Rate Team Epic Moo

[JCM]

This is my first RMT, so it might not be that good, but I'm not new to competitive Pokemon so the team should be okay.

At a Glance:

The Team:

Floatzel @ Choice Band
Ability: Water Veil
EVs: 4 HP/252 Atk/252 Spe
Nature: Jolly

-Switcheroo
-Waterfall
-Aqua Jet
-Crunch

Floatzel, I've discovered, makes a fantastic sweeper. With a Choice Band, it has a quite reasonable attack stat, and access to Switcheroo allows it to cripple walls and special attackers alike. I use Water Veil over the normal Swift Swim because I can very often lock an unsuspecting Misdreavus into Will-O-Wisp, and basically ruin it for the rest of the game (I see Misdreavus a lot). Crunch and Waterfall get decent coverage together, and neither is a very bad move for me to be choice-locked into. Aqua Jet is excellent for picking off weakened foes, mostly when I come in on a death. Floatzel really helps the team with Switcheroo.

Sneasel @ Focus Sash
Ability: Inner Focus
EVs: 4 Def/252 Atk/252 Spe
Nature: Jolly

-Swords Dance
-Ice Punch
-Low Kick
-Taunt

Swords Dance Sneasel almost always nets a few KOes, and can often sweep a whole team if given adequate time to set up. With a focus sash, it's very likely I will be able to get an attack boost before I fear death, or I can go without a boost and be temporarily safe from priority moves. Sneasel likes to come in as a lead, or on a death, as it hates switching in due to extreme frailty. Sneasel also relies on Wartortle to spin away hazards that would break its Focus Sash. Unfortunately, Pokemon who resist Ice Punch and are light or not weak to low kick (Read: Fire types) can easily wall this set, so I'm considering replacing Taunt with Bite or something. Unfortunately, a blazing fast Taunt works like a charm to force switches and allow for set-up, so I don't really want to remove it.

Wartortle @ Eviolite
Ability: Torrent
EVs: 248 HP/8 Def/252 SpD
Nature: Calm

-Rapid Spin
-Scald
-Refresh
-Seismic Toss

Wartortle is, in my opinion, the only viable spinner in the tier. With 248/8/252 defensive investment, I maximize Eviolite potency by having my defensive stats be round numbers. I run specially defensive since I am targeted with mostly special attacks, such as Giga Drain and Thunderbolt. Rapid Spin is the whole reason I use Wartortle as otherwise hazards would make my team sad. Scald is great for burning foes hoping to attack on my weaker physical side, and also does decent damage. Refresh is nice if I don't want to switch for Miltank or if it's fainted, as it gets rid of pesky status. Seismic Toss generally does more damage than neutral Scald, and I use it for back-up. I'm thinking Haze might be a nice move to run, but I'm not sure which move to ditch.

Amoonguss @ Leftovers
Ability: Effect Spore
EVs: 252 HP/252 Def/4 SpD
Nature: Bold

-Spore
-Giga Drain
-Clear Smog
-Synthesis

Amoonguss has incredible type synergy with the rest of my team. It resists grass- and electric- types which plague my waters, together the rest of my team resists all of its' weaknesses, Miltank and it form a very nice defensive core, it gets Spore, has a high HP stat, I could ramble on about how great Amoonguss fits into my team for eternity if I wanted to. The thing is, I don't. Out of just about all the types in existence, I think Amoonguss fits the best into my team. Spore is great to abuse, putting one Pokemon out of commission on the foes team and allowing Sneasel to come in and set up. Synthesis provides semi-reliable healing, while Clear Smog is very useful for annihilating the foe's boosts and providing a reliable stab attack. Giga Drain restores my health and rips apart bulky waters such as Quagsire, and even un-invested can do ~25% to the (Assuming neutrality).

Miltank @ Leftovers
Ability: Thick Fat
EVs: 252 HP/252 Def/4 SpD
Nature: Impish

-Milk Drink
-Heal Bell
-Stealth Rock
-Body Slam

Ah, Miltank. The Pokemon that my team name comes from. Miltank is fairly bulky, and can take several hits and reliably heal itself. It also has a great support move pool with gems like Stealth Rock and Heal Bell. Excellent abilities in Thick Fat and Sap Sipper, and good bulk make it a natural choice for a NU utility/wall Pokemon. Stab Body Slam is also nifty, and base 100 speed is unusually fast for a wall. Miltank and Amoonguss form a difficult to crack defensive core, as they, for the most part, resist each others weaknesses. The choice between Thick Fat and Sap Sipper was tough, but I decided I wanted resistances to two common attacking types over immunity to a rare one, Sap Sipper is illegal with Stealth Rock, and Thick Fat is what makes Amoonguss-Miltank work so well.

