Intro
Hi all!
This is my first team I've created for the new gen... It's been a strange and frustrating time laddering as the new Pokemon and newer/stranger sets often catch me off guard.
I'd like a little help and suggestions for a team I am playing with at the moment. It hasn't really peaked past 1500 so I'd like to see if anyone can make any suggestions that can help it on it's way.
The team is centred around Tapu Bulu and Toxapex who once they get set up - are almost impossible to stop. The core is built around those two with the others providing support and another attacking presence. I admit it s a "little" stall based - which is something I am having to find comfort with in a new Meta where attacking teams are seemingly slower.
The Team
Sauron (Aerodactyl) (M) @ Focus Sash
Ability: Unnerve
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Rock Slide
- Earthquake
- Taunt
- Stealth Rock
My lead. I toyed with having Seismitoad on here (as that was my lead in Gen 6) - but with the Tapu's running about - it's a little risky not having something fast to set up Rocks. Aero also provides the role of anti-lead to stopping other hazard setters and offering some coverage against frailer slower threats. Plus it outspeeds a hell of a lot - which is always handy especially against the likes of Mega Chars and non-Scarfed Kyurem-B - which bothers my team somewhat. This is a standard set I have used since forever and it's rarely ever let me down.
Tapu Bulu @ Leftovers
Ability: Grassy Surge
EVs: 248 HP / 60 Atk / 200 Def
Impish Nature
- Horn Leech
- Leech Seed
- Substitute
- Bulk Up or Protect
My favourite Tapu and a pain to deal with once I'm behind a Sub. I wanted to use a Tapu that would slow the roll of the others and being that Bulu is the slowest of the bunch - this guy made sense to use. It will struggle somewhat to Leles that use Psychic - but outside of that - it can deal with the others will little problem. It's a standard bulky attack set that's designed to send out Leech Seeds or hide behind a Sub before hitting hard with Horn Leech. I can even afford to just Seed something then spam Sub or switch out to Toxapex or Ferro for further stall games (I know it's annoying)! Bulu is a great partner for Toxapex as the Terrain weakens Ground moves. Plus they can both switch in and out to the others weakness - with the exception of Psychic.
I'm undecided on Bulk Up or Protect - although have found better success with Bulk Up as it allows me to score more hard hits.
Thorn (Toxapex) (F) @ Normalium Z
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 252 HP / 56 Def / 200 SpD
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Scald
- Toxic
- Stockpile
- Recover
Since I started using this thing - I've been telling everyone that this is the set that could get this thing Ubered. Funnily enough - I don't actually see it a hell of a lot - which is nice! All joking aside - this set is brutal and very hard to stop and once it's at full Stockpile level - it can stomach so many hits.
I went with a Calm spread to allow it to have as much bulk as possible in case its squaring up to an Electric or Psychic type. My aim is to usually set up a Stockpile or two - then hit the Z-move and then stall away with Scald or Toxic. It's a little risky and can be hard to set up - but with Regenerator - I can switch in and out freely and apply status where I see an opportunity or if I can't deal with something. Having Bulu around means I can bring it in once Terrain is up, or switch out when I can feel an Electric move coming from the likes of Magearna etc.
Gyro (Ferrothorn) (M) @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Iron Barbs
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Careful Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Gyro Ball
- Leech Seed
- Thunder Wave
- Protect or Spikes
The third cog in my core. Ferrothorn protects both Bulu and Toxapex against Psychic and Poison moves while giving me an out for speed control, applying more Seeds or stalling. I have toyed with the idea of Spikes > Protect - but am not confident it will help as Ferro has no way to gain more HP and not getting hit...
Vulcan (Marowak-Alola) (M) @ Thick Club
Ability: Lightning Rod
EVs: 252 HP / 188 Atk / 68 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Flare Blitz or Fire Punch
- Bonemerang
- Shadow Bone
- Will-O-Wisp
I wanted to include this guy on my team for the original reason of it looking cool lol. But it does provide extra cover vs Bug, Electric and Steel types (namely Volcarona, Magearna and Magnezone). It's special bulk isn't great - but have found I need the bulk in defenses to take hits from non Adamant/Banded 'Chomp better.
Krakoa (Venusaur) (F) @ Venusaurite
Ability: Chlorophyll
EVs: 200 HP / 108 SpA / 200 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Sludge Bomb
- Giga Drain
- Hidden Power [Fire]
- Sleep Powder
I am unsure about the inclusion of my favorite Mega this Gen. New Pokemon and newer/stranger sets have caught me off guard at times. Originally this set was to counter act non Scarf Rotom-Ws, other slower Water/Rock/Ground types, Ferrothorn and Scizor. So it does still find it's uses although I'm not sold on it at the moment... which makes me sad :(
Conclusion
I have (as stated) found that Kyurem-B pretty much manhandles my team forcing me to switch in and out a LOT at the cost of losing Pokemon. Fortunately, Kyurem-B isn't that common.. Otherwise the team does have a bit of a Ice/Electric weakness which I feel could be addressed better.
I have used Landorus-T as a sub for Mega Venu - but I don't like running the only set I trust on it (Scarf).
