Hey guys, HonestConman here. So, I've done several of these RMTs by now, to varying degrees of goodness, but I'm trying to make this one special. The team I'm about to show you guys is one that's actually kind of close to me. I've been using this team off and on for a better part of the last 6-10 months or so. It's the first team I actually created on my own without going to Smogon to help me every step of the way. I went to several team builders, double, and triple checked different combinations, and even decided to run with a little theme (kudos if you get it :D). Overall, I love this team. It's a blast touse, and I've enjoyed moderate amounts of success with it. It's seen a few member changes here and there (notable older editions included Sharpedo, Cofagrigus, and Gallade), but I've stuck with my guns mostly. Still, it lacks something...I don't know if it's my skil as a battler or teambuilding that's lacking, but something's keeping this team from truly becoming stunning. I figured, there's no better place than here to come and try to fix the latter. Any help you guys can give would be great! Anyways, on to the team.
Deadhead (Steelix) @ Leftovers
Ability: Sturydy
Nature: Impish
EVs: 252 HP / 220 Def / 36 SpD
IVs: 0 Spd
-Stealth Rock
-Toxic
-Dragon Tail
-Gyro Ball
This Steelix set is the thing that actually made me kind of appreciate strategic stall play. He plays a huge roll n this team, providing the only hazards and constantly shuffling and poisoning Pokes if a team has lost its main check to him. Steelix is a defensive monster: he takes most hits (even some super-effective ones) on the physical side for days, and I've had games where my opponent hasn't even gotten the opportunity t pull a safe switch simply because they had nothing prepared to break it. Nidoqueen's prevalence nowadays makes it harder than it once was to completely wreck house with just this one Poke, and Steelix seems to have lost its luster a little. Still, Steelix is one of the members who's been with this team since its conception, and I do appreciate the "Strudy-ness" (sorry, bad pun) that he brings to this team)
Cursor (Dusknoir) @ Leftovers
Ability: Pressure
Nature: Calm
EVs: 8 HP / 248 Def / 252 SpD
-Substitute
-Curse
-Pain Split
-Night Shade
Having a Ghost type around has always been a necessity for this team in my mind. With only one Poke around to set up hazards, it's essential that they be kept up for as long as possible, and a Ghost type also stops the plethora of Fighting moves that always seem to be aimed Steelix's way. I will admit, for the brief while Cresselia was floating around RU, I enjoyed using her, but for being a Poke as criticized as Dusknoir is, she's actually not half bad. Dusknoir's main aim is to break stall Pokes like Slowking, Ferroseed, Clefable, and others who can't really do all that much, and then Sub/Curse/Pain Split until all threats have been reduce to a manageable level. Having a special wall, something I never expected Dusknoir could do, is also a huge boon and something this team had been lacking for a while (I was using Cofagrigus in this role for a while...don't ask). Dusknoir is a very pleasant surprise success on this team
Swain (Hitmonchan) @ Choice Band
Ability: Iron Fist
Nature: Adamant
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spd
-Mach Punch
-Ice Punch
-Thunderpunch
-Close Combat
This unique little set was made back in that horrifying era when Sharpedo was running train on RU. I needed something with priority to make quick work of it, and as it so happened, a STAB Iron Fist Choice Banded Mach Punch one-shots Sharpedo clean after Stealth Rocks, and no one would ever see it coming. Nowadays, I realize Chan's better suited as a spinner, but this thing still runs so much train...it's what keeps me from switching back to Gallade honestly. With Hitmonchan, Ferroseed and Clefable are no longer an issue, and having another form of priority after Entei dies is nice too. Hitmonchan is also my physical "cleanup hitter" of choice, as there's not much that can stand up to a barrage of CB Close Combats late game. Hitmonchan may be weird, but I do have an odd fondness for him
Persolus (Entei) @ Life Orb
Ability: Pressure
Nature: Adamant
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Sd
-Flare Blitz
-ExtremeSpeed
-Stone Edge
-Iron Head
Entei's always been a bit of an odd one in this team. He complements everything somewhat well, he gives me a FWG core, and there's not too many better revenge killers than RU's mini version of Arcanine. However, he's the only Stealth Rock weak Poke on the team, which is a pain, he's not as potent a physical threat as Hitmonchan or Crawdaunt are now, and ever since I stopped running Choice Band after Hitmonchan's arrival, Life Orb just seems to run him dry all too quickly. I still see flashes of greatness from Entei from time to time, and his special gifts are very much appreciated, but as much as I'd hate to see an origincal member of the team go, I almost think he might be this team's most expendable member. If only Flash Fire were legal...
