Team Friendship! (Peaked #9 @ 1256)

[rh2012]

Whats going on, fellas? This is my first NU team that i just made earlier today. I decided to give NU a try because OU is boring as a mother. I figured NU would be a little off the norm, so i wanted to give it a try and have had pretty good success so far. I only laddered this team for a few hours, and got to #9 pretty easily, making no changes to the team, besides one move. BUT, i know it can be much better because i really just threw this team together with absolutely no experimentation or trial periods... nothing. So lets see what you intelligent gentlemen/women have that can help me bring this team to the top!

At a glance + Overview+Team Building:

Here she is, Team Friendship. The name is completely random, and it'll most likely change when I make a real RMT when/if i get this team to #1. All of these pokemon are on the original team, as their have been no changes thus far. BUT every one of them is replaceable if you guys can give me some good suggestions on how to improve the team.​

I started with a basic FWG core, that you can see above. I figured that'd be a nice, easy thing to work with for my first NU team. Then i chose Sawk for his ever-so-useful fighting STAB and great coverage coupled with his high attack stat. SR is awlays important, so i knew i needed a solid Stealth Rocker, and it was nice that he happened to Spin as well. Lastly, i knew a fighting resistance was important, so i went with Mesprit, tried and true of the NU.​

And now for the good stuff :D​

TEAM FRIENDSHIP TIME!​

Armaldo (Impish) @ Leftovers
252 HP/ 4 Atk/ 252 Def
-Stealth Rock
-Rapid Spin
-Knock Off
-Rock Slide​

Sheesh... What to say about this guy. He does his job... kind of. His only purpose here is to set up rock of my own and hopefully spin away the other teams hazard on his way down. While he usually does get my rocks up, he isn't exactly a reliable spinner. He's weak to rocks, not immune to t-spikes, and hit by spikes as well. Not to mention he's just set-up bait for a lot of mons. The one shining light on this set: Knock Off. To my surprise, it is INCREDIBLY useful, and I often use it first thing on a switch in. Other than that though, he's a mediocre 'mon at best, and very replaceable. Oh yeah, and rock slide is there for a little damage I guess. Doesn't do much though..​

Sawk (Jolly) @ Choice Scarf
4 HP/ 252 Atk/ 252 Spe
-Close Combat
-Stone Edge
-Earthquake
-Toxic​

This thing is like the Scarf Terrakion of OU, except a helluvalot worse. I'm fairly content with the performance of this pokemon though, as he's got good coverage, and it's nice to spam CC once ghost/psychic types are gone. Stone edge is there for flying types that resist CC, and EQ is there for nice QuakEdge coverage, and hits some pokemon like Camerupt harder than my other moves. While Toxic isn't exactly a great move to be locked into, it's nice if you're confident enough with your prediction to catch a Mesprit on the switch-in. He gets the job done, but again, everyone is replaceable so feel free to make a suggestion.​

Mesprit (Timid) @ Choice Scarf
4 HP/ 252 SpA/ 252 Spe
-Psychic
-Thunderbolt
-Ice Beam
-U-turn​

This was actually in here to originally be a filler, but has a nice surprise factor to it. Countless times i've led with this to catch a Swelow/ Braviary/ etc. off gaurd with BoltBeam, and making it a 6-5 game off the bat. Psychic is the obligatory STAB and useful against fighting types. BoltBeam is for coverage, and is generally unexpected as most people dont run a CS Mesprit. U-turn is for momentum, but does basically no damage. This thing lack MAJOR power, but as I said, it catches people off gaurd, and i like to have a special type scarfer.​

Magmortar (Timid) @ Life Orb
-Fire Blast
-Focus Blast
-Thunderbolt
-Hidden Power (Grass)​

Under the right circumstances, this thing can be a monster. It can be difficult to switch in because of his mediocre defense and weakness to SR, but has a bunch of power and great coverage. I actually lead with this thing quite a bit, because i've noticed very few teams have even one pokemon that can tank a FB+coverage move. His speed, while slow for any other teir, is enough for him to outspeed a lot of the metagame and start blasting. And as much as people brag about Lickikicky being the "Blissey of NU", he's a chump when this guy is out. Lickilicky is KO'd by FB+Focus Blast, as most things are. HP Grass is there to hit the waters that dont mind t-bolt, like Quaggy, Seismitoad, Carracosta, and Relicanth. I'm impressed with his performance for the most part, but he has to stay relitively unhit, and avoid rocks or he just goes down too fast.​

Samurott (Modest) @ Life Orb
-Hydro Pump
-Ice Beam
-Grass Knot
-Taunt​

This guy, just like above, can do some real damage when given the opportunity. But his bulk is very middling, as is his speed. He is outsped by a lot of the metagame, and that's his biggest downfall. I can't even switch him into the most common fire type (Magmortar) to tank a hit because I lose to HP grass. But once faster threats are taken out, he's great at beating weak defensive pokemon, firing off powerful hydro-pumps, and is usually my switch in to the few dragon types that show up every now and then. Also, grass types seem to always expect the SD version, so I can usually get a KO with ice beam on them. Taunt is there to screw over Jynx, Hypno, Lickilicky, and other defensive pokemon who rely on toxic stall. If he wasn't so slow, he'd probably be the star of the team.​

