Hey guys this is Letters here. This will be my first RMT on the Smogon forums. I find great pleasure in building strong teams and I love it when I see how successful I can be with my teams. I always base my teams around a central gimmick but this time it will be different. I guess I can be considered a hipster of teambuilding, but without further ado I'd like to get on with the team/ First a little background on why this team was built. I wanted to feature two of my favorite pokes (Honchkrow and Empoleon) in my favorite tier and build a relatively solid and successful team. So anyway, onward to the teambuilding process.
At A Glance
Teambuilding
So like stated earlier, I wanted to build a team based off of two of my favorite pokemon. Honchkrow and Empoleon. So that is how this team first started.
Now knowing myself I know I have trouble with the defensive part of teams. My next objective was to look into a pokemon that paired well defensively with Empoleon. Weezing fit that role pretty flawlessly if I may say so myself. Weezing takes the fighting, ground, and physical attacks aimed at Empoleon while Empoleon takes the psychic and special attacks aimed at Weezing.
My next concern was adding a powerful special attacker to balance out the physical attack from Honchkrow, so why not Chandelure. A powerful 145 base Sp.Att is nothing to mess around with. And ultimately, the goal of Chandelure is to dent anything and everything possible making way for a Honchkrow sweep.
Me being a sucker for Mienshao means I absolutely had to add one onto this team. Mienshao acts primarily as a scout doing little bits of damage at a time weakening pokes for a hopeful Honchkrow sweep. Outside of liking Mienshao, he actually plays a bit of a crucial role being able to scout for moves and heal back with regenerator and dealing small bits of damage to weaken opposing pokes.
Now looking at my team I have no true speed. Slap a scarf on Zapdos and bam, problem solved. Zapdos helps deal with other scarfed threats, like Heracross, and helps maintain momentum with Volt Switch.
And now onto the specifics:
Empoleon @ Leftovers
Trait: Torrent
EVs: 252 HP / 4 SAtk / 252 SDef
Serious Nature
- Scald
- Stealth Rock
- Roar
- Ice Beam
What I'd assume is a standard set for Empoleon, Stealth Rocks for obvious purposes, Scald to potentially burn physical attackers, Ice Beam as another attack, and Roar for phazing set up sweepers. His main jobs are to set up rocks and have defensive symmetry with Weezing. Empoleon also excels and taking special hits and when necessary, can take the occasionally super effective physical attack.
Honchkrow @ Life Orb
Trait: Moxie
EVs: 252 Spd / 252 Atk / 4 SAtk
Hasty Nature
- Brave Bird
- Heat Wave
- Sucker Punch
- Pursuit
This Honchkrow is an absolute monster. Brave Bird deals massive amounts of damage to just about everything that doesn't resist, Heat Wave is kinda useless at the moment. I don't really have a better move for the slot, maybe Roost? Anyway, Sucker Punch and Pursuit are great stab trapping moves. LO helps with damage output but means tons of recoil alongside Brave Bird. The main strategy with Krow is to send him in on a weakened opponent and proceed to Sucker Punch to get a Moxie boost and finish the opposing team. Pursuit is helpful for pokes that don't want to take a Sucker Punch that will take heavy damage from Pursuit and hopefully get up a Moxie boost. My main problem with Krow is Heat Wave vs. Roost. I never really find time to Roost and Heat Wave hasn't proven too useful.
Weezing @ Black Sludge
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 4 SAtk / 252 Def
Bold Nature
- Will-O-Wisp
- Clear Smog
- Pain Split
- Flamethrower
Here is another set in which I think is pretty standard. Will-O-Wisp for burning physical attackers, Clear Smog to stop set up sweepers, Pain Split for a form of recovery, and Flamethrower so I'm not taunt bait. Plus the mini-stalls caused by Weezing benefit from an attacking move. Weezing's job is to cripple physical attackers and walls, and take physical hits and hits aimed at Empoleon. Nothing too special here.
Chandelure @ Choice Specs
Trait: Flash Fire
EVs: 252 SAtk / 252 HP / 4 SDef
Modest Nature
- Overheat
- Fire Blast
- Energy Ball
- Shadow Ball
Next the special powerhouse in Chandelure. Specs only adds to the incredible power. Chandy serves his purpose well in just denting anything on the opposing side of the field. Nothing I've come to face has appreciated a Specs anything very well. Overheat for a nice "hit it and quit it" strategy, Fire Blast works for late game sweeps when Krow isn't needed, Energy Ball for coverage, and Shadow Ball for nice STAB.
Mienshao @ Choice Scarf
Trait: Regenerator
EVs: 252 Spd / 252 Atk / 4 SAtk
Hasty Nature
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Hi Jump Kick
- Stone Edge
- U-Turn
Fake Out for damage and scouting, HJK for STAB, Stone Edge for coverage, and HP Ice for Gligar/Flygon mainly. It isn't mean to KO with HP Ice but it deals enough damage to be useful. After Rocks + Fake Out, HP Ice KO's a lot of Gligar I face. I don'y have U-Turn on him because I don't find it necessary. I generally play Mienshao heavily with predictions because I don't have much to lose if I mispredict.
