Slow and Easy
After battling in ADV for the longest time, I got away from the competitive scene a bit during DPPt. However when BW came out, all of the new little toys that could be abused drew me back in. This is the first real team I've created, and I'm surprised at how well it's done in laddering. This is a balanced/defensive team with each Pokemon serving their specific roles that can easily be interchanged throughout the course of a battle. The main purpose of this team is to use a primarily-defensive Fire/Water/Grass core, but still have the ability for all 6 Pokemon to sweep if need be. The synergy between all of these Pokemon help this team be successful by working off resistances and great defense, and out-predicting the opponent to open up the late game finish.
I originally meant for this team to be based off of a Bulky Gyarados set, but the focus of this team seems to be shifted a bit. Instead of focusing on setting up for one Pokemon, this team was more designed to hold its own in case things go bad. It's defensively-minded, but can work off the offensive when I manage to open a hole in the other person's team. A lot of common threats are easily handled with the overall bulk of this team, along with smart strategy.
While the team could use more hazard support, it has enough tools in the toolbox to be successful. Each Pokemon can support the other, and when played right, this team can be just downright annoying. Without further ado, the team:
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Celebi @ Leftovers
Trait: Natural Cure
EVs: 36 HP / 252 SAtk / 220 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Stealth Rock
- Leaf Storm
- Earth Power
- Hidden Power [Fire]
Yeah, the Pokemon that can run just about any moveset you need it to effectively, Celebi actually wasn't the first choice for this team. People tend to say that the best teams usually have a great lead, and I'm not going to lie when I say straight up that Celebi probably isn't the best lead you can use. Celebi isn't seen as commonly as in the past, so some battlers are taken by surprise by seeing it being used, not just that it's a lead. Yet, its movepool is so diverse, and add on the fact that it has well-rounded stats, you just never know what you can expect until you try it.
I've gotten many different reactions when battling using this lead Celebi, anything varying from "Lol, WTF?" to "Well that's new." Not a new concept, but this thing works surprisingly well as it can force switches on many common leads (Ferrothorn, Tyranitar), but it also gets forced out a lot (U-turn leads, Heatran). The main purpose of this Celebi is to lay down the rocks early and sponge some of the weaker Special attacks while still being able to hit hard. Leaf Storm for the powerful STAB move that can hit some incoming switches. Earth Power is for those pesky fire types like non-Balloon'd Heatran who come in expecting the Leaf Storm. Hidden Power Fire beats up Ferrothorn/Skarmory and other Steel types who try to ruin the fun. Sort of an anti-metagame Pokemon, Celebi holds its own and does the job I ask of it.
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Gyarados (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Intimidate
EVs: 156 HP / 72 Atk / 96 Def / 184 Spd
Impish Nature (+Def, -SAtk)
- Dragon Dance
- Taunt
- Waterfall
- Stone Edge
There was a time during Gen 4 where Gyarados was one of the most effective and overused Pokemon, and rightfully so. Great stats in all of the right places, great typing, and some moves that it could abuse at will. If teams weren't prepared to handle this thing, they would be looking back after the battle wondering what just hit them.
Bulky Gyarados is still effective in Gen 5, and that's a good thing for me. Standard EV spread so I can some take some hits and still dish out the damage. This thing scares away a lot of the Fire types and after a DD, can stop the standard Scizor dead in its tracks. Waterfall is the obligatory STAB move that after a DD or two can hurt many Pokemon. Stone Edge over Earthquake/Ice Fang because it helps cover more threats for my team, as well as providing a much needed Rock type move. Unfortunately, this thing is walled so hard by Ferrothorn, which brings me to the next Pokemon.
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Heatran (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Flash Fire
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SDef
Calm Nature (+SDef, -Atk)
- Lava Plume
- Toxic
- Roar
- Substitute
Probably THE Pokemon battlers hated facing the most back in Gen 4, Heatran decided to come to BW more fierce than before. Wonderful stats to either utterly destroy you with any of its moves or shrug off hits like it was a leaf gently hitting you on the head. With some new play things to work with in Gen 5, Heatran is by far still one of the best Pokemon in the game.
Needing somebody to add some fire to this team, this is the final Pokemon of the F/W/G core. Specially-defensive Heatran is a complete stud. It can come in on a lot of special attacks and just sponge it. It also forces so many switches because nobody ever knows what this thing is packing. It's defensively orientated, and I play it as such. Switch it in on a Pokemon that can't do anything to it, Substitute as the other person switches, and play accordingly. Usually, bulky waters come on in it expecting a Flamethrower/Earth Power, and generally don't expect a Substitute. The bulky waters that do come in usually get hit with Toxic, but Tentacruel tends to give this guy trouble. I either Lava Plume and try for the burn, or Roar it away and stack up the Stealth Rock damage. This thing complements Celebi perfectly as they cover each other's weaknesses and have great synergy together.
