This is by far my favorite ADV team, illustrating a rather old fashioned ’06
Netbattle team in terms of movesets and overall design.
Swampert (M) @ Leftovers ** Necturus
Trait: Torrent
EVs: 252 HP / 56 Def / 60 SAtk / 140 SDef
Relaxed Nature (+Def, -Spd)
- Curse
- Earthquake
- Ice Beam
- Rest
The star of the team is the biggest representative of the team’s “old school” theme. I
don’t even want to think about when the last time this exact set was used. As most of you
know, Swampert is a Pokemon who can counter many Pokemon, yet has many counters
itself. I, as one always favoring to end a game with a massive, continuative sweep during
lategame, created my entire team to support Swampert’s effort in that large sweep.
The EVs I created seem like I simply balanced out Def and SpDef. However, I’ll tell you
that I gave Swampert enough EVs to survive a lot of Surfs from the standard bulky
waters without taking away too much Def. Milotic and other ~236 SpAtk waters are a
4HKO, Max SpAtk Starmie’ falls inbetween the 3HKO and 4HKO line, and Suicune
needs a lot of luck to even 4HKO this unboosted.
Trait: Magnet Pull
EVs: 128 HP / 204 Spd / 176 SAtk
Modest Nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Rest
- Sleep Talk
- Thunderbolt
Magneton is never played until midgame. Swampert, Metagross, and Snorlax all present
an easy switch for Skarmory (or Forretress) to set up spikes, so when my opponent begins
to get the flow of my team it will be very easy for me to predict and send in Magneton to
trap the unaware Skarmory. Using this technique, I can trap Skarmory/Forretress with
pretty much a 99% chance of success, if played the way I described.
Magneton not only supports Swampert and Snorlax very nicely but also eases my
Starmie’s need to switch in too often. This allows me to save Starmie for drastic
measures, such as an Adamant Tyranitar boosted once by Dragon Dance, or a
Gengar/Heracross that is having too much fun.
I’d also like to say that I disagree with the “kill Skarmory, then it’s useless” theory that
most people employ. Magneton is, in fact, a powerful lategame sweeper it you play it as
carefully as you play your other Pokemon, and can be a valuable damage taker with so
many resistances. In short, I love Magneton, and it has saved me on many occasions
before.
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 252 Atk / 220 Spd / 36 SAtk
Naughty Nature (+Atk, -SDef)
- Giga Drain
- Hypnosis
- Sludge Bomb
- Thunder
Pocket's Gengar; he’s the only one I’ve ever known to have used this unique Gengar set. :) I
used to use it very often before Gengar become almost nonexistent on my teams, and now
I’m coming back to give it another go. The idea behind it is simple: Giga Drain is a nasty
surprise for Swampert if I keep it hidden long enough. Sludge Bomb is literally a 2HKO
on most Celebi, and if not then a timely poison will bring it into range of my second
Sludge Bomb. Thunder gets a fair chance at 2HKOing bulky waters. Sludge Bomb and
Thunder’s 30% status chance, along with Hypnosis, is status hell for my opponent.
Once my opponent figures out my set, the most likely Pokemon to come in is probably a
Sleeptalking Zapdos, as this set is walled pretty fairly by it. Hypnosis puts it out of
commission, disabling its Rest ability until it wakes up. My team truly shines when
Zapdos is asleep, as all of my Pokemon suddenly become much deadlier.
Trait: Clear Body
EVs: 252 HP / 120 Atk / 116 Def / 20 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Earthquake
- Explosion
- Meteor Mash
- Pursuit
Metagross explodes against opposing Zapdos (if I cannot get it out of the way), Celebi (a
large counter to a lot of my team), and water Pokemon/Weezing (for Snorlax). As my
Swampert is a little weak in physical defense compared to most, the extra resistances this
thing ensures me a much easier time against Tyranitar and friends. Pursuit supports
Snorlax very nicely, while destroying ghost types that may wall my Starmie’s Rapid
Spin, a simple combination I’ve been finding on most of my teams.
Trait: Natural Cure
EVs: 176 HP / 224 Spd / 108 SAtk
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Ice Beam
- Rapid Spin
- Recover
- Surf
I ran a Rapid Spinner with Magneton just in case. Psychic beats down Heracross and
Gengar, two of my "problem pokes." As mentioned before, Starmie is usually used as a
lategame savior (much like the way Aerodactyl is used) when I can bring it in during
tough situations if one of my Pokemon fall.
Trait: Thick Fat
EVs: 160 HP / 100 Atk / 156 Def / 20 Spd / 72 SDef
Careful Nature (+SDef, -SAtk)
- Double-Edge
- Earthquake
- Rest
- Sleep Talk
I’m kickin' it old school with Sleep Talk Snorlax. 8) The heavy-duty status absorber has
an easy time getting in, but a hard time dishing out damage when the correct counters are
active. Snorlax works so well on my team because everything that walls my Swampert
happens to also wall my Snorlax, which can be both a good and bad thing. Many more
times over, however, it’s a good thing.










