Team Duality

[GrimHawke]

Hai everyone. This is my team called Team Duality. It’s named as such because the team intends to win through two means: A SD Luke sweep or stalling with Sub-Roost Zapdos, Crocune and sandstorm. So far it’s doing pretty well, but at around 1200 rating, I’m having quite a bit of trouble with Baton Pass teams and stat-up sweepers (like Jirachi >.<).

The Team​

The Lead

Celebi @ Occa Berry
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 80 HP/180 Spd/248 SAtk
Timid nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Stealth Rock
- Hidden Power [Fire]
- Grass Knot
- Earth Power

I’m using a modified lead Celebi. When I used the one on Celebi’s page, I found that earth power provided very little coverage, so I threw on HP Fire. I’ve surprised lots of people with OHKO’s on Scizor and Forretress. Grass knot > leaf storm because I don’t like getting forced out after the Sp Atk drop, and recover gives it some more staying power after I get rocks up. The EV’s are to outspeed Roserade and hit it with HP Fire. Dropped recover for earth power for more coverage.

The Awesome Sweeper

Lucario (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Inner Focus
EVs: 252 Atk/4 Def/252 Spd
Adamant nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Swords Dance
- Close Combat
- Extremespeed
- Ice Punch

Lucario is a beast of a sweeper, as everyone knows already. I’m running jolly over adamant because of the residual damage T-tar provides with sandstorm. I usually bring him out pretty late when I want something dead, or something is walling Suicune. He can also revenge kill some stuff if I need him to. Ice punch is just sorta on there, as T-tar can usually take care of the ghosts. Changed him to adamant for more power, and I'm currently testing bullet punch over ice punch to hit the T-tars everywhere (it OHKO's scarf-tar after stealth rock).

The Revenge Killer

Tyranitar (M) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 252 Atk/252 Spd/4 SDef
Jolly nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Pursuit
- Superpower / Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- Crunch

Yeah, scarf T-tar. He absorbs trick, pursuits Latias, Rotom and the like. He also sets up sandstorm to help Zapdos and Suicune stall, or nets Lucario some more KO’s. Unfortunately, he lets Jirachi get a free switch in. And even without much EV investment, this thing can absorb special attacks. Testing earthquake over superpower to hit Jirachi.

The Wall Breaker

Flygon (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 76 Atk/180 Spd/252 SAtk
Naive nature (+Spd, -SDef)
- Roost
- Fire Blast
- Draco Meteor
- Earthquake

Mixed Flygon is my wall-breaker and lure. I’m using him over Mixmence because of his synergy with the rest of the team. He resists rock attacks and SR, is immune to sandstorm and can lure out pokes like Gliscor and draco meteor in their face. Earthquake is STAB and fire blast fries steels. The EV's are standard on the analysis.

Staller #1

Zapdos @ Leftovers
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 248 HP/176 Spd/84 SDef
Timid nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Substitute
- Roost
- Thunderbolt
- Toxic / Roar

The first part of my pressure duo: Zapdos. While it can’t take hits like Suicune, this thing can still stall. Switch into a bulky water, sub on the switch, roost back to full health, toxic and proceed to stall. Steel types, especially Heatran, are annoying but Suicune can <usually> beat them. The EV's in speed are to outspeed neutral speed base 90's. I'm undecided between toxic and roar. I'm currently using roar, but Zapdos would get owned by a set up sweeper before I can do much.

Staller #2

Suicune @ Leftovers
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 252 HP/244 Def/12 Spd
Bold nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Surf
- Calm Mind
- Rest
- Sleep Talk / Ice Beam

My final pokemon is Crocune! The extra EV’s in speed allow me to outspeed Rotom forms who don’t invest any EV’s in speed (I’m paranoid). This thing is bulky as hell. A Heatran once blew up on this thing and it only took 55% damage. Just watch out for Vaporeon, who walls this set entirely. Am trying ice beam over sleep talk to hit Salamence.

Threat List
Vaporeon walls Suicune and is very hard to take down.
Jirachi can be very annoying and Sub-CM can beat Suicune 1 on 1.

 

[Eternal]

Team Adjustments:

Celebi - It doesn't really need Occa Berry at all. You don't want to stay on Heatran lead just to set up SR. Just give Celebi Leftovers. You can also replace Grass Knot for Leaf Storm to deal heavy damage.

Tyranitar - Replace Superpower for Earthquake. You want to be able to OHKO Heatrans, inflict heavy damage to Jirachis, Metagross, Lucario, Infernape, Magnezone, etc...

Flygon - Mixed Flygon doesn't help with breaking walls at all. You should go with MixMence rather than Flygon (as Salamence provides much more power to sweep).

Salamence @ Life Orb
Nature: Rash
EVs: 80 HP / 252 SpA / 176 Spe
~ Draco Meteor
~ Fire Blast
~ Brick Break
~ Roost

Suicune - Take off Sleep Talk for Ice Beam. You have nothing in your team to stop Dragon Dance Salamence from sweeping you.

