Hello Smogon. 1st post here, so this forum thing will need getting used to, but as for playing competitvely I've been around since D/P/Pt. I haven't played much of the B/W metagame myself, but I would say I've been having some successes with a team I made. The team is definitely without flaws though, and I would say I am having respectable difficulty keeping some pokes in check. Any criticism is appreciated.
This is also one of my first "heavy offensive" teams. I named it "Poking Pokes" mainly because there is a lot of hidden power in the poking damage my team can do (well, to me it was definitely quite surprising at first). The team relies on putting constant pressure on the opponent, preventing them from setting up (both stats and hazards) and consistently applying "poke" damage, while at the same time being reasonably bulky to take hits. The team isn't necessarily centralized over one pokemon, but they definitely have some synergy (not entirely sure about this though, up to you to decide).
Tyranitar @ Leftovers
Trait: Sand Stream
EVs: 176 HP / 252 Atk / 80 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Crunch
- Stone Edge
- Stealth Rock
- Superpower
Probably the most debateable poke on the team, however I find that his strengths can't be overlooked. The team doesn't rely on sand, rather I'd much like clear skies. But sand at least cuts off the other weathers, hurting the enemy team more than hurting me. The EVs are iffy, but if I want to run Fire Punch over something the Spd is good for getting the first hit on Scizor. I might find it a good idea to run a tankier set-up though, such as investing some EVs into SDef.
Thundurus-T @ Choice Scarf
Trait: Volt Absorb
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
IVs: 2 Atk / 30 Def
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Thunderbolt
- Volt Switch
- Focus Blast
- HP Ice
I personally love special attackers. They have respectable base damage attacks along with hitting neutral on much of the metagame. Thundurus-T is very good at consistently applying pressure as simple thunderbolts can easily 2HKO almost anything unresisted. Most of the time, the opponent would switch which means easy scouting with Volt Switch. HP Ice and Focus Miss are there for coverage. As electric types do though, I'm definitely having some problems with ground types like Gastrodon, which I may be contemplating running HP Grass, albeit giving up coverage on Gliscor and Landorus.
Keldeo @ Choice Specs
Trait: Justify
EVs: 252 SAtk / 4 SDef / 252 Spd
IVs: 2 Atk / 30 SAtk
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Hydro Pump
- Secret Sword
- HP Grass
- Icy Wind
Hits like an absolute truck and makes sure I put a huge dent on many teams. With the amount of Waters though, Hydro Pump is actually seeing a lot less usage compared to Secret Sword. I run HP Grass mainly because I need something to get rid of Gastrodon, however it's usage is still up for debate. Icy Wind is last for its ability to hit the Lati's and ensure they're slow enough to get hit again.
Scizor @ Choice Band
Trait: Technician
EVs: 208 HP / 252 Atk / 48 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Bullet Punch
- U-Turn
- Superpower
- Pursuit
Standard Scizor is standard. EVs are also debateable but it's definitely nice to outspeed stuff like 4 Spd Politoed and hurt them hard. Other than that though, Scizor along with Thundurus-T also provide the infamous Volt-turn combo, which is really vital on keeping constant pressure.
Hitmontop @ Leftovers
Trait: Technician
EVs: 252 HP / 248 Atk / 8 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Fake Out
- Mach Punch
- Low Sweep
- Stone Edge
Interestingly enough, this is the only poke to not run max EVs in a offensive stat (248 Atk -.-), but that's mainly because 252 HP puts me at another Lefties threshold. The Spd is there because I like to ensure I get the first Low Sweep on Vappy/Poli, which could be vital at the end stages of the game (after the first hit though, the Spd is kinda useless, meh). Hitmontop is respectably bulky, and provides so much "poke" damage. It's quite surprising how much damage this set does as well, as anything unresisted will lose a decent chunk of HP before they can get an attack off. I mainly use Hitmontop as another check to faster pokemon sweeping my team. Him, along with Scizor and Thundurus-T, means I have more than enough Spd/priority damage to prevent my team from being swept. However, he does run into a good amount of problems against tanks, and he's also set-up fodder for many tankier sweepers.
Landorus @ Life Orb
Trait: Sheer Force
EVs: 252 SAtk / 4 Sdef / 252 Spd
IVs: 2 ATK / 30 Def
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Earth Power
- Focus Blast
- HP Ice
- Substitute
I wanted a pokemon with some form of set-up along with the ability to put immediate pressure if needed. Landorus fills that role perfectly, hitting everything pretty hard right when he comes out. Sheer Force is amazing on him, making Earth Power and Focus Miss (As much as I hate Focus Blast, sometimes you just gotta use it -.-) very hard to deal with. Substitute ends up being a very reliable form of set-up as Sheer Force prevents LO from doing more unnecessary damage to me. Psychic looks interesting though, but I'm not really sure.
Conclusion:
The team does fairly well against others but I definitely have problems with stuff like water types and Lati's Draco Meteors, as I don't really have any reliable switch to them. I was contemplating about Gastrodon over Tyranitar, but that would mean I also give up the weather wars, which is something I'd really prefer not lose. Jirachi sounds good too (maybe over Hitmontop), but it's damage and coverage is on the lower side giving the opponent breathing room and turns to set-up. If there's anything you guys can input that'd be great.
