hey ! i’m new here. i’ve been playing pokemon since forever, but only in this generation have i shown interest in teambuilding, playing online and showdown. why ? mostly because i’ve noticed that a lot of new pokémon that i like are viable for competitive, or at least for OU tier and casual battles. that made me consider investing some time in building a nice & interesting team.
i think i’m somewhat able to exploit a single pokémon’s potential, but i’m completely awful in terms of team synergy, which is kind of ironic considering i very much prefer doubles over singles. so my team does not really revolve around… anything, really. i just use 2 support pokémon and then 4 all out attackers. the thing is that this team has proven to be kind of useful and reliable, meaning that i have been doing pretty well using it. nevertheless, it’s got SEVERAL issues, and while i’ve been able to annihilate amazing teams or enemies strategies with it, it kind of depends on luck.
here it goes:
Scream Tail @ Booster Energy
Ability: Protosynthesis
Tera Type: Steel
EVs: 224 HP / 96 SpD / 188 Spe
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Dazzling Gleam
- Stealth Rock
- Encore
- Wish
Scream Tail is basically the reason i got interested in teambuilding. i enjoy using it so so much. its combination of HP, defenses and speed make it very fun to use. its role of fast bulky lead is, to me, almost the most important one, even though it barely attacks. i just love when it gets an sp atk super effective that barely hurts it, and then getting cured by wish as a way of applying pressure through its durability. its also my main source of hazards with stealth rock, and my favorite part is crippling other setters with encore (i have also sometimes used disable, but i find it more passive).
Sandy Shocks @ Weakness Policy
Ability: Protosynthesis
Shiny: Yes
Tera Type: Ground
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Earth Power
- Volt Switch
- Thunderbolt
- Flash Cannon
with Sandy Shocks comes my first problem. i do like Sandy Shocks a lot, and it very much accomplishes its main mission in my team: being a Gholdengo, a Chi-Yu and Arcanine counter, among other pernicious fire and steel types. but its also meant to be my main counter against water types, and that’s where it struggles a bit, since it is weak to water. still, it’s the electric type that i like the most in this gen, and i kind of dislike grass type pokemon lol i don’t really know why i don’t seem to like none. so yeah, Sandy Shocks has an amazing sp attack but its defenses leave a lot to be desired. volt switch make it a nice pivot when not countered by a strong mon too.
Palafin (F) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Zero to Hero
Shiny: Yes
Tera Type: Water
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Flip Turn
- Jet Punch
- Close Combat
- Zen Headbutt
Palafin is… you know, Paladin. i’m aware it is banned but i’m pretty sure it’s only on singles since i can still use it on doubles? anyway, Palafin’s role is kind of obvious: hitting hard with water moves. well, it does have CC and Zen Headbutt, because i needed coverage, but yeah, it’s main mission is still being a strong water type. not much to say here, it does its job. i usually start the battle with Scream Tail/Grimmsnarl accompanied by Palafin, and then i do a Flip Turn to quickly change it to its Hero form
Grimmsnarl @ Light Clay
Ability: Prankster
Shiny: Yes
Tera Type: Fairy
EVs: 220 HP / 88 Def / 200 SpD
Careful Nature
- Spirit Break
- Fake Out
- Reflect
- Light Screen
well, Grimmsnarl happens to be another big problem. the main issue here is that in this hyper offensive meta, dual screens sometimes feel superfluous. they do come in handy, ofc, but a lot of the times i don’t even end up setting them up, or maybe just one of them. due to the situation, i’m sometimes forced to use grimmsnarl simply as a fake out user and as an attacker with spirit break (against Annihilape, for example), which feels kind of weird. also, i know the EV spread is weird, but i felt like i had to do something with that abysmal phys def. i feel like i made it worse tho.
Baxcalibur (F) @ Life Orb
Ability: Thermal Exchange
Shiny: Yes
Tera Type: Electric
EVs: 40 HP / 216 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Icicle Spear
- Protect
- Glaive Rush
- Tera Explosion
Baxcalibur is my other favorite one to use besides Scream Tail. it’s the hard hitter, basically. it is also the mon i almost always end up using Tera on (electric bc it’s so good on Baxcalibur). i invested a bit on its HP since i don’t think there’s anything that can be beaten with 252 that CAN’T be beaten with 216 + adamant nature, but i had to sacrifice the Jolly nature and thus it’s kind of difficult for it to sweep. it gets outsped by a lot of mons, but it does outspeed another good amount. even though its a weird thing to do, i usually use it as a Dondozo or other bulky mons counter, because this thing kills almost anything with the Life Orb, Adamant nature + Glaive Rush combo. then i protect it and voilà.
