Hello smogon folk. To be honest, not sure I should be posting this yet. This is a bit of an intimidating site. It’s a bit like posting on Elitist Jerks, if any of you play wow, you’ll prolly know what I mean.
I only really started playing about a week ago. Properly anyway. I didn’t even know competitive pokemon existed. But now I do I’m kinda hooked. I love the strategy involved, in picking a team able to handle almost anything, and then the prediction in the actual fights, especially atm, when I often see pokemon and sets I’ve not faced before, then there’s a lot of scouting and working out strategies on the fly…
Anyway, the reason for my post: I need help!
TEAM INTRODUCTION:
TEAM BUILDING
Mew @ Leftovers
Trait: Synchronize
EVs: 252 HP / 240 Def / 16 Spd
Bold Nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Thunder Wave
- Taunt
- Stealth Rock
- Psychic
90% of the time I lead with Mew, simply set up rocks, maybe taunt to stop my opponent setting up hazards of their own, possibly throw out a T-wave if suitable and exit. I'm torn on the EVs and nature, I like the bulk of this, especially if I mispredict a crunch, switch to Lucario and eat a pursuit instead. But some more speed would be very nice, getting taunted by a faster lead totally messes this up. I rarely use psychic. Fighting leads tend to switch or u-turn out on me, and I usually prioritise getting stealth rock up over attacking them first turn anyway.
Dragonite (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Multiscale
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SDef / 4 Spd
Careful Nature (+SDef, -SAtk)
- Thunder Wave
- Dragon Tail
- Substitute
- Roost
Togekiss (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Serene Grace
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SAtk / 4 SDef
Modest Nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Thunder Wave
- Hidden Power [Ground]
- Air Slash
- Fire Blast
Cheap flinch-haxer whore as one opponent called him, but oh so fun to play with. Plus look at that cute little face! Anyway, you know the drill... It amazes me how few people predict a fire blast from this guy, one opponent actually switched from a ferrothorn to a scizor, what did he expect? I am considering switching T-wave to body slam, but I tried it and went 7 slams with no para, rng is rng I guess... I'm not sure about HP ground, used to be Aura Sphere, but I never used it, and Ground is nice for Heatran, but I'm considering Electric or Ice aswell. I prefer to use Togekiss as a sweeper, rather than defensively, hence the lack of roost.
Lucario (M) @ Life Orb
Trait: Justified
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Swords Dance
- ExtremeSpeed
- Close Combat
- Crunch
I only really started playing about a week ago. Properly anyway. I didn’t even know competitive pokemon existed. But now I do I’m kinda hooked. I love the strategy involved, in picking a team able to handle almost anything, and then the prediction in the actual fights, especially atm, when I often see pokemon and sets I’ve not faced before, then there’s a lot of scouting and working out strategies on the fly…
Anyway, the reason for my post: I need help!
As I said, I'm new to all this, but there's a couple things I've realised already: 1. I prefer to play balanced teams. 2. I like utility moves, and the extra dimension of strategy they present. Revenge killing Excadrill with Azumarill's Aqua Jet just isn't as fun as say... Switching in safely on a resist or immune and burning it.
Oh and 3. most of my favourite pokemon seem quite slow.
So all that combined into my newest (I swear, I've been playing for about a week and made about 9 teams before this one) team. A team based around paralysis support to allow slower bulkier pokemon to sweep. Some of my opponents call it cheap, but I call it fun. And really, I'm the one playing it, so who cares what they think?
Unfortunately, though I've played well over 100 games in the past few days since creating it, the team is still far from complete, and I can't seem to get it right. Every few games I'll change it to counter a particular threat only for a new one to then lose to something I previously had covered.
This is where you guys come in :)
Oh and 3. most of my favourite pokemon seem quite slow.
So all that combined into my newest (I swear, I've been playing for about a week and made about 9 teams before this one) team. A team based around paralysis support to allow slower bulkier pokemon to sweep. Some of my opponents call it cheap, but I call it fun. And really, I'm the one playing it, so who cares what they think?
Unfortunately, though I've played well over 100 games in the past few days since creating it, the team is still far from complete, and I can't seem to get it right. Every few games I'll change it to counter a particular threat only for a new one to then lose to something I previously had covered.
This is where you guys come in :)
I've been spending a lot of time on this site since discovering PO and competetive pokemon in general, and in one RMT I saw the inclusion of a para-shuffler dragonite which piqued my interest enough to try it.
Next up I wanted someone who could take advantage of the paralysis. Enter flinch-hax Jirachi.
Basing my team around paralysis demanded at least one more user. Thundurus seemed a natural choice with Prankster. With priority taunt too, I made him my lead.
Major problem with thunderwave for paralysis was ground types being immune, so I brought in Azumarill. Choice Band Waterfall is insanely powerful.
Finally I added Heatran to counter fire attacks aimed at Jirachi, and to provide Stealth Rocks. He also helped lure out ground pokemon.
Lucario was the final pokemon added. I've always liked him ingame, and wanted to try a SD set with paralysis support.
There we have it. The first incarnation of my team. It was to be peferctly honest, horrendous. Have you seen how many ground weakness I have? How about if that same pokemon happens to have stone edge as well as earthquake? Yeah...
