This is the first team I've built since the ban of dynamax and I don't know if all the pieces fit together well enough. It seems to deal with a lot of matchups. I've been trying to build a pretty standard team around Toxtricity since it's one of the more fun pokemon to use this gen. I'm currently hovering around the mid 1500s, so I'd like to learn if this team is a good choice for climbing to high ladder. Any feedback is greatly appreciated!
Toxtricity @ Choice Specs
Ability: Punk Rock
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Boomburst
- Overdrive
- Volt Switch
- Sludge Wave
Toxtricity serves as a great wallbreaker, being able to deal with common defensive pokemon like Toxapex, Corviknight, and Mandibuzz. It also 2HKOs physically defensive Galarian Corsola guaranteed after rocks. With Boomburst, it can even 2HKO defensive Seismitoad and Gastrodon. Volt Switch also provides some really nice initiative. Some of its biggest problems include: struggling with breaking through Ferrothorn, being checked by Dragapult, and having a mediocre speed tier. I also find myself needing to make predictions often with this pokemon, as ghost types and ground types are common, which deal with Boomburst and Overdrive respectively.
Seismitoad @ Leftovers
Ability: Water Absorb
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Scald
- Toxic
- Stealth Rock
- Protect
Seismitoad provides good support with its water immunity, making it a reliable switch-in to Dracovish, while being able to set up Stealth Rock. Toxic is nice for bulky pokemon such as Galarian Corsola or other Seismitoads. Scald's chance to burn helps alleviate struggles against physical attackers that are tempted to switch in on it, such as a Gyarados with Power Whip. I've opted to use Protect because it helps scout against choiced pokemon who may come in to revenge KO, and it helps stall for leftovers recovery, since it lacks reliable recovery otherwise. Using Protect to stall against a sweeper who has taken a toxic is also helpful.
Corviknight @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Mirror Armor
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Atk / 252 Def
Impish Nature
- Roost
- Iron Head
- Defog
- U-turn
Corviknight helps as a wall to Excadrill and a check to Galarian Darmanitan and very importantly, Grimmsnarl. Defog and U-turn support are also very helpful to the team, as being able to get initiative on pokemon that are forced to switch out is good for offensive members of my team. Rocky Helmet prevents a low health Excadrill from being able to get rid of Stealth Rock with Rapid Spin, while wearing down physical attackers for later clean-up, such as a Darmanitan that uses U-Turn. It also has recovery in the form of Roost. I've opted for Iron Head over Brave Bird in order to deal with fairy types such as Grimmsnarl and Hatterene.
Dragapult @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Infiltrator
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Dragon Darts
- U-turn
- Outrage
- Psychic Fangs
I wanted a reliable form of speed control, so I went with a slightly weird pick in physical scarf Dragapult. This pokemon mainly keeps dragon types such as a Hydreigon and other Dragapults in check, which is important because otherwise Choice Specs Dragapult and Hydreigon can do a lot of damage to my team. It outspeeds everything in the tier while hitting hard and being able to U-Turn. It deals with Hydreigon even if it's scarf, which sometimes likes to come in on a Toxtricity Volt Switch. It also catches a lot of pokemon off-guard since it is not a common set. I went with Adamant because it outspeeds most things in the tier anyway, aside from swift swim and sand rush users, but those can be checked by the Seismitoad and Corviknight defensive core. Adamant also allows Dragon Darts to OHKO Galarian Darmanitan after Stealth Rock guaranteed. Outrage is there for late game cleanup when Dragon Darts may barely miss the KO. Psychic Fangs is the best physical coverage Dragapult has since its physical side is pretty shallow. But it still allows it to hit fairy types while being super-effective against fighting types like Conkeldurr.
Clefable @ Life Orb
Ability: Magic Guard
EVs: 196 HP / 252 SpA / 60 Spe
Modest Nature
- Moonblast
- Flamethrower
- Thunderbolt
- Moonlight
Clefable has great coverage and bulk for its role. It's an additional check to dragons, and it rarely suffers an OHKO even from a Galarian Darmanitan's Icicle Crash, which it can OHKO with Flamethrower. It also comes in on Toxic and hazards for free thanks to Magic Guard. Flamethrower helps it deal with steel types, most notably Ferrothorn, Corviknight and an Aegislash tempted to switch in. Thunderbolt helps with Gyarados and Toxapex. Moonlight gives Clefable better bulk to be able to last through battles. It's a solid all-around pokemon that covers weaknesses within the team.
Aegislash @ Air Balloon
Ability: Stance Change
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Iron Head
- Close Combat
- Shadow Sneak
- King's Shield
Air Balloon Aegislash gives a lot of nice things to the team. The bulk is great for switching in on pokemon such as Galarian Darmanitan if it doesn't predict with a Flare Blitz. It provides another option to deal with Excadrill and other ground types. Shadow Sneak priority is great for weakened pokemon that threaten to sweep the team. King's Shield is good for scouting and lowering the power of physical attackers. Close Combat is good for dealing with dark types and other steel types. Aegislash also provides a harder hitting answer for fairy types than Corviknight, and it's always a scary threat when it comes in. Still this is a member that I sometimes struggle to find a consistent role for, and I'm not sure it fits great on this team.
