I've only recently become really interested in competitive battling and before now had not really competed in another other then the UU ladder simply because I felt it was less limiting in some way. However, I eventually decided to give standard a real shot and was surprised by how much fun I was having despite seeing the same Pokemon over and over.
Anyway, this is the team I've found myself using consistently due to its reliability and overall success. However, with my lack of experience there is no way I could possibly have a flawless (if that even exists) team yet so I wanted the opinions of more seasoned Smogon members.
Be as critical as you like, just make sure it's constructive.
TYRANITAR
@Choice Scarf
Sand Stream
Nature: Hasty
96 Atk/136 SpA/24 SpD/252 Spe
- Fire Blast
- Ice Beam
- Crunch
- Earthquake
He is my lead and his objective is two things - come in and set up sandstorm, and proceed to take a huge chunk of damage/OHKO if possible the enemy lead if there is little perceived threat. I find that most speedy leads will try and taunt me, expecting me to taunt them to stop them from setting up Stealth Rock (or sub), only to realize I'm not using Lead T-Tar.
ROTOM-H
@Leftovers
Levitate
Nature: Bold
252 Hp / 168 Def / 88 Spe
- Discharge
- Shadow Ball
- Overheat
- Will-o-Wisp
Standard. Tyranitar's partner against Earthquake and Fighting moves, it will proceed to paralyse or burn depending on the need and then switch to Bronzong or Swampert so they can proceed to set up.
BRONZONG
@Light Clay
Levitate
Nature: Relaxed
252 Hp/152 Atk/96 SpD
- Reflect
- Light Screen
- Gyro Ball
- Explosion
Come in. Set up screens. If the other Pokemon is fast - Gyro Ball it. If not, switch out to a reasonable counter (which will have boosted defense and special defense). T-Tar normally comes back in now that its SpD is so high and has good coverage. When its usefulness has expired (its about to die) it explodes and kills the opposing Pokemon most of the time.
SWAMPERT
@Leftovers
Torrent
Nature: Relaxed
240 Hp/216 Def/52 SpA
- Earthquake
- Ice Beam
- Hydro Pump
- Stealth Rock
While he has been a very effective team member, I've always wondered whether he could be put to better use with perhaps Roar so that I can take advantage of SR damage + sandstorm damage. I'm just not sure what to give up.
SCIZOR
@Choice Band
Technician
Nature: Adamant
248 Hp/252 Atk/8 Spe
- U-turn
- Superpower
- Bullet Punch
- Pursuit
He revenge kills. Nuff said. He is usually a hit-and-runner, as most Scizor's are. T-Tar or Bronzong (if Light Screen is up) will take the oncoming Fire move as I don't want to risk Rhyperior getting burned (or even the opponent knowing he exists as they may try to keep their counters for him available and my strategy to have him sweep is ruined).
RHYPERIOR
@Life Orb
Solid Rock
Nature: Jolly
248 Atk/252 Spe/8 SpD
- Rock Polish
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- Megahorn
Once I've picked off any possible threats to it, it's time for the final sweep. Come in on its counter, preferably with Light Screen set up (don't forget Sandstorm is still raging) and Rock Polish. Then end it. Only thing that pisses me off is Stone Edge's miss rate... -.-
And that's my Standard team. As you can see there is very little creativity involved but that's only because I'm just starting out and want a base team I can feel comfortable with before fiddling around with movesets and spreads to optimize its capabilities.
There is one more important question I wanted to ask you guys and this has to do with the actual game (not Shoddy).
I've now begun breeding so that I can replicate this team on my Pokemon Platinum and use it on Wifi but there is one issue... Rotom-H. I can't use this form over wifi. Standard Rotom just doesn't cut it and loses access to Overheat so I'm left to rely on T-Tar somewhat unreliable Fire Blast to take care of Scizor (only to get Bullet Punch'ed and die) or Swampert's Hydro Pump (relatively successful but never a OHKO and still inaccurate).
