As a disclaimer, I don't have all the Smogon rules for grammar and capitalization down pat. I ranked in the ninety seventh percentile for grammar on last year's PSAT, so I'll imply that my grammar should be fine.
First and foremost, thank you for opening this. I recently have switched back into OU after a Monotype trip and I've come to the realization that I have no idea how I got to the mid 1400s with my OU team on Pokemon Showdown. I made a gimmick team with an idea from Gen V: Entrainment Truant Durant + Shadow Tag Gothitelle. Let me post it below and break it down.I hid it so it wouldn't be overwhelming.
Regardless, this isn't working that well anymore. Can someone please give me basic ideas as to improve my team? I'm willing to part with team members-- including the star members themselves. This was more of a thrown together team than a thought out, synergistic team obviously. I'm turning to the Smogon community before I individually harass a Mentor.
First and foremost, thank you for opening this. I recently have switched back into OU after a Monotype trip and I've come to the realization that I have no idea how I got to the mid 1400s with my OU team on Pokemon Showdown. I made a gimmick team with an idea from Gen V: Entrainment Truant Durant + Shadow Tag Gothitelle. Let me post it below and break it down.
Durant @ Eject Button
Ability: Truant
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Entrainment
- Protect
- X-Scissor
- Toxic
Durant has one primary function: spread Truant. It outspeeds most leading Pokemon that don't don a Choice Scarf, uses Entrainment, and gets forced out with the Eject Button. Its one deviation from the norm is using X-Scissor to take out a Dark-type Pokemon that threatens Gothitelle.
Gothitelle @ Leftovers
Ability: Shadow Tag
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpA
Bold Nature
- Protect
- Substitute
- Calm Mind
- Psyshock
This unorthdox moveset is used to take full advantage of Durant's suicide mission. On the first turn, Substitute is used-- to stop status moves later, to tank one extra hit, to irk the opponent essentially-- and then alternate Protect and Calm Mind. With full Defense EV investment, +6 Special Attack, and +6 Special Defense, this monster has swept whole teams in the lower half of the ladder.
Ditto @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Imposter
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpD
Bold Nature
- Transform
This is my revenge killer. Ditto fascinated me back in Emerald and Ditto fascinates me in X. The Choice Scarf gives the speed advantage against whatever Ditto is set to haunt. I've transformed into Dragons with Dragon Dances under their belts (or scales, however you wish to phrase it) to clean the team, I've squashed Weaviles, Tyranitars, and Bisharps with their own Sword Dances and Low Kicks, and I've blocked status moves like Leech Seed, Sleep Powder, Stun Spore, and Toxic by switching into Grass-type Pokemon.
Ferrothorn @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Iron Barbs
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Def
Impish Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Leech Seed
- Power Whip
- Stealth Rock
- Thunder Wave
This is the quintessential physical wall from my experience. Rocky Helmet + Iron Barbs takes a total 27% off the foe in one turn. Combined with the 12% sapped by Leech Seed and maybe Life Orb damage, it could indirectly drain 50% of a Pokemon's HP without batting an eye. The only thing that'll send this thing straight to the seventh layer of Hell is fire.
Greninja @ Life Orb
Ability: Protean
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Hydro Pump
- Ice Beam
- Grass Knot
- Extrasensory
Greninja is currently my favorite starter with respect to team functionality (Based on childhood nostalgia, it's Mudkip, but that's not why we're here). This amphibian stands toe-to-toe with the most formidable OU threats: Hydro Pump deals with Tyranitar, Heatran, and most Fire-, Rock-, or Ground-types and it functions as a fine power move for neutral Pokemon (I say fine because the 80% accuracy always fails at the worst time, kind of like Focus Miss but for Water-types); Ice Beam demolishes in a Pokemon world with an unreal amount of 4x Ice weaknesses (Dragon/Ground, Dragon/Flying, Ground/Flying, Grass/Flying,Grass/Ground [Torterra, Gen IV nostalgia] [and soon Grass/Dragon Mega Sceptile]); Grass Knot helps counter other Water-types; and Extrasensory is great for dealing with Mega Venusaur and the occasionally found Fighting-type.
