Hi there. Putting up my first attempt at a competitive team for Gen 6 (any feedback would be great).
Absol @ Absolite | Justified (Pre-Mega) / Magic Bounce
Jolly Nature (+Speed, -SpA) | 6 HP / 252 Att / 252 Speed
- Swords Dance
- Sucker Punch
- Play Rough
- Baton Pass
Absol was the first Pokemon I chose for this team, and I went on from there. Swords Dance skyrockets Absol's Attack to the moon. Sucker Punch gives Absol much appreciated priority, plus giving her a move to cover for the one turn where pre-Mega speed determines order. Play Rough gives good coverage against Fighting and especially Dragon, something I'm sorely missing. Baton Pass allows the pass of the attack boost to another Pokemon that can deal with a Pokemon Absol has trouble dealing with. EV Spread is for maximum power and maximum speed to be able to Baton Pass a Swords Dance or Justified boost if needed.
Aegislash @ Spooky Plate | Stance Change
Quiet Nature (+SpA, -Speed) | 252 HP / 6 Att / 252 SpA
- King's Shield
- Shadow Sneak
- Sacred Sword
- Shadow Ball
Aegislash is a pretty good partner with Absol, since it covers Absol's weaknesses quite nicely, while also appreciating a Swords Dance via Baton Pass. I used a mixed Aegislash, since I'm assuming most people won't expect it, especially if it just received an attack boost. King's Shield is to withstand any hits, while scouting an opponents move. Shadow Sneak is a great move, to follow up from other moves that deal close to full damage. Sacred Sword is used over Iron Head to provide coverage against Steel types, while Shadow Ball replaces Swords Dance to deal with physical walls that may come in.
Talonflame @ Life Orb | Gale Wings
Adamant Nature (+Att, -SpA) | 124 HP / 252 Att / 134 Speed
- Brave Bird
- Flare Blitz
- Will-O-Wisp
- Taunt
Talonflame acted as a physical powerhouse at first, but slowly changed to provide more utility, swapping out U-Turn and Roost for Will-O-Wisp and Taunt. The EV spread is to give as much power to Talonflame as possible, as her base 126 speed doesn't need much more investment. Priority Brave Bird is her main move, and Flare Blitz provides a powerful STAB Fire attack, especially against Forretress and Ferrothorn. Will-O-Wisp is to burn any Pokemon used to switch in (usually it's Ferrothorn switching out), and it has the added effect of increasing Talonflame's longevity a bit, both by cutting physical damage and reducing the recoil damage taken from Brave Bird and Flare Blitz. Taunt is to break a stall team, especially Gliscor, since the team doesn't really do well against its SubToxic set.
Galvantula @ Focus Sash | Compound Eyes
Timid Nature (+Speed, -Att) | 252 SpA / 6 SpD / 252 Speed
- Sticky Web
- Thunder
- Bug Buzz
- Energy Ball
Galvantula acts as the hazard lead, and is my check to most Water types. Focus Sash is to at least take one hit to set up hazards before bowing out, although Tyranitar won't hesitate to KO with Earthquake + Sandstorm damage. Sticky Web is definitely a hazard appreciated here, considering Excadrill's lack of speed. Thunder is a 91% accurate STAB hitting Flying types. Bug Buzz is for 100% accurate STAB. Energy Ball deals with Pokemon like Rotom - Wash, Gastrodon, and Quagsire.
Excadrill @ Assault Vest | Mold Breaker
Adamant Nature (+Att, -SpA) | 128 HP / 128 Att / 252 SpD
- Earthquake
- Rock Slide
- Rapid Spin
- Shadow Claw
Excadrill isn't the sweeper it was in 5th Gen, but it's still a great spinner, especially with Mold Breaker. The EV spread is to put maximum Special Defense, to at least live a Rotom - Wash Hydro Pump, and the rest is split between HP and Attack. Earthquake is an invaluable STAB, especially against Rotom - Wash, and Rock Slide hits Flying-types not named Gliscor hard. Rapid Spin is essential to clear hazards that Talonflame absolutely hates, and Shadow Claw is present to at least dent Trevenant, a Pokemon that always seems to come in to spinblock.
Vaporeon @ Leftovers | Water Absorb
Bold (+Def, -Att) | 252 HP / 252 Def / 6 Speed
- Scald
- Wish
- Protect
- Haze
Vaporeon rounds out the team with some nice support. Wish/Protect is fairly standard for Vaporeon, and helps out Talonflame and Aegislash greatly, and Scald can cripple physical attackers(as well as preventing Taunt from fully crippling her). Haze is the final move, as it removes stat boosts on set-up sweepers, (Aegislash and Volcarona come to mind). I would go with Roar to prevent the loss of speed reduction from Sticky Web, but I've been burned too many times by last-Pokemon sweepers.
This team has down relatively well, but it does have it's problems. Gliscor seems to be the bane of this team, as its SubToxic consistently stalls my team if I can't get a burn or a Taunt fast enough. Sand Rush Excadrill can also set-up and partially sweep. I'm not exactly sure how to deal with these problems, as once these problems have been patched, other ones follow.
Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks.
Absol @ Absolite | Justified (Pre-Mega) / Magic Bounce
Jolly Nature (+Speed, -SpA) | 6 HP / 252 Att / 252 Speed
- Swords Dance
- Sucker Punch
- Play Rough
- Baton Pass
Absol was the first Pokemon I chose for this team, and I went on from there. Swords Dance skyrockets Absol's Attack to the moon. Sucker Punch gives Absol much appreciated priority, plus giving her a move to cover for the one turn where pre-Mega speed determines order. Play Rough gives good coverage against Fighting and especially Dragon, something I'm sorely missing. Baton Pass allows the pass of the attack boost to another Pokemon that can deal with a Pokemon Absol has trouble dealing with. EV Spread is for maximum power and maximum speed to be able to Baton Pass a Swords Dance or Justified boost if needed.
Aegislash @ Spooky Plate | Stance Change
Quiet Nature (+SpA, -Speed) | 252 HP / 6 Att / 252 SpA
- King's Shield
- Shadow Sneak
- Sacred Sword
- Shadow Ball
Aegislash is a pretty good partner with Absol, since it covers Absol's weaknesses quite nicely, while also appreciating a Swords Dance via Baton Pass. I used a mixed Aegislash, since I'm assuming most people won't expect it, especially if it just received an attack boost. King's Shield is to withstand any hits, while scouting an opponents move. Shadow Sneak is a great move, to follow up from other moves that deal close to full damage. Sacred Sword is used over Iron Head to provide coverage against Steel types, while Shadow Ball replaces Swords Dance to deal with physical walls that may come in.
Talonflame @ Life Orb | Gale Wings
Adamant Nature (+Att, -SpA) | 124 HP / 252 Att / 134 Speed
- Brave Bird
- Flare Blitz
- Will-O-Wisp
- Taunt
Talonflame acted as a physical powerhouse at first, but slowly changed to provide more utility, swapping out U-Turn and Roost for Will-O-Wisp and Taunt. The EV spread is to give as much power to Talonflame as possible, as her base 126 speed doesn't need much more investment. Priority Brave Bird is her main move, and Flare Blitz provides a powerful STAB Fire attack, especially against Forretress and Ferrothorn. Will-O-Wisp is to burn any Pokemon used to switch in (usually it's Ferrothorn switching out), and it has the added effect of increasing Talonflame's longevity a bit, both by cutting physical damage and reducing the recoil damage taken from Brave Bird and Flare Blitz. Taunt is to break a stall team, especially Gliscor, since the team doesn't really do well against its SubToxic set.
Galvantula @ Focus Sash | Compound Eyes
Timid Nature (+Speed, -Att) | 252 SpA / 6 SpD / 252 Speed
- Sticky Web
- Thunder
- Bug Buzz
- Energy Ball
Galvantula acts as the hazard lead, and is my check to most Water types. Focus Sash is to at least take one hit to set up hazards before bowing out, although Tyranitar won't hesitate to KO with Earthquake + Sandstorm damage. Sticky Web is definitely a hazard appreciated here, considering Excadrill's lack of speed. Thunder is a 91% accurate STAB hitting Flying types. Bug Buzz is for 100% accurate STAB. Energy Ball deals with Pokemon like Rotom - Wash, Gastrodon, and Quagsire.
Excadrill @ Assault Vest | Mold Breaker
Adamant Nature (+Att, -SpA) | 128 HP / 128 Att / 252 SpD
- Earthquake
- Rock Slide
- Rapid Spin
- Shadow Claw
Excadrill isn't the sweeper it was in 5th Gen, but it's still a great spinner, especially with Mold Breaker. The EV spread is to put maximum Special Defense, to at least live a Rotom - Wash Hydro Pump, and the rest is split between HP and Attack. Earthquake is an invaluable STAB, especially against Rotom - Wash, and Rock Slide hits Flying-types not named Gliscor hard. Rapid Spin is essential to clear hazards that Talonflame absolutely hates, and Shadow Claw is present to at least dent Trevenant, a Pokemon that always seems to come in to spinblock.
Vaporeon @ Leftovers | Water Absorb
Bold (+Def, -Att) | 252 HP / 252 Def / 6 Speed
- Scald
- Wish
- Protect
- Haze
Vaporeon rounds out the team with some nice support. Wish/Protect is fairly standard for Vaporeon, and helps out Talonflame and Aegislash greatly, and Scald can cripple physical attackers(as well as preventing Taunt from fully crippling her). Haze is the final move, as it removes stat boosts on set-up sweepers, (Aegislash and Volcarona come to mind). I would go with Roar to prevent the loss of speed reduction from Sticky Web, but I've been burned too many times by last-Pokemon sweepers.
This team has down relatively well, but it does have it's problems. Gliscor seems to be the bane of this team, as its SubToxic consistently stalls my team if I can't get a burn or a Taunt fast enough. Sand Rush Excadrill can also set-up and partially sweep. I'm not exactly sure how to deal with these problems, as once these problems have been patched, other ones follow.
Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks.
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