Situational Counterpick
Built by: Niched
Introduction
Built by: Niched
Introduction
I've been playing competitive Pokemon off and on for the last five years, ever since Diamond and Pearl came out on the old Shoddy Battle. I usually played for fun and often played gimmick sets (some of you may know Supreme Dirt, who invented and/or popularized a number of them). However, as I have started streaming competitive Overused (under the twitch stream CourageousFalcon) I find that my team building skills are unequal to the challenges of the current metagame. As such, I turn to the community for assistance to make my team the best it can be! So without further ado:
Light Rail Transit (Landorus-Therian) @ Leftovers
Trait: Intimidate
EVs: 200 HP | 64 Atk | 244 Def
Brave Nature
Stealth Rock | Earthquake | Hidden Power [Ice] | U-turn
First off, some honesty: LRT's Nature and EVs are all over the place, and definitely need to be cleaned up. However, despite this, LRT along with Arcanine form the physically defensive core of my team, checking threats and acting as pivots. LRT in particular checks Terrakion, Gliscor, Landori without HP Ice, and as a pivot for Fighting types and dragons. LRT is my stealth rock user of choice as it usually has an opportunity to set them up, and I have other moves I'd rather run on Ferrothorn. HP Ice allows me to beat Gliscor, which has given me some problems in the past, as well as Dragons and other Landori that do not also have HP Ice. Earthquake is the obvious stab move that threatens out Magnezone, Hippowdon, and similar pokemon, as well as doing significant damage to Ferrothorn. Finally, U-turn allows me to use Landorus for the pivot role it was intended to be used in.
Potted Plant (Ferrothorn) @ Leftovers
Trait: Iron Barbs
EVs: 252 HP | 88 Def | 168 SDef
Relaxed Nature
IVs: 0 Spd
Power Whip | Gyro Ball | Thunder Wave | Leech Seed
Ferrothorn is, without a doubt, the glue that holds my team together. It checks Politoed, Starmie, Gengar, Gastrodon and most Celebi, as well as most other pokemon without a fire move. It is also my best option against opposing Lati@s. Power Whip and Gyro Ball are the reason that Ferrothorn is not the setup bait that, say, Forretress would be, with Power Whip dealing with waters and ground Pokemon while Gyro Ball deals with fast threats, notably Lati@s and Gengar. Ferrothorn forces a lot of switches by Pokemon that it threatens or lack the coverage to break it, which is why I carry both Thunder Wave and Leech Seed. Leech Seed is usually used to keep Ferrothorn healthy or wear down counters, whereas Thunder Wave makes most of the common switch ins to Ferrothorn (notably Heatran and Lati@s) much easier to deal with. Note that Thunder Wave and Gyro Ball is something of a nonbo, most of the time you're happy enough just paralyzing them.
Grandpa (Conkeldurr) @ Leftovers
Trait: Iron Fist
EVs: 120 HP | 252 Atk | 136 SDef
Adamant Nature
Mach Punch | Drain Punch | Ice Punch | Bulk Up
A fairly standard bulk up Conk. Iron Fist is used over Guts due to personal preference, it makes Conk hit a bit harder in general but it is crippled by burns. Grandpa is my teams best answer to Heatran, as well as setting up on a multitude of steel types as well as Tyranitar. This is also my only priority user and my best answer to shell smash cloyster, as it survives a +2 Icicle Spear and KOs with Drain Punch followed by Mach Punch. It is very easy to bring Grandpa in on something it threatens, which will force a switch and net you a free bulk up, which will allow you to do significant damage to your opponents team. The current moves do mean Grandpa has trouble with Ghost types, notably Jellicent, but Jellicent is completely covered by Ferrothorn and Shaymin. Ice Punch allows Grandpa to beat Landorus and Gliscor, as well as Dragons, because Conk surivives most +0 Outrages and 0HKOs back with Ice Punch. I play Grandpa as a general counter that has the potential to sweep a weakened team after a single Bulk Up.
Horatio (Latios) (M) @ Life Orb
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 4 HP | 252 SAtk | 252 Spd
Timid Nature
Draco Meteor | Psyshock | Surf | Roost
The standard Life Orb Latios, although it should be noted that Draco Meteor is probably the move I use least. I used Specs for a while, but I found being able to switch moves actually allowed me to kill more Pokemon then the sheer power of Specs. Draco Meteor is obvious power, although it missing in critical situations could lead you to use Dragon Pulse instead (this is my revenge killer of Paralyzed Lati@s, I like to live on the edge). Psyshock offers a nice stab move that beats any Water Absorb pokemon that trys to wall your surf, as well as the odd Blissey and fighting type. Surf is my steel breaker of choice because heatran is such a problem for my team, and heatran would wall me all day without it. Surf also hits Tyranitar hard on the switch, allowing you to beat some offensive Tyranitar (though not specially defensive variants). Other steels (Skarmory, Forretress) are worn down by surf, and while Ferrothorn does wall this set, both Conkeldurr and Arcanine beat Ferrothorn. Latios is usually brought in at an opportune time to rip holes in my opponents team, or to eventually sweep once a team has been sufficiently weakened.
