Sandstorm teams?

[Nowen]

I have yet to post a team in the gluttony of me too! threads that have been flying about but I guess I will end up doing so now with the caveat that I hope this thread generates more discussion on the topic than the team.
I've been thinking recently how much of a beast Tyranitar is and how it's (rightly imo) assumed it will whored in DP even more than it was in ADV but I haven't really seen very many teams designed around using it and the ensuing sandstorm to great effect, with only a couple exceptions. I tried to picture what such a team would look like in DP and have had a bit of a time putting one together that can function well and counter the many threats it would need to to be successful. I'll post what I've come up with so far but this isn't a RMT so much as a starting off point to discuss the future of sandstorm teams in general.

Tyranitar (F) @ Choice Band
Trait: Sand Stream
EVs: 36 HP / 252 Atk / 220 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Crunch
- Stone Edge
- Earthquake
- Pursuit

Obvious. Deadly.

Garchomp (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Sand Veil
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Swords Dance
- Earthquake
- Dragon Claw
- Stone Edge

Garchomp in a sandstorm can put a lot of pressure on the opposing team. Tyranitar plus Garchomp should be enough to scare anyone. Obviously you wouldn't use these evs, those will be adjusted over time.

Skarmory (F) @ (Beautiful Skin)
Trait: Sturdy
EVs: 252 HP / 60 Atk / 192 Def / 4 Spd
Impish Nature (+Def, -SAtk)
- Drill Peck
- Stealth Rock
- Spikes / Whirlwind
- Feather Rest

I don't know what Skarm will be phazing out anymore and I don't think it can afford to sit around and Whirlwind, trying to inflict Spikes related damage, but I could be wrong. If something on this team got replaced, this would likely be it.

Blissey (F) @ Leftovers
Trait: Natural Cure
EVs: 148 HP / 252 Def / 108 SDef
Bold Nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Seismic Toss
- Ice Beam
- Light Screen
- Softboiled

Needed. I think Light Screen will help out immensely this gen, especially on a team like this. It just requires one to be incredibly careful with status without Aromatherapy. Calm Mind Blissey could work, but personally I like Light Screen.

Slowbro (F) @ Leftovers
Trait: Oblivious
EVs: 252 HP / 140 Def / 116 SAtk
Bold Nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Surf
- Ice Beam
- Grass Rope / HP Electric
- Slack Off

I thought of Empoleon in this spot, which is something to hold off other bulky waters, but that just creates another fighting and ground weakness to exploit as well as easy pickings for a Magnezone. Plus this adds other benefits, like holding off Infernape and opposing Garchomp.

Weezing (F) @ Leftovers
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SAtk
Bold Nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Thunderbolt
- Hidden Power [Flying]
- Will-O-Wisp
- Pain Split

Looks a little odd, I know. But as I was considering what a team like this could do about Heracross or Gyarados, I naturally thought of Weezing. HP fly gives a guaranteed 2hko every time on Cross which Flamethrower doesn't with no SpAtt evs as well as a backup to Slowbro for Infernape and other troublesome fighters who this team would normally have problems with.

The THREATDOWN
Tyranitar - Ironically this team has to predict to beat Tar but Skarm, Garchomp, Weezing, and Slowbro all have their benefits. That could be solved with putting either Swampert, Hippowdon, or even Torterra in Skarm's spot to Stealth Rock if it becomes a big problem.

Rhyperior - Likewise. No Rock resist is hurting so far but Weezing and Slowbro can attempt to take him on.

Garchomp - Slowbro is the main counter but Weezing can lend support if needed. 60% acc Wisp doesn't sound like much of a counter though.

Heracross - Weezing is one of the best Heracross counters I can think of.

Infernape - Slowbro and Weezing can take on physical variants. Blissey for special. Mixed would probably inflict quite a bit of damage on Weezing or Bro, but both should be able to ko.

Gengar - Blissey / Light Screen. FP variants won't like subbing in a sandstorm.

Azelf - Blissey / Light Screen. This team would need to be paranoid about Exploding elfs though, as Bliss is too valuable.

Gyarados - Slowbro can weaken Gyara and come in a time or two, but Weezing is the main counter here.

Salamence - Blissey for CG or special variants, Slowbro, Skarm, Weezing otherwise. But I won't know which is which until it's too late!!1

Electivire - Can only set up on Weezing's Thunderbolt and would get Wisped right away in that screnario. Otherwise it looks like this team would have to switch around to get Garchomp in on a predicted Thunderbolt just to scare it away. Not a good scenario.

Raikou - Blissey / Light Screen

Suicune - Blissey or Slowbro would have to force it to sleep. Tar or Garchomp could then attempt a 2hko. Sleep Talkers could cause problems.

Manaphy - Sweeper versions can be taken care of with Blissey, Hydration abusers (Rain Dance/Rest) would be met by Blissey would who throw up a Screen and force it to Rest. I don't know the order of operations though. If it's raining and Manaphy rests and Tar is brought in the same turn, does Hydration activate before the weather changes or would it then sleep for two turns? I'm guessing the latter and if so, there's a counter.

Heatran - Blissey / Light Screen. Again, paranoid about Explosion.

