Kinda hipster team but I managed to reach 1700!

[LucianoBegot]

So, my teams have always been kinda hipster, not using extremely common things like Scizor and such. Messing with the Pokemon I like I managed to create a different team and still do well in Showdown, reaching 1700 ELO with it! So I decided to share the team and know what you think.

Porygon2 @ Eviolite
Ability: Download
EVs: 252 SDef / 252 HP / 4 SAtk
Calm Nature
- Ice Beam
- Thunderbolt
- Thunder Wave
- Recover

A Defensive monster, Stops almost every special attacker and can KO lots of them thanks to a download boost. It's bulk is so good it can tank Keldeo and cripple it with Thunder Wave ( That is also very important as this team is not that fast, specially Medicham). It's normally my switch of choice when the opponent sends out a Charizard, as it tanks both of the Megas and can also paralyze the X, opening the way for the revenge kill, even after 5 DDs, but who would let it use 6 DDs? lol

252 SpA Keldeo Secret Sword vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Eviolite Porygon2: 204-240 (54.5 - 64.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

Mandibuzz (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Overcoat
EVs: 252 Def / 252 HP / 4 SDef
Impish Nature
- Foul Play
- Taunt
- Roost
- Defog

My only pokémon that is not so uncommon, but it was when I started using '-'. Great to Switch in against physical threats, can tank and kill lots of common physical behemoths and wont let them setup because of Foul Play. It's also a Complete stop to Aegislash, the famous Sword and Shield Pokémon can't do a thing to hurt Mandi and is easily KOed by Foul Play. Last but not least, defog is there for team support, Volcarona needs those rocks outta the field!

Medicham-Mega @ Medichamite
Ability: Pure Power
EVs: 252 Spd / 252 Atk / 4 SDef
Jolly Nature
IVs: 30 Atk / 30 Def
- High Jump Kick
- Zen Headbutt
- Ice Punch
- Fake Out

Mega-Cham is a great wall breaker, Gliscor and Landorus-T cry in front of Ice Punch, Fake Out helps me mega evolve and allow medicham to hit priority users and faster pokemon, great to stop sweeps sometimes. HJK is the FTW move, it's capable of OHKOing normal Scizor and damaging the mega for 90% damage, but it's a dangerous moves, I've already lost matches because of the miss T_T. Zen Headbutt OHKOes Mega Venusaur, unless it's fully defensive on the physical side, it's also good to surprise ghosts who switch in expecting a HJK. It's usually my lead, because of Fake Out + Mega, so it can activate the mega and get boosted speed and also damage the opponent's lead for decent damage.

Feel the power of HJK:

252 Atk Pure Power Mega Medicham High Jump Kick vs. 4 HP / 0 Def Latias: 193-228 (63.9 - 75.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252 Atk Pure Power Mega Medicham High Jump Kick vs. 4 HP / 0 Def Mega Charizard Y: 217-256 (72.8 - 85.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252 Atk Pure Power Mega Medicham High Jump Kick vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Azumarill: 213-251 (52.7 - 62.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252 Atk Pure Power Mega Medicham High Jump Kick vs. 4 HP / 0 Def Talonflame: 234-276 (78.5 - 92.6%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

There's no safe Switch-ins (unless it's a ghost).

Volcarona @ Focus Sash
Ability: Flame Body
EVs: 252 Spd / 252 SAtk / 4 HP
Modest Nature
- Fiery Dance
- Bug Buzz
- Hidden Power [Rock]
- Quiver Dance

The Emergency Button, Stops sweeps from Pinsir, Talonflame, Char X and lots of other setupers, Focus Sash is a life savior, after I kill the opponents' priorities it can tank a hit with the sash and setup a quiver dance to win me the game.HP Rock OHKOes Talonflame and Char Y, and hits other fire types for good damage, enough said. Was one of the key pieces to the success of the team.

Noivern @ Choice Specs
Ability: Infiltrator
EVs: 252 Spd / 252 SAtk / 4 SDef
Timid Nature
- Draco Meteor
- Air Slash
- Flamethrower
- Focus Blast

Why not Latios? Noivern's blazing speed is what makes it usable, Revenge killing the dangerous Nasty Plot Thundus-I with a OHKO Draco Meteor, it's one of the hipster things of the team, but it's a life savior sometimes, Air Slash over Hurricane is mainly due to the accuracy. It's also great to surprise some substute users, killing Keldeos behind a sub is really fun!

