Titanium

[chuavechito]

Hello Smogon, here is my Titanium Team!


Team Development

I wanted to make a team arround Shuckle. I tested different builds and teams and finally decided to go for an Acuppresure Shuckle. It was quite obvious that I needed Sandstorm in my team, aswell as Toxic Spike support. I also needed some way to dodge Roar and other phaze moves. I decided that the best way to do so was to play a suicide team, same concept than a suicide lead, but I had 5 of thoses. The idea is to provide as much support to Shuckle as possible, and then sweep.

It was quite obvious that Sandstorm was a mandatory for the team. Not only it buffs Shuckle's SpD to astronomical levels and is a good way to kill stuff if you can stall for 16 turns, but it also shuts down Shuckle's weakness. Shuckle cant tank STAB Water under Rain nor he can tank STAB Fire under Sun. Steel isnt much of a problem. I tested Tyranitar but everybody has a check or counter for him so I went for mixed wall Hippo because he can exploit Toxic Spikes and Sandstorm at its fullest.

Toxic Spikes support seemed like an absolute must, it could empty a slot from Shuckle's move set since I wouldnt need to play Toxic. I went for Scolipede because I believe he is the best Toxic Spiker in the game (mostly, because he is the fastest one).

Latios came next. It removed Acupressure randomness by providing the overpowered Screens/Memento combo. Under their effect Shuckle can easily get 4/5 Acuppresures without major troubles.

Having Sand Stream wasnt enought, I needed some way to kill Politoed and Ninetales fast so I can win the weather war. Victini was the obvious choice because he can easily take them down via Final Gambit (specially since people expect V and they simply try to tank it).

I first tried Wobbuffet in the final slot, to make sure I win the weather war, among other things. He didnt work, mostly because Politoed most current set contains Toxic and Protect.

Then came Focus Sash Destiny Bond Gengar, but he wasnt working either. It was like a bad version of a revenge killer that could not kill stuff with Scarf.

Finally came Dugtrio. He was way better than all the others to take down their weather inducers, as well as some other problematic pokemons.

I wanted to add Gothitelle because she is probably the best pokemon out there to trap and kill Politoed. I removed Victini because with Dugtrio and Gothitelle there to take down Ninetales, Abomasnow and Politoed there wasnt any other key monster that needed to be removed fast.

I really wanted to have SR + Roar + EQ on Hippodown, but I didnt had the room for that so I wanted to add SR support. I also realized I didnt really need Toxic Spikes at all because when Shuckle gets the +6 to all Rollout becomes the only offensive weapon I need. Because of this, I switched my Scolipede for Azelf, one of the best SR+Explosion leads out there.

The Team​

Name: Set Fire to Everybody
Item: Focus Sash
Ability: Levitate
Nature: Jolly (+Spe -SpA)
EVs: 252 Spe 252 Atk 4 HP
- Stealth Rock
- Taunt
- Thunder Wave
- Explosion​

I want SR support in order to maximise my Hippodown build. I was considering Deoxys-D for the Spike+SR combo, but I went for SR because of Explosion works better in this lineup and Thunder Wave helps Gothitelle A LOT.

Name: She Wolf
Item: Leftovers
Ability: Sand Stream
Nature: (Careful +SpD -SpA)
EVs: 252 HP 252 SpD 4 Def
- Roar
- Earthquake
- Stockpile
- Slack Off​

I have tried several builds and this is the one I like the most. Stockpile turns him into a huge tank and thanks to Slack Off I can stall pretty much anything. The reason why I would want to stall if simply, Toxic and Sandstorm. Roar lets me avoid been set up on while Stealth Rock damage them in the process.

Name: When Love Takes Over
Item: Leftovers
Ability: Shadow Tag
Nature: Bold (+Def -Atk)
EVs: 252 HP 208 Def 48 Spe
- Hidden Power [Fight]
- Calm Mind
- Rest
- Sleep Talk​

One of the best late additions to the team. She can trap and kill a lot of problematic pokemons, specially Politoed. She can outspeed Politoed and tank the 1st hit on the switch, then outspeed him and Calm Mind and finally RestTalk until he is dead or Im at +6. In return I get a bulky sweeper.

