The idea behind my team is to have a nice balance of defense and offense. I've been going on Showdown and Random Wi-Fi, as well as with people face to face, and I like this team. However, I feel that some of my Pokemon are frequently sitting on the sidelines, or even if I do place them on the field, they are not accomplishing as much as they should be, bringing many battles down to the wire as the others try to pick up the slack.
Quick glance:
And now, on to the team.
Cresselia @ Leftovers
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 228 HP / 84 Def / 28 SAtk / 168 SDef
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Ice Beam
- Psyshock
- Helping Hand
- Thunder Wave
Ah, Cresselia. Sometimes I wish she could use every support option available, but she is stuck with the four move syndrome. Cresselia has often been the last Pokemon standing (er... floating) in some battles because she is just that bulky. I had a match recently where I won with less than 12 HP remaining. I chose Psyshock because of the myriad of specially defensive Pokemon, as well as to bypass Light Screen which I've been seeing a bit more of. Ice Beam is to hit dragons which are prevalent in the metagame. Thunder Wave helps to reduce the speed of the opponent's Pokemon, which is great considering that many of the Pokemon on my team are about middle-speed. I've found that this move is useless against Garchomp, Excadrill, and Gastrodon which I've been seeing a lot of. Helping Hand is great for spamming earthquakes with Garchomp and increasing the damage output of Scizor's Bullet Punch.
Garchomp (M) @ Haban Berry
Trait: Sand Veil
EVs: 36 HP / 116 Atk / 4 Def / 196 SDef / 156 Spd
Jolly Nature
- Dragon Claw
- Earthquake
- Protect
- Substitute
These EVs and item are copied from Ray Rizzo's Garchomp, and they are mainly used to survive Dragon Gem Latios' Draco Meteor. I use Sand Veil instead of Rough Skin because I see a lot of Tyranitar users, and the evasion does come in handy. I'm not sure if I want to use Substitute or Crunch, though. I've hardly used Substitute, but maybe it's because Garchomp is great for taking out many threats that being defensive is not as paramount. Crunch seems to take off nearly the same amount as Dragon Claw when used on Cresselia. Perhaps I should try Rock Slide.
Zapdos @ Choice Specs
Trait: Pressure
EVs: 204 HP / 164 SAtk / 140 Spd
Modest Nature
- Heat Wave
- Thunderbolt
- Volt Switch
- Hidden Power [Flying]
If you were wondering, the IV count doesn't show a low Atk despite Zapdos being a special attacker, because this Zapdos was given to me that way.
I'm using Zapdos as a counter to opposing Scizor, but other than that, it seems to have a strange success rate of surviving more than one turn. I can Volt Switch out of trouble if the threat is slower than Zapdos and isn't a Ground-type, and I would usually bring in Garchomp to take the Rock Slides, only to have Garchomp be hit by an Ice Beam. Zapdos seems to have a difficult time surviving, but maybe I'm comparing it to the Bold Zapdos I used to have. I find that the Choice Specs variant is easily KO'd by Draco Meteors or Rock Slides since it's not quite fast enough to go first. Heat Wave is great for hitting steel types like Scizor, but if the opponent has Heatran or Chandelure beside Scizor, I really have to weigh the consequences.
I wonder if Thundurus would be a good alternative. It's the same typing, but faster and can use Prankster Thunder Wave, giving my Cresselia the option to use Light Screen instead.
Terrakion @ Choice Band
Trait: Justified
EVs: 252 Spd / 244 Atk / 4 SDef / 4 HP / 4 Def
Adamant Nature
- Close Combat
- X-Scissor
- Rock Slide
- Quick Attack
This is the standard Choice Scarf set listed on Smogon, but I'm using Choice Band and Adamant instead of Choice Scarf and Jolly for some immediate power. I'd like to say that Cresselia's Thunder Wave will slow down threats, but T-Wave doesn't stop Ground-types, and most Ground types would have Earthquake or Earth Power which Terrakion doesn't like. X-Scissor is for the slower Psychic types, but if it doesn't KO, I hope my Terrakion can survive the retaliating attack. Opposing Cresselia can 2HKO my Terrakion, so imagine what happens with stronger Psychic types. The EVs help Terrakion survive Flying Gem Acrobatics from Tornadus, and probably from a few other Flying types as well. I'm wondering, though, if X-Scissor should be replaced with Earthquake. Of course, having it Choiced means this is risky, especially since I bring out Terrakion late in the battle and may not be able to switch it out.
Scizor (M) @ Steel Gem
Trait: Technician
EVs: 172 HP / 252 Atk / 84 Spd
Adamant Nature
- Bullet Punch
- Bug Bite
- Swords Dance
- Protect
Hmm... I wonder how many unique hits this particular image of Scizor has.
