Introduction
Welcome to my second RMT on Smogon; it's been months and I was super hype about DLC 2, a very unique metagame. I wanted to build a team but I was very confused as to what I should build with, as I was trying to look for a central idea except I couldn't find anything. I decided to build with Assault Vest Metagross since a post on reddit inspired me, explaining how absolutely awesome it is against Naganadel, Tapus, etc. So I gave it a try and it worked out great. I can't believe that a mon so versatile could steamroll half the metagame with Special Defense investment; maybe even the entire portion of it. I hope you enjoy my take at this team.
Importable
In-Depth
Dragonite @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Multiscale
EVs: 252 HP / 244 Def / 12 Spe
Impish Nature
- Roost
- Heal Bell
- Defog
- Dual Wingbeat / Dragon Tail
The absolute big boss of my defensive core; one of the best pokemon in the meta IMO.
Why exactly is this a defensive staple of the metagame? Multiscale, my friend. Multiscale allows Dragonite to survive hits at full health, but needs to Roost in an effort to re-activate it. Defog support paired with Heal Bell helps increase its longevity and spend minutes PP stalling opposing teams (bar mons with Triple Axel, this can nail it really hard unfort). Dragon Tail allows you to phaze out mons who try to set up on you but you can be walled by Tapu Bulu and miss. Dual Wingbeat is the way to go, since you hit many foundations of teams hard and the Pokemon that are weak to it get free momentum.
The Defense EVs ensure that you will always survive weak blows from unboosted Pokemon and take a Stone Edge from Blaziken. Dragonite's speed tier puts it in a strange spot uninvested, which is why I included 12 Speed EVs for preference.
Genesect @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Download
EVs: 96 Atk / 160 SpA / 252 Spe
Hasty Nature
- Ice Beam
- U-turn
- Iron Head
- Flamethrower
I love Genesect because not only does it have an awesome design, but it is a #1 pivot at the moment.
Genesect's unmatched offensive coverage compared to other pivots makes it stand out as a top metagame threat that should be addressed. This was fittable on my team as a form of speed control and a way to address non-Beast Boosted Pheromosa and revenge kill it (who is a small threat to my team if I don't play around carefully). Download + Flamethrower is a gigantic nuke to opposing Genesect if you manage to win the speed tie, and acts as a win con that pivots in and out. The majority of the metagame has this manageable, but it's dangerous regardless of what happens.
Very basic EV spread. I chose the typical 96 / 160 / 252 since max speed is incredibly important, and you will often be running into special attackers with weaker physical stats.
Metagross @ Assault Vest
Ability: Clear Body
EVs: 152 HP / 104 Atk / 252 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Meteor Mash
- Zen Headbutt
- Steel Roller
- Ice Punch
It's the other VIP big boss, who has the ability to check the metagame with powerful Steel Rollers and not worry about specs Regieleki.
The best Tapu switch-in in town, with exceptions of course. It still sort of hates taking Bulu Wood Hammers on switch-in which chips it after rocks, but is able to retaliate with a powerful Steel Roller. Steel Roller is a huge boon for this Pokemon and brick walls Tapu Lele, a Pokemon that loves to spam powerful moves under Psychic Terrain. With Assault Vest Metagross could be classified as a special wall, but I'll refer to it as an offensive Pokemon for now.
The EVs allow it to obviously take most special moves comfortably, even Naganadel's Draco Meteor.
Rotom-Heat @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 248 HP / 8 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Nasty Plot / Will-O-Wisp / Toxic
- Discharge / Volt Switch
- Overheat
- Pain Split
This mon can always find some room to set up.
Rotom-Heat with boots is still very good; great at getting passive recovery with Pain Split and late-game cleaning. It has the ability to bulldoze through Melmetal, comfortably outspeed base 85s or lower, and generally picks off Pheromosa if it misses (because High Jump Kick is a nuke to Rotom-H). Rotom-H can directly be changed to an offensive pivot as well, but for my preference I prefer it as a Nasty Plot user and a burn absorber (for Metagross, Genesect and Seismitoad).
The same old 248 / 252 / 8 isn't bad, running max speed actually gives you massive utility in the early-game. 248 HP makes it more bulkier than it has the exception to, in tandem with its exceptional offensive stats.
Amoonguss @ Black Sludge
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 248 HP / 168 Def / 92 SpD
Bold Nature
- Spore
- Giga Drain
- Sludge Bomb
- Toxic
Member 2 of my defensive core; Amoonguss.
Putting mons to sleep is a massive advantage for the team, as you will have all the chances in the world to set up if your opponent decides to not switch and wait instead. Toxic creates some of the most anti-climactic stall wars, with you constantly gaining an advantage. Regenerator is obviously required so you get ways of recovery. Do not run Synthnesis or you won't be getting many good matchups with rain teams. This mon deserves a spot sinceits design is cool its defensive utility is massive. New bulky waters added to the DLC like Tapu Fini fold to it and die, enabling Dragonite instantly.