Torterra (Adamant) @ Life Orb
4 HP/ 252 Atk/ 252 Spe
-Rock Polish
-Seed Bomb
-Earthquake
-Stone Edge​

Ahh, Torterra. Yet again I must use the line "when given the opportunity, it's an absolute monster." Torterra is a major double-edged sword. As long as bulky grasses have been eliminated, and scarfers are gone, let the sweep begin! But on the other hand, I'm not getting to use his bulk, and his secondary typing sucks because a grass pokemon's greatest asset is tanking water attacks. But complaints asside, he can do quite a bit of damage. Torterra forces switches really well, so it's easy to get a rock polish off. But usually its better to fire off an attack to scout, and saving for a late game sweep. I originally had wood hammer > seed bomb, but it made Torterra WAY too short lived because of the recoil. Earthquake is a powerful STAB as well, and SE is used to hit flying pokemon that resist my STABs. Bulky grasses are his bane though :/​

FINAL THOUGHTS + CONSIDERED CHANGES + PROBLEMS FACED​

Overall, I've enjoyed using this team, but I am well aware of the many flaws it has. To start off, hazards destroy my team (especially t-spikes), and I lack a reliable spinner. I've considered bringing in a poison type to absorb t-spikes, as i think that would help immensely. I also would like something that can take fire attacks better, because Magmortar can be a B****.​

Threats​

SD Samurott: This thing can sweep me pretty well unless i can get my own Samurott in, and the other already has a little prior damage.​

Magmortar: My scarf Sawk is really the only way to take care of this, as it takes the rest of my team down with ease. I have to make sure Sawk stays alive​

SubDisable Haunter: This thing sets up on my Armaldo and can pick off my team with shadow ball if i'm weakened. I've considered a trapper such as skuntank to take care of this, as well as absorbing t-spikes.​

SD Absol: If my Sawk is weakened, this thing murders me with sucker punch.​

Cinccino: This thing basically OHKO's my whole team unless I can get Sawk in there without taking damage.​

Rotom-S: Kills most of my team as well. The scarf variant is the worst to deal with​

T-Spikes: Most toxic spikes teams beat me hands down unless i can spin them away or catch garbodor before he gets the chance to set them up.​

So basically that's it. As I said, everyone is replaceable, I just want to make this team the best i can. Thanks in advance! :D​

 

[Machineae]

The team looks pretty solid.
What about a specially defensive tentacool set:

Tentacool (M) @ Eviolite
Trait: Liquid Ooze
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SDef
Calm Nature (+SDef, -Atk)
- Toxic
- Toxic Spikes
- Rapid Spin
- Giga Drain

It can spin, absorb t spikes, take fire attacks from magmortar like nobodies business.
Maybe switch out Sawk or Mespirit for it?
Sawk would probably be better to switch out because they both share a psychic weakness, tentacool has a ground weakness which is covered by mespirits levitate and electric which you have tort to switch into.

 

[Cherub Agent]

Armaldo just sucks dude. You also lack a solid birs switchin, therefore I propose Golem to take the place of Armaldo. Only Maggy is weak to SR if you lose Armaldo, so I don't think a spinner is that neccessary. This way you gain a bird check, quite a bit more power with STAB EdgeQuake and SUCKER PUNCH, This really helps in picking off stuff like Cinccino and Magmortar. Something I like to run on my Samurott is Aqua Jet over Taunt with a Rash nature. This lets you pick off Magmortar too, but I'll do some calcs to see if you need Attack EVs to KO it after SR. Nice solid team, and congrats on reaching Ninth, especially if you just made the team earlier today

 

[shnen]

Hi, this team looks decent but has some obvious flaws and weaknesses: firstly Swellow and Braviary give this team a lot of problems. Armaldo is definitely the weakest link on this team in my opinion, as he just adds to your severe Misdreavus weakness, and is free set up fodder for Gorebyss, who can 6-0 with at +2. He is a pretty bad spinner in my opinion due to being destroyed by the ghosts of the tier. I would suggest replacing him with Golem, as he helps patch up your weaknesses to Rotom-s that you identified as well as to Swellow.
The set is:

(M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Rock Head
EVs: 208 HP / 252 Atk / 48 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Sucker Punch
- Stone Edge
- Earthquake
- Stealth Rock
The Speed EVs let you creep on 4 speed Regirock and Lickilicky.


