Revenge of the Ape! (a 5th Gen RMT by Flamer)
First Glance
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Greetings Smogon and welcome to my first RMT, entitled "Revenge of the Ape" I created this team as a way to showcase Infernape, an underrated and dangerous Pokemon that has great potential, despite the general opinion of the community. While this team is designed to showcase Infernape, the premise of the team is to facilitate a sweep using Speed Boost Sharpedo, another underrated threat (hipster me). While the team has had some mild success, it is not at a stage where I can say that it covers everything I need it to. This is why I have come to Smogon, to hopefully get some advice on what to do to improve it.
First Glance
.gif)
Greetings Smogon and welcome to my first RMT, entitled "Revenge of the Ape" I created this team as a way to showcase Infernape, an underrated and dangerous Pokemon that has great potential, despite the general opinion of the community. While this team is designed to showcase Infernape, the premise of the team is to facilitate a sweep using Speed Boost Sharpedo, another underrated threat (hipster me). While the team has had some mild success, it is not at a stage where I can say that it covers everything I need it to. This is why I have come to Smogon, to hopefully get some advice on what to do to improve it.
The teambuilding process began with a simple FGW core of Ferrothorn, Rotom-W and Infernape.
I then realised I needed something to deal with powerful physical attackers such as Terrakion and Scizor. Landorus-T was the perfect fit due to his decent bulk, access to Intimidate, and pressure he puts on opposing teams
I noticed that Lati@s could easily have a field day with my team as well as I was being outsped by anything above 108 base speed so I added Sarfed Kyurem-B to the roster.
I felt that the team needed a set-up sweeper so I added CM Keldeo.
This iteration of the team played decently but after being swept by SD Breloom I swapped out Keldeo for Alakazam. Keldeo was compounding too many weaknesses for the team and dying too fast. Alakazam gave me a speedy revenge killer who answered many threats to my team.
Kyurem-B's coverage issues meant that he was often unable to demolish the opposing team despite a base attack stat of 170 so he was replaced with Moxie Salamence. Salamence was a frightening late-game cleaner with similar power to Kyurem-B after a Moxie boost and much better coverage.
This team was successful but I had a massive weakness to ice-type attacks and after reading Gary2346's and Halycon of Light's "Feast of the Bullfrogs" I was inspired to use Speed Boost Sharpedo as my late-game sweeper. This iteration of the team, like many others prior to it, had a massive weakness to SD Breloom and Alakazan was a shaky check due to +2 Bullet Seed OHKOing through his Sash so I decided to replace him with CM Latias.
In order to protect myself against rain teams better I decided to replace Rotom-W with Jellicent. Jellicents bulk and typing meshed well with the team. I still was having issues with Breloom so I replaced Latias with her Brother.
I then realised I needed something to deal with powerful physical attackers such as Terrakion and Scizor. Landorus-T was the perfect fit due to his decent bulk, access to Intimidate, and pressure he puts on opposing teams
I noticed that Lati@s could easily have a field day with my team as well as I was being outsped by anything above 108 base speed so I added Sarfed Kyurem-B to the roster.
I felt that the team needed a set-up sweeper so I added CM Keldeo.
This iteration of the team played decently but after being swept by SD Breloom I swapped out Keldeo for Alakazam. Keldeo was compounding too many weaknesses for the team and dying too fast. Alakazam gave me a speedy revenge killer who answered many threats to my team.
Kyurem-B's coverage issues meant that he was often unable to demolish the opposing team despite a base attack stat of 170 so he was replaced with Moxie Salamence. Salamence was a frightening late-game cleaner with similar power to Kyurem-B after a Moxie boost and much better coverage.
This team was successful but I had a massive weakness to ice-type attacks and after reading Gary2346's and Halycon of Light's "Feast of the Bullfrogs" I was inspired to use Speed Boost Sharpedo as my late-game sweeper. This iteration of the team, like many others prior to it, had a massive weakness to SD Breloom and Alakazan was a shaky check due to +2 Bullet Seed OHKOing through his Sash so I decided to replace him with CM Latias.
In order to protect myself against rain teams better I decided to replace Rotom-W with Jellicent. Jellicents bulk and typing meshed well with the team. I still was having issues with Breloom so I replaced Latias with her Brother.
Team Analysis
Ferrothorn @ Leftovers
Nature: Relaxed Trait: Iron Barbs
EV's 252HP, 88Def, 168SDef
IV's: 0 Speed
-Spikes
-Leech Seed
-Gyro Ball
-Power Whip
This guy is absolutely amazing. A great defensive typing and titanic defensive stats means that Ferrothorn is always tough to take down. The movepool and EV's are fairly standard. Spikes because due to Ferrothorns bulk he can set up at least two layers. Leech seed for some recovery so that Ferrothorn doesn't become worn down by repeated attacks and forces setup-sweepers and walls to switch out. Gyro ball is there so that I can 2HKO Espeon on the switch and deal damage to Outraging dragons. Power Whip is to get rid of water types such as Politoed and Jellicent.
Jellicent @ Leftovers
Nature: Sassy Trait: Water Absorb
EV's: 252HP, 36Def, 220SDef
-Scald
-Shadow Ball
-Toxic
-Recover
Jellicent is my specially defensive wall, spinblocker and my answer to the water-types who threaten Infernape and Landorus-T. Scalds nifty 30% burn chance allows me to deal with physical attackers who would hope to target his weaker Defense stat. Shadow ball wrecks offensive Starmie and makes sure I can beat opposing Jellicents who lack it. Toxic is to stall out setup-sweepers such as CM Latias, who can switch in with impunity otherwise. Recover is for, obviously, recovery. It allows me to keep healthy throughout the match and can help scout the opponent moveset.