Firebrand (Rotom-C) @ Choice Specs
Ability: Levitate
Nature: Modest
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spd
-Trick
-Leaf Storm
-Volt Switch
-Hidden Power Fire
Now here is a team member who ALWAYS pulls his weight. Even with the wrong item on him (again...don't ask), Rotom-C shreds through teams like no ones business. He does everything: he's my only special attacker in a tier that's very short on special walls, he's a handy Ground immunity, he has the only pivot move on the team and is thus a very handy prediction aid, he nullifies any defensive threat...the list goes on. Rotom has been with this team since its inception for a reason: I don't think there's been a match in which it hasn't toppled one giant or another. And before everyone jumps on me, yes, I will remember to give him a Scarf at some point, whenever I remember.
Mr. Scars (Crawdaunt) @ Life Orb
Ability: Adaptability
Nature: Jolly
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spd
-Dragon Dance
-Waterfall
-Crunch
-Brick Break
I'm just nw beginning to realize how many immunities I have on this team...maybe I'm better at this than I thought. Anyways, I had some doubt about how Crawdaunt might work out after I switched him in once Sharpedo was ungraciously thrown out of RU, since it was at a point when no one was using him, but those were quickly assuaged once he put on his tux and began doing work. A identical typing to Sharpedo and an almost-as-good ability makes Crawdaunt a very potent threat. I can usually find time to set up on something like a Slowking, and then it's off to the races. Crawdaunt is still very much underrated on this team, and I won't deny that he's quite frail, but every match he still manages to sneak in something that helps massively. Odd...
Well, that's about it. This team is by no means perfect: lack of a rapid spinner, more hazards, a shortage of bulk, and a very obvious weakness to Nidoqueen is still a problem for this team. That being said, I love this team a lot, and I hope I've at least done a good job laying the foundation. I hope to hear some helpful input from you guys.
PREVIEW
]
STARTING OFF STRONG
STARTING OFF STRONG
Deadhead (Steelix) @ Leftovers
Ability: Sturydy
Nature: Impish
EVs: 252 HP / 220 Def / 36 SpD
IVs: 0 Spd
-Stealth Rock
-Toxic
-Dragon Tail
-Gyro Ball
This Steelix set is the thing that actually made me kind of appreciate strategic stall play. He plays a huge roll n this team, providing the only hazards and constantly shuffling and poisoning Pokes if a team has lost its main check to him. Steelix is a defensive monster: he takes most hits (even some super-effective ones) on the physical side for days, and I've had games where my opponent hasn't even gotten the opportunity t pull a safe switch simply because they had nothing prepared to break it. Nidoqueen's prevalence nowadays makes it harder than it once was to completely wreck house with just this one Poke, and Steelix seems to have lost its luster a little. Still, Steelix is one of the members who's been with this team since its conception, and I do appreciate the "Strudy-ness" (sorry, bad pun) that he brings to this team)
A (KIND OF) PERFECT COMPLEMENT
Cursor (Dusknoir) @ Leftovers
Ability: Pressure
Nature: Calm
EVs: 8 HP / 248 Def / 252 SpD
-Substitute
-Curse
-Pain Split
-Night Shade
Having a Ghost type around has always been a necessity for this team in my mind. With only one Poke around to set up hazards, it's essential that they be kept up for as long as possible, and a Ghost type also stops the plethora of Fighting moves that always seem to be aimed Steelix's way. I will admit, for the brief while Cresselia was floating around RU, I enjoyed using her, but for being a Poke as criticized as Dusknoir is, she's actually not half bad. Dusknoir's main aim is to break stall Pokes like Slowking, Ferroseed, Clefable, and others who can't really do all that much, and then Sub/Curse/Pain Split until all threats have been reduce to a manageable level. Having a special wall, something I never expected Dusknoir could do, is also a huge boon and something this team had been lacking for a while (I was using Cofagrigus in this role for a while...don't ask). Dusknoir is a very pleasant surprise success on this team
