Hi! I've been having some degree of success with this team, and I would like to hear your comments on it.
Volcarona (F) @ Sitrus Berry
Ability: Flame Body
EVs: 248 HP / 208 Def / 52 Spe
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Fiery Dance
- Bug Buzz
- Giga Drain
- Quiver Dance
The moveset is pretty standard and self-explanatory. Quiver Dance is used to set up and allow Volcarona to sweep, Fiery Dance and Bug Buzz are nice STAB moves (Fiery Dance is preferred over Flamethrower or Fire Blast due to the possibility of increasing SpA even further), and Giga Drain is there for coverage and to regain some health. As for the spread, it's not the most common spread out there, but the investment in HP and Def actually help against more offensive teams. The idea is to use Volcarona as a sort of "bulky" sweeper, with the lack of investment in SpA and Spd and the relative lack of investment in Spe being compensated by Quiver Dance. Obviously, Volcarona isn't the bulkiest Pokémon in the world, but in my experience this spread has proved quite effective.
Gyarados (F) @ Gyaradosite
Ability: Intimidate
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Dragon Dance
- Waterfall
- Earthquake
- Ice Fang
Gyarados' spread is pretty standard. The idea is to set up a few Dragon Dances and then sweep. Waterfall is the main STAB move, and is preferred over Aqua Tail due to the higher accuracy. Earthquake adds coverage to the moveset and is used to take out most electric types. It is interesting to note that after Mega-evolving, Gyarados can hit Rotom-W super effectively due to Mold Breaker. Finally, Ice Fang is used in the fourth slot to get around threats like Landorus-T, Garchomp, etc.
Donphan (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Def
Impish Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Roar
- Rapid Spin
- Earthquake
Donphan is used as a bulky Stealth Rock setter, but it can also spin when needed, which is the main reason why it is preferred over any other hazard setter. Roar also allows it to act as a pseudo-hazer, and Earthquake is used in the fourth slot to prevent it from being completely passive.
Skarmory (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Impish Nature
- Brave Bird
- Defog
- Roost
- Whirlwind
Skarmory is the team's physical wall. Its main role is to Defog when needed, but it can also be used as a pseudo-hazer due to Whirlwind. Also, when the rocks are up on the opponents side, it helps stack up some damage. Roost is used for longevity, and Brave Bird prevents Skarmory from being completely passive.
Breloom @ Life Orb
Ability: Technician
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Mach Punch
- Bullet Seed
- Rock Tomb
- Spore
One of Breloom's main role is to put slower threats to sleep, which can create set-up opportunities for both Gyarados and Volcarona. It is also used for speed control with Mach Punch, which can come in handy quite often. Bullet Seed is an interesting STAB move in conjunction with Technician, and Rock Tomb is great for coverage, with the nice side effect of lowering the opponent's speed, and is also helped by its ability.
Clefable (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Unaware
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Calm Mind
- Healing Wish
- Moonlight
- Moonblast
Clefable is a very versatile Pokémon, and it can carry out different functions on the team depending on the situation. It can act as a stallbreaker with Calm Mind+Moonblast. It can also act as an Unaware wall to sponge some hits if the opponent has managed to set up on some of the other members of the team (with Moonlight giving it longevity), and it can act as cleric using Healing Wish when necessary, which helps Gyarados and Volcarona immensely if they are on low health and/or have been burned, poisoned, paralyzed, etc.
The idea behind this team is that both Gyarados and Volcarona can act as sweepers. They complement each other nicely in terms of coverage, and the fact that one is a special sweeper and the other a physical one helps get around walls. The role of the rest of the team is basically to support them, although Breloom and Clefable also help take out some threats. There are two hazard removers to mitigate the fact that both Gyarados (before mega-evolving) and Volcarona are weak to Stealth Rock, and the fact that they can also act as pseudo-hazers helps prevent set-ups. As I mentioned earlier, Breloom helps create set-up oppportunities, and Clefable can act as cleric when necessary.