That particular set of EVs let me RestTalk problematic pokes like Gliscor and others. They cant do more than 30% per hit so I just RestTalk until they are dead. Critics are a problem tho.

I went for HP Fight because I only need to hit for neutral to Politoed/Ninetales to kill them, so this HP lets me switch into Ferrothorn and kill him, even under rain (which is kind of huge considering Lech Seed can become a problem). I understand Gengar and Jellicent can become a problem BUT Tyranitar is a common switch after I start a sweep, and this HP can 1HKO him.

Name: CHOO CHOO MOTHERFUCKER
Item: Focus Sash
Ability: Arena Trap
Nature: Jolly (+Spe -SpA)
EVs: 252 Spe 252 Atk 4 HP
- Earthquake
- Memento
- Endure
- Reversal​

While Im not 100% convinced with Dugtrio, he really makes a difference in weather wars. It also helps revenge killing stuff and it kind of shits on steels (natural enemies of Toxic Spike).

Both Earthquake and Reversal can 1HKO pretty much any steel not named Skarmory. Endure helps triggering Reversal when there are entry hazards while Memento is there as a backup for when Latios dies unexpectedly.

Name: Bombastic
Item: Light Clay
Ability: Levitate
Nature: Timid (+Spe -Atk)
EVs: 252 Spe 252 HP 4 SpA
- Draco Meteor
- Memento
- Reflect
- Light Screen​

Latios is the reason Acuppresure is actually viable. Memento forces the switch, giving the first Acuppresure for free, and is impossible to kill Shuckle under Screens so thats at last 3 Acuppresure before Screens runs out. Acuppresure odds are 43% to give you a Def/SpD/Evasion boost with every use so I should be getting arround 2 defensive boost before Screens shut down.

Draco Meteor is there to dodge Taunt. Since Im going to Memento Latios I dont really care about the SpA drop.

Name: Titanium
Item: Leftovers
Ability: Sturdy
Nature: Impish (+Def -SpA)
EVs: 252 HP 200 Def 40 Atk 16 SpD
- Rollout
- Acuppresure
- Rest
- Sleep Talk​

And finally, my sweeper. When I dont have more pokes and there is sandstorm up is extreamly dificult to kill me, specially under Screens and Memento. Toxic Spikes, Sandstorm and Rollout are my offensive tools while Scuppresure and RestTalk are my deffensive tools.

Every Acuppresure has 42% of giving me a 2 Def, SpD or Evasion. Because of Sandstorm, Screens and Memento I can activate Acuppresure about 4 times before I need to RestTalk, at that point odds are I will have at last +4 defensive boost, which means odds are in my favour (which removes the randomness of RestTalk).

I chooced RestTalk, regardless of Talk only having 33% of giving me an Acuppresure, because if I can reduce the incoming damage to 27% (not hard at all) I win, simple as that. I may take more time if Im unlucky, but I will win that game regardless of how unluky I am.

Rollout is my offensive tool of choise. I tested Gyro Ball and Rock Blast but Rollout proved to be far superior.Rollout wont run out of PP, and thanks to the + accuary from Acupressure, you will always get 5 attacks out of it. Also, is a STAB move so the damage is huge despite the initial 66 Atk.

Suggestions are welcome!​

 

[Prinz]

Hey there,

At first I like the use of Shuckle, it's a very strange pokèmon but I think that with the right support it can work. Well, I'd Gothitelle in place of Dugtrio because it can also kill (unlike Dugtrio) bulky Politoed and the phazers that can be a problem for Shuckle and for your Hippowdon (Skarmory and the same Hippowdon, mainly). Finally, I'd use Choice Scarf Terrakion in place of your Victini to have a more solid revengekiller for dragon types, Volcarona, Tornadus-T, Thundurus-T and so on.