Chi-Yu @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Beads of Ruin
Tera Type: Ghost
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Dark Pulse
- Heat Wave
- Overheat
- Nasty Plot
last but not least, the fish everyone loves to hate. i know Chi-Yu also feels a bit broken and i know it’s on thin ice in the OU tier, but i genuinely love this mon’s design and typing. its role is that of the sp atk late game sweeper. Grimmsnarl got on the team mainly to protect this thing with the dual screens, but since i almost always save it or Baxcalibur as late-game sweepers, i do not always have the time to set the screens and most of the times it is 2 or 3HKO’d. but that’s more than enough for such a sp atk powerhouse so i can’t complain, its bulk is more than enough. Fire for things like Gholdengo, Meowscarada or grass-tera Weak Armor Ceruledge and Dark for Annihilape or Flutter Mane or Skeledirge.
so yeah this is mainly it. i have used Slither Wing sometimes instead of Palafin as a good phys attacker and a CC user, but i mainly use Palafin because the water type.
HUGE WEAKNESSES THAT I’M AWARE OF
and i’m sure there are infinite weaknesses more that i have not even thought about ! that’s why i’m here :). i hope someone can help me out building a more consistent strategy or playstyle using these mons, or others ! im open to changes.
thanks to everyone who takes the time to read this ! and i hope i have followed every forum rule. i made sure to read the rules twice, but i may have fucked something up. i hope everything is okay
(edit: btw my first language is spanish so if u see a weird constructed sentence that may be the reason. sorry in advance)
i think i’m somewhat able to exploit a single pokémon’s potential, but i’m completely awful in terms of team synergy, which is kind of ironic considering i very much prefer doubles over singles. so my team does not really revolve around… anything, really. i just use 2 support pokémon and then 4 all out attackers. the thing is that this team has proven to be kind of useful and reliable, meaning that i have been doing pretty well using it. nevertheless, it’s got SEVERAL issues, and while i’ve been able to annihilate amazing teams or enemies strategies with it, it kind of depends on luck.
here it goes:
Scream Tail @ Booster Energy
Ability: Protosynthesis
Tera Type: Steel
EVs: 224 HP / 96 SpD / 188 Spe
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Dazzling Gleam
- Stealth Rock
- Encore
- Wish
Scream Tail is basically the reason i got interested in teambuilding. i enjoy using it so so much. its combination of HP, defenses and speed make it very fun to use. its role of fast bulky lead is, to me, almost the most important one, even though it barely attacks. i just love when it gets an sp atk super effective that barely hurts it, and then getting cured by wish as a way of applying pressure through its durability. its also my main source of hazards with stealth rock, and my favorite part is crippling other setters with encore (i have also sometimes used disable, but i find it more passive).
Sandy Shocks @ Weakness Policy
Ability: Protosynthesis
Shiny: Yes
Tera Type: Ground
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Earth Power
- Volt Switch
- Thunderbolt
- Flash Cannon
with Sandy Shocks comes my first problem. i do like Sandy Shocks a lot, and it very much accomplishes its main mission in my team: being a Gholdengo, a Chi-Yu and Arcanine counter, among other pernicious fire and steel types. but its also meant to be my main counter against water types, and that’s where it struggles a bit, since it is weak to water. still, it’s the electric type that i like the most in this gen, and i kind of dislike grass type pokemon lol i don’t really know why i don’t seem to like none. so yeah, Sandy Shocks has an amazing sp attack but its defenses leave a lot to be desired. volt switch make it a nice pivot when not countered by a strong mon too.