Choice Scarf was put on Mienshao because again, the item suits the use better. Mienshao works well as a scout, and better than Zapdos due to having a higher speed, having nothing immune to the scouting move, and Zapdos just being more useful not choiced. Change thanks to PTJon7.
Zapdos @ Life Orb
Trait: Pressure
EVs: 252 SAtk / 252 Spd / 4 HP
Modest Nature
- Thunderbolt
- Heat Wave
- Hidden Power [Grass]
- Roost
Last but not least we have my speed. Zapdos still outspeeds all of what I need it to with a Modest nature. He hits hard with STAB Thunderbolt, Volt Switch helps maintain offensive pressure, Heat Wave and HP Ice for coverage.
HP Grass on Zapdos helps me deal with Rhyperior and Swampert (the only two pokes that consistently get up rocks on me), The LO fits better on Zapdos because it has better recovery and is more of a utility than Mienshao. The LO allows Zapdos to switch moves which better helps his usefulness. Changed thanks to PTJon7
So that is my team. It seems to works really well for me. The defensive synergy makes taking hits even with offensive pokes no problem if I predict right. All suggestions are more than welcome and thank you all for your time.
Problems I've Noticed
Team Strategy
Team Synergy
Currently at a rating of 1676 (27-11 on showdown. 5 loses were "BS" loses due to hax, but a loss is a loss either way) and climbing.
At A Glance
Teambuilding
So like stated earlier, I wanted to build a team based off of two of my favorite pokemon. Honchkrow and Empoleon. So that is how this team first started.
Now knowing myself I know I have trouble with the defensive part of teams. My next objective was to look into a pokemon that paired well defensively with Empoleon. Weezing fit that role pretty flawlessly if I may say so myself. Weezing takes the fighting, ground, and physical attacks aimed at Empoleon while Empoleon takes the psychic and special attacks aimed at Weezing.
My next concern was adding a powerful special attacker to balance out the physical attack from Honchkrow, so why not Chandelure. A powerful 145 base Sp.Att is nothing to mess around with. And ultimately, the goal of Chandelure is to dent anything and everything possible making way for a Honchkrow sweep.
Me being a sucker for Mienshao means I absolutely had to add one onto this team. Mienshao acts primarily as a scout doing little bits of damage at a time weakening pokes for a hopeful Honchkrow sweep. Outside of liking Mienshao, he actually plays a bit of a crucial role being able to scout for moves and heal back with regenerator and dealing small bits of damage to weaken opposing pokes.
Now looking at my team I have no true speed. Slap a scarf on Zapdos and bam, problem solved. Zapdos helps deal with other scarfed threats, like Heracross, and helps maintain momentum with Volt Switch.
Empoleon @ Leftovers
Trait: Torrent
EVs: 252 HP / 4 SAtk / 252 SDef
Serious Nature
- Scald
- Stealth Rock
- Roar
- Ice Beam
What I'd assume is a standard set for Empoleon, Stealth Rocks for obvious purposes, Scald to potentially burn physical attackers, Ice Beam as another attack, and Roar for phazing set up sweepers. His main jobs are to set up rocks and have defensive symmetry with Weezing. Empoleon also excels and taking special hits and when necessary, can take the occasionally super effective physical attack.
Honchkrow @ Life Orb
Trait: Moxie
EVs: 252 Spd / 252 Atk / 4 SAtk
Hasty Nature
- Brave Bird
- Heat Wave
- Sucker Punch
- Pursuit
This Honchkrow is an absolute monster. Brave Bird deals massive amounts of damage to just about everything that doesn't resist, Heat Wave is kinda useless at the moment. I don't really have a better move for the slot, maybe Roost? Anyway, Sucker Punch and Pursuit are great stab trapping moves. LO helps with damage output but means tons of recoil alongside Brave Bird. The main strategy with Krow is to send him in on a weakened opponent and proceed to Sucker Punch to get a Moxie boost and finish the opposing team. Pursuit is helpful for pokes that don't want to take a Sucker Punch that will take heavy damage from Pursuit and hopefully get up a Moxie boost. My main problem with Krow is Heat Wave vs. Roost. I never really find time to Roost and Heat Wave hasn't proven too useful.
Weezing @ Black Sludge
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 4 SAtk / 252 Def
Bold Nature
- Will-O-Wisp
- Clear Smog
- Pain Split
- Flamethrower
Here is another set in which I think is pretty standard. Will-O-Wisp for burning physical attackers, Clear Smog to stop set up sweepers, Pain Split for a form of recovery, and Flamethrower so I'm not taunt bait. Plus the mini-stalls caused by Weezing benefit from an attacking move. Weezing's job is to cripple physical attackers and walls, and take physical hits and hits aimed at Empoleon. Nothing too special here.
