My team consists of a Charizard-MY, Tyranitar, Tapu Fini, Tangrowth, Toxapex and Garchomp.
Introduction
I've been using this team for a while now, and I've polished most of its problems. It's a balanced team that relies on pivoting, checking and hazards. I've been on and off with Garchomp and Dugtrio, who worked pretty well as a revenge killer, but lacked Stealth Rocks when my team struggled against Focus Sash users/Suicide Leads like Smeargle and Greninja, so I settled with Garchomp.
The Team
Charizard-Mega-Y @ Charizardite Y
Ability: Drought
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Flamethrower
- Solar Beam
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Roost
I chose Charizard-MY because it's a great wallbreaker. It has an outstanding Special Attack stat, and it's just a bit slower than Garchomp. It serves as cleanup, to sweep after entry hazards and pivots have softened up the enemy Pokemon. Flamethrower gets 135 Base Power and 100% accuracy in sun, which is insane. Solar Beam provides much needed coverage against Water and Rock types such as Tapu Fini, Greninja and Tyranitar, leaving it only weak to Electric types such as Tapu Koko.
Tyranitar @ Choice Band
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Rock Slide
- Crunch
- Pursuit
- Earthquake
I chose Tyranitar and Charizard as my core, as they synergized well.
Tyranitar cancels out Charizard's sun, which means ememy fire types can't take advantage of the 50% damage boost, and Charizard can cancel out Tyranitar's sandstorm. The sandstorm from Sand Stream can chip away at focus sashers/sturdy users, and provides some chip damage, which helps even more when I have entry hazards, too. Rock slide is an alternative to Stone Edge, which has 20% accuracy for me (seriously, I hit my Focus Blasts more than I hit Stone Edges). Crunch is a strong Dark stab, and Pursuit means that Tyranitar can switch into a Pokemon with low health and set up Sand + Kill a Pokemon that the enemy is trying to preserve (a Toxapex w/ Regenerator, etx). Earthquake provides coverage against Pokemon like Toxapex, Heatran, Charizard-MX, Diancie, and other Fire & Steel types.
Tapu Fini @ Leftovers
Ability: Misty Surge
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Def / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Taunt
- Nature's Madness
- Moonblast
- Defog
Since my core is weak to Water and Charizard is demolished by Stealth Rocks, I needed a Defogger/Rapid Spinner. I chose Tapu Fini because it sported Water typing and access to Defog. Therefore, Tapu Fini's role is my Defogger. Taunt helps against Pokemon such as Ferrothorn and Toxapex so that when I remove their hazards, they don't just put them up again immediately after I remove them. Nature's Madness helps against those bulky hazard users by halving their health. This can help force a switch so my hazards can do work. Moonblast is a good stab attack, Scald was another option, but the Pokemon it covered weren't that big of threats to my team, I needed coverage against Dragon, Dark and Fighting types, who rip Tyranitar apart. I don't need burning against walls because taking the turns to spam Scald, hoping for a burn, I could be Taunting/using Nature's Madness. Defog removes hazards and Screens, which I have discussed in this paragraph already.
Tangrowth @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 248 HP / 212 Def / 48 SpD
Relaxed Nature
- Giga Drain
- Knock Off
- Leech Seed
- Hidden Power [Ice]
Tangrowth is a great pivot. Since my team is based around forcing switches to soften up the enemy team with hazards and pivots, and then sweep, Tangrowth was a great pick. Tangrowth's role is a pivot, forcing switches and walling Pokemon such as Non-HP Ice Landorus-T. Giga Drain is Tangrowth's stab and semi-reliable source of recovery. Knock off can scout for Z-Moves and break walls' by knocking off their Leftovers/Black Sludge. Leech Seed replaced Sleep Powder, as having Toxic Spikes up from Toxapex would make Sleep Powder only usable against flying Pokemon/Steel/Poison Types, so I use Leech Seed, forcing Pokemon to switch, and hurt another Pokemon with hazards, or stay in and die from Toxic Spikes and Leech Seed. Hidden Power Ice is coverage, destroying Pokemon such as Gliscor, Landorus-T, Garchomp, and other Grass types such as Tapu Bulu.
Toxapex @ Black Sludge
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 252 HP / 192 Def / 64 SpD
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Scald
- Haze
- Recover
- Toxic Spikes
Toxapex is another Toxic Spikes setter/pivot for my team. Tangrowth and Toxapex are a semi-core, they cover most of each others weaknesses, except for Toxapex's glaring weakness to Psychic types, who is checked by Tyranitar, who is immune to them, and then Tyranitar can tackle them with Crunch or Pursuit. Toxapex can pivot back and forth with Tangrowth, checking enemy Pokemon, forcing switches, and healing with Regenerator while slowly chipping their health away. Scald is a great stab for a stalling Pokemon like Toxapex, and can deal with Landorus-T pretty well when Toxapex is cornered. Haze is so Pokemon can't set up on Toxapex, including Quiver Dance Volcarona, Dragon Dance users, Calm Mind users, and pretty much any set-up sweepers. Recover is a reliable source of healing, paired along side Black Sludge and insane Defense and Special Defense, Toxapex is an almost unstoppable wall.
Garchomp @ Dragonium Z
Ability: Rough Skin
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- Outrage
- Swords Dance
It was between Garchomp and Dugtrio. I chose Garchomp because of Stealth Rocks, superior stats, and Dragon Type coverage. Garchomp serves as an offensive Stealth Rock setter. I assume I will get a reccomendation for Garchomp to use Focus Sash, but I went for Dragonium Z instead because I would often get checked by Levitate users and Flying Types. I wanted to have a powerful Z-Move as a sort of last laugh from Garchomp. I used Stealth Rock as an additional Hazard, which I have already explained a million times how it's important. I ran Earthquake, which is a necessity for Garchomp. Outrage can rip the enemy Pokemon apart if their Fairy Types have been killed off, especially if Garchomp sets up a Swords Dance, which can be used as setup against other Hazard setters.
Conclusion
My team is based around pivoting and luring in threats to my sweepers, and softening up enemies with Hazards and pivots so my sweepers have no problem OHKOing everything. I have 5 years of competitive experience, but I only really got into teambuilding recently. Thank you for reading my wall of text.
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