I'm not to fond of using my "ladder status" to get my team rated, but generally teams that have a title as this get a lot more rates than ones without a catchy title.
While this team contains bog standard pokémon, they are so effective that they've gotten me a 44-0 streak, and a 2nd place on the Shoddy ladder.
Still, I've lost a few share of battles, and I'd like to improve my win percentage by asking you guys for help :).
The idea is to wear down the opponent's Pokémon with Choice Band Gross and Choice Scarf Garchomp, while still countering the majority of threats with Gliscor, Starmie and Blissey. Alternately, Blissey can spread Paralysis, which aids me a lot in my sweep. Once my opponent's Pokémon have been withered down, I can either finish them of with Choice Band Bullet Punch and Scarfchomp, or go for the full-out sweep with SDLuke.
So, here's the team;
@ Choice Band
Ability: Clear Body
EVs: 252 HP/236 Atk/12 Def/8 Spd
Adamant nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Meteor Mash
- Bullet Punch
- Earthquake
- Thunderpunch
Choice Band Metagross is a pretty cool lead, and can scare or deal a lot of damage to quite some other leads away (like Gyarados, Gengar, Abomasnow, Tyranitar, ...). The EV spread always lets him survive an Adamant CB Earthquake from Dugtrio, while in return OHKOing it. If it comes in on the Thunderpunch, I'm dead, but Thunderpunch is too sexy to let this off here. It OHKOs Gyarados and 2HKOs Skarmory, which is ... nice.
Bullet Punch is an awesome move, it does 39.76% - 46.99% to a 4HP/0Def Salamence, meaning it is 2OHKOd when Stealth Rocks are down.
I'm really questioning the use of Earthquake at the moment, as it is a move I barely use besides on the predicted Magnezone switch. I might put Grass Knot on it to mess up Swampert leads, who will generally put Stealth Rocks down first.
I'm also considering Grass Knot + Gyro Ball Bronzong on here, which would give me a reliable Mamoswine and Swampert counter, but I really lose a lot of offensive this way.
@ Leftovers
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 172 HP/216 Spd/120 SAtk
Timid nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Thunderbolt
- Surf
- Rapid Spin
- Recover
Standard Rapid Spin Starmie, with Thunderbolt to kill Gyarados and Surf for a nice STAB. Starmie is my main Infernape counter, outspeeding the non-scarf variant and OHKOs him with Surf. I've opted for a bulky EV spread (leftovers number), as it needs to repeatedly come in on those Close Combats, and needs to survive a Dragon Danced Earthquake from Gyarados.
@ Focus Sash
Ability: Inner Focus
EVs: 4 HP/252 Atk/252 Spd
Adamant nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Swords Dance
- Close Combat
- Crunch
- Extremespeed
Everyone knows this by now, it is quite awesome. I've opted for a Focus Sash, so I can atleast get in one kill if I don't get in a Swords Dance. I know Life Orb has a lot of benefits, but laying down Stealth Rocks is not a priority on my side, and I don't have spikes which makes a full health Hippowdon always live through a Swords Danced Life Orbed Close Combat.
This is also very handy against Calmcune, as nothing on my team can severely hurt it. I first Seismic Toss it with Blissey, so I can get in on the predicted Rest. Next, I Swords Dance up and 2HKO with Close Combat. Offcourse, Calmcune with Sleep Talk gives me problems, as I need to sacrifice Lucario if Suicune picks Surf twice with Sleep Talk.
@ Choice Scarf
Ability: Sand Veil
EVs: 4 HP/252 Atk/252 Spd
Adamant nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Outrage
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- Fire Blast
Choice Scarf Garchomp is awesome, and there isn't much to explain here, as anyone has met at least one of these once.
@ Leftovers
Ability: Sand Veil
EVs: 244 HP/12 Atk/252 Def
Impish nature (+Def, -SAtk)
- Earthquake
- Ice Fang
- Roost
- Stealth Rock
Gliscor, my physical wall. Handles those Fighters very well, also is my main Garchomp counter. The only thing I'm scared of is the Swords Dance + Outrage variant, as after a Swords Dance, Outrage does ~70%. I can switch to Metagross after this though, and finish it off with CB Bullet Punch. The EVs let it reach a leftovers number, and I've maximized his physical defense. I've poured the rest in Attack.
I've been trying out Taunt over Stealth Rock, which has worked wonders. I do miss those Stealth Rocks though, so maybe I should put Stealth Rock on something else. My only concern is, who?
@ Leftovers
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 20 HP/252 Def/236 SDef
Bold nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Seismic Toss
- Ice Beam
- Thunder Wave
- Softboiled
Everyone knows this, EV spread gives it a leftovers number, and has extra SDef because it needs to stand it ground better against those Choice Specs users.
Notable problems:
The only thing that has given me problems is a Cursepert, though I've only run into one while battling, and I managed to kill it of by sacrificing Starmie and then Close Combating it to death. Any suggestions to handle Cursepert / the move Curse better is welcome.
Machamp with Ice Punch and Thunderpunch could also give me trouble, as Gliscor can't really wall that, so any notable suggestions on this would also be welcome.
