This is a work-in-progress of a Unifying Strategy: Stealth Rock guide. All assistance and constructive criticism is greatly appreciated. I'm only focusing on definitely OU / BL Pokemon with this guide currently, along with possible helpful Pokemon that could have usefulness in OU as well. Also, this is really a skeleton of a guide that could be built on, as there's not an abundance of specific cases and arguments and all that whatnot.
First off, here is a listing of what a Stealth Rock team needs to be successful. This also serves as a table of contents.
The Strategy Behind Stealth Rock
001: General Strategy
002: Advanced Strategy
Useful Pokemon Index
003: Stealth Rockers
004: Roar / Whirlwind
005: Screech / Metal Sound
006: Blocking Rapid Spin
007: Knock Off
001: General Strategy
The general strategy for teams that employ Stealth Rocks and Spikes should generally be to rack up as much damage from Pokemon switching as possible. There are a number of ways to do this, but the first and most important thing is to set the trap. To do this you need a Stealth Rock Pokemon at the heart of the team. This Pokemon needs to be very durable and have usefulness outside of merely laying out the Stealth Rock, much like Skarmory is for Spikes in Advance (it phazes really well too). For reference on good Stealth Rock Pokemon check the Useful Pokemon Index towards the bottom of this strategy guide.
Once you have chosen that Pokemon you need to build a solid team around it taking advantage of all that Stealth Rock has to offer.
1. It does 12.5% damage to neutral-to-rock Pokemon, 6.25% to 2x resists, 3.125% to 4x resists, 25% to 2x weaks, and 50% to 4x weaks.
2. It discourages switches except to those Pokemon who resist Stealth Rock, making switching more predictable or keeping switching to a minimum.
3. It can lure out their Rapid Spinner very quickly, who are almost always weak to grass.
These qualities to Stealth Rock make it an ideal way to cover flying Pokemon and make them take extra damage, as well as screwing up many Pokes' ability to take severe hits or adequately wall certain Pokemon, hence why Lapras is not a good CGmence sponge or Garchomp counter with Stealth Rock down. The mere fact that Stealth Rock exists has led to the decline of rock-weak Pokemon, especially fire types, in D/P's RMT threads.
The primary strategy for the Stealth Rock team is to keep pressure on the opponent through a constant threat level that the opponent would have trouble countering with things like bulky waters and good walls. If the Pokemon can stall you and manage to get in a Rapid Spin it puts your team back towards the defensive and could force your Stealth Rocker out again, hence keeping the pressure on them is always good.
002: Advanced Strategy
With things like Stealth Rock down that discourage switches moves like Roar, Whirlwind, Screech, and Metal Sound become excellent moves. The main reason to use Flygon over Garchomp on Stealth Rock teams is due to Screech and Somersault, which combine to make for an excellent trap against bulky waters. With prediction you can either phaze them back out with Roar / Whirlwind or stat them down on the switch in to increase damage potential should they stay in or leave. It's notable that, should Zapdos Metal Sound Garchomp on a switch in, it absolutely must flee or it will be OHKOed by Hidden Power [Ice]. Such cases are quite common and make for an excellent way to pressure the opponent.
Tyranitar and Hippowdon are also notable on Stealth Rock teams because they inflict greater damage on the opponent, adding a 1/16 of their max HP loss per turn should they not resist sandstorm.
003: Stealth Rockers
#205 Forretress
#208 Steelix
#227 Skarmory
#232 Donphan
#248 Tyranitar
#251 Celebi
#260 Swampert
#344 Claydol
#376 Metagross
#377 Regirock
#379 Registeel
#385 Jirachi
#437 Bronzong
#450 Hippowdon
#464 Rhyperior
#472 Gliscor
#480 Uxie
#481 Mesprit
#485 Heatran
004: Roar / Whirlwind
#143 Snorlax Whirlwind
#169 Crobat Whirlwind
#208 Steelix Roar
#227 Skarmory Roar / Whirlwind
#232 Donphan Roar
#245 Suicune Roar
#260 Swampert Roar
#297 Hariyama Whirlwind
#389 Torterra Roar
#409 Rampardos Roar / Whirlwind
#411 Bastiodon Roar
#450 Hippowdon Roar
#452 Drapion Roar / Whirlwind
#464 Rhyperior Roar
#470 Leafeon Roar
#473 Mamoswine Roar
005: Screech / Metal Sound
#073 Tentacruel Screech
#143 Snorlax Screech
#145 Zapdos Metal Sound
#169 Crobat Screech
#208 Steelix Screech
#248 Tyranitar Screech
#291 Ninjask Screech
#330 Flygon Screech
#409 Rampardos Screech
#424 Ambipom Screech
#448 Lucario Screech / Metal Sound
#452 Drapion Screech
#461 Weavile Screech
#462 Magnezone Screech / Metal Sound
#463 Lickilicky Screech
#466 Electivire Screech
#467 Magmortar Screech
#472 Gliscor Screech
#485 Heatran Metal Sound
006: Blocking Rapid Spin
#094 Gengar
#429 Mismagius
#442 Spiritomb
#477 Dusknoir
#478 Frosslass
007: Knock Off
#073 Tentacruel
#232 Donphan
#297 Hariyama
#452 Drapion
#463 Lickilicky
#465 Tangrowth
#472 Gliscor
#486 Regigigas
First off, here is a listing of what a Stealth Rock team needs to be successful. This also serves as a table of contents.
