Welcome to my new “Rate my team”. First of all, sorry for my English, because it’s not my first language.
The last team I posted was a OU one which helped me to get to the top 15 on Shoddy, but this team has lost its power with so many new threats like Scizor or Shaymin.
I could add too that the ban of Garchomp has helped me a lot too, so I don’t have to worry about it anymore.
The next team is quite original, because it’s build with all UU pokémon. However, it’s not intended to be used only in UU, I’m trying it in OU, and it’s working wonders, rising me to 1500 in the Standard ladder in Smogon Server.
On the other hand, I see some problems with pokémon like Celebi or Infernape, so I’m going to show you all my team, with details, and after that, you will be able to tell me if some replacements could help me. Those replacements CAN be OU, BL or UU. I don’t mind, however, I want to keep some originality in the team, so I don’t want to change all the team.
Now, here is the team:
LEADER
Claydol @ Choice Specs
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP/252 Def/6 Spd
Calm nature (+SDef, -Atk)
- Earth Power
- Ice Beam
- Stealth Rock
- Trick
This is my lead. With the addition of Trick, it can help with some leads like Hippowdon, Azelf, Bronzong or even Deoxys if it doesn’t Taunt me in the first turn, which can really annoy my team. Evs and Nature are a bit arbitrary, because I don’t know how to spread them correctly. Stealth Rock is an obvious move, which I used after Trick the annoying Choice Specs. About the attacks, Earth Power in Psychic place helps to deal with things like Heatran. Ice Beam is obviously my choice for things like Salamence.
PHYSICAL SWEEPERS
Quagsire (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Water Absorb
EVs: 252 HP/120 Def/136 SDef
Careful nature (+SDef, -SAtk)
- Waterfall
- Curse
- Rest
- Sleep Talk
This thing works like the previous Poliwrath I used (you can watch it at the end of the post). However, it only has one weakness, it keeps the water immunity, adds a new electric one, and helps to handle Suicune.
Victreebel (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Chlorophyll
EVs: 6 HP/252 Atk/252 Spd
Adamant nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Leaf Blade
- Sucker Punch
- Swords Dance
- Sleep Powder
This is one of the best improvements in Platinum. First of all, it has now a decent physical STAB, Leaf Blade. Secondly, a strong priority move, Sucker Punch. The drop of accuracy of Hypnosis makes Sleep Powder better with 75% accuracy, and with Swords Dance, it can get to a really high stat, which can sweep teams. Anyway, I’m doubtful about Evs and Nature. I don’t know if I really need maximum attack, or I should invest something in Defenses or Speed. It also helps me to absorb Toxic Spikes, which is really helpful, because those 2 turns when the oponent try to lay Toxic Spikes down, I can use Stealth Rock and maybe set up something with Victreebel, because most Toxic Spikers (Roserade, Forretres and Tentacruel), can’t really hurt Victreebel but Tentacruel with Ice Beam, which is really strange without Garchomp in OU. The last thing is that it fire weakness helps me a lot, so I can get a boost in my next team member:
SPECIAL SWEEPER
Ninetales (F) @ Life Orb
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 6 HP/252 Spd/252 SAtk
Timid nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Flamethrower / Fire Blast
- Energy Ball
- HP Ground
- Nasty Plot
My main special sweeper. After a Nasty Plot it reaches 328 Speed and 678 Special Attack, which can be really annoying against a team without Heatran or Blissey. Hypnosis isn’t in the set because with a 60% accuracy, I can’t rely in that, so I decided to go for an all offensive set. Flamethrower for STAB, but I’m not sure if I should go for the extra power with Fire Blast of stay with the accuracy. Energy Ball helps with bulky waters, like Vaporeon and Swampert, and HP Ground helps with Heatran. It usually gets the boost when the oponent try to burn Poliwrath or Victreebel.
