Nice and Balanced Sand

Ballofire

Hey guys and welcome to my second RMT on Smogon. My last team had a few holes in it and you guys patched it up for me, which allowed me to expand on that and experiment with pokes that were foreign to me. I think since my last RMT I tried out about 10 different variations- whether it be replacing ferrothorn for a specially defensive rotom or CB terrkaion for Scizor for a psudeo volt-turn team.

AT A GLANCE
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But that's enough introduction, lets get into it.​

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Hippowdon (F) @ Leftovers
Trait: Sand Stream
EVs: 252 Def / 252 HP / 4 Atk
Impish Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- Slack Off
- Whirlwind

Yeah, this thing takes hits from psychical Poke extremely well, and I mean god like. I can bring him in on ANYTHING and slack off/rocks in their face. I did originally have a Tyranitar here and they obviously serve different rolls completely aside from both of course binging the all important sand.

The reason for the switch you ask? Well I also had a psychically defensive Landorus T on the team and Hippowdon is basically that, a Landorus T but with sand.. Well not really, but close enough.

I have not tried the specially defensive variant, but I may if anyone suggests that it is better. Thoughts?

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Ferrothorn @ Leftovers
Trait: Iron Barbs
EVs: 252 HP / 88 Def / 168 SDef
Relaxed Nature
IVs: 0 Spd
- Spikes
- Leech Seed
- Power Whip
- Gyro Ball

Ah Ferro, before Jelli was on the team you were replaced by a Rotom-W. But spikes help this team much more than I felt Rotom-W did (sorry mate). I decided to go for dual stab as I find if I carry just gyro I am "walled" harder by rain teams. I rarely use whip, but when I do it's very nice- a taunting Jellicent springs to mind! Leech seed for grieving/recovery. People hate seed so much even if I only get a tick of recovery it often times can force a switch.

The reason I love ferro so much is I enjoy the mind games it can create. Am I going to spike or seed? It's great. I used to run protect but I love gyro for dragons/fast pokes I know I can take a hit or two then retaliate.

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Jellicent (F) @ Leftovers
Trait: Water Absorb
EVs: 220 SDef / 252 HP / 36 Def
Calm Nature
- Scald
- Will-O-Wisp
- Recover
- Taunt

Spinnn Blockerrrr. I am on the fence about replacing her for Gengar but I'm worried about rain. Right now as it stands I run specially defensive, I find when I run this set I am scared of Donphan and they appear more. Especially on sun teams (ugh) I can take a hit better from Starmie though.

I feel like the 88 speed the defensive/utility counter set runs has a great niche in taunting Skarms etc. I probably should take off scald right now for Shadow Ball or Ice beam as if I taunt a Ferro I usually get smashed by a power whip anyways.

Right now though Jelli is okay, able to wall certain threats such as Keldeo and a BP Lucario. In my mind this is incredible and irreplaceable. Any suggestions?

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Scizor @ Choice Band
Trait: Technician
EVs: 240 Atk / 252 HP / 16 Spe
Adamant Nature
- U-Turn
- Bullet Punch
- Superpower
- Pursuit

This is a pretty original set, eh? Everyone knows this guy by now and it does its job well. Pursuit for trapping (if Celebi/Lati don't have HP fire) U-Turn for momentum and Bullet Punch for revenge killing. This guy usually sits back and waits or I bring him in on a key moment and hope it pays off.

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Landorus (M) @ Life Orb
Trait: Sheer Force
EVs: 252 Spd / 252 SAtk / 4 HP
Modest Nature
- Focus Blast
- Earth Power
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Rock Polish

This slot used to be filled by a Scarf Jolly Terrakion but I replaced him not to long ago due to the fact he wasn't doing much at all and having three choice user sucks. I did run psychic instead of RP but I find when I can get a RP off all that is stopping me is a Healthy Jelli, Celebi and a few priority users. It's very very power, I probably don't have to mention that. One thing I could use some help with is the EVs, not sure what to run at all. Using the default PS ones right now and they aren't always the most optimal.

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Latios @ Choice Specs
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature
- Draco Meteor
- Psyshock
- Hidden Power-[Fire]
- Trick

This used to be life orb with recover but I find even with recover I get whittled down quickly, especially if I get unexpectedly burnt or toxic'd. In place of the orb I have the powerful specs and in place of recover the trick. Trick is great (when I remember to use it) for crippling walls- I could use some advice on when to use it efficiently though. I sometimes lead with this and just hit Draco and often times people leave it in and just.. die- god forgive if I get a crit lol. HP may be outdated, but I don't see why. Helps with sun teams, and smashes ferro and Scizor. The amount of times people stay in on me and try and pursuit is mind boggling!

Well that's the team, I could use some advice and don't be afraid to suggest replacements. I am open to suggestions of all kinda. Will post some threats later on when I get a bit more time.

