I've heard mixed opinions on my team: some (experienced) people say that I'm good at RU; others (inexperienced) that the best way to counter some of my pokemon is to either use embargo or an offensive ninjask. Anyway, who is right?
Galvantula @ Electric Gem
Trait: Compoundeyes
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 Spd / 252 SAtk / 4 HP
Timid Nature
- Thunder
- Bug Buzz
- Giga Drain
- Volt Switch
I love galvantula as a sweeper. I've used it OU, to surprising effect, as people simply did not see a galvantula as a threat (this is hardly surprising, as we are in RU). However, in RU it too has been a gamewinner, on some occasions, sweeping to victory with a monstrously strong thunder, and good (but admittedly not perfect) coverage with energy ball and bug buzz. Unfortunately, there are some problems that it encounters- the foremost being Rotom-C (walled by), Cryogonal (walled by) and Magmortar (walled and threatened by). Fortunately, Aerodactyl will deal with the latter 2, (although may have problems with cryogonal) and medicham can ice punch the former.
Poliwrath @ Leftovers
Trait: Water Absorb
EVs: 4 Spd / 252 Atk / 252 HP
Jolly Nature
- Rest
- Sleep Talk
- Circle Throw
- Waterfall
This poliwrath is there with one goal in mind- phase boosters and counter my team's critical weakness to ice-types. Able to knock cryogonal out of the metaphorical ball-park, absorb walrein's attacks (and those of the dreaded crawdaunt, and then hit supereffectively) and recover with rest, there's no denyong tha poliwrath can be a pain to your opponent. His weakness? Just that, actually- lots of weaknesses, to grass, electric, flying and psychic (i consider this a lot). Luckily, 3 of these are resisted just by galvantula, but flying types are also a huge threat to the team.
Sceptile @ Flying Gem
Trait: Unburden
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SDef / 252 Spd
Naive Nature
- Drain Punch
- Acrobatics
- Earthquake
- Giga Drain
One of the true ‘gems’ of the tier, I believe, as a great offensive stats and coverage make for a supreme sweeper- all that stands in its way are anything that can resist its formidable coverage (flying types, nidoqueen) or anything that outspeeds (aerodactyl, accelgor). An unburden boost after a very strong acrobatics means that it outspeeds even more things, and can deal with bug-type threats. Another problem arises when you face a team which can supereffectively threaten it across the board, causing you to choose a better lead (eg, in the battle below, drapion because I reckoned he would send in aerodactyl, then nidoqueen) This leads to you not using Sceptile to the full, and losing its speed boost if it doesn’t get a chance to use acrobatics.
Some agree that this moveset is good because it is balanced and has decent coverage. Others say ‘drain punch? Really?’ or do not see the point of earthquake (will deal with fire and poison though). What I want to know here is, is this a decent moveset? What sceptiles do you use (if any)
Drapion @ Air Balloon
Trait: Battle Armor
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 HP / 4 SDef
Adamant Nature
- Toxic Spikes
- Pursuit
- Poison Jab
- Aqua Tail
This drapion is quite offensive, and there are pros and cons with this. It means I’ll do more damage, but struggle to take it as much as a bulkier ‘mon. (obviously). Anyway, a bigger problem comes in the form of steelix. Honestly, I have yet to see one in battle (I am quite the novice), but looking at this set, aside from earthquake, it’s got this drapion in a metaphorical chokehold- outside of earthquake and aqua tail, it will struggle to do anything. Aqua tail is too low base power, and if the steelix holds and air balloon, I will have to waste a turn hitting it with crunch/aqua tail. This is, of couse, not the only threat; we also have bulky nidoqueen, who can survive and earthquake or aqua tail and then kill drapion with another earthquake.
As part of the team, he is quite useful- should a poison-type attack come in (say on sceptile), just switch to drapion.
Sigilyph (M) @ Life Orb
Trait: Magic Guard
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 SDef / 252 HP / 4 SAtk
Calm Nature
IVs: 30 Atk
- Cosmic Power
- Stored Power
- Roost
- Air Slash
Sigilyph makes a comeback for me- this time with just one change- stored power, so after sigilyph becomes a defensive bastion, I laugh in their face with stored power. Hopefully. Providing they don't roar/whirlwind.
Sandslash (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Sand Rush
EVs: 252 Spd / 252 Atk / 4 HP
Adamant Nature
- Rapid Spin
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- X-Scissor
Lastly, sandslash. Pretty mainstream set, didn't get any use in below battle:
http://pokemonshowdown.com/replay/ru7801475
An interesting RU hail team- I picked a bad lead, and lost some critical mons, but in the end they were pretty weak, so i won.
