I've taken (everyone but one Pokémon) in various test combinations on NBS, but last time I played, I couldn't win anymore than a handful of battles. So, I'm guessing I'm asking for some help when it comes to using this team. I know what sorts of problems I have, and I'll try to highlight them as they come.
My Pokémon are named for Romantic Writers that I've been studying in my Romantic Literature Class this semester.
The Perennial Lead
Togekiss (M) @ Chesto Berry ** De Quincey
Trait: Serene Grace
EVs: 252 HP / 124 Def / 132 SDef
Sassy Nature (+SDef, -Spd)
- Air Slash
- Aura Sphere
- Follow Me
- Protect
Named after a famous Opium Addict, De Quincey shows that Togekiss among the best users (if not the best user) of Follow Me. I can usually guarantee that it'll survive the round after Follow Me. Once Trick Room has been set up, De Quincey can make it's opponent's flinch, similar to how Opium Addicts don't like to move. Aura Sphere adds coverage against those types that De Quincey may have trouble with on Air Slash, and Protect is a tried-and-true Doubles Move. I honestly haven't had very many problems from De Quincey: he usually fulfills his role in letting TR get set up. As such, I usually always lead with him. While he's very predictable, he's very reliable.
The Famous Set-Up
Dialga @ Lum Berry ** Southey
Trait: Pressure
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SAtk / 6 SDef
Quiet Nature (+SAtk, -Spd)
- Dragon Pulse
- Fire Blast
- Thunder
- Trick Room
Dialga, named for the Lake Poet Robert Southey, is my first (and currently only existant) Trick Room capable Pokemon. Southey used to be a Mixed Attacker with the Smogon-Standard Mixed EVs (120 HP / 136 Atk / 252 SpA), but since I ended up dropping all of it's physical moves, I changed the EVs to match. Southey can usually survive the round with help from Togekiss (since it would require a combination of Earthquake or Explosion to take it down). After setting up Trick Room, Southey can tear through just about any Pokemon with the combination of Dragon Pulse/Fire Blast/Thunder. But on that note, I find Fire Blast's accuracy rather poor; I've lost many battles because of the accuracy. Should I stick it out, or go with something more reliable like Earth Power? Finally, Southey has been walled by Blissey before, which is actually very problematic, since my only physical attackers don't have anything that hits Blissey for more than 48%, it seems (I believe this was Abomasnow's Wood Hammer). Should I return to Mixed and put Brick Break or something on Southey?
The Physical Sweeper
Giratina @ Griseous Orb ** Coleridge
Trait: Pressure
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def
Brave Nature (+Atk, -Spd)
- Dragon Claw
- Shadow Claw
- Shadow Force
- Shadow Sneak
Coleridge the Giratina, named for his teamwork with Wordsworth, is another of the Lake Poet Pokémon. Coleridge's goal is to come in during the Trick Room effect and wreak havoc. Dragon + Ghost hits lots of things SE, I've found. The problem here is coverage, and the problem is two-fold: Giratina doesn't have a wide array of Physical Moves to choose from. Dragon Claw is preferable to Outrage in Doubles, while Shadow Force is an unblockable 120BP, STAB and Orb Boosted attack coming off Giratina's Maxed out Attack stat. As alluded to before, I run into problems with Blissey, and I'd probably run into problems against Steel Pokemon that don't have a secondary type that makes them more vulnerable to Ghost-moves. The only other physical attack of note that I could see, though, was Aqua Tail, which doesn't really solve any of the problems and is a poor choice against Groudon in the Sun. Earthquake is always an option, but the only Pokémon immune to it on the regular team is Togekiss.
The Weather-Controller
Abomasnow (M) @ Life Orb ** Wordsworth
Trait: Snow Warning
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Spd / 252 SAtk
Quiet Nature (+SAtk, -Spd)
- Blizzard
- Ice Shard
- Protect
- Wood Hammer
Wordsworth, the most famous of the Lake Poets, rounds out the regular team by filling a very important role: Abomasnow absolutely counters Kyogre and Groudon, OHKOing both of them with Wood Hammer. The Life Orb makes his already threatened life even shorter, but lets him inflict lots of damage with Wood Hammer and Blizzard before giving up the ghost. The Hail he brings also disrupts whatever weather my opponent is wielding at the time. Blizzard can probably OHKO Rayquaza, but I'm not sure if Ice Shard can. Abomasnow's another one that's had problems with Blissey; being unable to KO before Bliss can restore her HP with Softboiled. I'm open for taking advice on this, honestly.
