ORAS NU Role Reversal

Hi everyone. This is my second RMT post and this time I wanted your opinion about this team which I actually only just created a few hours ago. I use them in PS battle a few times with modest result, and I hope I could find a way to improve it.





Team Intro
So the basis of this team is the idea about switching Pokemon's role. By that, I mean how we use defensive Pokemon defensively, or offensive Pokemon offensively. How about I switch them? Maybe I could throw a curve ball to my opponent and catch them off guard? It's not a new, unexplored idea obviously. I'm sure people have play around with it, I myself have experimented with defensive, support oriented Slaking in my old team. So this time I tried to make a full team with that in mind.

By the way, before you rate keep in mind that I'm not too fluent at spreading EV. What you see below is mostly a recommendation from PS, so I would greatly appreciate your input on this.


Sandslash (F) @ Lum Berry
Ability: Sand Rush
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Earthquake
- Knock Off
- Swords Dance
- Sandstorm

I started this team with this Sandslash. Most people use Sandslash as a mixture of defensive wall and support role, carrying Stealth Rock, Rapid Spin, with STAB Earthquake as main offense as well as Knock Off. This Sandslash isn't too different, except I designed it as a (surprise) sweeper. Basically I would find a chance to start with either Swords Dance or Sandstorm, depending on the requirement of the situation. Sand Rush will boost his speed and ready to finish off the weakened foe.

Two things that concerned me with this Sandslash is: 1) To reach it's maximum potential, it need so many boost to make it work. I have to spent two or three turns for Swords Dance and Sandstorm, and even then, 2) It only have two types coverage, and that's a glaring weakness as a sweeper. Aerial ace, Poison Jab, or Brick Break would help, but without Swords Dance they would only hit softly.

Of course, I don't really have to use both Swords Dance AND Sandstorm all the time. I could use either of them selectively depending on the situation. Still doesn't change it's low type coverage though.


Unfezant (F) @ Power Herb
Ability: Super Luck
EVs: 136 HP / 60 Atk / 252 Def / 60 Spe
Impish Nature
- Taunt
- Wish
- Toxic
- Sky Attack

When I'm in the middle of thinking about typing synergy, I feel that a flying type would help a lot here. I could use it as a bait, and in case of this Unfezant, taunting enemy. It's very helpful to protect my team from statuses, or prevent enemy from spamming stats boost/heal. All in all, this is a great Pokemon to get the momentum for switching, and keep the flow of the match in my favor. I chose Wish over Roost for the whole team recovery because this team in general is very slow, so they take a lot of hits. Toxic is an option against bulky Pokemon, usually used after taunting them. Sky attack is her only move because, well, there's no other choice. I actually quite surprised at how little Unfezant offensive options are.

You might think the EV spread is kinda random. Well actually PS recommendation is a fully defensive one, while I don't think it would work well, so I take some for speed and attack. I'd like to hear your input about this.


Bastiodon (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Def
Impish Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Roar
- Toxic
- Ancient Power

Despite the premise of the team, this is Bastiodon like any others, not much to be said. I couldn't think a way to make offensive Bastiodon that would work well, nor I think that this team needs it. It is a great switch in against ice type, which is why it is important to keep it's role defensive since this team is so vulnerable against ice types. Things that I consider is changing it's role as more specially defensive instead of physical (although if I'm able to set up Sandstorm beforehand, it might not be needed). And considering this team is hella slow Rock Tomb might be a better option that Ancient Power. Either way, it's not use to deal damage for obvious reason.


Dusknoir (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Power-Up Punch
- Shadow Sneak
- Will-O-Wisp
- Thunder Punch

This is an offensive Dusknoir. The idea is using Power-Up Punch as both type coverage and stat boost. If it's done well, it could be another sweeper in the team. The downside, it has no recovery except leftovers. And if it's burned, it would ruin the rest of its day. Should I run Rest rather than Will-O-Wisp? Maybe. But it's really helpful for the team, and this Dusknoir in particular afraid of Knock Off. It's frustrating because it's really easy to make this Dusknoir as a wall, and there's a lot of complication with the offensive one.

