Hello Smogon! This is my first Rate My Team, as well as my first post on Smogon. Let me give you some quick background about my battling history. I first started battling Pokemon competitively at the very end of 4th gen, and lurking on Smogon for roughly the same amount of time. I don't view myself as very good, but at the same time I don't think I'm that bad. I think my weakest point is teambuilding, which is a huge reason I'm posting this RMT. Most of all I want feedback to better myself as a player, and to get more involved in the community! Some quick background about this team. I wanted to use weather, but something unique in weather, and you'll see just how momentarily. It's given me quite an amount of success, however I don't want to get to overconfident because I did start using this team when I was ranked low on Showdown, so take that with a grain of salt, but it still has held it's own against better players. (Also please note this is also the first post I've made in any forum period, so I apologize about my rather lackluster post, and if I made any mistakes)
At a glance
Hippowdon (HungryHungry) @Leftovers
Ability: Sand Stream, Adamant nature
EV's: 228 HP, 252 Atk, 28 Speed
-Earthquake
-Ice Fang
-Slack Off
-Stealth Rock
Honestly Hippowdon is one of my favorite pokemon, it's just so cool. He's obviously here to get sand up and running, and he is no slouch in doing it. I didn't want to use Tyranitar for two reasons: One, the glaring fighting weakness is REALLY annoying for me. Two, he has a reliable recovery move in the form of Slack Off, making him the only weather starter in the game with recovery outside of Rest. Three, this might make some people roll their eyes, but I honestly just love Hippowdon more than Tyranitar, and he needs to be shown some love. I'm loving this bulky attacker set, because it just hits so damn hard, and people just aren't expecting Hippowdon to be hitting as hard as it does. Earthquake is there for obvious STAB, Ice Fang is there for all the Flying types and Dragons, forming really nice coverage, Stealth Rock is there because it is Stealth Rock, and Slack Off because instant recovery is amazing in the weather war.
Gigalith (Colossus) @Choice Band
Ability: Sand Force, Adamant nature
EV's: 174 HP, 252 Atk, 84 Spe
-Stone Edge
-Rock Blast
-Superpower
-Earthquake
Okay, here it is, the gimmicky part of the team. Gigilith is one of my favorite Pokemon, and with Choice Band equipped, max attack, and Sand Force coming off of 135 base attack, things are going to be hurting. I know what half of you are thinking, "Why not use Landorus! It has better movepool, way better speed, Sand Force, all you do is trade off 10 base attack points!" and honestly, I myself can't think of a legitimate counter to that argument, all I can say is I really really like Gigalith, and I mean how often is it that you see a Gigalith in standard play? It's a breath of fresh air I'll you that much for free. With Stone Edge, this thing cleanly 2HKO's 252/252 Gliscor, 2HKO's Forretress, basically everything that doesn't resist it. Even the things that do resist Rock get huge portions of their HP stripped if they aren't a dedicated physical wall. Actually I take that back, Gigalith has one thing that Landorus will NEVER have: It's a fantastic lure. In two ways it is a great lure, first off, it lures your opponent into using moves like Taunt, because they think you're going to a Stealth Rocker, or switch something in because they think it'll be safe because you are going to use Stealth Rock, then they get mauled by the move of your choice. It also lures in another way, it puts your opponents guard down. As soon as they see Gigalith, they're going to assume you are an awful player. This puts them in a false mindset, that causes them to make moves they wouldn't if Gigalith was a Landorus. They'll predict less, predict you to predict less, and it'll probably cost them one or two Pokemon due to their underestimating you. There is almost nothing as sweet in Pokemon, as having a psychological advantage over your opponent, and Gigalith is the catalyst for this to happen. I've honestly been leading with Hippowdon less and less, and leading with Gigalith more and more. As stated above, they think you're going to be setting up Stealth Rock, so they'll either Taunt you, or use some other move predicting you to set up Stealth Rock. I can't tell you how many times people make an obvious switch to Espeon because I'm leading with Gigalith, and since I'm leading with Gigalith they assume I'm a bad player, so they think I won't predict the Espeon switch and use Stealth Rock, only for them to die instantly to Stone Edge, giving the all clear for my hazards. If I don't lead with it, I only bring it out it out late game, when he can grab some easy KO's. The given EV's are pretty simple, max attack, and the amount of Speed is to outrun things like Ferrothorn, Reuniclus, Forretress, Quagsire, and I think it might even outrun Conkeldurr, but I'm not positive. The rest goes into HP for bulk, and considering his decent base 85 HP, phenomenal 130 Def, and the special defense boost provided by sandstorm, he can actually take a surprising amount of hits.
