Sharpedo and Pals!

[Captain Kaji]

As I make my first post onto the Smogon Forums, and my first RMT post, I would be happy to take constructive criticism and advice on everything. However, this is my second generation of competitive battling, so I am no newbie.

Sharpedo @ Life Orb
Ability: Speed Boost
EV Spread: 252 Atk/252 Spe/4 HP
Adamant Nature
-Waterfall
-Crunch
-Zen Headbutt
-Protect

The team's MVP, and the pokemon that must stay on the team. Your standard Sharpedo set, who gets KOs quickly and easily. Running Zen Headbutt over Ice Beam has given me interesting coverage (most notably from the fighting types that plague it). I have very rarely had to pull it out of a fight, if only for it to return later with a new lease on life from the support of its teammates.

Ferrothorn @ Leftovers
Ability: Iron Barbs
EV Spread: 252 HP/48 Def/208 SpD
Relaxed Nature
-Stealth Rock
-Leech Seed
-Protect
-Gyro Ball

A supportive core to ensure Sharpedo's sweeps, and a great type spread to compliment Sharpedo too. An all round wall, with a nice fairy counter through Gyro Ball as a bonus. He takes physical hits for days, and can set up more often then not. However, I have had issues with him. For one, Leech Seed stall is nice, but unreliable as a recovery system. More often than not I find it taunted and then forced out or killed. Nonetheless, a strong and very hefty aid to the team.

Chandelure @ Choice Specs
Ability: Flash Fire
EV Spread: 252 SpA/120 HP/8 SpD/128 Spe
Modest Nature
-Fire Blast
-Shadow Ball
-Hidden Power Fighting
-Trick

Though I am relatively new to using this pokemon, but he already pulls his weight. Basis being my huge fire weakness on this team, pokemon like Excadrill, Ferrothorn, and Mega Pinsir attract fire hits. Flash fire comes in and absorbs the hit. From there he can either snag a KO or trick his specs onto someone. He cannot survive more than two to three hits from most things however, so switching him in to resistances or immunities is usually the way he does any work at all. Chandelure also serves as a Semi-spinblocker for my team, ensuring that Ferrothorn's rocks stay in play.


Sylveon @ Leftovers
Ability: Pixilate
EV Spread: 252 HP/4 Def/252 SpD
Calm Nature
-Wish
-Heal Bell
-Protect
-Hyper Voice

A cleric and support for the various sweepers on my team, Sylveon has been a key pivot for switch ins and momentum gathering. Fairy Hyper Voice allows it to get decent damage on the physically based fighting types that like to switch in and give the team issues. She definitely shouldn't be played around with, as a well placed wish from it can often win the game.

Pinsir @ Pinsirite
Ability: Moxie
EV Spread: 252 Atk/252 Spe/4 HP
Jolly Nature
-Swords Dance
-Return
-Quick Attack

A sweeper, plain and simple. To combat my rather large fighting weakness, Mega Pinsir comes to save the day with flying type returns and revenge kills with quick attack. My key to his successful use is his ability to come in, scare my opponent away, and set up a swords dance. Even without the boost, enough hazards or status on the opposing team usually means that he can get some kills. All is not well, as Pinsir's Stealth Rock weakness after mega evolution usually cripples him beyond belief.

Excadrill @ Assault Vest
Ability: Mold Breaker
EV Spread: 176 HP/60 Atk/252 SpD/20 Spe
Adamant Nature
-Rapid Spin
-Poison Jab
-Earthquake
-Rock Slide

Rapid spin support didn't seem too important to me at first, but once I put Pinsir on the team he instantly required the support. Also increasing the survivability of my main sweeper Sharpedo and keeping pesky sticky web off the field is very good for speed control. As I bring him in, however, he quickly can get destroyed by most hits. Virtually every hit Excadrill has taken ends with him being severely damaged and sometimes even OHKOed. Despite his issues, a very nice rapid spinner.


Final remarks: Having a decent record with this team of 12 Wins and 7 losses, I turn to RMT to improve upon this. Main things I am looking for are:
-Pokemon that can work more with Sharpedo's strengths
-More unique EV spreads and moves based on the rest of the team's roles, as the very stock sets are predictable
-Advice when using the Smogon forums
Thank you and have a nice day!
EDIT: Replaced Umbreon with Sylveon for improved coverage and less fighting weakness
EDIT: Changed Excadrill to Assault Vest, and replaced Swords Dance with Poison Jab

 

[bluegrass]

Replacing Umbreon with Sylveon helps mitigate your fighting weakness. She has the same Special Defense and HP, but her Defense is way lower. However, her Special Attack stat is very good with her ability Pixilate, increases its power even more. Fairy is also a better type defensively in my opinion. You can run the same moves, replacing Foul Play with Hyper Voice.

 

[Captain Kaji]

Replacing Umbreon with Sylveon helps mitigate your fighting weakness. She has the same Special Defense and HP, but her Defense is way lower. However, her Special Attack stat is very good with her ability Pixilate, increases its power even more. Fairy is also a better type defensively in my opinion. You can run the same moves, replacing Foul Play with Hyper Voice.

Very nice, thank you! I have been looking for some fairy coverage as well...

 

[Jordansucksatpkmn]

I'm not too much of sword dance excadrill fan. It can't really sweep effectively due to its relatively low speed, and it isn't extremely bulky

 

[ArashiTheRainDancer]

I'm not too much of sword dance excadrill fan. It can't really sweep effectively due to its relatively low speed, and it isn't extremely bulky

Excadrill's base HP is 110. That is pretty damn bulky when you consider it resists 8(or nearly half!) of the 18 types. Also, it is not terribly slow with its base 88 speed. Additionally, Sand Rush DOUBLES that speed in a sandstorm(now we have a REAL sweeper). Excadrill's Swords Dance set is good, but not the best on a non-sandstorm team.

As for you, Kaji, I recommend using Iron Head on your Excadrill over Swords Dance, since SD may become unreliable. It provides coverage against fairies and keeps slower threats at bey with that flinching chance. With this full attacking move set, you could also run Assault Vest instead of Lefties, allowing you to survive at most 3 Flamethrowers. If you do consider, you may want to reset Exca's EVs to add investment to Attack. Remember, this is only a suggestion.

 

[Captain Kaji]

Excadrill's base HP is 110. That is pretty damn bulky when you consider it resists 8(or nearly half!) of the 18 types. Also, it is not terribly slow with its base 88 speed. Additionally, Sand Rush DOUBLES that speed in a sandstorm(now we have a REAL sweeper). Excadrill's Swords Dance set is good, but not the best on a non-sandstorm team.

As for you, Kaji, I recommend using Iron Head on your Excadrill over Swords Dance, since SD may become unreliable. It provides coverage against fairies and keeps slower threats at bey with that flinching chance. With this full attacking move set, you could also run Assault Vest instead of Lefties, allowing you to survive at most 3 Flamethrowers. If you do consider, you may want to reset Exca's EVs to add investment to Attack. Remember, this is only a suggestion.

Maybe. I'll look into testing that, but offensively steel is not the best coverage. It's all in the sake of improvement though, so you've definitely given me something to think about there. Also, I cannot really drag away from bulk on this. Assault vest? You know what, I really like that idea. Thanks!

 

[ArashiTheRainDancer]

Maybe. I'll look into testing that, but offensively steel is not the best coverage. It's all in the sake of improvement though, so you've definitely given me something to think about there. Also, I cannot really drag away from bulk on this. Assault vest? You know what, I really like that idea. Thanks!

Anytime, Kaji. I believe that once you have a reliable spinner, this team is set. Additionally, your choice in Chandelure is a good one, since it can also serve as a moderate spinblocker!
Another thing, Pinsir has access to Stone Edge(and I THINK Rock Slide). That may serve as coverage against Flying Types in his case.

 

[Captain Kaji]

Anytime, Kaji. I believe that once you have a reliable spinner, this team is set. Additionally, your choice in Chandelure is a good one, since it can also serve as a moderate spinblocker!
Another thing, Pinsir has access to Stone Edge(and I THINK Rock Slide). That may serve as coverage against Flying Types in his case.

I would run Stone Edge, but I prefer the Flying type return for the improved BP

 

[POKEMON IS TOO GOOD]

Hey like the team, one thing I would suggest is running a choice scarfed Chandelure. Choice Scarf helps Chandelure out a lot because now it gives him the speed advantage over other pokemon and he will still have the amazing special attack to wreck most pokemon. Hope I helped!

 

[ArashiTheRainDancer]

Hey like the team, one thing I would suggest is running a choice scarfed Chandelure. Choice Scarf helps Chandelure out a lot because now it gives him the speed advantage over other pokemon and he will still have the amazing special attack to wreck most pokemon. Hope I helped!

Ehhh idk about that. It may ruin the whole point of Trick, which is meant to make opponents useless, and not faster. I'm just sayin'.

 

[Turtleye]

Ehhh idk about that. It may ruin the whole point of Trick, which is meant to make opponents useless, and not faster. I'm just sayin'.

Well, with specs, you just boost the special attack. That may be useful for physical attackers like Talonflame, but what if you happen to trick it on, say, Special Aegislash.
Scarf is generally more useful for a trick set, because it lessens the risk of you accidentallly giving the opponent a boost they benefit from.

Also, you would just want to trick it on walls, and just getting choiced is very bad for them. Specs or Scarf doesn't really matter that much.
Keep in mind however that some walls arent completely crippled with specs, because STAB pixilate hyper voice still hurts

 

[Captain Kaji]

Well, with specs, you just boost the special attack. That may be useful for physical attackers like Talonflame, but what if you happen to trick it on, say, Special Aegislash.
Scarf is generally more useful for a trick set, because it lessens the risk of you accidentallly giving the opponent a boost they benefit from.

Also, you would just want to trick it o walls, and just getting choiced is very bsd for them. Specs or Scarf doesn't really matter that much.
Keep in mind howevf that some walls arent completely crippled with specs, because STAB pixilate hyper voice still hurts

I would keep it in mind, but I prefer specs because they can cripple more pokemon in XYs meta, what with the insane physical buffs introduced.