Hello all! This would be my second RMT in Gen VI. My last team was attempting something similar, relying on bulk to take hits and then KO in return (sometimes with Trick Room support). I realized the more I played with variations on that team that not going first is just crippling in too many situations. And so, I approached building this team from the angle of forcing switches to allow time for setup to mitigate any speed problems the team members might have. And without further ado, here's the contenders:
RIGHTBACKATCHA (Porygon2) @ Eviolite
Ability: Trace
EVs: 252 HP / 32 Def / 224 SDef
Calm Nature
- Ice Beam
- Recover
- Tri Attack
- Thunderbolt
Truly an unbelievable wall and one of the initial building blocks of this team. EVs are to guarantee 2HKO from Lati@s Psyshock. BoltBeam coverage is self explanatory, but I use Tri Attack instead of TWave or Toxic because the STAB and chance for any of three status effects has proven to be more useful than either of those statuses would be for my team (IMHO). I'm open to suggestions if somebody can prove to me that the status is more worthwhile.
The Blob (Rotom-Wash) @ Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 248 HP / 216 SDef / 44 Spd
Calm Nature
- Volt Switch
- Hydro Pump
- Will-O-Wisp
- Pain Split
I know the Physically Defensive build is more common, but my team is very frail on the special defense side of things if not for Porygon2 and Rotom-W. Was using AV Goodra here originally but it wasn't working even a little bit. Rotom-W has been fitting the niche this team needs better, but I still feel like I could get a better defensive poke in this slot, just can't figure out what it is.
Stay Puft (Chandelure) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 80 HP / 252 SAtk / 176 Spd
Timid Nature
- Energy Ball
- Fire Blast
- Shadow Ball
- Memento
Somewhat standard Chandelure build. EVs are designed to outspeed base 130 pokemon, since scarf Chandelure isn't going to beat anything with boosts or other scarf users anyways.Was running him with 154 Speed and a Modest nature to beat base 110 pokemon but decided that beating Greninja was worth the extra investment. Moves are pretty self explanatory, Memento is a good suicide when there's one troublesome pokemon left or I don't need him anymore to give another sweeper a chance to setup.
Audrey II (Mawile) @ Mawilite
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 132 HP / 252 Atk / 124 Spd
Adamant Nature
- Play Rough
- Focus Punch
- Substitute
- Sucker Punch
A variation on standard Mawile sets. SubPunch shuts down a lot of things that Mawile normally can't get through (most specifically Heatran) while still taking out threats I'd normally use Fire Fang for. Substitute blocks status incredibly well, and normally Pain Split has great synergy with it but I found myself missing priority and opted for Sucker Punch instead.
Mothra (Skarmory) @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Keen Eye
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Def
Relaxed Nature
- Brave Bird
- Whirlwind
- Defog
- Roost
Physical wall and de-trapper. Used to have Stealth Rock but I swapped it out for Defog due to my teams crippling Stealth Rock weakness. Using Brave Bird over SR due to the lack of any other way for my team to deal with fighting types. Defog on Skarmory has been working for my team much better than Rapid Spin on Cloyster because A) one of my main sweepers doesn't need to take a bunch of damage B) it's unblockable and C) Cloyster can now pick of weakened foes with Ice Shard.
Shy Guy (Cloyster) @ King's Rock
Ability: Skill Link
EVs: 168 HP / 252 Atk / 88 Spd
Adamant Nature
- Icicle Spear
- Rock Blast
- Ice Shard
- Shell Smash
Ultimate physical sweeper. With these EVs, one Shell Smash outspeeds every unboosted pokemon in the tier. No need for him to beat boosted pokemon because I'm only setting up when I know Cloyster can force a switch, and being able to switch in on physical attackers, and still take hits pretty well after Shell Smash. Once any pokemon that resist Ice and Rock on the other team have been eliminated, he has no issue cleaning up.
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In general this team has been working for me pretty well, but I feel like I've been back into corners in odds moments without any way around it. My ELO has been hovering between 1300 and 1400, but I don't know how much of this I can base on having a less than ideal team and how much is due to my playing. I'd identify specific threats if anything came up over and over again, but it's been different every time. VoltTurn team, Blissey/Heatran pivoting, and sometimes just normal teams I swear I could beat if Play Rough hit when I needed it to.
