SPIKES HURT YOUR BUTT
Introduction
Hey Smogon, this is an offensive BW2 team which I built with user DTC. Even though he doesn't have time to comment on the team, it was pretty much a shared effort when it came to team-building. It features two underappreciated sweepers in Swellow and Special Samurott and the lesser used Spiker—Cacturne. Golurk and Ditto make entrances as popular new additions to the NU metagame, acting as a Spin Blocker and Revenge Killer respectively. Probopass helps pick up the slack defensively and helps provide Stealth Rocks and momentum with Volt Switch.
Every Pokemon on this team is offensively oriented, which puts a huge amount of pressure on the opponent's team. Spikes allow my sweepers to break through walls they usually couldn't while cutting the lifespan of Cinccino, Zangoose, and other upstart threats in metagame severely. It relies heavily on gaining momentum, which is easy with U-Turn, Volt Switch, and Ditto.
As for performance, the team had a pretty good record on the Pokemon Showdown ladder, netting me the top two spots on the ladder. However, not all of my battles were used with this team and getting to number one on the PS ladder isn't really that hard so I'll stop bragging now.






The Team

Cacturne @ Leftovers
Trait: Sand Veil
EVs: 80 HP / 252 Atk / 176 Spd
Adamant Nature
- Spikes
- Bullet Seed
- Sucker Punch
- Encore
Spikes are the basis of the team, and Cacturne is in my opinion the best user of it available in NU. Unlike the most popular Spiker Garbador, Cacturne has a serious offensive presence and deal huge damage to Cinccino, Braviary, Rampardos, and other sweepers with Sucker Punch. It has a better typing and which includes handful of resistances and immunities such as Water, Electric, Dark, Grass, Ground, Ghost, and Psychic. With access to the move Encore, Cacturne can find opportunities to set up on Amoonguss, Alomomola, and other slower walls by switching into a harmless move and locking them into it. It also stops bulky set-up sweepers such as Musharna from having their way with the team. Bullet Seed usually stops Carracosta and Golem from setting up Stealth Rocks by breaking through Sturdy, which is extremely helpful for the rest of the team. The lack of Water Absorb is usually not a problem since Cacturne resists the type already.

Probopass @ Leftovers
Trait: Sturdy
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SAtk
Modest Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Volt Switch
- Flash Cannon
- Earth Power
Probopass' role is to provide the Stealth Rocks that any offensive team must have. This set is a variation of the Offensive Probopass popularized by user No Luck Involved. I figured that Golem and friends were already checked pretty well by Cacturne, so I went with more bulk and Leftovers over Air Balloon to check Cinccino better. It hits hard enough to make sweepers think twice about setting up and can take hits when needed. Unless I can stay in and KO the opponent's Pokemon, I will usually Volt Switch out in order to activate Swellow's Toxic Orb or get something else in safely. Like Cacturne, Probopass has decent synergy with Golurk, which means that Spinners will find it hard to come in and do their job. Sturdy is always a useful ability and comes in handy when I absolutely need Stealth Rocks up or need to pick off a rampaging sweeper.

Golurk @ Choice Band
Trait: Iron Fist
EVs: 172 HP / 252 Atk / 84 Spd
Adamant Nature
- Shadow Punch
- Earthquake
- Ice Punch
- Drain Punch
A Spin-Blocker is a must have for Spike-Stacking teams. Golurk was a very interesting choice since it had just dropped from RU with recent tier shifts and there was a lot of hype surrounding it. Cryogonal had also moved up, which means Golurk could beat the most popular Rapid Spinner with ease. This team hates to lose momentum and Golurk—Unlike Misdreavus—could pose an immediate threat with powerful Choice Band attacks boosted by Iron Fist. Its typing also allows it to switch in for free against Scarfed Electric-type attacks aimed at the team's main sweeper—Swellow. Golurk also has decent bulk; with this spread, Golurk outruns uninvested Alomomola and has enough defenses to survive a Skuntank Sucker Punch.

Swellow @ Toxic Orb
Trait: Guts
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature
- Facade
- Brave Bird
- Quick Attack
- U-turn
Swellow is an extremely underrated sweeper in this metagame. People claim that it's outclassed by two rising stars in Zangoose and Cinccino, which is true to some extent. However, although Swellow might not hit as hard as those two, it boasts the ability to outrun and beat both of them one-on-one. Unlike Zangoose and Cinccino, Swellow can OHKO Amoonguss, arguably the most popular wall in the tier right now. Thanks to Spikes, Swellow's best counters—bulky Rock and Steel types—are worn down considerably after a few switches into U-Turn, which allows me to force them back out with Cacturne, Golurk, or Samurott. Facade and Brave Bird will punch holes in anything after the aforementioned counters are removed while Quick Attack picks off weakened sweepers and allows Swellow to dodge Sucker Punches.

