VGC Is Bulk Still a Thing? (VGC RMT)

The-CSchnepf

The-CSchnepf

Hey guys! I'm pretty new to VGC and was wondering if I could get help on a team I've been working on for a while. It's very balance oriented, with lots of Pokemon that can take hard hits and dish them right back out. Anyways, onto the team!

Suicune @ Sitrus Berry
Ability: Pressure
Level: 50
EVs: 244 HP / 180 Def / 8SpA / 76 SpD /
Bold Nature
- Tailwind
- Scald
- Protect
- Snarl

This Suicune is the obligatory bulky Water type of the team. The EV spread guarantees Mega Kang can't 3HKO Suicune with Double Edge with the rest put into Special Defense as this Suicune is more supportive. Tailwind gives my team some Speed control, Scald is for STAB and Burns, Protect can catch opponents off guard while stalling and Snarl is useful for making Pokemon like Gengar and Hydreigon less of a threat.

Primeape @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Defiant
Level: 50
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Close Combat
- Rock Slide
- Ice Punch
- Gunk Shot

Primeape is the quick removal of the team, and can OHKO standard Mega Kang, Mega Salamence, Bisharp, Sylveon, Lando-T and Mega Gardevoir with each of Primeape's attacks that hit them for super effective damage. Rock Slide is also used in case I need to rely on flinches as a last ditch effort or if I predict a Talonflame switch in.

Sylveon @ Pixie Plate
Ability: Pixilate
Level: 50
EVs: 96 HP / 116 Def / 252 SpA / 44 Spe
Modest Nature
- Hyper Voice
- Shadow Ball
- Psyshock
- Protect

This is Aaron Zheng's Sylveon set, only instead of Choice Specs Pixie Plate is run instead as Hydreigon is running Choice Specs on this team. Since I do have freedom of moves due to not having Specs, I replaced Hyper Beam with Protect as Sylveon is usually a high priority target to take down in most matches, and I can surprise an opponent who thinks this Sylveon is Specs. Shadow Ball hits common threats like Aegislash and Metagross while Psyshock can make quick work of Amoongus. However, with all the Sylveon counters I've seen on teams lately I don't bring it very much into battle and may be looking for a replacement to take Sylveon's spot, definitely this team's weak link.

Hydreigon @ Choice Specs
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 84 HP / 76 Def / 216 SpA / 132 Spe
Modest Nature
- Draco Meteor
- Dark Pulse
- Heat Wave
- Earth Power

This set is based on the Alex Ogloza Nationals Hydreigon set, only this Hydreigon has enough Defense to live a Mega Kang's Double Edge, and enough Speed out speed max Speed base 70 Pokemon like Breloom. Draco Meteor is to nuke a threat quickly, Dark Pulse is for another solid STAB move to hit hard with while not lowering Special Attack, Heat Wave gives this team more spread moves while also hitting Steel types harder along with Earth Power.


Aegislash @ Leftovers
Ability: Stance Change
EVs: 228 HP / 252 SpA / 28 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Substitute
- Flash Cannon
- Shadow Ball
- King's Shield

This Aegislash is also based on the Alex Ogloza Nationals Aegislash build, only this set runs 2 more Speed to out speed his set. Substitute protects Aegislash from Sucker Punch, while also keeping Aegislash safe in Sworde Forme. This Aegislash is specially based with two STAB attacks so it makes for a good lead against Intimidate Pokemon, and King's Sheild is a staple on most Aegislash movesets due to being a better version of Protect.

Venusaur-Mega @ Venusaurite
Ability: Thick Fat
Level: 50
EVs: 252 HP / 236 Def / 20 SpA
Bold Nature
- Sleep Powder
- Giga Drain
- Sludge Bomb
- Protect

Finally is Mega Venusaur. This set is actually one I created myself, with the spread designed to be able to live an Adamant Choice Banded Brave Bird from Talonflame. This set also has a 50% chance to live a max Attack Mega Salamence Return at full HP. Sleep Powder can cripple a threat for a while, Giga Drain and Sludge Bomb are for solid STAB moves and Protect is a VGC staple move to nulify an opponent's attack.