Sets:

Hide

Gothitelle (M) @ Choice Specs
Trait: Shadow Tag
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Trick
- Psyshock
- Thunderbolt
- Grass Knot

Terrakion @ Choice Scarf
Trait: Justified
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Close Combat
- Stone Edge
- Earthquake
- X-Scissor

Hope I helped, good luck!

~Alexander

 

[chuavechito]

I think Final Gambit is way to priceless to play Terrakion instead.

I will test that Gothitelle build, it sounds like a very good idea. Thanks!

Btw, I was told Gothitelle needs to be male in order to have Shadow Tag.

 

[Prinz]

Yes, you're right. I fixed my rate, it was a typo, however.

 

[CedOmega]

Interesting use of an NU Pokemon, I'll say. Nice!

Ok, so for my first suggestion, I'll focus on giving Scolipede's T-Spikes up for Spikes. In all actuality, I'd give suggest Skarmory for the job, but you seem to like the centipede for Endeavor. I'd also suggest changing its nature from Jolly>Hasty to keep every bit of defense it has. Also, Scolipede has BP, which can be passed to Dugtrio for a +1 SD boosted Reversal sweep if Endure or Sash are played right.

Hide

Scolipede@FocusSash
Trait: Swarm
Jolly nature
252 Hp/252 Speed/4 Attack
MegaHorn/BatonPass, SwordsDance/Agility, Spikes & Endeavor

My second suggestion is for Hippowdon, EQ>Stockpile to hit Steel types like Jirachi for supereffective damage w/ a STAB attack. Your curent set cannot touch any of the Jirachi variants, such as TrickRachi, which could completely cripple it without being touched.

Hide

Hippowdon@Leftovers
Trait: SandStream
Careful nature
252 Hp/252 Sp.Defense/4 Attack
EQ, SR, Roar/Whirlwind & SlackOff

Third is a small change:
BoltStrike>FusionBolt on Victini for more power.

Hide

Victini@ChoiceScarf
Trait: VictoryStar
Jolly Nature
252 Hp/252 Speed/4 Attack
V-Create, BoltStrike, U-turn & FinalGambit

Last is for Latios. Since your team will suffer geeatly against opposing rain teams, I'd suggest changing Latios' set to run an all out offensive set w/ Surf & Thunderbolt to help combat opposing Rain.

Hide

Latios@LifeOrb/ChoiceSpecs
Trait: Levitate
Timid nature
DragonPulse/DracoMeteor, Psyshock, Thunderbolt & Surf

I think this is all I can see that can help at the moment. At any rate, good luck w/ the team and I hope this helped! :)

 

[chuavechito]

I really liked BP on Scolipede but I ended up removing Scolipede.

I tested Gothille. That build didnt do much but I tried a different build and I loved it.

That Latios build wont help my strategy at all.

Also, afaik, Victini doesnt get Bolt Strike.



Updated.

 

[CedOmega]

The Christmas event Victini has BoltStrike.

For information purposes.

 

[tehy]

Nice team, but it needs a few changes.

Firstly, Earthquake over Stealth rocks on hippowdon. There's really no reason to have it, since azelf is so adept at setting rocks itself. Earthquake can let you take out a couple threats quickly, which reduces the chance of critical hits ruining your day.

Secondly, Psyshock>Sleep talk. Most of the pokemon you trap can't really do much, so the only thing sleep talk does is speed up your boosting and lessen critical-hit chances, but having psychic lets you take them out much quicker if you need to, which can do the same. You mention that tyranitar is a switch-in after your boosting sweeps, but... as long as the sweep's long enough that you need to rest before killing the trapped pokemon, the opponent should be fully aware that you can only attack with HP fighting. Why let all those boosts go to waste?


My main problem with this team is that you basically seek to have hippow and shuckle left. Hippo can easily be crippled by toxic/trick, and shuckle by trick. A stall team can basically get SR up in shuckle's face and spam WW/Roar until he dies, then toxic hippowdon. An offense team can waste screens turns by threatening to trick shuckle (Or just by tricking him), then set up in his face with a sweeper and hope he doesn't get the right boosts, and then force him out some more with trick if he does. They've got larger problems with hippo, however, but he's still manageable.

