The Deadly Dancers

[Argaraffe]

Here are the Deadly Dancers, a team I designed for my friend. Why is it called this, you ask? Because the stars of the show, Swords Dance Lucario and Dragon Dance Dragonite, dance their way to a deadly sweep.
Anyway, here's my team at a glance~

As mentioned, I started with Dragon Dance Dragonite and Swords Dance Lucario. They have great synergy together.

Then I added a lead Swampert. He's a nice bulky lead, and probably won't be OHKO'd by anything a lead has to offer barring Explosion and Grass Knot.

Oops. Second Fighting type. Oh well. Not too big of a deal because Machamp here isn't a sweeper, he's a Rest Talker.

No matter what your team, there's always that impending threat of a Tyranitar, MixApe, Heatran, and others. My washing machine here Hydro Pumps them away.

And now, something we all know and hate, Blissey. She walls all special attacks, and with Rotom's Will O Wisp in the wings, well, I think you can figure out where I'm going with this.

~Team Synergy:

Hide

Awesome, right?
And now, under the microscope:

Chewy the Swampert
Ability: Torrent
Item: Leftovers
Nature: Relaxed
EV Spread: 240 HP / 216 Def / 52 SpD ​

Stealth Rock l Protect
Earthquake l Ice Beam​

Here's my Swampert, Chewy. I think he's one of the most reliable leads that can come back and set up Stealth Rock again later in the match. Chewy's item is Leftovers, because he's so bulky not much that a lead can offer can downright 1HKO Swampert, except a Grass Knot or an Explosion. Swampert's moveset is pretty self-explanatory, Steath Rock is the entry hazard, Protect both scouts impending Explosions or other moves and it nets Chewy a free turn of Leftovers recovery. Earthquake dismantles the common Jirachi, Metagross, and Heatran leads and others. Finally, Ice Beam should OHKO Flygon, Gliscor, and opposing Dragonite. Here's why I do against the most common leads:​

: Well, we can't really hurt each other too bad. I just set up Rocks, and see where it goes from there.

: Although I can kill it with EQ, this is the hardest lead for me, as most pack Grass Knot. I just switch to Dragonite to wall it, resisting Fire, Fighting, and Grass. It'll probably switch, giving me time to Dragon Dance.

: Rocks, then kill it.

: Go ahead and kill it, as most pack Taunt.

: These have Taunt too, so I kill it with Ice Beam. If I sense an Explosion, I protect.

: I laugh at these things. I could kill it with EQ, but it doesn't matter, they just kill themselves, at which time I Protect.

: Once again, I don't waste my time killing it. We Stealth Rock first turn, and I protect as usual from the Explosion.​

Type Synergy:

: Dragonite​

Lucius the Lucario
Ability: Inner Focus
Item: Life Orb
Nature: Jolly
EV Spread: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe​

Swords Dance l ExtremeSpeed
Close Combat l Crunch​

As mentioned, Lucius the Lucario is one of the stars of the show. Anyways, Lucario's job is pretty straight forward, stack up as many Swords Dances as possible, then start sweeping. I'd usual use ExtremeSpeed because it has priority, and its tied for the best priority move in the game. Unfortunately, Ghost, Rock, and Steel types resist or are immune to Extremespeed, respectively. So, Close Combat kills off problematic Rocks and Steels, (killing Blissey is also pretty sweet) and Crunch kills off ghosts like Rotom-A and Dusknoir, who try to switch in and burn Lucius.​

Type Synergy:

: Dragonite and Rotom

: Dragonite and Rotom (again)

: Dragonite and Swampert​

Frank the Dragonite
Ability: Inner Focus
Item: Life Orb
Nature: Adamant
EV Spread: 200 HP / 104 Atk / 204 Spe ​

Dragon Claw l Roost
Dragon Dance l Earthquake​

Here's Dragonite, my Dragon Dance sweeper. He's called Frank, well, just because he looks like a Frank, you know? Anyway! Dragon Dance is what gives this set its sweep-ability. Dragon Claw is chosen over Outrage, because, well, if you're locked into and Outrage and can't switch, you can expect a Metagross or something switching in on an Outrage, and then killing you with Ice Punch or Stone Edge or something. Roost is so Dragonite can Dragon Dance as much as possible and to heal that nasty Life Orb recoil. It also removes some of its weaknesses, which is nice. Earthquake is for Steels that thing they can wall Frank.​

Type Synergy:​

: Lucario

: Lucario, Machamp

: Lucario (again)​

Chuck the Machamp
Ability: Guts
Item: Leftovers
Nature: Adamant
EV Spread: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Spe ​

Cross Chop l Payback
Rest l Sleep Talk​

Chuck (Norris) is my Machamp. He's the status absorb in the team. Machamp is one of the best Rest Talkers, in my opinion, thanks to its ability, Guts, which boosts its attack even when its asleep, allowing it still to be an offensive threat. Cross Chop is the alternative to DynamicPunch here, due to no No Guard. Payback hits the ghosts like Rotom that try to switch in on Low Kick.​

