Introduction
This is the team I've been using recently in Pokémon Online's Dream World tier (No kind of limitations between egg moves and DW abilities, then). It's on PO's main server, though (But it shouldn't matter at all, should it?)
Usually I only have in my team pokémon I like, but... well, I wouldn't make this RMT if I wouldn't want any suggestions (Look, I'm using Blaziken and Chillaccino, and I don't like them aestetically...) specially about the lead slot
Quick overview
The team
Claudio (Blaziken) (M) @ Focus Sash
Trait: Speed Boost
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Hone Claws
- Shadow Claw
- Hi Jump Kick
- Baton Pass
Claudio (Nicknamed after a part of Foghorn Leghorn's spanish name -Its full name is Gallo Claudio-) has the 'honour' to be my team's lead, which happens to be the lost I'm least satisfied with. Unlike many Blaziken in the DW Tier, Claudio is a Baton Passer who CAN use the boosts by itself. Hone Claws is chosen over Swords Dance because it 'patches' Hi Jump Kick's worrying accuracy, as well as two of Mardi's moves with underwhelming accuracy (Tail Slap and Rock Blast). It's not difficult to see that Shadow Claw is there to get perfect neutral coverage (And it OHKOs unsuspecting Shanderas at +1, while also outspeeding Scarf Shandera at +1)
Focus Sash is used in order to guarantee at least one Hone Claws, and then either Baton Pass to safety or KO his opponent, if possible
However, as I said before, the lead slot is the one I'm least satisfied with (I mean, I've been using Forretress, Murkrow, Chillaccino, Espeon and Blaziken as leads, each one with their own success rate. However, it may be because I may not like leads XD). Any suggestion?
HAL (Porygon2) @ Evolution Stone
Trait: Trace
EVs: 252 HP / 144 Def / 96 SAtk / 16 SDef
Calm Nature (+SDef, -Atk)
- Discharge
- Ice Beam
- Toxic
- Recover
HAL is the only pokémon in my team that has 'survived' the two 'remakes' of it (First, with the generation shift, and then after a few weeks playing 5th Gen). You know, the arrival of the Evolution Stone caused his species to become one of the best mixed walls in the game. With this EV spread, he gets 374/378/379 (Download-minded) defenses and 270 Special Attack
The moveset is one that many 'Porywalls' have. Instead of having to decide whether to paralyze or poison ('Toxic or Thunder Wave?') I prefer to run both (But Discharge is the one who does the 'paralysis job'). Ice Beam fills the BoltBeam ('Discharge Beam') combo, as well as being its... ugh, only way to touch Doryuzuu. There's no need to say why it has Recover, right? Finally, I love the way Trace can ruin opposing strategies (Like: 'Switch in ToxicScor flinging its Toxic Orb', 'That Zapdos has LightningRod! Let's boost my SpA by switching on Thunderbolt' or 'Your Scarf Shadow Tag Shandera is locked on Overheat? No problem, HAL will switch in, trap whatever pokémon you send out and, hopefully, defeat it!') and that's why it has Trace and not Analyze
Bog (Quagsire) (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Unaware
EVs: 216 HP / 108 Def / 184 SDef
Calm Nature (+SDef, -Atk)
- Stockpile
- Recover
- Toxic
- Boiling Water
If set-up sweepers (Roobushin, Ulgamoth, Doryuzuu, and many others) become a problem -The first three used to be a huge problem with my first 5th gen team-, what can handle ALL of them even if it lets them set-up? UNAWARE! Ok. You now the reason of Bog's existence: His Dream World ability. Now, let's talk about the moveset, which is the most important thing, after all
