I'm generally used to teambuilding, but I realize I could use some work on this team. While it is quite successful, since it's an offensive team it struggles with more stall-related teams. Often I find that I rely too much on Scyther's sweeping ability to save me.
While there are definitely holes in this team, it's worked out well for me for the most part. I might need a proper special wall as Scyther and Magmortar are unfortunately the strongest when it comes to that. I need more statuses.
As for suggestions, I appreciate very much so underrated pokemon that I don't know of. If I hear Slowking one time I swear... :P Suggestions like Regice, Hitmonchan, etc are pretty awesome.
Minor note, I did take away the yellow color for electric type moves since it's hard to see. I'm sure that's not a problem though.
Credits: Smogon for their movesets and ideas.
pokecheck.org for the sprites
Thanks to Incon for the suggestions!
While there are definitely holes in this team, it's worked out well for me for the most part. I might need a proper special wall as Scyther and Magmortar are unfortunately the strongest when it comes to that. I need more statuses.
As for suggestions, I appreciate very much so underrated pokemon that I don't know of. If I hear Slowking one time I swear... :P Suggestions like Regice, Hitmonchan, etc are pretty awesome.
Minor note, I did take away the yellow color for electric type moves since it's hard to see. I'm sure that's not a problem though.
The Team
Scyther
Reaper (Scyther)
(M) @ Eviolite
Trait: Technician
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Atk / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Swords Dance
- Aerial Ace
- Roost
- Brick Break
The setup sweeper. The crux of this team. The core. It works almost like a tank with evo, and one swords dance boost or two is enough to sweep an entire team. I often try to be aggressive with this pokemon and it works out beautifully. The unpredictability about it's defenses also helps keep it alive. Unfortunately it needs that rapid spin, otherwise it's not going to tank as well as it should.
Its moves are simple Aerial Ace acts as its main stab, slicing and dicing with Technician and STAB boost. Roost heals off possible Stealth Rock damage and allows it to outstall some enemies in key situations. Brick Break takes care of Aggron and other steels types trying to get in the way. Swords Dance allows it to become the setup sweeper it is. After 1 Swords Dance, the vast majority of the metagame is 2HKO'd or OHKO'd. With three 3 Swords Dances should one allow it, the metagame is OHKO'd or 2HKO'd barring Quagsire and others. It really is a beast.
EVs are simple. 248 allows it to survive two Stealth Rock switch ins and give it maximum bulk possible. Max Speed since Swords dance improves its attack anyway.
Manectric
Maniac (Manectric)
(F) @ Choice Scarf
Trait: Lightningrod
EVs: 252 SAtk / 4 SDef / 252 Spd
Modest Nature (+SpA, -Atk)
- Volt Switch
- Overheat
- Hidden Power [Grass]
- Thunderbolt
The speediest member on my team has multiple roles, yet is the simplest and most basic.
Firstly, it absorbs electric attacks that affects two essential pokemon; Scyther and Poliwrath. It can then return the favor with a great boosted attack.
Secondly, it's quite a good scout. Its speed is essential and helps prevent sweeps.
Cryogonal
>:( (Cryogonal)
@ Leftovers
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 248 HP / 168 Def / 92 SDef
Calm Nature
- Rapid Spin
- Ice Beam
- Haze
- Recover
Who knew a crystal snowflake could be such a key player in the competitive metagame? This thing tanks all special attacks and returns with a great stab in ice beam, rapid spin, haze, and lovely recover. Often saves me out of tough situations. All Setup Sweepers are messed up with Haze.
Poliwrath
COME AT ME! (Poliwrath)
(M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Water Absorb
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SDef
Relaxed Nature (+Def, -Spd)
- Rest
- Sleep Talk
- Circle Throw
- Scald
A defensive monster. Counters threats such as Entei, Cryogonal, Kabutops, etc. Helps phazes out possible threats. Has very good synergy with Scyther for the most part. Except y'know, the whole thunderbolt thing. But that's what Manectric is there for. Since it has well-rounded defenses, he can take special attacks like a champ as well.
Circle Throw with Sleep Talk is one of the most annoying things in the game for sure.
