Hello ! After wandering around with a few teams, I've found one that seems to fit well. I'm getting good results (still have to grind the ladder) but I really like how it plays out. I'll start presenting my "star" mons first.
Dragapult @ Leftovers
Ability: Infiltrator
EVs: 96 HP / 16 Def / 184 SpA / 212 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Substitute
- Will-O-Wisp
- Hex
- Disable
The Hex set from the Smogon Dex. I love it. It takes on many threats in the metagame and cripples all those dangerous physical sweepers and wallbreakers with burns while hitting near the whole metagame super hard with boosted+STAB Hex. Can also be considered at some kind of stallbreaker, as Substitute blocks most status moves, while disable + burns prevent most defensive pokemons from breaking our Subs.
All around great at scouting and can even win games by surprising opponents expecting a max speed choice set (I've seen a +2 sub Hydreigon switch out on it expecting a faster dragon darts / meteor, saving me from a nearly guaranteed loss).
Main weaknesses : Faster pokemons (e.g opposite Dragapults), Priority (Aegislash !!). Some walls can also take on status-boosted Hex.
Bisharp @ Black Glasses
Ability: Defiant
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Throat Chop
- Iron Head
- Sucker Punch
- Swords Dance
The few things that can face Dragapult are often checked by Bisharp, making it an excellent partner. It brings priority, allowing him to revenge kill faster threats after they have been weakened by statuses and entry hazards, has wall breaking potential and can be a threat very quickly if the opponent tries to Defog without thinking about it.
Also found it to be the most reliable answer to Clefable right now, and as it's nearly the only pokemon I would use Iron Head on, it makes Black Glasses a perfect fit, making Bisharp a little more reliable and able to take a few hits without ruining his sweeping potential.
Hatterene (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Magic Bounce
EVs: 252 HP / 204 Def / 52 Spe
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Psychic
- Mystical Fire
- Draining Kiss
- Calm Mind
Even thought Bisharp can safely set up on Ferrothorn, OHKOing it at +6, and can hit Grimmsnarl fairly hard while being immune to his Prankster moves, Hatterene is a wonderful teammate here, taking care of Ferrothorn and Toxapex with ease, bringing insane Stallbreaking potential with Magic Bounce, and can even be a lategame threat once most threatening attackers are dealt with. After 2 Calm Minds, not a lot of Special mons are able to break through Hatterene, which is able to safely heal herself up with Draining Kiss.
Toxapex @ Black Sludge
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Scald
- Recover
- Haze
- Toxic Spikes
The first part of my defensive core, which synergizes with Dragapult the most. Toxic Spikes ramp up and start spreading poison around the opposite team, helping Dragapult wreck havoc with Hex.
Regenerator helps pivoting in and out, and Toxapex comes around as my best Dragapult counter (unless they're running a Thunderbolt variant) and as a great check to most setup sweepers.
Ferrothorn @ Leftovers
Ability: Iron Barbs
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Impish Nature
- Knock Off
- Power Whip
- Leech Seed
- Stealth Rock
Ferro-Pex core is a classic. Their typings synergize well together, and Ferrothorn comes into the team as my SR setter and an overall solid tank with great utility in Leech Seed and Knock Off. I like Knock off Instead of Gyro Ball, as it allows to hit Dragapult and Aegislash hard, brings more utility, and because Power Whisp takes care of most threats (Clefable can just outspeed and hit me with flamethrower, so didn't want to bother hitting it).
Corviknight @ Leftovers
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 252 HP / 76 Def / 180 SpD
Impish Nature
- Body Press
- Roost
- Defog
- U-turn
Last part of my defensive core, Corvi brings a slow U-turn, allowing him (with his solid bulk) to soak even super-effective hits from most of the unboosted metagame then bring Bisharp or Dragapult in safely. He also brings defog to the team !
I like running Body Press as my only attack. It allows Corvi to absorb burns for the team if Hatterene is out or threatened, or freely switch in on Scalds without fear of ending completely passive. It is also Corvi's best way to damage pokemons he walls well : Hydreigon (lacking Fire blast) and Excadrill. With Dynamax out, I don't see yet the use of running Brave Bird, despite it having a little more neutral power, and handling Hawlucha (haven't seen a lot of those in my matches).
Here it is for my team... the biggest issue i'm having right now is handling Rotom-H, as his STAB combo hits Pex, Ferro and Corvi super effectively. I try to get around it using Disable with Dragapult, making it either forced to volt-switch away, or go for Overheat, the SpA drop helping out surviving it. Knocking Off boots on the switch also helps weakening it with Stealth Rock and finish it up with Bisharp's Sucker Punch.
My best bet at handling it better would be switching Toxapex for Seismitoad or Gastrodon. Each choices has weaknesses, however :
- Seismitoad has no reliable recovery, and cannot Haze.
