Monotype Water Team

Ascalon

This team seems very competitive for a monotype, but it runs into huge problems against Abommasnow, Zapdos and sometimes Celebi (with leach sead and/or calm mind). If I can improve it without loosing the monotype, it would be great.

1. Empoleon
Modest
HP:160 // Def: 96 // SpAtt: 252
Leftovers
  • Hydropump
  • Ice beam
  • Agility
  • Toxic
The EVs may look odd but they allow him impressive versitity. He can play defensively thanks to his unusual typing and good defenses and his attacks pack a punch. Hydropump is chosen over Surf as it allows for many OHKOs. Ice Beam is for coverage and Toxic messes up walls he cannot take down. Agility allows him to make up for his poor speed and become more threatening, possilby even setting up a sweep.

I find he works beautifully as a lead as most opponents expect stealth rock. Being hydropumped as a result often leads to an early OHKO. His defenses allow me to use him as a situational wall, although earthquake and close combat are troublesome.

2. Gyarados
Adamant
HP: 72 // Att: 152 // Speed: 184
Leftovers
  • Waterfall
  • Earthquake
  • Dragon Dance
  • Thunder Wave
Pretty standards Gyarados who hopes to sweep. Thunderwave cripples a number of counters and annoys opponents who he cannot otherwise threaten.

Sweeps, shoots and leaves.

3. Swampert
HP:240 // Att:28 // Def: 120 // SpA: 120
Relaxed
Leftovers
  • Earthquake
  • Surf
  • Ice Beam
  • Counter
Swampert can take physical hits will and deals with more serious physical threats with Counter, which often scores a OHKO on the likes of DD Tyranitar. Otherwise, a standard Mixpert.

The electric immunity is a godsend on water monotype team and deals with jolteon and other fast electrics who would others sweep with ease. However, his slow spead and moderate special attack make defeating Zapdos difficult.

4. Suicune
Bold
HP: 252 // Def: 252 // Speed: 4
Leftovers
  • Surf
  • Ice Beam
  • Calm Mind
  • Rest
The combination of Suicune's moves that is most useful to me. The lack of sleep talk does not hinder Suicune too much if she has managed to get a few calm minds in.

Suicune can set up against foolish Blissy and others who stay in without posing enough of a threat to force her out. Can handle both physical and special attacks and become threatening with ease.

5. Relicanth
Adamant
HP: 180 //Att: 252 // Def:76
Rock Head
Leftovers
  • Headsmash
  • Waterfall
  • Stealth Rock
  • Yawn
Yawn and stealth rock force sitches then punish them. Yawn is also usefull to scare of what Relicanth can't handle. Headsmash does massive dammage to almost everything: in combination with yawn and stealth rock, it can pose a significant threat.

High defence and useful moves allow relicanth to break down a variety of walls: even scarmory has to be careful.

6. Starmie
Timid
HP: 40 // SpA: 252 // Speed: 216
Expert belt
  • Surf
  • Ice Beam
  • Thunderbolt
  • Recover
Counters many threats with boltbeam and surf. Expert belt is chosen over life orb as this Starmie's main function is to counter threats vulnerable to its moves.


I hope I have supplied sufficient information; it is difficult to describe precisely how the team fits together, but perhaps you can see to what extent they cover each others' weaknesses and complement each others' strenghts with a little imagination.

Thank you for your time.
 
I must say, I always thought that Water along with Psychic were the best types for a monotype team... but I really don't like how you use this team because of the fact that you will get hurt by Grass pokemon and Zappy no matter what you do. So, if you want to keep the monotype and have a nice team... I would definetly use an all out offensive Rain Dance Team along with a bunch of Swift Swim abusers such as Kingdra, Ludicolo, Relicanth, Kabutops, Qwilfish among others.

But, if you feel comfortable with your team the way it is, and don't take my suggestion, then I'd really suggest replacing Empoleon with Ludicolo and EVing it in Sp Def, coupled with Leech Seed for recovery. If you're going to do this, use Swampert as a lead. Thats all I got to say basically. GL with team.
 
I'd use the Curse + Rest Talk version of Swampert myself. Swampert is doing anything that Suicuine can't do, so just switch it to the rest talk, and you have a much more formidable water, that can take hits, and sure as hell dish them out.
 
Firstly, thank you for your replies.

I just want to clarify something about my personal preferences in battle (and hence in team structure). I prefer to battle by outpredicting my opponent and by using variation on themes which are potent for their suprise factor. For instance, my Starmie is ev'd to effect some OHKOs that a rapid spinner would not be able to achieve. This leads people to assume that it is choice and often results in their dragon being ice beamed or similar. My Swampert's counter has gained me numerous kills, especially from the likes to Tyrannitar and Lucario, as has its ice beam (for some reason Mixpert is not so popular any more). I try to give all my pokemon something they can make a careless opponent suffer, from Gyarados's thunder wave (paralysis makes even Zapdos easier to take down) to Empoleon's, well, entire moveset.

The second issue is that I prefer my pokemon to be able to fight as many different opponents as possible. Obviously, this versitility has limits - Gyarados will almost always be forced to switch out against an opponent with thunderbolt - but I dislike movesets that can only do one thing or the pokemon living on borrowed time I percive in some rain dance teams.

I do like the idea of Ludicolo - I have always wanted to use one - but I am hesitant to replace Empoleon, who is suprisingly enough often the most useful poke in the team due to achieving OHKOs or 2HKOs on pokemon expecting stealth rock, his high sp att and generally good defences and typing. Also, while ludicolo may have grass neutrallity and electric resistance, it cannot really shut Zapdos or Abommasnow down (please correct me if I'm wrong, I haven't used on in a while), which are the primary problems my team has.

I have had a couple of idea but am not sure how or whether to implement them. Firstly, Starmie's recover is rarely used and potentially replacable, but I cannot think of another attack that would be really useful on it. Secondly, I have always wanted to use a Slowking, but have never really worked out how it could be done effectively. However, I have a feeling that his ablity to nasty plot, slack off and flamethrower could help me against grass types.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top