This is an (I think) new idea, and as such I will describe through most of the steps it took me to assemble my working team. If you just want to see the team in its current form, click the spoiler below.
Current Sandhail Team:
Hippowdon (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 252 HP / 168 Def / 88 SpD
Impish nature (+Def, -SpA)
- Earthquake
- Stealth Rock
- Slack Off
- Roar
Hippowdon lead gives me Stealth Rock and Sand Storm right off the bat, as well as a phazer and physical wall for both now and later. Plus, it tricks people into thinking I'm running a Sandstorm team, and a lot of their strategies die when Abomasnow comes in later. Stone Edge would allow me to deal with Salamence and Gyarados switch-ins, but I'd have to give up my team's only phaze. Abomasnow is a great counter for grass and waters who come in to deal with Hippowdon. I'm a little worried about both Bronzong and Skarmory, as well as flying types that I could be hitting with Stone Edge.
Mamoswine (F) @ Life Orb
Ability: Snow Cloak
EVs: 244 Atk / 64 SpA / 200 Spe
Naughty nature (+Atk, -SpD)
- Earthquake
- Ice Shard
- Blizzard
- Stone Edge
Mamoswine is a natural on both Hail and Sand teams, and as such, is perfectly at home on a team with both. MixMamo gives an opportunity to use 100-Accuracy Blizzard to surprise physical enemies while cutting enemy Accuracy by 20 and holding on to that wonderful STAB Earthquake. As you'd expect, Mamoswine can have a hard time switching in early game, but once I eliminate her counters (ideally grass- and water- types, dealt with by Abomasnow), she's probably my most powerful fighter.
Forretress (M) @ Shed Shell
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 252 HP / 44 Atk / 212 SpD
Careful nature (+SpD, -SpA)
- Toxic Spikes
- Rapid Spin
- Spikes
- Payback
Several of my teammates need Toxic Spikes to do some real damage, and Forretress gives it to them. In addition, he takes powerful grass attacks bound for Hippowdon or Mamoswine and spins away Stealth Rock so my Ice-types can get on with the killing. Forretress is usually my second pokemon on the field, and he can either start clearing Stealth Rock away for Mamoswine and Abomasnow or Toxic Spiking. I'm wondering a little about damaging attacks, though... I feel like I should use Gyro Ball for some actual damage, so I'm considering dropping Spikes, or, less likely, Payback.
Rotom-F @ Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 64 HP / 232 SpA / 212 Spe
Timid nature (+Spe, -Atk)
- Blizzard
- Charge Beam
- Thunderbolt
- Substitute
My spin-blocker just happens to be an amazing sweeper, too. I went with the Charge Beam set, using the BoltBeam combo with boosted special attack and, ideally, Toxic Spikes poisoning. Rotom-F has my only electric-type attacks on the team. Sadly, his leftovers is negated by whatever weather is on the field. Still, his Blizzard works well in Hail. I recently heard a suggestion to a hail team to run Rotom-H for his Overheat, which might be a great way to counter steels, so I'd like some advice there.
Empoleon (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Torrent
EVs: 24 HP / 252 SpA / 232 Spe
Modest nature (+SpA, -Atk)
- Surf
- Blizzard
- Grass Knot
- Agility
Intentionally cutting my health to the bare minimum with SupPetaya doesn't really work in a hailstorm, but the Agility, Three Attacks variant works well. I'm not using Hydro Pump, because I've got a little too much chance on my team as it is, and various entry hazards should take most important kills down into respectable range anyways. The coverage with these three attacks is great, Empoleon's defensive typing makes it an easy defensive switch, and if I can find time to Agility, my sweep will usually be the last thing the enemy sees.
On the other hand, I'm finding myself losing health a little too quick with Life Orb and Hail put together (16% per turn). I'm seriously considering switching over to a Choice Scarf set, and I need some advice on this one.
Abomasnow (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Snow Warning
EVs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid nature (+Spe, -Atk)
- Substitute
- Leech Seed
- Focus Punch
- Blizzard
So people tend to do weird things when they first see my Abomasnow after a Hippowdon lead. Which is a good thing. Confusing people in real life is about as effective as confusing the pokemon in game: not as good as burning them, and pretty hit-or-miss, but potentially game-changing. The BL on my team isn't just a Hailbringer, though. With a SubSeeder set, he can drain enemy health and pull himself together at the same time, ideally combined with Toxic Spikes. The 100-Accuracy Blizzard is the best STAB move anybody could ask for, and his Focus Punch, most importantly, destroys Tyranitars (after I've substituted) that switch in to eliminate Hail and try for a rock-type takedown.
