Since I started playing competitive Pokemon in DPP, there was one item that I thought was incredibly overhyped an underwhelming: Choice Scarf. It gave you a nice boost in Speed but for what? A revenge kill? So I needed something to die to make use of my Scarftran? What if they sent in their Heatran while I used Fire Blast? Or what if I use Earth Power and they switch in a Ground resist? Like any Choice item, Choice Scarf required too much prediction for my tastes.
Then, one year ago, BW rolled around. Choice Scarf's fate was up in the air. On one hand, team preview allowed you to see what your opponent would possibly have that would check your Scarfer before the match even started. However, pretty much nothing with a Choice Scarf bar the likes of Electrode and faster could outrun Jolly Excadrill, much less any formerly viable user of the item. Then finally, to everyone's relief (yes, everyone), Excadrill was banished to the realm of Ubers, where it could finally leave us all alone. Choice Scarf could now be a usable item even in the sand. Still, I had doubts about the utility of the item, so I decided to prove myself that I clearly underestimate the Choice Scarf by creating the unspeakable: A team of six Choice Scarf users! I know, this is pretty unoriginal, but it's my most successful team to date. I have never gotten above a 1250 rating on the current ladder, but I peaked today at 1288 with a ranking of 203! Those who know me will attest that I am not a good battler, so that is quite an accomplishment! In short, this team has done nothing but good for me, but it's still a little rough around the edges.
Now, enough rambling, let's get onto the team.
P.s. I don't mind if you suggest removing a Scarf from any of these Pokemon.
Scizor @
Choice Scarf
Nature: Jolly
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Ability: Technician
Moves: U-turn / Bullet Punch / Superpower / Pursuit
Choice Scarf Scizor is widely regarded as a gimmick. In fact, it was featured as a bad gimmick in a Smog article about gimmicks, and didn't even receive a set until the end of DPP. What people see on the surface is 359 Attack, which pales in comparison to an Adamant Choice Band Scizor (591 Attack). In fact it's about 60% as powerful. However, Choice Scarf Scizor greatly appreciates the added Speed. To give you an idea, the Jolly Scarfer gets the jump on Latias and Latios and, after Stealth Rock damage, has a 72% chance for an OHKO on the former, and is guaranteed on the latter. Bullet Punch seems weak, but it's there to outspeed and KO weakened Choice Scarf Terrakion. Superpower murders Blissey, as usual. Strangely enough, I have never used Pursuit, and I'm considering replacing it with Night Slash. The thing about Pursuit is that it legitimately is too weak, and I'd rather just outspeed and scout with U-turn.
Celebi @
Choice Scarf
Nature: Timid
EVs: 252 HP / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
Ability: Natural Cure
Moves: U-turn / Leaf Storm / Earth Power / Stealth Rock
This is actually the last Pokemon I considered for my team. The one thing this team needed to get some easier KOs was some entry hazards, and most Pokemon would be hard pressed to set them up while holding a Choice Scarf. Still, I needed to get them up, and Celebi is bulky and fast enough to nearly guarantee a set up. U-turn is for scouting and Leaf Storm keeps Gastrodon and Quagsire at bay. Earth Power is filler, but helps Celebi get past any Heatran lacking an Air Balloon. I'm disappointed at the lack of power behind this thing, and I'm contemplating swallowing my pride and removing the Choice Scarf.
Magnezone @
Choice Scarf
Nature: Timid
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
IVs: 30 Atk / 30 SpA / 30 Spe
Ability: Magnet Pull
Moves: Thunderbolt / Flash Cannon / Hidden Power [Fire] / Volt Switch
This is my surefire way of getting past Skarmory, Forretress, and Ferrothorn, the latter which never wears a Shed Shell. What does the Scarf do? It helps me get the jump on many Electric weak Pokemon, namely Politoed without a Choice Scarf and Gyarados before a Dragon Dance. The primary reason, though, is that Volt Switch helps me get out of hairy situations. Unfortunately, I can do absolutely nothing worthwhile to Ground-types, especially in the rain. Gliscor, Landorus, and Gastrodon are huge problems for this set.
