Hello Smogon!
This is a team I originally made and slightly tweaked from July of last year. I decided to recently start competitive battling again (been playing since 3rd gen), and this is the team I've been using with a large amount of success so far.
I've identified problems I want to work on, and I hope that in this rate you guys can give me some insight on how to fix some of these problems!
This is a team I originally made and slightly tweaked from July of last year. I decided to recently start competitive battling again (been playing since 3rd gen), and this is the team I've been using with a large amount of success so far.
I've identified problems I want to work on, and I hope that in this rate you guys can give me some insight on how to fix some of these problems!
Without Further Ado
________________________
Big Picture
____________________________
Through The Microscope
Jirachi @ Leftovers
Trait: Serene Grace
EVs: 252 HP / 220 SDef / 36 Spd
Careful Nature
- Iron Head
- Body Slam
- Stealth Rock
- Wish
Description: Jirachi is my lead in a large majority of the teams I use. This Jirachi lead's purpose is to set up rocks, which it can do now that taunt leads have become less popular, and to spread paralysis to one or two enemy pokemon. Wish is a move that lets me bring in Latios a couple more times per match. Notable characteristics of this set is that it outspeeds and 2HKO's Jolly TTar, while surviving EQ (as long as it's not carrying CB), as well as only taking 31% from rain boosted Politoed scalds. However, a large problem of this set is its coverage, and the ease of getting set up on. I often end up throwing away Jirachi early in the match. But at the same time, I tend to switch it into special water threats. All in all, while Jirachi is a strong lead, I'm looking to replace it. While it protects me from some bulky waters, it accents my earthquake weakness and can put me in an awful spot if parahax doesn't pan out, or if a setup sweeper that doesn't care about iron head is switched in. Once again, the purpose of this lead is to set up rocks and to function as a sort of wall against water attacks.
*This is one of the pokemon I'm looking for suggestions on.*
Latios (M) @ Choice Scarf
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Draco Meteor
- Thunderbolt
- Ice Beam
- Psyshock
Description: A tried and true revenge killer. Many people seem to disagree with me about the scarf, telling me to go specs instead. However, I didn't choose the scarf arbitrarily. This pokemon functions as my main counter to Modest Venusaur under the sun, outspeeding and dealing 95-112%. Guaranteed KO after rocks. Outspeeds and OHKO's a large amount of threats such as +1 Mence, Dragonite, Haxorus, Landorus and Volcarona (after rocks of course). Basically doing what Latios does. I get a ground immunity out of this poke, as well as a way to kill Landorus and Gliscor(although the latter is still really hard to deal with.)
Mew @ Leftovers
Trait: Synchronize
EVs: 252 HP / 220 Def / 36 Spd
Bold Nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Will-O-Wisp
- Psychic
- Taunt
- Softboiled
Description: This is not only my answer to stall teams, but also to almost every single physical threat in the entire game, sans Dark types. It is my answer to Mamoswine, completely shutting it down, only taking 42-50% from LO EQuake and burning in return. It also checks Conkeldurr surviving +1 Payback and OHKO + Mach Punch even after Stealth Rock and, in return, 2HKO's with Psychic. Will-O-Wisp will also be shutting down things like Gyara(Taunt for DD variants) and Salamence. Scizor switching into Mew to Pursuit/U-turn will likewise be met with a burn. This Mew set cripples physical attackers and also serves as a way for me to break semi-stall teams. Gliscor also has a hard time against this set, as I have specifically set up the EV's to outspeed standard Gliscor. While it does provide an answer to the threat, it still has trouble with it. If Mew isn't healthy, it can't outlast Gliscor at all. Mew may also lose the PP war if played incorrectly. At the end of the day though, Mew is extremely underrated, and is a great defensive pivot for offensive teams.
