Hey guys, Sart here. It's been a while since I last posted something, but I'm back and trying to improve two "new" approaches to my favorite weather archetype. I'll try to give a short explanation/reasoning behind every Pokemon/Set, and would appreciate as much constructive criticism as possible :)
1) Sand Offense:
The classic. Gameplan is to get rid of Excadrill checks and counters, then set up with him and sweep in Sand.
Excadrill (F) @ Life Orb
Ability: Sand Rush
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Earthquake
- Iron Head
- Rock Slide
- Swords Dance
Standard Sand Sweeper set, make it hit as hard and fast as possible. SD over SR/Toxic to sweep more effectively.
Tyranitar (F) @ Smooth Rock
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 248 HP / 80 Def / 180 SpD
Relaxed Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Stone Edge
- Pursuit
- Ice Beam
Sand setter, item gives 8 turns of Sand for Excadrill, can set up Hazards, Pursuit traps Latias/Latios and Ice Beam for Coverage.
Talonflame (F) @ Sharp Beak
Ability: Gale Wings
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Brave Bird
- Flare Blitz
- Swords Dance
- Roost
Second setup sweeper in case RNG or misplays screw my original plan. Also deals with bulky grass types like Tangrowth for Excadrill.
Celebi @ Leftovers
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 252 HP / 156 Def / 84 SpD / 16 Spe
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Giga Drain
- Recover
- Thunder Wave
- Healing Wish
Checks Keldeo and several other bulky Waters for Excadrill, can also cripple problematic enemy mons with TWave and give Excadrill or Talonflame another shot at sweeping with Healing Wish if all else failed.
Keldeo @ Choice Specs
Ability: Justified
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Scald
- Secret Sword
- Hydro Pump
- Icy Wind
Keldeo is just... Keldeo... is there any reason NOT to run it in any non-stall team right now? Also forms a Grass/Fire/Water core with Talonflame and Celebi. Not too sure about the 4th move, will maybe cange it to HP Bug, Flying, Electric, etc.
Latios @ Life Orb
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Draco Meteor
- Psyshock
- Roost
- Defog
My defogger. Hazard control is rather important to keep my threats healthy throughout the game since I don't have a dedicated Cleric. Psyshock to hit Chansey hard, Roost for Sustainability.
2) Sand Semistall:
I know, people call me crazy everytime I try it, but I WILL make this archetype viable one day x) Gameplan is to wear down the enemy team with residual damagee from Hazards, Status and Sand, then clean with my more offensively-oriented mons
Excadrill (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Mold Breaker
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpD
Careful Nature
- Earthquake
- Iron Head
- Rapid Spin
- Stealth Rock
Completely different set, more useful than the Sand sweeper one from above, let's me reliable set up SR and Spin away enemy hazards multiple times throughout the game, while still maintaining ok offensive presence. Rapid Spin is preferred over Defog in this team because I stack Hazards myself. Also I was thinking about using Air Balloon instead of Leftovers, but I think it's too situational and I often have to use Exca and have its Balloon popped prematurely.
Hippowdon (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 252 HP / 144 Def / 112 SpD
Impish Nature
- Earthquake
- Whirlwind
- Slack Off
- Stone Edge
The other sand setter next to Ttar, and the more defensive one, hence preferred here. Good mixed wall, reliable recovery, can PHaze to stop setups and increase hazard damage. Also hits pretty hard for a defensive pokemon. Leftovers over Smooth Rock because I don't run Sand Rush on Excadrill here and I need to outlast my enemy.
Talonflame (F)
Ability: Gale Wings
EVs: 248 HP / 252 SpD / 8 Spe
Careful Nature
- Acrobatics
- Roost
- Bulk Up
- Taunt
Taunt user to stop all the various shit people do, like setups, spreading status, own Taunts, etc. Also my second offensive-ish pokemon that can setup itself (beats Sableye after 1 boost e.g.) and help Excadrill clean after residual damage wore the enemy down. Also good coverage for Exca + Hippo.
Chansey @ Eviolite
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Def / 252 SpD
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Toxic
- Soft-Boiled
- Seismic Toss
- Heal Bell
My team's cleric. Since I want to outlast the enemy, keeping my team free of status while crippling enemies with Toxic and adding more residual damage on my own is very important. Also my special wall.
Ferrothorn (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Iron Barbs
EVs: 252 HP / 88 Def / 168 SpD
Relaxed Nature
- Spikes
- Leech Seed
- Power Whip
- Protect
Second Hazard setter and my way to go against bulky Waters that trouble a lot of other mons in my team. Protect over Gyro Ball because else I'd have no "reliable" recovery
Sableye-Mega (F) @ Sablenite
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 252 HP / 112 Def / 144 SpD
Careful Nature
- Knock Off
- Will-O-Wisp
- Recover
- Foul Play
Second form of Hazard control next to Rapid Spin Excadrill. Prevents Hazards from even going up, can knock off important items from enemy key pokemon, cripple physical sweepers with Burn and prevent itself from being setup fodder with Foul Play.
---
For anyone interested, the reason why all my pokemon (that can be) are female, it's a bit of min-maxing. Female is the default gender online, and since a lot of people ignore the choice of gender when making a team, and in case SOMEONE will EVER use attract against me, the chances are high the mons will both be F.
