The False Sweeper
*picture does not represent actual pokemon used by me, although it is my namesake
-----------
After years of just playing casually, I decided to make a team that can hopefully take me high on the ladder. Coming up from the UU metagame, my only ideas were to take what I saw as the most threatening pokemon in the tier and base mine around them. Needless to say, I’ve come to know the metagame a little better since then and made my own team.
-----------
THE MEMBERS:
*The only team member I’m opposed to removing is Kingdra
---------
Without going into further depth too soon, the main concept of the team revolves around getting a free turn in to go to a one-turn setup sweeper
----------
Butterfree@Focus Sash
Compoundeyes
6 Def / 252 Sp Def / 252 Spe - Jolly
~ Sleep Powder
~ U-Turn
~ Stun Spore
~ Protect
Explanation: Fortunately, Butterfree offers an exclusive combination in reliable sleep + U-Turn, which is the entire basis of getting me free turns. Stun Spore completes the double status, and Protect stops Fake Out leads. I don’t expect it to ever make it out of the lead confrontation, but sometimes it does, and if the situation ever arises, it can switch into Stealth Rock + a Swampert’s Surf, survive, and use Sleep Powder. This is the only reason for maxing special defense. HP is left alone to give an odd number.
Considering: Sleep Talk over Stun Spore
Against common leads:
- here I have to predict whether or not it has Taunt (an increasing number don’t these days) and if it does, I can just U-Turn out first turn and go to Tyranitar or Bronzong. Otherwise I can be risky and try for Sleep Powder.
- Always U-Turn out first turn and go to Bronzong. Aero does nothing at all the the metal bell, who OHKO’s in return with Gyro Ball.
- Sleep Powder, and if it has Lum Berry (someone chose that over Occa? Yeah right) then I lose, but that’s rare
- My favorite confrontation! Sleep Powder, U-Turn out, and if I can kill it, Butterfree may just be able to come back later if this is their only rock’er
- Same as Swampert, except this 90% of the time signals a stall team, so it also makes me sad inside.
- Honestly, I just let them use Sleep Powder while attempting to use mine. I will wake up as the finish Toxic Spiking and sleep them, and I’m not really out much
- Protect first turn, then Sleep Powder
---------
Kingdra@Life Orb
Swift Swim
252 Att / 178 Sp Att / 80 Speed - Naughty
~Rain Dance
~Waterfall
~Outrage
~Draco Meteor
The main attraction. After getting repeatedly swept by Kingdras early on, I decided it was in my best interest to use this beast. I can’t even describe its destructive power if some counters are gone. Rain Dance is obviously the one turn setup, and then I can spam Waterfall until something comes in that can take that, in which case I will use Draco Meteor or if I feel safe, Outrage. Completely arbitrary EV spread, I’m sure there is a better one someone can offer.
Considering: Hydro Pump over Draco Meteor, but you’ll have to convince me
---------
Rotom-H@Choice Scarf
Levitate
6 Def / 252 Sp Att / 252 Speed - Modest
~ Overheat
~ Shadow ball
~ Trick
~ Thunderbolt
Upon a suggestion from Toxic Spork, a scarfed heat rotom has replaced my former substitute magnezone, and it really has done it's job so well in my testing that rotom is now a permanent member of the team. Please note that this really helps patch up that nasty fighting weakness i had, and also serves as the revenge killer I previously lacked.
---------
Tyranitar@Lum Berry
252 Att / 6 Def/ 252 Sp Def- Adamant
Sand Stream (sadly)
~ Crunch
~ Stone Edge
~ Earthquake
~ Stealth Rock
A lot of the grunt work goes to this guy. When I was building this team I was just looking for a Rotom counter, but Tyranitar can do much more than that. The specially defensive set can easily kill off most Latias and Heatran. Stealth Rock is mostly a filler move, but there were plenty of situations in which I knew what the opponent would switch to, and I couldn’t do anything worthwhile to it with Tyranitar, so it sets up rocks when given a turn like that.
Considering: Finding a replacement to Tyranitar that doesn’t have Sand Stream. The conflicting weather hurts, and it also drains Butterfree and Azelf. That said, I’m also considering a Choice Band version with Pursuit
---------
Bronzong@Occa Berry
Levitate
170 HP / 252 Att / 88 Def - Relaxed
~ Gyro Ball
~ Earthquake
~ Explosion
~ Rain Dance
Bronzong does many things for my team, such as killing Aerodactyl, Gengar, Heatran, Dragon Dance Tyranitar, and Infernape. Its main purpose, though, is to set up Rain Dance and Explode, paving the way for Kingdra. That was my original plan. Then I realized that by using Rain Dance in combination with Occa Berry, it becomes a near-perfect Salamence counter as well. I immediately use Rain Dance, and if it’s a MixMence, it will Fire Blast me and Bronzong takes less than 1/3 of its HP in damage. I can then use Explosion which kills it and lets MY dragon come in. If it Dragon Dances the first turn, I can actually use Gyro Ball to beat the DD versions. The EV’s are set up to give Bronzong equal HP and Def stats, which I think is the best overall, but I may be wrong.
