I Got Your Back

[Souuuth]

So after having a hard time doing anything with my last team, I decided to try another out. My last team lacked synergy unlike this one. Every pokes weakness is covered by 1, 2 and sometimes 3 of its teammates so I feel this team has very good synergy and should play fairly well.

Roserade (F) @ Leftovers
Trait: Natural Cure
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Toxic Spikes
- Sleep Powder
- Leaf Storm
- Sludge Bomb

Roserade will usually be my lead. Toxic Spikes to get up entry hazards first turn and sleep powder to by him more time to get up several layers of spikes. Leaf Storm over giga drain b/c it hits harder and can OHKO Swampert and 2HKO Milotic and Suicune with regular damage and OHKO if I happen to get the crit. Roserade checks Houndooms water, rock and ground weaknesses and Raikous ground weakness, just to name a few.

Houndoom (M) @ Passho Berry
Trait: Flash Fire
EVs: 252 SAtk / 4 SDef / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Nasty Plot
- Fire Blast
- Dark Pulse
- Hidden Power [Grass]

I'm using Houndoom as partly as a good check to Roserades Psychic weakness. He is also my special sweeper since Nasty Plot boosted anything is strong. Fire Blast, although risky, allows Houndoom to check its own weakness in Heracross for the OHKO, unboosted. Houndoom outspeeds Heracross so the risky part is hitting Heracross. I'll usually do this if my other check (currently unknown, why I want a Psychic type) is dead if Heracross ever switches into Houndoom. Fire Blast is also here to hit the numerous steel types in the tier such as Bisharp and Bronzong. Houndoom can survive an EQ if the Bronzong is running a typical set and Houndoom is at full HP. Dark Pulse is there for Pokes like Victini, Azelf, Mew and other psychics. The final slot goes to HP Grass. I used this to lure in any bulky waters looking to take out Houndoom. The passho berry allows it to live a water attack and strike back with a Nasty Plot boosted attack.

Hitmontop (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Intimidate
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SDef
Impish Nature (+Def, -SAtk)
- Rapid Spin
- Stone Edge
- Close Combat
- Toxic
Along with Roserade, Hitmontop is another key element on my team. He is my spinner and along with Houndoom, makes up part of the core of checks to Roserades threats. Rapid spin is there to protect Houndoom from his 2x SR weakness. Close Combat is his STAB move that hits the likes of Bisharp and Cobalion hard. Its also to counter any opposing Houndoom who try to make quick work of Roserade. Stone Edge is the coverage move I chose to check Crobat (if Raikou is gone) and is my main attack against Zapdos. Stone Edge can also OHKO any Yanmega, Honchkrow or other flying types switching into Hitmontop and thinking they'll take it out with Air Slash. The accuracy of Stone Edge is about the only thing that worries me here. Again, this is risky as if Stone Edge misses, goodbye Hitmontop. Like the other two though, I have Raikou to counter these threats, as well as Houndoom against any Yanmega I may face.

Raikou @ Leftovers
Trait: Pressure
EVs: 128 HP / 76 Def / 52 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Substitute
- Calm Mind
- Thunderbolt
- Hidden Power [Ice]

Raikou is my other special attacker along with Houndoom. The classic sub-mind set. Sub up and get some calm minds off and begin to clean house. Thunderbolt is there for reliable STAB, to handle the flying types that Hitmontop isn't feeling up to fighting, the water types that may want to threaten Houndoom if his HP is low. I chose HP Ice b/c it threatens many pokes in the tier. Raikou doesn't fear ground types b/c of HP Ice and it can also OHKO any Flygon that might try to switch in to get off an EQ. Also any opposing Roserade or Shaymin are threatened with Shaymin being 2HKO and Roserade being a 2-OHKO, depending on the set and nature. Dragon types are also threatened. In some shape or form, Raikou has everyone of his teammates back.

Kingdra (M) @ Lum Berry
Trait: Sniper
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SDef / 252 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Substitute
- Dragon Dance
- Waterfall
- Outrage

Kingdra fits in well on this team b/c he covers weaknesses for all his teammates like Raikou and only has one weakness in Dragon which is covered by Raikou with HP Ice. I chose a physical set over a special seeing as Raikou and Houndoom fit that role. I chose sniper over swift swim seeing as I won't have any clue if there will be rain unless I was running it myself and I am not so I'm opting for the increased chance of a crit. Sub + DD to get the attack and speed boosts is pretty obvious. Lum berry instead of leftovers to negate the confusion that Outrage eventually causes. Outrage will hit several pokes in the tier seeing as the only ones to resist it are the Steel types and I have them taken care of. Even then Kingdra can still attack with STAB waterfall. Waterfall also hits Houndooms weaknesses all across the board along with Raikous when it isn't feeling up to HP Icing what lay before him.