The EV spread gives us 385/233/233 defenses. While he can survive many neutral attacks from both sides of the spectrum, fun starts when his opponents can't deal too much damage (E.g.: Dealing no more than 65% damage -It isn't a calc, just to give you an idea-) or if they are foolish enough to set up while he starts to... Stockpile, the closest thing to a fairly decent-distributed Cosmic Power. After he Stockpiles the first time, attacks that 'just 2HKOed' Bog now can't KO with the second attack, then Bog Recovers the damage... and keeps Stockpiling. At +3/+3, his defenses ger OVER FIVE HUNDRED!!!, and he won't be OHKOed by anything but powerful Grass moves (E.g.: Specs Roserade Leaf Storm?) or unfortunate Critical Hits, so Nattorei (And any Grass-type who Bog can't damage enough, either because of Special Defense, typing or recovery), Magic Guard users, status and residual damage is usually the only option you have to wear down Bog at +3/+3
Toxic and Boiling Water are BOTH the status inducing moves. Boiling Water isn't meant to deal damage by itself (Unless facing Water-weak pokémon) but to be able to status Steels (Bar Heatran, obviously) and Poisons (Croagunk and Toxicroak being the only pokémon immune to poisoning and Water moves)
Mardi (Chillaccino) (F) @ King's Rock
Trait: Skill Link
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Rock Blast
- Bullet Seed
- Tail Slap
- Wake-Up Slap
Mardi's job is pretty much limited to abuse the combination of Skill Link moves and King's Rock. While she doesn't have the immediate power she could have with Life Orb, Muscle Band or Expert Belt (Or Choice Band!) it is compensated with the ability to flinch the opponent in key moments while still being able to score surprising 2HKOes ('Mardi can 2HKO CroCune? Don't worry, She will flinch you with the first Bullet Seed and you won't survive the second attack!'). That's without considering that not too many non-Scarfed Pokémon can outspeed and quickly defeat Mardi, a 252 EVed Jolly 115 base Speed Pokémon
Unlike you would expect, Bullet Seed is the main move, because it has 100% accuracy (And having less than 100% accuracy in PO is much like replacing all your not-so-accurate moves with Zap Cannon, Purgatory or Dynamic Punch). Rock Blast and Tail Slap are there because of the purpose of the set (And because of coverage and Tail Slap's huge damage even when coming from 289 attack). Wake-up Slap is filler. Its only use is to score the final hit on an opponent without crying if Nattorei comes in (Tail Slap and Wake-up Slap are the only contact moves, though)
Onibi (Shandera) (M) @ Choice Scarf
Trait: Shadow Tag
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Overheat
- Shadow Ball
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Energy Ball
Revenge kil--- eh, trapper!
Nowadays, ScarfShandera (With Shadow Tag) needs no presentation card. At least, 'Standard' ScarfShandera, like this one! What it needs is a 'team presentation' card ('What does your ScarfShandera do, since it's in your team?')
Onibi is pretty much the result of when you transform the phrase 'I need to stop this damn thing NOW!' into a pokémon. Rather than looking at that awesome 145 base Sp. Attack and say 'This thing sweeps', you also see his 80 base Speed and say 'If I give him a Scarf, slower opponents not named Chansey/Blissey/Roobushin won't see the light of the day' (InstaGib, anyone?)