The Reserves
Kyogre @ Leftovers
Trait: Drizzle
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SAtk
Quiet Nature (+SAtk, -Spd)
- Ice Beam
- Protect
- Thunder
- Water Spout
One of my two alternates (if I get far enough to need alternates, I guess). Kyogre is so new, it doesn't even have a nickname yet. This is obviously not a Pokemon I lead with; Kyogre comes in once Trick Room is up. Then, it inflicts as much damage as it can. Water Spout is a hugely powerful attack move that should go really early on Trick Room turns. Ice Beam and Thunder are for coverage. As is obvious, this can't even touch Blissey.
The Hypothetical
Bronzong@ Lum Berry
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 129 Def / 129 SDef
Sassy Nature (+SDef, -Spd)
- Trick Room
- Protect
- Earthquake
- Imprison
If Kyogre is too new to have a nickname, Bronzong is too new to even exist yet. This is simply a planned member to act as an alternate Trick Roomer. Bronzong can Imprison moves like Protect and Earthquake and prevent their use by my opponents. It can also act as an anti-TR Pokemon if my opponent's Pokemon can't play outside of TR as well as mine can inside. Earthquake is kinda meh, but I don't know what to give it else (I could give it a screen, but then it's taunt bait). I've never actually used Bronzong before, so I think it'll be interesting to have one.
Final Words
I will leave you with these questions to help with my problems as I see them:
1. As I've noted several times through this, I find that my team has problems with Specially Defensive Pokémon. What can I do to cover this weakness?
2. I was just struck with inspiration to replace Bronzong with Metagross. Would that help with some Problems? Does Bronzong do other things I need more than Metagross?
3. Should I consider changing up my 'main' lineup? (Togekiss/Dialga/Giratina/Abomasnow) Which of the alternates would be good to move into a main position?
Thank you for your time taken reading this, and for any help you can give me.
My Pokémon are named for Romantic Writers that I've been studying in my Romantic Literature Class this semester.
The Perennial Lead
Togekiss (M) @ Chesto Berry ** De Quincey
Trait: Serene Grace
EVs: 252 HP / 124 Def / 132 SDef
Sassy Nature (+SDef, -Spd)
- Air Slash
- Aura Sphere
- Follow Me
- Protect
Named after a famous Opium Addict, De Quincey shows that Togekiss among the best users (if not the best user) of Follow Me. I can usually guarantee that it'll survive the round after Follow Me. Once Trick Room has been set up, De Quincey can make it's opponent's flinch, similar to how Opium Addicts don't like to move. Aura Sphere adds coverage against those types that De Quincey may have trouble with on Air Slash, and Protect is a tried-and-true Doubles Move. I honestly haven't had very many problems from De Quincey: he usually fulfills his role in letting TR get set up. As such, I usually always lead with him. While he's very predictable, he's very reliable.
The Famous Set-Up
Dialga @ Lum Berry ** Southey
Trait: Pressure
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SAtk / 6 SDef
Quiet Nature (+SAtk, -Spd)
- Dragon Pulse
- Fire Blast
- Thunder
- Trick Room
Dialga, named for the Lake Poet Robert Southey, is my first (and currently only existant) Trick Room capable Pokemon. Southey used to be a Mixed Attacker with the Smogon-Standard Mixed EVs (120 HP / 136 Atk / 252 SpA), but since I ended up dropping all of it's physical moves, I changed the EVs to match. Southey can usually survive the round with help from Togekiss (since it would require a combination of Earthquake or Explosion to take it down). After setting up Trick Room, Southey can tear through just about any Pokemon with the combination of Dragon Pulse/Fire Blast/Thunder. But on that note, I find Fire Blast's accuracy rather poor; I've lost many battles because of the accuracy. Should I stick it out, or go with something more reliable like Earth Power? Finally, Southey has been walled by Blissey before, which is actually very problematic, since my only physical attackers don't have anything that hits Blissey for more than 48%, it seems (I believe this was Abomasnow's Wood Hammer). Should I return to Mixed and put Brick Break or something on Southey?
