Hey everyone, thanks for taking a look at my first RMT. I wanted to go with a more defensive team for my first try, as I dislike HO and stall is too hard :P
Venusaur [F] @ Venusaurite
Ability: Chlorophyll
Nature: Bold
EVs: 252 HP, 240 Def, 16 Spe
-Giga Drain
-Sludge Bomb
-Sleep Powder
-Leech Seed
One half of the defensive core of my team. MVenu has great synergy with Heatran, and can switch into nearly anything that doesn't carry a super-effective move, then proceed to survive for turns upon turns with a combination of its two healing moves. One of the goals of my team is to spread status around, and Sleep Powder is an effective means of accomplishing that. Furthermore, she allows Gyarados to come in and set up with a DD or two while the opponent is asleep. Lastly, I use Sludge Bomb for STAB and coverage.
Heatran [M] @ Air Balloon
Ability: Flash Fire
Nature: Calm
EVs: 248 HP, 192 SpD, 68 Spe
-Lava Plume
-Stone Edge
-Earth Power
-Toxic
The other half of my defensive core, Heatran is a specially defensive monster: he can take massive hits and deal a lot of damage in return. He furthers the goal of spreading around status with Plume's 30% burn chance and Toxic. I used to have Heatran hold Leftovers, but I switched to Air Balloon to allow him to serve as a highly effective counter against Mega Charizard Y, which the rest of my team has trouble with.
Gyarados [M] @ Lum Berry
Ability: Moxie
Nature: Adamant
EVs: 4 HP, 252 Atk, 252 Spe
-Taunt
-Dragon Dance
-Waterfall
-Bounce
Gyarados is a fantastic lategame physical sweeper even without the MEvo. I included Taunt to allow him to set up on Pokemon like Chansey and Ferrothorn. Dragon Dance allows Gyarados' Atk and Spe to climb to ridiculous levels, and Waterfall and Bounce are the obligatory STAB moves. You'll notice I ran a somewhat unorthodox Moxie set here instead of Intimidate. This is because I set up the sweep near the endgame when the opponent's fast attackers are KO'd. After one or two Moxie boosts plus one or two DD's, Gyarados is unstoppable.
Gardevoir [F] @ Choice Specs
Ability: Synchronize
Nature: Modest
EVs: 4 HP, 252 SpA, 252 Spe
-Moonblast
-Psychic
-Thunderbolt
-Shadow Ball
Gardevoir is a highly effective special sweeper. Granted, her MEvo has many advantages, but MVenu already had the slot. She is frail, however, so I try to make sure the opponent's Steel-types and Dark-types are KO'd before attempting a sweep. My strategy here is simple: I switch Garde in on a Dragon or predict a switch, then use Specs STAB Moonblast until she is KO'd or I am forced to switch. I also opted for Synchronize over Trace to, in rare cases, spread more status around the opponent's team.
Ferrothorn [M] @ Leftovers
Ability: Iron Barbs
Nature: Relaxed
EVs: 252 HP, 88 Def, 168 SpD (0 Spe IV)
-Stealth Rock
-Leech Seed
-Gyro Ball
-Protect
My rocker and a great all-around wall. I used to run Thunder Wave over Protect, but realized it was counterproductive, as paralysis lowers the damage of Gyro Ball. Protect was the natural choice for a replacement to maximize Leftovers gain. The EV spread is the one suggested by the Smogon Dex.
Mandibuzz [F] @ Red Card
Ability: Overcoat
Nature: Bold
EVs: 248 HP, 136 Def, 108 SpD, 16 Spe (0 Atk IV)
-Foul Play
-Roost
-Taunt
-Defog
Mandibuzz is my team's Defogger and has the added bonus of stopping setup sweepers in their tracks with a hilariously fun to play Red Card. Foul Play hurts physical sweepers and is boosted by the Bold nature. Roost helps heal off Stealth Rock damage and overall wear/tear. Taunt adds stallbreaking potential to a great utility Pokemon.
Thanks for reading! As you rate, please consider the fact that I am trying to build this team on cartridge and therefore don't want sets or Pokemon that require ridiculous amounts of planning and setup to breed/soft reset for.
I first considered Mega Venusaur as my mega evolution. I figured it would work well on a defensive team thanks to its stellar bulk, ability to neutralize many threats, and status moves like Leech Seed and Sleep Powder.
Heatran was the obvious choice to complement MVenu and the two together serve as a great defensive core.
Next came my two lategame sweepers: Gardevoir and Gyarados. One special, one physical, these two can wreck the opposing team as long as MVenu and Heatran take out their main threats.
Although Heatran can run Stealth Rock, I wanted a more dedicated rocker and someone that I could safely lead with (as long as no fire types are present). And after all, what is a defensive team without Ferrothorn? It's like a switch team without Rotom-W.
I was stuck on choosing a sixth member for quite a while--I couldn't think of a hole that needed filling. Then I looked up Mandibuzz on the Smogon Dex and realized what a great addition to the team it could be. She stops setup sweepers in their tracks as well as threatening physical sweepers.