Chansey (F) @ Eviolite
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
- Seismic Toss
- Soft-Boiled
- Toxic
- Aromatherapy
This is my more Special Defense oriented wall. Seismic Toss is a reliable attack considering its Attack stat. Soft Boiled is a reliable recovery move; Toxic aids my stalling; Aromatherapy cures the ailments that cripple stalling.
Ability: Truant
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Entrainment
- Protect
- X-Scissor
- Toxic
Durant has one primary function: spread Truant. It outspeeds most leading Pokemon that don't don a Choice Scarf, uses Entrainment, and gets forced out with the Eject Button. Its one deviation from the norm is using X-Scissor to take out a Dark-type Pokemon that threatens Gothitelle.
Gothitelle @ Leftovers
Ability: Shadow Tag
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpA
Bold Nature
- Protect
- Substitute
- Calm Mind
- Psyshock
This unorthdox moveset is used to take full advantage of Durant's suicide mission. On the first turn, Substitute is used-- to stop status moves later, to tank one extra hit, to irk the opponent essentially-- and then alternate Protect and Calm Mind. With full Defense EV investment, +6 Special Attack, and +6 Special Defense, this monster has swept whole teams in the lower half of the ladder.
Ditto @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Imposter
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpD
Bold Nature
- Transform
This is my revenge killer. Ditto fascinated me back in Emerald and Ditto fascinates me in X. The Choice Scarf gives the speed advantage against whatever Ditto is set to haunt. I've transformed into Dragons with Dragon Dances under their belts (or scales, however you wish to phrase it) to clean the team, I've squashed Weaviles, Tyranitars, and Bisharps with their own Sword Dances and Low Kicks, and I've blocked status moves like Leech Seed, Sleep Powder, Stun Spore, and Toxic by switching into Grass-type Pokemon.
Ferrothorn @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Iron Barbs
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Def
Impish Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Leech Seed
- Power Whip
- Stealth Rock
- Thunder Wave
This is the quintessential physical wall from my experience. Rocky Helmet + Iron Barbs takes a total 27% off the foe in one turn. Combined with the 12% sapped by Leech Seed and maybe Life Orb damage, it could indirectly drain 50% of a Pokemon's HP without batting an eye. The only thing that'll send this thing straight to the seventh layer of Hell is fire.
Greninja @ Life Orb
Ability: Protean
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Hydro Pump
- Ice Beam
- Grass Knot
- Extrasensory
Greninja is currently my favorite starter with respect to team functionality (Based on childhood nostalgia, it's Mudkip, but that's not why we're here). This amphibian stands toe-to-toe with the most formidable OU threats: Hydro Pump deals with Tyranitar, Heatran, and most Fire-, Rock-, or Ground-types and it functions as a fine power move for neutral Pokemon (I say fine because the 80% accuracy always fails at the worst time, kind of like Focus Miss but for Water-types); Ice Beam demolishes in a Pokemon world with an unreal amount of 4x Ice weaknesses (Dragon/Ground, Dragon/Flying, Ground/Flying, Grass/Flying,
Chansey (F) @ Eviolite
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
- Seismic Toss
- Soft-Boiled
- Toxic
- Aromatherapy
This is my more Special Defense oriented wall. Seismic Toss is a reliable attack considering its Attack stat. Soft Boiled is a reliable recovery move; Toxic aids my stalling; Aromatherapy cures the ailments that cripple stalling.
Regardless, this isn't working that well anymore. Can someone please give me basic ideas as to improve my team? I'm willing to part with team members-- including the star members themselves. This was more of a thrown together team than a thought out, synergistic team obviously. I'm turning to the Smogon community before I individually harass a Mentor.