Gastrodon (Sluuuurp) @Leftovers
Ability: Storm Drain, Calm nature
EV's: 252 HP, 4 Def, 252 SpDef
-Earth Power
-Ice Beam
-Recover
-Toxic
Specially defense Gastrodon is a beast, and forms half of my GastroSkarm (I'm not sure if that's what others call it, but I like to call it that) defensive core. Gastrodon covers my water weakness, which troubles Gigalith and Hippowdon. It also serves a crucial part in the weather war, as it serves a fantastic counter to Politoed that lack HP Grass or Toxic, or are at least choice locked into a Water move and not HP Grass. If I nab the Storm Drain boost, I usually play pretty aggro with my Gastrodon, especially if it doesn't help too much against their team, or the it has fulfilled its job. Earth Power hurts, especially after a Storm Drain boost, Ice Beam forms the EarthIce coverage that I just adore, Recover keeps Gastrodon healthy, and Toxic is useful for breaking down opposing walls. I have tried Scald, which helps a ton with physical attackers, but it just breaks my heart to breakup the couple that is Earth Power and Ice Beam.
Latios (Wannabe Trogdor) @Choice Scarf
Ability: Levitate, Timid nature
EV's: 4 HP, 252 Sp.Atk, 252 Spe
-Draco Meteor
-Psyshock
-Surf
-HP Fire
And here's my revenge killer, Latios, stupidly powerful and stupidly fast. What attracted me to Latios is his awesome 115 base speed, making him the fastest (commonly used) Scarf poke out there, only speed tying with opposing Scarf Latios (or Scarf Gengar, but if you're using that you should probably go back to 4th gen) allowing him to comfortably OHKO Scarf Terrakion, ScarfChomp, and Scarf Kyruem-B, and anything else they decide to slap a Scarf on. I opted for Psyshock over Trick, so Latios can clean house easier if need be. I imagine it can difficult to sweep or so 3 Pokemon while locked into Draco Meteor. Draco Meteor is there for Draco Meteor, it makes people cry what more do you want, Surf is there for some juicy coverage, and HP Fire because fuck your steel types.
Skarmory (Come At Me Breloom) @Leftovers
Ability: Sturdy (It would be Weak Armor with a SD set, but I think I'm being ballsy enough with Gigalith) Impish nature
EV's: 252 HP, 232 Def, 24 Spe
-Brave Bird
-Whirlwind
-Roost
-Spikes
Completing the GastroSkarm, is obviously Skarmory. He takes the Grass moves that make Gastrodon pee it's pants, and is also what I use when I scout to see if the opposing Politoed as HP Grass or Toxic (Which I don't really need to scout honestly, basically every defensive Politoed as Toxic) and the one of the two things on my team that stops it from getting swept by Breloom. Breloom is the reason I use Brave Bird over Taunt, and just so I feel like I can do something to retaliate, you can only Whirlwind so much. Roost is there so you can sponge hits all day, and recover off recoil from Brave Bird and other cute things like that. Spikes because entry hazards are God sent, and Whirwind because everyday I'm shufflin'.
Magnezone (Fkn Magnets) @Leftovers
Ability: Magnet Pull, Timid nature
EV's: 36 HP, 252 Sp.Atk, 220 Spe
-Substitute
-Thunderbolt
-Flash Cannon
-HP Fire
This is the epitome of Fuck Your Steel Types (Sorry Probopass), and is here mostly to get rid of Ferrothorn, and other Steel types that ease prediction in Gigalith's reign of terror. It also serves as a beautiful counter to the Abomasnow that lack Earthquake (Abomasnow and Hail give this team quite a lot of trouble I've noticed). Sub is my favorite thing on Magnezone, especially on poor Ferrothorn, which can't break it's Sub in one hit OR Leech Seed me, thus allowing me to knock out that annoying 'mon, then have one free attack for whatever comes in. Thunderbolt is obvious STAB, HP Fire to melt the Steels I trap, and Flash Cannon for things that resist Thunderbolt, giving me some more coverage, and also is a nice tool to use against Tyranitar. Another thing that's great about it, is I haven't seen too many Magnezone packing Flash Cannon, so it is somewhat unexpected, and can allow me to get in extra damage or grab a KO occasionally.
