Hey all. I've laddered with this team up to 1300+ on Showdown (which is not terrible, as I understand), and haven't lost the 10 or 11 battles (?) I've had so far with it. This is my first 6th gen RMT post here. The title explains the basic premise, but I'll go into further detail below.
Disclaimer: The sets below are mostly Smogon sets, not original.
Terrakion @ Focus Sash
Ability: Justified
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Close Combat
- Stone Edge
- Earthquake
I first got into competitive battling in Gen 4, so instinctually I went for a stealth rocks user. I seemed to recall Terrakion being a fairly reliable rocks setter, so I usually have him lay down the rocks. It is also obvious that focus sash keeps him in long enough to actually lay down rocks, but in the event there's some kind of taunt lead, Terrakion possesses enough innate strength to launch some powerful attacks. There aren't any really special tricks here to this one.
Greninja @ Life Orb
Ability: Protean
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Hydro Pump
- Ice Beam
- Extrasensory
- Grass Knot
Greninja's hyper offensive capabilities are an absolute boon. Protean helps take out pesky opponents using things like Latios or Chesnaught, and the dark typing lets me switch in on powerful psychic type users (assuming I'm not predicting an electric type attack, or a grass knot, or something). For such a hyper offensive pokemon, it's easily knocked out by anything faster. Choice Scarf Terrakion can be problematic if I'm not prepared for it (though I haven't run into one), and Clefable easily walls Greninja (and, for the most part, my entire team -- with Gengar an unreliable 2HKO).
Gengar @ Life Orb
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Substitute
- Pain Split
- Focus Blast
- Shadow Ball
Gengar is...somewhat unreliable. I have tried and tried to perfect the stalling strategy advertised along with this set, but I just don't think it's been fitting well on my team. When there are really bulky pokemon, the damage dealing properties of Pain Split can be useful, especially when the opponent heals (roosters). However, the chemistry just isn't there with Gengar. While it's there, however, it's my only reliable counter against Clefable -- most fairy types, really. I just haven't been able to find a suitable wallbreaker -- Gengar's only other saving grace is his spinblocking. And yet, I haven't seen that many rapid spinners. I would have expected Mega Blastoise or Starmie, but I have hardly seen any of them.
Scizor @ Scizorite
Ability: Light Metal
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Swords Dance
- Bullet Punch
- Knock Off
- Superpower
Oh, how I love my Scizor. Its revenge killing properties present in the older generations are only amplified by the Scizorite. It almost seems redundant to have both Scizorite and Gyaradosite (in fact I'm not sure if I've broken some unspoken rule about multiple mega stones?) But in either case, Scizor very rarely needs to use Swords Dance or Knock Off (in fact, I've never used Knock Off on this set. Suggestions for a different move?) Scizor primarily comes in when the enemy has just a few % left to sweep things up. (e.g. Greninja's Grass Knot vs. Mega Tyranitar usually hits for about 80-90% damage, and I need Scizor to 'clean up' the rest). His reliability and his ability to fend off Sucker Punch are highly valuable on this team. Due to the un-choiced un-boosted nature of my team, I generally can't knock everything out in one hit, and if I come close, I need just that little push in the form of Bullet Punch.
Gyarados @ Gyaradosite
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Dragon Dance / Swords Dance (both have seen use)
- Waterfall
- Earthquake
- Ice Fang
I have long debated the usefulness of Mega Gyarados. Now...with Earthquake still being as popular of a move as it is, it's always nice having a free turn to switch in on setup fodder (since weakness to Stone Edge goes away after going Mega). Unfortunately, I lose that immunity to ground type attacks, which leaves me open to moves as bulldoze (to negate my speed boosts from DD). I am currently oscillating between the use of Swords Dance and Dragon Dance, but I generally tend towards the use of Dragon Dance. Opinions?
Zapdos @ Leftovers
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 252 HP / 168 Def / 68 SpA / 20 Spe
Bold Nature
- Thunderbolt
- Roost
- Defog
- Heat Wave
Zapdos has been instrumental in pulling some key wins. Its offensive coverage is invaluable, but the added bulk and ability to Defog has prevented quick deaths from opposing Mega Gyarados (especially boosted ones. *shudder*). In a metagame where the electric type is so instrumental, it would almost be a sin not to include Zapdos. My original plan was to include Jolteon, but I didn't really need the extra speed he offers -- instead opting for the extra bit of power Zapdos possesses. Heat Wave is there purely for offensive coverage, but I originally had hoped it would be used to stop some offensive threats by burning them. I haven't really seen this in action yet, so I'll wait for suggestions on what to use.
/***Conclusion***/
Overall I'm pretty pleased with this team. I don't battle all that much, but I haven't lost with this team yet. (I'm sure any raters here could quickly change that if they wanted!) Again, the basic premise is
a) Set up Stealth Rocks as quickly as possible, and let Terrakion land any hits he wants. (I do pull him out if I can predict a psychic type move or something of the like -- in which case I switch to Greninja).
b) Switch appropriately between multiple mostly self-sufficient sweepers, reserving Scizor for revenge kills, and reserving Gyarados for late game sweeps if I need to. Typically if I'm against something relatively unthreatening, I let Gyarados do his thing.
Notes on potential threats:
I have not yet encountered any single pokemon that can sweep through my team, except enemy Mega Gyarados. I've done some research (such as analyzing bReakMyTeam results) into potential threats, but I've yet to encounter any of those in practice.