Starmie @
Choice Scarf
Nature: Timid
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Ability: Natural Cure
Moves: Hydro Pump / Ice Beam / Thunderbolt / Rapid Spin
This is a relic from my early days of playing DPP. Hydro Pump + BoltBeam, yada yada yada. The real reason I use Starmie is for a nearly guaranteed Rapid Spin. Spikes and Stealth Rock are a huge liability for sweepers on my team such as Darmanitan and Haxorus, so any way to get them off the field is vital to my success. Unfortunately, without a Life Orb, 299 Special Attack just isn't that spectacular. Its coverage is good, but all of its moves are a death sentence if a resist (or worse, an immunity) switches in. The reason I keep this around is the aforementioned Rapid Spin.
Darmanitan @
Choice Scarf
Nature: Jolly
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Ability: Sheer Force
Moves: U-turn / Flare Blitz / Superpower / Earthquake
I love this Pokemon. He is my surefire defense against sun teams. If a Volcarona switches into a Pokemon who can't handle it, I can switch to Darmanitan while it Quiver Dances, and OHKO it with Flare Blitz. As long as Venusaur is dead or its Sleep Powder misses, it's usually a clean sweep after that, since I can use the sun to my advantage. Stealth Rock helps me get the OHKO on most Ninetales and Charizard variants (the latter sometimes without Stealth Rock but after Solar Power damage), among many others. Even without the sun, barring rain, a Gastrodon is hard pressed to switch into a Flare Blitz safely, fearing the KO on the next hit. The recoil is not a huge issue, as by the time Darmanitan has received too much residual damage, it has accomplished enough KOs for the rest of my team to win the match for me. Earthquake is for Heatran lacking an Air Balloon, Superpower murders Blissey and dents Chansey, and U-turn is for general scouting. It can't do much worth mentioning to rain teams except U-turn, which it certainly has no problems doing.
Haxorus @
Choice Scarf
Nature: Jolly
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Ability: Mold Breaker
Moves: Outrage / Earthquake / X-Scissor / Rock Slide
It's apparent by now that Haxorus is a physical monster. With the given EVs and a Jolly nature, it reaches a very respectable 393 Attack and 483 Speed. Outrage slaughters all but Steel-types who love to switch in. On that note, Steel-types such as Jirachi are the bane of Haxorus. They love to switch in on the Outrage and proceed to paralyze it with Body Slam. After Outrage stops and the confusion sets in, it's hard to send much into Jirachi, fearing a Body Slam and most likely paralysis. It can only 2HKO Eviolite Chansey, but can usually OHKO Blissey. However, Haxorus doesn't have many problems apart from this, muscling its way past Dragonite, Salamence, Latios, Latias, sometimes Gliscor not at full health, and more offensive variants of Politoed and Rotom-W. Earthquake helps me get past Jirachi if I can predict the switch, and X-Scissor wipes Celebi away clean. Rock Slide is mainly filler. I'll consider putting Brick Break over it, but it's usually not an issue since I hardly use anything but Outrage and Earthquake.
Problem Pokemon: Jirachi, Jirachi Jirachi! Also, Skarmory is a huge problem if Magnezone is gone. Only Starmie can take on Gliscor, and there are too many Pokemon who can switch in onto obvious Hydro Pumps or Ice Beams. Choice Scarf Terrakion and Landorus can beat almost my whole team, the former smacking me around with its dual STAB Stone Edge and Close Combat, the latter scouting with U-turn. Sun teams are an issue unless I'm able to pull off a Darmanitan sweep. Rain is terrible for my team, as only Celebi can wall rain-boosted Surfs and Hydro Pumps from powerful special attackers, and only to an extent. Speaking of rain, Tentacruel is a lesser seen but still potent threat against my team. It has enough special bulk to stomach a Volt Switch from Magnezone and scout for Earthquakes from Haxorus an Darmanitan.
