Rate: Sandstorm team

Krommetje

Hello, I'm new to the competitive battling and played the first week with a team I got from the Internet. But yesterday I made an own team. Since my favorite pokemon are Hippowdon and Swampert I made a sandstorm team... It isn't really a team that benefits from the sandstorm but more to let the oppenent lose HP every turn.

> means switch to

My team

hippowdon.png

Hippowdon (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 252 HP/116 Def/140 SDef
Impish nature (+Def, -SAtk)
- Earthquake
- Roar ( When I posted this I had Ice Fang)
- Stealth Rock
- Slack Off

My lead. At first I had a T-tar but it didn't worked out very well. Hippowdon has more defence and can restore itself with Slack Off if its HP gets down. Also it summons up the sandstorm and sets up stealth rocks very reliable since besides Empoleon with Hydro Pump there are no starters (That I faced) that can OHKO it. Earthquake is for the common steel types

Weaknesses
Water > Kingdra
Grass > Heatran
Ice> Heatran

kingdra.png


Kingdra (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Swift Swim
EVs: 16 HP/252 Atk/4 Def/232 Spd
Adamant nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Dragon Dance
- Outrage
- Waterfall
- Substitute

I replaced Scizor with a Kingdra because Kingdra also only has one weakness and Scizor didn't really worked out quite well. If I can switch in against a pokemon who can't counter it it can set up substitute. Then use one or 2 DD's and sweep as till it dies. I battled 10 matches with it and only one time I couldn't set it up. Outrage and Waterfall are logic I think

Weaknesses
Dragon > Heatran/Jirachi

Heatran.png


Heatran (M) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 4 HP/252 Spd/252 SAtk
Timid nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Earth Power
- Hidden Power [Grass] (First Explosion)
- Flamethrower
- Dragon Pulse

At first I had a Metagross instead of Heatran but I almost lost to every opponent who had a Heatran on his or her team. Earth Power is to kill other Heatran as well as some common pokemon who are weak to it. Explosion will take all pokemon except Skarmory and Bronzong with it. Flamethrower is for all Grass, Bug and other pokemon weak to Fire and Dragon Pulse is a filler for among others Salemence. Choice Scarf so it can outrun or have at least a speed tie against other Heatran

Weaknesses
Ground > Latias
Fight > Latias
Water > Kingdra

mamoswine.png


Mamoswine (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Oblivious
EVs: 252 Atk/252 Spd
Adamant nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Ice Shard
- Ice Fang
- Stone Edge
- Earthquake


Gliscor worked well in the beginning but it almost never could set up good and against any pokemon with priority moves it was done for. So I wanted some more power to sweep and since I like Mamoswine and it is also good I choose for it. Ice shard for Priority. Ice fang is stronger so I use it for the pokemon I can outrun. EQ is stab and Stone edge for type coverage

Weaknesses
Fire > Heatran
Water > Kingdra
Grass > Heatran
Fight > Latias
Steel > Heatran

jirachi.png


Jirachi @ Expert Belt
Ability: Serene Grace
EVs: 252 Atk/252 Spd/4 SAtk
Naive nature (+Spd, -SDef)
- Fire Punch
- Ice Punch
- Iron Head
- Grass Knot

I usually save Jirachi untill late game because with it's good type coverage it can almost always finish my opponent's team. Fire punch for Steel, Grass and Scizor. Ice punch for the dragons. Iron head because of the 60% flinch change witch can help me take out Blissey or Snorlax. And Grass knot because I didn't have a single grass type attack on my team and I had a difficult time against Swampert

Weaknesses
Fire > Heatran
Ground > Latias


latias.png


Latias (F) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 4 HP/252 Spd/252 SAtk
Modest nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Dragon Pulse
- Surf
- Thunderbolt
- Trick

Latias is my only pokemon that doesn't resist sandstorm. But it is also my only pokemon that can easily counter other Latias and is always quicker than other Salemence because of its Choice Scarf. With Thunderbolt it can outrun and OHKO Gyarados even after a Dragon Dance. Surf and Dragon Pulse are the attacks I usually use and Trick is to shut up Blissey and other special walls

Weaknesses
Ice > Heatran
Bug > Heatran
Ghost > Heatran
Dragon > Heatran
Dark > Heatran
--------------------------

I have played 49 fights with it and I won 37 of them. So please tell me what you think of this team and if there is anything that you think I should change and I will consider it. Thanks.
 
On Heatran I would consider Fire Blast > Flamethrower and possibly Hidden Power Grass / Ice. Also, you placed the Occa Berry on Scizor, but in my opinion he's too frail and x4 weakness is too big for him to really make use of it. Instead give him Life Orb to make bigger hits. Roost is also a possibility.
Other than that it looks pretty solid.

-Terywj
 
I chose dragon pulse over HP ice because I can hit Kingdra for SE too. And I lost a few battles when I didn't had Latias against him. And sometimes my latias dies early in the game.. So I dont have a counter for him. But I will try out HP grass a few battles maybe it could be useful..

And about Fire Blist over Flamethrower.. Flamethrower is more reliable and I dont wanna lose a battle because I miss. I think its personal preference but maybe I will try out
 
On Hippowdon, run Roar over Ice Fang. Ice Fang is basically worthless considering its horrible power and mediocre accuracy. Roar can phaze and spread around SR damage.

Do not run U-Turn on SD Scizor, its ruins your stat boosts. Run X-Scissor, Quick Attack, or Roost. Scizor wants Life Orb.

Swampert wants Roar over Toxic, because Toxic really isn't going to hurt those bulky pokemon, since they either stat up and sweep anyways (Gyarados) or have rest (Suicune, etc.). Protect also works.

Jirachi wants Thunder Wave, U-Turn, or Body Slam over Grass Knot, it takes a surprising investment to hurt Swampert in a satisfactory. Twave lets you do something against Heatran.

