Hello smogon, this is my first RMT, so I apologize for any mistakes. This a defensively based team taking advantage of the Breloom/Zapdos defensive core and utilizing substitute for all it's worth. The point of the team is to wear down opponents with toxic, cripple threats, then sweep with Crocune.
A quick look at the team:
Team Analysis
1. The Lead
The Blues (Gallade) (M) @ Lum Berry
Trait: Steadfast
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 SDef
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Swords Dance
- Shadow Sneak
- Stone Edge
- Close Combat
Why Gallade?
Gallade is perhaps the best anti-lead I've ever used. With the moves to destroy common leads, and even hurt the opponents team beyond that... I've been able to take out many threats that plague my team before my stallers even see that battlefield.
Versus Common Leads: *** Major threats will be in pink ***
Azelf: Stone Edge + Shadow Sneak for the KO.
Aerodactyl: Same.
Metagross: Swords Dance + CC KO's normal variants.
Swampert: Swords Dance + CC 2hkos, so they can roar me out. I then try to KO them with whatever comes out, so if it's Zapdos or Heatran, I'm not in a good place.
Jirachi: Switch to Rotom to absorb trick, from there TBolt.
Infernape: Close Combat 1 shots. Shadow sneak if they are sashed.
Gliscor: Swords Dance -> Stone Edge two shots. If they taunt, Swap to Rotom to resist both of his stab moves.
Yanmega: Stone Edge, + Shadow sneak is needed.
Machamp: Swords Dance as they try to confuse, Close Combat then one shots.
Frosslass: Stone Edge + Shadow Sneak.
Aerodactyl: Same.
Metagross: Swords Dance + CC KO's normal variants.
Swampert: Swords Dance + CC 2hkos, so they can roar me out. I then try to KO them with whatever comes out, so if it's Zapdos or Heatran, I'm not in a good place.
Jirachi: Switch to Rotom to absorb trick, from there TBolt.
Infernape: Close Combat 1 shots. Shadow sneak if they are sashed.
Gliscor: Swords Dance -> Stone Edge two shots. If they taunt, Swap to Rotom to resist both of his stab moves.
Yanmega: Stone Edge, + Shadow sneak is needed.
Machamp: Swords Dance as they try to confuse, Close Combat then one shots.
Frosslass: Stone Edge + Shadow Sneak.
Ev's, item and Nature:
The 248 HP Ev's are used to give him the ability to get 2-3HKO'd by many physical threats, and 3HKO'd by most special threats. Of course, with a few Close combat uses he can't escape getting 1-shotted, but by then he's done his job. Lum berry is for sleeper/paralysis leads, (And the ever common Machamp) and Adamant nature is for the extra kick.
Moveset:
Swords Dance: Most of the time, he can get one off. Should he get a swords dance in, (He mostly does it on slow leads like Swampert) and he'll be able to one shot nearly everything that tries to switch in or set up.
Shadow Sneak:The priority is so helpful against leads like ninjask and finishing the two common SR leads, Azelf and Aerodactyl. It also one-shots Gengar with a Swords Dance.
Stone Edge:This move hits harder than both a super effective Shadow sneak (Allowing me to 2-shot Azelf and Aerodactyl) and a Resisted Close Combat. It also is used against Gyarados thinking they can get in a free Dragon Dance.
Close Combat: A vanilla hard-hitting stab move. It 1-2 shots anything with a Swords dance.
The Stallers:
Thundah Bird (Zapdos) @ Leftovers
Trait: Pressure
EVs: 248 HP / 76 Spe / 184 SDef
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Substitute
- Toxic
- Roost
- Thunderbolt
Why Zapdos?
It's generally common knowledge that Zapdos has two key advantages over its subroosting brethren, Articuno and Moltres. One is a higher speed, and another is superior typing having only a 2x stealth rock weakness. He also makes a great partner to Breloom, despite the mutual ice weakness.
Ev's, item and Nature:
This is a more specially defensive EV spread than that on its smogon page. 248 HP EV's give great bulk and allow him sponge quite a few physical attacks. 76 speed EV's and a timid nature give him 280 speed to outspeed neutral base 90's. 184 SDef makes it a pseudoBliss that has a more powerful attack. Leftovers is vanilla.
Moveset:
Substitute & Roost: It can't be a Subrooster without these two moves. I usually substitute first if I sense a status move, or if I think the opponent will switch. Roost is my obligatory recovery move, and helps especially if I have a slower opponent using a rock or ice move.
