I've been playing UU for awhile now, and have been through a ton of teams. I wanted to base my newest team around something I haven't even touched yet, Toxicroak. So this is a team built upon taking out its' counters through brute force and wearing the opponent down with great synergy. I'd appreciate suggestions on how to change the team to increase synergy or better set up for the sweep.
In Depth
The Lead
Ambipom@Silk Scarf
Ability:Technician
EVs: 4HP/252 Attack/252 Speed
Jolly Nature
-Fake Out
-Taunt
-Double Hit
-U-Turn
I decided on a simple Ambipom lead because it does its job well. It scouts, causes damages, stops set up leads, and lets me u-turn to a counter. Taunt shuts down the likes of Uxie, Mesprit, Omastar, Registeel, Regirock and Donphan, and can also stop something from setting up later game. I opted for silk scarf and not LO because as you'll soon see, I had three other LO users and figured 4 would be too much residual damage. I felt that since Ambipom isn't sweeping it could afford to lose 10% in its attacking power.
The Defensive Core
The Special Wall
Slowking@Leftovers
Ability:Own Tempo
EVs: 212 HP / 44 SpA / 252 SpD
Calm Nature
-Surf
-Psychic
-Thunder Wave
-Slack Off
The first thing that came to mind during the planning of this team was Toxicroak's 4x Psychic weakness. This is the reason I chose a special wall to handle this, Slowking. And it does it's job well, handling most of the special attackers in UU bar Sceptile and Venusaur. It also twaves the opponent as much as possible to make Toxicroak's sweep easier in the end. Surf and Psychic insure I'm not walled by sub punch Poliwrath or Azumarill, and still allow me to hit Venusaur. I've been contemplating whether to replace Twave with Toxic to help wear down Milotic, suggestions?
The Physical Wall
Tangrowth@Leftovers
Ability: Chlorophyll
EVs:252 HP / 228 Def / 28 Spe
Impish Nature
-Sleep Powder
-Synthesis
-Power Whip
-Knock Off
I always like to run a defensive core in which the pair covers eachother's weaknesses. So what better to cover Slowking's grass and electric weaknesses than Tangrowth? This allows me to have both sides of the offensive spectrum covered, with good synergy within the core. I chose synthesis over leech seed to increase Tangrowth's lifespan, with Sleep Powder to put something out of comission, Power Whip for damage, and Knock Off to get rid of an opposing LO or Choice item on a switch. The only problem with this defensive core is the weakness to Bug for both walls. I do have a resist to Bug which you'll see in a second. Is this a real problem or is it something I can just deal with?
The Offensive Trio
The Physical Attacker
Arcanine@Life Orb
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 4 HP/252 Attack/252 Speed
Jolly Nature
-Flare Blitz
-Thunder Fang
-Extremespeed
-Morning Sun
Arcanine's purpose on this team is to help break down the walls that keep Toxicroak from sweeping. It's STAB Flare Blitz annihilates Venusaur and Tangrowth, Thunder Fang dents Milotic and Blastoise, and Extremespeed lets me revenge faster threats. Morning Sun is so useful, and helps balance out the damage from LO and FB, which could cause Arcanine to go out rather quickly. This is also my Bug Resist, and with Arcanine's somewhat natural bulk, allows me to take U-turns and some other bug attacks aimed at Slowking and Tangrowth.
The Special Attacker
Milotic@Life Orb
Ability:Marvel Scale
EVs: 4 HP/252 Special Attack/252 Speed
Timid Nature
-Surf
-Ice Beam
-Hidden power grass
-Recover
Offensive Milotic is a force to be reckoned with, especially when the opponent expects the weaker defensive set. This set lures in Mismagius, Venusaur, and lets me KO/severely weaken them as well as take out Nidoqueen and Weezing. Milotic also lures out significant Pokemon that Toxicroak can set up on, such as Clefable and Chansey. Hidden power grass allows me to hit the rare but possible Quagsire and Gastrodon, while still hitting other bulky waters just like HP Electric would. Recover obviously lets me stay alive longer, and is the first time I've tried an offensive duo that has instant recover on both sides. It really is beneficial, allowing the synergy of the team to go on longer, when all that switch in damage is gone in one turn.
The Star of the Show
Toxicroak@Life Orb
Ability:Water Absorb
EVs: 4 HP/252 Attack/252 Speed
Nature: Adamant
-Swords Dance
-Cross Chop
-Sucker Punch
-Ice Punch
This is the star of this team. I chose Adamant for the most attack possible, and because I have sucker punch I can afford to be a bit slower. Cross Chop for STAB, Sucker punch for faster pokes, especially psychics, and ice punch for accuracy on Altaria. Although I do lose the coverage on Moltres, other members of my team can take care of it before the sweep.
I feel like I have set up this sweep pretty well, but I do have some big concerns.
1. I realized (after the team was built) I don't have Stealth Rock. Would it benefit my team enough to change something and put an SR user somewhere?
2.I have two water types (Slowking and Milotic). This seemed ok since I have a few answers to grass and electric (Tangrowth for both, Arcanine for grass, Toxicroak for grass). But are there any pokemon I could replace either Slowking or Milotic with to take away the dual water usage on the team, that still do a relatively similar job for the team?
3. I have a massive Scyther weakness. But ESpeed from Arcanine and Sucker Punch from toxicroak KO it after SR most of the time. So what should I take out to include an SR user?