THE ODDBALL
Swain (Hitmonchan) @ Choice Band
Ability: Iron Fist
Nature: Adamant
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spd
-Mach Punch
-Ice Punch
-Thunderpunch
-Close Combat
This unique little set was made back in that horrifying era when Sharpedo was running train on RU. I needed something with priority to make quick work of it, and as it so happened, a STAB Iron Fist Choice Banded Mach Punch one-shots Sharpedo clean after Stealth Rocks, and no one would ever see it coming. Nowadays, I realize Chan's better suited as a spinner, but this thing still runs so much train...it's what keeps me from switching back to Gallade honestly. With Hitmonchan, Ferroseed and Clefable are no longer an issue, and having another form of priority after Entei dies is nice too. Hitmonchan is also my physical "cleanup hitter" of choice, as there's not much that can stand up to a barrage of CB Close Combats late game. Hitmonchan may be weird, but I do have an odd fondness for him
THE STEADFAST KILLER
Persolus (Entei) @ Life Orb
Ability: Pressure
Nature: Adamant
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Sd
-Flare Blitz
-ExtremeSpeed
-Stone Edge
-Iron Head
Entei's always been a bit of an odd one in this team. He complements everything somewhat well, he gives me a FWG core, and there's not too many better revenge killers than RU's mini version of Arcanine. However, he's the only Stealth Rock weak Poke on the team, which is a pain, he's not as potent a physical threat as Hitmonchan or Crawdaunt are now, and ever since I stopped running Choice Band after Hitmonchan's arrival, Life Orb just seems to run him dry all too quickly. I still see flashes of greatness from Entei from time to time, and his special gifts are very much appreciated, but as much as I'd hate to see an origincal member of the team go, I almost think he might be this team's most expendable member. If only Flash Fire were legal...
THE WALL-SHREDDER
Firebrand (Rotom-C) @ Choice Specs
Ability: Levitate
Nature: Modest
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spd
-Trick
-Leaf Storm
-Volt Switch
-Hidden Power Fire
Now here is a team member who ALWAYS pulls his weight. Even with the wrong item on him (again...don't ask), Rotom-C shreds through teams like no ones business. He does everything: he's my only special attacker in a tier that's very short on special walls, he's a handy Ground immunity, he has the only pivot move on the team and is thus a very handy prediction aid, he nullifies any defensive threat...the list goes on. Rotom has been with this team since its inception for a reason: I don't think there's been a match in which it hasn't toppled one giant or another. And before everyone jumps on me, yes, I will remember to give him a Scarf at some point, whenever I remember.
AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST...
Mr. Scars (Crawdaunt) @ Life Orb
Ability: Adaptability
Nature: Jolly
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spd
-Dragon Dance
-Waterfall
-Crunch
-Brick Break
I'm just nw beginning to realize how many immunities I have on this team...maybe I'm better at this than I thought. Anyways, I had some doubt about how Crawdaunt might work out after I switched him in once Sharpedo was ungraciously thrown out of RU, since it was at a point when no one was using him, but those were quickly assuaged once he put on his tux and began doing work. A identical typing to Sharpedo and an almost-as-good ability makes Crawdaunt a very potent threat. I can usually find time to set up on something like a Slowking, and then it's off to the races. Crawdaunt is still very much underrated on this team, and I won't deny that he's quite frail, but every match he still manages to sneak in something that helps massively. Odd...
Well, that's about it. This team is by no means perfect: lack of a rapid spinner, more hazards, a shortage of bulk, and a very obvious weakness to Nidoqueen is still a problem for this team. That being said, I love this team a lot, and I hope I've at least done a good job laying the foundation. I hope to hear some helpful input from you guys.