Introduction
Hello everyone, and thanks for clicking ! I'm looking for advices on the following team, whith which I peeked at the top 300, and that is huge for a random player as myself. This team was meant to be fun, first and foremost. However, I'm going to a local tournament next Sunday, and I'm hoping to kick some ass, with your help ! But first, some story.
I've always been a fan of underdogs ; and when I started to play competitively (late gen4, early gen5), there was a weather that wasn't even worth trying : Hail. It only interracted with Blizzard's accuracy and Ice Pokemon were (are !) godawful defensively. I soon gave up with my project, but sometimes I was coming back to it ; only to be disappointed once again. However, Gen7 brought with it some new toys. Of course, I tried a semi Hail with Ninetales and Sandslash, but I wasn't convinced. Was I about to give up once again ? Maybe, yeah.
But then, I was browsing through the Smogon forums, reading about another cool 'Mon, our Lord and Savior Araquanid. Someone mentionned how it loved Screen Support, or even Aurora Veil (Huge shoutouts to him :) ), and everything started from here. Finally, Hail could be useful, even it not for Ice types. I had the idea that Aurora Veil was perfect for a Bulky Offense, maximizing the tanking potential while firing off huge attacks. Well, you guys know what Bulky O is. And so, The Neo-Coldplay squad was born.
I then went on Showdown to test it. I was quite pleased with its success, however I was severely weak to Megagross, who could run over my team if it got lucky with MMash. I then tried Mega Scizor to better handle it, and it fit well in the team, sure. But i was missing the raw and immediate power of Banded Bullet Punch, and the pursuit trapping. Sadly, the team came together when I tried Mega Gyarados instead of Araquanid. Zygarde didn't have to carry the team alone anymore, and both had the same kind of counters.
The Team
(Magic) Ninetales-Alola @ Light Clay
Ability: Snow Warning
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Aurora Veil
- Encore / Toxic
- Moonblast
- Freeze-Dry
The cornerstone of the team. Although he really doesn't pack a punch, Aurora Veil really puts its magic to work. Encore and Toxic are here for team support, Freeze Dry and no Blizzard to punish rain, especially Pelipper. But to be fair, Ninetales would be underwhelming if not for her supporting skills. The EV spread is as classic as can be. It is however a Metagross magnet.
(RushOfBlood) Gyarados-Mega @ Gyaradosite
Ability: Mold Breaker
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Waterfall
- Crunch
- Earthquake
- Dragon Dance
Gyarados has two roles on my team. He's a secondary wincon, if Zygarde is down / incapacitated. In some matchups, Zygarde cannot shine, and Gyarados helps me breaking walls. Actually, they kinda break each other's counters. Zygarde can tackle Celesteela and Mandibuzz, and Gyarados can break through, or at least severely weaken, Tapu Fini, just by not Mega Evolving. It also helps me play mindgames with Tapu Leles, thanks to its psychic immunity after Mevolving ; and breaks through Mimikyu's disguise, who can be problematic. Finally, it has the moral obligation to make Araquanid proud, since it bears its legacy ! :p
(Scientist) Magnezone @ Assault Vest
Ability: Magnet Pull
EVs: 248 HP / 252 SpA / 8 SpD
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk / 30 SpA / 30 Spe
- Volt Switch
- Thunderbolt
- Flash Cannon
- Hidden Power [Fire]
I needed some thunderbolt spam to scare Toxapex away, so enters Magnezone. Assault Vest lets it check Tapu Lele which runs rampant on the ladder, trap the all-popular celesteela and smack her hard, and check the opposing electric types (eg. Koko, Xurkitreee...). Magnezone absolutely adores Aurora Veil since it allows it to tank Earthquakes which would otherwise destroy him.
252 Atk Metagross-Mega Earthquake vs. 248 HP / 0 Def Magnezone through Reflect: 210-248 (61.2 - 72.3%)
And since all of this wasn't enough, we all know how Volt Switch is a cool move. I've always hated this Mon, but god damn it, it puts in work.
(Strawberry) Scizor @ Choice Band
Ability: Technician
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 SpD or 80 HP / 252 Atk / 168 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Bullet Punch
- U-turn
- Brutal Swing
- Pursuit
The other part of the VoltTurn. This is banded Scizor, not Mega and I'm still not convinced. Maybe I SHOULD go Mega-Zor, however I love the immediate power Band is giving. Banded Bullet Punch is also a clean OHKO on standart Pheromosa. U Turn hurts like Hell, Brutal Swing is here as pretty much my emergency check to MegaGross. Banded Zor works beautifully with Aurora Veil, since it mimicks the bulk it gains while Mega Evolving, while still having Choice Band.
The alternative spread is here to outspeed Jolly Max Spe Marowak and OHKO it with Pursuit. That thing can sweep my team.
(Paradise) Tapu Fini @ Leftovers
Ability: Misty Surge
EVs: 212 HP / 252 Def / 28 SpD / 16 Spe
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Defog
- Calm Mind / Haze
- Moonblast
- Surf
My team was getting serioulsy weak to Fire, and with this VolTurning, was getting screwed by Stealth Rocks. Enter Tapu Fini, one of the most splashable (AH ! Get it ? Splash... Water... Nevermind) new mons. This thing takes hits for days. Nothing much to say, i love Tapu Fini. Plus, the bonus immunity to status never hurts, since I don't rely on it to much. Without Haze, some setup sweepers can screw me over though.
(Everglow) Zygarde @ Leftovers
Ability: Aura Break
EVs: 252 HP / 200 SpD / 56 Spe
Careful Nature
- Coil
- Substitute
- Thousand Arrows
- Extreme Speed
Zygarde isn't as hyped as it should be. Sure, without Power Construct, it is far less scary, but Thousand Arrow is a God tier move. The things sets up on everything not hitting for super effective damage, and if Aurora Veil is up, you NEED ice attacks to even break through a Sub. Celesteela, Toxapex and even Mandibuzz are just setup fodder, especially if Misty Terrain is around. Since the Speed investment is so low, I went with Extreme Speed to avoid being RK'd so easily. Zygarde also draws in Tapu Lele quite easily, but she's hit for 45% without any boost on the switch in, and so can't really do it for long. Zygarde is also yet another offensive check to A-Marowak.
Conclusion
So, here's the team. I've been playing it intensively to prepare myself, and it works. Maybe not the best team around, but it definitely works. With the addition of Mega Gyarados, i don't feel I have a glaring weakness anymore, and the team looks kinda solid.
I look forward to your advices, and thanks for reading ! May RNGesus bless you :)
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