So I've been playing Pokemon for over a decade now and happily played generation 1 and 2 almost religiously and stopped cold turkey before gen 3 ever showed it's face. I never knew the intricacies of competitive battling. The most I knew where the team of the month in Nintendo Power. Over this last year picked up Black 2 and learned a bunch about well everything that goes with competitive battles. However this team needs help and I'm asking you guys for it. I've been using it on Pokemon Showdown and have had some good success but I know there are some speed bumps.
small disclaimer: I know that Heatran and Venusaur are immensely powerful under the sun however I'm trying to avoid legendaries and well Venusaur.
THE TEAM
The idea is to lead with Donphan if I suspect a hazard setter (or Ninetails if it's Forretress) or Darmanitan/Jolteon to scout. Dance around the enemy with Volt Turns and find a way to set up rocks spread poison and burn to give Lilligant Jolteon and Darmanitan a chance to sweep.
Ninetales @ Leftovers
Trait: Drought
EVs: 252 HP / 124 Def / 132 Spd
Nature: Timid (+Spd, -Atk)
-Flamethrower
-Will O Wisp
-Sunny Day
-Roar
Of course being a sun team Ninetails is mandatory. I opted for a defensive spread to help with Earthquakes Stone Edge and dragons in general. With these defensive ev's Ninetales can actually be a good pivot against weatherless teams. I've been able to take on a couple Outraging dragons burning their lum berries away then burning them and live to switch out. Other than that it's fast enough to outspeed non scarfed Scizor and defensive enough to take Bullet Punches with ease. With the sun up it's powerful enough to OHKO most Scizors and Ferrathorns. If it's a war of weather of course I'm careful with my Ninetails but if the other team is lacking weather I happily burn and roar all day. It's also my only phazer which can be very scary at times and has lost me a couple matches
Lilligant @ Life Orb
Trait: Clorophyll
EVs: 60 Def / 252 Satk / 252 Spd
Nature: Modest (+Satk, -Atk)
-Quiver Dance
-Sleep Powder
-Giga Drain
-Hidden Power Rock
Ah Lilligant ... She's actually the reason I created this team. Under the sun she's blazingly fast able to set up on a few different mons with ease or send out Sleep Powder to force a switch buying her time to set up. Her defensive EVs allow her to take the occasional hit notably from Mamoswines with focus sashes. Although Hidden Power Rock is a bit of an odd choice and leaves much to be desired when dealing with many common Pokes in OU it lets her deal surprising damage to many of her would be counters namely Tornadus and Thunderus, fire types, (except Infernape her worst nightmare) and other Grass types.
Jolteon @ Life Orb
Trait: Volt Absorb
EVs: 4 Def / 252 Satk / 252 Spd
Nature: Timid (+Spd, -Stk)
-Thunderbolt
-Volt Switch
-Hidden Power Ice
-Signal Beam
Honestly I was never a fan of Jolteon. Sure he looked cool but his move list was always rather pathetic. Well I've come around and this thing is amazing. This is my number one weapon against rain teams and dragons and will often lead against those teams to scout with Volt Switch. Pretty standard set and with Life Orb everything Jolteon does becomes 20% cooler.
Donphan @ Leftovers
Trait: Sturdy
EVs: 248 HP / 80 Atk / 176 Def / Spd 4
Nature: Impish (+Def, -Satk)
-Rapid Spin
-Stealth Rock
-Ice Shard
-Earthquake
My Rapid Spinner and another Poke I often lead with. Really I kind of want to change Donphan out but he is great at what he does. The EVs were recommended allowing it to take solid physical hits deal considerable damage to the likes of steel types and dragon types and just outspeed Chansey and Blissey which is always funny paired with it's higher attack stat. Overall though my feelings on him are kind of meh and having another water weakness isn't doing him any favors.
Darmanitan @ Choice Scarf
Trait: Sheer Force
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -Satk)
-Flare Blitz
-Super Power
-U Turn
-Earthquake
My revenge killer able to deal with many different threats notably Heatran Blissey and non scarfed Lati twins. His moves give him really great coverage and is my answer to the common steel types found in OU. His biggest weakness is his poor ability to deal with dragons and faster scarf users.
Vaporeon @ Leftovers
Trait: Water Absorb
EVs: 252 HP / 224 Def / 32 Sdef
Nature: Bold (+Def, -Atk)
-Wish
-Substitute
-Baton Pass
-Toxic
Ok this is the Poke I want to switch out the most. With no offensive moves I know that this thing is total taunt bait. So far though Vaporeon has paid its dues by absorbing a lot of water power something the other members of my team don't deal with well and it's Substitue Wish with baton pass and Toxic support can be invaluable. However Sub and BP are limited in their uses and Protect or Roar and Scald or Ice Beam could be a better choice but I kind of want a different bulky water in the firs place.
COUNTERS
So far I've found quite a few glaring weaknesses. Set up teams that outspeed my Ninetales can be very problematic as can some balanced rain teams. Stall teams might just be the worse since the right status effects can be death. Dragons particularly choice scarfed dragons are a nightmare for me. Dugtrio in general is a terror and choice scarf Terrakion and Moxiemance are unstoppable if I don't get them burned.
POSSIBLE CHANGES
-Honestly I want to switch out Vaporeon Donphan and Darmanitan. I've been thinking Jelliscent, Terrakion, and Infernape would all provide similar roles with added benifits.
-I'm very wary of Dragon types and having a Ferrathorn with a Rocky Helmet on is amazing against those Outraging beasts and a good option against the ever popular rain teams to replace Donphan.
-I'm also considering a dragon of my own particularly scarfed Moxiemance to act as a revenge killer in place of Darmanitan.
-Then there's the thought of switching to a hyper offensive team with the addition of cut and paste spin Starmie mixed wallbreaking Hydreigon and dual screening wish supporting Xatu.