WALLS
Weezing (M) @ Black Sludge
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP/252 Def/6 SAtk
Bold nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Sludge Bomb
- Flamethrower
- Will-o-wisp
- Pain Split
Love this thing. It’s so useful in this new metagame… With a single weakness (Psychic), which is barely used, it can wall most physical attacks, and burn them with Will-o-wisp so its other team mates can try to set up in their faces without problem. Sludge Bomb is the strongest special attack it has. You could think that Poison type doesn’t work in the offensive, but it hits really hard most OU physical sweepers, like Gyarados or Salamence, and can try to Poison something in the switch in. Flamethrower helps me to counter four strong sweepers: Metagross, Scizor, Heracross and Lucario. Will-o-wisp will help with other things like Salamence, Gyarados or No Guard Machamp. Last attack is Pain Split, which helps to recover some HP, however I don’t really like it, and maybe I could replace it with other thing, like Explosion or Thunderbolt. Here I need some suggestions. Black Sludge helps to annoy Trickers. I don't worry if they try to trick it again to me, because I have one Tricker (Claydol) and two Poison types (Victreebel and Weezing).
Probopass (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Magnet Pull
EVs: 252 HP/144 SAtk/112 SDef
Calm nature (+SDef, -Atk)
- Power Gem
- Earth Power
- Thunder Wave
- Taunt
“Rock / Steel is a bad defensive type… don’t use it”. This is what people thing when they see Probopass, and they are right, it doesn’t work alone, but what about a team where you can take Ground and Fighting attacks with no problem, and absorb Water attacks?. This thing is so sturdy with its Special Defense, that it has worked wonders for me. Power Gem and Earth Power have a great coverage, and hit things like Skymin really strong. With Thunder Wave I can slow down some things like Deoxys, Rotom forms, Skymin, Azelf… And Taunt helps me to trap Skarmory and Bronzong. Skarmory always try to stop Victreebel and Poliwrath, so they start laying down Stealth Rock or Spikes. Suddenly, Probopass appear, Taunt it and it’s locked in Brave Bird. Thunder Wave it and you will be able to Taunt it again inmediately after being “untaunted”. Bronzong is trapped in a different way. Most Bronzong are used as starter, and Claydol gives them Choice Specs, so they are locked in something like Stealth Rock, Reflect or Light Screen. When Probopass appear, and Taunt is used, Bronzong start to Struggle… Don’t forget that Weezing + Probopass is a great defensive combo.
Now I will post a threat list:
Tyranitar: Quagsire, with great resistances and a super effective STAB. Physical sets are walled by Weezing and special ones by Probopass. Victreebel can put it to sleep.
Gyarados: Weezing with Will-o-wisp. Leader Gyarados have problems with Trick Specs. Quagsire is one of best counters, although Curse set isn't the best one at that.
Infernape: a big problem to my team. Physical set is stopped by Weezing, but mixed one is really dangerous. Life Orb damage could help to take it down.
Azelf: Probopass stops it completely. Claydol isn’t afraid of it, but it can damage it too much. Nasty Plot set is the dangerous one.
Electivire: Weezing and Claydol. Victreebel can revenge kill it with Sucker Punch anyway. Quagsire likes every set without HP grass.
Heracross: Weezing says hi!. Flamethrower is a 2HKO.
Salamence: Physical set is walled by Weezing, while an special one could be stopped with Probopass and Quagsire (the last one takes Hydro Pump). However, I have problems with mixed sets, where Draco Meteor MUST be taken by Probopass or…
Togekiss: really annoying, but Claydol can take every set without Grass Knot and Probopass the Nasty Plot set with only Air Slash as attack.
Gengar: Quagsire takes the Hipnosis, and after that, Victreebel can OHKO with Sucker Punch or put it to sleep.
Lucario: Weezing stops every physical set. The special is more dangerous, but Claydol can take everything but Dark Pulse, which is absorbed by Probopass.
Starmie: huge weakness. A Life Orb Starmie runs through my team. Only Quagsire can do something.
Weavile: Weezing and Quagsire.
Dugtrio: ¿?
Porygon-Z: Probopass can take hits and Thunder Wave it.
Machamp: Weezing again, but confusion is really annoying.
Snorlax: Weezing can burn Curse sets, and Victreebel Swords Dance without problem.
Zapdos: Probopass is great for that. Stealth Rock helps a lot too.
Suicune: Quagsire is now my best bet.
Breloom: Quagsire absorbs the sleep, and Weezing walls it.
Ninjask: Stealth Rock and Taunt.
Metagross: Weezing and Quagsire.