Feel free to leave suggestions and let me know what you think! I'll leave an importable version of the team down below, thanks for reading! :]

Suicune @ Sitrus Berry
Ability: Pressure
Level: 50
EVs: 248 HP / 180 Def / 76 SpD / 4 Spe
Bold Nature
- Tailwind
- Scald
- Protect
- Snarl
Primeape @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Defiant
Level: 50
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Close Combat
- Rock Slide
- Ice Punch
- Gunk Shot
Sylveon @ Pixie Plate
Ability: Pixilate
Level: 50
EVs: 92 HP / 116 Def / 252 SpA / 48 Spe
Modest Nature
- Hyper Voice
- Shadow Ball
- Psyshock
- Protect
Hydreigon @ Choice Specs
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 84 HP / 76 Def / 216 SpA / 132 Spe
Modest Nature
- Draco Meteor
- Dark Pulse
- Heat Wave
- Earth Power
Aegislash @ Leftovers
Ability: Stance Change
EVs: 228 HP / 252 SpA / 28 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Substitute
- Flash Cannon
- Shadow Ball
- King's Shield
Venusaur-Mega @ Venusaurite
Ability: Thick Fat
Level: 50
EVs: 252 HP / 236 Def / 20 SpA
Bold Nature
- Sleep Powder
- Giga Drain
- Sludge Bomb
- Protect
 
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Hi The-CSchnepf, You're obviously familiar with all of the big VGC names and that's good. I have a really good mega Venusaur set. It's built to survive a choice band talonflame and then 1HKO it with sludge bomb after recoil.

Here's the set for Mega Venusaur:

Venusaur @ Venusaurite
Ability: Chlorophyll
Level: 50
EVs: 252 HP / 76 Def / 120 SpA / 60 Spe
Bold Nature
- Sludge Bomb
- Leech Seed
- Protect
- Giga Drain

Since you're familiar with names like Cybertron, I would reccomend using his suicune set. I've found lots of success for using Suicune but that's on completely on you. Here's the video where he goes a little bit in-depth about his build and why he used it. He used it at APEX 2015 and St. Louis Regionals along with a PC he went to.

Suicune @ Leftovers
Ability: Pressure
Level: 57
EVs: 252 HP / 100 Def / 100 SpA / 52 SpD / 4 Spe
Bold Nature
- Scald
- Tailwind
- Snarl
- Ice Beam
 
Yeah, I know how to build sets and spreads and such by reading articles and watching videos. I guess I say I'm new because I haven't played many VGC games or built many teams. I'll definitely check out those spreads though and see how they work. Thanks!
 
I suggest Life Orb of Sylveon instead of Pixie Plate. I know you will lose 1/10 of you HP everytime you attack, but it also boosts you coverage moves (Shadow Ball and Psyshock).
 
The-CSchnepf said:
Suicune @ Sitrus Berry
Ability: Pressure
Level: 50
EVs: 244 HP / 180 Def / 8SpA / 76 SpD /
Bold Nature
- Tailwind
- Scald
- Protect
- Snarl

This Suicune is the obligatory bulky Water type of the team. The EV spread guarantees Mega Kang can't 3HKO Suicune with Double Edge with the rest put into Special Defense as this Suicune is more supportive. Tailwind gives my team some Speed control, Scald is for STAB and Burns, Protect can catch opponents off guard while stalling and Snarl is useful for making Pokemon like Gengar and Hydreigon less of a threat.
Click to expand...

Khan will just crit it to death, that's what I've learned in my EVing escapades. 3HKO from Khan = 6 attacks = high chance of at least one crit.

