Alright, this is probably my third RMT. With hopefully enough information. With Salamence being banned, I had to completely revamp my party. I decided to use Starmie as my sweeper. As I used it in-game for most of my games. Now having huge opportunities to sweep.
Team Building Process
Well obviously, Starmie is what this team is based around, so it has to be in this party.
With weaknesses like Grass, Bug and Dark, Infernape could solve this problem.
Then I decided on a FWG core like most people do nowadays. With Sceptile being somewhat versitile, with a high speed stat and a very good special attack stat, why not? So in came Sceptile.
Everything I've had so far is fast and frail. Anything that could pretty much take a hit from them and retaliate would take them down either that or Pokemon that can outspeed it. Jirachi has relative bulk with a huge movepool. With Thunder Wave support, Jirachi is a huge help to these 3.
In order for Starmie to sweep, everything should be relatively weakened. Kingdra can easily switch in to tons of Pokemon from it's typing. Fire Blast from Heatran will hardly dent it at all.
All we needed is a lead. Gliscor has relatively high speed, can lay down Stealth Rocks while shutting down slower leads. Not falling from Azelf's Psychic, Swampert's Ice Beam or Machamp's Ice Punch. Setting up Stealth Rocks are easy.
Well that's it!
At a closer look:
The Lead
Gliscor (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Sand Veil
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- Taunt
- Roost
With bulk, speed, Taunt, Stealth Rocks, Gliscor works as a great lead. It can easily come in later game to take a hit. If it's still fairly healthy, it'll be a great check to threats like Lucario. Taunt allows him to take care of Pokemon like Hippowdon. Roost keeps him healthy. Earthquake and Stealth Rocks are a given.
How Gliscor does against the top 10 leads as of July 2010.
I never knew a monkey whose head is on fire would be so strong.
Infernape (M) @ Expert Belt
Trait: Blaze
EVs: 252 Atk / 192 Spd / 64 SAtk
Naive Nature (+Spd, -SDef)
- U-turn
- Close Combat
- ThunderPunch
- Overheat
This is your standard Physical MixApe. It works great as a scout with U-Turn. Close Combat is there for Fighting-type STAB. Overheat to kill anything that might want to switch in. What you might have noticed was that my Infernape ran ThunderPunch over Stone Edge. My reasoning for this is Stone Edge has proven to be way too unreliable for me. The only thing I kill with it was Gyarados anyways. So why not use ThunderPunch instead? It works a lot better for me when I go against Gyarados. If I predict a bulky water coming out, I'll U-Turn out to Sceptile which pretty much destroys any water type that comes at me.
A glass cannon made of grass.
Sceptile (M) @ Choice Specs
Trait: Overgrow
EVs: 4 Def / 252 Spd / 252 SAtk
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Leaf Storm
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Energy Ball
- Focus Blast
Why am I using this instead of Shaymin? It's because Sceptile is faster, and has a higher Special Attack stat and most importantly, Leaf Storm. It wrecks everything that doesn't resist it, even stuff that does resist it is heavily damaged. Hidden Power Ice is there for the coverage. This is used over Dragon Pulse because it hits for super effective on things like Gliscor as well. All the Dragons not in ubers are 4x weak to Ice anyways, except for Kingdra. Which gets 1HKO'd by Leaf Storm anyways.
A seahorse with swagger.
Kingdra(M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Swift Swim
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Spd / 4 SDef
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Dragon Dance
- Substitute
- Outrage
- Waterfall
This lone Pokemon has granted me the most 6-0 wins. It resists almost anything most special attackers throw at it. It'll set up right in your face even if you expect it. Substitute works great with it's large number of resistances. More often than not, the substitute needs at least 2 hits to break. Seeing Kingdra at +4 or higher isn't a rare site. Outrage and Waterfall is only resisted by Shedinja and Empoleon. Making it a huge threat. Punching holes through so many teams.
Who knew something so small could pack such a huge punch..and a head as hard as steel.
Jirachi @ Leftovers
Trait: Serene Grace
EVs: 4 HP/ 252 Atk/252 Spd
Jolly Nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Iron Head
- Fire Punch
- Ice Punch
- U-Turn
Currently trying out this set. Works great against Ice Punch is for Dragonite and Flygon. Since my team is somewhat Flygon weak. Iron Head for FlinchHax and STAB. Fire Punch is for Scizor. U-Turn is always useful for scouting, used in conjunction with Infernape to pull off fast U-Turns that quickly rack up damage.
