NDOTSL NDGG Teamdump
1.0 Introduction
1.1 Pre-Definition Change Era
1.2 The Melmetal Incident Era
1.3 Post-Definition Change Era
1.4 Thoughts on the Meta
2.0 NDOTSL Shoutouts
1.0 Introduction
I got into NDGG through building for it for NDOTSl and I've been playing and building ever since. I've split the teamdump into 3 'Eras' because they are very different metas and they all deserve their own section. The first era is the one where the god list was all the Ubers; I'm not going to be writing descriptions for these as they're no longer really relevant and are only being posted to serve as inspiration and to keep a record of the old metagame. The Melmetal Incident era was only for one week (week 6) but the few teams that were made should be remembered and it was too funny not to include. The last era will have full descriptions for every team and will include all teams i built from the definition change to now.
1.1 Pre-Definition Change Era
1.2 The Melmetal Incident Era
The team. The worst sight at team preview in the history of GG. Even through loading no water resist into Primal Kyogre and Miraidon+Tapu Koko into 3 grounds, Melmetal cheeses its way through. It's hilarious that council forgot to ban all the brokens, especially Speed Melmetal.
1.3 Post-Definition Change Era
This was the first team i built post definition, I wanted to try the newly freed Hawlucha and Mega Alakazam, being able to abuse the boost in Atk/Def to sweep with CC/Acro or Expanding force. Skarmory and Gliscor form a strong defensive core and Tapu Lele provides the terrain. Zacian Crowned brings all the stats I needed, being a strong Atk and Speed, and good other stats.
The first HO team i built, with 4 fighting types and 5 Fairy weaknesses. Mainly just abuses the brokens like Zygarde, Urshifu, Annihilape. Probably not the best team rn but still could do funny things
This was built for Maybca after being lied to by
sealoo who said that Power Construct Zygarde worked as a receiver. It does not. The SpDef slot could easily be replaced by Skeledirge (or a non-Power Construct Zygarde lol). Calm Mind Clefable is a crazy strong wincon I took from SS GG, easily setting up to +6 and not taking any damage thanks to Calm Mind and 230 base defense. The Palafin and Mega Alakazam are dump slots that dont need any stat boosts to be very good and dont mind taking 10 Atk/SpAtk. Shuckle god has a ton of potential that hasnt really been explored, some of the other recievers i think could be good are Swords Dance Gliscor, Take Heart Manaphy, or any bulky setup that can beat Toxics
I grouped these two together because they're very similar, the first one I built for Maybca, the second one i built a few weeks later, not realising i had an almost identical team. Tapu Koko+Chien Pao is an insanely broken core as Tapu Koko can gain free momentum on any grounds switching in, pivoting to Chien Pao to put on insane pressure with Ice Spinner and Swords Dance. Mega Alakazam is a strong wall breaker that can also benefit from the momentum Koko generates. Both teams use Alomomola due to it being very bulky and a great slow pivot. Skarmory+Primal Groudon and Gliscor+Necrozma provides hazards support and a Steel, Ground, and Flying type to glue the team together.
This team was also made for Maybca when he wanted to build around Zekrom, Tapu Koko provides terrain to Zekrom and Hawlucha, and Skarmory, Clodsire, and Alomomola form a strong defensive core. The main problem with the team is that making progress against Gliscor is quite hard, the best option is to setup on it with Taunt Hawlucha or sit on it with IDBP Skarmory.
I built this team wanting to try a fat/balance archetype, so i chose Arceus-Water for the job, as it donates incredible defensive stats and a good SpAtk and Speed for my offensive core of Tapu Koko and Baxcalibur. At this time I was using a lot of Darkinium Z Chien Pao, so I wanted to somewhat replicate this with Dragonium Z Baxcalibur. Clefable was chosen to check the aforementioned Darkinium Z Chien Pao, as otherwise the team would have not much defensive or offensive counterplay to it. Skarmory and Gliscor is a very standard defensive core that is tried and tested.
Before this, I had not built around Xerneas, despite holding a very high opinion on it. I wanted a cool tech to beat Clodsire and Skeledirge, so I chose Whirlpool Tapu Fini, which could trap them, stop recovery with taunt, and deal a good chunk of damage with Nature's Madness. Tapu Fini's Misty Surge was an added benefit, as it could stop Xerneas from being Toxiced or Thunder Waved, and allow me to use the very strong breaker that is Hawlucha in Atk. Hawlucha could also lure in Clodsire and Skeledirge and deal good chip to them while preventing them from recovering with Taunt. Tornadus-T in SpAtk is a very cool breaker that, can nuke with +2 Supersonic Skystrike, even OHKOing some SpDef Alomomolas. It will also lure in SpDef Skeledirge and Toxic it, helping to wear it down for Xerneas. Clodsire and Corviknight round out the team as my defensive core.
