My First OU Stall Team!

Kir

I’ve recently decided to make my first stall team. Understand that it is my first, so I’m sure it needs a lot of help.

Many of my previous teams were more geared towards just having fun with Pokemon, using some of my favorites such as Flareon and Poliwrath (although both worked out surprisingly well).

This is intended to be much different. By that, I mean a very competitive team, possibly even one that will allow me to crack the top 50 on the leader-board. I understand to some of you that is nothing, but to someone who is still fairly new to Pokemon like me, I would consider it quite the accomplishment. The team is has fared OK on the ladder so far, winning around 60-70% of the time.

I worry this team lacks some “synergy”, a word that is thrown around these forums quite a bit and is obviously something a competitive team should be full of. With that, I need your help Smogon!

Here we go. I will attempt to not ramble on about something you are all fully aware of. I cannot stand when someone does that, so I will naturally try not to myself :)

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Roserade @ Focus Sash
Timid | Natural Cure
252 Spe | 252 SpA | 4 HP
- Sleep Powder
- Toxic Spikes
- Grass Knot
- ?

As I understand it, this is a fairly standard lead for a stall team and I must say it works quite well. You all know her purpose, so I will “cut to the chase” if you will.

If HP Fire is standard on this, and it is a fairly common lead, why in the world would Forretress or Skarmory switch into it? I don’t think they would, thus I see it as a wasted moveslot. Please correct me if I’m wrong, or if I’m missing a big reason why it is so valuable on this particular Roserade. I don’t know what a good alternative would be. Maybe HP Ice to OHKO leading SpecsMence? What about HP Electric for Gyarados, whom the team has some problems with? Opinions please.

Another positive attribute to Roserade is her ability to absorb opposing Toxic Spikes so Vaporeon doesnt become completely useless, although the rest of the team isnt even affected by them.

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Bronzong @ Leftovers
Sassy | Levitate
252 HP | 128 Atk | 128 SpD
1 Speed IV
- Hypnosis
- Stealth Rock
- Gyro Ball
- Earthquake

I will honestly say that until the making of this team, I never once used the standard Bronzong. Wow, was I stupid for thinking he was overrated or what? I need not explain Zong any further than that his resistances and Stealth Rocking abilities are key to my team’s success.

1 Speed IV to maybe sleep opposing Zong’s before they get the chance to do something.

Bronzong also loves to receive Wish from Vaporeon.

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Spiritomb @ Leftovers
Bold | Pressure
252 HP | 252 Def | 4 SpD
- Dark Pulse
- Calm Mind
- Rest
- Sleep Talk

This set is pure genius. Props to whoever it was that created it.

He is absolutely essential to block Rapid Spin, Stall with Pressure, and take on status

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Vaporeon @ Leftovers
Bold | Water Absorb
188 HP | 252 Def | 48 Spe | 20 SpA
- Wish
- Protect
- Surf
- Icy Wind

I absolutely love this set. Icy Wind is one of the most underrated moves in the game, imo. I’ve had multiple people on Shoddy ask me if Icy Wind lowers speed all the time or if it is luck based, sort of like Charge Beam. The answer is yes, all the time, assuming it hits which is 95% chance.

I can 2HKO Garchomp with Icy Wind assuming no Yache Berry, and if he does have Yache I can at least cripple him by lowering the speed.

EVs look kind of sloppy. They allow me to outrun Skarmory, 2HKO the Dragons and still take tons of hits. If anyone has a better spread, I’d appreciate it.

The rest of the set is self explanatory.

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Zapdos @ Leftovers
Timid | Pressure
252 HP | 96 Spe | 160 SpA
- Substitute
- Roost
- Thunderbolt
- Hidden Power [Ice]

Zapdos is here to just stall, stall, stall. His typing is a great bonus as well. BoltBeam coverage. An all around great set. Really surproses me how bulky this guy is. Can take non STAB Ice Beams with ease (not that I reallly want him to, considering I have Vappy, Zong, and Tran). Nothing else needs to be said.

