TEAM CURSELIX
Hello Smogoners. This is a team that elevated me up to 1425 CRE in standard play and is on its way to move further. It may have looked like this:
However I'm kind of an eccentric person, so I would make a single team that has never been copied.
Team building process
I rather needed something to take choiced ground attacks and stop certain dangerous threats right off the bat (like SD Zor, CM Lati, LO Gengar) with screens and Kaboom. Bronzong is arguably the best screener to use, so that is why he is in my team.
In the epoch of SR, stab Outrage, and loads of choiced attackers, it would be too foolish not to have anything to set up SR. I wanted a fast hard hitter, that can pose a considerable threat later in the game. I chose Infernape.
And with the right order:
Front:
Back:
HISTORY OF THE TEAM
This team consists of three frail sweepers (one physical, one special and one mixed), one wall, one bulky DDer and one boosting tank and has certain anwers to various kind of teams. The whole concept of such team emerged from the fact that an increasing number of people began to leave SD luke or SD Zor or DDTar as their late game sweepers. I remember when at the beggining of my adventure with standard ladder again and again I was finnished off by these beasts. Steelix can always beat luke one on one (barring a crit), T-Tar (any variant) and Zor at +2 defence with Eq after defence drop from superpower. I used many boosting curse tanks (Swampert, Snorlax, Quagsire, Wallrein, Regirock, T-Tar) and have to
say that Steelix has the best qualities for my preference - both immunity to poison and good coverage without resorting to sleep talk. Of course he wins me less than one third of the matches, because removing all answers to him frequently appears to be more difficult than just sweeping through those counters with another pokemon of mine. I used to have bulky Gyara but random porygon2s, scarfgars and scarfmies hindered its ability to annihilate teams. Steelix itself was once randomly substituted by Magnezone, because Iron Head does similar amount of damage to both (yeah, many people leave T-tar and Rachi together as their final slots), however random non-choiced rachis were consistently breaking Zone with Fire Punch. Moreover, an Electivire issue arose. The lead slot has been of course modified the most frequently. I've used random Azelfs, Heatrans, Metagrosses, Aerodactyls) and have to say that they form a dead weight later in the game. Non-scarf
tranis easily outsped. Explosion from those three is predictable and Rotom-a is so high in usage. Aerodactyl works well, however without Gyara, I am not SR weak at all. Blaze Fire Blast is what I like in Ape. Fortunately, anything that tries to switch in ape for a favourable match-up after sr is usually easily set up on with Zonc.
THE LEAD
NAME: Chimpy
SET: EndeavorApe without Endeavour
Infernape @ Focus Sash
Ability: Blaze
EVs: 64 Atk / 252 SpA / 192 Spe
Nature: Naive (+SpA, -SpD)
- Stealth Rock
- Fire Blast
- Close Combat
- Vacuum Wave
Commonly lures out: Gyarados, Salamence, Latias, Tentacruel, Suicune, Flygon, Rotom-a
(CC), Togekiss (Scarf Air Crash)
Synergy:
Flying: Bronzong, Steelix
Ground: Bronzong, Heracross
Psychic: Bronzong, Starmie, Steelix
Water: Starmie, Kingdra
ROLE
Infernape is one of those pokemon which exert significant pressure on a large porion of the metagame. I used to run the Fake Out Lead set, but it proved to be not so usable as I wanted. With Vacuum Wave I now lose to sleep leads, but gain advantage over Lucario or anything dangerous and frail assuming I save my Ape for later. I've got many answers to Gyara, one to Latias, and Salamence is taken down either by prediction (Mixed sets) or by
Bronzong. Stealth Rock's main purpose is to wear down those powerful, but cowardly theats by residual punishment. Let's check the most used lead's list:
Green - I always win or force out
Yellow - I may win, but not necessarily
Red - Oh, God, swich the hell out or die.
1 | Azelf | 62756 | 8.60
SR when I can, and later Fire Blast + Vacuum Wave should do well
2 | Metagross | 50528 | 6.92
SR and set up with Bronzong. If it has Occa and EQ I am rather at 5-6
3 | Swampert | 33640 | 4.61
Take the EQ to set up SR and go to Bronzong or Hera to SD right off the butt as it SRs
4 | Aerodactyl | 33463 | 4.58 |
2 times CC is the best I can do, really. I am not killed, but neither do I set up SR
5 | Jirachi | 33360 | 4.57
Fire Blast if I can. I don't want to have anything tricked with a Choice scarf (except maybe Ape). T-wavers get finished by Vacuum Wave.
