Stall, anyone?

[Good_Luck!]

Hello Everyone.

I am relatively new to Little Cup (and battling in general) and I really love the stall strategy 'cause is so delicious to see the most powerful pokes stopped by a slow and funny looking creature. I tried a few teams with my all time fav pokes 'cause i think this game is about playing what you like, not what others like.

Anyway, I had my ass kicked by soooo many teams and players that I seriously cuestioned my selection, so I came up with this one which has earned me a few winnings, but it may be because of pure luck or just because my opponent was distracted, I'm really not sure.

I ended up with this team which is very... conventional and seen, I think.

Construction (or what was I thinking???)

I started with Lileep 'cause I really love that seaweed thing. It has really good defensive stats coupled with recover and stockpile to maximize its durability.

Then I coupled it with Wailmer, who has massive HP and paired okayish with Lileep. Also, I think this Humongous Ball is funny.

I realized with my other (sucky) team that this meta is packed with Fighting-type moves (not just pokes) and they hit for huge amounts of damage so I thought that Vullaby was a nice addition because of its nice Defense, attacking STAB and Overcoat.

Obviously, I myself needed a Fighting type. I wasn't sure about Croagunk but it could remove Toxic Spikes (which is a nightmare for Stall) and kill everything with priority (all my team is S L O W); it didn't fit well on the team but it was meh...

I searched for a lead (or something like it, thanks team preview) and decided to go for an uncommon one: Nosepass (which I happen to love too), who could throw Stealth Rock, slow my opponents with ThunderWave and destroy Steel-types with Magnet Pull/Fire Punch (particularly Ferroseed) and fitted well into the team.

Unfortunatelly, that Nosepass brought a weakness to Fighting again, so I needed a resist; also, Wailmer and Vullaby were like thunder rods so I needed a resist/immunity to Electric-type attacks (Lileep just can't handle every attack), I went for a Rapid Spin Baltoy to further support Vullaby.

I tested the team and found that Baltoy was awful. It couldn't do its job and was destroyed by everything not named electric attack. I decided to replace it with a poke I have tested before and found really amusing as well as bulky enough: Tentacool.

But that only accentuated my Electric-type weakness. Wailmer wasn't the hero of the day either, so I changed him for a Wooper who had the immunity I longed for and was harder to take down.

With Tentacool in play I had no need for Croagunk poison typing and, good as it is, it was really hard for me to accept it into the team because of the all-out attacker it as. I had played a Mienfoo and it is just great, Regenerator+U-turn is a match made in heaven, and with Drain Punch and Eviolite... well, it's a Stall team star.

Nosepass was fun and all that, but it was a lag once it throw the rocks, I replaced it with Bronzor whose Special Defense is Higher. And then... My team was born.

ZOOMING IN:

Bronzor @ Eviolite
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 220 HP / 8 Atk / 152 Def / 4 SAtk / 68 SDef / 12 Spd
Sassy Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- Psychic
- Flash Cannon

Bronzor is the one who gets the rocks up. I had it at the start to play but I don't usually lead with it; I like playing games with my opponent (thanks Team Preview). I really feel it is the weakest link because the only thing it does well after it's set up is hitting Magnemite on the switch and randomly hitting a Fighting poke (this would be because I'm not used enough to play with him). I'm considering changing Flash Cannon for Toxic or ThunderWave (as my team really appreciates things like Mienfoo slowed down), and even changing Bronzor for other Poke.

Lileep (F) @ Eviolite
Trait: Storm Drain
EVs: 148 HP / 220 Def / 32 SAtk / 60 SDef / 16 Spd
Calm Nature (+SDef, -Atk)
- Energy Ball
- Hidden Power Fire
- Recover
- Stockpile

Lileep is the star of my show, just because I <3 it. It's amazing how many players use Water-type moves even when I don't have anyone weak to them (usually Scald on Mienfoo to get a burn). When all the Fighting-types are gone, this shows up. It also checks or scares away Water/Rock/Ground types. I would usually stockpile on the switch, then proceed to Spam Energy Ball. If the opponent has no SE moves, then its just Stockpile, then recover, then attack. It is a good switch-in to Ferroseed who tries to Leech Seed the earlier poke and then set up, but this crazy plant can eliminate it with Hidden Power (2HKO). Fire pokes can wall it but the Stealth Rock prevents them to switch often. The EV's make Def and SpD equal so it could resist a lot of moves on the switch, from Ferro's Seed Bomb (aimed to Wooper) to Chinchou's Thunderbolt (aimed to Tentacool).