Type Synergy:

: Lucario, Rotom

: Nothing, but Lucario has Crunch​

Rotom the (No clever nickname)
Ability: Levitate
Item: Choice Scarf
Nature: Modest
EV Spread: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe​

Thunderbolt l Will O Wisp
Hydro Pump l Trick​

The is Rotom. I haven't though of a nickname for him. Anyway, Rotom is my counter for Infernape, as well as Hippowdon, Gliscor, Tyranitar, Heatran, and friends. Trick cripples many threats I might not have been able to defeat otherwise, as well as the bonus of me getting a great item (probably). Will O Wisp cripples physical attackers, which will pave the way for Blissey. Oh yeah, Thunderbolt is the Stab here.​

Type Synergy:

: Blissey

: Lucario, Machamp​

YUhateME the Blissey
Ability: Natural Cure
Item: Leftovers
Nature: Bold
EV Spread: 252 HP/252 Def/4 SpA​

Flamethrower l Toxic
Wish l Seismic Toss​

Yeah, everyone hates Blisey. Or at least if you're on the receiving end. Anyway, with Blissey's gargantuan HP and Special Defense, combined with Rotom's Will O Wisp, Blissey is quite the walling machine. Toxic helps spread Blissey's hate around. Flamethrower is another attack that should kill any Bronzongs or Skarmorys that try to wall me, but Seismic Toss is the main attraction. Wish increases its wall-ability and hatefulness, as well as replentishing teammates' HP like Rotom​

So there you have it, my new team. Please give me some C and C everyone.​

Threat list coming soon

 

[soonerorlater]

First, Metagross won't explode nonchalantly. It would switch to something safer, or it may stay in during Protect by prediction, and then explode. Roserade lead kills you, and if you switch to Dragonite, you'll be put to sleep on 2nd turn, then switch out.

I suggest you run Jolly on Lucario, as 90 base speed is nowhere close to fast enough on a sweeper so frail like Lucario (especially with Close Combat) and the only notable difference is not guaranteeing OHKO on Wish Vaporeon, but it still has +50% in doing so (and you won't die unless you CCed already).

Right now, there's a glaring wall against you: Skarmory and Bronzong. Both are immune/resistant to all of your sweepers' attacks except Close Combat and Crunch for Bronzong. Bronzong can easily explode on either Dragonite or Lucario, and Skarmory can Roost of damage, spike up, and whirlwind you away. Rotom is your best answer to both, and Rotom, despite being bulky, has many counters against it (Gengar, Snorlax, any special wall with Ghost/Dark moves or something that hits hard fast). Then it spells doom by getting walled. The reason Fire-types are so popular is for these 2 and Jirachi to certain extent.

NPApe is going to murder this team, with Grass Knot/Fire Blast/Close Combat/Vacuum Wave (any 3 of 4 would at least get 1 pokemon down on your team). Even Extremespeed won't stand a chance taking down Infernape, due to Ape's superior speed and powerful Vacuum Wave. (and Extremespeed can't KO Ape unless you SD or it used CC twice already). Pray your Rotom stays alive most of the time.

Rotom is the real defensive glue on your team, not Blissey, because Blissey won't tank any mixed sweepers, and many threats are countered by Rotom, not Blissey. I suggest you use Wish Blissey, so Rotom can stay alive longer too.

Ice Beam on Blissey is not very usable, as it can't KO Dragonite unlike you could to Salamence. Flamethrower could solve your Steel wall problems, with Toxic as complement to those who aren't Steel-typed.

Not sure about using Low Kick on Machamp, since its damage variety causes some problems. Go with Cross Chop for power, or Revenge for power and accuracy at the cost of going last, although Machamp almost always goes last. If you use Revenge, make sure you go with Brave nature and put 4Spd EVs into Def or SpD.

One last thing, Lucario walling Dragon moves is quite unfeasible, especially if it's a DDNite with one DD under its belt. It's a clean 2HKO from Outrage, and Dragon Claw+Earthquake will KO you (or if there's at least on layer of Spikes, it's a guaranteed 2HKO with Dragon Claw)

The big picture problem is that your walls can't clear what walls the sweepers. Gligar and Hippowdon OHKO Lucario and survive their attacks, and Hippowdon packs Ice Fang to KO Dragonite. You really need a nice special attacker other than Rotom, since having only one is dangerous. Try for Azelf or Heatran, former for fast revenges, and latter for bulk and power (it can revenge with a Scarf).

 

[cosmicexplorer]

Skarmory walls all of your physical threats, while Blissey or Tyranitar easily handle Rotom, your only user of special moves outside of Swampert, which Skarmory can wall. Also, if SD Heracross gets your team to be slower somehow, like through paralysis, and it comes in on a Will-O-Wisp from Rotom, it can dismantle everything. Infernape does pretty much the same thing, but without needing paralysis. With this in mind, I suggest putting Fire Blast over EQ on DNite, and maybe ThunderPunch for Lucario, but I'm not as sure about that. I also suggest replacing Machamp with CroCune or some other Restalker so that you can keep the original Restalky awesomeness while having some more power on the special side and a good check to Infernape.