This is Cybertron's Scizor. In many battles, I'll bring in Scizor and have it use Swords Dance on the first turn, but sometimes I'll make it use Protect so that its partner can take out the Fire-types that Scizor despises. I may find myself getting to the point where my opponent outspeeds Scizor, but is at low health and in fainting range of Bullet Punch, and I don't want to use up my Steel Gem for that (unless it's the last Pokemon out for my opponent). In these cases, I either risk a Bug Bite and hope that the opponent's move doesn't KO Scizor first, or I would use Protect and let Scizor's partner take of it if possible. When boosted with Helping Hand, Scizor can take care of Gastrodon and opposing Cresselia quite easily with Bug Bite, and potentially get a Sitrus Berry in the process.
Amoonguss (F) @ Sitrus Berry
Trait: Effect Spore
EVs: 252 HP / 4 SAtk / 252 SDef
Sassy Nature
IVs: 3 Atk / 2 Spd
- Spore
- Giga Drain
- Rage Powder
- Hidden Power [Ice]
I thought I'd be using Amoonguss more since it can make a bunch of Pokemon sleep, but I usually keep it out of the battle because it just doesn't have the same offensive prowess as most of the team, and I already have a supporter in Cresselia. It's nice that it's slow so that if there's a Trick Room user I can attack with Amoonguss, but its EVs are currently put to be more bulky than offensive. I command it to Rage Powder on the first turn so that the partner can set up whatever it needs to, but it always found a way to be in the way of a super-effective physical attack that it played no role whatsoever except returning to the ground from whence it spawned.
In theory, it's great to be able to pull attacks away from its partner, but in practice, not so much. However, that could just be me and by general disdain for it after it didn't prove itself in the first few matches. It doesn't seem to fit my playstyle.
As for threats, the one I've noticed most is Rotom-H. I've found that any team with Rotom-H puts a lot of pressure on me. True, I have Garchomp and Terrakion, but Rotom-H is usually with an Ice Beam or Draco Meteor user that if I switch out my Pokemon, the replacement is going to get hit hard (unless I'm lucky).
I don't have Taunt, but I'm not sure if I need it or not. It would be nice to stop opposing Thundurus from paralyzing most of my team, though. The best I can do is get Cresselia to paralyze it as well and hope for hax.
I also see that my team has three Ice weaknesses, but since I'm only picking four out of the six Pokemon, I usually try to limit it to two Ice-weak Pokemon per battle.
Quick glance:
And now, on to the team.
Cresselia @ Leftovers
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 228 HP / 84 Def / 28 SAtk / 168 SDef
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Ice Beam
- Psyshock
- Helping Hand
- Thunder Wave
Ah, Cresselia. Sometimes I wish she could use every support option available, but she is stuck with the four move syndrome. Cresselia has often been the last Pokemon standing (er... floating) in some battles because she is just that bulky. I had a match recently where I won with less than 12 HP remaining. I chose Psyshock because of the myriad of specially defensive Pokemon, as well as to bypass Light Screen which I've been seeing a bit more of. Ice Beam is to hit dragons which are prevalent in the metagame. Thunder Wave helps to reduce the speed of the opponent's Pokemon, which is great considering that many of the Pokemon on my team are about middle-speed. I've found that this move is useless against Garchomp, Excadrill, and Gastrodon which I've been seeing a lot of. Helping Hand is great for spamming earthquakes with Garchomp and increasing the damage output of Scizor's Bullet Punch.
Garchomp (M) @ Haban Berry
Trait: Sand Veil
EVs: 36 HP / 116 Atk / 4 Def / 196 SDef / 156 Spd
Jolly Nature
- Dragon Claw
- Earthquake
- Protect
- Substitute
These EVs and item are copied from Ray Rizzo's Garchomp, and they are mainly used to survive Dragon Gem Latios' Draco Meteor. I use Sand Veil instead of Rough Skin because I see a lot of Tyranitar users, and the evasion does come in handy. I'm not sure if I want to use Substitute or Crunch, though. I've hardly used Substitute, but maybe it's because Garchomp is great for taking out many threats that being defensive is not as paramount. Crunch seems to take off nearly the same amount as Dragon Claw when used on Cresselia. Perhaps I should try Rock Slide.
Zapdos @ Choice Specs
Trait: Pressure
EVs: 204 HP / 164 SAtk / 140 Spd
Modest Nature
- Heat Wave
- Thunderbolt
- Volt Switch
- Hidden Power [Flying]
If you were wondering, the IV count doesn't show a low Atk despite Zapdos being a special attacker, because this Zapdos was given to me that way.
