Hello. I've recently watched a lot of UU games on Pokemon Showdown! One of them was really, really amazing. I saw a player (can't remember his nickname for the love of my life) play really skillfully using hazards. By laying a lot of hazards and by forcing switches (either with phazers or just the sheer switches or predictions he made), he was able to cause a lot of havoc. And while watching this I realized a simple truth: A lot about Pokemon comes from prediction. Prediction often forces certain switches as a reaction from your opponent. Then why not make these switches as hard and costly as possible?
Having this in mind, with a little bit of playing around and a LOT of the Smogondex, I managed to create this little team (the images are not mine, they're random links found through googling ):
Bronzong @ Leftovers
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SDef
Relaxed Nature
IVs: 0 Spd
- Stealth Rock
- Toxic
- Earthquake
- Gyro Ball
My favorite Stealthrocker of the tier. The excellent Steel type, combined with Psychic to soften the devastating (and very common) Fighting attacks, coupled with Levitate to avoid the swarm of Earthquakes.
It's main purpose is of course leading the team by placing a turn-one Stealth Rock, and then serving as a general pivot. Can also get rid of certain annoying walls with Toxic. Overall, maybe not the most crucial part of the group, but always an awesome support, capable of taking a few hits and maybe even throwing a few back.I also sometimes like trolling people (especially the ones I know) by switching Levitate for Heatproof, making them guess again every single game. Doesn't give as much, but the surprise factor really pays off.
Snorlax @ Leftovers
Trait: Thick Fat
EVs: 144 HP / 188 Atk / 176 SDef
Careful Nature
- Rest
- Sleep Talk
- Body Slam
- Whirlwind
The first part of my defensive core. Snorlax is a mountain of a special wall. It can take a lot of punishment, absorb statuses and phaze the more annoying set-uppers, or just simply Body Slam until the problem is dead. His role is obviously forcing certain switches by just being a giant bulk of a wall. Most special attackers just switch out as soon as they see him, spreading more SR and spikes damage.
Slowbro @ Leftovers
Trait: Regenerator
EVs: 248 HP / 248 Atk / 12 SAtk
Bold Nature
- Slack Off
- Scald
- Toxic
- Fire Blast
What Snorlax can't take, gets held off by the second part of the core. Slowbro is the general physical wall. It can take a lot, sponge it up with Slack Off and Regenerator, spread a few conditions and generally not care much about stuff.
Now, the problem with Slowbro is that...well, his build is generally a halfway between a Slowbro holding Psyshock (that's why he has these 12 extra points in SAtk. Apparenty it's for killing Roselias with Psyshock.) and my love for holding Slack Off on this guy. I don't really know what to do with this fact, any help would be appreciated.
Roserade @ Leftovers
Trait: Natural Cure
EVs: 252 HP / 240 SDef / 16 Spd
Calm Nature
- Giga Drain
- Spikes
- Sludge Bomb
- Aromatherapy
The third and last part of the defensive division. Thanks to the nice Grass/Poison typing and an above average Special Defense, it can reliably serve not only as a spiker (at which it is absolutely fantastic), but also a cleric (getting rid of all the status problems, or even comboing with Snorlaxes Rest to make a quick recovery) and a wall-ish type of thing (not as much as 'Lax and Slowbro, but still can save their hides from time to time). The definite backbone of the team and almost the main "theme".
Heracross @ Choice Scarf
Trait: Moxie
EVs: 252 Spd / 252 Atk / 4 Def
Jolly Nature
- Close Combat
- Megahorn
- Stone Edge
- Earthquake
What would be a few layers of spikes if there weren't someone to make use of them? A reliable revenge killer, a great sweeper. Usually comes in late-game, when most of the enemy team is already a bit worn off, so he can take as many of them at once as possible. It's not a perfect strategy, since the Scarf often comes in the way, but still, works really nicely. He's a very valuable resource, so holding him alive for as long as possible is very important.
Chandelure @ Choice Specs
Trait: Flash Fire
EVs: 252 SAtk / 8 SDef / 120 HP / 128 Spd
Modest Nature
- Fire Blast
- Shadow Ball
- Hidden Power [Fighting]
- Energy Ball
Since Heracross can't get everything done on his little sweeping rampage... yeah sometimes you need a backup plan. To tell the truth, the two of them kinda work together on a similar purpose: I try to remove potential threats to either of them (whichever seems simpler at the time) and then just sweep as much as possible. If it's not possible...well, we always have the second one, don't we?
Chandelure is also an awesome fake out tool. His total resistance to Fighting, Fire and Normal moves often times proves really helpful, if not crucial to the match.
