VGC Japanese Sand With a Twist (PEAKED 1606 IN THE PS LADDER)

Kyle Ayala

Kyle Ayala

There's been a lot of noise with Japanese Sand as of late with the basic six of ttar, driller, rotom wash, aegislash, amoonguss and salamence. Well, I wanted to put my own version of it and see if this can make the cut in a regional level and also see if this can beat a majority of the meta.
Tyranitar @ Lum Berry
Ability: Sand Stream
Level: 50
EVs: 252 HP / 212 Atk / 44 Def
Brave Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Rock Slide
- Crunch
- Low Kick
- Protect
Now i know what you're thinking. BRAVE TYRANITAR? that's crap! Well, i dont think so! For one, when its inside Trick Room, its a complete menace to society. The top megas in the game are kang mence and gardevoir. TTar 2 shots kang with low kick and ohkos with a helping hand boost. it also 2 shots mega mence after an intimidate. Let me show you some calcs. 212+ Atk Tyranitar Helping Hand Low Kick (100 BP) vs. 4 HP / 0 Def Mega Kangaskhan: 188-222 (103.8 - 122.6%) -- guaranteed OHKO
212+ Atk Tyranitar Rock Slide vs. 52 HP / 4 Def Mega Salamence: 84-102 (47.4 - 57.6%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after sandstorm damage 212+ Atk Tyranitar Low Kick (120 BP) vs. 252 HP / 4 Def Heatran: 142-168 (71.7 - 84.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

Cresselia @ Safety Goggles
Ability: Levitate
Level: 50
EVs: 252 HP / 92 Def / 164 SpA
Quiet Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Ice Beam
- Psychic
- Helping Hand
- Trick Room
Well, this isnt your basic cress spread. A lot of people complain how cress is dead weight all the time> Well, that's because they dont invest to get ohkos. psychic has a chance to OHKO terrakion from full, Ice beam is a guaranteed OHKO on non AV'd Lando, unless they put stupis amount of bulk. The helping hand puts in a lot of work in the long run since cresselia's partner, salamence, appreciates it a lot to pick up those OHKO's. This is known as my HOO HAH strategy. It is a reference to smash bros. well, its basically a HH double edge, which is m strongest attack by leaps and bounds. Here's some calcs:
164+ SpA Cresselia Ice Beam vs. 12 HP / 4 SpD Landorus-T: 172-204 (103.6 - 122.8%) -- guaranteed OHKO

Salamence @ Salamencite
Ability: Intimidate
Level: 50
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Double-Edge
- Roost
- Protect
- Earthquake
Now i know what you're gonna say. Roost mega salamence, isnt that a singles move? Well, you may be right, but for the hoo hah to work, mence has to roost off some damage. besides that, this is a cookie cutter mence. I'll probably have to optimize it later, but for now, its doing what i want it to do, which is to dent or KO a lot of pokemon. Lets look at some calcs:
1 252+ Atk Aerilate Mega Salamence Double-Edge vs. 12 HP / 92 Def Landorus-T: 105-124 (63.2 - 74.6%) -- guaranteed 2HKO That's -1 and it still 2 shots. 252+ Atk Aerilate Mega Salamence Double-Edge vs. 92 HP / 116 Def Sylveon: 190-225 (104.3 - 123.6%) -- guaranteed OHKO now, lets look at some HOO-HAH calcs: 252+ Atk Aerilate Mega Salamence Helping Hand Double-Edge vs. 236 HP / 156+ Def Milotic: 220-259 (110 - 129.5%) -- guaranteed OHKO 252+ Atk Aerilate Mega Salamence Helping Hand Double-Edge vs. 212 HP / 60 Def Mega Kangaskhan: 222-262 (107.2 - 126.5%) -- guaranteed OHKO
Milotic @ Sitrus Berry
Ability: Competitive
Level: 50
EVs: 252 HP / 156 Def / 36 SpA / 36 SpD / 28 Spe
Bold Nature
- Scald
- Ice Beam
- Protect
- Recover
Well, milotic is a last addition because i didnt know how i was gonna use her. Like, 1/2 my team is physical, so intimidate was just always there for her. also, i wanted another reliable killer for lando. so it was either wash rotom or milotic. but i already had amoonguss, which im gonna talk about later. I put 28 speed so i can outspeed other milotics and 4 speed cunes. who knows, it may come clutch.
I put some bulk so i can survive some attacks like double edge from mence and kang. Here are some calcs: 36 SpA Milotic Ice Beam vs. 4 HP / 0 SpD Mega Salamence: 156-188 (91.2 - 109.9%) -- 56.3% chance to OHKO 252+ Atk Aerilate Mega Salamence Double-Edge vs. 252 HP / 156+ Def Milotic: 147-174 (72.7 - 86.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO 252+ Atk Parental Bond Mega Kangaskhan Double-Edge vs. 252 HP / 156+ Def Milotic: 153-181 (75.7 - 89.6%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
Amoonguss @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Regenerator
Level: 50
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpA
Relaxed Nature
- Giga Drain
- Spore
- Rage Powder
- Gastro Acid
Well the spread isnt too crazy, I just want this to sponge up hits and put things to sleep. With some good reads, its possible. anyway, gastro acid is for threats like sylveon if i ever get into the situation that im staring it or another fairy down that has pixilate and i just wanna suppress that, click acid and my salamence is safe to do whatever it wants.
Excadrill @ Focus Sash
Ability: Sand Rush
Level: 50
EVs: 44 HP / 252 Atk / 60 Def / 4 SpD / 154 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Iron Head
- Earthquake
- Rock Slide
- Protect
This driller hits 254 speed after sand rush. it is built to outspeed univested base 85s after tailwind. it also gets the jump on bisharps after tailwind. the moveset is pretty standard as far as excadrill goes. It can do some work versus the right teams like sun when zard is dead or has only 2 pokemon left. suicune with 60 invest hits 113 but 113 * 2 = 226 < 254. bisharp hits 122 and 122 * 2 = 244 < 254.

