So this is my first proper attempt at building a team so here we go
(A previous manifestation has peaked at #35 in Ubers - 4/12/12)
The general idea behind this team is to shuffle the opposing team around with Dialga and Lugia whilst paralysing them with Lugia and Darkrai allowing Haxorus or Arceus to come in late game and sweep with Palkia acting as a reliable Kyogre counter/revenge killer.
The team in more detail:
Dialga @ Leftovers - Pressure – Timid Nature (+Spe -Atk)
252HP / 252Spe / 4SpA
-Stealth Rock
-Roar
-Dragon Pulse
-Fire Blast
Generally I choose to lead with Dialga to get up the rocks – I find that this is invaluable in the Uber environment to cripple many potent threats and of course net more OHKOs and 2HKOs. The general idea is to shuffle the opposing team using Roar and get some entry hazard damage and with the given EVs Dialga can take surprisingly many hits. Then when I get to a low HP I use the unresisted type combo of Dragon/Fire to rack up some damage on Pokémon I fancy facing before inevitably sacrificing him to allow the rest of the team to come in unscathed. And in my experience it’s always nice when someone leaves a Ferrothorn in expecting to paralyse me and taking it down with a Fire Blast.
Darkrai @ Focus Sash - Bad Dreams – Timid Nature (+Spe -Atk)
252Spe / 252SpA / 4HP
-Dark Void
-Thunder Wave
-Dark Pulse
-Nasty Plot
Personally this ‘Butterfree’ set is my favourite to run on Darkrai – the idea is simple, use Dark Void on something which will almost inevitably immediately switch out, bringing in something to take a Thunder Wave to the face – in the fast paced environment of Ubers no Poké appreciates paralysis. Darkrai can then use Nasty Plot and survive a hit with its sash (provided SR/Spikes aren’t on the field) and produce a short mono-attacking sweep with Dark Pulse as it ouspeeds most Pokémon in the game, however it is extremely weak to priority users and is walled by Steel/Psychic types which often makes the sweep quite short.
Palkia @ Choice Scarf - Modest Nature (+SpA -Atk)
252Spe / 252SpA / 4HP
-Spacial Rend
-Surf
-Thunder
-Fire Blast
Nearly half of all Uber teams utilise a Kyogre and this is the main reason that I use Palkia on my team. This set is pretty standard, it acts as a nice revenge killer and a 4x resistance to Water and Fire type attacks let it come in on some pretty devastating moves, then outspeed and take down the threats. That’s pretty much it for Palkia – kill Kyogre and if one isn’t present revenge kill other potent threats.
Lugia @ Leftovers - Multiscale – Jolly Nature (+Spe -SpA)
248HP / 8Atk / 252Spe
-Thunder Wave
-Substitute
-Roost
-Dragon Tail
This has to be one of my favourite Uber sets ever – it just does what it’s designed to so well and it really surprises me that more people don’t run a Lugia with this kind of set. The aim is simple – parashuffling. Get up a substitute on a forced switch or on an attack that you know a substitute can survive to block status, paralyse the opponent and shuffle them around with Dragon Tail, paralysing as much of their tem as possible, whilst healing off the substitute damage or any other damage that may make it past the substitute with Roost which has the amazing side effect of alleviating Lugia’s crippling Ice/Electric weaknesses (something I can often take advantage of with this significant the speed investment) and when Lugia’s Multiscale is intact moves that would otherwise destroy Lugia just bounce off like rubber bullets off a tank. The amount of times that people have just quit when all but one of their Pokémon are paralysed and the other is asleep is astounding and a slowed and weakened team is greatly appreciated by the remaining two members of the team who I will get onto now.
