I've got Moxie, How 'Bout You?

[Gone to the beach]

Hello smogonites, welcome to my 2nd OU rmt entitled
I've got Moxie, How 'Bout You?

***This team is very heavily offensive and relies on either overwhelming my oppponents or suprising them. Please keep this in mind when you suggest changes***


A little background:

Ahhhh, Moxie. Throughout a plethora of testing different pokemon, I have discovered Moxie to be my favorite ability. The sheer power pokemon gain with this ability overwhelms opponents. Moxie, if you didn't already know, gives a pokemon +1 in attack after your poke koes another pokemon. This works against opponents trying to fodder off their weak pokemon then revenge kill.

I decided I wanted to create a team based around a pokemon or two with moxie. I chose Salamence and Honchkrow.





Resistances/weaknesses :

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In depth:

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Deoxys-D @ Rocky Helmet​

Trait: Pressure​

EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 Spd​

Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)​

- Spikes​

- Stealth Rock​

- Magic Coat​

- Taunt

There isn't much to this guy. He doesn't survive for more than 5 turns usually, but I don't want him too. I went with the fast spiker set because I found it was the most sucessful set. Too bad deoxys is shit on by tyranitar and scizor; otherwise he could actually be of more use. But for now, no other pokemon fills the roles I need better than Deoxys-Defense does.

The moves are self-explanatory. Magic-coat allows me to shutdown Pranksters. Also allows me to screw with smeargle leads.

Rotom-W @ Leftovers
Trait: Levitate​

EVs: 144 HP / 252 SAtk / 112 Spd​

Modest Nature (+SAtk, -Atk)​

- Volt Switch​

- Hydro Pump​

- Will-O-Wisp​

-Hidden power grass

This guy is just spectacular. Since I have solid grass resists in Salamence and heatran, any grass move is like nothing. Although I've had great sucess with the choice scarf set, I don't like having more than one scarfer on a team. Which is why I chose the bulky attacker. Rotom-w is such a great check to alot of OU pokemon, it was hard to pass up in this team.

I chose volt switch over thunderbolt because of its scouting ability. Hydro pump is hydro pump. WoW allows me to ruin set-up sweepers days, and adds even more to rotom's bulk. Because my team lacks significant defensive investment, WoW plays an important role. Hidden power grass for countering gastrodon who walls my team.

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Heatran (F) @ Life Orb​

Trait: Flash Fire​

EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd​

Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)​

- Fire Blast​

- Earth Power​

- Flame Charge​

- Hidden Power [Ice]

Heatran is such a great pokemon. I should just leave it at that. I chose Tran for his ability to wall Sun teams and absorb dragon attacks. My god is he good at it. Even though I don't run any defensive EVS, I can still absorb Outrages and DMs pretty well. I chose to run a LO set with flame charge because Tran's problems are with his speed. After a flame charge, Tran is like the classic scarftran we used to love.

Fire blast and earth power are pretty standard. But these moves's potential are upped a lot after a flame charge. Tran is no longer revenged by basic pokemon with earthquake. HP ice was chosen because dragons are a bigger threat than waters.

Gliscor (F) @ Flying Gem​

Trait: Sand Veil​

EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spd​

Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)​

- Acrobatics​

- Earthquake​

- Swords Dance​

- Substitute

Classically known to wall physical attackers, Gliscor turns into something else with Acrobatics. This set is by far the most fun set to use. I was playing around with lure sets when I thought about AcroBat. I can't even describe the love I have for this pokemon. I get so much satisfaction after sweeping a team with Acrobat.

Acrobatics turns into a wickedly powerful move after a swords dance. EQ gives Gliscor dual stabs that are very dangerous. Bar faster threats, I only run into trouble with skarmory and bronzong. Both of which are easily handled by my other pokemon. Substitute allows for the set-up on many status users. It also helps against sand teams, as I troll all day with Sand Veil.

Salamence (M) @ Choice Scarf​

Trait: Moxie​

EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd​

Naive Nature (+Spd, -SDef)​

- Outrage​

- Dragon Claw​

- Earthquake​

- Fire Blast

My first Moxie User, ScarfMence is one hell-of a threat to deal with. He is definately the best late-game cleaner I've used. Heatran, gliscor, and rotom-w excel at eliminating steel-types, allowing for Mence to Outrage freely. As if that wasn't enough, Mence's other two moves are dedicated to taking out steels.

Dragon Claw when ever there are steels still alive, and Outrage when they're gone. Mence is as simple as that. Scarf allows him to bypass revenge killers, and he doesn't mind being locked into one move. I think I've said all I can about him.

