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Unexpected Sweeper Team

bloodisblue

Breif Runthrough of my team;
Ninjask, Dragonite, Scizor, Sandslash, Tyranitar, Magnezone

Ninjask (M) @ Leichi Berry The unexpected sweeper
EVs : 244 HP/252 Atk/ 12 Spd
Nature : Adamant
-Substitute
-Return
-X-Scissor
-Baton Pass

The point of having this guy as lead is to get an unexpected monkey into the other teams plan. A majority of leads start of setting up spikes/ST/toxic spikes. By initially using substitution I avoid all potential status moves and the next turn get to damage them from a pretty well powered X-Scissor.

Problem common leads
Swampert - My entire team has a problem with this guy. Normally I just switch or batton pass to try to get as much damage out as I can.
Rotom - I can substitute out but the common thunderbolt gives my regular rotom counter (dragonite) a problem.
Most other leads I outspeed or my team can take out with a switch.

Dragonite (M) @ Life Orb The super damage dealer
EVs : 112 Atk/200 Spd/196 SAtk
Nature : Rash
-Superpower
-Draco Meteor
-Roost
-Flamethrower (I might switch this to HP grass to help my team deal with grass types which my team has problems with, but I'd be losing my ability to deal with ice types so it is a 50/50)

This is the regular mixed sweeper Dragonite. I normally only use Draco Meteor but the ability to Superpower after without any reprimend is highly useful, especially against Scizor. I find that I don't use flamethrower that often and I could use that slot to use HP grass instead. This is definatly something I would like some opinions on.

Scizor (M) @ Combat Band (I kind of want to change this because of the constant switching required doesn't suit my team perfectly.) What team is complete without this guy?
Ability : Technician
EVs : 248 HP/ 252 Atk / 8 Spd
Nature : Adamant
-Bullet Punch
-Night Slash
-Super Power
-U-Turn

Scizor is highly versatile and one of my favorite pokemon to baton pass to from Ninjask. He is my primary ghost pokemon killer with Night Slash but lacks the speed to normally get the kill with it. He can switch into a majority of moves and is barely effected by stealth rock. My biggest concern about Scizor is when my opponent switches out and gets a free turn to set up or free hit on my next pokemon.

Sandslash (M) @ Life Orb How did that happen?
Ability : Sand Veil
EVs : 124 HP / 252 Atk / 134 Spd
Nature : Adamant
-Earthquake
-Poison Jab
-Swords Dance
-Stone Edge

First off let me explain why I picked Sandslash. Sandshrew is my favorite pokemon but he is not good enough to use in anything except LL. So I compromised and decided to use Sandslash. Now for how he helps my team. Sandslash is a highly unexpected pokemon. I do not believe that I have ever seen an opponent with one in OU or UU yet he is very versatile, he has even won a couple games for me.
Sandslash is able to switch into most attacks without taking or 50% damage. During a sand storm generated by Tyranitar he gains 20% dodge chance which can save him at a time of need. Sandslash has a very good attack score without a bad typing. I usually use him as a revenge killer because of his moves and unexpected appearence. Most opponents don't really know what to expect from him and he usually overperforms.

I am willing to change him if given a very good alternative although I would miss him.

Tyranitar (M) @ Choice Scarf Super damage dealer
Evs : 120 Atk / 252 Spd / 136 SAtk
Nature : Hasty
-Crunch
-Earthquake
-Fire Blast
-Ice Beam

Mixed scarfed Tyranitar is surprising capable of dealing large ammounts of damage to many opponents. Most people expect a slow CBed Tyranitar which is where this set surprises people, by hitting first and hard no matter what the type is. His ability to pull up a permant sand stream is highly useful seeing that 4 of my pokemon resist it and it provides nececary residue damage.

Magnezone @ Leftovers Steel KILLER!
Ability : Magnet Pull
EVs : 76 HP / 182 Def / 252 SAtk
Nature : Bold
IVs : 70 Fire HP
-Hidden Power
-Substitute
-Thunder Wave
-Thunderbolt

Magnezone's primary use is to revenge kill steel types that give my team a hassle. Especially Bullet Punch locked Scizor's. Because a majority of steel type attacks are phsysical the defense EVs are used. Max SAtk is used to kill the enemies. Thunderwave is highly useful when a substitution remains and a free paralysis always is helpful. The HP EVs are used to make the substitution harder to kill. A majority of the time after subbing I stall back up to full health if the opponent has trouble breaking my sub.