Druddigon
PaperCraft Dragon (Druddigon)
@ Life Orb
Trait: Sheer Force
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 6 Def
Adamant Nature
- Outrage
- Sucker Punch
- Fire Punch
- Stealth Rock
Not only does it provide utility, but it hits like a tank. Outrage OHKOs almost everything that doesn't resist it, hence the Fire Punch. However, it does have a weakness in that it's as slow as a tank as well. Nevertheless, it provides resistances to the primary attack types in RU and thus deserves its title as the tank of this team.
Spiritomb
Deal with it (Spiritomb)
(M) @ Choice Band
Trait: Pressure
EVs: 172 HP / 252 Atk / 84 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Shadow Sneak
- Sucker Punch
- Pursuit
- Trick
Ah... the revenge killer. Taking advantage of his priority is key here, because no other pokemon on my team has priority. My saving grace in case the other team has a speed boosted pokemon of some sort. Helps neutralize the psychic trio among other threats including Slowking. Unfortunately it's hard to KO physically bulky ghost types, especially with Will-O-Wisp floating around. This is despite my wishes for it to strike hard against Cofagrigus. Luckily it's heading to UU though.
Old Teammates in the Graveyard: R.I.P.
Magmortar (F) @ Expert Belt
Trait: Vital Spirit
EVs: 24 HP / 252 SAtk / 232 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Fire Blast
- Thunderbolt
- Psychic
- Focus Blast
Wallbreaker. Very effective at stopping threats like Tangrowth, Amoonguss, even Slowking that tries to switch in and other walls. Good synergy I find with Poliwrath since it completely counters the most common threat; Grass types. I find Psychic to be effective as it checks fighting types and Nidoqueen, plus is more reliable than Fire Blast to finish off opponents.
Sandslash (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Sand Veil
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SDef
Impish Nature (+Def, -SAtk)
- Earthquake
- Stealth Rock
- Rapid Spin
- Toxic
I know what you're thinking. "why are you using sandslash. why the hell." Utility, of course. As he has stealth rocks and rapid spin, he's quite key to the team and keeps Scyther and Magmortar alive more often than not.
Toxic is used instead of Stone Edge. Why? It helps against walls on the switch.
Often I find Sandslash's massive defense to be invaluable to my team. But he's replaceable; I've considered Armaldo to replace him. However, since Armaldo is weak to Stealth Rocks itself, I think Sandslash fits the role better. But he's the top contender since he has better coverage with x-scissors and rock blast.
Kabutops is an interesting proposition, but it doesn't work well with Poliwrath on the team. Plus it's not as bulky as Sandslash. Cryogonal is another possibility, but I need Stealth Rock support and Rapid Spin or otherwise my team might have trouble.
Scyther
Reaper (Scyther)
Trait: Technician
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Atk / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Swords Dance
- Aerial Ace
- Roost
- Brick Break
The setup sweeper. The crux of this team. The core. It works almost like a tank with evo, and one swords dance boost or two is enough to sweep an entire team. I often try to be aggressive with this pokemon and it works out beautifully. The unpredictability about it's defenses also helps keep it alive. Unfortunately it needs that rapid spin, otherwise it's not going to tank as well as it should.
Its moves are simple Aerial Ace acts as its main stab, slicing and dicing with Technician and STAB boost. Roost heals off possible Stealth Rock damage and allows it to outstall some enemies in key situations. Brick Break takes care of Aggron and other steels types trying to get in the way. Swords Dance allows it to become the setup sweeper it is. After 1 Swords Dance, the vast majority of the metagame is 2HKO'd or OHKO'd. With three 3 Swords Dances should one allow it, the metagame is OHKO'd or 2HKO'd barring Quagsire and others. It really is a beast.
EVs are simple. 248 allows it to survive two Stealth Rock switch ins and give it maximum bulk possible. Max Speed since Swords dance improves its attack anyway.
Manectric
Maniac (Manectric)
Trait: Lightningrod
EVs: 252 SAtk / 4 SDef / 252 Spd
Modest Nature (+SpA, -Atk)
- Volt Switch
- Overheat
- Hidden Power [Grass]
- Thunderbolt
The speediest member on my team has multiple roles, yet is the simplest and most basic.