Wooper (M) @ Eviolite
Trait: Unaware
EVs: 236 HP / 76 Atk / 156 Def
Jolly Nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Earthquake
- Waterfall
- Toxic
- Recover

Wooper is a very good teammate for Lileep, usually spreading Toxic on everything not immune to it; it also takes many hits before taken down. Earthquake helps destroying Steel- and Poison-types and Waterfall is for everything else (mainly Bronzor 'cause the only fire move I have is Lileep's Hidden Power, and even then is really hard to take it out). If Vullaby is down, Wooper is another switch in to Fighting pokes because of its high defense, if Lileep is down, Wooper becomes the stall star, but it has many troubles with Specially Offensive Pokes. It is a standard Tank so I would appreciate comments on it, but it is reliable and once Ferro/Lileep is gone, it can wreak havoc.

Vullaby (F) @ Eviolite
Trait: Overcoat
EVs: 36 HP / 156 Def / 156 SDef / 116 Spd
Modest Nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Dark Pulse
- Air Slash
- Taunt
- Roost

My main check to awful ghosts (barring Ghastly with Thunderbolt) and many Fighters; she isn't as slow as the last three, takes hits, hits back... with her immunity to Ground (and the not so often seen Psychic) it's the greatest partner to Tentacool who is rapid spinning away the rocks. The Nature gives her a little extra in attack to take down enemies easier. It has a little more Defense than Special Def but I'm considering to change all the EV's to maximize its durability against Hard Hitters such as Mienfoo. I'm considering switching Taunt to Whirlwind to phaze set up attackers and Baton Passers (Aipom owns me ><).

Mienfoo (F) @ Eviolite
Trait: Regenerator
EVs: 156 Atk / 36 Def / 36 SDef / 236 Spd
Jolly Nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Drain Punch
- Fake Out
- U-turn
- Payback

My physical attacker is the well tested Bulky Mienfoo. I chose Payback over Knock Off to hit Ghosts on the switch (thanks again, Team Preview). He is my Scraggy check and a good scout with U-turn and Regenerator; it attracts Scald users so Lileep can get a big boost (particularly Frillish) the annoying part is when they use WoW and Lileep gets burned. I can consider changing Payback to Knock Off for team support but that would mean I loose momentum as I switch to Vullaby.

Tentacool (M) @ Eviolite
Trait: Liquid Ooze
EVs: 116 HP / 156 Def / 196 SDef / 36 Spd
Bold Nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Ice Beam
- Scald
- Rapid Spin
- Sludge Wave

My Rapid Spinner has enough bulk to take a +1 Dragon Claw from Axew and hit back with Ice Beam (is a 2HKO), it clears the field from Toxic Spikes, Stall's worst enemy, just as it switches in and all other entry hazards with one move. It is really fun to lure Fighting types on Lileep and then switch to Tentacool as they Drain Punch, the opponent takes damage just by switching thanks to Liquid Ooze. Ice Beam is a little unorthodox with Gligar gone but is my most reliable move against Axew, Dratini and others as well as hitting Flying-type enemies on the switch (Guts Taillow is very annoying with Facade and GOD it switches often into Tenta). Sludge Wave has proven to be innecesary so I'm considering to change it to Knock Off/Toxic Spikes; maybe, Scald to Surf for power as it would clash with Toxic.

+ I have troubles with opposing Lileeps as the only thing that really checks it is Mienfoo. Wooper's Toxic can help but I won't let Wooper alone with Lileep, so~ another (or more) Toxic users would be better.

+ Opposing Stall teams are difficult for me as my team is very Toxic weak (specially Lileep and Wooper).

+ Set Up pokemon are horrendous because they can set up on the switch and
sweep my entire team, no matter how bulky my pokes are.

I'll really appreciate criticism; thanks for reading and for your responses .

(And I hate Ragequitting).

 

[comatthew6]

If your team has trouble with Toxic, try a cleric in either Lickitung or Chinchou (both are quite bulky and use the move well). Your team also is quite weak to ZHB Scraggy, since your mienfoo isn't very bulky and if vullaby goes down, your team is in big trouble. I suggest Timburr over Mienfoo, who can take Scraggy's drain punches even if it's at +2. Also, your team needs a ghost-type to stop rapid spinners in staryu and other tentacool. Since Missy's gone, Frillish and Duskull are best options. Hope this helped!

 

[Good_Luck!]

I'll try out Timburr over Mien and a Cleric over Bronzor... Without stones I don't need a ghost but if the cleric doesn't convice me, I'll change to Bronzor + Cleric (but then, I'll loose a member)

Thanks!

