*Insert Interesting Title* NU Team

[-Eddie-]

Hi,

This is my first RMT and first team I have ever made competitively (not including PBR teams) , so I am sorry if I break any major rules. Before I go into my team, I'll show the process that made my team:

I really wanted to use a Jumpluff and the SubSeed strategy, so he is my first guy.

Despite using a subseeder, I wanted an offensive team. I wanted to get up stealth rock first turn to damage to switch-ins after Jumpluff subseeds. Unfortunately, Persian is fast enough to taunt them all, so I went with an anti-lead: Primeape.

Psychics and Ghosts stop Primeape dead in its tracks, so I thought a Skuntank would make a nice addition. Skuntank can also lure in earthquakes and allow for a Jumpluff switch. Skuntank can also do well against the grass types jumpluff can't subseed against.

Since I still needed something to set up Stealth Rock , I just chose one of the most reliable (and sturdy) : Sandslash.

Now I realized that I didn't have anything that was really offensive, which was what I originally wanted, so I chose Ursaring.

Since my team is rather slow, I figured I should add some paralysis support. Regice is also brings in some much needed special bulk.

So here's to the actual team:

Primeape @ Focus Sash
Ability: Vital Spirit
EVs:4 HP 252 Att 252 Speed
Nature: Jolly
- Protect
- Close Combat
- Ice Punch
- U-turn

I made this lead to check a lot of common leads. Against Persian, I protect, blocking fake-out, and then U turn. Usually Persian leads u-turn out as well and (if I am lucky) bring in a ghost, which Skuntank counters. Most other leads are slower than Primeape and tend to set up Stealth Rock on turn 1, so I 2HKO with Close Combat and/or Ice Punch (for Jumpluff and Gligar). For the leads that I can't KO (Pinsir and Armaldo) , I usually u-turn out to Sandslash and set up my own rocks/rapid spin.

Jumpluff @ Leftovers
Ability: Chlorophyll
EVs: 188 Def 68 Sp Def 252 Speed
Nature: Jolly
- Substitute
- Leech Seed
- Encore
- Sleep Powder

The standard SubSeed. Usually makes its appearance from a predicted earthquake on Skuntank or when my opponents and I have our walls out and are stalling (comes in on a surf, slack off, roost, etc.)

Skuntank @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Vital Spirit
EVs:4 HP 252 Att 252 Speed
Nature: Adamant
- Pursuit
- Crunch
- Explosion
- Poison Jab

A little twist on the standard Skuntank. I didn't want to use Pursuit and Sucker Punch because if I have a Bulky Psychic like Gardevoir or Slowking, I can't really do anything to either of them. Besides, I can still OHKO Haunter after switching in on any of the common moves (except Explosion) with Pursuit and I'm pretty sure I can OHKO Espeon as well with Pursuit (but since most are choiced it doesn't really matter). Poison Jab was suppose to be for any grass pokemon that Jumpluff couldn't handle, but its never had any real use. And who doesn't like a fast explosion?

Sandslash @ Leftovers
Ability: Sand Veil
EVs:252 HP 252 Def 4 Sp Def
Nature: Impish
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- Stealth Rock
- Rapid Spin

Once my Primeape hits a physical wall, I bring in my own and set up my entry hazard or spin away my opponents. There isn't much else to say. After it sets up rocks, spins, or KOs some physical attacker, I tend to keep it for death fodder for later on. Comes in on the U-turn from primeape usually when Primeape's against physical attackers it can't beat (like Pinsir or Armaldo) . I chose the support set because this team lacks physical bulk . It does well against all other physical attackers and can take a special attack, albeit a weak one, set up rocks, and then die, which is still useful.

Ursaring @ Toxic Orb
Ability: Quick Feet
EVs: 4 HP 252 Att 252 Spd
Nature: Impish
- Close Combat
- Facade
- Swords Dance
- Crunch

My late-game sweeper. Once the opposing Pokemon are paralyzed, asleep, or just slow, my Ursaring comes in, takes the neutral hit, and starts KOing everything with Facade. I know its an important move, but I rarely have time to Swords Dance, so any other moves would be great.

Sandslash @ Leftovers
Ability: Clear Body
EVs:252 HP 252 Def 4 Sp Def
Nature: Calm
- Ice Beam
- Thunder Wave
- Rest
- Sleep Talk

This thing is awesome taking all neutral special attacks and some super effective ones as well. A Water Spout from a Wailord at full power only does about 30%, so I can switch in, T-Wave, and Rest back up. Obviously, this is also my status absorber for the team. Also, even if my opponent is paralyzed and I can't put them to sleep, I can still bring in Jumpluff and set-up substitutes until a Fully Paralyzed comes up.

THREATS
Honestly since no one ever plays NU (its kind of in the title), I don't know where I can get a threat list, but I can say my biggest problems are SCARFED Pokemon (especially Magmortar). Magmortar can OHKO Sandslash with Fire Blast and do serious damage to Regice. I can only beaten Scarf pokemon through incredible luck (picking T-Wave on the Sleep Talk as they switch in). The other way is bringing in Primeape (as I can usually keep his sash intact) and OHKO as they bring me down to my sash. So I am mainly asking if there are any good PRIORITY USERS in NU, as I think those would help. Also, as much as I love Regice, are there any other Special Walls that are NOT weak to fire and do not take 25% Stealth Rock damage?

Any other suggestions are welcomed.