Heatran: huge problem!. Quagsire can take some hits, and Ninetales absorbs fire attacks, but they can’t counter them.
Celebi: the biggest problem. No way to stop it. Only Probopass with Taunt can help, but Earth Power can 2HKO Probopass.
Jirachi: Claydol can stop Support sets, but CM sets are more dangerous, and Probopass can try to trap and Taunt.
Dragonite: Weezing with Will-o-wisp.
Mamoswine: Weezing again.
Gallade: Did I say Weezing before?
Yanmega: another problem. Without HP Ground, Quagsire absorbs the sleep and Probopass walls it. However, HP Ground means that I have to rely in Weezing or Quagsire.
Kingdra: the Rain Dance set can be stopped by Quagsire, while the DD one, is stopped by Weezing, although I have to be careful with Outrage.
Roserade: Quagsire absorbs the sleep, and Probopass, Ninetales or Victreebel theaten it.
Scizor: Weezing do it quite well.
Deoxys-S: Depending on the set. The leader can give me some problems with its own Taunt. The sweeper one can be stopped between Weezing and Probopass.
Skymin: Does it really have a counter? Probopass can do something with Thunder Wave and it could be counterable with Ninetales or Claydol.
And that’s all. I would like to read your suggestions, and I repeat. This is a OU team, so you can suggest some OU stuff and rate it as a OU team.
Thanks for reading!!
______________________________________________
Poliwrath (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Water Absorb
EVs: 252 HP/6 Atk/252 SDef
Careful nature (+SDef, -SAtk)
- Waterfall
- Bulk Up
- Rest
- Sleep Talk
This thing is a beast. You know how Curse Swampert and CM Suicune works. Poliwrath is like them, but it can counter both with Water Absorb. It absorb status for me, and with Waterfall, it can hit really hard with a single Bulk Up. With this Evs and Nature and after one Bulk Up it reaches 310 Attack, 339 Defense, 306 Special Defense and 384HP, which is really bulky in my opinion. Furthermore, it helps me with Water and Rock attacks aimed to Ninetales, while Ground is absorbed by other members of the team. About the item, Leftovers helps to take hits even better.
The last team I posted was a OU one which helped me to get to the top 15 on Shoddy, but this team has lost its power with so many new threats like Scizor or Shaymin.
I could add too that the ban of Garchomp has helped me a lot too, so I don’t have to worry about it anymore.
The next team is quite original, because it’s build with all UU pokémon. However, it’s not intended to be used only in UU, I’m trying it in OU, and it’s working wonders, rising me to 1500 in the Standard ladder in Smogon Server.
On the other hand, I see some problems with pokémon like Celebi or Infernape, so I’m going to show you all my team, with details, and after that, you will be able to tell me if some replacements could help me. Those replacements CAN be OU, BL or UU. I don’t mind, however, I want to keep some originality in the team, so I don’t want to change all the team.
Now, here is the team:
LEADER
Claydol @ Choice Specs
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP/252 Def/6 Spd
Calm nature (+SDef, -Atk)
- Earth Power
- Ice Beam
- Stealth Rock
- Trick
This is my lead. With the addition of Trick, it can help with some leads like Hippowdon, Azelf, Bronzong or even Deoxys if it doesn’t Taunt me in the first turn, which can really annoy my team. Evs and Nature are a bit arbitrary, because I don’t know how to spread them correctly. Stealth Rock is an obvious move, which I used after Trick the annoying Choice Specs. About the attacks, Earth Power in Psychic place helps to deal with things like Heatran. Ice Beam is obviously my choice for things like Salamence.
PHYSICAL SWEEPERS
Quagsire (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Water Absorb
EVs: 252 HP/120 Def/136 SDef
Careful nature (+SDef, -SAtk)
- Waterfall
- Curse
- Rest
- Sleep Talk
This thing works like the previous Poliwrath I used (you can watch it at the end of the post). However, it only has one weakness, it keeps the water immunity, adds a new electric one, and helps to handle Suicune.