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Honchkrow (F) @ Life Orb​

Trait: Moxie​

EVs: 20 HP / 252 Atk / 236 Spd​

Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)​

- Substitute​

- Roost​

- Brave Bird​

- Sucker Punch

My second moxie abuser, I love this bird. First of all, lets talk about its looks. It blends grace and evil at once. Just take a gander. This may work to its advantage more than one would think. It looks pretty weak, but this thing packs one hell of a punch. I haven't been using this bird long, but I think its my new favorite mon.
I have a problem of falling for girls right away, and I think this has transcended to honchkrow.
Back to Honchkrow itself. You need to be able to predict, predict, and then predict. This pokemon is all about playing mind-games with your opponent. Honchkrow really controls a game, or it does barely anything. That is the beauty of it.

Sucker Punch is such an under-rated move; with a moxie boost, sucker punch takes care of so many pokemon. Brave bird also packs a gigantic punch. Honchkrow is the only pokemon, bar cloyster, that I have 6-0ed three different people without the help of critical hits. Sucker Punch is underestimated a lot.

Substitute is mostly used for ferrothron and jellicent to block t-wave.Roost is used to deviate the life orb and recoil damage.


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If you got this far, I'd like to thank you for taking interest.

I hope this team has given you all a new view on the wonderful ability: moxie. It has popularized pokemon and strengthened them. I tried to make this team original, with sets that aren't very standard. As long as you have moxie, you can do it. (oh and that statement about me in honchkrow's description is sadly true.




***This team is very heavily offensive and relies on either overwhelming my oppponents or the ability to surprise them. Please keep this in mind when you suggest changes***

Luvdiscs are appreciated if you enjoyed.


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Exportable:
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Rotom-W @ Leftovers Trait: Levitate
 EVs: 144 HP / 252 SAtk / 112 Spd
 Modest Nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
 - Volt Switch
 - Hydro Pump
 - Will-O-Wisp
 - Pain Split
  Deoxys-D @ Rocky Helmet
 Trait: Pressure
 EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 Spd
 Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
 - Spikes
 - Stealth Rock
 - Magic Coat
 - Taunt
  Heatran (F) @ Life Orb
 Trait: Flash Fire
 EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
 Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
 - Fire Blast
 - Earth Power
 - Flame Charge
 - Hidden Power [Ice]
  Gliscor (F) @ Flying Gem
 Trait: Sand Veil
 EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spd
 Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
 - Acrobatics
 - Earthquake
 - Swords Dance
 - Substitute
  Salamence (M) @ Choice Scarf
 Trait: Moxie
 EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
 Naive Nature (+Spd, -SDef)
 - Outrage
 - Dragon Claw
 - Earthquake
 - Fire Blast
  Honchkrow (F) @ Life Orb
 Trait: Moxie
 EVs: 20 HP / 252 Atk / 236 Spd
 Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
 - Substitute
 - Roost
 - Brave Bird
 - Sucker Punch

 

[TheStarRapper]

Let me just say that I laughed out loud at that statement about honchkrow. On to the team, it looks like you already addressed your terrakion weakness. I was thinking that replacing Magic coat with psyshock might be worthwhile. You already have taunt, and terrakion is much more common than any prankster, if you're worried about fast taunters like aero, run mental herb to taunt him first turn then get sr up.

The thing about your team is that it is so offensive, as long as you keep the enemy on their back feet, you"ll come out on top. Also, you running three flying mons sounds a bit sketchy in theory, but then I realized that krow and mence can get the jump on the common boltbeamer, Starmie, in their own ways. Good team, pretty original.

 

[bubbly]

I really do think this team would benefit from Magnezone over Heatran. All your sweepers are walled by Skarm / Bronzong. No time for a proper rate unfortunately.

 

[Lebron]

One pokemon I can think of that would cause a lot of problems is Gastrodon
who hits three mons with ice beam and walls heatran and rotom-W
So you'd probably need to get a couple of moxie boosts before taking it on
or perhaps just put hp grass on something?

Scarf Landorus is also threatening, especially in the hands of a skilled player
it's scarier than skarf terrakion in my opinion
again this is irrelavent if honchcrow gets enough boosts

Smash Passing Gorebyss is somewhat dangerous, but it wouldn't get a turn to set up, but Cloyster could, and would break through honchcrow subs.

It's funny how you presented honchcrow, who is unique and I congratulate you on originality, but your MVP would have to be Rotom-W, who's your only hope against rain ,water and Mamoswine, I suggest you sack heatran for something to fight against waters, perhaps Magnezone so that you retain your dragon counter?

Good job in all and thanks for sharing :)

 

[XcRunner]

Hey, got the PM. I don't have time for a full rate atm, but I'll come back later for it.

I'm going to absolutely agree with the Scarf Lando weakness as it is the one ruining Salamence's day. Honchkrow is able to do major damage w/ sucker punch, and stealth rock wears it down, but only Rotom-W can sort of switch into it as it can't take 2 stone edges. I'd recommend putting standard CB Scizor on the team.
Priority is always helpful on teams as offensive as yours, and it is rather bulky as well. It also helps patch up the Cloyster weakness. I'm sure you know the set.
Again, I don't have the time atm, so I'll be back later to finish my rate. GL!

