Team Depression, a Platinum RMT

[Kankuro]

Old McDonald had a farm

Background Info



Well, I took a break from Pokemon for a week, and even before that I was in a slump. I never really was good at constructing teams. I went to my friend rmega for help and he helped me with the basics of the team. I tried it out and it faired somewhat alright, but I still didn't have that feeling of succession that I did when I was in the top 100 on the ladder =\. So here I am, asking you for help. I'm in sort of a slump/depression.

Team Depression at a Glance

Jirachi @ Leftovers
Ability: Serene Grace
EVs: 240 HP/56 Atk/76 Def/136 Spd
Impish nature (+Def, -SAtk)
- Stealth Rock
- Wish
- U-Turn
- Zen Headbutt

Role: Jirachi is my lead for this team. First turn I usally set Stealth Rock up. Jirachi also provides Wish support. U-Turn is there to get out and hand off the wish to the next pokemon. Zen Headbutt is mainly a filler in this set, as I don't really use this guy for attacking. I'm really open for suggestions on Jirachi. It's pretty bulky, so it can switch in on attacks and take hits.

Gyarados (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 72 HP/ 252 Atk/ 184 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
-Waterfall
-Earthquake
-Dragon Dance
-Ice Fang

Role: This is basically a standard Life Orb Gyara. Once it gets a chance to set up, it can really be dangerous. A common issue I usually have with him is that he dies pretty quickly...especially if Stealth Rock is out. He somewhat provides a counter to Scizor and Heatran, being able to take hits from both of them, and deal damage back at them. He can switch in on Earthquakes so that's a plus. Once again, I'm open for suggestions.

Gengar (M) @ Black Sludge
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 6 HP/ 252 SAtk/ 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
-Substitute
-Shadow Ball
-Thunderbolt
-Focus Blast

Role: A really nice special sweeper, Gengar. I sub up on switch outs then get a free hit in. He really helps me out a lot, and cleans up pretty nicely. I'm not really looking to change much about him, but am open for input. He really ties up loose ends of my team pretty well.

Heatran (F) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 6 HP/ 252 SAtk/ 252 Speed
Naive Nature (+Spd, -SDef)
-Fire Blast
-Hidden Power (ICE)
-Earth Power
-Explosion

Role: Heatran fits pretty well into this team, at least that's what I think. He's really a team player with Flash Fire, being able to switch in on fire attacks meant for Jirachi, or anyone else for that matter. Naive allows him to outspeed Shaymin-S. He's also a pretty reliable counter for Scizor, who is pretty common on most teams in the current metagame.

Mamoswine (F) @ Life Orb
Ability: Snow Cloak
EVs: 20 HP/ 252 Atk/ 232 Spd
Jolly Nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
-Earthquake
-Ice Fang
-Ice Shard
-Stone Edge

Role: Oh god, I love this thing to death <3. It's EV spread allows it to outspeed Max Adamant Lucario, and wreck it with STAB Earthquake. Ice Shard is there to kill faster dragons, and annoying Skymins. It also outspeeds Neutral Kingdras and Zapdos. He can switch in on Blissey's Thunder Wave. I've used him on so many teams, he really is a key team player.

Salamence (F) @ Yache Berry
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 100 HP/ 252 Atk/ 20 Def/ 136 Speed
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
-Outrage
-Dragon Dance
-Earthquake
-Roost

Role: Late Game, this thing is really dangerous. It's pretty Bulky and extremley powerful. Outrage after 1 Dragon Dance 1HKO-2HKO's most things. Roost is there for a reliable healing source. Not much else really to tell about him.



Conclusion:

I really want to get back into my groove of winning matches. I really don't see any glaring weaknesses in it, so I'm leaving it up to you guys to help me tie up the loose ends of this team. I'm open to all suggestions so please speak your mind.
​

 

[twash]

Hey, your team seems to have a couple of problems..quite popular ones too :\

The first, and biggest is Gyarados. If it Dragon Dances as your Gyarados comes in, you will take 105.44% - 124.36% from a Stone Edge (+0, Life Orb). In the exact same circumstances, it deals 102.25% - 120.79% to Salamence. If Gyarados gets a DD (which it can on Jirachi, Heatran and your Gyarados), Mamoswine, Gengar and Heatran stand no chance; leaving Jirachi which does nothing back, and is easily 2HKOd. It's not like Wish would help the situation. The only thing you can do is Explode with Heatran, which loses some insurance against Shaymin-S, Celebi, Scizor etc; all very common in today's metagame.

The "simple" thing to do would be to Scarf Gengar, which would mean you can outspeed even after Gyarados has one Dragon Dance. However, it still leaves you in a problem, if you go to Gengar and get Waterfall'd you are in deep trouble, if you go to something else you risk Gyarados getting another possible Dragon Dance, thus outspeeding. More on this later.