So that's the team. I would really like any constructive critisim and good changes / ideas.
 
Hi,

I like the idea of a Sandslash-based team, but there are some things I would like to point out.

I don't like the idea of a lead-sweeper Ninjask, because you already have three other sweepers. Besides, Ninjask's main purpose is to rack up boosts to pass off to your sweepers anyways. Therefore, I think that Return on your Ninjask set is simply a waste of a slot, that could be filled up with a much more beneficial move to your team.

I suggest Protect over Return, simply because it allows more speed boosts for your relatively slow sweepers, and is great for scouting incoming attacks. Ninjask is not going to do much attacking anyways, unless it sees a vulnerable psychic type (Azelf) that it can KO easily with X-Scissor.

Also, I'd tweak the Ev spread to 248 HP / 8 Atk / 184 Def / 68 Spe. This defensive spread almost ensures that you will not be KOd by priority like Lucario's extremespeed or Adamant Scizor's Bullet Punch. 68 Speed outspeeds all neutral natured base 120 pokemon.


I'd also change Dragonite to a MixMence. Mixmence does everything you want Dragonite to do, just better, with more speed and attack. Mixmence also works well Synergy-wise with both Scizor, your revenge killer, and Tyranitar. Here is the set:

Salamence @ Life Orb
Mild Nature
84 Atk / 216 SpA / 208 Spe
~ Draco Meteor
~ Earthquake
~ Fire Blast
~ Roost

Salamence's higher SpA also adds more power to Fire Blast and STAB Draco Meteor, two special attacks capable of ripping through about anything except Blissey, unless it misses. Earthquake is your physical attack, and provides great coverage. The Ev spread allows Salamence to KO 252 HP / 252 Def Bold Cresselia on average with Stealth Rock damage, and 208 Speed EVs assure that Salamence outruns all Gyarados prior to a Dragon Dance.

On Scizor, I would suggest Pursuit over Night Slash, to catch the pokemon fleeing from Scizor's Bullet punch (Latias, mainly)

If you want to keep Sandslash, drop Poison Jab for X-Scissor, poison is very limited coverage and you'll need X-Scissor against the Darks and Psychics in OU. Also, it gets rid of your big grass weakness.

Thats all I have for now, gl
 
How is Sandslash a revenge killer? It's slow and has no priority moves, two things that a revenge killer should have. You say it's very versatile, but it's not versatile at all. It doesn't learn that many great moves that make it stand out from other Ground types.
If you want a REAL Ground type Sweeper, use Gliscor. Gliscor shares the same ability and moves as Sandslash, except it's much faster, has way better Defense and Special Defense, and can heal itself with Roost. Using Gliscor as a sweeper is just as unexpected as using Sandslash, since most Gliscors are used as walls.

Ninjask is a pretty "noob" lead. Most teams have something that makes Ninjask useless, usually Taunt, Roar, Whirlwind, or a strong priority move. And because it's 4x weak to Stealth Rock, it can't switch in more than once or twice.

What your team really needs is something that can use entry hazards, because it will really help your sweepers sweep. A lead Rosarade seems to work for an offensive team like this one. Roserade always beats Swampert and can set down Toxic Spikes, which weakens Water types that give most of your team trouble.
 
aragornbird said:
How is Sandslash a revenge killer? It's slow and has no priority moves, two things that a revenge killer should have. You say it's very versatile, but it's not versatile at all. It doesn't learn that many great moves that make it stand out from other Ground types.
If you want a REAL Ground type Sweeper, use Gliscor. Gliscor shares the same ability and moves as Sandslash, except it's much faster, has way better Defense and Special Defense, and can heal itself with Roost. Using Gliscor as a sweeper is just as unexpected as using Sandslash, since most Gliscors are used as walls.

Ninjask is a pretty "noob" lead. Most teams have something that makes Ninjask useless, usually Taunt, Roar, Whirlwind, or a strong priority move. And because it's 4x weak to Stealth Rock, it can't switch in more than once or twice.

What your team really needs is something that can use entry hazards, because it will really help your sweepers sweep. A lead Rosarade seems to work for an offensive team like this one. Roserade always beats Swampert and can set down Toxic Spikes, which weakens Water types that give most of your team trouble.
Click to expand...


i am pretty sure he based the team around sandslash,so i really doubt he would change the pokemon even he saying he would switch for something better,but i am sure he would let us mess with the evs,nature and moves(in fact,i did a sandslash run on crystal when i was a little kid,it was fun) so instead of changing sandslash for other pokemon,i am going to change the moveset and evs..