This is also one of my first "heavy offensive" teams. I named it "Poking Pokes" mainly because there is a lot of hidden power in the poking damage my team can do (well, to me it was definitely quite surprising at first). The team relies on putting constant pressure on the opponent, preventing them from setting up (both stats and hazards) and consistently applying "poke" damage, while at the same time being reasonably bulky to take hits. The team isn't necessarily centralized over one pokemon, but they definitely have some synergy (not entirely sure about this though, up to you to decide).
Tyranitar @ Leftovers
Trait: Sand Stream
EVs: 176 HP / 252 Atk / 80 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Crunch
- Stone Edge
- Stealth Rock
- Superpower
Probably the most debateable poke on the team, however I find that his strengths can't be overlooked. The team doesn't rely on sand, rather I'd much like clear skies. But sand at least cuts off the other weathers, hurting the enemy team more than hurting me. The EVs are iffy, but if I want to run Fire Punch over something the Spd is good for getting the first hit on Scizor. I might find it a good idea to run a tankier set-up though, such as investing some EVs into SDef.
Thundurus-T @ Choice Scarf
Trait: Volt Absorb
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
IVs: 2 Atk / 30 Def
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Thunderbolt
- Volt Switch
- Focus Blast
- HP Ice
I personally love special attackers. They have respectable base damage attacks along with hitting neutral on much of the metagame. Thundurus-T is very good at consistently applying pressure as simple thunderbolts can easily 2HKO almost anything unresisted. Most of the time, the opponent would switch which means easy scouting with Volt Switch. HP Ice and Focus Miss are there for coverage. As electric types do though, I'm definitely having some problems with ground types like Gastrodon, which I may be contemplating running HP Grass, albeit giving up coverage on Gliscor and Landorus.
Keldeo @ Choice Specs
Trait: Justify
EVs: 252 SAtk / 4 SDef / 252 Spd
IVs: 2 Atk / 30 SAtk
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Hydro Pump
- Secret Sword
- HP Grass
- Icy Wind
Hits like an absolute truck and makes sure I put a huge dent on many teams. With the amount of Waters though, Hydro Pump is actually seeing a lot less usage compared to Secret Sword. I run HP Grass mainly because I need something to get rid of Gastrodon, however it's usage is still up for debate. Icy Wind is last for its ability to hit the Lati's and ensure they're slow enough to get hit again.
Scizor @ Choice Band
Trait: Technician
EVs: 208 HP / 252 Atk / 48 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Bullet Punch
- U-Turn
- Superpower
- Pursuit
Standard Scizor is standard. EVs are also debateable but it's definitely nice to outspeed stuff like 4 Spd Politoed and hurt them hard. Other than that though, Scizor along with Thundurus-T also provide the infamous Volt-turn combo, which is really vital on keeping constant pressure.
Hitmontop @ Leftovers
Trait: Technician
EVs: 252 HP / 248 Atk / 8 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Fake Out
- Mach Punch
- Low Sweep
- Stone Edge
Interestingly enough, this is the only poke to not run max EVs in a offensive stat (248 Atk -.-), but that's mainly because 252 HP puts me at another Lefties threshold. The Spd is there because I like to ensure I get the first Low Sweep on Vappy/Poli, which could be vital at the end stages of the game (after the first hit though, the Spd is kinda useless, meh). Hitmontop is respectably bulky, and provides so much "poke" damage. It's quite surprising how much damage this set does as well, as anything unresisted will lose a decent chunk of HP before they can get an attack off. I mainly use Hitmontop as another check to faster pokemon sweeping my team. Him, along with Scizor and Thundurus-T, means I have more than enough Spd/priority damage to prevent my team from being swept. However, he does run into a good amount of problems against tanks, and he's also set-up fodder for many tankier sweepers.
Landorus @ Life Orb
Trait: Sheer Force
EVs: 252 SAtk / 4 Sdef / 252 Spd
IVs: 2 ATK / 30 Def
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Earth Power
- Focus Blast
- HP Ice
- Substitute
I wanted a pokemon with some form of set-up along with the ability to put immediate pressure if needed. Landorus fills that role perfectly, hitting everything pretty hard right when he comes out. Sheer Force is amazing on him, making Earth Power and Focus Miss (As much as I hate Focus Blast, sometimes you just gotta use it -.-) very hard to deal with. Substitute ends up being a very reliable form of set-up as Sheer Force prevents LO from doing more unnecessary damage to me. Psychic looks interesting though, but I'm not really sure.
Conclusion:
The team does fairly well against others but I definitely have problems with stuff like water types and Lati's Draco Meteors, as I don't really have any reliable switch to them. I was contemplating about Gastrodon over Tyranitar, but that would mean I also give up the weather wars, which is something I'd really prefer not lose. Jirachi sounds good too (maybe over Hitmontop), but it's damage and coverage is on the lower side giving the opponent breathing room and turns to set-up. If there's anything you guys can input that'd be great.