Thanks for reading everyone, and I'm looking forward to your thoughts on those 2 teams :)
Sart
1) Sand Offense:
The classic. Gameplan is to get rid of Excadrill checks and counters, then set up with him and sweep in Sand.
Excadrill (F) @ Life Orb
Ability: Sand Rush
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Earthquake
- Iron Head
- Rock Slide
- Swords Dance
Standard Sand Sweeper set, make it hit as hard and fast as possible. SD over SR/Toxic to sweep more effectively.
Tyranitar (F) @ Smooth Rock
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 248 HP / 80 Def / 180 SpD
Relaxed Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Stone Edge
- Pursuit
- Ice Beam
Sand setter, item gives 8 turns of Sand for Excadrill, can set up Hazards, Pursuit traps Latias/Latios and Ice Beam for Coverage.
Talonflame (F) @ Sharp Beak
Ability: Gale Wings
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Brave Bird
- Flare Blitz
- Swords Dance
- Roost
Second setup sweeper in case RNG or misplays screw my original plan. Also deals with bulky grass types like Tangrowth for Excadrill.
Celebi @ Leftovers
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 252 HP / 156 Def / 84 SpD / 16 Spe
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Giga Drain
- Recover
- Thunder Wave
- Healing Wish
Checks Keldeo and several other bulky Waters for Excadrill, can also cripple problematic enemy mons with TWave and give Excadrill or Talonflame another shot at sweeping with Healing Wish if all else failed.
Keldeo @ Choice Specs
Ability: Justified
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Scald
- Secret Sword
- Hydro Pump
- Icy Wind
Keldeo is just... Keldeo... is there any reason NOT to run it in any non-stall team right now? Also forms a Grass/Fire/Water core with Talonflame and Celebi. Not too sure about the 4th move, will maybe cange it to HP Bug, Flying, Electric, etc.
Latios @ Life Orb
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Draco Meteor
- Psyshock
- Roost
- Defog
My defogger. Hazard control is rather important to keep my threats healthy throughout the game since I don't have a dedicated Cleric. Psyshock to hit Chansey hard, Roost for Sustainability.
2) Sand Semistall:
I know, people call me crazy everytime I try it, but I WILL make this archetype viable one day x) Gameplan is to wear down the enemy team with residual damagee from Hazards, Status and Sand, then clean with my more offensively-oriented mons
Excadrill (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Mold Breaker
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpD
Careful Nature
- Earthquake
- Iron Head
- Rapid Spin
- Stealth Rock
Completely different set, more useful than the Sand sweeper one from above, let's me reliable set up SR and Spin away enemy hazards multiple times throughout the game, while still maintaining ok offensive presence. Rapid Spin is preferred over Defog in this team because I stack Hazards myself. Also I was thinking about using Air Balloon instead of Leftovers, but I think it's too situational and I often have to use Exca and have its Balloon popped prematurely.
Hippowdon (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 252 HP / 144 Def / 112 SpD
Impish Nature
- Earthquake
- Whirlwind
- Slack Off
- Stone Edge
The other sand setter next to Ttar, and the more defensive one, hence preferred here. Good mixed wall, reliable recovery, can PHaze to stop setups and increase hazard damage. Also hits pretty hard for a defensive pokemon. Leftovers over Smooth Rock because I don't run Sand Rush on Excadrill here and I need to outlast my enemy.
Talonflame (F)
Ability: Gale Wings
EVs: 248 HP / 252 SpD / 8 Spe
Careful Nature
- Acrobatics
- Roost
- Bulk Up
- Taunt
Taunt user to stop all the various shit people do, like setups, spreading status, own Taunts, etc. Also my second offensive-ish pokemon that can setup itself (beats Sableye after 1 boost e.g.) and help Excadrill clean after residual damage wore the enemy down. Also good coverage for Exca + Hippo.
Chansey @ Eviolite
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Def / 252 SpD
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Toxic
- Soft-Boiled
- Seismic Toss
- Heal Bell
My team's cleric. Since I want to outlast the enemy, keeping my team free of status while crippling enemies with Toxic and adding more residual damage on my own is very important. Also my special wall.
Ferrothorn (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Iron Barbs
EVs: 252 HP / 88 Def / 168 SpD
Relaxed Nature
- Spikes
- Leech Seed
- Power Whip
- Protect
Second Hazard setter and my way to go against bulky Waters that trouble a lot of other mons in my team. Protect over Gyro Ball because else I'd have no "reliable" recovery
Sableye-Mega (F) @ Sablenite
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 252 HP / 112 Def / 144 SpD
Careful Nature
- Knock Off
- Will-O-Wisp
- Recover
- Foul Play
Second form of Hazard control next to Rapid Spin Excadrill. Prevents Hazards from even going up, can knock off important items from enemy key pokemon, cripple physical sweepers with Burn and prevent itself from being setup fodder with Foul Play.
---
For anyone interested, the reason why all my pokemon (that can be) are female, it's a bit of min-maxing. Female is the default gender online, and since a lot of people ignore the choice of gender when making a team, and in case SOMEONE will EVER use attract against me, the chances are high the mons will both be F.
Thanks for reading everyone, and I'm looking forward to your thoughts on those 2 teams :)
Sart
