--If you haven't watched Code Geass, don't know what it is or don't care, feel free to ask, or just ignore the second paragraph for each Pokemon. A Knightmare Frame is a mecha in the series.
Please note: Due to... circumstances, I cannot use a Rotom-Appliance, nor will I ever fight one. Please keep that in mind, and just... don't ask.
Without further ado.
Metagross @ Occa Berry ** Gawain
Trait: Clear Body
EVs: 252 HP / 232 Atk / 12 Def / 12 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Bullet Punch
- Earthquake
- Meteor Mash
- Stealth Rock
Bulky and pretty powerful. Latias takes care of the bulky waters and Zapdos that try to overtake the metallic spider. You might wonder why I decided to forgo Explosion. Well, with Bullet Punch, Meteor Mash AND Earthquake, most leads fall. Infernapes that laugh because they think I don't have Earthquake... think again. Aerodactyls that think they're safe because I don't have Bullet Punch... oh my. I did this because he is part of a strategy to take down a DDMence. Switch him in on the DD, switch to Gyarados on the Earthquake, and Scizor on the Outrage, who is firmly picked off with Bullet Punch. Same with Mixed sets. I can't afford for him to die until he's done what he should-- be the essential Steel that a team needs. He's also a switch in to Latias, but my Scizor works well too. They're both fine. Metagross with his better bulk, or Scizor with Bullet Punch, Pursuit AND U-Turn! Either way, Metagross is, as I said, the essential Steel. He tag teams with Scizor and Gyarados to stop a DDMence, if I predict right. And if not, well... Meteor Mash + Bullet Punch is very fun, very very fun. Isn't it? They get hit hard, then get finished off. However, Meteor Mash has been missing for me a lot lately, in the most crucual of moments. Like, I'm up against a Salamence and Gyarados is down so my strategy can't work. I can survive a +1 Earthquake, or Fire Blast if it's healthy enough. If I hit with Meteor Mash as it hits me, Bullet Punch finishes it off. If both Metagross and Gyarados are down, Scizor can only muster 40-60% to it... then I'm screwed. But with my several answers, I do my best to avoid destruction from an enemy DDMence, perhaps the biggest threat in the metagame at the moment.
The Gawain is a really large Knightmare Frame, and it's very bulky. It's pretty powerful too, but it ain't the fastest thing alive. Still, it's Hadron Cannons are able to down an entire air force. Metagross's Meteor Mash probably reflects that.
Gyarados (M) @ Leftovers ** Damocles
Trait: Intimidate
EVs: 248 HP / 224 Def / 36 Spd
Impish Nature (+Def, -SAtk)
- Dragon Dance
- Rest
- Sleep Talk
- Waterfall
The set given to me by someone. Status absorber, sets up on Scizor, Swampert, Lucario and other things... (Should) deal with most Nape. Also cleans up late-game, and has recovery. He's also my bulky water, thanks to Intimidate and his good stats. Not the essential bulky water, however. Flying brings weaknesses. Stealth Rock being one. Of course, he has RestTalk to counter that. Vaporeon is very very lame, but luckily Latias handles him without breaking a sweat. Odd HP stat for Stealth Rock... With the added bulk he sets up on Lucario without a care, and all Lucario can manage is a +1 Extremespeed which... Gyarados has bulk now to combat that. 393 HP and 275 Defense is pretty good. SD Lucario is another top threat, and Gyarados is my answer. If Gyarados is down, I can just hope to revenge kill when it has -1 Defenses. The popular Mixed Infernape... Starmie and Gyarados are my answers. Gyarados shrugs off Grass Knots, resists Flamethrower, Close Combat, and shrugs off HP Ice too.
Named the Damocles because the Damocles is an ACTUAL floating fortress, meanwhile the Siegfried was just a giant orange (with giant green Slash Harkens and a cannon, as well as a Sutherland head). The Damocles launches off nuclear warheads known as FLEIA. While Gyarados isn't as powerful as that with this bulky set, the Damocles is impenetrable. Plus it floats. And... Gyarados is part Flying... yeah, that works.
