Poor, predictable Rock. It possesses great physical defenses but it is against an onslaught of offensive types that are vastly more popular, like Fighting, Ground, and Water-type. It tries to make up for this deficiencies with super-effectiveness against Bug-, Fire-, Flying- and Ice- but these types have various combinations and ways of working around the matchup. It does not receive a penalty in a Sandstorm but Ground and Steel are the same. It resists Stealth Rock and has many Stealth Rock setters but other types also have them and once agains Ground and Steel do a better job at that.
So why not build a team of this type, just for the challenge? One of the problems of this team is its selective uselessnes against some specific pokémon like Skarmory, and Jirachi. Scizor is a somewhat solved problem. Also the team does not have a hazard solver like Rapid Spin Armaldo or a Defogger. I also have to use two Assault Vests and that is a sign that something is wrong.
All help is welcome.
Aggron @ Assault Vest
Ability: Rock Head
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Thunder Punch
- Fire Punch
- Heavy Slam
- Head Smash
Aggron is the solution to a very annoying problem I come across in Monotype: Scizor and its Steel successors. If a Scizor is capable of using Swords Dance to raise its attack, it can them sweep through a Rock Team easily by spamming Bullet Punch. Aggron can somewhat resist Steel-type attacks thanks to its typing and great defenses boosted by an Assault Vest. It can then deal heavy damage to its opponent by using Fire Punch. A somewhat clumsy strategy but a reliable one. Thunder Punch deals a surprise attack to Water-types and Heavy Slam is a STAB that relies on Aggron's heavy weight. Head Smash is a brutal STAB attack, and thanks to Rock Head it does not deal recoil damage. It's only issue is its low accuracy.
Tyranitar @ Choice Band
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Fire Punch
- Earthquake
- Crunch
- Stone Edge
Tyranitar is a no brainer choice. Its ability summons an instant Sandstorm that benefits Rock type pokémons and harms non- Ground-, Rock and Steel types. It possesses a great bulk and its Attack is top notch with a Choice Band. Fire Punch is a counter against Fire-, Grass- and Steel-types. Eartquake is a coverage choice and Crunch and Sotne Edge are STAB attacks.
Cradily @ Leftovers
Ability: Storm Drain
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpD
Sassy Nature
- Recover
- Toxic
- Rock Slide
- Giga Drain
One issue with Rock is a crippling weakness to Water. Cradily has Storm Drain so it can nullify Water Attacks and receive a bonus to its Special Attack in its entry. Since Cradily has great defenses it relies on a Stall tactic but it has to be careful to not overextend its welcome. Recover and Giga Drain with Leftovers garqantee a nice HP recovery rate and Toxic makes up for its lack of offensive capabilities. Rock Slide is a STAB against Flying-types but perhaps Protect would be a better choice to a stall build.
Terrakion @ Assault Vest
Ability: Justified
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Quick Attack
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- Sacred Sword
Terrakion is a great pokémon, but that greatness comes at a cost. I think it is the fastest element of this team and Quick Attack sometimes deals with a weakened opponent. Earthquake is a good coverage option and Stone Edge and Sacred Sword are STABs. I chose Sacred Sword over Close COmbat because I never really was confortable with the stat reduction and Sacred Sword ignores the opponent stat changes.
Nihilego @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Beast Boost
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Thunderbolt
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Power Gem
- Sludge Wave
Nihilego is one hell of a sweeper, thanks to Beast Boost. It one has to deal with an opponent and if I chose the right attack it can end the fight there. As such its options deal with coverage so it can reach that cenario as fast as possible. Choice Scarf raises its respectable speed to a very fast value. Thunderbolt deals with Flying and Water-types. Hidden Power [ice] solves Dragon-, Flying-, Grass- and Ground-type. Power Gem is a STAB that finishes Bug- and Fire- types and Sludge Wave crushes Firy-types and is a good options vs neutral targets.
Diancie @ Diancite
Ability: Clear Body
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Atk / 252 SpA
Quiet Nature
- Earth Power
- Hidden Power [Fire]
- Diamond Storm
- Moonblast
Diancie is the Mega option of this team. Clear Body is useful and Magic Bounce is a nice counter versus entry hazard setters. Moonblast deals with dragon types and Diancie can enter with impunity in the face of Outrage users. Diamond Storm is excellent since it is a STAB attack and doubles its Defence. The other attacks are counter against its main weaknesses: Poison-types (Earth Power) and Steel-types (Hidden power[Fire]).