To fix this, Azelf should run a dualscreens set with Sr and Taunt/explosion, and latios should be... basically anything. But a recommendation i've got is Sub/Hone Claws/Roost/Dragon Tail kyurem-B with max SpD. He can set up on most politoeds, and with Sub, trick and toxic aren't game ending for you, while Dragon Tail screws over phazers, while still phazing and doing great damage. This helps you with your stall team problem immensely.

Edit: Sleep talk lets you beat a few mons that 3hitko you and also don't boost, and cannot u-turn away. Meanwhile, you're now setup bait at +6, while any ghost ever walls you. Leaving only shuckle means that any team with a trick user that didn't use it early bones you good, as does stuff like stallbreaker mew, sableye, taunt jellicent, taunt scor, etc. Keep in mind that any defensive team can just get up SR and spam whirlwind to kill off shuckle, then finish off hippowdon later, and hippowdon can't really stop them. And did i mention that that means one good crit wins the game for the other team? As for politoed, your only way to deal with him is to sac hippo, then gothitelle trap, so it might be nice to avoid such nuclear options. Subhone kyurem-B gives you a legitimate way of dealing with stall teams, which might be nice.

 

[chuavechito]

Firstly, Earthquake over Stealth rocks on hippowdon. There's really no reason to have it, since azelf is so adept at setting rocks itself. Earthquake can let you take out a couple threats quickly, which reduces the chance of critical hits ruining your day.

Yeah that was a typo. I forgot to edit that. I added Azelf so (among other things) I could empty that moveslot from Hippo to add EQ instead SR.

Secondly, Psyshock>Sleep talk. Most of the pokemon you trap can't really do much, so the only thing sleep talk does is speed up your boosting and lessen critical-hit chances, but having psychic lets you take them out much quicker if you need to, which can do the same. You mention that tyranitar is a switch-in after your boosting sweeps, but... as long as the sweep's long enough that you need to rest before killing the trapped pokemon, the opponent should be fully aware that you can only attack with HP fighting. Why let all those boosts go to waste?

Actually, Sleep Talk is quite good. It let me set up on physical pokes w/o huge dmg and w/o boosting moves. Non SDance Gliscor is a perfect example. I can switch in and, basically, remove him from the battle, and in return I get the +6 Goth with nice def/hp to tank some hits from physical beaters.

My main problem with this team is that you basically seek to have hippow and shuckle left. Hippo can easily be crippled by toxic/trick, and shuckle by trick. A stall team can basically get SR up in shuckle's face and spam WW/Roar until he dies, then toxic hippowdon. An offense team can waste screens turns by threatening to trick shuckle (Or just by tricking him), then set up in his face with a sweeper and hope he doesn't get the right boosts, and then force him out some more with trick if he does. They've got larger problems with hippo, however, but he's still manageable.

Actually, I dont send out Shuckle until all the others are dead.

Late game Trick is currently the worst thing that can happen to me, but I try to take down their trick users (Jirachi/Rotom-W are the most commons) early via suicide pokes. I was considering getting Mail on him, but, idunno, I think Leftovers is way to important just to counter Trick. Victini was really good at that, I kind of miss that from him.

To fix this, Azelf should run a dualscreens set with Sr and Taunt/explosion, and latios should be... basically anything. But a recommendation i've got is Sub/Hone Claws/Roost/Dragon Tail kyurem-B with max SpD. He can set up on most politoeds, and with Sub, trick and toxic aren't game ending for you, while Dragon Tail screws over phazers, while still phazing and doing great damage. This helps you with your stall team problem immensely.

I dont see how that will fix anything. I would still only send Shuckle as my last poke so I dont really fear phaze, and I would still suck against Trick.

Also, my problem is not Politoed hurting me, but Politoed summoning Rain. I dont care how much damage he can put (Goth kills him with full HP at +6 so he cant dmg much tho) but just TRAPPING him so I can kill him. Same for Ninetales, they tend to switch that fuckers out so I cant kill them, and if I cant kill them they just save them for when Shuckle is left and fuck my sandstorm up.