While this team contains bog standard pokémon, they are so effective that they've gotten me a 44-0 streak, and a 2nd place on the Shoddy ladder.
Still, I've lost a few share of battles, and I'd like to improve my win percentage by asking you guys for help :).
The idea is to wear down the opponent's Pokémon with Choice Band Gross and Choice Scarf Garchomp, while still countering the majority of threats with Gliscor, Starmie and Blissey. Alternately, Blissey can spread Paralysis, which aids me a lot in my sweep. Once my opponent's Pokémon have been withered down, I can either finish them of with Choice Band Bullet Punch and Scarfchomp, or go for the full-out sweep with SDLuke.
So, here's the team;
@ Choice Band
Ability: Clear Body
EVs: 252 HP/236 Atk/12 Def/8 Spd
Adamant nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Meteor Mash
- Bullet Punch
- Earthquake
- Thunderpunch
Choice Band Metagross is a pretty cool lead, and can scare or deal a lot of damage to quite some other leads away (like Gyarados, Gengar, Abomasnow, Tyranitar, ...). The EV spread always lets him survive an Adamant CB Earthquake from Dugtrio, while in return OHKOing it. If it comes in on the Thunderpunch, I'm dead, but Thunderpunch is too sexy to let this off here. It OHKOs Gyarados and 2HKOs Skarmory, which is ... nice.
Bullet Punch is an awesome move, it does 39.76% - 46.99% to a 4HP/0Def Salamence, meaning it is 2OHKOd when Stealth Rocks are down.
I'm really questioning the use of Earthquake at the moment, as it is a move I barely use besides on the predicted Magnezone switch. I might put Grass Knot on it to mess up Swampert leads, who will generally put Stealth Rocks down first.
I'm also considering Grass Knot + Gyro Ball Bronzong on here, which would give me a reliable Mamoswine and Swampert counter, but I really lose a lot of offensive this way.
@ Leftovers
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 172 HP/216 Spd/120 SAtk
Timid nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Thunderbolt
- Surf
- Rapid Spin
- Recover
Standard Rapid Spin Starmie, with Thunderbolt to kill Gyarados and Surf for a nice STAB. Starmie is my main Infernape counter, outspeeding the non-scarf variant and OHKOs him with Surf. I've opted for a bulky EV spread (leftovers number), as it needs to repeatedly come in on those Close Combats, and needs to survive a Dragon Danced Earthquake from Gyarados.
@ Focus Sash
Ability: Inner Focus
EVs: 4 HP/252 Atk/252 Spd
Adamant nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Swords Dance
- Close Combat
- Crunch
- Extremespeed
Everyone knows this by now, it is quite awesome. I've opted for a Focus Sash, so I can atleast get in one kill if I don't get in a Swords Dance. I know Life Orb has a lot of benefits, but laying down Stealth Rocks is not a priority on my side, and I don't have spikes which makes a full health Hippowdon always live through a Swords Danced Life Orbed Close Combat.
This is also very handy against Calmcune, as nothing on my team can severely hurt it. I first Seismic Toss it with Blissey, so I can get in on the predicted Rest. Next, I Swords Dance up and 2HKO with Close Combat. Offcourse, Calmcune with Sleep Talk gives me problems, as I need to sacrifice Lucario if Suicune picks Surf twice with Sleep Talk.
@ Choice Scarf
Ability: Sand Veil
EVs: 4 HP/252 Atk/252 Spd
Adamant nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Outrage
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- Fire Blast
Choice Scarf Garchomp is awesome, and there isn't much to explain here, as anyone has met at least one of these once.
@ Leftovers
Ability: Sand Veil
EVs: 244 HP/12 Atk/252 Def
Impish nature (+Def, -SAtk)
- Earthquake
- Ice Fang
- Roost
- Stealth Rock
Gliscor, my physical wall. Handles those Fighters very well, also is my main Garchomp counter. The only thing I'm scared of is the Swords Dance + Outrage variant, as after a Swords Dance, Outrage does ~70%. I can switch to Metagross after this though, and finish it off with CB Bullet Punch. The EVs let it reach a leftovers number, and I've maximized his physical defense. I've poured the rest in Attack.
I've been trying out Taunt over Stealth Rock, which has worked wonders. I do miss those Stealth Rocks though, so maybe I should put Stealth Rock on something else. My only concern is, who?
@ Leftovers
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 20 HP/252 Def/236 SDef
Bold nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Seismic Toss
- Ice Beam
- Thunder Wave
- Softboiled
Everyone knows this, EV spread gives it a leftovers number, and has extra SDef because it needs to stand it ground better against those Choice Specs users.
Notable problems:
The only thing that has given me problems is a Cursepert, though I've only run into one while battling, and I managed to kill it of by sacrificing Starmie and then Close Combating it to death. Any suggestions to handle Cursepert / the move Curse better is welcome.
Machamp with Ice Punch and Thunderpunch could also give me trouble, as Gliscor can't really wall that, so any notable suggestions on this would also be welcome.
