Hey guys, new here and looking for some critiques and advice for this team. I'm back to pokemon for the first time in like 4 years and I don't typically play competitive. This is the first team I felt does really well consistently. I do abuse what could be seen as an exploit, but I have been countered enough times to where I don't feel completely horrible for using it.
Whimsicott @ Focus Sash
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 252 HP / 6 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Moonblast
- Trick Room
- Tailwind
- Beat Up
Terrakion @ Lum Berry
Ability: Justified
EVs: 6 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Rock Slide
- Close Combat
- Earthquake
- Protect
To start off this team I wanted my core to be built around Justified+Beat Up combo, so Terrakion and Whimsicott are my leads 60% of the time. I usually Protect on Terrakion and priority Tailwind with Whimscicott on turn 1. Then Beat Up on Terrakion followed by Rockslide. Rockslide isn't the strongest and has a miss chance, but when it's fully boosted(even partially boosted if I lead with other pokemon) it is OHKOing both the opponent's team about 90% of the time. Whimsicott has Trick Room to counter Trick Room. It also can be used to set up Metagross as a trick room sweeper. If they have a priority user I'll swap Indeedee in with Follow Me. Fake out on Whimsicott and then a strong attack to knock Whimsicott out before the second round is the most consistent counter. They just have to focus on Whimsicott first, but they usually target Terrakion first.
I experimented with Beat Up Salazzle, but I ended up liking the Tailwind support more.
Urshifu-Rapid-Strike @ Life Orb
Ability: Unseen Fist
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Surging Strikes
- Close Combat
- Aqua Jet
- Protect
Incineroar @ Sitrus Berry
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 HP / 216 SpD / 40 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Fake Out
- Flare Blitz
- Knock Off
- Parting Shot
The next pairing I have is the other leads I use. These two pokemon seem to cover each other extremely well. Bulky water types are the issue. With Intimidate, Fake Out, Knock Off and Parting Shot Incineroar is a beast. Flare Blitz helps with Grass and Steel types that seem to be popping up everywhere. I like bringing him in and out pretty regularly
Urshifu also has amazing carry potential. With Aquajet to revenge kill low HP targets, and the main STAB coverage of Close Combat and Surging Strikes that ignore protection, not much can stand in the way. Electric moves and Burn status can counter Urshifu pretty well.
Indeedee-F (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Psychic Surge
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Follow Me
- Aromatherapy
- Expanding Force
- Heal Pulse
Metagross @ Weakness Policy
Ability: Clear Body
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpA
Brave Nature
- Ally Switch
- Zen Headbutt
- Meteor Mash
- Icy Wind
These last two were the hardest spots to fill; Togekiss, Braviary, Alolan-Marowak, Amoongus, Cresselia, Dragapult, Ferrothorn, and Landorus-T have all made appearances with the main four. Indeedee has grown on me, the more I figure out how Psychic Terrain works. Metagross could totally be swapped out for another bulky pivot.
Indeedee can shut down the priority move revenge killers that come in for the boosted Terrakion. With Aromatherapy, Heal Pulse, and Follow Me this pokemon becomes a nice game securing switch-in for Whimscicott after Terrakion gets set up.
Metagross is my bulky pivot option. I needed something that could take a hit on a switch in and abuse Trick Room if needed. With Psychic Terrain, Zen Headbutt becomes a great STAB. Meteor Mash can counter the fairies everywhere and can potentially boost ATK for even more carry potential. Ally Switch is a ton of fun, I like it I can make my opponent uncertain. I didn't know what to pick for a 4th move so I went Icy Wind for speed control, but Metagross is slow and doesn't get to benefit that much from it. Weakness Policy hasn't been activated that often, but it is usually a game securer.
Overall I seem to struggle with the Psychic Terrain+Trick Room+Torkoal combo the most. I typically try to stall out the Psychic Terrain or Trickroom and then sick Urshifu after them. Aquajet to weaken Eruption, then Surging Strikes and Aquajet again can finish Torkoal off in Sun, but not before they can wreck a good few mons on my team. If they have a decent team to back up that strategy after it's over, I will lose. Definitely open to maybe adding another terrain setter like Rillaboom instead of Metagross.
My favorite thing about this strategy is the mind games I can play. Will I lead Urshifu+Incineroar or Terrakion+Whimsicott? If you anticipate one and I send the other that's usually an easy path to a win. An entry Incineroar with Fake Out can put a dent in an aggressive team start and Urshifu can take out many pokemon instantly with unblockable Surging Strikes. Or if I go with the other opening pair, most will forfeit after Terrakion gets set up with Beat Up and Tailwind support. Ally Switch on Metagross and Follow Me on Indeedee also adds to the uncertainty I can make my opponent face. Weakness Policy turns what the opponent thought would be a good move, into a bad one. If I anticipate a priority move I can swap in Indeedee to shut it down, rendering that turn a waste.
Anyways, I'm looking for some EV and move-set advice primarily, also looking at possibly switching out Metagross for a different bulky pivot. Any and all advice would be appreciated. Thank you all!