Closing Thoughts
The thing that messes with this team the most (That I have noticed) is Hail, because Hippowdon and Skarmory do NOT like Blizzard, Gastrodon can't do jack against Abomasnow, and it's just a mess. All feedback is appreciated (Don't be a dick about it though), and my main goal is to become a better player. Thank you all for your time!
At a glance
Hippowdon (HungryHungry) @Leftovers
Ability: Sand Stream, Adamant nature
EV's: 228 HP, 252 Atk, 28 Speed
-Earthquake
-Ice Fang
-Slack Off
-Stealth Rock
Honestly Hippowdon is one of my favorite pokemon, it's just so cool. He's obviously here to get sand up and running, and he is no slouch in doing it. I didn't want to use Tyranitar for two reasons: One, the glaring fighting weakness is REALLY annoying for me. Two, he has a reliable recovery move in the form of Slack Off, making him the only weather starter in the game with recovery outside of Rest. Three, this might make some people roll their eyes, but I honestly just love Hippowdon more than Tyranitar, and he needs to be shown some love. I'm loving this bulky attacker set, because it just hits so damn hard, and people just aren't expecting Hippowdon to be hitting as hard as it does. Earthquake is there for obvious STAB, Ice Fang is there for all the Flying types and Dragons, forming really nice coverage, Stealth Rock is there because it is Stealth Rock, and Slack Off because instant recovery is amazing in the weather war.
Gigalith (Colossus) @Choice Band
Ability: Sand Force, Adamant nature
EV's: 174 HP, 252 Atk, 84 Spe
-Stone Edge
-Rock Blast
-Superpower
-Earthquake
Okay, here it is, the gimmicky part of the team. Gigilith is one of my favorite Pokemon, and with Choice Band equipped, max attack, and Sand Force coming off of 135 base attack, things are going to be hurting. I know what half of you are thinking, "Why not use Landorus! It has better movepool, way better speed, Sand Force, all you do is trade off 10 base attack points!" and honestly, I myself can't think of a legitimate counter to that argument, all I can say is I really really like Gigalith, and I mean how often is it that you see a Gigalith in standard play? It's a breath of fresh air I'll you that much for free. With Stone Edge, this thing cleanly 2HKO's 252/252 Gliscor, 2HKO's Forretress, basically everything that doesn't resist it. Even the things that do resist Rock get huge portions of their HP stripped if they aren't a dedicated physical wall. Actually I take that back, Gigalith has one thing that Landorus will NEVER have: It's a fantastic lure. In two ways it is a great lure, first off, it lures your opponent into using moves like Taunt, because they think you're going to a Stealth Rocker, or switch something in because they think it'll be safe because you are going to use Stealth Rock, then they get mauled by the move of your choice. It also lures in another way, it puts your opponents guard down. As soon as they see Gigalith, they're going to assume you are an awful player. This puts them in a false mindset, that causes them to make moves they wouldn't if Gigalith was a Landorus. They'll predict less, predict you to predict less, and it'll probably cost them one or two Pokemon due to their underestimating you. There is almost nothing as sweet in Pokemon, as having a psychological advantage over your opponent, and Gigalith is the catalyst for this to happen. I've honestly been leading with Hippowdon less and less, and leading with Gigalith more and more. As stated above, they think you're going to be setting up Stealth Rock, so they'll either Taunt you, or use some other move predicting you to set up Stealth Rock. I can't tell you how many times people make an obvious switch to Espeon because I'm leading with Gigalith, and since I'm leading with Gigalith they assume I'm a bad player, so they think I won't predict the Espeon switch and use Stealth Rock, only for them to die instantly to Stone Edge, giving the all clear for my hazards. If I don't lead with it, I only bring it out it out late game, when he can grab some easy KO's. The given EV's are pretty simple, max attack, and the amount of Speed is to outrun things like Ferrothorn, Reuniclus, Forretress, Quagsire, and I think it might even outrun Conkeldurr, but I'm not positive. The rest goes into HP for bulk, and considering his decent base 85 HP, phenomenal 130 Def, and the special defense boost provided by sandstorm, he can actually take a surprising amount of hits.