Haxorus @ Choice Band - Rivalry – Jolly Nature (+Spe -SpA)
252Atk / 220Spe / 36HP
-Outrage
-Earthquake
-Brick Break
-Dual Chop
This set is pretty darn simple. Come in late game when the majority of the opponent’s team are paralyzed and/or have taken some entry hazard damage and take them out with an Outrage – or Earthquake/Brick Break if there are any pesky Steel types left hanging around. The main reason for using Haxorus is this – a banded STAB Outrage coming off a 147 base attack, potentially boosted by Rivalry is going to devastate anything that doesn’t resist it (and does hefty damage even to Steel types). Dual Chop is there in case I feel I would be better switching Pokémon and don’t fancy locking myself into Outrage although this is the move that I use 90% of the time for the insane damage output. The EV spread is pretty simple, generally Haxorus doesn’t need much extra speed as he will usually be taking down paralysed Pokémon and the EVs I have left after maximising attack are thrown into HP to help take any hits that may come Haxorus’ way. Basically Haxorus just hits like a truck.
Arceus-Fighting @ Fist Plate - Multitype – Modest Nature (+SpA -Atk)
252Spe / 252HP / 4SpA
-Calm Mind
-Judgment
-Dark Pulse
-Recover
And finally I present Arceus-Fighting. This is a bulkier (252HP) variant on a standard Calm Mind Arceus set, one that focuses more on setting up around 3 Calm Minds whilst taking some hits; healing off the damage and then sweeping rather than going on the offensive after just one boost. This works well as He is designed to come in late game when the opponent’s Pokémon are paralysed so will usually be taking a hit after using Calm Mind and in the heavily special based environment of Ubers attacks begin to bounce off after 2 or 3 boosts. I am then able to Recover off the damage and attempt a sweep with the near perfect coverage provided by Judgment and Dark Pulse. The damage from a STAB +3 Fist Plate boosted Judgement is always a joy to see and a +3 Dark Pulse isn’t too shabby either. The speed EVs are to enable Him to potentially come in earlier on in the game if I see an opportunity but this doesn’t happen often.
So here ends my first RMT, any feedback (both positive and negative) is greatly appreciated and any suggestions will be taken into account. Thanks for reading and I’ll probably see you on the ladder.
(A previous manifestation has peaked at #35 in Ubers - 4/12/12)
The general idea behind this team is to shuffle the opposing team around with Dialga and Lugia whilst paralysing them with Lugia and Darkrai allowing Haxorus or Arceus to come in late game and sweep with Palkia acting as a reliable Kyogre counter/revenge killer.
The team in more detail:
Dialga @ Leftovers - Pressure – Timid Nature (+Spe -Atk)
252HP / 252Spe / 4SpA
-Stealth Rock
-Roar
-Dragon Pulse
-Fire Blast
Generally I choose to lead with Dialga to get up the rocks – I find that this is invaluable in the Uber environment to cripple many potent threats and of course net more OHKOs and 2HKOs. The general idea is to shuffle the opposing team using Roar and get some entry hazard damage and with the given EVs Dialga can take surprisingly many hits. Then when I get to a low HP I use the unresisted type combo of Dragon/Fire to rack up some damage on Pokémon I fancy facing before inevitably sacrificing him to allow the rest of the team to come in unscathed. And in my experience it’s always nice when someone leaves a Ferrothorn in expecting to paralyse me and taking it down with a Fire Blast.
Darkrai @ Focus Sash - Bad Dreams – Timid Nature (+Spe -Atk)
252Spe / 252SpA / 4HP
-Dark Void
-Thunder Wave
-Dark Pulse
-Nasty Plot
Personally this ‘Butterfree’ set is my favourite to run on Darkrai – the idea is simple, use Dark Void on something which will almost inevitably immediately switch out, bringing in something to take a Thunder Wave to the face – in the fast paced environment of Ubers no Poké appreciates paralysis. Darkrai can then use Nasty Plot and survive a hit with its sash (provided SR/Spikes aren’t on the field) and produce a short mono-attacking sweep with Dark Pulse as it ouspeeds most Pokémon in the game, however it is extremely weak to priority users and is walled by Steel/Psychic types which often makes the sweep quite short.
