My very first NU team. :)

[[L]]

So this is my very first NU team. So please help me as much as you can please. :P

At a quick glance:

Prime Rape (Primeape) (M) @ Choice Scarf
Trait: Vital Spirit
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Close Combat
- Ice Punch
- Stone Edge
- U-turn

This is the Primeape lead I run. Close Combat is for STAB. Ice Punch is to deal with those Gliscors. Stone Edge is for sending in when Pokemon attempt to set up on something else. U-Turn is for scouting.

Pikaman (Ampharos) (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Static
EVs: 252 HP / 80 SAtk / 176 SDef
Modest Nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Discharge
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Thunder Wave
- Reflect

This fat Pikachu is my special wall. It takes hits like a champ. Discharge for paralysis. Hidden Power Ice for BoltBeam coverage which I think hits everything for at least neutral in NU barring Magneton. Thunder Wave is there for 100% chance of paralysis. Reflect is for the team to sponge physical hits better.

Gardevoir (F)@ Leftovers
Trait: Trace
EVs: 252 HP / 60 Spd / 196 SDef
Calm Nature (+SDef, -Atk)
- Wish
- Protect / Thunderbolt / Signal Beam
- Psychic
- Will-O-Wisp / Thunderbolt / Signal Beam

Gardevoir is here for Wish support. WoW is to cripple physical attackers. Psychic for STAB and Protect to scout, use Wish and have a free turn of leftovers recovery.

Knuckles (Sandslash) (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Sand Veil
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Def
Impish Nature (+Def, -SAtk)
- Stealth Rock
- Stone Edge
- Earthquake
- Rapid Spin

Sandslash is here to set up SR. Earthquake is there for STAB and getting rid of weak Pokemon. Stone Edge is for those I can't hit with Earthquake. Rapid Spin to get rid of entry hazards.

SharPEDO (Sharpedo) (M) @ Life Orb
Trait: Rough Skin
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Waterfall
- Aqua Jet
- Earthquake
- Crunch

Probably the most useful member on my team. This Sharpedo netted me the most kills. Waterfall and Crunch for STAB and pretty good coverage. Earthquake is a strong move gets rid of Pokemon weak to ground.

Dusclops (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Pressure
EVs: 252 HP / 228 Def / 28 SDef
Impish Nature (+Def, -SAtk)
- Will-O-Wisp
- Pain Split
- Seismic Toss
- Confuse Ray

My most questionable member of this team. It never really does anything. It can take hits, status, and confuse things. Seismic Toss is because it's not very strong offensively. Pain Split to recover.

Threat List
This list is probably not accurate. Can someone please check it over?

Ampharos: Nothing to worry about. Sharpedo can kill it with EQ. Gardevoir can wall most variants.

Armaldo: Sandslash walls it to an extent. Sharpedo has Waterfall to deal with it.

Articuno: Not sure since I never faced one. I could maybe cripple it with T-Wave and slowly stall it out.

Banette:Sharpedo can kill it with Crunch.

Bastidon: Can probably be taken down with Sandslash's Super Fang and Earthquake.

Bellossom: Most variants could probably be dealt with using Ampharos.

Bibarel: Ampharos can hit it with super effective Discharge.

Cacturne: Primape will kill with Close Combat.

Camerupt: Water moves from Sharpedo and Ground moves from whichever will deal with it.

Charizard: Once it sets up Belly Drum, it's GG for me. Best thing I can do is probably knock the sub off then revenge kill with either Primeape or Sharpedo. Otherwise, not much of a threat.

Chatot: Haven't faced one, but Gardevoir should be able to handle it.

Chimecho:Sharpedo will handle it with Crunch. Reflect will give it trouble though.

Clamperl: Will be killed with Ampharos.

Cradily:Will-O-Wisp to crippe it. I will probably have problems.

Dodrio: Hopefully get a kill with Ampharos or Primeape.

Dusclops: It's very hard to take down, I can't risk getting most of my Pokes will-o-wisped. I'll have to weaken it and kill with Sharpedo.

Elecrode: Switch into Gardevoir or Ampharos, if not, I'm screwed.