Starmie - CG is easily taken care of with Bliss. Rapid Spinner would stall for quite a while but Light Screen helps.

Sceptile - Could cause problems by Subseeding Bliss but with a Light Screen Skarm and Weezing should be able to take it.

There are plenty of ways to put a team together around sandstream with either Tar, Hippowdon, or both. This is just my take. Do you think teams will try to abuse sandstorm + spikes like in the days of rampant TSS or will teams instead work around Tar's ability just to use his massive power? By working around it I mean either only bringing Tar in late game to clean up or pairing it with another weather user (Rain Dance Manaphy, Sunny Day Eggy/Tangrowth) to get rid of the sand. Discuss how you see Sandstorm teams shaping up in DP.

 

[Aeolus]

I understand your reasoning for Weezing... I'm just concerned about his durability in the sand. He is one of those defensive pokes who really needs his leftovers.

 

[Acadia]

There are plenty of ways to put a team together around sandstream with either Tar, Hippowdon, or both. This is just my take. Do you think teams will try to abuse sandstorm + spikes like in the days of rampant TSS or will teams instead work around Tar's ability just to use his massive power? By working around it I mean either only bringing Tar in late game to clean up or pairing it with another weather user (Rain Dance Manaphy, Sunny Day Eggy/Tangrowth) to get rid of the sand. Discuss how you see Sandstorm teams shaping up in DP.

Since I keep meaning to post a thread concerning weather, I figured that I might as well post my currently meager thoughts on the more general question first.

To answer your "either or" question, I think that the such teams will at least intentionally focus on power since most everyone's seems to be focusing (or being forced to focus) on the blitz side of D/P, as somewhat produced by Stealth Rock and the seemingly absurd amount of things that have seemingly absurdly high attack stats. The lack of true "walls" is further hampered by the fact that nothing that can described as one except for Dootakun and Skarmory, both of whom hate Magnezone, "like" Sandstorm.

Combined with Pursuit's apparent absurdity when CBing, I think that anything that tries to focus around Sandstream instead of just whoring T-tar's power...will still whore T-tar's power, but make sure it has more Pokemon, like Garchomp, who actually benefit from Sandstorm instead of just being neutral to it.

That said, I don't really see much of a difference between Sandstorm teams and teams with T-tar given how easy it is to set-up Stealth Rock for pretty much anyone.

As for you actual team, I would personally thus say go with Whirlwind for Skarmory over Spikes--the lack of phazing on most teams has really bugged the crap of me, especially considering all the set-up sets around. Not that Skarmory can phaze everything without dying, but given that it can at least Feather Rest, it has better things to do than run from Magnezone thrice only to get its work Rapid Spun away due to lack of a ghost.

I also think you should have HP Electric over Grass Rope for Slowbro, if only because Grass Rope does jack to Manaphy and Blissey has a high chance of getting blown up by Azelf (or "blown up" by PorygonZ's Schemed Hyper Beam since you won't get the chance to put a Light Screen if you switched in).

P.S. Oh, and I echo the above sentiment by Aelous.

 

[Hyra]

Needs more Hippowdon/Rhyperior. Both are premier physical tanks. Skarmory should really use Spikes on such a team as this, you can fit Stealth Rock in elsewhere.

Hm.... TTar/Garchomp/Skarmory/Hippowdon/Slowbro/Blissey. That looks like a very solid team that abuses Sandstream. You are required to run HP Ele on Slowbro to stop a Gyarados sweep. Actually, that looks Heracross weak. Switch Skarmory for Gliscor and probably Garchomp for Metagross.

Normallu SS teams are torn apart by mixed sweepers. This team covers Infernape enough, but Electivire reeks havoc. Swampert over Hippowdon would fix that. Then either Metagross or Blisseey could wall it.

Okay you have inspired my love for SS teams. Expect an RMT from me focusing on one in a few days.

 

[Misty]

"Sandstorm team" is a misnomer... these days anything with a Tyranitar/Hippowdon is a Sandstorm team.

I'm making a Tyranitar team too, and the trouble with building around Sandstorm and not building around Tyranitar is that you get into some real problems with most sweepers. Weezing/Gliscor are pretty nice necessary, because otherwise Heracross becomes a major pain in the ass - I chose Weezing with Wish support but I see Aeolus's point about Sand Stream.

Garchomp is pretty much an obvious choice. My team actually lacks it, but in general try to stick to it.

Tyranitar/Gliscor/Garchomp... You need something to beat bulky waters, especially Gyarados and Suicune... your Bro set is adequate for this, I guess. Then a special wall, and obviously you have Blissey, so go with that. After that... you have Skarmory, but I don't think it's really needed anymore.

So yeah, Gliscor over Weezing. :]

 

[Hipmonlee]

Bliss/Skarm/Bro/Ground/Fighting counter/Misc

It is pretty tough to break.. I mean, it is breakable (of course), but it wont be easy.

So it really seems absurd to be saying this at this stage, but your team looks pretty standard imo..

Spikes damage will give you a lot of problems. Also a swords dance passing Leafeon, should it Grasswhistle Skarm.

Have a nice day.