Playing in the Sand

[steelydan]

Intro

Hi, I'm new but I've spent a lot of time browsing through articles and learning competitive battling strategies, so I thought I would try my hand at creating a sandstorm team. I'm open to any and all feedback, so critique away!

At a glance

Tyranitar @ Chople Berry
Ability: Sandstream
Nature: Brave
252 HP / 32 Atk / 64 SpA / 160 SpD
- Stealth Rock
- Crunch
- Fire Blast
- Ice Beam

Starting things off is Tyranitar. He sets up sandstorm for the rest of the team while laying down rocks. Crunch is for physical STAB while Fire blast is to hammer steel types and Ice Beam is to round out coverage. I changed the nature to Brave and moved some EVs out of SpD into Atk to have more powerful Crunches for Reuniclus and other bulky pyschics and ghosts. The spread also helps ensure sand is the dominant weather against other weather starters while OHKOing Gliscor. I also changed the item from Leftovers to Chople Berry to handle incoming Focus Blasts.

Tentacruel @ Leftovers
Ability: Rain Dish
Nature: Bold
252 HP / 240 Def / 16 Spe
- Toxic
- Rapid Spin
- Scald
- Protect

The rest of the team is built around type synergy with Tyranitar, and even though Tentacruel has Leftovers recovery negated by Tyranitar's sandstorm it takes water, fighting, bug, and (this really only applies to Scizor) steel attacks aimed at Tyranitar. Toxic is replacing Toxic Spikes and scald is to burn things that are immune to the poison. Rapid Spin over Magic Coat to remove hazards for the remainder of the team, and Protect to scout attacks. Finally I changed Liquid Ooze to Rain Dish in the event that a Politoed gets rain up successfully then I'm not completely open to a rain sweep.

Ferrothorn @ Leftovers
Ability: Iron Barbs
Nature: Relaxed, 0 Spe IV
252 HP / 88 Def / 168 SpD
- Spikes
- Leech Seed
- Power Whip
- Gyro Ball

Ferrothorn covers Tentacruel's weaknesses except for Ground type attacks. Spikes is for laying down the third type of hazard and Leech Seed is for added recovery. Power Whip and Gyro Ball are the obligatory STAB moves to hit opposing waters and faster opponents (Lati@s, Gengar, Alakazam, etc.) hard. The EV spread is to round out it's ability to take hits with the higher investment in defense. I really needed another water resist that was immune to sandstorm which is why I went with the steel durian.

Gliscor @ Flying Gem
Ability: Sand Veil
Nature: Jolly
252 Atk / 252 Spe / 4 HP
- Substitute
- Swords Dance
- Earthquake
- Acrobatics

Building on the type synergy theme, I needed a ground resistance with a sandstorm immunity and Gliscor fit the bill. As PDC suggested I'm switching from a defensive Gliscor to an offensive one. Capitalizing on a predicted resisted attack I can Substitute and Swords Dance, and deal out some heavy damage with Earthquake and Acrobatics while hazards and sand wear down the opponent. This has a bit of a surprise factor considering the opponent will expect a defensive set, and the given spread ensures a OHKO on Rotom-W with Acrobatics after Stealth Rock:

vs. 112/0 Rotom-W 83.64% - 98.14%
vs. 4/0 Rotom-W 92.98% - 109.09%

It will also serve as a check to Dragonite and Terrakion.

Slowbro @ Leftovers
Ability: Regenerator
Nature: Bold
252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
- Calm Mind
- Slack Off
- Psyshock
- Scald

I'm going to try Slowbro over Reuniclus for added insurance against fighters, dragons, Landorus and Mamoswine. Calm Mind to boost up special with Slack Off healing and Scald and Psyshock for STAB. With Tentacruel removing hazards, this will greatly help with Slowbro's ability to set up and deal out damage while handling the ground types that the killer jellyfish can't.

Blissey @ Leftovers
Ability: Natural Cure
Nature: Calm
252 Def / 156 SpD / 100 Spe
- Flamethrower
- Toxic
- Protect
- Wish

After some testing, Heatran performed admirably, but it compounded my ground weekness and I really struggled against opposing Mamoswine. I tried out Blissey who doesn't have a ground weakness and has wish support which the rest of my team greatly values. I can still handle the strong sun threats with Flamethrower for Chlorophyll abusers and steels and Toxic for the Fire types. I can use Protect to scout and ensure that my wishes come true. Blissey can also serve as a check to other powerful special attackers, such as Lati@s, Hydreigon, Thundurus-T and so on. In addition to checking the aforementioned threats it also nicely handles VoltTurn strategies employed by mons like Scizor and Rotom-W. Credit goes to Shining Latios for suggesting this set.

