Victory on a Whim(sicott) - Updated 11/2

[welsknight]

NOTE: PLEASE DON'T VOTE IN THE POLL UNTIL YOU HAVE READ THE FIRST POST!

Alrighty, some of you may remember me from my Boosted B@st@rds team from a month or
two ago. Well, here I am, bringing you another new one, which I hope you will enjoy. I'm
gonna dive right in. So far it's doing pretty well (I'd estimate it sits at about 15-4 right
now, and I definitely do not claim to be an amazing battler). The big goal is to take out
any of my opponent's Special Sweepers, then bring in Whimsicott to Leech Seed/Wall the
remainder of the team until they're all dead, or my opponent rage-quits.

TEAM AT A GLANCE:

Original Team:

Version 2:
Switched Clawitzer to Greninja for speed and Toxic Spikes. Switched Tyrantrum for Tyranitar for better coverage.

Current Team at a Glance:
Switched Tyranitar for Garchomp for speed and power, and because Sandstorm often did more harm then good. Switched my mega from Scizor to Garchomp (not totally sold on Mega-Scizor).

THE TEAM IN DETAIL

Quick Note: Really the only Pokemon here I'm dead-set on keeping is Whimsicott, as I feel
it is pretty damn original and I haven't seen anyone else using this set.
Everyone else on the team is expendable, whether it be by changing moves, items, EV
spreads, or swapping out the Pokemon entirely in favor or something different.

Greninja @ Life Orb
Ability: Protean
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SAtk
Mild Nature
- Scald
- Dark Pulse
- Taunt
- Toxic Spikes

Greninja serves two roles on this team: to act as a fast special sweeper, and to lay down
Toxic Spikes. Taunt easily forces a switch on lots of leads, allowing Toxic Spikes to get
down. I miss having Ice Beam like on my B@st@rd Greninja (from my last RMT), and I also
miss Aura Sphere (which I had on Clawitzer, who Greninja replaced), but the added utility
and speed is definitely a boon. Greninja hits hard thanks to Life Orb. I went with Scald
over Hydro Pump for the burn chance and because Hydro Pump misses more often than
not for me. Dark Pulse is primarily for Aegislash, but it hits anything that doesn't resist it
pretty hard.

Whimsicott (M) @ Big Root
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 4 Spd / 252 Def / 252 HP
Bold Nature
- Giga Drain
- Encore
- Leech Seed
- Cotton Guard

Whimsicott is the team member here that I'm the most proud of. With Gen 6, Whimsicott
was given a VERY nice boost by becoming Grass-Fairy type. Because of its Prankster
ability and very nice support movepool, Whimsicott actually has a lot of potential as a
physical wall. With its move Cotton Guard, it gets a +3 boost to Defense per use,
essentially giving it a whopping 737 defense in a single turn (thanks to nature and EVs)!
The second turn, it increases to a ridiculous 1180 Defense. Two turns = 1180 Defense.
Also, since Prankster gives Cotton Guard priority, it can very easily get that boost. Leech
Seed is its primary damage move, and Giga Drain is there for when there is nothing else
to do but sit back and let the opponent wear itself out or switch. Priority Encore can
wreak havoc as well, locking an opponent into a move like Stealth Rock for several turns
of Leech Seed Damage, and giving Whimsicott a chance to maximum its defense with a
whole two Cotton Guards. Believe it or not, I've stalled out entire teams with Whimsicott,
simply because it's so... unexpected. Even Mega-Kangaskhan (unless it's carrying Fire/Ice
Punch, which is surprisingly rare) can't break through it. Big Root boosts the recovery
amount from Leech Seed and Giga Drain, which is essential to stalling out the opponent. I
go with Big Root over Leftovers because even after full HP EVs, Whimsicott doesn't have
amazing HP. However, if Leech Seed gets down on a bulky target, it can restore huge
portions of Whimsicott's health per turn.

Talonflame @ Sharp Beak
Ability: Gale Wings
EVs: 252 Spd / 252 Atk / 4 HP
Adamant Nature
- Brave Bird
- Flare Blitz
- Swords Dance
- U-turn

Talonflame is one of my physical sweepers. I'm running a pretty standard Talonflame
set; U-Turn lets it get out of a nasty situation fast, and Swords Dance... Well, if I get
a Swords Dance off... I think we've all seen how devastating a +2 priority Brave Bird can
be. I'm considering switching out Swords Dance for Will-O-Wisp, however, simply because
nobody on the team is carrying a status-inducing move (unless you count Leech Seed).
If Flying Gem gets released, I will be using that and Acrobatics instead of Sharp Beak/Brave Bird.

