! I find that Dugtrio would really appreciate the ability to switch moves, especially with Gravity being up. That's why I would recommend a Focus Sash Dugtrio, with a moveset consisting of Stealth Rock / Earthquake / Stone Edge / Reversal. By giving Dugtrio Stealth Rock, that allows Mamoswine to use Superpower in the 4th slot, enabling it to get past Ferrothorn and Air Balloon Heatran with more ease. With a Focus Sash, Dugtrio can't be OHKO'd, allowing it to get Stealth Rock up before dying. At 1 HP, Reversal becomes extremely powerful, giving you a strong coverage move. I don't have much else to add - cool team, and good luck!

I've tried using Focus Sash on Dugtrio, but with only 259 Atk and his frailty, he's near unusable without the boost from the Choice Band.

I'd recommend a grass or bug type pokemon, rather than Skarmory, because they resist ground which can help against a Landorus rampage. Aggressively Heracross makes great use of gravitated Megahorn, Stone Edge and Earthquake. Shaymin doesn't mind not missing seed flare or leech seed, and dispatches balooning heateans with earth power. Just a thought. Best of luck!!

I'm not sure I can afford dropping Skarmory, as he is my only answer to absorb boosted physical attacks. Also this team relies heavily on spikes. However, the more I look at it, a Scarfed Heracross would fill the same role as Dugtrio. A revenge killer with the EdgeQuake combo, a more reliable fighting move than Reversal, and my team would benefit heavily from a powerful bug move. Although I miss out on Arena Trap and a priority move, I think the sweeping potential of Moxie really puts Heracross above and beyond for my team.