I am STILL learning new jack pokemon coming here from Johto and have been battling at showdown. My Johto team was HP grass alakazam, lapras, sleep talk skarmory, golem, machamp and doubleteam baton pass umbreon. I was unable to even re-create the team as there's no doubleteam anymore and Umbreon isn't the special tank it used to be. I have tried DOZENS of teams, trying to fix holes against new pokemon, abilities and strategies as well as adopt ones that are useful such as healing wish Arceus which was very helpful, but not bulky enough for my preferred "pure attack" strategy. I don't like using stat attacks and have been building this team to overcome them. I prefer "expert belt" style pokemon that are flexible enough that at least 2 pokemon on my team are strong against any threats.
I have managed to climb from 1100ish to high 1300s with my current team and have very few annoying matchups. lately, it's been Toxapexes that have been driving me nuts because they're so hard to KO. Haven't seen a Sporgle in a while, those are annoying too as well a Sneaslers can be sucker punching my "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em" Calrex Shadow. I've been annoyed 2x in a row where I've taken opposing shadows down to 1hp and having them OHKO my speed maxed fresh shadow. Battle damage should 110% decide = showdowns as far as I'm concerned as damage should slow anything down.
Here's what I'm running (or planning) now:
Calyrex-Shadow @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: As One (Spectrier)
Tera Type: Steel (had tried dark & fairy figuring steel is the most durable type, especially against special attackers like other shadows)
EVs: 252 Def / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Astral Barrage
- Psychic (was using Pollen Puff which was USELESS against a healing Umbreon yesterday & figured it'd help a lot against annoying Toxapexes)
- Giga Drain
- Haze
Kyogre @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Drizzle
Shiny: Yes
Tera Type: Electric
EVs: 252 SpA / 252 SpD / 4 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Surf
- Ice Beam
- Thunder (I call this a "water betrayer" like fairy tera dragons that eat their own types)
- Water Spout (was TRYING to roar, but it proved useless and was annoyed by getting OHKOed swapping into another Kyogre's spout and was all WTF?!)
Zacian-Crowned @ Rusted Sword (only pokemon that has stayed on my teams since the beginning... VERY dependable sweeper)
Ability: Intrepid Sword
Shiny: Yes
Tera Type: Fighting
EVs: 252 Def / 252 SpD / 4 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Moonblast
- Iron Head
- Sacred Sword
- Crunch
Koraidon @ Assault Vest (Focus Sash not needed without counter and assault vest will DEFINTELY give some extra bulk)
Ability: Orichalcum Pulse
Tera Type: Fairy
EVs: 252 Def / 252 SpD / 4 Spe
Careful Nature
- Dragon Claw
- Drain Punch (my main reason for using this because Zamazenta can't do it, if I recall)
- Flare Blitz (was using Shadow Claw & don't like the recoil, but will try flare blitz as suggested. I needed fire which was why I brought Groudon back & have been annoyed by it when my Zacian faces others' Koraidons)
- Close Combat will hit harder than useless counter when playing for a KO, but I prefer drain punch for healing
Counter (have been annoyed by some immune ability and haven't stopped any buffers yet)
Archaludon (M) @ Heavy-Duty Boots (replacing sleep talk Skarmory which just couldn't attack fast enough to be useful)
Ability: Sturdy
Shiny: Yes
Tera Type: Fighting
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Sassy Nature
- Dragon Pulse
- Iron Head
- Body Press
- Mirror Coat (has ENDED many Calrex Shadows which is why I chose this next to last after bringing Groudon back)
Groudon @ Assault Vest (brought back to replace healing wish Arceus which isn't strong or bulky enough for my style, but HAD saved many battles)
Ability: Drought
Shiny: Yes
Tera Type: Steel
EVs: 252 SpA / 252 SpD
Quiet Nature
- Earthquake
- Flamethrower (Eruption? I don't like the sound of 8hp against swaps and screens)
- Solar Beam (instant with drought ability and has caught some water types off guard)
- Stone Edge (my Ho-Oh solution, except for the swapping)
Like I said, I don't like slow stat attacks. I used a hazing Zekrom, but it was just too slow to be useful. I really hate protect/subbing too and tried Urshifu Single Strike for bypassing, but it just wasn't bulky enough, even against Calrexes and I dropped that. I had considered trying a Ho-Oh in Groudon's spot for healing swaps, and was looking to see if maybe there's something better than Arceus for healing wishes... Blissey would seem to be the absolute best with its special walling and would REALLY help make Archaludon much more useful but I've just never been a fan of pink beach balls.
Was considering testing Toxapex for stalling because it has really annoyed me as well as Sporgle (cheap and annoying with ptotect/subbing), Sneasler, or some other spoiler pokemon I'm not remembering with strategy blocking or buffing abilities. I gave serious thought to trying a fear pokemon after getting swept by a lowly Sudowoodo the first time I encountered that devious strategy and would have tried Probopass if it wasn't one of the ugliest most stupid looking pokemon ever. I'm not really a fan of most post-Johto pokemon and consider Kyogre the only looker on my team.