Scizor @ Leftovers
Ability: Technician
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 HP / 4 SDef
Adamant Nature
- Bullet Punch
- Superpower
- Defog
- U-turn

I chose Scizor primarily for Defog, although he can hit pretty hard as well. Superpower
gives me a nice strong fighting move. Bullet Punch is for the obvious STAB priority move.
U-Turn helps immensely against Malamar, which I've found can be a major pain in any
teams' ass. I am very open to suggestions on this one. I don't like how slow Scizor is, but
his innate bulkiness helps. However, Genesect, HP Fire Magnezone, and pretty much any
other fire-carrying, hard-hitting Pokemon present problems.

Magnezone @ Choice Specs
Ability: Magnet Pull
EVs: 172 HP / 252 SAtk / 84 Spd
Modest Nature
- Flash Cannon
- Thunderbolt
- Hidden Power [Fire]
- Signal Beam

Magnezone is here as my Steel-trapper (Scizor and Skarmory, primarily) and second
special sweeper. He hits very hard thanks to Choice Specs, and can sponge a few hits
with stellar defense. Because he's running Specs, he often switches in, kills something,
then switches out again. His moves give him outstanding coverage, able to hit a good
chunk of the metagame super-effectively with at least something. EVs in speed are to out-
speed all base 70s or lower.

Garchomp @ Garchompite
Ability: Sand Veil
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 HP / 252 Spd
Adamant Nature
- Dragon Claw
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- Stealth Rock

I went through several different Pokemon for this slot before finally settling on Garchomp.
I needed a Stealth Rock setter. I originally went with Tyrantrum, followed by Tyranitar,
but neither of them really fit very well with the rest of the team. By adding Garchomp, I
get a fast physical sweeper. Mega-Garchomp hits insanely hard thanks to a base 170
attack. While I originally used Mega-Scizor as my mega, I think Mega-Garchomp adds a lot
more to the team. Scizor is there primarily as a hazard remover if I really need it. Before
Garchomp, Mega-Kangaskhan could present a lot of problems for me, since it out-speeds
the majority of my team. Garchomp has done wonders there.

WEAKNESSES

One of the nastier problems for this team is Talonflame, as it can lay some super-effective
hurt on half of my team members, and hits Greninja hard as well. Stealth Rocks and
Tyrantrum in general help, though. Genesect poses a problem as well, since it out-speeds
Magnezone and can usually OHKO it.

I'm not running a spin-blocker, phaser, or probably most importantly, a designated Special Wall, which can present lots of issues in their own right.

YOUR FEEDBACK IS APPRECIATED AND NEEDED TO IMPROVE THE TEAM! THANKS IN ADVANCE!

Note: Will add more details and shiny eye candy to this thread tomorrow. Right now, it's 3am where I live, and I have class in a few hours, so I should've gone to sleep LONG ago.
​

Importable

Greninja @ Life Orb
Ability: Protean
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SAtk
Mild Nature
- Hydro Pump
- Dark Pulse
- Taunt
- Toxic Spikes

Whimsicott (M) @ Big Root
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 Spd
Bold Nature
- Giga Drain
- Encore
- Leech Seed
- Cotton Guard

Talonflame @ Sharp Beak
Ability: Gale Wings
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Adamant Nature
- Brave Bird
- Flare Blitz
- Will-O-Wisp
- U-turn

Scizor @ Leftovers
Ability: Technician
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SDef
Adamant Nature
- Bullet Punch
- Superpower
- Defog
- U-turn

Magnezone @ Choice Specs
Ability: Magnet Pull
EVs: 172 HP / 252 SAtk / 84 Spd
Modest Nature
- Flash Cannon
- Thunderbolt
- Hidden Power [Fire]
- Signal Beam

Garchomp @ Garchompite
Ability: Sand Veil
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 HP / 252 Spd
Adamant Nature
- Dragon Claw
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- Stealth Rock

​

 

[Torkoals]