And there you have it: the six members of GyaraGarde.
Heatran was the obvious choice to complement MVenu and the two together serve as a great defensive core.
Next came my two lategame sweepers: Gardevoir and Gyarados. One special, one physical, these two can wreck the opposing team as long as MVenu and Heatran take out their main threats.
Although Heatran can run Stealth Rock, I wanted a more dedicated rocker and someone that I could safely lead with (as long as no fire types are present). And after all, what is a defensive team without Ferrothorn? It's like a switch team without Rotom-W.
I was stuck on choosing a sixth member for quite a while--I couldn't think of a hole that needed filling. Then I looked up Mandibuzz on the Smogon Dex and realized what a great addition to the team it could be. She stops setup sweepers in their tracks as well as threatening physical sweepers.
And there you have it: the six members of GyaraGarde.
Venusaur [F] @ Venusaurite
Ability: Chlorophyll
Nature: Bold
EVs: 252 HP, 240 Def, 16 Spe
-Giga Drain
-Sludge Bomb
-Sleep Powder
-Leech Seed
One half of the defensive core of my team. MVenu has great synergy with Heatran, and can switch into nearly anything that doesn't carry a super-effective move, then proceed to survive for turns upon turns with a combination of its two healing moves. One of the goals of my team is to spread status around, and Sleep Powder is an effective means of accomplishing that. Furthermore, she allows Gyarados to come in and set up with a DD or two while the opponent is asleep. Lastly, I use Sludge Bomb for STAB and coverage.
Heatran [M] @ Air Balloon
Ability: Flash Fire
Nature: Calm
EVs: 248 HP, 192 SpD, 68 Spe
-Lava Plume
-Stone Edge
-Earth Power
-Toxic
The other half of my defensive core, Heatran is a specially defensive monster: he can take massive hits and deal a lot of damage in return. He furthers the goal of spreading around status with Plume's 30% burn chance and Toxic. I used to have Heatran hold Leftovers, but I switched to Air Balloon to allow him to serve as a highly effective counter against Mega Charizard Y, which the rest of my team has trouble with.
Gyarados [M] @ Lum Berry
Ability: Moxie
Nature: Adamant
EVs: 4 HP, 252 Atk, 252 Spe
-Taunt
-Dragon Dance
-Waterfall
-Bounce
Gyarados is a fantastic lategame physical sweeper even without the MEvo. I included Taunt to allow him to set up on Pokemon like Chansey and Ferrothorn. Dragon Dance allows Gyarados' Atk and Spe to climb to ridiculous levels, and Waterfall and Bounce are the obligatory STAB moves. You'll notice I ran a somewhat unorthodox Moxie set here instead of Intimidate. This is because I set up the sweep near the endgame when the opponent's fast attackers are KO'd. After one or two Moxie boosts plus one or two DD's, Gyarados is unstoppable.
Gardevoir [F] @ Choice Specs
Ability: Synchronize
Nature: Modest
EVs: 4 HP, 252 SpA, 252 Spe
-Moonblast
-Psychic
-Thunderbolt
-Shadow Ball
Gardevoir is a highly effective special sweeper. Granted, her MEvo has many advantages, but MVenu already had the slot. She is frail, however, so I try to make sure the opponent's Steel-types and Dark-types are KO'd before attempting a sweep. My strategy here is simple: I switch Garde in on a Dragon or predict a switch, then use Specs STAB Moonblast until she is KO'd or I am forced to switch. I also opted for Synchronize over Trace to, in rare cases, spread more status around the opponent's team.
Ferrothorn [M] @ Leftovers
Ability: Iron Barbs
Nature: Relaxed
EVs: 252 HP, 88 Def, 168 SpD (0 Spe IV)
-Stealth Rock
-Leech Seed
-Gyro Ball
-Protect
My rocker and a great all-around wall. I used to run Thunder Wave over Protect, but realized it was counterproductive, as paralysis lowers the damage of Gyro Ball. Protect was the natural choice for a replacement to maximize Leftovers gain. The EV spread is the one suggested by the Smogon Dex.
Mandibuzz [F] @ Red Card
Ability: Overcoat
Nature: Bold
EVs: 248 HP, 136 Def, 108 SpD, 16 Spe (0 Atk IV)
-Foul Play
-Roost
-Taunt
-Defog
Mandibuzz is my team's Defogger and has the added bonus of stopping setup sweepers in their tracks with a hilariously fun to play Red Card. Foul Play hurts physical sweepers and is boosted by the Bold nature. Roost helps heal off Stealth Rock damage and overall wear/tear. Taunt adds stallbreaking potential to a great utility Pokemon.
Thanks for reading! As you rate, please consider the fact that I am trying to build this team on cartridge and therefore don't want sets or Pokemon that require ridiculous amounts of planning and setup to breed/soft reset for.
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