Team Monkey Business
Hola, welcome to another RMT of mine. I made this team with my ex-tutor Scofield cause I was at a wall as far as making reasonable teams went, and I needed one for WCOP. This team is centered around a Swords Dance Infernape sweep for two reasons. 1) Its amazing at killing stuff 2) Infernape will be amazing when Mence is gone so I won't have to change the team too much. Anyway without further ado, here goes. I will also probably take this team on the ladder after WCOP is done.
At A Glance
Changes in Italics.
Team Building Process since hide tags are being gay and wont let me do them. :/
First off, I knew I wanted to use Infernape. After making a team with a Lucario for late game sweeping, I decided Infernape would be something cool and lots of teams actually struggle with it.
Next I thought of what counters Infernape, basically Psychic-types, and fast Earthquake mons. Hmm, well CB Gyara worked well for getting rid of Lucario's counters, so I'll try him out here
I discovered recently that Jolteon is really really anti-metagame. So I figured I would try it out. Its ability to keep basically the same stuff in check that Gyarados does works really well as well as its fancy ability that lets it take Thunderbolts aimed at Gyara.
I noticed a bit of a Starmie weakness as well as a general weakness to <+1 Spe Base 100>. On my last team I didn't have a revenge killer and it screwed me over, so I made sure to pack one here. I had used Specs Rotom-W on another team, so I figured Scarf would be cool too. :)
I went with Metagross as a lead because its, imo, one of the top leads out there. Its natural bulk and high attack let it take on many leads, as well as allow it to come back in late game and absorb hits and deal out damage.
Lastly I went with Swampert. Its really bulky too, and I need it to take out Mence. Its bulk and such help it survive Draco Meteors and other things Mence can throw at me, while I can OHKO with Ice Beam.
The Team
Leading it off....
Metagross @ Lum Berry
Ability: Clear Body
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def
Adamant Nature (+Atk, - SpA)
-Stealth Rock
-Meteor Mash
-Bullet Punch
-Earthquake
.: Why this Pokemon? :.
I picked metagross, because I wanted a pokemon that wouldn't fall to faster Taunters, was strong and durable, and could hit like a trick. Also, one that could beat Machamp. It does its job very well.
.: Moveset and EVs :. The EV set is standard, max HP to maximize overall bulk, put a bunch in attack so that it can hurt stuff, rest is mostly filler. The moveset is pretty standard except for Zen Headbutt. While it seems like an odd choice, it actually helps me. Normally I hate Psychic type moves unless they are named Agility or Calm Mind.
- Stealth Rock then use Zen Headbutt as it Roars me away, then I just play around it from there.
Holding it together....
Swampert (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Torrent
EVs: 240 HP/216 Def/52 SAtk
Relaxed nature (+Def, -Spd)
- Earthquake
- Ice Beam
- Protect
- Surf
.: Why this Pokemon? :.
MixPert is my first way to answer Salamence. Provided it is a MixMence or a DDMence without +1, I can take it out 100% as long as Swampert is at like 86% or more HP. Otherwise, it dies. It also works well to scout Heatran and stuff for Hidden Power [Grass], making switching into SpecsTran/ScarfTran a lot easier for me.
.: Moveset and EVs :. EVs are Standard. Moveset it pretty standard as well. Opted out of Roar in favor of Protect so I can scout Explosions and Heatran's who may/not have Hidden Power [Grass]. Been really great at taking out Mence, not sure how big of a dick Dragonite will be now but I can find out how necessary he is.
Probably don't need this guy anymore. Odds are I will replace it with SubCharge Lanturn to fuck with Starmie and Jirachi, as well as being able to still take on Dragonite.
Lanturn (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Volt Absorb
EVs: 52 HP/56 Spd/252 SAtk/148 SDef
Modest nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Charge Beam
- Ice Beam
- Surf
- Substitute
.: Why this Pokemon? :.
I replaced Swampert with Lanturn because Salamence was banned, so I really didn't need Swampert and it was really just Spikes fodder for Forry and Skarmory and Roserade, was walled by a lot and really fucked up my team Synergy. I went with Lanturn for another reason. Its a 100% stop to Starmie. Who previously, had potential to take out a majority of my team. Lanturns great typing and Charge Beam are really cool, but really niche so it doesn't do much else. I just really hate how weak Charge Beam's base power is. Might go with T-Bolt instead of Charge Beam and test it out, and work from there.
.: Moveset and EVs :.
