This is the team I was working on over a year ago before my hiatus... I'm sure there will be some big holes because I haven't fully refamiliarized myself with Pokemon, but here goes...
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This team is designed to disable my opponent's team. It essentially forces the same counters to come out repeatedly, wearing them down, while at the same time maintaining some diversity and flexibility in its execution. The team also has the potential to paralyze several opposing Pokemon, which further paves the way for a sweep.
Early in the game I usually mess around with Flygon and Gyarados... trying to damage as many Pokemon as possible, as well as Paralyzing a few things. In the mid-game I wear out their Water Pokemon with Metagross and Swampert, occasionally bringing out Gyarados for Intimidate support or more paralysis.
Late in the game is where it's Medicham's turn to shine. by now most of the faster pokemon on my opponent's team are gone, since the team is designed to keep them at bay
Flygon (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 168 HP/136 Atk/56 Def/148 SDef
Adamant nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Roost
- Flamethrower
- Earthquake
- Outrage
Outrage is for extra power... as Flygon can Roost off any damage he sustains while "stuck". Flamethrower for Steels and Earthquake is my main attack when I don't want to be stuck in Outrage. Flygon's main purpose here is to scout out my opponent's team, and to scare off things like lead Metagross and Scizor. He's also my main counter to electrics. if they have HP Ice then I switch to Swampert.
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Vaporeon (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Water Absorb
EVs: 192 HP/252 Def/8 SAtk/56 SDef
Bold nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Surf
- Shadow Ball
- Wish
- Protect
I'm just playing around with Shadow Ball at the moment, it was Ice Beam, but I gave it a shot to deter Starmie and Slow___. This Pokemon provides Wish Support for my team, immensely extending the life of my team, giving me more time to paralyze and wear them down, which substantially turns the battle in my favor. Surf is for STAB since Vaporeon is usually the last Water Pokemon left on my team.
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Gyarados (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 152 HP/100 Atk/104 Def/12 Spd/140 SDef
Adamant nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Dragon Dance
- Waterfall
- Thunder Wave
- Return
Their DDGyara counter quickly gets paralyzed, in most battles I DD up just so I can paralyze stuff, I usually T-Wave, DD, T-Wave, switch. Return is for better coverage against latias, salamence, and other Gyarados, though its just being tested... I'm also considering Body Slam over it so that I can put EQ or Taunt over T-Wave. Once I'm done wreaking havoc the first time, I just Wish him up and put him away for later. Late-game this helps clear the way for Medicham, since it kills off exactly what Medicham hates in hippo, gliscor and bulky waters.
---
Swampert (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Torrent
EVs: 240 HP/36 Atk/176 Def/56 SAtk
Relaxed nature (+Def, -Spd)
- Earthquake
- Ice Beam
- Surf
- Stealth Rock
My Stealth Rocker, and one of my main walls. Swampert's job is to protect Vaporeon, by doing his job for him, as well as by wearing out some of the things Vaporeon has a little more trouble with, like Starmie, Tyranitar, and Rhyperior. Surf is there to deal with the aforementioned Pokemon, also Skarmory or levitators coming in and setting up. Ice Beam is for Dragons, Gliscor and Zapdos (without HP Grass). He handles all the electric Pokemon that Flygon cannot (ie: the ones with HP Ice)
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Metagross @ Leftovers
Ability: Clear Body
EVs: 252 HP/64 Atk/16 Def/176 SDef
Adamant nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Thunderpunch
- Meteor Mash
- Earthquake
- Explosion
Metagross is the closest thing to a Special sponge my team has, which explains the EV spread, and it actually does quite well at the job. Thunderpunch is for wearing down Water Pokemon and Skarmory. Meteor Mash is the main attack for STAB. Earthquake everything that isn't Skarmory or Water Pokemon. Finally, I can explode when low on HP or no longer needed. when its done it explodes Hippos away. His main concern is Zapdos, but that is the primary reason both Swampert and Flygon have a place on the team.
