First of all, I looked all over and decided this was the best place to put this. If I'm wrong, and a mod could kindly lock/message me or move this topic, that would be greatly appreciated.
Anyways, I am a teacher and I sponsor a Pokemon club at my school, which has mostly become a haven for students with severe anxiety disorders or students who deal with some sort of bullying on a daily basis. I'm proud to have created a safe and supportive environment with them where they can socialize with peers and make friends. That said, many are afraid to battle because their experiences with competition in other areas of their lives has resulted in taunting, embarrassment, etc. Therefore, I created a tournament with some rule changes that add random elements. Reading those rule changes will help you understand my team and why I was forced into some of the things I have.
If you don't feel like reading the rule changes, just know this: I cannot switch the Pokemon on my team. I have to try to make these six work together in the best way possible.
Rule changes:
I drew a pretty balanced team from the hat; lucky me! Here it is:
Eelektross
Ability: Levitate
Item: Leftovers
Nature: Modest
172 HP / 252 SpA / 84 Spe
Moves:
--Flamethrower
--Volt Switch
--Giga Drain
--Thunderbolt/Thunder
Eelektross is a sharp special attacker and I think this makes good use of his movepool. Giga Drain takes care of Ground-types that would prevent me from using half of my moveset, and Flamethrower scares away Grass-types that would try to prevent STAB. Volt Switch allows me to scout opponents, and Thunderbolt is there for a reliable STAB attack. However, I'm also considering Thunder so that I have a decent chance to inflict status, especially if an opponent tries to set up rain. I'm not sure it's worth the drop in accuracy, though. What do you think?
Azumarill (Pikabludgeon)
Ability: Huge Power
Item: Sitrus Berry
Nature: Adamant
252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD
Moves:
--Play Rough
--Belly Drum
--Aqua Jet
--SuperPower
I think by now we've all see this and know what I'm trying to do with this one. My real question for you is this: how do I handle Pokemon with Unaware or a counter like Shedinja?
Hawlucha
Ability: Unburden
Item: Chesto Berry
Nature: Adamant
4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Moves:
--Bulk Up
--Acrobatics
--High Jump Kick
--Rest
Ugh, I really don't like this one. Feel free to pick it apart and call me a total newb. I like Bulk Up because it gives me some defense, but then I have to use Rest to make up for all the set up (but I can clear status that way, too). That also means I need a Chesto Berry to wake up, and only then can I start attacking. Then, I have to worry about missing a High Jump Kick and losing 50% of my Hp. I'd like to incorporate U-Turn and make a set around that somehow, but this set-up typically works online somehow, so I'm afraid to change much. I think I just need someone on Smogon to tell me it sucks so I can move on. This will probably be the Pokemon I replace in Round 2.
Sableye
Ability: Prankster
Item: Leftovers
Nature: Calm
252 HP / 120 Def / 136 SpD
Moves:
--Night Shade
--Recover
--Will-O-Wisp
--Taunt
At first I was upset to get Sableye, but I'm warming up to him. Night Shade gives me reliable damage regardless of whatever the opponent sets up. With Recover and Leftovers, I can stay around long enough to burn opponents, and Taunt is great for making fighting- and normal-types very limited. This guy doesn't do much other than inflict status and frustrate opponents, but it's Sableye, so what else would it do?
Metagross
Item: Assault Vest
Ability: Clear Body
EVs: 252 HP, 252 Atk, 4 Def
Nature: Adamant
--Bullet Punch
--Meteor Mash
--Zen Headbutt
--Earthquake
This was a recommendation from a poster below. Previously I was running a Stealth Rock Metagross.
Toxicroak
Ability: Dry Skin
Item: Black Sludge
Nature: Adamant
244 HP / 144 Atk / 120 Def
Moves:
--Poison Jab
--Sucker Punch
--Drain Punch
--Swords Dance
Toxicroak was a Pokemon that I wrote down and got back, but I usually run a Rain Dance team. I'm hoping someone else tries to use Rain Dance so I can switch into this guy; otherwise, I'm probably replacing him after the second round. Swords Dance makes Toxicroak very difficult to wall, and Drain Punch allows him to stay around for a while. Sucker Punch is for priority, and Poison Jab is for STAB with a chance for status. I feel a little uncomfortable with Dry Skin without having Rain Dance on my team, so I'd like your feedback on that.
Anyways, that's my team. I'm going to wait and see who else is in the tournament before I decide whi to switch out for rounds two and three, if I make it that far.
Again, I'm sorry if this isn't the right place for this. I simply didn't know of a better spot to put it. I also know that we're supposed to test our teams before use, but due to my items, I couldn't test it on Showdown except in Ubers (where I was crushed). I can say that I've tested it against random opponents online, and my record is 14-1, with a mostly-fire team taking care of me with little problem.
Also, if you're a teacher or a student looking to start a Pokemon club at your school and you want to know how I run mine, just send me a message or request I start a thread somewhere.
I really appreciate your help if you can provide it, especially considering that these aren't normally the rules we work with here. No hard feelings if a mod locks/moves this.
Anyways, I am a teacher and I sponsor a Pokemon club at my school, which has mostly become a haven for students with severe anxiety disorders or students who deal with some sort of bullying on a daily basis. I'm proud to have created a safe and supportive environment with them where they can socialize with peers and make friends. That said, many are afraid to battle because their experiences with competition in other areas of their lives has resulted in taunting, embarrassment, etc. Therefore, I created a tournament with some rule changes that add random elements. Reading those rule changes will help you understand my team and why I was forced into some of the things I have.