Gastrodon (Sluuuurp) @Leftovers
Ability: Storm Drain, Calm nature
EV's: 252 HP, 4 Def, 252 SpDef
-Earth Power
-Ice Beam
-Recover
-Toxic
Specially defense Gastrodon is a beast, and forms half of my GastroSkarm (I'm not sure if that's what others call it, but I like to call it that) defensive core. Gastrodon covers my water weakness, which troubles Gigalith and Hippowdon. It also serves a crucial part in the weather war, as it serves a fantastic counter to Politoed that lack HP Grass or Toxic, or are at least choice locked into a Water move and not HP Grass. If I nab the Storm Drain boost, I usually play pretty aggro with my Gastrodon, especially if it doesn't help too much against their team, or the it has fulfilled its job. Earth Power hurts, especially after a Storm Drain boost, Ice Beam forms the EarthIce coverage that I just adore, Recover keeps Gastrodon healthy, and Toxic is useful for breaking down opposing walls. I have tried Scald, which helps a ton with physical attackers, but it just breaks my heart to breakup the couple that is Earth Power and Ice Beam.
Latios (Wannabe Trogdor) @Choice Scarf
Ability: Levitate, Timid nature
EV's: 4 HP, 252 Sp.Atk, 252 Spe
-Draco Meteor
-Psyshock
-Surf
-HP Fire
And here's my revenge killer, Latios, stupidly powerful and stupidly fast. What attracted me to Latios is his awesome 115 base speed, making him the fastest (commonly used) Scarf poke out there, only speed tying with opposing Scarf Latios (or Scarf Gengar, but if you're using that you should probably go back to 4th gen) allowing him to comfortably OHKO Scarf Terrakion, ScarfChomp, and Scarf Kyruem-B, and anything else they decide to slap a Scarf on. I opted for Psyshock over Trick, so Latios can clean house easier if need be. I imagine it can difficult to sweep or so 3 Pokemon while locked into Draco Meteor. Draco Meteor is there for Draco Meteor, it makes people cry what more do you want, Surf is there for some juicy coverage, and HP Fire because fuck your steel types.
Skarmory (Come At Me Breloom) @Leftovers
Ability: Sturdy (It would be Weak Armor with a SD set, but I think I'm being ballsy enough with Gigalith) Impish nature
EV's: 252 HP, 232 Def, 24 Spe
-Brave Bird
-Whirlwind
-Roost
-Spikes
Completing the GastroSkarm, is obviously Skarmory. He takes the Grass moves that make Gastrodon pee it's pants, and is also what I use when I scout to see if the opposing Politoed as HP Grass or Toxic (Which I don't really need to scout honestly, basically every defensive Politoed as Toxic) and the one of the two things on my team that stops it from getting swept by Breloom. Breloom is the reason I use Brave Bird over Taunt, and just so I feel like I can do something to retaliate, you can only Whirlwind so much. Roost is there so you can sponge hits all day, and recover off recoil from Brave Bird and other cute things like that. Spikes because entry hazards are God sent, and Whirwind because everyday I'm shufflin'.
Magnezone (Fkn Magnets) @Leftovers
Ability: Magnet Pull, Timid nature
EV's: 36 HP, 252 Sp.Atk, 220 Spe
-Substitute
-Thunderbolt
-Flash Cannon
-HP Fire
This is the epitome of Fuck Your Steel Types (Sorry Probopass), and is here mostly to get rid of Ferrothorn, and other Steel types that ease prediction in Gigalith's reign of terror. It also serves as a beautiful counter to the Abomasnow that lack Earthquake (Abomasnow and Hail give this team quite a lot of trouble I've noticed). Sub is my favorite thing on Magnezone, especially on poor Ferrothorn, which can't break it's Sub in one hit OR Leech Seed me, thus allowing me to knock out that annoying 'mon, then have one free attack for whatever comes in. Thunderbolt is obvious STAB, HP Fire to melt the Steels I trap, and Flash Cannon for things that resist Thunderbolt, giving me some more coverage, and also is a nice tool to use against Tyranitar. Another thing that's great about it, is I haven't seen too many Magnezone packing Flash Cannon, so it is somewhat unexpected, and can allow me to get in extra damage or grab a KO occasionally.
Closing Thoughts
The thing that messes with this team the most (That I have noticed) is Hail, because Hippowdon and Skarmory do NOT like Blizzard, Gastrodon can't do jack against Abomasnow, and it's just a mess. All feedback is appreciated (Don't be a dick about it though), and my main goal is to become a better player. Thank you all for your time!
