Introduction
Alright, I got into battling during 4th gen and was instantly hooked. I immersed myself in moves and strategies, attempting to use pre-selected sets to win. I got kind of far, but upon analyzing my own losses I started to make changes. What I ended up with was a Sandstorm team, and I continued using it upon the introduction of 5th gen. It has gotten me through rain and shine (no pun intended), but I'd like to get the most out of it. That is why I'm here, risking my team as a potential laughingstock for a few tips. Oh well. What happens, happens.
Also, since I don't nickname, any tasteful suggestions would be nice.
At First Glance...
First Up...
Hippowdon @ Leftovers
Impish
Sand Stream
252 HP/136 Def/120 Sp.D
-Earthquake
-Crunch
-Slack Off
-Fire Fang
A pretty typical Hippo setup. From time to time I prefer Ice Fang over Toxic (and I would probably like Crunch better as well), but it makes for a good lead anyway. Its main goal is just to get Sandstorm up, maybe go for Stealth Rock if I see a Ninjask or Volcarona. Truth be told, I've been considering scrapping Stealth Rock for Ice Fang. I'd switch leads altogether for TTar, but that Fighting weakness always bothers me.
Edit: Fire Fang to take out Ferrothorn and Scizor, and Crunch to take out Azelf. With more attacks, any first turn Taunt will be rendered useless.
Is That A...?
Cradily @ Leftovers
Calm
Storm Drain
252 Def/252 Sp.D/4 Sp.A
-Recover
-Curse
-Smack Down
-Earthquake
NU Pokemon in an OU team? I know, I know, it's like I'm just begging for that HP Ice. Cradily's slot is my rotation slot to anything from Lucario to Nidoking, but recently it's been holding its own against the likes of Latios and Gyarados. With Storm Drain, it comes in on the predicted Waterfall or Surf and takes it, then sets up Curse or goes for Recover when a different move is tried. I assume it's viewed as a joke because anyone with a Gyara automatically starts with the DD while I Curse, then usually falls to a Smack Down. Earthquake is interchangable with Magic Coat, which is just funny to use sometimes.
U Jelly?
Reuniclus @ Life Orb
Relaxed
Magic Guard
252 Def/252 Sp.D/4 SpA
-Recover
-Psyshock
-Calm Mind
-Hidden Power [Fighting]
Reuniclus is definitely on my Bro Tier list. Magic Guard + Life Orb ensures good damage, and the defensive stats give it the damage resistance needed to stay in for a fair amount of time. Focus Blast is a risky necessity because, idiot that I am, I rarely switch out against the likes of Scizor and TTar. Part of that has to do with knowing I can take out TTar with a Focus Blat, and part of it is fear of Pursuit from either. Usually I'm right with Pursuit on TTar (Why no Crunch? I dunno) and wrong with Scizor (U-Turn > Pursuit, apparently). Relaxed nature is a double-edged sword because it makes Reuniclus great against Trick Room teams but vulnerable against anything else. Psyshock is over Psychic because I just plain get more use out of it.
Edit: A few key edits. HP Fighting over Focus Blast for the accuracy, and Calm Mind in place of Shadow Ball to help bulk it up a little.
As Expected
Excadrill @ Air Balloon
Jolly
Sand Rush
252 Atk/252 Spe/4 Def
-Swords Dance
-Earthquake
-X-Scissor
-Rock Slide
As textbook as you can get with an Excadrill, except maybe the nature. I chose Jolly over Adamant to ensure I beat attack before other Excadrills, which are a bigger threat than they seem. Swords Dance is just for setting up on the switch. The attacks are pretty simple: Earthquake for anything on the ground, Rock Slide for anything in the air, and X-Scissor for the likes of Starmie, Latios, and Hydreigon. I've been considering taking EVs from Speed and putting them into Defense until it's only a few points in Adamant Excadrill in Speed. Maybe that will solve the Mach Punch problem.
