Zapdos @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Static
EVs: 200 HP / 252 Def / 56 SpA
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Volt Switch
- Hurricane
- Defog
- Roost
Classic defogger Zapdos. Small SpA investment and Hurricane over Heat Wave helps me take on Zygarde and Swampert 1v1, as well as getting clutch confusion on other dangerous mons/switch-ins. I've considered Toxic and Heat Wave over Defog and giving Pheromosa Rapid Spin instead, but having a bulky guy to eat up hits while clearing hazards works a lot better in my experience.
Cinderace @ Choice Band
Ability: Libero
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- U-turn
- Pyro Ball
- Zen Headbutt
- Sucker Punch
This thing hits really hard and smacking Magearna even at +2 Def is my primary motivation for keeping the band instead of switching this thing to boots, but as I get higher on the ladder I'm increasingly unsure if that's the play. Being able to switch moves and not constantly keep the field cleared is really appealing but I'm also addicted to the power. Choice Scarf is also an option but I feel like that's the worst of both worlds and I can smack Dragapult/Pheromosa with Sucker Punch anyway.
Slowbro @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpA
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Future Sight
- Slack Off
- Teleport
- Scald
This thing is super clutch on my very pivot-heavy team and Future Sight has been amazing to help deal with Toxapex/keep the opponent on their toes with what they bring in. I find myself clicking Scald less than anything and wouldn't mind switching it to Toxic or Thunder Wave, but then I'd also get jailed against a bunch of other stuff. I've been thinking about switching it to Toxapex and giving Clefable Teleport instead, but I'm not sure if switching up Clefable's set and losing access to Future Sight would be worthwhile.
Garchomp @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Rough Skin
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
Naive Nature
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- Fire Blast
- Dragon Claw
Such an insanely good answer to stuff like Pheromosa, DD Kyurem-B (without screens)/Zygarde, and non-scarfed Dragapult. A very necessary Electric immunity to deal with Regieleki, and Stone Edge is great for the impending bird switch-ins. Fire Blast helps immensely for when they want to switch Ferrothorn or Corviknight in, but I could potentially switch it to Poison Jab or something else since fairies are also good options to bring in against him.
Clefable @ Leftovers
Ability: Magic Guard
EVs: 244 HP / 128 Def / 128 SpD / 8 Spe
Calm Nature
- Moonblast
- Stealth Rock
- Soft-Boiled
- Knock Off
Such a ridiculously good Pokemon with infinite options. I like this set a lot since Knock Off gives it utility against Taunt users and stuff that doesn't take any damage from it, but if I switched it to a Teleport set and turned Slowbro into Toxapex with Knock Off, I could pass on it. The mixed defensive investment might look dumb at first, but it lets me deal with Spectrier/Dragapult to take their items and survive other random stuff a lot better. The biggest issue is that I'm worse off against Urshifu as a result, but if I come in on it I can still survive a hit and OHKO back. 8 Speed EVs to hit Swampert and other Clefables first.
Pheromosa @ Life Orb
Ability: Beast Boost
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- U-turn
- Triple Axel
- Close Combat
- Poison Jab
The clean-up crew and an amazing pivot at any stage of the match. I just switched this from Choice Band to Life Orb and I can't tell if it's helping or not, but not being locked into one move is definitely cool at some later points in the match when things are softened up but they still have counters available. Taking residual damage to rocks and LO is kind of a drag, but I feel like it needs a power boosting item instead of boots since I'm generally saving it for the end of the match when stuff that can tank its hits will be dead. Could also switch Cinderace to boots and go back to Choice Band on this thing, but I'm not sure.
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Basically my strat is to pivot around as much as possible and chip things down before finishing them off with Cinderace, Garchomp, and Pheromosa.
Main things I'm struggling with:
Kyurem-B, especially behind dual screens
Magearna with Iron Defense
Calm Mind Tapu Fini
Spectrier
Heatran (sometimes)
and probably a few other things I'm forgetting about/unaware of
I've played a lot of competitive Pokemon in my life but I'm just getting into gen 8 heavily since Crown Tundra has come out. I really like all 6 mons on this team, but I'd be down for replacing any of them or a complete upheaval if necessary. Any feedback is appreciated, and thanks for reading!
This cinderace can help agaisnt clefs thanks to gunk shot, that can annoy latios and landorus therian, also is adamant because i have a faster pokemon in form on landorus-t.
Latios is here for pressure pex and wallbreak at the special side, aura sphere works agaisnt heatran and other steel types not called corviknight.
Is the speedcontrol of the team and his main work is beat heatran and knock off items more easily, with uturn it can pivot into latios for beat buzzwole or Tornadus-Therian.
i give it rapid spin for have more hazard control.
Nidoking is here for pressure all the checks of pheromosa except moltres, substitute can set up in front of clefable and toxapex, while fini can take a sludge wave, but lets be honest, a fini player shouldn't sack fini if is a check of pheromosa.
Heatran makes cheap damage to the opposing team, helping pheromosa clean at late game