The-CSchnepf said:
Primeape @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Defiant
Level: 50
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Close Combat
- Rock Slide
- Ice Punch
- Gunk Shot

Primeape is the quick removal of the team, and can OHKO standard Mega Kang, Mega Salamence, Bisharp, Sylveon, Lando-T and Mega Gardevoir with each of Primeape's attacks that hit them for super effective damage. Rock Slide is also used in case I need to rely on flinches as a last ditch effort or if I predict a Talonflame switch in.
Click to expand...

Obscure, creative, yet intelligent. +10. Would love seeing a video of this one in action.

Now, for Sylveon... its not a bad Pokémon, it's just the wrong Pokémon for the team. You have a good MegaGross check (Aegislash), Aegislash check (Hydreigon), and Bisharp check (that awesome ape), But I do see a Char-Y problem.
Primeape is your only solid answer to Char-Y, and seeing as it's choice locked, its very shaky. Hydreigon is annoying for Char-Y, on account of decent bulk in addition to Fire+Grass resists, but Char-Y plus something that threatens Hydreigon (Terrakion, Gardevoir, Garchomp) poses a huge threat. MegaSaur isn't fire weak, but still takes grievous damage at best and doesn't do much back. Aegislash? Fucked. Sylveon? Useless. Suicune? Snarl is annoying, but Solarbeam is a bitch. And aside from Suicune+Hydreigon, you have nothing to stop it from Heat Wave when it figures out you don't have a Wide Guard Aegislash.

Much like me, you have a special-heavy team (Primeape is your only physical mon); which is good, imo. If we call Sylveon an open slot, we could add in an extra check to Char-Y, or perhaps some Wide/Quick Guard support. But I'll expand on that later, I gotta sleep.
 
Thanks for the suggestions guys! After some testing and thinking about the suggestions I've come to the following conclusions:

1) I did some calcs on the Venusaur set, and I found it only has a 32.2% to live an Adamant Choice Banded Talonflame Brave Bird. Maybe it was for Life Orb TFlame? The Suicune definitely has my interest though, so thanks for bringing that to my attention. I'll definitely be giving it a try!

2) I'd like to add that I made a typo in the OP. Regarding the Suicune set it guarantees Mega Kang can't 2HKO rather than 3HKO. Just thought I'd add that bit.

3) Regarding the Mega Zard Y weakness, replacing Sylveon with a counter would be prefered but I'm not certain on what I'd replace it with. If needed as a last resort I can replace Primeape with Terrakion as it out speeds and can KO with Rock Slide, as well as deal with Smeargle better with Double Kick. However, I would lose a lot of the quick removal Primeape brings as using Terrakion would make Lando-T, Greninja and Mega Mence much more threatening to my team.

4) Finally, I'm not opposed to Life Orb on Sylveon except for the fact it messes up the calcs, so if anyone has an EV suggestion that would be fantastic.

Thanks again for the fantastic help guys! This has helped out a lot! :]
 
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Looks good, but I'm really not sure about Primeape in your team. Primeape is clever, but I don't like that your team relies on a frail pokemon that can't use protect. Rotom-H with Sitrus Berry (Suicune could use Rocky Helmet) can help against Chari-Y, fairies, and Mega Mence. Also scarfed Lando-T would be great in your team because it synergizes well with almost all members and I would probably use it in the Sylveon slot, which makes Hydreigon a little problem :/

So yeah, Sitrus Rotom-H > Primeape + Rocky Helmet on Suicune (and Landorus-T unless you don't want to drop Sylveon, but it just fits too good in not to use it and I would absolutely do it)

Breloom or Assault Vest Ludicolo could also work in the Venusaur slot if you really care about Hydreigon. Mega Salamence or Mega Kangaskhan could be used in the Hydreigon slot if you drop Venusaur, just wanted to mention it. Scrafty can be used too (helps vs Hydreigon, can use Fake Out + Intimidate) if you want to keep Venu as your mega :toast:
 
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Terraquaza said:
Looks good, but I'm really not sure about Primeape in your team. Primeape is clever, but I don't like that your team relies on a frail pokemon that can't use protect. Rotom-H with Sitrus Berry (Suicune could use Rocky Helmet) can help against Chari-Y, fairies, and Mega Mence. Also scarfed Lando-T would be great in your team because it synergizes well with almost all members and I would probably use it in the Sylveon slot, which makes Hydreigon a little problem :/