Entei: I can kill it with Sharpedo. Extremespeed will take it out though. So I'd have to use Sandslash.

Espeon: I can use Punishment on Primeape if it doesn't have Sub up.

Exeggutor: Sharpedo, Primeape can kill it.

Flareon: Sharpedo can kill it off.

Floatzel: Haven't faced one so I'm not sure.

Gardevoir: Sharpedo with Crunch will probably do it.

Glaceon: Primape can handle it with CC.

Gligar: HP Ice from Ampharos would probably kill it. Gligar is faster though. Probably a big threat to my team if Sharpedo can't kill it with Waterfall.

Golduck: Ampharos is probably my best bet. If not, I can try Gardevoir.

Gorebyss: Once again, Ampharos is probably my go-to Pokemon.

Granbull: Dusclops will hopefully go in on a normal type move and cripple with WoW.

Grumpig: Sharpedo with Crunch to kill it.

Haunter: Probably a big threat. Nothing is able to outspeed it, except for Sharpedo. Which I think has a speed tie with it so it's a problem. Ampharos can probably wall it but has to look out for HP Ground.

Hitmonchan: Dusclops could probably wall it.

Hypno: Kill it with Crunch with Sharpedo.

Jumpluff: Very annoying. My best bet is to kill it with Primeape when it doesn't have it's Sub.

Jynx: Haven't faced one.

Kangaskhan: Even though it has scrappy, Dusknoir can cripple it and weaken it.

Kecleon: I could probably WoW it. Hopefully get a close combat in while it's still normal type.

Kingler: Gardevoir or Ampharos can take it down with their Electric attacks.

Lapras: Close Combat with Primeape.

Lickilicky: Hopefully a Close Combat with Primeape.

Linoone: Once it's set up, I probably can't do anything about it but send it Dusclops and hope it doesn't have Shadow Claw. It can probably sweep my entire team.

Magcargo: It's slow so an Earthquake or Waterfall could take it down.

Magmortar: Waterfall from Sharpedo is probably the best I can do.

Magneton: Once again, Ampharos is my best bet.

Manetric: Ampharos once again.

Mantine: Ampharos is the hero again.

Marowak: Hopefully it doesn't have any speed boosts. Waterfall or WoW to crippe it.

Medicham: Switch into Dusknoir on a HJK hopefully.

Meganium: Troubles with this since I can hardly take it down. My best bet is probably Primeape's U-Turn or Ice Punch.

Miltank: It's in UU.

Mr. Mime: Get a Crunch in before it barriers or Reflects. Then probably cripple it with T-Wave.

Muk: Earthquake it out before it curses. or Psychic on Gardevoir. Will-o-Wisp to completely shut it down.

Ninetails: Aqua Jet from Sharpedo or Ampharos is my best bet.

Noctowl: Ice Punch from Primeape is my best option. Super Fang from Sandslash can probably wear it down.

Persian: Switch into Dusclops because the best it can do is probably bite.

Pinsir: Switch into Dusclops again.

Politoed:Very hard to take down. The only thing I can do is Discharge on it, but it's pretty bulky on the special side. I really need something to take it down.

Porygon2: Close Combat from Primeape is my best bet.

Primeape: Dusclops is probably my best bet or Sandslash.

Probopass: Earthquake it to death.

Quagsire: None of my physical attacks can wear it down. I'd have to try attacking it on the special side.

Raichu: Sandslash is my best bet.

Rampardos: Best bet is Aqua Jet from Sharpedo if it rock polishes. Otherwise anything that hits it for Super Effective and outspeeds will work.

Raticate: Close Combat from Primeape.

Regice: Hopefully Physical moves will eventually wear it down. Either that or I can try stalling with Dusclops.

Relicanth: Discharge or Thunderbolt from Ampharos or Gardevoir.

Sandslash: Hopefully weaken it down with Sharpedo.

Sharpedo: My best bet is my Primeape. Other things can't risk to stay in.

Shedinja: Anything supereffective on it from my team...or WoW or SR can kill it.

Shuckle: Dunno what to do. Hopefully just wear it down.