Suggested Resolutions to Threats:

Like I said, DD Salamence poses a big threat, so you should replace Sleep Talk from Suicune for Ice Beam (as Sleep Talk is not so necessary). You really don't want to be DD Salamence weak.

 

[The SPrinkLer]

OK Arin, I disagree with your suggestion. Flygon provides electric immunity, making it a great switch-in against Celebi that try to T-Wave. Flygon also provides another much-needed Rock resist, because even Lucario isn't going to like taking multiple CB Stone Edges from Tyranitar. Flygon can take them and roost off the damage. Flygon doesn't take damage from SS either, and also takes a measly 6.25% from Stealth Rock. Salamence wouldn't last as long, even with its better defenses and intimidate. He even says in the OP why he would want to use it over Salamence -.-. He already deals with stall pretty well between Lucario, Suicune, and Flygon anyway. The only reason to use Salamence over Flygon anyway is the better offensive power you will be getting out of Draco Meteor and Fire Blast/Flamethrower. Flygon, iirc still 2HKOs Blissey with Earthquake, something Salamence can't accomplish with Earthquake due to no stab on it. Flygon also has added surprise factor, killing Skarmory switchins thinking they can wall you.

Since you're going to be running Occa Berry on Celebi, change Recover to Earth Power. Celebi is just an anti-lead anyway, and doesn't really need the staying power. Oh, also Arin you should look at the team as a whole before suggesting something, so keep that in mind next time. Anyway that's all I got, and good luck.

 

[Eternal]

OK Arin, I disagree with your suggestion. Flygon provides electric immunity, making it a great switch-in against Celebi that try to T-Wave. Flygon also provides another much-needed Rock resist, because even Lucario isn't going to like taking multiple CB Stone Edges from Tyranitar. Flygon can take them and roost off the damage. Flygon doesn't take damage from SS either, and also takes a measly 6.25% from Stealth Rock. Salamence wouldn't last as long, even with its better defenses and intimidate. He even says in the OP why he would want to use it over Salamence -.-. He already deals with stall pretty well between Lucario, Suicune, and Flygon anyway. The only reason to use Salamence over Flygon anyway is the better offensive power you will be getting out of Draco Meteor and Fire Blast/Flamethrower. Flygon, iirc still 2HKOs Blissey with Earthquake, something Salamence can't accomplish with Earthquake due to no stab on it. Flygon also has added surprise factor, killing Skarmory switchins thinking they can wall you.

Since you're going to be running Occa Berry on Celebi, change Recover to Earth Power. Celebi is just an anti-lead anyway, and doesn't really need the staying power. Oh, also Arin you should look at the team as a whole before suggesting something, so keep that in mind next time. Anyway that's all I got, and good luck.

Flygon is unable to 2HKO Blissey at all when Blissey can Wish and Toxic. While I wouldn't even use Flygon for resistance as it's very weak. While if you want to use it for resistance, you wouldn't want to weaken it by Life Orb. So a better option would be Gliscor. Being able to stop stall and stop threats like SD Lucario, Tyranitar, Magnezone, etc. Not only that, you also get advantage from Sandstorm + Sand Veil, which is great. Here's the set:

Gliscor @ Leftovers
Nature: Impish
EVs: 252 HP / 36 Def / 220 Spe
~ Earthquake
~ Roost
~ Taunt
~ Toxic

 

[Towelie]

What would gliscor accomplish for this team? His team handles SD luke particularly well between Zapdos, Tyranitar, and the inability to set up anywhere. Ya, on a locked Stone Edge but ttar comes back in and revenges it with its resistance to extreme speed.
like sprinkles mentioned, his team isn't troubled much by stall; especially with Luke and suicune, and zapdos ability to stall out things like Blissey. one thing i noticed is a slight DD gyara wekness. it can come in on a locked pursuit/crunch and it sets up all over Suicune. stone edge ko's zapdos at +1, luke with eq, and ttar and flygon with waterfall. your only real way to stop it is celebi, but it's more of an anti-lead and it really lacks staying power. Tbh I dont see the point of Zapdos so my suggestion would be to change it to a scarf rotom, while switching ttar to a CB or even a DD set.

Rotom-H,F,C,W etc...@Choice Scarf
224 Hp/28 SpA/252 Spd
-Thunderbolt
-Shadow ball
-Overheat/Hp Fighting
-Trick

The ev spread maybe weird but let me explain it.
252 Speed is obvious, to help revenge threats such as gyarados after a dd. the SpA evs ensure that you 2hko 4/0 latias at full health so you dont have to deal with recover stall shit. the remaining evs are dumped into hp to provide for maximum bulk.
the moves let you revenge the same things ttar did, bar cm latias, but you can still trick that, or pressure stall it with cune. overall i think this helps ur team more and gives you another tool against stall.

