Well... I couldn't think of a more original title. (IIRC all my past RMTs have this title =/)
This is a team based on creating a sweep for Mamoswine, and subsequently Garchomp. Magnezone removes Steels and most importantly Bronzong and Skarmory, Mamoswines' best counters, while subsequently opening up a sweep for Garchomp. This has reached #51 on the Shoddy ladder at a peak but I have major problems with a lot of common sweepers, and I have struggled to find solutions for these. As such, I present my team..
This is a team based on creating a sweep for Mamoswine, and subsequently Garchomp. Magnezone removes Steels and most importantly Bronzong and Skarmory, Mamoswines' best counters, while subsequently opening up a sweep for Garchomp. This has reached #51 on the Shoddy ladder at a peak but I have major problems with a lot of common sweepers, and I have struggled to find solutions for these. As such, I present my team..
The lineup:
Gliscor (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Sand Veil
EVs: 116 HP/176 Def/216 Spd
Jolly nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Earthquake
- Roost
- Aerial Ace
- Taunt
Gliscor is my lead, and Taunts attempts to setup Stealth Rock, Toxic Spikes, Spikes and stops slower sleepers in their tracks. Jolly 216 Speed reaches 308 speed, outrunning +nature base 90s enabling Gliscor to Taunt Roserade as well as serve as a revenge-killer for Lucario and Heracross. It beats SD Burn Orb Facade Heracross, which is always cool.
116 reaches an optimal Leftovers number, and the rest of the EVs were dumped into Defence. I originally used Taylor's spread of 116 HP/136 Attack/42 Def/216 Speed, but I found that the reduction in Defence hurt Gliscor significantly, and it does not need to carry Attack EVs since Earthquake does over 98% to Lucario, and Heracross is OHKOed by Aerial Ace.
Problems with Gliscor: It does nothing to stop Gengar which my team is unfortunately weak to. Besides that Gliscor has been an invaluable supporter for the team, stopping Heracross and Lucario and Taunting any attempts to lay entry hazards.
Magnezone @ Life Orb
Ability: Magnet Pull
EVs: 96 Atk/252 Spd/160 SAtk
Hasty nature (+Spd, -Def)
- Explosion
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Magnet Rise
- Thunderbolt
I got this set from TAY, posted in another RMT. This Magnezone is designed to OHKO Blissey with Explosion, as well as outspeeding several pokemon allowing it to land a quick OHKO, no-speed Gliscor, Adamant Breloom are some examples.
Problems with Magnezone: No Substitute means I would have to play differently against Bronzong which is detrimental since my team lacks a sleep absorber. The max speed outspeeding Gliscor isn't a risk that I want to take, as with a little investment Gliscor can outspeed it, which is also invested for outspeeding the likes of Breloom.
Other than that this also is an invaluable asset to the team, taking down the vast majority of Steels and maybe netting a second KO with Explosion.
Tyranitar (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 4 HP/252 Atk/252 Spd
Jolly nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Dragon Dance
- Stone Edge
- Crunch
- Earthquake
Standard Dragon Dance Tyranitar. Max speed allows me to outrun base 115s after a Dragon Dance. This Tyranitar is mainly here to pose an offensive threat and more importantly eliminate Cresselia, without the risk of CBtar being locked into Pursuit (and subsequently being setup fodder).
Problems with Tyranitar: I am considering replacing Tyranitar. Dragon Dance Tyranitar is monstrous but more often than not its sweep gets stopped. I have looked at replacing Tyranitar for a while and replacing it invariably opened up a Cresselia weakness.
Garchomp (M) @ Choice Band
Ability: Sand Veil
EVs: 6 HP/252 Atk/252 Spd
Jolly nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Earthquake
- Outrage
- Fire Fang
- Dragon Claw
I don't like how people are bandwagoning Choice Band Garchomp now ~_~
Anyway, Choice Band Garchomp fits into this team, with Magnezone removing Steels this would theoretically ensure that Garchomp has an unresisted Outrage allowing it to wreak havoc (many of its non-Steel counters are 2HKOed by Choice Banded Outrage). This also serves as a Tyranitar check of sorts.
Dragon Claw is used over Stone Edge as I prefer the reliability of Dragon Claw, still unresisted except by Steels (and Shedinja). I prefer Jolly over Adamant allowing Garchomp to outspeed many threats.