I feel like Greninja could fill the same role that clawitzer does, albeit with a little less attacking power, but offer some speed and coverage.
Maybe a set like this:
Greninja @ Focus Sash
Ability: Torrent
EVs: 252 Spd / 252 SAtk / 4 HP
Hasty Nature
- Toxic Spikes/spikes
- Surf/Hydro pump
- Dark Pulse/(if you dont want the dark coverage that clawitzer has)Ice Beam
- U-turn

Of course, if priority is really necessary, then the hazards could be switched for water shuriken, or shadow sneak, and the EVs modifies a little bit

 

[welsknight]

I feel like Greninja could fill the same role that clawitzer does, albeit with a little less attacking power, but offer some speed and coverage.
Maybe a set like this:
Greninja @ Focus Sash
Ability: Torrent
EVs: 252 Spd / 252 SAtk / 4 HP
Hasty Nature
- Toxic Spikes/spikes
- Surf/Hydro pump
- Dark Pulse/(if you dont want the dark coverage that clawitzer has)Ice Beam
- U-turn

Of course, if priority is really necessary, then the hazards could be switched for water shuriken, or shadow sneak, and the EVs modifies a little bit

Other than speed and another layer of hazards, though, what is Greninja really adding in that case? I had Greninja on my last team, and he worked well. However, I went with Clawitzer over Greninja when picking the team because of Aura Pulse (my team is very lacking in fighting-type moves). But, it may warrant some testing. I'll try out Greninja in a few tests and see if I like it better.

 

[Qualna]

Why run a U-turn on a Suicide Lead set? It's pretty pointless. You'd rather have another coverage or priority there.

Greninja is a good Pokémon here actually, but using that set heavily compromises power, which this team will not like.

Greninja @ Life Orb
Ability: Protean
EVs: 252 SAtk / 252 Spe / 4 Atk
Naive Nature
- U-Turn
- Hydro Miss
- Ice Beam
- Grass Knot

Greninja gives your team solid power and speed, U-Turn is practically mandatory here, while Hydro Pump can be replaced with the weaker Surf and the other two moves depends on what you to hit, like HP Fire for Scizor and Ferro.

Like you said, Tyrantrum is pretty useless here, skipping the negative reactions I will give, here's a replacement for it:

Tyranitar @ Focus Sash
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 4 Atk / 252 SAtk / 252 Spe
Hasty Nature
- Crunch
- Fire Blast / Ice Beam
- Low Kick / Ice Beam
- Stealth Rock

This will benefit your team better, with the ability to mess up the enemy while getting up rocks. The moves here depends on what you want to mess up but Crunch and SR is pretty mandatory here. Just watch out for lead Garchomp and lead Terrakion, looking at the team preview helps, obv.

EDIT: Magnezone should run at least 84Spd EVs to outspeed base 70s most notably Skarmory to prevent it from laying another layer of spikes and the rest to HP, but if outspeeding is not your concern, move all Defense EVs to HP EVs to make-up for Magnezone's low HP stat.

 

[Jaroda]

Whimsicott is indeed interesting, I approve. Although Leftovers would be more helpful overall letting you restore health on the turns you don't have Leech Seed or aren't Giga Draining for more consistency. You can't do a thing to Ferrothorn however, and I think you'll have a hard time stalling things in general without, say, Toxic (even though it doesn't hit Ferrothorn.) Leech Seed and Giga Drain alone is a long battle. At the very least, get something that can use Toxic Spikes. This will help your ability to stall with Whimiscott immensely. You also may want to consider Infiltrator to be able to Leech Seed through Substitutes, but you'll have to decide if that trumps priority Cotton Guard.

One of the bigger problems is a combination of sub-optimal roles, particularly Scizor and Tyrantrum. If you want something that can cause status, use Defog and lay down Stealth Rock all in one, than you should really consider a Gliscor. Gliscor with Stealth Rock/Defog/Knock Off/Toxic with a Toxic Orb will be a great stalwart and annoyer. Able to Toxic many things, get rid of hazards, lay your own, absorb status aimed at Whimsicott and Knock Off is effing ANNOYING and screwing with everything's Leftovers. This now gives you a slot over Scizor, Tyrantrum, or both.

I think HP EVs and Life Orb is kind of counter intuitive, as you're simply sapping a larger percentage of your HP with every attack. It may prove bulkier overall with mixed defense investment, or specifically Df if you want to counter Talonflame better, which is probably a good idea.

