Team Mamoswine (VGC 14 Team)

[LGMLegend]

VGC 2014 Mamoswine Team

Introduction:​

Hi Smogon, I wanted to introduce to you the VGC team I have been playing with for a little while now. With VGC announcing their rules about 3 weeks ago, I decided to watch the Meta unravel just a little to see what everyone was playing. While observing it and many different VGC RMTs and I started noticing a trend in pokemon usage such as Garchomp, Mawile, and Talonflame. Once, I could finally got to see the usage stats, all three of those were in the top 5 along with Tyranitar and Rotom and therefore I tried to find a pokemon that could OHKO or heavily dent most of these.

P.S. if you are wondering why I have them all shiny, is because of the timer in VGC being able to stall the two extra seconds with the flashing stars coming from the Shinnies, could make a difference between winning and losing.

At first glance:​

Back View:​

In-Depth look on team:
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Mamoswine w/ Choice Scarf
Thick Fat
EVs: 116 HP / 196 Atk / 196 Spd
Adamant Nature
- Earthquake
- Icicle Spear
- Rock Slide
- Icicle Crash

After looking at what is available to use the one pokemon that stuck out to me is Mamoswine. It has coverage over most of the meta game today with having a OHKO move on 3 out of the top 5 pokemon and also being able to deal a hefty chunk to the rest, so I decided to make my team with the intent to bring this guy to most battles. This set is similar to Arash Ommati’s Mamoswine from worlds, with having this ev spread and the choice scarf he is able to out speed Jolly 252 speed Garchomp by 1 which is the fastest pokemon that does not resist Mamoswines coverage moves. Talonflame is no threat with most running no speed investment and Mawile also gets OHKO by earthquake. Icicle Spear is there as a way to break Multiscale with the surge of Weakness Policy Dragonite and Icicle Crash is just a reliable ice move you should always have. 116 HP allows it to turn many 2Hkos to 3Hkos and 196 Atk is just there for raw power.

Amoonguss w/ Black Sludge
Regenerator
EVs: 252 HP / 108 Def / 148 SDef
Calm Nature
- Spore
- Protect
- Giga Drain
- Rage Powder


This is the other pokemon I took from Ommati’s being such a good partner for Mamoswine, in the fact it can tank Rotom-W and about all the other threats Mamoswine would be switching out from, I can just Rage powder then hit it with Mamoswine. The black sludge and the regenerator combine so nicely with rage powder for the fact that I can either decide to stay in and regain health with using protect to stall or switch out if not need at the moment. With having no sleep clause in VGC amoonguss is also amazing for having a 100% sleep move. The ev spread is standard with it having to wall Rotom-W.

Tyranitar w/ Sitrus Berry
Sand Stream
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SDef
Brave Nature
- Crunch
- Substitute
- Rock Slide
- Protect


With weather being nerfed to 5 turns tyranitar did not look like it would get a spot on my team but with charizard rising in use I decided that Garchomp and Tyranitar would be amazing on the team to counter not only Charizard and Politoad but with Tyranitar’s Brave nature he would be a contender in trick room as well. Substitute is a move that you would not normally see on Ttar but after looking at what my team is weak to trick room became an obvious threat. Being able to setup a Substitute Ttar in trick room can cause so much difficulty to the opponent to the point that seeing Substitute will make Ttar the main target even to the point of a double attack on him, which delves into the point of protect. 252 HP evs and sitrus berry is there to make sure you have a consistent way to setup Sub and Crunch and Rock Slide are just coverage moves. To my surprise I ended up bringing this guy so much more than its partner in crime Garchomp, leaving the question is Garchomp even worth it.

