Raj
CAP Playtesting Expert
Hey Smogon, I'd like to introduce to you... my latest team consisting of not just 6 Choiced Pokemon, but 6 Choice Scarfed Pokemon. Rarely do I make teams considered standard by most, and this is no exception. It has had a fairly decent track record, but there are some tweaks that are necessary and that's why I'm sharing the team with you now.
The Team
Azelf @ Choice Scarf
Nature: Modest
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 42 HP, 252 Special Attack, 216 Speed
Moveset:
Stealth Rock
Psychic
Fire Blast
U-Turn
Description: Choice Scarf Azelf really does make a great lead. While it's not a race on turn 1 to see who can get Stealth Rock up faster, it sure helps beat the faster Taunters such as Crobat and Aerodactyl. Psychic makes for a powerful STAB move, but doesn't serve its purpose until later in the game usually. Fire Blast is an option to get rid of all the lead Gross, but also functions to clean up afterwards. U-Turn, as you may see, is the basis of this team, allowing my Scarfed Mons to get in and out of battle quickly while dishing out some damage in between. This is important because I will use U-Turn more often than any other attack.
Porygon Z @ Choice Scarf
Nature: Modest
Ability: Adaptibility
EVs: 252 Special Attack, 252 Speed, 6 Defense
Moveset:
Tri Attack
Hidden Power [Fighting]
Dark Pulse
Thunderbolt
The Team
Azelf @ Choice Scarf
Nature: Modest
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 42 HP, 252 Special Attack, 216 Speed
Moveset:
Stealth Rock
Psychic
Fire Blast
U-Turn
Description: Choice Scarf Azelf really does make a great lead. While it's not a race on turn 1 to see who can get Stealth Rock up faster, it sure helps beat the faster Taunters such as Crobat and Aerodactyl. Psychic makes for a powerful STAB move, but doesn't serve its purpose until later in the game usually. Fire Blast is an option to get rid of all the lead Gross, but also functions to clean up afterwards. U-Turn, as you may see, is the basis of this team, allowing my Scarfed Mons to get in and out of battle quickly while dishing out some damage in between. This is important because I will use U-Turn more often than any other attack.
Porygon Z @ Choice Scarf
Nature: Modest
Ability: Adaptibility
EVs: 252 Special Attack, 252 Speed, 6 Defense
Moveset:
Tri Attack
Hidden Power [Fighting]
Dark Pulse
Thunderbolt
Porygon Z really is a great Pokemon. Since Z does not have access to U-Turn, he functions mainly as Revenge Killer. The trick to Porygon Z successfully is to think of whatever move is Super Effective... and don't use it. The opponent will most likely switch and you may just get the right hit in. When Rock and Steel Pokemon are at 50% health or below, you can freely use Tri Attack for decimation and clean-up. Dark Pulse has 2 great functions: for one it hits Ghost type Pokemon that like to switch into Z, but also at such a great speed, it becomes handy for catching a Flinch roughly one third of the time. Hidden Power Fighting is awesome for netting kills on Fight-weak Pokemon, namely Tyranitar and Lucario. Thunderbolt helps me out against Water types like DD Gyarados as well as getting awesome neutral coverage.
Infernape @ Choice Scarf
Nature: Naughty
Ability: Blaze
EVs: 252 Attack, 112 Speed, 146 Special Attack
Moveset:
Close Combat
Fire Blast
Hidden Powe [Ice]
U-Turn
If I had to come up with a cheesy name for this it'd be the switch master. Like Porygon Z, it's often wise to predict a switch and use a different move than whatever you were thinking or to U-Turn right off the bat. This method will wear down the opponent quickly and makes beating Skarm-Bliss a cake walk, but can also wreak havoc if the opponent is switch eager. Close Combat from max attack hits hard once I've eliminated any Ghost types. Fire Blast doesn't require max Special Attack to get any different OHKOs or 2HKOs so I invested primarily into Attack. HP Ice is handy for Dragons and Gliscor who think mispredict the U-Turn. Silly...
Flygon @ Choice Scarf
Nature: Adamant
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 6 HP, 252 Attack, 252 Speed
Moveset:
Earthquake
Outrage
U-Turn
Stone Edge
Flygon has definitely shown itself worthy with the release of Platinum. Resistance to Rock allow it to come in takeing minimal damage from Stealth Rock and get a good hit in before the opponent. You can't keep in Tyranitar or Latias in against Flygon beacsue you never know if it'll U-Turn or OHKO with one of its STAB moves, allowing me to U-Turn and bring in a counter to their switch-in. Stone Edge is filler, but good filler nonetheless. Sometimes Gyarados slips by with a Dragon Dance and you just can't get stuck into Outrage, at which point Stone Edge becomes a good option.
Drifblim @ Choice Scarf
Nature: Rash
Ability: Unburden
EVs: 78 Attack, 184 Speed, 248 Special Attack
Moveset:
Trick
Shadow Ball
Explosion
Hypnosis
This guy is pretty nifty. While not a sweeper persay, it can cripple half a team easily. The given EVs allow it to reach 363 with Scarf to beat the likes of Azelf and Starmie and KO with Shadow Ball. Trick Scarf onto something that doesn't want it and boom- you've crippled them and can make a power play with 480+ Speed now. Hypnoses the switch, Shadow Ball the next incoming Pokemon, and when you feel the need, Explode on their Wall meant to take Shadow Balls. I'm fairly certain that this is created entirely by me and no one has done anything similar yet.
Jirachi @ Choice Scarf
Nature: Adamant
Ability: Serence Grace
EVs: 6 HP, 252 Attack, 252 Speed
Moveset:
Iron Head
Zen Headbutt
Fire Punch
U-Turn
The last "star" of the show. Jirachi, like Flygon can come in multiple times without fear of Stealth Rock and hax you into an oblivion. We all know what Iron Head is for, you can't pas up 60% Flinch and STAB, period. Fire Punch finishes off Scizor expecting to catch a break from Iron Head, and can finish off Skarmory and company if I don't want to try my luck with Iron Head. Zen Headbutt, almost forgotten with the founding of Iron Head is essential for getting Fighting types, more Flinch, and neutrality against Pokemon such as Gyarados. U-Turn gets me the hell out and causes allows me to bring in an appropriate Pokemon should the opponent switch.
Thank you for having a look at the team and helping out. I appreciate it!