Making a team is always a tough task. During some time, I have been developing what it is now my team. I should note that I may not be the best predicter or the best player. In fact, I’m a bad player and my capabilities should be improved. But with patience, perseverance and hard work, alongside with practice, I think that’ll be covered. But gaming isn’t only about your own abilities, but also about your team, your mates. The fifth generation metagame is plagued by weather changes (rain, sand and sun, mainly), trick room teams(although I haven’t seen many), stall-based ones and other types of teams which made their appereance in past generations.
With this team I have tried to cover some of the threats that exist nowadays, as well as trying to consolidate a solid and easy-to-use team. As I’ve said before, I’m not the best player there is out there, so when trying this team out on the smogon server I began climbing the ladder, but in some occasions mistakes made me lose points and thus ranking. This team has peaked at 700, but I know it can do better. If I become better at prediction and know better what my team members can do, I think things will improve by their own.
I’m not perfect and this team has its flaws, as every team has. I ask for your help and guidance to make this team into a better one, one that can face the major threads that dominate the metagame today.
So with no further delay, let me introduce you to my team.
At a glance:
In depth:
Heatran @ Air Balloon
Trait: Flash Fire
EVs: 284 HP / 52 Sp.Atk / 200 Sp.Def / 8 Spd
Modest Nature (+ Sp.Atk, - Atk)
- Stealth Rock
- Fire Blast
- Earth Power
- Hidden Power (Rock)
- Fire Blast
- Earth Power
- Hidden Power (Rock)
Heatran’s role is very simple. First pokemon to go out, sets Stealth Rock and then I can play my game. Most of the times Heatran doesn’t survive the second round as it is defeated esasily by pokemon such as Machamp, Politoed, Tyranitar, Lucario or similar. That’s why I put Explosion there, because It barely survives one hit and I want to do the maximum damage. That’s one of the reasons why I’m thinking to change Fire Blast to Overheat, because of its accuracy and power. Earth Power, as many of you can think, is to face pokemon like Tyranitar or other common leads. Drawbacks of using this pokemon: it’s the only pokemon on my team that has a fire-based move, which can be bad because if Heatran’s defeated I found it sometimes difficult to defeat grass type pokemon such like Serperior or even Heracross.
Hidden Power Rock allows me to face Volcarona with more esase, as my team somewhat struggles to defeat him. With HP Rock I can face Gyarados and Salamence switch-ins too. Also changed Shuca Berry to Air Balloon because in this generation it's a more reliable item.
Rotom-W @ Choice Specs
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Sp.Atk / 8 Spd
Timid Nature (+ Spd, - Atk)
- Trick
- Hidden Power (Fire)
- Hydro Pump
- Thundebolt
- Hidden Power (Fire)
- Hydro Pump
- Thundebolt
This pokemon is a beast, sincerely. It has helped me defeat many teams, bulky enough to survive hits, able to cripple Chansey, Porygon2 or Dusclops. It works well against rain dace teams and... well, I don’t know. I have always been esceptic about using the Rotom forms, but I just love this pokemon. It’s one of the most solid pokemon on this team, in my opinion. Trick is self explanatory, as well as Pain Split. A recovery move is always welcomed, and moreover if it is for a good cause. Survavility on this pokemon is almost a must. Hydro Pump works extremely well as a STAB, and can do a lot of damage if an opponent’s drizzle activates. Thunderbolt is the other damaging move on this set. Serves not only as a STAB but also as a way to face bulky waters like Vaporeon, Gyarados or Jellicent, although the latter may give me problems.
I had Pain Split instead of Hidden Power (Fire), but as someone pointed out, getting locked into that move may screw me. Aside from that, Hidden Power (Fire) gives me far more coverage to hit grass types or even steel types like Scizor. After trying this attack out in a couple of matches I noticed Rotom-W could hit harder some pokemon than before, giving me a fairly advantage in some situations.
