Pinsir Sweeps Everything

[espior]

I’m rather new to the competitive pokemon scene (been battling for only 2 weeks now). I originally had a team made around Mega Absol (my favorite Pokemon), but I decided to break out of my comfort zone and try something new. I decided to run with a Mega Pinsir team considering all the headaches I’ve had with Mega Venusaur in the past.

After running this team for a few days, I’ve had some pretty solid success (peaking at 1300 (not sure how good that is)). It can use some tweaking though. I’m not sure if my type coverage is solid enough, if the synergy between the Pokemon works as well as I think it does, or even if my EVs are good (they all seem to be standard to my understanding). So, without further ado:

Pinsir @ Pinsirite
Ability: Moxie
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Adamant Nature
- Swords Dance
- Return
- Quick Attack
- Earthquake

The main sweeper of this team. I really underestimated this guy. He is just an offensive monster. Being able to OHKO a Mega Venusaur is currently one of the most satisfying things for me right now.

Greninja @ Life Orb
Ability: Protean
EVs: 4 Atk / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Naive Nature
- Hydro Pump
- Dark Pulse
- U-turn
- Ice Beam

At first I hated the idea of using Greninja. I didn’t really see the appeal. But after some time with him, he has become an invaluable member of my team. Being able to keep dragons in check with Ice Beam or taking down Aegislash with Dark Pulse is just perfect. He also provides a safe switch in for fire types, which is kind of an overall weakness for 3/5 of my team. However I always seem to run into an issue where Greninja dies one turn too soon. This is partially due to the life orb. Not sure if there is a better option for an item or if I need some sort of wish support.

Edited: Changed nature from Hasty to Naive. The increase in defense helps against priority moves.

Ferrothorn (F) @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Iron Barbs
EVs: 252 HP / 48 Def / 208 SDef
Relaxed Nature
IVs: 0 Spd
- Stealth Rock
- Leech Seed
- Power Whip
- Thunder Wave

I’ll be honest, I’m not in love with this guy. Really I just decided to pick him up because he’s a strong mixed wall who can set up hazards. He also has the benefit of being a safe switch in if my opponent brings something out that’s a threat to my sweepers, especially with iron barbs and rocky helmet. I’ve been toying with switching him with a wish support (like Chansey) to help keep the rest of my team alive, but I’d really miss the hazard set up.

Edit: Added Thunderwave instead of Gyro Ball. The extra utility will help against the things that out speed my Pinsir.

Mandibuzz (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Big Pecks/Overcoat
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 Spd
Bold Nature
- Toxic
- Defog
- Foul Play
- Roost

This guy has gotten me out of a pinch more than I care to admit. Defog has helped keep the rest of my team healthy while Foul Play hits physical sweepers hard. I’m not sure about the ability though. Weak Armor has helped me get the KO with the increased speed, but lowering its defense to do so seems counter intuitive since he’s my defensive wall and all.

Edit: Changed from Weak Armor to Big Pecks/Overcoat. Weak armor was counter intuitive and didn't make sense for the build I was running. I'm now trying both abilities to see which I prefer.

Scizor @ Choice Band
Ability: Technician
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 SDef
Adamant Nature
- U-turn
- Bullet Punch
- Superpower
- Pursuit

I wanted to add some more bulk to my team. I decided Scizor would be a great addition. He packs a punch and can take a few himself (assuming they aren’t super effective). I’m not to sure about Pursuit. I’ve had mixed success with it. However, I’m not sure what I would switch it with.

Goodra @ Assault Vest
Ability: Sap Sipper
EVs: 240 HP/ 252 SpA/ 16 SpD
Calm Nature
- Dragon Pulse
- Thunder Bolt
- Sludge Bomb
- Ice Beam

The newest addition to my team. Goodra has definitely earned its keep. With the EVs in health and the Assault Vest, it can take a beating. It’s my back up counter to dragons in case Greninja is down and provides a safe switch in for some of the threats the rest of my team faces. I’m iffy on Sludge Bomb and I think there is a better option, but again, I’m not sure what.

Edit: Changed moveset from Draco Meteor, Fire Blast, Sludge Bomb and EQ to this. It really helps me handle stallers better and increases my overall coverage. The modified EVs give me some more SpA and 240 HP for uneven health.

 

[espior]

Using my bump, any feedback would be much appreciated.

 

[solosisfan]

Hello! Your team seems overly balanced but the only problem I find is in your goodra. I recommend running this set instead of your current one.

Goodra@Assualt Vest
Ability:Sap Sipper
Ev's:252 SpA / 240 HP / 16 SpD
Calm/Modest
-Dragon Pulse
-Thunderbolt
-Sludge Bomb
-Ice Beam

Draco Meteor is not a good item on Stallers. I learned this with VenuStorm. It dosn't allow you to deal enough damage for long periods of time. 240 HP for Uneven health and Ice beam for BoltBeam coverage.

And also, please run Big Pecks on Mandibuzz. Weak armor is counter intuitive due to having to take a hit for it to ativate, thus lowering your health to lower your health more? I really think that Big Pecks is *This* much better.

Tell me how your team goes.

Solosislove, Out!

 

[Greenhorn]

Nice Team!

Some changes I would make is to change Ferrothorn's Power Whip to Protect, because it actually allows you to stall a bit with Leech/Protect, also I advise having ferrothorn being your physical wall (running max Ev's on Def and Impish(+Def,-SpA)) because you already have a special wall in goodra. You could also change your Greninja's nature to Naive(+Spd, -SpD) because most priority moves are physical and you don't really need to worry about someone out-speeding greninja.

