Monotype My Dragon Gym Team

[stowaway8888]

Hey guys. So i'm a dragon gym leader on a roleplay community, and I wanted to share my team. Any advice on how to make it better/more challenging would be appreciated! Though the two rules are that I can't use legendaries/mythicals/UBs, and that my Mega can't be changed from Ampharos due to my character having a strong bond with it.

Dragonite (M) @ Lum Berry
Ability: Multiscale
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Outrage
- Fire Punch
- Dragon Dance
- Earthquake

Dragonite serves as my characters partner Pokemon, and acts as one of the main physical attackers of the team. Dragon Dance and Outrage are obvious for its Multiscale ability, while Earthquake and Fire Punch are used to counter resisting Steel types and dangerous Ice types. The Lum Berry is also an obvious choice, to get rid of the initial confusion of Outrage.

Salamence (F) @ Life Orb
Ability: Moxie
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Dragon Claw
- Iron Tail
- Fire Fang
- Earthquake

Another staple to the team is the Salamence, acting as a powerful attacker alongside Dragonite. Rather than Dragon Dance, I gave it Iron Tail to give it protection against fairies and act as somewhat of a counter. I felt that Dragon Dance may be too risky without Multiscale, though the rest of the set is about the same.

Dragalge (M) @ Black Sludge
Ability: Adaptability
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpA / 4 SpD
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Sludge Bomb
- Dragon Pulse
- Scald
- Haze

Dragalge is the main Fairy Counter of the team. Sludge Bomb + Adaptability is a great fairy killer, though I worry that it may be easily taken down by any other Pokemon before it can utilize its full potential. I also thought about putting Toxic Spikes on it, but i'm concerned that if I use it as a Toxic Spikes lead that it will get killed and I lose a Fairy counter early on in the match.

Goodra (F) @ Assault Vest
Ability: Gooey
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 248 HP / 252 SpA / 8 SpD
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Dragon Pulse
- Muddy Water
- Sludge Wave
- Flamethrower

Goodra is the team's tank and acts as a less effective counter to Fairy Types. Gooey is used over Sap Sipper as many people don't tend to bring grass types to the Gym, and lowering the speed of any Pokemon is quite useful. Sludge Wave is for said Fairy types, while Muddy Water and Flamethrower act as general coverage moves.

Kingdra (M) @ Damp Rock
Ability: Swift Swim
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Ice Beam
- Dragon Pulse
- Surf
- Rain Dance

Kingdra is the first Pokemon to usually go out, mostly to set up Rain Dance and start off a sweep with its Swift Swim. Surf and Dragon Pulse are the standard STAB moves I threw on it, with Ice Beam acting as a Dragon counter. Kingdra was more viable when I ran Special Attack Dragonite and it helped it with Thunder setup, but now it lost that viability since it moved to regular Attack.

Ampharos (M) @ Ampharosite
Ability: Static
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Thunderbolt
- Dragon Pulse
- Agility
- Focus Blast

This is my characters Mega Pokemon, one that can't be changed due to the bond the two have. While one of the weaker Megas, I think i've utilized it pretty well. Agility is to double its low speed stat to where it outspeeds a majority of the Pokemon that face it, with the few that do outspeed the Agility boost rarely used. Thunderbolt and Dragon Pulse are the standard STAB moves, with Focus Blast acting as a coverage move.

 

[vivalospride]

Welcome to Smogon! I'm locking your RMT for the time being as the forum rules require that you provide at least 3 lines of descriptions for each Pokemon to explain their roles. Please read the rules carefully and take a look at Team Showcase to see the level of detail we require. PM me with updated descriptions and I'll be happy to unlock this.

Edit: Unlocked!

 

[Lin]

Hello stowaway8888 , thank you for posting your team here. Usage of no UB/Legendary/Mythical puts Dragon into a tough spot because with your ruling we cannot use the most 3 powerful Pokemon that is present in the type. (Kyurem-B, Latios, Mega Altaria) But I will do my best to redirect you in the best way possible. Below this, you will see each mon rated individually along with your possible listed options.


Starting things off with what your team lacks, rather than commenting on the Pokemon. Major components your team lacks are;

- A Stealth Rock user.
- A Z Move user.

Stealth Rock is a fundamental move that needs to be used in every possible metagame and every possible team. The provided chip damage is essentially good as residual damage, it has some functional uses as limiting in switchins or breaking sashes. Either way, it functions as a major win condition. Unfortunately, Dragon-type teams have limited Stealth Rock users, so here I can recommend you to use Garchomp. Garchomp is a fantastic lead Pokemon for Dragon-type team with its fantastic offensive stats. Here is the recommended set for it.