Victreebel (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Chlorophyll
EVs: 6 HP/252 Atk/252 Spd
Adamant nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Leaf Blade
- Sucker Punch
- Swords Dance
- Sleep Powder
This is one of the best improvements in Platinum. First of all, it has now a decent physical STAB, Leaf Blade. Secondly, a strong priority move, Sucker Punch. The drop of accuracy of Hypnosis makes Sleep Powder better with 75% accuracy, and with Swords Dance, it can get to a really high stat, which can sweep teams. Anyway, I’m doubtful about Evs and Nature. I don’t know if I really need maximum attack, or I should invest something in Defenses or Speed. It also helps me to absorb Toxic Spikes, which is really helpful, because those 2 turns when the oponent try to lay Toxic Spikes down, I can use Stealth Rock and maybe set up something with Victreebel, because most Toxic Spikers (Roserade, Forretres and Tentacruel), can’t really hurt Victreebel but Tentacruel with Ice Beam, which is really strange without Garchomp in OU. The last thing is that it fire weakness helps me a lot, so I can get a boost in my next team member:
SPECIAL SWEEPER
Ninetales (F) @ Life Orb
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 6 HP/252 Spd/252 SAtk
Timid nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Flamethrower / Fire Blast
- Energy Ball
- HP Ground
- Nasty Plot
My main special sweeper. After a Nasty Plot it reaches 328 Speed and 678 Special Attack, which can be really annoying against a team without Heatran or Blissey. Hypnosis isn’t in the set because with a 60% accuracy, I can’t rely in that, so I decided to go for an all offensive set. Flamethrower for STAB, but I’m not sure if I should go for the extra power with Fire Blast of stay with the accuracy. Energy Ball helps with bulky waters, like Vaporeon and Swampert, and HP Ground helps with Heatran. It usually gets the boost when the oponent try to burn Poliwrath or Victreebel.
WALLS
Weezing (M) @ Black Sludge
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP/252 Def/6 SAtk
Bold nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Sludge Bomb
- Flamethrower
- Will-o-wisp
- Pain Split
Love this thing. It’s so useful in this new metagame… With a single weakness (Psychic), which is barely used, it can wall most physical attacks, and burn them with Will-o-wisp so its other team mates can try to set up in their faces without problem. Sludge Bomb is the strongest special attack it has. You could think that Poison type doesn’t work in the offensive, but it hits really hard most OU physical sweepers, like Gyarados or Salamence, and can try to Poison something in the switch in. Flamethrower helps me to counter four strong sweepers: Metagross, Scizor, Heracross and Lucario. Will-o-wisp will help with other things like Salamence, Gyarados or No Guard Machamp. Last attack is Pain Split, which helps to recover some HP, however I don’t really like it, and maybe I could replace it with other thing, like Explosion or Thunderbolt. Here I need some suggestions. Black Sludge helps to annoy Trickers. I don't worry if they try to trick it again to me, because I have one Tricker (Claydol) and two Poison types (Victreebel and Weezing).
Probopass (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Magnet Pull
EVs: 252 HP/144 SAtk/112 SDef
Calm nature (+SDef, -Atk)
- Power Gem
- Earth Power
- Thunder Wave
- Taunt
“Rock / Steel is a bad defensive type… don’t use it”. This is what people thing when they see Probopass, and they are right, it doesn’t work alone, but what about a team where you can take Ground and Fighting attacks with no problem, and absorb Water attacks?. This thing is so sturdy with its Special Defense, that it has worked wonders for me. Power Gem and Earth Power have a great coverage, and hit things like Skymin really strong. With Thunder Wave I can slow down some things like Deoxys, Rotom forms, Skymin, Azelf… And Taunt helps me to trap Skarmory and Bronzong. Skarmory always try to stop Victreebel and Poliwrath, so they start laying down Stealth Rock or Spikes. Suddenly, Probopass appear, Taunt it and it’s locked in Brave Bird. Thunder Wave it and you will be able to Taunt it again inmediately after being “untaunted”. Bronzong is trapped in a different way. Most Bronzong are used as starter, and Claydol gives them Choice Specs, so they are locked in something like Stealth Rock, Reflect or Light Screen. When Probopass appear, and Taunt is used, Bronzong start to Struggle… Don’t forget that Weezing + Probopass is a great defensive combo.