 

[labarith]

Moxie Honchkrow seems like interesting tech. Speed is an issue here. If your opponent can live through a sucker punch, or worse predicts it and switches, you're in for a dead bird unless you substituted. It is too fragile to take many STAB signature moves, standing or falling on a prediction war pretty much every time he comes out. Prediction fights are rarely the sort of thing you want to get in to - failed sucker punch is functionally worse than "oopsie, I just encored a STAB super effective move"... and that's pretty darned bad.

The most immediate problem I see is the lack of rapid spinners. You're pretty much not worried about spikes, but SR sucks.

Deoxys is complete taunt bait with a speed low enough that he'll lose taunt wars. I like the rocky helmet (for fake out users), I'd feel much more comfortable with at least one offensive move here. Over Spikes, since you lack a spin blocker and spikes are notoriously teamed-against, like yours.

Being Locked into EQ on Salamence is a free switch in and set up turn - be wary. That's pretty much begging for a gyarados or Dragonite to DD on your grave.

I'd opt for Poison Heal > Sand Veil. This guy is going to be hard enough to take down in Sandstorms as is, and even if you're using flying gem/acrobatics, it'd be nice to have the option to switch into toxic. In fact, Substiture w/o PH seems like a substandard set.

 

[Gone to the beach]

Thestarrapper: Its completely true sadly. I get addicted to them after like a day lol.
- and magic coat is very useful against baton pass teams with smeargle as I'm utterly screwed. Even though Defense forme is a fast taunter, magic coat gives me a great prediction combination. But I'll playtest that mental herb a bit.
-Thanks for recongizing the flying mons and how I handle them without explanation.

bubbly: I tried using a substitute magnezone but it utterly failed to do what heatran did. He gave my opponent opportunities to set up hazards and it wasn't worth it.

lebron: -I gave rotom-w HP grass. Pain split was never being used.

-Cloyster is dangerous unless my opponent leads with it. This is what happens often thank god.
I usually taunt cloyster and switch to rotom-w for the easy k0 with volt switch.

-Mamoswine is also a threat but I usually don't go for a honckrow sweep with it or weavile still alive. I haven't encountered much for it to change my team yet.

-Landorus is very scary at times. But as you stated rotom-w usually handles him. If he becomes a big problem I will make some changes.

Labarith: -My lack of rapid spinners is an issue but not as huge as it seems because I have a lot of offensive pressure. My opponent usually doesn't have time to set them up.

-Deoxys is not taunt bait becase of magic coat.

- The issue with Salamence is true but only the weak brick break can be used for it. Besides all choice users have this problem.

-I am playtesting the gliscor with poison heal right now.


Thank you all for your suggestions. As you see, I am implementing them, not ignoring them.

 

[Episode36]

Less a team rate, and more just saying that making a team full of Moxie Pokemon, which I have done, is both fun and sometimes surprisingly effective. While this team only has two Moxie users (which is good...a full Moxie team has to resort to using crap like Mightyena), I like the idea. Moxie is such a great ability. On my full Moxie team, even if they don't kill something, they lower health so the next Moxie Pokemon can kill. It's like a late game sweep from the get go.

Anyways, just wanted to say I like the idea, and I'm positive having just a couple Moxie Pokemon with good support is far better than my stupid idea to just have all Moxie Pokemon. :P

 

[destinyunknown]

Your team looks weak to fast special attackers like Latios or Gengar, as well as some set up sweepers, especially Dragonite and opposing Salamence. You also have a slight Reuniclus weakness, as your only way of checking it is Honchkrow, who can't really switch in because of its crappy defenses. To fix those problems I think you should replace Honchkrow with Scizor, as it provides you with a check for those pokemon as well as a way of revenging boosting sweepers. Here's the set:

Scizor@Choice Band | Technician
Adamant Nature | 248 Hp / 252 Atk / 8 Spe
U-turn / Bullet Punch / Superpower / Pursuit

 

[labarith]

Labarith: -My lack of rapid spinners is an issue but not as huge as it seems because I have a lot of offensive pressure. My opponent usually doesn't have time to set them up.

As I understand it, when they see your lack of rapid spinner, their lead sets up stealth rocks.

Fair point about Deoxys, my bad.

Re: Salamence - all choice users w/ ground moves have this problem. Chances are your opponent will have 1, maybe 2 ghosts. Chances are they'll have a lot more flying/levetate guts. Your team, for example, has 4 out of 6. Brick Break is superior, being a utility move as well as super effective against a wider variety of pokemon without nearly as many free switch ins.

Question: How useful has Acrobatics been to your Gliscor? It just seems as if it's more trouble than it's worth, especially given your relative lack of problems with fighting types.