Latias wants the set Draco Meteor, Surf, Thunderbolt, and Trick.

This team doesn't even use Sandstorm efficiently, so I'm not sure why you call it a "sandstorm" team. I'm not going to bother thinking about possible threats, although SubHeatran among others comes to mind.
 
I agree with Tery. Scizor is too frail to make use of the occa berry.

Instead of explosion on your choice scarfed heatran I'd recommend Hidden power grass since you already have dragon pulse to deal damage to dragons that might switch in. I found hidden power grass is quite useful in killing off swamperts which would cause problems for your heatran. I understand your jirachi has grass knot which is good but your still gonna have to face the problem of being hit with swampert's STAB earthquake.

Other than that I don't see a single pokemon that might abuse Sandstorm. Why not keep a bright powder Cacturne or bright powder Gliscor. That would help with some nice evasion hax. Or you might want to try some sturdier pokemon like Cradily which can really stall out your team in the Sand.

Overall your team is pretty sturdy, but you can use sandstorm to your advantage if you take into consideration the pokemon I listed above.
 
But I dont know wich pokemon I should drop.. I think of Swampert in that case but if you have an other idea

And my Jirachi kills Swampert 9/10 times with grass knot so it helps quite well.
 
Thanks for the tip on Gliscor. It works really well. I also changed some attacks people mentioned here and it works. So thanks everyone:D
 
Since Heatran is not using Explosion, I recommend using a Timid nature over Naive. Since your Heatran does not carry any physical moves, there is no reason to lower your Special Defense when you can instead lower the stat Heatran is not using, which is its Attack stat. By using Timid, Heatran's Special Defense will not be lowered, meaning that it will be able to switch-in on special moves better, such as Rotom-A's Thunderbolt's.

You might want to reconsider using Trick again on Latias. With Trick, Latias can shut down Blissey. As it uses Toxic on Latias, you can go to Scizor and get a free Swords Dance as it switches out. Trick also has the added benefit of ruining last minute stat up users such as Calm Mind Suicune. Hidden Power Fire does not really have a use since Scizor is taken care of by your Heatran and Jirachi's Fire Punch, meaning you can use Trick instead. Also, is there a reason to use Timid on Gliscor. Timid is used on a Baton pass Scizor that has no attacks, however, you have Earthquake, meaning Timid will reduce its power. You might want to consider using Joly instead. It still gives you a +Speed nature and does not make Earthquake weaker. You might also want to consider Roost over X-Scissor on Scizor, as Roost will allow you to heal and continue to use Swords Dance and extending Scizor's overall survivability. X-Scissor does not provide you with much coverage other then hitting Pokemon like Celebi super effectively, even though Celebi can outspeed and deal immense damage with Hidden Power Fire. So, that makes Roost an alternative over X-Scissor if you are willing to try it.

I see you had a Tyranitar over Hippowdon. I'd consider going back to Tyranitar. Your attempting to sweep with Swords Dance Scizor, who apprecaites having Pokemon such as the Rotom formes and Zapdos dead or weakened, allowing Scizor to sweep better. Tyranitar can Pursuit the Rotom Appliances, leaving a massive dent in them, most likely killing Rotom-A, allowing Scizor to sweep without the fear of a Rotom forme coming into stop it from sweeping. Tyranitar can also dispose of Zapdos with a STAB Stone Edge, which also benefits Scizor, as it will appreciate Zapdos gone since it will not have to fear a Heat Wave from said Zapdos. With Tyranitar's high Special Defense stat, it will be able to switch-in on Zapdos, Rotom, including other threats such as Jolteon and Latias, and then proceed to set up Stealth Rock or damage them. You really do not lose much from losing Hippowdon. With Tyranitar, you gain the ability to take out some Pokemon that can hurt your Scizor, such as the aforementioned Rotom. You also gain a better switch-in to Latias. The only real thing you lose with Hippowdon is Defense, however, Pokemon such as Tyranitar and Lucario that Hippowdon handles, are taken care of by Gliscor and Jirachi.

I recommend using Lum Berry, Stone Edge, Stealth Rock, Pursuit, Crunch, Careful nature, 252 HP/128 Atk/128 SpD. 128 Attack EVs puts Tyranitar at an Attack stat of 336, killing the standard lead Roserade and Smeargle 100% with Sandstorm factored in. Lum Berry is useful on leading Tyranitar due t the increase of Roserade and Smeargle leads. With Lum Berry, Tyranitar will abosrb Spore and Sleep Powder respectively, and proceed to kill them with Crunch or Stone Edge. Tyranitar can also set up Stealth Rock on the likes of Azelf and Heatran leads. Lum Berry also protects you from Rotom-A's Will-O-Wisp, making it an easy kill with a STAB Crunch or Pursuit. Gliscor + Tyranitar work really well together, as Tyranitar attracts Fighting-types such as Lucario onto the field, which is taken care of by Gliscor, while Gliscor attracts Pokemon such as Latias, whom Tyranitar can kill. The Special Defense and HP EVs allows Tyranitar to take attacks from Choice Specs Jolteon and Latias' Surf's better.
 
Well I changed HP Fire back to Trick. Some nature changes. Thanks for that Bloo.
If will try out T-Tar today and I will see wich is better.
And about X-Scizor. It also hits the Psychic types I can't hit SE for SE damage. SO I think that is the superior option over Roost

Isn't it a better idea to run some Def Ev's over SpDef because the sandstream boosts his SpD 1.5 times?

T-Tar doesn't work for me. it gets KO'd every time and I only get up SR. With Hippowdon I got up SR always and usually take out one more pokemon or keep it for late game. So I think I will get back to Hippowdon if T-tar isn't working for me this afternoon either
 
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