Overall, I've had a great deal of success with this team but its problems are glaring. I welcome any criticism, help, or even praise!
Then, one year ago, BW rolled around. Choice Scarf's fate was up in the air. On one hand, team preview allowed you to see what your opponent would possibly have that would check your Scarfer before the match even started. However, pretty much nothing with a Choice Scarf bar the likes of Electrode and faster could outrun Jolly Excadrill, much less any formerly viable user of the item. Then finally, to everyone's relief (yes, everyone), Excadrill was banished to the realm of Ubers, where it could finally leave us all alone. Choice Scarf could now be a usable item even in the sand. Still, I had doubts about the utility of the item, so I decided to prove myself that I clearly underestimate the Choice Scarf by creating the unspeakable: A team of six Choice Scarf users! I know, this is pretty unoriginal, but it's my most successful team to date. I have never gotten above a 1250 rating on the current ladder, but I peaked today at 1288 with a ranking of 203! Those who know me will attest that I am not a good battler, so that is quite an accomplishment! In short, this team has done nothing but good for me, but it's still a little rough around the edges.
Now, enough rambling, let's get onto the team.
P.s. I don't mind if you suggest removing a Scarf from any of these Pokemon.
Scizor @
Nature: Jolly
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Ability: Technician
Moves: U-turn / Bullet Punch / Superpower / Pursuit
Choice Scarf Scizor is widely regarded as a gimmick. In fact, it was featured as a bad gimmick in a Smog article about gimmicks, and didn't even receive a set until the end of DPP. What people see on the surface is 359 Attack, which pales in comparison to an Adamant Choice Band Scizor (591 Attack). In fact it's about 60% as powerful. However, Choice Scarf Scizor greatly appreciates the added Speed. To give you an idea, the Jolly Scarfer gets the jump on Latias and Latios and, after Stealth Rock damage, has a 72% chance for an OHKO on the former, and is guaranteed on the latter. Bullet Punch seems weak, but it's there to outspeed and KO weakened Choice Scarf Terrakion. Superpower murders Blissey, as usual. Strangely enough, I have never used Pursuit, and I'm considering replacing it with Night Slash. The thing about Pursuit is that it legitimately is too weak, and I'd rather just outspeed and scout with U-turn.
Celebi @
Nature: Timid
EVs: 252 HP / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
Ability: Natural Cure
Moves: U-turn / Leaf Storm / Earth Power / Stealth Rock
This is actually the last Pokemon I considered for my team. The one thing this team needed to get some easier KOs was some entry hazards, and most Pokemon would be hard pressed to set them up while holding a Choice Scarf. Still, I needed to get them up, and Celebi is bulky and fast enough to nearly guarantee a set up. U-turn is for scouting and Leaf Storm keeps Gastrodon and Quagsire at bay. Earth Power is filler, but helps Celebi get past any Heatran lacking an Air Balloon. I'm disappointed at the lack of power behind this thing, and I'm contemplating swallowing my pride and removing the Choice Scarf.
Magnezone @
Nature: Timid
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
IVs: 30 Atk / 30 SpA / 30 Spe
Ability: Magnet Pull
Moves: Thunderbolt / Flash Cannon / Hidden Power [Fire] / Volt Switch
This is my surefire way of getting past Skarmory, Forretress, and Ferrothorn, the latter which never wears a Shed Shell. What does the Scarf do? It helps me get the jump on many Electric weak Pokemon, namely Politoed without a Choice Scarf and Gyarados before a Dragon Dance. The primary reason, though, is that Volt Switch helps me get out of hairy situations. Unfortunately, I can do absolutely nothing worthwhile to Ground-types, especially in the rain. Gliscor, Landorus, and Gastrodon are huge problems for this set.