Well, there you have it, my RMT! Pretty sure i went pretty specific so if you guysm got any thoughts on my team, lmk.
 
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Kyle Ayala said:
bump
Click to expand...
I don't think anyone has rated this team cause it is pretty darn good. (probably better than me XD) Just an Amoonguss spread I've been using is 252 HP / 212 Def / 44 SpD. It increases the special defense a bit and still allows you to survive Jolly Mega Metagross Zen Headbutt and now almost always survive Mega Gardevoir's Psychic.

Just some calcs
252 Atk Tough Claws Mega Metagross Zen Headbutt vs. 252 HP / 212+ Def Amoonguss: 186-218 (84.1 - 98.6%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252+ SpA Gardevoir Psychic vs. 252 HP / 44 SpD Amoonguss: 186-222 (84.1 - 100.4%) -- 6.3% chance to OHKO
Click to expand...
 
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Before I go into my rate, there's something that needs to be clarified. Here's the calc that Mishimono gave you:

252+ SpA Gardevoir Psychic vs. 252 HP / 44 SpD Amoonguss: 186-222 (84.1 - 100.4%) -- 6.3% chance to OHKO

Here's the calc Mishimono meant to give you:

252+ SpA Mega Gardevoir Psychic vs. 252 HP / 44 SpD Amoonguss: 228-270 (103.1 - 122.1%) -- guaranteed OHKO

Now, with that said there's nothing wrong with his spread. You have enough physical defense and the extra SpD doesn't hurt, however you'll need to chose between physically defensive or specially defensive in terms of overall spread focus. Because of the physical metagame and the fact that spread moves tend to be physical, I suggest you keep your physically defensive spread. I would, however, advise using Protect over Gastro Acid. Besides the fact that Protect is a great move in general, Gastro Acid doesn't have much over Spore. Why Gastro Acid a Sylveon when you can just Spore it? Same goes for Kang, or Mence, or Mawile. I mean, sure, it would be good against Grass types like Breloom and Mega-Venusaur, however Breloom can just Spore things without Technician and your answers to Mega-Venu don't benefit from the removal of Thick Fat.

For Salamence, I suggest you consider a special set. Roost has always seemed like a wasted move on Mega-Mence to me since it costs you all types of momentum every time you use it. Japan Sand Mence is Special for a reason. Not only does Excadrill Earthquake much better than Salamence, but with Hyper Voice you can fire off two spread moves in the same turn with complementary type coverage and everything. Draco Meteor is good for nuking opposing Mega-Mence and slower Dragons like the Latis and Hydreigon while something like Fire Blast would also give you a way to hit Scizor. I'd also like to note right now, if you opponent:

1.) Has a Ferrothorn

and

2.) Has a basic understanding of threat conservation

Then you just lose. No if ands or buts (only crits could save you). I would reccommend a fully special Timid set since most of the things that Double Edge hits aren't big fans of Excadrill in Sand (looking at you Gardevoir and Sylveon). Still, if you want to run physical Mence then more power to you I guess. Should you make that choice, then perhaps this will be helpful. That's Ray Rizzo's team report about his Worlds winning 2012 team. Though it bears only a passing resemblance to what you have, the Trick Room Tyranitar got me thinking about it. Ray's Ttar used Fire Punch which, while a poor alternative to Fire Blast, is something for Ferrothorn. The Swagger Cresselia is also an interesting aspect of Ray's team. While you can't Swagger a Metagross because you don't have one, your Lum Tyranitar certainly wouldn't mind firing off +2 Rock Slides under Trick Room. Considering that Helping Hand achieves a weaker version of the same thing, I'd at least consider it.

