Sand Stall is a very effective Defensive strategy, and I doubt that it's uncommon. It utilizes Sand (duh), which is 1/2 weather effects that cause damage over time. Ive fiddled around with trying to make stall sets after reading this guys amazing rain stall team http://www.smogon.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3455765
and ever since, ive been looking around to try and invent my own!
How I made this team!
Sand teams always carry these 2 pokemon, Hippowdon, and Tyranitar, so naturally these 2 are in the team. When you think of sand teams, automatically there are more offensive options than defensive, So i searched around for good defensive options to put into this team, taking into consideration the many counters sand teams often face. In the end, I ended up with this team!
To start it off!
Hippowdon @ Leftovers
Nature: Bold
Ability: Sand Stream
252HP/176 Def/76 SpD
Stealth Rock
Roar
Substitute
Slack Off
Hippowdon is my lead who is statted to take at least 1 hit before dieing in order to get out stealth rocks. When pitted against another entry hazard lead, It can get a substitute in and do its main job, phazing. Slack Off is its most reliable recovery move, and it keeps him in the game for a pretty good time.
Mandibuzz @ Leftovers
Nature: Calm
Ability: Overcoat
252HP/76Def/176 SpD
Whirlwind
Roost
Taunt
Toxic
Mandibuzz is one of the most bulkiest pokemon introduced in 5th gen, and imo is a better phazer than Skarmory. When Hippowdon is taunted, spored, or magic coated, He gets switched in. With its flying typing, its unaffected by spikes or toxic spikes. Ive witnessed Mandibuzz eat super effective attacks likes its candy, and I can just roost heal, and let Sand storm phaze everything to death. Needless to say, Mandibuzz is my shining phazer, and he does it job quite well
Tyranitar @ Leftovers
Nature: Quiet
Ability: Sand Stream
252 HP/ 40 Atk/84 SpA/52 SpD/68 Spe
Substitute
Focus Punch
Flamethrower
Crunch
When I looked up this set, Honestly I was questionable about the ev spread. I did know I wanted a bulky-tar, But when I looked at this... I was like what? But after testing it, i came to the conclusion that on a stall team, this tyranitar works perfectly as a check for Chansey, Blissey, Ferrothorn, and just about every other stall in the game. The ev spread allows tyranitar to take a hit and substitute last, allowing a clean focus punch KO. This set also allows you to switch in on blissey and chansey, and set up to even sweep half a team. Quiet nature and 84 SpA gives flame thrower really good coverage, and all in all, I love this tyranitar set.
Rhyperior @ Leftovers
Nature: Relaxed
Ability: Solid Rock
252 HP/76 Def/176 SpD
Fire Punch
Rest
Sleep Talk
Dragon Tail
My Last Phazer and final LoD on my team. Rhyperior is an excellent Stall and he's better than Rhydon on this team for one simple reason, Solid rock. The super effective damage reduction from that, applied to its excellent bulk allows him to withstand a whole lot of things. When I thought about this team, I wanted phazers with reliable recovery, Needless to say Hippowdon and Mandibuzz filled the bill perfectly. Rhyperior had access to rest, which meant he could basically come into toxic spikes and get rid of it, and with sleep talk, perform his job, and counter spore. Rhyperior is my only phazer that can dish the damage and phaze without the help of stealth rock, which is needed in cases where my own stealth rock is gone. Fire Punch, again, is a coverage move for ferrothorn, as well as steel types.
Stoutland @ Life Orb
Nature: Adamant
Ability: Sand Rush
252 Atk/ 176 Spe/76 HP
Fire Fang
Ice Fang
Wild Charge
Retaliate
every stall team needs offense in some way. I chose stoutland because he can abuse Sand Rush, which doubles his speed in sand. Stoutland has very good attack and access to good coverage with Fire Fang, Ice Fang, and Wild charge, and with stab retaliate, he has a very good revenge kill option.
Excadrill @ Air Balloon
Nature: Jolly
Ability: Sand Rush
252 Atk/ 252 Spe
Brick Break
Earthquake
Shadow Claw
X-Scissor
Excadrill is, by far, one of the best sweepers in the sand because of sand rush, so he was always a choice in my team. I got tired of coming into contact with Ghost types such as Gengar, which are immune to Brick Break and Earthquake, and resist X-Scissor. So I figured, why not? Excadrill is already sitting at 362 Atk, and by the time he comes into play, the opponents team will be all set for him to 1 shot. So instead of Swords Dance, I put in place Shadow Claw.
And there you have it. Terrain Hail, the Sand Stall team