---------
Azelf@Life Orb
Levitate
6 HP/ 252 SpA / 252 Spe - Timid
IVs are 20/30/30/31/31
~ Flamethrower
~ Grass Knot
~ Hidden Power Ice
~ Nasty Plot
This is the false sweeper, 6th in my lineup. The lack of Psychic hurts sometimes, but being able to use HP Ice on Salamence and especially weakened Latias is much more useful than hitting Infernape. In fact, I will commonly switch this INTO Infernape to bluff having Psychic and thus getting a free Plot. Flamethrower for steels, Grass Knot for Tyranitar (who sadly is not OHKO’d by a +2 Grass Knot) and Swampert, HP Ice for dragons. Not much to say here, but if Azelf dies, the opponent can think they have just killed my late game sweeper.
Considering: Actually using Psychic. Infernape and Machamp run rampant throughout most of my team and can be quite hard to stop. Also considering using someone else in this slot
---------
Team Threats:
Major:
- I know, it’s sad, I’m weak to one of the top 10 pokemon. But I really have nothing to handle it, as Azelf can’t kill it due to Extremespeed
- Not the fire attacks, as I have almost overprepared for those, but the Close Combats in combination with its high speed
- Nothing loves switching into Machamp, for sure (except Slowbro) It can seriously just spam DynamicPunch and do a number on my team
- The final of the quartet of evil fighting types that slaughter my team. But if I can get Magnezone/Azelf in when it doesn’t have a substitute, I’m good
- If this is the late game sweeper, I’m sunk. It can switch into my Kingdra and use Substitute/Agility and proceed to sweep what’s left of me, as I have no solid counters for it to begin with
The Explosion Issue: I currently rely on Bronzong’s Explosion to beat these threats: Zapdos, Suicune, and Snorlax. These are not threats in the traditional sense, but there are huge holes in my team without Bronzong
Minor:
DD Gyarados - does a number on me, but I can take this out (an alternate view is that it does this no matter what your team members are!)
CM Jirachi - Thank God these are going extinct
Electivire - is annoying if it switches into a Thunderbolt, because I never expect someone to be using it. Definitely manageable, but I lose Magnezone in the process
Scizor - the CB U-Turns give everyone an ulcer, but it gets worn down just because I keep on the offensive
Conflicting Weather Conditions - While it is highly useful against hail/rain teams, going between Kingdra and Tyranitar is really annoying when I have to set up rain again
---------
Well, that’s it for my box of tricks! When you rate, I invite you to be very harsh, so long as you have good suggestions. I really think I usable team can be salvaged from this.
*picture does not represent actual pokemon used by me, although it is my namesake
-----------
After years of just playing casually, I decided to make a team that can hopefully take me high on the ladder. Coming up from the UU metagame, my only ideas were to take what I saw as the most threatening pokemon in the tier and base mine around them. Needless to say, I’ve come to know the metagame a little better since then and made my own team.
-----------
THE MEMBERS:
*The only team member I’m opposed to removing is Kingdra
---------
Without going into further depth too soon, the main concept of the team revolves around getting a free turn in to go to a one-turn setup sweeper
----------
Butterfree@Focus Sash
Compoundeyes
6 Def / 252 Sp Def / 252 Spe - Jolly
~ Sleep Powder
~ U-Turn
~ Stun Spore
~ Protect
Explanation: Fortunately, Butterfree offers an exclusive combination in reliable sleep + U-Turn, which is the entire basis of getting me free turns. Stun Spore completes the double status, and Protect stops Fake Out leads. I don’t expect it to ever make it out of the lead confrontation, but sometimes it does, and if the situation ever arises, it can switch into Stealth Rock + a Swampert’s Surf, survive, and use Sleep Powder. This is the only reason for maxing special defense. HP is left alone to give an odd number.
