Pass the Baton

BloodyRayne

This is my first RMT. So be nice :). but not really. Be as critical as you can.

Smeargle (M) @ Focus Sash
Ability: Own Tempo
EVs: 252 HP/4 Def/252 Spd
Jolly nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Baton Pass
- Ingrain
- Spore
- Substitute

Smeargle is my lead for ingrain (essential for baton passing teams), and spore. After Smeargle sets up, I either move to ninjask, umbreon, or gliscor, depending on what the opponent has switched in/woken up.

---
Umbreon (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Synchronize
EVs: 252 HP/4 Def/252 SDef
Careful nature (+SDef, -SAtk)
- Curse
- Baton Pass
- Wish
- Mean Look

Umbreon. Curse boosts defense and sets up for sweeps. Wish is essential for healing my team. Mean look traps walls and defensive pokemon so i can continue my setup. After Umbreon i generally move to either ninjask or gliscor so their white herb can remove the speed loss from curse.

---
Gliscor (M) @ White Herb
Ability: Hyper Cutter
EVs: 252 HP/196 SDef/60 Spd
Timid nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Baton Pass
- Rock Polish
- Swords Dance
- Taunt

My backup boost passer. Capable of passing both attack and speed boosts, he can singlehandedly set up a sweeper or cover for a fallen booster. Taunt is also useful and the speed ev's/nature are there to help it outspeed other taunt users.

---
Ninjask (M) @ White Herb
Ability: Speed Boost
EVs: 200 HP/40 Def/80 Spd/188 SDef
Jolly nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Baton Pass
- Agility
- Aerial Ace
- Protect

Ninjask. Speed is the key here and protect and a substitute usually nets a +4 speed boost. Aerial Ace is so Ninjask isnt complete taunt bait.

---
Scizor (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Technician
EVs: 4 HP/252 Atk/252 Spd
Adamant nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Baton Pass
- Bullet Punch
- Swords Dance
- Bug Bite

Scizor. Technician+Life Orb+Stab+Priority (if speed isnt passed) Bullet Punch is extremely helpful as is Bug Bite. Scizor also baton passes swords dance very effectively with its single weakness. Its high attack and decent speed mean it can sweep pretty well.
---
Lucario (M) @ life orb
Ability: Steadfast
EVs: 4 HP/252 Atk/252 Spd
Adamant nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Extremespeed
- Crunch
- Close Combat
- Ice Punch
---
Lucario. Crunch, Close Combat, and Ice Punch provide very decent type coverage, with extremespeed for priority if my speed passes dont work out.


So, this is my very first RMT. Main threats i feel are Sandstorm/hail stalling teams, and priority move users used against the frailer parts of my chain, like ninjask.
 
Although I don't have much confidence in my RMT skills, I really feel that this team needs at least one response. I recently beat a team with a full team BP chain ending on a Medicham. The tool I used to win was a well placed haze from my Omastar. Although I doubt you would ever be facing any hazing Omastar, you ought to be careful of the ever bulky Swampert and Skarmory phazers at least if you don't get ingrain up. Teams like these are main reason that keeps haze alive over roar and whirlwind. Also, although I can't think of any off of the top of my head, I'm pretty sure you can find a better receiver than Machamp (even though after all those boosts it really doesn't make a ton of difference). This team, to me, screams gimmick, and I love it. I want to see you do very well with it. Good luck and have fun passing! ^^

Top hazers include (at least from my experience): Crobat, Dragonite, Gengar, Honchkrow, Milotic, Quagsire, Vaporeon, Tentacruel, and Weezing. Most of which do not carry haze on their traditional move sets.
http://www.smogon.com/dp/moves/haze
 
I'm not an expert rater either, but anything with a priority move completely screws your team over. Long BP chains just don't work. Have you even tested your team yet?
Many common leads carry Lum Berries, so you're just giving them a free turn. Anti-lead lum berry Machamp (which is almost everywhere nowadays) will bullet punch your Smeargle to death, for starters.

Baton passers need to be able to set up whatever they're passing, and pokemon like Ninjask, Drifblim, and Smeargle have horrid defenses. You have nobody to set up screens to protect the rest of your passers, either, so I can see many teams running all over your set.

I don't suggest running a team that passes more than twice at the most. I ran a baton pass team for fun at one point, and it's hard to find the time to use multiple turns setting up and passing when your opponent is already set up and ready. You really don't need that many pokemon to help set up.

Maybe I'm completely wrong, but I just can't see this working out. If you want a screener, though, Bronzong is always a good choice, and screens may help give your passers more longevity.
 
Changes after testing this team out on shoddy battle.

Ninjask is given a White Herb instead of focus sash. the focus sash didnt help once in over 10 battles and it could usually tank at least two non-supereffective moves.

Drifblim was replaced with Gliscor (for taunt and better tanking ability)

and finally, i relinquished my love of machamp. He's replaced with lucario who took hits better, is faster, and has a priority move.