Latias (F) @ Leftovers ** Tenshi
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 204 HP / 188 Spd / 116 SAtk
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Calm Mind
- Dragon Pulse
- Recover
- Surf
What team doesn't have one? My Special wall, and boosts it's stats with Calm Mind. Seriously, practically no Special Attack OHKO's or even 2HKO's it, and that's further reduced with Calm Mind and Recover, at a very nice 333 Speed, for mixed Infernapes (who run around... 331? I believe.). If they're physical then I have other measures for it. Scizor is a problem. I have Zapdos for him, and even if Scizor brings Latias down to the ground, Gyarados comes in for a free Dragon Dance. I can work accordingly from there... Surf is for coverage. The HP EVs hit a Leftovers number, and the added Special Attack is always nice. I will struggle against Blissey, and Latias used to take status before. It's all a battle over taking status (which although my Gyarados can do, he's not invincible), or getting coverage. Unboosted Surf does 30% or so to the standard Scizor, a popular switch in... Should I still keep it?
Latias makes me think of angels. Tenshi means Angel.
Starmie @ Leftovers ** Shen Hu
Trait: Natural Cure
EVs: 236 HP / 56 Def / 216 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Rapid Spin
- Recover
- Surf
- Thunderbolt
The standard bulky Rapid Spin Starmie. My answer to Gyarados. And I forget about it's 352 Speed Recover! Rapid Spin assists my Zapdos and Gyarados, since switching them in will hurt. And they have plenty of opportunities to switch in.
Named Shen Hu because it... Well, it has a circular thing on it's chest that (probably) shoots lasers, but the actual Shen Hu does shoot a cannon out of it's chest. It also spins it's flails around, and... Starmie Rapid Spins.
Scizor (M) @ Choice Band ** Divider
Trait: Technician
EVs: 100 HP / 252 Atk / 156 SDef
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Bullet Punch
- Pursuit
- Superpower
- U-turn
My revenge killer with Bullet Punch, or at least it can keep things in check. With his and Metagross's Bullet Punch, pesky Salamence aren't a problem. Add Gyarados to that mix and I laugh at ANY Salamence! Of course, with the right prediction. Metagross switches in on the Dragon Dance, Gyarados into the Earthquake, and Scizor switches into the Outrage and picks it away with Bullet Punch. Bye bye, Salamence. Provides good offense, and also handles Tyranitars and Blisseys wanting to stomp on my electrical bird. I must watch out for DD Babiri Tyranitar, however. Luckily, I've not seen them lately.
Gino's Knightmare Frame, the Tristan Divider (the upgraded Tristan) is cool. Scizor divided things up with Bullet Punch-- is anyone using Porygon-Z, Alakazam, Azelf not as a lead, Weavile, or anything fragile and not resistant to Steel anymore?
Zapdos @ Leftovers ** Siegfried
Trait: Pressure
EVs: 248 HP / 220 Def / 40 Spd
Bold Nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Heat Wave
- Roost
- Thunderbolt
- U-turn
A combination. My previous set has U-Turn, and the physically defensive set has Hidden Power. Without Hidden Power Grass, Swampert can be a pain, but Latias takes care of most. If not, then Gyarados. It won't like taking repeated hits. However, I can U-Turn as I expect any of Zapdos's counters to switch in, then switch to my own counter. I can work accordingly from there. Odd HP for Stealth Rock.
Zapdos is practically a floating fortress, stopping most Steels in their tracks, as well as other things. The Siegfried is a floating fortress as well, sorta.
