Introduction/Central Strategy
Hello, this is my first ever SS team. I have been into competitive battling since B/W, and quit around X/Y. I skipped all the subsequent generations up until now, where I delved head first into the battling scene again. While I'm still playing catch-up with the metagame and pokemon, I feel like I've caught onto some things, albeit it was very jarring seeing random as hell pokemon like Torkoal and Pelipper in OU?? Anyway.. Being a stall team, this team focuses mainly on the core of Toxapex, and Ferrothorn. This seems like such a common core, but it's still hugely effective and flexible, meaning that no two teams with these two mons play the same. This team in particular aims to use these two's strengths to have a core that is nearly unbreakable with support from last four mons. Since this is a stall, slow-paced team, I feel like I actually have more time to set up entry hazards, compared to offensive teams, where they lack the bulk to really have hazards be useful. Thus, Defog might not affect me as much as most teams would.
Toxapex @ Black Sludge
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpD
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Scald
- Toxic Spikes
- Haze
- Recover
This is your typical Toxapex set, with 248 HP, 252 Def, and 8 SpD EV's, this thing is a complete tank. Toxic Spikes as a whole makes this pokemon. Sure, another poison type would remove them, but that just allows for Ferrothorn to come back in, and set up spikes. Scald is again, a staple on this kind of team, with the added chance of being burnt really aiding Toxapex walling physical walls. Recover adds further longevity to Toxapex. Combined with Regenerator, Toxapex is almost never, ever, going to faint in a match. Finally, Haze is one of the most important moves on this pokemon, as it stops other teams from trying to set up on Toxapex.
Ferrothorn @ Leftovers
Ability: Iron Barbs
EVs: 252 HP / 88 Def / 168 SpD
Impish Nature
- Spikes
- Leech Seed
- Knock Off
- Protect
Toxapex's partner, Ferrothorn, basically walls anything that Toxapex can't. Fairies, Grass, and even electric and Ground types get walled completely by Ferrothorn. Spikes just sets up even more entry hazards completely, aiding with Toxic Spikes. However, what really makes Ferrothorn shine is Leech Seed. Leech Seed + Leftovers + Protect + Toxic Spikes poison = a bad time for the other team. That's why I removed Toxic in favor of protect, here. Leech Seed in particular also aids my pokemon as well. Either way, Leech Seed in particular usually forces switch-outs, since Ferrothorn is such a bulky pokemon, and being Leech Seeded against it is never good. Combined with being poisoned, and spikes damage, already, just two pokemon in, there's a huge stall defensive core here, which the other mons try to keep alive.
Corsola-Galar @ Eviolite
Ability: Cursed Body
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Will-O-Wisp
- Strength Sap
- Haze
- Night Shade
Corsola-G, being ghost type, completely shuts down Rapid Spin, as well as shuts down fighting types that might otherwise intrude on Ferrothorn. Since Toxic Spikes won't always be on the field, will-o-wisp is a good alternative to status, since it also cripples physical attackers. Since both Toxapex and Ferrothorn were physically defensive, this Corsola-G is specially defensive to aid in walling any special attackers that might give Ferrothorn and Toxapex trouble, being entirely physically defensive. Add on top of will-o-wisp, and Corsola-G becomes an all-around well-rounded defensive mon, being both physically defensive with Will-O-Wisp, and specially defensive with the EV Spread. Again, Haze shuts down any pokemon trying to set up. Night Shade is great for chip damage, and of course you have the obligatory Strength Sap. However, I'm considering replacing Corsola-G with another ghost type, that actually might be able to use hazards to its advantage while still retaining the rapid spin blocker role. While I'm not entirely sure, because it's not completely as bulky as Corsola, it might be able to aid in shutting down pokemon instantly with Dragon Tail:
Alternative to Corsola-G:
Dragapult @ Leftovers
Ability: Infiltrator
EVs: 252 HP / 40 Def / 216 SpD
Impish Nature
- Dragon Tail
- Will-O-Wisp
- Phantom Force
- Protect
Dragapult, again, being ghost shuts down rapid spin, but this pokemon, instead of being a pure wall, is more of support, being able to shut down any threat by removing it from the field. being part dragon, it gets dragon tail, which could be very, very infuriating to the other team, being constantly switched out, coupled with hazards. On top of that, Infiltrator completely goes through substitute, which is amazing. This set is more or less just trying to be a mirror of Corsola-G while transforming it into a Dragon Tail phaser instead of a pure wall. Will-O-Wisp is still here for the added reasons, and Phantom Force + Protect allow it to chip away with will-o-wisp/toxic spikes damage while eating leftovers. Unfortunately, I try not to use the same item more than once, and I usually try to make an exception for two of the same item, but I feel like having three leftovers on the same team is just a bit too much. Nonetheless, I might just go for it anyway, but I'm still not sure whether or not Dragapult is better here or not. What do you think? Should I trade off the added bulk and recovery from Corsola-G to add in phasing with dragon tail to be a bit less passive against taunt, and to check threats?