Finally, a minor change in the order of passing. instead of umbreon after smeargle, i usually throw out ninjask. I found speed is extremely improtant to pass off baton passes. I ended up only relying on umbreon curses if scizor or gliscor gets ko'ed and ends my chain.

@katalicious. Screens would help my longevity a lot but i dont really plan on keeping most of my team in for too long. Lum berries did prove to be very annoying but didnt stop my team from eventually setting up (albeit sometimes without ingrain). And with my new addition, i really only need to pass two ro three tiems, once to ninjask>scizor>sweep, or just gliscor>sweep.
 
Hello. I'm not an expert rater or anything either, but I like the baton pass strategy. I've run into a few people who really pull it off right and just destroy my team. It isn't really practical to pass more than a couple times, so be careful of that. Also, beware of Skarmory with whirlwind or anyone with haze. Also, a lot of leads hold lum berries so your smeargle might not work out. I know that basically everything I just said has been posted before, so I guess I'm just reinforcing what they said. Also, I like that Lucario if you can baton pass some good stat boosts to it. It should be pretty awesome.
 
Assuming that you can get off the entire Baton Pass chain landing on Lucario or Scizor, which is highly unlikely, how do you deal with Skarmory? Even with Swords Dance, Skarmory resists almost all your moves and can slam Lucario with STAB Brave Bird.

Toxic and Will-o-Wisp also prove to be problematic. You say that Umbreon is your main healer; what if you're on Lucario and he's badly injured? Will you lose all your stat ups just to heal?

Gliscor apparently can set up your whole team, but it takes six turns to max out Speed and Attack. You've got no leftovers, and no offensive moves either. Any Ice move can basically OHKO you, even with the SDef IVs.

Taunt your biggest problem; not against your sweepers, but against your leads. What happens when you come up against Aerodactyl or Azelf, two of the most common leads in the game? They both outspeed Smeargle easily and can Taunt it, making it useless. You can't really swap out, because then you've got a team of three Pokemon with no offense whatsoever that are rendered useless by suicide leads and TauntGyara, while your other three offensive Pokemon have gimped movesets because they're relying too much on the pass being complete.

It's a solid Baton Pass team, but I've never thought much of them to begin with.
 
Jebus McAzn said:
Assuming that you can get off the entire Baton Pass chain landing on Lucario or Scizor, which is highly unlikely, how do you deal with Skarmory? Even with Swords Dance, Skarmory resists almost all your moves and can slam Lucario with STAB Brave Bird.

Toxic and Will-o-Wisp also prove to be problematic. You say that Umbreon is your main healer; what if you're on Lucario and he's badly injured? Will you lose all your stat ups just to heal?

Gliscor apparently can set up your whole team, but it takes six turns to max out Speed and Attack. You've got no leftovers, and no offensive moves either. Any Ice move can basically OHKO you, even with the SDef IVs.

Taunt your biggest problem; not against your sweepers, but against your leads. What happens when you come up against Aerodactyl or Azelf, two of the most common leads in the game? They both outspeed Smeargle easily and can Taunt it, making it useless. You can't really swap out, because then you've got a team of three Pokemon with no offense whatsoever that are rendered useless by suicide leads and TauntGyara, while your other three offensive Pokemon have gimped movesets because they're relying too much on the pass being complete.

It's a solid Baton Pass team, but I've never thought much of them to begin with.
Click to expand...


Thanks for the analytical reply. What changes do you think can help me counter skarmory better? And gliscor is more of the backup. With the EVs and natures plus life orb on scizor and lucario, i dont really need to max out boosts in both stats, though if i can, i will. Do you think putting left overs on him would be better than the white herb?

Scizor and lucario both resist toxic so if i predict well i can avoid it. Will-o-wisp is much more problematic but i dont see how i can effectively counter it unless i throw heatran or other fire-absorbing pokemon in the mix. I can just hope with priority/speed boosts and boosted attack i can KO the user before they can burn me.

In response to the speedy taunt leads, i cant think of a good way to counter them, other than switch in lucario/scizor early (which probably wouldnt work out too well).
 
A special Infernape can do wonders against Swampert (Grass Knot) and Skarmory (fire blast, flamethrower, overheat etc), two of the most common phazers around. It also gets access to priority, and can run a physical close combat so it doesn't get walled by blissey.

You're gliscor is taunt bait, assuming they wisely preserved their taunt lead. I'd recommend running some sort of attack on him, and maybe roost. Ninjask already does an admirable job of baton passing speed.

EDIT: Granted, it would require switching out one of your baton passers for something that could bp nasty plot or calm mind.
 
I have Baton Pass team too but I think my last pokemon is better than yours. Metagross with Earthquake Ice Punch Thunderpunch and Zen Headbutt is great...I start with my lead Ninjask-Protect+Substitute...if I see the opponent is using stealth rock I use protect, if I see sweep opponent or Trick aj use Protect. Then if there is problem with Swampert-Roar I switch to my Smeargle and Ingrain...then boosting def and sp.def with my Stockpile on Drifblim...but it goues just +3...never mind...Umbreon for Wish and Mean look, Scizor for Swords dance...everyone has Substitute because Explosion is terrible...
 