Lucario (F) @ Life Orb
Trait: Inner Focus
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Nasty Plot
- Aura Sphere
- Dark Pulse
- Vacuum Wave
Description: Here it is, the very reason I created this team. Special Lucario is a very interesting sweeper. The first advantage is has over SD Lucario is also the most obvious: Surprise factor. Imagine the look on their face when they burn you only to see "Lucario used Nasty Plot". Suddenly, things take a very different turn. The second advantage of NP Luke immunity to burn. SD Luke can get shut down very hard by Will-O-Wisp, Volcarona, or something silly like Flame Body Heatran. The point is, there are many burns going around, and NP Luke is completely immune to the crippling effects of -2 attack. Finally, not as an advantage over SD Luke, but in general, Lucario is completely immune to Toxic. This is completely obvious, but generally people try to wall sweepers with Toxic or (P)Hazing. Lucario is completely immune to the first, making him a wonderful choice. On to the gameplay of Lucario. He is the epitome of Ferrothorn counter. There is absolutely nothing Ferrothorn can do to Lucario, except Leech Seed him or something. Aura Sphere is a guaranteed OHKO after 1 Nasty Plot. Dark Pulse is for coverage, it can OHKO many things, such as Reunclus, Espeon(after surviving HP Fighting), and all but the tankiest Jellicent. Vacuum Wave is to give me priority in a pinch, but due to its weak base power, it has a hard time killing anything unless I have 3 Nasty Plots setup. One of the problems that Lucario is facing right now in my team is, once again, the accentuation of my earthquake weakness. Luke has a hard time switching in a lot of the time when there's a lot of water and ground type moves being thrown out. Either this or Garchomp needs to be replaced by something. Also, please don't tell me to switch to SD Luke. The surprise factor as well as the ability to break common Lucario walls is my favorite feature of the set.
*This is one of the pokemon I'm looking for suggestions on.*
Garchomp (F) @ Life Orb
Trait: Rough Skin
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature
- Outrage
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- Swords Dance
Description: This is the other sweeper I use. Garchomp is a very powerful and fast sweeper, with its unique base 102 movespeed giving it a good advantage over a lot of other dragons, namely Dragonite and Salamence. The moves are for obvious coverage. This pokemon gives me a solid check to slower dragons. While not being able to do much against anything that has a speed boost, she can do a large chunk of damage, even with unboosted outrage or earthquake to things like Politoed (75% chance to OHKO after rocks) and Rotom-W (80-94%). In general, Garchomp takes a large chunk of health out of a lot of slower defensive threats. Ice isn't that scary, seeing as how I have Jirachi, Lucario and Mew to switch to in case of most ice moves. One problem it does have however is its squishiness. Earthquake again leaves me <70% most of the time if I switch into it, meaning I can only get off 1 SD before I'm nearly dead or just revenge kill bait. She also has a really hard time getting a turn in against rain teams, and the fact that she gets crippled by all status doesn't help the issue.
*This is one of the pokemon I'm looking for suggestions on.*
Terrakion @ Choice Scarf
Trait: Justified
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature
- Close Combat
- X-Scissor
- Stone Edge
- Earthquake
Description: This is my other revenge killer. It lets me check things like ScarfTran and Jirachi. A solid answer to steel types, it can also soften up flyers like Dragonite and Salamence if I'm worried about switching to Latios. One thing that I really don't like about this team is that it feels like 5 + Terrakion in the sense that while Terrakion performs well and gives the team extra coverage, power and speed, it doesn't seem to fit quite right. The synergy isn't quite there either, and it shows in my extra weakness to earthquake and water type moves. However, through these shortcomings, Terrakion still delivers what its meant to: Fast, strong punches. Often Terrakion is just there to dent walls in order to make things more manageable for the rest of my team. He's also a solid answer to a lot of faster fire types that are typical on sun teams.
*This is one of the pokemon I'm looking for suggestions on.*
Final Thoughts:
There it is, my team as best as I can explain it. While it has answers to a lot of things, it's having trouble against stall teams, in particular dealing with Gliscor is very difficult. Sun Venusaur can also be difficult if it's timid. I'm looking to lessen my earthquake and water susceptibility, and I'm looking to find perhaps a bulkier pokemon to replace either Lucario or Garchomp (not both though!), as well as a pokemon that functions similarly to Jirachi, but retains relevance. Finally, I want to replace Terrakion with another choice user that can effectively cover my bases (I love having dual choice on most of my teams). However, if you can come up with a set that is bulkier and retains the idea of the team, I'm super open to suggestions that help the team!