Luxray @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 4 HP/252 Atk/252 Spe
Nature: Jolly

-Wild Charge
-Crunch
-Superpower
-Ice Fang

I chose Luxray for two main reasons: I needed an electric- type, and I wanted (That's not the same as needed) a Pokemon with intimidate. I decided that, with intimidate and all, it'll be switching a lot, so why don't I give it a set that already switches a lot? I opted Choice Scarf over Choice Band since I needed a revenge killer, and Luxray is pretty good at revenge killing if you use it right. The lack of a good physical electric- types stab hurts it, but I just used Wild Charge. Ice Fang completes a pseudo BoltBeam combo, and Crunch covers Psychic types who otherwise bother my team in general. Superpower is a good hit-and-run move, and covers potential checks such as Regirock.

Conclusion: This team is quite successful-(my best NU team yet). I had a problem with squeezing everything I needed into 6 spaces, and you may have noticed I have no user of Spikes/Toxic Spikes. Another unfortunate drawback of my team is there are weaknesses to ground/rock and no resistance to them. Also, if Amoonguss faints (Which it rarely does) switching is made very difficult. My only resistance to psychic is Sneasel, who loathes coming in on anything but psychic so Sneasel isn't a very good fix, considering Amoonguss is weak to psychic, but Sneasel is better than nothing.

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Considered Additions: Please post your thoughts on each one of these. Thanks to everyone who has contributed their ideas!

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Rotom-S @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 4 HP/252 SpA/252 Spe
Nature: Timid

-Volt Switch
-Air Slash/Shadow Ball
-Hidden Power [Ice]/Signal Beam
-Trick

Can't really go in depth on the set here, as I haven't tried it. Volt Switch scouts, Air Slash or Shadow Ball and Hidden Power [Ice] or Signal Beam for coverage, Trick cripples walls or ditches Choice Scarf.

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Vileplume @ Leftovers
Ability: Effect Spore
EVs: 252 HP/252 Def/4 SpD
Nature: Bold

-Aromatherapy
-Moonlight
-Giga Drain
-Sludge Bomb

Aromatherapy frees up a moveslot on Miltank, Moonlight provides semi-reliable healing, Giga Drain is stab and heals a bit, Sludge Bomd gets stab and acceptable coverage in the tier with Giga Drain.

 

[WhiteDMist]

Nice team! I will say that Pinsir and Torterra can both trouble your team if Amoonguss/Sneasel is gone. Musharna can also easily tear through your Pokes with an offensive set, or even its Calm Mind Set. You have no way to tank Rock-type attacks, though they aren't quite as common as Ground-type moves.

My biggest recommendation would probably be to replace Luxray with either Rotom-S or Eelektross. Rotom can beat most of the threats I mentioned, though Rocks will be troublesome. Eelektross will be able to deal with Rock more easily, but will be beaten by Mold Breaker Pinsir and Rampardos. Regardless, they patch up your most glaring weaknesses. Rotom would probably be better since you have Wartortle to spin Rocks away and it has Will-o-wisp to weaken physical attackers more reliably. Though I would also recommend a Scarf set so that you can Trick Musharna and other Psychic types. Hope I helped!

 

[watashi]

My biggest recommendation would probably be to replace Luxray with either Rotom-S or Eelektross. Rotom can beat most of the threats I mentioned, though Rocks will be troublesome. Eelektross will be able to deal with Rock more easily, but will be beaten by Mold Breaker Pinsir and Rampardos. Regardless, they patch up your most glaring weaknesses. Rotom would probably be better since you have Wartortle to spin Rocks away and it has Will-o-wisp to weaken physical attackers more reliably. Though I would also recommend a Scarf set so that you can Trick Musharna and other Psychic types. Hope I helped!

I agree with this suggestion. A Scarfed version of Rotom-S would give you a reliable switch-in to ground types which give you troubles as you stated. Currently, Gorebyss can sweep your team quite easily and Rotom-S makes sure that will never happen. Fighting types can also give you trouble if Amoonguss is gone and Rotom checks them really well. I can also see the common combo of Tangela + Quagsire giving your sweepers a lot of trouble since they are all physically oriented; Rotom can Trick Quagsires looking to come in for free on Volt Switch and threaten Tangela with Air Slash.

 

[kouta4000]

Don't really work all that well sorry

 

[JCM]

WhitDMist & FLCL: Thanks! Yeah, I was thinking Rotom-S might be a good choice. Only problem is that I lose Luxray's intimidate. That's no biggy though...

kouta4000: You seriously made an account just so you could troll my team?
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 1
Yeah, I thought so. Please try to give helpful advice on why it's bad, seeing as I have been quite successful with it and I don't see any major flaws, just some minor holes here and there which is the whole reason I posted the team, so I could have them fixed.

