Greeting fellow Smogonites. I've been enjoying the X/Y meta for a month now, experimenting with megas and new mons and seeing how they fair in the game. PokeBank is just upon us and I've had a good run with this team now for the past couple of weeks. Weather it'll fair well in full blown OU is another thing but I think now is a good time to showcase my team before the arrival of PokeBank.
This team takes a good core from last gen and spices it up with its own X/Y twist by having 2 new powerful cleaners added to the mix. They may be 2 of the more common sweepers in the generation but as the saying goes, if ain't broke, don't fix it.
So please take some time to gloss over my team. If you have any ideas as to how the team could be improved, it would be greatly appreciated. This team is far from perfect and would like to see how I could polish it a little.
Ferrothorn @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Iron Barbs
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SDef
Sassy Nature
IVs: 0 Spd
- Leech Seed
- Power Whip
- Stealth Rock
- Gyro Ball
Ferrothorn is the ol' reliable, go-to wall when you can't think of anything else to use. And rightfully so with all its wonderful traits. Everything here is pretty basic. SR for hazards, LS for recovery and Power Whip for some damage. I use Gyro Ball to threaten Faries and is the only steel type attack on the team. Plus, I can dole out some ridiculous damage with it on most sweepers. It really should be used more.
Rocky Helmet is a great item in conjunction with Iron Barbs for Ferro as it takes half of M-Kangas health off provided it uses a contact move. It's a great way of wearing down their physical attackers while I recover with LS. Not to mention it picks off any weak attackers making Ferro a nice fodder later in the game.
The EVs and poured into HP and Sp. Def to provide a good special wall and allows me to take weaker fire attacks easier which has saved me a number of times.
Sableye @ Leftovers
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 252 SDef / 252 HP / 4 Atk
Careful Nature
- Recover
- Will-O-Wisp
- Taunt
- Foul Play
Probably the only thing that isn't that generic on the team. Sableye is a fantastic pokemon this gen. It cripples the majority of physical attackers including but not limited to Ageislash, Breloom and M-Kenga. Taunt shuts down any utility mons and anything that wishes to set up on it. Priority Recover is a beautiful thing and keeps Sableye alive for as long as it wants barring any crits. Foul Play rounds off the set that gives the Prankster something to hit hard with. Most physical attackers don't like taking one even after they're crippled by WoW. Here's looking at you Ageislash.
If you take anything from this RMT, it's to use Sableye more.
Rotom-Wash @ Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 SDef / 248 HP / 8 SAtk
Calm Nature
- Hidden Power [Fire]
- Hydro Pump
- Substitute
- Volt Switch
Rotom-W exists purely to counter the annoying Talonflame. Resisting both STABs and being able chase it away is a beautiful sight to behold. It also complements my core nicely.
Rotom-W is also my main answer to Gliscor, scaring it off whenever I switch it in. Substitute is a great scouting move to whatever comes in, allowing me to dish out some free damage. HP Fire is purely for Ferrothorn. It complements Sub so I can get a free hit on the annoying wall.
I've been thinking of pouring my SDef EVs into Speed mainly because Sub/Toxic/Protect Gliscor kills this set. It gives me more speed to V Switch out from other walls and still retains a lot of bulk thanks to its fantastic typing. Opinions on this spread would be greatly appreciated
Gliscor @ Toxic Orb
Ability: Poison Heal
EVs: 184 Def / 252 HP / 72 Spd
Impish Nature
- Earthquake
- Toxic
- Protect
- Ice Fang
Rounding off the core is Gliscor, the generic physical wall that never dies. Gliscor is the best Toxic user in the game thanks to it's amazing recovery, inability to be worn down by toxic and being a Steel killer. Much like the rest of the team, there isn't really anything to note here that isn't already out there. I chose Ice Fang because I like to be able to hit other Gliscor as well as dragons for bigger damage.
Greninja @ Life Orb
Ability: Protean
EVs: 252 Spd / 252 SAtk / 4 Atk
Hasty Nature
- Hydro Pump
- U-turn
- Ice Beam
- Grass Knot
Greninja is the first of my cleaners. When all potential threats are disposed of and/or softened, Greninja clears the tables nicely. What makes it one of the best X/Y sweepers is its ability to change its type upon attacking, granting STAB to any attack. This gives plenty of variety to the frog ninja's move pool making it somewhat unpredictable.
Hydro Pump is still the main attack of the set, thanks to its nice 110 BP. Ice Beam is there for Dragon and Grass types and GK ties up bulky waters nicely. U-turn is great for firing off holes onto mons early on and hits Dark/Psychic types hard too.
A fantastic speed and SAtk makes Greninja one of my favourite sweepers in X/Y
Kangaskhan (F) @ Kangaskhanite
Ability: Scrappy
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SDef / 252 Spd
Adamant Nature
- Fake Out
- Earthquake
- Crunch
- Return
To round off the team, we have the second cleaner and my Mega, Kangaskhan. To say this beast is a powerhouse is an understatement. This mother hits like a Slaking without the sloth. I love having Fake Out to pick off any weak mon with it's +3 priority and allows it to safely mega evolve too. EQ for hitting Steels hard and Return as my main STAB that obliterates all.
I use Crunch over Sucker Punch because Trevenant and Gourgeist are annoying to deal with for the team. Plus the extra chance for a Def drop is nice.
Thanks for taking the time to read through my team. Constructive criticism and improvements are greatly appreciated. And with that, I leave you with this great wrestling promo.