Mew @ Leftovers
Trait: Synchronize
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 Spd
Bold Nature
- Psychic
- Aura Sphere
- Calm Mind
- Roost


I'm considering this set to add a little more bulk to my team. Psychic is Mews STAB and hits Nidoking, Nidoqueen, Cobalion, Crobat, Heracross, Hitmontop and Hariyama all for super effective damage. Aura Sphere is to cover against Steel types such as Bronzong and Bisharp who both pose a threat to a few members on my team. Calm Mind to boost the attacking power of psychic and aura sphere. Finally, Roost to keep Mew alive and in the fight longer. Threats like Escavalier are checked by Houndoom and Hitmontop. While Mew can take a hit from a choice scarf heracross and weavile, they are still threats, 2HKOing Mew. Heracross could potentially be checked by Mew but it can be risky so Houndoom covers that weakness and Weavile. Hitmontop also covers Weavile with Close Combat.

 

[PrinceNeos]

Seeing as a lot of people use Roserade/Nidoking and other Poison type Pokemon I would suggest removing the toxic spikes for normal spikes. However then you loose your sleep powder which is a huge shame but you don't exactly need it I guess, you can replace it with Rest then and maybe stick an LO on.

Houndoom covers your weakness to fire and psychic that's cool, nicely done. I've never used the guy so I don't know what to say but he looks pretty standard and Nasty Plot/Swords dance are the best boosters in the game in my opinion, I love using either of them in a team, my last RMT even used both so yep. Does Houndoom outspeed Herra even with a scarf? Surely not?

However, I don't think you should have so many pokes that need setting up. That could end up being a liability without some screens.

Also there's a rule to use a team a few times before putting it up for rate, so you should know how well it runs before asking.

 

[Souuuth]

I've been considering getting rid of sleep powder for spikes as well. I just haven't used it enough for it to be viable. Plus, the times I have used it, it hasn't played a significant role.

I do like Houndoom, he's taken out several threats for me in the games I've played. I just dont like how frail he feels. The set is very standard which is why I might change it up b/c many players can expect it. No he doesn't and that fact has cost me Houndoom before. I'm still new so I dont know all the typical sets that are used so I tend to just switch Houndoom in on Heracross, thinking I'll outspeed when in fact I do not. I might switch to a Choice Scarf set for this reason b/c I've come across Heracross quite often and if Mew is gone, Houndoom is my only other counter.

Thats another problem. Half my team does need setting up. About the only one that I've been able to do this with is Mew since its bulky. The sub+calm mind set on Raikou hasn't really been working for me, mainly b/c I use it at the wrong time. I tend to not think and just go for the sub+calm mind on whoever, instead of doing it on a weak attacker so the sub doesn't get broke. I've only been able to nasty plot boost Houndoom maybe in 3 games before it gets taken out. I'll probably switch around Raikous set and I already have a set in mind for Houndoom. Mew will stay the same b/c he works effectively.

I know I didn't mention in the OP but I've played 11 games with this team. I've got mixed feelings about it b/c I lost 6, won 5. I feel most the reason I lost is b/c the other player simply had a better understanding of the game than me. I did just get into competitive battling about a week or so ago. I just need to study the sets of the most common used UU pokes so I can make better decisions.

Thanks for the suggestion though!

 

[Souuuth]

Just wanted to say, with the changes I made, the team plays much nicer. I like it so much more now. I just finished up my 3rd game with it and only lost to the first player 1-0. The last 2 players I 5-0d so I feel good about it so far.

 

[PrinceNeos]

As I said towards the end, if you're going to be using set up Pokemon try to add some screens, it really feels like it helps me a great deal. And there's plenty of good dudes that can do it. I'm not saying you should keep that many set up pokes though, I've never seen a sub Raikou and that's probably for a good reason. However I do see the scarfed rash variant a lot.

I love the set up Mismag, she does a great deal for me. For your Kingdra I would use the ChestoRest set or the Rain Dance Sweeper. Oh and I forgot to mention last time I think; try and give Giga Drain a go on Mew over Roost maybe?

Your team looks like it has the right Pokemon on it, it's just the move sets they're running that seem so off, and seeing as you say you're not getting the synergy you want I think it's the moves/your grasp of the game at the moment.

 

[Souuuth]

Like I said, I made some changes and the only Poke now that I have that kind of needs to set up is Mew. Even then his stab psychic is plenty powerful to take down anything it hits super effectively and does good damage to other pokes that don't resist. Houndoom and Raikou were the most drastic changes. I'm running Choice scarf on Houndoom now b/c of Heracross and so far I've had good success with it. I haven't lost Doom in a battle yet and can outspeed a lot of threads with the scarf. I changed up Raikou by taking away Sub and putting in Extrasensory for coverage.

I actually just got done doing that since I lack physical attackers. The only other one being Hitmontop. Hmm, I never thought about that only b/c Roost has been rather effective but it would be a nice surprise when a bulky water goes to switch in, if it does.

I agree. I feel like I'm starting to improve though, slowly but surely. I've been making better decisions in the last couple battles and not just blinding attacking. I'm predicting more and its paying off. While I don't want to rely solely on prediction, its something I want to get better at b/c it seems to be a key part of the game.