Hey everyone, so I have a team that's been doing pretty well on Showdown, just thought I'd run it by everyone and see if I could get any tips on how I could make it work better, stuff that ruins me that I haven't thought of, et cetera, et cetera. Thanks in advance for reading!
Electrode@Air Balloon
Aftermath
252 HP/252 Spd/4 SAtk
Timid nature
-Taunt
-Thunder Wave
-Volt Switch
-Magic Coat
Many people insist that dedicated leads have been dead since the advent of Team Preview, but I find that my teams do better when I have something to reliably come out with. Electrode is, in my opinion, one of the most underrated Pokemon I've ever seen. Its blazing base 140 speed allows it to outspeed even the likes of Talonflame and Greninja, making it fantastic for getting the jump on and paralyzing them. Spreading around that paralysis really helps Diggersby and Hydreigon as well. Taunt and Magic Coat are both lead things to mess with Pokemon that don't feel like attacking. Some may think it redundant to have both, but I find they serve different purposes. I'd rather bounce back status moves, but I'd prefer to taunt boosting moves. Finally, you may want to ask, "Well, why use Electrode over Deoxys-S?" The answer is simple, or answers; there are two. The first is Aftermath, which is a fun ability to wear things down in case I slip up and let something get set up. Aftermath can kill weakened foes or at least put them in KO range of Diggersby's Quick Attack. The second reason is Volt Switch. I always imagined that Deoxys would kill to have access to U-Turn, and I feel like I hit it on the nose. Volt Switch is fantastic on this guy, allowing him to scout and to deal some damage to things he can't do anything to before switching out into a counter.
Diggersby@Life Orb
Huge Power
252 Atk/252 Spd/4 HP
Jolly nature
-Return
-Earthquake
-Quick Attack
-Wild Charge
Diggersby, despite being made into a meme, is quite useful for dealing out insane damage and being my one priority user. This all-out attacking set is good for bringing in on the Electric attacks that Gyarados lures in and the Ghost attacks that Dusclops lures in, and he can hit back like a truck with STAB Life Orb-boosted Return or Earthquake. In addition to the power moves, Quick Attack is there to revenge weakened foes (or do something similar to Aegislash's Shadow Ball+Sneak maneuver if I force a switch). Wild Charge is there mostly as filler so I can 2HKO Skarm.
Gyarados@Gyaradosite
Intimidate (then Mold Breaker)
252 Atk/252 Spd/4 HP
Adamant nature
-Dragon Dance
-Waterfall
-Earthquake
-Substitute
If I had to choose an MVP for this team, it would probably be Gyarados. It finds endless opportunities to set up with all the Water weaknesses running around and being softened by Intimidate. In addition, the dramatic type change from Water/Flying to Water/Dark can really mess with people's heads, allowing me to pull of a Substitute on unsuspecting Pokemon who don't realize they're about to have their hits resisted or ineffective. This Pokemon has ruined many teams who dare to stand up to it, and with its massive raw Attack power and worthwhile Speed after a dance, it can sweep pretty easily. All you have to do is come in on something that doesn't threaten you (or trick something that does threaten you by mega evolving and changing your type) and set up either on the switch or by tanking attacks with MegaDos's impressive bulk. After a Dance or two (and being behind a Sub doesn't hurt), it can sweep with this nice Water/Ground coverage plus Mold Breaker, allowing it to beat Rotom-W, Gengar, and other common levitators.
Skarmory@Leftovers
Sturdy
252 HP/238 Def/24 Spd
Impish nature
-Defog
-Roost
-Toxic
-Brave Bird
A pretty standard physical walling Skarm, this guy can soak up physical hits like nothing at all while either removing entry hazards, poisoning the opposition, or spamming Brave Bird. I've found Skarmory to be a very reliable Defogger in the current meta, and it syncs well with my team anyway, also drawing electric attacks to be sponged by Diggersby. Standard everything--Defog to remove hazards, Roost for recovery, Toxic for passive damage, BB so I'm not taunt bait and so I have something to do besides sit around after the enemy is poisoned.
Hydreigon@Leftovers
Levitate
252 HP/252 SAtk/4 SDef
Modest nature
-Dragon Pulse
-Fire Blast
-Surf
-Roost
A tanky sort of Hydreigon, this guy is my main burn absorber (since it's really my only special attacker) and general pivot, with a useful typing and ability paired with good attack power and a varied movepool. Dragon Pulse is STAB, Fire Blat and Surf are coverage, and Roost allows it to recover back the health it will lose in the course of the battle. This guy is my main answer to Rotom-W and -H, the bagworm, the iron fruit, and sometimes to other Dragons if I've managed to paralyze them with Electrode first.
Dusclops@Eviolite
Frisk
252 HP/252 SDef/4 Def
Careful nature
-Toxic
-Seismic Toss
-Substitute
-Pain Split
Another set that I consider to be greatly underrated, SubSplit Dusclops is extremely fun to play and rarely goes through a game without taking down or severely crippling at least one foe. With is massive 130 dual defenses boosted further by Eviolite, it can take hits for a very long time while wearing the foe down with a combination of Toxic and Pain Split. As long as it can be poisoned or hit by Seismic Toss, Dusclops has a chance against it. A slow Substitute is in my opinion one of the best things you can have on a team, and paired with Pain Split Dusclops can often reduce a foe to around half HP without much effort. Combine this with Seismic Toss spam and we've got a surprisingly dangerous Pokemon on our hands.