The Token Dragon
Garchomp @ Life Orb
Jolly
Sand Veil
252 Atk/252 Spe/4 HP
-Swords Dance
-Substitute
-Earthquake
-Dragon Claw
Truth be told, I would really like to change this to a Banded Chomp, but I need a good move to take over for Swords Dance. Until then, I have this. Fire Fang gets rid of that ever-popular Steel type, Earthquake for its many needs, and Outrage for pretty much anything else. Since it gets great Attack without a nature boost, Speed is more important. Once again I'm looking at an Ice weakness, but great power comes at great risk. Swords Dance just adds to the damage on the switch, and Chomp is bulky enough to take Life Orb damage.
Edit: With Fire Fang on Hippo, Chomp can safely add Substitute to its moves. Sub allows for setting up with Swords Dance, and Dragon Claw replaces Outrage to get rid of confusion.
And Finally...
Swampert @ Leftovers
Adamant
Torrent
252 Atk/252 Spe/4 Def
-Ice Punch
-Stone Edge
-Aqua Tail
-Earthquake
I would Band my Swampert, but the coverage is the whole reason for the set. Adamant nature to max out its attack, Speed investment 'cause I don't know where else to put it, Torrent over Damp because nobody explodes anymore, and Leftovers because it's helped every now and then. Aqua Tail and Earthquake are in for the STAB and various uses, Ice Punch is in for Dragon/Flying and Ground/Flying, and Stone Edge is for anything that gets past Cradily (Yeah, I laughed too). I've considered replacing it with an Unaware Quagsire that has similar moves, but I wouldn't be able to get Ice Punch and I use that more than anything. I dunno, suggest some Quagsire sets and I'll experiment.
---
So that is my Sandstorm team. I mainly use it on PO, but parts of it are in my wifi Sand team too. There are some other Pokemon sets that I use, but I'm not gonna risk breaking the six-Poke rule just to ask for suggestions on them. Still, if you have any ideas for something to fill the Cradily slot, let me know and I'll try it out.
Alright, I got into battling during 4th gen and was instantly hooked. I immersed myself in moves and strategies, attempting to use pre-selected sets to win. I got kind of far, but upon analyzing my own losses I started to make changes. What I ended up with was a Sandstorm team, and I continued using it upon the introduction of 5th gen. It has gotten me through rain and shine (no pun intended), but I'd like to get the most out of it. That is why I'm here, risking my team as a potential laughingstock for a few tips. Oh well. What happens, happens.
Also, since I don't nickname, any tasteful suggestions would be nice.
At First Glance...
First Up...
Hippowdon @ Leftovers
Impish
Sand Stream
252 HP/136 Def/120 Sp.D
-Earthquake
-Crunch
-Slack Off
-Fire Fang
A pretty typical Hippo setup. From time to time I prefer Ice Fang over Toxic (and I would probably like Crunch better as well), but it makes for a good lead anyway. Its main goal is just to get Sandstorm up, maybe go for Stealth Rock if I see a Ninjask or Volcarona. Truth be told, I've been considering scrapping Stealth Rock for Ice Fang. I'd switch leads altogether for TTar, but that Fighting weakness always bothers me.
Edit: Fire Fang to take out Ferrothorn and Scizor, and Crunch to take out Azelf. With more attacks, any first turn Taunt will be rendered useless.
Is That A...?
Cradily @ Leftovers
Calm
Storm Drain
252 Def/252 Sp.D/4 Sp.A
-Recover
-Curse
-Smack Down
-Earthquake
NU Pokemon in an OU team? I know, I know, it's like I'm just begging for that HP Ice. Cradily's slot is my rotation slot to anything from Lucario to Nidoking, but recently it's been holding its own against the likes of Latios and Gyarados. With Storm Drain, it comes in on the predicted Waterfall or Surf and takes it, then sets up Curse or goes for Recover when a different move is tried. I assume it's viewed as a joke because anyone with a Gyara automatically starts with the DD while I Curse, then usually falls to a Smack Down. Earthquake is interchangable with Magic Coat, which is just funny to use sometimes.