Rosebush (Shaymin) @ Leftovers
Trait: Natural Cure
EVs: 188 SAtk | 224 HP | 96 SDef
Modest Nature
Seed Flare | Earth Power | Hidden Power [Ice] | Rest
My bulky water counter. It eats Gastrodon, Starmie, Politoed, and all the rest of the bulky waters, while also acting as my status absorber and grass counter. The 96 SDef evs are to enable it to better tank Ice beams from Water types. I'm running HP Ice over HP Fire, which may be a mistake as it allows Ferrothorn to wall me, but again, both Arcanine and Conkeldurr beat Ferrothorn, and Shaymin still beats Ferrothorn with Earth Power after a Seed Flare SDef drop. The reason for HP Ice is I've found Dragons switching in to Latios, and HP Fire makes Shaymin complete set up bait. Natural Cure Rest allows Shaymin to stay healthy throughout the battle, which can be useful on baited swiches or against Ferrothorn. I use Shaymin as a utility counter to Water types and Grass Types.
The Fallen (Arcanine) @ Leftovers
Trait: Intimidate
EVs: 248 HP | 252 Def | 8 SDef
Impish Nature
Flare Blitz | Roar | Will-O-Wisp | Morning Sun
This is the other part of my physical wall. I switch between this and LRT depending on what Pokemon I am against and what move I predict, wearing them down with Intimidate and eventually burning them. It is also useful to bring in on a steel (esp. Ferrothorn) and burn the switch, though it usually only gets a Politoed :/ Yes, Morning Sun kinda sucks under weather but it's Arcanine's best form of recovery and useful when it gets worn down. Roar used to be Extremespeed for a long time, but I found that didn't get used very much and switched it. Roar is situationally useful (mostly against Volcarona) but I'm still not happy about it, as it leaves me with nothing to beat Heatran, or other Fire types. Arcanine plays a valuable role in forcing out steels and spreading burns, as well as being a general physical tank.
Light Rail Transit (Landorus-Therian) @ Leftovers
Trait: Intimidate
EVs: 200 HP | 64 Atk | 244 Def
Brave Nature
Stealth Rock | Earthquake | Hidden Power [Ice] | U-turn
First off, some honesty: LRT's Nature and EVs are all over the place, and definitely need to be cleaned up. However, despite this, LRT along with Arcanine form the physically defensive core of my team, checking threats and acting as pivots. LRT in particular checks Terrakion, Gliscor, Landori without HP Ice, and as a pivot for Fighting types and dragons. LRT is my stealth rock user of choice as it usually has an opportunity to set them up, and I have other moves I'd rather run on Ferrothorn. HP Ice allows me to beat Gliscor, which has given me some problems in the past, as well as Dragons and other Landori that do not also have HP Ice. Earthquake is the obvious stab move that threatens out Magnezone, Hippowdon, and similar pokemon, as well as doing significant damage to Ferrothorn. Finally, U-turn allows me to use Landorus for the pivot role it was intended to be used in.
Potted Plant (Ferrothorn) @ Leftovers
Trait: Iron Barbs
EVs: 252 HP | 88 Def | 168 SDef
Relaxed Nature
IVs: 0 Spd
Power Whip | Gyro Ball | Thunder Wave | Leech Seed
Ferrothorn is, without a doubt, the glue that holds my team together. It checks Politoed, Starmie, Gengar, Gastrodon and most Celebi, as well as most other pokemon without a fire move. It is also my best option against opposing Lati@s. Power Whip and Gyro Ball are the reason that Ferrothorn is not the setup bait that, say, Forretress would be, with Power Whip dealing with waters and ground Pokemon while Gyro Ball deals with fast threats, notably Lati@s and Gengar. Ferrothorn forces a lot of switches by Pokemon that it threatens or lack the coverage to break it, which is why I carry both Thunder Wave and Leech Seed. Leech Seed is usually used to keep Ferrothorn healthy or wear down counters, whereas Thunder Wave makes most of the common switch ins to Ferrothorn (notably Heatran and Lati@s) much easier to deal with. Note that Thunder Wave and Gyro Ball is something of a nonbo, most of the time you're happy enough just paralyzing them.
Grandpa (Conkeldurr) @ Leftovers
Trait: Iron Fist
EVs: 120 HP | 252 Atk | 136 SDef
Adamant Nature
Mach Punch | Drain Punch | Ice Punch | Bulk Up
A fairly standard bulk up Conk. Iron Fist is used over Guts due to personal preference, it makes Conk hit a bit harder in general but it is crippled by burns. Grandpa is my teams best answer to Heatran, as well as setting up on a multitude of steel types as well as Tyranitar. This is also my only priority user and my best answer to shell smash cloyster, as it survives a +2 Icicle Spear and KOs with Drain Punch followed by Mach Punch. It is very easy to bring Grandpa in on something it threatens, which will force a switch and net you a free bulk up, which will allow you to do significant damage to your opponents team. The current moves do mean Grandpa has trouble with Ghost types, notably Jellicent, but Jellicent is completely covered by Ferrothorn and Shaymin. Ice Punch allows Grandpa to beat Landorus and Gliscor, as well as Dragons, because Conk surivives most +0 Outrages and 0HKOs back with Ice Punch. I play Grandpa as a general counter that has the potential to sweep a weakened team after a single Bulk Up.
