SM LC My Name isn't Halloween

[Drew]

Yes I did make this last year for Halloween

Introduction​

Since Sun and Moon came out, I've been wanting to do an RMT, but I hadn't really made a good, fun team that would make it worth it. Eventually, I decided I wanted to use Sandshrew, as I had to test it for my analysis of it. My first post ever was also about Sandshrew, and I like to put meaning into the first Pokemon of my RMT, so I thought it was a perfect choice. Eventually though, it became a Pumpkaboo team, which I also have a personal connection to, as it was featured on my first LC team. Hope you guys like it!

Teambuilding Process​

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Although I explained most of the reason I picked it above, Sandshrew is pretty underrated for all it can do. Not only can it beat most Staryu sets with a Knock Off on a switch-in into Earthquake, but it can also beat opposing Pumpkaboo's with Knock Off which Drilbur can't manage with Shadow Claw. It should certainly be used more often.

Pumpkaboo (which at this point was a bulkier set) and Pawniard were included due to their great type synergy with Sandshrew and their ability to defer Rapid Spin and Defog respectively. Pumpkaboo and Pawniard together check most things in the tierand form a great core on their own.

Originally I used Doduo as a sub-wincon. But since I didn't include it in the end, I won't go much more into it than that.

Spritzee was added as a main Fighting-type check and Wisherpasser/cleric to assist with healing up all of the other Pokemon who don't have a reliable recovery. It was also added as a Vullaby check.

Chinchou is basically just my Flying-type check and is a great Choice Scarf pivot.

At this point I replaced Pumpkaboo-Super with Z-Trick or Treat Pumpkaboo-Small as a better wincon and a fun sweeper. Timburr replaced Doduo because it is generally better and can take care of Pawniard much more easily.

The Team​

Sandshrew @ Eviolite
Ability: Sand Rush
EVs: 36 HP / 156 Atk / 76 Def / 36 SpD / 196 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Rapid Spin
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- Knock Off

Sandshrew is a very underrated Pokemon, as its great defense and combination of Rapid Spin + Stealth Rocks makes it actually a pretty viable mon. Knock Off assits Pumpkaboo's potential sweep by crippling threats such as Vullaby, Mienfoo, and Timburr. Stealth Rock helps break Sturdy for Pumpkaboo. Its 16 and 10 defensive stats are pretty useful in switching into most things, although Special Attackers can hurt. I adore this mon and it should seriously be used more often.

Pumpkaboo-Small @ Ghostium Z
Ability: Frisk
EVs: 4 HP / 36 Def / 244 SpA / 76 SpD / 148 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Trick-or-Treat
- Shadow Ball
- Fire Blast
- Giga Drain​

This is legitimately the most fun mon I've ever used. Because at team preview Pumpkaboo's size isn't revealed, you can almost bluff a Pumpkaboo-Super set against most Rapid Spinners. Z-Trick or Treat boosts all of Pumpkaboo's stats up, making it bulky, and a great sweeper at the same time. It also gives the Ghost-type to its switch-ins, mostly Timburr and Vullaby, making them much easier to defeat, although the ladder is a lot harder to beat. Neverending Nightmare could be used if Pumpkaboo has no room to sweep to defeat threats (mostly Timburr). Shadow Ball is Pumpkaboo's most heavy hitting move and is usually used when the other two aren't super effective. Giga Drain hits the super common Rock-, Ground-, and Water-types that mostly dominate the tier and it heals it back up, although not reliably. Fire Blast hits Grass-types basically. Along with all of this, Pumpkaboo is a great ground-type check, especially doing wonders versus Mudbray. Usually after a Z-Trick or Treat Pumpkaboo can live even a lot of super-effective attacks. Frisk can reveal the sets of certain Pokemon like Chinchou, Drilbur, and Mudbray. It also has maximum Special Attack to help it sweep.​

Pawniard @ Eviolite
Ability: Defiant
EVs: 156 Atk / 36 Def / 116 SpD / 196 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Knock Off
- Iron Head
- Sucker Punch
- Brick Break

Pawniard is basically just a check to everything I need to check. Knock Off helps Pumpkaboo sweep and hits pretty hard. Iron Head hits Rock-types and is basically just good STAB. Sucker Punch is good priority and does a fair amount of damage. Brick Break handles opposing Pawniard and I don't really need Stealth Rocks cause I have Sandshrew or Swords Dance because I have a wincon in Pumpkboo. Like I said, it checks bulky Vullaby, Dazzling Gleam Abra and Gastly, other Pawniards, Shellder, Zigzagoon, and to an extent Snivy. Also its 14 and 12 defensive stats make it pretty bulky.