Anyways that's the team and feedback is gladly appreciated. This is my first rmt on Smogon and really one of the first teams of put some thought behind for a competitive battle.
small disclaimer: I know that Heatran and Venusaur are immensely powerful under the sun however I'm trying to avoid legendaries and well Venusaur.
THE TEAM
The idea is to lead with Donphan if I suspect a hazard setter (or Ninetails if it's Forretress) or Darmanitan/Jolteon to scout. Dance around the enemy with Volt Turns and find a way to set up rocks spread poison and burn to give Lilligant Jolteon and Darmanitan a chance to sweep.
Ninetales @ Leftovers
Trait: Drought
EVs: 252 HP / 124 Def / 132 Spd
Nature: Timid (+Spd, -Atk)
-Flamethrower
-Will O Wisp
-Sunny Day
-Roar
Of course being a sun team Ninetails is mandatory. I opted for a defensive spread to help with Earthquakes Stone Edge and dragons in general. With these defensive ev's Ninetales can actually be a good pivot against weatherless teams. I've been able to take on a couple Outraging dragons burning their lum berries away then burning them and live to switch out. Other than that it's fast enough to outspeed non scarfed Scizor and defensive enough to take Bullet Punches with ease. With the sun up it's powerful enough to OHKO most Scizors and Ferrathorns. If it's a war of weather of course I'm careful with my Ninetails but if the other team is lacking weather I happily burn and roar all day. It's also my only phazer which can be very scary at times and has lost me a couple matches
Lilligant @ Life Orb
Trait: Clorophyll
EVs: 60 Def / 252 Satk / 252 Spd
Nature: Modest (+Satk, -Atk)
-Quiver Dance
-Sleep Powder
-Giga Drain
-Hidden Power Rock
Ah Lilligant ... She's actually the reason I created this team. Under the sun she's blazingly fast able to set up on a few different mons with ease or send out Sleep Powder to force a switch buying her time to set up. Her defensive EVs allow her to take the occasional hit notably from Mamoswines with focus sashes. Although Hidden Power Rock is a bit of an odd choice and leaves much to be desired when dealing with many common Pokes in OU it lets her deal surprising damage to many of her would be counters namely Tornadus and Thunderus, fire types, (except Infernape her worst nightmare) and other Grass types.
Jolteon @ Life Orb
Trait: Volt Absorb
EVs: 4 Def / 252 Satk / 252 Spd
Nature: Timid (+Spd, -Stk)
-Thunderbolt
-Volt Switch
-Hidden Power Ice
-Signal Beam
Honestly I was never a fan of Jolteon. Sure he looked cool but his move list was always rather pathetic. Well I've come around and this thing is amazing. This is my number one weapon against rain teams and dragons and will often lead against those teams to scout with Volt Switch. Pretty standard set and with Life Orb everything Jolteon does becomes 20% cooler.
Donphan @ Leftovers
Trait: Sturdy
EVs: 248 HP / 80 Atk / 176 Def / Spd 4
Nature: Impish (+Def, -Satk)
-Rapid Spin
-Stealth Rock
-Ice Shard
-Earthquake
My Rapid Spinner and another Poke I often lead with. Really I kind of want to change Donphan out but he is great at what he does. The EVs were recommended allowing it to take solid physical hits deal considerable damage to the likes of steel types and dragon types and just outspeed Chansey and Blissey which is always funny paired with it's higher attack stat. Overall though my feelings on him are kind of meh and having another water weakness isn't doing him any favors.
Darmanitan @ Choice Scarf
Trait: Sheer Force
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -Satk)
-Flare Blitz
-Super Power
-U Turn
-Earthquake
My revenge killer able to deal with many different threats notably Heatran Blissey and non scarfed Lati twins. His moves give him really great coverage and is my answer to the common steel types found in OU. His biggest weakness is his poor ability to deal with dragons and faster scarf users.
Vaporeon @ Leftovers
Trait: Water Absorb
EVs: 252 HP / 224 Def / 32 Sdef
Nature: Bold (+Def, -Atk)
-Wish
-Substitute
-Baton Pass
-Toxic
Ok this is the Poke I want to switch out the most. With no offensive moves I know that this thing is total taunt bait. So far though Vaporeon has paid its dues by absorbing a lot of water power something the other members of my team don't deal with well and it's Substitue Wish with baton pass and Toxic support can be invaluable. However Sub and BP are limited in their uses and Protect or Roar and Scald or Ice Beam could be a better choice but I kind of want a different bulky water in the firs place.
COUNTERS
So far I've found quite a few glaring weaknesses. Set up teams that outspeed my Ninetales can be very problematic as can some balanced rain teams. Stall teams might just be the worse since the right status effects can be death. Dragons particularly choice scarfed dragons are a nightmare for me. Dugtrio in general is a terror and choice scarf Terrakion and Moxiemance are unstoppable if I don't get them burned.
POSSIBLE CHANGES
-Honestly I want to switch out Vaporeon Donphan and Darmanitan. I've been thinking Jelliscent, Terrakion, and Infernape would all provide similar roles with added benifits.
-I'm very wary of Dragon types and having a Ferrathorn with a Rocky Helmet on is amazing against those Outraging beasts and a good option against the ever popular rain teams to replace Donphan.
-I'm also considering a dragon of my own particularly scarfed Moxiemance to act as a revenge killer in place of Darmanitan.
-Then there's the thought of switching to a hyper offensive team with the addition of cut and paste spin Starmie mixed wallbreaking Hydreigon and dual screening wish supporting Xatu.
Anyways that's the team and feedback is gladly appreciated. This is my first rmt on Smogon and really one of the first teams of put some thought behind for a competitive battle.