Starmie @
Nature: Timid
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Ability: Natural Cure
Moves: Hydro Pump / Ice Beam / Thunderbolt / Rapid Spin
This is a relic from my early days of playing DPP. Hydro Pump + BoltBeam, yada yada yada. The real reason I use Starmie is for a nearly guaranteed Rapid Spin. Spikes and Stealth Rock are a huge liability for sweepers on my team such as Darmanitan and Haxorus, so any way to get them off the field is vital to my success. Unfortunately, without a Life Orb, 299 Special Attack just isn't that spectacular. Its coverage is good, but all of its moves are a death sentence if a resist (or worse, an immunity) switches in. The reason I keep this around is the aforementioned Rapid Spin.
Darmanitan @
Nature: Jolly
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Ability: Sheer Force
Moves: U-turn / Flare Blitz / Superpower / Earthquake
I love this Pokemon. He is my surefire defense against sun teams. If a Volcarona switches into a Pokemon who can't handle it, I can switch to Darmanitan while it Quiver Dances, and OHKO it with Flare Blitz. As long as Venusaur is dead or its Sleep Powder misses, it's usually a clean sweep after that, since I can use the sun to my advantage. Stealth Rock helps me get the OHKO on most Ninetales and Charizard variants (the latter sometimes without Stealth Rock but after Solar Power damage), among many others. Even without the sun, barring rain, a Gastrodon is hard pressed to switch into a Flare Blitz safely, fearing the KO on the next hit. The recoil is not a huge issue, as by the time Darmanitan has received too much residual damage, it has accomplished enough KOs for the rest of my team to win the match for me. Earthquake is for Heatran lacking an Air Balloon, Superpower murders Blissey and dents Chansey, and U-turn is for general scouting. It can't do much worth mentioning to rain teams except U-turn, which it certainly has no problems doing.
Haxorus @
Nature: Jolly
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Ability: Mold Breaker
Moves: Outrage / Earthquake / X-Scissor / Rock Slide
It's apparent by now that Haxorus is a physical monster. With the given EVs and a Jolly nature, it reaches a very respectable 393 Attack and 483 Speed. Outrage slaughters all but Steel-types who love to switch in. On that note, Steel-types such as Jirachi are the bane of Haxorus. They love to switch in on the Outrage and proceed to paralyze it with Body Slam. After Outrage stops and the confusion sets in, it's hard to send much into Jirachi, fearing a Body Slam and most likely paralysis. It can only 2HKO Eviolite Chansey, but can usually OHKO Blissey. However, Haxorus doesn't have many problems apart from this, muscling its way past Dragonite, Salamence, Latios, Latias, sometimes Gliscor not at full health, and more offensive variants of Politoed and Rotom-W. Earthquake helps me get past Jirachi if I can predict the switch, and X-Scissor wipes Celebi away clean. Rock Slide is mainly filler. I'll consider putting Brick Break over it, but it's usually not an issue since I hardly use anything but Outrage and Earthquake.
Problem Pokemon: Jirachi, Jirachi Jirachi! Also, Skarmory is a huge problem if Magnezone is gone. Only Starmie can take on Gliscor, and there are too many Pokemon who can switch in onto obvious Hydro Pumps or Ice Beams. Choice Scarf Terrakion and Landorus can beat almost my whole team, the former smacking me around with its dual STAB Stone Edge and Close Combat, the latter scouting with U-turn. Sun teams are an issue unless I'm able to pull off a Darmanitan sweep. Rain is terrible for my team, as only Celebi can wall rain-boosted Surfs and Hydro Pumps from powerful special attackers, and only to an extent. Speaking of rain, Tentacruel is a lesser seen but still potent threat against my team. It has enough special bulk to stomach a Volt Switch from Magnezone and scout for Earthquakes from Haxorus an Darmanitan.
Overall, I've had a great deal of success with this team but its problems are glaring. I welcome any criticism, help, or even praise!
