Hello Smogon! This is Swano here with my first RMT and my first actual post on the Smogon website. Some of you may know me from my active, competitive battling style on Pokemon Online, or may have seen me in chat. Either way, I have decided I would really like to start sharing some of my own-built teams on here and hopefully improve them.
Now my main thought for this team was that many conventional rain teams contain the Scizor-Rotom-W combo, and I wanted to avoid using this and try building a very unique, but very effective balanced team. I have always loved Crawdaunt since it's release, and knowing how much power a Crawdaunt packs with a Choice Banded Crabhammer in the rain, I wanted to bring him to OU with me, and so far he has been a very useful member on my team. Obviously, I needed Politoed to set the rain up, and I decided to abuse the rain, I ran a Choice Specs Jolteon and Life Orb Tornadus for the Thunder and Hurricane accuracy boosts. I originally ran a Forretress for spinning and stealth rocking, however I found the SpD was too lacking and I decided to replace him with Ferrothorn, who is doing a tremendous job and out-shining Forretress. For a special wall I decided on Roserade, who is actually quite bulky and has saved my ass on more than one occasion with a powerful STAB Giga Drain or Sludge Bomb. Anyway, I'm rambling, so let's get the show on the road!
Crawdaunt @ Choice Band:
EVs: 252 Atk, 252 Spe, 4 HP
Adamant Nature
Moves:
Crabhammer
Crunch
Superpower
Double-Edge
A gimmick Choice Band set taken straight from Smogon. However, I have found this set to be the most effective set for Crawdaunt, at least on my team, and functions very well as a mid to late game sweeper, especially if Tailwind is up from Tornadus. Crabhammer I chose over Waterfall for the bit more power, as 90 accuracy is still very high, and I haven't seen it miss yet. Crunch is the other obligatory STAB move. Superpower and Double-Edge are there for coverage.
Politoed @ Leftovers
EVs: 252 HP, 252 Def, 4 SpD
Bold Nature
Moves:
Scald
Hypnosis
Perish Song
Protect
A typical defensive Politoed with Scald as the only attacking move, for the rain-boosted STAB and also the 30% burn chance. Hypnosis is there to put either another weather mon such as Ttar or Ninetales wants to come in, or to even sleep a sweeper or wall who tries to set up all over me. Perish Song also achieves this beautifully, as setting a 3 turn limit on anything is a great thing to have. Protect is there to scout and to burn a turn of Perish Song.
Scizor @ Leftovers
EVs: 252 HP, 216 SpDef, 40 atk
Adamant Nature
Moves:
Bullet Punch
Roost
Swords Dance
Bug Bite
I thank Nachos, who you can see below, suggested this specially bulky Scizor, and I am extremely glad I decided to test him out because he has become a cornerstone to this team. This Scizor laughs in the face of any Reuniclus set as well as the Latii twins, Alakazam, and any other Psychic/Dark special attacker. He is even capable of 2HKOing any Terrakion set, as the HP investment allows him to live everything but a Choice Banded Close Combat. Scizor has easily become my favourite pokemon on this team.
Forretress @ Leftovers:
EVs: 252 HP, 4 Def, 252 SpDef
Careful Nature
Moves:
Stealth Rock
Spikes
Rapid Spin
Volt Switch
Replacing Ferrothorn to give me the so-needed Rapid Spin support on this team, Specially Bulky Forretress is a blessing in that he sets up my own entry hazards whilst spinning away the opponent's. Also, no one expects a specially bulky Forretress, so when he comes in he sponges the special attackers he draws in and proceeds to chill and set up entry hazards or spin them away. Volt Switch is to keep the momentum going my way, as the speed of Forretress allows me to always move last to have the switch advantage.
Tornadus @ Life Orb:
EVs: 252 Spe, 252 SpAtk, 4 HP
Timid Nature
Moves:
Rain Dance
Hurricane
Focus Blast
Taunt
With Prankster, Tornadus can set up a guaranteed Rain Dance or Taunt, even if it means sacrificing him. However this is rarely the case, as Tornadus only needs to do this near the end of the game to ensure victory. Hurricane in the rain is 100% accurate, and the best STAB move available to Tornadus. Focus Blast takes care of Heatran, Gliscor, Latias and Latios, to name a few. It is also my favourite Dragonite counter with rocks up, as Hurricane hits like a truckTailwind also boosts Crawdaunt's poor speed to over 400, which outspeeds every non-choiced OU pokemon. Thundurus, Crawdaunt Scizor make an extremely potent offensive core, and work together seamlessly.
Virizion @ Life Orb:
EVs: 252 Atk, 252 Spe, 4 SpDef
Jolly Nature
Moves:
Swords Dance
Leaf Blade
Close Combat
X-Scissor
No one expects a Swords Dancing physical attacking Virizion. With amazing speed, great attack and amazing special bulk, Virizion is an absolute monster with one Swords Dance. Recommended by yaysnivy below, Virizion works wonders that Roserade couldn't, like taking on Heatran, Special Infernape, and pretty much any special attacking fire type and counter with a hard-hitting Close Combat to finish them off. Virizion and Scizor have become great members to this team and I can say with confidence the team works so much better as a unit with these new additions.
Well that's my team guys, please let me know of any improvements you come up with and I will definately try them out. Oh yeah, and please Rate My Team. :D
