Ok, so I was in a pretty major slump with my team making after I started getting lazy with my old team and started losing. I tried combo after combo and it degenerated into just throwing stuff together and hoping it would stick. After a while, I just got fed up and went back to basics, resulting in a highly complimentary team which requires a lot of prediction to beat efficiently.
Team at a glance:
In-depth Look:
Rotom-H
@ Leftovers
Levitate
Timid
EVs: 252 HP/ 252 Spe/ 4 SpA
Move Set:
Charge Beam
Shadow Ball
Substitute
Will-O-Wisp
Comment: A VERY unconventional lead but VERY effective. First of all, this thing can handle most common leads as Metagross can not hurt me much and is burnt and left pointless. Azelf is hammered by Shadow Ball, Swampert gets subbed on and burnt which cripples his physical STABs and leaves him weak with no recovery. I don't get rocks up and I don't stop my opponent but I can basically make it so all they do is get up rocks while I am left fairly healthy. Later in a match, this thing serves perfectly with it's 3 immunities, ability to avoid status, stop sweepers and sweep with the boosting Charge Beam and weakening Shadow Ball. The speed nets me a worst case speed tie with other Rotom-A without Scarfs and out speed neutral nature base under 100 pokemon. Props to DA-Ambipom (Shoddy) for showing me this set and killing me repeatedly with it.
Vaporeon
@ Leftovers
Bold
Water Absorb
EVs: 188 HP/ 252 Def/ 68 Spe
Move Set:
Wish
Protect
Surf
Ice Beam
Comment: Protect lets me scout a Choice user and switch to an appropriate switch in, which I can get for free with my many immunities. Wish passing is also very useful as it lets my switch ins come in with ease and really helps Rotom keep chugging. It also lets Vaporeon stick around for a while. Ice Beam is needed on my team as it other wise has no Ice attack and you're going down fast if that's the case. Vaporeon serves as a trusty and reliable go-to pokemon who can take many hits and absorb water attacks aimed at the rest of my team. I considered Toxic over Ice Beam but the coverage is too important.
Jolteon
@ Choice Specs
Volt Absorb
Timid
EVs: 4 Def/ 252 Spe/ 252 SpA
IVed for HP Grass
Move Set:
Thunderbolt
HP Grass
Signal Beam
Shadow Ball
Comment: Despite the slight redundant type coverage with Rotom, Jolteon's speed and power set it apart. This thing packs a big punch and enjoys switching into common electric attacks aimed at Vaporeon, Heatran and Skarmory. Signal Beam mauls Celebi who is one of Breloom's biggest counters and Thunderbolt wrecks anything trying to switch in (barring immunities), even things like Tyranitar. The power pack of my team and Thunder Wave absorber. I considered Electivire as I lack a lot of physical power on my team but Electivire is too switch in reliant and lacks the sheer power of Jolteon.
Heatran
@ Life Orb
Flash Fire
Modest
EVs: 248 HP/ 56 SpA/ 204 SpD
Move Set:
Fire Blast
Earth Power
Rest
Sleep Talk
Comment: I have yet to really need the Rest-Talking but the point of Heatran is to take Fire attacks aimed at Skarmory and Breloom. Heatran also serves as a decent special-sponge since his weaknesses are totally ignored by other members of my team and can be deferred appropriately. I considered a different item to bluff a Scarf but I figured I needed the extra kick and Heatran is too slow without a Scarf to out speed things and bluff. Heatran also is immune to two status moves as is and can Rest away paralysis. Blissey is a big threat to my team as only Breloom can reliably stop it but Heatran can stop the Flamethrower Toxic variety one-on-one and the Seismic Toss versions can be taken by Rotom.
Skarmory
@ Leftovers
Keen Eye
Impish
EVs: 252 HP/ 64 Atk/ 176 Def/ 16 Spe
Move Set:
Brave Bird
Roost
Stealth Rock
Whirlwind
Comment: I needed a phazer, spiker and steel type so Skarmory was a natural option. His weaknesses are also perfectly absorbed by my team so he can switch out comfortably. Skarmory is a very key component too since he not only has great typing but he boasts great stats, unlike most of my team. His support options are also important as he can stop any physical sweeper and phaze them out. There's not much to say here since Skarmory is pretty self explanatory but suffice it to say, he can come and go as he pleases (without Magnezone of course) thanks to my team.