Chandelure @ Choice Specs
Trait: Flash Fire
EVs: 252 SAtk / 252 HP / 4 SDef
Modest Nature
- Overheat
- Fire Blast
- Energy Ball
- Shadow Ball
Next the special powerhouse in Chandelure. Specs only adds to the incredible power. Chandy serves his purpose well in just denting anything on the opposing side of the field. Nothing I've come to face has appreciated a Specs anything very well. Overheat for a nice "hit it and quit it" strategy, Fire Blast works for late game sweeps when Krow isn't needed, Energy Ball for coverage, and Shadow Ball for nice STAB.
Mienshao @ Choice Scarf
Trait: Regenerator
EVs: 252 Spd / 252 Atk / 4 SAtk
Hasty Nature
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Hi Jump Kick
- Stone Edge
- U-Turn
Fake Out for damage and scouting, HJK for STAB, Stone Edge for coverage, and HP Ice for Gligar/Flygon mainly. It isn't mean to KO with HP Ice but it deals enough damage to be useful. After Rocks + Fake Out, HP Ice KO's a lot of Gligar I face. I don'y have U-Turn on him because I don't find it necessary. I generally play Mienshao heavily with predictions because I don't have much to lose if I mispredict.
Choice Scarf was put on Mienshao because again, the item suits the use better. Mienshao works well as a scout, and better than Zapdos due to having a higher speed, having nothing immune to the scouting move, and Zapdos just being more useful not choiced. Change thanks to PTJon7.
Zapdos @ Life Orb
Trait: Pressure
EVs: 252 SAtk / 252 Spd / 4 HP
Modest Nature
- Thunderbolt
- Heat Wave
- Hidden Power [Grass]
- Roost
Last but not least we have my speed. Zapdos still outspeeds all of what I need it to with a Modest nature. He hits hard with STAB Thunderbolt, Volt Switch helps maintain offensive pressure, Heat Wave and HP Ice for coverage.
HP Grass on Zapdos helps me deal with Rhyperior and Swampert (the only two pokes that consistently get up rocks on me), The LO fits better on Zapdos because it has better recovery and is more of a utility than Mienshao. The LO allows Zapdos to switch moves which better helps his usefulness. Changed thanks to PTJon7
So that is my team. It seems to works really well for me. The defensive synergy makes taking hits even with offensive pokes no problem if I predict right. All suggestions are more than welcome and thank you all for your time.
Problems I've Noticed
Steath Rocks - I have 3 pokes weak to rocks. I generally have out Chandy when I expect my opponents Stealth Rock user because he KO's them more often than not.
Stall - While I haven't played it much but once or twice, stall destroys this team. I'm very hazard weak and don't deal with it well at all. This team relies heavily on switching and hazards and stall ruin that.
CB/ LO Sheer Force Darmanitan - The problem here is the power. Unless I predict right This guy will take out at least one poke on my team every time.
CB Victini - Same as Darmanitan
Sub CM Raikou - I have had perfect play against this guy every time so I haven't yet seen it's true power. Weezing can't really take hits from it and Empoleon can't take too many hits from it either. Breaking the sub and keeping pressure on him is CRUCIAL to survival.
Nidoking - Such a wide movepool that my team doesn't appreciate very well.
Snorlax - Can be quite a pain if not burned or have a clean switch to Mienshao.
Stall - While I haven't played it much but once or twice, stall destroys this team. I'm very hazard weak and don't deal with it well at all. This team relies heavily on switching and hazards and stall ruin that.
CB/ LO Sheer Force Darmanitan - The problem here is the power. Unless I predict right This guy will take out at least one poke on my team every time.
CB Victini - Same as Darmanitan
Sub CM Raikou - I have had perfect play against this guy every time so I haven't yet seen it's true power. Weezing can't really take hits from it and Empoleon can't take too many hits from it either. Breaking the sub and keeping pressure on him is CRUCIAL to survival.
Nidoking - Such a wide movepool that my team doesn't appreciate very well.
Snorlax - Can be quite a pain if not burned or have a clean switch to Mienshao.
Again, the main purpose of this team is to set up a sweep for Krow. This means setting up rocks ASAP, keeping rocks off my side of the field, and applying constant pressure and switching on the opponent. Zapdos' Volt Switch and Mienshao's Fake Out provide great opportunities to do what I need done.
Empoleon - Takes a majority of the special hits in the game. Takes psychic aimed at Weezing and Mienshao, ice aimed at Honchkrow and Zapdos, rock aimed at Honchkrow, Zapdos, and Chandelure, and Dark/Ghost aimed at Chandy.
Weezing - Takes basically all physical attacks. Takes ground aimed at Chandy and Empoleon, Fighting aimed at Empoleon.
These two take the bulk of the hits on the team.
The others just take resistances when I don't feel like switching into one of the above two. They cover each other quite nicely.
Weezing - Takes basically all physical attacks. Takes ground aimed at Chandy and Empoleon, Fighting aimed at Empoleon.
These two take the bulk of the hits on the team.
The others just take resistances when I don't feel like switching into one of the above two. They cover each other quite nicely.
