Well, two weeks passed, so it's that time of the month again. It was time to go with yet ANOTHER of my Latias teams. This time, I used a particularly unique Latias. I had hoped she would be easier to replace, but I had to go through many weeks of preparations (but I don't really think anyone minded but me). Before Latias' Re-Uberfication, this was one of my most effective teams are rarely, if ever, lost. I particularly like this team, and the only thing that held me from using it was the Dragon:
Premier Ball set-Echo, DOTAKUDON: Hollow Note!
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Leftovers
Heatproof
252 HP/62 Attack/104 Def/92 Special Def (0 Speed IV)
Sassy (+Special Def, -Speed)
Rest
Sleep Talk
Earthquake
Gyro Ball
My trusty Bronzong returns as a lead once again! The common problem with Bronzong is no matter its defensive capabilites, it cannot take repeated hits. To this end, Bronzong succumbs easily and is forced to resort to use Explosion. It's only recovery move is Dream Eater. I'm not really using any Sleep moves, so let's look at the other version of this Psychic move: Rest. So heck! Run Rest! Sleep Talk in particular allows Bronzong to screw any Sleep leads as well.
I looked over my team. Exluding Bronzong itself, I had two Fire weak and two resistances (excluding Latias). I had one Ground weak and two resistances. Not only that, Forretress can afford to eat Earthquakes. As for Bronzong itself, considering it has a recovery move, running Heatproof can be affordable. I am more comfortable to take Ground attacks (not that comfortable, of course) and lessen my Fire weakness instead. Sure, one removes a weakness and adds an immunity, and the other just removes a weakness, but I think it can be managed. This especially applies if I put in what I have in mind for Latias, effectively removing a Fire resistance.
So...what can we actually CHANGE about Bronzong? Well...I've had considerations to run Stealth Rock over Sleep Talk. No one runs the hazard, and I got Heal Bell anyway (Bronzong should be able to learn it itself). However, without Sleep Talk, Bronzong can't really absorb Sleep moves from other leads. So I came up with this MASTER PLAN! The most obvious and best change of all would be to run Hypnosis and its 100 power STAB Dream Eater!!!
Lol, just kidding. I run too much other status to afford to use Hypnosis.
Net Ball set-Infiltrate, MOTORCREEP: Spirit of the Nuclear Fusion!
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Leftovers
Levitate
252 HP/120 Def/136 Special Def
Bold (+Def, -Attack)
Thunderbolt
Will-O-Wisp
Hydro Pump
Rest
Dream Eater (just kidding)
Aaah...after many, MANY antagonizing weeks, I FINALLY have the only change I am making to this team. Proudly standing in for Psychic/Recover/Surf/Psycho Shift Flame Orb is the Wash Rotom. After much research, discussions, and personal problems, I have finally been able to establish this Rotom best takes over Latias in function and resistances.
Thunderbolt is here to serve as main STAB. Hydro Pump is appreciated for scoring the 2HKOs onto Fire-types who resist Burns (3HKO on Tyranitar isn't bad either). In the end, it was Rotom's immunity to Fighting and resistance to Bug that made me drop Cresselia (that, and that Psycho Shift didn't have 100% Accuracy as I first thought).
Pain Split isn't exactly as accurate as Recover or Roost as Latias could run. Rest is cool, though, seeing as I have Heal Bell here.
Poké Ball set-Persevere, BLAZEHEART: Scorching Squall!
Leftovers
Flash Fire
252 HP/252 Attack/4 Def
Brave (+Attack, -Speed)
Heal Bell
Superpower
Lava Plume
Wish
Mixed attacker? Cleric? Make up your mind! Lol, Flareon is a great Pokémon, and I enjoy using the Flame Pokémon mainly for carrying a Fire immunity, Wish, and Heal Bell. The only Stat am only shameful for is its lowest (HP is also pitiful, but Flareon would be pretty broken had it been higher). Luckily, its Base 60 Def is made up for with the Burn spam this team provides (which Flareon can cast herself, even!). Maximum Attack is required in order for Superpower to mulitate Heatran, which causes problems no matter what its set is (my Ability and that most Heatran are Scarved are saving graces).
If you want, here's a Comparison Clash with Vaporeon:
For the record, Vaporeon is a better defender, a better Special attacker, and a more defensive Ability compared to Flareon.
Flareon is still a very capable special defender, and (ka-ching), can Burn stuff. This somewhat makes Flareon a better Physical defender (though Rotom can cast Burns too, of course).
Vaporeon takes Heatran better offensively.
Defensively, Flareon can take Heatran better (though only in terms of Heatran's Fire attacks). Although not as well as Vaporeon, Flareon still effectively damages Heatran, and is more comfortable versus Blissey (a single Superpower does a minimum of 84% and 72%, respectively, on a 4 Def Heatran and max HP/Def Blissey).
With Vaporeon, Bronzong would be better off with Levitate, thus gaining more "mileage" off Bronzong's Ability.
Flareon takes Grass attacks for Milotic. Obviously, Flareon is not weak to Electric. Most importantly, I require Flareon to eat Bugs for the whole team. Burning Guts Heracross would be a real doo-doo, however (but it's not like Heracross can take a Lava Plume in the first place). However, Forretress resists Bugs too.