Looking at this team, water types could be a lot of problem to fight since they carry water, ice, and sometimes, dark type coverage. So I pick Thunder Punch as a last coverage


Beheeyem (F) @ Life Orb
Ability: Analytic
EVs: 248 HP / 252 SpA / 8 SpD
Modest Nature
- Psychic
- Recover
- Dark Pulse
- Thunder Wave

Beheeyem is just like Bastiodon, their role weren't changed from common set. I picked this Beheeyem in particular because I feel that I lack straightforward hard hitter in the team. So Analytic+Life Orb should solve that problem. I could run a fully offensive set, taking advantage of Assault Vest, but then again I don't feel I need it. If I have Thunderbolt or Energy Ball for example, it would be a waste since Psychic able to OHKO a lot of them anyways (except, perhaps, the likes of Lanturn). Recover is useful since I don't have a hazard remover and it takes Life Orb recoil. Thunder Wave is use to help the rest of the team. It won't help Analytic, but maybe I could paraflinch them with Dark Pulse? I used to put Hidden Power fighting to help against steel and dark types, but they hit so tamely. Plus because this team isn't very flexible I don't think I have a lot of chance to utilized Calm Mind, hence why I think Thunder Wave is my best option


Cacturne (F) @ Big Root
Ability: Water Absorb
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Atk / 252 SpD
Gentle Nature
- Spiky Shield
- Giga Drain
- Leech Seed
- Sucker Punch

This Cacturne is here because of Water Absorb would be a welcomed contribution to the team weak of water types (kinda a shame though, since Sand Veil work together with Sandslash's Sandstorm). Unlike most Cacturne which is a physically offensive one, this one is a supportive with mix attack. The set purpose is to stall and drain, especially great since I have two Toxic user and a Will-O-Wisp user.

One thing that I have in mind though, is that Maractus can also run the exact same set and ability. It's a tiny bit bulkier that Cacturne (good for supporting role), and Storm Drain could also help with Giga Drain in its arsenal. The factor in Cacturne favor is it's also immune to Psychic. Considering this team isn't really straight forward and requires a lot of switch, another form of immunity is a big point of consideration. And STAB Sucker Punch instead of non-STAB is another potential game changer

Threat List
This team requires a great control. I need to play smartly, taking advantage in immunities and individual durability of my Pokemon. However there's sill a few threat in this tier that can't be countered well with this team in current form.

-Like I said above, water types and ice types is one.
-There's also bunch of physical wallbreaker with either Swords Dance or ability boost e.g. Toxic Boost and Guts. Malamar's Contrary need to be dealt with full health Bastiodon/Dusknoir. Even if Dusknoir immune to normal and fighting, very rarely that they don't carry some sort of dark type attacks, such as Knock Off.
-Magmortar have a variety of coverage that, if the user outsmarted me in prediction could ruin the balance of defense

Overall, as the one who built and play this team, I could say this team is weak because the lack of winning factor. The one that have them, like Sandslash and Dusknoir both requires boost, or they barely a threat

Thanks for reading, will greatly appreciate your input!
 
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I don't NU much anymore, so take this with a grain of salt, but what are your thoughts on switching basti with hippopotas. Easy sandstorm, similar stats and function, opens up a moveslot on sandslash.

Edit : Ask hjado or someone on their thoughts.
 
I don't NU much anymore, so take this with a grain of salt, but what are your thoughts on switching basti with hippopotas. Easy sandstorm, similar stats and function, opens up a moveslot on sandslash.

Edit : Ask hjado or someone on their thoughts.

Thanks for your input! I'm in general have a reserved interest to Eviolite user, especially the defensive one, because after their item got knocked off, their usage would decreased significantly. But that aside I think it would be hard to put Hippopotas into the team because we already weak to water and ice in the first place, and Hippopotas wouldn't help in that regard. At least not unless I changed the other team member :D

Also, this team doesn't necessarily need a sandstorm, only Sandslash does, and Bastiodon if he stayed.
 
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