This is my first RMT, I've read a lot of them and I've wanted to get into this scene for a while, I hope this team makes my first effort worthwhile! This team peaked at 1515 on Showdown, and while that's pretty okay, I am pretty much batting .500 against users rated over 1400. I think the team has a lot of potential but I'm not sure how to edit it in a really effective way without just scrapping the whole thing. The idea is bulky offense with hazards, as I think bulky offense is most viable in the current RU meta.
Here's the team:
Raikou @ Choice Specs
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 252 Spd / 252 SAtk / 4 HP
Timid Nature
- Thunderbolt
- Volt Switch
- Shadow Ball
- Hidden Power [Grass]
Specs Raikou is, in my opinion, the best version of Raikou to use in RU right now. While scarfed Raikou has blazing speed, it just doesn't pack the punch you'd like it to. Additionally, sub-calm mind is terrifying to face, but any player who knows the tier has multiple checks to that beast. I think specs is the perfect combination of (mild)surprise factor, great speed, and hard hitting. The only two things about this set otherwise that I think merit explanation is the nature, Timid, and my choice of hidden power type. In a tier with so many base 115s (Ambipom, Cinccino, and our troll friend Whimsicott with base 116) I think it is optimal to at least speed tie those things, or outpace a Whimsicott that isn't running max speed. HP grass is only slightly less common than ice on Raikou, and while bolt-beam coverage is fantastic, a tier housing both Gastrodon and Quagsire is a good place for your electric type to have a grass move.
Amoonguss @ Black Sludge
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 Spd
Bold Nature
- Clear Smog
- Giga Drain
- Toxic
- Sludge Bomb
The most notable part of this Amoongus set is the absence of Spore. I feel that sleep is a really unreliable and inconsistent tactic, and I refrain from using it. Sometimes it would be nice to be able to sleep something, but in my pokemon history I've been burned by relying on sleep more often than I've won because of it. As my team is very bulky I considered Stun Spore instead of Toxic, but 75% accuracy is something I try to eliminate from my life for my own sanity. I could be persuaded to try Stun Spore, but I will remain steadfast in my refusal to use sleep, and I hope raters respect that. The other three moves are relatively standard I think, and this Amoongus is easily my best (if not only) counter to both Whimsicott and Sharpedo.
Slowking @ Assault Vest
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 252 SAtk / 252 HP / 4 Spd
Modest Nature
- Psyshock
- Scald
- Ice Beam
- Fire Blast
AV Slowking has saved me so many battles. The second half of the not-creative-or-original-at-all Regen core can take hits so well, and hits back like a truck. Psyshock even helps win 1v1 matchups with other AV users. I think this set is pretty self-explanatory, but sometimes against teams with other slowking or other bulky offense teams I wish I had grass knot, but I can't imagine what I'd switch it for.
Emboar @ Life Orb
Ability: Blaze
EVs: 112 Atk / 252 SAtk / 144 Spd
Mild Nature
- Fire Blast
- Grass Knot
- Sucker Punch
- Superpower
I did not make this set, I saw someone use it on YouTube (is that taboo here?) I love it so much though, as it baits in Rhyperior/Rhydon and ohkos them, and has a chance to 2 hit ko any version of Milotic except fully specially defensive (does 40% minimum to max hp max special d). Even without full attack investment Superpower still hits like a truck, and Sucker Punch gives it so much utility, especially if you've convinced your opponent you are fully a special attacker first.
Edit: I hear the set originates from someone named Shakeitup, to credit where it is due.
Crustle @ Mental Herb
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 252 HP / 4 SDef / 252 Def
Careful Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Spikes
- X-Scissor
- Rock Blast
This is the standard Crustle form Gen 5, but as custap is unreleased I decided to give mental herb a try and I get a ton of utility out of it. Against lead matchups with Cobalion or Froslass, taunt is often their only defense against hazards, and getting rocks up turn 1 can be game changing. Although, I often don't lead with the Crustle, and find opportunity mid-game to get up some entry hazards, and it really helps wear threats down for the endgame. Rock Blast helps a lot against Defog-users, as most of them are flying type, and it gets a 2hko against many of the tier's defog users if I get good rolls with the number of Rock Blast hits.