Toxic: I chose this over HP ice so Zappy could be more of a team player, and it fits with the whole staller theme and supports 'loom.
Thunderbolt: A 142 power stab move that destroys Gyarados. What's not to want?
Shrooms (Breloom) (F) @ Toxic Orb *** Testing Bulky Roserade ***
Trait: Poison Heal
EVs: 236 HP / 248 Def / 24 Spd
Impish Nature (+Def, -SAtk)
- Substitute
- Leech Seed
- Focus Punch
- Spore
Why Breloom?
This Subseedsporepunch (Bleh. Mouthful.) Breloom has been quite popular, and it's very easy to see why. It's so easy to set up and causes many a ragequit. Plus, she and Zapdos are great together.
Ev's, item and Nature:
The EV's and are of the standard subseeder, and the toxic orb is also vanilla... in fact, there is nothing special about this Shroom. But he has proven himself ragequit after ragequit, so I barely even consider changing anything about him.
Moveset:
Spore: A last resort sleep inducer.
Leech Seed: Provides an easy way to wear down opponents while increasing HP regain.
Substitute: Allows for Focus Punch to be reliably used and to protect from annoying moves like trick.
Focus Punch:A 225 base power move, + hitting reliably, + no drawbacks under a sub? Yes please.
Trait: Poison Heal
EVs: 236 HP / 248 Def / 24 Spd
Impish Nature (+Def, -SAtk)
- Substitute
- Leech Seed
- Focus Punch
- Spore
Why Breloom?
This Subseedsporepunch (Bleh. Mouthful.) Breloom has been quite popular, and it's very easy to see why. It's so easy to set up and causes many a ragequit. Plus, she and Zapdos are great together.
Ev's, item and Nature:
The EV's and are of the standard subseeder, and the toxic orb is also vanilla... in fact, there is nothing special about this Shroom. But he has proven himself ragequit after ragequit, so I barely even consider changing anything about him.
Moveset:
Spore: A last resort sleep inducer.
Leech Seed: Provides an easy way to wear down opponents while increasing HP regain.
Substitute: Allows for Focus Punch to be reliably used and to protect from annoying moves like trick.
Focus Punch:A 225 base power move, + hitting reliably, + no drawbacks under a sub? Yes please.
The Cripplers:
Se lave (Rotom-W) @ Choice Scarf
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 200 HP / 252 Spe / 56 SAtk
Timid Nature (+Spe, -Atk)
- Thunderbolt
- Hydro Pump
- Shadow Ball
- Trick
Why Rotom-W?
Rotom's typing gives him fantastic stab coverage. He works excellent as a revenger, and when faced with annoying pokemon like subseeders, he cripples excellently. In the choice of other Rotom forms, I chose Rotom-W because Hydro Pump has better accuracy than Blizzard, more power than Air Slash, and more reliability than both Overheat and Leaf Storm.
Ev's, item and Nature:
200 HP EV's so he can take a hit or two. Maximum speed is obvious, and the rest is dumped into special attack.
Moveset:
Trick: To destroy stat-boosters, subseeders and walls.
Thunderbolt: For use against any Skarmory or Gyarados that is stupid enough to stay in.
Shadow Ball: My basic stab move. I use this when I predict that a ground type will switch in.
Hydro Pump: To kill Heatran and Infernape.
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 200 HP / 252 Spe / 56 SAtk
Timid Nature (+Spe, -Atk)
- Thunderbolt
- Hydro Pump
- Shadow Ball
- Trick
Why Rotom-W?
Rotom's typing gives him fantastic stab coverage. He works excellent as a revenger, and when faced with annoying pokemon like subseeders, he cripples excellently. In the choice of other Rotom forms, I chose Rotom-W because Hydro Pump has better accuracy than Blizzard, more power than Air Slash, and more reliability than both Overheat and Leaf Storm.
Ev's, item and Nature:
200 HP EV's so he can take a hit or two. Maximum speed is obvious, and the rest is dumped into special attack.
Moveset:
Trick: To destroy stat-boosters, subseeders and walls.
Thunderbolt: For use against any Skarmory or Gyarados that is stupid enough to stay in.
Shadow Ball: My basic stab move. I use this when I predict that a ground type will switch in.
Hydro Pump: To kill Heatran and Infernape.
Fire Bug (Heatran) (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Flash Fire
EVs: 244 HP / 220 Spd / 32 SAtk / 12 SDef
Calm Nature (+SDef, -Atk)
- Torment
- Substitute
- Protect
- Lava Plume
Why Heatran?
