Operation Desert Scorn (OU RMT)

[Doxievee]

This is a Sandstorm team, in case that wasn't blindingly obvious. My rating is currently at 1138, which is...okay, but not stellar. There are a few problems with the team that I'll detail after I've given you the Pokémon themselves - I'm having difficulty hammering them out, but in general the team works relatively well. Here goes:

Hippowdon (F) @ Leftovers
Trait: Sand Stream
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SDef
Impish Nature (+Def, -SAtk)
- Earthquake
- Ice Fang
- Stealth Rock
- Slack Off

Hippowdon is by quite some distance one of the hardiest Pokémon I've ever encountered. It's wonderfully difficult to kill and that STAB Earthquake is monstrous. Stealth Rock has saved my bacon on more than one occasion. Hippowdon also serves as a general-purpose starter for when team preview leaves me nonplussed.

Excadrill (M) @ Air Balloon
Trait: Sand Rush
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Swords Dance
- Earthquake
- Rock Slide
- X-Scissor

Excadrill, Excadrill, Excadrill...what can I say about him that hasn't already been said? Notice the use of X-Scissor - this is probably my favourite part of the set. Entry hazards aren't a major problem for this team (see below) so I forgo Rapid Spin. I find that Return has limited use, so X-Scissor comes in very handy to take out Lati@s and uppity Bronzong.

Reuniclus (M) @ Life Orb
Trait: Magic Guard
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SAtk
Bold Nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Calm Mind
- Psychic
- Focus Blast
- Recover

Reuniclus has to be my favourite Pokémon of this generation. It has proven itself to be one of the finest battlers on my team, especially when it's sent out against setup fodder like Blissey. It doesn't like Critical Hits though, especially from the likes of Calm Mind Latias if Excadrill is no longer kicking.

Skarmory (F) @ Leftovers
Trait: Sturdy
EVs: 252 HP / 232 Def / 20 Spd
Impish Nature (+Def, -SAtk)
- Brave Bird
- Spikes
- Whirlwind
- Roost

Skarmory is, of course, a physical wall and Spikes-setter. I can't say much about this set, because it is essentially the standard Skarmory, but it fills an excellent role on my team to absorb powerful physical attacks (especially from opposing Excadrill) and to phaze Dragons in particular.

Gastrodon-Ea (Gastrodon-East) (F) @ Leftovers
Trait: Storm Drain
EVs: 252 HP / 4 SAtk / 252 SDef
Calm Nature (+SDef, -Atk)
- Earth Power
- Ice Beam
- Toxic
- Recover

Gastrodon sucks up the water attacks that threaten my other Pokémon, and hits back with Toxic (although its accuracy has screwed me over a few times). It's also surprisingly difficult to take out - don't get me wrong, boosted moves will obliterate the poor thing, but Scarfers and even some Choice Banders hit a wall against Gastrodon. The Storm Drain Special Attack boost also lets it Ice Beam or Earth Power the enemy into a rather humiliating knockout.

Empoleon (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Torrent
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SDef / 4 Spd
Calm Nature (+SDef, -Atk)
- Scald
- Grass Knot
- Protect
- Roar

Last but not least is Empoleon. This is the Pokémon I've been questioning the most because of its nasty vulnerability to Ground and Fighting, but in general it works as a rather lethal special wall, and that Scald is crippling. Roar works in tandem with Skarmory's Whirlwind to phaze or shuffle for extra damage.

Problems:
There are one or two recurring problems that come back with this team. They're not enormous and can and have been beaten, but they do represent something of a stop for me.

• Landorus - this monster of a Pokémon sucks up my Sandstorm and hits back with an Earthquake than even Reuniclus and Gastrodon have trouble taking.
• Gengar. Its nasty Shadow Ball and Focus Blast combination works against me, particularly if Excadrill is down.
• Volcarona. With the exception of Gastrodon and Excadrill (if Sandstorm is still active) my team is slaughtered by a Volcarona that's allowed to set up. Admittedly some of that is my fault - I'm still not used to the Black and White metagame - but it is a potent threat that I have difficulty countering.
• Spikes: This is a more minor concern and hasn't actually lost me any battles, but if I'm stupid enough to let three layers of Spikes go down most of my Pokémon bar Skarmory, Reuniclus and Excadrill if its Balloon is still intact take a quarter of their HP in damage. This would of course make me consider a Rapid Spinner, but it's tough to find room for one and for the life of me I can't give up X-Scissor.