Hi all!
This is my first team I've created for the new gen... It's been a strange and frustrating time laddering as the new Pokemon and newer/stranger sets often catch me off guard.
I'd like a little help and suggestions for a team I am playing with at the moment. It hasn't really peaked past 1500 so I'd like to see if anyone can make any suggestions that can help it on it's way.
The team is centred around Tapu Bulu and Toxapex who once they get set up - are almost impossible to stop. The core is built around those two with the others providing support and another attacking presence. I admit it s a "little" stall based - which is something I am having to find comfort with in a new Meta where attacking teams are seemingly slower.
The Team
Sauron (Aerodactyl) (M) @ Focus Sash
Ability: Unnerve
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Rock Slide
- Earthquake
- Taunt
- Stealth Rock
My lead. I toyed with having Seismitoad on here (as that was my lead in Gen 6) - but with the Tapu's running about - it's a little risky not having something fast to set up Rocks. Aero also provides the role of anti-lead to stopping other hazard setters and offering some coverage against frailer slower threats. Plus it outspeeds a hell of a lot - which is always handy especially against the likes of Mega Chars and non-Scarfed Kyurem-B - which bothers my team somewhat. This is a standard set I have used since forever and it's rarely ever let me down.
Tapu Bulu @ Leftovers
Ability: Grassy Surge
EVs: 248 HP / 60 Atk / 200 Def
Impish Nature
- Horn Leech
- Leech Seed
- Substitute
- Bulk Up or Protect
My favourite Tapu and a pain to deal with once I'm behind a Sub. I wanted to use a Tapu that would slow the roll of the others and being that Bulu is the slowest of the bunch - this guy made sense to use. It will struggle somewhat to Leles that use Psychic - but outside of that - it can deal with the others will little problem. It's a standard bulky attack set that's designed to send out Leech Seeds or hide behind a Sub before hitting hard with Horn Leech. I can even afford to just Seed something then spam Sub or switch out to Toxapex or Ferro for further stall games (I know it's annoying)! Bulu is a great partner for Toxapex as the Terrain weakens Ground moves. Plus they can both switch in and out to the others weakness - with the exception of Psychic.
I'm undecided on Bulk Up or Protect - although have found better success with Bulk Up as it allows me to score more hard hits.
Thorn (Toxapex) (F) @ Normalium Z
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 252 HP / 56 Def / 200 SpD
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Scald
- Toxic
- Stockpile
- Recover
Since I started using this thing - I've been telling everyone that this is the set that could get this thing Ubered. Funnily enough - I don't actually see it a hell of a lot - which is nice! All joking aside - this set is brutal and very hard to stop and once it's at full Stockpile level - it can stomach so many hits.
I went with a Calm spread to allow it to have as much bulk as possible in case its squaring up to an Electric or Psychic type. My aim is to usually set up a Stockpile or two - then hit the Z-move and then stall away with Scald or Toxic. It's a little risky and can be hard to set up - but with Regenerator - I can switch in and out freely and apply status where I see an opportunity or if I can't deal with something. Having Bulu around means I can bring it in once Terrain is up, or switch out when I can feel an Electric move coming from the likes of Magearna etc.
Gyro (Ferrothorn) (M) @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Iron Barbs
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Careful Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Gyro Ball
- Leech Seed
- Thunder Wave
- Protect or Spikes
The third cog in my core. Ferrothorn protects both Bulu and Toxapex against Psychic and Poison moves while giving me an out for speed control, applying more Seeds or stalling. I have toyed with the idea of Spikes > Protect - but am not confident it will help as Ferro has no way to gain more HP and not getting hit...
Vulcan (Marowak-Alola) (M) @ Thick Club
Ability: Lightning Rod
EVs: 252 HP / 188 Atk / 68 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Flare Blitz or Fire Punch
- Bonemerang
- Shadow Bone
- Will-O-Wisp
I wanted to include this guy on my team for the original reason of it looking cool lol. But it does provide extra cover vs Bug, Electric and Steel types (namely Volcarona, Magearna and Magnezone). It's special bulk isn't great - but have found I need the bulk in defenses to take hits from non Adamant/Banded 'Chomp better.
Krakoa (Venusaur) (F) @ Venusaurite
Ability: Chlorophyll
EVs: 200 HP / 108 SpA / 200 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Sludge Bomb
- Giga Drain
- Hidden Power [Fire]
- Sleep Powder
I am unsure about the inclusion of my favorite Mega this Gen. New Pokemon and newer/stranger sets have caught me off guard at times. Originally this set was to counter act non Scarf Rotom-Ws, other slower Water/Rock/Ground types, Ferrothorn and Scizor. So it does still find it's uses although I'm not sold on it at the moment... which makes me sad :(
Conclusion
I have (as stated) found that Kyurem-B pretty much manhandles my team forcing me to switch in and out a LOT at the cost of losing Pokemon. Fortunately, Kyurem-B isn't that common.. Otherwise the team does have a bit of a Ice/Electric weakness which I feel could be addressed better.
I have used Landorus-T as a sub for Mega Venu - but I don't like running the only set I trust on it (Scarf).