Tormentran, for some reason, is hardly ever suspected. I'm not complaining, as this allows him to set up fairly easily. My favorite thing to watch is that I torment a pokemon I recently scarfed.
Ev's, item and Nature:
The EV's are that of the standard Tormentran. Calm nature really helps him sponge Surfs if my opponent outpredicts my Sub/Protecting, and Leftovers never hurts.
Moveset:
Torment: The crux of the set. I always use it on the switch in.
Substitute: Helps if I misuse protect, and keeps with the theme.
Protect: One of my favorite moves to spam as my opponent rages.
Lava Plume: The chance to burn helps heatran outstall blissey and other walls.
Trait: Flash Fire
EVs: 244 HP / 220 Spd / 32 SAtk / 12 SDef
Calm Nature (+SDef, -Atk)
- Torment
- Substitute
- Protect
- Lava Plume
Why Heatran?
Tormentran, for some reason, is hardly ever suspected. I'm not complaining, as this allows him to set up fairly easily. My favorite thing to watch is that I torment a pokemon I recently scarfed.
Ev's, item and Nature:
The EV's are that of the standard Tormentran. Calm nature really helps him sponge Surfs if my opponent outpredicts my Sub/Protecting, and Leftovers never hurts.
Moveset:
Torment: The crux of the set. I always use it on the switch in.
Substitute: Helps if I misuse protect, and keeps with the theme.
Protect: One of my favorite moves to spam as my opponent rages.
Lava Plume: The chance to burn helps heatran outstall blissey and other walls.
4. The Finisher
Omega (Suicune) @ Leftovers
Trait: Pressure
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 Spe
Bold Nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Calm Mind
- Surf
- Rest
- Sleep Talk
Why Suicune?
After running into the pure power of Crocune in the past, raging as I could not defeat it even with Vaporeon lead me to choose it as my lategame finisher. It's not without flaws, but it has lead me to success in the past.
Ev's, item and Nature:
Maximizing physical bulk beforehand was perhaps the best idea, utilizing a Bold nature. Leftovers recovery is a godsend.
Moveset:
Calm Mind: Maximizes special bulk and increasing Surf's power.
Rest: Keeps Suicune healthy and status free.
Sleep Talk: Allows it not to be a sitting duck as it sleeps.
Surf: The most reliable move in Suicune's arsenal.
*DISCLAIMER: Post will be subject to change as I experiment. All changes will be noted in red.
And that about sums it up. Any constructive criticism is greatly appreciated.
Trait: Pressure
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 Spe
Bold Nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Calm Mind
- Surf
- Rest
- Sleep Talk
Why Suicune?
After running into the pure power of Crocune in the past, raging as I could not defeat it even with Vaporeon lead me to choose it as my lategame finisher. It's not without flaws, but it has lead me to success in the past.
Ev's, item and Nature:
Maximizing physical bulk beforehand was perhaps the best idea, utilizing a Bold nature. Leftovers recovery is a godsend.
Moveset:
Calm Mind: Maximizes special bulk and increasing Surf's power.
Rest: Keeps Suicune healthy and status free.
Sleep Talk: Allows it not to be a sitting duck as it sleeps.
Surf: The most reliable move in Suicune's arsenal.
Miscellaneous:
Entry hazard information:
Stealth Rock: 1 weak, 1 resist, 4 neutral.
Spikes: 2 immune, 4 susceptible.
Toxic Spikes: 4 immune, 2 susceptible.
Things I've been considering:
Things that I will not consider:
Stealth Rock: 1 weak, 1 resist, 4 neutral.
Spikes: 2 immune, 4 susceptible.
Toxic Spikes: 4 immune, 2 susceptible.
Things I've been considering:
- Adding Seed Bomb to Breloom. I'm not sure what to replace though.
- Using a Forretress to set up Toxic Spikes and Rapid Spin, but I'm not sure what pokemon to replace.
- Replacing Suicune, for it takes too long to power-up, and is weak to Toxic spikes.
Things that I will not consider:
- A lead to set up entry hazards, because an anti lead is better for my playstyle.
- Blissey, because specially based pokemon are not much of a threat for this team, and she is too frail against any physical pokemon without something like Reflect.
*DISCLAIMER: Post will be subject to change as I experiment. All changes will be noted in red.
And that about sums it up. Any constructive criticism is greatly appreciated.