Thank you for taking the time to read this RMT. I'd like suggestions for these three concerns and any other problems that I'm missing, as it would be greatly appreciated.
Overview
In Depth
The Lead
Ambipom@Silk Scarf
Ability:Technician
EVs: 4HP/252 Attack/252 Speed
Jolly Nature
-Fake Out
-Taunt
-Double Hit
-U-Turn
I decided on a simple Ambipom lead because it does its job well. It scouts, causes damages, stops set up leads, and lets me u-turn to a counter. Taunt shuts down the likes of Uxie, Mesprit, Omastar, Registeel, Regirock and Donphan, and can also stop something from setting up later game. I opted for silk scarf and not LO because as you'll soon see, I had three other LO users and figured 4 would be too much residual damage. I felt that since Ambipom isn't sweeping it could afford to lose 10% in its attacking power.
The Defensive Core
The Special Wall
Slowking@Leftovers
Ability:Own Tempo
EVs: 212 HP / 44 SpA / 252 SpD
Calm Nature
-Surf
-Psychic
-Thunder Wave
-Slack Off
The first thing that came to mind during the planning of this team was Toxicroak's 4x Psychic weakness. This is the reason I chose a special wall to handle this, Slowking. And it does it's job well, handling most of the special attackers in UU bar Sceptile and Venusaur. It also twaves the opponent as much as possible to make Toxicroak's sweep easier in the end. Surf and Psychic insure I'm not walled by sub punch Poliwrath or Azumarill, and still allow me to hit Venusaur. I've been contemplating whether to replace Twave with Toxic to help wear down Milotic, suggestions?
The Physical Wall
Tangrowth@Leftovers
Ability: Chlorophyll
EVs:252 HP / 228 Def / 28 Spe
Impish Nature
-Sleep Powder
-Synthesis
-Power Whip
-Knock Off
I always like to run a defensive core in which the pair covers eachother's weaknesses. So what better to cover Slowking's grass and electric weaknesses than Tangrowth? This allows me to have both sides of the offensive spectrum covered, with good synergy within the core. I chose synthesis over leech seed to increase Tangrowth's lifespan, with Sleep Powder to put something out of comission, Power Whip for damage, and Knock Off to get rid of an opposing LO or Choice item on a switch. The only problem with this defensive core is the weakness to Bug for both walls. I do have a resist to Bug which you'll see in a second. Is this a real problem or is it something I can just deal with?
The Offensive Trio
The Physical Attacker
Arcanine@Life Orb
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 4 HP/252 Attack/252 Speed
Jolly Nature
-Flare Blitz
-Thunder Fang
-Extremespeed
-Morning Sun
Arcanine's purpose on this team is to help break down the walls that keep Toxicroak from sweeping. It's STAB Flare Blitz annihilates Venusaur and Tangrowth, Thunder Fang dents Milotic and Blastoise, and Extremespeed lets me revenge faster threats. Morning Sun is so useful, and helps balance out the damage from LO and FB, which could cause Arcanine to go out rather quickly. This is also my Bug Resist, and with Arcanine's somewhat natural bulk, allows me to take U-turns and some other bug attacks aimed at Slowking and Tangrowth.
The Special Attacker
Milotic@Life Orb
Ability:Marvel Scale
EVs: 4 HP/252 Special Attack/252 Speed
Timid Nature
-Surf
-Ice Beam
-Hidden power grass
-Recover
Offensive Milotic is a force to be reckoned with, especially when the opponent expects the weaker defensive set. This set lures in Mismagius, Venusaur, and lets me KO/severely weaken them as well as take out Nidoqueen and Weezing. Milotic also lures out significant Pokemon that Toxicroak can set up on, such as Clefable and Chansey. Hidden power grass allows me to hit the rare but possible Quagsire and Gastrodon, while still hitting other bulky waters just like HP Electric would. Recover obviously lets me stay alive longer, and is the first time I've tried an offensive duo that has instant recover on both sides. It really is beneficial, allowing the synergy of the team to go on longer, when all that switch in damage is gone in one turn.
The Star of the Show
Toxicroak@Life Orb
Ability:Water Absorb
EVs: 4 HP/252 Attack/252 Speed
Nature: Adamant
-Swords Dance
-Cross Chop
-Sucker Punch
-Ice Punch
This is the star of this team. I chose Adamant for the most attack possible, and because I have sucker punch I can afford to be a bit slower. Cross Chop for STAB, Sucker punch for faster pokes, especially psychics, and ice punch for accuracy on Altaria. Although I do lose the coverage on Moltres, other members of my team can take care of it before the sweep.
Closing
I feel like I have set up this sweep pretty well, but I do have some big concerns.
1. I realized (after the team was built) I don't have Stealth Rock. Would it benefit my team enough to change something and put an SR user somewhere?
2.I have two water types (Slowking and Milotic). This seemed ok since I have a few answers to grass and electric (Tangrowth for both, Arcanine for grass, Toxicroak for grass). But are there any pokemon I could replace either Slowking or Milotic with to take away the dual water usage on the team, that still do a relatively similar job for the team?
3. I have a massive Scyther weakness. But ESpeed from Arcanine and Sucker Punch from toxicroak KO it after SR most of the time. So what should I take out to include an SR user?
Thank you for taking the time to read this RMT. I'd like suggestions for these three concerns and any other problems that I'm missing, as it would be greatly appreciated.
