I've always found RMT overrated, where everyone just stole other players' teams. But I've been using this team ever since the Scizor fad started, and it's about time to give it up. With this team I peaked 1400+, which is my highest ever.
This team started as a gimmicky all-choice team, but after a tweak to a stall-breaker Gliscor, it was surprisingly successful.
The recent changes have really brought out strengths of my team, most notably banning Salamence. So here goes!
At a glance:
The breakdown:
Claydol @ Choice Scarf
Nature: Jolly
EVs 4 HP/ 252 Atk / 252 Spe
-Trick
-Stealth Rock
-Rapid Spin
-Explosion
I cannot express how much I love my Claydol. No, you won't find this set on Smogon's website. Some people wonder why I max speed and attack. If you look at its moveset, this Claydol is not meant to survive or tank at all. Max speed lets it outspeed scarf Breloom, Butterfree, or Smeargle leads. Max attack lets it KO some Vaporeon, etc. This Claydol has consistently won lead matchups for me since forever. Let's take a look at them:
Azelf/Aerodactyl/Infernape: Usually taunts or SRs right off the bat. Very rarely will it try to attack me, excluding Infernape's fake out. But when he sees I have no leftovers, the opponent assumes that I had a sash that is now broken. He then gets cocky and SRs. Just trick it and SR on the switch. Or, if you're taunted, switch out. They don't have SR set up yet, and you have a sash. You can come back in at any time.
Ampibom: Switch directly to TTar. Sandstorm breaks the sash, and you can OHKO with a pursuit when it U-turns. At that point opponents don't know what your Claydol has, so you can trick later.
Lucario: He'll Crunch me right off the bat. I trick a scarf onto him, and then switch to Magnezone to finish him off while he's locked into crunch.
Heatran: Oh, this one is tricky. There was once a wave of scarf Heatran leads, and that owned the hell out of me. Luckily, that fad has died out, so I can confidently trick while they SR or Fire Blast me. I admit, this lead is extremely hard for my team to counter. Since Fire Blast will 2HKO Claydol with no defense/hp EVs, I'm forced to switch to TTar and risk the burn. More on the effectiveness on this later!
Swampert: Usually SRs on the first turn so you can also get it up after you trick it. If he waterfalls/surfs, it's a 2HKO, so I swap to Empoleon.
Jirachi: Jirachi is my FAVORITE LEAD. Only because I own it so much :P Most Jirachi leads are scarfed, so I just switch to my Magnezone (who's also scarfed) and that counters anything Jirachi might do. Most likely it will be locked into trick/SR, and I can just whack away with TB.
Metagross: If I lock it into Meteor Mash with my trick, then I just switch to Magnezone. If it uses SR, then it'll switch out while I SR. Nothing much to say about this one.
TTar: I lose. Nothing to say about this one, only to Trick it and hope he uses SR instead of raping me with Crunch :(
Machamp: This one I just explode on. I can't really do anything else, But I find it a fair trade.
Yanmega: I just explode. Very rarely does Yanmega protect on the first turn against what seems to be a support Pokemon, so I bring it down to 1 HP (they're usually sashed). Then I switch to TTar to activate sandstorm, and then switch to Glisgor to reduce damage from the all too easy to predict Bug Buzz while Yanmega dies from sand. I really don't like this response, but it's the only one that works consistently.
Ninjask: This is one of the few I lose to. I am forced to explode right off the bat, since they usually use substitute on the first turn and I want to bypass it. Then I switch to TTar to get that sand going, while Ninjask BP's away with a free speed boost to someone else.
What's most important about Claydol is that he is usually going to make the opponent switch out before him. You have to know how to respond to the second pokemon just as well. Let's say the battle started with you tricking out the lead. As you SR the second turn, your opponent switches in Scizor. Unless your opponent is ranked low, He's problably smart enough to not reveal a sweeping SD/LO Scizor into the game early, so it is safe to assume it's a choice band u-turn scizor. My response: explode! This way scizor is weakened, he doesn't u-turn out, and you can switch into Magnezone to clean Scizor out. Claydol is a great 1-to-1 trade for the most popular pokemon in Shoddybattle.
He switches in to Suicune/Vaporeon:Rapid spin, then Explode! This is where max Attack EVs come in and help you KO vaporeon/severely weaken Suicune.
Explosion with max attack EVs is nothing to laugh at, which is why I am so eager to use it. My only exception is Gyarados, in which case I switch directly to Jirachi. Most opponents will switch out fearing thunderpunch, so I anticipate that and switch directly back to Claydol.
Well, that's most of the info for my lead, and I hope that maybe this moveset can be included on Smogon's website.
