RMT - Shoddy Team

[Aquilae]

I have made this team during the tutoring program. My tutor, Blue Kirby, felt it was a solid team. But lately I have had some trouble utilizing this team. I would like you all to give your comments on it.

P.S. - BK don't bash me for supporting Team Asia =(

Team at a glance:

Tyranitar (M) @ Choice Band
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 252 HP/42 Atk/216 SDef
Careful nature (+SDef, -SAtk)
- Pursuit
- Crunch
- Stone Edge
- Earthquake

The specially defensive Tyranitar spread. Lately I have had problems leading with this due to the immense number of leads who counter, status or wall me. Any suggestions for a better lead would be appreciated.

Deoxys-e @ Life Orb
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 108 Atk/148 Spd/252 SAtk
Hasty nature (+Spd, -Def)
- Psychic
- Thunderbolt
- Ice Beam
- Superpower

LO Deoxys-E makes a great revenge killer, outspeeding many pokemon. 148 speed is for Modest ScarfGar and +natured 95 or below speed. I'm reluctant to add in more speed taking out of attack to outspeed Jolly ScarfChomp due to the need to 2HKO Blissey.
LO recoil also adds up in a Sandstorm, potentially hindering my chances to sweep. I have considered Expert Belt over LO, but it decreases the damage I would do.

Skarmory (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Keen Eye
EVs: 252 HP/88 Atk/156 Def/12 Spd
Impish nature (+Def, -SAtk)
- Whirlwind
- Brave Bird
- Roost
- Stealth Rock

Physical wall and phazer, also spikes up the field at its leisure.
One thing I have encountered with Skarm is that it can't wall neutral physical hits well, mainly STAB Close Combats. I tried out Gliscor but Phazing support seemed invaluable in the long run.

Vaporeon (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Water Absorb
EVs: 188 HP/252 Def/68 SAtk
Bold nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Wish
- Surf
- Hidden Power [Electric]
- Ice Beam

Wishpasser and Gyara counter. I mainly wishpass to Tyranitar, or depending on the situation an appropriate wall.

Garchomp (M) @ Yache Berry
Ability: Sand Veil
EVs: 6 HP/252 Atk/252 Spd
Jolly nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Swords Dance
- Outrage
- Earthquake
- Fire Fang

Garchomp fit in well with this team, providing fast sweeping and poses a huge threat to teams. The rest of my team sans Deoxys-E is kinda slow, and as I typically bring D-E out lategame, Garchomp provides a fast and efficient method to weaken the foe's team.

Zapdos @ Leftovers
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 252 HP/220 Def/36 Spd
Bold nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Thunderbolt
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Sleep Talk
- Rest

Status absorber and physical tank. This is my first switchin to Hera and other stuff. I might consider leading with it.
Stealth Rock hinders Zapdos' walling capabilities however.

Problems I faced with this team:

• Lack of Special Walling
• Skarmory and Zapdos being inadequate for physical walling
• Tyranitar isn't a good matchup against most leads except Azelf
• Toxic really rapes this team

All comments and suggestions are appreciated.

 

[Slice n Dice]

At a first glance one would say this team is solid, but when you take a closer look you see a plethora of annoying issues. The first thing that came to mind was the Cresselia weakness and vulnerability to common leads like Gengar and Breloom. Despite the fact you run a restalker, you won't have a good time leading off with something slow like Tyranitar that can give you an immediate disadvantage if you have to switch back and forth in the case of a Sleep inducer. Gengar and Leech Seed Breloom would be massive annoyances in most cases, and to cope with this you would need to lead with something faster. To keep Tyranitar's synergy with this team I highly suggest running Choice Scarf Tyranitar with Hasty-210 Attack/ 252 speed/ 48 satk- Stone Edge- Fire Blast- Ice Beam- Crunch. This will ravage Gengar, Breloom, Roserade, Salamence, and numerous other leads which will accomplish alot for your teammates. Lucario just sits there and gets raped by Fire Blast. Tyranitar by itself still won't eliminate the Cresselia weakness. You may want to run a Life Orb Taunt Trapping Heatran- Magma Storm- Earth Power- Taunt- Explosion- 252 Satk/ 216 speed/ 42 hp in place of something like Vaporeon, which isn't needed because Gyrados is covered enough by Deoxys-E and Zapdos, thanks to Bold nature. This also covers the overall Bronzong issue.

I have to admit I really liked the team. Good Luck.

 

[yoshi!]

I used to lead with Deoxys-e when we could first used it. It worked rather well, as it could (nearly always) outspeed what the opposition has and do something to it. Also, it makes sure TTar doesn't make the SS immedaitely, which hurts you a lot.

I also see that you have no Spinner, but that would be a secondary thing, as you have 2 resists to SR and two immunities to spikes.

 

[Slice n Dice]

I used to lead with Deoxys-e when we could first used it. It worked rather well, as it could (nearly always) outspeed what the opposition has and do something to it. Also, it makes sure TTar doesn't make the SS immedaitely, which hurts you a lot.