Breloom
@ Toxic Orb
Poison Heal
Jolly
EVs: 12 HP/ 240 Atk/ 252 Spe
Move Set:
Spore
Focus Punch
Leech Seed
Substitute
Comment: My status absorber. He's also my general Blissey counter as once it is gone, the rest of my opponents team is easy pickings. The only way Blissey can stop Breloom is if I've slept another member and it's carrying Ice Beam or Flamethrower. Due to this, I usually scout Blissey with Vaporeon first to see the set. If it's a Seismic Toss set, I can bring in Breloom on an ST even, Seed it the next turn and heal all the HP back per turn. Breloom also functions as a general pest, fearing only ghosts and causing all sorts of havoc for my opponents team. The EVs are such that I can out speed Adamant Gyarados before a DD while keeping HP divisible by 4 and packing as much punch as I can.
General Overview:
A very special oriented team where each member boasts an immunity (spare Breloom who absorbs status). The opponent will have to predict perfectly or they are in for some trouble. Of course I can get lazy and start relying on these immunities too much and get bite hard by diverse move pools but in general, any misplay by my opponent will benefit my team. This teams biggest weakness is the lack of pure power. With nothing Scarfed and nothing with a stat-boosting move (bar Rotom and the Specs on Jolteon), it will be possible to wall this team. However, as stated, only dedicated Special Walls can stand up to the team here and even Blissey can be beaten so it's not as easy as it sounds. The goal here is a lot like how I play chess. I like solid defense where I wait for my opponent to slip up and begin the slaughter.
Future Ideas to consider:
-Dropping Wish and Protect on Vaporeon for Toxic and HP Elec, losing scouting and support but gaining type coverage and the ability to counter more things. Considering 5 out of 6 members have some way of healing outside of Leftovers, this might be worth while.
-Electivire over Jolteon for more physical prowess, some much needed speed and wall breaking ability but much less reliability.
I look forward to any and all comments!
Team at a glance:
In-depth Look:
Rotom-H
@ Leftovers
Levitate
Timid
EVs: 252 HP/ 252 Spe/ 4 SpA
Move Set:
Charge Beam
Shadow Ball
Substitute
Will-O-Wisp
Comment: A VERY unconventional lead but VERY effective. First of all, this thing can handle most common leads as Metagross can not hurt me much and is burnt and left pointless. Azelf is hammered by Shadow Ball, Swampert gets subbed on and burnt which cripples his physical STABs and leaves him weak with no recovery. I don't get rocks up and I don't stop my opponent but I can basically make it so all they do is get up rocks while I am left fairly healthy. Later in a match, this thing serves perfectly with it's 3 immunities, ability to avoid status, stop sweepers and sweep with the boosting Charge Beam and weakening Shadow Ball. The speed nets me a worst case speed tie with other Rotom-A without Scarfs and out speed neutral nature base under 100 pokemon. Props to DA-Ambipom (Shoddy) for showing me this set and killing me repeatedly with it.
Vaporeon
@ Leftovers
Bold
Water Absorb
EVs: 188 HP/ 252 Def/ 68 Spe
Move Set:
Wish
Protect
Surf
Ice Beam
Comment: Protect lets me scout a Choice user and switch to an appropriate switch in, which I can get for free with my many immunities. Wish passing is also very useful as it lets my switch ins come in with ease and really helps Rotom keep chugging. It also lets Vaporeon stick around for a while. Ice Beam is needed on my team as it other wise has no Ice attack and you're going down fast if that's the case. Vaporeon serves as a trusty and reliable go-to pokemon who can take many hits and absorb water attacks aimed at the rest of my team. I considered Toxic over Ice Beam but the coverage is too important.