When Maybca said he wanted to bring TR to finals, I was sceptical but decided to build this, having Hatterene and Porygon 2 as my Trick Room setters, and Crawdaunt, Iron Hands, and Urshifu as my sweepers, with Calyrex-Ice being able to do both. I still think TR is a bit of a fraud playstyle though.
I hadn't built a HO team in a while, so this was the result. Mega Mewtwo Y donates incredible stats for HO and can even give itself 90 base Def from GG mechanics. It's a powerful sweeper with Nasty Plot, BoltBeam coverage, and a STAB move that targets opponents Physical Defense, which is especially useful in GG. I had not seen 1 Darkrai since it was freed, so I wanted to give it a chance to shine here, being able to do good damage with Nasty Plot and strong coverage. Zygarde is a strong Dragon Dance sweeper that gets a small boost from Mewtwo's 110 base Attack. I ported the Tornadus-T from the Xerneas team, but this time with 154 base SpAtk and Taunt > Toxic. Grimmsnarl sets screens and acts as a suicide lead, and Iron Hands sets up Belly Drum and sweeps with its 130 Speed.
This was my attempt at stall in NDGG, with 150 HP + 140 Def Skarmory being very bulky. Clodsire provides a Ground-type and an Unaware user, and Alomomola is a bulky Water that can spread status and WishPass to Giratina. Clefable checks Chien-Pao and is generally very good defensively. Gholdengo is a strong wincon that can also block Defog to allow me to stack Spikes with Clodsire more.
After enjoying using the Mega Mewtwo Y HO, I wanted to make another, this time trying to abuse Hawlucha the most I can, giving it 170 base Attack from Kyurem-Black and screens+terrain from Tapu Koko. Ribombee can lay down Sticky Web, while also being able to Quiver Dance and throw off +1 Moonblasts off of 120 SpAtk. Volcarona, Kyurem-Black and Zygarde are strong sweepers that can easily win the game with screen support. Volcarona's moveset is very interesting, tailor made to beat Skeledirge with Toxic+Roost.
1.4 Thoughts on the Meta
Building the tier was very fun during NDOTSL, and I hope the people who played it in NDOTSL continue to play it. I think that now NDOTSL has concluded, it would be worth it to capitalise on the increased playerbase and work on an official VR and/or Sample Teams. In terms of the meta itself, my number one concern right now is Chien Pao; it is very strong and can beat almost all of it's checks with either Icium Z or Darkinium Z, such as +2 of the right Z-Move OHKOing either Clefable or Alomomola, and Skarmory needing exceptionally high HP to live a Z-Move. It is very hard to revenge kill it, given it has very strong Sucker Punches and Ice Shards. I definitely think that Chien Pao should be at least voted on, if not banned. The second thing i want to talk about is Mega Alakazam. It has suprisingly good bulk with a HP or Def donation and can setup Nasty Plots on a lot of things. It can run Focus Blast to hit Ferrothorn, Ting Lu, Necrozma, etc. Shadow ball hits Necrozma Dusk Mane, Gholdengo, and Skeledirge. Once setup it can sweep very easily with its stellar 175 base SpAtk and 150 Speed. As a whole, I think the meta is very healthy right now, especially if Chien Pao is banned. All archetypes are very viable, with HO having some very strong sweepers and Stall having strong defensive options. Balance/BO are especially good, having strong defensive cores with Gliscor, Skarmory, Alomomola, Clodsire, and more; it can also use offensive cores with Pokemon like Tapu Koko+Chien Pao, Mega Alakazam, etc. I'm very excited to see how the meta goes in the future.
2.0 NDOTSL Shoutouts
First and foremost, thanks to
BoingK for getting me into NDGG, I would not be playing the tier without you. I think you're a much better player than your record shows and I'm very glad I drafted you.
Amstan you were a great STAB slot and I think you have a ton of potential, good luck in your future endeavors.
Greybaum db both of you played incredible, and were for sure steals.
anique Teamo505 Greedy_eb you three were a great lc core, even though the slot had more than enough support.
Concept Everything you were a great clicker in LC and GG, glad i drafted you, especially for that price.
Codename C.A.T good job picking up NDBH, huge steal for 3k.
Cyril tbh thanks for being there when we needed to sub you into GG and AAA, glad you could pull off The Melmetal Incident.
Finally, thanks to
hidin for disappearing to the depths of Mexico during the auction and building a grand total of 0 teams throughout the entire tour.
Fun tour, unfortunate we couldn't make it to playoffs (free top 4 playoffs), would love to manage again next year.