The Star of the Show...no pun intended.
Starmie @ Life Orb
Trait: Natural Cure
EVs: 4 Def / 252 Spd / 252 SAtk
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Surf
- Ice Beam
- Thunderbolt
- Recover
Well, this thing is like a school janitor. After everybody is gone, it cleans up everything. "Everybody" meaning either my team, or it's checks/counters. Surf is used over Hydro Pump because everything under 85 accuracy always misses for me. Life Orb and Sandstorm really knocks down Starmie's health, so I have recover. BoltBeam for coverage. Surf for STAB. This set is walled by Lanturn and such, but I don't see it in OU that much. Threats like Gengar are taken down after a Surf. Surf hits Scizor for 58.9% - 69.4% and Tyranitar for 65.5% - 77.8%. Which isn't very good since they will kill me after that. Other than that, it just wipes the floor. I
Threat List
I seem to have forgotten the threat list, but I won't bother making a full one but a short one with all my threats to my team.
Machamp - Either in the lead or attacker position, this thing ALWAYS gives me problems. DynamicPunch messes up my entire party. The only way I can take care of this thing is FlinchHax from Jirachi or risk the chance of 1HKOing with Leaf Storm with Sceptile.
Flygon - Nothing on my team resists the attacks from this thing. I never had a problem with this, since I don't see it after Kingdra sets up most of the time. Scarfed Variants are just hopefully taken down on the switch. Mixed sets will be revenged by Sceptile and Starmie since they outspeed and kill.
Jolteon - Once my team is beaten down, this thing comes it and WRECKS my team. Nothing can take a hit from this but maybe Kingdra. Scarf Jirachi is the only thing that outspeeds it. Though not being able to take it down.
Lanturn - Late game, when I only have Starmie, Jirachi and Infernape, this thing just walls my team. Infernape could Close Combat it but gets killed right after.
Lucario - Agility sets will cause problems for me. For it being able to take down everything except Gliscor and Jirachi. If it runs Ice Punch, even Gliscor will fall.
Togekiss - Choice Scarf sets really screw me over. If it uses Air Slash, the only thing that will be able to take it down would probably be Jirachi.
Breloom - This thing is gay.
Tyranitar - >.> Close Combat from Infernape or Leaf Storm from Sceptile I think would kill it. I'll have trouble with Scarf variants. Jirachi could handle it with Iron Head but once it's out, a DD TTar would just wipe my team.
Team Building Process
Well obviously, Starmie is what this team is based around, so it has to be in this party.
With weaknesses like Grass, Bug and Dark, Infernape could solve this problem.
Then I decided on a FWG core like most people do nowadays. With Sceptile being somewhat versitile, with a high speed stat and a very good special attack stat, why not? So in came Sceptile.
Everything I've had so far is fast and frail. Anything that could pretty much take a hit from them and retaliate would take them down either that or Pokemon that can outspeed it. Jirachi has relative bulk with a huge movepool. With Thunder Wave support, Jirachi is a huge help to these 3.
In order for Starmie to sweep, everything should be relatively weakened. Kingdra can easily switch in to tons of Pokemon from it's typing. Fire Blast from Heatran will hardly dent it at all.
All we needed is a lead. Gliscor has relatively high speed, can lay down Stealth Rocks while shutting down slower leads. Not falling from Azelf's Psychic, Swampert's Ice Beam or Machamp's Ice Punch. Setting up Stealth Rocks are easy.
Well that's it!
At a closer look:
The Lead
Gliscor (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Sand Veil
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- Taunt
- Roost
With bulk, speed, Taunt, Stealth Rocks, Gliscor works as a great lead. It can easily come in later game to take a hit. If it's still fairly healthy, it'll be a great check to threats like Lucario. Taunt allows him to take care of Pokemon like Hippowdon. Roost keeps him healthy. Earthquake and Stealth Rocks are a given.
How Gliscor does against the top 10 leads as of July 2010.
Azelf - Psychic will not kill it. Try to Stealth Rock on the first turn, if taunted, switch out to Jirachi.
