Lilli's Time to Shine

[XcRunner]

Eternal Sun​

Hey everyone, this is a team that I've been working on lately because I absolutely cannot stand everyone using the same cookie-cutter weather or hyper offensive Deoxys-D teams, so I decided to make a Sun team, which I've never had any success with before. After a lot of playtesting I was finally able to come up with a team that fares fairly well against a majority of the meta-game reaching about 1285 points on the ladder. I know that's not a lot, but it's much, much better than I've done with any of my past sun teams, so I figured I'd bring it to you raters to see if you can help me improve it even more.

Team Building Process

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As you could figure out based on the title of my RMT, I made this team around Lilligant, who's effectiveness I saw while playing with Katikiri's Prelude of Light team. So that was my first choice.

Since I was using Chlorophyll Lilligant, Ninetales with drought was the obvious second choice. No need for explanation here.

For my next pokemon, I wanted somebody who could actually sweep in the sun, and Volcarona does that job quite incredibly.

In order for Volcarona to be effective, I needed a rapid spinner on the team. This is when I tried thinking a little outside of the box, and I went with a defensive Cloyster with rapid spin from the Smogon analysis.

The team seemed a bit weak on the physical side, and I had just gotten a rapid spinner on the team, so I decided to go with a Dragonite to attempt sweeping from the physical spectrum.

I found myself wanting a sturdy pursuit user who could take out the Lati twins without too much difficulty because they were a major hindrance to Lilligant, and Dragonite could not set up if either of them were out. That's when I put in an expert belt Metagross with Pursuit.

I dropped the Cloyster at this point and decided on going with Donphan instead so that I could get stealth rock out on my own while maintaining rapid spin, and Donphan also has the luxury of priority ice moves along with stab Earthquake, which I desperately needed.

So on to the actual team.

Note: Changes in Red

Ninetales@leftovers
Modest
-Fire Blast
-Solarbeam
-Sunny Day
-Safeguard
128 hp/252 spA/20 spD/108 spe
This is Katakiri's Ninetales from Prelude of Light, and I must say that it's been extremely effective. I love coming in on opposing Volcarona's and stealing their power boosts while giving them -2 from my Overheat. He's obviously on the team for drought to keep the sun up for Volcarona and Lilligant to do their jobs. I'm really open to changes on the set, but I've used a few others and this one has worked the best. Edit:
I changed Ninetales to be the sunny day variant because I really needed more grass moves on the team as ss and rain teams were giving me a problem. Solarbeam really isn't viable unless sun is able to stay out for sure, and this helps. Thanks to Expert Physics for the idea!

Lilligant@life orb
Modest
-Leaf Storm
-Hidden Power Rock
-Sleep Powder
-Healing Wish
252 spA/36 spD/220 spe
This Lilligant is one of the most underrated pokemon in the whole metagame. Leaf Storm just ko's so many things in one hit, most notably Tyranitar and Politoed, while also OHKOing things such as Gliscor and Jellicent who would otherwise give my team trouble. Lilligant is not so much of a sweeper as much as she allows the rest of my team to be able to function by taking out threats to my team. HP Rock gives great coverage and allows me to hit things such as volcarona. 220 speed allows Lilligant to outspeed a +2 Modest Volcarona and hit it with HP Rock. I have yet to see that happen, but that's why I have those ev's. Max spA and Modest nature for maximum power.

Volcarona@leftovers
Bold
-Fiery Dance
-Bug Buzz
-Quiver Dance
-Morning Sun
240 hp/216 spD/52 spe
Volcarona is so devastating in the sun. I have always been a fan of Volcarona, but rapid spin support seemed like too much trouble. However, Donphan does a pretty good job at keeping rocks off of the field, and so it allows me to get Volcarona in quite often without taking any sr damage. Max speed and special attack for maximum damage with leftovers and Morning sun to give it some longevity. I found him to be bulky enough without any extra ev investments. Edit: I made him the bulkier variant to deal with physical threats better as well as to make Morning Sun much more viable. He already had all the firepower that he needed, especially after a quiver dance or two.

Dragonite@Choice Band
Adamant
-Extremespeed
-Outrage
-Earthquake
-Fire Punch
60 hp/252 att/196 spe
Dragonite is great at keeping the team together. Heatran is a large threat to my team, and he helps in taking it out with Earthquake and resisting fire moves. Lum berry stops w-o-w on the switch from hindering D-nite. I have tried Fire Punch and Extremespeed, and I have also tried a Choice Band set utilizing all 4 without DD of course. It seems like I always need to use another set. This is one of the guys I am most open to about adjustments because he works well, but I can't figure out which set to use. Edit: I made him into the bulky Choice Band set as I feel like that helps me much more overall. He hits hard right off the bat with priority in Extremespeed, and I normally just tried sweeping after 1 Dragon Dance, and now he doesn't even need that. He just comes in and starts wreaking things that Lilligant and Volcarona will clean up later.