Roserade @ Black Sludge
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 252 SAtk / 252 HP / 4 SDef
Calm Nature
- Leaf Storm
- Sludge Bomb
- Aromatherapy
- Sleep Powder

After using Roserade I can't leave without Aromatherapy support. The Spread gives it good special bulk and high attack power, is a definite counter for Rotom-W and Azumarill, and also fairies in general ( except Gardevoir). It can also put switch-ins to sleep with Sleep Powder, that also helps when the opponent sends a steel type not called ferrothorn, people usually expect a switch, but roserades put them to sleep.

So, this is the team, it's my first RMT so I don't know if I said everything I had to, feel free to judge it.

Replay:
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/ou-104206969

 

[LucianoBegot]

Bump with a replay to show better the team's functionality, will add more if I do any other interesting battles. Currently sitting at 1774.

 

[Flamer]

Hey there!! You are at the moment very weak to Mega Pinsir and Talon. Sash Volcarona just isn't reliable enough to check said threats considering its massive weakness to SR and inability to tank their moves. That is why I recommend you replace Volc with Sp.Def Tran and Mandi with Phys.Def Skarm. Tran can either use Ancientpower/Stone Edge to wall and KO Talon or have SR + Roar to make it useless for the rest of the match. Skarm can easily just wall Pinsir and Phase with Whirlwind

 

[LucianoBegot]

Hey there!! You are at the moment very weak to Mega Pinsir and Talon. Sash Volcarona just isn't reliable enough to check said threats considering its massive weakness to SR and inability to tank their moves. That is why I recommend you replace Volc with Sp.Def Tran and Mandi with Phys.Def Skarm. Tran can either use Ancientpower/Stone Edge to wall and KO Talon or have SR + Roar to make it useless for the rest of the match. Skarm can easily just wall Pinsir and Phase with Whirlwind

Those changes leave me with the lack of a setup sweeper, but are interesting, I'll consider them, thanks for the help. Honestly, just Heatran with a air baloon should do the job. Mandi is quite useful against setupers and taunt is really a life savior sometimes.

Also:
+2 252 Atk Aerilate Mega Pinsir Return vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Mandibuzz: 345-406 (81.3 - 95.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery

and

+2 4 Atk Mandibuzz Foul Play vs. 4 HP / 0 Def Mega Pinsir: 303-357 (111.3 - 131.2%) -- guaranteed OHKO

mandi can do enough to stop pinsir

 

[Flamer]

fair enough, although having mandi instead of Skarm means you have to sack something to bring it in, not to mention SR

 

[jbtc10]

fair enough, although having mandi instead of Skarm means you have to sack something to bring it in, not to mention SR

You can bring Mandi in as the Pinsir Swords Dances, provided it's in good enough heath and rocks aren't up, and it has Defog so that should usually be the case.

Skarm is usually a better Pinsir Counter, but Mandibuzz is better against a lot of other things, and doesn't just keel over against most special attackers. Mandi actually outright kills the physical threats with Foul Play, whereas Skarm usually just phazes them, so it just delays the problem, and a special attacker could get dragged in by the Whirlwind, causing you to lose momentum. Mandi is more hipster than Skarm too, so it fits the theme better :P

 

[Kid Buu]

Congrats on your success! Let me see if I can help you with your team.

Your team looks very weak to some common sweepers and walls.

• Major Offensive Threats: Mega Charizard X (deals heavy damage, few resists), Mega Pinsir (Can Sweep at +2 with SR up), Talonflame (SD set sweeps, banded set deals heavy damage), Mega Mawile, SD Garchomp (to an extent), NP Thundurus (to an extent) Bisharp, Excadrill, Belly Drum Azumarill etc. You really dont have a solid way of stopping offensive sweepers after they set up without losing a couple mons in the process. Not sure how you managed to deal with these pokemon on the ladder, but you should fix your team to deal with them better so you can get more consistent wins.
• Major Defensive Threats: Heatran (walls nearly your entire team, can protect on Medi hi jump kick), Clefable (doesn't care about 3/6 of your mons and cm set is dangerous), SkarmBliss (always a pain to deal with), Suicune (sets up on a lot of your team), Bulky Zard X, Chesnaught, Hippowdon

Changes I would Make:

-Landorus-T over Volcarona. Volcarona is frail and easily taken down by the plethora of physical attackers in the tier. Landorus-T allows you to have stealth rocks which are important for wearing down the major threats mentioned above, as well as dealing with many physical set-up sweepers. Something like this should do the trick:

Landorus-Therian (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 HP / 208 Def / 48 Atk
Impish Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- U-turn

-Defensive/SDefensive Roserade would provide more utility. If you want a bulky attacker, mega venusaur would be a better choice (assuming you don't use medicham). A max hp max def roserade or max sdef roserade allows you to tank hits better from Azumarill and Keldeo. Also, use sludge wave, so you are not walled by chesnaught. Also, be sure to put spikes on roserade. Rest wouldn't be a bad idea because it has natural cure and it's only other form of recovery is black sludge (it gets worn down by volt turn easily)

-Defensive Porygon2 to take on phsycial attackers better. Also, specs keldeo is incredibly common:
252 SpA Choice Specs Keldeo Secret Sword vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Eviolite Porygon2: 302-356 (80.7 - 95.1%) -- 50% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock

-Excadrill or Skarmory over mandibuzz because you have a large weakness to fairy, rock, and dragon. These two steel types can both get rid of hazards and provide key resistances. Excadrill puts more offensive pressure while skarmory allows you to shuffle (which is good if you have spikes on roserade).