Anyway, back to the drawing board. Thundurus went and became an Uxie, so I could take SR off Heatran and make him a special sweeper. Then Heatran went altogether, and the Uxie became a Mew. Lucario became a Gallade, then a Scizor, then a Lucario again. Jirachi became a Togekiss to remove the number of fire and ground weaknesses. Azumarill was subbed for a CM Keldeo for some added versatility, and finally Gengar was added.
Next up I wanted someone who could take advantage of the paralysis. Enter flinch-hax Jirachi.
Basing my team around paralysis demanded at least one more user. Thundurus seemed a natural choice with Prankster. With priority taunt too, I made him my lead.
Major problem with thunderwave for paralysis was ground types being immune, so I brought in Azumarill. Choice Band Waterfall is insanely powerful.
Finally I added Heatran to counter fire attacks aimed at Jirachi, and to provide Stealth Rocks. He also helped lure out ground pokemon.
Lucario was the final pokemon added. I've always liked him ingame, and wanted to try a SD set with paralysis support.
There we have it. The first incarnation of my team. It was to be peferctly honest, horrendous. Have you seen how many ground weakness I have? How about if that same pokemon happens to have stone edge as well as earthquake? Yeah...
Anyway, back to the drawing board. Thundurus went and became an Uxie, so I could take SR off Heatran and make him a special sweeper. Then Heatran went altogether, and the Uxie became a Mew. Lucario became a Gallade, then a Scizor, then a Lucario again. Jirachi became a Togekiss to remove the number of fire and ground weaknesses. Azumarill was subbed for a CM Keldeo for some added versatility, and finally Gengar was added.
Mew @ Leftovers
Trait: Synchronize
EVs: 252 HP / 240 Def / 16 Spd
Bold Nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Thunder Wave
- Taunt
- Stealth Rock
- Psychic
90% of the time I lead with Mew, simply set up rocks, maybe taunt to stop my opponent setting up hazards of their own, possibly throw out a T-wave if suitable and exit. I'm torn on the EVs and nature, I like the bulk of this, especially if I mispredict a crunch, switch to Lucario and eat a pursuit instead. But some more speed would be very nice, getting taunted by a faster lead totally messes this up. I rarely use psychic. Fighting leads tend to switch or u-turn out on me, and I usually prioritise getting stealth rock up over attacking them first turn anyway.
Dragonite (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Multiscale
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SDef / 4 Spd
Careful Nature (+SDef, -SAtk)
- Thunder Wave
- Dragon Tail
- Substitute
- Roost
Easily the best performing member of my team thus far, and integral to how I'd like my team to play: Spreading paralysis for my slower, bulkier pokemon to take advantage of. Multiscale + Dragon Tail has also saved my team on more than a few occasions when I mess up and let something get off a stat-boost or 2. In conclusion: I love this guy!
Trait: Serene Grace
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SAtk / 4 SDef
Modest Nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Thunder Wave
- Hidden Power [Ground]
- Air Slash
- Fire Blast
Cheap flinch-haxer whore as one opponent called him, but oh so fun to play with. Plus look at that cute little face! Anyway, you know the drill... It amazes me how few people predict a fire blast from this guy, one opponent actually switched from a ferrothorn to a scizor, what did he expect? I am considering switching T-wave to body slam, but I tried it and went 7 slams with no para, rng is rng I guess... I'm not sure about HP ground, used to be Aura Sphere, but I never used it, and Ground is nice for Heatran, but I'm considering Electric or Ice aswell. I prefer to use Togekiss as a sweeper, rather than defensively, hence the lack of roost.
Lucario (M) @ Life Orb
Trait: Justified
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Swords Dance
- ExtremeSpeed
- Close Combat
- Crunch
Lucario is my first all out sweeper; the one I'm happiest with. He can come in on any number of resists, or best of all a crunch or dark pulse aimed at Mew, getting a free +1 attack boost thanks to Justified, and hopefully swords dance as they switch out. If all's gone according to plan the opposing team should be riddled with paralysis and his mediocre speed is a non-issue, however ExtremeSpeed is there for when it doesn't go according to plan. I'm not sure about EVs, do I need 252 Spd with para support?
Keldeo @ Leftovers
Trait: Justified
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SAtk
Hardy Nature
- Calm Mind
- Secret Sword
- Hydro Pump
- Hidden Power [Ghost]
Gengar (M) @ Life Orb
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Substitute
- Focus Blast
- Shadow Ball
- Giga Drain
Keldeo @ Leftovers
Trait: Justified
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SAtk
Hardy Nature
- Calm Mind
- Secret Sword
- Hydro Pump
- Hidden Power [Ghost]
Ok... this is what finally replaced my Azumarill. Azu was great, but I wanted something a bit more versatile, without losing the water typing. I'm not sure how happy I am with Keldeo right now though. I'm not sure it has the defences to pull off a calm mind set. I'm wondering if it wouldn't be better off trying it with Virizion instead? Or maybe even Celebi?
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Substitute
- Focus Blast
- Shadow Ball
- Giga Drain
Gengar rounds out my team, but tbh I was thinking off using Espeon too. I wanted something quick, and versatile for when the paralysis spam doesn't work. Attacks are pretty straight forward really, with the excpetion of Giga Drain, basically it's there for ground types with their immunity to Thunder Wave, expecially ground/water types. The HP it earns back is nice, and can mean an extra sub or 2.
So, that's my team. Any advice for a newbie?
So, that's my team. Any advice for a newbie?