Whimsicott @ Focus Sash
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 252 HP / 6 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Moonblast
- Trick Room
- Tailwind
- Beat Up
Terrakion @ Lum Berry
Ability: Justified
EVs: 6 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Rock Slide
- Close Combat
- Earthquake
- Protect
Urshifu-Rapid-Strike @ Life Orb
Ability: Unseen Fist
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Surging Strikes
- Close Combat
- Aqua Jet
- Protect
Incineroar @ Sitrus Berry
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 HP / 216 SpD / 40 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Fake Out
- Flare Blitz
- Knock Off
- Parting Shot
Metagross @ Weakness Policy
Ability: Clear Body
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpA
Brave Nature
- Ally Switch
- Zen Headbutt
- Meteor Mash
- Icy Wind
Indeedee-F (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Psychic Surge
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Follow Me
- Aromatherapy
- Expanding Force
- Heal Pulse
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 252 HP / 6 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Moonblast
- Trick Room
- Tailwind
- Beat Up
Terrakion @ Lum Berry
Ability: Justified
EVs: 6 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Rock Slide
- Close Combat
- Earthquake
- Protect
Urshifu-Rapid-Strike @ Life Orb
Ability: Unseen Fist
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Surging Strikes
- Close Combat
- Aqua Jet
- Protect
Incineroar @ Sitrus Berry
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 HP / 216 SpD / 40 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Fake Out
- Flare Blitz
- Knock Off
- Parting Shot
Metagross @ Weakness Policy
Ability: Clear Body
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpA
Brave Nature
- Ally Switch
- Zen Headbutt
- Meteor Mash
- Icy Wind
Indeedee-F (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Psychic Surge
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Follow Me
- Aromatherapy
- Expanding Force
- Heal Pulse
Whimsicott @ Focus Sash
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 252 HP / 6 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Moonblast
- Trick Room
- Tailwind
- Beat Up
Terrakion @ Lum Berry
Ability: Justified
EVs: 6 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Rock Slide
- Close Combat
- Earthquake
- Protect
To start off this team I wanted my core to be built around Justified+Beat Up combo, so Terrakion and Whimsicott are my leads 60% of the time. I usually Protect on Terrakion and priority Tailwind with Whimscicott on turn 1. Then Beat Up on Terrakion followed by Rockslide. Rockslide isn't the strongest and has a miss chance, but when it's fully boosted(even partially boosted if I lead with other pokemon) it is OHKOing both the opponent's team about 90% of the time. Whimsicott has Trick Room to counter Trick Room. It also can be used to set up Metagross as a trick room sweeper. If they have a priority user I'll swap Indeedee in with Follow Me. Fake out on Whimsicott and then a strong attack to knock Whimsicott out before the second round is the most consistent counter. They just have to focus on Whimsicott first, but they usually target Terrakion first.
I experimented with Beat Up Salazzle, but I ended up liking the Tailwind support more.
Urshifu-Rapid-Strike @ Life Orb
Ability: Unseen Fist
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Surging Strikes
- Close Combat
- Aqua Jet
- Protect
Incineroar @ Sitrus Berry
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 HP / 216 SpD / 40 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Fake Out
- Flare Blitz
- Knock Off
- Parting Shot
The next pairing I have is the other leads I use. These two pokemon seem to cover each other extremely well. Bulky water types are the issue. With Intimidate, Fake Out, Knock Off and Parting Shot Incineroar is a beast. Flare Blitz helps with Grass and Steel types that seem to be popping up everywhere. I like bringing him in and out pretty regularly
Urshifu also has amazing carry potential. With Aquajet to revenge kill low HP targets, and the main STAB coverage of Close Combat and Surging Strikes that ignore protection, not much can stand in the way. Electric moves and Burn status can counter Urshifu pretty well.
Indeedee-F (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Psychic Surge
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Follow Me
- Aromatherapy
- Expanding Force
- Heal Pulse
Metagross @ Weakness Policy
Ability: Clear Body
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpA
Brave Nature
- Ally Switch
- Zen Headbutt
- Meteor Mash
- Icy Wind
These last two were the hardest spots to fill; Togekiss, Braviary, Alolan-Marowak, Amoongus, Cresselia, Dragapult, Ferrothorn, and Landorus-T have all made appearances with the main four. Indeedee has grown on me, the more I figure out how Psychic Terrain works. Metagross could totally be swapped out for another bulky pivot.
Indeedee can shut down the priority move revenge killers that come in for the boosted Terrakion. With Aromatherapy, Heal Pulse, and Follow Me this pokemon becomes a nice game securing switch-in for Whimscicott after Terrakion gets set up.
Metagross is my bulky pivot option. I needed something that could take a hit on a switch in and abuse Trick Room if needed. With Psychic Terrain, Zen Headbutt becomes a great STAB. Meteor Mash can counter the fairies everywhere and can potentially boost ATK for even more carry potential. Ally Switch is a ton of fun, I like it I can make my opponent uncertain. I didn't know what to pick for a 4th move so I went Icy Wind for speed control, but Metagross is slow and doesn't get to benefit that much from it. Weakness Policy hasn't been activated that often, but it is usually a game securer.
Overall I seem to struggle with the Psychic Terrain+Trick Room+Torkoal combo the most. I typically try to stall out the Psychic Terrain or Trickroom and then sick Urshifu after them. Aquajet to weaken Eruption, then Surging Strikes and Aquajet again can finish Torkoal off in Sun, but not before they can wreck a good few mons on my team. If they have a decent team to back up that strategy after it's over, I will lose. Definitely open to maybe adding another terrain setter like Rillaboom instead of Metagross.
My favorite thing about this strategy is the mind games I can play. Will I lead Urshifu+Incineroar or Terrakion+Whimsicott? If you anticipate one and I send the other that's usually an easy path to a win. An entry Incineroar with Fake Out can put a dent in an aggressive team start and Urshifu can take out many pokemon instantly with unblockable Surging Strikes. Or if I go with the other opening pair, most will forfeit after Terrakion gets set up with Beat Up and Tailwind support. Ally Switch on Metagross and Follow Me on Indeedee also adds to the uncertainty I can make my opponent face. Weakness Policy turns what the opponent thought would be a good move, into a bad one. If I anticipate a priority move I can swap in Indeedee to shut it down, rendering that turn a waste.
Anyways, I'm looking for some EV and move-set advice primarily, also looking at possibly switching out Metagross for a different bulky pivot. Any and all advice would be appreciated. Thank you all!
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