Hippowdon will rock! (again)
Introduction:
Hey what's up? I'm back and I just realised how the changes where affecting my team, so I decided to make some changes:
My 5 gen RMT: http://www.smogon.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3484938
I don't know If some of that pokemons will be banned later (probably yes), but I just want to know your opinion about my team to improve it. I just post my 5 gen team (that it wasn't rated), because It can give you some ideas.
A closer look:
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Pokemon: Hippowdon
Item: Smooth Rock
Ability: Sand Stream
Evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SDef
Nature: Impish (+Def, -SAtk)
Introduction:
Hey what's up? I'm back and I just realised how the changes where affecting my team, so I decided to make some changes:
My 5 gen RMT: http://www.smogon.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3484938
I don't know If some of that pokemons will be banned later (probably yes), but I just want to know your opinion about my team to improve it. I just post my 5 gen team (that it wasn't rated), because It can give you some ideas.
A closer look:
.
Pokemon: Hippowdon
Item: Smooth Rock
Ability: Sand Stream
Evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SDef
Nature: Impish (+Def, -SAtk)
Hippowdon function is simple and easy: Weather Inducer.Many people could think that Tyranitar is a better choice for a sandstorm team, but there's no need to discourage that pokemon.
Probably that's because Hippowdon can't do anything against Politoed or Abomasnow, Tyranitar can always hits with Stone Edge so other weather induces can switch into it.
Anyway Hippowdon is still very good thanks to its incredible defenses, which makes it a very good wall.
But has bad things (that sometimes can be good). To start Hippowdon isn't very fast, which can be easily Taunted so it won¡t be able to use Stealth Rock.
However, not having a lot of speed is not bad because It will always put the weather first.
Also Hippowdon's base attack is not bad (112) and it can use Earthquake, which is good because of the stab and sandstorm.
Another advantage of Hippowdon is that it doesn't have to worry about Dugtrio, which makes it harder for the other team to win the weather war.
Moves:
Stealth Rock: First of all I have Stealth Rock, which helps me to break the Focus Sash and also Sturdy. Stealth Rock also helps a lot against balanced or stall teams that will be constantly changing.
Whirlwind: Whirlwind is rather to avoid problems with some physical sweepers, especially dragon type pokemons. Hippowdon is a good Phazer in my opinion.
Earthquake: Earthquake helps me a lot thanks to the stab and the Weather. Basically I have Earthquake because I need soemthing to hit with hippowdon.
Slack Off: And finally I have Slack Off to recover my Hp If it's necessary. It also allows me to stall some pokemon, but do not usually stall because of the hax factor that I don't like.
Besides losing Hippowdon does not interest me, especially if I'm playing against other weather teams.
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Pokemon: Excadrill
Item: Air Baloon
Ability: Sand Rush
Evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SAtk)
Yaaaay! Excadrill is back to OU.
Yes, Excadrill is back, but rememeber that the weather lasts only 5 turns (8 turns with the rocks).
Because Excadrill has Sand Rush and 135 base Atk and access to Swords Dance it can be a it a terrifying sweeper that devastates teams. In addition it can learn Rapid Spin to remove hazards and X-Scizor to hit the forgotten Lati@s (I don't see Latios or Latias a lot nowadays, probably because of Aegislash).
Excadrill can be countered by some bulky pokemons: for exmaple Landorus-T, Gliscor, Eviolite Gligar, Skarmory can counter Exdarill without problems.
Moves:
Swords Dance: To boosts Excadrill's Attack.
Earthquake: Has the STAB and It also gets a boost If sandstorm is up. Remember that Earthquake is not affected by King's shield, so Aegislash won't be a problem unless it has Sacred Sword.
Rapid Spin: To remove hazards.
Iron Head: Because of the new fairy types I've decided to use Iron Head instead of Rock Slide. It also gets the STAB. It also helps against some threats such as Alakazam or Gengar.
Rock Slide: Because people is using Talonflame a lot at Pokembank OU and OU I thik rocks slide is the perfect move to beat it under the sand. Also I can hit Alakazam and gengar which are potential threats to that team.
Yes, Excadrill is back, but rememeber that the weather lasts only 5 turns (8 turns with the rocks).