Jolteon
@ Choice Specs
Volt Absorb
Timid
EVs: 4 Def/ 252 Spe/ 252 SpA
IVed for HP Grass
Move Set:
Thunderbolt
HP Grass
Signal Beam
Shadow Ball
Comment: Despite the slight redundant type coverage with Rotom, Jolteon's speed and power set it apart. This thing packs a big punch and enjoys switching into common electric attacks aimed at Vaporeon, Heatran and Skarmory. Signal Beam mauls Celebi who is one of Breloom's biggest counters and Thunderbolt wrecks anything trying to switch in (barring immunities), even things like Tyranitar. The power pack of my team and Thunder Wave absorber. I considered Electivire as I lack a lot of physical power on my team but Electivire is too switch in reliant and lacks the sheer power of Jolteon.
Heatran
@ Life Orb
Flash Fire
Modest
EVs: 248 HP/ 56 SpA/ 204 SpD
Move Set:
Fire Blast
Earth Power
Rest
Sleep Talk
Comment: I have yet to really need the Rest-Talking but the point of Heatran is to take Fire attacks aimed at Skarmory and Breloom. Heatran also serves as a decent special-sponge since his weaknesses are totally ignored by other members of my team and can be deferred appropriately. I considered a different item to bluff a Scarf but I figured I needed the extra kick and Heatran is too slow without a Scarf to out speed things and bluff. Heatran also is immune to two status moves as is and can Rest away paralysis. Blissey is a big threat to my team as only Breloom can reliably stop it but Heatran can stop the Flamethrower Toxic variety one-on-one and the Seismic Toss versions can be taken by Rotom.
Skarmory
@ Leftovers
Keen Eye
Impish
EVs: 252 HP/ 64 Atk/ 176 Def/ 16 Spe
Move Set:
Brave Bird
Roost
Stealth Rock
Whirlwind
Comment: I needed a phazer, spiker and steel type so Skarmory was a natural option. His weaknesses are also perfectly absorbed by my team so he can switch out comfortably. Skarmory is a very key component too since he not only has great typing but he boasts great stats, unlike most of my team. His support options are also important as he can stop any physical sweeper and phaze them out. There's not much to say here since Skarmory is pretty self explanatory but suffice it to say, he can come and go as he pleases (without Magnezone of course) thanks to my team.
Breloom
@ Toxic Orb
Poison Heal
Jolly
EVs: 12 HP/ 240 Atk/ 252 Spe
Move Set:
Spore
Focus Punch
Leech Seed
Substitute
Comment: My status absorber. He's also my general Blissey counter as once it is gone, the rest of my opponents team is easy pickings. The only way Blissey can stop Breloom is if I've slept another member and it's carrying Ice Beam or Flamethrower. Due to this, I usually scout Blissey with Vaporeon first to see the set. If it's a Seismic Toss set, I can bring in Breloom on an ST even, Seed it the next turn and heal all the HP back per turn. Breloom also functions as a general pest, fearing only ghosts and causing all sorts of havoc for my opponents team. The EVs are such that I can out speed Adamant Gyarados before a DD while keeping HP divisible by 4 and packing as much punch as I can.
General Overview:
A very special oriented team where each member boasts an immunity (spare Breloom who absorbs status). The opponent will have to predict perfectly or they are in for some trouble. Of course I can get lazy and start relying on these immunities too much and get bite hard by diverse move pools but in general, any misplay by my opponent will benefit my team. This teams biggest weakness is the lack of pure power. With nothing Scarfed and nothing with a stat-boosting move (bar Rotom and the Specs on Jolteon), it will be possible to wall this team. However, as stated, only dedicated Special Walls can stand up to the team here and even Blissey can be beaten so it's not as easy as it sounds. The goal here is a lot like how I play chess. I like solid defense where I wait for my opponent to slip up and begin the slaughter.
Future Ideas to consider:
-Dropping Wish and Protect on Vaporeon for Toxic and HP Elec, losing scouting and support but gaining type coverage and the ability to counter more things. Considering 5 out of 6 members have some way of healing outside of Leftovers, this might be worth while.
-Electivire over Jolteon for more physical prowess, some much needed speed and wall breaking ability but much less reliability.
I look forward to any and all comments!