Closing

This is my first RMT and I know this team isn't perfect, but that's why I'm reaching out to you fine folks. I hope you enjoyed reading and I hope to hear what suggestions you have! Thanks again for the feedback PDC!

 

[PDC]

First off I can see some stuff wrong with the movesets. I would really suggest using Rapid Spin over Magic Coat on Tentacruel, which does basically nothing, especially considering Rapid Spin is a huge benefit to using Tentacruel in the first place. Speaking of Tentacruel, I also suggest running Toxic over Toxic Spikes on Tentacruel due to the minor effect on the current metagame. This helps beat Volcarona who otherwise can hurt you badly if Conkelldurr is low in HP. Trying Rain Dish over Liquid Ooze is also another preference, but it really is useful when facing Rain teams, giving you an advantage. Finally, I suggest trying Protect over Hidden Power Electric, as this gives you the ability to scout much easier.

You team is solid enough, but it has problems with Swords Dance Breloom, Landorus, sun sweepers such as Venusaur and Victreebell, and opposing Reuniclus. To fix these problems, Chople Berry Tyranitar can really help to defeat Reuniclus by being able to take a Focus Blast, while also being able to take Superpowers from Tornadus - T. Adding a stronger spread of 252 HP / 32 Atk / 64 SAtk / 160 SDef Brave allows a more powerful Crunch to eradicate Reuniclus. To cover Landorus I suggest trying Slowbro over Reuniclus, this way you have extra insurance against other Dragons, fighting types, and most importantly, Landorus and Mamoswine. Finally I think it's worth a try giving a Specially Defensive Heatran a chance over Conkelldurr, and this gives you a way to defeat Volcarona and sun sweepers in Venusaur and Victreebell. With these additions, trying out an Acrobatics Gliscor would not be a bad option, as you take advantage of hazards and Sand, along with still being a last minute check to Dragonite and Terrakion.

sets

Slowbro @ Leftovers
252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SDef
Bold Nature
Scald
Psychic
Slack Off

Heatran @ Leftovers
252 HP / 252 SDef / 4 Def
Calm nature
Lava Plume
Toxic
Protect
Roar

Gliscor @ Flight Gem
252 Atk / 252 Spe / 4 HP
Jolly Nature
Acrobatics
Earthquake
Substitute
Swords Dance

Good luck!

 

[steelydan]

Thanks for the suggestions PDC! I know I was kinda weak to other weathers, and I think those changes should help a lot. I'll edit the team here in a minute.

 

[Shining_Latios]

Hey, nice team man. First of all, I heavily suggest taking PDC's suggestions into effect as they really help out your team. In addition, I suggest trying out Black Sludge over Leftovers on Tentacruel. It heals the same amount as Leftovers, but if you ever get Tricked on Tentacruel, your opponent will lose 12.5% of their health if the Pokemon holding Black Sludge is not a poison-type. Although this means you sometimes have to play cautious so they don't trick it onto another one of your Pokemon, it can benefit you if used right. One con about PDC's suggestions though is it makes you extremely weak to Volt Turn. To help against this, though odd, a Blissey with Flamethrower.

Blissey

Blissey @ Leftovers
EVs: 252 Defense / 156 Special Defense / 100 Speed
Calm Nature
Moves:
- Wish
- Protect / Heal Bell
- Flamethrower
- Toxic

Blissey is a nice addition to your team. It completely walls Rotom-W with it's fantastic Special Defense and high HP and also stops Volcarona, Victreebel, and Vensaur just like PDC said Heatran did. The key to this set is Flamethrower, as most Blissey just run Seismic Toss over it. If Scizor has been weakened at least a bit, Blissey is able to outspeed and OHKO Choice Band Scizor. This basically breaks the Volt Turn combination of Rotom-W and Scizor since Blissey just completely sponges anything Rotom-W throws at it, bar Trick. Blissey also gives your team wish support, ideal for your Tyranitar as it can become healthy to stay alive and help you win the weather war. Toxic is basically to cripple any sweeper on the opposing team, especially helpful against Volcarona. Another viable option is using Heal Bell so your team won't have status problems. Hope I helped and good luck.

 

[steelydan]

Thanks for the feedback Shining Latios. I can see the argument for Blissey over Heatran to better handle Rotom-W, so I'll try both. An interesting bit I noticed from the strategydex on Gliscor's Acrobatics with that set:

vs. 112/0 Rotom-W 83.64% - 98.14%
vs. 4/0 Rotom-W 92.98% - 109.09%

which is a guaranteed OHKO after stealth rock. It also suggests using Sand Veil as the ability to reduce the accuracy of Hydro Pump, so I'll have to edit that as well. I don't know if PDC knew that when he suggested that set, regardless, I'll try both Blissey and Heatran. Thanks again!