Horatio (Latios) (M) @ Life Orb
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 4 HP | 252 SAtk | 252 Spd
Timid Nature
Draco Meteor | Psyshock | Surf | Roost
The standard Life Orb Latios, although it should be noted that Draco Meteor is probably the move I use least. I used Specs for a while, but I found being able to switch moves actually allowed me to kill more Pokemon then the sheer power of Specs. Draco Meteor is obvious power, although it missing in critical situations could lead you to use Dragon Pulse instead (this is my revenge killer of Paralyzed Lati@s, I like to live on the edge). Psyshock offers a nice stab move that beats any Water Absorb pokemon that trys to wall your surf, as well as the odd Blissey and fighting type. Surf is my steel breaker of choice because heatran is such a problem for my team, and heatran would wall me all day without it. Surf also hits Tyranitar hard on the switch, allowing you to beat some offensive Tyranitar (though not specially defensive variants). Other steels (Skarmory, Forretress) are worn down by surf, and while Ferrothorn does wall this set, both Conkeldurr and Arcanine beat Ferrothorn. Latios is usually brought in at an opportune time to rip holes in my opponents team, or to eventually sweep once a team has been sufficiently weakened.
Rosebush (Shaymin) @ Leftovers
Trait: Natural Cure
EVs: 188 SAtk | 224 HP | 96 SDef
Modest Nature
Seed Flare | Earth Power | Hidden Power [Ice] | Rest
My bulky water counter. It eats Gastrodon, Starmie, Politoed, and all the rest of the bulky waters, while also acting as my status absorber and grass counter. The 96 SDef evs are to enable it to better tank Ice beams from Water types. I'm running HP Ice over HP Fire, which may be a mistake as it allows Ferrothorn to wall me, but again, both Arcanine and Conkeldurr beat Ferrothorn, and Shaymin still beats Ferrothorn with Earth Power after a Seed Flare SDef drop. The reason for HP Ice is I've found Dragons switching in to Latios, and HP Fire makes Shaymin complete set up bait. Natural Cure Rest allows Shaymin to stay healthy throughout the battle, which can be useful on baited swiches or against Ferrothorn. I use Shaymin as a utility counter to Water types and Grass Types.
The Fallen (Arcanine) @ Leftovers
Trait: Intimidate
EVs: 248 HP | 252 Def | 8 SDef
Impish Nature
Flare Blitz | Roar | Will-O-Wisp | Morning Sun
This is the other part of my physical wall. I switch between this and LRT depending on what Pokemon I am against and what move I predict, wearing them down with Intimidate and eventually burning them. It is also useful to bring in on a steel (esp. Ferrothorn) and burn the switch, though it usually only gets a Politoed :/ Yes, Morning Sun kinda sucks under weather but it's Arcanine's best form of recovery and useful when it gets worn down. Roar used to be Extremespeed for a long time, but I found that didn't get used very much and switched it. Roar is situationally useful (mostly against Volcarona) but I'm still not happy about it, as it leaves me with nothing to beat Heatran, or other Fire types. Arcanine plays a valuable role in forcing out steels and spreading burns, as well as being a general physical tank.
Known Issues
The things that I know are mediocre about my team include: Sketchy Evs/nature on Landorus T, questionable HP Ice/U-turn (could be other moves) on Landorus T, HP Ice on Shaymin, someone's going to complain about Shaymin's EVs, and Roar on Arcanine. My team lacks a Spinner as well as a weather inducer (to win the weather war) and generally lets my opponents teams play their game plan and attempts to beat that rather then counter it. My team has huge problems with Volcarona, some difficulty beating some Heatran, and some problems with status (as well as obvious chip damage issues because I switch a lot and have no spinner). Other than that, I usually find myself playing with only 4 or 5 Pokemon because at least one is completely marginalized by my opponent's team, though I find that in those cases at least two of my Pokemon are excellent against my opponent and more than make up for this.
That's my team. Should you wish to provide constructive criticism and help me improve my team, I encourage you to do so. However, please don't tear me to shreds! It makes me sad :( I'm definitely willing to make changes to the team, even those that would change it drastically, however, if possible I'd prefer to keep the playstyle similar with no weather inducers. Thanks for reading and thanks in advance for helping out, if you want to check out the progress of this team you can find me on Twitch streaming under the name CourageousFalcon. Thanks!
That's my team. Should you wish to provide constructive criticism and help me improve my team, I encourage you to do so. However, please don't tear me to shreds! It makes me sad :( I'm definitely willing to make changes to the team, even those that would change it drastically, however, if possible I'd prefer to keep the playstyle similar with no weather inducers. Thanks for reading and thanks in advance for helping out, if you want to check out the progress of this team you can find me on Twitch streaming under the name CourageousFalcon. Thanks!
