Hey, Im Solstice, and this is my first RMT in a while, I havent been bothered to post one in a while, but I feel like its time I got back into competitive and I have a decent team, but it needs some work, so thats where you come in!
Team Building Process
Well I started this team thinking of a lead that can counter the lead Machamp, because its been annoying me as of late. I considered stuff like Azelf, but I felt like it was a bit too common, so my mind drifted to other Psychic types that could use Stealth Rock. After lingering on Uxie I finally decided on a Choice Scarf Trick Celebi lead, because it could handle Swampert better as well. So that was the main stepping stone.
I wanted a Grass/Fire/Water core, and since Heatran is such a good pair to Celebi I added him in, the SubToxic one because I felt that having a Sub would be a good asset to the team. Then I thought Vaporeon is always a good choice, it finished the combo and gave me some helpful Wish support.
I wanted a Grass/Fire/Water core, and since Heatran is such a good pair to Celebi I added him in, the SubToxic one because I felt that having a Sub would be a good asset to the team. Then I thought Vaporeon is always a good choice, it finished the combo and gave me some helpful Wish support.
I wanted a set-sup sweeper, and looking what I had I wanted something with a lot of power and a priority move, so Lucario fit in well. And his weaks were all covered by the Pokes I already had, which was helpful.
Now I felt that I could benefit from a Ghost type, and I wanted something else that could set-up, so Sub Sharbe Beam Rotom-C came to mind, because it could bluff its way out of facing Swampert and could hopefully get a boost or two before my opponent figured out I didnt have Leaf Storm.
And I realized I was pretty weak on the physical side of things, so I wanted a very hard hitting Pokemon to fill the space. I also wanted another Ghost resist for Rotom, so I thought that CB Staraptor was a good choice, and it gave me U-Turn for scouting which is always helpful.
So thats the team. Its been working fairly well, but it still has some issues. Rotom is probably the weakest link, the Grass/Fire/Water trio is very solid, and Staraptor has been working excellently. Lucario works from time to time, and when he does he always saves my ass, so Im skeptical about losing him.
The Team in Detail
Celebi @ Choice Scarf
Trait: Natural Cure
EVs: 252 HP / 12 Def / 124 Spd / 120 SAtk
Bold Nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Stealth Rock
- Trick
- Psychic
- Grass Knot
Scarf Celebi is actually a pretty outstanding lead, very few people suspect the Scarf, which always gives me the upper hand. It handles Swampert, Machamp, and Aerodactyl very well, and its EVs allow it to take hits very well, while still outspeeding Aerodactyl with the scarf on and OHKOing Swampert with Grass Knot, as well as 2HKOing standard lead Machamp, and after he gets scarfed if he Paybacks I can easily switch to Heatran or Lucario to take it. Natural Cure is also a blessing against irritating leads like Smeargle, Roserade, and the occasional Breloom who decide to Spore me, which after a switch goes away, which is extraordinarily helpful.
Heatran (F) @ Leftovers Trait: Flash Fire
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Spd / 252 SAtk
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Earth Power
- Fire Blast
- Substitute
- Toxic
Always a solid choice, Heatran fits nicely into the number two spot on the team. Having amazingly surpassed Scizor for top spot on the usage stats Im starting to realize why. Switching in on a fire move or a resisted move and subbing is a great strategy with any Pokemon, but with Toxic suddenly quite a few bulky waters have already taken a huge hit when they're normally in a good position to counter. Fire Blast and Earth Power are just there for standard coverage and STAB. His natural synergy with Celebi makes him a great switch-in after Celebi Scarfs someone, he can almost always get in on a resisted move that the opponent is stuck on.
Vaporeon (F) @ Leftovers Trait: Water Absorb
EVs: 188 HP / 252 Def / 68 Spd
Bold Nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Wish
- Protect
- Hidden Power [Electric]
- Surf
An awesome Pokemon by any standards, Vaporeon makes a great partner to Heatran as well, and her Wish support helps the team stay alive, especially Heatran and Rotom. Also a great Gyarados counter, who's caused me some grief, but Vaporeon stops him cold. Not really much else to say, she takes hits like a champ and can dish out pretty powerful Surfs as well, damaging quite a few sweepers who think they can get the upper hand but end up in Davy Jones Locker.
Staraptor (F) @ Choice Band Trait: Intimidate
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Brave Bird
- Close Combat
- Return
- U-turn
Choice Band Staraptor is an incredible Pokemon, it effectively kills hits everything it finds for tons of damage, and has U-Turn to get out of tough spots. Scarf Tyranitar is often a switch-in, so U-Turning out hits them for 50%-60% while I get in a handy counter to do some damage. Intimidate gives him a little bit more bulk, but he has trouble with special attacks, and I feel I sometimes need someone with some more special bulk to keep him alive. CC OHKOs Blissey and Snorlax, Return is a good attack for general Pokemon like Zapdos and Gyarados if I dont want the recoil damage. Overall, a solid curb-stomping KOing machine, and one of my new favorite Pokes.
