Roserade Assault Core
Team at a glance:
Team at a glance:
Summary: This is a team I've been running for a couple days switching out Pokemon, as I wanted to build a team centered around dealing with threats that I have quite a bit of trouble with usually (Tapu Fini, Tapu Koko, Tapu Bulu, and Tangrowth, all of which Roserade very easily deals with bar the odd Koko running Brave Bird.) So I decided to post it to get advice and get some feedback on this team, and its weak points. So let's dive into this!
Disclaimer: Before anyone says anything, I'm not removing Roserade from the team, so if that's all you're here to post about, don't post about it. The team's called "Roserade Assault Core" for a reason.
Tapu Slayer
Roserade @ Life Orb
Ability: Technician
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Hidden Power [Fire]
- Leaf Storm
- Sludge Bomb
- Synthesis
Let's dive into the glory that is Roserade. Tapu Koko can only 3HKO without Brave Bird, Fini can only 5HKO with Moonblast, and the only way Bulu can get a 2HKO is if it's banded with Wood Hammer, but Roserade always outspeeds and OHKOs anyways. Not to mention its ability to absolutely maim even maximum invested Assault Vest Tangrowth.
252 SpA Life Orb Roserade Sludge Bomb vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Tapu Bulu: 780-920 (277.5 - 327.4%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252 SpA Life Orb Roserade Sludge Bomb vs. 248 HP / 0 SpD Tapu Fini: 299-354 (87.1 - 103.2%) -- 25% chance to OHKO
252 SpA Life Orb Roserade Sludge Bomb vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Tapu Koko: 471-556 (167.6 - 197.8%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252 SpA Life Orb Roserade Sludge Bomb vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Assault Vest Tangrowth: 268-320 (66.3 - 79.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252 SpA Life Orb Technician Roserade Hidden Power Fire vs. 248 HP / 128 SpD Scizor-Mega: 442-520 (128.8 - 151.6%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252 SpA Life Orb Roserade Leaf Storm vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Landorus-Therian: 324-382 (101.5 - 119.7%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252 SpA Life Orb Technician Roserade Hidden Power Ice vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Landorus-Therian: 598-707 (187.4 - 221.6%) -- guaranteed OHKO
While the tapus can't really do anything in return, and if they can, they're outsped.
252 SpA Magnet Tapu Koko Thunderbolt vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Roserade in Electric Terrain: 102-121 (39 - 46.3%) -- guaranteed 3HKO (Does more than HP Ice)
0 SpA Tapu Fini Moonblast vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Roserade: 47-56 (18 - 21.4%) -- possible 5HKO
252+ Atk Choice Band Tapu Bulu Wood Hammer vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Roserade in Grassy Terrain: 172-202 (65.9 - 77.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Grassy Terrain recovery
Overall, it's meant to be a pseudo-special sponge and a reliable answer to the Tapus. While Lele can OHKO Roserade, it also can't switch into most of its attacks without fearing an OHKO or a 2HKO. Along with this, base 90 speed with a Timid nature IS workable as it outspeeds other key threats like Clefable, Rotom-Wash, Non-Jolly Lando-T, Hoopa U, and Excadrill.
Landorus-Therian @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Earthquake
- Knock Off
- Rock Slide
- U-turn
Landorus-Therian is an absolutely marvelous scarfed mon, and is one of the most splashable Lando sets that can be run in the current meta. Most people leave particular Pokemon in expecting to outspeed and OHKO, so the continued surprise factor is always nice. Not to mention how it OHKOs Pokemon such as Heatran, Char-X, Char-Y, Magearna, Volcarona, 2HKOs Toxapex, cripples Chansey and others with Knock Off, and maintains momentum and possibly outspeeds and OHKOs Greninja with U-Turn. Rock Slide is specifically for Charizards, Volcarona, and other Flying types such as Zapdos and has wonderful coverage with STAB Earthquake.
Charizard-Mega-X @ Charizardite X
Ability: Blaze
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Dragon Dance
- Dragon Claw
- Earthquake
- Fire Punch
The main sweeper of my team, Dragon Dance Char-X blows through just about anything with its powerful boosted STAB moves, and anything that resists them such as Heatran is usually knocked out of the park by Earthquake. At +1 it outspeeds and OHKOs powerhouses such as Kyurem-B, Tapu Koko, Celesteela, Kartana, Gengar, Magearna, etc.
Skarmory @ Leftovers
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 232 HP / 252 Atk / 24 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Defog
- Tailwind
- Roost
- Brave Bird
Skarmory is my utility attacker, although I put a little twist on this set. Defog is for clearing hazards, while Tailwind is for boosting Roserade and Skarmory itself to sweep, along with pushing the rest of my team to beyond Scarf levels of speed. Roost combined with Leftovers recovery is to maintain longevity, while the last slot is dedicated to STAB Brave Bird, which does a surprising amount of damage and gets some unexpected KOs on a multitude of Pokemon that would otherwise handle it well.
Greninja-Ash @ Life Orb
Ability: Battle Bond
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Hasty Nature
- Water Shuriken
- Ice Beam
- Dark Pulse
- U-turn
Ash Greninja is the main LO attacker of my team, with wonderful coverage, STAB priority and fantastic attacking stats and speed. Water Shuriken will be used to transform Greninja, while Dark Pulse is your other main STAB. Ice Beam is meant for Lando-T, Zapdos, and other Pokemon that could otherwise nail Greninja, while U-turn is for increased mobility.
Heatran @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Flamethrower
- Flash Cannon
- Earth Power
- Dark Pulse
Scarfed Heatran forms the double scarf arrangement of my team, provides a fire immunity and wonderful coverage. Flamethrower is preferred over Fire Blast due to accuracy concerns, while Flash Cannon nails Faeires, Rocks and others that give it a hard time. Earth Power is specifically for other Heatran, and Dark Pulse is to nail specific threats that Heatran has trouble with along with a nice flinch chance.