Claydol @ Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 SDef / 252 HP / 4 Atk
Gentle Nature
- Rapid Spin
- Earthquake
- Psychic
- Toxic
Although Claydol has a ton of utility as a rapid spinner, its #1 job is to keep sub CM Raikou from setting up. Modest Specs Raikou's Shadow Ball is the only version that has a guaranteed 2 hit KO on this Claydol, and Earthquakes make sure that if Raikou does stay in and knock the Claydol out it is at low HP and can be easily revenge killed.
Threats:
This is public enemy #1 for this team. Sub-Swords Dance, Scarfed, Defensive Utility, doesn't matter, I feel like every Cobalion gives this team fits. In almost every case I'm lucky to get out of facing a Cobalion with a 1 for 1 trade. I've considered trading Sludge Bomb with HP Fire on Amoongus, but I am still not confident in my ability to consistently win that matchup and otherwise Sludge Bomb is so much more useful.
In the hands of a skilled user bulky Life Orb Shaymin sweeps my team late game. I don't have a single switch in if my opponent makes the most basic predictions, and most often my best bet is for a healthy Slowking to live a Seed Flare and do big damage, die, and then I revenge kill with Raikou.
Clawitzer is another threat that I just can't switch into. If anything in this tier does I haven't found it. It's a terrifying and bulky revenge killer that I just have to give it's kill every time it comes in. (Sidebar: Escavalier is the only thing close to a switch in to this, and for that reason I run HP Fire on my Clawitzers).
Knock Off gets to my team more than most for some reason, I guess it's because Amoongus and Slowking both rely on their items for extended survivability. I definitely want to avoid jumping on the bandwagon of Knock Off haters, but SO many unexpected things are running it now, and a bulky 'mon with Knock Off and really cripple my team and do a lot of damage in the process, clearing the way for one of the above threats to sweep me.
Conclusion:
I'm still unsure if I've made a truly competitively viable team, or if the Amoongus/Slowking core is just so classic and strong that it covers a lot of holes. I'd love some feedback for improvements and future teambuilding advice. Thanks for taking time to read through my maiden voyage into RMT posts!
Here's the team:
Raikou @ Choice Specs
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 252 Spd / 252 SAtk / 4 HP
Timid Nature
- Thunderbolt
- Volt Switch
- Shadow Ball
- Hidden Power [Grass]
Specs Raikou is, in my opinion, the best version of Raikou to use in RU right now. While scarfed Raikou has blazing speed, it just doesn't pack the punch you'd like it to. Additionally, sub-calm mind is terrifying to face, but any player who knows the tier has multiple checks to that beast. I think specs is the perfect combination of (mild)surprise factor, great speed, and hard hitting. The only two things about this set otherwise that I think merit explanation is the nature, Timid, and my choice of hidden power type. In a tier with so many base 115s (Ambipom, Cinccino, and our troll friend Whimsicott with base 116) I think it is optimal to at least speed tie those things, or outpace a Whimsicott that isn't running max speed. HP grass is only slightly less common than ice on Raikou, and while bolt-beam coverage is fantastic, a tier housing both Gastrodon and Quagsire is a good place for your electric type to have a grass move.
Amoonguss @ Black Sludge
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 Spd
Bold Nature
- Clear Smog
- Giga Drain
- Toxic
- Sludge Bomb
The most notable part of this Amoongus set is the absence of Spore. I feel that sleep is a really unreliable and inconsistent tactic, and I refrain from using it. Sometimes it would be nice to be able to sleep something, but in my pokemon history I've been burned by relying on sleep more often than I've won because of it. As my team is very bulky I considered Stun Spore instead of Toxic, but 75% accuracy is something I try to eliminate from my life for my own sanity. I could be persuaded to try Stun Spore, but I will remain steadfast in my refusal to use sleep, and I hope raters respect that. The other three moves are relatively standard I think, and this Amoongus is easily my best (if not only) counter to both Whimsicott and Sharpedo.
