Stall Team OU!!

[TransparentOpacity]

I used to use balanced teams on shoddy and won about 50% of the time. Then I read in some smog article about how stall teams can cover more threats and are more reliable, so I decided to make one. Then I went to test my new stall team out, and won my first 9 games in a row! I still haven't lost with it. So tell me what you think of it and how I can mabye improve it.

The team at a glance:

Lead / Physical Wall

Hippowdon @ Leftovers
Ability: Sand Stream
Nature: Impish
252 HP / 168 Def / 88 SpD
-Stealth Rock
-Earthquake
-Slack Off
-Roar

The Sand Stream from this guy helps out my team a lot, even though I only have 2 pokes that resist it. It helps me wear down my opponents pokemon while my pokemon use recovery moves. Gyara and Sala get worn down fast switching into Stealth Rock and getting Sandstorm damage, so they are a lot less of a threat. Roar to scout out opponents, phaze, and inflict entry hazard damage. Earthquake takes care of T-tars and Metagrosses, and pretty much anything that doesn't have levitate or flies.

Spiker / Wall

Skarmory @ Shed Shell
Ability: Keen Eye
Nature: Impish
252 HP / 252 SpD / 4 Def
-Brave Bird
-Spikes
-Whirlwind
-Roost

If Hippodown goes down, I still have this guy. He can lay down Spikes, phaze some more, and cause more entry damage. 252 SpD evs allow him to survive both physical and special attacks. Shed Shell is to escape from those darn Magnezones.

Toxic Spiker

Tentacruel @ Black Sludge
Ability: Liquid Ooze
Nature: Calm
252 HP / 120 Def / 136 SpD
-Toxic Spikes
-Rapid Spin
-Knock Off
-Surf

You can't have a stall team without Toxic Spikes. Tentacruel resist most/all of Infernape and Scizors attacks, and can set up Toxic Spikes on the switch out. Knock Off knocks off(obviously) Leftovers and Choice Items and things allowing my team to stall with much more ease. Rapid Spin is a must, because if I am also getting damaged by entry hazards, it kinda ruins my whole ability to outstall my opponent. Surf can attack Infernapes and other things he likes to switch into.

Special Wall

Blissey @ Leftovers
Ability: Natural Cure
Nature: Bold
252 Def / 80 SpA / 176 SpD
-Wish
-Protect
-Flamethrower
-Ice Beam

Blisssssssseyyyyyyyy. Best Special Wall in the game. Wish cures Blissey as well as the rest of my team. Protect allows Blissey's Wish to come true, and it scouts out opponent moves. It also gives the other team an extra turn of having to deal with Toxic Spikes and Sandstorm. Flamethrower can take care of Skarmory's and anything that resists Poison. Ice Beam is to hit Dragons, because they normally come in and hope to set up on Bliss. Natural Cure allows it to absorb status for the team.

Spin Blocker

Dusknoir @ Leftovers
Ability: Pressure
Nature: Relaxed
252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
-Gravity
-Dynamic Punch
-Will-O-Wisp
-Pain Split

This guy is essential to my team. Without a way to block Rapid Spin, my team would be useless. Gravity is an amazing move that allows Flying types and Levitaters to get hit by Toxic Spikes and Spikes. Gravity also makes Dynamic Punch's accuracy 82%. The sure confusion is great to have on a stall team. Will-O-Wisp cripples Scizors and other things that resist Toxic Spikes. Pressure also helps PP Stall. This guy is just a beast.

Wall / Wisher

Vaporeon @ Leftovers
Ability: Water Absorb
Nature: Bold
188 HP / 252 Def / 68 Spe
-Surf
-HP Electric
-Wish
-Protect

Probably one of the more useless pokemon on my team. Still helps a lot though. It does basically just what Blissey does. It restores my team with more wishes. Protect to stall longer and pretty much the same reasons stated with Blissey. HP Electric allows it to counter Gyarados, and hit other bulky water types. Surf is STAB and is the main attacking move. All this Poke does is just stall for even longer while the other team dies. Really helps against a lot of big threats though, like Scizor, Ttar, Infernape, Gyarados, Starmie, and Metagross if it doesn't have Thunder Punch.

So that's my team. Plz rate. Thanks!

 

[TransparentOpacity]

Ok now that my thread got unlocked rmt plz!

 

[Setsuna]

I see Roserade as a large threat against your team or even Heatran with HP-Grass

Roserade is not such a problem, since he can resort on Blissey to take any of its hits, and also play around it with Skarmory.

The team overall looks solid, from my point of view it's a normal stall style that has always been used; definitely effective if you use it in the proper way.
But I do see a couple of changes that you can do in order to improve it.
Replace Vaporeon for Gliscor:

Jolly | 252 HP / 40 Def / 216 Spd
Earthquake | Taunt | Toxic | Roost

Leftovers as the item.
From the beginning I didin't like the WishVaporeon idea when you are already using a Wisher and countering Ape with Tentacruel. Two Wishes aren't a bad idea, of course not, just that the way you have them it's not the appropriated one.
Adding Gliscor you'll have a more reliable option to take fight type physical hits better (i.e. Lucario), besides from being annoying with the Toxic+Taunt combination.

