Hello there, I am fairly new to playing competitively, and I decided to make a team that uses sand as an advantage. The general idea of this team was to set up entry hazards, then clean up the opponent's team with either Alakazam or Landorus. Any suggestions would be helpful and greatly appreciated.
Hippowdon @ Leftovers
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 4 Def / 252 HP /252 SpD
Careful Nature (+SpD, -SpA)
-Stealth Rock
-Slack Off
-Earthquake
-Whirlwind
Hippowdon is extremely important to this team because of his ability to set up sand. I did decide to use more of a Specially Defensive set, and I think it works fairly well. Stealth Rocks allows Hippowdon to put more pressure upon an opponent's Pokemon deciding to switch in. Slack Off allows him to gain instant recovery, something that is valuable in keeping sand up. Earthquake works well as an offensive attack with Hippowdon's decent Attack as well as getting a STAB bonus. Finally, whirlwind allows Hippowdon to remove the threat of something to set up on it, given that it can take a hit. Whirlwind also works well with Stealth Rock, as something is brought in it will take immediate damage from it.
Landorus @ Life Orb
Ability: Sheer Force
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature (+Spe, -Atk)
-Earth Power
-Focus Blast
-Hidden Power Ice
-Substitute
Landorus purpose on this team is to both act as a revenge killer due to its high speed, but mainly it is used as a late-game sweeper. Sheer Force, along with Life Orb, and Landorus's base 115 Special Attack makes it extremely powerful. Earth Power is Landorus's best STAB move, and gets a boost from Sheer Force. Focus Blast allows Landorus to hit multiple threats, such as Blissey, Ferrothorn, Hydregion, and Kyreum-B. Hidden Power Ice is used to KO any Dragons, and Gliscor, which would normally be a problem. Finally, Substitute is used because when Landorus comes in, it generally causes a lot of switches. So, by setting up a substitute, Landorus can be safe from a possible priority ice move.
Ferrothorn @ Leftovers
Ability: Iron Barbs
EVs: 4 Def/ 252 HP / 252 SpD
Impish Nature (+Def, -SpA)
-Leech Seed
-Protect
-Spikes
-Power Whip
Ferrothorn is a great asset to the team, simply because of its great bulk and its ability to set up spikes as entry hazards. Personally, I enjoy using a Specially Defensive set, I feel that it is much better. Ferrothorn's first move is Leech Seed, which helps it weaken opponents while helping it gain HP. Secondly is Protect, which helps Ferrothorn gain more HP from Leftovers and Leech Seed if it is up. Next is Spikes, arguably Ferrothorn's most important move on the team, as it helps Alakazam and Landorus sweep late-game. Finally is Power Whip, which is used to further weaken opponents. It is also here so that Ferrothorn won't become completely useless if taunted.
Scizor @ Choice Band
Ability: Technician
EVs: 8 SpD / 248 HP / 252 Atk
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SpA)
-Bullet Punch
-Pursuit
-Superpower
-U-turn
Scizor is here on this team to both scout and take down opposing threats to this team. Bullet Punch allows it to take out weak sweepers, and can get rid of Terrakion; another huge threat. Bullet Punch can also take out a weakened Politoed, as long as it doesn't switch. Pursuit is mainly here to deal damage to other things trying to set up weather (Politoed and Ninetails) when they attempt to switch out. Superpower is here to deal damage to Scizor's counters if they try to switch in, expecting a different move from it. U-turn is used to scout any incoming switch-ins, and help maintain momentum.
Blissey @ Leftovers
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Def / 252 SpD
Bold Nature (+Def, -Atk)
-Wish
-Protect
-Seismic Toss
-Toxic
Blissey is here on this team to support with Wish. She can heal everything on the team with her huge HP. Wish can also be extremely valuable because it can keep Hippowdon alive, and therefore keep sand up. Blissey is also here to tank many hits from Special Attackers, something few things on this team can do effectively. Wish is used as mentioned earlier, to heal teammates and herself. Protect is used to scout out opposing moves, while also also allowing Blissey to heal without taking damage if Wish has been used. Seismic Toss is used to hit everything hard,except for Ghost-types. Finally, Toxic is used to cripple opposing Pokemon by making them steadily lose HP.
Alakazam @ Focus Sash
Ability: Magic Guard
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature (+Spe, -Atk)
-Psyshock
-Focus Blast
-Signal Beam
-Hidden Power Ice
Alakazam functions as a similar role to Landorus on this team, either being a revenge killer or a late-game sweeper. I prefer a Focus Sash on Alakazam instead of a Life Orb, I find it much more useful. Psyshock is used to hit things with a low Defense stat hard. Focus Blast allows Alakazam to hit things that would normally wall him. Signal Beam allows Alakazam hit other Psychic types, and finally Hidden Power Ice allows Alakazam to hit Dragon-types hard.