Samurott @ Salac Berry
Trait: Torrent
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature
- Substitute
- Surf
- Ice Beam
- Grass Knot
This Samurott set is very unorthodox to say the least. Special Samurott is already an uncommon sight, but Substitute and Salac Berry takes the surprise factor to a whole new level. With Spikes support, this set can sweep through unprepared teams with ease. Samurott's best checks, Alomomola and Amoonguss, are both 2HKO'ed on the switch by the appropraite move if hazards are up. After Salac Berry, Samurott reaches 393 Speed, good enough to outrun every unboosted threat with the exception of Electrode. Activiting it also puts Samurott in Torrent range, which allows it to hit extremely hard with Surf. Even without a boost, Samurott outspeeds many threats such as Emboar, Absol, Adamant Braviary, Drifblim, and other Samurott. This is possibly the best Samurott set to use right now since Swords Dance is so easily walled by Alomomola and Amoonguss.

Ditto @ Choice Scarf
Trait: Imposter
EVs: 252 HP
Relaxed Nature
IVs: 0 Spd
- Transform
I'd love to come up with a detailed description about how Ditto synergises with the rest of the team, but honestly I just slapped it on because it revenged so many threats. I really enjoy the insurance that it brings and alleviates the pressure on the team since I no longer have to worry about preventing Gorebyss and friends from setting up. It's also fun to transform into an Amoonguss and Spore something or run through someone's team with their own sweeper. Ditto has saved the team countless times and is a really useful Pokemon in general.
Threats
This team doesn't really have any troubles with offensive Pokemon since they either have a hard time setting up or are revenged by Ditto. Stall teams are usually overwhelmed by powerful hits from Golurk, Swellow, and Samurott in conjunction with hazards, which usually come up easily against defensive teams. However, balance teams will give me loads of trouble if I don't get up Spikes. They usually carry sturdy walls such as Amoonguss and Lickilicky in conjunctions with hard hitters which discourage Cacturne from switching in. Samurott and Swellow usually don't hit hard enough without that extra damage and Golurk can be easily walled by switching into the appropriate move. I usually have to play at my best in order to beat those kinds of teams.
Conclusion
I have to credit this team with helping me to adapt to the fast paced BW2 metagame. I've never really gotten Spike-Stacking to work for me before so it was pretty refreshing to use a team like this. It really fits my playstyle, which is offense with a lot of switching. It's teams like this that make me enjoying playing NU and Pokemon in general.
Cacturne @ Leftovers
Trait: Sand Veil
EVs: 80 HP / 252 Atk / 176 Spd
Adamant Nature
- Spikes
- Bullet Seed
- Sucker Punch
- Encore
Golurk @ Choice Band
Trait: Iron Fist
EVs: 172 HP / 252 Atk / 84 Spd
Adamant Nature
- Shadow Punch
- Earthquake
- Ice Punch
- Drain Punch
Swellow @ Toxic Orb
Trait: Guts
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature
- Facade
- Brave Bird
- Quick Attack
- U-turn
Probopass @ Leftovers
Trait: Sturdy
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SAtk
Modest Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Volt Switch
- Flash Cannon
- Earth Power
Samurott @ Salac Berry
Trait: Torrent
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature
- Substitute
- Surf
- Ice Beam
- Grass Knot
Ditto @ Choice Scarf
Trait: Imposter
EVs: 252 HP
Relaxed Nature
IVs: 0 Spd
- Transform
Trait: Sand Veil
EVs: 80 HP / 252 Atk / 176 Spd
Adamant Nature
- Spikes
- Bullet Seed
- Sucker Punch
- Encore
Golurk @ Choice Band
Trait: Iron Fist
EVs: 172 HP / 252 Atk / 84 Spd
Adamant Nature
- Shadow Punch
- Earthquake
- Ice Punch
- Drain Punch
Swellow @ Toxic Orb
Trait: Guts
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature
- Facade
- Brave Bird
- Quick Attack
- U-turn
Probopass @ Leftovers
Trait: Sturdy
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SAtk
Modest Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Volt Switch
- Flash Cannon
- Earth Power
Samurott @ Salac Berry
Trait: Torrent
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature
- Substitute
- Surf
- Ice Beam
- Grass Knot
Ditto @ Choice Scarf
Trait: Imposter
EVs: 252 HP
Relaxed Nature
IVs: 0 Spd
- Transform