That's my team, which HAS been rather successful on the Showdown ladder. I would appreciate advice and feedback to see if I can improve it further. I'm open to any and all suggestions, long as they are respectful and constructive.
Importable version:
Electrode@Air Balloon
Aftermath
252 HP/252 Spd/4 SAtk
Timid nature
-Taunt
-Thunder Wave
-Volt Switch
-Magic Coat
Many people insist that dedicated leads have been dead since the advent of Team Preview, but I find that my teams do better when I have something to reliably come out with. Electrode is, in my opinion, one of the most underrated Pokemon I've ever seen. Its blazing base 140 speed allows it to outspeed even the likes of Talonflame and Greninja, making it fantastic for getting the jump on and paralyzing them. Spreading around that paralysis really helps Diggersby and Hydreigon as well. Taunt and Magic Coat are both lead things to mess with Pokemon that don't feel like attacking. Some may think it redundant to have both, but I find they serve different purposes. I'd rather bounce back status moves, but I'd prefer to taunt boosting moves. Finally, you may want to ask, "Well, why use Electrode over Deoxys-S?" The answer is simple, or answers; there are two. The first is Aftermath, which is a fun ability to wear things down in case I slip up and let something get set up. Aftermath can kill weakened foes or at least put them in KO range of Diggersby's Quick Attack. The second reason is Volt Switch. I always imagined that Deoxys would kill to have access to U-Turn, and I feel like I hit it on the nose. Volt Switch is fantastic on this guy, allowing him to scout and to deal some damage to things he can't do anything to before switching out into a counter.
Diggersby@Life Orb
Huge Power
252 Atk/252 Spd/4 HP
Jolly nature
-Return
-Earthquake
-Quick Attack
-Wild Charge
Diggersby, despite being made into a meme, is quite useful for dealing out insane damage and being my one priority user. This all-out attacking set is good for bringing in on the Electric attacks that Gyarados lures in and the Ghost attacks that Dusclops lures in, and he can hit back like a truck with STAB Life Orb-boosted Return or Earthquake. In addition to the power moves, Quick Attack is there to revenge weakened foes (or do something similar to Aegislash's Shadow Ball+Sneak maneuver if I force a switch). Wild Charge is there mostly as filler so I can 2HKO Skarm.
Gyarados@Gyaradosite
Intimidate (then Mold Breaker)
252 Atk/252 Spd/4 HP
Adamant nature
-Dragon Dance
-Waterfall
-Earthquake
-Substitute
If I had to choose an MVP for this team, it would probably be Gyarados. It finds endless opportunities to set up with all the Water weaknesses running around and being softened by Intimidate. In addition, the dramatic type change from Water/Flying to Water/Dark can really mess with people's heads, allowing me to pull of a Substitute on unsuspecting Pokemon who don't realize they're about to have their hits resisted or ineffective. This Pokemon has ruined many teams who dare to stand up to it, and with its massive raw Attack power and worthwhile Speed after a dance, it can sweep pretty easily. All you have to do is come in on something that doesn't threaten you (or trick something that does threaten you by mega evolving and changing your type) and set up either on the switch or by tanking attacks with MegaDos's impressive bulk. After a Dance or two (and being behind a Sub doesn't hurt), it can sweep with this nice Water/Ground coverage plus Mold Breaker, allowing it to beat Rotom-W, Gengar, and other common levitators.
Skarmory@Leftovers
Sturdy
252 HP/238 Def/24 Spd
Impish nature
-Defog
-Roost
-Toxic
-Brave Bird
A pretty standard physical walling Skarm, this guy can soak up physical hits like nothing at all while either removing entry hazards, poisoning the opposition, or spamming Brave Bird. I've found Skarmory to be a very reliable Defogger in the current meta, and it syncs well with my team anyway, also drawing electric attacks to be sponged by Diggersby. Standard everything--Defog to remove hazards, Roost for recovery, Toxic for passive damage, BB so I'm not taunt bait and so I have something to do besides sit around after the enemy is poisoned.
Hydreigon@Leftovers
Levitate
252 HP/252 SAtk/4 SDef
Modest nature
-Dragon Pulse
-Fire Blast
-Surf
-Roost
A tanky sort of Hydreigon, this guy is my main burn absorber (since it's really my only special attacker) and general pivot, with a useful typing and ability paired with good attack power and a varied movepool. Dragon Pulse is STAB, Fire Blat and Surf are coverage, and Roost allows it to recover back the health it will lose in the course of the battle. This guy is my main answer to Rotom-W and -H, the bagworm, the iron fruit, and sometimes to other Dragons if I've managed to paralyze them with Electrode first.
Dusclops@Eviolite
Frisk
252 HP/252 SDef/4 Def
Careful nature
-Toxic
-Seismic Toss
-Substitute
-Pain Split
Another set that I consider to be greatly underrated, SubSplit Dusclops is extremely fun to play and rarely goes through a game without taking down or severely crippling at least one foe. With is massive 130 dual defenses boosted further by Eviolite, it can take hits for a very long time while wearing the foe down with a combination of Toxic and Pain Split. As long as it can be poisoned or hit by Seismic Toss, Dusclops has a chance against it. A slow Substitute is in my opinion one of the best things you can have on a team, and paired with Pain Split Dusclops can often reduce a foe to around half HP without much effort. Combine this with Seismic Toss spam and we've got a surprisingly dangerous Pokemon on our hands.
That's my team, which HAS been rather successful on the Showdown ladder. I would appreciate advice and feedback to see if I can improve it further. I'm open to any and all suggestions, long as they are respectful and constructive.
Importable version:
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