Hello! I'm back after a brief, two-month hiatus. It seemed as if Mega Sableye was a bit under-utilized, so I decided to build a team around it. Here we go!
Sableye-Mega @ Sablenite
Ability: Magic Bounce
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
- Calm Mind
- Will-O-Wisp
- Dark Pulse
- Recover
This pesky, little monster. It used to give me fits. Now? It's my turn! Mega Sableye can set up on A LOT of the most common 'mons in the metagame (Landorus-T, Heatran to an extent, Rotom-W, etc.). The first-turn Prankster/Magic Bounce dynamic is pretty awesome. Fairies give it fits, but its teammates help account for that weakness. Magic Bounce allows for effective hazard control. These last two factors set up Sableye's primary playmate very nicely.
Talonflame @ Sky Plate
Ability: Gale Wings
EVs: 88 HP / 252 Atk / 168 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- Brave Bird
- Flare Blitz
- Roost
Polly want a Cracker? Nah bro. Polly is a Firecracker. (No? Okay. I'm sorry.) Anyway, this birdie is a straight thug. Stealth Rocks? Sableye stops that, freeing Talonflame to come in on expected fairy-type attacks and wreak havoc. I went with a Swords Dance set because it's able to sweep once other threats are deal with. T-Flame gets stopped in its tracks by the two most commonly used Pokemon in the current metagame (Landorus-T and Heatran), so...
Keldeo-Resolute @ Expert Belt
Ability: Justified
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Scald
- Hydro Pump
- Icy Wind
- Secret Sword
The Keldeo is here! It's the most effective way to get rid of both Landorus-T and Heatran. Keldeo often forces switches, which can be very advantageous. There aren't many things that want to switch into a Scald, with its 30 percent burn chance. Hydro Pump gives me a power boost when necessary. Icy Wind is primarily there because of Landorus and the Latis, but it's also a viable move for expected switches as it lower the target's speed. Finally, Secret Sword hits Chansey and Blissey hard. I went with E-Belt over Choice Specs because I value the ability to switch up my attacks.
Ferrothorn @ Leftovers
Ability: Iron Barbs
EVs: 252 HP / 88 Def / 168 SpD
Sassy Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Leech Seed
- Protect
- Power Whip
- Gyro Ball
Fire-Grass-Water cores FTW. I chose Ferrothorn over other options (like Celebi or Breloom) because it gives me another resistance against Fairy-type attacks. Mega-Sableye can't tank special attacks without boosts; therefore, it made more sense for this Ferrothorn to be oriented a bit more toward Special Defense. I went with Power Whip on Ferrothorn because of the Swamperts running around.
Gengar @ Life Orb
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Shadow Ball
- Sludge Bomb
- Focus Blast
- Taunt
Gengar is a fitting partner for M. Sableye because of its stab poison-type attacks. These three attacking moves give Gengar perfect neutral coverage (I think). I decided to run Sludge Bomb instead of Sludge Wave; while Wave did 3-5 percent more damage in normal situations, the 30 percent chance to poison the target with Bomb was a bigger benefit in my mind. Taunt is in the last spot to hinder Pokemon that wall Gengar, like Chansey or Heatran.
Landorus-T @ Leftovers
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 HP / 240 Def / 8 SpDef / 8 Spd
Impish Nature
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- Stealth Rocks
- U-Turn
There were a few things missing from the team: a physically defensive wall outside M. Sableye (and a check to Bird Spam in particular), stab ground-type attacks, and an additional resistance to electric-type attacks. Landorus-T was the most natural fit for all three of these things, whether I cared to admit it or not. This set is standard, but the slow U-Turn is a big help to this squad. (I may end up switching this 'mon out for Hippowdon, so I don't make myself more vulnerable to Bisharp. We'll see.)
That's the team! I'd greatly appreciate any help you're willing to offer! Thanks ^_^v
Sableye-Mega @ Sablenite
Ability: Magic Bounce
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
- Calm Mind
- Will-O-Wisp
- Dark Pulse
- Recover
This pesky, little monster. It used to give me fits. Now? It's my turn! Mega Sableye can set up on A LOT of the most common 'mons in the metagame (Landorus-T, Heatran to an extent, Rotom-W, etc.). The first-turn Prankster/Magic Bounce dynamic is pretty awesome. Fairies give it fits, but its teammates help account for that weakness. Magic Bounce allows for effective hazard control. These last two factors set up Sableye's primary playmate very nicely.
Talonflame @ Sky Plate
Ability: Gale Wings
EVs: 88 HP / 252 Atk / 168 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- Brave Bird
- Flare Blitz
- Roost
Polly want a Cracker? Nah bro. Polly is a Firecracker. (No? Okay. I'm sorry.) Anyway, this birdie is a straight thug. Stealth Rocks? Sableye stops that, freeing Talonflame to come in on expected fairy-type attacks and wreak havoc. I went with a Swords Dance set because it's able to sweep once other threats are deal with. T-Flame gets stopped in its tracks by the two most commonly used Pokemon in the current metagame (Landorus-T and Heatran), so...
Keldeo-Resolute @ Expert Belt
Ability: Justified
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Scald
- Hydro Pump
- Icy Wind
- Secret Sword
The Keldeo is here! It's the most effective way to get rid of both Landorus-T and Heatran. Keldeo often forces switches, which can be very advantageous. There aren't many things that want to switch into a Scald, with its 30 percent burn chance. Hydro Pump gives me a power boost when necessary. Icy Wind is primarily there because of Landorus and the Latis, but it's also a viable move for expected switches as it lower the target's speed. Finally, Secret Sword hits Chansey and Blissey hard. I went with E-Belt over Choice Specs because I value the ability to switch up my attacks.
Ferrothorn @ Leftovers
Ability: Iron Barbs
EVs: 252 HP / 88 Def / 168 SpD
Sassy Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Leech Seed
- Protect
- Power Whip
- Gyro Ball
Fire-Grass-Water cores FTW. I chose Ferrothorn over other options (like Celebi or Breloom) because it gives me another resistance against Fairy-type attacks. Mega-Sableye can't tank special attacks without boosts; therefore, it made more sense for this Ferrothorn to be oriented a bit more toward Special Defense. I went with Power Whip on Ferrothorn because of the Swamperts running around.
Gengar @ Life Orb
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Shadow Ball
- Sludge Bomb
- Focus Blast
- Taunt
Gengar is a fitting partner for M. Sableye because of its stab poison-type attacks. These three attacking moves give Gengar perfect neutral coverage (I think). I decided to run Sludge Bomb instead of Sludge Wave; while Wave did 3-5 percent more damage in normal situations, the 30 percent chance to poison the target with Bomb was a bigger benefit in my mind. Taunt is in the last spot to hinder Pokemon that wall Gengar, like Chansey or Heatran.
Landorus-T @ Leftovers
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 HP / 240 Def / 8 SpDef / 8 Spd
Impish Nature
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- Stealth Rocks
- U-Turn
There were a few things missing from the team: a physically defensive wall outside M. Sableye (and a check to Bird Spam in particular), stab ground-type attacks, and an additional resistance to electric-type attacks. Landorus-T was the most natural fit for all three of these things, whether I cared to admit it or not. This set is standard, but the slow U-Turn is a big help to this squad. (I may end up switching this 'mon out for Hippowdon, so I don't make myself more vulnerable to Bisharp. We'll see.)
That's the team! I'd greatly appreciate any help you're willing to offer! Thanks ^_^v