I am MOSTLY happy with my team as it is before going back to psychic Calrex and trying flare blitz on Koraidon for better steel sweeping. I still get surprised by new pokemon and abilities like levitate that I never see coming, but am happy with my defensive spread and attacking flexibility and am rarely getting my team swept by a single spoiler like Calrex having embraced that speed buffer strategy myself and improving my team with mirror coat beatdowns to end that threat.
I will resist tearing ALL of my movesets apart to take flexible attacks away and replace them with slow and undependable in my experience stat attacks like almost useless roar. When I was still trying to make team favorite Umbreon work, I was very annoyed to have mean look negated before I could baton pass after being annoyed by doubleteam being stolen too. My Umbreon used to easily sweep the legendary dogs in Stadium 2. I miss Johoto Poke Cup and the "only one pokemon can be made to sleep" rule that annoyed me very much the first time I face a Sporgle.
Groudon would be the pokemon I would most accept for swapping. Calrex, once it's swapped in and can get rolling is very powerful and I'm loving speed hazing. Kyogre has served me much better than former tank Lapras with stronger attacks and better looks. Zacian has proven to be the most reliable anchor with strong attack and defense. I have even used it without the rusted sword. Archaludon is possibly my team favorite for stopping Calrexes after they start sweeping even if it shares steel with Zacian and dragon with Koraidon. I'm not so much a fan of Koraidon's goofy looks and impossible to shine tacky red colors. That would be my 2nd choice for swapping if I could find a fighting type that fits the rest of my team better that can drain punch for extra endurance.
I've also tried: Mewtwo (my HP grass Alakazam 1st team leader), Eternatus, Swampert, Necrozma-Dusk-Mane, Landorus-Therian, & Palkia and didn't click with those for various reasons.
I'd really like a pokemon that can do at least 3 different attacks, preferably a mix of physical and special that has a super useful special ability like that pseudo-healing wish one, or maybe something that negates common threats. There is just SO MUCH to learn that it's hard to even keep it all in my head starting with 700 pokemon when there were only 250. While I might not agree with all suggestions, I appreciate everyone's input and hope to learn workarounds to many of the new jack things that drive me nuts like weakness negations like "levitating electrics". I like attacks that lock opponents into a single attack. If I could use it to trap opponents for favorable, even immune swaps, that'd be someting I might like to test drive.
I'm very happy to be holding in the high 1300s even pushing 1500s on a good day with the team I already have. It works the way I think and how I've always tried to play when Golem's toxic & Umbreon's double team baton passes were my only stat attacks. I only ever used toxic to check one gym's double teaming electrode and would wear it down simply swapping between Golem and Skarmory to dodge electric & toxic.
I also know that I hardly know anything and could do a lot to improve.
I have managed to climb from 1100ish to high 1300s with my current team and have very few annoying matchups. lately, it's been Toxapexes that have been driving me nuts because they're so hard to KO. Haven't seen a Sporgle in a while, those are annoying too as well a Sneaslers can be sucker punching my "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em" Calrex Shadow. I've been annoyed 2x in a row where I've taken opposing shadows down to 1hp and having them OHKO my speed maxed fresh shadow. Battle damage should 110% decide = showdowns as far as I'm concerned as damage should slow anything down.
Here's what I'm running (or planning) now:
Calyrex-Shadow @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: As One (Spectrier)
Tera Type: Steel (had tried dark & fairy figuring steel is the most durable type, especially against special attackers like other shadows)
EVs: 252 Def / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Astral Barrage
- Psychic (was using Pollen Puff which was USELESS against a healing Umbreon yesterday & figured it'd help a lot against annoying Toxapexes)
- Giga Drain
- Haze
Kyogre @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Drizzle
Shiny: Yes
Tera Type: Electric
EVs: 252 SpA / 252 SpD / 4 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Surf
- Ice Beam
- Thunder (I call this a "water betrayer" like fairy tera dragons that eat their own types)
- Water Spout (was TRYING to roar, but it proved useless and was annoyed by getting OHKOed swapping into another Kyogre's spout and was all WTF?!)