I hope I helped and gl with the team.

 

[GrimHawke]

Thanks for the suggestions everyone :)

@Arin
I think I'll keep Flygon, but the suggestion on T-tar would probably help. I do have lots of trouble with Jirachi, so I'll try earthquake over superpower.

@Sprinkles
I replaced recover with earth power. Thanks!

@Towelie
I think I'll test that sometime this weekend. Do you think curse-tar would work instead?

 

[Abutorn]

Hey GrimHawke, A few suggestions:

Should keep Occa Berry the only things you might want to change on the Celebi is might wanna switch HP Fire into Uturn. The reason why is you might want to scout out things with Celebi and you definitly need to change Grass knot into Leaf Storm to do plenty of damage to other pokemon since The Lead Celebi is something you go in and out with you don't really stay in to take many attacks.

Tyranitar should keep Super power, Definitly to take out Blissey and stuff.

You have 3 things on this team currently weak to Ice, how can you have good synergy then if you do have 3 things weak to ice?

Well my opinon you have to change Zapdos even it's helping you pressure stall but your team isn't suppose to stall if you look at the rest of your team. But what I think you should change Zapdos to is Rotom-H or a regular Rotom appliance. The only thing it can't do that well is Pressure stalling which I don't find it useful at all in your team. So you might want to change it into this, I recommend this set it can really help you a lot.

Rotom-H @ Leftovers
252 HP/ 70 Defense / 188 Speed
Subsitute
Thunderbolt / Shadow Ball
Will O Wisp / Toxic
Pain Split

The Speed EVS are to outspeed Lucario, This set it very Identical to the Zapdos set and very Identical of how it works, this set also outstalls Blissey if you want to go there.

Since you really like your Flygon set and you're sure you don't want to change it I won't recommend anything about that.

For the Suicune though since you said you're paranoid about Rotom appliances, Vaporeon and Calm Mind versions of Jirachi why not replace Sleep talk / Ice beam with Roar? it also helps for the phazing that you said you wanted with Zapdos so it could work in your favor.

Good luck, Hope my analysis on your team worked fine.

 

[Snorlaxe]

Hello! This is a very nice team, but there are a few problems that I would like to address.

When I look at your team, I notice that it seems to have some problems taking down Dragon Dance Salamence. Your team only has one resistance to Dragon type moves, but since Lucario (your only resist) is such a frail Pokemon it will die to Salamence very easily anyway. I think that a nice way to fix this problem would be to use a Choice Scarf Flygon as opposed to the current set that you are running. Use a set of Outrage | Earthquake | U-turn | Fire Punch, an EV spread of 4 HP | 252 Atk | 252 Spe, and a Jolly nature. Choice Scarf Flygon is a semi-reliable way to take down Salamence, as it can speed tie with positive speed natured Salamence after a Dragon Dance, and outspeed all neutral natured Salamence after a Dragon Dance. It also makes taking on Latias a bit more easy, who could potentially be trouble for your team, especially the Choice Specs variants.

Something that you may want to try is using a Roserade lead in place of Celebi. Your team seems to be "centered" around Suicune and Zapdos; these Pokemon are both very stall oriented (especially with the sets you're running), and as such they will be stalling many Pokemon. Roserade can dispense Toxic Spikes, which makes stalling out opposing Pokemon MUCH more easy. Try a set of Toxic Spikes | Sleep Powder | Grass Knot | Hidden Power Ice, an EV spread of 4 HP | 252 SpA | 252 Spe, and a Timid nature with the ability Natural Cure and the item Focus Sash. The only issue with Roserade is that you lose Stealth Rock, but I really feel like Toxic Spikes are ultimately more beneficial to your team than Stealth Rock is anyway. If you decide to go for Roserade, then use Roar over Toxic on Zapdos for sure. Roar allows you to more easily deal with pesky Baton Pass teams, who you mentioned that you were having trouble taking on.

Yeppers, on Suicune you're definitely going to want to be running Ice Beam over Sleep Talk. Suicune is generally bulky enough to survive a bunch of shit after a few Calm Minds, and Ice Beam helps a lot in your struggle against Dragon Dance Salamence, who as I previously pointed out is a big threat for your team. Another thing that you may want to try is running an Adamant nature on Lucario, as well as Stone Edge over Ice Punch. Adamant Lucario has much more power behind it, which helps a lot when trying to attempt a lategame sweep. Ice Punch also is kinda useless on Lucario, as the only thing it hits is Gliscor. Most Gliscor these days however run JUST enough speed to outpace Jolly Lucario. I also think you should run Earthquake over Superpower on Tyranitar; Superpower can OHKO Heatran and Lucario, but so can Earthquake. Earthquake also has the added bonus of being able to take out Jirachi, who your team struggles with.

Hope I helped, and if you have any questions don't hesitate to contact me! ;)