---------
I start this team off with the lead, which was a first. I needed something that could combat popular leads. Metagross was a prime choice, and he's a favourite. Meteor Mash/Earthquake and Bullet Punch decimates suicide leads. Forgoing Explosion may be a loss, but taking down the enemy lead is vital. Foolish Azelf ALWAYS Taunt me first, while I Meteor Mash then Bullet Punch. I'm at full HP, Occa Berry intact, and they're down one. No matter what Azelf and Aerodactyl do, they're going to die. Against Swampert, Bronzong, Heatran and enemy Metagross, I set up Stealth Rock then run.
Then, I know it could come in later to fend off an enemy Pokemon, and Steel is an excellent type in the Dragon-oriented metagame. But, countering Metagross was Zapdos, and bulky waters. Latias waves her claw at them.
Latias lures in Scizor and Tyranitar, who my Gyarados, Zapdos, and Metagross (most of the time), Scizor take care of, respectively (Gyarados and Zapdos for Scizor, Metagross and Scizor for Tyranitar). Enemy Metagross also switch into Latias, but Gyarados takes care of him unless it has Thunderpunch. If not, Zapdos steps in.
Gyarados has multiple roles. It's bulky, counters physical threats, late-game sweeper, status absorber... this guy is freaking amazing. He lures in Zapdos, Starmie, and other things that Latias probably yawns at.
Zapdos is physically bulky, and has U-Turn which is always good. Latias is the end-all Special sponge, provided it's fast enough. Latias takes care of ALL Special attackers, save for like... Specs Pokemon, but I can predict around them. Heck, even HP Ices or Ice Beams don't threaten Latias one bit, while she Recovers damage or Calm Minds. She's decently fast, but I must be more aware. I run enough speed to outrun Mix Infernape.
Zapdos's U-Turn is just... so awesome it's not even funny. Imagine I U-Turn as a Blissey comes in, go to my Scizor, and I U-Turn as they switch in a Zapdos or something. Always cool, right?
Scizor is everywhere, and there's a good reason for that. Zapdos, and bulky waters also take care of him, but Latias waves her claw at them. It's amazing how much Latias can do.
Finally, we have Starmie. An odd choice, but my Gyarados is going to be switching in a lot, same with Zapdos, to keep things at bay. Rapid Spin will help that. A speedy Recover then saves it. Whoo!
My main problems are:
-When to Rapid Spin. Zapdos and Gyarados are essential. Gyarados especially, because he's the one with multiple roles-- Bulky water, late-game cleaner, status absorber, and with Intimidate it helps against DDMence (Meta on the Dance, Gyara on the Quake, Scizor on the Outrage)... I just don't know when it's exactly safe to Rapid Spin.
-I feel as if everything has to go perfectly, or my whole team falls apart.
-HP Fire or Recover? HP Fire or Surf? As great as it is when coverage is involved being only resisted by Empoleon and Shedinja... the things that switch in are barely phased by unboosted Surfs. Should I run HP Fire? Steels are the first thing to switch into Latias. If Tyranitar comes in and Pursuits, unfortunately bye bye draconic angel. That gives Gyarados a free set up turn if it's CB, and Scizor and Metagross can easily scare it off and I can switch to something else. Thankfully, I haven't seen much Tyranitar switch ins to Latias. Still...
There! I hope I did good. Please tell me where things went wrong, or any advice to the team. And again,
And I'm not changing Metagross or Gyarados. Even if my strategy is prediction reliant, at the VERY least, Metagross and Scizor's Bullet Punches can keep it in check. If both of their fists do more than 75%, bye bye dragon.
The thing I love is that except for Starmie (who has Natural Cure and Rapid Spin anyway), my team is Toxic Spikes immune. And half is immune to Spikes.
Thing I hate is Stealth Rock. That's why I have Starmie. Generally, after the clash of the leads, I attempt to find a safe time to Rapid Spin, then I work from there.
Overall, I think I'm alright. Sometimes I know EXACTLY what the opponent can do, what they will do, and how I should respond. The problem is, sometimes I get supremely unlucky. Meteor Mash misses a lot.