Thanks again,
EddieD

 

[Friar]

Hey there,

This is really an excellent NU team! This is about as close as it gets to being able to abuse Jumpluff to its fullest. I do, however, have a few suggestions on how to make your team just a little bit better. Let's get into the rate.

First off - Primeape. I think a Scarfer would be really nice here. This gives your team a great check against many other offensive Pokemon as well as a nice little late game sweeper once Skuntank deals with Ghost and Psychic types. The added speed allows Primeape to beat down stuff, even if they would normally outspeed Primeape, such as Tauros. This also gives you a nice check against Floatzel, especially Taunt versions, who look like they would be a huge headache, especially if Skuntank cannot Explode on them. Scarf Primeape is also a fairly good lead, with good speed, power, and the ability to U Turn out of an unfavorable match up. Here is the set I recommend:

Primeape @ Choice Scarf
Jolly / Vital Spirit
4 HP / 252 Attack / 252 Speed
-Close Combat
-Ice Punch
-U Turn
-Punishment

I think your Skuntank set could use tweaking. Your current set has nice surprise value, but doesnt take advantage of what a nice partner Skuntank can be for Jumpluff and Primeape. If you were to make Skuntank a Taunt user, you could really screw with Grass types as well as retaining the ability to deal with Ghosts and Psychics. Taunt helps keep your opponent from executing their strategy while you try to execute your own. Here is the set I had in mind:

Skuntank @ Leftovers
Adamant / Aftermatch
252 Attack / 232 Sp. Def. / 24 Speed
-Taunt
-Pursuit
-Sucker Punch
-Poison Jab

Still a monster attacker and revenge killer with attack miximized and access to Sucker Punch, but also fits nicely into the defensive role with some Sp. Def investment and Taunt.

In my opinion the one Pokemon that needs changing is Ursaring. Your team packs no answer to Fire types, which is a lethal mistake in NU, where Charizard, Typhlosion, Magmortar, Entei, and Ninetales as appear frequently. While Primeape can check some of these Pokemon (especiallu non scarfed ones), you need a resistance to Fire attacks. Slowking is a great hit here for a few reasons. One, it gives you another reistance to Fighting attacks which are also very common, and it can spread Paralysis via Thundereave just like Regice, helping Jumpluff and Skuntanks dominate the slowed down match. Ground types looking to absorb Thunderwave will not dare switch in for fear of a powerful STAB Surf, so spreading Paralysis should be no problem. Slowking is also the best Fire type counter in NU, and should protect your hide if one of them shows their face. Beware of Ninetales however, because a +2 Life Orb Energy Ball will hurt a lot, so it might be better to just let Primeape handle that one. Here is the set I had in mind:

Slowking @ Leftovers
Bold / Own Tempo
252 HP / 212 Defense / 44 Sp. Def
-Surf
-Psychic
-Slack Off
-Thunderwave

That's all I have, great team and good luck!

 

[Ice-eyes]

I agree with everything Class stated (Skuntank should really pack Explosion, though). Regice isn't a great special wall right now, with so many absurdly powerful fire types running around. You shouldn't be concerned with Wailord's Water Spout - you should be concerned with Typhlosion's Eruption. Slowking fits in perfectly.

You don't really need Spin support much here, given that a Scarfed Primeape, if you choose to go down that road, can take out Stealth Rock leads like Relicanth and Gligar easily. SubSeed Jumpluff doesn't need to be at 100% to wreak havoc, either, and with the healing can afford to switch in as much as it wants. Moreover, Quagsire can just come in on your Sandslash and threaten to KO, or set up Rocks again. So I would recommend Miltank - it has recovery, Heal Bell and can set up SR efficiently, while being extremely bulky. Plus, y'know, perfect defensive synergy with Slowking.

Seeing as Ursaring is absurdly easy to revenge kill, you might want to try another sweeper, such as Swords Dance Pinsir.

 

[Lady Shinki]

I'm going to cut against the grain here and suggest a division of your mixed wall Regice into a physical/special wall combo. I think a defensive Flareon fits very well on your team, and having a Tauros over your ursaring will give you a lot more survivability while still keeping an offensive presence compared to other walls like miltank. Having a 100% reliable immunity to fire moves is super important, and he can support the rest of your team with wish/burn support which helps out Jumpluff a lot, particularly since they only share a rock weakness which is handily taken care of by sandslash/tauros.

Flareon @ Leftovers
Flash Fire
252 HP/4 Def/252 SpDef
Calm Nature (+SpDef/-Atk)
Wish
Lava Plume
Protect
HP Rock/Toxic

Tauros @ Leftovers
Intimidate
Impish Nature (+Def/-SpAtk)
252 HP/12 Atk/152 Def/96 Spe
Earthquake
Stone Edge
Rest
Sleep Talk

Also, your spinning sandslash set remains necessary if you do decide to go for support flareon, BUT an option taking into account the above suggestions is to replace rapid spin with toxic to wear down spin blockers that switch in to you as well as bulky walls that resist quakeedge.

 

[uncalled4]

Ken nice flareon set,
Try this
Beat ape lead everytime.

Sharpedo @ life orb
Rough skin
252 speed/4 spA/252 Att
Jolly Nature
Taunt
Aqua jet
Super fang
Crunch

The best lead in NU tbh, outspeeds jumpluff and butterfree, taunt them, and super fangs w/e bulky thing they bring in, then taunt that bulky think to stop twave/wisp/toxic, then proceed to aqua jet, crunch or super fang depending on poke.
Work well for me give it a go.