I also see that you have no Spinner, but that would be a secondary thing, as you have 2 resists to SR and two immunities to spikes.

No, don't suggest crap like that. The only Deoxys that should ever lead off is one that Taunts or lays spikes. Deoxys should be abused as it is essentially the best late game sweeper/ revenge killer in OU.

 

[junior]

Seeing how Stealth Rocks and Toxic Spikes can really hurt your team, having a spinner can't hurt. Here, a good choice would be something that is immune/resist one or both of them. Forretress and Tentacruel can do really well doing this, though Tentacruel is definitely better for Toxic Spikes alone as it automatically sucks up them. I would also suggest Tentacruel as you lack a special wall. Despite not having a good recovery move, it can still tank special attacks really well, considering that Ice is probably the most common special attacking type. However common Thunderbolt is, Garchomp absorbs it for Tentacruel anyway.

Gliscor should be used over Skarmory as you intended. You should try Taunt on it as it can force switches to those who requires to set up (which is what Whirlwind is for anyway). It also has a better typing for a physical wall so yeah....

Something you should consider is more attack on your BandTar in order to 2HKO with Crunch and Pursuit on Cresselia if it stays in/switches out respectively. Otherwise Cress will wall you like there's no tomorrow.

I must say, otherwise, it has been a while since I've last spotted two solid teams in a row. :o

The only other problem you should be having against is Gengars but that's quite easily solved with a sleep absorber and a special sponge that you should be considering (Tentacruel). What you should slightly focus on countering, however, is the uncommon, yet who pops up from time to time, Specs Gengar. Being able to 1-2HKO everything in your team should be frightening. Tentacruel won't be holding up against the likes of them for long. Not a BIG deal, but do be careful.

 

[Aquilae]

At a first glance one would say this team is solid, but when you take a closer look you see a plethora of annoying issues. The first thing that came to mind was the Cresselia weakness and vulnerability to common leads like Gengar and Breloom. Despite the fact you run a restalker, you won't have a good time leading off with something slow like Tyranitar that can give you an immediate disadvantage if you have to switch back and forth in the case of a Sleep inducer. Gengar and Leech Seed Breloom would be massive annoyances in most cases, and to cope with this you would need to lead with something faster. To keep Tyranitar's synergy with this team I highly suggest running Choice Scarf Tyranitar with Hasty-210 Attack/ 252 speed/ 48 satk- Stone Edge- Fire Blast- Ice Beam- Crunch. This will ravage Gengar, Breloom, Roserade, Salamence, and numerous other leads which will accomplish alot for your teammates. Lucario just sits there and gets raped by Fire Blast. Tyranitar by itself still won't eliminate the Cresselia weakness. You may want to run a Life Orb Taunt Trapping Heatran- Magma Storm- Earth Power- Taunt- Explosion- 252 Satk/ 216 speed/ 42 hp in place of something like Vaporeon, which isn't needed because Gyrados is covered enough by Deoxys-E and Zapdos, thanks to Bold nature. This also covers the overall Bronzong issue.

I have to admit I really liked the team. Good Luck.

Slice, what I'm not sure about is how the trapping Heatran would deal with Cresselia. Also, changing Tyranitar's spread would rid my team of special walling, the reason why I used Wishpassing Vaporeon with Ttar.

Seeing how Stealth Rocks and Toxic Spikes can really hurt your team, having a spinner can't hurt. Here, a good choice would be something that is immune/resist one or both of them. Forretress and Tentacruel can do really well doing this, though Tentacruel is definitely better for Toxic Spikes alone as it automatically sucks up them. I would also suggest Tentacruel as you lack a special wall. Despite not having a good recovery move, it can still tank special attacks really well, considering that Ice is probably the most common special attacking type. However common Thunderbolt is, Garchomp absorbs it for Tentacruel anyway.

Gliscor should be used over Skarmory as you intended. You should try Taunt on it as it can force switches to those who requires to set up (which is what Whirlwind is for anyway). It also has a better typing for a physical wall so yeah....

Something you should consider is more attack on your BandTar in order to 2HKO with Crunch and Pursuit on Cresselia if it stays in/switches out respectively. Otherwise Cress will wall you like there's no tomorrow.

I must say, otherwise, it has been a while since I've last spotted two solid teams in a row. :o

The only other problem you should be having against is Gengars but that's quite easily solved with a sleep absorber and a special sponge that you should be considering (Tentacruel). What you should slightly focus on countering, however, is the uncommon, yet who pops up from time to time, Specs Gengar. Being able to 1-2HKO everything in your team should be frightening. Tentacruel won't be holding up against the likes of them for long. Not a BIG deal, but do be careful.

Junior, I don't see the point of getting Garchomp in on a predicted Thunderbolt, especially if said special attacker is not choiced. It would wear my team down even more if there are entry hazards on the field.

I would put Gliscor over Skarmory for the reasons you mentioned above.