Looking for Different Perspective

[Lucien Lachance]

I'm almost always asking my buddies on IRC to help me out with my teams and I'm looking for a different perspective on this very standard non-standard team.

Team Building process is lame. No one reads it, so I'm not doing it.

Terrakion @ Focus Sash
Abilty: Justified
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Close Combat
- Rock Slide
- Quick Guard
- Protect

I typically lead with Terrakion due to it blocking all priority moves with Quick Guard and then smashing the opponents with its great STAB combination. Normal Terrakions use a Jolly nature, but I find the 10% more power amazing due to all of the bulkier Pokemon in 2012 than 2011.

I'd consider using Jolly only because I'd be able to use Quick Guard to outpace Mienshao on the Fake Out.

Gengar (M) @ Ghost Gem
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 236 HP / 252 SAtk / 20 Spe
Modest Nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Shadow Ball
- Sludge Bomb
- Thunderbolt
- Protect

Most people look at Gengar's bulk and assume every hit KOs it, but Gengar has pretty good bulk. 20 Spe EVs allow it to outpace neutral base 80s with 252 Spe EVs. Gengar hits 200 SpA with the given nature and EVs, allowing it to KO standard Latias 81.25% of the time. Sludge Bomb and Thunderbolt are useful for countering Rain teams. Sludge Bomb OHKOs standard Ludicolo and Thunderbolt hits most everything else on Rain teams.

I'd switch to standard Gengar but I really like smacking Cresselia and Rain teams around. I would consider it, though.

Gastrodon-Ea (Gastrodon-East) (M) @ Rindo Berry
Ability: Storm Drain
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SAtk
Modest Nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Earth Power
- Scald
- Ice Beam
- Protect

Yeah the photo is of Gastro-West and it's really Gatro-East. Whatever.

Not only does Gastrodon destroy Rain teams, but with its great coverage, I find myself using it against several teams due to its great bulk and attacking power. I don't have to fear about Ludicolo, because with a Rindo Berry it can survive +1 Giga Drain. Nice, huh? Earth Power and Scald are two good STAB moves and Ice Beam rounds it all out.

Thundurus (M) @ Electric Gem
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spe
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Thunderbolt
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Thunder Wave
- Protect

Terrific Pokemon for every team except Trick Room. Priority Thunder Wave is the greatest thing ever, shutting down every Chlorophyll and Swift Swim sweeper, except Seismitoed. (why is he not being used?) Electric Gem gives Thunderbolt an extra power boost when I need it most. With the given nature and EVs, I outpace standard Garchomp by 1 point and I put the rest in HP.

Maybe 252 Spe to get the jump on Gengar, Lati@s and Terrakion before T-Wave, but T-Wave kind of solves all of the speed issues.

Heatran (M) @ Shuca Berry
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 52 HP / 252 SAtk / 204 Spe
Modest Nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Heat Wave
- Earth Power
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Protect

Heatran is my check for Sun, Hail, Metagross, and several other Pokemon. The EVs look weird, but 204 hits 123 speed, outpacing neutral base 70s with 252 Spe EVs, 52 HP were leftovers and were thrown in to take hits from both sides of the spectrum. Heat Wave and Earth Power hit common Pokemon like Abomosnow, Chandelure, and Metagross super effective while Hidden Power Ice is amazing coverage.

Maybe Dragon Pulse to help with Kingdra, because Hydro Pump doesn't KO after a Draco Meteor..

Scizor (M) @ Occa Berry
Ability: Technician
EVs: 212 HP / 252 Atk / 44 Spe
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Bullet Punch
- Bug Bite
- Aerial Ace
- Protect

Can you tell I don't like Rain? This is the 4th Pokemon that benefits from Rain and beats it fairly well. With 44 Spe EVs, Scizor hits 91 Speed which outpaces standard Hitmontop and Metagross. Bullet Punch is a good priority move, but I do miss the power Choice Band gives it in Singles. Bug Bite becomes 90 BP before STAB is factored in and does massive amounts of damage to Cresselia. Aerial Ace deals with common Fighting- and Grass-types.