I'm using Zapdos as a counter to opposing Scizor, but other than that, it seems to have a strange success rate of surviving more than one turn. I can Volt Switch out of trouble if the threat is slower than Zapdos and isn't a Ground-type, and I would usually bring in Garchomp to take the Rock Slides, only to have Garchomp be hit by an Ice Beam. Zapdos seems to have a difficult time surviving, but maybe I'm comparing it to the Bold Zapdos I used to have. I find that the Choice Specs variant is easily KO'd by Draco Meteors or Rock Slides since it's not quite fast enough to go first. Heat Wave is great for hitting steel types like Scizor, but if the opponent has Heatran or Chandelure beside Scizor, I really have to weigh the consequences.
I wonder if Thundurus would be a good alternative. It's the same typing, but faster and can use Prankster Thunder Wave, giving my Cresselia the option to use Light Screen instead.
Terrakion @ Choice Band
Trait: Justified
EVs: 252 Spd / 244 Atk / 4 SDef / 4 HP / 4 Def
Adamant Nature
- Close Combat
- X-Scissor
- Rock Slide
- Quick Attack
This is the standard Choice Scarf set listed on Smogon, but I'm using Choice Band and Adamant instead of Choice Scarf and Jolly for some immediate power. I'd like to say that Cresselia's Thunder Wave will slow down threats, but T-Wave doesn't stop Ground-types, and most Ground types would have Earthquake or Earth Power which Terrakion doesn't like. X-Scissor is for the slower Psychic types, but if it doesn't KO, I hope my Terrakion can survive the retaliating attack. Opposing Cresselia can 2HKO my Terrakion, so imagine what happens with stronger Psychic types. The EVs help Terrakion survive Flying Gem Acrobatics from Tornadus, and probably from a few other Flying types as well. I'm wondering, though, if X-Scissor should be replaced with Earthquake. Of course, having it Choiced means this is risky, especially since I bring out Terrakion late in the battle and may not be able to switch it out.
Scizor (M) @ Steel Gem
Trait: Technician
EVs: 172 HP / 252 Atk / 84 Spd
Adamant Nature
- Bullet Punch
- Bug Bite
- Swords Dance
- Protect
Hmm... I wonder how many unique hits this particular image of Scizor has.
This is Cybertron's Scizor. In many battles, I'll bring in Scizor and have it use Swords Dance on the first turn, but sometimes I'll make it use Protect so that its partner can take out the Fire-types that Scizor despises. I may find myself getting to the point where my opponent outspeeds Scizor, but is at low health and in fainting range of Bullet Punch, and I don't want to use up my Steel Gem for that (unless it's the last Pokemon out for my opponent). In these cases, I either risk a Bug Bite and hope that the opponent's move doesn't KO Scizor first, or I would use Protect and let Scizor's partner take of it if possible. When boosted with Helping Hand, Scizor can take care of Gastrodon and opposing Cresselia quite easily with Bug Bite, and potentially get a Sitrus Berry in the process.
Amoonguss (F) @ Sitrus Berry
Trait: Effect Spore
EVs: 252 HP / 4 SAtk / 252 SDef
Sassy Nature
IVs: 3 Atk / 2 Spd
- Spore
- Giga Drain
- Rage Powder
- Hidden Power [Ice]
I thought I'd be using Amoonguss more since it can make a bunch of Pokemon sleep, but I usually keep it out of the battle because it just doesn't have the same offensive prowess as most of the team, and I already have a supporter in Cresselia. It's nice that it's slow so that if there's a Trick Room user I can attack with Amoonguss, but its EVs are currently put to be more bulky than offensive. I command it to Rage Powder on the first turn so that the partner can set up whatever it needs to, but it always found a way to be in the way of a super-effective physical attack that it played no role whatsoever except returning to the ground from whence it spawned.
In theory, it's great to be able to pull attacks away from its partner, but in practice, not so much. However, that could just be me and by general disdain for it after it didn't prove itself in the first few matches. It doesn't seem to fit my playstyle.
As for threats, the one I've noticed most is Rotom-H. I've found that any team with Rotom-H puts a lot of pressure on me. True, I have Garchomp and Terrakion, but Rotom-H is usually with an Ice Beam or Draco Meteor user that if I switch out my Pokemon, the replacement is going to get hit hard (unless I'm lucky).
I don't have Taunt, but I'm not sure if I need it or not. It would be nice to stop opposing Thundurus from paralyzing most of my team, though. The best I can do is get Cresselia to paralyze it as well and hope for hax.
I also see that my team has three Ice weaknesses, but since I'm only picking four out of the six Pokemon, I usually try to limit it to two Ice-weak Pokemon per battle.