Basic 248 / 168 / 92 EV spread that focuses on keeping the defenses quite a bit balanced. Amoonguss' massive HP stat lets me focus on this quite a bit.
Seismitoad @ Leftovers
Ability: Water Absorb
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Scald
- Earth Power
- Knock Off
The last member of my team, an absolute chad.
I am a gigantic spammer of this mon because this is always the only rocker I can think of. Not only does it provide a ground to defend against Regieleki Rising Voltage spam that can easily get walled, but what is a team without Stealth Rock? It probably plays the largest role early game if you get a good lead matchup. Scald allows you to fish for a burn on any mon with physical moves, and you can stop folding to them with their powerful boosted attacks. The utility of Knock Off is awesome. For example, your opponent's Pokemon switches in and you remove their boots, leftovers, etc. The game will then change drastically opening a gigantic door for your Seismitoad to constantly get rocks up against many team matchups.
Maximum investment in defensive stats is great, you have a much easier time against weaker physical attackers.
Thousand Arrows spam can always be an issue while playing this team. Only two Pokemon like Metagross and Rotom-H fold to it (with Gross barely taking anything from it as far as I can tell) , but I'm honestly thinking it's way worse since if you lose them, the game is basically over. Unless you can play around it carefully, you should be fine.
The way to beat this is to revenge kill Zygarde with a Download boost from Genesect. Being 4x weak to Ice Beam is its largest weakness, and that's what to take advantage of when dealing with this Pokemon.
Heatran can be quite scary when you lose a couple mons. Rotom-Heat hates getting walled constantly if you lose some of the most important portions of the team; you will barely be denting a SpDef Heatran, even at +2. Preserving your mons while playing the team is important, because you never know when an important Pokemon with a role to play folds to a threat in the eighth gen.
To play around this you simply have to preserve Metagross as long as possible. Metagross is the important staple of the team because Earthquake just patches up so many weaknesses.
Pheromosa may also be a problem, with Ice Beam it can be a huge nuke to Dragonite and Amoonguss. It's easy to play around this though, pre Beast-Boosted Pheromosa can easily die to Genesect's Flamethrower.
hope you enjoyed, edited for clarficiation
Welcome to my second RMT on Smogon; it's been months and I was super hype about DLC 2, a very unique metagame. I wanted to build a team but I was very confused as to what I should build with, as I was trying to look for a central idea except I couldn't find anything. I decided to build with Assault Vest Metagross since a post on reddit inspired me, explaining how absolutely awesome it is against Naganadel, Tapus, etc. So I gave it a try and it worked out great. I can't believe that a mon so versatile could steamroll half the metagame with Special Defense investment; maybe even the entire portion of it. I hope you enjoy my take at this team.
Importable
In-Depth
Dragonite @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Multiscale
EVs: 252 HP / 244 Def / 12 Spe
Impish Nature
- Roost
- Heal Bell
- Defog
- Dual Wingbeat / Dragon Tail
The absolute big boss of my defensive core; one of the best pokemon in the meta IMO.
Why exactly is this a defensive staple of the metagame? Multiscale, my friend. Multiscale allows Dragonite to survive hits at full health, but needs to Roost in an effort to re-activate it. Defog support paired with Heal Bell helps increase its longevity and spend minutes PP stalling opposing teams (bar mons with Triple Axel, this can nail it really hard unfort). Dragon Tail allows you to phaze out mons who try to set up on you but you can be walled by Tapu Bulu and miss. Dual Wingbeat is the way to go, since you hit many foundations of teams hard and the Pokemon that are weak to it get free momentum.
The Defense EVs ensure that you will always survive weak blows from unboosted Pokemon and take a Stone Edge from Blaziken. Dragonite's speed tier puts it in a strange spot uninvested, which is why I included 12 Speed EVs for preference.
Genesect @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Download
EVs: 96 Atk / 160 SpA / 252 Spe
Hasty Nature
- Ice Beam
- U-turn
- Iron Head
- Flamethrower
I love Genesect because not only does it have an awesome design, but it is a #1 pivot at the moment.
Genesect's unmatched offensive coverage compared to other pivots makes it stand out as a top metagame threat that should be addressed. This was fittable on my team as a form of speed control and a way to address non-Beast Boosted Pheromosa and revenge kill it (who is a small threat to my team if I don't play around carefully). Download + Flamethrower is a gigantic nuke to opposing Genesect if you manage to win the speed tie, and acts as a win con that pivots in and out. The majority of the metagame has this manageable, but it's dangerous regardless of what happens.
Very basic EV spread. I chose the typical 96 / 160 / 252 since max speed is incredibly important, and you will often be running into special attackers with weaker physical stats.