Swagger Cress

Pros:
  • Allows your Tyranitar to get up to +2
  • Is a permanent boost, unless Tyranitar is forced to switch out
  • If you can't hit your opponent, you can Swagger them (Swagger wins games)
  • Cress has the bulk to use Swagger both in and out of Trick Room

Cons:
  • Swagger only has 90% accuracy
  • You can't boost Excadrill or Salamence's attack power with it (safely)
  • You're Taunt bait (at least Helping Hand goes before Taunt)
So, those are most of my thoughts. Hope you found them helpful, and if you have any questions don't hesitate to ask!
 
Serapis said:
Before I go into my rate, there's something that needs to be clarified. Here's the calc that Mishimono gave you:

252+ SpA Gardevoir Psychic vs. 252 HP / 44 SpD Amoonguss: 186-222 (84.1 - 100.4%) -- 6.3% chance to OHKO

Here's the calc Mishimono meant to give you:

252+ SpA Mega Gardevoir Psychic vs. 252 HP / 44 SpD Amoonguss: 228-270 (103.1 - 122.1%) -- guaranteed OHKO

Now, with that said there's nothing wrong with his spread. You have enough physical defense and the extra SpD doesn't hurt, however you'll need to chose between physically defensive or specially defensive in terms of overall spread focus. Because of the physical metagame and the fact that spread moves tend to be physical, I suggest you keep your physically defensive spread. I would, however, advise using Protect over Gastro Acid. Besides the fact that Protect is a great move in general, Gastro Acid doesn't have much over Spore. Why Gastro Acid a Sylveon when you can just Spore it? Same goes for Kang, or Mence, or Mawile. I mean, sure, it would be good against Grass types like Breloom and Mega-Venusaur, however Breloom can just Spore things without Technician and your answers to Mega-Venu don't benefit from the removal of Thick Fat.

For Salamence, I suggest you consider a special set. Roost has always seemed like a wasted move on Mega-Mence to me since it costs you all types of momentum every time you use it. Japan Sand Mence is Special for a reason. Not only does Excadrill Earthquake much better than Salamence, but with Hyper Voice you can fire off two spread moves in the same turn with complementary type coverage and everything. Draco Meteor is good for nuking opposing Mega-Mence and slower Dragons like the Latis and Hydreigon while something like Fire Blast would also give you a way to hit Scizor. I'd also like to note right now, if you opponent:

1.) Has a Ferrothorn

and

2.) Has a basic understanding of threat conservation

Then you just lose. No if ands or buts (only crits could save you). I would reccommend a fully special Timid set since most of the things that Double Edge hits aren't big fans of Excadrill in Sand (looking at you Gardevoir and Sylveon). Still, if you want to run physical Mence then more power to you I guess. Should you make that choice, then perhaps this will be helpful. That's Ray Rizzo's team report about his Worlds winning 2012 team. Though it bears only a passing resemblance to what you have, the Trick Room Tyranitar got me thinking about it. Ray's Ttar used Fire Punch which, while a poor alternative to Fire Blast, is something for Ferrothorn. The Swagger Cresselia is also an interesting aspect of Ray's team. While you can't Swagger a Metagross because you don't have one, your Lum Tyranitar certainly wouldn't mind firing off +2 Rock Slides under Trick Room. Considering that Helping Hand achieves a weaker version of the same thing, I'd at least consider it.

Swagger Cress

Pros:
  • Allows your Tyranitar to get up to +2
  • Is a permanent boost, unless Tyranitar is forced to switch out
  • If you can't hit your opponent, you can Swagger them (Swagger wins games)
  • Cress has the bulk to use Swagger both in and out of Trick Room

Cons:
  • Swagger only has 90% accuracy
  • You can't boost Excadrill or Salamence's attack power with it (safely)
  • You're Taunt bait (at least Helping Hand goes before Taunt)
So, those are most of my thoughts. Hope you found them helpful, and if you have any questions don't hesitate to ask!
Click to expand...
 
For the damage calc I accidently used normal Gardevoir. I thought it was weird that it was surviving that. Sorry if I caused confusion.
 
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