This is an updated version of my older RMT, "Gliscor I'm Really Happy For You...". This team has gotten me farther than I have ever been before. As of 11-25-09 at 10:31 PM, I am at 1311 on the rating system. I intend to be on the Leaderboard by the end of the week I post this. But enough of my dreams, let's get on to the team.
Team Creation Process: Well, I was browsing various forums on competitive battling when I came across a post that caught my interest. The post read "Dual Screen Azelf is on the rise concerning usage". I found that interesting since throughout my entire time on Shoddy, which is quite a bit if I do say so myself, I had never once seen a Dual Screen Azelf. So, I decided that the next team I made would feature it as a Lead. Now I've got one Pokemon decided.
Current Team:
Team Creation Process: Now, since I'm using Dual Screens, it would behoove me to use a Pokemon that can set up easily, but still be a bit unpredictable. I decided to use a Baton Passer in this slot, so I started running down the list of Pokemon that could use Baton Pass, crossing out the Pokemon that wouldn't work on my type of team. I was looking for both Bulk and Speed, so that alone eliminated a large bit of the list. I eventually narrowed it down to either Zapdos or Gliscor. Zapdos lost for the fact that it can, at the very most, pass only Speed. It has the potential to pass Special Attack boosts with the aid of Charge Beam, but Charge Beam is such a weak move by itself, so I decided to go with Gliscor for its ability to pass Attack and Speed, Bulk, and typing.
Current Team:
Team Creation Process: Okay, now that I've got a Passer, I need a reciprient for those boosts. Now, what could put both Attack and Speed boosts to good use, and have amazing coverage? The answer was simple: Lucario. Lucario has great attacking status from both side of the spectrum, and its only real weakness is its lack of Speed, unless you decide to give him a Choice Scarf. So, Lucario was the newest addition to the team.
Current Team:
Team Creation Process: Now I've got a slight problem. Gliscor is weak to Ice attacks, while Lucario is weak to Fire, two of the main types of attack in the OverUsed tier. I need a Pokemon that can resist both types, have plenty of Bulk, and, hopefully, put any Attack or Speed passes to good use. Scrolling down the list of OverUsed Pokemon, I happened to see Snorlax, which has gone down in usage lately. With its ability, Thick Fat, and its massive HP and Special Defense stats, its like a wrecking machine. Give him a Swords Dance and the only thing killing him is his terrible Speed, which is somewhat remedied by Rock Polish.
Current Team:
Team Creation Process: Another problem just arrived. I have a weakness to Fighting type attacks. Now normally, Gliscor would be able to take Fighting attacks like a pro, but Gliscor is only supposed to show up once or twice during the match, set up, and pass. No more, no less. Now I need a Pokemon to absorb Fighting attacks, so the obvious choice would have to be a Ghost type. This would cause a weakness confliction with both Azelf and the chosen Ghost, but Azelf usually doesn't live that long anyway, so it's not a problem. What was a problem, and still is, is choosing the Ghost type to use. I had to major choices, both of which are good: Choice Scarf Gengar or Choice Scarf Rotom-H. Now Gengar has a higher base Speed and Special Attack at its disposal, but it really lacks HP, which can hurt it with the constant switching it will have to do. Rotom-H has pretty decent base HP stat, and its Special Attack is nothing to scoff at. The only thing is its Speed, which isn't the greatest in the world. I chose to go with Rotom-H for the bulk that it carries, but if anyone can give me a decent reason as to why I should switch to a Choice Scarf Gengar instead, I might be swayed.
Current Team:
Team Creation Process: Okay, now I've got practically all bases covered, except for one. I want more chances to send Gliscor in incase I wasn't able to set up early in the match. He easily comes in on Ground attacks that could kill Lucario, no questions asked. But I wanted there to be at least one other Pokemon that could work well off of Gliscor's typing. Eventually, I found it in Gyarados. Gyarados loves to recieve Speed or Attack boosts from Gliscor, and Gliscor can absorb any Electric based attacks sent Gyarados' way. And with that, I found the last memeber of my team.
Current Team:
Team Creation Process: Well, I got a reply that gave me a great bit of advice that I had forgot to mention. Their advice was to use Metagross over Lucario. While I was a bit apprehensive at using Metagross, seeing as its not as versatile as Lucario, I tried it out and it has worked perfectly so far. I've also tried out Hariyama and both have worked well off of one another, so I'll be removing Lucario and Snorlax from the list of Pokemon. Also, Rotom-H and Gyarados will be changing slightly.
