OK, my first mixed tier team. I've been testing this for quite a while, swapping members in and out, and I have done pretty well, seeing what works and what doesn't. This team as a whole functions decently. Basic idea here is to set up a Curselax sweep while screwing up the opponents whole team.
Anyway, lets get to it:
The Lead
Clefable @ Toxic Orb (Magic Guard)
Stealth Rock
Wish
Trick
Facade
252 H/Sp, 6 SD (Careful)
Clefable is an amazing lead, the best I've ever tried. It works like a charm - survive a hit first turn, which it usually can, and set up Rocks. In general, Clef only takes about 60% on average from things like Salamence and Tyranitar. Setting up Rocks on the first turn also lets Toxic Orb kick in, preventing any other statuses. On turn 2 I usually have a choice: Wish, Trick, Facade. Facade is very rarely used, but I have it incase I'm taunted, which in retrospect very rarely occurs. It can take as much as 60% out of fragile leads like Jolteon and Azelf. As most leads usually switch, this gives me the chance to Wish or Trick. Clefable's bulkiness often enables me to switch it in later in the match and Wish, giving a teammate another chance.
Typhlosion @ Choice Scarf (Blaze)
Overheat/Eruption
Focus Blast
Swift
Quick Attack
252 SA/Sp, 6 A (Hasty)
Standard revenge killer. I prefer Overheat over Eruption because I usually bring it out fairly late in the game, by which time rocks are almost always up. Focus Blast and Swift are for coverage, Quick Attack is a generic filler to pick off something weak. This makes a brilliant Scizor counter as many do not Bullet Punch me, leaving me free to fry them with Overheat. Many a Heatran sees this as a free switchin, but tbh I have been fairly good at predicting them and often am able to destroy it with Focus Blast.
Poliwrath @ Leftovers (Water Absorb)
Waterfall
Body Slam
Bulk Up
Substitute
252 H/D, 6 SD (Impish)
Quite simply a fantastic tank. If used correctly this can be deadly and sweep an entire team. Many physical attackers cannot dent this once it is safely behind a Sub. Against many Pokemon such as Gyarados, Umbreon, Salamence and Lucario this can hold a Sub up for several turns as they are unable to break it. It then Bulks 3 or 4 times, setting up more Subs when necessary, then KOes the opponent in turn with whichever appropriate move. Status is the only thing Poli has to worry about, and paralysis doesnt even trouble it that much. However, Burn and Poison are major threats, although these threats are slightly mitigated by Sub.
Dragonite @ Life Orb (Inner Focus)
Dragon Dance
Light Screen
Roost
Outrage
252 H, 60 A, 196 Sp (Adamant)
Bulky DDNite. TBF this is what I'm most unsure about, he doesn't really contribute much if at all to the team. Once he has one or two DDs he can usually KO his opponent with Outrage - and then gets walled by Heatran or something similar. This is the slot I've changed most - I tried Absol and Hitmonlee for priority sweepers, but they were just as ineffective. I should probably put something in this slot that can be a supporting wall, which I know I'm lacking. However, I'm kind of stuck on what.
Alakazam @ Lum Berry (Synchronize)
Psychic
Signal Beam
Focus Blast
Calm Mind
252 SA/Sp, 6 H (Timid)
My special sweeper, and a beast. Calm Mind is a great move, allowing me to survive against bulky waters and the like. Alakazam usually nets me at least 1 KO and weakens something else enough to let me set up someone else.
Snorlax @ Chesto Berry (Thick Fat)
Body Slam
Fire Punch
Curse
Rest
252 D/SD, 6 H (Sassy)
The star of the show. Using him can go two ways - either he gets wiped out, or he sets up. The EVs are for maximum defences - I find Snorlax's HP is high enough not to invest EVs in. With 2 or 3 Curses Lax can survive an Outrage from Salamence and KO back with Body Slam. It also isn't fazed by Scizor - most Scizors attack once, then begin setting up, assuming they can SD faster than I can Curse. Lax can KO with Fire Punch after 1 boost assuming SR damage.
And thats it. In general, I'm fairly happy with this team, I've mustered a fairly good record of wins with it. However, I really do want to change Dragonite. I'm also aware my team is very Kanto-themed, which isn't intentional.
Counters: This team often doesn't do too well against BP chains. Clef can usually do about 80% to lead Ninjasks when it has no Sub up, but then is usually KOed by the Lucario or similar sweeper recieving the boost. Toxic Spikes is also a problem for this team, as there is no poison type to absorb them, and no spinner either.