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Gliscor (M) @ Toxic Orb
Trait: Poison Heal
EVs: 252 HP / 88 Def / 168 Spd
Impish Nature (+Def, -SAtk)
- Swords Dance
- Earthquake
- Ice Fang
- Taunt
While this thing may not be a Skarmory/Forretress/Ferrothorn, its typing and stats put it up there as one of the best Physical walls in the game. Providing much needed resistances to the common types used in this metagame, Gliscor can act as a dual threat, both defensively and offensively.
With that, he's the defensive wall of my team. This thing can just shrug off physical attacks and pose a threat to the other team. I run the speed EVs to outspeed other Pokemon that might try to set up on Gliscor, such as Ferrothorn and Skarmory. After Toxic Orb activates, this thing becomes another status absorber, also getting the luxury of healing 1/8 of its HP each turn. Even though its meant to be the defensive wall of the team, by no means is it not capable of sweeping teams that aren't prepared. After a Swords Dance, Earthquake hits anything that doesn't resist it like a truck. Ice Fang is there because without it, SD/CB Garchomp and Salamence can basically rip through this team. I'm thinking of changing the EVs around a bit to make it a bit more sturdy on the defensive side, but right now the spread isn't causing me too many problems.
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Rotom-W @ Leftovers
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 112 HP / 252 SAtk / 144 Spd
Modest Nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Thunderbolt
- Hydro Pump
- Will-O-Wisp
- Pain Split
Sure, it's not as great as it once was, losing that Ghost typing, but it might as well as have gained a blessing with its new Water typing. Getting Dual STABs on Water and Electric, this little washing machine can pack a punch on teams that can't handle it. Add on a great support movepool, and you have yourself one hell of Pokemon.
Rotom-W is the main special attacker of the team, however it still carries enough bulk to take a hit or two. The sad thing is the fact that the Rotom appliances lost their Ghost typing, leaving them open to Rapid Spin. Either way, this guy acts as my bulky water counter, hitting things like Suicune, Slowbro, and Tentacruel hard with Thunderbolt. Hydro Pump for a hard hitting STAB move that can take advantage of the rain if playing Rain Dance teams. It can also cripple physical attackers with Will-O-Wisp, and also status some of those annoying Pokemon like Tentacruel, Jirachi, Lati@s, and Ferrothorn. When its health gets low, Pain Split, especially on Blissey who think they can sponge this thing, to heal and save for later use It was a great Blaziken check, although now that SB Blaziken was banned, you don't see it much anymore.
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Conkeldurr (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Guts
EVs: 120 HP / 252 Atk / 136 SDef
Brave Nature (+Atk, -Spd)
- Bulk Up
- Drain Punch
- Mach Punch
- Payback
What's being called the Machamp of Gen 5, Conkeldurr is a durable, yet hard-hitting Pokemon that all teams need to be weary of. Great HP and Attack stats and a respectable Defense make it one of those Pokemon that can definitely provide a spark to any team, either an all-out offensive team, or a stall team.
Conkeldurr is my main physical attacker. With that attack stat, all of these moves hurt. It also has great enough bulk to take a SE hit and dish out a crucial final blow. Bulk Up helps patch up its defense to make it a hefty mini-Physical wall. Drain Punch is an awesome move on this guy, as after a few Bulk Ups it will hit things extremely hard and regain it HP. Mach Punch allows Conkeldurr to act as a nice little revenge killer on things that need some finishing off. The great thing about Conkeldurr's bulk is that it can take a Psychic from things like Celebi and Lati@s (the latter most of the time), and can OHKO with Payback.
Team Threats
These are some of the bigger threats to this team.
VirizionThese are some of the bigger threats to this team.
The standard variant of this Pokemon (CM + Giga Drain + Focus Blast + HP [Ice]) can tear this team apart if it gets a CM or two under its belt. My best bet is getting Heatran out and taking the Focus Blast and (hopefully) surviving to Roar it out. Generally, I might have to sacrifice a Pokemon to kill this thing/get it out of the way. Luckily he's not as common as he once was in the beginning of BW, but I'm still looking for a better counter for it.
Garchomp
SD variants can be troublesome if Gliscor dies. If it's locked into Outrage then I could dispatch it with some good maneuvering but it's a problem not just to this team, but to many teams in general.
Thundurus
This thing is just a prick in general. Awesome Speed and Special Attack, priority Nasty Plot, and moves it can take advantage of, this is not something to mess around with. I can wear it down with Life Orb damage with some good use of Celebi/Rotom-W/Heatran, but I'm always pretty weary when this thing comes out in battle.
Final Thoughts
It's a great team overall and I've been very successful with it. It does have its obvious flaws, but an experienced player can easily work around them. A bonus for this team is that it's not necessarily raped by entrance hazards/status (Only Gyarados is weak to SR, 2/3 of the team is immune to Spikes/Toxic Spikes, 3 status absorbers on the team). Rate this team however you guys want, I'm open for any criticism/advice. Thank you for reading this RMT and have a great day!