Current Team:
Team Creation Process: Once again, the team has changed, this one prompted by the reply I got from locopoke. He mentioned that Hariyama wasn't doing much for the team, and I have to agree with him. I had placed Hariyama on the team to cover for Gliscor's weakness to Ice type attacks. However, Metagross easily absorbs those same Ice attacks, and he can hit back even harder, with or without a Swords Dance. Locopoke suggested replacing it with a Cresselia, which could set up Dual Screens in replacement of Azelf. Rotom was also removed, but not for a Offensive Suicune like locopoke recommended. Rather, a Gengar. My reasons will go more indepth during the analysis.
Current Team:
Indepth Analysis
Team At A Glance
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Azelf (U) @ Focus Sash
Type: Psychic
Ability: Levitate
Nature: Naive
EV's: 6 Atk | 252 SpA | 252 Spe
Type: Psychic
Ability: Levitate
Nature: Naive
EV's: 6 Atk | 252 SpA | 252 Spe
~ Psychic ~
~ Taunt ~
~ Stealth Rock ~
~ Explosion ~
~ Taunt ~
~ Stealth Rock ~
~ Explosion ~
An earlier version of this team ran a Dual Screen Azelf in this slot with Reflect/Light Screen/Stealth Rock/Taunt as its moveset. However, by forcing Azelf to set up both Stealth Rock and Screens, I was cutting its efficiency in half. Azelf should have been doing only one of those things. For a small time, I was wondering about getting rid of Stealth Rock and relocating it to another member of my team. I squashed that idea when I realized that Stealth Rock can only be set up once (unless a Spinner gets rid of them), and once I had set up Rocks it would be a worthless move, so I changed Azelf to a simpler Suicide Lead. I chose to not use the TrickZelf lead for the fact that this team has not time to do anything fancy like Trick, or wear things out through Status. This entire team is designed to strengthen one Pokemon, then set them on a rampage of destruction.
Gliscor (M) @ Yache Berry
Type: Ground/Flying
Ability: Hyper Cutter
Nature: Timid
EV's: 252 HP | 196 SpD | 60 Spe
Type: Ground/Flying
Ability: Hyper Cutter
Nature: Timid
EV's: 252 HP | 196 SpD | 60 Spe
~ Swords Dance ~
~ Rock Polish ~
~ Taunt ~
~ Baton Pass ~
~ Rock Polish ~
~ Taunt ~
~ Baton Pass ~
This entire team was practically built to help Gliscor pass off boosts. It may have started with Azelf, but Gliscor is the true key player of the team. This Gliscor is extremely Taunt weak and Phazing weak, but Taunt stops slower Taunt users and Phazers. I always manage at least one Rock Polish thanks to both Screens being up by the time that Gliscor is out, and the fact that Gliscor's defenses are great by themselves. Swords Dance is great, especially since it tricks a few people into believing that Gliscor is going for a sweep by itself. Taunt shuts down Trick users as they switch in, seeing as I always use Rock Polish as the first Pokemon switches out. Baton Pass is to, obviously, pass the stats to the next Pokemon. One thing I've definitely noticed is that Weavile usage has slightly risen. Not by a large margin, but just enough to piss me off. Yache Berry has saved my ass more than a few times, but that damned Ice Shard... I'm glad Metagross resists Ice. And speaking of Metagross...
Metagross (U) @ Muscle Band
Type: Steel/Psychic
Ability: Clear Body
Nature: Adamant
EV's: 4 HP | 252 Atk | 252 Spe
Type: Steel/Psychic
Ability: Clear Body
Nature: Adamant
EV's: 4 HP | 252 Atk | 252 Spe
~ Meteor Mash ~
~ Thunderpunch ~
~ Zen Headbutt ~
~ Earthquake ~
~ Thunderpunch ~
~ Zen Headbutt ~
~ Earthquake ~
This set is genius. Pure, undiluted genius, and I'd like to thank Joshe for suggesting it to me. Metagross easily outperforms the Pokemon that used to be in this slot, Lucario. Meteor Mash hits for massive damage, and with one Swords Dance and Stealth Rock damage, OHKOs any Cresselia set without problem. Thunderpunch deals with Suicunes and the annoying Gyarados. Zen Headbutt is my secondary STAB attack, and takes out Machamp and Flygon easily at +2. Earthquake deals with the ultimate annoyance, Jirachi, and does decent damage to Scizor. Metagross works perfectly with Gliscor, taking the Ice attacks sent at Gliscor, while hitting back for the OHKO. Muscle Band over Lum Berry or Life Orb because I need to be doing constant damage, but I also can't afford to take recoil damage from Life Orb. The only Pokemon that has even survived against any attack from this beast at +2 Atk is Scizor, and when was the last time you saw Scizor carry any status attacks?