The Team:
After some fairly minimal testing, I’ve found this team to be my most effective yet (although I'm new here). It is weak against fighting and fire attacks, which is no surprise. Infernape is its arch-rival. Still, the only game I’ve lost in maybe eight was against an Infernape who was REALLY hard to get rid of and a Magnezone that took down my Forretress before I could remember what I had to do to deal with it (totally forgot I had a Shed Shell...). I recognize the fact that I need more than just Rotom-F to counter fighting types, and that although I have two hugely powerful STAB Earthquakes and a great STAB Surf to work with, not having any fire resist whatsoever is painful. I am also worried about the stronger steel-types, although I do have a 4x resist - Empoleon - to Bullet Punch and Meteor Mash. I’m completely open to suggestions on any of this.
Hippowdon (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 252 HP / 168 Def / 88 SpD
Impish nature (+Def, -SpA)
- Earthquake
- Stealth Rock
- Slack Off
- Roar
Hippowdon lead gives me Stealth Rock and Sand Storm right off the bat, as well as a phazer and physical wall for both now and later. Plus, it tricks people into thinking I'm running a Sandstorm team, and a lot of their strategies die when Abomasnow comes in later. Stone Edge would allow me to deal with Salamence and Gyarados switch-ins, but I'd have to give up my team's only phaze. Abomasnow is a great counter for grass and waters who come in to deal with Hippowdon. I'm a little worried about both Bronzong and Skarmory, as well as flying types that I could be hitting with Stone Edge.
Mamoswine (F) @ Life Orb
Ability: Snow Cloak
EVs: 244 Atk / 64 SpA / 200 Spe
Naughty nature (+Atk, -SpD)
- Earthquake
- Ice Shard
- Blizzard
- Stone Edge
Mamoswine is a natural on both Hail and Sand teams, and as such, is perfectly at home on a team with both. MixMamo gives an opportunity to use 100-Accuracy Blizzard to surprise physical enemies while cutting enemy Accuracy by 20 and holding on to that wonderful STAB Earthquake. As you'd expect, Mamoswine can have a hard time switching in early game, but once I eliminate her counters (ideally grass- and water- types, dealt with by Abomasnow), she's probably my most powerful fighter.
Forretress (M) @ Shed Shell
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 252 HP / 44 Atk / 212 SpD
Careful nature (+SpD, -SpA)
- Toxic Spikes
- Rapid Spin
- Spikes
- Payback
Several of my teammates need Toxic Spikes to do some real damage, and Forretress gives it to them. In addition, he takes powerful grass attacks bound for Hippowdon or Mamoswine and spins away Stealth Rock so my Ice-types can get on with the killing. Forretress is usually my second pokemon on the field, and he can either start clearing Stealth Rock away for Mamoswine and Abomasnow or Toxic Spiking. I'm wondering a little about damaging attacks, though... I feel like I should use Gyro Ball for some actual damage, so I'm considering dropping Spikes, or, less likely, Payback.
Rotom-F @ Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 64 HP / 232 SpA / 212 Spe
Timid nature (+Spe, -Atk)
- Blizzard
- Charge Beam
- Thunderbolt
- Substitute
My spin-blocker just happens to be an amazing sweeper, too. I went with the Charge Beam set, using the BoltBeam combo with boosted special attack and, ideally, Toxic Spikes poisoning. Rotom-F has my only electric-type attacks on the team. Sadly, his leftovers is negated by whatever weather is on the field. Still, his Blizzard works well in Hail. I recently heard a suggestion to a hail team to run Rotom-H for his Overheat, which might be a great way to counter steels, so I'd like some advice there.
Empoleon (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Torrent
EVs: 24 HP / 252 SpA / 232 Spe
Modest nature (+SpA, -Atk)
- Surf
- Blizzard
- Grass Knot
- Agility
Intentionally cutting my health to the bare minimum with SupPetaya doesn't really work in a hailstorm, but the Agility, Three Attacks variant works well. I'm not using Hydro Pump, because I've got a little too much chance on my team as it is, and various entry hazards should take most important kills down into respectable range anyways. The coverage with these three attacks is great, Empoleon's defensive typing makes it an easy defensive switch, and if I can find time to Agility, my sweep will usually be the last thing the enemy sees.
On the other hand, I'm finding myself losing health a little too quick with Life Orb and Hail put together (16% per turn). I'm seriously considering switching over to a Choice Scarf set, and I need some advice on this one.