Jirachi @ Choice Scarf
Nature: Jolly
EVs 4 HP/ 252 Atk/ 252 Spe
-Iron Head
-Thunderpunch
-Ice punch
-Fire punch
Jirachi is my backup for any sweeper I can't handle. With Salamence banned, I don't have to take the chance that I won't outspeed a +1 DD salamence. Some people might not like that there is no U-turn, but this Jirachi has worked fine for me a lot. Oh, did I mention, as a choice team, I switch a lot :)
Tyranitar @ Choice Band
Nature: Adamant
EVs 160 HP/ 252 Atk/ 92 Spe
-Crunch
-Stone Edge
-Aqua Tail
-Pursuit
Standard CB TTar. The philosophy behind my TTar and Empoleon are to hit hard, no matter what pokemon they have out. Remember that Heatran lead situation? If you're not burned after you switch into TTar, I Stone Edge whatever the opponent switches out to. Some people switch to Scizor, in which case it's OHKO'ed. Whatever the pokemon, I usually take off at least half of the HP. The exception is Bronzong, who tanks everything anyway.
Magnezone @ Choice Scarf
Nature: Naive
EVs 4 Atk/ 252 SpA/ 252 Spe
-Thunderbolt
-Hidden Power Fire
-Flash Cannon
-Explosion
Nothing special here. What I like to do is if my Claydol is facing a Skarmory or a Foretress after the initial switch due to recieving a Choice Scarf, I trick whatever I get onto them, usually stealing a shed shell. Then I promptly switch to Magnezone to promptly get rid of them. This is my main scizor counter, too.
Gliscor @ Leftovers
Nature: Jolly
EVs 252 HP/ 4 Atk/ 252 Spe
-Taunt
-Earthquake
-Roost
-Toxic
Stallbreaker Gliscor is my Lucario counter and all-purpose flyer to switch into ground attacks. Since all my offensive pokemon are weak to ground, do not let him die, ever. Roost saves him a lot, but just be wary of any possible ice attacks. I usually roost against a Blissey first turn to see if she Ice Beams.
Empoleon @ Choice Specs
Nature: Modest
EVs 252 HP/ 252 SpA / 4 Spe
-Hydro Pump
-Grass Knot
-Flash Cannon
-Ice Beam
Hydro Pump 2HKOs Starmie, 3HKOs Snorlax, 3HKOs Gyarados, 2-3HKOs Bronzong, 1-2HKOs Machamp, 1-2HKOs Rotom-A, 1HKOs Skarmory (usually). A EQ'ing Gyarados will knock Empoleon down to Torrent level, allowing a 2HKO with Hydro pump. Grass Knot can 3HKO a +2 Calm Mind Suicune. Ice Beam is a close KO on most Celebis. Like TTar, even things that resist the attacks will take a lot of damage. I honestly use this over TTar for damage dealing, since teams are more inclined to have more TTar counters. But with their powers combined, nothing is safe.
So that's it for my team! I really think what's most important is to see Claydol in a new light. So I give the world this team.
This team started as a gimmicky all-choice team, but after a tweak to a stall-breaker Gliscor, it was surprisingly successful.
The recent changes have really brought out strengths of my team, most notably banning Salamence. So here goes!
At a glance:
The breakdown:
Claydol @ Choice Scarf
Nature: Jolly
EVs 4 HP/ 252 Atk / 252 Spe
-Trick
-Stealth Rock
-Rapid Spin
-Explosion
I cannot express how much I love my Claydol. No, you won't find this set on Smogon's website. Some people wonder why I max speed and attack. If you look at its moveset, this Claydol is not meant to survive or tank at all. Max speed lets it outspeed scarf Breloom, Butterfree, or Smeargle leads. Max attack lets it KO some Vaporeon, etc. This Claydol has consistently won lead matchups for me since forever. Let's take a look at them:
Azelf/Aerodactyl/Infernape: Usually taunts or SRs right off the bat. Very rarely will it try to attack me, excluding Infernape's fake out. But when he sees I have no leftovers, the opponent assumes that I had a sash that is now broken. He then gets cocky and SRs. Just trick it and SR on the switch. Or, if you're taunted, switch out. They don't have SR set up yet, and you have a sash. You can come back in at any time.
Ampibom: Switch directly to TTar. Sandstorm breaks the sash, and you can OHKO with a pursuit when it U-turns. At that point opponents don't know what your Claydol has, so you can trick later.
Lucario: He'll Crunch me right off the bat. I trick a scarf onto him, and then switch to Magnezone to finish him off while he's locked into crunch.
Heatran: Oh, this one is tricky. There was once a wave of scarf Heatran leads, and that owned the hell out of me. Luckily, that fad has died out, so I can confidently trick while they SR or Fire Blast me. I admit, this lead is extremely hard for my team to counter. Since Fire Blast will 2HKO Claydol with no defense/hp EVs, I'm forced to switch to TTar and risk the burn. More on the effectiveness on this later!
Swampert: Usually SRs on the first turn so you can also get it up after you trick it. If he waterfalls/surfs, it's a 2HKO, so I swap to Empoleon.
Jirachi: Jirachi is my FAVORITE LEAD. Only because I own it so much :P Most Jirachi leads are scarfed, so I just switch to my Magnezone (who's also scarfed) and that counters anything Jirachi might do. Most likely it will be locked into trick/SR, and I can just whack away with TB.