Because Excadrill has Sand Rush and 135 base Atk and access to Swords Dance it can be a it a terrifying sweeper that devastates teams. In addition it can learn Rapid Spin to remove hazards and X-Scizor to hit the forgotten Lati@s (I don't see Latios or Latias a lot nowadays, probably because of Aegislash).
Excadrill can be countered by some bulky pokemons: for exmaple Landorus-T, Gliscor, Eviolite Gligar, Skarmory can counter Exdarill without problems.
Moves:
Swords Dance: To boosts Excadrill's Attack.
Earthquake: Has the STAB and It also gets a boost If sandstorm is up. Remember that Earthquake is not affected by King's shield, so Aegislash won't be a problem unless it has Sacred Sword.
Rapid Spin: To remove hazards.
Rock Slide: Because people is using Talonflame a lot at Pokembank OU and OU I thik rocks slide is the perfect move to beat it under the sand. Also I can hit Alakazam and gengar which are potential threats to that team.
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Pokemon: Celebi
Item: Life Orb
Ability: Natural Cure
Evs: 56 HP / 252 SAtk / 200 Spd
Ivs: 30 Atk, 30 SpA, 30 Spd
Nature: Mild (+SAtk, -Def)
Where you expecting a SpD Celeb? NO!
Yes, I'm not running a SpD Celebi since I have Rotom-W as a Special wall against rain teams. Also celebi is the best offensive choice for a grass type because the other OU grass types (Venusaur, Venusaur-Mega, Celebi, Breloom, Ferrothorn) lack of Spd and SpA. Probably it would be good to mention Venusaur-Mega, which 130 SpA base and some bulk. Anyway, Celebi is better.
Moves:
Leaf Storm: Powerful move, but it decreases the SpA when used, but that's not very importatn If I can OHKO - 2HKO the oposing pokemon.
With tyranitar getting the Tyranitardite probably I won't be able to OHKO It. Doing some calculations I've seen that It can't OHKO normal Tyranitar too D_:
Damange: 252+ SpA Life Orb Celebi Leaf Storm vs. 252 HP/ 252+ SpD Tyranitar in Sand: 265-312 (65.5 - 77.2%)
Sooo yeah, It can't OHKO tyranitar.
What I think: Anyway I think I'll be able to predict the change and bla, bla, bla.
Reality: Because I that won't happen I will need to play safe and use U-Turn or to sacrifice Celebi If needed.
Apart from Tyranitar Leaf storm has the STAB which makes it a good fisnisher against some pokemons like Conkeldurr.
Also OHKO's Gliscor, which can be a trouble
Damange: 252+ SpA Life Orb Celebi Leaf Storm vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Gliscor: 344-407 (97.1 - 114.9)
HP [Fire]: That Hidden Power helps me to defeat some steels and grass pokemosn that are usally leads: for example Ferrothorn, Forretress and soemtimes Skarmory (but it has Brave Bird) that are good SR users.
Because Hidden Power [Fire] doesn't OHKO them they will be able to set up rocks, but only rocks (at least at the start of the match).
HP fire works against scizor If it has no SpD because is a sure OHKO. The problem is that now Scizor gets a megaevolution thanks to the Scizorite item so that means more SpD and Atk.
Bulky Scizor with Scizorite (megaevolved):
Damange: 252+ SpA Life Orb Celebi Hidden Power Fire vs. 252 HP / 216 SpD Scizor: 260-307 (75.5 - 89.2)
Bulky Scizor with lefties:
Damange: 252+ SpA Life Orb Celebi Hidden Power Fire vs. 252 HP / 216 SpD Scizor: 296-354 (86 - 102.9%)
Choice Band Scizor:
Damange: 252+ SpA Life Orb Celebi Hidden Power Fire vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Scizor: 380-447 (110.4 - 129.9%)
Scizorite Scizor with the CB set:
Damange: 252+ SpA Life Orb Celebi Hidden Power Fire vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Scizor: 380-447 (110.4 - 129.9%)
So that means that Celebi still can OHKO Scizor without bulk. Because Expert belt and Gem Scizor are rare I will always able to identify why type of scizor I'm facing.
U-turn: To scout. It helps me to do some damange when I know the opponent is going to change and it also helps me to scape from some trappers (not Gengar and Dugtrio) like Gothitelle.
Recover: To recover my Hp. There's not much too say here.