So why not build a team of this type, just for the challenge? One of the problems of this team is its selective uselessnes against some specific pokémon like Skarmory, and Jirachi. Scizor is a somewhat solved problem. Also the team does not have a hazard solver like Rapid Spin Armaldo or a Defogger. I also have to use two Assault Vests and that is a sign that something is wrong.
All help is welcome.
Aggron @ Assault Vest
Ability: Rock Head
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Thunder Punch
- Fire Punch
- Heavy Slam
- Head Smash
Aggron is the solution to a very annoying problem I come across in Monotype: Scizor and its Steel successors. If a Scizor is capable of using Swords Dance to raise its attack, it can them sweep through a Rock Team easily by spamming Bullet Punch. Aggron can somewhat resist Steel-type attacks thanks to its typing and great defenses boosted by an Assault Vest. It can then deal heavy damage to its opponent by using Fire Punch. A somewhat clumsy strategy but a reliable one. Thunder Punch deals a surprise attack to Water-types and Heavy Slam is a STAB that relies on Aggron's heavy weight. Head Smash is a brutal STAB attack, and thanks to Rock Head it does not deal recoil damage. It's only issue is its low accuracy.
Tyranitar @ Choice Band
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Fire Punch
- Earthquake
- Crunch
- Stone Edge
Tyranitar is a no brainer choice. Its ability summons an instant Sandstorm that benefits Rock type pokémons and harms non- Ground-, Rock and Steel types. It possesses a great bulk and its Attack is top notch with a Choice Band. Fire Punch is a counter against Fire-, Grass- and Steel-types. Eartquake is a coverage choice and Crunch and Sotne Edge are STAB attacks.
Cradily @ Leftovers
Ability: Storm Drain
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpD
Sassy Nature
- Recover
- Toxic
- Rock Slide
- Giga Drain
One issue with Rock is a crippling weakness to Water. Cradily has Storm Drain so it can nullify Water Attacks and receive a bonus to its Special Attack in its entry. Since Cradily has great defenses it relies on a Stall tactic but it has to be careful to not overextend its welcome. Recover and Giga Drain with Leftovers garqantee a nice HP recovery rate and Toxic makes up for its lack of offensive capabilities. Rock Slide is a STAB against Flying-types but perhaps Protect would be a better choice to a stall build.
Terrakion @ Assault Vest
Ability: Justified
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Quick Attack
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- Sacred Sword
Terrakion is a great pokémon, but that greatness comes at a cost. I think it is the fastest element of this team and Quick Attack sometimes deals with a weakened opponent. Earthquake is a good coverage option and Stone Edge and Sacred Sword are STABs. I chose Sacred Sword over Close COmbat because I never really was confortable with the stat reduction and Sacred Sword ignores the opponent stat changes.
Nihilego @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Beast Boost
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Thunderbolt
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Power Gem
- Sludge Wave
Nihilego is one hell of a sweeper, thanks to Beast Boost. It one has to deal with an opponent and if I chose the right attack it can end the fight there. As such its options deal with coverage so it can reach that cenario as fast as possible. Choice Scarf raises its respectable speed to a very fast value. Thunderbolt deals with Flying and Water-types. Hidden Power [ice] solves Dragon-, Flying-, Grass- and Ground-type. Power Gem is a STAB that finishes Bug- and Fire- types and Sludge Wave crushes Firy-types and is a good options vs neutral targets.
Diancie @ Diancite
Ability: Clear Body
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Atk / 252 SpA
Quiet Nature
- Earth Power
- Hidden Power [Fire]
- Diamond Storm
- Moonblast
Diancie is the Mega option of this team. Clear Body is useful and Magic Bounce is a nice counter versus entry hazard setters. Moonblast deals with dragon types and Diancie can enter with impunity in the face of Outrage users. Diamond Storm is excellent since it is a STAB attack and doubles its Defence. The other attacks are counter against its main weaknesses: Poison-types (Earth Power) and Steel-types (Hidden power[Fire]).