I should probably also note that I'd prefer not to use legendary Pokémon (EDIT: or Hidden Power), as I do intend to build the finished team on my DS. However, if it's absolutely necessary that I have a legendary in there somewhere I don't mind awfully.

Thanks for reading, everyone!

 

[TonyT]

This team looks really good, most weaknesses are covered well although there are some problems as with all teams.

I'd swap out Psychic for Psyshock on your Reuniclus. There are no true physical walls this generation, so it makes sense to have it. A Blissey or Evolite Tangela (Don't laugh), Chansey, etc laugh at your team once Excadrill goes down, so it would help ya a bit there too.

Water [Starmie more specifically] is obviously a glaring weakness as this is a Sandstorm Team, I'd add Thunderbolt to Reuniclus over Focus Blast, as it is more accurate and it covers your water weakness somewhat. (Starmie etc will still destroy your team if not checked early and fast)

Another problem you have, although this ties in with water, is with Rain Dancers [Politoad], they laugh at your Sandstorm and just bring in rain once your buddy Hippowdon is gone. Reuniclus may be able to help you here if you do in fact add T-Bolt. [See Above]

Landorus isn't a huge problem, you can kill him with Ice Fang [Hippowdon] or Ice Beam [Gastrodon] pretty early, well before he does a lot of damage.

Gengar will be a problem though overall with, as you point out, Shadow Ball etc. Your only counter to it is Reuniclus, and even then Life Orb Shadow Ball will probably kill you. Might I suggest changing Empoleon to Lucario to cover for it? Empoleon doesn't seem to do a whole lot of good for your team, but a Lucario can usually 1hko a Gengar with STAB Bullet Punch. Adding a Life Orb would just be overkill in most cases, although if you went that route it would be good insaurance vs Gengar of a kill.

Lucario
Trait - Inner Focus
Item - Life Orb
Adamant
252 Att, 252 Speed, 4 HP
--Swords Dance
--Earthquake
--Extremespeed/Close Combat
--Bullet Bunch



Volcarona shouldn't be a huge worry, as you can kill it early. Most your pokemon carry Earthquake and that will usually kill it with 1 hit.

 

[IronBullet]

Hey,

Decent team, but it could use some work. First off, if you're worried about Spikes then Rapid Spin is definitely worth a shot on Excadrill. The only Pokemon you miss out on hitting are Latios and Celebi, but a +2 Rock Slide does plenty as it is, and if you want to keep X-Scissor then you can also discard SD and instead use it as an offensive spinner/revenge killer who can still clean up well late-game.

Landorus is less of a threat than you are making it out to be. Skarm shrugs off all its attacks even if it SDs and Whirlwinds it away easily, while Hippowdon handily defeats it with Ice Fang as long as it doesn't have an SD up.

Now for your Volcarona problem, it's perfectly viable to try out a Specially Defensive Heatran over Empoleon. This guy is easily the best Volcarona counter in the game, taking even +6 Bug Buzzes with ease and simply poisoning it or Roaring it away till you can finish it off. It also takes Specs Draco Meteors like a champ, and shares excellent synergy with Gastrodon. Its also an excellent back up check to Thundurus, and is a huge annoyance for Sun teams to face. Here's the set:

Heatran@Leftovers
252 HP | 252 Sp Def | 4 Spe
Calm
- Lava Plume
- Toxic
- Roar
- Earth Power/HP Ice

HP Ice is useful for Dragons while Earth Power nails opposing Heatran.

Good luck!

 

[Doxievee]

I'd swap out Psychic for Psyshock on your Reuniclus. There are no true physical walls this generation, so it makes sense to have it. A Blissey or Evolite Tangela (Don't laugh), Chansey, etc laugh at your team once Excadrill goes down, so it would help ya a bit there too.