Blissey is a thought but...eh, she's not quite the same.
Net Ball set-Rampart, GRENADEBUG: Insect Bomb!
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Leftovers
Sturdy
252 HP/112 Attack/144 Def
Impish (+Def, -Special Attack)
Rapid Spin
Spikes
Gyro Ball
Earthquake
I'm running a Fire-type. I'm certainly not going to pass up Rapid Spin. Besides, Forretress in itself is a very good defensive Pokémon and can set up Spikes while it's at it too! Toxic Spikes is generally avoided since I'm carrying two Pokémon with Burn moves.
Now that I think about it, nobody is carrying Stealth Rock. But oh well, since this team is being put up as an RMT, I might as well wait until it gets analyzed first... If nobody ends up with Stealth Rock in the end, it's going over Spikes, here.
To top it off, Sturdy allows Forretress to eat Heatran's Fire Blast and OHKO back with Earthquake!! Well...not now I guess... Either way, I have got to lower Forretress' Attack EVs. Both Serebii and Smogon's "generic" Forretress EV spreads are pretty wack .-.
Cherish Ball set-Ptosper, CHIBIHEDGE: Embodiment of Blessings!
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Leftovers
Natural Cure
252 HP/252 Speed/4 Special Attack (6 Attack IV, 30 Speed and Special Attack IV)
Timid (+Speed, -Attack)
Seed Flare
Leech Seed
Hidden Fire Power
Substitute
Release this monster, and let the SubSeeding begin, hehe. Naturally, Shaymin's Stats are rather high. Between all the passive damage going around, Shaymin will sit back and lights a cigar as it sows its parasitic leeches all over you. Then, it takes those carcinogens and forces all of that at you, which will suffocate you more quickly than Heatran's Fire Blasts. As for actual Fire of its own, Shaymin has Hidden Power to hit Grass-types and, possibly even more importantly, Steel-types.
Luxury Ball set-Perform, RIVERDANCE: Cresting Swan! ♂
Choice Scarf
Marvel Scale
EVs: 4 HP/252 Speed/252 Special Attack (30 Special Attack IV)
Timid (+Speed, -Attack)
Hydro Pump
Dragon Pulse
Ice Beam
Hidden Electric Power
Quite an interesting last slot here. Milotic carries 81 Base Speed and 100 Special Attack. This Milotic will be outspeeding all +1 Heatran and +1 Adamant Kingdra. He Speed-ties with +1 Jolly Gyarados. And naturally, it outspeeds just about anything who doesn't have external Speed influences itself. Milotic's Hydro Pump is just as powerful as Shaymin's Seed Flare, only this time, there are EVs involved. Factor in Milotic's high defensive capabilities, and you could say that this is like an offensive Vaporeon, exchanging power for Speed and a Dragon attack (interesting that Vaporeon never runs Scarf...but I suppose it took people a long time to enjoy using Scarf on Scizor...).
All in all, Milotic is an excellent Trick absorber and revenge killer/late-game sweeper. He resists many common moves such as Fire Blast, Ice Beam, and Bullet Punch, and his Marvel Scale only helps in that perspective. Speaking of Marvel Scale, I've considered running Rest over Dragon Pulse, which is only used for obliterating Kingdra and, in emergencies, a neutral hit on Lanturn. Flareon holds Heal Bell, and Bronzong already eats Status, but Flareon has Wish, too. Also, Shaymin's got Leech Seed... I dunno, but I picked Dragon Pulse over Rest for a reason.
Threats
Let's see. Due to complications and its success, I have not much analyzed exactly how badly it performs. As I look over my six slots, defensive type coverage is very strong. I also hold a sturdy barrier up against opposing Status. To this degree, the problem would probably be to be outmuscled.
The first opponent that comes to mind is Heracross. Most of the team is weak to one of its STAB, type-wise. Bronzong and Forretress threaten with a Gyro Ball, but neither can take full-on hits, when Heracross can switch out afterwards. Rotom could Burn it, and Burnt or not, Heracross can strangle Rotom using Dark attacks. Flareon threatens with Lava Plume and a Burn on any switch-out, but Close Combat still hurts. Finally, it should be noted that Heracross has higher Base Speed than Milotic. I do not about any other Guts users, but Heracross is a pain for sure.
The same concept can also be applied to similiar "hit-and-run" wall breakers. This includes Azelf, Infernape, Gengar, Starmie, etc. I can only hope to outstall them with really great switches (and that's assuming they are Choiced). Of course, that applies to everything, really... All in all though, the team is rather sturdy.
Philosophy: The key to making friends is to care. When we care we touch each others' hearts and in our kindness heals our wounds. Kindness is the beginning of friendship. -Joshua, as written by Father Joseph F. Girzone
To befriend is to establish a ground for trust, then the souls of the two will latch, interweave. And when the happiness is tight enough, the bond is unbreakable by time or distance. God does not have to be the Entiety of Heavens or the Holy Trinity; God can be the tranquility living in the hearts of all. That way, even if there is no God God, then there is still the bit of God that rests in all of us.