Even if there's little to say, let's speak about its moveset. Overheat is, evidently, the 'absurdly powerful STAB move this kind of pokémon must have' and Shadow Ball is 'I'm a Ghost. I should be able to beat other Ghosts!'. At first, instead of HP Ice and Energy Ball, I ran HP Electric and Psychic. However, I finally realized the purpose of those last two slots: Complimentary coverage alongside Overheat, not super-effective coverage between all four moves, since a neutral STAB Overheat deals more damage than any 'complimentary attack' Shandera may have, even when SE (Outside of Shadow Ball, that is)
I'm not sure why, but he defeats EVERY opposing Shandera he may face. Either most Shandera use a Modest nature or Onibi wins all the speed-ties, but no opposing Shandera has survived a battle against Onibi
Scarface (Zuruzukin) (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Shed Skin
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Dragon Dance
- Taunt
- Drain Punch
- Crunch
I know it shouldn't be a good reason, but since Zuruzukin is an underrated pokémon (When compared to other Fighting-types) and... yeah, because of its surprising versatility, I decided to use him over other Fighting-types
Scarfaces uses a different-minded Dragon Dancing set. Instead of focusing on speed by using DD and boosting Attack by using Moxie, this set relies on DD while also being able to not to get bothered by most status effects, since he's using Shed Skin. After the second DD, not many pokémon can outspeed Scarface (Namely, Deoxys-S -Not sure about Normal and Attack- and Pokémon that can easily boost their speed, or... already-very fast Scarfers)
At first, Scarface used a Bulk Up set with Rest. After the change, Rest was still on the set for a while, but then I realized there was little use for Rest, and I also saw that a lot of phazers and statusers come in after the first or second DD, so I replaced Rest with Taunt and 'Goodbye, classic phazing!' (Skarmory's Brave Bird and Hippowdon's Earthquake can be a problem, depending on the moment they switched in)
Drain Punch is the main move, and can be essentially a Recover-like move after a few DDs, and Crunch is there in order to beat Fighting-resisting pokémon and Ghosts (Like those ScarfShandera who think they're faster than +2 Scarface)
Leftovers is, literally, a leftover of the old Bulk Up set I used. While items like Life Orb or Expert Belt (Or... Big Root?) could be more useful in a definitely offensive-minded set, I still find Leftovers useful. Dunno why
Yeah, no hazards, no spinners, no phazers. Why am I expecting that you will suggest me exactly that?
This is the team I've been using recently in Pokémon Online's Dream World tier (No kind of limitations between egg moves and DW abilities, then). It's on PO's main server, though (But it shouldn't matter at all, should it?)
Usually I only have in my team pokémon I like, but... well, I wouldn't make this RMT if I wouldn't want any suggestions (Look, I'm using Blaziken and Chillaccino, and I don't like them aestetically...) specially about the lead slot
Quick overview
Claudio the Blaziken
HAL the Porygon2, the only one of the team who lacks an animated sprite
Bog the Quagsire
Mardi the Chillaccino (No good nickname, sorry XD)
Onibi the (Actually shiny) Shandera
Scarface the Zuruzukin
HAL the Porygon2, the only one of the team who lacks an animated sprite
Bog the Quagsire
Mardi the Chillaccino (No good nickname, sorry XD)
Onibi the (Actually shiny) Shandera
Scarface the Zuruzukin
The team
Claudio (Blaziken) (M) @ Focus Sash
Trait: Speed Boost
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Hone Claws
- Shadow Claw
- Hi Jump Kick
- Baton Pass
Claudio (Nicknamed after a part of Foghorn Leghorn's spanish name -Its full name is Gallo Claudio-) has the 'honour' to be my team's lead, which happens to be the lost I'm least satisfied with. Unlike many Blaziken in the DW Tier, Claudio is a Baton Passer who CAN use the boosts by itself. Hone Claws is chosen over Swords Dance because it 'patches' Hi Jump Kick's worrying accuracy, as well as two of Mardi's moves with underwhelming accuracy (Tail Slap and Rock Blast). It's not difficult to see that Shadow Claw is there to get perfect neutral coverage (And it OHKOs unsuspecting Shanderas at +1, while also outspeeding Scarf Shandera at +1)
Focus Sash is used in order to guarantee at least one Hone Claws, and then either Baton Pass to safety or KO his opponent, if possible
- HAL (Porygon2): Unless Claudio's facing a MH opponent, HAL will really appreciate any speed boost, being able to either status or KO the opponent without getting hurt
- Bog (Quagsire): He can get Stockpiles faster or being able to use (A more accurate) Toxic first. He doesn't get too much benefits from Claudio unlike many of the other pokémon. However, Bog can help Claudio, in case a Ditto wanted to BP the boosts, thanks to Unaware