Cresselia (F) @ Light Clay
Type: Psychic
Ability: Levitate
Nature: Bold
EV's: 252 HP | 60 Def | 152 Spe | 44 SpD
Type: Psychic
Ability: Levitate
Nature: Bold
EV's: 252 HP | 60 Def | 152 Spe | 44 SpD
~ Light Screen ~
~ Reflect ~
~ Ice Beam ~
~ Lunar Dance ~
~ Reflect ~
~ Ice Beam ~
~ Lunar Dance ~
My Dual Screen set up Pokemon. This slot was occupied by a Hariyama, which was used to absorb Ice and Fire attacks. That was before Metagross' time though. And with Metagross able to shrug off Ice attacks, Hariyama was no longer needed. He was replaced for Cresselia, and Cresselia has done more for this team than Hariyama could have ever done. Light Screen and Reflect are obvious moves. Cresselia always comes in right after Azelf has died (by Explosion or otherwise) and sets up an appropriate Screen. It then goes for the other Screen, then swaps out for Gliscor. Ice Beam is for weakened Dragons that try to waltz in and set up, only to be booted right back out. Lunar Dance is a last ditch move. If Metagross or Gyarados have died unexpectedly, then I go right back to Cresselia. From there, if I have enough HP, I'll set up a Screen (both if I'm lucky), then use Lunar Dance. Then I'll send the HP to Gliscor and begin the entire process again.
Gyarados (M) @ Life Orb
Type: Water/Flying
Ability: Intimidate
Nature: Adamant
EV's: 40 HP | 252 Atk | 216 Spe
Type: Water/Flying
Ability: Intimidate
Nature: Adamant
EV's: 40 HP | 252 Atk | 216 Spe
~ Dragon Dance~
~ Ice Fang ~
~ Earthquake ~
~ Waterfall ~
~ Ice Fang ~
~ Earthquake ~
~ Waterfall ~
Ah, Gyarados. You do so much for this team, don't you? You take the Fire attacks that are aimed at Gliscor, preventing me from passing to Metagross. You Intimidate those pesky Scizors. You make those annoying FlinchRachi sets run in terror. If Gyarados has a pass, he does his job beautifully.Even without a pass, with a single Dragon Dance, he still rips through teams easily. Ice Fang kills Dragons and Grass types that can get annoying fast. It's so fun to watch my opponent send out a Latias and predict a Stone Edge, only to get KO'd. Earthquake hits Steel types, especially Magnezone and Jirachi, both of which it outspeeds after a single Dragon Dance. Waterfall is my main STAB. If Gliscor has fallen, this is my next best sweeper, saving Metagross for the final rounds. Gyarados comes in on a Scizor or Jirachi locked into Bullet Punch or Iron Head, Intimidates them, then Dragon Dances on the switch in.
Gengar (M) @ Leftovers
Type: Ghost/Poison
Ability: Levitate
Nature: Timid
EV's: 6 HP | 252 SpA | 252 Spe
Type: Ghost/Poison
Ability: Levitate
Nature: Timid
EV's: 6 HP | 252 SpA | 252 Spe
~ Hidden Power (Fire) ~
~ Shadow Ball ~
~ Focus Blast ~
~ Substitute ~
~ Shadow Ball ~
~ Focus Blast ~
~ Substitute ~
Gengar is my least used Pokemon, and the most likely one to be replaced. I'm thinking MixApe, but nothing has been decided yet. Substitute works beautifully, stopping Scizors from killing me with Bullet Punch as soon as they switch in, and I kill them in retaliation with HP Fire. Focus Blast hits Tyranitar and OHKOs if they have previous damage, except for those with SpD EV investment, which isn't a large percentage. Shadow Ball is my main STAB, and deals with annoying Rotom Formes.
Final Glance
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There you go. This team loves to set up, even better if everything is set up before Turn 5. Once this team gets going, very little can stop it, short of a team full of Priority users. This team isn't "Hyper Offensive" seeing as it does require set up to work perfectly. It would be better described as "Suicide Offense". Even if I know that I won't OHKO, and the opponent will more than likely OHKO with a Super Effective attack, I stay in and hit them as hard ass possible. The only "switch" that should happen during the entire team is the switch from Azelf to Cresselia, and then the switch from Cresselia to Gliscor. Everything else fights until death. The greatest thing about this team that my entire team dodges Toxic Spikes through Typing or Levitate. Only one Pokemon is hit Super Effectively by Stealth Rock. And only one Pokemon is hit by Spikes at all. Not bad for something that didn't even have those entry hazards in mind.