Pelipper @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Drizzle
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpA
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Hurricane
- Roost
- Scald / Hydro Pump / Surf
- Defog
Ironically enough, Pelipper of all things is actually a very crucial part of this team, with Drizzle and being flying type, it allows it to be defensive, while still being a powerhouse due to rain. It completely shuts down fire types, as well as fighting types, alongside Drizzle completely shuts down any other form of weather, while adding some coverage from Ferrothorn's fire weakness and aiding in Toxapex's and Pelipper's water STABs, albeit it's not that important, every bit of support helps. While I consider switching Scald out for Surf or Hydro Pump, I keep scald simply because of the chance to burn, and well, I don't think Pelipper is going to be going around sweeping with Surf or Hydro Pump. But, in all honesty, it's probably better to switch to Surf or Hydro Pump regardless. But for now, it's got Scald. On top of this team not having any way to deal with hazards, Defog is there, since this is a stall team, I do have time to set up hazards, but I feel like it's unnecessary for Defog to be here, since I tried to make this team not worry about entry hazards as much as possible, which is why Pelipper has Heavy-Duty Boots, so Stealth Rock isn't affecting it, meaning it can always come in at full health. On this team, Defog may be useless or be a worse option, but again, for now, I just keep it there because it might be better off having some coverage than not.
Clefable @ Leftovers
Ability: Magic Guard
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Moonblast
- Soft-Boiled
- Calm Mind
- Stealth Rock / Reflect / Light Screen
Clefable, being Fairy combined with Magic Guard, allows it to come in unscathed and check Fighting and Dark types, which could aid in helping Corsola-G or Dragapult. On top of that, Clefable is able to set up, and potentially turn into a powerful special sweeper. Soft-Boiled and Moonblast are staples of Clefable, and while Stealth Rock isn't as important here as it is prior, it's still nice to have some sort of check to pokemon like Volcarona or Charizard, but despite that, Stealth Rock is more or less kind of useless now I feel, since pokemon that really are weak to it, carry Heavy-Duty Boots. Thus, I feel like having Reflect/Light Screen would be a better option, since Stealth Rock might not matter anymore in really checking 4x weak mons due to them more often than not carrying Heavy-Duty Boots. But, again, I'm not too entirely sure here, as it could go either way.
Zeraora @ Expert Belt / Choice Scarf
Ability: Volt Absorb
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Hasty Nature
- Plasma Fists
- Volt Switch
- Close Combat
- Knock Off / U-Turn
Lastly, for this slot, I honestly had no idea what to put here, as I felt like my team was kind of complete already. I was looking for something to bait electric types, and I thought, maybe a ground type? Before Pelipper, I actually had hippowdon, but I felt like it was just too lacking, so I started over, and after I got Pelipper, I looked for a pokemon with Volt Absorb, and sure enough, Zeraora is a great pick for it. Because, like I said, I try to avoid using a bunch of the same item, I chose Expert Belt instead of something like Life Orb, since it lacks HDB. Meaning if hazards are up, it's the only pokemon that really doesn't enjoy losing any more of its health than necessary. This set is kind of a really good check to various things that might be a bit too powerful on their own, like Charizard, Excadrill, Tyranitar, etc. However, I might add a scarf to it, just so it can genuinely outspeed things and be sure to kill it. I mean, it would suck to randomly be killed to a scarf Charizard or Excadrill (Because it has happened.. Who runs scarf on excadrill anyway >_> ) Knock Off in case of Expert Belt, or U-Turn in case of Scarf. With Volt Switch and or U-Turn, it can get in and get out, keeping momentum.
Closing Thoughts:
There's other pokemon that I tried to use as well, such as Kommo-O, or Korviknight, but their roles either got replaced by others. For example, Kommo-O used to be the Dragon Tail phaser with Iron Defense + Body Slam. KorviKnight, similarly, used to do the same, except with Body Press, Iron Defense, Substitute, and Roost. Combined with Korviknight's pressure, made it a bit more appealing to me since it drains PP much faster. However, I just couldn't find a way to make them work on my old team version of this team, so I redid it, and they just didn't make the cut I suppose. A good chunk of my games end with none of my pokemon fainted, which shows how truly tanky they really all are. After that account, I used another account, stallteamtest30 to retest things and ended up with a 5-0 streak. Not much, but still, it's something. On top of that, in a way, I wish I had a Magic Bounce user like Hatterene to ignore Taunt, which I might replace with Clefable. But, as of now, I keep Clefable due to its pure Fairy Type, since Urshifu would otherwise destroy Hatterene.
Some weaknesses this team has are pokemon like Marawak-G or Volcarona. Volcarona is kind of stalled out with Toxapex if Toxapex can use haze + scald + recover repeatedly, and marawak-G's poltergeist is very powerful against everyone on my team
Some Replays:
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8ou-1173533663-u4dkchalqhfm6lcckqwsue3mtmgq5bepw
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8ou-1173537897-dhu3wv7anthtvm7hg8qowzaxlhi2bxwpw (Dragon Tail would have been absolutely useful against Volcarona)
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8ou-1173542081
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