NeverUsed Shenanigans

[ixnaysauce]

Hi, all! This will be my first RMT for the NeverUsed Tier. I've had moderate success with this team, going 18-2 in my first 20 games with a 1793 ranking, but have yet to crack top 100 on the ladder. I understand my team needs some adjustments and I'm willing to make those. I really want to at least reach #75 on the ladder, and all your criticism helps me get there, so please, criticize!

When I was thinking of making an NU team, I wanted to go an offensive route, but with some balance in mind. Usually, I like to build my teams with multiple walls, but I was tired of seeing the usual bulky options of NU (Alomomola, Musharna, ect.) and I wasn't interested in using these Pokémon. I also didn't want to use ALL the top tier Pokémon because I just don't find as much enjoyment in that. With that in mind, here's a brief description of each of the team members and their respective roles.

neckless&reckless (Golem) (M) @ Lum Berry
Trait: Sturdy
EVs: 252 HP / 184 Atk / 72 Spd
Adamant Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Sucker Punch
- Earthquake
- Rock Blast

Pretty standard Golem set, but very effective. A lot of people don't expect the Lum Berry and waste a turn trying to status him, which gives me apple time to set up rocks and attack. I have a few speed EVs to outspeed other pokes like Golem and Golurk. Sucker Punch also seems to surprise people, which I don't quite understand. Earthquake is for STAB and pretty decent damage, and Rock Blast is used to break subs and weak Psychic types that predict the Sucker Punch. Golem is a very under-appreciated lead in NU, and a solid Pokémon that I cannot replace.

viva la parsley (Serperior) (F) @ Life Orb
Trait: Overgrow
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 SAtk / 4 SDef / 252 Spd
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Giga Drain
- Substitute
- Calm Mind
- Hidden Power [Rock]

Serperior is a very good special attacker in NU: with access to Calm Mind and a Life Orb, Giga Drain can do major damage on anything that doesn't resist it. Substitue blocks her from status and helps set up with Calm Mind. Hidden Power Rock allows me to hit Bug, Ice, Flying, and Fire types that think Giga Drain is my only attacking move. Scolipede and Articuno in particular do not enjoy taking this Life Boosted move. Life Orb recoil rarely racks up because of the health I regain from Giga Drain. Even if it does, this only helps me, as Serperior is able to make use of her wonderful ability, Overgrow.

men's warehouse (Sawk) (M) @ Choice Band
Trait: Mold Breaker
EVs: 92 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SDef / 160 Spd
Adamant Nature
- Close Combat
- Stone Edge
- Ice Punch
- Earthquake

I'll admit, Sawk is one of the top tier threats of NU. Even though that goes against much of what I tried to avoid, I can't help but use this powerful fighting type. Sawk laughs at Sturdy leads (Bastiodon, Probopass) and can 3HKO defensive Musharna with Earthquake. I run Adamant Nature just to give him the absolute most power possible, and it pays off. Sawk's moves are self-explanatory; He has a huge STAB and 3 great coverage moves. I'm thinking about running max speed but I find the extra HP always helps – what do you think?

jixnay (Jynx) @ Choice Scarf
Trait: Dry Skin
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Psychic
- Ice Beam
- Trick
- Substitute

Jynx is really under appreciated in NU, and understandably so, as many people see Gardevoir superior in many ways. However, Scarf Jynx is probably the best specially based revenge-killer in the tier. Grass-types who think they out-speed are rudely surprised, while Psychic cuts a whole through many weaker Pokémon. Additionally, Jynx is actually a pretty good Ludicolo counter. Who would have thought? I've ended many a game with Jynx sweeping through the last 3 or 4 Pokémon, and that's something most can't do. Trick is helpful for walls, and I keep Substitute there for lack of anything better. I'm tentative to run Focus Blast because I can't stand missing in crunch time, but I know Substitute is not the best option. What should I replace it with?

elder li (Wartortle) (M) @ Eviolite
Trait: Torrent
EVs: 252 HP / 36 Def / 4 SAtk / 216 SDef
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Rapid Spin
- Scald
- Toxic
- Haze

Easily the most replaceable Pokémon on my team. I know what you're thinking – Wartortle is terrible. Sometimes, I agree. He's usually my death fodder and nothing more. Scald is quite weak but the chance of burn is nice. Rapid Spin is really the only purpose of this 'mon at all. I really don't like Wartortle but hazards can be quite annoying. What to do, what to do?