Any criticism is helpful and appreciated! Thanks for reading!
Disclaimer: The sets below are mostly Smogon sets, not original.
Terrakion @ Focus Sash
Ability: Justified
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Close Combat
- Stone Edge
- Earthquake
I first got into competitive battling in Gen 4, so instinctually I went for a stealth rocks user. I seemed to recall Terrakion being a fairly reliable rocks setter, so I usually have him lay down the rocks. It is also obvious that focus sash keeps him in long enough to actually lay down rocks, but in the event there's some kind of taunt lead, Terrakion possesses enough innate strength to launch some powerful attacks. There aren't any really special tricks here to this one.
Greninja @ Life Orb
Ability: Protean
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Hydro Pump
- Ice Beam
- Extrasensory
- Grass Knot
Greninja's hyper offensive capabilities are an absolute boon. Protean helps take out pesky opponents using things like Latios or Chesnaught, and the dark typing lets me switch in on powerful psychic type users (assuming I'm not predicting an electric type attack, or a grass knot, or something). For such a hyper offensive pokemon, it's easily knocked out by anything faster. Choice Scarf Terrakion can be problematic if I'm not prepared for it (though I haven't run into one), and Clefable easily walls Greninja (and, for the most part, my entire team -- with Gengar an unreliable 2HKO).
Gengar @ Life Orb
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Substitute
- Pain Split
- Focus Blast
- Shadow Ball
Gengar is...somewhat unreliable. I have tried and tried to perfect the stalling strategy advertised along with this set, but I just don't think it's been fitting well on my team. When there are really bulky pokemon, the damage dealing properties of Pain Split can be useful, especially when the opponent heals (roosters). However, the chemistry just isn't there with Gengar. While it's there, however, it's my only reliable counter against Clefable -- most fairy types, really. I just haven't been able to find a suitable wallbreaker -- Gengar's only other saving grace is his spinblocking. And yet, I haven't seen that many rapid spinners. I would have expected Mega Blastoise or Starmie, but I have hardly seen any of them.
Scizor @ Scizorite
Ability: Light Metal
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Swords Dance
- Bullet Punch
- Knock Off
- Superpower
Oh, how I love my Scizor. Its revenge killing properties present in the older generations are only amplified by the Scizorite. It almost seems redundant to have both Scizorite and Gyaradosite (in fact I'm not sure if I've broken some unspoken rule about multiple mega stones?) But in either case, Scizor very rarely needs to use Swords Dance or Knock Off (in fact, I've never used Knock Off on this set. Suggestions for a different move?) Scizor primarily comes in when the enemy has just a few % left to sweep things up. (e.g. Greninja's Grass Knot vs. Mega Tyranitar usually hits for about 80-90% damage, and I need Scizor to 'clean up' the rest). His reliability and his ability to fend off Sucker Punch are highly valuable on this team. Due to the un-choiced un-boosted nature of my team, I generally can't knock everything out in one hit, and if I come close, I need just that little push in the form of Bullet Punch.
Gyarados @ Gyaradosite
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Dragon Dance / Swords Dance (both have seen use)
- Waterfall
- Earthquake
- Ice Fang
I have long debated the usefulness of Mega Gyarados. Now...with Earthquake still being as popular of a move as it is, it's always nice having a free turn to switch in on setup fodder (since weakness to Stone Edge goes away after going Mega). Unfortunately, I lose that immunity to ground type attacks, which leaves me open to moves as bulldoze (to negate my speed boosts from DD). I am currently oscillating between the use of Swords Dance and Dragon Dance, but I generally tend towards the use of Dragon Dance. Opinions?
Zapdos @ Leftovers
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 252 HP / 168 Def / 68 SpA / 20 Spe
Bold Nature
- Thunderbolt
- Roost
- Defog
- Heat Wave
Zapdos has been instrumental in pulling some key wins. Its offensive coverage is invaluable, but the added bulk and ability to Defog has prevented quick deaths from opposing Mega Gyarados (especially boosted ones. *shudder*). In a metagame where the electric type is so instrumental, it would almost be a sin not to include Zapdos. My original plan was to include Jolteon, but I didn't really need the extra speed he offers -- instead opting for the extra bit of power Zapdos possesses. Heat Wave is there purely for offensive coverage, but I originally had hoped it would be used to stop some offensive threats by burning them. I haven't really seen this in action yet, so I'll wait for suggestions on what to use.
/***Conclusion***/
Overall I'm pretty pleased with this team. I don't battle all that much, but I haven't lost with this team yet. (I'm sure any raters here could quickly change that if they wanted!) Again, the basic premise is
a) Set up Stealth Rocks as quickly as possible, and let Terrakion land any hits he wants. (I do pull him out if I can predict a psychic type move or something of the like -- in which case I switch to Greninja).
b) Switch appropriately between multiple mostly self-sufficient sweepers, reserving Scizor for revenge kills, and reserving Gyarados for late game sweeps if I need to. Typically if I'm against something relatively unthreatening, I let Gyarados do his thing.
Notes on potential threats:
I have not yet encountered any single pokemon that can sweep through my team, except enemy Mega Gyarados. I've done some research (such as analyzing bReakMyTeam results) into potential threats, but I've yet to encounter any of those in practice.
Any criticism is helpful and appreciated! Thanks for reading!