Rotom-C @ Leftovers Trait: Levitate
EVs: 128 HP / 212 Spd / 168 SAtk
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Charge Beam
- Shadow Ball
- Substitute
- Hidden Power [Fighting]
My teams admitted weakest link, he's done well before but if I had a Poke I had to replace it would be him. Sub Charge Beam is a great strategy overall, boost while doing damage and then use Hp Fighting and Shadow Ball, being an unresisted combo, to hit my way through teams. So far its been less then stellar, but it has worked. Any suggestions for a better replacement are welcome.
Lucario (F) @ Life Orb Trait: Steadfast
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Swords Dance
- Close Combat
- ExtremeSpeed
- Crunch
Everyones seen this set, and thats because it works. SD boosts Lucario to ridiculous attack, and he proceeds to CC everything to death, or Extremespeed if its resisted, and of course Crunch for ghosts and psychics who stop CC cold. It works well with the team, getting out late to smash through the remainder of the opponents team. Heatran takes fire attacks aimed at him, Rotom can take ground and fighting. Not much else to say, he does his job and does it well.
Celebi @ Choice Scarf
Trait: Natural Cure
EVs: 252 HP / 12 Def / 124 Spd / 120 SAtk
Bold Nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Stealth Rock
- Trick
- Psychic
- Grass Knot
Scarf Celebi is actually a pretty outstanding lead, very few people suspect the Scarf, which always gives me the upper hand. It handles Swampert, Machamp, and Aerodactyl very well, and its EVs allow it to take hits very well, while still outspeeding Aerodactyl with the scarf on and OHKOing Swampert with Grass Knot, as well as 2HKOing standard lead Machamp, and after he gets scarfed if he Paybacks I can easily switch to Heatran or Lucario to take it. Natural Cure is also a blessing against irritating leads like Smeargle, Roserade, and the occasional Breloom who decide to Spore me, which after a switch goes away, which is extraordinarily helpful.
Heatran (F) @ Leftovers Trait: Flash Fire
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Spd / 252 SAtk
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Earth Power
- Fire Blast
- Substitute
- Toxic
Always a solid choice, Heatran fits nicely into the number two spot on the team. Having amazingly surpassed Scizor for top spot on the usage stats Im starting to realize why. Switching in on a fire move or a resisted move and subbing is a great strategy with any Pokemon, but with Toxic suddenly quite a few bulky waters have already taken a huge hit when they're normally in a good position to counter. Fire Blast and Earth Power are just there for standard coverage and STAB. His natural synergy with Celebi makes him a great switch-in after Celebi Scarfs someone, he can almost always get in on a resisted move that the opponent is stuck on.
Vaporeon (F) @ Leftovers Trait: Water Absorb
EVs: 188 HP / 252 Def / 68 Spd
Bold Nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Wish
- Protect
- Hidden Power [Electric]
- Surf
An awesome Pokemon by any standards, Vaporeon makes a great partner to Heatran as well, and her Wish support helps the team stay alive, especially Heatran and Rotom. Also a great Gyarados counter, who's caused me some grief, but Vaporeon stops him cold. Not really much else to say, she takes hits like a champ and can dish out pretty powerful Surfs as well, damaging quite a few sweepers who think they can get the upper hand but end up in Davy Jones Locker.
Staraptor (F) @ Choice Band Trait: Intimidate
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Brave Bird
- Close Combat
- Return
- U-turn
Choice Band Staraptor is an incredible Pokemon, it effectively kills hits everything it finds for tons of damage, and has U-Turn to get out of tough spots. Scarf Tyranitar is often a switch-in, so U-Turning out hits them for 50%-60% while I get in a handy counter to do some damage. Intimidate gives him a little bit more bulk, but he has trouble with special attacks, and I feel I sometimes need someone with some more special bulk to keep him alive. CC OHKOs Blissey and Snorlax, Return is a good attack for general Pokemon like Zapdos and Gyarados if I dont want the recoil damage. Overall, a solid curb-stomping KOing machine, and one of my new favorite Pokes.
Rotom-C @ Leftovers Trait: Levitate
EVs: 128 HP / 212 Spd / 168 SAtk
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Charge Beam
- Shadow Ball
- Substitute
- Hidden Power [Fighting]
My teams admitted weakest link, he's done well before but if I had a Poke I had to replace it would be him. Sub Charge Beam is a great strategy overall, boost while doing damage and then use Hp Fighting and Shadow Ball, being an unresisted combo, to hit my way through teams. So far its been less then stellar, but it has worked. Any suggestions for a better replacement are welcome.
Lucario (F) @ Life Orb Trait: Steadfast
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Swords Dance
- Close Combat
- ExtremeSpeed
- Crunch
Everyones seen this set, and thats because it works. SD boosts Lucario to ridiculous attack, and he proceeds to CC everything to death, or Extremespeed if its resisted, and of course Crunch for ghosts and psychics who stop CC cold. It works well with the team, getting out late to smash through the remainder of the opponents team. Heatran takes fire attacks aimed at him, Rotom can take ground and fighting. Not much else to say, he does his job and does it well.
Conclusion
So that's the team, it's worked well for me, but still needs improvement. Any advice would be greatly appreciated! I'll try to get a threat list up decently soon, but Im a little busy today and tomorrow but we'll see.
