Victims of a bad player [Newbie RMT]

[SoraRyuu]

Intro
Hmm yeah, like the title says, I'm a sort of newbie. I started to learn the features of Pokémon's competitive side a long time ago and started to play on Wi-Fi against some people. But after some time, I noticed that nearly never lost and thought it was impossible for someone like me to be as good as that. So I began to play on Shoddy and I was right: I'm a really bad player. Is it because of that boring centralized metagam or because I can't make teams (or because I'm a girl >D) ? Anyway, after a boring introduction where I had nothing better to do than telling what my life's like (hopefully you didn't fall asleep :3), comes the main part of the thread: the RMT !


Team Building Process
Well, I've always wanted to use Kingdra. As I fail when using Rain Dance teams, (actually I fail with everything but who cares...) I thought it would be worthless using it. But yeah, I often change my mind so I finally convinced myself to use a Sub DD Kingdra.

Bulky Waters like Swampert or Vaporeon and Grass types like Celebi can cripple Kingdra with ease. I ran through the list and I found a little cute thing called Shaymin and thought it would fit well in the team.

Most Steel Pokémon can come in on Kingdra or Shaymin, so I needed something who takes care of them: Magnezone.

Every sweeper needs Stealth Rock support and I only feel comfortable when I have a phazer in my team, so Swampert came in.

I decided I needed some Toxic Spikes. I thought Forretress wouldn't fit there very well and Roserade is too frail for me. A friend of mine used a Lead Drapion and I liked it, so I wanted to use it.

Needed a Spin blocker and something to absorb status like sleep to activate Sleep Clause. Rotom-A came to my mind, but as Machamp is everywhere and uses Payback, I wanted a Ghost who doesn't take a lot of damage from it. Spiritomb could work and additionally, it can PP waste.

Closer Look

Drapion (M) @ Shuca Berry
Ability: Battle Armor
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Nature: Jolly (+Spe, -SpA)
- Taunt
- Toxic Spikes
- Pursuit
- Earthquake

I wanted a lead that could lay Toxic Spikes while crippling others. For most players, Roserade would be obvious for that role, but I have really bad luck and can't rely on the accuracy of Sleep Powder. So I chose Drapion, who has also has access to Taunt. It also absorbs Toxic Spikes who are deadly for Kingdra.

Taunt is for slower leads like Skarmory, Roserade or even Swampert and preventing them from using their own entry hazards. Pursuit is for leads like Azelf, who usually use Taunt on the first turn. Earthquake is for coverage.
The EV's are simple: Max Attack to do damage, max Speed to speed tie with Jolly Gliscor.
Battle Armor to prevent critical hits, I have a big haxx-phobia.
Shuca Berry is a nice item and allows Drapion to survive an Earthquake from Metagross or Swampert.

Currently testing over Drapion:
Heatran (M) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Flash Fire
Evs: 4 Atk / 252 Spe / 252 SpA
Nature: Naive (+Spe, -SpD)
- Fire Blast
- Explosion
- HP Grass
- Dragon Pulse

Swampert (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Torrent
EVs: 252 HP/ 4 Atk / 252 Def
Nature: Relaxed (+Def, -Spe)
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- Ice Beam
- Roar

Standard MixPert I need for laying Stealth Rock and phazing.

Every sweeper needs Stealth Rock to damage incoming Pokémon and Kingdra is not an exception. Earthquake is for things like Heatran and Metagross without Grass Knot. Ice Beam helps against Dragons like Salamence (if it is DD'd it will be difficult though) and Gliscor.

Spiritomb (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Pressure
Evs: 252 HP / 96 Def / 160 SpD
Nature: Calm (+SpD, -Atk)
- Shadow Ball
- Will-O-Wisp
- Rest
- Sleep Talk

Spin blocker and status absorber. Rotom-A is sure superior in that role, but while playtesting I became scared of things like Machamp and Gengar, Pokémon that Rotom-A can't counter. Also, if I anticipate an Explosion, I send in Spiritomb.

Shadow Ball is for STAB and helps against Gengar, whose unboosted Shadow Ball only does a 4HKO with that EV spread. Will-O-Wisp is for crippling physical sweepers, like Machamp, Scizor or Tyranitar. Rest + Sleep Talk is for recovering and like a said before, to absorb status.

Currently testing over Spiritomb:
Scizor (M) @ Choice Band
Ability: Technician
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 Spe
Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
- Bullet Punch
- Pursuit
- Superpower
- U-Turn

Shaymin @ Life Orb
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 4 Def / 252 Spe / 252 SpA
Nature: Timid (+Spe, -Atk)
- Seed Flare
- Earth Power
- HP Ice
- Rest

I needed something to scare of Bulky Waters who like coming in on Kingdra and take their common Toxic, so Shaymin with Natural Cure seemed right.

Seed Flare is a powerful move and is symbolic for Shaymin. Earth Power is for incoming non-scarfed Heatran who don't expect a Ground move. HP Ice is for doing damage to Celebi, who will be 2HKO'd after Stealth Rock damage. Rest is for recovering and works well with Natural Cure.
252 EV's SpA is for power, 252 EV's Spe is to speed tie with other positive 100 base speed Pokémon.