Considering: Sleep Talk over Stun Spore
Against common leads:
---------
Kingdra@Life Orb
Swift Swim
252 Att / 178 Sp Att / 80 Speed - Naughty
~Rain Dance
~Waterfall
~Outrage
~Draco Meteor
The main attraction. After getting repeatedly swept by Kingdras early on, I decided it was in my best interest to use this beast. I can’t even describe its destructive power if some counters are gone. Rain Dance is obviously the one turn setup, and then I can spam Waterfall until something comes in that can take that, in which case I will use Draco Meteor or if I feel safe, Outrage. Completely arbitrary EV spread, I’m sure there is a better one someone can offer.
Considering: Hydro Pump over Draco Meteor, but you’ll have to convince me
---------
Rotom-H@Choice Scarf
Levitate
6 Def / 252 Sp Att / 252 Speed - Modest
~ Overheat
~ Shadow ball
~ Trick
~ Thunderbolt
Upon a suggestion from Toxic Spork, a scarfed heat rotom has replaced my former substitute magnezone, and it really has done it's job so well in my testing that rotom is now a permanent member of the team. Please note that this really helps patch up that nasty fighting weakness i had, and also serves as the revenge killer I previously lacked.
---------
Tyranitar@Lum Berry
252 Att / 6 Def/ 252 Sp Def- Adamant
Sand Stream (sadly)
~ Crunch
~ Stone Edge
~ Earthquake
~ Stealth Rock
A lot of the grunt work goes to this guy. When I was building this team I was just looking for a Rotom counter, but Tyranitar can do much more than that. The specially defensive set can easily kill off most Latias and Heatran. Stealth Rock is mostly a filler move, but there were plenty of situations in which I knew what the opponent would switch to, and I couldn’t do anything worthwhile to it with Tyranitar, so it sets up rocks when given a turn like that.
Considering: Finding a replacement to Tyranitar that doesn’t have Sand Stream. The conflicting weather hurts, and it also drains Butterfree and Azelf. That said, I’m also considering a Choice Band version with Pursuit
---------
Bronzong@Occa Berry
Levitate
170 HP / 252 Att / 88 Def - Relaxed
~ Gyro Ball
~ Earthquake
~ Explosion
~ Rain Dance
Bronzong does many things for my team, such as killing Aerodactyl, Gengar, Heatran, Dragon Dance Tyranitar, and Infernape. Its main purpose, though, is to set up Rain Dance and Explode, paving the way for Kingdra. That was my original plan. Then I realized that by using Rain Dance in combination with Occa Berry, it becomes a near-perfect Salamence counter as well. I immediately use Rain Dance, and if it’s a MixMence, it will Fire Blast me and Bronzong takes less than 1/3 of its HP in damage. I can then use Explosion which kills it and lets MY dragon come in. If it Dragon Dances the first turn, I can actually use Gyro Ball to beat the DD versions. The EV’s are set up to give Bronzong equal HP and Def stats, which I think is the best overall, but I may be wrong.
---------
Azelf@Life Orb
Levitate
6 HP/ 252 SpA / 252 Spe - Timid
IVs are 20/30/30/31/31
~ Flamethrower
~ Grass Knot
~ Hidden Power Ice
~ Nasty Plot
This is the false sweeper, 6th in my lineup. The lack of Psychic hurts sometimes, but being able to use HP Ice on Salamence and especially weakened Latias is much more useful than hitting Infernape. In fact, I will commonly switch this INTO Infernape to bluff having Psychic and thus getting a free Plot. Flamethrower for steels, Grass Knot for Tyranitar (who sadly is not OHKO’d by a +2 Grass Knot) and Swampert, HP Ice for dragons. Not much to say here, but if Azelf dies, the opponent can think they have just killed my late game sweeper.
Considering: Actually using Psychic. Infernape and Machamp run rampant throughout most of my team and can be quite hard to stop. Also considering using someone else in this slot
---------
Team Threats:
Major:
The Explosion Issue: I currently rely on Bronzong’s Explosion to beat these threats: Zapdos, Suicune, and Snorlax. These are not threats in the traditional sense, but there are huge holes in my team without Bronzong
Minor:
DD Gyarados - does a number on me, but I can take this out (an alternate view is that it does this no matter what your team members are!)
CM Jirachi - Thank God these are going extinct
Electivire - is annoying if it switches into a Thunderbolt, because I never expect someone to be using it. Definitely manageable, but I lose Magnezone in the process
Scizor - the CB U-Turns give everyone an ulcer, but it gets worn down just because I keep on the offensive
Conflicting Weather Conditions - While it is highly useful against hail/rain teams, going between Kingdra and Tyranitar is really annoying when I have to set up rain again
---------
Well, that’s it for my box of tricks! When you rate, I invite you to be very harsh, so long as you have good suggestions. I really think I usable team can be salvaged from this.