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Medicham (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Pure Power
EVs: 160 HP/252 Atk/60 Def
Adamant nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Hi Jump Kick
- Psycho Cut
- Recover
- Thunderpunch
Of course my favorite sweeper had to have a team built around it. I know Recover on Medicham seems nobo, but the strategy of the team means two things:
1. 25% of the time, Medicham won't be getting hit
2. There is no need to invest EVs in Speed.
Therefore I invested some EVs in defense, and Medicham can surprisngly take a hit or two, plus it really helps against walls. Pretty undecided on the moveset in general, but I feel being able to at least 2hko anything that resists fighting (with Psycho Cut) is more important than extra type coverage (with having both Ice Punch and Thunderpunch).
This team has changed a lot (it lost quite a bit of paralysis support, but gained a substantial amount of power and stability.
Known Weaknesses
- Toxic Spikes - Only three of the Pokemon on my team are affected by it, however, those three Pokemon's health is vital to the flow of the team. On Medicham, Poison combined with the Life Orb damage he already receives means he will have trouble staying alive, especially since the poison will eventually outpace Recover.
Toxic Spikes are even more detrimental to Vaporeon, as they greatly hinder his ability to support with Wish.
and Swampert loses the ability to tank through the whole battle, not to mention Swampert has the benefit of resisting stealth rock and being immune to sandstorm, meaning he takes very little residual damage. Being poisoned somewhat negates one of Swampert's advantages.
- Offensive Ghost Pokemon - This team lacks a reliable switch in for something like Gengar or Mismagius. I can easily revenge kill, since only Medicham is ohko'd, but regardless the weakness still exists, and Ghost Pokemon are far from rare. The only silver lining is that there's nothing on my team that such Ghosts can safely switch in on. This is why Vaporeon has Shadow Ball
- Breloom - going along with the toxic spike weakness, this team lacks a status absorber, and is filled with mainly slower Pokemon, so it has a hard time coming back if Breloom is able to get comfortable. Gyarados' Intimidate is my most reliable way to minimize the damage.
===
This team is designed to disable my opponent's team. It essentially forces the same counters to come out repeatedly, wearing them down, while at the same time maintaining some diversity and flexibility in its execution. The team also has the potential to paralyze several opposing Pokemon, which further paves the way for a sweep.
Early in the game I usually mess around with Flygon and Gyarados... trying to damage as many Pokemon as possible, as well as Paralyzing a few things. In the mid-game I wear out their Water Pokemon with Metagross and Swampert, occasionally bringing out Gyarados for Intimidate support or more paralysis.
Late in the game is where it's Medicham's turn to shine. by now most of the faster pokemon on my opponent's team are gone, since the team is designed to keep them at bay
Flygon (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 168 HP/136 Atk/56 Def/148 SDef
Adamant nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Roost
- Flamethrower
- Earthquake
- Outrage
Outrage is for extra power... as Flygon can Roost off any damage he sustains while "stuck". Flamethrower for Steels and Earthquake is my main attack when I don't want to be stuck in Outrage. Flygon's main purpose here is to scout out my opponent's team, and to scare off things like lead Metagross and Scizor. He's also my main counter to electrics. if they have HP Ice then I switch to Swampert.
---
Vaporeon (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Water Absorb
EVs: 192 HP/252 Def/8 SAtk/56 SDef
Bold nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Surf
- Shadow Ball
- Wish
- Protect
I'm just playing around with Shadow Ball at the moment, it was Ice Beam, but I gave it a shot to deter Starmie and Slow___. This Pokemon provides Wish Support for my team, immensely extending the life of my team, giving me more time to paralyze and wear them down, which substantially turns the battle in my favor. Surf is for STAB since Vaporeon is usually the last Water Pokemon left on my team.
