Pinsir Mafia - A Mega Pinsir Team [Currently 1500]

[Policy Debater]

Hello everybody, I’m back for another RMT. This time, I’ve engineered a team that, if played correctly, should result in a M-Pinsir sweep most of the time. This team is built around said mega, and also features hints of VoltTurn. Make sure to leave your comments on the team on this thread, as I look forward to you analysis of the team. Enjoy!

Head Honcho (Pinsir) @ Pinsirite
Ability: Moxie Hyper Cutter
EVs: 252 Spd / 252 Atk / 4 Def
Jolly Nature
- Quick Attack
- Return
- Earthquake
- Swords Dance

Pinsir serves as the main physical sweeper on the team. I only bring him out late game, as he allows me to clean up major threats such as Megasaur that wall the majority of my team if this bug isn’t around. M-Pinsir also works well with the rest of my team because of his ability to take out the checks and counters of his teammates such as Lando-T, Latias, and Conk. This is a pretty standard set, but I run speed Ev’s over HP as I think that I can abuse more mons w/ the Speed ev’s.

The Bodyguard (Conkeldurr) @ Assault Vest
Ability: Guts
EVs: 252 SDef / 196 HP / 60 Atk
Careful Nature
- Mach Punch
- Knock Off
- Ice Punch
- Drain Punch

SpDef Conk serves as one of the better additions I’ve made to my team. I run Max SpDef w/ AV in order to take fire type moves (namely from Air Balloon Heatran) that are aimed at Pinsir. Then, I can (hopefully) get the burn and KO w/ Drain Punch. This is also a pretty standard 6th Gen set, as it allows me to hit nearly everything for either SE or normal damage. ‘nuff said here.

The Reliable One (Heatran) @ Air Balloon
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 252 SDef / 248 HP / 8 SAtk
Calm Nature
- Lava Plume
- Toxic
- Stealth Rock
- Roar

Heatran is the second SpDef mon that I have on my team, and I am satisified with his output to the team (hence the nickname Mr. Reliable). I run Toxic over Will-o on this set because Rotom carries Will-o, and I haven’t experience many problems with it so far. Heatran also serves as my primary SR mon and phazer, helping me to prevent setup sweeper from ruining a match. Heatran works well with the other members of my team because of his ability to sponge flying, fire, and psychic type attacks that would mess with Conkeldurr and Pinsir.

The Hacker (Rotom-Wash) @ Chesto Berry
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 4 SAtk / 252 Def
Bold Nature
- Rest
- Volt Switch
- Hydro Pump
- Will-O-Wisp

Rotom serves as my primary physical wall on the team and another check to flying spam that would wreck a third of my team. It also gives me the ability to cripple other physical attackers with W-o-W. Rotom also gives me a counter to Rhyperior/Mega Aggron, which allows Mega Pinsir to have an easier time in the sweeping process. This is one member of the team that I can count on to support the others (especially Lando-T) because of his superb typing and ability to shut down any physical attacker that threatens my team.

The Roleblocker (Latias) (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 SDef / 252 HP / 4 SAtk
Calm Nature
- Healing Wish
- Dragon Pulse
- Defog
- Surf

Latias (who I have dubbed the Roleblocker) is another special wall on my team, but is optimized for a better support role after you look at its moveset. Many of you will question the Healing Wish decision, but it has NEVER failed me. The reason that I included Healing Wish was to give more longevity to my M-Pinsir. If rocks are up and Pinsir has <50% HP, then I can healing wish and safely come in on rocks (because Healing Wish goes before hazards). Healing Wish also lets me heal Lando-T and Heatran if they are my win conditions, allowing me to capture many matches that would otherwise be lost. Latias goes well with my other mons because of its ability to heal them and clear hazards for M-Pinsir, as well as resisting fire type attacks that would crush Lando-T or Pinsir. Additionally, it provides a Grass resist for Rotom and a Water resist/Ground immunity for Heatran, which promotes team synergy.

The Goon (Landorus-Therian) (M) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 Spd / 252 Atk / 4 HP
Jolly Nature
- U-turn
- Earthquake
- Knock Off
- Stone Edge

The final member of my team is Lando-T, who is the second most potent physical sweeper on my team. I chose the Scarf set over AV because I felt that Ice type attacks would beat AV easily, and that I was better suited to have a great scout. Scarf Lando-T provides me with a great way to take out fire types that check M-Pinsir w/ EQ, and take out bulky Psychic types w/ Knock Off. Additionally, U-Turn completes my VoltTurn combo while allowing me to hit Psychic types hard. The only problems I have with this set are: the redundancy of Knock Off and U-Turn and Stone Edge. I have come to a soft decision that running Knock Off and U-Turn together is a good combo, as both provide unique utility that allow me to get the upper hand on my opponent. On the Stone Edge issue, I often find myself wanting HP Ice to check Dragons, but Stone Edge hits Talonflame and M-Pinsir hard enough to justify keeping. What do you think on this matter?



Thank you all for reading my team. Make sure to tell me what you think of it in the comments below! See you there!


