This is the team I've been having the most success with so far this generation. It utilizes a lot of utility and a couple pivots to ensure a 100% safe Ditto switch.
Ditto @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Imposter
EVs: 248 HP, 252 Def, 8 Sp.D.
Nature: Relaxed
Moves:
This is Ditto. This is his only viable set up. All it does is switch in, copy a Pokemon, then automatically be faster than that Pokemon because of Choice Scarf. Ditto's biggest purpose is to counter most literally every sweeper, especially Mega Evolutions and set up sweepers. God help you if your Mega Evolution is also a set up sweeper. The EV's are designed entirely to mitigate Stealth Rock damage. That's not to say I haven't faced some minor hiccups using Ditto. A lot of set up sweepers and Mega Evolutions run movesets with only neutral coverage against themselves. For instance, today I copied a +4 SD boost Mega Mawile with Sucker Punch, Play Rough, and Iron Head for offensive moves. Only Iron Head does neutral damage in that scenario. If it hadn't been for the +4 SD boost, Ditto probably wouldn't have OHKO'd his opponent. There are also many cases where an opponent's team just has no one worth copying. Stall teams really make Ditto a dead weight. Also, well crafted teams can end up having good checks against themselves, too. However, despite all this, I've had a lot of success running Ditto, forcing a lot of people to just ragequit.
Mega Banette @ Banettite
Ability: Insomnia (before evolving), Prankster (after evolving)
EVs: 252 HP, 40 Def, 216 Sp.D.
Nature: Careful
Moves:
This is my lead Pokemon for two reasons. First of all, I really want Banette to Mega Evolve immediately. I don't want to be caught in a situation where I need Prankster and to not have it. The second reason is because a number of entry hazard leads aren't faster than Banette anyway, so I'm able to just Taunt right off the bat. My Mega Evolution for this team really came down to a choice between Banette and Absol, and I've been very happy with Banette's performance. At ratings below 1600, it seems like most people just don't know what Mega Banette even does. I've gotten many easily avoidable Destiny Bonds on important opposing sweepers. Mega Banette also serves a bit as this team's physical tank and spinblocker, though the latter role is rather diminished on this team. I chose Shadow Claw over Knock Off because I would rather have the stronger damage option. The only problem I've had with using Mega Banette as a lead are other Prankster uses that have the ability naturally, especially Sableye. This can end up causing a lot of problems for my team if they aren't removed.
Tentacruel @ Black Sludge
Ability: Black Ooze
EVs: 248 HP, 244 Def, 16 Spe
Nature: Timid
Moves:
Genesect @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Download
EVs: 252 Atk, 4 Sp.A, 252 Spe
Nature: Naive
Moves:
Cresselia @ Light Clay
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 248 HP, 112 Def, 12 Sp.D., 136 Spe
Nature: Bold
Moves:
Lucario @ Life Orb
Ability: Steadfast
EVs: 252 Sp.A., 252 Spe, 4 Def
Nature: Timid
Moves:
Ditto @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Imposter
EVs: 248 HP, 252 Def, 8 Sp.D.
Nature: Relaxed
Moves:
- Transform
This is Ditto. This is his only viable set up. All it does is switch in, copy a Pokemon, then automatically be faster than that Pokemon because of Choice Scarf. Ditto's biggest purpose is to counter most literally every sweeper, especially Mega Evolutions and set up sweepers. God help you if your Mega Evolution is also a set up sweeper. The EV's are designed entirely to mitigate Stealth Rock damage. That's not to say I haven't faced some minor hiccups using Ditto. A lot of set up sweepers and Mega Evolutions run movesets with only neutral coverage against themselves. For instance, today I copied a +4 SD boost Mega Mawile with Sucker Punch, Play Rough, and Iron Head for offensive moves. Only Iron Head does neutral damage in that scenario. If it hadn't been for the +4 SD boost, Ditto probably wouldn't have OHKO'd his opponent. There are also many cases where an opponent's team just has no one worth copying. Stall teams really make Ditto a dead weight. Also, well crafted teams can end up having good checks against themselves, too. However, despite all this, I've had a lot of success running Ditto, forcing a lot of people to just ragequit.
Mega Banette @ Banettite
Ability: Insomnia (before evolving), Prankster (after evolving)
EVs: 252 HP, 40 Def, 216 Sp.D.
Nature: Careful
Moves:
- Destiny Bond
- Taunt
- Will-o-Wisp
- Shadow Claw
- Taunt
- Will-o-Wisp
- Shadow Claw
This is my lead Pokemon for two reasons. First of all, I really want Banette to Mega Evolve immediately. I don't want to be caught in a situation where I need Prankster and to not have it. The second reason is because a number of entry hazard leads aren't faster than Banette anyway, so I'm able to just Taunt right off the bat. My Mega Evolution for this team really came down to a choice between Banette and Absol, and I've been very happy with Banette's performance. At ratings below 1600, it seems like most people just don't know what Mega Banette even does. I've gotten many easily avoidable Destiny Bonds on important opposing sweepers. Mega Banette also serves a bit as this team's physical tank and spinblocker, though the latter role is rather diminished on this team. I chose Shadow Claw over Knock Off because I would rather have the stronger damage option. The only problem I've had with using Mega Banette as a lead are other Prankster uses that have the ability naturally, especially Sableye. This can end up causing a lot of problems for my team if they aren't removed.