Volcarona (F) @ Sitrus Berry
Ability: Flame Body
EVs: 248 HP / 208 Def / 52 Spe
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Fiery Dance
- Bug Buzz
- Giga Drain
- Quiver Dance
The moveset is pretty standard and self-explanatory. Quiver Dance is used to set up and allow Volcarona to sweep, Fiery Dance and Bug Buzz are nice STAB moves (Fiery Dance is preferred over Flamethrower or Fire Blast due to the possibility of increasing SpA even further), and Giga Drain is there for coverage and to regain some health. As for the spread, it's not the most common spread out there, but the investment in HP and Def actually help against more offensive teams. The idea is to use Volcarona as a sort of "bulky" sweeper, with the lack of investment in SpA and Spd and the relative lack of investment in Spe being compensated by Quiver Dance. Obviously, Volcarona isn't the bulkiest Pokémon in the world, but in my experience this spread has proved quite effective.
Gyarados (F) @ Gyaradosite
Ability: Intimidate
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Dragon Dance
- Waterfall
- Earthquake
- Ice Fang
Gyarados' spread is pretty standard. The idea is to set up a few Dragon Dances and then sweep. Waterfall is the main STAB move, and is preferred over Aqua Tail due to the higher accuracy. Earthquake adds coverage to the moveset and is used to take out most electric types. It is interesting to note that after Mega-evolving, Gyarados can hit Rotom-W super effectively due to Mold Breaker. Finally, Ice Fang is used in the fourth slot to get around threats like Landorus-T, Garchomp, etc.
Donphan (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Def
Impish Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Roar
- Rapid Spin
- Earthquake
Donphan is used as a bulky Stealth Rock setter, but it can also spin when needed, which is the main reason why it is preferred over any other hazard setter. Roar also allows it to act as a pseudo-hazer, and Earthquake is used in the fourth slot to prevent it from being completely passive.
Skarmory (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Impish Nature
- Brave Bird
- Defog
- Roost
- Whirlwind
Skarmory is the team's physical wall. Its main role is to Defog when needed, but it can also be used as a pseudo-hazer due to Whirlwind. Also, when the rocks are up on the opponents side, it helps stack up some damage. Roost is used for longevity, and Brave Bird prevents Skarmory from being completely passive.
Breloom @ Life Orb
Ability: Technician
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Mach Punch
- Bullet Seed
- Rock Tomb
- Spore
One of Breloom's main role is to put slower threats to sleep, which can create set-up opportunities for both Gyarados and Volcarona. It is also used for speed control with Mach Punch, which can come in handy quite often. Bullet Seed is an interesting STAB move in conjunction with Technician, and Rock Tomb is great for coverage, with the nice side effect of lowering the opponent's speed, and is also helped by its ability.
Clefable (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Unaware
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Calm Mind
- Healing Wish
- Moonlight
- Moonblast
Clefable is a very versatile Pokémon, and it can carry out different functions on the team depending on the situation. It can act as a stallbreaker with Calm Mind+Moonblast. It can also act as an Unaware wall to sponge some hits if the opponent has managed to set up on some of the other members of the team (with Moonlight giving it longevity), and it can act as cleric using Healing Wish when necessary, which helps Gyarados and Volcarona immensely if they are on low health and/or have been burned, poisoned, paralyzed, etc.
The idea behind this team is that both Gyarados and Volcarona can act as sweepers. They complement each other nicely in terms of coverage, and the fact that one is a special sweeper and the other a physical one helps get around walls. The role of the rest of the team is basically to support them, although Breloom and Clefable also help take out some threats. There are two hazard removers to mitigate the fact that both Gyarados (before mega-evolving) and Volcarona are weak to Stealth Rock, and the fact that they can also act as pseudo-hazers helps prevent set-ups. As I mentioned earlier, Breloom helps create set-up oppportunities, and Clefable can act as cleric when necessary.