Thanks for your time. :]
 
Hey there.
Let's start with your Landorus. I think a spread of 156 HP/ 252 SAtk/ 100 Spe is more suitable. 100 Evs in speed let you outspeed choice scarf Latios(if I didn't mess up on counting lol), the fastest common scarf user after a Rock Polish. Full speed with modest nature doesn't help you much as all the base 100s are gonna outspeed you anyway.
For your Scizor use this spread instead: 252 Atk/ 240 HP/ 16 Spe. You need max attack to hit the hardest possible with Adament nature(remember, when using a positive nature on a stat, that stat will grow 1.1x normal with Ev investment).
With a look at your team, you lack a reliable way to stop setup sweepers and scarf cleaners. For example after your Hippowdon is a little weakened, things like Dragonite/Salamence/Haxorus are gonna destroy you after a Dragon Dance. All of them have a move to get past your Ferrothorn and Scizor, and their outrage is more than enough to rape your other Pokemon. Solution? Choice scarf. Your Latios hits really good and all but he's the least necessary member of your team IMO. A choice scarf Keldeo is the solution to this. Here's the set:
Keldeo@Choice scarf
Evs: 4 Def/ 252 SAtk/ 252 Spe
Timid nature
Secret Sword | HP Ice | Surf | Hydro Pump
The standard scarf Keldeo. Now that Salamence is no longer gonna run through your team. That Volcarona won't rape your team after a single setup(assuming it has Giga drain).
That's all I can say. I hope I could help.
 
Thanks for the input. For some reason I imported the original version of this team, my Scizor has the exact EVs you posted already. Sorry for the confusion!

I'll give Scarf Keldeo a shot- and you're right a boosting Volc is nearly impossible to stop. I have played around mence before and found I can revenge it, the DD ones anyway the Mix onces however are annoying.

Edit - also do they 100 speed EVs on Land allow me to outspeed Adamant 252 Spe Lucario?
 
Ballofire said:
also do they 100 speed EVs on Land allow me to outspeed Adamant 252 Spe Lucario?
Click to expand...
No, but I don't think Lucario will be a problem with Jellicent and Hippo on your team. Jolly Lucario(and any other base 90) will outspeed Landorus with full speed and modest nature.
If you really want to outspeed other pokemon unboosted then run a Timid nature with full speed.
EDIT: 100 speed Evs allow you to outspeed jolly Breloom too(if I didn't mess up). It's a huge plus.
 
If you're not into Keldeo, Scarf Latios works just fine too. I would just change Psyshock to Surf and Timid to Modest.

Two of your Pokemon are weak to Magnezone, and while it's patched up semi-nicely you're destroyed by a combination of Magnezone and Bulky Rotom-W (or many other levitaters capable of tanking a Landorus hit) after Landorus goes down. I really suggest you switch Ferrothorn out for an Amoonguss:

Amoonguss @ Black Sludge
Trait: Regenerator
EVs: 252 HP / 28 SpA / 228 SpD
Calm Nature
- Spore
- Giga Drain
- Sludge Bomb
- Clear Smog

With Regenerator and Giga Drain, Amoonguss doesn't mind Sandstorm at all. It also allows you to cripple mons for potentially the whole game. It gives you a very nice special wall to complement your physical wall in Hippowdown. I don't know how much you like hazards, but after spikes is gone Whirlwind has less usefulness so you could replace that with Toxic or Stone Edge. Lastly, Amoonguss isn't stopped by Magnezone.

Speaking of Toxic, you should probably change WoW on your Jellicent to Toxic. It allows you to status Fire types and gives you a more reliable status in general as far as damage. Scald should be enough to stop physical attackers.

On the speed stuff, after Rock Polish Landorus becomes the fastest mon in the metagame with a Modest Nature. You're fine.

Good luck with your team.
 
Hello, interesting team. I'd say bulky Rotom-W is a bit of a problem for your team, as Hippowdon can't do anything to it, while it gets KO'd by a STAB Hydro Pump, then it Will-O-Wisps your Ferrothorn, making it less effective, also outspeeds and burns Scizor, crippling it and making it pretty much useless, and it's going to be stopping your Landorus sweep if it's at full health, and Jellicent can't touch it and is hit hard by Volt Switch. Breloom and Landorus also seem like problems. My first suggestion would be to change your Latios set to a Life Orb set with Draco Meteor / Psyshock / Surf / Recover. It doesn't hit as hard as it would with Choice Specs, but you don't have to get forced out as often, and the Specs set gets worn down pretty quickly due to Stealth Rock and Sand residual damage. With the Life Orb set, you can use Recover to keep Latios healthy throughout the game, as it is an important member of your team after all. Life Orb Psyshock 2HKO's Specially Defensive Rotom-W if I recall, which helps. To help with the Rotom-W problem, I'd replace Ferrothorn with a Specially Defensive Celebi. You're weaker to stuff like Latios, but you do have Scizor to trap and get rid of it. Celebi's addition also makes you less weak to Rock Polish Landorus who could sweep through your team otherwise, and is a nice defensive pivot, and with Natural Cure it can act as a status sponger, and also helps you beat Breloom, that is a bit problematic. I'd go with the following moveset: Giga Drain / Stealth Rock / Baton Pass / Recover. Giga Drain helps you beat Rotom-W, Jellicent, etc, and Baton Pass lets you scout to gain momentum, but more importantly escape Tyranitar / Scizor's Pursuit, and Recover keeps Celebi healthy reliably throughout the match. Celebi also gets Stealth Rock up pretty reliably, which liberates a move for Hippowdon, so I'd replace Hippowdon's Stealth Rock with Ice Fang, which lets you hit stuff like Gliscor, Landorus, Dragonite, Salamence, Breloom, etc, which prevents them from setting up on you. Anyways, that's all I have to say, hope this helps.

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Celebi @ Leftovers
Trait: Natural Cure
EVs: 252 HP / 236 SpD / 20 Spe
Calm Nature (+SDef, -Atk)
- Giga Drain
- Stealth Rock
- Baton Pass
- Recover
 
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