Garchomp Set

Garchomp @ Focus Sash
Ability: Rough Skin
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Naive Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- Outrage / Toxic
- Fire Blast

This set is quite simple to use. Lead Garchomp if you know you can get Rocks up, and benefit. Sash lets you take down Mega Diancie, Fire Blast helps you with Steel-type Pokemon that uses this Garchomp as fodder, such as Ferrothorn and Mega Scizor. However, Fire Blast is not that required because of the reasonings I posted right below this, the revamped Kommo-o set does significantly good with its Flamethrower so a Fire-type move on this lead Garchomp is kind of unnecessary. You may consider phazing options like Roar and Dragon Tail.

Moving on with Z Move user. While this is not mandatory, the burst provided by the Z move is just too good to skip for a type like Dragon, due to the amount of offensive set up sweeper it has access to. Right now you have 2 possible users in your team, both Dragonite and Salamence can effectively use a Z move of their STAB attacks. These are further boosted with Dragon Dance from both Pokemon, thus making both Pokemon a viable Z Move sweeper. Another alternative you may consider is Kommo-o. Only part-Fighting Pokemon that Dragon team has access to, and it has its own Z move that hits for great damage, functions as an excellent mixed offensive Pokemon and even better if your Z move is successful, its every stat is increased by 1 stage.

If you wish, you can change your Dragonite's or Salamence's set, or replace Salamence to add in Kommo-o.

Option 1

Dragonite @ Choice Band / Flyinium Z
Ability: Multiscale
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Outrage
- Extreme Speed
- Fire Punch / Dragon Dance
- Superpower

Salamence @ Dragonium Z / Choice Scarf
Ability: Moxie
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Dragon Dance / Iron Tail
- Outrage
- Earthquake
- Fire Fang

Option 2

Dragonite @ Choice Band
Ability: Multiscale
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Outrage
- Extreme Speed
- Fire Punch
- Superpower

Kommo-o @ Kommonium Z
Ability: Soundproof
EVs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Naive Nature
- Clanging Scales
- Drain Punch / Close Combat
- Flamethrower
- Taunt

Now, finally starting things off with the team itself.

One major component your Dragonite needs is Extremespeed, in order to revenge kill stuff. Discarding Fire Punch for Extremespeed is a good Dragon Dance set. Alternatively, you may run a Choice Band set and replace Dragon Dance with Extremespeed, it will function similarly, Dragonite will just serve as a breaker rather than set up sweeper.

We will be discarding the entire set of Salamence. This particular set lacks Dragon Dance, which should be the main component of any Salamence build as every physically oriented Pokemon would appreciate a boost in Attack and Speed. While Salamence holds a great physical power, its Speed leave it weak against common revenge killers, because 100 is not that great for a Speed tier. Right now we have options with this Salamence;

1) Discard Salamence and replace it with Kommo-o

As I stated above, your team needs a Z user and Kommo-o is one of the greatest, easy to fit in Dragon-type teams. No further explanation is required here.

2) Make it Choice Scarf

Since Salamence has Moxie already, the need for Attack is not that crucial. You need to revenge kill one Pokemon and that gives Salamence enough power to snowball through teams. One thing it needs is Speed, and that is what Choice Scarf provides. Here is the most popular Choice Scarf set for Salamence.

Choice Scarf Salamence

Salamence @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Moxie
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Naive Nature
- Outrage
- Iron Tail
- Fire Blast
- Earthquake

3) Make it Z move with Dragon Dance

If you are not running Choice Scarf, Dragon Dance is required to boost its speed along with its attack, making it a powerful set up sweeper. However, I'm not fond of this in a team where Kommo-o can be used and Dragonite actually exists.

Moving on with Dragalge, there is no purpose of using Haze. You lack reliable recovery, you are very slow and in any circumstance, you will lose lots of HP without having any chance to recover it back when using Haze. Scald is also a waste of move slot, considering that Adaptability boosted Dragon-type STAB attacks will actually deal more damage to Ground- and Rock-type Pokemon with Draco Meteor. There are also 2 alternative routes you may follow with Dragalge.

1) Dragalge is only Dragon-type Pokemon that has access to Toxic Spikes, making it prestigious against fat types such as Normal.