Problems with Garchomp: Garchomp has been a monster, and has served me well. I doubt I would replace it soon as it does an excellent job at sweeping.
Mamoswine (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Snow Cloak
EVs: 252 Atk/236 Spd/20 SAtk
Naughty nature (+Atk, -SDef)
- Earthquake
- Ice Shard
- Blizzard
- Stone Edge
MixMamo. Blizzard allows Mamoswine to deal significant damage on its would-be counters since most of them are defensively EVed and thus would take a lot from a super-effective/neutral Blizzard coming from the other end of the spectrum. I don't see any particular merits at using the Choice Band or Physical Life Orb set, as Choice Band Mamoswine is easily walled, and the Physical Life Orb set might grant me some extra Special Defence but does not eliminate Mamoswine's counters (which are not removed by Magnezone)
Mamoswine has been a great sweeper, with Magnezone removing Bronzong and Skarmory, and Tyranitar posing a threat to Cresselia allowing Mamoswine to sweep.
Problems with Mamoswine: Sometimes, when I cannot catch Bronzong with Magnezone (either by switching or Bronzong posessing Shed Shell), Mamoswine is stopped easily. Tyranitar removing Cresselia isn't something I can depend on.
I don't want to replace the core of my team, I would like to base my team around Mamoswine as much as possible.
Mesprit @ Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP/176 Def/80 SAtk
Bold nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Psychic
- Ice Beam
- Thunderbolt
- U-turn
Quite possibly the weakest link in my team. With my sweepers being incapable of stopping Garchomp, Gyarados, Mamoswine, Deoxys-S and Hidden Power [Ice] Infernape, I had to use Mesprit to fill the niche. I overstretch Mesprit most of the time and I do not like its performance so far due to the lack of recovery.
I originally had Shuckle in this slot, but it failed to stop Gyarados and Garchomp. Bronzong did well but subsequently opened up a huge Gyarados and Mixape weakness. Cresselia arguably hurt my team more as it was being made setup fodder and provided free switchins for pokemon more often than not due to its lackluster offenses.
Problems with Mesprit: Well, all of the above I guess. I am open to suggestions to replace Mesprit.
Weaknesses:
Currently my other alternative is LumZong + CounterDeoxys-S, but it opened up Infernape weaknesses (Deoxys isn't really a great counter to it taking ~70% from LO Flamethrower), and Heracross and Lucario weaknesses.
So, rate away!
Gliscor (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Sand Veil
EVs: 116 HP/176 Def/216 Spd
Jolly nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Earthquake
- Roost
- Aerial Ace
- Taunt
Gliscor is my lead, and Taunts attempts to setup Stealth Rock, Toxic Spikes, Spikes and stops slower sleepers in their tracks. Jolly 216 Speed reaches 308 speed, outrunning +nature base 90s enabling Gliscor to Taunt Roserade as well as serve as a revenge-killer for Lucario and Heracross. It beats SD Burn Orb Facade Heracross, which is always cool.
116 reaches an optimal Leftovers number, and the rest of the EVs were dumped into Defence. I originally used Taylor's spread of 116 HP/136 Attack/42 Def/216 Speed, but I found that the reduction in Defence hurt Gliscor significantly, and it does not need to carry Attack EVs since Earthquake does over 98% to Lucario, and Heracross is OHKOed by Aerial Ace.
Problems with Gliscor: It does nothing to stop Gengar which my team is unfortunately weak to. Besides that Gliscor has been an invaluable supporter for the team, stopping Heracross and Lucario and Taunting any attempts to lay entry hazards.
Magnezone @ Life Orb
Ability: Magnet Pull
EVs: 96 Atk/252 Spd/160 SAtk
Hasty nature (+Spd, -Def)
- Explosion
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Magnet Rise
- Thunderbolt
I got this set from TAY, posted in another RMT. This Magnezone is designed to OHKO Blissey with Explosion, as well as outspeeding several pokemon allowing it to land a quick OHKO, no-speed Gliscor, Adamant Breloom are some examples.
Problems with Magnezone: No Substitute means I would have to play differently against Bronzong which is detrimental since my team lacks a sleep absorber. The max speed outspeeding Gliscor isn't a risk that I want to take, as with a little investment Gliscor can outspeed it, which is also invested for outspeeding the likes of Breloom.
Other than that this also is an invaluable asset to the team, taking down the vast majority of Steels and maybe netting a second KO with Explosion.