6 | Infernape | 29870 | 4.09
I always SR, but it's not guaranteed to win with fake out Ape
7 | Roserade | 22113 | 3.03 |
Fire Blast and wish it will get burned (toxic spikes are really a pain for Kingdra and Starmie)
8 | Heatran | 20890 | 2.86
I win even with Choiced ones. CC + Vacuum Wave does well
9 | Smeargle | 20146 | 2.76
Oh God. It's worth it to be screwed by the rare smeargle. I SR first, since many Smeargle users will predict the obvious Fake Out
10 | Hippowdon | 19715 | 2.70
Welcome to stall. Switch to Bronzong, set up one screen and explode right off the bat. Ape may become useful this match.
11 | Tyranitar | 19490 | 2.67 |
CC is obvious, but smart players will notice that I would rather have SR and an unfavourable match-up that broken sash and a defence drop
12 | Gliscor | 18798 | 2.58
Stealth Rock and then KO with a Blaze Fire Blast
13 | Ninjask | 16740 | 2.29
Tough cookie. I set up SR as they protect (expecting me to fake out) and then go to Zonc to set up reflect. Explode on the receiver (though it's hard to predict that well) and opponent is out of 2 pokemon.
14 | Dragonite | 15391 | 2.11
Impossible to wall effectevily from such unfavourable match up. I am forced to sacrafice Bronzong and go boom.
15 | Bronzong | 14688 | 2.01
Yeah another steel type. I set up SR if it has Occa and hypnosis.
Chimpy fully contributes to matches with slow dedicated walls, as it breaks Skarm-Bliss after Tenty or Latias is Gone. He has the only form of priority in my team that makes Lucario and Weavile slightly less worrying threas. It's also for those pesky Scizors which think they can SD at below 20 % of their health. Ape is also good to have as a death fodder later in the game (Draco Meteor, Spore, Outrage, etc)
ABILITY
I make full use of Blaze when placing Infernape on a lead position, since a boosted Fire Blast can OHKO many things even with neutral hit.
ISSUES
Physically bulky grounds, waters, and of course dragons. Occasional T-Wave renders Infernape useless (it still has Vacuum Wave though). Toxic Spikes and Spikes aren't of an issue since it dies so fast as it dents things.
THE SCREENER
NAME: Zonc
SET: ScreenZong
Bronzong @ Light Clay
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 152 Atk / 8 Def / 96 SpD
IVs: 0 Spe IV
Nature: Relaxed (+Def, -Spe)
- Light Screen
- Reflect
- Gyro Ball
- Explosion
Commonly lures out: Heatran, Infernape, Rotom-H, Scizor, Gliscor (taunt), Skarmory,
Forretress,
Synergy:
Fire: Starmie, Kingdra
ROLE:
7 turns of play in so offensive a metagame is like ages. Bronzong, apart from being a versatile answer to such a variety of threats like Latias, Flygon, Mamoswine, Gengar, Weavile and many more, can set up aforementioned advantage and explode, removing otherwise troublesome threats. I used to run EQ instead of Explosion, but it wasn't even enough strong to KO Naive Heatran. Thus I inserted Explosion. The most prominent defensive threats I explode on are Gliscor (usually as it taunts), Swampert, Suicune, Blissey if I'm lucky (however it doesn't OHKO), LO Gyara or Bulky Gyara after it taunts, Celebi and other staples, simultaneously opening opportunity for other sweepers of mine. This is my last chance to remove rest-talk Machamp from the field.
ABILITY
Levitate on a steel is useful as ever. I don't care about spikes.