 

[ebeast]

WhitDMist & FLCL: Thanks! Yeah, I was thinking Rotom-S might be a good choice. Only problem is that I lose Luxray's intimidate. That's no biggy though...

kouta4000: You seriously made an account just so you could troll my team?
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 1
Yeah, I thought so. Please try to give helpful advice on why it's bad, seeing as I have been quite successful with it and I don't see any major flaws, just some minor holes here and there which is the whole reason I posted the team, so I could have them fixed.

To be fair, he signed up on April 15th so he didn't make an account to troll your team, but he certainly signed on just for it! Though admittedly this can could use some revising. For one thing I agree with Rotom-S over Luxray. Luxray is a very lackluster Pokemon, especially when you're using a Scarf set. Other things I would personally change are Floatzel for Samurott and Sneasel for Jynx.

Samurott is much bulkier than Floatzel and can afford to take a hit and swift set sup a Swords Dance to decimate teams. +2 Megahorn OHKOes Tangela and Vileplume and Amoonguss with Stealth Rock up!! While you're Life Orb recoil wears you down to Torrent range and nothing will want to take a +2 Torrent boosted LO Aqua Jet.

Jynx is probably the best Pokemon in NU at the moment, its so good we are even thinking about banning it! Since you have Wartortle support(TBH a terrible Pokemon and only good at spinning which you are not utilizing to the fullest. Change Refresh for Foresight, you already have Heal Bell support anyways) Jynx is free to switch in as often as it can and unless its broken fury by utilizing Lovely Kiss and the power that none of its checks can take. Jynx is more than likely to take down at least 2 Pokemon every game. Her ability Dry Skin also gives you the ability to switch in on Water-type attacks from the likes of Samurott, Alomomola, or even other Wartortle.

With Jynx you really want that Sleep Clause to be inactive so that Jynx can sleep its counters, for that you should change Amoonguss for Vileplume(Who is arguable better anyways due to similar bulk to Amoongus, better speed, and much better Special Attack) and replace Heal Bell on Miltank for Thunder Wave or Toxic as Vileplume will have Aromatherapy.

Jynx

Jynx (F) @ Life Orb
Trait: Dry Skin
EVs: 252 SAtk / 4 SDef / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Lovely Kiss
- Ice Beam
- Psyshock
- Focus Blast

Samurott

Samurott (M) @ Life Orb
Trait: Torrent
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Swords Dance
- Waterfall
- Megahorn
- Aqua Jet

Rotom-S

Rotom-S @ Choice Scarf
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 252 SAtk / 4 SDef / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Volt Switch
- Air Slash
- Thunderbolt / Hidden Power Grass
- Trick
Thunderbolt or HP Grass is a toss up. On one hand it TBolt lets you revenge kill any Gorebyss guaranteed, although you also have Jynx to counter it. On the other HP Grass lets you catch Golem off guard, although you have Amoonguss/Vileplume to counter it. :/

Vileplume

Vileplume (F) @ Leftovers
Trait: Effect Spore
EVs: 244 HP / 216 Def / 48 SAtk
Bold Nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Aromatherapy
- Moonlight
- Giga Drain
- Sludge Bomb

 

[ZoroDark]

You can switch volt switch for crunch on luxray becauseof crunch on Floatzel. I'

 

[JCM]

EBeast: Well, the thing is, this team was built for Floatzel and Sneasel. http://www.smogon.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3465559&page=2 -- I'm testing them for research week. Jynx is an incredible Pokemon, but a bit too classic for me. Also, Floatzel creams any non-scarf Jynx. Very good recommendations anyways, and I'm currently testing a version with Rotom-S. Not working as well as I'd hoped...

ZoroDark: Why? Volt Switch has very lacking power with no investment, while useful, I find Crunch much better for back-up. Just because a team has one move/item on it doesn't mean another won't help. I have tested Volt Switch, just don't find it as useful and always find myself wishing I had Crunch.

 

[WhiteDMist]

I respect your decision to try and keep Floatzel and Sneasel, so I'll try and keep within that limit. After trying out your team for a couple of hours, I've noticed that Sneasel hasn't really been doing anything. Since it only has 2 weak offensive moves, it is limited in damage capabilities. Also, because it has Focus Sash, it is vulnerable to entry hazards; your Wartortle isn't the most consistent Rapid Spinner in the tier, meaning that it has to either lead or wait until late game for a chance to sweep. I would either change its set to a Choice Band or LO set to maximize its damage output without using either Swords Dance or Taunt. With the rise of Gurdurr, Focus Sash loses a lot of value as well.

My next recommendation is to replace Amoonguss with Vileplume. Sure, Amoonguss has slightly higher defenses, but Vileplume has more Speed, Sp Atk, and Aromatherapy. Also, Effect Spore reduces the effectiveness of Spore since the opponent tends to get statused right when you go for Spore :/. Vileplume frees up a move slot on Miltank so that you can use a more useful move, such as a status move or another offensive move. Personally, I tried Toxic along with replacing Body Slam with Earthquake.