I find one of the best ways to handle Talonflame early is to drag him through SR kicking and screaming with phaze moves a full defense Skarmory can't be killed by an unboosted Flare Blitz. In fact unless he Roosts right then and there, if you phaze him out again and your opponent cant spin your rocks away then Talonflame is guaranteed dead next time. Skarmory can also Defog/Toxic/Stealth Rock if you wish and don't want to use Gliscor. But I'd encourage one because you don't have an immediately bulky wall to switch in. Whimsicott requires set up otherwise she'll die too fast but Gliscor and Skarmory are as bulky as they come.

Tyrantrum is better off as a wallbreaker with Choice Band imo. STAB Head Smash is just so effing strong and immediately powerful. If you aren't boosting Tyrantrum's speed with Rock Polish than you'll never get your money's worth out of Weakness Policy. Alternatively if you're magnezone clears out the Fairy and Steel types for you you could potentially sweep near the end with a DDance set, in which case get a LOT more speed investment.

 

[welsknight]

Why run a U-turn on a Suicide Lead set? It's pretty pointless. You'd rather have another coverage or priority there.

Touche.

Whimsicott is indeed interesting, I approve. Although Leftovers would be more helpful overall letting you restore health on the turns you don't have Leech Seed or aren't Giga Draining for more consistency. You can't do a thing to Ferrothorn however, and I think you'll have a hard time stalling things in general without, say, Toxic (even though it doesn't hit Ferrothorn.) Leech Seed and Giga Drain alone is a long battle. At the very least, get something that can use Toxic Spikes. This will help your ability to stall with Whimiscott immensely. You also may want to consider Infiltrator to be able to Leech Seed through Substitutes, but you'll have to decide if that trumps priority Cotton Guard.

One of the bigger problems is a combination of sub-optimal roles, particularly Scizor and Tyrantrum. If you want something that can cause status, use Defog and lay down Stealth Rock all in one, than you should really consider a Gliscor. Gliscor with Stealth Rock/Defog/Knock Off/Toxic with a Toxic Orb will be a great stalwart and annoyer. Able to Toxic many things, get rid of hazards, lay your own, absorb status aimed at Whimsicott and Knock Off is effing ANNOYING and screwing with everything's Leftovers. This now gives you a slot over Scizor, Tyrantrum, or both.

I think HP EVs and Life Orb is kind of counter intuitive, as you're simply sapping a larger percentage of your HP with every attack. It may prove bulkier overall with mixed defense investment, or specifically Df if you want to counter Talonflame better, which is probably a good idea.

I find one of the best ways to handle Talonflame early is to drag him through SR kicking and screaming with phaze moves a full defense Skarmory can't be killed by an unboosted Flare Blitz. In fact unless he Roosts right then and there, if you phaze him out again and your opponent cant spin your rocks away then Talonflame is guaranteed dead next time. Skarmory can also Defog/Toxic/Stealth Rock if you wish and don't want to use Gliscor. But I'd encourage one because you don't have an immediately bulky wall to switch in. Whimsicott requires set up otherwise she'll die too fast but Gliscor and Skarmory are as bulky as they come.

Tyrantrum is better off as a wallbreaker with Choice Band imo. STAB Head Smash is just so effing strong and immediately powerful. If you aren't boosting Tyrantrum's speed with Rock Polish than you'll never get your money's worth out of Weakness Policy. Alternatively if you're magnezone clears out the Fairy and Steel types for you you could potentially sweep near the end with a DDance set, in which case get a LOT more speed investment.

Mmm, I like the idea of Gliscor, allowing me to free up 2 slots on the team, and replace my Scizor with a Mega that I actually want to use.

EDIT: Ugh, generation problems. Gliscor can't have its hidden ability when it knowns Defog. Any other suggestions?

 

[Burt Racecar]

Just want to say I'm a big fan of that Whimsicott, except i run it with Leftovers and Substitute over Giga Drain. Totally Taunt bait I know, but behind a Sub that doesn't matter.

 

[welsknight]

Just want to say I'm a big fan of that Whimsicott, except i run it with Leftovers and Substitute over Giga Drain. Totally Taunt bait I know, but behind a Sub that doesn't matter.

Taunt goes through Substitutes.