Abomasnow (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Snow Warning
EVs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid nature (+Spe, -Atk)
- Substitute
- Leech Seed
- Focus Punch
- Blizzard
So people tend to do weird things when they first see my Abomasnow after a Hippowdon lead. Which is a good thing. Confusing people in real life is about as effective as confusing the pokemon in game: not as good as burning them, and pretty hit-or-miss, but potentially game-changing. The BL on my team isn't just a Hailbringer, though. With a SubSeeder set, he can drain enemy health and pull himself together at the same time, ideally combined with Toxic Spikes. The 100-Accuracy Blizzard is the best STAB move anybody could ask for, and his Focus Punch, most importantly, destroys Tyranitars (after I've substituted) that switch in to eliminate Hail and try for a rock-type takedown.
The Team:
After some fairly minimal testing, I’ve found this team to be my most effective yet (although I'm new here). It is weak against fighting and fire attacks, which is no surprise. Infernape is its arch-rival. Still, the only game I’ve lost in maybe eight was against an Infernape who was REALLY hard to get rid of and a Magnezone that took down my Forretress before I could remember what I had to do to deal with it (totally forgot I had a Shed Shell...). I recognize the fact that I need more than just Rotom-F to counter fighting types, and that although I have two hugely powerful STAB Earthquakes and a great STAB Surf to work with, not having any fire resist whatsoever is painful. I am also worried about the stronger steel-types, although I do have a 4x resist - Empoleon - to Bullet Punch and Meteor Mash. I’m completely open to suggestions on any of this.
So I had the strange idea of combining the elements of hail and sand in one team. This would be good for both the Sand Streamer and the Abomasnow, as either could switch into the other's weather effect. Better than that, the ability to replace Hail when needed means your whole team doesn't have to be ice type.
At first, I based this team on the strategies outlined in the Smog Episode #5 Flavor of the Month. Starting with Abomasnow and Walrein, and using the necessary Tyranitar, I then added a Mamoswine for his obvious dual immunities to hail and sand - not to say that's all he's good for, but it's pretty obvious that he's the best OU monster to go with hail and sand together. Next I needed a sweeper, and I think I found my best choice in Empoleon, with his great defensive typing, immunity to sandstorm, and, in hail, the bulk to survive and access to Blizzard.
I knew these players would all work well with toxic spikes, due to their bulky natures. The toxic spiker that fits with sandstorm is Forretress, and he has added benefits in a 4x resistance to grass, which Walrein, Tyranitar, and Mamoswine all have problems with. Rapid spinning is really important, too, especially with ice types being weak to Stealth Rock.
So I've still got some problems here. Five of my six are weak against fighting, including one 4x weakness. And the last one doesn't even resist it. At this point, I'm thinking about using a better lead than Mamoswine, and also about getting a sandstorm specialist. Aerodactyl fills both these roles perfectly, as a quick Stealth Rock/Taunter with his rock type boosting special defense in sandstorm. At this point, I have to give up on the NU Walrein. It's got too many shared weaknesses to be useful as a defensive switch-in - electric, fighting, rock, grass... So no more Walrein.
That fighting weakness is still really apparent. And I'm obviously gonna have a problem with rapid spinners, as ice types are weak to Stealth Rock. Plus, I got nothing for water types except the unreliable grass attacks from Empoleon and Abomasnow. That makes a Rotom appliance a good choice. I don't know what I'm gonna take out, but I'll just put one in and have a seven-poke team for a little bit. On a hail team, Smogon says Rotom-F is a great option, and I'm gonna take their word for it. The BoltBeam combination can make it a deadly sweeper, even if it does take some hail damage.
One thing I was looking forward to with this team was the fake out potential right at the beginning. I've heard it repeatedly, "if you see Hippowdon leading, you're facing a Sandstorm team; if you see Abomosnow leading, you're facing a Hail team." So totally juking people by leading Tyranitar and later coming in with Abomasnow is one of the best traits of this team. They're all set up for Sandstorm, and suddenly hail starts pelting them. Then it switches back. Man, that's fun. People have complained about it in about half the matches I play. It's usually too much for enemies to keep up with, and they end up ignoring it and taking the damage for the most part.
So I know I need to get rid of somebody here, but figuring out who to cut is really hard. I guess the easiest way to do that would be to combine two different pokemon into one. The most overlap seems to be on Tyranitar and Aerodactyl, who are both sandstorm specialists. The best way to combine them turned out to be Hippowdon, as a Hippo Lead allows for Stealth Rock setup as well as early phazing and Sand Stream. It also eliminates my 4x fighting weakness and nets me a physical wall, something I lacked for the most part. To make up for the special defense lost there, I set Forretress up as a Mixed Wall.
If you want to see the final team as well as rationale for their sets, look in the spoiler at the top.
