I've been using this team for a while now, and while I have no real major successes to boast about I feel as though it is one of the best teams I've ever used. I always seem to miss sign ups for tournaments on here, and I haven't the time nor patience for laddering, especially with my crappy Australian internet. Hopefully that justifies why the team hasn't had any smogon success, just overlook that fact and give it some rates. It would be nice to tweak it so that it is fun to use once again.
As the name suggests the team is based around swords dance Infernape and allowing it to either make a clean sweep to finish the match or tear through 2/3 of bulky stall teams early on.
Team Building
I remember seeing how effective this poke could be a while back when the erector used to play. He cleans up the majority of his usual switch ins with the exception of those faster special attackers.
Like i said the main thing this particular Infernape has trouble with are those fast pokes like latias, starmie, scarfed rotom. Snorlax is able to switch in to all of these threats and trap them with pursuit paving the way for Infernape.
I then needed to get a more solid defensive core, and two of the biggest currents threats were cm jirachi and dd mence. I also needed a sr'er and Swampert fit perfectly.
To finish off the core of the teams defence, I added in rotom and jirachi, who work in tandem to defeat whatever other threats I have trouble with, and to also give me more offensive power. They are my counters for Gyara and Jirachi can also be used as an alternative sweeper if I decide to bring out Infernape early.
I basically then just wanted some toxic spikes support to allow Snorlax and Jirachi to take down bulky pokemon in case Infernape has failed to do so. I also find roserade to be a great lead, giving me an early advantage in tons of matches.
The Team
Roserade (M) @ Focus Sash
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 252 Spd/252 SpA/6 HP
Timid nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Sleep Powder
- Toxic Spikes
- Leaf Storm
- Hidden Power (Ground)
---
I love Roserade as a lead, and when combined with Swampert I have the advantage over 90% of other leads. I can switch in Swampert vs Metagross, Ttar and Jirachi and proceed to set up Stealth Rocks. The toxic spikes are a nice addition to my team and provides back up in case my strategy of an Infernape sweep is foiled. I have gone with HP ground over fire, just because I like being able to OHKO the many Heatran and Magnezone who seem to switch in. Sleep support is also very helpful and gives me an opportunity to switch in and set up Infernape.
Rotom-H @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 216 HP/40 SpA/252 Spe
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Trick
- Overheat
- Thunderbolt
- Shadow Ball
---
My only real fighting and U-Turn resist, which is one of the problems I’ve found with this team. Trick support is essential in this metagame, although I don’t use it all that much with this team. Rotom is generally used as a revenge killer and is also my first switch in to Lucario, Scizor. Don’t know what else to say really other than Rotom is a key component in this teams success. I was considering using a rest talk rotom since I have no status absorber and it would work as a better switch in vs scizor, but I’ll leave that up to you guys to tell me what you think
Swampert @ Leftovers
Ability: Torrent
EVs: 252 HP/252 Def/6 Atk
Relaxed Nature (+Def, -Spd)
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- Ice Beam
- Protect
---
Swampert is in the team for his stealth rock support and ability to beat +1 DD mence along with wall all types of Jirachi. Protect is there to scout and give me some much needed lefties recovery. Together with Rotom and Snorlax I have quite a strong defensive core which is capable of taking on the majority of threats. Swampert enables me to beat the majority of leads as it covers those leads which beat Roserade.
Snorlax @ Choice Band
Ability: Immunity
EVs: 6 HP/252 Atk/252 SpD
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SpA)
- Return
- Earthquake
- Fire Punch
- Pursuit
---
Snorlax’ main role is to take hits from special threats and trap those ones which threaten Infernapes sweep. Starmie, Latias and scarfed Rotom literally don’t stand a chance when I bring this guy, and he plays the most important role in this team. Return surprisingly scores tons of helpful 2hkos on things like Gliscor who switch in hoping to taunt the expected curse. Suicine is unable to set up and anything my opponent switches in is going to be taking a lot of damage. I chose to go with immunity so that Snorlax can act as somewhat of a status absorber taking on toxic, it also means that toxic spikes don’t shorten its time out on the field.
Jirachi @ Leftovers
Ability: Serene Grace
EVs: 252 HP/220 Def/36 Spe
Bold Nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Wish
- Calm Mind
- Thunderbolt
- Psychic
---
Yes I stole it from EW because it is amazing. My only dragon resist and provides further defensive bulk to the team. However the best thing about him is that he gives me an alternate pokemon capable of sweeping. Infernape isn’t able to get me a sweep 100% of the time and that is where Jirachi comes in very handy. I still can’t believe the ease in which this poke is able to set up and sweep, it is actually ridiculous. Wish support also comes in handy for Swampert and Snorlax, neither of which could be as effective without it. I LOVE THIS POKEMON.
Infernape @ Life Orb
Ability: Blaze
EVs: 252 Atk/252 Spd/6 HP
Jolly Nature (+Spd, -SpA)
- Swords Dance
- Close Combat
- Stone Edge
- Mach Punch
---
As you probably gathered, Infernape is the heart and sole of the team. He is able to sweep with ease and has a plethora of opportunities to set up. With Stealth Rock Support he is able to OHKO nearly all of his common switch ins. Most Gyara die from a boosted Stone Edge, Vaporeon dies to a boosted Close Combat and Suicine takes a shitload of damage. Priority pokes hoping to revenge him are unable to do so thanks to mach punch, scarftran and lucario are the main pokemon that mach punch is useful against. He literally sweeps in at least 80% of my matches, and I would go so far as to say he is the best late game sweeper I have ever used.