now, you are are also very weak to gorebyss. Scarf Mesprit is really not very useful in my opinion, not hitting any of the key benchmarks that a good scarfer make, such as outspeeding +2 Gorebyss or any other Scarfers. I would recommend replacing it with a scarf Rotom-s, which patches up your Gorebyss weakness very handily, gives you a means to revenge Swellow and Braviary if Golem falls, and lets you revenge Cinccino with a bit of prior damage. The set is:

@ Choice Scarf
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 252 Sp. Atk / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Volt Switch
- Air Slash
- Hidden Power Grass / Thunderbolt
- Trick


Now that you have Rotom-s as a reliable Scarfer, I would recommend changing Sawk to Choice Band, which allows him to be more of a wall-breaker; Scarf Sawk can't revenge too much specifically that can't be done better, and it gives him the necessary power to muscle through things that would normally wall him such as Mesprit. Also, Special Samurott is relatively unimpressive; I have always preferred Gorebyss due to her better Special Attack and of course access to the fantastic move Shell Smash. I would recommend replacing Samurott for her; this allows you to apply pressure on your opponent without even using her: they MUST keep their checks alive or they lose. Magmortar and Gorebyss are a great combination, as Magmortar can come into the common SubNP Jynx set with ease and force it out. The set is:

@ White Herb
Trait: Swift Swim
EVs: 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Surf
- Ice Beam
- Hidden Power [Grass]
- Shell Smash


Lastly, just one minor note: Jolly RP Torterra is much better in my opinion, as it allows him to outspeed Rotom-s at +2 and below, which compromises nearly every scarfer. Also, one more option to consider is Expert Belt Magmortar over Life Orb, this helps him to bluff Scarf, and removes that niggling recoil >.>
GL man!

 

[rh2012]

@ Manchineae: Putting in a Tentacool is useless with my Armaldo doing the same thing. Not to mention his defenses are quite pitiful (decent with eviolite). I may try replacing armaldo with it instead, so thanks for the suggerstion!

@ Cherub Agent: I think I really like this suggestion. Armaldo usually feels like dead weight, so this sounds like a good idea. Sucker punch is very useful for taking out speedy threats, and with that do you think i should maybe change my mesprit to a support variant? Since Golem can take care of the birds (who i usually kill with mesprit) and has priority, two scarfers seems unnecesary. I'd like your thoughts on this please, and thanks for the help!

P.S.- Armaldo is in fact complete garbage. You are 100% correct.

 

[rh2012]

@ shnen: As said before, golem will be added, so thanks. And looking back now, I got lucky that i have not seen even 1 gorebys, as it can easily sweep my whole team. So the scarf rotom-s seems like a good suggestion, especially because it still allows me to scout with u-turn. Gorebys also seems like a really nice suggestion, seeing as he basically does what samurott does, but with more power. My only concern about that is losing taunt, because it really helps in breaking down walls. I'll also try a jolly nature on torterra, and hopefully that wont take off too much power. And i also like putting expert belt on magmortar, but i have one HUGE problem with that: Lickilicky. While losing recoil damage is nice, i'm able to KO lickilicky with Fireblast on the switch, then Focus balst the next turn. Im worried that an expert belt will make me lose this quality. I'll do some calcs to check, and give it a try. Thanks for all your suggestions!

 

[shnen]

Expert Belt Fire Blast does 33.5% - 39.6%, while Focus Blast does 53.8% - 63.2%, meaning that if you get lucky with damage rolls you can 2hko him easily, and with Rocks up its a guaranteed 2hko (assuming 252/252+) also I started on that rate before all the other rates came in lol, so Golem wasn't made to rip on what they said 9.9
also you probably shouldn't double post, use the edit button

 

[rh2012]

meh, it's my thread, nobody is complaining. BUT i have made all said changes, and found out a couple things:

It's hard for gorebyss to set up because he doesnt have much bulk, but he still gets some nice sweeps. And also i've run into quite a few miltanks and found out that they're quite the B**** to deal with...

 

[Cherub Agent]

You could give Mesprit Trick, or Choice Band to Sawk. Between them and Maggy's Focus Blast, Miltank shouldn't be too much of a problem

 

[NatGeo]

Hey, I think shnen really hit the nail on the head with most of his suggestions. However, I think you shouldn't use shnen's spread on Golem and instead use a spread of 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe, which allows it to be as fast as possible. Also use a Jolly nature on Golem. Another thing - I don't think you should put Gorebyss on this team, as you already have an admirable special sweeper in Magmortar. However, I do believe your Samurott set could be changed to an SD Samurott, which gives you a powerful setup sweeper along with Torterra. You now also have some useful priority to help with things like Absol. Hope this rate helped - GL!

SD Samurott

Samurott @ Life Orb / Leftovers
Torrent | Jolly Nature
4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Swords Dance / Waterfall / Aqua Jet / Megahor or Substitute

edit: yeah cb > cs sawk

 

[Straw Hat]

choice band your sawk. you already have a very good scarfer. nice team by the way