What would be a good fit to replace Rotom-H in Wifi? Heatran just doesn't do... add's another fighting weakness, and Rotom's my fighting counter. What do I do? :(
Anyway, this is the team I've found myself using consistently due to its reliability and overall success. However, with my lack of experience there is no way I could possibly have a flawless (if that even exists) team yet so I wanted the opinions of more seasoned Smogon members.
Be as critical as you like, just make sure it's constructive.
TYRANITAR
@Choice Scarf
Sand Stream
Nature: Hasty
96 Atk/136 SpA/24 SpD/252 Spe
- Fire Blast
- Ice Beam
- Crunch
- Earthquake
He is my lead and his objective is two things - come in and set up sandstorm, and proceed to take a huge chunk of damage/OHKO if possible the enemy lead if there is little perceived threat. I find that most speedy leads will try and taunt me, expecting me to taunt them to stop them from setting up Stealth Rock (or sub), only to realize I'm not using Lead T-Tar.
ROTOM-H
@Leftovers
Levitate
Nature: Bold
252 Hp / 168 Def / 88 Spe
- Discharge
- Shadow Ball
- Overheat
- Will-o-Wisp
Standard. Tyranitar's partner against Earthquake and Fighting moves, it will proceed to paralyse or burn depending on the need and then switch to Bronzong or Swampert so they can proceed to set up.
BRONZONG
@Light Clay
Levitate
Nature: Relaxed
252 Hp/152 Atk/96 SpD
- Reflect
- Light Screen
- Gyro Ball
- Explosion
Come in. Set up screens. If the other Pokemon is fast - Gyro Ball it. If not, switch out to a reasonable counter (which will have boosted defense and special defense). T-Tar normally comes back in now that its SpD is so high and has good coverage. When its usefulness has expired (its about to die) it explodes and kills the opposing Pokemon most of the time.
SWAMPERT
@Leftovers
Torrent
Nature: Relaxed
240 Hp/216 Def/52 SpA
- Earthquake
- Ice Beam
- Hydro Pump
- Stealth Rock
While he has been a very effective team member, I've always wondered whether he could be put to better use with perhaps Roar so that I can take advantage of SR damage + sandstorm damage. I'm just not sure what to give up.
SCIZOR
@Choice Band
Technician
Nature: Adamant
248 Hp/252 Atk/8 Spe
- U-turn
- Superpower
- Bullet Punch
- Pursuit
He revenge kills. Nuff said. He is usually a hit-and-runner, as most Scizor's are. T-Tar or Bronzong (if Light Screen is up) will take the oncoming Fire move as I don't want to risk Rhyperior getting burned (or even the opponent knowing he exists as they may try to keep their counters for him available and my strategy to have him sweep is ruined).
RHYPERIOR
@Life Orb
Solid Rock
Nature: Jolly
248 Atk/252 Spe/8 SpD
- Rock Polish
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- Megahorn
Once I've picked off any possible threats to it, it's time for the final sweep. Come in on its counter, preferably with Light Screen set up (don't forget Sandstorm is still raging) and Rock Polish. Then end it. Only thing that pisses me off is Stone Edge's miss rate... -.-
And that's my Standard team. As you can see there is very little creativity involved but that's only because I'm just starting out and want a base team I can feel comfortable with before fiddling around with movesets and spreads to optimize its capabilities.
There is one more important question I wanted to ask you guys and this has to do with the actual game (not Shoddy).
I've now begun breeding so that I can replicate this team on my Pokemon Platinum and use it on Wifi but there is one issue... Rotom-H. I can't use this form over wifi. Standard Rotom just doesn't cut it and loses access to Overheat so I'm left to rely on T-Tar somewhat unreliable Fire Blast to take care of Scizor (only to get Bullet Punch'ed and die) or Swampert's Hydro Pump (relatively successful but never a OHKO and still inaccurate).
What would be a good fit to replace Rotom-H in Wifi? Heatran just doesn't do... add's another fighting weakness, and Rotom's my fighting counter. What do I do? :(