Speaking of Miltank, I REALLY recommend switching its EVs to a physically Defensive set, because it isn't really that useful as a Special wall. The only special moves you really tank are Fire and Ice moves anyways, and with max HP investment, you are only 2HKO by Specs Magmortar's Fire Blast anyways. Max Defense means that a large portion of the physical attackers of the tier can no longer break through your team (as well as several of the better Special Attackers).

Finally, I also agree with EBeast that you should replace Refresh on Wartortle with another move (Foresight, Toxic, Haze, etc.) since it has no recovery so status doesn't matter too much regardless. Otherwise, you could always try a different Rapid Spinner. Armaldo doesn't provide any helpful resistances, but has considerable offensive power, and can also set up Stealth Rocks if you wish. Cryogonal provides a decent resistance to Ice and can be a excellent Special Wall to replace Miltank. I hope you'll consider these options! :)

 

[JCM]

Thank you so much WhiteDMist! Yeah, Sneasel is definitely my worst member. I was already considering physically defensive set on Miltank, this just makes me lean more heavily towards doing so. Unfortunately, without the special defense EVs, Magmortar rips apart my team. I'm still very seriously considering this trade-off. Also, all other viable NU spinners are weak to SR (Correct me if I'm wrong) and Cryogonal has an abysmal defense stat that won't be doing me any favors. Yeah, I probably will replace Refresh on Wartortle, just I love not needing to switch to Miltank every time Toxic is used. I did some test runs, and I honestly prefer Amoonguss to Vileplume, but it's worth putting in the potential changes. Spore is far more reliable than Sleep Powder, which has let me down too many times. Amoonguss' bulk is also crucial to be as high as possible because if it dies I'm screwed. Yeah, I do hate Effect Spore ruining Spore, but it's helped me many-a-time too, paralyzing foes who try to crack my defenses when the Sleep Clause is already up. Para-hax from Body Slam are too valuable to miss, often, I find my foes already statused. Earthquake would be a great potential replacement to Heal Bell if I do include Vileplume.

EDIT: I just realized that, strangely enough, while Amoonguss and Miltank make an incredible defensive core, Miltank is Amoonguss' greatest enemy with the possible exception of Magmortar.

 

[ebeast]

Well actually Cryogonal is by far the best Rapid Spinner in NU and even RU(hence why it will likely become RU in 2 months when tier shifts happens) The reason for this is because it can actually beat Ghost-type Pokemon one on one, be it the defensive set which makes for a decent special wall or the offensive set that also can deal good damage while getting its job of beating Ghost-types down.

This is the set I have been using in both RU and NU because it is offensive enough to deal good damage against teams, speed to outspeed Ghost-type Pokemon, and still has good enough bulk to take hits.

Cryogonal @ Leftovers
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 80 HP / 252 SAtk / 176 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Rapid Spin
- Recover
- Ice Beam
- Hidden Power [Ground]

At this point in time Research Week 8 is over and the new one will come out so you might as well just use the best Pokemon you can. Also "I'm testing them to see if they seem broken" That made me lol extremely hard. Research Week is not to test if Pokemon are broken its to check if some are even viable at all ROFL

 

[JCM]

Then how come they include very good Pokemon (In the tier) for research week?

 

[WhiteDMist]

The research week Pokes are rarely used, and Research Week brings them into the limelight as hidden gems of the tier (like Kangaskhan and Tauros). Magmortar will still 2HKO Miltank with Focus Blast anyways, and physically defensive Miltank will still take Fire Blast just fine, even from Specs Magmortar. Cryogonal may be weak to Stealth Rocks, but at least it has reliable recovery and the ability to beat Ghosts. As for the possibility of Vileplume, I was more thinking of:


Vileplume @ Leftovers
Trait: Effect Spore
EVs: 252 HP / 208 Def / 48 SpA
Bold Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Aromatherapy
- Giga Drain
- Sludge Bomb
- Moonlight

Oh, and btw, I've discovered that your team is walled by Miltank and Amoongus/Vileplume as well. May want to think Jynx over! :)

 

[JCM]

I just give enemy Amoonguss a CB from floatzel and be done with them, same with Miltank. Haven't seen any Vileplume yet. I already have the Amoonguss-Vileplume tradeoff under possibilities, but I'm not fond of it. Cryogonal's defense is the reason it makes me hesitant. I gave it a quick spin (Pardon the punn) and it worked better than I had expected, although I found myself sorely missing Wartortle. As for the Miltank EV trade, sure, Focus Blast 2HKOes anyways, but there's always Milk Drink while I scout for misses...

EDIT: I'm now running physically defensive Miltank indefinitely.