Sandslash (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Sand Veil
EVs: 82 HP/252 Atk/176 Spd
Adamant nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Swords Dance
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- Shadow Claw

this sandslash not only got great coverage with its moves,but also hit hard,in fact he cause a significant amout of switchs on OU because of the amount of slow pokes weak to earthquake,so you can sword dance on the switch and deal some damage,EQ is for STAB and good power,stone edge let you hit flying pokemons that are imune to earthquake,shadow claw let you hit gengar,bronzong and other flying steels or flygon for neutral damage,i would try to help more but i am in a hurry now!
 
I've used Sandslash for so long time in GSC to say that it is a very underestimated pokémon. It is very good, Sand Veil is a nice ability and you've got Tyranitar in your team, and Swords Dance lets him hit hard on pokés that would survive against his skills. However, the biggest problem on GSC is that he was outclassed by Rhydon, and he had nothing to destroy physical walls that were somehow immune to its Earthquake. Yeah, I've used to kill Starmies with him back on GSC.

Today he got lots of new abilities, but in fact it has still a low movepool and the lack of speed that stops him to shine. Also, there are plenty of new priority moves Sandslash can't even think to take, like Aqua Jet and Ice Shard, so paralyzing with Body Slam is just not enough. Also, his biggest triumph is Rapid Spin, and you are not using it. Sandslash is, in other words, unexpected, but a real nerfed Gliscor, and can be dealed exactly how you deal with a Gliscor. He don't have enough time to Swords Dance and kill, as fast Water pokémon can easily switch in and outspeed him with a Surf, and it is goodbye for him. Definetly Sandslash needs to fight in the UU tiers, instead of the OU ones.

Yeah, I know you are not switching him, as I didn't switch mine back on the GSC and still did well with it, but know that people chooses pokémon to win, not because of its likes. So, if you really want to win, and if that includes changing your team, do that.

But I liked that Ninjask, even if it is not very good as a lead and I would trade it to a bulkier thing like Metagross and put it into other position instead of leading. Your Sandslash really needs speed if it wants to sweep. As its not all times your Sandslash will survive with 4 hp to have a chance of OHKOing that Starmie.
 
Yes I did try to base this team on Sandslash if anyone was wondering.

Salamence @ Life Orb
Mild Nature
84 Atk / 216 SpA / 208 Spe
~ Draco Meteor
~ Earthquake
~ Fire Blast
~ Roost

Salamence's higher SpA also adds more power to Fire Blast and STAB Draco Meteor, two special attacks capable of ripping through about anything except Blissey, unless it misses. Earthquake is your physical attack, and provides great coverage. The Ev spread allows Salamence to KO 252 HP / 252 Def Bold Cresselia on average with Stealth Rock damage, and 208 Speed EVs assure that Salamence outruns all Gyarados prior to a Dragon Dance.
Click to expand...
My only problem with this set is the use of earthquake as the physical move. I have plenty of other earthquake users.

[edit] Decided to try a special sweepr out of salamace. Replacing Earthquake with HP grass. [/edit]

Sandslash (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Sand Veil
EVs: 82 HP/252 Atk/176 Spd
Adamant nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Swords Dance
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- Shadow Claw
Click to expand...
That set looks pretty good. I'll try it out :)

I suggest Protect over Return, simply because it allows more speed boosts for your relatively slow sweepers, and is great for scouting incoming attacks. Ninjask is not going to do much attacking anyways, unless it sees a vulnerable psychic type (Azelf) that it can KO easily with X-Scissor.
Click to expand...
I actually like my Return for Ninjask. He is a common passer but uncommon sweeper. I can take out most common leads using this set because even if they taunt me I still get to do my damage :)

On Scizor, I would suggest Pursuit over Night Slash, to catch the pokemon fleeing from Scizor's Bullet punch (Latias, mainly)
Click to expand...
I like this idea. I think when choosing moves I forgot about Scizor's ability so the 40 bp seemed weak but with that it is very viable. Thanks for the suggestion.

Ok i edited my team. Will change main post if the new team works.
 
Well, your team is based around sandslash who is not a particularly effective sweeper since it has abysmal spdef and speed, so pretty much any water type is going to OHKO it with surf. Your only counter to water is magetzone, who gets trounced by swampert(and most of your team in general). Switching it to hp:grass would help with this since you can expect pert to switch into magetzone. Since swampert rarely runs any speed evs this will net you a speed tie, so you might want to stick a few evs into speed.
 
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