I'm debating Flight Gem Acrobatics to OHKO Scizor and Ludicolo.

How I deal with Common Playstyles:

Rain: I typically lead Scizor / Gengar and Gastrodon with Thundurus and Gengar / Scizor in the back depending on the team. I'll occasionally use Terrakion if they're using several fliers.

Sun: Terrakion and Gastrodon are often sent out with Heatran and Thundurus in the back. I don't like to lead with my strongest pair in case I make a mistake.

Sand: This really depends on the team. Normally Terrakion is paired with Scizor to beat TTar and common Sand abusers. Heatran and Gastrodon are normally in the back to clean up.

Hail: Heatran and Scizor lead with Terrakion and Gastrodon with Terrakion in the back. Terrakion is sometimes switched out for Gengar or Thundurus depending on the style of team.

Tailwind: Thundurus and typically Terrakion are out in front. Thunder Wave ALL the Pokemon! The rest is depending on the team, but Heatran and Scizor are normally in the back to beat Cress and Metagross.

Goodstuffs: All depends on the team. Terrakion is normally up front to cancel out Hitmontops Fake Out while the rest is a toss up. Heatran and Scizor are normally used because of the popularity of Metagross and Cress.

Thanks for reading and thanks for rating!​

 

[voodoo pimp]

Interesting team, always nice to see some nonstandard sets. Seems like you're a bit too focused on countering rain, though, while my experience has been that most of the top players have left it for TR or goodstuff.

All of your Pokémon except Gastrodon are in the perfect speed range for Tailwind, so it might be worth trying to fit that in somewhere.

Also, based on the EVs, I'm guessing Heatran has the 30 Spe HP Ice spread? Changing it to 31/even/30/31/31/31 and moving the extra EVs from Spe and Def to HP would keep you from wasting 4 of them. Otherwise, you should move the 4 Def to SpD for Download mons, since it's unlikely to make much of a difference in actually taking hits either way.

 

[Lucien Lachance]

All of your Pokémon except Gastrodon are in the perfect speed range for Tailwind, so it might be worth trying to fit that in somewhere.

Also, based on the EVs, I'm guessing Heatran has the 30 Spe HP Ice spread? Changing it to 31/even/30/31/31/31 and moving the extra EVs from Spe and Def to HP would keep you from wasting 4 of them. Otherwise, you should move the 4 Def to SpD for Download mons, since it's unlikely to make much of a difference in actually taking hits either way.

It was originally a Tailwind team, but I found myself either A) never using Tailwind when I sent my tailwind user out, or B) never sending out my tailwind user. So I made it goodstuffs.

I counter rain a lot because rain is easily the best weather due to Kingdra only being weak to Dragon and the power of Rain abusers. Plus the Pokemon that counter Rain easily counter a lot of other common Pokemon in the metagame.

I'll update the EVs on Heatran.

Thanks for the rate!

 

[Lucien Lachance]

Bump.

 

[Tenodera]

Mirror Coat on Gastrodon would be handy to one-shot Ludicolo after it Giga Drains you. I think Thundurus should have max Speed, for the reasons you mentioned. What if you need him to take out a weakened Latios in the turn you put him in? Unless it turns out the HP investment is frequently significant, I don't think it's worth it.

Also, giving Thundurus the Sash would make Twaving both leads on Tailwind or weather teams much easier. It's just a suggestion as Sash Terrakion is very good as well.

 

[Lucien Lachance]

Ludicolo isn't that much of a difficulty due to Thundurus with its T-Wave and the type coverage on Gastrodon is helpful.

I'll change Thundurus to max speed.

Thanks!

 

[Dimsun]

I know this is a bit odd, and I haven't taken a huge, deep look at the team, but why not use Giga Drain on Gengar? You seem like you don't have a WHOLE lot to hit Gastro hard, and that would help. Also having Giga Drain on such a high HP set would improve the bulk and let you hit Rotom-W harder when Terrakion isn't around to throw it's weight at it.
Perhaps Giga Drain over Thunderbolt on Gengar?

 

[Lucien Lachance]

Good idea. I'll try it out! Thanks!