Second RMT, and this time i'm really stuck, practically everything is open to change this time around.
If you couldn't tell from the title, i'm trying to integrate Trick Room and Sandstorm on one team, though i have to say it isn't going very well. Well, not well at all, actually. I'm finding i'm starting off at major disadvantages, so i'd like some help.
Team Building:
Bronzong. Probably the most obvious TR pokemon.
To counter Bronzong's fire weakness, i needed a few Bulky Waters. In come Slowbro and Slowking. Slowking also can be used as a last resort for sweeping, due to access to Nasty Plot.
Now for the lead. I need something with Sand Stream, and wanted to use TTar as a sweeper, so the only other choice was Hippowdon. Also acts as my Roar user, and SR'er.
As for the Sweeper, i wanted to use TTar, having rarely used him in the past.
One sweeper just wouldn't do, so i added in Mixed Dragonite as a backup in case Tyranitar couldn't be used.
In Depth:
Hippowdon (M) @ Focus Sash
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 252 HP/192 Def/2 SpAtk/64 SpDef
Relaxed nature (+Def,-Spd)
- Earthquake
- Roar
- Slack Off
- Stealth Rock
The lead. I use it for immediate Sandstorm, and should it survive later, as a physical wall. Main problem with this is having only one attacking move, Earthquake, which can cause issues against Flying/Levitating Pokemon. Quite happy to have this replaced, really, it's not exactly doing much good as a lead.
Threats:
Gengar: Aside from having Levitate, which means i have no attacks that damage it, i also faced one which had Icy Wind. Major Problem, obliterates my team.
Aerodactyl: Same as Gengar in that EQ does nothing. Less of an issue due to it rarely packing anything to hurt me that much either.
Crobat: Taunt from a Crobat shuts down Hippowdon easily, so i'm often forced to switch on Turn 1. Not good.
Azelf: Freely sets up SR and Taunts me should it want to. I need a counter to this, Hippo can't scratch it.
Torterra: Actually saw one of these, Wood Hammer obliterates Hippowdon. I have Bronzong to tank WH, but i'd prefer not to have to.
Also probably add in anything else that flies on this list. 4 moveslot syndrome is a real issue here.
---
Bronzong @ Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP/152 Atk/8 Def/2 SpAtk/96 SpDef
Brave nature (+Atk,-Spd)
- Explosion
- Gyro Ball
- Reflect
- Trick Room
It works, what can i say? Very sturdy, and sets up TR easily and reliably. I'm finding Gyro Ball to be a but situational, but that's hardly a problem. I'm thinking about a Nature change, though i don't know if that would be good for 'Zong.
---
Tyranitar (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs:
Brave nature (+Atk,-Spd)
- Dark Pulse
- Flamethrower
- Ice Beam
- Thunderbolt
What can i say, as a Mixed Sweeper this thing really works (barring one time i switched in on a Focus Blast from Gengar). Don't really see any issues with this one, its got good power behind its attacks thanks to LO and 'outspeeds' most things under TR.
---
Slowbro (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Own Tempo
EVs: 252 HP/252 Def/4 SpDef
Relaxed nature (+Def,-Spd)
- Psychic
- Slack Off
- Surf
- Trick Room
Intended to be a Physical wall, with STAB Surf and Psychic. Slowbro's actually fulfilled its job quite well, it sponges physical hits without a problem. Only thing is it lacks offensive power to scare away the things it walls. I have no problems setting up Trick Room with this pokemon, which when combined with it's defensive walling skills, makes keeping TR up easy.
The other issue is Slack Off. While Hippowdon (somehow) manages to find tome use it, Slowbro often doesn't. Between HP Electric/Grass and the odd Zapdos, i haven't been able to slack off much with Slowbro at all. To make things worse, often i lose more health than i gain, and this can lead to Slowbro dying should TR not be up.
---
Slowking (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Own Tempo
EVs: 252 HP/252 SpAtk/4 SpDef
Quiet nature (+SpAtk,-Spd)
- Ice Beam
- Nasty Plot
- Surf
- Trick Room
Still having issues with Slowking. On one hand, i've had it set up NP and save me at the end of a match (still lost due to a crit killing Slowking). But other times it really just serves as a Special Wall. I've found Ice Beam to be useful, but as Slowking is also my main counter to water types (well, with Slowbro as well), i can't seem to hit them effectively. All hax aside, though, this thing still sets up TR with ease.
Unfortunately, same issue plagues this as does Slowbro: Lack of healing. I don't run any healing moves on Slowking or Wish, so it's kind of a one-off deal. After it sponges a few hits, next time it switches in it's practically death fodder.
---
Dragonite (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Inner Focus
EVs: 252 Atk/4 Def/252 SpAtk
Quiet nature (+SpAtk,-Spd)
- Draco Meteor
- Flamethrower
- Superpower
- Thunderbolt
Backup mixed sweeper. In general, sub par. Often i find that i have to use either DM or Superpower, after which i have to switch either due to DM's Sp.Atk drop or the drawback of Superpower. Also, the abundance of HP Ice (and bloody Icy Wind Gengars... today's a weird day) Would like this one replaced, it's not doing very well. TTar outclasses it in every way.
I am, however, considering Dnite to become my out-of-TR pokemon. While it does (sorta) work in TR, i think it would be much better outside, plus then i could factor in Extremespeed to its movepool for some much needed priority. What do you guys think?
