Hi all. I discovered this site a few weeks ago, and after reading up on all the new strategies, I decided to give Online battling a try. I've been addicted ever since :) Since I've literally just started playing competitively, I think I could use some advice from more seasoned members.
Anyway, here's my Sunny Day team. I just started using it yesterday and it's already propelled me into the top 4% in the Wifi category of PO, so needless to say I'm quite pleased. Still, I know there's a lot of room for improvement, so without further ado:
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1) Ninetales @ Balloon
Ability: Draught
EVs: 220 HP, 252 SpD, 36 Speed
Nature: Calm
-Fire Blast
-Energy Ball
-Roar
-Confuse Ray
This is my lead about 50% of the time. If the opposing team also has a weather setter, I usually opt to lead with Porygon 2, especially if the other team also has an Entry Hazard user. The Balloon allows me to switch in on Ground moves and change the weather in my favor--it's been surprisingly effective, actually. Fire Blast is for STAB, and Energy Ball is for those pesky Water/Rock/Ground types (including other weather setters like Politoed and Tyranitar). Roar allows me to get rid of threatening Pokemon and rack up Stealth Rock damage.
Finally, I opted for Confuse Ray over Hypnosis because, in addition to the accuracy issue and the fact that Sleep is limited to one Pokemon, Confusion becomes highly effective when coupled with Paralysis from my Porygon 2's Discharge or my Cresselia's Thunder Wave, allowing Ninetales to potentially shut down whatever's threatening it. It's also a nice way to force switches, since few opponents want to risk hitting themselves and then eating a Sun-boosted STAB Fire Blast.
2) Porygon 2 @ Evolution Stone
Ability: Trace
EVs: 252 HP, 164 Def, 92 Speed
Nature: Bold
-Discharge
-Ice Beam
-Magic Coat
-Recover
Porygon 2 serves as both a Tank and a way to avoid Stealth Rock and other Entry Hazards from potentially ruining my team. Discharge and Ice Beam are for coverage; Discharge also has a decent chance of inflicting Paralysis, which helps to cripple potentially threatening sweepers. Ice Beam has saved me countless times against Garchomp and other dragons. Magic Coat not only reflects entry hazards but also Taunts, Roars, and status-inducing moves that could otherwise spell trouble. Recover is for longevity. I usually lead with Porygon 2 to scout the other person's team, especially if I see a Stealth Rock user in their ranks. I considered using an Espeon to fulfill the same hazard-preventing role, but it's fragility means that it wouldn't survive long, even with a Sun-boosted Morning Sun.
3) Venusaur @ Life Orb
Ability: Chlorophyll
EVs: 252 ATK, 36 SpD, 220 Speed
Nature: Naughty
-Growth
-Earthquake
-Power Whip
-Hidden Power Fire
My trusty physical sweeper. I considered using Tangrowth instead, but Venusaur is faster and has the added bonus of being able to absorb Toxic Spikes. Then again, Tangrowth resists the omnipresent Earthquake...hmm. Anyway, I digress. A single Growth allows me to OHKO most opponents who don't resist my attacks. Earthquake, Power Whip and HP Fire provide impressive coverage. HP Fire in particular catches many unsuspecting Steel and Grass types off guard, often allowing me to gain the upper hand.
4) Urugamosu @ Life Orb
Ability: Flame Body
EVs: 4 DEF, 252 SpA, 252 Speed
Nature: Timid
-Butterfly Dance
-Bug Buzz
-Flame Dance
-Hidden Power Ground
And here's my special sweeper. I've swept whole teams with this thing. Provided I can find an opening for Butterfly Dance, there's almost no stopping it with its two STABs and HP Ground, which takes care of any pesky Fire or Rock Pokemon who switch in thinking they stand a chance. Flame Dance's 50% chance of raising my SpA even further is just icing on the cake. Unfortunately, Urugamosu's crippling 4x Rock weakness makes it absolutely imperative that I get rid of Stealth Rock before I send it in. Which leads me to...
5) Donphan @ Leftovers
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 252 HP, 4 ATK, 252 Defense
Nature: Impish
-Rapid Spin
-Stealth Rock
-Earthquake
-Stone Edge
Doubles as a Rapid Spinner and a Sturdy physical tank--my second line of defense against Entry Hazards after Porygon 2. Stealth Rock weakens enemy Pokemon enough that Venusaur/Urugamosu can KO them even if they don't have time to Growth/Butterfly Dance. QuakeEdge for coverage.
Last but not least...
6) Cresselia @ Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP, 108 DEF, 148 SpD
Nature: Bold
-Thunder Wave
-Moonlight
-Psychic
-Sunny Day
The beefiest member of my team, and an essential supporter. Thunder Wave spreads Paralysis across the enemy's team, crippling their offense and bringing their Speed down so that my slower Pokemon have a chance. It also synergizes well with Ninetale's Confuse Ray. Moonlight heals 66% in the sun, allowing Cresselia to tank for an absurdly long time. Psychic for STAB coverage, and Sunny Day provides my team with a backup source of sunlight should Ninetales fall. Unfortunately (and this has happened to me more than once), should Cresselia be the lone Pokemon left against a Steel, Dark, or Psychic-type, I'm screwed unless they have a status condition or Item that steadily depletes their HP (poison/Life Orb/etc.).