---
Gyarados (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 152 HP/100 Atk/104 Def/12 Spd/140 SDef
Adamant nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Dragon Dance
- Waterfall
- Thunder Wave
- Return
Their DDGyara counter quickly gets paralyzed, in most battles I DD up just so I can paralyze stuff, I usually T-Wave, DD, T-Wave, switch. Return is for better coverage against latias, salamence, and other Gyarados, though its just being tested... I'm also considering Body Slam over it so that I can put EQ or Taunt over T-Wave. Once I'm done wreaking havoc the first time, I just Wish him up and put him away for later. Late-game this helps clear the way for Medicham, since it kills off exactly what Medicham hates in hippo, gliscor and bulky waters.
---
Swampert (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Torrent
EVs: 240 HP/36 Atk/176 Def/56 SAtk
Relaxed nature (+Def, -Spd)
- Earthquake
- Ice Beam
- Surf
- Stealth Rock
My Stealth Rocker, and one of my main walls. Swampert's job is to protect Vaporeon, by doing his job for him, as well as by wearing out some of the things Vaporeon has a little more trouble with, like Starmie, Tyranitar, and Rhyperior. Surf is there to deal with the aforementioned Pokemon, also Skarmory or levitators coming in and setting up. Ice Beam is for Dragons, Gliscor and Zapdos (without HP Grass). He handles all the electric Pokemon that Flygon cannot (ie: the ones with HP Ice)
---
Metagross @ Leftovers
Ability: Clear Body
EVs: 252 HP/64 Atk/16 Def/176 SDef
Adamant nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Thunderpunch
- Meteor Mash
- Earthquake
- Explosion
Metagross is the closest thing to a Special sponge my team has, which explains the EV spread, and it actually does quite well at the job. Thunderpunch is for wearing down Water Pokemon and Skarmory. Meteor Mash is the main attack for STAB. Earthquake everything that isn't Skarmory or Water Pokemon. Finally, I can explode when low on HP or no longer needed. when its done it explodes Hippos away. His main concern is Zapdos, but that is the primary reason both Swampert and Flygon have a place on the team.
---
Medicham (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Pure Power
EVs: 160 HP/252 Atk/60 Def
Adamant nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Hi Jump Kick
- Psycho Cut
- Recover
- Thunderpunch
Of course my favorite sweeper had to have a team built around it. I know Recover on Medicham seems nobo, but the strategy of the team means two things:
1. 25% of the time, Medicham won't be getting hit
2. There is no need to invest EVs in Speed.
Therefore I invested some EVs in defense, and Medicham can surprisngly take a hit or two, plus it really helps against walls. Pretty undecided on the moveset in general, but I feel being able to at least 2hko anything that resists fighting (with Psycho Cut) is more important than extra type coverage (with having both Ice Punch and Thunderpunch).
This team has changed a lot (it lost quite a bit of paralysis support, but gained a substantial amount of power and stability.
Known Weaknesses
- Toxic Spikes - Only three of the Pokemon on my team are affected by it, however, those three Pokemon's health is vital to the flow of the team. On Medicham, Poison combined with the Life Orb damage he already receives means he will have trouble staying alive, especially since the poison will eventually outpace Recover.
Toxic Spikes are even more detrimental to Vaporeon, as they greatly hinder his ability to support with Wish.
and Swampert loses the ability to tank through the whole battle, not to mention Swampert has the benefit of resisting stealth rock and being immune to sandstorm, meaning he takes very little residual damage. Being poisoned somewhat negates one of Swampert's advantages.
- Offensive Ghost Pokemon - This team lacks a reliable switch in for something like Gengar or Mismagius. I can easily revenge kill, since only Medicham is ohko'd, but regardless the weakness still exists, and Ghost Pokemon are far from rare. The only silver lining is that there's nothing on my team that such Ghosts can safely switch in on. This is why Vaporeon has Shadow Ball
- Breloom - going along with the toxic spike weakness, this team lacks a status absorber, and is filled with mainly slower Pokemon, so it has a hard time coming back if Breloom is able to get comfortable. Gyarados' Intimidate is my most reliable way to minimize the damage.