The lack of defense here is a problem, too. Often I have nothing I can switch in safely and have to resort to sacrificing something.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I'd rather not use legendaries or Scizor tho.
Thanks.
Anyway, lets get to it:
The Lead
Clefable @ Toxic Orb (Magic Guard)
Stealth Rock
Wish
Trick
Facade
252 H/Sp, 6 SD (Careful)
Clefable is an amazing lead, the best I've ever tried. It works like a charm - survive a hit first turn, which it usually can, and set up Rocks. In general, Clef only takes about 60% on average from things like Salamence and Tyranitar. Setting up Rocks on the first turn also lets Toxic Orb kick in, preventing any other statuses. On turn 2 I usually have a choice: Wish, Trick, Facade. Facade is very rarely used, but I have it incase I'm taunted, which in retrospect very rarely occurs. It can take as much as 60% out of fragile leads like Jolteon and Azelf. As most leads usually switch, this gives me the chance to Wish or Trick. Clefable's bulkiness often enables me to switch it in later in the match and Wish, giving a teammate another chance.
Typhlosion @ Choice Scarf (Blaze)
Overheat/Eruption
Focus Blast
Swift
Quick Attack
252 SA/Sp, 6 A (Hasty)
Standard revenge killer. I prefer Overheat over Eruption because I usually bring it out fairly late in the game, by which time rocks are almost always up. Focus Blast and Swift are for coverage, Quick Attack is a generic filler to pick off something weak. This makes a brilliant Scizor counter as many do not Bullet Punch me, leaving me free to fry them with Overheat. Many a Heatran sees this as a free switchin, but tbh I have been fairly good at predicting them and often am able to destroy it with Focus Blast.
Poliwrath @ Leftovers (Water Absorb)
Waterfall
Body Slam
Bulk Up
Substitute
252 H/D, 6 SD (Impish)
Quite simply a fantastic tank. If used correctly this can be deadly and sweep an entire team. Many physical attackers cannot dent this once it is safely behind a Sub. Against many Pokemon such as Gyarados, Umbreon, Salamence and Lucario this can hold a Sub up for several turns as they are unable to break it. It then Bulks 3 or 4 times, setting up more Subs when necessary, then KOes the opponent in turn with whichever appropriate move. Status is the only thing Poli has to worry about, and paralysis doesnt even trouble it that much. However, Burn and Poison are major threats, although these threats are slightly mitigated by Sub.
Dragonite @ Life Orb (Inner Focus)
Dragon Dance
Light Screen
Roost
Outrage
252 H, 60 A, 196 Sp (Adamant)
Bulky DDNite. TBF this is what I'm most unsure about, he doesn't really contribute much if at all to the team. Once he has one or two DDs he can usually KO his opponent with Outrage - and then gets walled by Heatran or something similar. This is the slot I've changed most - I tried Absol and Hitmonlee for priority sweepers, but they were just as ineffective. I should probably put something in this slot that can be a supporting wall, which I know I'm lacking. However, I'm kind of stuck on what.
Alakazam @ Lum Berry (Synchronize)
Psychic
Signal Beam
Focus Blast
Calm Mind
252 SA/Sp, 6 H (Timid)
My special sweeper, and a beast. Calm Mind is a great move, allowing me to survive against bulky waters and the like. Alakazam usually nets me at least 1 KO and weakens something else enough to let me set up someone else.
Snorlax @ Chesto Berry (Thick Fat)
Body Slam
Fire Punch
Curse
Rest
252 D/SD, 6 H (Sassy)
The star of the show. Using him can go two ways - either he gets wiped out, or he sets up. The EVs are for maximum defences - I find Snorlax's HP is high enough not to invest EVs in. With 2 or 3 Curses Lax can survive an Outrage from Salamence and KO back with Body Slam. It also isn't fazed by Scizor - most Scizors attack once, then begin setting up, assuming they can SD faster than I can Curse. Lax can KO with Fire Punch after 1 boost assuming SR damage.
And thats it. In general, I'm fairly happy with this team, I've mustered a fairly good record of wins with it. However, I really do want to change Dragonite. I'm also aware my team is very Kanto-themed, which isn't intentional.
Counters: This team often doesn't do too well against BP chains. Clef can usually do about 80% to lead Ninjasks when it has no Sub up, but then is usually KOed by the Lucario or similar sweeper recieving the boost. Toxic Spikes is also a problem for this team, as there is no poison type to absorb them, and no spinner either.
The lack of defense here is a problem, too. Often I have nothing I can switch in safely and have to resort to sacrificing something.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I'd rather not use legendaries or Scizor tho.
Thanks.
