XY NU NU Team Zangoose is god

[Scanuy]

Hey, this is my first NU team i've made so this team may not be that good but i really like zangoose and tangela

The Team



Sandslash @ Leftovers
Ability: Sand Rush
EVs: 232 HP / 216 Atk / 36 Def / 24 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Rapid Spin
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- Stealth Rock

Sandslash is my usual opening pokemon so i can set up rocks, it also is my rapid spinner so i try to keep it alive if my opponent still have potential hazzards they can set up. Sandslash is fairly bulky and can take a hit that isn't super effective and has decent attack. I also run earthquake for a stab move and stone edge for another offensive move.



Luxray @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Naive Nature
- Volt Switch
- Thunderbolt
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Superpower

Luxray is the pokemon I use to switch out by using volt switch, and as a scarfed pokemon. Running special attack on luxray so he has some decent power and variety of moves. Superpower as a physical move just for more coverage. Luxray doesn't fight much he usually just volt switches.



Zangoose @ Toxic Orb
Ability: Toxic Boost
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Facade
- Close Combat
- Night Slash
- Quick Attack

I've found zangoose to be a really good pokemon in this tier with his toxic orb and toxic boost ability combo along with facade. It's so powerful i've found and i really like using zangoose. Close combat and night slash for some coverage and solid attacking moves, quick attack is there for some priority just incase i need it. Zangoose is pretty fast on it's own but, so i don't really use it much.



Magmortar @ Assault Vest
Ability: Flame Body
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Psychic
- Fire Blast
- Thunderbolt
- Hidden Power [Grass]

Magmortar is pretty good with assault vest because of it's pretty good base special defense. Magmortar has nice move coverage with 4 different move types and it serves as a semi special wall as well. Only source of special attack other than luxray if I use luxray a bit. The stab fire blast works wonders in some situations too, it does a lot of damage. I also use magmortar to help take out threats to tangela.



Tangela @ Eviolite
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpD
Bold Nature
- Giga Drain
- Leech Seed
- Sleep Powder
- Hidden Power [Ice]

Tangela is my physical wall with it's evolite it gets an incredible 720 defense and it's special defense is decent as well. Equipped with leach seed and sleep power it has some good setup and giga drain is really good because it can just refill the damage it just took that turn. This works especially well if it's super effective or if leach seed is in play. Tangela on really gets counter by grass/poison types i've found, magmortar helps out with this weakness of his though.



Dustox @ Black Sludge
Ability: Shield Dust
EVs: 252 HP / 4 SpA / 252 SpD
Calm Nature
- Bug Buzz
- Sludge Bomb
- Quiver Dance
- Roost

Dustox is my dedicated special wall. It's shield dust ability has been really useful, it lets me quiver dance up with less worries of something bad happening to dustox like it getting paralyzed or poisoned. Quiver dance is really useful especially when against an opponents pokemon that can't do anything to dustox or and opposing special attack you can use quiver dance and roost to absorb a lot of damage. Bug buzz and Sludge bomb are nice stab offensive moves although dustox's special attack isn't that good, but if I get a few quiver dances up they can be deadly.

I don't know how good this team is but i've changed it a bit from what pokemon i originally had in it and it works a lot better. As my first attempt of playing NU it seems like a decent team.
Any advice appreciated, cheers

 

[Brawlfest]

Hi there, this is a rather interesting team. The primary issues of this team lie in weaknesses to strong water sweepers and fire spam. Most special water types pack Ice Beam and can exploit Tangela's abysmal SDef, and as a result they easily bait out and remove Tangela, and in the case of Ludicolo or Samurott essentially 6-0 your team beyond that. Fire Spam is terrible for the team to deal with as well, as you have nothing to switch into stuff like Specs Typhlosion, allowing for a easy 6-0. Furthermore, the team is reliant on its scarfer to beat setup sweepers, but Luxray is one of the slowest scarfers in the metagame and has a difficult time revenging even slower set sweepers such as Gorebyss, so I would seek a replacement. This said, its a interesting team, and AV Mag looks like a fun set.

The first thing I would do is to replace Dustox with Specially Defensive Dragalge. The primary problem with dustox is that it has incredibly low offenses making it easy to setup on, and even with multiple quiver dances is too weak to do anything. Furthermore, it is almost always 2HKO'd by most LO Hydro Pumps, and its weakness to stealth rocks also further pressures it upon switch in, including its poor typing. Dragalge avoids 2HKO's from stuff like Ludicolo Ice Beam, and can proceed to hit them much harder than Dustox would be able to with its STAB attacks, or set up Toxic Spikes / phaze them. It also gives you a key resistance to Fire types, giving you a check to pokemon like opposing Magmortar or Specs Typhlosion which would run through you otherwise.

The next change I would make is to use Scarf Rotom over Scarf Luxray. Choice Scarf Rotom is a better option specifically because of speed tiers. Unlike Luxray, it hits 91 speed, which is a huge difference it speed tiers. Rotom can actually revenge sweepers like SS Gorebyss, DD Feraligatr, RP Golurk, etc. all of which would outspeed Luxray when boosted, meaning that they could easily clean your team. Furthermore, Rotom only needs to carry STAB moves for coverage, which when accounting for a scarfer is key, as you almost never want to be locked into weak coverage such as -1 Superpower, as you can be easily setup on. Most importantly, Rotom packs trick, allowing it to beat common switch ins and cripple walls for your teammates.

Minor Changes:
Sandslash: Knock Off > Stone Edge, as it gives you far better utility in removing items, and still gets all the coverage you need against stuff like Xatu, Mismagius, or random Flying types.
Zangoose: Knock Off > Night Slash, simply because it is far stronger. Knock Off hits 95 BP, gaining key KOs and crippling switch ins to potentially screw up a revenge kill.
Magmortar: 4 Def > 4 HP to increase SR switch ins.
____________

Dragalge @ Black Sludge
Ability: Poison Point
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Def / 252 SpD
Sassy Nature
- Sludge Bomb
- Toxic Spikes
- Dragon Tail / Dragon Pulse
- Scald / Focus Blast

Rotom @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Thunderbolt
- Volt Switch
- Shadow Ball
- Trick

 

[Scanuy]

I didn't realise zangoose could learn knock off silly me haha and AV magmortar seems pretty good, I like it anyway.
Thanks for the help appreciate it

 

[Theriouhh]

Wow not bad the idea of Scarf Mixed Luxray! The Ass Vest Magmortar is good too, and Tangela is pretty cool. Brawlfest have already correct you, nice team for you first time in NU!