Grimms' Reapers
This is the first team I've decided to build on my own since I started to take VGC a little more serious.
I wanted to build a team that has multiple options for leads instead of a team that has an obvious lead every time, since I find those are the easiest to counter!
Grimmsnarl is something I've had a really hard time using, and I believe it's because I don't pair it with pokemon that work well with it. I want to be able to set screens but also get a little more use out of it than just that. I find that most people expect Grimm to be in the lead most of the time, which is why I tend to keep it in the back most of the battles it does take part in.
Regieleki is a lead that I like to use to fake people out instead of Grimm, because it's not running screens like other Regieleki are. Instead I opted for Screech as it helps me ensure turn 1 KO's with the physical pokemon attackers in my team.
Darmanitan is my main physical offensive option in this team and It's a monster when pairing it with Regieleki's Screech. It's very fast with that scarf, and combined with screech is good for knocking out Dmax pokemon on turn 1.
Galarian Moltres is one of my favorites simply because it is bulky but also uses its bulk to bait Weakness Policy procs to tear other teams apart. This works well with Grimmsnarl's screens.
Amoonguss is my favorite redirection pokemon, it's bulk combined with a pinch berry tends to save me in a lot of battles because it can usually take an extra hit thanks to the berry.
Marowak is my favorite Alolan form, and has high physical defense. It is a MONSTER with thick club, and I brought it to counter Trick Room Teams with Glastrier. It can take a Max Quake and OHKO with a Max Flare.
The Team
Grimmsnarl @ Light Clay
Ability: Prankster
Nature: Careful
EVs: 244 HP / 4 Atk / 116 Def / 124 SpD / 20 Spe
Moves: Fake Out | Light Screen | Reflect | Spirit Break
Grimmsnarl is here to set screens, and fake out when necessary, usually when facing other pranksters like Whimsicott. Spirit break is there as fairy coverage on my team, but also to try to lower the Sp. Atk on some threats - considering my team is very frail on the Sp. Def side. I am having a hard time making Grimmsnarl thrive with the pokemon I've partnered it with.
Regieleki @ Focus Sash
Ability: Transistor
Nature: Timid
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Moves: Electroweb | Volt Switch | Protect | Screech
Usually, Regieleki will do its job quickly and then be done. Cinderace has always been a massive threat with most of the teams I've used but with this set, I can Screech Dynamax/Gigantamax Cinderace and Knock it out with one Scarf Rock Slide, or Superpower from G-Darmanitan. Electroweb for speed control, although I hardly use it as It doesn't usually live past a screech. Volt switch I use often, but I don't think I have very good pokemon to switch into most of the time. Even with Focus Sash, I find it's usually the first target on my team to be taken out. I use timid to outspeed other Regieleki or speed tie in worst case.
Darmanitan-Galar @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Gorilla Tactics
Nature: Jolly
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Moves: Flare Blitz | Rock Slide | Ice Punch | Superpower
G-Darm isn't the best on its own, especially considering how frail it is. But Choice Scarf helps me outspeed most things and hit HARD when combined with screech. I am able to knock out bulky pokemon in one turn with neutral damage after 1 screech from Regieleki. I have yet to use it in a battle where it does more than that. It usually goes down in a turn or two because of how frail it is so I never feel comfortable switching it in in place of something else.
Moltres-Galar @ Weakness Policy
Ability: Berserk
Nature: Modest
EVs: 204 HP / 12 Def / 156 SpA / 4 SpD / 132 Spe
Moves: Fiery Wrath | Protect | Air Slash | Ancient Power
G-Moltres is my comfort zone. It's bulky, hits hard ESPECIALLY after Weakness Policy, and can get speed boosts with Max Airstream. The problem is that there are a lot of G-moltres out there which means there are plenty of counters for it. Most people play around Weakness Policy now and I don't use Life Orb or Nasty Plot, so most os the time it's very reliant on that WP proc to work at it's best. Ancient Power is weak and I use it in emergencies to try to get a lucky boost, which I've yet to get–although it does work well as Max Rockfall to reset weather against weather teams.