Tentacruel @ Black Sludge
Ability: Black Ooze
EVs: 248 HP, 244 Def, 16 Spe
Nature: Timid
Moves:
- Toxic Spikes
- Scald
- Protect
- Rapid Spin
Despite being a team centered around Ditto in theory, Tentacruel does 80% of the heavy lifting in practice. I originally chose Tentacruel because, without him, my team has no Rapid Spinner, no entry hazards, and is especially susceptible to Toxic Spikes and Toxic. Tentacruel covers all of these needs with this moveset. It also carries Scald. Despite having Prankster Will-o-Wisp on this team, Scald's 30% burn chance is worth keeping, especially it might not be optimal to switch in Banette. It also deters Excadrill, who is weak to water and hates being burned. I chose Black Ooze over Black Sludge because this team has no stat boosts to pass to make Clear Body worthwhile and it's not a rain team to make use of Rain Dish. What's more, as a Rapid Spinner, Black Ooze can really screw with two of the new generation's most premier spin blockers: Trevenant and Gourgeist, two Pokemon that run with HP absorb abilities. Between the ability to put down Toxic Spikes and Scald, as well as its typing (which covers this team's fire-type weakness), Tentacruel is basically the Pokemon to go to when I'm not 100% what my best switch options are.- Scald
- Protect
- Rapid Spin
Genesect @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Download
EVs: 252 Atk, 4 Sp.A, 252 Spe
Nature: Naive
Moves:
- U-Turn
- Iron Head
- Flamethrower
- Explosion
This is the first part of the safe switch combo in the "ultimate safe switch" team. Besides carrying U-Turn and Explosion to safely switch in Ditto, Genesect also functions as a great mixed sweeper. This helps it complement Ditto even more, since you never know what Ditto will be copying until you see the opponent's team. While U-Turn is the preferred switch move, Explosion is an option against bulkier copy opportunities. Genesect also helps this team counter Aegislash, which might otherwise halt Ditto after copying a physical sweeper.- Iron Head
- Flamethrower
- Explosion
Cresselia @ Light Clay
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 248 HP, 112 Def, 12 Sp.D., 136 Spe
Nature: Bold
Moves:
- Lunar Dance
- Light Screen
- Reflect
- Thunder Wave
This is the second part of the safe switch combo, as well as the part that really adds the "safe" to the team. Cresselia was chosen for one huge reason: set up bait. I originally intended to switch in Cresselia so that the opponent would bring in a set up sweeper, then proceed to set up, which has worked in practice. During this time, I use Cresselia to just set up dual screens, Thunder Wave, then give the reins to Ditto, who would now not only have his opponent's boosts, but would also outspeed and have dual screen protection. However, after the first time I used Lunar Dance, I realized what ridiculous power Cresselia adds to this team. Not only does it provide a safe switch for Ditto, but it also heals him to full if he has had to switch out for any reason. Cresselia is also a general tank for the team, safely switching in to pretty much everything and providing Levitate to cover this team's ground weakness. What's more, she'll almost always still have the HP to set up screens. Because of Lunar Dance, Cresselia doesn't care about almost any status effects, except for ones that prevent her from using moves. She is especially susceptible to Prankster Taunt, though, since her entire movepool is prevented by the ability. I'm also considering replacing Thunder Wave with Toxic, since Ditto will always outspeed his copied opponent anyway.- Light Screen
- Reflect
- Thunder Wave
Lucario @ Life Orb
Ability: Steadfast
EVs: 252 Sp.A., 252 Spe, 4 Def
Nature: Timid
Moves:
- Nasty Plot
- Aura Sphere
- Dark Pulse
- Flash Cannon
Finally, this team carries Nasty Plot Lucario. I initially chose him because I needed a special Fighting-type sweeper, and this is basically the only one. There are some Pokemon that the rest of my team just cannot deal with that this moveset provides coverage for. He is a very niche use-case addition to the team, and there are many times where I wish I was using Vacuum Wave instead of Aura Sphere. One of the biggest benefits to including special Lucario is to bait out Aegislash, setting up with Nasty Plot, then either forcing him to switch or KO'ing with Dark Pulse. Unfortunately, special set-up Lucario is hard to use, especially considering the constant momentum the metagame has towards fast and/or priority-based sweepers.- Aura Sphere
- Dark Pulse
- Flash Cannon