The Strategy Behind Stealth Rock
001: General Strategy
002: Advanced Strategy
Useful Pokemon Index
003: Stealth Rockers
004: Roar / Whirlwind
005: Screech / Metal Sound
006: Blocking Rapid Spin
007: Knock Off
001: General Strategy
The general strategy for teams that employ Stealth Rocks and Spikes should generally be to rack up as much damage from Pokemon switching as possible. There are a number of ways to do this, but the first and most important thing is to set the trap. To do this you need a Stealth Rock Pokemon at the heart of the team. This Pokemon needs to be very durable and have usefulness outside of merely laying out the Stealth Rock, much like Skarmory is for Spikes in Advance (it phazes really well too). For reference on good Stealth Rock Pokemon check the Useful Pokemon Index towards the bottom of this strategy guide.
Once you have chosen that Pokemon you need to build a solid team around it taking advantage of all that Stealth Rock has to offer.
1. It does 12.5% damage to neutral-to-rock Pokemon, 6.25% to 2x resists, 3.125% to 4x resists, 25% to 2x weaks, and 50% to 4x weaks.
2. It discourages switches except to those Pokemon who resist Stealth Rock, making switching more predictable or keeping switching to a minimum.
3. It can lure out their Rapid Spinner very quickly, who are almost always weak to grass.
These qualities to Stealth Rock make it an ideal way to cover flying Pokemon and make them take extra damage, as well as screwing up many Pokes' ability to take severe hits or adequately wall certain Pokemon, hence why Lapras is not a good CGmence sponge or Garchomp counter with Stealth Rock down. The mere fact that Stealth Rock exists has led to the decline of rock-weak Pokemon, especially fire types, in D/P's RMT threads.
The primary strategy for the Stealth Rock team is to keep pressure on the opponent through a constant threat level that the opponent would have trouble countering with things like bulky waters and good walls. If the Pokemon can stall you and manage to get in a Rapid Spin it puts your team back towards the defensive and could force your Stealth Rocker out again, hence keeping the pressure on them is always good.
002: Advanced Strategy
With things like Stealth Rock down that discourage switches moves like Roar, Whirlwind, Screech, and Metal Sound become excellent moves. The main reason to use Flygon over Garchomp on Stealth Rock teams is due to Screech and Somersault, which combine to make for an excellent trap against bulky waters. With prediction you can either phaze them back out with Roar / Whirlwind or stat them down on the switch in to increase damage potential should they stay in or leave. It's notable that, should Zapdos Metal Sound Garchomp on a switch in, it absolutely must flee or it will be OHKOed by Hidden Power [Ice]. Such cases are quite common and make for an excellent way to pressure the opponent.
Tyranitar and Hippowdon are also notable on Stealth Rock teams because they inflict greater damage on the opponent, adding a 1/16 of their max HP loss per turn should they not resist sandstorm.
003: Stealth Rockers
#205 Forretress
#208 Steelix
#227 Skarmory
#232 Donphan
#248 Tyranitar
#251 Celebi
#260 Swampert
#344 Claydol
#376 Metagross
#377 Regirock
#379 Registeel
#385 Jirachi
#437 Bronzong
#450 Hippowdon
#464 Rhyperior
#472 Gliscor
#480 Uxie
#481 Mesprit
#485 Heatran
004: Roar / Whirlwind
#143 Snorlax Whirlwind
#169 Crobat Whirlwind
#208 Steelix Roar
#227 Skarmory Roar / Whirlwind
#232 Donphan Roar
#245 Suicune Roar
#260 Swampert Roar
#297 Hariyama Whirlwind
#389 Torterra Roar
#409 Rampardos Roar / Whirlwind
#411 Bastiodon Roar
#450 Hippowdon Roar
#452 Drapion Roar / Whirlwind
#464 Rhyperior Roar
#470 Leafeon Roar
#473 Mamoswine Roar
005: Screech / Metal Sound
#073 Tentacruel Screech
#143 Snorlax Screech
#145 Zapdos Metal Sound
#169 Crobat Screech
#208 Steelix Screech
#248 Tyranitar Screech
#291 Ninjask Screech
#330 Flygon Screech
#409 Rampardos Screech
#424 Ambipom Screech
#448 Lucario Screech / Metal Sound
#452 Drapion Screech
#461 Weavile Screech
#462 Magnezone Screech / Metal Sound
#463 Lickilicky Screech
#466 Electivire Screech
#467 Magmortar Screech
#472 Gliscor Screech
#485 Heatran Metal Sound
006: Blocking Rapid Spin
#094 Gengar
#429 Mismagius
#442 Spiritomb
#477 Dusknoir
#478 Frosslass
007: Knock Off
#073 Tentacruel
#232 Donphan
#297 Hariyama
#452 Drapion
#463 Lickilicky
#465 Tangrowth
#472 Gliscor
#486 Regigigas