 

[Zephyr]

Hey man, after looking through your team and your commentary on different Pokemon, I think I've come up with a pretty good suggestion for you. Eviolite Hippopotas over Bronzor (alternatively Wooper) would make a great addition to your stall team. With a huge defense, more than respectable special defense; due to eviolite, and access to Stealth Rock it'll be doing virtually everything Bronzor did. Now, here is what else it does. First off, you brought out the sand storm, and with Eviolite being such a widely used item, offensive teams without recovery will be wearing down faster with sand out, another big benefit to this is that Lileep in sand is an absolute monster to take down. Also Bronzor suffers from being susceptible to being worn down through a match, where as Hippo can reliably Slack Off damage. If kept at reasonable health, it even checks +1 Scraggy with Ice Punch, and can roar it right out, among other boosting sweepers, as an extra safe to go along with wooper. ( or to replace wooper). Here is the set I think you should try:

Hippopotas (M) @ Eviolite
Trait: Sand Stream
EVs: 136 HP / 20 Atk / 212 Def / 140 SDef
Relaxed Nature (+Def, -Spd)
- Earthquake
- Toxic / Roar
- Stealth Rock
- Slack Off

Good luck!

 

[fatty]

like a lot of lc stall teams, you have tremendous troubles with dst clamperl. if it has hp elec, you pretty much auto lose due to it's sheer power. luckily, tentacool kinda checks hp grass versions (you might wanna look into using giga drain > ice beam so that you can beat it more reliably), so you only have to look out for the afforementioned hp elec variants. for this reason, i'm gonna suggest an eviolite chinchou > wooper. i honestly don't see wooper doing anything specific for this team, it's just used because it's a good staller. on the other hand, chinchou easily beats hp elec clamperl and on top of it, can provide heal bell support for the entire team, which helps with your toxic weakness. here's the set...

Chinchou (F) @ Evolution Stone
Trait: Volt Absorb
EVs: 236 HP / 228 SDef
Calm Nature (+SDef, -Atk)
- Scald
- Volt Switch
- Ice Beam
- Heal Bell

pretty self explanatory. ev's are meant to maximize special bulk and make chou a good special tank. scald gives you a reliable stab with the chance to burn. ice beam gives you the ice move you liked on wooper. heal bell is obviously how you're going to deal with status, and volt switch let's you rack up hazard damage and get in appropriate counters for opposing mons rather easily.

speaking of hazards, you lack spikes, which can really help wear down opposing teams. i'd suggest using a ferroseed > bronzor to lay down spikes, and then using sr on lileep > stockpile. ferro allows you to keep that initial dragon switch-in and stall it out a bit with leech seed, all while obviously providing you with the much needed spikes. the only problem now is that with all 3 hazards on the team, you're going to need a spin blocker unless you want all your hard work to go to waste. the most replaceable spot on the team imo is vullaby, as the main ghost (gastly) is checked by lileep, chinchou, and tentacool. retting rid of vullaby would open up a slot for a ghost, and there's pretty much 2 viable choices for that. one would be a taunt will-o-wisp frillish, who would really help you beat opposing stall team. the other option is a sub lo gastly of your own, who's a less reliable spin blocker, but would provide you with some offense to take advantage of all the residual damage on the team. you can choose which one sounds best to you.

hope i helped a bit, good luck with the team!

 

[Good_Luck!]

the most replaceable spot on the team imo is vullaby, as the main ghost (gastly) is checked by lileep, chinchou, and tentacool.

Vullaby is the best against Slowpoke; but even then, Lileep could handle him with chinchou as a cleric.

I'll try mixing some of the ideas (Hippo + Lileep = Stall). Anyway, Chinchou's typing and volt absorb has been great over Wooper.

Timburr hasn't been as useful as mien, but maybe that's because I haven't faced a Scraggy yet.

Thank you.

EDIT: With Toxic and without Vully (and Taunt) Slowpoke owns me, so I'm not too keen to lost her. Any comments?

Timburr just saved my ass today, I'll keep him over Mien

 

[Trakyan]

you might want to consider a pineco lead to set up any entry hazard (i like toxic spikes if they werent eleminated by every poison type rather than the more rare spinners.), i use stealth rock on mine first which breaks any sashes since my team is a mixed stall and sweep. i have a back up toxic spiker if pineco doesnt pull off the two layers before sending in my ace staller to kill out at least three pokemon or rack up major damage on multiple pokemon. i think you need someone to spread status like toxic on poison types who are immune to toxic spikes, but then a ghost type is even more important.