Firstly, it absorbs electric attacks that affects two essential pokemon; Scyther and Poliwrath. It can then return the favor with a great boosted attack.
Secondly, it's quite a good scout. Its speed is essential and helps prevent sweeps.
Cryogonal
>:( (Cryogonal)
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 248 HP / 168 Def / 92 SDef
Calm Nature
- Rapid Spin
- Ice Beam
- Haze
- Recover
Who knew a crystal snowflake could be such a key player in the competitive metagame? This thing tanks all special attacks and returns with a great stab in ice beam, rapid spin, haze, and lovely recover. Often saves me out of tough situations. All Setup Sweepers are messed up with Haze.
Poliwrath
COME AT ME! (Poliwrath)
Trait: Water Absorb
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SDef
Relaxed Nature (+Def, -Spd)
- Rest
- Sleep Talk
- Circle Throw
- Scald
A defensive monster. Counters threats such as Entei, Cryogonal, Kabutops, etc. Helps phazes out possible threats. Has very good synergy with Scyther for the most part. Except y'know, the whole thunderbolt thing. But that's what Manectric is there for. Since it has well-rounded defenses, he can take special attacks like a champ as well.
Circle Throw with Sleep Talk is one of the most annoying things in the game for sure.
Druddigon
PaperCraft Dragon (Druddigon)
Trait: Sheer Force
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 6 Def
Adamant Nature
- Outrage
- Sucker Punch
- Fire Punch
- Stealth Rock
Not only does it provide utility, but it hits like a tank. Outrage OHKOs almost everything that doesn't resist it, hence the Fire Punch. However, it does have a weakness in that it's as slow as a tank as well. Nevertheless, it provides resistances to the primary attack types in RU and thus deserves its title as the tank of this team.
Spiritomb
Deal with it (Spiritomb)
Trait: Pressure
EVs: 172 HP / 252 Atk / 84 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Shadow Sneak
- Sucker Punch
- Pursuit
- Trick
Ah... the revenge killer. Taking advantage of his priority is key here, because no other pokemon on my team has priority. My saving grace in case the other team has a speed boosted pokemon of some sort. Helps neutralize the psychic trio among other threats including Slowking. Unfortunately it's hard to KO physically bulky ghost types, especially with Will-O-Wisp floating around. This is despite my wishes for it to strike hard against Cofagrigus. Luckily it's heading to UU though.
Old Teammates in the Graveyard: R.I.P.
Magmortar (F) @ Expert Belt
Trait: Vital Spirit
EVs: 24 HP / 252 SAtk / 232 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Fire Blast
- Thunderbolt
- Psychic
- Focus Blast
Wallbreaker. Very effective at stopping threats like Tangrowth, Amoonguss, even Slowking that tries to switch in and other walls. Good synergy I find with Poliwrath since it completely counters the most common threat; Grass types. I find Psychic to be effective as it checks fighting types and Nidoqueen, plus is more reliable than Fire Blast to finish off opponents.
Sandslash (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Sand Veil
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SDef
Impish Nature (+Def, -SAtk)
- Earthquake
- Stealth Rock
- Rapid Spin
- Toxic
I know what you're thinking. "why are you using sandslash. why the hell." Utility, of course. As he has stealth rocks and rapid spin, he's quite key to the team and keeps Scyther and Magmortar alive more often than not.
Toxic is used instead of Stone Edge. Why? It helps against walls on the switch.
Often I find Sandslash's massive defense to be invaluable to my team. But he's replaceable; I've considered Armaldo to replace him. However, since Armaldo is weak to Stealth Rocks itself, I think Sandslash fits the role better. But he's the top contender since he has better coverage with x-scissors and rock blast.
Kabutops is an interesting proposition, but it doesn't work well with Poliwrath on the team. Plus it's not as bulky as Sandslash. Cryogonal is another possibility, but I need Stealth Rock support and Rapid Spin or otherwise my team might have trouble.
Credits: Smogon for their movesets and ideas.
pokecheck.org for the sprites
Thanks to Incon for the suggestions!