Magnezone @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Magnet Pull
EVs: 4 Atk / 252 Spe / 252 SpA
Nature: Naive (+Spe, -SpD)
- Thunderbolt
- Flash Cannon
- HP Fire
- Explosion

Yeah, I know, Magnet Pull-Magnezone is cheap. But as long as Scizor's the most used Pokémon out there, I have my reasons too use it. Most Steel Pokémon come in on Kingdra's Outrage, so Magnezone comes in and takes care of them. Also, if I see a Choice Scarf Jirachi and anticipate Trick, I can send in Magnezone.

Thunderbolt is for STAB, Skarmory and some Waters like Gyarados and Flash Cannon is nice for Tyranitar. HP Fire classic on Magnezone, as it kills things like Scizor and Forretress. Explosion is its last resort move and OHKO's Blissey and Latias after Stealth Rock damage.
EV's are simple, max Spe and SpA for damage, and 4 Atk for Explosion.

Currently testing over ScarfZone:
Magnezone @ Leftovers
Ability: Magnet Pull
EVs: 40 Atk / 216 Spe / 252 SpA
Nature: Naive (+Spe, -SpD)
- Substitute
- Thunderbolt
- HP Fire
- Explosion

Kingdra (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Swift Swim
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Nature : Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
- Substitute
- Dragon Dance
- Waterfall
- Outrage

The Pokémon the team was built around. Once Bulky Waters, Celebi, Dragons and Steels other than Heatran have been eliminated, Kingdra comes in and begins (hopefully) to set up for a sweep helped by Toxic Spikes and Stealth Rock.

Substitute prevents Outrage and Waterfall are for STAB and the combo is only resisted by Shedinja (hello, Stealth Rock) and Empoleon who is handled by Magnezone and even Shaymin. If a Steel other than Heatran comes in into Outrage, I'll just send in Magnezone.
Leftovers are for instant recovery I need because of the Subs. The EVs are self explanatory, max Atk for damage, max Spe to tie with other Kingdra (uh, yeah) and the rest thrown into HP.
I chose Swift Swim over Sniper because Rain Dance Teams can be annoying and I can use the rain as my own advantage.


Threat List
Will do one when I've got time. But things like Latias, Scarf Tyranitar and Breloom are really annoying. Maybe a CB Scizor could help, but I have no idea where to put it.


Final Words
Well, I hope that my first RMT was clear enough and that you can help improving it. Don't hold back your critics, I'm a newbie and I really want to know what I'm doing wrong, so the most critics I have, the most I'll see and understand my errors.

Please RMT >D
​

 

[Plus]

Hello.

I glanced at your team building process which was pretty solid until probably the last two pokemon. Though Toxic Spikes are generally helpful for most sweeps, the userbase for such entry hazards are somewhat hard to fit in perfectly with your team. Drapion might have a bit of trouble here against common OU leads such as Swampert, Machamp, Aerodactyl, Gliscor, or potentially some of the more uncommon leads like Hippowdon and Dragonite. Admittedly every lead has their problem, by I'm just concerned on how you're going to deal with some of these pokemon if you really choose to lead like this. Nothing likes getting hit by Draco Meteor here, even Magnezone isn't going to like switching in here. You even risk getting hit by Earthquake should they run it. Aerodactyl is simply going to get the rocks up and get a taunt up against one of your pokemon, perhaps even going down with a couple dents to your team here and there. Even though you have Swampert covering Aerodactyl you still aren't getting rocks up, and you'll be put in a defensive situation at that time. Lead Celebi also proves annoying against Drapion, Pursuit isn't going to kill it and it can 2hko you with Earth power even with shuca berry. I wouldn't say that your responses to Celebi are as good as they can be.

If you were to consider taking out Toxic Spikes and a Spin absorber which aren't as concrete roles in the team as your other pokemon, perhaps you can get a little leeway for pokemon that help Kingdra against Celebi in other ways. CB Scizor is something you want and I would be inclined to agree that it is a decent option for this team, as a revenge killer, a scouter, and overall something that works to weaken your opposition for a DD Kingdra sweep. It works effectively in luring out pokemon like Skarmory and Scizor so you can bring in Magnezone and revenge kill them off should they be at a low enough health.

You can probably afford to lead with Scarf Heatran here -- your team generally lacks pure speed, and Heatran can dent most leads pretty hard and get the ball rolling for you. Most importantly it threatens forry and skarm leads turn one so you don't have to worry about Toxic Spikes. Against stall teams, you really want to make sure that entry hazards dont get the best of your team, as spikes and toxic spikes are going to prove extremely annoying here if you are giving your opponent turns willy nilly to set up spikes. Accordingly, you should be wary that using Swampert could potentially lure such threats in, though Swampert on this team is generally not a bad idea for some extra needed bulk and SR.

Good luck with the team.