- Mardi (Chillaccino): THE reason I started using Blaziken. Rock Blast and Tail Slap miss A LOT more than expected, and since it can't learn Hone Claws, she needs to get Accuracy boosts from somewhere. If she gets Baton Passed Hone Claws, survives the switch-in (It's frail, after all) and the opponent has no strong priority, GG
- Onibi (Shandera): It could outspeed and KO a Pokémon it usually wouldn't. Nothing else here
- Scarface (Zuruzukin): While it has DD in its moveset, Baton Passing some boosts allows it to sweep right after switching in. Unsuspecting Psychic pokémon (Or moves) find themselves in a tight spot with such BP
- Bog (Quagsire): He can get Stockpiles faster or being able to use (A more accurate) Toxic first. He doesn't get too much benefits from Claudio unlike many of the other pokémon. However, Bog can help Claudio, in case a Ditto wanted to BP the boosts, thanks to Unaware
- Mardi (Chillaccino): THE reason I started using Blaziken. Rock Blast and Tail Slap miss A LOT more than expected, and since it can't learn Hone Claws, she needs to get Accuracy boosts from somewhere. If she gets Baton Passed Hone Claws, survives the switch-in (It's frail, after all) and the opponent has no strong priority, GG
- Onibi (Shandera): It could outspeed and KO a Pokémon it usually wouldn't. Nothing else here
- Scarface (Zuruzukin): While it has DD in its moveset, Baton Passing some boosts allows it to sweep right after switching in. Unsuspecting Psychic pokémon (Or moves) find themselves in a tight spot with such BP
However, as I said before, the lead slot is the one I'm least satisfied with (I mean, I've been using Forretress, Murkrow, Chillaccino, Espeon and Blaziken as leads, each one with their own success rate. However, it may be because I may not like leads XD). Any suggestion?
HAL (Porygon2) @ Evolution Stone
Trait: Trace
EVs: 252 HP / 144 Def / 96 SAtk / 16 SDef
Calm Nature (+SDef, -Atk)
- Discharge
- Ice Beam
- Toxic
- Recover
HAL is the only pokémon in my team that has 'survived' the two 'remakes' of it (First, with the generation shift, and then after a few weeks playing 5th Gen). You know, the arrival of the Evolution Stone caused his species to become one of the best mixed walls in the game. With this EV spread, he gets 374/378/379 (Download-minded) defenses and 270 Special Attack
The moveset is one that many 'Porywalls' have. Instead of having to decide whether to paralyze or poison ('Toxic or Thunder Wave?') I prefer to run both (But Discharge is the one who does the 'paralysis job'). Ice Beam fills the BoltBeam ('Discharge Beam') combo, as well as being its... ugh, only way to touch Doryuzuu. There's no need to say why it has Recover, right? Finally, I love the way Trace can ruin opposing strategies (Like: 'Switch in ToxicScor flinging its Toxic Orb', 'That Zapdos has LightningRod! Let's boost my SpA by switching on Thunderbolt' or 'Your Scarf Shadow Tag Shandera is locked on Overheat? No problem, HAL will switch in, trap whatever pokémon you send out and, hopefully, defeat it!') and that's why it has Trace and not Analyze
- Claudio (Blaziken): HAL can benefit from any Speed boost, but... is there any way Claudio and HAL can work together successfully?
- Bog (Quagsire): Both are my team's walls, and they have surprisingly good synergy. HAL can take any Pokémon that can hit too hard for Stockpile-less Bog (Cloyster, Draco Meteor spammers, Grass-type attacks) while Bog stops many set-uppers that HAL can't beat (Roobushin and Doryuzuu, for example). The only thing I can think that neither of them can handle well is Nattorei, but that's why I have 6 teams slot, isn't it?
- Mardi (Chillaccino): HAL can only help Mardi by beating Scarfed opponents, since most (If not all) of them lack the power to break through HAL's defenses. Don't tell me anything about Dory, I beg you
- Onibi (Shandera): HAL lures Fighting pokémon to Onibi, who can switch in safely on that predicted Fighting move. Roobushin may be the only one safe to this combo, if not considering surprise Shed Shells
- Scarface (Zuruzukin): HAL also lures status moves, so Scarface can come in and 'absorb' them without much problem (Not considering Sleep and Freezing) thanks to Shed Skin. If the likes of Chansey or Blissey switch against HAL, then Scarface absorbs the status and pretty much has a DD guaranteed thanks to scaring the 'egg walls'
- Bog (Quagsire): Both are my team's walls, and they have surprisingly good synergy. HAL can take any Pokémon that can hit too hard for Stockpile-less Bog (Cloyster, Draco Meteor spammers, Grass-type attacks) while Bog stops many set-uppers that HAL can't beat (Roobushin and Doryuzuu, for example). The only thing I can think that neither of them can handle well is Nattorei, but that's why I have 6 teams slot, isn't it?
