Approved by Nayrz
Introduction
Welcome to the Sword and Shield Sample Teams Thread! Here you will find a collection of approved sample teams that represent the current SS Ubers Metagame. The mission statement of Sample Teams is to deliver structurally sound and simple to use teams, of every metagame relevant archetype to enable newer players to get into the tier. Everyone is welcome to submit sample teams they wish to contribute to the thread which will be evaluated by the Viability Rankings council, to ensure they meet the qualities and criteria in order to be a sample team.
Rules & Info
- I will aim to have all teams discussed internally as quickly as possible and reach a decision on a team as appropriate, every team posted will receive honest feedback that followed from the conclusions reached by me and the Viability Rankings Council.
- Please discuss rejections to sample teams in a civil manner on the thread as to why you feel the team should be reviewed again under special circumstances, it is unlikely the decision of previously reviewed teams will change.
- Accounts that are less than a month old and / or have less than 10 posts are not permitted to post sample teams.
Sample Teams
1. Volcarona Balance by TrueNora edited by Terracotta
2. Gothitelle Sand Offense by Manaphy edited by TrueNora
3. Dracovish Rain by DNNP edited by TrueNora
4. Screens HO by Terracotta edited by Manaphy
5. Sun Offense by Skysolo edited by TrueNora and Manaphy
6. Dragapult Balance by Icemaster edited by TrueNora
Teams are reviewed on a periodic basis, any teams that are deemed outdated will be removed or subject to changes.
Introduction
Welcome to the Sword and Shield Sample Teams Thread! Here you will find a collection of approved sample teams that represent the current SS Ubers Metagame. The mission statement of Sample Teams is to deliver structurally sound and simple to use teams, of every metagame relevant archetype to enable newer players to get into the tier. Everyone is welcome to submit sample teams they wish to contribute to the thread which will be evaluated by the Viability Rankings council, to ensure they meet the qualities and criteria in order to be a sample team.
Rules & Info
- An importable of your team is required either from a pasting site such as Pokepaste/Pastebin or using the hide tag.
- Please post a brief description along with your submitted sample team that justifies the team members/general structure and a explanation in how players use the team and its general purpose.
- Please only submit 1 team per post, only the first team of your post will be reviewed and others will be ignored.
- Personal speed creeps will be removed from Sample teams, and adjusted to standardised spreads or the relevant benchmark.
- Proxy posting for other users is prohibited. Every submitted team must be the users own creation and not the team of another user such as a banned user.
- Do not post teams that have been created by other users such as RMTs or previously submitted sample teams under any circumstance.
- I will aim to have all teams discussed internally as quickly as possible and reach a decision on a team as appropriate, every team posted will receive honest feedback that followed from the conclusions reached by me and the Viability Rankings Council.
- Please discuss rejections to sample teams in a civil manner on the thread as to why you feel the team should be reviewed again under special circumstances, it is unlikely the decision of previously reviewed teams will change.
- Accounts that are less than a month old and / or have less than 10 posts are not permitted to post sample teams.
Nayrz - Ubers tiering & Subforum Leader
TrueNora (Nora.#3829) - Sample Teams Host
Manaphy
Mysterious M
SiTuM
Skysolo
Terracotta
Icemaster
Ballfire
TrueNora (Nora.#3829) - Sample Teams Host
Manaphy
Mysterious M
SiTuM
Skysolo
Terracotta
Icemaster
Ballfire
Sample Teams
1. Volcarona Balance by TrueNora edited by Terracotta
This team features one of the most potent Dynamax abusers, Volcarona, which can easily clean up late game once its checks such as Blissey/Chansey and Tyranitar have been weakened. Eternatus acts as a blanket check to many pokemon that threaten the team otherwise such as Dracovish and Marshadow. Necrozma-Dusk-Mane is the Zacian-Crowned and Kyurem-Black check for the team and provides utility with Thunder Wave. Rotom-Wash complements the defensive core so far by checking sweepers such as Gyarados, Drednaw, and Excadrill while providing momentum with Volt Switch and utility with Thunder Wave. Ditto helps the team’s matchup against Hyper Offense and eases the team’s otherwise passivity outside of Volcarona. Finally, Blissey is the team’s special wall and Stealth Rocker. Some notable other options include running Cosmic Power on Eternatus to improve the rain matchup and Bug Buzz on Volcarona for a bigger hit on Tyranitar.
2. Gothitelle Sand Offense by Manaphy edited by TrueNora
This team is built around the potent offensive duo of Zacian-Crowned and Excadrill, as these two Pokemon can easily sweep once their shared checks such as Corviknight, Skarmory, and Quagsire are weakened. The combination of Gothitelle and Toxic Spikes Eternatus compliments this offensive core very well. Quagsire running Heavy-Duty Boots gets trapped, whereas Shed Shell Quagsire is vulnerable to Toxic Spikes, not to mention that Gothitelle traps Corviknight and Skarmory, OHKOing the later if Sturdy is broken. Gothitelle also traps opposing Eternatus, allowing Toxic Spikes to stay on the field. It also reduces the pressure on Tyranitar to check Eternatus. Tyranitar is the general special defensive check and provides sand for Excadrill and Stealth Rock. Fire Blast on Tyranitar allows it to lure and 2HKO Ferrothorn, which can otherwise be a nuisance for the team. Corviknight is chosen to round off the team, checking opposing Zacian-C and Excadrill, keeping hazards away, and U-Turning for momentum, which is especially helpful for getting Gothitelle in safely. Bulky Payapa Eternatus and Agility Zacian-C with defensive investment are chosen so that the team has better answers to offensive threats like Dracovish, Kyurem-Black, and Mewtwo.