If you don't feel like reading the rule changes, just know this: I cannot switch the Pokemon on my team. I have to try to make these six work together in the best way possible.
Rule changes:
Code:
First, we took six pieces of paper and wrote the names of our ultimate team on them, one Pokemon per paper. Then we put them in a hat and drew them.
For the first round, you MUST use the Pokemon you drew. If you don't have that Pokemon, the person who wrote it down must trade you.
For the second round, you can replace a Pokemon with anyone you want (non-legend).
For the third round, you can replace a second Pokemon with any you have, including legends.
I should note that I work in a poor school and bought second-hand copies of 3DS hardware and older gen Pokemon games for them (although they all have a copy of X or Y now) , but my kids don't have access to anything like a Drizzle Politoed or anything like that, since they generally aren't available right now. I don't have a list of banned Pokemon for this tournament.
I didn't make a call as far as items went (just forgot), so duplicates are okay for this tournament. Therefore, you'll see that I have some.
I think that's pretty much all there is that would affect your rating.I drew a pretty balanced team from the hat; lucky me! Here it is:
Eelektross
Ability: Levitate
Item: Leftovers
Nature: Modest
172 HP / 252 SpA / 84 Spe
Moves:
--Flamethrower
--Volt Switch
--Giga Drain
--Thunderbolt/Thunder
Eelektross is a sharp special attacker and I think this makes good use of his movepool. Giga Drain takes care of Ground-types that would prevent me from using half of my moveset, and Flamethrower scares away Grass-types that would try to prevent STAB. Volt Switch allows me to scout opponents, and Thunderbolt is there for a reliable STAB attack. However, I'm also considering Thunder so that I have a decent chance to inflict status, especially if an opponent tries to set up rain. I'm not sure it's worth the drop in accuracy, though. What do you think?
Azumarill (Pikabludgeon)
Ability: Huge Power
Item: Sitrus Berry
Nature: Adamant
252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD
Moves:
--Play Rough
--Belly Drum
--Aqua Jet
--SuperPower
I think by now we've all see this and know what I'm trying to do with this one. My real question for you is this: how do I handle Pokemon with Unaware or a counter like Shedinja?
Hawlucha
Ability: Unburden
Item: Chesto Berry
Nature: Adamant
4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Moves:
--Bulk Up
--Acrobatics
--High Jump Kick
--Rest
Ugh, I really don't like this one. Feel free to pick it apart and call me a total newb. I like Bulk Up because it gives me some defense, but then I have to use Rest to make up for all the set up (but I can clear status that way, too). That also means I need a Chesto Berry to wake up, and only then can I start attacking. Then, I have to worry about missing a High Jump Kick and losing 50% of my Hp. I'd like to incorporate U-Turn and make a set around that somehow, but this set-up typically works online somehow, so I'm afraid to change much. I think I just need someone on Smogon to tell me it sucks so I can move on. This will probably be the Pokemon I replace in Round 2.
Sableye
Ability: Prankster
Item: Leftovers
Nature: Calm
252 HP / 120 Def / 136 SpD
Moves:
--Night Shade
--Recover
--Will-O-Wisp
--Taunt
At first I was upset to get Sableye, but I'm warming up to him. Night Shade gives me reliable damage regardless of whatever the opponent sets up. With Recover and Leftovers, I can stay around long enough to burn opponents, and Taunt is great for making fighting- and normal-types very limited. This guy doesn't do much other than inflict status and frustrate opponents, but it's Sableye, so what else would it do?
Metagross
Item: Assault Vest
Ability: Clear Body
EVs: 252 HP, 252 Atk, 4 Def
Nature: Adamant
--Bullet Punch
--Meteor Mash
--Zen Headbutt
--Earthquake
This was a recommendation from a poster below. Previously I was running a Stealth Rock Metagross.
Toxicroak
Ability: Dry Skin
Item: Black Sludge
Nature: Adamant
244 HP / 144 Atk / 120 Def
Moves:
--Poison Jab
--Sucker Punch
--Drain Punch
--Swords Dance
Toxicroak was a Pokemon that I wrote down and got back, but I usually run a Rain Dance team. I'm hoping someone else tries to use Rain Dance so I can switch into this guy; otherwise, I'm probably replacing him after the second round. Swords Dance makes Toxicroak very difficult to wall, and Drain Punch allows him to stay around for a while. Sucker Punch is for priority, and Poison Jab is for STAB with a chance for status. I feel a little uncomfortable with Dry Skin without having Rain Dance on my team, so I'd like your feedback on that.
Anyways, that's my team. I'm going to wait and see who else is in the tournament before I decide whi to switch out for rounds two and three, if I make it that far.
Again, I'm sorry if this isn't the right place for this. I simply didn't know of a better spot to put it. I also know that we're supposed to test our teams before use, but due to my items, I couldn't test it on Showdown except in Ubers (where I was crushed). I can say that I've tested it against random opponents online, and my record is 14-1, with a mostly-fire team taking care of me with little problem.
Also, if you're a teacher or a student looking to start a Pokemon club at your school and you want to know how I run mine, just send me a message or request I start a thread somewhere.
I really appreciate your help if you can provide it, especially considering that these aren't normally the rules we work with here. No hard feelings if a mod locks/moves this.
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