Tyranitar (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 4 HP/252 Atk/252 Spd
Jolly nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Dragon Dance
- Stone Edge
- Crunch
- Earthquake
Standard Dragon Dance Tyranitar. Max speed allows me to outrun base 115s after a Dragon Dance. This Tyranitar is mainly here to pose an offensive threat and more importantly eliminate Cresselia, without the risk of CBtar being locked into Pursuit (and subsequently being setup fodder).
Problems with Tyranitar: I am considering replacing Tyranitar. Dragon Dance Tyranitar is monstrous but more often than not its sweep gets stopped. I have looked at replacing Tyranitar for a while and replacing it invariably opened up a Cresselia weakness.
Garchomp (M) @ Choice Band
Ability: Sand Veil
EVs: 6 HP/252 Atk/252 Spd
Jolly nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Earthquake
- Outrage
- Fire Fang
- Dragon Claw
I don't like how people are bandwagoning Choice Band Garchomp now ~_~
Anyway, Choice Band Garchomp fits into this team, with Magnezone removing Steels this would theoretically ensure that Garchomp has an unresisted Outrage allowing it to wreak havoc (many of its non-Steel counters are 2HKOed by Choice Banded Outrage). This also serves as a Tyranitar check of sorts.
Dragon Claw is used over Stone Edge as I prefer the reliability of Dragon Claw, still unresisted except by Steels (and Shedinja). I prefer Jolly over Adamant allowing Garchomp to outspeed many threats.
Problems with Garchomp: Garchomp has been a monster, and has served me well. I doubt I would replace it soon as it does an excellent job at sweeping.
Mamoswine (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Snow Cloak
EVs: 252 Atk/236 Spd/20 SAtk
Naughty nature (+Atk, -SDef)
- Earthquake
- Ice Shard
- Blizzard
- Stone Edge
MixMamo. Blizzard allows Mamoswine to deal significant damage on its would-be counters since most of them are defensively EVed and thus would take a lot from a super-effective/neutral Blizzard coming from the other end of the spectrum. I don't see any particular merits at using the Choice Band or Physical Life Orb set, as Choice Band Mamoswine is easily walled, and the Physical Life Orb set might grant me some extra Special Defence but does not eliminate Mamoswine's counters (which are not removed by Magnezone)
Mamoswine has been a great sweeper, with Magnezone removing Bronzong and Skarmory, and Tyranitar posing a threat to Cresselia allowing Mamoswine to sweep.
Problems with Mamoswine: Sometimes, when I cannot catch Bronzong with Magnezone (either by switching or Bronzong posessing Shed Shell), Mamoswine is stopped easily. Tyranitar removing Cresselia isn't something I can depend on.
I don't want to replace the core of my team, I would like to base my team around Mamoswine as much as possible.
Mesprit @ Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP/176 Def/80 SAtk
Bold nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Psychic
- Ice Beam
- Thunderbolt
- U-turn
Quite possibly the weakest link in my team. With my sweepers being incapable of stopping Garchomp, Gyarados, Mamoswine, Deoxys-S and Hidden Power [Ice] Infernape, I had to use Mesprit to fill the niche. I overstretch Mesprit most of the time and I do not like its performance so far due to the lack of recovery.
I originally had Shuckle in this slot, but it failed to stop Gyarados and Garchomp. Bronzong did well but subsequently opened up a huge Gyarados and Mixape weakness. Cresselia arguably hurt my team more as it was being made setup fodder and provided free switchins for pokemon more often than not due to its lackluster offenses.
Problems with Mesprit: Well, all of the above I guess. I am open to suggestions to replace Mesprit.
Weaknesses:
- Gengar. Shadow Ball and Focus Blast hit everything on this team for supereffective damage except Gliscor which gets 2HKOed by Shadow Ball. I often have to rely on wearing it down to let Mamoswine's Ice Shard KO.
- Hypnosis. Lack of a sleep absorber mostly.
- Anything that is "handled" by Mesprit, Garchomp, Gyarados, Infernape, Electivire, Deoxys-S, Mamoswine. Mesprit isn't a reliable counter because of the lack of recovery.
- SpecsMence/MixMence These variants of Salamence take out almost everything in my team.
Currently my other alternative is LumZong + CounterDeoxys-S, but it opened up Infernape weaknesses (Deoxys isn't really a great counter to it taking ~70% from LO Flamethrower), and Heracross and Lucario weaknesses.
So, rate away!