Now I will post a threat list:
Tyranitar: Quagsire, with great resistances and a super effective STAB. Physical sets are walled by Weezing and special ones by Probopass. Victreebel can put it to sleep.
Gyarados: Weezing with Will-o-wisp. Leader Gyarados have problems with Trick Specs. Quagsire is one of best counters, although Curse set isn't the best one at that.
Infernape: a big problem to my team. Physical set is stopped by Weezing, but mixed one is really dangerous. Life Orb damage could help to take it down.
Azelf: Probopass stops it completely. Claydol isn’t afraid of it, but it can damage it too much. Nasty Plot set is the dangerous one.
Electivire: Weezing and Claydol. Victreebel can revenge kill it with Sucker Punch anyway. Quagsire likes every set without HP grass.
Heracross: Weezing says hi!. Flamethrower is a 2HKO.
Salamence: Physical set is walled by Weezing, while an special one could be stopped with Probopass and Quagsire (the last one takes Hydro Pump). However, I have problems with mixed sets, where Draco Meteor MUST be taken by Probopass or…
Togekiss: really annoying, but Claydol can take every set without Grass Knot and Probopass the Nasty Plot set with only Air Slash as attack.
Gengar: Quagsire takes the Hipnosis, and after that, Victreebel can OHKO with Sucker Punch or put it to sleep.
Lucario: Weezing stops every physical set. The special is more dangerous, but Claydol can take everything but Dark Pulse, which is absorbed by Probopass.
Starmie: huge weakness. A Life Orb Starmie runs through my team. Only Quagsire can do something.
Weavile: Weezing and Quagsire.
Dugtrio: ¿?
Porygon-Z: Probopass can take hits and Thunder Wave it.
Machamp: Weezing again, but confusion is really annoying.
Snorlax: Weezing can burn Curse sets, and Victreebel Swords Dance without problem.
Zapdos: Probopass is great for that. Stealth Rock helps a lot too.
Suicune: Quagsire is now my best bet.
Breloom: Quagsire absorbs the sleep, and Weezing walls it.
Ninjask: Stealth Rock and Taunt.
Metagross: Weezing and Quagsire.
Heatran: huge problem!. Quagsire can take some hits, and Ninetales absorbs fire attacks, but they can’t counter them.
Celebi: the biggest problem. No way to stop it. Only Probopass with Taunt can help, but Earth Power can 2HKO Probopass.
Jirachi: Claydol can stop Support sets, but CM sets are more dangerous, and Probopass can try to trap and Taunt.
Dragonite: Weezing with Will-o-wisp.
Mamoswine: Weezing again.
Gallade: Did I say Weezing before?
Yanmega: another problem. Without HP Ground, Quagsire absorbs the sleep and Probopass walls it. However, HP Ground means that I have to rely in Weezing or Quagsire.
Kingdra: the Rain Dance set can be stopped by Quagsire, while the DD one, is stopped by Weezing, although I have to be careful with Outrage.
Roserade: Quagsire absorbs the sleep, and Probopass, Ninetales or Victreebel theaten it.
Scizor: Weezing do it quite well.
Deoxys-S: Depending on the set. The leader can give me some problems with its own Taunt. The sweeper one can be stopped between Weezing and Probopass.
Skymin: Does it really have a counter? Probopass can do something with Thunder Wave and it could be counterable with Ninetales or Claydol.
And that’s all. I would like to read your suggestions, and I repeat. This is a OU team, so you can suggest some OU stuff and rate it as a OU team.
Thanks for reading!!
______________________________________________
Poliwrath (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Water Absorb
EVs: 252 HP/6 Atk/252 SDef
Careful nature (+SDef, -SAtk)
- Waterfall
- Bulk Up
- Rest
- Sleep Talk
This thing is a beast. You know how Curse Swampert and CM Suicune works. Poliwrath is like them, but it can counter both with Water Absorb. It absorb status for me, and with Waterfall, it can hit really hard with a single Bulk Up. With this Evs and Nature and after one Bulk Up it reaches 310 Attack, 339 Defense, 306 Special Defense and 384HP, which is really bulky in my opinion. Furthermore, it helps me with Water and Rock attacks aimed to Ninetales, while Ground is absorbed by other members of the team. About the item, Leftovers helps to take hits even better.