Things my team could definitely benefit from if they fit into the mix:
- Specially Bulky (replacing Rotom-W)
- Mixed Sweeper (replacing.... somebody)
- Another VoltTurn pokemon (probably to round out typing if another switch messes it up a bit)
Any recommendations?
RIGHTBACKATCHA (Porygon2) @ Eviolite
Ability: Trace
EVs: 252 HP / 32 Def / 224 SDef
Calm Nature
- Ice Beam
- Recover
- Tri Attack
- Thunderbolt
Truly an unbelievable wall and one of the initial building blocks of this team. EVs are to guarantee 2HKO from Lati@s Psyshock. BoltBeam coverage is self explanatory, but I use Tri Attack instead of TWave or Toxic because the STAB and chance for any of three status effects has proven to be more useful than either of those statuses would be for my team (IMHO). I'm open to suggestions if somebody can prove to me that the status is more worthwhile.
The Blob (Rotom-Wash) @ Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 248 HP / 216 SDef / 44 Spd
Calm Nature
- Volt Switch
- Hydro Pump
- Will-O-Wisp
- Pain Split
I know the Physically Defensive build is more common, but my team is very frail on the special defense side of things if not for Porygon2 and Rotom-W. Was using AV Goodra here originally but it wasn't working even a little bit. Rotom-W has been fitting the niche this team needs better, but I still feel like I could get a better defensive poke in this slot, just can't figure out what it is.
Stay Puft (Chandelure) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 80 HP / 252 SAtk / 176 Spd
Timid Nature
- Energy Ball
- Fire Blast
- Shadow Ball
- Memento
Somewhat standard Chandelure build. EVs are designed to outspeed base 130 pokemon, since scarf Chandelure isn't going to beat anything with boosts or other scarf users anyways.Was running him with 154 Speed and a Modest nature to beat base 110 pokemon but decided that beating Greninja was worth the extra investment. Moves are pretty self explanatory, Memento is a good suicide when there's one troublesome pokemon left or I don't need him anymore to give another sweeper a chance to setup.
Audrey II (Mawile) @ Mawilite
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 132 HP / 252 Atk / 124 Spd
Adamant Nature
- Play Rough
- Focus Punch
- Substitute
- Sucker Punch
A variation on standard Mawile sets. SubPunch shuts down a lot of things that Mawile normally can't get through (most specifically Heatran) while still taking out threats I'd normally use Fire Fang for. Substitute blocks status incredibly well, and normally Pain Split has great synergy with it but I found myself missing priority and opted for Sucker Punch instead.
Mothra (Skarmory) @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Keen Eye
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Def
Relaxed Nature
- Brave Bird
- Whirlwind
- Defog
- Roost
Physical wall and de-trapper. Used to have Stealth Rock but I swapped it out for Defog due to my teams crippling Stealth Rock weakness. Using Brave Bird over SR due to the lack of any other way for my team to deal with fighting types. Defog on Skarmory has been working for my team much better than Rapid Spin on Cloyster because A) one of my main sweepers doesn't need to take a bunch of damage B) it's unblockable and C) Cloyster can now pick of weakened foes with Ice Shard.
Shy Guy (Cloyster) @ King's Rock
Ability: Skill Link
EVs: 168 HP / 252 Atk / 88 Spd
Adamant Nature
- Icicle Spear
- Rock Blast
- Ice Shard
- Shell Smash
Ultimate physical sweeper. With these EVs, one Shell Smash outspeeds every unboosted pokemon in the tier. No need for him to beat boosted pokemon because I'm only setting up when I know Cloyster can force a switch, and being able to switch in on physical attackers, and still take hits pretty well after Shell Smash. Once any pokemon that resist Ice and Rock on the other team have been eliminated, he has no issue cleaning up.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In general this team has been working for me pretty well, but I feel like I've been back into corners in odds moments without any way around it. My ELO has been hovering between 1300 and 1400, but I don't know how much of this I can base on having a less than ideal team and how much is due to my playing. I'd identify specific threats if anything came up over and over again, but it's been different every time. VoltTurn team, Blissey/Heatran pivoting, and sometimes just normal teams I swear I could beat if Play Rough hit when I needed it to.
Things my team could definitely benefit from if they fit into the mix:
- Specially Bulky (replacing Rotom-W)
- Mixed Sweeper (replacing.... somebody)
- Another VoltTurn pokemon (probably to round out typing if another switch messes it up a bit)
Any recommendations?