Ucal said:
A special Infernape can do wonders against Swampert (Grass Knot) and Skarmory (fire blast, flamethrower, overheat etc), two of the most common phazers around. It also gets access to priority, and can run a physical close combat so it doesn't get walled by blissey.

You're gliscor is taunt bait, assuming they wisely preserved their taunt lead. I'd recommend running some sort of attack on him, and maybe roost. Ninjask already does an admirable job of baton passing speed.

EDIT: Granted, it would require switching out one of your baton passers for something that could bp nasty plot or calm mind.
Click to expand...

I kind of like this suggestion. 252 SAtk Modest Infernape carrying Life Orb can take out a lot of stuff, especially when passed an Agility. Give it insane move coverage, and maybe even slap a Nasty Plot of your own on it, and it can become a deadly sweeper.
 
This team is not your best work. First of all, your team is lacking attacking moves. If you run into an Aero or Azelf lead, what will smeargle do if they taunt you? You have to switch and the bp chain is totally broken. Also, a Gyarados can easily sweep through your team as it has intimidate and is just too good for you to beat it. Also, you don't even have a SE attack to beat it with. Maybe, add a special sweeper, and give one of your pokemon nasty plot for it.
 
I know you hardly ever see this Jirachi, but be on the lookout for a Jirachi carrying Perish Song. You'd have to restart Baton passing otherwise kill whatevers out and bnaton passing just kills the pokemon you switch to
 
random suggestion: try out a zapdos in the lead spot instead of smeargle... then knock out ninjask. BP zapdos with aglity and subsitute over hp grass. And lum berry beats or atleast sets up on most leads 1v1 and helps with gyrados. if faster leads taunt just t-bolt for the 2HKO (focus slash) and use your bulk to set up on the next poke.

248 HP / 136 Def / 88 SpA / 36 Spe timid or modest
sub/aglity/t-bolt/baton pass

think about it...
 
metsrule158 said:
This team is not your best work. First of all, your team is lacking attacking moves. If you run into an Aero or Azelf lead, what will smeargle do if they taunt you? You have to switch and the bp chain is totally broken. Also, a Gyarados can easily sweep through your team as it has intimidate and is just too good for you to beat it. Also, you don't even have a SE attack to beat it with. Maybe, add a special sweeper, and give one of your pokemon nasty plot for it.
Click to expand...

You have a good point with gyrados and taunt leads. If smeargle is taunted, i would have to try scizor, as he can attack well and pass boosts.
Against Gyrados, im seriously considering the Infernape suggestion, however i dont like the idea of getting rid of any of my team now.

Which pokemon would be best to get rid of to make way for both infernape and a special attack baton passer?

Also, i am considering replacing taunt or rock polish in gliscor for an attack as is pointed out, he is taunt bait. Which would be a better idea to replace?

Edit: @ above, and lose ingrain? is that really smart, seeing as roar/whirlwind absolutely devastates bping teams?
Edit again: oh my bad i read you're post wrong. yeah i see you're point there. However, i know two of my friends teams that run a phazer lead, that could mess up my team pretty bad if i dont ingrain quickly.
 
BloodyRayne said:
You have a good point with gyrados and taunt leads. If smeargle is taunted, i would have to try scizor, as he can attack well and pass boosts.
Against Gyrados, im seriously considering the Infernape suggestion, however i dont like the idea of getting rid of any of my team now.

Which pokemon would be best to get rid of to make way for both infernape and a special attack baton passer?

Also, i am considering replacing taunt or rock polish in gliscor for an attack as is pointed out, he is taunt bait. Which would be a better idea to replace?

Edit: @ above, and lose ingrain? is that really smart, seeing as roar/whirlwind absolutely devastates bping teams?
Edit again: oh my bad i read you're post wrong. yeah i see you're point there. However, i know two of my friends teams that run a phazer lead, that could mess up my team pretty bad if i dont ingrain quickly.
Click to expand...

Infernape doesn't beat Gyarados.

Zapdos isn't a half bad idea for a BP team.

And your Smeargle is definitely Taunt bait; as I pointed out, two of the most common leads in the game (Aero and Azelf) both trump you in Speed and can Taunt you easily. Take out Smeargle and you lose Ingrain. Keep it in and you can't pass anything at all.

@That one kid: Perish Song Celebi is much more common, and you're right in that Perish Song is a huge threat to this team.
 
Jolteon might be a useful addition to your team. Timid Max S. Attack just sneaks in a guarenteed OHKO against bulky DD gyra with charge beam. He can baton pass agility or substitutes, and with luck, some +SpA.

The best advice i can give you against perish song is making your team focused less on long baton pass chains, and more focused on short chains.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top