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Heatran @ Choice Scarf
Modest | Flash Fire
20 HP | 236 Spe | 252 SpA
- Fire Blast
- Earth Power
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Explosion

Again, I’m really relying on this guy for resistances. He revenge kills some threats that I may struggle with… I really find him to be pretty useful, but I’m open to any suggestions. If I have to replace him, I want it to be with some offensive presence / revenge killer. I don’t think it is a good idea to completely bypass any source of offense.

So there’s my current team. Any input is certainly appreciated and I will consider most of your suggestions. The only things I will not consider are:

- Blissey
- Garchomp
- Suicune
- Cresselia

They are my four least favorite Pokemon. As good as they may be, I’m not going to put them on my team.

Some things that I’m worried about

- Possible lack of synergy
- No phazer

Opinions Please.
 
Thanks for the reply, imperfectluck.

I'm fine with dropping Roserade, but I'm not so sure about Celebi as the replacement, in large part because I lose Toxic Spikes. I understand that Celebi and Heatran are arguably the best combination in the game, but Toxic Spikes are too important for my team, imo.

If I get rid of Roserade in favor of Celebi, then who do I drop to be able to put up Toxic Spikes, and who is the replacement Pokemon that handles the T-Spikes duty from now on?

You're right about Icy Wind. It seemed like a great idea at the time, but since I don't outspeed the dragons after -1 without lots of EVs and boosting nature, it isn't worth it. I think I will replace Icy Wind with HP Electric to take care of Gyarados, who, as I said in my first post, has repeatedly been a problem.

I will test out the Spiritomb you have suggested. Is there a particular EV spread for that Spiritomb?

I'm not keen at all on having Zong be my lead, but I suppose it is worth a try. It seems there are too many leads nowadays that are made to be able to take him on. Opinions Please.

Thanks.
 
I'm not sure If I like so many Sp. Attackers on this team..
And I say Use HP Fire as the ? move.
I agree with keeping Roserade because unlike Celebi it knows Toxic spikes.
So it's your choice.
 
You may have a valid point with the Special Attackers thing, but how much does that matter if they aren't really an attacker?

It looks on paper like I might have trouble with Blissey b/c of the spec. att. thing and that she 99 times out of 100 has Natural Cure, but I honestly haven't. If I can just keep forcing her to switch, racking up SR and eventually being able to stall her out when she is the last Pokemon on the opposing team... Or just blow her up with Tran xD. That is my favorite option lol. Btw, it is an almost guaranteed OHKO if she has no HP EVs and has max defense EVs and neutral nature (which is what is recommended in the Blissey analysis for the first two sets) if she is at full health. It is a OHKO all the time if she is anywhere but at full health. The problem with this is that if Heatran switches into Blissey, my opponent knows that something is bound to happen, so it probably isnt a good idea for me to try to get rid of her real early in the game.

Thanks again for the replies.
 
If you want a Toxic Spiker that can last a few turns unlike Roserade, for this team Foretress, Tentacruel, and Nidoqueen make good options. I'd pick either two over Tentacruel though because that would make 2 Electric Weaks.

Foretress can set up Toxic Spikes and be a great addition as it draws fire attackers to Heatran, and can give further support as a spinner and setting up Light screen.

Nidoqueen can set up Toxic Spikes, and has a good moovepool alongside that to fit a lot of roles. It can also foil a chance for Heracross/SDluke to sweep.

Also, i suggest adding HP electric on vaporeon incase you have trouble with gyarados, and if you need a phazer give Vaporeon roar, as a Suicine with a few calm minds can hurt this team pretty badly. If Heatran is down and can't explode on Blissey, she also walls this team, i think you need a bit more physical power. Who to replace im now sure, but a Rest-Talk Machamp could fit well with the team maybe?
 
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