U Jelly?
Reuniclus @ Life Orb
Relaxed
Magic Guard
252 Def/252 Sp.D/4 SpA
-Recover
-Psyshock
-Calm Mind
-Hidden Power [Fighting]
Reuniclus is definitely on my Bro Tier list. Magic Guard + Life Orb ensures good damage, and the defensive stats give it the damage resistance needed to stay in for a fair amount of time. Focus Blast is a risky necessity because, idiot that I am, I rarely switch out against the likes of Scizor and TTar. Part of that has to do with knowing I can take out TTar with a Focus Blat, and part of it is fear of Pursuit from either. Usually I'm right with Pursuit on TTar (Why no Crunch? I dunno) and wrong with Scizor (U-Turn > Pursuit, apparently). Relaxed nature is a double-edged sword because it makes Reuniclus great against Trick Room teams but vulnerable against anything else. Psyshock is over Psychic because I just plain get more use out of it.
Edit: A few key edits. HP Fighting over Focus Blast for the accuracy, and Calm Mind in place of Shadow Ball to help bulk it up a little.
As Expected
Excadrill @ Air Balloon
Jolly
Sand Rush
252 Atk/252 Spe/4 Def
-Swords Dance
-Earthquake
-X-Scissor
-Rock Slide
As textbook as you can get with an Excadrill, except maybe the nature. I chose Jolly over Adamant to ensure I beat attack before other Excadrills, which are a bigger threat than they seem. Swords Dance is just for setting up on the switch. The attacks are pretty simple: Earthquake for anything on the ground, Rock Slide for anything in the air, and X-Scissor for the likes of Starmie, Latios, and Hydreigon. I've been considering taking EVs from Speed and putting them into Defense until it's only a few points in Adamant Excadrill in Speed. Maybe that will solve the Mach Punch problem.
The Token Dragon
Garchomp @ Life Orb
Jolly
Sand Veil
252 Atk/252 Spe/4 HP
-Swords Dance
-Substitute
-Earthquake
-Dragon Claw
Truth be told, I would really like to change this to a Banded Chomp, but I need a good move to take over for Swords Dance. Until then, I have this. Fire Fang gets rid of that ever-popular Steel type, Earthquake for its many needs, and Outrage for pretty much anything else. Since it gets great Attack without a nature boost, Speed is more important. Once again I'm looking at an Ice weakness, but great power comes at great risk. Swords Dance just adds to the damage on the switch, and Chomp is bulky enough to take Life Orb damage.
Edit: With Fire Fang on Hippo, Chomp can safely add Substitute to its moves. Sub allows for setting up with Swords Dance, and Dragon Claw replaces Outrage to get rid of confusion.
And Finally...
Swampert @ Leftovers
Adamant
Torrent
252 Atk/252 Spe/4 Def
-Ice Punch
-Stone Edge
-Aqua Tail
-Earthquake
I would Band my Swampert, but the coverage is the whole reason for the set. Adamant nature to max out its attack, Speed investment 'cause I don't know where else to put it, Torrent over Damp because nobody explodes anymore, and Leftovers because it's helped every now and then. Aqua Tail and Earthquake are in for the STAB and various uses, Ice Punch is in for Dragon/Flying and Ground/Flying, and Stone Edge is for anything that gets past Cradily (Yeah, I laughed too). I've considered replacing it with an Unaware Quagsire that has similar moves, but I wouldn't be able to get Ice Punch and I use that more than anything. I dunno, suggest some Quagsire sets and I'll experiment.
---
So that is my Sandstorm team. I mainly use it on PO, but parts of it are in my wifi Sand team too. There are some other Pokemon sets that I use, but I'm not gonna risk breaking the six-Poke rule just to ask for suggestions on them. Still, if you have any ideas for something to fill the Cradily slot, let me know and I'll try it out.