Thanks for reading, and thanks for rating!
________________________
Big Picture
____________________________
Through The Microscope
Jirachi @ Leftovers
Trait: Serene Grace
EVs: 252 HP / 220 SDef / 36 Spd
Careful Nature
- Iron Head
- Body Slam
- Stealth Rock
- Wish
Description: Jirachi is my lead in a large majority of the teams I use. This Jirachi lead's purpose is to set up rocks, which it can do now that taunt leads have become less popular, and to spread paralysis to one or two enemy pokemon. Wish is a move that lets me bring in Latios a couple more times per match. Notable characteristics of this set is that it outspeeds and 2HKO's Jolly TTar, while surviving EQ (as long as it's not carrying CB), as well as only taking 31% from rain boosted Politoed scalds. However, a large problem of this set is its coverage, and the ease of getting set up on. I often end up throwing away Jirachi early in the match. But at the same time, I tend to switch it into special water threats. All in all, while Jirachi is a strong lead, I'm looking to replace it. While it protects me from some bulky waters, it accents my earthquake weakness and can put me in an awful spot if parahax doesn't pan out, or if a setup sweeper that doesn't care about iron head is switched in. Once again, the purpose of this lead is to set up rocks and to function as a sort of wall against water attacks.
*This is one of the pokemon I'm looking for suggestions on.*
Latios (M) @ Choice Scarf
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Draco Meteor
- Thunderbolt
- Ice Beam
- Psyshock
Description: A tried and true revenge killer. Many people seem to disagree with me about the scarf, telling me to go specs instead. However, I didn't choose the scarf arbitrarily. This pokemon functions as my main counter to Modest Venusaur under the sun, outspeeding and dealing 95-112%. Guaranteed KO after rocks. Outspeeds and OHKO's a large amount of threats such as +1 Mence, Dragonite, Haxorus, Landorus and Volcarona (after rocks of course). Basically doing what Latios does. I get a ground immunity out of this poke, as well as a way to kill Landorus and Gliscor(although the latter is still really hard to deal with.)
Mew @ Leftovers
Trait: Synchronize
EVs: 252 HP / 220 Def / 36 Spd
Bold Nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Will-O-Wisp
- Psychic
- Taunt
- Softboiled
Description: This is not only my answer to stall teams, but also to almost every single physical threat in the entire game, sans Dark types. It is my answer to Mamoswine, completely shutting it down, only taking 42-50% from LO EQuake and burning in return. It also checks Conkeldurr surviving +1 Payback and OHKO + Mach Punch even after Stealth Rock and, in return, 2HKO's with Psychic. Will-O-Wisp will also be shutting down things like Gyara(Taunt for DD variants) and Salamence. Scizor switching into Mew to Pursuit/U-turn will likewise be met with a burn. This Mew set cripples physical attackers and also serves as a way for me to break semi-stall teams. Gliscor also has a hard time against this set, as I have specifically set up the EV's to outspeed standard Gliscor. While it does provide an answer to the threat, it still has trouble with it. If Mew isn't healthy, it can't outlast Gliscor at all. Mew may also lose the PP war if played incorrectly. At the end of the day though, Mew is extremely underrated, and is a great defensive pivot for offensive teams.