Slowking @ Assault Vest
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 252 SAtk / 252 HP / 4 Spd
Modest Nature
- Psyshock
- Scald
- Ice Beam
- Fire Blast
AV Slowking has saved me so many battles. The second half of the not-creative-or-original-at-all Regen core can take hits so well, and hits back like a truck. Psyshock even helps win 1v1 matchups with other AV users. I think this set is pretty self-explanatory, but sometimes against teams with other slowking or other bulky offense teams I wish I had grass knot, but I can't imagine what I'd switch it for.
Emboar @ Life Orb
Ability: Blaze
EVs: 112 Atk / 252 SAtk / 144 Spd
Mild Nature
- Fire Blast
- Grass Knot
- Sucker Punch
- Superpower
I did not make this set, I saw someone use it on YouTube (is that taboo here?) I love it so much though, as it baits in Rhyperior/Rhydon and ohkos them, and has a chance to 2 hit ko any version of Milotic except fully specially defensive (does 40% minimum to max hp max special d). Even without full attack investment Superpower still hits like a truck, and Sucker Punch gives it so much utility, especially if you've convinced your opponent you are fully a special attacker first.
Edit: I hear the set originates from someone named Shakeitup, to credit where it is due.
Crustle @ Mental Herb
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 252 HP / 4 SDef / 252 Def
Careful Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Spikes
- X-Scissor
- Rock Blast
This is the standard Crustle form Gen 5, but as custap is unreleased I decided to give mental herb a try and I get a ton of utility out of it. Against lead matchups with Cobalion or Froslass, taunt is often their only defense against hazards, and getting rocks up turn 1 can be game changing. Although, I often don't lead with the Crustle, and find opportunity mid-game to get up some entry hazards, and it really helps wear threats down for the endgame. Rock Blast helps a lot against Defog-users, as most of them are flying type, and it gets a 2hko against many of the tier's defog users if I get good rolls with the number of Rock Blast hits.
Claydol @ Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 SDef / 252 HP / 4 Atk
Gentle Nature
- Rapid Spin
- Earthquake
- Psychic
- Toxic
Although Claydol has a ton of utility as a rapid spinner, its #1 job is to keep sub CM Raikou from setting up. Modest Specs Raikou's Shadow Ball is the only version that has a guaranteed 2 hit KO on this Claydol, and Earthquakes make sure that if Raikou does stay in and knock the Claydol out it is at low HP and can be easily revenge killed.
Threats:
This is public enemy #1 for this team. Sub-Swords Dance, Scarfed, Defensive Utility, doesn't matter, I feel like every Cobalion gives this team fits. In almost every case I'm lucky to get out of facing a Cobalion with a 1 for 1 trade. I've considered trading Sludge Bomb with HP Fire on Amoongus, but I am still not confident in my ability to consistently win that matchup and otherwise Sludge Bomb is so much more useful.
In the hands of a skilled user bulky Life Orb Shaymin sweeps my team late game. I don't have a single switch in if my opponent makes the most basic predictions, and most often my best bet is for a healthy Slowking to live a Seed Flare and do big damage, die, and then I revenge kill with Raikou.
Clawitzer is another threat that I just can't switch into. If anything in this tier does I haven't found it. It's a terrifying and bulky revenge killer that I just have to give it's kill every time it comes in. (Sidebar: Escavalier is the only thing close to a switch in to this, and for that reason I run HP Fire on my Clawitzers).
Knock Off gets to my team more than most for some reason, I guess it's because Amoongus and Slowking both rely on their items for extended survivability. I definitely want to avoid jumping on the bandwagon of Knock Off haters, but SO many unexpected things are running it now, and a bulky 'mon with Knock Off and really cripple my team and do a lot of damage in the process, clearing the way for one of the above threats to sweep me.
Conclusion:
I'm still unsure if I've made a truly competitively viable team, or if the Amoongus/Slowking core is just so classic and strong that it covers a lot of holes. I'd love some feedback for improvements and future teambuilding advice. Thanks for taking time to read through my maiden voyage into RMT posts!
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