~Looks are deceiving~

[Articanus]

Probably doesn't seem like a team that's too special. SkarmBliss? Tyranitar plus Gengar? Celebi and Swampert? I just look like your usual OU whore.

However, that's precisely what I tried to avoid with the creation of this team. For one I get tired of the same sets being seen everywhere, and seeing the same pokemon. Usually I try to fix this by using lower-tiered pokemon that are generally overlooked. But even they have become stale and tasteless as they fit certain niches in the metagame, being used for pretty much the same thing over and over again.

While starting this team I decided that everything would be unexpected and still usable. They may be slightly gimmicky, but they aren't terrible none-the-less. So without further wait, let me present the players.

@ Lum Berry
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 252 HP/36 Def/220 SDef
Careful nature (+SDef, -SAtk)
- Crunch
- Stealth Rock
- Rest
- Roar

Probably my most coveted Stealth Rock starter in all of DPPtHGSS. Most people don't ever expect Tyranitar to be this bulky. It takes maybe ~35% from LO Heatran's Earth Power, to give you a rough estimate. Anyhow, all this thing does is set up the Rocks and Roar everything away. At low health Rest comes in to heal me(also helps to stall versus stall teams lol), and can be used with Lum Berry to bring me back to 100%. Crunch rounds the set with its ability to lower defense, meaning in some strange stall war(like last person Skarmory vs this beast), I will generally come out on top.

@ Shed Shell
Ability: Keen Eye
EVs: 72 HP/252 Atk/184 Spd
Adamant nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Brave Bird
- Steel Wing
- Roost
- Swords Dance

THIS! IS! SD SKARM!!!!
Yes, Swords Dance on Skarmory. People neglect the power of a STAB 120 base power with 2x the power behind it, and they find themselves in trouble more often than you'd think. They complain when Garchomp does it, what's so whrong with Skarmory? ;)
Dual STAB hits with as much power as this little bird can muster. If only I could use physical HP Ground from Advance, I could use Leftovers and not have to worry about Magnezone.....
Whatever. Roost keeps his HP high and SD boosts attack. Generally whenever I bring this out I Brave Bird first to hit stuff like Gengar and Infernape for the OHKO.... hell, even stuff like Latias is made almost completely useless.

@ Leftovers
Ability: Serene Grace
EVs: 24 HP/252 Def/176 Spd/56 SAtk
Bold nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Fire Blast
- Ice Beam
- Thunderbolt
- Softboiled

One of the more kooky EV spreads I've probably concocted. And even then its not really mine....
The idea of this is to be a check to a multitude of threats in today's metagame. This includes stuff such as Latias, Gyarados(I survive a LO DD Waterfall even after SR), Heatran, and a multitude of others. It also acts as a lure to Scizor and Salamence, who seem to want to try and set up on me. I took the attack EVs from Jabba's Blissey, maxed defense, used 24 HP EVs like Imperfectluck, and poured the rest in speed to hit 190. Outspeeds a lot of random stuff, like Scizors. Softboiled heals and makes sure I stay in top condition to be able to check team threats. Srene Grace helps to abuse my wide plethora of attack side-effects.

@ Iron Ball
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP/252 Spd/4 SAtk
Timid nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Shadow Ball
- Hidden Power [Fire]
- Protect
- Trick

Gets rid of Toxic Spikes and makes life for general counters harder. People have a hard time figuring out the set since I use both Protect and Trick, so usually I can force away Scizor's thinking I'm MysticGAR and Trick something more appropriate. Starmie seems to like coming into this for some reason.... Shadow Ball OHKOs, so I'm not arguing.

@ Choice Scarf
Ability: Torrent
EVs: 4 HP/252 Atk/252 Spd
Jolly nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Waterfall
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- Toxic

Completely unexpected. With great bulk, typing, and SR resistance, this thing is hell for most offensive teams since they have a hard time taking it down with just priority. Toxic wears down on general counters, Waterfall + EQ are double STAB while SE hits water-resisting fliers like Gyarados and Salamence. Not much else to say, really. I had some Mamoswine user cuss me out for "cheating" due to using this set. xD

@ Salac Berry
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 252 HP/80 Atk/176 Spd
Jolly nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Zen Headbutt
- Substitute
- Swords Dance
- Baton Pass

And finally, Baton Pass Celebi. People tend to forget that he can do this, and are generally unprepared for one of my sweepers having +2 Attack and +1 Speed. Zen Headbutt is used so that I can beat Mence switch-ins(Swords Dance as it comes in, SD again as it does w/e, Salac activates, kill). Seed Bomb hits a lot less other than stuff like Tyranitar, but he hasn't been an issue....yet.

I'd like to keep with the general idea of this team, which is playing with fun sets that actually work and are unexpected. Otherwise I'm honestly willing to change anything and I hope that you enjoy reading this as much as I like to play with it! ^^

 

[symphonyx64]

I don't quite understand your reasoning behind your Tyranitar's moveset. Yes, a Earth Power from Heatran will do minimal damage. But, on the other hand, you don't pack anything to take out such Heatran, leaving you completely walled by that and other various threats. I suggest replacing Roar for either Stone Edge or Earthquake.

As for your Gengar, I know you are trying to be gimmicky, but Iron Ball will easily backfire on you. Combined with your 50% speed decrease and Gengar's natural frailty , I can easily assume, without the use of prediction, Gengar will die before you are able to trick the Iron Ball onto the opposing Pokémon. Therefore, I still think a Choice Item is the most ideal item to trick. Scarf or Specs more specifically so you won't be completely crippling your Gengar if you decide not to utilize Trick right off the bat.

Defiantly replace Fire Blast with Flamethrower on Blissey. Hopefully, that change is obvious enough for you.

Finally, a threat list would be most appericated. Right off the bat I see Mixed Infernape outspeeding OHKOing 5/6's of your team. I am referring to: Gengar (If you decide to stay with Iron Ball, which I strongly oppose), Tyranitar, Skarmory, Celebi, and and Blissey.

 

[kd24]

The whole point of Swampert is he can switch it into Nape's Fire Blast or Close Combat or whatever, and just kill it as it tries to Grass Knot (to no avail). That is what makes this team a somewhat successful gimmick team.
　
I hate being a fun killer but I don't see what Skarmory has over other Swords Dancers (Lucario, Heracross) other than healing, but Skarmory is probably gonna be hurt anyway as you are focusing in on ATK/SPE. But keeping with the effective "gimmicks", a Roost/Dragon Dance/Earthquake/Dragon Claw Salamence, with perhaps Haban on something to catch Latias or whatever else offguard may actually be worth it.

 

[symphonyx64]

A smart person should be able to detect that the Swamper is Scarfed or at least a bluff is being attempted just by the fact that it is switched into one of Infernape's attacks, since Infernape is naturally faster and packs the potential to OHKO it right back anyways.

 

[august]

Sorry for this buttttt

15. As a site dedicated to competitive battling, we request that your team is as competitive as possible within its given metagame. In-game teams and gimmick teams will be closed. Battle Tower teams are permitted. "Theme Teams" are also OK as long as they demonstrate an understanding of the competitive metagame they are to be used in

To be honest this team is nothing short of a gimmick, I'm sorry but if you can convince me otherwise I may unlock it.