Metagross: If I lock it into Meteor Mash with my trick, then I just switch to Magnezone. If it uses SR, then it'll switch out while I SR. Nothing much to say about this one.
TTar: I lose. Nothing to say about this one, only to Trick it and hope he uses SR instead of raping me with Crunch :(
Machamp: This one I just explode on. I can't really do anything else, But I find it a fair trade.
Yanmega: I just explode. Very rarely does Yanmega protect on the first turn against what seems to be a support Pokemon, so I bring it down to 1 HP (they're usually sashed). Then I switch to TTar to activate sandstorm, and then switch to Glisgor to reduce damage from the all too easy to predict Bug Buzz while Yanmega dies from sand. I really don't like this response, but it's the only one that works consistently.
Ninjask: This is one of the few I lose to. I am forced to explode right off the bat, since they usually use substitute on the first turn and I want to bypass it. Then I switch to TTar to get that sand going, while Ninjask BP's away with a free speed boost to someone else.
What's most important about Claydol is that he is usually going to make the opponent switch out before him. You have to know how to respond to the second pokemon just as well. Let's say the battle started with you tricking out the lead. As you SR the second turn, your opponent switches in Scizor. Unless your opponent is ranked low, He's problably smart enough to not reveal a sweeping SD/LO Scizor into the game early, so it is safe to assume it's a choice band u-turn scizor. My response: explode! This way scizor is weakened, he doesn't u-turn out, and you can switch into Magnezone to clean Scizor out. Claydol is a great 1-to-1 trade for the most popular pokemon in Shoddybattle.
He switches in to Suicune/Vaporeon:Rapid spin, then Explode! This is where max Attack EVs come in and help you KO vaporeon/severely weaken Suicune.
Explosion with max attack EVs is nothing to laugh at, which is why I am so eager to use it. My only exception is Gyarados, in which case I switch directly to Jirachi. Most opponents will switch out fearing thunderpunch, so I anticipate that and switch directly back to Claydol.
Well, that's most of the info for my lead, and I hope that maybe this moveset can be included on Smogon's website.
Jirachi @ Choice Scarf
Nature: Jolly
EVs 4 HP/ 252 Atk/ 252 Spe
-Iron Head
-Thunderpunch
-Ice punch
-Fire punch
Jirachi is my backup for any sweeper I can't handle. With Salamence banned, I don't have to take the chance that I won't outspeed a +1 DD salamence. Some people might not like that there is no U-turn, but this Jirachi has worked fine for me a lot. Oh, did I mention, as a choice team, I switch a lot :)
Tyranitar @ Choice Band
Nature: Adamant
EVs 160 HP/ 252 Atk/ 92 Spe
-Crunch
-Stone Edge
-Aqua Tail
-Pursuit
Standard CB TTar. The philosophy behind my TTar and Empoleon are to hit hard, no matter what pokemon they have out. Remember that Heatran lead situation? If you're not burned after you switch into TTar, I Stone Edge whatever the opponent switches out to. Some people switch to Scizor, in which case it's OHKO'ed. Whatever the pokemon, I usually take off at least half of the HP. The exception is Bronzong, who tanks everything anyway.
Magnezone @ Choice Scarf
Nature: Naive
EVs 4 Atk/ 252 SpA/ 252 Spe
-Thunderbolt
-Hidden Power Fire
-Flash Cannon
-Explosion
Nothing special here. What I like to do is if my Claydol is facing a Skarmory or a Foretress after the initial switch due to recieving a Choice Scarf, I trick whatever I get onto them, usually stealing a shed shell. Then I promptly switch to Magnezone to promptly get rid of them. This is my main scizor counter, too.
Gliscor @ Leftovers
Nature: Jolly
EVs 252 HP/ 4 Atk/ 252 Spe
-Taunt
-Earthquake
-Roost
-Toxic
Stallbreaker Gliscor is my Lucario counter and all-purpose flyer to switch into ground attacks. Since all my offensive pokemon are weak to ground, do not let him die, ever. Roost saves him a lot, but just be wary of any possible ice attacks. I usually roost against a Blissey first turn to see if she Ice Beams.
Empoleon @ Choice Specs
Nature: Modest
EVs 252 HP/ 252 SpA / 4 Spe
-Hydro Pump
-Grass Knot
-Flash Cannon
-Ice Beam
Hydro Pump 2HKOs Starmie, 3HKOs Snorlax, 3HKOs Gyarados, 2-3HKOs Bronzong, 1-2HKOs Machamp, 1-2HKOs Rotom-A, 1HKOs Skarmory (usually). A EQ'ing Gyarados will knock Empoleon down to Torrent level, allowing a 2HKO with Hydro pump. Grass Knot can 3HKO a +2 Calm Mind Suicune. Ice Beam is a close KO on most Celebis. Like TTar, even things that resist the attacks will take a lot of damage. I honestly use this over TTar for damage dealing, since teams are more inclined to have more TTar counters. But with their powers combined, nothing is safe.
So that's it for my team! I really think what's most important is to see Claydol in a new light. So I give the world this team.
