OHAI!!! This is my first UU RMT on smogon. I have never been too dedicated to the forums but what the hey, this is a team that has gotten me higher than ever, so why not get some potential improvements.
Proof of top 50:
TEAMBUILDING PROCESS
The team started as something built vaguely around Choice Band Heracross. i have memories of band Hera and band Victini just about punching holes through my chest as they devestated my team. With Victini banned, I went for Heracross.
Heracross struggles to get past fairies, and can always use Stealth Rock support, hence Metagross.
Heracross has always been worn down by hazards very quickly on my teams of the past, and struggles as a lone fighting check so Crobat was added.
I noticed a big fire weakness, and I had 3 physical attackers. Seeing as a bulky water can almost assure a Gyarados setting up on you, i went for Mega Ampharos.
I knew I needed something to function as a win condition, and as a dragon check, so Florges was an easy addition.
Lastly I wanted a Mamoswine check and some extra speed for the team. As I wanted more speed out of this slot, I went for Rotom-H over Cress.
The Team:
Heracross @ Choice Band
Ability: Guts
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Megahorn
- Close Combat
- Knock Off
- Stone Edge
Guts lets Heracross act as a status absorber. It checks Suicune, Reuniclus, Cress with either Guts or its STAB. Knocks off for the team and generally wall breaks. Very little can switch into multiple hits from this monster, just about 2HKOing the entire tier with an appropriate move, especially with SR.
Metagross @ Shuca Berry
Ability: Clear Body
EVs: 120 HP / 252 Atk / 136 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Meteor Mash
- Earthquake
- Bullet Punch
This is something I thought I would try given my success with Shuca Cobalion. It manages to lure Mamoswine on a lead match up, lets it get off some useful damage on pokemon wanting to spam EQ. it also gives it a decent chance of winning the mirror match. Meteor Mash and Earthquake give good high powered coverage, resisted by just Gyara and Zapdos and Bronzong. Bullet Punch is also my only source of priority on the team. Stealth Rock is here because literally nothing else on the team can learn it. The EV spread is funky, right now it out speeds Adamant Crawdaunt because that seemed to be a good tier, but overall I am unsure of it moving forward.
Crobat @ Sky Plate
Ability: Infiltrator
EVs: 40 HP / 252 Atk / 216 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Brave Bird
- Roost
- Defog
- U-turn
Sky Plate Crobat compromises the power of CB Bat and the supporting capabilities of Support Bat. It still outspeeds Adamant Feraligatr at +1. It forms a part of the Volt Turn that happens on this team, using its speed to pivot around threats and clear hazards.
Ampharos-Mega @ Ampharosite
Ability: Mold Breaker
EVs: 200 HP / 252 Def / 56 Spe
Bold Nature
- Volt Switch
- Dragon Pulse
- Rest
- Sleep Talk
This is surely one of the most purely bulky offense pokemon in the tier. It is truly underrated right now and acts as a catch all check to physical attackers without Earthquake. Volt Switch gives additonal pivoting momentum, and Mega Amphy's low speed lets me bring in Heracross or something safely. Rest and Sleep Talk for recovery, though it can lead to an opponent setting up on Ampharos which can be terrifying. Again, I am not entirely sure what I am speed creeping and so could use some help with the spread.
Florges @ Leftovers
Ability: Flower Veil
EVs: 180 HP / 232 Def / 96 Spe
Bold Nature
- Calm Mind
- Moonblast
- Synthesis
- Aromatherapy
Florges is a hugely important Dragon immunity, Dark resist, back up fighting resist, win condition and occasionally cleric. Aromatherapy lets Florges set up on pokemon that rely on toxic to win against bulky set up mons. Synthesis is pretty reliable recovery. This was chosen over Wish/Protect because, while passed Wishes would be nice, there is a lot of recovery on the team. The Speed again creeps Adamant Crawdaunt but this time it is much more impactful as Florges easily OHKOs the crab.
Rotom-Heat @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Volt Switch
- Will-O-Wisp
- Trick
- Overheat
My team looked very Mamo weak despite the Shuca Berry Metagross so the result is a scarf Rotom-H to either spread burns, lure with scarf Wisp, and pivot around with my Volt-turn core. Surprisingly good bulk and a back up check to some of the slower fire types in the tier. Avoiding ground is also a key for the team, as it can help me maneouvre around Nidos, and do > 50%. Trick additionally helps me check stall teams by luring their special walls after a couple of scarf wisps. Pokemon like Reuniclus and Suicune can also feel almmost safe setting up on me and then bam tricked into CM.
The team does have a couple of HUGE threats to it, that I have so far been able to maneouvre around. These are:
Offensive Ground types give me some real issues if they persist into the game for a long time. I usually rely on either Metagross to lure them with its Shuca Berry, or Burn them with Rotom, while taking a large hit. Mega Swampert and the Nidos have thankfully been quite rare as I journeyed through the ladder.
Lucario is one of the few ones that has consistently lost me battles. If it nabs an SD late game, Crobat cannot be relied upon to take an ESpeed(+2 252+ Atk Life Orb Lucario Extreme Speed vs. 40 HP / 0 Def Crobat: 266-315 (82.8 - 98.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO). Florges too can struggle to take the damage on, and Ampharos does not take it at all. As with Crobat, Rotom has a chance to take an Espeed, but it is a roll to OHKO.
Doublade is more of a nuisance than a real issue as Rotom-H tends to force it out. However if it ever gets to +4 I am in a bad way, since it OHKOs Rotom with Sneak, does a metric ton to Metagross, Heracross, Crobat and Florges, and Ampharos can be pressured by it, trading 40%s with Doublade getting the last hit off. Weirdly players have been content to sack it at +2 for 50% to Rotom, when its their only fairy check.