Palafin (F) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Zero to Hero
Shiny: Yes
Tera Type: Water
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Flip Turn
- Jet Punch
- Close Combat
- Zen Headbutt
Palafin is… you know, Paladin. i’m aware it is banned but i’m pretty sure it’s only on singles since i can still use it on doubles? anyway, Palafin’s role is kind of obvious: hitting hard with water moves. well, it does have CC and Zen Headbutt, because i needed coverage, but yeah, it’s main mission is still being a strong water type. not much to say here, it does its job. i usually start the battle with Scream Tail/Grimmsnarl accompanied by Palafin, and then i do a Flip Turn to quickly change it to its Hero form
Grimmsnarl @ Light Clay
Ability: Prankster
Shiny: Yes
Tera Type: Fairy
EVs: 220 HP / 88 Def / 200 SpD
Careful Nature
- Spirit Break
- Fake Out
- Reflect
- Light Screen
well, Grimmsnarl happens to be another big problem. the main issue here is that in this hyper offensive meta, dual screens sometimes feel superfluous. they do come in handy, ofc, but a lot of the times i don’t even end up setting them up, or maybe just one of them. due to the situation, i’m sometimes forced to use grimmsnarl simply as a fake out user and as an attacker with spirit break (against Annihilape, for example), which feels kind of weird. also, i know the EV spread is weird, but i felt like i had to do something with that abysmal phys def. i feel like i made it worse tho.
Baxcalibur (F) @ Life Orb
Ability: Thermal Exchange
Shiny: Yes
Tera Type: Electric
EVs: 40 HP / 216 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Icicle Spear
- Protect
- Glaive Rush
- Tera Explosion
Baxcalibur is my other favorite one to use besides Scream Tail. it’s the hard hitter, basically. it is also the mon i almost always end up using Tera on (electric bc it’s so good on Baxcalibur). i invested a bit on its HP since i don’t think there’s anything that can be beaten with 252 that CAN’T be beaten with 216 + adamant nature, but i had to sacrifice the Jolly nature and thus it’s kind of difficult for it to sweep. it gets outsped by a lot of mons, but it does outspeed another good amount. even though its a weird thing to do, i usually use it as a Dondozo or other bulky mons counter, because this thing kills almost anything with the Life Orb, Adamant nature + Glaive Rush combo. then i protect it and voilà.
Chi-Yu @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Beads of Ruin
Tera Type: Ghost
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Dark Pulse
- Heat Wave
- Overheat
- Nasty Plot
last but not least, the fish everyone loves to hate. i know Chi-Yu also feels a bit broken and i know it’s on thin ice in the OU tier, but i genuinely love this mon’s design and typing. its role is that of the sp atk late game sweeper. Grimmsnarl got on the team mainly to protect this thing with the dual screens, but since i almost always save it or Baxcalibur as late-game sweepers, i do not always have the time to set the screens and most of the times it is 2 or 3HKO’d. but that’s more than enough for such a sp atk powerhouse so i can’t complain, its bulk is more than enough. Fire for things like Gholdengo, Meowscarada or grass-tera Weak Armor Ceruledge and Dark for Annihilape or Flutter Mane or Skeledirge.
so yeah this is mainly it. i have used Slither Wing sometimes instead of Palafin as a good phys attacker and a CC user, but i mainly use Palafin because the water type.
HUGE WEAKNESSES THAT I’M AWARE OF
- trick room and tailwind literally cripple me. my team is VERY speed based and i struggle immensely when one of those moves are used. i hate Murkrow with a passion. and Trick Room Annihilape lives up to its name lol
- fairy is a huge pain in the ass for this team. i feel like a steel type is needed bc i can’t keep killing fairy types with that poor Sandy Shock’s flash cannon. same happens with bulky water types. i feel like Sandy Shocks is not that good of a pokémon to deal with being a counter to so many impressive mons
- EDIT: ive noticed Volcarona is an enormous threat for this team. basically, if i dont use Palafin, none of the types it is weak to are present on this team (rock, water and flying). idk stuff like that makes me feel like the type balance i got is bad
and i’m sure there are infinite weaknesses more that i have not even thought about ! that’s why i’m here :). i hope someone can help me out building a more consistent strategy or playstyle using these mons, or others ! im open to changes.
thanks to everyone who takes the time to read this ! and i hope i have followed every forum rule. i made sure to read the rules twice, but i may have fucked something up. i hope everything is okay
(edit: btw my first language is spanish so if u see a weird constructed sentence that may be the reason. sorry in advance)
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