Machamp - If faced against Machamp, I'll probably lose on it. I can set up Stealth Rock for sure. If it hits me with an Ice Punch, I'll survive the hit and either use Earthquake and die or use Roost to stall it somewhat.
Aerodactyl - I completely lose against this thing. The best we can do is both set up Stealth Rocks. After that, I switch out to Jirachi since I know it can't kill me with Earthquake.
Metagross - Unless it's some Choice Scarf lead, I will completely shut it down if it does not run Ice Punch. I can taunt it, set up Stealth Rocks and kill it with Earthquake while Meteor Mash/Bullet Punch can't even 2HKO or maybe even 3HKO me.
Swampert - Stealth Rock or Taunt it. If I taunt it, I might get hit with an Ice Beam which shouldn't kill me unless it invested in SpA EVs or it gets a crit. I set up SR and die.
Jirachi - If it tricks me, I'll either use Earthquake, set up SR, or switch to Infernape, Sceptile or my Jirachi. If it doesn't trick me, it probably just U-Turned out and I'll switch to whichever accordingly
Infernape - It will not kill me with a Fake Out/Fire Blast. I'll set up Stealth Rocks and switch out to Kingdra to take the Fire Blast. Either that or Starmie, but I want to keep it hidden.
Roserade - I'll taunt it. It won't be able to put me to sleep or set up (Toxic) Spikes. If it uses HP Ice, I will die. I almost always set up Rocks though.
Heatran - I taunt, set up Stealth Rocks then use Earthquake. I'll either most likely die, or switch out to my Kingdra. my stealth rocks are for sure up though.
Ninjask - Stealth Rocks while it uses Protect. I'll taunt the turn after. It'll be most likely shut down.
Machamp - If faced against Machamp, I'll probably lose on it. I can set up Stealth Rock for sure. If it hits me with an Ice Punch, I'll survive the hit and either use Earthquake and die or use Roost to stall it somewhat.
Aerodactyl - I completely lose against this thing. The best we can do is both set up Stealth Rocks. After that, I switch out to Jirachi since I know it can't kill me with Earthquake.
Metagross - Unless it's some Choice Scarf lead, I will completely shut it down if it does not run Ice Punch. I can taunt it, set up Stealth Rocks and kill it with Earthquake while Meteor Mash/Bullet Punch can't even 2HKO or maybe even 3HKO me.
Swampert - Stealth Rock or Taunt it. If I taunt it, I might get hit with an Ice Beam which shouldn't kill me unless it invested in SpA EVs or it gets a crit. I set up SR and die.
Jirachi - If it tricks me, I'll either use Earthquake, set up SR, or switch to Infernape, Sceptile or my Jirachi. If it doesn't trick me, it probably just U-Turned out and I'll switch to whichever accordingly
Infernape - It will not kill me with a Fake Out/Fire Blast. I'll set up Stealth Rocks and switch out to Kingdra to take the Fire Blast. Either that or Starmie, but I want to keep it hidden.
Roserade - I'll taunt it. It won't be able to put me to sleep or set up (Toxic) Spikes. If it uses HP Ice, I will die. I almost always set up Rocks though.
Heatran - I taunt, set up Stealth Rocks then use Earthquake. I'll either most likely die, or switch out to my Kingdra. my stealth rocks are for sure up though.
Ninjask - Stealth Rocks while it uses Protect. I'll taunt the turn after. It'll be most likely shut down.
I never knew a monkey whose head is on fire would be so strong.
Infernape (M) @ Expert Belt
Trait: Blaze
EVs: 252 Atk / 192 Spd / 64 SAtk
Naive Nature (+Spd, -SDef)
- U-turn
- Close Combat
- ThunderPunch
- Overheat
This is your standard Physical MixApe. It works great as a scout with U-Turn. Close Combat is there for Fighting-type STAB. Overheat to kill anything that might want to switch in. What you might have noticed was that my Infernape ran ThunderPunch over Stone Edge. My reasoning for this is Stone Edge has proven to be way too unreliable for me. The only thing I kill with it was Gyarados anyways. So why not use ThunderPunch instead? It works a lot better for me when I go against Gyarados. If I predict a bulky water coming out, I'll U-Turn out to Sceptile which pretty much destroys any water type that comes at me.
A glass cannon made of grass.