- Mardi (Chillaccino): HAL can only help Mardi by beating Scarfed opponents, since most (If not all) of them lack the power to break through HAL's defenses. Don't tell me anything about Dory, I beg you
- Onibi (Shandera): HAL lures Fighting pokémon to Onibi, who can switch in safely on that predicted Fighting move. Roobushin may be the only one safe to this combo, if not considering surprise Shed Shells
- Scarface (Zuruzukin): HAL also lures status moves, so Scarface can come in and 'absorb' them without much problem (Not considering Sleep and Freezing) thanks to Shed Skin. If the likes of Chansey or Blissey switch against HAL, then Scarface absorbs the status and pretty much has a DD guaranteed thanks to scaring the 'egg walls'
Bog (Quagsire) (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Unaware
EVs: 216 HP / 108 Def / 184 SDef
Calm Nature (+SDef, -Atk)
- Stockpile
- Recover
- Toxic
- Boiling Water
If set-up sweepers (Roobushin, Ulgamoth, Doryuzuu, and many others) become a problem -The first three used to be a huge problem with my first 5th gen team-, what can handle ALL of them even if it lets them set-up? UNAWARE! Ok. You now the reason of Bog's existence: His Dream World ability. Now, let's talk about the moveset, which is the most important thing, after all
The EV spread gives us 385/233/233 defenses. While he can survive many neutral attacks from both sides of the spectrum, fun starts when his opponents can't deal too much damage (E.g.: Dealing no more than 65% damage -It isn't a calc, just to give you an idea-) or if they are foolish enough to set up while he starts to... Stockpile, the closest thing to a fairly decent-distributed Cosmic Power. After he Stockpiles the first time, attacks that 'just 2HKOed' Bog now can't KO with the second attack, then Bog Recovers the damage... and keeps Stockpiling. At +3/+3, his defenses ger OVER FIVE HUNDRED!!!, and he won't be OHKOed by anything but powerful Grass moves (E.g.: Specs Roserade Leaf Storm?) or unfortunate Critical Hits, so Nattorei (And any Grass-type who Bog can't damage enough, either because of Special Defense, typing or recovery), Magic Guard users, status and residual damage is usually the only option you have to wear down Bog at +3/+3
Toxic and Boiling Water are BOTH the status inducing moves. Boiling Water isn't meant to deal damage by itself (Unless facing Water-weak pokémon) but to be able to status Steels (Bar Heatran, obviously) and Poisons (Croagunk and Toxicroak being the only pokémon immune to poisoning and Water moves)
- Claudio (Blaziken): While they usually don't interact directly with each other, Bog can stop Ditto in case it appeared, copied Claudio's boost and BPd to another pokémon, because of Unaware. If, in an extraordinary situation, Claudio Baton passes any Hone Claws to Bog, he won't have to worry about Toxic missing much more than expected (Seriously, why do 90% Accuracy moves miss so much in PO?)