Charizard w/ Charizardite Y
Solar Power
EVs: 92 HP / 164 SAtk / 252 SpD
Modest Nature
- Heat Wave
- Protect
- Air Slash
- Solar Beam

In testing I could not just rely on one weather with Tyranitar getting so popular so I decided to go with Dual Weather for this team in the form of charizard. This also ties into the team being really weak to Azumarill and Rotom-W. Where with 252 Speed evs he will outspeed Rotom-W and OHKO him with Solar beam and 92 HP evs allow him to live an Aqua jet from Azumarill. 164 SpAtk was what was left over so I looked at my options with what I had to outspeed. First I was going with 164 spe and Timid so I can outspeed Adament Max speed Garchomp but I only saw that as a cute play and not at all benefical so I decided having this ev spread will out speed my closest threat to my speed tier Rotom-W and give him 4 more in SpAtk than with 252 SpAtk Timid nature would.

Garchomp w/ Garchompite
Rough Skin
EVs: 44 HP / 252 Atk / 44 Def / 4 SDef / 164 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Dragon Claw
- Rock Slide
- Earthquake
- Protect


The odd ball of team right here I really wanted Garchomp to work out for this team but in the end of the day Mamo and others do his job plus more so much better. So this is the Pokemon I was going to ask for you guys to give me suggestions to replace with. This team has wholes and I know that so I was going to ask what hole is the most threatening to this team and what could fill that whole. But let’s actually get into what Garchomp is supposed to do for this team, and that is kill things. With its ev spread it can OHKO and opposing chomp as well as take a hit from it because of the bulk it gets when it goes mega. The moveset is pretty standard for this pokemon, as well as when it again has grea synergy with Ttar of Sand Force and the Spdef boost it gets form sand being up. The 4 SpDef is so I do not waste any evs.

Rotom-W w/ Chesto Berry
Levitate
EVs: 156 HP / 132 Def / 220 SAtk
Modest Nature
- Hydro Pump
- Thunderbolt
- Rest
- Will-O-Wisp


Bread and butter moveset right here Rotom-W serves so many uses on this team from being able to take a hit from Mega Mawile and Will-O-Wisping it back to killing off Talonflame(being the biggest threat to the MamoMonguss combo). Rotom also has the power to just Resto Chesto it back to full health which is another amazing thing about it. Honestly this is the one pokemon I do not have much to say about just because it can be considered so standard in today’s meta game.

Good leading Pairs:​

Picking leads is such a huge part of VGC. Nearly everyone has been in that situation where the opposing leads 100 percent counter your own. With this team, the idea was to make that very difficult to do. These leads at the end of the day are all situational but one thing I tend not lead Mamoswine for the reason he is so destructive to any team late game. But if it is necessary than leading Mamo+Rotom/Mamo+Amoonguss are very solid lead choices.

With Leads I try to go with complete coverage, besides Rotom-W being one of the best support pokemon it also adds the fact it can WoW or kill any threats to Charizard. This lead also counters other weather and opposing Rotoms with Charizard Y. More importantly looking at the top 10 in usage statistics this lead can counter every single pokemon from Garchomp to Abomasnow(tied with gengar and salamence for 10th place with 11% usage).
​

This lead is mostly similar to the last one but with the fact that you saw and predict the charizard/Politoad from team preview to come into the battle Ttar can change the weather with it being the slowest one of the weather users. While Rotom-W can take out or hinder with WoW most threats to Ttar this includes Politoad, giving the opportunity for Ttar to setup a Sub. As well as this is a good defensive lead because of Rotom being a good physical wall, while Ttar has decent bulk in the Special side of things.
​

This is the most defensive of the leads with Amoonguss being able to block special hits and Rotom being able to block physical. With rage powder you can normally attract all hits to Amoonguss while WoWing every single physical threat and as well this lead has the ability to Spore basically everything on the other team leaving your opponent in a dilemma.​

This is the least favored of the leads, while dealing heavy damage with Charizard this lead is mostly just to cause some damage with Heat Wave+ Rage Powder. This way of leading is mostly not favored unless you predict that the opponents lead will be completely countered by this.