Palkia @ Choice Scarf - Modest Nature (+SpA -Atk)
252Spe / 252SpA / 4HP
-Spacial Rend
-Surf
-Thunder
-Fire Blast
Nearly half of all Uber teams utilise a Kyogre and this is the main reason that I use Palkia on my team. This set is pretty standard, it acts as a nice revenge killer and a 4x resistance to Water and Fire type attacks let it come in on some pretty devastating moves, then outspeed and take down the threats. That’s pretty much it for Palkia – kill Kyogre and if one isn’t present revenge kill other potent threats.
Lugia @ Leftovers - Multiscale – Jolly Nature (+Spe -SpA)
248HP / 8Atk / 252Spe
-Thunder Wave
-Substitute
-Roost
-Dragon Tail
This has to be one of my favourite Uber sets ever – it just does what it’s designed to so well and it really surprises me that more people don’t run a Lugia with this kind of set. The aim is simple – parashuffling. Get up a substitute on a forced switch or on an attack that you know a substitute can survive to block status, paralyse the opponent and shuffle them around with Dragon Tail, paralysing as much of their tem as possible, whilst healing off the substitute damage or any other damage that may make it past the substitute with Roost which has the amazing side effect of alleviating Lugia’s crippling Ice/Electric weaknesses (something I can often take advantage of with this significant the speed investment) and when Lugia’s Multiscale is intact moves that would otherwise destroy Lugia just bounce off like rubber bullets off a tank. The amount of times that people have just quit when all but one of their Pokémon are paralysed and the other is asleep is astounding and a slowed and weakened team is greatly appreciated by the remaining two members of the team who I will get onto now.
Haxorus @ Choice Band - Rivalry – Jolly Nature (+Spe -SpA)
252Atk / 220Spe / 36HP
-Outrage
-Earthquake
-Brick Break
-Dual Chop
This set is pretty darn simple. Come in late game when the majority of the opponent’s team are paralyzed and/or have taken some entry hazard damage and take them out with an Outrage – or Earthquake/Brick Break if there are any pesky Steel types left hanging around. The main reason for using Haxorus is this – a banded STAB Outrage coming off a 147 base attack, potentially boosted by Rivalry is going to devastate anything that doesn’t resist it (and does hefty damage even to Steel types). Dual Chop is there in case I feel I would be better switching Pokémon and don’t fancy locking myself into Outrage although this is the move that I use 90% of the time for the insane damage output. The EV spread is pretty simple, generally Haxorus doesn’t need much extra speed as he will usually be taking down paralysed Pokémon and the EVs I have left after maximising attack are thrown into HP to help take any hits that may come Haxorus’ way. Basically Haxorus just hits like a truck.
Arceus-Fighting @ Fist Plate - Multitype – Modest Nature (+SpA -Atk)
252Spe / 252HP / 4SpA
-Calm Mind
-Judgment
-Dark Pulse
-Recover
And finally I present Arceus-Fighting. This is a bulkier (252HP) variant on a standard Calm Mind Arceus set, one that focuses more on setting up around 3 Calm Minds whilst taking some hits; healing off the damage and then sweeping rather than going on the offensive after just one boost. This works well as He is designed to come in late game when the opponent’s Pokémon are paralysed so will usually be taking a hit after using Calm Mind and in the heavily special based environment of Ubers attacks begin to bounce off after 2 or 3 boosts. I am then able to Recover off the damage and attempt a sweep with the near perfect coverage provided by Judgment and Dark Pulse. The damage from a STAB +3 Fist Plate boosted Judgement is always a joy to see and a +3 Dark Pulse isn’t too shabby either. The speed EVs are to enable Him to potentially come in earlier on in the game if I see an opportunity but this doesn’t happen often.
So here ends my first RMT, any feedback (both positive and negative) is greatly appreciated and any suggestions will be taken into account. Thanks for reading and I’ll probably see you on the ladder.