- HAL (Porygon2): Everything has been explained in HAL's 'analysis'
- Mardi (Chillaccino): Bog can help Mardi by beating certain opponents she has trouble with (ScarfTar -Though HAL can do the same, depending on the locked move-, Roobushin...) but nothing else
- Onibi (Shandera): If the opponents happens to have either Doryuzuu or Roobushin, Bog has no problem dealing with them. Onibi has a ridiculously easy time without them on the way. Onibi can switch in against (UNBOOSTED) Grass attacks and (Usually, since most pokémon with Grass attacks are Grass-typed) Overheat them to death
- Scarface (Zuruzukin): Scarface helps Bog almost the same way as he does with HAL: By being the target of status moves
- HAL (Porygon2): Everything has been explained in HAL's 'analysis'
- Mardi (Chillaccino): Bog can help Mardi by beating certain opponents she has trouble with (ScarfTar -Though HAL can do the same, depending on the locked move-, Roobushin...) but nothing else
- Onibi (Shandera): If the opponents happens to have either Doryuzuu or Roobushin, Bog has no problem dealing with them. Onibi has a ridiculously easy time without them on the way. Onibi can switch in against (UNBOOSTED) Grass attacks and (Usually, since most pokémon with Grass attacks are Grass-typed) Overheat them to death
- Scarface (Zuruzukin): Scarface helps Bog almost the same way as he does with HAL: By being the target of status moves
Mardi (Chillaccino) (F) @ King's Rock
Trait: Skill Link
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Rock Blast
- Bullet Seed
- Tail Slap
- Wake-Up Slap
Mardi's job is pretty much limited to abuse the combination of Skill Link moves and King's Rock. While she doesn't have the immediate power she could have with Life Orb, Muscle Band or Expert Belt (Or Choice Band!) it is compensated with the ability to flinch the opponent in key moments while still being able to score surprising 2HKOes ('Mardi can 2HKO CroCune? Don't worry, She will flinch you with the first Bullet Seed and you won't survive the second attack!'). That's without considering that not too many non-Scarfed Pokémon can outspeed and quickly defeat Mardi, a 252 EVed Jolly 115 base Speed Pokémon
Unlike you would expect, Bullet Seed is the main move, because it has 100% accuracy (And having less than 100% accuracy in PO is much like replacing all your not-so-accurate moves with Zap Cannon, Purgatory or Dynamic Punch). Rock Blast and Tail Slap are there because of the purpose of the set (And because of coverage and Tail Slap's huge damage even when coming from 289 attack). Wake-up Slap is filler. Its only use is to score the final hit on an opponent without crying if Nattorei comes in (Tail Slap and Wake-up Slap are the only contact moves, though)
- Claudio (Blaziken): They're good friends. Attack, Accuracy and Speed boosts is everything Mardi needs to become fearsome (Ok... just Hone Claws). Mardi's too frail and may get KOed on the Baton Pass, though. I wonder GF will give Chillaccino an accuracy-boosting move in a future game or not...
- HAL (Porygon2): HAL can beat troublesome Scarfers, priority users or weather abusers, things that Mardi has nightmares with
- Bog (Quagsire): Bog can help Mardi by beating certain opponents she has trouble with (ScarfTar, Roobushin...) but almost everything else can already be handled by HAL, so it's mostly a 'second choice'
- Onibi (Shandera): Both are the speedy attackers. While they fulfill the same roles, they have different weaknesses, and some of them can be compensated with both (Playing a 'lure game' against an already-damaged Roobushin? Onibi sees Roobushin, Onibi gets scared and switches out, Mardi takes a weak Payback, expecting Onibi's Overheat -Or not, maybe it Bulk Ups!-. Onibi switches on a predictable Mach Punch, then attacks again)
- Scarface (Zuruzukin): The only possible way Scarface can help Mardi is by switching on a Will-o-Wisp. It will wear out, after all (And it can even help Scarface: Most opponents feel they're safe if he's burned, allowing him to DD until Shed Skin activates)
- HAL (Porygon2): HAL can beat troublesome Scarfers, priority users or weather abusers, things that Mardi has nightmares with
- Bog (Quagsire): Bog can help Mardi by beating certain opponents she has trouble with (ScarfTar, Roobushin...) but almost everything else can already be handled by HAL, so it's mostly a 'second choice'
- Onibi (Shandera): Both are the speedy attackers. While they fulfill the same roles, they have different weaknesses, and some of them can be compensated with both (Playing a 'lure game' against an already-damaged Roobushin? Onibi sees Roobushin, Onibi gets scared and switches out, Mardi takes a weak Payback, expecting Onibi's Overheat -Or not, maybe it Bulk Ups!-. Onibi switches on a predictable Mach Punch, then attacks again)
- Scarface (Zuruzukin): The only possible way Scarface can help Mardi is by switching on a Will-o-Wisp. It will wear out, after all (And it can even help Scarface: Most opponents feel they're safe if he's burned, allowing him to DD until Shed Skin activates)
Onibi (Shandera) (M) @ Choice Scarf
Trait: Shadow Tag
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Overheat
- Shadow Ball
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Energy Ball
Revenge kil--- eh, trapper!