Latios @ Life Orb
Trait: Levitate
Evs: 4 HP / 252 Sp.Atk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+ Spd, -Atk)
- Draco Meteor
- Psyshock
- Surf
- Recover
- Psyshock
- Surf
- Recover
One of my sweepers. Never before did I use it, but Latios is pretty good. The EV set needs no explanatios, as it’s destined to let Latios sweep easily, but the moveset has been tweaked. Let me explain it. Recover is a must because of the recoil Latios suffers due to Life Orb, so if I want him to survive I need it. Psyshock is a surprise this generation, and I like it. Acts as a physical attack, but appears as a special move. It’s a bizzarre attack, but a cool one I guess. Serves as a STAB. Now here come the changes. Most would say that Latios should have Dragon Pulse and Draco Meteor because of the special attack drop of Draco Meteor, but I have found that with Surf I have an option to hit Tyranitar and basically earth and rock types easier. Also, the sp. Attack drop isn’t as important as it seems because Latios comes in and out and the stats resets each time I call him back. I don’t know, that’s the way I think.
Virizion @ Leftovers
Trait: Justified
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Sp.Atk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+ Spd, -Atk)
- Focus Blast
- Giga Drain
- Hidden Power (Ice)
- Calm Mind
- Giga Drain
- Hidden Power (Ice)
- Calm Mind
At first glance I thought Virizion was frail, very frail, but I was wrong. With a little of prediction and knowing when to use Calm Mind in the right situation, this pokemon can become the nightmare of the opponent’s team. With the Special Attack boost from Calm Mind there’s almost anything that escapes this pokemon. Focus Blast, although not so accurate, is a powerful STAB move, as well as Giga Drain which also cures it. Hidden Power (Ice) helps me with flying types which do so much damage to Virizion, bugs, earth and dragons, apart from the rest of types which hate ice moves. The set is very standard, but it works, and it’s very effective.
Changed a little its EV spread as they told me. With a little less bulk I can make Virizion faster so it can kill easier and faster threats that try to damage my team.
Gliscor @ Toxic Orb
Trait: Poison Heal
EVs: 252 HP / 184 Def / 72 Spd
Impish Nature (+ Def, - Sp.Atk)
- Taunt
- Swords Dance
- Earthquake
- Ice Fang
- Swords Dance
- Earthquake
- Ice Fang
An impressive pokemon, indeed. The strategy is simple: first use Taunt, if needed (specially against Ferrothorn and its Leech Seed, but also against SD users). Then Swords Dance, as much as needed. Many times I have used it 3 times because Gliscor can receive so well damage and with the new ability given he survives better. With 3 SD he’s a beast. At last, Earthquake te foe or, as an alternative, just use Facade. Not much to say about this guy. Simple to use.
I sacrified some of this guy's Defence EVs (and thus a little of its bulkiness) to invest in Speed. Doing this will allow me to outspeed Rotom-W variants, as well as letting me defeat Tyranitar easier. I also changed Facade to put Ice Fang. Ice Fang allows me to hit dragon types harder as well as letting me face opposing Gliscor easier.
Scizor @ Choice Band
Trait: Technician
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 Spd
Adamant Nature (+ Atk, - Sp.Atk)
- Bullet Punch
- U-Turn
- Pursuit
- Super Power
- U-Turn
- Pursuit
- Super Power
Scizor. Very standard, but it works, and that’s what it matters after all. Bullet punch as a STAB and as a priority move, boosted with Technician, can become deadly sometimes. U-Turn lets me do damage while escaping in a critical situation, leting another of my pokes handle the situation. Pursuit for pokemon like Latios, which otherwise could do me a lot of damage. Super Power doesn’t receive Technician’s boost but deals a massive amount of damage to certain pokemom. As I said, this set is the standard set and works fine.
Final words:
Well, this is it: my team. A team made with love, patience and a lot of time. Mistakes that can be solved and errors that have escaped from my sight are still there. Lend me your time, if you please, you knoweledge and your capabilities to make this team into a champion team.
All the changes made in this team will be bolded.