Timburr @ Eviolite
Ability: Guts
EVs: 116 Atk / 156 Def / 156 SpD / 76 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Drain Punch
- Mach Punch
- Knock Off
- Ice Punch

Timburr is good on almost any team this gen and is just a great threat. Knock Off, as mentioned twice above, helps Pumpkaboo sweep. Drain Punch is great STAB as it helps Timburr regain health and survive. Mach Punch is very reliable priority and helps it easily defeat Pawniard. Ice Punch hits many switch-ins to Timburr, such as Foongus, Vullaby, and other Flying-types. 14 and 12 defenses are pretty good with Eviolite as you may see, and make it bulky. This thread bluffs Iron Fist to get a great Attack boost. The one big problem with this set is that it can be undone by my own Spritzee, but this doesn't happen most of the time.​

Spritzee @ Eviolite
Ability: Aroma Veil
EVs: 212 HP / 196 Def / 12 SpA / 76 SpD / 12 Spe
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Wish
- Protect
- Moonblast
- Aromatherapy

Spritzee passes Wish to all my other Pokemon who need recovery. Wish just ensures this for Spritzee itself. Moonblast is a heavy hitting Fairy-type move and does really well against almost every common Dark-type. But, be wary of Pawniard, as multiple times I have been swept after my Pawniard and Timburr had been weakened by a boosted opposing Pawniard. Aromatherapy heals off the status conditions that can plague some of the Pokemon on this team, although it can undo Timburr's boost. 16 and 14 defenses with Eviolite are gives Spritzee great bulk, enough so that is can survive Shell Smash sweepers and stall out sun.

Chinchou @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Volt Absorb
EVs: 52 Def / 232 SpA / 224 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Volt Switch
- Hydro Pump
- Ice Beam
- Thunderbolt​

Chinchou is a pretty good Flying-type killer who outspeeds basically everything with its Choice Scarf. Volt Switch helps it pivot effectively and annoy opposing team to help with a sweep. Hydro Pump is powerful Water-type STAB that I use often to hit almost anything. Ice Beam is used to hit Grass-types and secure kills on weakened or frail Ground-types, most Diglett's that have been baited in. Thunderbolt is for late-game cleaning and should only be used when all Electric-type immunities are taken out.​

Threats​

Sun Teams: Although it can be played around, the sun playstyle can be extremely troublesome. I have a tendency to make all my teams weak to sun.

Shell Smashers: Again, although they can be played around, Shell Smash users can be super troublesome. Spritzee can help deal with Omanyte and Clamperl sometimes and Pawniard does well against all Shell Smashers.

Flying-types: Many Flying-types give this team trouble for different reasons. Doduo can hit Pawniard with a Jump Kick and can break through Chinchou and Spritzee, making it quite troublesome. Rufflet is just very powerful and can break through most of the Pokemon on this team. Nasty Plot and Z-Mirror Move Vullaby is quite troublesome, although the first has a much better way of dealing with Pawniard and the latter breaks through Spritzee.

Conclusion​

In summary, this is a very fun team, and is generally reliable. If you want to see it used pretty well, here is a replay of me vs. Sken that was pretty fun. It has a great surprise factor and is pretty easy to use, even for a poor battler like myself. This team doesn't have many exact calcs or information of what kills what, as that comes with use of the team and should be learned, not told in my opinion. Have fun!

Shoutouts

Coconut I always have to give her a shoutout as the only reason I'm actually doing well as a contributor, battler, and team builder, is because of what she taught me. Keep contributing Coco!

Sken He helped me test this team and is just generally nice to me. Also teahc me Spanish!

Nineage and TheFenderStory made the teambuilder I used to make a basic outline of this RMT. Both are great guys and I hope both of you keep making better and better projects.

Vubon in my last RMT I said we needed to hang out more, but I still never see you around. You are the one who got me into LC and deserve more credit than you get. If you play in SPL, I'll be cheering you on from the sidelines!

ItzViper482 and 067jox both newbies just like me and both great guys, keep talking and contributing you two!

Sam-testings talk with you way more than I realize. keep being a great guy to hang out with.

OP and Corporal Levi you two are both great guys and do great work running LC Analyses. Love you both for separate reasons and keep at it.

macle and Quote couldn't ask for any better TL's keep at it!

dsr95 you're such a nice guy where'd you go?


Cool people: mad0ka Jac Star rssp1 Kingler12345 Shrug Merritt Berks Rowan Fiend WaterlessMelon Caledrith Vileman Altariel von Sweep Tahu Pikasohn everyone who has been contributing to analyses and LC in general is cool in my book!
:D

Importable

Sandshrew @ Eviolite
Ability: Sand Rush
Level: 5
EVs: 36 HP / 156 Atk / 76 Def / 36 SpD / 196 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Rapid Spin
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- Knock Off

Pumpkaboo-Small @ Ghostium Z
Ability: Frisk
Level: 5
EVs: 4 HP / 36 Def / 244 SpA / 76 SpD / 148 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Trick-or-Treat
- Shadow Ball
- Fire Blast
- Giga Drain

Pawniard @ Eviolite
Ability: Defiant
Level: 5
EVs: 156 Atk / 36 Def / 116 SpD / 196 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Knock Off
- Iron Head
- Sucker Punch
- Brick Break

Timburr @ Eviolite
Ability: Guts
Level: 5
EVs: 116 Atk / 156 Def / 156 SpD / 76 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Drain Punch
- Mach Punch
- Knock Off
- Ice Punch

Spritzee @ Eviolite
Ability: Aroma Veil
Level: 5
EVs: 212 HP / 196 Def / 12 SpA / 76 SpD / 12 Spe
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Wish
- Protect
- Moonblast
- Aromatherapy

Chinchou @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Volt Absorb
Level: 5
EVs: 52 Def / 232 SpA / 224 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Volt Switch
- Hydro Pump
- Ice Beam
- Thunderbolt

Edit after name change: My old name was how3an (how-EE-in), commonly mispronounced similar to Halloween, so that's the purpose of the title.