This team was built based on Alex Olgoza's(US Nationals winner) team building guide(Using the Bug/Water/Electric Core) with the tyranitar and gyarados from Adib Alam's US Nationals team that got him second place, just behind Alez Olgoza.
The team has a lot of specific counters and synergies between the Pokemon
This is a VGC team, pokemon from Kalos Pokedex only, choose 4 Pokemon for a double battle. Stall teams, entry hazards and baton passes are not very common in VGC due t the time limit.
Gyarados @ Safety Goggles
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Protect
- Dragon Dance
- Waterfall
- Ice Fang
Gyarados synergizes with Tyranitar, both are a strong lead. Many teams start with Talonflame, both Tyranitar and Gyarados counter Talonflame. The safety goggles prevents sandstorm damage from Tyranitar, and this makes it a good lead also because it is not affected by spore and rage powder.
Tyranitar @ Chople Berry
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpA
Modest Nature
- Ice Beam
- Dark Pulse
- Rock Tomb
- Flamethrower
I needed a special attacking dragon counter, and based on Adib's team it seems to work well with Gyarados. Rock tomb is useful for opponents that rely on their speed more than anything, and the other moves are for type coverage/ Chople berry has saved me many times, fighting moves are pretty much the only way to 1hko tyranitar, and now it takes at least 2 hits.
Flygon @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Earthquake
- Rock Slide
- Dragon Claw
- U-turn
Flygon does not have the best stats, but I needed a 6th Pokemon and flygon fit the spot perfectly. I had no other Earthquake user or Rockslide user, and I was still uncomfortable with my Garchomp matchup(Dragon Claw + Levitate = Win vs Garchomp). Since it is only useful for certian opponents, I use U-Turn to get it out quick.
Mienshao @ Focus Sash
Ability: Reckless
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Acrobatics
- Fake Out
- Quick Guard
- High Jump Kick
This is my second option for a lead other than Gyarados/Tyranitar, This mienshao outspeeds Kangaskhan with Fake Out, and with Quick guard it counters Prankster and Talonflame. When focus sash is destroyed, acrobatics will be doing a base 110 damage.
Scizor @ Choice Band
Ability: Technician
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Bullet Punch
- Aerial Ace
- Night Slash
- U-turn
I feel that Scizor is the weakest link, I wanted priority on my team(other than fake out) and Night Slash and Bullet Punch help with my type coverage. I have only used Scizo a few times, and am not sure if it fits into my team well.
Manectric @ Manectite
Ability: Lightning Rod
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
- Overheat
- Volt Switch
- Thunderbolt
- Protect
Manectric provides a good switch-in on electric users like rotom, and when paired with Gyarados, it negates Gyarados's biggest weakness. Provided a much needed high-damage firee move.
So my team focuses on a lot of switches, with 2 U-Turns and a Volt Switch they are very elusive, along with 2 Intimidate users makes switching very strong. One problem I have is with the Mienshao/Tyranitar problem, if I switch in Mienshao and sandstorm is up, mienshao is KOed by sandstorm is activated. I do not want to remove either Pokemon, I think I will just try to attune them to counter different matchups, so they are oftentimes not used with each other.
Any feedback is appreciated!
The team has a lot of specific counters and synergies between the Pokemon
This is a VGC team, pokemon from Kalos Pokedex only, choose 4 Pokemon for a double battle. Stall teams, entry hazards and baton passes are not very common in VGC due t the time limit.
Gyarados @ Safety Goggles
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Protect
- Dragon Dance
- Waterfall
- Ice Fang
Gyarados synergizes with Tyranitar, both are a strong lead. Many teams start with Talonflame, both Tyranitar and Gyarados counter Talonflame. The safety goggles prevents sandstorm damage from Tyranitar, and this makes it a good lead also because it is not affected by spore and rage powder.
Tyranitar @ Chople Berry
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpA
Modest Nature
- Ice Beam
- Dark Pulse
- Rock Tomb
- Flamethrower
I needed a special attacking dragon counter, and based on Adib's team it seems to work well with Gyarados. Rock tomb is useful for opponents that rely on their speed more than anything, and the other moves are for type coverage/ Chople berry has saved me many times, fighting moves are pretty much the only way to 1hko tyranitar, and now it takes at least 2 hits.
Flygon @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Earthquake
- Rock Slide
- Dragon Claw
- U-turn
Flygon does not have the best stats, but I needed a 6th Pokemon and flygon fit the spot perfectly. I had no other Earthquake user or Rockslide user, and I was still uncomfortable with my Garchomp matchup(Dragon Claw + Levitate = Win vs Garchomp). Since it is only useful for certian opponents, I use U-Turn to get it out quick.
Mienshao @ Focus Sash
Ability: Reckless
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Acrobatics
- Fake Out
- Quick Guard
- High Jump Kick
This is my second option for a lead other than Gyarados/Tyranitar, This mienshao outspeeds Kangaskhan with Fake Out, and with Quick guard it counters Prankster and Talonflame. When focus sash is destroyed, acrobatics will be doing a base 110 damage.
Scizor @ Choice Band
Ability: Technician
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Bullet Punch
- Aerial Ace
- Night Slash
- U-turn
I feel that Scizor is the weakest link, I wanted priority on my team(other than fake out) and Night Slash and Bullet Punch help with my type coverage. I have only used Scizo a few times, and am not sure if it fits into my team well.
Manectric @ Manectite
Ability: Lightning Rod
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
- Overheat
- Volt Switch
- Thunderbolt
- Protect
Manectric provides a good switch-in on electric users like rotom, and when paired with Gyarados, it negates Gyarados's biggest weakness. Provided a much needed high-damage firee move.
So my team focuses on a lot of switches, with 2 U-Turns and a Volt Switch they are very elusive, along with 2 Intimidate users makes switching very strong. One problem I have is with the Mienshao/Tyranitar problem, if I switch in Mienshao and sandstorm is up, mienshao is KOed by sandstorm is activated. I do not want to remove either Pokemon, I think I will just try to attune them to counter different matchups, so they are oftentimes not used with each other.
Any feedback is appreciated!