Skuntank: Earthquake from Sharpedo or Sandslash is the only thing I can do to it.

Slaking: Predict the attack. If I predict wrong, I lose a Pokemon. If I predict right, he'll have to switch out, that or I can try to cripple it with WoW.

Slowking: Abuse Dark type and Bug type moves from my Primeape and Sharpedo.

Tauros: Switch into Dusknoir then hopefully WoW it.

Torkoal: Nothing can really take it down. It can't take anything down either. Excluding for Explosion.

Typhlosion: Huge threat. Best thing I can do is switch into Ampharos or Gardevoir.

Ursaring: Take it down before it can do anything. it's slow so it shouldn't be that much of a problem.

Venomoth: I don't know what to do when I see it. Hopefully just T-Wave it on my Ampharos so it won't be a problem later on.

Victreebel: Ice Punch on Primeape is the best I can probably do. If it's physical, WoW it.

Vileplume: Ice Punch is once again the best I can do. Gardevoir and Ampharos can only wall it for so long.

Wailord: Switch to Ampharos. Discharge it.

Walrein: Somehow get it out of it's Sub and kill it.

Whiscash: Cripple it. There's nothing much I can do against it.

Xatu: Ice Punch is once again my best option. Discharge from Ampharos can deal with it somehow too.

Zangoose: Switch to Dusclops or Sandslash. I gotta watch out for Night Slash if I switch to Dusclops though.

 

[GtM]

Oh dear. You really need to make your threat list more structured and concise. Not many people will care at how you take down Magcargo, but a lot will care about how you deal with Shuckle, or Drifblim. Imo, you should prioritise the top ten post popular threats, and show how your team deals with them sequentially. Remember, you have to account for situations where your best counter may be out of the picture. So don't just post "Sharpedo uses Crunch" or something like that, since Sharpedo may not always be around, or may not even be able to switch in without taking heavy damage.

 

[[L]]

What are the top 10 threats? I'm new to NU and I seriously don't know anything about the Metagame.

 

[aVocado]

Beware of Rock Polish Armaldo, it's not easy to take down once it's set up.

Same goes for Relicantch, once its set up with Rock Polish, it's a bitch to take down. (its probably even harder to take down with Choice Scarf)

 

[GtM]

Well, I'm not entirely sure about the NU metagame itself, but I can tell you that the top ten most popular NU pokémon in the UU tier are...

Exeggutor > Qwilfish > Espeon > Pinsir > Kangaskhan > Ninetales > Electrode > Jumpluff > Charizard > Ursaring.

Most of these pokémon are offensive threats, be they in the Sun, Rain, or with a massive Attack stat. Jumpluff is the exception.

 

[Al_Alchemist]

What are the top 10 threats? I'm new to NU and I seriously don't know anything about the Metagame.

Wait until end of month and more appropriate stats from PO and Shoddy will be released.

First off let me say this is a pretty good NU team :). Looks solid, but has has several weaknesses/problems that should be addressed (also expand on set commentary this may be too short for the rmt sub forum requirements). For example, weather teams can really smash through this team and you have 2 Grass weak Pokemon without any resists (adds to Sunny Day weakness greatly).

---

Lead Primeape is interesting . Unfortunately, you will some times have to use U-turn to break sashes on commonly sashed lead Pokemon such as Venomoth and Pinsir, and you don't exactly have a good go to Pokemon to complete lead synergy with Primeape at the moment. The set might look better like this:

Primeape @ Choice Scarf
Trait: Vital Spirit
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Adamant / Jolly
- Close Combat
- Stone Edge
- Ice Punch / Taunt
- U-turn / Taunt

