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Pangoro @ Choice Band
Ability: Scrappy
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Close Combat
- Knock Off
- Iron Head
- Bullet Punch
We wanted to build around the core of Gigalith + Gastrodon + Escavalier, since we felt that it defensively covered a lot of the metagame. We then added Sylveon because it acts as a more sturdy check to Haxorus and also provides Wish support for Gigalith and Escavalier. Noivern was our choice for a ground immunity and it also provides Defog support for the squad, as well as some speed control. Finally, Pangoro acts as a wallbreaker that makes it so that the team can actually put some pressure on opposing teams. It's also the best check the team has to Dragon Dance Necrozma.
This phase will end Monday,April 27th! Happy posting
This teams specs sylveon switch ins arent super reliable as Gigalith doesn't have Heavy Slam, and it can force out Panda/Noiv/Escav for good breaking opportunities. Tsareena is a nice pivot to pair with it, pressuring Gastro/Gigalith well and bringing Sylveon in on Escav/Noivern.
Copperajah has gained some more usage recently, from what I can tell, and for good reason. It's pretty hard to switch into offensively, while checking dangerous stuff like Sylveon, Gard and Rose. In this case, it just straight up sits on half the team. Gastro, Sylveon and Escavalier pretty much get 1HKOd and it also threatens Noivern and Gigalith immensely. The only mon that can really force it out is the Panda. Here's where Fairy-vally comes into play, it can "switch in" (not like anything switches into this monster anyways) and pivot from there. Parting shot also allows you to get Raj in more often.
Not sure what everybody runs on Raj, I personally creep Rhyp and a bit of extra EVs.
Centiskorch @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Knock Off
- Leech Life
- Power Whip
- Fire Lash
Cobalion @ Shuca Berry
Ability: Justified
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Thunder Wave
- Swords Dance
- Close Combat
- Iron Head
With this core, you just need to be careful that Noivern's paralysis doesn't get healed by Sylveon and you're good. Centiskorch checks Sylveon and Escavalier and KOes Gastrodon and beats Combat-locked Pangoro (hopefully), while Cobalion paralyzes noivern and absorbs Knocks for Centiskorch and sets up on Gigalith.
Machamp literally has 0 switchins, it just claims something with either CC or Heavy Slam, but it can get worn down fast via sand, burn, and attacks from mons like gigalith, so sylv is nice because it also beats noivern and panda locked into CC.
The only fairy resistance in this team is Escavalier, who dies on Mystical Fire, then there is no more fairy resistance. Trick allows to hinder Gigalith/Sylveon/Gastro.
Rotom-mow to put pressure on this team's defensive pokemons, but it also makes it easier to bring gardevoir :
+2 252 SpA Rotom-Mow Leaf Storm vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Sylveon: 291-343 (73.8 - 87%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
+2 252 SpA Rotom-Mow Leaf Storm vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Gigalith in Sand: 408-480 (109 - 128.3%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252 SpA Choice Specs Gardevoir Psyshock vs. 252 HP / 4 Def Gigalith: 153-180 (40.9 - 48.1%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Leftovers recovery
(if you just want to spam moonblast -> 252 SpA Choice Specs Gardevoir Moonblast vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Gigalith in Sand: 126-148 (33.6 - 39.5%) -- 24.5% chance to 3HKO after Leftovers recovery )
252 SpA Choice Specs Gardevoir Moonblast vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Sylveon: 180-213 (45.6 - 54%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock, sandstorm damage, and Leftovers recovery
252 SpA Choice Specs Gardevoir Moonblast vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Gastrodon: 267-315 (62.6 - 73.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
Alright so sorry for being bad again but the winner for this week is Datsplashtho with his core of Machamp+Sylveon! Congratulations! I do have an announcement to make, my previous co-host Nuked has stepped down from his position, because of this i'd like to welcome my new co-host Estarossa!
Anyways with that out of the way we'll be moving onto the next week! Thanks to my new co-host Estarossa for providing this weeks team.
Sylveon @ Leftovers
Ability: Pixilate
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Heal Bell
- Hyper Voice
- Wish
- Protect
This team is a fun take on more traditional Sylveon + Escavalier teams. Steelvally is a really underrated Pokemon atm, thanks to being the only Steel type that both switches into and outspeeds Sylveon, while also being a good answer to stuff like Gardevoir and Roserade. Flamethrower on this particular set allows it to offensively check Doublade and Escavalier for the team, allowing Sylveon to more freely run Heal Bell. Rhyperior provides a solid answer to Toxtricity which the first two Pokemon greatly struggle with. SD Incineroar is a nice option here to weaken Pokemon like Rotom-W and Incineroar for Steelvally, while still providing a lot of its normal defensive utility that it would offer this sort of team due to the EV spread. Defog Rotom-W helps stop the team being overwhelmed by Spikes, while providing a decent Cobalion check and water resist due to a more bulky spread, with the EVs allowing it to creep Ada Pangoro. Flygon rounds out the team by providing speed control and an offensive haxorus check.
This weeks submission phase will end Wednesday, May 6th! Happy posting
NP celebi just destroy the team. The only counterplay for it is to revenge it with U-Turn flygon. It can come in easily and punch holes in the team.
Milotic is here for 2 reasons : to punish flygon when it clicks U-Turn so celebi can sweep the whole team and because this team can't break bulky waters. It can just sit on the team waiting for an oppurtinity to double on celebi and to claim one with it.