As explained per this thread 56 HP EVs give him 404 HP which, when divided by 4 is 101 HP subs, meaning Seismic Toss will take 2 uses to break my substitute. Speed EVs will allow you to outpace Standard Vappy, meaning I can Sub before it Toxic's or Yawns. Max Special Attack will lay out the biggest hurt I possibly can, Special Defense EVs will give Celebi only a 50% chance to break my Subs. Moveset is pretty self explainatory. Sub to block status and give me free turns to fire off Charge Beam. Ice Beam to hit Grass-types and Dragon-types. Surf is for a STAB, which I chose over H-Pump cause of the Accuracy issues. Charge Beam is my only way to raise Special Attack stat.
Picking up the peices....
Infernape (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Blaze
EVs: 4 HP/252 Atk/252 Spd
Jolly nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Close Combat
- Fire Punch
- Thunderpunch
- Swords Dance
.: Why this Pokemon? :.
The real question is, "why not?" I loved Infernape back when I first started and I whorred MixApe on every team I made, y'know "coz skarmbliss." Not much has changed, I still love Infernape but I had yet to try out the SD set. Well, I am glad I did. This thing is a monster. Changed Stone Edge to Thunderpunch since Salamence is banned so I can now reliably hit stupid shit like Gyarados and Tentacruel. Not really concerned about Dragonite since it would most likely pick me off with Extremespeed.
.: Moveset and EVs :. Pretty Standard. Close Combat + Fire Punch are a deadly dual STAB. Stone Edge is there to help me deal with Salamence and Gyarados. I much prefer this to SD Lucario, the only thing I wish is that I could carry 5 moves so I could bring Mach Punch!
Opening up room....
Gyarados (M) @ Choice Band
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 60 HP/252 Atk/196 Spd
Adamant nature (+Atk, -SpA)
- Earthquake
- Payback
- Stone Edge
- Waterfall
.: Why this Pokemon? :.
Choice Band Gyarados is probably any Physical sweepers best friend. If you have any amount of prediction or knowledge of the metagame, you can get rid of a teams primary Fighting-type stopper with Payback, since usually its a Ghost-type or Celebi/Starmie. The sheer power that comes off a Choice Banded base 125 Attack is incredible. Even if I mispredict I still hurt something, unless its with Earthquake, but you get the idea.
.: Moveset and EVs :.
Standard. All of it. I don't really have much to say, Payback for predicting Celebi/Starmie/Rotom switch-ins. Waterfall for STAB. Stone Edge so I can threaten Mence/other Gyarados. Earthquake for Steels/everything else.
The saving grace....
Rotom-w @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 Spd/252 SAtk/4 SDef
Timid nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Trick
- Thunderbolt
- Hydro Pump
- Shadow Ball
.: Why this Pokemon? :.
Rotom-W is, imo, the only Rotom-A that should ever run a Choice Item. I can just hit Hydro Pump when Tyranitar switches in and then takes them down to 46% and they are like "ffff". Its my best (and only reliable) answer to DD Gyara and DD Nite (if nite is at low HP).
.: Moveset and EVs :.
Similar to the Specs set, but with more speed. Hydro Pump is great for stupid Tyranitars. Thunderbolt + Shadow Ball are cool for dual STAB. Trick can take out Blissey/Snorlax/<wall> for the most part and I usually gain some cool leftovers recovery. :) Apparently a Max HP / Max Spe set exists, I haven't tried it, but I'm willing to hear more about it.
The second chance....
Jolteon (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Volt Absorb
EVs: 252 Spd/252 SAtk/4 SDef
Timid nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Baton Pass
- Hidden Power [Grass]
- Shadow Ball
- Thunderbolt
.: Why this Pokemon? :.
In my honest opinion, Jolteon is the most anti-metagame pokemon, and has been for some time. Its a very under the radar pokemon, much like offensive Suicune. But it packs a whallop. It beats so many things, I don't understand why it doesn't see more usage. I've gotten wrecked by it so many times I decided I would use it on my own team. I just wish it wasnt so damn frail 'cause Sandstorm and the less common Hail really fuck it up. But as far as doing what I need it to do, its spectacular.
.: Moveset and EVs :.
Thunderbolt is a great STAB move and Electric has incredible type coverage. Shadow Ball takes out Rotom-A/Gengar. Hidden Power [Grass] takes care of Swampert and hurts Gliscor pretty badly and does a sizeable chunk to Hippowdon as well. I went with Baton Pass instead of Wish so I can lure out fast and/or bulky Earthquake users who also hurt Infernape.
My Sexy Threat List
Offensive Threats
Defensive Threats
Conclusion
So thats my team and the threat list. Its served me pretty well so far, and imo its one of my best teams I've built to date. Then, again, thats not saying much. So rate/hate whatever. I will take all suggestions so long as they are reasonable and don't defeat the purpose of this team. Again, major thanks to Scofield for helping make this team.
