Okay, before I say anything about this team, it is important to say beforehand that this is for a gym challenge I am a part of. It has some extra rules including an item clause, allowance of Dmax, and allows baton pass. As leaders, we are required to have an ace (mine is Excadrill), and we are required to use it. I have been in a slump recently, so I was testing some stuff and found this combination. The base is hippo-drill, but I have opted for mold breaker excadrill as a spinner.
Sand Squad
Hippowdon (F) @ Smooth Rock
Ability: Sand Stream
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Def
Impish Nature
- Earthquake
- Stealth Rock
- Whirlwind
- Slack Off
First off we have the main tank and sand setter Hippowdon. His role is obvious, being a rock setter, physical tank, and of course, my sand setter. I'm running smooth rock, as it allows me to have extended sand, and allows for constant chip damage. I also chose this over leftovers and rocky helmet due to the necessity for these items on my other mons.
Excadrill (M) @ Focus Sash
Ability: Mold Breaker
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Earthquake
- Iron Head
- Rapid Spin
- Swords Dance
Now, you may be wondering, "why use mold breaker Excadrill on a sand team?" Well, I've tried both variations. They both offer something the other doesn't, but I'm running rapid spin, so I decided to opt for MB. It allows me to wall Rotom-Wash and heat who can potentially wall a sweep, but this set is still open to getting revenge killed or beaten by faster targets. Focus sash allows it to survive strong hits that would potentially kill it, like a guts boosted drain punch, but fails to stop hazards, where rapid spin is needed. Air balloon is an option but is less useful in the long run. Excadrill also has no answer for common walls like Seismitoad or Corviknight, both of which counter Hippowdon as well.
Clefable (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Magic Guard
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Moonblast
- Teleport
- Wish
- Protect
I have yet to see a good sand team that doesn't run Clefable. Clefable provides wish support, rock support, aromatherapy, and amazing coverage to a team, all of which are invaluable when immune to sand. Clefable is mainly here for two reasons: She can wall Zeraora, and provides reliable recovery to my sweepers. Many of sand teams' weaknesses revolve around bulky waters like Seismitoad, who rely on super effective damage and statuses, both of which Clefable handles.
Corviknight (F) @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Pressure
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Careful Nature
- Iron Head
- Body Press
- Bulk Up
- Roost
This is my special wall. I'm opting for a bulk up set to surprise people expecting defog, and helps counter strong wall-breakers like Kyurem (base) and walls like Clefable, Ferrothorn, and defog Corviknight. I'm opting for pressure to win the long game, though mirror armor also is an option. Rocky helmet allows me to get the most out of taking physical attacks and makes pokemon like Zeraora struggle with staying in in the long run. Maximum special bulk also allows Corviknight to take an unboosted overheat from a max special attack Rotom-Heat.
Keldeo-Resolute @ Choice Specs
Ability: Justified
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Hydro Pump
- Secret Sword
- Air Slash
- Scald
Keldeo is here to take advantage of all of the abusable offensive pokemon that love to come in against sand teams. Choice specs allows Keldeo to 2HKO Aegislash-shield form with scald, which can also inflict burn, ruining a counter-attack. Hydro pump with specs hurts even the bulkiest walls, outside of water absorb Seismitoad and Toxapex. Even hazard setter Ferrothorn doesn't want to take hits willie nillie. Hydro pump with specs does roughly ~33%, and when relying on leech seed to gain recovery, that ends up adding up when including rock damage.
Rotom-Mow @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Levitate
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Leaf Storm
- Volt Switch
- Will-O-Wisp
- Trick
Now for the surprise pick. With a team so weak to Seismitoad, Corviknight, and Dracovish, I thought it best to bring something that can handle all three. This set allows me to keep speed control and gives me a fast pivot, which pairs well with teleport from Clefable. Will-O-Wisp allows me to cripple Corviknight, Dracovish, Excadrill, Zeraora, and Tyranitar. Trick works perfectly with Rotom-Mow as common walls like Ferrothorn and Clefable have no trouble coming in against him. Volt switch is to keep momentum, and leaf storm is why I'm using him. Leaf storm also does a solid chunk to Conkeldurr, and kills both Terrakion and Keldeo.
Sand Squad
Hippowdon (F) @ Smooth Rock
Ability: Sand Stream
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Def
Impish Nature
- Earthquake
- Stealth Rock
- Whirlwind
- Slack Off
First off we have the main tank and sand setter Hippowdon. His role is obvious, being a rock setter, physical tank, and of course, my sand setter. I'm running smooth rock, as it allows me to have extended sand, and allows for constant chip damage. I also chose this over leftovers and rocky helmet due to the necessity for these items on my other mons.