Lucario (F) @ Life Orb
Trait: Inner Focus
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Nasty Plot
- Aura Sphere
- Dark Pulse
- Vacuum Wave
Description: Here it is, the very reason I created this team. Special Lucario is a very interesting sweeper. The first advantage is has over SD Lucario is also the most obvious: Surprise factor. Imagine the look on their face when they burn you only to see "Lucario used Nasty Plot". Suddenly, things take a very different turn. The second advantage of NP Luke immunity to burn. SD Luke can get shut down very hard by Will-O-Wisp, Volcarona, or something silly like Flame Body Heatran. The point is, there are many burns going around, and NP Luke is completely immune to the crippling effects of -2 attack. Finally, not as an advantage over SD Luke, but in general, Lucario is completely immune to Toxic. This is completely obvious, but generally people try to wall sweepers with Toxic or (P)Hazing. Lucario is completely immune to the first, making him a wonderful choice. On to the gameplay of Lucario. He is the epitome of Ferrothorn counter. There is absolutely nothing Ferrothorn can do to Lucario, except Leech Seed him or something. Aura Sphere is a guaranteed OHKO after 1 Nasty Plot. Dark Pulse is for coverage, it can OHKO many things, such as Reunclus, Espeon(after surviving HP Fighting), and all but the tankiest Jellicent. Vacuum Wave is to give me priority in a pinch, but due to its weak base power, it has a hard time killing anything unless I have 3 Nasty Plots setup. One of the problems that Lucario is facing right now in my team is, once again, the accentuation of my earthquake weakness. Luke has a hard time switching in a lot of the time when there's a lot of water and ground type moves being thrown out. Either this or Garchomp needs to be replaced by something. Also, please don't tell me to switch to SD Luke. The surprise factor as well as the ability to break common Lucario walls is my favorite feature of the set.
*This is one of the pokemon I'm looking for suggestions on.*
Garchomp (F) @ Life Orb
Trait: Rough Skin
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature
- Outrage
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- Swords Dance
Description: This is the other sweeper I use. Garchomp is a very powerful and fast sweeper, with its unique base 102 movespeed giving it a good advantage over a lot of other dragons, namely Dragonite and Salamence. The moves are for obvious coverage. This pokemon gives me a solid check to slower dragons. While not being able to do much against anything that has a speed boost, she can do a large chunk of damage, even with unboosted outrage or earthquake to things like Politoed (75% chance to OHKO after rocks) and Rotom-W (80-94%). In general, Garchomp takes a large chunk of health out of a lot of slower defensive threats. Ice isn't that scary, seeing as how I have Jirachi, Lucario and Mew to switch to in case of most ice moves. One problem it does have however is its squishiness. Earthquake again leaves me <70% most of the time if I switch into it, meaning I can only get off 1 SD before I'm nearly dead or just revenge kill bait. She also has a really hard time getting a turn in against rain teams, and the fact that she gets crippled by all status doesn't help the issue.
*This is one of the pokemon I'm looking for suggestions on.*
Terrakion @ Choice Scarf
Trait: Justified
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature
- Close Combat
- X-Scissor
- Stone Edge
- Earthquake
Description: This is my other revenge killer. It lets me check things like ScarfTran and Jirachi. A solid answer to steel types, it can also soften up flyers like Dragonite and Salamence if I'm worried about switching to Latios. One thing that I really don't like about this team is that it feels like 5 + Terrakion in the sense that while Terrakion performs well and gives the team extra coverage, power and speed, it doesn't seem to fit quite right. The synergy isn't quite there either, and it shows in my extra weakness to earthquake and water type moves. However, through these shortcomings, Terrakion still delivers what its meant to: Fast, strong punches. Often Terrakion is just there to dent walls in order to make things more manageable for the rest of my team. He's also a solid answer to a lot of faster fire types that are typical on sun teams.
*This is one of the pokemon I'm looking for suggestions on.*
Final Thoughts:
There it is, my team as best as I can explain it. While it has answers to a lot of things, it's having trouble against stall teams, in particular dealing with Gliscor is very difficult. Sun Venusaur can also be difficult if it's timid. I'm looking to lessen my earthquake and water susceptibility, and I'm looking to find perhaps a bulkier pokemon to replace either Lucario or Garchomp (not both though!), as well as a pokemon that functions similarly to Jirachi, but retains relevance. Finally, I want to replace Terrakion with another choice user that can effectively cover my bases (I love having dual choice on most of my teams). However, if you can come up with a set that is bulkier and retains the idea of the team, I'm super open to suggestions that help the team!
Thanks for reading, and thanks for rating!