My major problems are Rest Talk Rotom, who single handedly rapes the whole team. Mix Mence also causes me lots of problems and I usually have to end up sacrificing several pokemon to lock it into an outrage.
Anyways I hope you enjoy the team, give me some rates and try and make this awesome team even better than it already is (H)
As the name suggests the team is based around swords dance Infernape and allowing it to either make a clean sweep to finish the match or tear through 2/3 of bulky stall teams early on.
Team Building
I remember seeing how effective this poke could be a while back when the erector used to play. He cleans up the majority of his usual switch ins with the exception of those faster special attackers.
Like i said the main thing this particular Infernape has trouble with are those fast pokes like latias, starmie, scarfed rotom. Snorlax is able to switch in to all of these threats and trap them with pursuit paving the way for Infernape.
I then needed to get a more solid defensive core, and two of the biggest currents threats were cm jirachi and dd mence. I also needed a sr'er and Swampert fit perfectly.
To finish off the core of the teams defence, I added in rotom and jirachi, who work in tandem to defeat whatever other threats I have trouble with, and to also give me more offensive power. They are my counters for Gyara and Jirachi can also be used as an alternative sweeper if I decide to bring out Infernape early.
I basically then just wanted some toxic spikes support to allow Snorlax and Jirachi to take down bulky pokemon in case Infernape has failed to do so. I also find roserade to be a great lead, giving me an early advantage in tons of matches.
The Team
Roserade (M) @ Focus Sash
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 252 Spd/252 SpA/6 HP
Timid nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Sleep Powder
- Toxic Spikes
- Leaf Storm
- Hidden Power (Ground)
---
I love Roserade as a lead, and when combined with Swampert I have the advantage over 90% of other leads. I can switch in Swampert vs Metagross, Ttar and Jirachi and proceed to set up Stealth Rocks. The toxic spikes are a nice addition to my team and provides back up in case my strategy of an Infernape sweep is foiled. I have gone with HP ground over fire, just because I like being able to OHKO the many Heatran and Magnezone who seem to switch in. Sleep support is also very helpful and gives me an opportunity to switch in and set up Infernape.
Rotom-H @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 216 HP/40 SpA/252 Spe
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Trick
- Overheat
- Thunderbolt
- Shadow Ball
---
My only real fighting and U-Turn resist, which is one of the problems I’ve found with this team. Trick support is essential in this metagame, although I don’t use it all that much with this team. Rotom is generally used as a revenge killer and is also my first switch in to Lucario, Scizor. Don’t know what else to say really other than Rotom is a key component in this teams success. I was considering using a rest talk rotom since I have no status absorber and it would work as a better switch in vs scizor, but I’ll leave that up to you guys to tell me what you think
Swampert @ Leftovers
Ability: Torrent
EVs: 252 HP/252 Def/6 Atk
Relaxed Nature (+Def, -Spd)
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- Ice Beam
- Protect
---
Swampert is in the team for his stealth rock support and ability to beat +1 DD mence along with wall all types of Jirachi. Protect is there to scout and give me some much needed lefties recovery. Together with Rotom and Snorlax I have quite a strong defensive core which is capable of taking on the majority of threats. Swampert enables me to beat the majority of leads as it covers those leads which beat Roserade.
Snorlax @ Choice Band
Ability: Immunity
EVs: 6 HP/252 Atk/252 SpD
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SpA)
- Return
- Earthquake
- Fire Punch
- Pursuit
---
Snorlax’ main role is to take hits from special threats and trap those ones which threaten Infernapes sweep. Starmie, Latias and scarfed Rotom literally don’t stand a chance when I bring this guy, and he plays the most important role in this team. Return surprisingly scores tons of helpful 2hkos on things like Gliscor who switch in hoping to taunt the expected curse. Suicine is unable to set up and anything my opponent switches in is going to be taking a lot of damage. I chose to go with immunity so that Snorlax can act as somewhat of a status absorber taking on toxic, it also means that toxic spikes don’t shorten its time out on the field.
Jirachi @ Leftovers
Ability: Serene Grace
EVs: 252 HP/220 Def/36 Spe
Bold Nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Wish
- Calm Mind
- Thunderbolt
- Psychic
---
Yes I stole it from EW because it is amazing. My only dragon resist and provides further defensive bulk to the team. However the best thing about him is that he gives me an alternate pokemon capable of sweeping. Infernape isn’t able to get me a sweep 100% of the time and that is where Jirachi comes in very handy. I still can’t believe the ease in which this poke is able to set up and sweep, it is actually ridiculous. Wish support also comes in handy for Swampert and Snorlax, neither of which could be as effective without it. I LOVE THIS POKEMON.
Infernape @ Life Orb
Ability: Blaze
EVs: 252 Atk/252 Spd/6 HP
Jolly Nature (+Spd, -SpA)
- Swords Dance
- Close Combat
- Stone Edge
- Mach Punch
---
As you probably gathered, Infernape is the heart and sole of the team. He is able to sweep with ease and has a plethora of opportunities to set up. With Stealth Rock Support he is able to OHKO nearly all of his common switch ins. Most Gyara die from a boosted Stone Edge, Vaporeon dies to a boosted Close Combat and Suicine takes a shitload of damage. Priority pokes hoping to revenge him are unable to do so thanks to mach punch, scarftran and lucario are the main pokemon that mach punch is useful against. He literally sweeps in at least 80% of my matches, and I would go so far as to say he is the best late game sweeper I have ever used.
My major problems are Rest Talk Rotom, who single handedly rapes the whole team. Mix Mence also causes me lots of problems and I usually have to end up sacrificing several pokemon to lock it into an outrage.
Anyways I hope you enjoy the team, give me some rates and try and make this awesome team even better than it already is (H)