Infernape @ Expert Belt
Nature: Jolly Trait: Blaze
EV's: 252Atk, 252Spe, 4HP
-Flare Blitz
-Close Combat
-Stone Edge
-U-Turn
Infernape is my first Wallbreaker and is one of my win conditions. Expert Belt is for bluffing Band, you have no idea how many times my opponent has switched in their Ferrothorn after I've KO'd a Pokemon with SE and then gets promtly OHKOed by CC or Flare Blitz. Flare Blitz and Close Combat are the STAB moves of choice, hitting a good deal of the tier for a large amount of damage. Stone Edge is for hitting the multitude of Dragon-Flying Types in the metagame, as well as OHKOing Volcarona, who cannot do much in return, even at +1. U-Turn is to get out of unfavourable matchups and also helps with bluffing a choice item, as well as hitting Starmie and Lati@s for good damage on the switch.
Latios @ Life Orb
Nature: Timid Trait: Levitate
EV's: 252SAtk, 4SDef, 252Spe
-Draco Meteor
-Psyshock
-Surf
-Sleep Talk
Latios is my second Wallbreaker and my main check to Breloom. Draco Meteor demolishes everything in its path and is great against neutral foes. Psyshock is for getting past the blobs and hits Fighting Types for Super effective damage. I didn't want to lose the speed tie to opposing Pokemon in the same speed tier as me so I went for Surf instead of HP Fire. Surf OHKO's offensive Heatran and hits most steel types for neutral damage. Sleep Talk is a big "Fuck You" to Sporing Breloom who think they can set up a Swords Dance after they put me to sleep.
Landorus-T @ Leftovers
Nature: Adamant Trait: Intimidate
EV's: 184HP, 148Atk, 176Def
-Stealth Rock
-Earthquake
-U-Turn
-Stone Edge
Landorus is my Defensive Pivot. Between his good bulk, crazy Attack stat and Intimidate, Landorus is a great counter to physical behemoths such as Terrakion and Scizor. The EV's are a modified version of the Smogon Set, I wanted a slow U-Turn to bring my frailer Pokemon in unharmed and I wanted to hit back like a truck while taking minimal damage in return. Stealth Rock is a great move on Landorus because of the switches he forces. Earthquake is in for a reliable STAB and hit many Steel types for Super-Effective damage. U-Turn is for gaining momentum and getting some damage off on physical walls who can counter him such as Slowbo. The last moveslot currently holds Stone Edge to hit types that resist EQ and achieve the EdgeQuake combination but I am not sure whether HP Ice would be a better alternative for the KO's on Garchomp and Salamence.
Sharpedo @ Life Orb
Nature: Adamant Trait: Speed Boost
EV's 252Atk, 252Spe, 4HP
-Protect
-Waterfall
-Crunch
-Earthquake
Sharpedo is my late-game cleaner and second win condition. Protect is to do two things, allow me to get a Speed Boost to outspeed faster foes and to scout the moveset of the opposing Pokemon. Waterfall is my STAB move of choice, hitting a good deal of the metagame for significant damage. Crunch is my sencond STAB move and hits pokemon that resist Waterfall, like Jellicent and Slowbro, for super-effective damage. Earthquake is my final move and hits most Steel-Types for more damage than my STAB moves and is my only way of getting past Ferrothorn. Despite his frailty, Sharpedo can often pull off a sweep and doesn't have the issue of being locked into one move like previous pokemon in this position.
Threat List
VOLCARONA: If this thing manages to set up more than one Quiver Dance it's essentially GG then and there. Infernape can deal with it at +1 because he can survive most of it's moves and KO with Stone Edge. Sharpedo can also deal with it if he was in before and has a Speed Boost under his belt. Jellicent can deal with variants without Giga Drain.
BRELOOM: I hate this bastard with every bone in my body because, even though he can't take even resisted hits, Spore means he can set up on my team and either set up a Sub or start Sword Dancing. This is the reason I carry Sleep Talk on Latios, who can KO with Draco Meteor and Psyshock or 2HKO with Surf.
GYRADOS: The bulky Dragon Dance set is really scary to face. Ferrothorn can deal with it if it doesn't have a sub up and by utilising smart plays I can KO before he does too much damage.
LATIOS: This thing can hit like a truck with STAB Draco Meteor and if Ferrothorn is down, nothing can take it. I often use U-Turn on Infernape when I predict the switch in and allow Sharpedo to take it on after he has obtained a Speed Boost. Ferrothorn can wall it if it lacks HP Fire and if it does have it I can outspeed with my Latios and KO.
KELDEO: I don't have any issues with this guy. Scarfed?, Jellicent. Specs?, Jellicent. CM? Jellicent, Seeing a pattern here? All joke aside Jellicent walls most sets and even if Jellicent is down Latios can outspeed and KO with Psyshock.
TOXICROAK: In the rain this guy can be annoying because I lack any way to change the weather. Landorus can Intimidate it and go into Jellicent or if it doesn't have a sub, Sharpedo can Earthquake it down.
Thanks for reading my RMT, any help would be greatly appreciated and I'm open to any form of positive criticism or advice! If you would like me to change a Pokemon or moveset please include a reason and your suggested set.