Excadrill (M) @ Focus Sash
Ability: Mold Breaker
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Earthquake
- Iron Head
- Rapid Spin
- Swords Dance
Now, you may be wondering, "why use mold breaker Excadrill on a sand team?" Well, I've tried both variations. They both offer something the other doesn't, but I'm running rapid spin, so I decided to opt for MB. It allows me to wall Rotom-Wash and heat who can potentially wall a sweep, but this set is still open to getting revenge killed or beaten by faster targets. Focus sash allows it to survive strong hits that would potentially kill it, like a guts boosted drain punch, but fails to stop hazards, where rapid spin is needed. Air balloon is an option but is less useful in the long run. Excadrill also has no answer for common walls like Seismitoad or Corviknight, both of which counter Hippowdon as well.
Clefable (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Magic Guard
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Moonblast
- Teleport
- Wish
- Protect
I have yet to see a good sand team that doesn't run Clefable. Clefable provides wish support, rock support, aromatherapy, and amazing coverage to a team, all of which are invaluable when immune to sand. Clefable is mainly here for two reasons: She can wall Zeraora, and provides reliable recovery to my sweepers. Many of sand teams' weaknesses revolve around bulky waters like Seismitoad, who rely on super effective damage and statuses, both of which Clefable handles.
Corviknight (F) @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Pressure
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Careful Nature
- Iron Head
- Body Press
- Bulk Up
- Roost
This is my special wall. I'm opting for a bulk up set to surprise people expecting defog, and helps counter strong wall-breakers like Kyurem (base) and walls like Clefable, Ferrothorn, and defog Corviknight. I'm opting for pressure to win the long game, though mirror armor also is an option. Rocky helmet allows me to get the most out of taking physical attacks and makes pokemon like Zeraora struggle with staying in in the long run. Maximum special bulk also allows Corviknight to take an unboosted overheat from a max special attack Rotom-Heat.
Keldeo-Resolute @ Choice Specs
Ability: Justified
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Hydro Pump
- Secret Sword
- Air Slash
- Scald
Keldeo is here to take advantage of all of the abusable offensive pokemon that love to come in against sand teams. Choice specs allows Keldeo to 2HKO Aegislash-shield form with scald, which can also inflict burn, ruining a counter-attack. Hydro pump with specs hurts even the bulkiest walls, outside of water absorb Seismitoad and Toxapex. Even hazard setter Ferrothorn doesn't want to take hits willie nillie. Hydro pump with specs does roughly ~33%, and when relying on leech seed to gain recovery, that ends up adding up when including rock damage.
Rotom-Mow @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Levitate
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Leaf Storm
- Volt Switch
- Will-O-Wisp
- Trick
Now for the surprise pick. With a team so weak to Seismitoad, Corviknight, and Dracovish, I thought it best to bring something that can handle all three. This set allows me to keep speed control and gives me a fast pivot, which pairs well with teleport from Clefable. Will-O-Wisp allows me to cripple Corviknight, Dracovish, Excadrill, Zeraora, and Tyranitar. Trick works perfectly with Rotom-Mow as common walls like Ferrothorn and Clefable have no trouble coming in against him. Volt switch is to keep momentum, and leaf storm is why I'm using him. Leaf storm also does a solid chunk to Conkeldurr, and kills both Terrakion and Keldeo.
Hippowdon (F) @ Smooth Rock
Ability: Sand Stream
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Def
Impish Nature
- Earthquake
- Stealth Rock
- Whirlwind
- Slack Off
Excadrill (M) @ Focus Sash
Ability: Mold Breaker
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Earthquake
- Iron Head
- Rapid Spin
- Swords Dance
Clefable (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Magic Guard
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Moonblast
- Teleport
- Wish
- Protect
Corviknight (F) @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Pressure
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Careful Nature
- Iron Head
- Body Press
- Bulk Up
- Roost
Keldeo-Resolute @ Choice Specs
Ability: Justified
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Hydro Pump
- Secret Sword
- Air Slash
- Scald
Rotom-Mow @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Levitate
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Leaf Storm
- Volt Switch
- Will-O-Wisp
- Trick
Ability: Sand Stream
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Def
Impish Nature
- Earthquake
- Stealth Rock
- Whirlwind
- Slack Off
Excadrill (M) @ Focus Sash
Ability: Mold Breaker
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Earthquake
- Iron Head
- Rapid Spin
- Swords Dance
Clefable (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Magic Guard
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Moonblast
- Teleport
- Wish
- Protect
Corviknight (F) @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Pressure
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Careful Nature
- Iron Head
- Body Press
- Bulk Up
- Roost
Keldeo-Resolute @ Choice Specs
Ability: Justified
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Hydro Pump
- Secret Sword
- Air Slash
- Scald
Rotom-Mow @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Levitate
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Leaf Storm
- Volt Switch
- Will-O-Wisp
- Trick
Threats
Dracovish is a premier threat to this team. I have 2 mons weak to it, and nothing that truly wants to take a fishious rend. My only "counter" is will-o-wisp Rotom, but it isn't a good enough check in the long run. My team relies on momentum, which is hard to keep with strong walls that force me to switch. I have counters, but my team fails in the short game to HO teams but wins in the long run. Cinderace isn't a huge threat, but is notable enough to mention, due to court change and strong fire stab.