Zacian-Crowned @ Rusted Sword (only pokemon that has stayed on my teams since the beginning... VERY dependable sweeper)
Ability: Intrepid Sword
Shiny: Yes
Tera Type: Fighting
EVs: 252 Def / 252 SpD / 4 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Moonblast
- Iron Head
- Sacred Sword
- Crunch
Koraidon @ Assault Vest (Focus Sash not needed without counter and assault vest will DEFINTELY give some extra bulk)
Ability: Orichalcum Pulse
Tera Type: Fairy
EVs: 252 Def / 252 SpD / 4 Spe
Careful Nature
- Dragon Claw
- Drain Punch (my main reason for using this because Zamazenta can't do it, if I recall)
- Flare Blitz (was using Shadow Claw & don't like the recoil, but will try flare blitz as suggested. I needed fire which was why I brought Groudon back & have been annoyed by it when my Zacian faces others' Koraidons)
- Close Combat will hit harder than useless counter when playing for a KO, but I prefer drain punch for healing
Counter (have been annoyed by some immune ability and haven't stopped any buffers yet)
Archaludon (M) @ Heavy-Duty Boots (replacing sleep talk Skarmory which just couldn't attack fast enough to be useful)
Ability: Sturdy
Shiny: Yes
Tera Type: Fighting
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Sassy Nature
- Dragon Pulse
- Iron Head
- Body Press
- Mirror Coat (has ENDED many Calrex Shadows which is why I chose this next to last after bringing Groudon back)
Groudon @ Assault Vest (brought back to replace healing wish Arceus which isn't strong or bulky enough for my style, but HAD saved many battles)
Ability: Drought
Shiny: Yes
Tera Type: Steel
EVs: 252 SpA / 252 SpD
Quiet Nature
- Earthquake
- Flamethrower (Eruption? I don't like the sound of 8hp against swaps and screens)
- Solar Beam (instant with drought ability and has caught some water types off guard)
- Stone Edge (my Ho-Oh solution, except for the swapping)
Like I said, I don't like slow stat attacks. I used a hazing Zekrom, but it was just too slow to be useful. I really hate protect/subbing too and tried Urshifu Single Strike for bypassing, but it just wasn't bulky enough, even against Calrexes and I dropped that. I had considered trying a Ho-Oh in Groudon's spot for healing swaps, and was looking to see if maybe there's something better than Arceus for healing wishes... Blissey would seem to be the absolute best with its special walling and would REALLY help make Archaludon much more useful but I've just never been a fan of pink beach balls.
Was considering testing Toxapex for stalling because it has really annoyed me as well as Sporgle (cheap and annoying with ptotect/subbing), Sneasler, or some other spoiler pokemon I'm not remembering with strategy blocking or buffing abilities. I gave serious thought to trying a fear pokemon after getting swept by a lowly Sudowoodo the first time I encountered that devious strategy and would have tried Probopass if it wasn't one of the ugliest most stupid looking pokemon ever. I'm not really a fan of most post-Johto pokemon and consider Kyogre the only looker on my team.
I am MOSTLY happy with my team as it is before going back to psychic Calrex and trying flare blitz on Koraidon for better steel sweeping. I still get surprised by new pokemon and abilities like levitate that I never see coming, but am happy with my defensive spread and attacking flexibility and am rarely getting my team swept by a single spoiler like Calrex having embraced that speed buffer strategy myself and improving my team with mirror coat beatdowns to end that threat.
I will resist tearing ALL of my movesets apart to take flexible attacks away and replace them with slow and undependable in my experience stat attacks like almost useless roar. When I was still trying to make team favorite Umbreon work, I was very annoyed to have mean look negated before I could baton pass after being annoyed by doubleteam being stolen too. My Umbreon used to easily sweep the legendary dogs in Stadium 2. I miss Johoto Poke Cup and the "only one pokemon can be made to sleep" rule that annoyed me very much the first time I face a Sporgle.
Groudon would be the pokemon I would most accept for swapping. Calrex, once it's swapped in and can get rolling is very powerful and I'm loving speed hazing. Kyogre has served me much better than former tank Lapras with stronger attacks and better looks. Zacian has proven to be the most reliable anchor with strong attack and defense. I have even used it without the rusted sword. Archaludon is possibly my team favorite for stopping Calrexes after they start sweeping even if it shares steel with Zacian and dragon with Koraidon. I'm not so much a fan of Koraidon's goofy looks and impossible to shine tacky red colors. That would be my 2nd choice for swapping if I could find a fighting type that fits the rest of my team better that can drain punch for extra endurance.
I've also tried: Mewtwo (my HP grass Alakazam 1st team leader), Eternatus, Swampert, Necrozma-Dusk-Mane, Landorus-Therian, & Palkia and didn't click with those for various reasons.
I'd really like a pokemon that can do at least 3 different attacks, preferably a mix of physical and special that has a super useful special ability like that pseudo-healing wish one, or maybe something that negates common threats. There is just SO MUCH to learn that it's hard to even keep it all in my head starting with 700 pokemon when there were only 250. While I might not agree with all suggestions, I appreciate everyone's input and hope to learn workarounds to many of the new jack things that drive me nuts like weakness negations like "levitating electrics". I like attacks that lock opponents into a single attack. If I could use it to trap opponents for favorable, even immune swaps, that'd be someting I might like to test drive.
I'm very happy to be holding in the high 1300s even pushing 1500s on a good day with the team I already have. It works the way I think and how I've always tried to play when Golem's toxic & Umbreon's double team baton passes were my only stat attacks. I only ever used toxic to check one gym's double teaming electrode and would wear it down simply swapping between Golem and Skarmory to dodge electric & toxic.
I also know that I hardly know anything and could do a lot to improve.
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