Yes, I'm not running a SpD Celebi since I have Rotom-W as a Special wall against rain teams. Also celebi is the best offensive choice for a grass type because the other OU grass types (Venusaur, Venusaur-Mega, Celebi, Breloom, Ferrothorn) lack of Spd and SpA. Probably it would be good to mention Venusaur-Mega, which 130 SpA base and some bulk. Anyway, Celebi is better.
Moves:
Leaf Storm: Powerful move, but it decreases the SpA when used, but that's not very importatn If I can OHKO - 2HKO the oposing pokemon.
With tyranitar getting the Tyranitardite probably I won't be able to OHKO It. Doing some calculations I've seen that It can't OHKO normal Tyranitar too D_:
Damange: 252+ SpA Life Orb Celebi Leaf Storm vs. 252 HP/ 252+ SpD Tyranitar in Sand: 265-312 (65.5 - 77.2%)
Sooo yeah, It can't OHKO tyranitar.
What I think: Anyway I think I'll be able to predict the change and bla, bla, bla.
Reality: Because I that won't happen I will need to play safe and use U-Turn or to sacrifice Celebi If needed.
Apart from Tyranitar Leaf storm has the STAB which makes it a good fisnisher against some pokemons like Conkeldurr.
Also OHKO's Gliscor, which can be a trouble
Damange: 252+ SpA Life Orb Celebi Leaf Storm vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Gliscor: 344-407 (97.1 - 114.9)
HP [Fire]: That Hidden Power helps me to defeat some steels and grass pokemosn that are usally leads: for example Ferrothorn, Forretress and soemtimes Skarmory (but it has Brave Bird) that are good SR users.
Because Hidden Power [Fire] doesn't OHKO them they will be able to set up rocks, but only rocks (at least at the start of the match).
HP fire works against scizor If it has no SpD because is a sure OHKO. The problem is that now Scizor gets a megaevolution thanks to the Scizorite item so that means more SpD and Atk.
Bulky Scizor with Scizorite (megaevolved):
Damange: 252+ SpA Life Orb Celebi Hidden Power Fire vs. 252 HP / 216 SpD Scizor: 260-307 (75.5 - 89.2)
Bulky Scizor with lefties:
Damange: 252+ SpA Life Orb Celebi Hidden Power Fire vs. 252 HP / 216 SpD Scizor: 296-354 (86 - 102.9%)
Choice Band Scizor:
Damange: 252+ SpA Life Orb Celebi Hidden Power Fire vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Scizor: 380-447 (110.4 - 129.9%)
Scizorite Scizor with the CB set:
Damange: 252+ SpA Life Orb Celebi Hidden Power Fire vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Scizor: 380-447 (110.4 - 129.9%)
So that means that Celebi still can OHKO Scizor without bulk. Because Expert belt and Gem Scizor are rare I will always able to identify why type of scizor I'm facing.
U-turn: To scout. It helps me to do some damange when I know the opponent is going to change and it also helps me to scape from some trappers (not Gengar and Dugtrio) like Gothitelle.
Recover: To recover my Hp. There's not much too say here.
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Pokemon: Heatran
Item: Leftovers
Ability: Flash Fire
Evs: 248 HP / 8 Def / 252 SDef
Nature: Calm (+SpD, -Atk)
''Heatran is the best'' I don't know If heatran is the best or not but what I know is that is the best Genesect check from now.
Moves:
Lava Plume: 80 power and 30% chance to burn? Do you need something more? I know that Fire Blast does more damange (110) but for a bulky Heatran is better to use Lava Plume so If the opponent decides to change into a physical atacker it will fear a burn.
Earth Power: Why not? I can hit other Heatran in switch. I think It's a good option to hit some pokemons and also to have another move to hit when you're tormented for example.
Protect: To see what my opponent's pokemon has and also to recover wome HP with lefties.
Toxic: When I have problems with walls the only thing I can do is to Toxic them, specially against water walls like Jellicent or Tentacruel.
Toxic-->Protect-->Earth Power-->Protect.
Jellicent can taunt me but I'll always outspeed it, so I can Toxic.
I dind't consider using Roar because Hippowdon has Whirlwind.
I think Lefties is a better option than Air Baloon since I have protect.
Moves:
Lava Plume: 80 power and 30% chance to burn? Do you need something more? I know that Fire Blast does more damange (110) but for a bulky Heatran is better to use Lava Plume so If the opponent decides to change into a physical atacker it will fear a burn.