Amoonguss (M) @ Iapapa Berry
Ability: Regenerator
Nature: Bold
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Moves: Spore | Rage Powder | Clear Smog | Pollen Puff
Amoonguss really helps me set up with other pokemon like Marowak or G-Moltres. I don't usually pair it with Grimmsnarl to set up screens as I don't really find much use for Grimm after it sets up screens. But it does help me will-o-wisp any physical threats with Marowak since it's very slow. Spore is my comfort zone as well, I typically use it on pokemon that I don't have a counter for, or when I predict a dynamax to waste their turns as much as possible. Clear smog is extremely useful for resetting setups, assuming they don't kill Amoonguss first.
Marowak-Alola (M) @ Thick Club
Ability: Rock Head
Nature: Brave
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD
Moves: Flare Blitz | Shadow Bone | Iron Head | Will-O-Wisp
Marowak's biggest purpose is to be a Trick Room Counter. Incineroar was the other option, but Marowak's physical defensive bulk and immunity to Fighting and Normal is good when I'm facing Porygon 2 trick room teams. I almost never face trick room teams unfortunately so when I use it, it's usually to tank physical hits from pokemon like Metagross, which it OHKO's with either Shadow Bone or Flare Blitz. Rock Head instead of Lightningrod because I don't want that damage from Flare Blitz. Will-o-wisp is useful against physical threats but still leaves Marowak defenseless against Special attackers.
Conclusion
My biggest gripe with this team is that I think it's on the right track, I've got some pretty cool wins with it, but I'm either not using the team right, or I just need to move some things around. Some of these pokemon work extremely well together. Others don't. Screens is damn near useless with Regieleki and Darmanitan–they go down in one hit regardless of screens (except for focus sash). Moltres doesn't have any way to boost its offensive prowess without baiting a WP proc. Marowak has very little synergy with this whole team and falls quickly to Sp. Atk pokemon. Amoonguss is great. But usually just redirects to help set up for a turn or two. I haven't come across many clear threats other than Lapras and Heatran, but either way there's been a lot of pokemon that have been able to work around my strategies and come out with a win despite being faced with a KO'd max mon on turn one. I would greatly appreciate any and all advice from more seasoned players.
Grimmsnarl @ Light Clay
Ability: Prankster
Level: 50
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 244 HP / 4 Atk / 116 Def / 124 SpD / 20 Spe
Careful Nature
- Fake Out
- Light Screen
- Reflect
- Spirit Break
Regieleki @ Focus Sash
Ability: Transistor
Level: 50
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Electroweb
- Volt Switch
- Protect
- Screech
Darmanitan-Galar @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Gorilla Tactics
Level: 50
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Flare Blitz
- Rock Slide
- Ice Punch
- Superpower
Moltres-Galar @ Weakness Policy
Ability: Berserk
Level: 50
EVs: 204 HP / 12 Def / 156 SpA / 4 SpD / 132 Spe
Modest Nature
- Fiery Wrath
- Protect
- Air Slash
- Ancient Power
Amoonguss (M) @ Iapapa Berry
Ability: Regenerator
Level: 50
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
- Spore
- Rage Powder
- Clear Smog
- Pollen Puff
Marowak-Alola (M) @ Thick Club
Ability: Rock Head
Level: 50
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD
Brave Nature
- Flare Blitz
- Shadow Bone
- Iron Head
- Will-O-Wisp
Ability: Prankster
Level: 50
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 244 HP / 4 Atk / 116 Def / 124 SpD / 20 Spe
Careful Nature
- Fake Out
- Light Screen
- Reflect
- Spirit Break
Regieleki @ Focus Sash
Ability: Transistor
Level: 50
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Electroweb
- Volt Switch
- Protect
- Screech
Darmanitan-Galar @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Gorilla Tactics
Level: 50
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Flare Blitz
- Rock Slide
- Ice Punch
- Superpower
Moltres-Galar @ Weakness Policy
Ability: Berserk
Level: 50
EVs: 204 HP / 12 Def / 156 SpA / 4 SpD / 132 Spe
Modest Nature
- Fiery Wrath
- Protect
- Air Slash
- Ancient Power
Amoonguss (M) @ Iapapa Berry
Ability: Regenerator
Level: 50
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
- Spore
- Rage Powder
- Clear Smog
- Pollen Puff
Marowak-Alola (M) @ Thick Club
Ability: Rock Head
Level: 50
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD
Brave Nature
- Flare Blitz
- Shadow Bone
- Iron Head
- Will-O-Wisp
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