ISSUES
Things that can cripple me and take little or nothing to explosion (Rotoms) or instantly KO (Tran)
THE NON-CHOICE ATTACKER
NAME: Happy New Year
SET: ExpertMie
Starmie @ Expert Belt
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Nature: Timid (+Spe, -Atk)
- Hydro Pump
- Thunderbolt
- Ice Beam
- Recover
Commonly lures out: Blissey, Snorlax, Tyranitar, Scizor, Vaporeon, Electivire (when countering Gyarados), Jolteon, Kingdra, Rotom-a, Jirachi (Scarf T-Puch, Iron Butthead) random water absorbers
Synergy:
Grass: Heracross, Bronzong, Infernape
Electric: Steelix
Bug: Infernape, Heracross, Steelix
Dark: Infernape, Heracross, Steelix
Ghost: Steelix (Hovever I don't like to send it out for a Gengar's Shadow Ball just to die from Focus Blast, so basically Bronzong should be placed here)
ROLE
Oh..my glue. Some begginers get mad when this beloved piece of star scores 6-0s on their teams, but I sincerely don't care since I've got the best answer to locked dragons there is. Starmie is revealed relatively late-game, depending on situation. However, there are times when the best solution is to soften steels early-game and for instance hit Scizor switch-in with Hydro Pump after let's say Salamence got a crit with FB on Bronzong. This really aids Kingdra, whereas after kingdra faints it benefits from Rain Dance, enabling to achieve some OHKOs with just neutral hits. Apart from this, Starmie forms to me a surefire counter to infernape
ABILITY
Natural Cure proves to be useful, thus making Starmie not care about toxic or T-Wave. Useful when taking predicted status for kingdra or Heracross.
ISSUES
Toxic Spikes hinder its offensive capabilities since I decided to forego rapid spin and go for durability and the ability to heal off spikes/SR/switch-in damage. It's also bad when I let Hera and Ape die too quickly and I am facing Bliss. Starmie constantly faces pursuiters, but all of them can be taken out by some sort of prediction barring snorlax. Jirachi is annoying as hell, too,
THE STALL-BREAKER
NAME: Crosselia
SET: SDCross
Heracross @ Life Orb
Ability: Guts
EVs: 4 Def / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Nature: Jolly (+Spe, -Atk)
- Swords Dance
- Megahorn
- Close Combat
- Stone Edge
Commonly lures out: Rotom-a, Gliscor, Salamence, Gyarados, Heatran, Scizor, Forretress, Skarmory, Gengar, Crobat, Jirachi (Scarf Iron Butthead), Togekiss (Scarf Air Crash)
Synergy:
Fire: Kingdra, Starmie
Psychic: Bronzong
Flying: Bronzong, Steelix
ROLE
Crosselia is capable of plowing through a classic stall team after a boost from swords dance and life orb. This variant may not be that durable, but for the fact that it can KO any troublesome for Kingdra or Steelix threat (Salamence, Gyarados, Zapdos, Celebi) I love this set so much. Heracross is my strongest answer to Suicune, having enough SpD to take a Surf or Two. It is designed to take will-o-wisp for them and hurt badly everything slower
or faster that cant KO her. Good news is that many players who haven't fought me before send in a Rash Salamence just to be OHKOed by +1 Stone Edge, the same with Gyara and defensive zapdos. Paradoxically, this set takes out fliers well, despite hera being four times weak to flying. He benefits from light screen when fighting faster specially oriented threats ans reflect when facing scizor. I sweep with Crosselia when facing slow, defensive teams.
ABILITY
Guts is a really cool ability since after a guts boost, life orb boost, sd boost, and stab, Hera can KO many things even with resisted hits.
ISSUES
In sandstorm she loses quickly HP and below 70% Scizor can freely KO with CB Bullet Punch. Gengar also nearly KO's with Shadow Ball. ScarfTan or ScarfGon can easily dispatch him with FB and EQ respectively.
THE BULKY DDer
NAME: DraMa
SET: DoubleDanceDra
Kingdra @ Leftovers
Ability: Swift Swim
EVs: 180 HP / 252 Atk / 76 Spe
Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
- Rain Dance
- Dragon Dance
- Waterfall
- Outrage
Commonly lures out: Latias, Empoleon, Celebi, Flygon, Tyranitar, Abomasnow, Jirachi, Paralysers, Burners, Scizor, Lucario (when accumulated too many DDs for opposing team to handle)
Synergy:
Dragon: Bronzong, Steelix
ROLE
I based a team around Steelix, but whenever I send this beast it is quite common that opponents let me set up 3-4 DDs thinking I am the mixed LO Kingdra. They're wrong. It's Double Dance hell, yeah! I usually send it out on bulky waters that can't do much, or scarftran (under screens it's easy as hell) and set up dd's until I am in the range of being KOed by Scizor's Bullet Punch (approx. 24%). Old battlers sense DraMa smell and send Timid Scarf Lati, whom I can't outspeed without losing beloved bulk. However it's usually
late game when Kingdra is switched out and there is no need to set up anything besides Rain Dance and maybe one DD. It usually plows through heavy offence with little or no bulk behind opponent. Oh, I almost forgot. I have got three weaknesses to fire, so Rain Dance, apart from clearing the sky, alleviates this problem a little bit.