Now that I have removed your DD Gyarados you need a counter for it, and also something that can stop SD Scizor (what you weren't countering too well at all), and that poke would be Rotom instead of Dusknoir:

Rotom-h | 248 HP / 232 Def / 24 SpD
Thunderbolt | Will-o-Wisp | Sleep Talk | Rest

Item: Leftovers. Rotom-h will also act as your status absorber and the answer to Azelf, Smeargle leads.

Good luck.

 

[locopoke]

Roserade is not such a problem, since he can resort on Blissey to take any of its hits, and also play around it with Skarmory.

The team overall looks solid, from my point of view it's a normal stall style that has always been used; definitely effective if you use it in the proper way.
But I do see a couple of changes that you can do in order to improve it.
Replace Vaporeon for Gliscor:

Jolly | 252 HP / 40 Def / 216 Spd
Earthquake | Taunt | Toxic | Roost

Leftovers as the item.
From the beginning I didin't like the WishVaporeon idea when you are already using a Wisher and countering Ape with Tentacruel. Two Wishes aren't a bad idea, of course not, just that the way you have them it's not the appropriated one.
Adding Gliscor you'll have a more reliable option to take fight type physical hits better (i.e. Lucario), besides from being annoying with the Toxic+Taunt combination.

Now that I have removed your DD Gyarados you need a counter for it, and also something that can stop SD Scizor (what you weren't countering too well at all), and that poke would be Rotom instead of Dusknoir:

Rotom-h | 248 HP / 232 Def / 24 SpD
Thunderbolt | Will-o-Wisp | Sleep Talk | Rest

Item: Leftovers. Rotom-h will also act as your status absorber and the answer to Azelf, Smeargle leads.

Good luck.

No.


While I definitely agree that Dusknoir should be replaced with Rotom-H, it looks like you just looked at half of his team.

Right now your team loses to SD Lucario and DD Salamence pretty much all of the time. If your opponent has one of those Pokemon then you're done for. This means that we need to find a way to fit in a counter for these guys somewhere in your team. One way of doing this is by replacing Skarmory and Tentacruel with the one Pokemon that does the job of both of them but takes up less space; Forretress.

Tentacruel is pretty obsolete right now. It doesn't have a reliable recovery move and it has pretty bad typing. The only real advantage it has over Forretress is the fact that it absorbs Toxic Spikes upon switching in which isn't very relevant since it carries Rapid Spin anyway. I suggest using 252 HP / 252 SpD / 6 Atk with Shed Shell and a Careful nature so that Magnezone can't wipe out your spinner right away, that ruins you for the rest of the match. As for the EVs, use Spikes, Toxic Spikes, Payback and Rapid Spin. This set does the job of Tentacruel and Skarmory but better, and it also opens up an empty spot on your team so that you can work on covering some of your weakness's. If you want to, you can use 0 speed IVs and replace Payback with Gyro Ball so that you have a way of dealing a good amount of damage to Salamence that are locked into Outrage, but for the most part Payback is more helpful since it allows you to hit Rotom's that switch in trying to block your Rapid Spin.

Now that we have a free spot in your team, I suggest using Restalk Gyarados to help counter Lucario. Use 252 HP / 244 Def / 12 Speed with an Impish nature and the moves Rest, Sleep Talk, Waterfall and Roar. This will help you greatly against Lucario and Scizor. Rest and Sleep Talk make it so that Gyarados can stay alive for a very long time and really do some damage to your opponent's team. Gyarados also counters Infernape who gives your team a lot of trouble.

Now Vaporeon needs to be replaced. As of now, DD Mence still sweeps you (for the most part). The only way you can really beat it is by forcing it to use Outrage and sacrificing a Pokemon in the process, then bringing out Forretress and trying to rack up as much damage as possible with Payback combined with SS damage and LO damage (and possible confusion). This is not the way that you should go about beating Salamence. I suggest using Scarf Jirachi with Fire Punch / Ice Punch / U-Turn / Iron Head instead of Vaporeon. Use Jolly with 252 Speed / 252 Attack / 6 Defense so that you tie with +1 Salamence and have a chance to Ice Punch it. Jirachi also helps beat Lucario and DD Tyranitar.


Hope this helps.

 

[Setsuna]

Locopoke, I don't see the necessity of quoting my rate precisely to desagree, when in a first place I am suggesting him to use Gliscor, which fixes the SD Lucario issue. And besides from that, the team isn't weak to DD Mence. For more information look at his moons and ask yourself in which of them can Salamence set up. The answer is simple, only on Tentacruel, and that problem can be fixed by eliminating Knock Off and using Ice Beam instead. The only conclusion that can be extracted from this brief analysis is that DD Salamence can be handled with small problems.