The Physical Sweeper
Giratina @ Griseous Orb ** Coleridge
Trait: Pressure
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def
Brave Nature (+Atk, -Spd)
- Dragon Claw
- Shadow Claw
- Shadow Force
- Shadow Sneak
Coleridge the Giratina, named for his teamwork with Wordsworth, is another of the Lake Poet Pokémon. Coleridge's goal is to come in during the Trick Room effect and wreak havoc. Dragon + Ghost hits lots of things SE, I've found. The problem here is coverage, and the problem is two-fold: Giratina doesn't have a wide array of Physical Moves to choose from. Dragon Claw is preferable to Outrage in Doubles, while Shadow Force is an unblockable 120BP, STAB and Orb Boosted attack coming off Giratina's Maxed out Attack stat. As alluded to before, I run into problems with Blissey, and I'd probably run into problems against Steel Pokemon that don't have a secondary type that makes them more vulnerable to Ghost-moves. The only other physical attack of note that I could see, though, was Aqua Tail, which doesn't really solve any of the problems and is a poor choice against Groudon in the Sun. Earthquake is always an option, but the only Pokémon immune to it on the regular team is Togekiss.
The Weather-Controller
Abomasnow (M) @ Life Orb ** Wordsworth
Trait: Snow Warning
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Spd / 252 SAtk
Quiet Nature (+SAtk, -Spd)
- Blizzard
- Ice Shard
- Protect
- Wood Hammer
Wordsworth, the most famous of the Lake Poets, rounds out the regular team by filling a very important role: Abomasnow absolutely counters Kyogre and Groudon, OHKOing both of them with Wood Hammer. The Life Orb makes his already threatened life even shorter, but lets him inflict lots of damage with Wood Hammer and Blizzard before giving up the ghost. The Hail he brings also disrupts whatever weather my opponent is wielding at the time. Blizzard can probably OHKO Rayquaza, but I'm not sure if Ice Shard can. Abomasnow's another one that's had problems with Blissey; being unable to KO before Bliss can restore her HP with Softboiled. I'm open for taking advice on this, honestly.
The Reserves
Kyogre @ Leftovers
Trait: Drizzle
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SAtk
Quiet Nature (+SAtk, -Spd)
- Ice Beam
- Protect
- Thunder
- Water Spout
One of my two alternates (if I get far enough to need alternates, I guess). Kyogre is so new, it doesn't even have a nickname yet. This is obviously not a Pokemon I lead with; Kyogre comes in once Trick Room is up. Then, it inflicts as much damage as it can. Water Spout is a hugely powerful attack move that should go really early on Trick Room turns. Ice Beam and Thunder are for coverage. As is obvious, this can't even touch Blissey.
The Hypothetical
Bronzong@ Lum Berry
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 129 Def / 129 SDef
Sassy Nature (+SDef, -Spd)
- Trick Room
- Protect
- Earthquake
- Imprison
If Kyogre is too new to have a nickname, Bronzong is too new to even exist yet. This is simply a planned member to act as an alternate Trick Roomer. Bronzong can Imprison moves like Protect and Earthquake and prevent their use by my opponents. It can also act as an anti-TR Pokemon if my opponent's Pokemon can't play outside of TR as well as mine can inside. Earthquake is kinda meh, but I don't know what to give it else (I could give it a screen, but then it's taunt bait). I've never actually used Bronzong before, so I think it'll be interesting to have one.
Final Words
I will leave you with these questions to help with my problems as I see them:
1. As I've noted several times through this, I find that my team has problems with Specially Defensive Pokémon. What can I do to cover this weakness?
2. I was just struck with inspiration to replace Bronzong with Metagross. Would that help with some Problems? Does Bronzong do other things I need more than Metagross?
3. Should I consider changing up my 'main' lineup? (Togekiss/Dialga/Giratina/Abomasnow) Which of the alternates would be good to move into a main position?
Thank you for your time taken reading this, and for any help you can give me.