- Gastrodon doesn't have access to either Toxic or Toxic Spikes, losing the synergy with Hex Dragapult.
Dragapult @ Leftovers
Ability: Infiltrator
EVs: 96 HP / 16 Def / 184 SpA / 212 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Substitute
- Will-O-Wisp
- Hex
- Disable
The Hex set from the Smogon Dex. I love it. It takes on many threats in the metagame and cripples all those dangerous physical sweepers and wallbreakers with burns while hitting near the whole metagame super hard with boosted+STAB Hex. Can also be considered at some kind of stallbreaker, as Substitute blocks most status moves, while disable + burns prevent most defensive pokemons from breaking our Subs.
All around great at scouting and can even win games by surprising opponents expecting a max speed choice set (I've seen a +2 sub Hydreigon switch out on it expecting a faster dragon darts / meteor, saving me from a nearly guaranteed loss).
Main weaknesses : Faster pokemons (e.g opposite Dragapults), Priority (Aegislash !!). Some walls can also take on status-boosted Hex.
Bisharp @ Black Glasses
Ability: Defiant
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Throat Chop
- Iron Head
- Sucker Punch
- Swords Dance
The few things that can face Dragapult are often checked by Bisharp, making it an excellent partner. It brings priority, allowing him to revenge kill faster threats after they have been weakened by statuses and entry hazards, has wall breaking potential and can be a threat very quickly if the opponent tries to Defog without thinking about it.
Also found it to be the most reliable answer to Clefable right now, and as it's nearly the only pokemon I would use Iron Head on, it makes Black Glasses a perfect fit, making Bisharp a little more reliable and able to take a few hits without ruining his sweeping potential.
Hatterene (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Magic Bounce
EVs: 252 HP / 204 Def / 52 Spe
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Psychic
- Mystical Fire
- Draining Kiss
- Calm Mind
Even thought Bisharp can safely set up on Ferrothorn, OHKOing it at +6, and can hit Grimmsnarl fairly hard while being immune to his Prankster moves, Hatterene is a wonderful teammate here, taking care of Ferrothorn and Toxapex with ease, bringing insane Stallbreaking potential with Magic Bounce, and can even be a lategame threat once most threatening attackers are dealt with. After 2 Calm Minds, not a lot of Special mons are able to break through Hatterene, which is able to safely heal herself up with Draining Kiss.
Toxapex @ Black Sludge
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Scald
- Recover
- Haze
- Toxic Spikes
The first part of my defensive core, which synergizes with Dragapult the most. Toxic Spikes ramp up and start spreading poison around the opposite team, helping Dragapult wreck havoc with Hex.
Regenerator helps pivoting in and out, and Toxapex comes around as my best Dragapult counter (unless they're running a Thunderbolt variant) and as a great check to most setup sweepers.
Ferrothorn @ Leftovers
Ability: Iron Barbs
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Impish Nature
- Knock Off
- Power Whip
- Leech Seed
- Stealth Rock
Ferro-Pex core is a classic. Their typings synergize well together, and Ferrothorn comes into the team as my SR setter and an overall solid tank with great utility in Leech Seed and Knock Off. I like Knock off Instead of Gyro Ball, as it allows to hit Dragapult and Aegislash hard, brings more utility, and because Power Whisp takes care of most threats (Clefable can just outspeed and hit me with flamethrower, so didn't want to bother hitting it).
Corviknight @ Leftovers
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 252 HP / 76 Def / 180 SpD
Impish Nature
- Body Press
- Roost
- Defog
- U-turn
Last part of my defensive core, Corvi brings a slow U-turn, allowing him (with his solid bulk) to soak even super-effective hits from most of the unboosted metagame then bring Bisharp or Dragapult in safely. He also brings defog to the team !
I like running Body Press as my only attack. It allows Corvi to absorb burns for the team if Hatterene is out or threatened, or freely switch in on Scalds without fear of ending completely passive. It is also Corvi's best way to damage pokemons he walls well : Hydreigon (lacking Fire blast) and Excadrill. With Dynamax out, I don't see yet the use of running Brave Bird, despite it having a little more neutral power, and handling Hawlucha (haven't seen a lot of those in my matches).
Here it is for my team... the biggest issue i'm having right now is handling Rotom-H, as his STAB combo hits Pex, Ferro and Corvi super effectively. I try to get around it using Disable with Dragapult, making it either forced to volt-switch away, or go for Overheat, the SpA drop helping out surviving it. Knocking Off boots on the switch also helps weakening it with Stealth Rock and finish it up with Bisharp's Sucker Punch.
My best bet at handling it better would be switching Toxapex for Seismitoad or Gastrodon. Each choices has weaknesses, however :
- Seismitoad has no reliable recovery, and cannot Haze.
- Gastrodon doesn't have access to either Toxic or Toxic Spikes, losing the synergy with Hex Dragapult.
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