 

[shrang]

Since I have seen people suggest Forretress already, I'd say you should use it and double up uses on it, like your Physical Wall, spinner, Toxic Spiker/Spiker, using the set:

Forretress @ Leftovers/Shed Shell
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 252 HP / 112 Atk / 144 Def
Nature: Relaxed
-Toxic Spikes
-Spikes
-Rapid Spin
-Payback/Explosion

Payback is generally preferred, but if you really hate set-up sweepers and stuff like that, you can Explode when they'd expect you to switch.

Your team is also lacking what they call a "Win Condition", something to stop last Pokemon set-up sweepers like Crocune and stuff (Who can't be Roared because they're the last Pokemon). Since using Forretress gives you a free space, I'd suggest filling it with Scarf Rotom-A, which also gives you something to switch into opposing Tricks, which could really cripple an important member of your team.

Rotom-H @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Nature: Modest
-Thunderbolt
-Overheat
-Shadow Ball/Hidden Power Ground
-Trick
Just watch out for T-Tar.

Also, a small nitpick, since you have Vaporeon passing Wishes already, I don't see the point of Blissey doing so either. I'd suggest that she becomes a Cleric, as your team really needs one.

Blissey @ Leftovers
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 252 Def / 40 SpA / 216 SpD
Nature: Calm
-Aromatherapy
-Ice Beam/Seismic Toss
-Thunder Wave/Toxic
-Softboiled

 

[Mergy]

I can see Taunt/U-turn Gliscor taking this team for a ride. I'd replace Hippowdon's Roar with Ice Fang so he can take out Gliscor and so he's not helpless against levitating/flying taunt leads. You don't need roar on Hippowdon anyway, since you have Whirlwind on Skarmory.

Personally, I am in favour of keeping Tentacruel, as it has a few advantages over Forretress: mainly, it's deceptively fast and it's not as weak as Forretress is against Taunt. Also, most spin-blockers tend to attack from the special side, and Tentacruel has those defenses covered. I would however suggest changing its item to Leftovers so your other pokemon aren't tricked Black Sludge at the wrong moment.

I don't think you actually do have a weakness against SD Lucario, so long as you make sure to keep Skarmory at relatively high health. Whirlwind will definitely help scout your opponent's team, so I don't see a major issue there. I would worry more about boosting resttalkers. I'd suggest:

Celebi /w

Perish Song
Heal Bell
Grass Knot/Energy Ball
Recover

Your team needs a cleric to take care of Hippowdon and Dusknoir anyway, and Perish Song will help shuffle your opponent's pokemon around some more for fresh spike damage.

 

[MrIndigo]

I don't think you actually do have a weakness against SD Lucario, so long as you make sure to keep Skarmory at relatively high health.

+2 Max Attack Lucario Close Combat on 252 HP, 4 Def Impish Skarmory: 337 - 397 (100.9% minimum).

Sorry, not an option.

 

[locopoke]

Locopoke, I don't see the necessity of quoting my rate precisely to desagree, when in a first place I am suggesting him to use Gliscor, which fixes the SD Lucario issue. And besides from that, the team isn't weak to DD Mence. For more information look at his moons and ask yourself in which of them can Salamence set up. The answer is simple, only on Tentacruel, and that problem can be fixed by eliminating Knock Off and using Ice Beam instead. The only conclusion that can be extracted from this brief analysis is that DD Salamence can be handled with small problems.

Salamence can set up on Tentacruel, Vaporeon, and Skarmory. Vaporeon's HP Electric isn't doing much damage and I don't know many people who would keep Skarmory in on Salamence with MixMence being the most popular moveset. It's very easy to force a switch, bluffing MixMence and then using Dragon Dance and sweeping. On paper, no, Salamence has a hard time setting up, but you have to realize that he isn't aware what type of Salamence his opponent is using, which is sort of how you're describing it.

 

[toshimelonhead]

You might already know this, but this is basically Obi's stall team with a few tweaks to it. Check his thread under the RMT Archives list to see his sets if you want to use them. The only switches he has are Celebi instead of Vaporeon and Spiritomb over Duskinor.

 

[mfair4d]

As far as I can tell this team will a hard time with steels. Metagross, Lucario, Hetran, Bronzong and Magnezone will all have their difficulties. Reliance on toxic spikes is a large part of the reason that I still don't see stall as feasible.

 

[palkia the ultimate being]

i suggest using shuckle in your team because shuckle has very high special defense and physical defense and can be a good wall along with blissy and if you give shuckle some attacks that gives the opponent a status problem(poisin paralyze etc), then that will make it easier for you.
Shuckle@leftovers
nature:something that increases defense or sp defense
attacks: sludge bomb, recover, protect, and defense curl (iron protect if shuckle knows it)

 

[viol and bass]

Shuckle doesn't learn recover. And sludge bomb only induces status 30% of the time, and has no advantage whatsoever over toxic on shuckle. Iron protect isn't a move. And on top of that Shuckle is terrible in OU. Maybe you should do a little research before rating teams next time.