Punishment sucks because Pokemon whom have stat upped are usually hit harder or hard still by other moves or aren't hit hard at all by Punishment, such as Dusclops or Stockpile Gastrodon. Stone Edge hits Fire and Flying-Types, mostly for Charizard and Articuno things that EQ misses out on completely. EQ would only be for things like Electrode and Ampharos which it many times cannot OHKO anyway. Ice Punch OHKOs Jumpluff. U-Turn for scouting and handy OHKOs on the likes of Exeggutor, Cacturne, Shiftry, and other 4x bug Pokemon. Jolly helps you revenge things like Scarf Typhlosion with Stone Edge since mostly all Scarf Typhlosion are neutral natures, as well as helping Primeape just be an overall speed demon, but you may lose out on some OHKOs (most notably on common Rain Dance leads), Primeape is meant to be more of a hit and run Pokemon picking off weakened or Pokemon that it can OHKO. If you do opt for Jolly it might be best to switch Primeape from the lead spot with Sandslash. The main reason for Primeape to be the lead is so it can perform as a general anti-lead and anti-weather lead, where as it can still achieve countering Sunny Day leads with a Jolly nature (and outside of lead spot), it can no longer OHKO certain Pokemon anymore.

Because defeating Rain Dance a lot of times depends on surviving the first 8 turns of rain, Primeape can turn the tables on common Rain Dance leads and stop those first 8 turns from ever happening. An easy way to stop the lead from setting up rain the first few turns is to add taunt over one of the aforementioned moves, although you would have to switch out next and the opponent can later bring out the lead or another Pokemon to set up rain, when your caught with a Pokemon too slow/weak to stop it. With Close Combat being your strongest attack on Floatzel (Seed Bomb reaches 160 for floatzel, while CC is 180 with STAB) and Electrode you have a good chance of stopping more offensive variants, but unfortunately, more defensive variants will many times dodge a OHKO and set up anyway.

Rain Dance Leads Calcs

Electrode

• Adamant Primeape Close Combat vs Hasty Electrode 0 HP 100%
• Adamant Primeape Close Combat vs Naive Electrode 0 HP 95.4% - 112.6%
• Adamant Primeape Earthquake vs Naive Electrode 0 HP 100%
• Adamant Primeape Earthquake vs Naive Electrode 252 HP 85.2% - 100.6%

--
Floatzel

• Adamant Primeape Close Combat vs Jolly Floatzel 4 HP 96.2% - 113.5%
• Adamant Primeape Close Combat vs Adamant Floatzel LO 232 HP / 8 Def 79.9% - 94.3%

Sunny day leads are usually Pokemon such as, Jumpluff or Persian which can be OHKOd with the appropriate move, but beware of switches into resists that might be able to set up Sunny Day as well.

---

I have found this Gardevoir set to be most effective:

Gardevoir @ Leftovers
Trait: Trace
EVs: 252 HP / 60 Spd / 196 SDef
Calm Nature (+SDef, -Atk)
- Wish
- Protect / Thunderbolt / Signal Beam
- Psychic
- Will-O-Wisp / Thunderbolt / Signal Beam

60 speed evs hit 211 two points above max speed neutral nature Exeggutor and Relicanth which will make it outrun them even in the sun (thanks to Trace Chlorophyll/Swift Swim). Protect will help with Wish healing gives it the ability to beat Scarf Typhlosion one on one, good for scouting, wasting Sunny Day / Rain Dance turns. If the spread feels too defensive feel free to add special attack EVs in place of the Special Defense, I have yet to find any significant number with the Special attack so the spread might not be that optimal at the moment. Signal Beam helps with Grass-Types such as Exeggutor and Meganium, where as Thunderbolt still helps with Pokemon such as Gorebyss and Politoed.

---

I suggest you drop Super Fang on Sandslash for Stone Edge. You need something to hit Ghosts or defensive Pokemon and Super Fang will leave you helpless against them if they have any recovery or are said Ghost-Types. It's not too useful and will become set up bait for Sub Haunter which causes your team a lot of trouble most likely forcing your team to sacrifice something to break it's sub. Shadow Claw and Night Slash won't OHKO Haunter on your defensive Sandslash without a lot of attack investment, so Stone Edge is overall the best option.


I'll add more later I have to do something right now :).

 

[aVocado]

I find Reflect better than Will-o-Wisp

Simply because it can't miss, and it also helps all your team, though you have to give up the burn condition on the foe.

 

[[L]]

Alright, thanks for the tips guys. I'll try to update the threat list. How should it look like?