Toxtricity @ Choice Specs
Ability: Punk Rock
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Boomburst
- Overdrive
- Volt Switch
- Sludge Wave
Toxtricity serves as a great wallbreaker, being able to deal with common defensive pokemon like Toxapex, Corviknight, and Mandibuzz. It also 2HKOs physically defensive Galarian Corsola guaranteed after rocks. With Boomburst, it can even 2HKO defensive Seismitoad and Gastrodon. Volt Switch also provides some really nice initiative. Some of its biggest problems include: struggling with breaking through Ferrothorn, being checked by Dragapult, and having a mediocre speed tier. I also find myself needing to make predictions often with this pokemon, as ghost types and ground types are common, which deal with Boomburst and Overdrive respectively.
Seismitoad @ Leftovers
Ability: Water Absorb
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Scald
- Toxic
- Stealth Rock
- Protect
Seismitoad provides good support with its water immunity, making it a reliable switch-in to Dracovish, while being able to set up Stealth Rock. Toxic is nice for bulky pokemon such as Galarian Corsola or other Seismitoads. Scald's chance to burn helps alleviate struggles against physical attackers that are tempted to switch in on it, such as a Gyarados with Power Whip. I've opted to use Protect because it helps scout against choiced pokemon who may come in to revenge KO, and it helps stall for leftovers recovery, since it lacks reliable recovery otherwise. Using Protect to stall against a sweeper who has taken a toxic is also helpful.
Corviknight @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Mirror Armor
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Atk / 252 Def
Impish Nature
- Roost
- Iron Head
- Defog
- U-turn
Corviknight helps as a wall to Excadrill and a check to Galarian Darmanitan and very importantly, Grimmsnarl. Defog and U-turn support are also very helpful to the team, as being able to get initiative on pokemon that are forced to switch out is good for offensive members of my team. Rocky Helmet prevents a low health Excadrill from being able to get rid of Stealth Rock with Rapid Spin, while wearing down physical attackers for later clean-up, such as a Darmanitan that uses U-Turn. It also has recovery in the form of Roost. I've opted for Iron Head over Brave Bird in order to deal with fairy types such as Grimmsnarl and Hatterene.
Dragapult @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Infiltrator
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Dragon Darts
- U-turn
- Outrage
- Psychic Fangs
I wanted a reliable form of speed control, so I went with a slightly weird pick in physical scarf Dragapult. This pokemon mainly keeps dragon types such as a Hydreigon and other Dragapults in check, which is important because otherwise Choice Specs Dragapult and Hydreigon can do a lot of damage to my team. It outspeeds everything in the tier while hitting hard and being able to U-Turn. It deals with Hydreigon even if it's scarf, which sometimes likes to come in on a Toxtricity Volt Switch. It also catches a lot of pokemon off-guard since it is not a common set. I went with Adamant because it outspeeds most things in the tier anyway, aside from swift swim and sand rush users, but those can be checked by the Seismitoad and Corviknight defensive core. Adamant also allows Dragon Darts to OHKO Galarian Darmanitan after Stealth Rock guaranteed. Outrage is there for late game cleanup when Dragon Darts may barely miss the KO. Psychic Fangs is the best physical coverage Dragapult has since its physical side is pretty shallow. But it still allows it to hit fairy types while being super-effective against fighting types like Conkeldurr.
Clefable @ Life Orb
Ability: Magic Guard
EVs: 196 HP / 252 SpA / 60 Spe
Modest Nature
- Moonblast
- Flamethrower
- Thunderbolt
- Moonlight
Clefable has great coverage and bulk for its role. It's an additional check to dragons, and it rarely suffers an OHKO even from a Galarian Darmanitan's Icicle Crash, which it can OHKO with Flamethrower. It also comes in on Toxic and hazards for free thanks to Magic Guard. Flamethrower helps it deal with steel types, most notably Ferrothorn, Corviknight and an Aegislash tempted to switch in. Thunderbolt helps with Gyarados and Toxapex. Moonlight gives Clefable better bulk to be able to last through battles. It's a solid all-around pokemon that covers weaknesses within the team.
Aegislash @ Air Balloon
Ability: Stance Change
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Iron Head
- Close Combat
- Shadow Sneak
- King's Shield
Air Balloon Aegislash gives a lot of nice things to the team. The bulk is great for switching in on pokemon such as Galarian Darmanitan if it doesn't predict with a Flare Blitz. It provides another option to deal with Excadrill and other ground types. Shadow Sneak priority is great for weakened pokemon that threaten to sweep the team. King's Shield is good for scouting and lowering the power of physical attackers. Close Combat is good for dealing with dark types and other steel types. Aegislash also provides a harder hitting answer for fairy types than Corviknight, and it's always a scary threat when it comes in. Still this is a member that I sometimes struggle to find a consistent role for, and I'm not sure it fits great on this team.
-->
-->