And...that's all folks. I'm still getting used to this team, I played three games so far (won all of them, but, to be honest, it was mainly possible thanks to a few blessings from the Hax Gods), but I already really love the style. Would really appreciate any sort of constructive criticism, thanks in advance for all the words of wisdom :).
Having this in mind, with a little bit of playing around and a LOT of the Smogondex, I managed to create this little team (the images are not mine, they're random links found through googling ):
Bronzong @ Leftovers
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SDef
Relaxed Nature
IVs: 0 Spd
- Stealth Rock
- Toxic
- Earthquake
- Gyro Ball
My favorite Stealthrocker of the tier. The excellent Steel type, combined with Psychic to soften the devastating (and very common) Fighting attacks, coupled with Levitate to avoid the swarm of Earthquakes.
It's main purpose is of course leading the team by placing a turn-one Stealth Rock, and then serving as a general pivot. Can also get rid of certain annoying walls with Toxic. Overall, maybe not the most crucial part of the group, but always an awesome support, capable of taking a few hits and maybe even throwing a few back.I also sometimes like trolling people (especially the ones I know) by switching Levitate for Heatproof, making them guess again every single game. Doesn't give as much, but the surprise factor really pays off.
Snorlax @ Leftovers
Trait: Thick Fat
EVs: 144 HP / 188 Atk / 176 SDef
Careful Nature
- Rest
- Sleep Talk
- Body Slam
- Whirlwind
The first part of my defensive core. Snorlax is a mountain of a special wall. It can take a lot of punishment, absorb statuses and phaze the more annoying set-uppers, or just simply Body Slam until the problem is dead. His role is obviously forcing certain switches by just being a giant bulk of a wall. Most special attackers just switch out as soon as they see him, spreading more SR and spikes damage.
Slowbro @ Leftovers
Trait: Regenerator
EVs: 248 HP / 248 Atk / 12 SAtk
Bold Nature
- Slack Off
- Scald
- Toxic
- Fire Blast
What Snorlax can't take, gets held off by the second part of the core. Slowbro is the general physical wall. It can take a lot, sponge it up with Slack Off and Regenerator, spread a few conditions and generally not care much about stuff.
Now, the problem with Slowbro is that...well, his build is generally a halfway between a Slowbro holding Psyshock (that's why he has these 12 extra points in SAtk. Apparenty it's for killing Roselias with Psyshock.) and my love for holding Slack Off on this guy. I don't really know what to do with this fact, any help would be appreciated.
Roserade @ Leftovers
Trait: Natural Cure
EVs: 252 HP / 240 SDef / 16 Spd
Calm Nature
- Giga Drain
- Spikes
- Sludge Bomb
- Aromatherapy
The third and last part of the defensive division. Thanks to the nice Grass/Poison typing and an above average Special Defense, it can reliably serve not only as a spiker (at which it is absolutely fantastic), but also a cleric (getting rid of all the status problems, or even comboing with Snorlaxes Rest to make a quick recovery) and a wall-ish type of thing (not as much as 'Lax and Slowbro, but still can save their hides from time to time). The definite backbone of the team and almost the main "theme".
Heracross @ Choice Scarf
Trait: Moxie
EVs: 252 Spd / 252 Atk / 4 Def
Jolly Nature
- Close Combat
- Megahorn
- Stone Edge
- Earthquake
What would be a few layers of spikes if there weren't someone to make use of them? A reliable revenge killer, a great sweeper. Usually comes in late-game, when most of the enemy team is already a bit worn off, so he can take as many of them at once as possible. It's not a perfect strategy, since the Scarf often comes in the way, but still, works really nicely. He's a very valuable resource, so holding him alive for as long as possible is very important.
Chandelure @ Choice Specs
Trait: Flash Fire
EVs: 252 SAtk / 8 SDef / 120 HP / 128 Spd
Modest Nature
- Fire Blast
- Shadow Ball
- Hidden Power [Fighting]
- Energy Ball
Since Heracross can't get everything done on his little sweeping rampage... yeah sometimes you need a backup plan. To tell the truth, the two of them kinda work together on a similar purpose: I try to remove potential threats to either of them (whichever seems simpler at the time) and then just sweep as much as possible. If it's not possible...well, we always have the second one, don't we?
Chandelure is also an awesome fake out tool. His total resistance to Fighting, Fire and Normal moves often times proves really helpful, if not crucial to the match.
And...that's all folks. I'm still getting used to this team, I played three games so far (won all of them, but, to be honest, it was mainly possible thanks to a few blessings from the Hax Gods), but I already really love the style. Would really appreciate any sort of constructive criticism, thanks in advance for all the words of wisdom :).