---
If i had to sum up the major problem with this team so far, it's that after the 5 turns of Trick Room are up, i am forced to go back to Bronzong to set up TR again, as i have little offensive means outside of said field effect. Also, i lack Priority, of which i am considering a Scizor, though what to replace and what set to run on Scizor i have no idea.
If you couldn't tell from the title, i'm trying to integrate Trick Room and Sandstorm on one team, though i have to say it isn't going very well. Well, not well at all, actually. I'm finding i'm starting off at major disadvantages, so i'd like some help.
Team Building:
In Depth:
Hippowdon (M) @ Focus Sash
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 252 HP/192 Def/2 SpAtk/64 SpDef
Relaxed nature (+Def,-Spd)
- Earthquake
- Roar
- Slack Off
- Stealth Rock
The lead. I use it for immediate Sandstorm, and should it survive later, as a physical wall. Main problem with this is having only one attacking move, Earthquake, which can cause issues against Flying/Levitating Pokemon. Quite happy to have this replaced, really, it's not exactly doing much good as a lead.
Threats:
Gengar: Aside from having Levitate, which means i have no attacks that damage it, i also faced one which had Icy Wind. Major Problem, obliterates my team.
Aerodactyl: Same as Gengar in that EQ does nothing. Less of an issue due to it rarely packing anything to hurt me that much either.
Crobat: Taunt from a Crobat shuts down Hippowdon easily, so i'm often forced to switch on Turn 1. Not good.
Azelf: Freely sets up SR and Taunts me should it want to. I need a counter to this, Hippo can't scratch it.
Torterra: Actually saw one of these, Wood Hammer obliterates Hippowdon. I have Bronzong to tank WH, but i'd prefer not to have to.
Also probably add in anything else that flies on this list. 4 moveslot syndrome is a real issue here.
---
Bronzong @ Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP/152 Atk/8 Def/2 SpAtk/96 SpDef
Brave nature (+Atk,-Spd)
- Explosion
- Gyro Ball
- Reflect
- Trick Room
It works, what can i say? Very sturdy, and sets up TR easily and reliably. I'm finding Gyro Ball to be a but situational, but that's hardly a problem. I'm thinking about a Nature change, though i don't know if that would be good for 'Zong.
---
Tyranitar (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs:
Brave nature (+Atk,-Spd)
- Dark Pulse
- Flamethrower
- Ice Beam
- Thunderbolt
What can i say, as a Mixed Sweeper this thing really works (barring one time i switched in on a Focus Blast from Gengar). Don't really see any issues with this one, its got good power behind its attacks thanks to LO and 'outspeeds' most things under TR.
---
Slowbro (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Own Tempo
EVs: 252 HP/252 Def/4 SpDef
Relaxed nature (+Def,-Spd)
- Psychic
- Slack Off
- Surf
- Trick Room
Intended to be a Physical wall, with STAB Surf and Psychic. Slowbro's actually fulfilled its job quite well, it sponges physical hits without a problem. Only thing is it lacks offensive power to scare away the things it walls. I have no problems setting up Trick Room with this pokemon, which when combined with it's defensive walling skills, makes keeping TR up easy.
The other issue is Slack Off. While Hippowdon (somehow) manages to find tome use it, Slowbro often doesn't. Between HP Electric/Grass and the odd Zapdos, i haven't been able to slack off much with Slowbro at all. To make things worse, often i lose more health than i gain, and this can lead to Slowbro dying should TR not be up.
---
Slowking (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Own Tempo
EVs: 252 HP/252 SpAtk/4 SpDef
Quiet nature (+SpAtk,-Spd)
- Ice Beam
- Nasty Plot
- Surf
- Trick Room
Still having issues with Slowking. On one hand, i've had it set up NP and save me at the end of a match (still lost due to a crit killing Slowking). But other times it really just serves as a Special Wall. I've found Ice Beam to be useful, but as Slowking is also my main counter to water types (well, with Slowbro as well), i can't seem to hit them effectively. All hax aside, though, this thing still sets up TR with ease.
Unfortunately, same issue plagues this as does Slowbro: Lack of healing. I don't run any healing moves on Slowking or Wish, so it's kind of a one-off deal. After it sponges a few hits, next time it switches in it's practically death fodder.
---
Dragonite (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Inner Focus
EVs: 252 Atk/4 Def/252 SpAtk
Quiet nature (+SpAtk,-Spd)
- Draco Meteor
- Flamethrower
- Superpower
- Thunderbolt
Backup mixed sweeper. In general, sub par. Often i find that i have to use either DM or Superpower, after which i have to switch either due to DM's Sp.Atk drop or the drawback of Superpower. Also, the abundance of HP Ice (and bloody Icy Wind Gengars... today's a weird day) Would like this one replaced, it's not doing very well. TTar outclasses it in every way.
I am, however, considering Dnite to become my out-of-TR pokemon. While it does (sorta) work in TR, i think it would be much better outside, plus then i could factor in Extremespeed to its movepool for some much needed priority. What do you guys think?
---
If i had to sum up the major problem with this team so far, it's that after the 5 turns of Trick Room are up, i am forced to go back to Bronzong to set up TR again, as i have little offensive means outside of said field effect. Also, i lack Priority, of which i am considering a Scizor, though what to replace and what set to run on Scizor i have no idea.