wikipede (Scolipede) (M) @ Black Sludge
Trait: Swarm
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature
- Spikes
- Swords Dance
- Megahorn
- Aqua Tail

Ahh, Scolipede. Probably the MVP of my team. He's just so versatile, fast, and powerful that I can't imagine an NU team without him. Megahorn is a ridiculously powerful STAB - everything takes big damage. Swords Dance helps boost Megahorn even more. Spikes make Scolipede useful even when statused and help clean up with Jynx. Aqua Tail is my only move in question, as I'm not sure if it's the best coverage option. It lets me hit Fire types like Charizard quite hard, but would Rock Slide or even Earthquake be better here? Let me know.

:nerd::nerd::nerd::nerd::nerd:

So, that's it! Not my first NU team but definitely my best. Let me know what changes I can make to help this team become even better!


An interesting match I recently had with a good opponent.
http://pokemonshowdown.com/replay/nu-34835646

 

[StrawHatIan]

Hi, nice team. You should definitely get rid of the Wartortle. Losing the spin might suck, but Wartortle really brings nothing to the team besides that. You could try using a Seismitoad? Here are 2 possible sets:

Seismitoad (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Water Absorb
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SDef
Calm Nature
- Toxic
- Scald
- Earth Power
- Knock Off

Or you can change the EVs and Nature to make it physically defensive, whichever you prefer. Besides that, great team and good luck on the ladder!

 

[ixnaysauce]

I've decided to leave Wartortle behind with Braviary replacing him. This does give me another SR-weak Pokémon, but Braviary is just too good.

thhs (Braviary) (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Swarm
EVs: 248 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SDef
Jolly Nature
- Substitute
- Brave Bird
- Bulk Up
- Roost

amazing set, very good versatility and bulk.



here's another match against a tough opponent.
http://pokemonshowdown.com/replay/nu-34904953

 

[Shuckleking87]

Yeah, your opponent had an ok record, but going for t spikes while you having a scolipede was stupid, and if he had brave bird like normal people, it would have killed jynx and you would have lost.

Yeah, your golem isn't that normal, as the top 6 sets from last month stats all had 252 attack, so could you explain why you have the lower attack and more bulk? Golem is a very good poke and a good flying check. Once again, I am not sure why you run your spread. Yeah, there is only samurott, braviary, ludicolo, seismetoad and misdreavus are the main threats that are slower than you, though max speed lets you speed tie other adament sawks. If you have calcs to explain your bulk, that would be great. Download is not a common ability in nu, so extra special defense for that purpose is not needed.

For your jynx, I would replace substitute with lovely kiss or focus blast. Lovely kiss is preferred as having a poke asleep is essentially taking a poke out of the game, which is huge. Focus blast is for the coverage against lickilicky, which can be annoying for a good portion of your team. A fast lovely kiss can be good if you don't have an answer to a poke.

In my opinion, golem, wartortle and scoliopede form a very good combo, as they are able to check alot of threats. I run a max special attack max speed with hydro pump/ice beam/haze/spin, though a special defensive spread can also work, as haze is a very useful move. In your last slot, Carracosta or ludicolo can work. Carracosta gives you another poke to take on flying types, which are a nuisance to your team, while gives you another sweeper. Ludicolo is just a deadly poke in general and can also take special defensive hits, so whatever you prefer.

This is a pretty standard team though, with me using all of your pokes except serperior for yanma (when I discovered how good it is) and I went 55-12, with most losses occuring while I was tweaking pokes early on. You should have success with this team. Good luck!

I saw your changes, I would not suggest having three S.R weak pokes on your team, its too risky, especially without a spinner

 

[Othesemo]

Hey man, nice team! I only have two suggestions for you- firstly, you should consider running Taunt over Substitute on your Serperior. Substitute and Life Orb can add up quickly, even with giga drain. Taunt prevents status just as well as substitute, and can also prevent the opponent from phazing your boosts away- all without cutting into your health. You might miss the ability to sub down into overgrow range, but the overall utility of Taunt would be much more helpful, in my opinion.

I'm also going to agree with Shuckleking and suggest that you run max speed on your Sawk. Not only is the speed tie with opposing sawk very helpful, it also means that you can outspeed and 1HKO Braviary and Samurott, the former of which can 1HKO you, and the latter of which has a solid chance of doing the same after only one close combat, even with your improved bulk.

Other than that, this is a solid team, and I wish you luck on the ladder.