Proof of top 50:
TEAMBUILDING PROCESS
The team started as something built vaguely around Choice Band Heracross. i have memories of band Hera and band Victini just about punching holes through my chest as they devestated my team. With Victini banned, I went for Heracross.
Heracross struggles to get past fairies, and can always use Stealth Rock support, hence Metagross.
Heracross has always been worn down by hazards very quickly on my teams of the past, and struggles as a lone fighting check so Crobat was added.
I noticed a big fire weakness, and I had 3 physical attackers. Seeing as a bulky water can almost assure a Gyarados setting up on you, i went for Mega Ampharos.
I knew I needed something to function as a win condition, and as a dragon check, so Florges was an easy addition.
Lastly I wanted a Mamoswine check and some extra speed for the team. As I wanted more speed out of this slot, I went for Rotom-H over Cress.
The Team:
Heracross @ Choice Band
Ability: Guts
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Megahorn
- Close Combat
- Knock Off
- Stone Edge
Guts lets Heracross act as a status absorber. It checks Suicune, Reuniclus, Cress with either Guts or its STAB. Knocks off for the team and generally wall breaks. Very little can switch into multiple hits from this monster, just about 2HKOing the entire tier with an appropriate move, especially with SR.
Metagross @ Shuca Berry
Ability: Clear Body
EVs: 120 HP / 252 Atk / 136 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Meteor Mash
- Earthquake
- Bullet Punch
This is something I thought I would try given my success with Shuca Cobalion. It manages to lure Mamoswine on a lead match up, lets it get off some useful damage on pokemon wanting to spam EQ. it also gives it a decent chance of winning the mirror match. Meteor Mash and Earthquake give good high powered coverage, resisted by just Gyara and Zapdos and Bronzong. Bullet Punch is also my only source of priority on the team. Stealth Rock is here because literally nothing else on the team can learn it. The EV spread is funky, right now it out speeds Adamant Crawdaunt because that seemed to be a good tier, but overall I am unsure of it moving forward.
Crobat @ Sky Plate
Ability: Infiltrator
EVs: 40 HP / 252 Atk / 216 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Brave Bird
- Roost
- Defog
- U-turn
Sky Plate Crobat compromises the power of CB Bat and the supporting capabilities of Support Bat. It still outspeeds Adamant Feraligatr at +1. It forms a part of the Volt Turn that happens on this team, using its speed to pivot around threats and clear hazards.
Ampharos-Mega @ Ampharosite
Ability: Mold Breaker
EVs: 200 HP / 252 Def / 56 Spe
Bold Nature
- Volt Switch
- Dragon Pulse
- Rest
- Sleep Talk
This is surely one of the most purely bulky offense pokemon in the tier. It is truly underrated right now and acts as a catch all check to physical attackers without Earthquake. Volt Switch gives additonal pivoting momentum, and Mega Amphy's low speed lets me bring in Heracross or something safely. Rest and Sleep Talk for recovery, though it can lead to an opponent setting up on Ampharos which can be terrifying. Again, I am not entirely sure what I am speed creeping and so could use some help with the spread.
Florges @ Leftovers
Ability: Flower Veil
EVs: 180 HP / 232 Def / 96 Spe
Bold Nature
- Calm Mind
- Moonblast
- Synthesis
- Aromatherapy
Florges is a hugely important Dragon immunity, Dark resist, back up fighting resist, win condition and occasionally cleric. Aromatherapy lets Florges set up on pokemon that rely on toxic to win against bulky set up mons. Synthesis is pretty reliable recovery. This was chosen over Wish/Protect because, while passed Wishes would be nice, there is a lot of recovery on the team. The Speed again creeps Adamant Crawdaunt but this time it is much more impactful as Florges easily OHKOs the crab.
Rotom-Heat @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Volt Switch
- Will-O-Wisp
- Trick
- Overheat
My team looked very Mamo weak despite the Shuca Berry Metagross so the result is a scarf Rotom-H to either spread burns, lure with scarf Wisp, and pivot around with my Volt-turn core. Surprisingly good bulk and a back up check to some of the slower fire types in the tier. Avoiding ground is also a key for the team, as it can help me maneouvre around Nidos, and do > 50%. Trick additionally helps me check stall teams by luring their special walls after a couple of scarf wisps. Pokemon like Reuniclus and Suicune can also feel almmost safe setting up on me and then bam tricked into CM.
The team does have a couple of HUGE threats to it, that I have so far been able to maneouvre around. These are:
Offensive Ground types give me some real issues if they persist into the game for a long time. I usually rely on either Metagross to lure them with its Shuca Berry, or Burn them with Rotom, while taking a large hit. Mega Swampert and the Nidos have thankfully been quite rare as I journeyed through the ladder.
Lucario is one of the few ones that has consistently lost me battles. If it nabs an SD late game, Crobat cannot be relied upon to take an ESpeed(+2 252+ Atk Life Orb Lucario Extreme Speed vs. 40 HP / 0 Def Crobat: 266-315 (82.8 - 98.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO). Florges too can struggle to take the damage on, and Ampharos does not take it at all. As with Crobat, Rotom has a chance to take an Espeed, but it is a roll to OHKO.
Doublade is more of a nuisance than a real issue as Rotom-H tends to force it out. However if it ever gets to +4 I am in a bad way, since it OHKOs Rotom with Sneak, does a metric ton to Metagross, Heracross, Crobat and Florges, and Ampharos can be pressured by it, trading 40%s with Doublade getting the last hit off. Weirdly players have been content to sack it at +2 for 50% to Rotom, when its their only fairy check.