Thank you for reading, I am fairly new to playing competitively so I hope this team isn't that bad. Any suggestions would be great! Again, thanks for your time.
Hippowdon @ Leftovers
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 4 Def / 252 HP /252 SpD
Careful Nature (+SpD, -SpA)
-Stealth Rock
-Slack Off
-Earthquake
-Whirlwind
Hippowdon is extremely important to this team because of his ability to set up sand. I did decide to use more of a Specially Defensive set, and I think it works fairly well. Stealth Rocks allows Hippowdon to put more pressure upon an opponent's Pokemon deciding to switch in. Slack Off allows him to gain instant recovery, something that is valuable in keeping sand up. Earthquake works well as an offensive attack with Hippowdon's decent Attack as well as getting a STAB bonus. Finally, whirlwind allows Hippowdon to remove the threat of something to set up on it, given that it can take a hit. Whirlwind also works well with Stealth Rock, as something is brought in it will take immediate damage from it.
Landorus @ Life Orb
Ability: Sheer Force
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature (+Spe, -Atk)
-Earth Power
-Focus Blast
-Hidden Power Ice
-Substitute
Landorus purpose on this team is to both act as a revenge killer due to its high speed, but mainly it is used as a late-game sweeper. Sheer Force, along with Life Orb, and Landorus's base 115 Special Attack makes it extremely powerful. Earth Power is Landorus's best STAB move, and gets a boost from Sheer Force. Focus Blast allows Landorus to hit multiple threats, such as Blissey, Ferrothorn, Hydregion, and Kyreum-B. Hidden Power Ice is used to KO any Dragons, and Gliscor, which would normally be a problem. Finally, Substitute is used because when Landorus comes in, it generally causes a lot of switches. So, by setting up a substitute, Landorus can be safe from a possible priority ice move.
Ferrothorn @ Leftovers
Ability: Iron Barbs
EVs: 4 Def/ 252 HP / 252 SpD
Impish Nature (+Def, -SpA)
-Leech Seed
-Protect
-Spikes
-Power Whip
Ferrothorn is a great asset to the team, simply because of its great bulk and its ability to set up spikes as entry hazards. Personally, I enjoy using a Specially Defensive set, I feel that it is much better. Ferrothorn's first move is Leech Seed, which helps it weaken opponents while helping it gain HP. Secondly is Protect, which helps Ferrothorn gain more HP from Leftovers and Leech Seed if it is up. Next is Spikes, arguably Ferrothorn's most important move on the team, as it helps Alakazam and Landorus sweep late-game. Finally is Power Whip, which is used to further weaken opponents. It is also here so that Ferrothorn won't become completely useless if taunted.
Scizor @ Choice Band
Ability: Technician
EVs: 8 SpD / 248 HP / 252 Atk
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SpA)
-Bullet Punch
-Pursuit
-Superpower
-U-turn
Scizor is here on this team to both scout and take down opposing threats to this team. Bullet Punch allows it to take out weak sweepers, and can get rid of Terrakion; another huge threat. Bullet Punch can also take out a weakened Politoed, as long as it doesn't switch. Pursuit is mainly here to deal damage to other things trying to set up weather (Politoed and Ninetails) when they attempt to switch out. Superpower is here to deal damage to Scizor's counters if they try to switch in, expecting a different move from it. U-turn is used to scout any incoming switch-ins, and help maintain momentum.
Blissey @ Leftovers
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Def / 252 SpD
Bold Nature (+Def, -Atk)
-Wish
-Protect
-Seismic Toss
-Toxic
Blissey is here on this team to support with Wish. She can heal everything on the team with her huge HP. Wish can also be extremely valuable because it can keep Hippowdon alive, and therefore keep sand up. Blissey is also here to tank many hits from Special Attackers, something few things on this team can do effectively. Wish is used as mentioned earlier, to heal teammates and herself. Protect is used to scout out opposing moves, while also also allowing Blissey to heal without taking damage if Wish has been used. Seismic Toss is used to hit everything hard,except for Ghost-types. Finally, Toxic is used to cripple opposing Pokemon by making them steadily lose HP.
Alakazam @ Focus Sash
Ability: Magic Guard
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature (+Spe, -Atk)
-Psyshock
-Focus Blast
-Signal Beam
-Hidden Power Ice
Alakazam functions as a similar role to Landorus on this team, either being a revenge killer or a late-game sweeper. I prefer a Focus Sash on Alakazam instead of a Life Orb, I find it much more useful. Psyshock is used to hit things with a low Defense stat hard. Focus Blast allows Alakazam to hit things that would normally wall him. Signal Beam allows Alakazam hit other Psychic types, and finally Hidden Power Ice allows Alakazam to hit Dragon-types hard.
Thank you for reading, I am fairly new to playing competitively so I hope this team isn't that bad. Any suggestions would be great! Again, thanks for your time.