Thanks, please rate!
Galvantula @ Electric Gem
Trait: Compoundeyes
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 Spd / 252 SAtk / 4 HP
Timid Nature
- Thunder
- Bug Buzz
- Giga Drain
- Volt Switch
I love galvantula as a sweeper. I've used it OU, to surprising effect, as people simply did not see a galvantula as a threat (this is hardly surprising, as we are in RU). However, in RU it too has been a gamewinner, on some occasions, sweeping to victory with a monstrously strong thunder, and good (but admittedly not perfect) coverage with energy ball and bug buzz. Unfortunately, there are some problems that it encounters- the foremost being Rotom-C (walled by), Cryogonal (walled by) and Magmortar (walled and threatened by). Fortunately, Aerodactyl will deal with the latter 2, (although may have problems with cryogonal) and medicham can ice punch the former.
Poliwrath @ Leftovers
Trait: Water Absorb
EVs: 4 Spd / 252 Atk / 252 HP
Jolly Nature
- Rest
- Sleep Talk
- Circle Throw
- Waterfall
This poliwrath is there with one goal in mind- phase boosters and counter my team's critical weakness to ice-types. Able to knock cryogonal out of the metaphorical ball-park, absorb walrein's attacks (and those of the dreaded crawdaunt, and then hit supereffectively) and recover with rest, there's no denyong tha poliwrath can be a pain to your opponent. His weakness? Just that, actually- lots of weaknesses, to grass, electric, flying and psychic (i consider this a lot). Luckily, 3 of these are resisted just by galvantula, but flying types are also a huge threat to the team.
Sceptile @ Flying Gem
Trait: Unburden
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SDef / 252 Spd
Naive Nature
- Drain Punch
- Acrobatics
- Earthquake
- Giga Drain
One of the true ‘gems’ of the tier, I believe, as a great offensive stats and coverage make for a supreme sweeper- all that stands in its way are anything that can resist its formidable coverage (flying types, nidoqueen) or anything that outspeeds (aerodactyl, accelgor). An unburden boost after a very strong acrobatics means that it outspeeds even more things, and can deal with bug-type threats. Another problem arises when you face a team which can supereffectively threaten it across the board, causing you to choose a better lead (eg, in the battle below, drapion because I reckoned he would send in aerodactyl, then nidoqueen) This leads to you not using Sceptile to the full, and losing its speed boost if it doesn’t get a chance to use acrobatics.
Some agree that this moveset is good because it is balanced and has decent coverage. Others say ‘drain punch? Really?’ or do not see the point of earthquake (will deal with fire and poison though). What I want to know here is, is this a decent moveset? What sceptiles do you use (if any)
Drapion @ Air Balloon
Trait: Battle Armor
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 HP / 4 SDef
Adamant Nature
- Toxic Spikes
- Pursuit
- Poison Jab
- Aqua Tail
This drapion is quite offensive, and there are pros and cons with this. It means I’ll do more damage, but struggle to take it as much as a bulkier ‘mon. (obviously). Anyway, a bigger problem comes in the form of steelix. Honestly, I have yet to see one in battle (I am quite the novice), but looking at this set, aside from earthquake, it’s got this drapion in a metaphorical chokehold- outside of earthquake and aqua tail, it will struggle to do anything. Aqua tail is too low base power, and if the steelix holds and air balloon, I will have to waste a turn hitting it with crunch/aqua tail. This is, of couse, not the only threat; we also have bulky nidoqueen, who can survive and earthquake or aqua tail and then kill drapion with another earthquake.
As part of the team, he is quite useful- should a poison-type attack come in (say on sceptile), just switch to drapion.
Sigilyph (M) @ Life Orb
Trait: Magic Guard
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 SDef / 252 HP / 4 SAtk
Calm Nature
IVs: 30 Atk
- Cosmic Power
- Stored Power
- Roost
- Air Slash
Sigilyph makes a comeback for me- this time with just one change- stored power, so after sigilyph becomes a defensive bastion, I laugh in their face with stored power. Hopefully. Providing they don't roar/whirlwind.
Sandslash (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Sand Rush
EVs: 252 Spd / 252 Atk / 4 HP
Adamant Nature
- Rapid Spin
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- X-Scissor
Lastly, sandslash. Pretty mainstream set, didn't get any use in below battle:
http://pokemonshowdown.com/replay/ru7801475
An interesting RU hail team- I picked a bad lead, and lost some critical mons, but in the end they were pretty weak, so i won.
Thanks, please rate!