Toxic Spikes Dragalge

Dragalge @ Poison Barb
Ability: Adaptability
EVs: 224 HP / 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 28 Spe
Modest Nature
- Draco Meteor
- Sludge Wave
- Toxic Spikes
- Hidden Power Fire

A quite self-explanatory set. You have 2 dual STABs, Toxic Spikes that benefits your entire team and Hidden Power Fire in order to hit to stuff like Mega Scizor. (REMINDER that if you choose not to use Kommo-o, you should keep both Hidden Power Fire and Fire Blast on Dragalge and Garchomp)

2) Dragalge has access to good coverage options and a decent typing which allows it to be a great all-out offensive Pokemon.
Here, you can use a Choice Specs with Draco Meteor, Sludge Wave, Thunderbolt and Hidden Power Fire. What you need to know is that Hydreigon is a far better wallbreaker with Choice Specs, as more speed and better coverage options allow Hydreigon to break more stuff.

There is nothing much I can say about Ampharos. However, due to the fact that you have plenty of fast Pokemon along with setup sweepers, the Agility on Ampharos is not that important. What you can do is giving Ampharos Volt Switch, which can be used to pivot easier. Dragon-type teams lack momentum heavily so I can guarantee you will profit from Volt Switch more than Agility.

Goodra itself is an interesting option to have in Dragon-type teams. Its natural bulk is somehow gaining popularity, but its current moveset is not that beneficial as you are not checking certain stuff you should be checking. Muddy Water essentially does nothing, as Gastrodon will almost always wall you, hitting to Ground-type teams is not a goal you should be aiming for. What you can do is adding in Thunderbolt in order to hit to some bulky Water-type Pokemon such as Toxapex and Mantine. Same with Dragon Pulse, rest of your team has enough Dragon-type coverage so this one seems a bit redundant, thus the need for Dragon-type attack is not really a necessity. What you can do here is running Dragon Tail over Dragon Pulse, to give Goodra a chance in phazing, to force out set up sweepers like Volcarona. This also frees you from running this on Garchomp, so you may run Toxic on it if you decide to use Garchomp.

Lastly, we have a Kingdra, which looks quite weird. In theory, Kingdra is a good Pokemon to have in rain teams. In reality, Kingdra actually relies on the rain setters to be effective, because you miss out so much when you set up the rain yourself, that results in an item loss and a move slot loss which both can be used for a better purpose. Here, my suggestion would be running Kingdra without rain as a Dragon Dance user, or not running Kingdra at all. Furthermore, Kingdra is not a fitting Pokemon to have in your team anyway, because Water-type coverage is usually not needed as you beat Fire-, Ground- and Rock-type teams regardless and another Dragon-type attack provided by Kingdra is unnecessary. The only deal here is that you lose your Ice Beam, which is still not a huge loss as it has limited uses anyway. So my suggestion here is that you needed a Pokemon to remove anyway, so we can remove Kingdra to add in Garchomp.

I hope these informations helps you out!

 

[stowaway8888]

What about the possibility of using Kommo-O as the Stealth Rock setter? And how would I keep Dragalge alive long enough to set up both Toxic Spikes/when should I do that?

 

[Lin]

In an offensive game, having both of the Toxic Spikes is kind of redundant. Your entire team has serious burst power, you will most likely force out lots of switchins. In the short term, PSN status will deal more damage than TOX and that's what you should be aiming for.

Poison will deal a fixed 12% amount damage per turn, dealing total 36% in 3 turns.
Toxic will amplify 6% each turn starting at 6%, dealing 36% total in 3 turns.

You can see here that in one or two turns, psn will actually deal more damage. Toxic will start out damaging Poison after 3 turns.


About Kommo-o, the Pokemon is indeed amazing and heavily struggles from 4MSS(Has too many good moves but can't use all of them). Factoring that it is actually quite hard to fit Stealth Rock in. It serves best as a sweeper so I wouldn't consider running as a Stealth Rock user.

 

[stowaway8888]

Thanks for the advice. One more thing - how do you feel about Hydregion or Noivern? I was considering replacing Salamence with it but I’m not sure

 

[Lin]

Both are good wallbreaker options, I would prefer Hydreigon as it has access to more important coverage options like Earth Power and Flash Cannon.

 

[stowaway8888]

Would it be wise to replace Salamence with it, or would I be better off using Salamence with a better set? (Namely dragon dance)

 

[Lin]

Would it be wise to replace Salamence with it, or would I be better off using Salamence with a better set? (Namely dragon dance)

As I stated, it is best to use Salamence as Z move user with Dragon Dance or Choice Scarf. Using Z move Dragon Dance Salamence lets you replace Kingdra with Hydreigon, while you can keep everything else in your team but lack a Garchomp. But Dragonite is a far better Dragon Dance user as its sheer power is mostly enough to sweep after a single Dragon Dance, Moxie is not needed. So you may try an alternative like this ,

Dragonite Lum berry > Flyinium Z / Dragonium Z
Salamence > Hydreigon