-I cannot get a hold of Rotom-Appliance, nor will I ever fight one. Ever. Just believe me. Deny it's existence when rating please.
Please note: Due to... circumstances, I cannot use a Rotom-Appliance, nor will I ever fight one. Please keep that in mind, and just... don't ask.
Without further ado.
Metagross @ Occa Berry ** Gawain
Trait: Clear Body
EVs: 252 HP / 232 Atk / 12 Def / 12 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Bullet Punch
- Earthquake
- Meteor Mash
- Stealth Rock
Bulky and pretty powerful. Latias takes care of the bulky waters and Zapdos that try to overtake the metallic spider. You might wonder why I decided to forgo Explosion. Well, with Bullet Punch, Meteor Mash AND Earthquake, most leads fall. Infernapes that laugh because they think I don't have Earthquake... think again. Aerodactyls that think they're safe because I don't have Bullet Punch... oh my. I did this because he is part of a strategy to take down a DDMence. Switch him in on the DD, switch to Gyarados on the Earthquake, and Scizor on the Outrage, who is firmly picked off with Bullet Punch. Same with Mixed sets. I can't afford for him to die until he's done what he should-- be the essential Steel that a team needs. He's also a switch in to Latias, but my Scizor works well too. They're both fine. Metagross with his better bulk, or Scizor with Bullet Punch, Pursuit AND U-Turn! Either way, Metagross is, as I said, the essential Steel. He tag teams with Scizor and Gyarados to stop a DDMence, if I predict right. And if not, well... Meteor Mash + Bullet Punch is very fun, very very fun. Isn't it? They get hit hard, then get finished off. However, Meteor Mash has been missing for me a lot lately, in the most crucual of moments. Like, I'm up against a Salamence and Gyarados is down so my strategy can't work. I can survive a +1 Earthquake, or Fire Blast if it's healthy enough. If I hit with Meteor Mash as it hits me, Bullet Punch finishes it off. If both Metagross and Gyarados are down, Scizor can only muster 40-60% to it... then I'm screwed. But with my several answers, I do my best to avoid destruction from an enemy DDMence, perhaps the biggest threat in the metagame at the moment.
The Gawain is a really large Knightmare Frame, and it's very bulky. It's pretty powerful too, but it ain't the fastest thing alive. Still, it's Hadron Cannons are able to down an entire air force. Metagross's Meteor Mash probably reflects that.
Gyarados (M) @ Leftovers ** Damocles
Trait: Intimidate
EVs: 248 HP / 224 Def / 36 Spd
Impish Nature (+Def, -SAtk)
- Dragon Dance
- Rest
- Sleep Talk
- Waterfall
The set given to me by someone. Status absorber, sets up on Scizor, Swampert, Lucario and other things... (Should) deal with most Nape. Also cleans up late-game, and has recovery. He's also my bulky water, thanks to Intimidate and his good stats. Not the essential bulky water, however. Flying brings weaknesses. Stealth Rock being one. Of course, he has RestTalk to counter that. Vaporeon is very very lame, but luckily Latias handles him without breaking a sweat. Odd HP stat for Stealth Rock... With the added bulk he sets up on Lucario without a care, and all Lucario can manage is a +1 Extremespeed which... Gyarados has bulk now to combat that. 393 HP and 275 Defense is pretty good. SD Lucario is another top threat, and Gyarados is my answer. If Gyarados is down, I can just hope to revenge kill when it has -1 Defenses. The popular Mixed Infernape... Starmie and Gyarados are my answers. Gyarados shrugs off Grass Knots, resists Flamethrower, Close Combat, and shrugs off HP Ice too.
Named the Damocles because the Damocles is an ACTUAL floating fortress, meanwhile the Siegfried was just a giant orange (with giant green Slash Harkens and a cannon, as well as a Sutherland head). The Damocles launches off nuclear warheads known as FLEIA. While Gyarados isn't as powerful as that with this bulky set, the Damocles is impenetrable. Plus it floats. And... Gyarados is part Flying... yeah, that works.