Earth Power: Why not? I can hit other Heatran in switch. I think It's a good option to hit some pokemons and also to have another move to hit when you're tormented for example.
Protect: To see what my opponent's pokemon has and also to recover wome HP with lefties.
Toxic: When I have problems with walls the only thing I can do is to Toxic them, specially against water walls like Jellicent or Tentacruel.
Toxic-->Protect-->Earth Power-->Protect.
Jellicent can taunt me but I'll always outspeed it, so I can Toxic.
I dind't consider using Roar because Hippowdon has Whirlwind.
I think Lefties is a better option than Air Baloon since I have protect.
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Pokemon: Genesect
Item: Choice Scarf
Ability: Download
Nature: Naive
Genesect is back with Excadrill. From what I've heard that thing isn't going to be banned so I think It's good to use it, I'm sure at all. I know it's a OP pokemon IMO but now Goodra can be a check for it (but not the best).
Damange: +1 252+ SpA Genesect Ice Beam vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Goodra: 214-254 (66.6 - 79.1%)
(even at +1 SpA can't OHKO) and Goodra does a OHKO with Flamethrower
Damange: 0+ SpA Goodra Flamethrower vs. 0 HP / 0+ SpD Genesect: 292-348 (103.1 - 122.9%)
And U-Turn at +1 does a great damange
Damange: +1 0+ Atk Genesect U-turn vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Goodra: 195-229 (60.7 - 71.3%)
Goodra has more SpD than Def to that means that Gensect will get a +1 Atk boost if change into Goodra. I think that's important because Goodra is a bulky pokemon that can has a good movepool and SpA.Damange: +1 0+ Atk Genesect U-turn vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Goodra: 195-229 (60.7 - 71.3%)
But the best check for Genesect is Heatran, apart from thunderbolt which does ridicolous damange and Hp [Water] or [Ground] do great damange but are very extrange.
Damange: +1 252- SpA Genesect Thunderbolt vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Heatran: 87-103 (22.5 - 26.6%)
Genesect can't do nothing to Heatran.
I'm just not going to use Hp on Genesect because heatran can run Air Baloon and because I prefer Thunderbolt.
Moves:
U-turn: To scout. It does a toons of damange at +1 and the STAB. Also Gensect has a great SpA and Atk base (120).
Ice Beam: Against dragons. I have Genesect basically to check dragons with Ice bean and outspeed them with the Choice Scarf item. Obiously the opponent can predict the change and use Fire Punch/ Fire blast.
Thunderbolt: Perfect against water walls like Jellicent, Tentacruel (and sometimes politoed if needed so I can win the weather war :D).
Flamethrower: Just a move to defeat Ferrothorn, Scizor and other stuff. It also gets a boost from Sunny Day (I saw some people using Charizard-Y).
In conclusion Gensect is a very good pokemon that has a great movepool but you need to know how to use it.
I've considered Extremspeed (?) but I like that moveset.
Genesect can't do nothing to Heatran.
I'm just not going to use Hp on Genesect because heatran can run Air Baloon and because I prefer Thunderbolt.
Moves:
U-turn: To scout. It does a toons of damange at +1 and the STAB. Also Gensect has a great SpA and Atk base (120).
Ice Beam: Against dragons. I have Genesect basically to check dragons with Ice bean and outspeed them with the Choice Scarf item. Obiously the opponent can predict the change and use Fire Punch/ Fire blast.
Thunderbolt: Perfect against water walls like Jellicent, Tentacruel (and sometimes politoed if needed so I can win the weather war :D).
Flamethrower: Just a move to defeat Ferrothorn, Scizor and other stuff. It also gets a boost from Sunny Day (I saw some people using Charizard-Y).
In conclusion Gensect is a very good pokemon that has a great movepool but you need to know how to use it.
I've considered Extremspeed (?) but I like that moveset.
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Pokemon: Rotom (Rotom-W)
Item: Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
Evs: 248 HP / 28 SAtk / 232 SDef
Nature: Calm (+SDef, -Atk)
To finish I have Rotom-W, one of the pokemon that is evry team that I use. The reason why I use a lot that pokemon is because has a better responses against a rain team. Eg I can use Volt switch to cripple Tentacrel, Celebi can't.
About celebi I can use Psychic If I want just to hit Tentacruel.