3. Dracovish Rain by DNNP edited by TrueNora
This team is built around abusing Dracovish’s insanely powerful rain boosted Fishous Rends to break holes in the opposing team for its teammates to take advantage of. Pelipper is the obligatory rain setter and is EVed to always live a Lunala’s Specs Moongeist Beam from full, allowing it to U-Turn out. Drednaw acts as the team’s Stealth Rocker with its Gigantamax form’s G-max Stonesurge. It is also a cleaner and revenge killer for the team. Eternatus acts as a blanket to a variety of threats, notably opposing Dracovish and Marshadow while soft checking Dragon Dance Dragapult thanks to Haban Berry. Agility Zacian-Crowned provides a secondary cleaner for the team and eases the matchup against opposing rain and sand teams. Necrozma-Dusk-Mane is the team’s defensive Zacian-Crowned and Kyurem-Black check and is EV’d to live a Specs Moongeist Beam from full in a pinch. Some notable other options include running Utility Umbrella on Eternatus to improve the matchup versus opposing Dracovish, Body Slam on Dracovish to fish for Paralysis versus Eternatus, and 32 speed on Necrozma-Dusk-Mane to speed creep Paralyzed Adamant Zacian-Crowned.
4. Screens HO by Terracotta edited by Manaphy
Hyper Offense Screens has been one of the most consistent team structures of the current metagame for a good reason, as screens offer the user a lot of flexibility, allowing your sweepers to set-up with greater ease while making them much harder for the opposing team to revenge kill. It is also relatively easy to use. Mew and Grimmsnarl form the support core, with Mew as your usual lead, which is able to quickly set-up hazards, prevent opposing hazards, and explode to keep up momentum. Zacian-Crowned and Dragon Dance Necrozma-Dusk-Mane are strong offensive picks that don't compete for the Dynamax slot while checking a good amount of Pokemon. For example, Zacian-Crowned acts as an offensive check to Lunala, while Necrozma-Dusk-Mane checks opposing Zacian-Crowned. Gyarados is able to check Volcarona and is extremely threatening with Dynamax, being able to quickly steamroll teams with the combination of Moxie and Max Airstream boosts. Kyurem-Black provides the team with a switch-in to Dracovish’s Fishous Rend and is another terrifyingly effective Dynamax sweeper. All of these offensive threats are physical, and as such, you can focus on pressuring the opposing team's physical checks like Necrozma-Dusk-Mane. Since this team has two Pokemon that can abuse Dynamax, you can choose the one that is most suitable for sweeping the other team. A notable other option is running Mental Herb on Mew to help with the matchup vs opposing HO, allowing you to taunt their lead safely.
5. Sun Offense by Skysolo edited by TrueNora and Manaphy
This team is centered around Gigantamax Charizard, and the team’s other offensive options are designed to support it. Gigantamax Charizard is great against offense, a good late game cleaner, and a fantastic wallbreaker under the sun thanks to Solar Power. Notably, it is able to 2HKO targets such as Blissey and Chansey and OHKO Eternatus under sun. Torkoal provides Stealth Rock and sun support and punishes switchins and set up attempts with Yawn. Mandibuzz is the special defensive backbone of the team, providing a defensive pivot against Pokemon like Eternatus and Lunala as well as providing hazard removal in Defog. Venusaur acts as a secondary sun abuser and late game cleaner/sweeper. Choice Scarf Eternatus provides an offensive revenge killer and Dynamax check against threats such as Kyurem Black and Adamant Dragapult after a single Dragon Dance, Adamant Excadrill under sand, Zacian-Crowned, and Kingdra under rain. Zacian-Crowned rounds off the team, being a great wallbreaker that appreciates sun allowing it to deal with its two main defensive checks, Quagsire and Necrozma- Dusk Mane, OHKOing the former with Solar Blade and having a chance to 2HKO the latter with Fire Fang.
6. Dragapult Balance by Icemaster edited by TrueNora
A Spike stacking balance team based around Dragapult. Dragapult has limited defensive counterplay, especially with its Dynamax Ghost STAB dropping defense; and it is also threatening against Offense thanks to its high speed tier and Infiltrator allowing it to bypass Screens. Substitute eases prediction and let’s Dragapult avoid status and set up more easily on more passive Pokemon. Eternatus acts as a blanket check to many pokemon that threaten the team otherwise such as Dracovish and Marshadow. Necrozma-Dusk-Mane is the Zacian-Crowned and Kyurem-Black check for the team and provides utility with Thunder Wave and Stealth Rock support. Skarmory provides the previously mentioned Spikes and provides a ground immunity and Excadrill check. Zacian-Crowned provides a secondary breaker and appreciates Dragapult’s ability to force defensive Dynamax uses and also pressures Dragapult’s best answer, Mandibuzz. Finally, Blissey is the team’s special wall.
29/12/2019 - Thread creation & initial starter teams introduced to the thread.
8/9/2020 - DLC1 Sample Teams added via internal Viability Council.
8/9/2020 - DLC1 Sample Teams added via internal Viability Council.
Teams are reviewed on a periodic basis, any teams that are deemed outdated will be removed or subject to changes.
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