Hope that helps, I tried to be as in-depth as possible. Good luck, let me know if you need more help.

 

[AA-j]

Just because Noivern is faster than Latios doesn't mean its not outclassed. It's higher speed and wider movepool only keeps it from being completely outclassed.

 

[LucianoBegot]

Congrats on your success! Let me see if I can help you with your team.

Your team looks very weak to some common sweepers and walls.

• Major Offensive Threats: Mega Charizard X (deals heavy damage, few resists), Mega Pinsir (Can Sweep at +2 with SR up), Talonflame (SD set sweeps, banded set deals heavy damage), Mega Mawile, SD Garchomp (to an extent), NP Thundurus (to an extent) Bisharp, Excadrill, Belly Drum Azumarill etc. You really dont have a solid way of stopping offensive sweepers after they set up without losing a couple mons in the process. Not sure how you managed to deal with these pokemon on the ladder, but you should fix your team to deal with them better so you can get more consistent wins.
• Major Defensive Threats: Heatran (walls nearly your entire team, can protect on Medi hi jump kick), Clefable (doesn't care about 3/6 of your mons and cm set is dangerous), SkarmBliss (always a pain to deal with), Suicune (sets up on a lot of your team), Bulky Zard X, Chesnaught, Hippowdon

Changes I would Make:

-Landorus-T over Volcarona. Volcarona is frail and easily taken down by the plethora of physical attackers in the tier. Landorus-T allows you to have stealth rocks which are important for wearing down the major threats mentioned above, as well as dealing with many physical set-up sweepers. Something like this should do the trick:

Landorus-Therian (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 HP / 208 Def / 48 Atk
Impish Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- U-turn

-Defensive/SDefensive Roserade would provide more utility. If you want a bulky attacker, mega venusaur would be a better choice (assuming you don't use medicham). A max hp max def roserade or max sdef roserade allows you to tank hits better from Azumarill and Keldeo. Also, use sludge wave, so you are not walled by chesnaught. Also, be sure to put spikes on roserade. Rest wouldn't be a bad idea because it has natural cure and it's only other form of recovery is black sludge (it gets worn down by volt turn easily)

-Defensive Porygon2 to take on phsycial attackers better. Also, specs keldeo is incredibly common:
252 SpA Choice Specs Keldeo Secret Sword vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Eviolite Porygon2: 302-356 (80.7 - 95.1%) -- 50% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock

-Excadrill or Skarmory over mandibuzz because you have a large weakness to fairy, rock, and dragon. These two steel types can both get rid of hazards and provide key resistances. Excadrill puts more offensive pressure while skarmory allows you to shuffle (which is good if you have spikes on roserade).

Hope that helps, I tried to be as in-depth as possible. Good luck, let me know if you need more help.

I liked your suggestions a lot, honestly I'll try all of them, specially the excadrill part, thanks a lot for the help

 

[Jojobobo]

A small point, but is there any reason for the 30 Def and Atk IVs on Medicham? Not that they're likely to make a huge difference, but it would be worthwhile changing them.

Beyond that, I'd be inclined to change Fake Out on Medicham for Substitute with the idea that if you bring it out on something it can scare away (Blissey or what-have-you) you're guaranteed a free Pure Power hit - which with the likes of Medicham (or Mawile for what I've used on my own teams) usually scores a KO. On the plus side, it also protects against burns from Sableye switch ins and it would be unwise of the opponent to switch in Landorus-T to lower your attack on the substitute turn as even at -1 you outspeed and 2HKO with Ice Punch (easily being able to sub again if Lando switches out to avoid the 2HKO, preventing you from further Intimidate stat drops as they can't penetrate a sub). Drain Punch can sometimes have better mileage over HJK in those situations despite the awesome power, but I find HJK a risk in the first place with it's shaky accuracy.

I like your team. You seem to have your physical and special walls well established, and you've developed contigencies for tricky situations (e.g. HP Rock Sash Volcarona) - it seems if you play cleverly then you'd have a good chance of winning most games.