Sceptile (M) @ Choice Specs
Trait: Overgrow
EVs: 4 Def / 252 Spd / 252 SAtk
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Leaf Storm
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Energy Ball
- Focus Blast
Why am I using this instead of Shaymin? It's because Sceptile is faster, and has a higher Special Attack stat and most importantly, Leaf Storm. It wrecks everything that doesn't resist it, even stuff that does resist it is heavily damaged. Hidden Power Ice is there for the coverage. This is used over Dragon Pulse because it hits for super effective on things like Gliscor as well. All the Dragons not in ubers are 4x weak to Ice anyways, except for Kingdra. Which gets 1HKO'd by Leaf Storm anyways.
A seahorse with swagger.
Kingdra(M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Swift Swim
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Spd / 4 SDef
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Dragon Dance
- Substitute
- Outrage
- Waterfall
This lone Pokemon has granted me the most 6-0 wins. It resists almost anything most special attackers throw at it. It'll set up right in your face even if you expect it. Substitute works great with it's large number of resistances. More often than not, the substitute needs at least 2 hits to break. Seeing Kingdra at +4 or higher isn't a rare site. Outrage and Waterfall is only resisted by Shedinja and Empoleon. Making it a huge threat. Punching holes through so many teams.
Who knew something so small could pack such a huge punch..and a head as hard as steel.
Jirachi @ Leftovers
Trait: Serene Grace
EVs: 4 HP/ 252 Atk/252 Spd
Jolly Nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Iron Head
- Fire Punch
- Ice Punch
- U-Turn
Currently trying out this set. Works great against Ice Punch is for Dragonite and Flygon. Since my team is somewhat Flygon weak. Iron Head for FlinchHax and STAB. Fire Punch is for Scizor. U-Turn is always useful for scouting, used in conjunction with Infernape to pull off fast U-Turns that quickly rack up damage.
The Star of the Show...no pun intended.
Starmie @ Life Orb
Trait: Natural Cure
EVs: 4 Def / 252 Spd / 252 SAtk
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Surf
- Ice Beam
- Thunderbolt
- Recover
Well, this thing is like a school janitor. After everybody is gone, it cleans up everything. "Everybody" meaning either my team, or it's checks/counters. Surf is used over Hydro Pump because everything under 85 accuracy always misses for me. Life Orb and Sandstorm really knocks down Starmie's health, so I have recover. BoltBeam for coverage. Surf for STAB. This set is walled by Lanturn and such, but I don't see it in OU that much. Threats like Gengar are taken down after a Surf. Surf hits Scizor for 58.9% - 69.4% and Tyranitar for 65.5% - 77.8%. Which isn't very good since they will kill me after that. Other than that, it just wipes the floor. I
Threat List
I seem to have forgotten the threat list, but I won't bother making a full one but a short one with all my threats to my team.
Machamp - Either in the lead or attacker position, this thing ALWAYS gives me problems. DynamicPunch messes up my entire party. The only way I can take care of this thing is FlinchHax from Jirachi or risk the chance of 1HKOing with Leaf Storm with Sceptile.
Flygon - Nothing on my team resists the attacks from this thing. I never had a problem with this, since I don't see it after Kingdra sets up most of the time. Scarfed Variants are just hopefully taken down on the switch. Mixed sets will be revenged by Sceptile and Starmie since they outspeed and kill.
Jolteon - Once my team is beaten down, this thing comes it and WRECKS my team. Nothing can take a hit from this but maybe Kingdra. Scarf Jirachi is the only thing that outspeeds it. Though not being able to take it down.
Lanturn - Late game, when I only have Starmie, Jirachi and Infernape, this thing just walls my team. Infernape could Close Combat it but gets killed right after.
Lucario - Agility sets will cause problems for me. For it being able to take down everything except Gliscor and Jirachi. If it runs Ice Punch, even Gliscor will fall.
Togekiss - Choice Scarf sets really screw me over. If it uses Air Slash, the only thing that will be able to take it down would probably be Jirachi.
Breloom - This thing is gay.
Tyranitar - >.> Close Combat from Infernape or Leaf Storm from Sceptile I think would kill it. I'll have trouble with Scarf variants. Jirachi could handle it with Iron Head but once it's out, a DD TTar would just wipe my team.