Latias (F) @ Leftovers ** Tenshi
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 204 HP / 188 Spd / 116 SAtk
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Calm Mind
- Dragon Pulse
- Recover
- Surf
What team doesn't have one? My Special wall, and boosts it's stats with Calm Mind. Seriously, practically no Special Attack OHKO's or even 2HKO's it, and that's further reduced with Calm Mind and Recover, at a very nice 333 Speed, for mixed Infernapes (who run around... 331? I believe.). If they're physical then I have other measures for it. Scizor is a problem. I have Zapdos for him, and even if Scizor brings Latias down to the ground, Gyarados comes in for a free Dragon Dance. I can work accordingly from there... Surf is for coverage. The HP EVs hit a Leftovers number, and the added Special Attack is always nice. I will struggle against Blissey, and Latias used to take status before. It's all a battle over taking status (which although my Gyarados can do, he's not invincible), or getting coverage. Unboosted Surf does 30% or so to the standard Scizor, a popular switch in... Should I still keep it?
Latias makes me think of angels. Tenshi means Angel.
Starmie @ Leftovers ** Shen Hu
Trait: Natural Cure
EVs: 236 HP / 56 Def / 216 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Rapid Spin
- Recover
- Surf
- Thunderbolt
The standard bulky Rapid Spin Starmie. My answer to Gyarados. And I forget about it's 352 Speed Recover! Rapid Spin assists my Zapdos and Gyarados, since switching them in will hurt. And they have plenty of opportunities to switch in.
Named Shen Hu because it... Well, it has a circular thing on it's chest that (probably) shoots lasers, but the actual Shen Hu does shoot a cannon out of it's chest. It also spins it's flails around, and... Starmie Rapid Spins.
Scizor (M) @ Choice Band ** Divider
Trait: Technician
EVs: 100 HP / 252 Atk / 156 SDef
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Bullet Punch
- Pursuit
- Superpower
- U-turn
My revenge killer with Bullet Punch, or at least it can keep things in check. With his and Metagross's Bullet Punch, pesky Salamence aren't a problem. Add Gyarados to that mix and I laugh at ANY Salamence! Of course, with the right prediction. Metagross switches in on the Dragon Dance, Gyarados into the Earthquake, and Scizor switches into the Outrage and picks it away with Bullet Punch. Bye bye, Salamence. Provides good offense, and also handles Tyranitars and Blisseys wanting to stomp on my electrical bird. I must watch out for DD Babiri Tyranitar, however. Luckily, I've not seen them lately.
Gino's Knightmare Frame, the Tristan Divider (the upgraded Tristan) is cool. Scizor divided things up with Bullet Punch-- is anyone using Porygon-Z, Alakazam, Azelf not as a lead, Weavile, or anything fragile and not resistant to Steel anymore?
Zapdos @ Leftovers ** Siegfried
Trait: Pressure
EVs: 248 HP / 220 Def / 40 Spd
Bold Nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Heat Wave
- Roost
- Thunderbolt
- U-turn
A combination. My previous set has U-Turn, and the physically defensive set has Hidden Power. Without Hidden Power Grass, Swampert can be a pain, but Latias takes care of most. If not, then Gyarados. It won't like taking repeated hits. However, I can U-Turn as I expect any of Zapdos's counters to switch in, then switch to my own counter. I can work accordingly from there. Odd HP for Stealth Rock.
Zapdos is practically a floating fortress, stopping most Steels in their tracks, as well as other things. The Siegfried is a floating fortress as well, sorta.
---------
I start this team off with the lead, which was a first. I needed something that could combat popular leads. Metagross was a prime choice, and he's a favourite. Meteor Mash/Earthquake and Bullet Punch decimates suicide leads. Forgoing Explosion may be a loss, but taking down the enemy lead is vital. Foolish Azelf ALWAYS Taunt me first, while I Meteor Mash then Bullet Punch. I'm at full HP, Occa Berry intact, and they're down one. No matter what Azelf and Aerodactyl do, they're going to die. Against Swampert, Bronzong, Heatran and enemy Metagross, I set up Stealth Rock then run.