Infernape seems to be able to beat Jirachi, Gyarados, Mamoswine and *possibly* Salamence, depending. You run the risk of whether it is Nasty Plot or not, if it is, Salamence is your best bet (it is probably lacking Hidden Power Ice), if it isn't Gyarados is your optimum choice, albeit it gets 2HKOd 83% of the time by Life Orb Grass Knot if Stealth Rock is in play. Gengar can't really safely switch-in but can dent it enough for Life Orb to eventually wear it out, and Heatran will be OHKOd by Close Combat. You don't ever really have a safe switch-in, yet you can play around it but you will struggle. Heatran is really your best hope with Fire-immunity and Scarf Earth Power, albeit Earth Power then doesn't rack up well with that Gyarados weakness!

Many other hard-hitting sweepers seem to cause this team other moderate problems - Metagross, Tyranitar, Heracross etc.

After looking through the viable options I feel Vaporeon would be best. Wish / HP Electric / Surf / Protect or Ice Beam would help support the team a lot whilst helping against these threats (especially your biggest problems, Gyarados / Infernape). However I would probably put it over Salamence or even Jirachi (making Heatran / Gyarados your lead). Jirachi only seems to set up Stealth Rock and Salamence looks a bit out of place to me (especially with those EVs). If you want to put it over Salamence keep Jirachi, but otherwise change your BulkyMence's EVs to 252 HP / 180 Def / 76 Spe and Jolly, to help support the team as a whole and take hits here and there, at the moment yours seems a bit of a mix of offensive and defensive, which ultimately isn't great. You don't exactly "lose" your sweep either.

If you do use it over Jirachi, I would use Explosion on Gengar over Substitute (use Life Orb too..) to help with Zapdos who would cause you problems (use Hasty nature). Make sure you use a better item than Black Sludge anyway, it really doesn't merit Gengar's amazing Special Attack, as Life Orb would be much more useful in this situation. :]

Aah just realised how much I typed so I better stop talking and making changes.

Good luck!

 

[Kankuro]

Hey, your team seems to have a couple of problems..quite popular ones too :\

The first, and biggest is Gyarados. If it Dragon Dances as your Gyarados comes in, you will take 105.44% - 124.36% from a Stone Edge (+0, Life Orb). In the exact same circumstances, it deals 102.25% - 120.79% to Salamence. If Gyarados gets a DD (which it can on Jirachi, Heatran and your Gyarados), Mamoswine, Gengar and Heatran stand no chance; leaving Jirachi which does nothing back, and is easily 2HKOd. It's not like Wish would help the situation. The only thing you can do is Explode with Heatran, which loses some insurance against Shaymin-S, Celebi, Scizor etc; all very common in today's metagame.

The "simple" thing to do would be to Scarf Gengar, which would mean you can outspeed even after Gyarados has one Dragon Dance. However, it still leaves you in a problem, if you go to Gengar and get Waterfall'd you are in deep trouble, if you go to something else you risk Gyarados getting another possible Dragon Dance, thus outspeeding. More on this later.

Infernape seems to be able to beat Jirachi, Gyarados, Mamoswine and *possibly* Salamence, depending. You run the risk of whether it is Nasty Plot or not, if it is, Salamence is your best bet (it is probably lacking Hidden Power Ice), if it isn't Gyarados is your optimum choice, albeit it gets 2HKOd 83% of the time by Life Orb Grass Knot if Stealth Rock is in play. Gengar can't really safely switch-in but can dent it enough for Life Orb to eventually wear it out, and Heatran will be OHKOd by Close Combat. You don't ever really have a safe switch-in, yet you can play around it but you will struggle. Heatran is really your best hope with Fire-immunity and Scarf Earth Power, albeit Earth Power then doesn't rack up well with that Gyarados weakness!

Many other hard-hitting sweepers seem to cause this team other moderate problems - Metagross, Tyranitar, Heracross etc.

After looking through the viable options I feel Vaporeon would be best. Wish / HP Electric / Surf / Protect or Ice Beam would help support the team a lot whilst helping against these threats (especially your biggest problems, Gyarados / Infernape). However I would probably put it over Salamence or even Jirachi (making Heatran / Gyarados your lead). Jirachi only seems to set up Stealth Rock and Salamence looks a bit out of place to me (especially with those EVs). If you want to put it over Salamence keep Jirachi, but otherwise change your BulkyMence's EVs to 252 HP / 180 Def / 76 Spe and Jolly, to help support the team as a whole and take hits here and there, at the moment yours seems a bit of a mix of offensive and defensive, which ultimately isn't great. You don't exactly "lose" your sweep either.

If you do use it over Jirachi, I would use Explosion on Gengar over Substitute (use Life Orb too..) to help with Zapdos who would cause you problems (use Hasty nature). Make sure you use a better item than Black Sludge anyway, it really doesn't merit Gengar's amazing Special Attack, as Life Orb would be much more useful in this situation. :]

Aah just realised how much I typed so I better stop talking and making changes.

Good luck!

Wow, thanks so much! That really helped a lot.

I think I will use Vaporeon over Jirachi, and explosion on gengar, and change my Sala's EV's. It does make a lot of sense now.