The problem of that set If that I only have 28 SpA Ev's on Rotom so I don't do a lot of damange.
Furthermore I have Thunder Wave which is good to slow down pokemon that have hight base speed: for example Latios and Latias, that can make some trouble if scarfed.
Moves:
Volt Switch: Volt Switch is a good move to do some damage against rain teams and is perfect to defeat Gyarados.
The big problem is Tentacruel for rotom because I can't a lot of damange as I said with 28 SpA EV's.
Hydropump: A very powerful water move (now 110 base power) that comes with the STAB, making it better. I usually use it against Tyranitar If the're weakned, but most of them have a max SpD set so If they're full Hp I normally use Volt Switch.
Thunder Wave: Thunder Wave is my support move, as I said It helps me to paralyse pokemons with a hight base speed with some predict: for example Lati@s.
Pain Split: And to finish I have Pain Split which is the best option for Rotom-W to recover Hp. From what I see a lot of people uses the Chestorest tactic with Rotom-W but I don't really like it.
So here's my team. I don't have a threat list yet from what I've test but I think I can have problems with Volcarona since Heatran has no Roar and Volcarona can use HP [Ground].
About celebi I can use Psychic If I want just to hit Tentacruel.
The problem of that set If that I only have 28 SpA Ev's on Rotom so I don't do a lot of damange.
Furthermore I have Thunder Wave which is good to slow down pokemon that have hight base speed: for example Latios and Latias, that can make some trouble if scarfed.
Moves:
Volt Switch: Volt Switch is a good move to do some damage against rain teams and is perfect to defeat Gyarados.
The big problem is Tentacruel for rotom because I can't a lot of damange as I said with 28 SpA EV's.
Hydropump: A very powerful water move (now 110 base power) that comes with the STAB, making it better. I usually use it against Tyranitar If the're weakned, but most of them have a max SpD set so If they're full Hp I normally use Volt Switch.
Thunder Wave: Thunder Wave is my support move, as I said It helps me to paralyse pokemons with a hight base speed with some predict: for example Lati@s.
Pain Split: And to finish I have Pain Split which is the best option for Rotom-W to recover Hp. From what I see a lot of people uses the Chestorest tactic with Rotom-W but I don't really like it.
So here's my team. I don't have a threat list yet from what I've test but I think I can have problems with Volcarona since Heatran has no Roar and Volcarona can use HP [Ground].
A final Look:
Any help would be apreciated!
Thanks for reading it :D
Oooops. Here's the importable version:Thanks for reading it :D
Hippowdon (M) @ Smooth Rock
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SDef
Impish Nature
- Slack Off
- Earthquake
- Stealth Rock
- Whirlwind
Celebi @ Life Orb
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 60 HP / 252 SAtk / 196 Spd
Modest Nature
- Leaf Storm
- Hidden Power [Fire]
- U-turn
- Recover
Excadrill (F) @ Air Balloon
Ability: Sand Rush
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Adamant Nature
- Swords Dance
- Earthquake
- Rapid Spin
- Rock Slide
Heatran (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Def / 252 SDef
Calm Nature
- Lava Plume
- Protect
- Earth Power
- Toxic
Genesect @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Download
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 4 Atk / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Naive Nature
- U-turn
- Ice Beam
- Thunderbolt
- Flamethrower
Rotom-Wash @ Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 248 HP / 28 SAtk / 232 SDef
Calm Nature
- Volt Switch
- Hydro Pump
- Thunder Wave
- Pain Split
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SDef
Impish Nature
- Slack Off
- Earthquake
- Stealth Rock
- Whirlwind
Celebi @ Life Orb
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 60 HP / 252 SAtk / 196 Spd
Modest Nature
- Leaf Storm
- Hidden Power [Fire]
- U-turn
- Recover
Excadrill (F) @ Air Balloon
Ability: Sand Rush
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Adamant Nature
- Swords Dance
- Earthquake
- Rapid Spin
- Rock Slide
Heatran (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Def / 252 SDef
Calm Nature
- Lava Plume
- Protect
- Earth Power
- Toxic
Genesect @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Download
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 4 Atk / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Naive Nature
- U-turn
- Ice Beam
- Thunderbolt
- Flamethrower
Rotom-Wash @ Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 248 HP / 28 SAtk / 232 SDef
Calm Nature
- Volt Switch
- Hydro Pump
- Thunder Wave
- Pain Split
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