Closure:
This team has been very strong to me besides the Garchomp of course so that is the question I am going to leave this thread at what would you guys believe would be the best fit for this team.
*NOTE*
It can be a Mega as I do not have to bring Charizard and said poke in the same battle.
​

 

[LGMLegend]

Anyone have suggestions?

 

[Aramas]

I havent been playing vgc for very long but have you considered maybe Excadrill? He could still pair nicely with Ttar and gain a speed boost to boot from sandstorm. Maybe a set like this?
EXCADRILL @Balloon
60HP / 252ATK / 196SPD
ADAMANT NATURE
-EARTHQUAKE
-POISON JAB (INSTEAD OF METAL CLAW FOR FAIRY'S)
-BRICK BREAK (FOR KANGA AND DUAL SCREENS)
-SWORDS DANCE / PROTECT

 

[Flamedood]

Perhaps Hitmontop for Intimidate + Wide Guard/ Quick Guard support? Hitmontop also forms good synergy with ChariYard similar to topmoth last gen. Also helps you deal with opposing Mamos, Tars, Abomasnows etc should you have chosen the wrong weather setter.

 

[LGMLegend]

Both of the pokemon you guys have suggested are currently not available in VGC play.

 

[Jonater]

I havent been playing vgc for very long but have you considered maybe Excadrill? He could still pair nicely with Ttar and gain a speed boost to boot from sandstorm. Maybe a set like this?
EXCADRILL @Balloon
60HP / 252ATK / 196SPD
ADAMANT NATURE
-EARTHQUAKE
-POISON JAB (INSTEAD OF METAL CLAW FOR FAIRY'S)
-BRICK BREAK (FOR KANGA AND DUAL SCREENS)
-SWORDS DANCE / PROTECT

Excadrill is not VGC 2014 Legal.

 

[Flamedood]

My apologies, perhaps Scrafty? fits a very similar role

 

[Tortured_Soul]

If, as you say, Garchomp's role is filled by others on the team as far as sweeping potential goes, then perhaps consider running another utility pokemon in its place. Something like Meowstic-M or Klefki, with priority T-Wave to help with speed control. Outside of that, perhaps even your own Talonflame for mid-game clean-up, or Regenerator Mienshao to provide Quick Guard / U-turn support. With investment it can also give you a more reliable way of combating opposing Tyranitar, without exposing Mamo. Otherwise, Intimidate users like Scrafty or perhaps even Mega Manectric.

 

[LGMLegend]

If, as you say, Garchomp's role is filled by others on the team as far as sweeping potential goes, then perhaps consider running another utility pokemon in its place. Something like Meowstic-M or Klefki, with priority T-Wave to help with speed control. Outside of that, perhaps even your own Talonflame for mid-game clean-up, or Regenerator Mienshao to provide Quick Guard / U-turn support. With investment it can also give you a more reliable way of combating opposing Tyranitar, without exposing Mamo. Otherwise, Intimidate users like Scrafty or perhaps even Mega Manectric.

i am actually testing klefki as of right now but am conflicted with its moveset
either i decide to go with safeguard/twave/swagger/dazling or
reflect/safeguard/twave/swagger(i switched rotom's moveset will update it in a sec)

 

[Tortured_Soul]

i am actually testing klefki as of right now but am conflicted with its moveset
either i decide to go with safeguard/twave/swagger/dazling or
reflect/safeguard/twave/swagger(i switched rotom's moveset will update it in a sec)

Considering the crux of your team, I would run something like Swagger / Safeguard (Reflect) / T-Wave / Foul Play. 4-status Klefki is just asking to be forced out by opposing Taunt leads like Mienshao / Sableye. Foul Play coupled with Swagger can be very effective under the circumstances. The 2nd slot just depends on whether you intend to try Safeguard + Swagger on your ally. Reflect makes Swagger + Foul Play a more reliable option. Either way, you'll be wanting to spread T-Wave primarily, and likely set Safeguard to keep your physical powerhouses from being burned.