ABILITY
Swift Swim makes countering opposing rain dance teams who tend to leave their Kingdra as a last bastion rather easy. It's both having bulk and speed.
ISSUES
STATUS. Scarfed Timid Latias, multiple steel and dragon types. This Kingdra is designed to plow through a standard Heavy Offence team, so it is not of an issue if it fails to accomplish this with stall. Steelix can still win with Blissey.
THE JUGGERNAUT
NAME: Lixie
SET: CurseLix
Steelix @ Chesto Berry
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 252HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpD
IVs: 0 Spe IV
Nature: Sassy (+SpD, -Spe)
- Curse
- Rest
- Gyro Ball
- Earthquake
Synergy:
Fire: Starmie, Kingdra
Water: Starmie, Kingdra
Fighting: Heracross
Ground: Heracross, Bronzong
ROLE
This is my overkill answer to physical Jirachi, Special Jirachi, Jolteon, Electivire, and generally choiced electric attacks. But not only. Metagross, Tyranitar, CB-Zor, RPgron etc. Hovever after few accurately placed curses this list extends much further. I wanted Steelix because I think it can be effective when given the right support and when his counters are eliminated. It took quite a bit to find out when I am able to curse up, and
when not. I know that without any sort of investment in Defence I should be able to live LO Max Attack Luke's CC. The same with rare Scarfcross. But those are the extreme cases. DD-Tar has only Fire Punch, Agiligross has Only EQ, Scizor has SD, however bulky variants allow me to KO with +3 EQ and live +4 Superpower (most scizor SD two times). LO variants are the most uncomfortable to deal with since I have to be at + 1 on the switch. However I rarely am forced to use Rest on the second turn when I bring in The Juggernaut. Outrage is the best set up fodder, especially choiced, like Flygon's, however Salamence's, Kingdra's or Dragonite's should do well, too. You may be offended by what I am going to say, but I repeadedly beat non taunt gyara with Juggernaut itself. Sporing Brelooms die to +1 Gyro Ball. There are even more fun situations. He abuses the fact that purely physical teams are increasingly popular. It may not win more than few percent of the battles, but the satisfaction from winning those few percent and walling capabilities it serves on daily basis make him such a valuable tool. I do even dare to say that this set is more effective in OU than UU, because I tried it with similar support.
ABILITY
Solid Rock... maybe in the future. At the moment we have a useless piece of crap in the form of Sturdy, on a Server which bans OHKOs moves.
ISSUES
I wanted to complain to Gamefreak but I won't. Steelix always dies to LO stab fire moves and can't plow through specially oriented bulky waters (that's why I have Heracross - to do this). Will-o-Wisp isn't a issue, but forces me to reveal that I've got rest. Trick renders Steelix useless (why the hell does it have 100% accuracy and Will-o-Wisp doesn't?) Sub-rise Magnezone is a halt to my sweep, however, believe it or not, once my opponent and me revealed our last pokemon. Sub Magne, and Curse Lix- I was able to outstall that bitch with rest, curse on the wake up and then rest again. After reaching +6 I could break his subs with Gyro ball and eventually win (despite one crit with HP Grass/Ice). Spore Breloom is OK to face, however if it is a bulkier variant (I faced one 252HP/252Def) I'm screwed. One thing that I can't kill without like +3 Def is Machamp, especially with bulk up. I just always hurt myself when I shouldn't and die.
Threat List
Red: it's bad
Yellow: I can still win
Green: I love these things
OFFENSIVE
Azelf: Bronzong's Light Screen and Gyro Ball
Breloom: I am screwed if and only if it comes out in front of Bronzong, or +0 Steelix. Otherwise I should be able to outspeed and KO (Fire Blast, Ice Beam, Outrage, Close Combat)
Celebi: Crosselia can force him out
Dugtrio: I've got Vacuum Wave and Focus Sash when it comes in the beggining. Steelix should KO back with Gyro Ball if he is above 55% at +0 Def. Kingdra can RD, outspeed and KO.