Nowadays, ScarfShandera (With Shadow Tag) needs no presentation card. At least, 'Standard' ScarfShandera, like this one! What it needs is a 'team presentation' card ('What does your ScarfShandera do, since it's in your team?')
Onibi is pretty much the result of when you transform the phrase 'I need to stop this damn thing NOW!' into a pokémon. Rather than looking at that awesome 145 base Sp. Attack and say 'This thing sweeps', you also see his 80 base Speed and say 'If I give him a Scarf, slower opponents not named Chansey/Blissey/Roobushin won't see the light of the day' (InstaGib, anyone?)
Even if there's little to say, let's speak about its moveset. Overheat is, evidently, the 'absurdly powerful STAB move this kind of pokémon must have' and Shadow Ball is 'I'm a Ghost. I should be able to beat other Ghosts!'. At first, instead of HP Ice and Energy Ball, I ran HP Electric and Psychic. However, I finally realized the purpose of those last two slots: Complimentary coverage alongside Overheat, not super-effective coverage between all four moves, since a neutral STAB Overheat deals more damage than any 'complimentary attack' Shandera may have, even when SE (Outside of Shadow Ball, that is)
I'm not sure why, but he defeats EVERY opposing Shandera he may face. Either most Shandera use a Modest nature or Onibi wins all the speed-ties, but no opposing Shandera has survived a battle against Onibi
- Claudio (Blaziken): The Speed boosts can help Onibi, but since his job is 'I switch in. I kill. I flee' it's not THAT helpful. But in some situations it can become really important and may allow Onibi beat usually faster opponents (ScarfChomp, Doryuzuu in the sand...)
- HAL (Porygon2): If Onibi is locked in Overheat and a Ghost comes in, it's a free switch to HAL. If not, HAL can 'try?' to handle THAT pokémon Onibi can't get past
- Bog (Quagsire): Bog can defeat Doryuzuu in the sand without any external help. More than enough to help Onibi
- Mardi (Chillaccino): Apart of playing 'lure games' exploiting each other's weaknesses as I explained in Mardi's analysis, I can't think of anything else in which Mardi can help Onibi
- Scarface (Zuruzukin): Sucker Punchers, while uncommon, easily defeat Onibi. And ANY Dark-type move is just begging for Scarface to come in and DD
- HAL (Porygon2): If Onibi is locked in Overheat and a Ghost comes in, it's a free switch to HAL. If not, HAL can 'try?' to handle THAT pokémon Onibi can't get past
- Bog (Quagsire): Bog can defeat Doryuzuu in the sand without any external help. More than enough to help Onibi
- Mardi (Chillaccino): Apart of playing 'lure games' exploiting each other's weaknesses as I explained in Mardi's analysis, I can't think of anything else in which Mardi can help Onibi
- Scarface (Zuruzukin): Sucker Punchers, while uncommon, easily defeat Onibi. And ANY Dark-type move is just begging for Scarface to come in and DD
Scarface (Zuruzukin) (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Shed Skin
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Dragon Dance
- Taunt
- Drain Punch
- Crunch
I know it shouldn't be a good reason, but since Zuruzukin is an underrated pokémon (When compared to other Fighting-types) and... yeah, because of its surprising versatility, I decided to use him over other Fighting-types
Scarfaces uses a different-minded Dragon Dancing set. Instead of focusing on speed by using DD and boosting Attack by using Moxie, this set relies on DD while also being able to not to get bothered by most status effects, since he's using Shed Skin. After the second DD, not many pokémon can outspeed Scarface (Namely, Deoxys-S -Not sure about Normal and Attack- and Pokémon that can easily boost their speed, or... already-very fast Scarfers)