 

[Argaraffe]

Thanks guys for the advice. Shortly I will change some of my movesets accordingly.

 

[Piccolo]

Specially-based MixApe could... e_e''' do some real damage to this team. Nothing on your team can switch in on Infernape and beat it, besides Scarfed Rotom. Even then, it's gonna take around 74% from a Flamethrower.

In order to counter MixApe, I recommend removing Chuck Norris for the perfect counter to MixApe - standard Wishing Vaporeon. >_>; Chuck doesn't have much synergy with the rest of the team at all. Of course it takes status... but that's where it ends. Vaporeon, on the other hand, is great for such a defensive team by (of course) Wishing.

Though it suffers an Electric-type weakness, you can direct Thunderbolts from the likes of Dragonite to Blissey, and then have the incoming Superpower be taken by your own Dragonite or Scarfed Rotom to give yourself the upper hand.

Roar is probably the best 4th move for Vaporeon because it eliminates the threat of a Dragonite and (especially) Kingdra from setting up over it.

Bulky Gyarados may still be a problem for this team, especially if Rotom gets picked off early. Go to Hidden Power Electric if you find that a problem.


Rotom's little hatch totally reminds me of LG.

And LG makes washing machines. ^ u ^

 

[Davy Jones]

First thing: I don't agree with using Will-o-wisp with a Choice item. It leaves you vulnerable after you've used it, especially if you hit Infernape or something with Guts. If you keep the Choice Scarf, I recommend switching Will-o-wisp for Shadow Ball, or you could use a more defensive Rotom-w set if you want to keep Will-o-wisp. Here's the defensive Rotom-w set.

Rotom-w @ Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP/168 Def/88 Spd
Bold nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Discharge
- Will-o-wisp/Light Screen
- Hydro Pump
- Shadow Ball/Light Screen

This set can take a Fire Blast from any Infernape without a Special Attack boost and OHKO with Hydro Pump after Stealth Rock or one turn of Life Orb recoil. Nasty Plot Infernape is more of a problem, but Dragonite can take a boosted Fire Blast and OHKO with Earthquake. Unfortunately, you have nothing that can safely switch in on Infernape, so you'd have to revenge kill it at best without Scarf Rotom. Or, if you get rid of Machamp and want to keep a RestTalker, you could use RestTalk Rotom-w.

Rotom-w @ Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP/136 Def/120 SDef
Calm nature (+SDef, -Atk)
- Rest
- Sleep Talk
- Discharge / Will-o-wisp
- Hydro Pump / Will-o-wisp

For Dragonite, Fire Punch or Fire Blast are good choices for hitting Skarmory. I'd recommend Fire Punch because it's a definite 2HKO after a Dragon Dance, takes advantage of the Attack boost provided by Dragon Dance, and gives you coverage with Dragon Claw that nothing but Heatran resists. To hit Heatran you could give up Roost for Earthquake, but if you do this it's probably better to go for an all-out offensive Dragon Dance set with an EV spread of 4 HP/252 Atk/252 Spd. Here's the offensive Dragon Dance set:

Dragonite (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Inner Focus
EVs: 4 HP/252 Atk/252 Spd
Jolly nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Dragon Dance
- Outrage
- Earthquake
- Fire Punch

Alternatively, to get rid of Skarmory and Bronzong without changing Dragonite, you could replace Blissey or Machamp with a Steel Killer Magnezone. Machamp doesn't seem to do much for your team since you already have Lucario as your Fighting-type, so I'd really recommend switching it for something more useful.

Magnezone @ Leftovers
Ability: Magnet Pull
EVs: 36 HP/220 Spd/252 SAtk
Timid nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Substitute
- Thunderbolt
- Hidden Power [Grass]
- Magnet Rise

You could also do as Piccolo suggested and replace Blissey or Machamp with Vaporeon to gain a solid Infernape counter.

 

[ginganinja]

hey this looks like a rather nice team but I think I can suggest a few things to help you.

Firstly I really dislike Blissey on teams like this. Blissey slows down your offenisve momentum and gives free set-ups/Switch-ins to a few pokemon. Personally I think that a Wish Vaporeon can fuction very well over Blissey. it checks Infernape and TauntDos while providing valuable Wish Support so that Rotom can stay around a bit longer.

Lastly I think that a LO Heatran with Taunt solves many of your stall problems. With Taunt it can handle Blissey and Skarmory while being able to blast off STAB Fire Moves to scare away steel types. I think its best used over Machamp since I don't believe that you need a status absorber on this team.

Have a Nice Day!

 

[JayyChow]

Idk if this'll help, but to keep this "dancing theme" you could incorporate Cresselia w/ Lunar Dance. otherwise, everything seems well thought out o_0