So yeah, Sitrus Rotom-H > Primeape + Rocky Helmet on Suicune (and Landorus-T unless you don't want to drop Sylveon, but it just fits too good in not to use it and I would absolutely do it)

Breloom or Assault Vest Ludicolo could also work in the Venusaur slot if you really care about Hydreigon. Mega Salamence or Mega Kangaskhan could be used in the Hydreigon slot if you drop Venusaur, just wanted to mention it. Scrafty can be used too (helps vs Hydreigon, can use Fake Out + Intimidate) if you want to keep Venu as your mega :toast:
Click to expand...

Did some testing with your suggestions, and came to the following conclusions. For starters, I've found Scarf Lando to be incredibly good on this team, and the Rotom-H has been working well too. I've also found out I can somewhat bypass the Hydreigon weakness by giving Landorus Superpower. The only issues I've been having is with Suicune, as I've found that by removing Sitrus Berry for Rocky Helmet has cut it's longevity in battle down dramatically, not sure what to do about that. I also would like to note that I haven't replaced Venusaur with Kang or Mence, as adding one of those two would mess up the type synergy on the team and I'd have to pretty much change the whole team. Similar story to adding Scrafty on the team as well. I kind of miss the quick removal Primeape gave the team, but it's worth it now that I can deal with various threats better. Thanks a ton for the help! :]
 
Hey guys, so I hate to bump such an old thread but I've come across a few problems with the team as of late that I need to mention.

After adding Rotom-H and Landorus a lot of the previously after mentioned problems were fixed, but I found my team is weak to 3 things.

1) Follow Me Clefairy/Clefable+Mega Kang
2)Weavile (hits everything on my team hard)
3)Smeargle (only Landorus can out speed and possibly flinch with Rock Slide)

I was thinking about switching Landorus for Aerodactyl, as it fixes these issues with Taunt, a Focus Sash and higher Speed as well as essentially fill the same role as Landorus. However, I find that by using Aerodactyl I lose my much needed Fighting coverage. Thoughts?
 
Garchomp @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Rough Skin
Evs: 252 HP / 160 Def / 96 Spe
Impish or Lax Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Dragon Tail
- Earthquake
-Fire Blast

Ultimate physical attacker switch in, stealth rocker, and can switch other pokemon. what else is needed to say lol.
 
DarkChocolateGamer said:
Garchomp @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Rough Skin
Evs: 252 HP / 160 Def / 96 Spe
Impish or Lax Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Dragon Tail
- Earthquake
-Fire Blast

Ultimate physical attacker switch in, stealth rocker, and can switch other pokemon. what else is needed to say lol.
Click to expand...
This isn't singles DarkChocolateGamer. Stealth rocks aren't viable in VGC. VGC is such a fast tier and their are only 4 Pokémon used on each side so their aren't going to be much switches so setting up Stealth Rocks is essentially a waste of a turn that you could have used attacking.
 
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The-CSchnepf said:
Hey guys, so I hate to bump such an old thread but I've come across a few problems with the team as of late that I need to mention.

After adding Rotom-H and Landorus a lot of the previously after mentioned problems were fixed, but I found my team is weak to 3 things.

1) Follow Me Clefairy/Clefable+Mega Kang
2)Weavile (hits everything on my team hard)
3)Smeargle (only Landorus can out speed and possibly flinch with Rock Slide)

I was thinking about switching Landorus for Aerodactyl, as it fixes these issues with Taunt, a Focus Sash and higher Speed as well as essentially fill the same role as Landorus. However, I find that by using Aerodactyl I lose my much needed Fighting coverage. Thoughts?
Click to expand...
Hm... You still have Sylveon and Aegislash to switch into. I guess... Just in case of a surprise fighting-type coverage move, put focus sash on Aerodactyl.
 
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