Other than that great team!

 

[Sinning]

A suggestion I'd make is changing mandibuzz' ability. Overcoat, while not incredibly useful, is not nearly as counter intuitive as using weak armor on what's supposed to be your physical wall. Also you're more likely to run into sand damage than having your defense lowered, so I'd suggest overcoat rather than big pecks.

Also, solosisfan provided a really great Goodra set in his post, and in my opinion it definitely outclasses what you're currently using.

Edit: one more thing you could do is run either only power whip or gyro ball on Ferrothorn. I really like using a set of spikes/thunderwave/power whip/leech seed, but since you don't have another pokemon who can lay stealth rocks, I'd use them rather than spikes in this case. The utility of thunder wave is just great, and it'll support your team by crippling fast pokemon who would otherwise threaten Pinsir when you're trying to sweep. Talonflame's priority is still an issue in that case, but Mandibuzz will completely shut it down.

 

[espior]

I advise having ferrothorn being your physical wall (running max Ev's on Def and Impish(+Def,-SpA)) because you already have a special wall in goodra.

Wouldn't making Ferrothorn purely a physical wall be a bit redundant with my Mandibuzz? Or is it kind of a "more the merrier" thing?

Edit: one more thing you could do is run either only power whip or gyro ball on Ferrothorn. I really like using a set of spikes/thunderwave/power whip/leech seed, but since you don't have another pokemon who can lay stealth rocks, I'd use them rather than spikes in this case. The utility of thunder wave is just great, and it'll support your team by crippling fast pokemon who would otherwise threaten Pinsir when you're trying to sweep.

I'll try getting rid of Gyro Ball and replacing it with Thunder Wave. I can see where that would be really beneficial for my team.

Draco Meteor is not a good item on Stallers. I learned this with VenuStorm. It dosn't allow you to deal enough damage for long periods of time. 240 HP for Uneven health and Ice beam for BoltBeam coverage.

Thanks for the great Goodra set. It's really made it a much more prominent member on my team. Being able to deal with stalls and not having to worry about switching out every other turn cuz of Draco Meteor has been so refreshing!

 

[solosisfan]

Your welcome :D. The best part about rating is that you feel so good inside when you help somebody :D. I see a decent weakness to Hydreigion, but then again, Hydreigion has fallen to the depths of UU along with Latias and Goodra CAN take a Specs Modest 252 SpA Draco Meteor though, which is INSANE.

(Also, if you are fine with less SpD EV's on goodra, you can always go for 248 HP ev's, for uneven health as well, the 16 SpD helps though.)

252+ SpA Choice Specs Hydreigon Draco Meteor vs. 248 HP / 16+ SpD Assault Vest Goodra: 288-338 (75.1 - 88.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

To show you how strong Goodra is at tanking, here are some damage calculations :D.

252 SpA Choice Specs Latios Draco Meteor vs. 248 HP / 16+ SpD Assault Vest Goodra: 270-318 (70.4 - 83%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock

+1 4 SpA Pixilate Sylveon Hyper Voice vs. 248 HP / 16+ SpD Assault Vest Goodra: 174-206 (45.4 - 53.7%) -- 41.4% chance to 2HKO

and finally. 252+ Atk Huge Power Mega Mawile Play Rough vs. 248 HP / 0 Def Goodra: 746-878 (194.7 - 229.2%) -- guaranteed OHKO (Ok lets be serious here, no one can tank a Mega Mawile play rough with someone that dosn't run DEF and is not that defensive in Defense anyway >.>)

252+ Atk Huge Power Mega Mawile Play Rough vs. -6 0 HP / 0 Def Deino: 261412-307548 (2178433.3 - 2562900%) -- guaranteed OHKO
XD
Anyway, cya around!

Solosislove, Out~!

 

[espior]

Oh wow, I knew Goodra was pretty bulky, just didn't know it was THAT bulky.

 

[solosisfan]

What you said. 150 SpD is insane. If you are against a smeargle, send in goodra due to not being affected by spore and 2HKO'ing Smeargle, which can't really do anything to you. Then just Defog everything :D. I've noticed that on your team, you could substitute your Scizor for a Defog Scizor and get rid of Mandibuzz for a cleric.

The Scizor would look like this.
Scizor@Leftovers
Imprish Nature
Technician
252 Def / 252 Atk / 4 SpD
-Defog
-Roost
-Bug Bite
-Bullet Punch

And them the most beneficial cleric for your team would've this...

Slyveon@Leftovers
Bold Nature
Pixelate
252 SpA / 252 Def / 4 SpD
-Hyper Voice
-Toxic/Calm Mind
-Heal Bell/Baton Pass (Not recommended)
-Wish

This set acts as a cleric and a special attacker, both of which that you need. Calm Mind Baton Pass allows Goodra to get even more tanker XD (And the 90 BP Hyper Voice is turned into 107 BP Hyper Voice deals a more damage then Moonblast because Pixelate gives an extra boost to normal type moves). +1 Hyper Voice deals alot of samage as well so your choice. Toxic Heal Beal is a more common combo. I think this team if you get rid of Mandibuzz is gonna be a lot more Offensive then it was before with Mandibuzz. With Mandibuzz, your team relys on Protecting Mega Pinsir, But has no way of preventing/Healing damage off of your sweepers or burns. A Defog Scizor adds the same amount of utility to your team as Mandibuzz, and dosn't have a stealth rock weakness like Mandibuzz does!

1 more time for now.
Solosislove, Out!