• Smogon Premier League is here and the team collection is now available. Support your team!

The Golden Duck

Well this team is golden duck just for the reason that in the end the duck always stands out golden..That is with a little bit of help from dual screen and t-spikes Golduck becomes unstoppable.

images

Metagross @ Light Clay
Trait: Clear Body
EVs: 252 HP / 72 Def / 8 Spd / 176 SDef
Careful Nature (+SDef, -SAtk)
- Bullet Punch
- Explosion
- Light Screen
- Reflect
Ok so heres that dual screen I talked about yea that's right my buddy Metagross. Dual screen helps this bad boy stay alive and keeps golduck from being demolished by Thunderbolt he also helps forretress stay alive long enough for some T-spike action.
infernape.png

Infernape (M) @ Life Orb
Trait: Blaze
EVs: 252 Atk / 192 Spd / 64 SAtk
Naive Nature (+Spd, -SDef)
- Close Combat
- Overheat
- Stone Edge
- U-turn
Heyyy guess who it is! Infernape here to make blissey piss herself just at the sight of his presence. And with infernape always comes a switch and that's where U-turn and Stone Edge come into play.Once you've scouted the opponents team Infernape comes in, makes the wall switch and you predict based on what might come out to counter. I'm thinking maybe Earthquake might be better over U-turn.
venusaur.png

Venusaur (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Overgrow
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Spd / 252 SDef
Calm Nature (+SDef, -Atk)
- Energy Ball
- Leech Seed
- Sleep Powder
- Sludge Bomb
Hey its not a party without a big leafy shaman of sexy Venusaur. Venusaur loves the job of coming in on thunderbolt and either putting the opponent to sleep or forcing a switch on leech seed. And the best part is Celibi fears this creature just because of Sludge bomb and so does Swampert because he can't take a hit from Energy Ball.As long as Venu runs from Skarmory his job is perfectly done and he has a valuable part on my team.
forretress.png

Forretress (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Sturdy
EVs: 252 HP / 112 Atk / 144 Def
Relaxed Nature (+Def, -Spd)
- Earthquake
- Explosion
- Rapid Spin
- Toxic Spikes
Here we go, this guy also has a big role in this team and that's to Spin,Spin,Spin likes there's no tomorrow countering tentecruel and skarmory.But an even bigger role he has is to set up T-spikes to do some damage and make sweeping an easier job for Golduck.
474.png

Porygon-Z @ Choice Scarf
Trait: Download
EVs: 4 HP / 1 Atk / 1 Def / 252 Spd / 252 SAtk
Modest Nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Hidden Power [Fighting]
- Ice Beam
- Thunderbolt
- Tri Attack
Well what can I say about Porygon-Z oh I know! Maybe that he's one kick ass pokemon that can do some late game sweeping if Golduck is dead. Nothing really counters this except lucario who is immune to T-spikes but can be killed on prediction with hp Fighting. And he's really useful with killing Gyarados and Salamence even after one DD.
170px-055Golduck.png

Golduck (M) @ Choice Specs
Trait: Cloud Nine
EVs: 6 HP / 252 Spd / 252 SAtk
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Hidden Power [Grass]
- Ice Beam
- Psychic
- Surf
And the moment we've all been waiting for yes that's right Golduck! Cloud Nine fucks over anyone thinking that sandstorm is really gonna do anything to the big dog. Ice beam does and estimated 40% to Tyranitar, with dual screen Gengar dies on a Crit to Psychic and Hidden power grass does damage to swampert,psychic also OHKO's tentecruel on a crit really only Vaporeon can counter this and Surf does some late game sweeping after the damage is done with T-spikes.
 
One thing that can ruin your team (especially if dual screens aren't up, due to a faster taunt lead, which is easy to do.) In my opinion, Celebi outclasses Venasaur and lures in Scizor, finishing it off with HP Fire. I'd try the standard Tinkerbell set, so you can also aid Golduck with paralysis support. Also, I'd try Life Orb over Choice Specs on Golduck, so you can have freedom without having to predict. here's the Celebi set:

Celebi @ Life Orb
Modest Nature
40 spe/216 hp/252 spa
-Leaf Storm
-HP Fire
-Thunder Wave
-Recover

This set also serves as a great check to Gyarados. Also, it lures in Tyranitar and hits it with Leaf Storm, doing upwards of 80%, depending on the set. I hope this helps, and good luck with the team!

Btw I hope I explained the choices thoroughly, mentioning Scizor's threat, and mentioning how Celebi provides Thunder Wave support.
 
Why Golduck? If to counter sandstorm is the only reason, wouldn't a standard Agility Sub-Petaya Empoleon be better? I mean, sure I can see that you lioke it and all, but you are here for help so...

Empoleon @ Petaya Berry
Modest 12 HP - 12 Def - 252 SpA - 232 Spd
~ Agility
~ Substitute
~ Surf
~ Ice Beam / Grass Knot

This thing has the defenses to make up for Sandstorm damage, and besides that it also has Stealth Rock resistance and Toxic Spikes immunity, not to mention that if you play it to get the Agility and the Petaya boost, this thing can just outpower Golduck, and besides that has the survivability factor that Golduck just can't match. But that's all my thoughts, hope I helped :)
 
Well this is how the team looks with all the changes.... anymore?
Metagross @ Light Clay
Trait: Clear Body
EVs: 252 HP / 72 Def / 8 Spd / 176 SDef
Careful Nature (+SDef, -SAtk)
- Bullet Punch
- Explosion
- Light Screen
- Reflect

Infernape (M) @ Life Orb
Trait: Blaze
EVs: 252 Atk / 192 Spd / 64 SAtk
Naive Nature (+Spd, -SDef)
- Close Combat
- Overheat
- Stone Edge
- U-turn

Celebi @ Life Orb
Trait: Natural Cure
EVs: 216 HP / 1 Def / 40 Spd / 252 SAtk / 1 SDef
Modest Nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Hidden Power [Fire]
- Leaf Storm
- Recover
- Thunder Wave

Empoleon (M) @ Petaya Berry
Trait: Torrent
EVs: 12 HP / 12 Def / 232 Spd / 252 SAtk
Modest Nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Agility
- Grass Knot
- Substitute
- Surf

Forretress (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Sturdy
EVs: 252 HP / 112 Atk / 144 Def
Relaxed Nature (+Def, -Spd)
- Earthquake
- Explosion
- Rapid Spin
- Toxic Spikes

Porygon-Z @ Choice Scarf
Trait: Download
EVs: 4 HP / 1 Atk / 1 Def / 252 Spd / 252 SAtk
Modest Nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Hidden Power [Fighting]
- Ice Beam
- Thunderbolt
- Tri Attack
 
I have a couple suggestions.
First of all, the team seems a little disorganized. Celebi seems to be there to absorb potential electric attacks, but what then? if you're relying on metagross's dual screens to sweep with empoleon, you only have one shot at it. having all the other team mates supporitng empoleon becomes redundant. I think you should change metagross to a standard lead with holding an occa berry, with stealth rock, earthquake, bullet punch, and a filler, like explosion. Then, change forretress to something like bronzong or azelf, which would be able to more reliably set up dual screens late game. the spinning won't be missed, as empoleon, your main sweeper, is immune to toxic spikes and resists stealth rock.

The rest are just nitpicks:
First of all, porygon-Z doesn't outspeed jolly salamence after a DD, so that may actually become a problem if it manages to set up.
Secondly, you don't need to worry about sandstream damage for empoleon, because it's a steel type.
 
Back
Top