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If you've made it this far, thanks for reading! Again, I'm pretty much a newb, so I would appreciate any advice for making my team more effective. Thanks in advance.
Anyway, here's my Sunny Day team. I just started using it yesterday and it's already propelled me into the top 4% in the Wifi category of PO, so needless to say I'm quite pleased. Still, I know there's a lot of room for improvement, so without further ado:
****************
1) Ninetales @ Balloon
Ability: Draught
EVs: 220 HP, 252 SpD, 36 Speed
Nature: Calm
-Fire Blast
-Energy Ball
-Roar
-Confuse Ray
This is my lead about 50% of the time. If the opposing team also has a weather setter, I usually opt to lead with Porygon 2, especially if the other team also has an Entry Hazard user. The Balloon allows me to switch in on Ground moves and change the weather in my favor--it's been surprisingly effective, actually. Fire Blast is for STAB, and Energy Ball is for those pesky Water/Rock/Ground types (including other weather setters like Politoed and Tyranitar). Roar allows me to get rid of threatening Pokemon and rack up Stealth Rock damage.
Finally, I opted for Confuse Ray over Hypnosis because, in addition to the accuracy issue and the fact that Sleep is limited to one Pokemon, Confusion becomes highly effective when coupled with Paralysis from my Porygon 2's Discharge or my Cresselia's Thunder Wave, allowing Ninetales to potentially shut down whatever's threatening it. It's also a nice way to force switches, since few opponents want to risk hitting themselves and then eating a Sun-boosted STAB Fire Blast.
2) Porygon 2 @ Evolution Stone
Ability: Trace
EVs: 252 HP, 164 Def, 92 Speed
Nature: Bold
-Discharge
-Ice Beam
-Magic Coat
-Recover
Porygon 2 serves as both a Tank and a way to avoid Stealth Rock and other Entry Hazards from potentially ruining my team. Discharge and Ice Beam are for coverage; Discharge also has a decent chance of inflicting Paralysis, which helps to cripple potentially threatening sweepers. Ice Beam has saved me countless times against Garchomp and other dragons. Magic Coat not only reflects entry hazards but also Taunts, Roars, and status-inducing moves that could otherwise spell trouble. Recover is for longevity. I usually lead with Porygon 2 to scout the other person's team, especially if I see a Stealth Rock user in their ranks. I considered using an Espeon to fulfill the same hazard-preventing role, but it's fragility means that it wouldn't survive long, even with a Sun-boosted Morning Sun.
3) Venusaur @ Life Orb
Ability: Chlorophyll
EVs: 252 ATK, 36 SpD, 220 Speed
Nature: Naughty
-Growth
-Earthquake
-Power Whip
-Hidden Power Fire
My trusty physical sweeper. I considered using Tangrowth instead, but Venusaur is faster and has the added bonus of being able to absorb Toxic Spikes. Then again, Tangrowth resists the omnipresent Earthquake...hmm. Anyway, I digress. A single Growth allows me to OHKO most opponents who don't resist my attacks. Earthquake, Power Whip and HP Fire provide impressive coverage. HP Fire in particular catches many unsuspecting Steel and Grass types off guard, often allowing me to gain the upper hand.
4) Urugamosu @ Life Orb
Ability: Flame Body
EVs: 4 DEF, 252 SpA, 252 Speed
Nature: Timid
-Butterfly Dance
-Bug Buzz
-Flame Dance
-Hidden Power Ground
And here's my special sweeper. I've swept whole teams with this thing. Provided I can find an opening for Butterfly Dance, there's almost no stopping it with its two STABs and HP Ground, which takes care of any pesky Fire or Rock Pokemon who switch in thinking they stand a chance. Flame Dance's 50% chance of raising my SpA even further is just icing on the cake. Unfortunately, Urugamosu's crippling 4x Rock weakness makes it absolutely imperative that I get rid of Stealth Rock before I send it in. Which leads me to...
5) Donphan @ Leftovers
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 252 HP, 4 ATK, 252 Defense
Nature: Impish
-Rapid Spin
-Stealth Rock
-Earthquake
-Stone Edge
Doubles as a Rapid Spinner and a Sturdy physical tank--my second line of defense against Entry Hazards after Porygon 2. Stealth Rock weakens enemy Pokemon enough that Venusaur/Urugamosu can KO them even if they don't have time to Growth/Butterfly Dance. QuakeEdge for coverage.
Last but not least...
6) Cresselia @ Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP, 108 DEF, 148 SpD
Nature: Bold
-Thunder Wave
-Moonlight
-Psychic
-Sunny Day
The beefiest member of my team, and an essential supporter. Thunder Wave spreads Paralysis across the enemy's team, crippling their offense and bringing their Speed down so that my slower Pokemon have a chance. It also synergizes well with Ninetale's Confuse Ray. Moonlight heals 66% in the sun, allowing Cresselia to tank for an absurdly long time. Psychic for STAB coverage, and Sunny Day provides my team with a backup source of sunlight should Ninetales fall. Unfortunately (and this has happened to me more than once), should Cresselia be the lone Pokemon left against a Steel, Dark, or Psychic-type, I'm screwed unless they have a status condition or Item that steadily depletes their HP (poison/Life Orb/etc.).
****************
If you've made it this far, thanks for reading! Again, I'm pretty much a newb, so I would appreciate any advice for making my team more effective. Thanks in advance.