Metagross@expert belt
Brave
-Meteor Mash/Bullet Punch
-Ice Punch
-Hidden Power Fire
-Pursuit
252 att/148 spA/108 spe
This is the ev spread from Smogon's mixed Metagross set, and I've found him to be the glue of the team. Pursuit stops the ever-annoying Lati twins from stopping some of my team cold, especially latias, and the rest of the moves are for coverage. Metagross takes a little under 90% from Landorus Earthquake and OHKO's back with Ice Punch. Also very useful for dragons not trapped by Pursuit. HP Fire catches Magnezone, Scizor, and Skarmory off guard thinking that they can take me out, get a free U-turn, or wall me respectively. I've been going back and forth on Meteor Mash and Bullet Punch. Meteor Mash is more effective in the long run, but Gengar is such a pain to my team behind a sub that I've been thinking about switching to Bullet Punch.

Last but not least,

Donphan@leftovers
Impish
-Earthquake
-Ice Shard
-Stealth Rock
-Rapid Spin
252 hp/252 def/4 spD
A rapid spinner is vital on a team like mine, relying both on Dragonite and Volcarona to do the sweeping, and he also helps me take on sandstorm teams much more easily. I picked him over Cloyster like I had previously because I wanted Stealth Rock of my own, but Donphan hasn't really shined that much more spectacularly. I'm very open to switching him, but I'm not sure of another pokemon that's able to rapid spin and stealth rock as well as him.

Threats:
One of the largest threats to my team, oddly enough, is Mamoswine. Luckily enough, he isn't used much, and when he is it's almost solely as a suicide lead. Ice Shard from his attack destroys D-nite and Lilligant, EQ kills Ninetales and Metagross, Donphand can take a few hits, but can't hit back hard enough to ko unless Mamo was previously injured.

Rotom-W is also a pain that Dragonite can handle for a time, and Lilligant can handle a few times due to resistances, but they get worn down after a while.

So that's my team!
I hoped all of you liked it, and constructive criticism would be greatly appreciated!

One Last Glance

Importable

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Ninetales (F) @ Leftovers
Trait: Drought
EVs: 128 HP / 252 SAtk / 20 SDef / 108 Spd
Modest Nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Fire Blast
- SolarBeam
- Sunny Day
- Safeguard

Lilligant (F) @ Life Orb
Trait: Chlorophyll
EVs: 252 SAtk / 60 SDef / 196 Spd
Modest Nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Sleep Powder
- Leaf Storm
- Hidden Power [Rock]
- Healing Wish

Metagross @ Expert Belt
Trait: Clear Body
EVs: 252 Atk / 148 SAtk / 108 Spd
Brave Nature (+Atk, -Spd)
- Meteor Mash
- Hidden Power [Fire]
- Ice Punch
- Pursuit

Volcarona (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Flame Body
EVs: 240 HP / 216 Def / 52 Spd
Bold Nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Fiery Dance
- Bug Buzz
- Quiver Dance
- Morning Sun

Donphan (F) @ Leftovers
Trait: Sturdy
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Def
Impish Nature (+Def, -SAtk)
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- Rapid Spin
- Ice Shard

Dragonite (M) @ Choice Band
Trait: Multiscale
EVs: 60 HP / 252 Atk / 196 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Outrage
- ExtremeSpeed
- Fire Punch
- Earthquake

 

[XcRunner]

Reserved for Threat List

 

[XcRunner]

Bump

 

[dcae]

You've got a pretty solid team. I must say, however, Timid is vital on Volca so you will not get revenged by any poke under base 100 Speed at +1, an important necessity. Also, I suggest trying out the defensive EV set on Donphan and a bulky DD Dragonite. As of now, your team is frail and therefore prone to powerful hitters such as Choice Band Terrakion or Choice Specs Latios. GL

 

[XcRunner]

Thanks for the rate!
Volcarona is working better as a Modest version for the power boost as I have yet to see a scarfed level 100 coming in on him.
Donphan is working much better bulkier, and Dragonite has seemed to be just as effective when a little bulkier, so thank you for that.

 

[Sayonara]

Hey,

Power Swap isn't too useful on your current Ninetales, since half the time you will be facing physical users. I am recommending Sunny Day over Power Swap, so you can beat Politoed by using that move when it comes in, which forces it out, which will guarantee Sun's presence until it decides to come back in. Since you have Sunny Day, Solarbeam would be great over Safeguard, since it allows you to take out bulky Water types like Gastrodon and Swampert. It also helps against the Rain.

In order for Volcarona to stay alive longer, as well as take hits better, I'm recommending a 240 HP / 216 Def / 52 Spe EV spread, with a Bold Nature. It also lets you use Morning Sun more efficiently, since you now have better bulk, on the physical side. Quiver Dance already boosts Special Defense anyways.

For Donphan, I'd go with a 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD EV spread (and an Impish Nature), since it will be used often, and it is your defensive backbone. That's why a more defensive spread would help it on the long run, already that it doesn't have access to recovery aside from Leftovers. Your team is solid, good luck!