Then, I know it could come in later to fend off an enemy Pokemon, and Steel is an excellent type in the Dragon-oriented metagame. But, countering Metagross was Zapdos, and bulky waters. Latias waves her claw at them.
Latias lures in Scizor and Tyranitar, who my Gyarados, Zapdos, and Metagross (most of the time), Scizor take care of, respectively (Gyarados and Zapdos for Scizor, Metagross and Scizor for Tyranitar). Enemy Metagross also switch into Latias, but Gyarados takes care of him unless it has Thunderpunch. If not, Zapdos steps in.
Gyarados has multiple roles. It's bulky, counters physical threats, late-game sweeper, status absorber... this guy is freaking amazing. He lures in Zapdos, Starmie, and other things that Latias probably yawns at.
Zapdos is physically bulky, and has U-Turn which is always good. Latias is the end-all Special sponge, provided it's fast enough. Latias takes care of ALL Special attackers, save for like... Specs Pokemon, but I can predict around them. Heck, even HP Ices or Ice Beams don't threaten Latias one bit, while she Recovers damage or Calm Minds. She's decently fast, but I must be more aware. I run enough speed to outrun Mix Infernape.
Zapdos's U-Turn is just... so awesome it's not even funny. Imagine I U-Turn as a Blissey comes in, go to my Scizor, and I U-Turn as they switch in a Zapdos or something. Always cool, right?
Scizor is everywhere, and there's a good reason for that. Zapdos, and bulky waters also take care of him, but Latias waves her claw at them. It's amazing how much Latias can do.
Finally, we have Starmie. An odd choice, but my Gyarados is going to be switching in a lot, same with Zapdos, to keep things at bay. Rapid Spin will help that. A speedy Recover then saves it. Whoo!
My main problems are:
-When to Rapid Spin. Zapdos and Gyarados are essential. Gyarados especially, because he's the one with multiple roles-- Bulky water, late-game cleaner, status absorber, and with Intimidate it helps against DDMence (Meta on the Dance, Gyara on the Quake, Scizor on the Outrage)... I just don't know when it's exactly safe to Rapid Spin.
-I feel as if everything has to go perfectly, or my whole team falls apart.
-HP Fire or Recover? HP Fire or Surf? As great as it is when coverage is involved being only resisted by Empoleon and Shedinja... the things that switch in are barely phased by unboosted Surfs. Should I run HP Fire? Steels are the first thing to switch into Latias. If Tyranitar comes in and Pursuits, unfortunately bye bye draconic angel. That gives Gyarados a free set up turn if it's CB, and Scizor and Metagross can easily scare it off and I can switch to something else. Thankfully, I haven't seen much Tyranitar switch ins to Latias. Still...
There! I hope I did good. Please tell me where things went wrong, or any advice to the team. And again,
And I'm not changing Metagross or Gyarados. Even if my strategy is prediction reliant, at the VERY least, Metagross and Scizor's Bullet Punches can keep it in check. If both of their fists do more than 75%, bye bye dragon.
The thing I love is that except for Starmie (who has Natural Cure and Rapid Spin anyway), my team is Toxic Spikes immune. And half is immune to Spikes.
Thing I hate is Stealth Rock. That's why I have Starmie. Generally, after the clash of the leads, I attempt to find a safe time to Rapid Spin, then I work from there.
Overall, I think I'm alright. Sometimes I know EXACTLY what the opponent can do, what they will do, and how I should respond. The problem is, sometimes I get supremely unlucky. Meteor Mash misses a lot.
-I cannot get a hold of Rotom-Appliance, nor will I ever fight one. Ever. Just believe me. Deny it's existence when rating please.