At first, Scarface used a Bulk Up set with Rest. After the change, Rest was still on the set for a while, but then I realized there was little use for Rest, and I also saw that a lot of phazers and statusers come in after the first or second DD, so I replaced Rest with Taunt and 'Goodbye, classic phazing!' (Skarmory's Brave Bird and Hippowdon's Earthquake can be a problem, depending on the moment they switched in)
Drain Punch is the main move, and can be essentially a Recover-like move after a few DDs, and Crunch is there in order to beat Fighting-resisting pokémon and Ghosts (Like those ScarfShandera who think they're faster than +2 Scarface)
Leftovers is, literally, a leftover of the old Bulk Up set I used. While items like Life Orb or Expert Belt (Or... Big Root?) could be more useful in a definitely offensive-minded set, I still find Leftovers useful. Dunno why
- Claudio (Blaziken): If he manages to get some Hone Claws and Baton Passes to Scarface, he doesn't have to Dragon Dance. The result? He is ready to sweep, just when he switches in
- HAL (Porygon2): As always, HAL can help Scarface by getting rid of a pokémon who can give Scarface trouble. HOWEVER... Scarface can help HAL by getting statused by himself (Eventually getting rid of it thanks to Shed Skin) and, if the status doesn't wear off quickly, can give a weird advantage to Scarface: Not many Dragon Dancing Zuruzukin run Shed Skin, so if, say, he gets burned, the opponent may think he got crippled, so Scarface can get some Dragon Dances to that unsuspecting opponent (I once got to +6/+6 before the status -Toxic poison- dissapeared. The opponent didn't have a Ditto)
- Bog (Quagsire): Apart from getting rid of a troublesome Pokémon, Bog can stop opposing Ditto if it switches in against an already-set-up Scarface
- Mardi (Chillaccino): Mardi is a physical sweeper, so Will-o-Wispers can come in and try to burn it. Then... Scarface comes in and 'absorbs' the burn. Then, he either switches out or starts to DD
- Onibi (Shandera): Shandera can severely damage, if not outright KO (You know, those 'lure games' I mentioned before) Roobushin, a pokémon who usually switches in (And always wins the battle) against Scarface (Though those lure games are at a disadvantage if neither Mardi or Onibi are in, since it won't take damage on the first turn). Also, Scarface can switch in easily to any Dark move aimed at Onibi, since he's x4 resistant to Dark...
- HAL (Porygon2): As always, HAL can help Scarface by getting rid of a pokémon who can give Scarface trouble. HOWEVER... Scarface can help HAL by getting statused by himself (Eventually getting rid of it thanks to Shed Skin) and, if the status doesn't wear off quickly, can give a weird advantage to Scarface: Not many Dragon Dancing Zuruzukin run Shed Skin, so if, say, he gets burned, the opponent may think he got crippled, so Scarface can get some Dragon Dances to that unsuspecting opponent (I once got to +6/+6 before the status -Toxic poison- dissapeared. The opponent didn't have a Ditto)
- Bog (Quagsire): Apart from getting rid of a troublesome Pokémon, Bog can stop opposing Ditto if it switches in against an already-set-up Scarface
- Mardi (Chillaccino): Mardi is a physical sweeper, so Will-o-Wispers can come in and try to burn it. Then... Scarface comes in and 'absorbs' the burn. Then, he either switches out or starts to DD
- Onibi (Shandera): Shandera can severely damage, if not outright KO (You know, those 'lure games' I mentioned before) Roobushin, a pokémon who usually switches in (And always wins the battle) against Scarface (Though those lure games are at a disadvantage if neither Mardi or Onibi are in, since it won't take damage on the first turn). Also, Scarface can switch in easily to any Dark move aimed at Onibi, since he's x4 resistant to Dark...
Yeah, no hazards, no spinners, no phazers. Why am I expecting that you will suggest me exactly that?