Metagross @ Assault Vest
Ability: Clear Body
EVs: 152 HP / 104 Atk / 252 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Meteor Mash
- Zen Headbutt
- Steel Roller
- Ice Punch
It's the other VIP big boss, who has the ability to check the metagame with powerful Steel Rollers and not worry about specs Regieleki.
The best Tapu switch-in in town, with exceptions of course. It still sort of hates taking Bulu Wood Hammers on switch-in which chips it after rocks, but is able to retaliate with a powerful Steel Roller. Steel Roller is a huge boon for this Pokemon and brick walls Tapu Lele, a Pokemon that loves to spam powerful moves under Psychic Terrain. With Assault Vest Metagross could be classified as a special wall, but I'll refer to it as an offensive Pokemon for now.
The EVs allow it to obviously take most special moves comfortably, even Naganadel's Draco Meteor.
252 SpA Naganadel Draco Meteor vs. 152 HP / 252 SpD Assault Vest Metagross: 59-70 (17.4 - 20.6%) -- possible 5HKO
+2 252 SpA Naganadel Draco Meteor vs. 152 HP / 252 SpD Assault Vest Metagross: 118-139 (34.8 - 41%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
This thing is amazing, holy cow.
+2 252 SpA Naganadel Draco Meteor vs. 152 HP / 252 SpD Assault Vest Metagross: 118-139 (34.8 - 41%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
This thing is amazing, holy cow.
Rotom-Heat @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 248 HP / 8 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Nasty Plot / Will-O-Wisp / Toxic
- Discharge / Volt Switch
- Overheat
- Pain Split
This mon can always find some room to set up.
Rotom-Heat with boots is still very good; great at getting passive recovery with Pain Split and late-game cleaning. It has the ability to bulldoze through Melmetal, comfortably outspeed base 85s or lower, and generally picks off Pheromosa if it misses (because High Jump Kick is a nuke to Rotom-H). Rotom-H can directly be changed to an offensive pivot as well, but for my preference I prefer it as a Nasty Plot user and a burn absorber (for Metagross, Genesect and Seismitoad).
The same old 248 / 252 / 8 isn't bad, running max speed actually gives you massive utility in the early-game. 248 HP makes it more bulkier than it has the exception to, in tandem with its exceptional offensive stats.
Amoonguss @ Black Sludge
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 248 HP / 168 Def / 92 SpD
Bold Nature
- Spore
- Giga Drain
- Sludge Bomb
- Toxic
Member 2 of my defensive core; Amoonguss.
Putting mons to sleep is a massive advantage for the team, as you will have all the chances in the world to set up if your opponent decides to not switch and wait instead. Toxic creates some of the most anti-climactic stall wars, with you constantly gaining an advantage. Regenerator is obviously required so you get ways of recovery. Do not run Synthnesis or you won't be getting many good matchups with rain teams. This mon deserves a spot since
Basic 248 / 168 / 92 EV spread that focuses on keeping the defenses quite a bit balanced. Amoonguss' massive HP stat lets me focus on this quite a bit.
Seismitoad @ Leftovers
Ability: Water Absorb
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Scald
- Earth Power
- Knock Off
The last member of my team, an absolute chad.
I am a gigantic spammer of this mon because this is always the only rocker I can think of. Not only does it provide a ground to defend against Regieleki Rising Voltage spam that can easily get walled, but what is a team without Stealth Rock? It probably plays the largest role early game if you get a good lead matchup. Scald allows you to fish for a burn on any mon with physical moves, and you can stop folding to them with their powerful boosted attacks. The utility of Knock Off is awesome. For example, your opponent's Pokemon switches in and you remove their boots, leftovers, etc. The game will then change drastically opening a gigantic door for your Seismitoad to constantly get rocks up against many team matchups.
Maximum investment in defensive stats is great, you have a much easier time against weaker physical attackers.
Thousand Arrows spam can always be an issue while playing this team. Only two Pokemon like Metagross and Rotom-H fold to it (with Gross barely taking anything from it as far as I can tell) , but I'm honestly thinking it's way worse since if you lose them, the game is basically over. Unless you can play around it carefully, you should be fine.
The way to beat this is to revenge kill Zygarde with a Download boost from Genesect. Being 4x weak to Ice Beam is its largest weakness, and that's what to take advantage of when dealing with this Pokemon.
Heatran can be quite scary when you lose a couple mons. Rotom-Heat hates getting walled constantly if you lose some of the most important portions of the team; you will barely be denting a SpDef Heatran, even at +2. Preserving your mons while playing the team is important, because you never know when an important Pokemon with a role to play folds to a threat in the eighth gen.
To play around this you simply have to preserve Metagross as long as possible. Metagross is the important staple of the team because Earthquake just patches up so many weaknesses.
Pheromosa may also be a problem, with Ice Beam it can be a huge nuke to Dragonite and Amoonguss. It's easy to play around this though, pre Beast-Boosted Pheromosa can easily die to Genesect's Flamethrower.
hope you enjoyed, edited for clarficiation
Last edited:
