Introduction
With the Isle of Armor winding to a close, so does the window of opportunity to use this double bug godstall, so I decided to finally make a real ladder run with it. This team was originally made haphazardly as a joke, but the gimmick mons legitimately answer large portions of the metagame — this was the perfect team for someone bored with the meta, allowing me to have fun while flexing.
Team Members
Shelmet @ Eviolite
Ability: Shell Armor
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Spikes
- Recover
- Acid Armor
- Toxic
Shelmet is the premiere Urshifu counter and the basis of this team. Adamant banded Wicked Blow fails to 2HKO, and the combination of Acid Armor and Recover allow Shelmet to take on any variant. The rest of the set aims to mitigate this mon’s inherent passivity. Spikes limit switches that abuse the defensive nature of the team and can create a win path with ample double switch pressure, while Toxic allows the helmet to not solely rely on PP stalling. Catching a switch with Toxic is also often a crucial yet necessary play. When playing against Urshifu, Shelmet's HP and Eviolite should be preserved with great caution, and the emphasis should be placed on keeping Stealth Rock off your side of the field. If the opponent is using the rare banded U-Turn, Shelmet becomes less of a safe long-term answer, so helmet chip and copying the threat with Ditto should be applied.
Xatu @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Magic Bounce
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Thunder Wave
- Night Shade
- Roost
- Teleport
While Shelmet may beat Urshifu, it does not do so when rocks are on the field. Therefore, the most reliable Magic Bounce user was a logical partner. Thunder Wave and Night Shade allow it to stop Clefable from rocking more reliably. Teleport provides momentum, especially when using it against a rocker like Hippowdon, as the negative priority allows you to deny rocks while getting the initiative. Xatu can easily get PP stalled out of Roosts if played overly passively or if thrown into moves that cause poison. While it still almost always comes in on Stealth Rock setters, do not be afraid to be aggressive or to come in on predicted Fighting-type moves, as this team requires you to create your own momentum.
Shedinja @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Wonder Guard
EVs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Rash Nature
IVs: 0 Def / 0 SpD
- Toxic
- Will-O-Wisp
- Hex
- Sucker Punch
Well, with one bug, why not run another? This addition set the team on the stall-oriented course that Shelmet would benefit from, and acts as one of the few Kyurem checks available. Max special attack paired with Hex is the strongest set, as it avoids taking recoil from Iron Barbs and Helmet, while doing a surprising amount of damage. For example, Tangrowth is always 2HKOd with a spike up. Sucker Punch is also used over Shadow Sneak to avoid hitting a Rocky Helmet or Iron Barb user inadvertently on top of providing an additional 10 base power. An alternative set with Harden and Agility is usable to PP stall Kyurem, but usually proves to be a bit too much of a meme.
Politoed @ Leftovers
Ability: Drizzle
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpD / 4 Spe
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Whirlpool
- Perish Song
- Protect
- Rest
This is the real MVP of the team. Originally just added to accommodate Shed’s crippling sand weakness, Politoed has carried this squad against nearly every special attacker in the tier. I legit think this thing is almost OU viable lol. A simple Perish trap set is used in conjunction with Rest for longevity to threaten mons like Pex and Amoonguss. Outside of weather support and living hits it has no business eating, Perish Song not only threatens bulky cores, but also opposing win conditions that would otherwise mow through this team, such as CM + Flamethrower Clefable and Sub Dragapult.
Ditto @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Imposter
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Sassy Nature
IVs: 0 Atk / 0 Spe
- Transform
Every team needs some form of a win condition, and Ditto was the fit here, as it makes up for the team’s lack of power and double bug-induced holes. With its infinite PP combined with Xatu and Magnezone, this team should never lose to standard stall. It also functions as a trick absorber, on top of being a revenge killer, allowing Shedinja to check threats like Sticky Barb/Choice Scarf + CM Clefable. Ditto also fulfills its traditional role of abusing the opponent's strength on this team, and its ability to threaten the opponent when copying Pokémon such as Dragapult and Rillaboom is appreciated. Max special defense is used over the traditional physical defense that maximizes odds vs opposing Ditto in struggle wars to enable a potential Transform into Neutralizing Gas G-Weezing.
Magnezone @ Air Balloon
Ability: Magnet Pull
EVs: 160 HP / 252 Def / 96 Spe
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Magnet Rise
- Iron Defense
- Body Press
- Discharge
This team has a crippling weakness to Excadrill as well as being annoyed by Corviknight’s Pressure, so Zone was the final addition. Air Balloon and Magnet Rise allow Magnezone to trap and take out Excadrill barring horrible luck with flinches. Iron Defense helps take out mono-Spikes Ferrothorn, as it can stall Xatu’s Roosts. It also has a surprisingly strong matchup vs fatter teams, as visible in this replay. When taking a Knock Off with the rest of the team proves to be too detrimental, Zone can act as a switch in to threats like Rillaboom, Tangrowth, and Zeraora.
Threatlist
Any Stealth Rocker that beats Xatu will require monumental outplays. Meteor beam leads have died off in favour of setters that Xatu checks better though, like Ttar and Clef.
Rotom beats every single mon 1v1, so you’re relying on Ditto and Politoed to outplay.
Similarly to Rotom, Zera is an Electric-type that beats Shed, so you have to resort to outplaying with Ditto and letting Shelmet get knocked.
Magnezone is technically the Steel-type, so Shelmet will likely have to get knocked off by any SD Rilla. It’s not a lost cause however.
Ditto is your friend; position yourself aggressively to avoid taking too many Ghost moves, as Politoed can easily get overwhelmed since it usually checks half the opposing team.
Although rare, this mon kind of just 6-0s.
Vs Rilla Zone + Hex Pult, top 5 ranking
Vs Zam Hydra + Specs Peli (peak)
Vs SD Rhyperior + Sub Pult
Vs Sub Aegi + Hippo stall
Vs CM Flame Clef + SD Rhyp
Vs Volc Sand
Vs Storm Zone sun (the team carried me, I threw lol)
Vs Zera Pult Hazard Stack
Vs Specs Peli Rain + Rocks Drill
Vs Scoli + Zone
Loss vs Hawlucha HO only due to a min roll
Vs Zam Hydra + Specs Peli (peak)
Vs SD Rhyperior + Sub Pult
Vs Sub Aegi + Hippo stall
Vs CM Flame Clef + SD Rhyp
Vs Volc Sand
Vs Storm Zone sun (the team carried me, I threw lol)
Vs Zera Pult Hazard Stack
Vs Specs Peli Rain + Rocks Drill
Vs Scoli + Zone
Loss vs Hawlucha HO only due to a min roll