EDIT:


Replays!

vs Stall:
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/ou-118707695

Regular Match:
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/ou-118686875

 

[Timpsu]

Hey! Gonna drop a few thoughts on this. I suggest you switch Pinsir's ability from Moxie to Hyper Cutter. The situations where Moxie is actually usable are few and far between, but Hyper Cutter lets you boost against potentially harmful Intimidate-users, such as Lando-T and Gyarados. With Hyper Cutter you have a chance to beat an Impish Lando-T, which you otherwise couldn't do. Mold Breaker is also a possibility, but seeing as there's a notification when the ability comes into play, it's just too predictable to be effective. I think the idea to run a Careful Conkeldurr is interesting, but without Attack investment, you really lack in power, since Conkeldurr usually is resorting to either Knock Off or a move that doesn't hit for super-effective damage. I suggest you run a Conkeldurr with 252 Atk / 236 SpD / 20 Speed with Adamant nature. The speed lets you get past Hippowdon, and hit it first. I would personally use Leftovers on Heatran, since I think it needs the longevity, but that's more of a personal preference. Also, Leftovers gives you a good chance to use Protect, getting more health while opponent strugles with status damage. Also, 248 HP EVs for less hazard damage.

You could consider running 44 Speed on Rotom-W to always outspeed Azumarill. Also, I don't think Latias should be played in a defensive role, since she has bad supporting options outside of Defog + Healing Wish. Latias is best played as an offensive pivot, that can switch-in moderately easy with her great bulk, and good offenses. Furthermore, you already have good Pokemon on your team to take hits from both physical and special side. I would suggest you try out this set. With max SpA and max Speed, you become a hard-hitting pivot. Draco Meteor is recommended, as you need the damage. Also, the last move is dependant on what your team needs. Thunderbolt offers the best coverage overall (Azumarill, Skarmory, Mandibuzz), while Psyshock lets you hit key targets like Conkeldurr, M-Venusaur and Keldeo. This Latias essentially plays out the same as your current one, but with more offensive pressure, rather than just waiting to use Healing Wish. Your Lando-T should use an Adamant nature, because Jolly doesn't let you outspeed anything notable, while the additional power is much needed. I think you should stick with Stone Edge, it's too important move overall. A move you could consider however, would be Superpower, as that lets you revengekill M-Dos reliably, while also hitting Ferrothorn hard. That's my few thoughts, good luck with the team!

Latias

move 1: Defog
move 2: Draco Meteor / Dragon Pulse
move 3: Healing Wish
move 4: Thunderbolt / Psyshock
ability: Levitate
item: Life Orb
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe

 

[Policy Debater]

Hey! Gonna drop a few thoughts on this. I suggest you switch Pinsir's ability from Moxie to Hyper Cutter. The situations where Moxie is actually usable are few and far between, but Hyper Cutter lets you boost against potentially harmful Intimidate-users, such as Lando-T and Gyarados. With Hyper Cutter you have a chance to beat an Impish Lando-T, which you otherwise couldn't do. Mold Breaker is also a possibility, but seeing as there's a notification when the ability comes into play, it's just too predictable to be effective. I think the idea to run a Careful Conkeldurr is interesting, but without Attack investment, you really lack in power, since Conkeldurr usually is resorting to either Knock Off or a move that doesn't hit for super-effective damage. I suggest you run a Conkeldurr with 252 Atk / 236 SpD / 20 Speed with Adamant nature. The speed lets you get past Hippowdon, and hit it first. I would personally use Leftovers on Heatran, since I think it needs the longevity, but that's more of a personal preference. Also, Leftovers gives you a good chance to use Protect, getting more health while opponent strugles with status damage. Also, 248 HP EVs for less hazard damage.

You could consider running 44 Speed on Rotom-W to always outspeed Azumarill. Also, I don't think Latias should be played in a defensive role, since she has bad supporting options outside of Defog + Healing Wish. Latias is best played as an offensive pivot, that can switch-in moderately easy with her great bulk, and good offenses. Furthermore, you already have good Pokemon on your team to take hits from both physical and special side. I would suggest you try out this set. With max SpA and max Speed, you become a hard-hitting pivot. Draco Meteor is recommended, as you need the damage. Also, the last move is dependant on what your team needs. Thunderbolt offers the best coverage overall (Azumarill, Skarmory, Mandibuzz), while Psyshock lets you hit key targets like Conkeldurr, M-Venusaur and Keldeo. This Latias essentially plays out the same as your current one, but with more offensive pressure, rather than just waiting to use Healing Wish. Your Lando-T should use an Adamant nature, because Jolly doesn't let you outspeed anything notable, while the additional power is much needed. I think you should stick with Stone Edge, it's too important move overall. A move you could consider however, would be Superpower, as that lets you revengekill M-Dos reliably, while also hitting Ferrothorn hard. That's my few thoughts, good luck with the team!

Latias

move 1: Defog
move 2: Draco Meteor / Dragon Pulse
move 3: Healing Wish
move 4: Thunderbolt / Psyshock
ability: Levitate
item: Life Orb
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe

Thanks for the feedback! I am going to change the speed investment on Rotom, as well as reshuffle the EV's on Conk to have some offensive investment (probably shifting some attack Ev's into HP for bulk). At further testing, I have elected to keep Latias as the bulky SpDef set as opposed to a potent special pivot. The unconventionality of a SpDef latias allows me to take hits that would otherwise KO - such as a Greninja's Ice Beam - and then Healing Wish out to M-Pinsir to clean up the game. W/o the Spdef investment, I wouldn't be able to make that pass that would win me the game. Also, I will change the ability on Pinsir.

 

[Policy Debater]

I SUMMON THEE, MIGHTY BUMP, TO REINVIGORATE MY THREAD!