Electivire: Physical variants are set-up fodder for Steelix. Special variants can be OHKOed by EQ (I can see this by looking which attack was directed to Steelix, Thunderpunch or Thunderbolt)
Empoleon: Kingdra loves to come into this
Flygon: Bronzong, if it Outrages, Steelix can play with this little bug with no consequences as well.
Gengar: Bronzong's Gyro Ball hurts him much. Forces me to sacrifice something and send Kingra for a Rain Dance
Gliscor: Starmie. When comes into Bronzong, I go boom.
Gyarados: Starmie can withstand a non-LO EQ without any investment and KO with T-Bolt. Bronzong can reflect LO variants and Explode on bulky varieties.
Heatran: Kingdra can Rain Dance if I am sure it is choiced in some way. Starmie is a safe bet as it can Recover off the damage.
Heracross: Only revenge killing comes to mind when countering the SD set. Scarfed variants are easy to play.
Infernape: Can wreak havoc. Starmie is a safe bet, however kingdra can take a CC and retaliate too.
Jirachi: This is why I have got Steelix on my team. Even Grass Knot does not hurt that much
Kingdra: Zonc as a last resort. I can Vacuum Wave a bit if I am in desperate situation. I can't counter with own Kingdra, since I am certainly slower. ( I can force to Outrage, though)
Latias: It is imperative for Zonc to get rid of this thing as soon as possible with Gyro Ball and Light Screen. Hera can frighten it too. Starmies Ice Beam does about 60%
Lucario: Attack with all I have got. Under no circumstances should let this jackal to set up a SD. Vacuum Wave can make life easier if Ape is in play.
Machamp: God, this is a beast. I can't OHKO this with any member of my team. Sacrifice for a 2HKO works well
Magnezone: If it only comes to trap Zonc, I am free to set up screens and explode not to let Zone have a Substitute. Hera can then SD or CC depending on game situation. If it comes in the face of Starmie, I go to Steelix to have free Curse or hit (Lucario, Heatran are best for hitting on the switch, especially the latter)
Mamoswine: Infernape can revenge kill. Zonc can even wall this with Reflect.
Metagross: Steelix counters AgilityGross despite his weakness to EQ. Isn't that great?
Ninjask: They aren't much used besides a Lead position. SR with and go to Bronzong to set up reflect.
Porygon-Z: Bronzong has the best overall special survivability however Steelix can take Scarf T-Bolts at no cost.
Rhyperior: it's now UU, but Bronzong should shrugg off hits with Reflect, making easy switch to Hera or Starmie
Roserade: I lose to LeadRoserade, however still my best bet is Chimpy's Fire Blastor Starmie's Ice Beam (I must however be aware that it doesn't OHKO)
Rotom-A: Annoying thing to face when not having a T-Tar on a team. usually Hera can SD and set in Ko range for Starmie
Salamence: Treat like a Honchcrow. Usually I am forced to sacrafice Starmie to finish it off with a Steel
Scizor: I've got 5 steel resistant pokemon on my team, so only Crosselia has something to worry about when considering BP. If it comes in on Starmie - attack, on Ape - attack with FB or Vacuum Wave, depending on remaining HP. Zonc can set up reflect to scout for SD set with no consequences and then EXplode
Snorlax: Heracross should do well. However CB Pursuiter usually means dust to Starmie. CurseLax with Fire Punch deals similar damage to Steelix to Steelix's EQ, so a Curse-war is usually the Sudden-Crit Death. I don't everlet him set up, although I've encounterd few in the last slot position.
Starmie: Kingdra sets up on anything. T-Wave can be detrimental, though.
Suicune: Explosion. Heracross CC. Starmie's T-Bolt when it's low on health. My only answers to RoarCune. CroCune is better to handle because of Kingdra's quadruple resistance to water.
Togekiss: I like to blow up on this after setting up Light Screen
Tyranitar: Steelix can handle even mixed varieties. DD sets are the standard sight.
Weavile: Bronzong's or Steelix's Gyro Ball make him think twice. SD LO Low Kick OHKOs Lixie, so Zonc is a better option. (Not that SD variants are common and Weavile itself is common)
Yanmega: Lead position. Pray it doesn't flinch you with Air Slash and Fire Blast will hit.
Zapdos: LO sets are softened by Zonc. It is rarely used to threaten anything than Steelix or Starmie
