Tyranitar has the Power!
Introduction: So I made this team in the middle of round 5, and I noticed how popular drizzle teams were getting. Obviously, Thundurus was one of the main reasons for this spike in popularity, and I wanted to create a sandstorm team. I know what you are thinking, oh no another horrible bog standard sand team... Nope! My team only has Landorus to abuse it, the rest is... Tyranitar,
Gastrodon, Skarmory, Dragonite, Deoxys-S, and as I mentioned earlier, Landorus. The teams purpose is to combat rain (Gastrodon) break down a few walls (Dragonite) which will let Deoxys-S and Landorus sweep, obviously Tyranitar provides the sand. So now you know my team's role, I will let you know this. I am NOT retiring this team yet (It's too awesome ^_^) but I will adjust it ever so slightly should anything be banned, if Drizzle is banned I can keep my rain combat core against water types in general. Anyway, enough has been said, here is the team!
At A Glance!
Rain- Rain is the most popular full forged weather, so I had two pokemon dedicated to defeating rain teams. Gastrodon is more than capable of defeating a standard rain team, while also upholding an offensive presence against other teams.
Sand- Another common weather, I don't need a specific unit for it since I have a sandstorm team. Excadrill, a common sweeper cannot set up on any of these pokemon without getting seriously dented or being KO'd, since the new standard is LO it will fall quickly.
Sun- Landorus really does the work here, using his STAB Earthquake to destroy fire types, then bring in Tyranitar to disable the sunlight and let Landorus carry on with his job.
Tyranitar (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Sandstream
Sassy nature (+SDef, -Spd)
EVs: 252 HP/80 SAtk/176 SDef
-Stealth Rock
-Crunch
-Fire Blast
-Pursuit
Like any sandstorm team, you need the inducer of everyone's choice Tyranitar. Tyranitar is an amazing utility counter to Latios, Ghost types, and Reuniclus it also provides Stealth Rock for the whole team, and activates Landorus' Sand Force. However the main selling point is controllinthe weather, since rain an sun have ridiculously powerful attacks, with the precious weather of course. Luckily my team does not over rely on weather, so should my weather fade the whole team does not crumble. Tyranitar is also good late game, his coverage helps defeat many teams later on. The EVs are not that specific, make special attacks very strong, then maximize bulk.
Gastrodon (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Storm Drain
EVs: 252 HP/4 SAtk/252 SDef
Calm nature (+SDef, -Atk)
-Toxic
-Scald
-Ice Beam
-Recover
Gastrodon is the sole counter to rain teams, however he performs his job so well that it feels like a team against rain teams! Gastrodon, along with Skarmory are the team's newest additions suggested by AB 2 (Thanks!) I agreed with Suicune being the weak link, and I was true. Gastrodon picks off were Suicune left off, countering rain but also checking Thundurus much better. Gastrodon even has instant recovery, while also posing an offensive threat with a Storm Drain boost. Toxic is helpful for stalling stall teams and catching a Blissey off guard. Scald is good for burning Gyarados and stuff.
Skarmory (M) @ Shed Shell
Ability: Sturdy
EVs:252 HP/180 Def/76 SDef
Impish nature (+Def, -SAtk)
-Spikes
-Brave Bird
-Roost
-Whirlwind
Skarm is an awesome check to sandstorm teams, Scizor, Breloom, and has excellent synergy with Gastrodon. Skarmory also sets up spikes and can shuffle opponents to help Deoxys and Landorus. Skarmory also can stop stat up sweepers with whirlwind. The EVs let it check Excadrill and Landorus much better, while the special defense let's it take weak ice beams from Blissey. Roosts a nifty way to recover, letting Skarmory wall much better. This used to be Ferrothorn, but Skarmory has the advantage of checking sandstorm to give it the edge. Skarmory also has sturdy so that means if something is at +6 and doesn't have SR it can be phazed out.
Dragonite (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Inner Focus
EVs: 252 Atk/252 SAtk/4 Spd
Rash nature (+SAtk, -SDef)
-Draco Meteor
-Superpower
-Extremespeed
-Fire Blast
This cute lil' Dragon is the first part of the offensive core, and serves it's purpose as breaking down tough walls that Landorus and Deoxys-s have trouble with busting past, as well as pulling off a mini sweep. Dragonite, in my opinion is a better mixed attacker than Salamence, thanks to superpower and extreme speed. Also with inner focus I don't worry about multi scale and is a better choice for a sandstorm team. Dragonite is amazing late game, he is an absolute beast at picking off the team (my offensive core's main purpose) and sweeping very well mid game. Dragonite is also bulky, and can absorb Mach Punch etc. easily.
Deoxys-S @ Life Orb
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 28 Atk/252 SAtk/228 Spd
Hasty nature (+Spd, -Def)
-Psycho Boost
-Ice Beam
-Thunderbolt
-Superpower
Deoxys-s is a sweeper, revenge killer, and fighting counter all in one! Deoxys sees multiple uses throughout the game, but make sure to revenge Thundurus if possible. It may seem odd to use a LO on a sandstorm team, but really Deoxys just wants to take out a few mons and then leave. Psycho Boost can easily kill all fighting types, and superpower OHKO's all non-chople tars. Deoxys really loves the spikes support since it makes him much stronger, and better at revenge killing. Deoxys is a very anti-metagame pokemon, and deserves to be higher than no. 40.
Landorus (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Sand Force
EVs: 252 Atk/4 SAtk/252 Spd
Naive nature (+Spd, -SDef)
-Substitute
-Earthquake
-Smack Down
-Hidden Power [Ice]
The final piece of the offensive core is the mighty Landorus. Delko created this set and let me tell you it is absolutely amazing. Landorus' old counters such as Skarmory and Bronzong get grounded by smack down on the switch, and are OHKO'd by Earthquake. Not only this but with a substitute Landorus becomes amazingly annoying. Late@s get destroyed by a Sand Force Earthquake when grounded. This thing is amazing late game and is an awesome mon.
Well that's my team, rate it, hate it, or steal it!
Code:
Tyranitar (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Sandstream
EVs: 252 HP/80 SAtk/176 SDef
Sassy nature (+SDef, -Spd)
-Stealth Rock
-Crunch
-Fire Blast
-Pursuit
Gastrodon (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Storm Drain
EVs: 252 HP/4 SAtk/252 SDef
Calm nature (+SDef, -Atk)
-Toxic
-Scald
-Ice Beam
-Recover
Skarmory (M) @ Shed Shell
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 252 HP/176 Def/80 SDef
Impish nature (+Def, -SAtk)
-Spikes
-Brave Bird
-Roost
-Whirlwind
Dragonite (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Inner Focus
EVs: 252 Atk/252 SAtk/4 Spd
Rash nature (+SAtk, -SDef)
-Draco Meteor
-Superpower
-Extremespeed
-Fire Blast
Deoxys-S @ Life Orb
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 28 Atk/252 SAtk/228 Spd
Hasty nature (+Spd, -Def)
-Psycho Boost
-Ice Beam
-Thunderbolt
-Superpower
Landorus (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Sand Force
EVs: 252 Atk/4 SAtk/252 Spd
Naive nature (+Spd, -SDef)
-Substitute
-Earthquake
-Smack Down
-Hidden Power [Ice