+2 252 SpA Wise Glasses Celebi Earth Power vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Silvally-Steel: 374-442 (112.9 - 133.5%) -- guaranteed OHKO
+2 252 SpA Wise Glasses Celebi Earth Power vs. 200 HP / 24 SpD Incineroar: 384-452 (100.7 - 118.6%) -- guaranteed OHKO
NP Rotom Wash has a very good matchup versus this team, which relies on a combination of Sylveon and its own Rotom to help respond to Rotom, which both cannot adequately respond to the threat of NP. While this Rotom is EV'd to OHKO Gigalith at +2 after rocks, it also enables it to break through Sylveon with one NP boost. In addition, this set also retains the defensive bulk to check Incineroar and Steelvally, while setting up on a majority of its Pokemon.
Sylveon is a great partner for NP Rotom in general since it provides it with recovery to ensure it doesnt get worn down over the course of the game by the combination of Steelvally and Incineroar. Moreover, this team cannot force Sylveon out with Pokemon not named Steelvally and SD Incine, both allow Rotom in for free, which make Wish passing to Rotom particularly easier.
im gonna copy this statement because it applies to this team as well. The combinaton of Close Combat + Heavy Slam literally hits everything on this team and OHKOs everyone except Rhyperior and Rotom-Wash.
And thats the reason why Darmanitan is on this duo. Darm hits incredibly hard and is great at forcing that little chip damage on these two threats via Flare Blitz or U-Turn, to ensure that Machamp kills everything.
252+ Atk Guts Machamp Close Combat vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Flygon: 388-457 (128.9 - 151.8%) -- guaranteed OHKO
-1 252+ Atk Guts Machamp Close Combat vs. 200 HP / 0 Def Incineroar: 470-554 (123.3 - 145.4%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252+ Atk Guts Machamp Close Combat vs. 240 HP / 0 Def Solid Rock Rhyperior: 387-456 (89.7 - 105.8%) -- 37.5% chance to OHKO after Leftovers recovery
252+ Atk Guts Machamp Close Combat vs. 252 HP / 224+ Def Rotom-Wash: 228-268 (75 - 88.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
252+ Atk Guts Machamp Close Combat vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Silvally-Steel: 674-794 (203.6 - 239.8%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252+ Atk Guts Machamp Heavy Slam (120 BP) vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Sylveon: 406-478 (103 - 121.3%) -- guaranteed OHKO
Rotom-Wash @ Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Nasty Plot
- Volt Switch
- Discharge
- Hydro Pump
Doublade @ Eviolite
Adamant Nature
Ability: No Guard
EVs: 216 HP / 252 Atk / 44 Spe
IVs: 0 SpA
- Swords Dance
- Iron Head
- Shadow Sneak
- Close Combat
Very much classic Doublade set, along with offensive NP Rotom-W. The team has no real way of effectively dealing with an NP R-Wash, which also beats the opposing Rotom. Doublade completely shuts down Sylveon, the only threat to NP Rotom, while it's monstrous Physical Defense allows it to take on Rhyperior if necessary and shuts down Flygon (which can't lock into Earthquake).
252+ Atk Doublade Iron Head vs. 240 HP / 0 Def Rhyperior: 204-242 (47.3 - 56.1%) -- 81.3% chance to 2HKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery
16+ Atk Rhyperior Earthquake vs. 216 HP / 0 Def Eviolite Doublade: 152-180 (48.5 - 57.5%) -- 92.2% chance to 2HKO
Doublade outspeeds.
252+ SpA Rotom-Wash Hydro Pump vs. 200 HP / 24 SpD Incineroar: 362-428 (95 - 112.3%) -- 68.8% chance to OHKO
+2 252+ SpA Rotom-Wash Thunderbolt vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Rotom-Wash: 262-310 (86.1 - 101.9%) -- 93.8% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery
No one risks these rolls.
252 Atk Flygon Earthquake vs. 216 HP / 0 Def Eviolite Doublade: 128-152 (40.8 - 48.5%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
Tsareena (F) @ Choice Band
Ability: Queenly Majesty
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Power Whip
- Knock Off
- U-turn
- High Jump Kick
This team has only one water resistance, and no viable response to cb hjk/Power Whip Tsareena.
+2 252 Atk Barbaracle Stone Edge vs. 252 HP / 224+ Def Rotom-Wash: 198-234 (65.1 - 76.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
+2 252 Atk Tough Claws Barbaracle Liquidation vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Sylveon: 294-346 (74.6 - 87.8%)
+2 252 Atk Tough Claws Barbaracle Liquidation vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Flygon: 375-442 (124.5 - 146.8%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252 Atk Choice Band Tsareena Power Whip vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Sylveon: 262-309 (66.4 - 78.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
252 Atk Choice Band Tsareena Power Whip vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Silvally-Steel: 144-171 (43.5 - 51.6%) -- 9% chance to 2HKO
-1 252 Atk Choice Band Tsareena High Jump Kick vs. 200 HP / 0 Def Incineroar: 294-346 (77.1 - 90.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
or
-1 252 Atk Choice Band Tsareena Power Whip vs. 200 HP / 0 Def Incineroar: 102-120 (26.7 - 31.4%) -- guaranteed 4HKO (if you want to spam Power Whip)