I had considered that, but one of Reuniclus' main roles is countering Bulk Up Conkeldurr, who would prefer a Psyshock to a Psychic. Besides, Blissey and Chansey can't touch Reuniclus while it sets up, so that's not a huge worry to me.

Water [Starmie more specifically] is obviously a glaring weakness as this is a Sandstorm Team, I'd add Thunderbolt to Reuniclus over Focus Blast, as it is more accurate and it covers your water weakness somewhat. (Starmie etc will still destroy your team if not checked early and fast)

Another problem you have, although this ties in with water, is with Rain Dancers [Politoad], they laugh at your Sandstorm and just bring in rain once your buddy Hippowdon is gone. Reuniclus may be able to help you here if you do in fact add T-Bolt.

Possibly, but Reuniclus loses a LOT of coverage without Focus Blast. Having said that I will need to counter the water weakness somehow. Perhaps I could run Storm Drain Cradily over Empoleon or Gastrodon, putting in something else over Empoleon in the last slot if I choose Gastrodon.

Empoleon doesn't seem to do a whole lot of good for your team, but a Lucario can usually 1hko a Gengar with STAB Bullet Punch. Adding a Life Orb would just be overkill in most cases, although if you went that route it would be good insaurance vs Gengar of a kill.

I checked this with a damage calculator and you seem to be a little off, so I'm probably gonna forgo Lucario because of those nasty weaknesses.

Now for your Volcarona problem, it's perfectly viable to try out a Specially Defensive Heatran over Empoleon.

Much as I am loath to use a legendary, especially Heatran (pet hate) it does seem reasonable here. I'll keep it in mind, thanks.

 

[Ninjadolphin]

You probably want leftovers on reuniclus, it will make it so you will not have to recover as much, and you will probably not even notice the damage drop.
On gastro, you might want to change ice beam or toxic to scald for stab and brim chance.
Empoleon seems out of place on this team, I would recommend changing it to bliss or chansey.

 

[Doxievee]

You probably want leftovers on reuniclus, it will make it so you will not have to recover as much, and you will probably not even notice the damage drop.
On gastro, you might want to change ice beam or toxic to scald for stab and brim chance.
Empoleon seems out of place on this team, I would recommend changing it to bliss or chansey.

1. Magic Guard blocks Life Orb damage, so that's not a problem.
2. I've been considering swapping out Ice Beam, but it's so very useful.
3. Blissey and Chansey are the two Pokémon I made a vow never to use, because they're evil fat pink blobs. Also, the Sandstorm hurts them, so I'm reluctant to use them.

 

[Ninjadolphin]

1. Magic Guard blocks Life Orb damage, so that's not a problem.
2. I've been considering swapping out Ice Beam, but it's so very useful.
3. Blissey and Chansey are the two Pokémon I made a vow never to use, because they're evil fat pink blobs. Also, the Sandstorm hurts them, so I'm reluctant to use them.

I didnt say it takes life orb damage, but leftovers are much more useful for the residual healing. You don't gain any kos by using life orb on this set. I guess I understand not wanting to use bliss/ chansey, but there are better special walls than empoleon.

 

[Doxievee]

I didnt say it takes life orb damage, but leftovers are much more useful for the residual healing. You don't gain any kos by using life orb on this set. I guess I understand not wanting to use bliss/ chansey, but there are better special walls than empoleon.

Reuniclus is a sturdy little blob, it doesn't mind the lack of residual healing in my experience, and Life Orb represents an extra 30% on both my attacking moves free of charge. What's not to love?

I'm thinking of introducing Cradily as a special wall. Playtesting is optimistic.

 

[cinik]

Cradily could be interesting...

 

[Doxievee]

Cradily could be interesting...

With Storm Drain, it means I have two Water immunities, and it's essentially just a gigantic lump that eats special attacks. Although its support set is very similar to Gastrodon's standard set, they seem to fill two different niches on my team, as Cradily's ridiculous bulk and Grass moves can help it take down some threats.