Team at a glance
A closer look
Machamp @ Lum Berry
Ability: No Guard
EVs: 240 HP / 244 Atk / 8 Spe / 16 SpDef
Adamant nature (+Atk, -SpA)
- Dynamic Punch
- Payback
- Ice Punch
- Bullet Punch
Intro: Machamp is my lead, and a great one at that. Machamp counters pretty much every commonly used lead today, and can stick around to wreak havok.
EVs: The EVs are very simple. The HP and Special Defense EVs allow for Machamp to always survive a lead Azelf's psychic, encore it, then switch to Jirachi to set up. The leftover EVs go into Attack to do some serious damage.
Moves: Standard moves for a standard anti-lead. Dynamic Punch is the reason Machamp is so dangerous, hitting 100% of the time. Stone Edge also always hits, and is my coverage move of choice. Encore allows me to encore attacks, and allows me to switch in my pokemon safely. It also lets me encore stealth rock, set up a sub, then wreck my opponent's team with STAB Dynamic Punches. Substitue allows me to scout, and rewards my encore. It also lets me avoid status, which is an issue for my team. Encore and Substitute changed to Ice Punch and Bullet Punch, to better handle today's leads. Thanks snorlaxe!
How it fares against the top 10 leads:
- dynamicpunch.
- Stone Edge then Bullet Punch
- Use Dynamicpunch
- Dynamicpunch
- Dynamic Punch then Bullet Punch
- Dynamic Punch.
- Dynamic Punch then switch, most likely to Gliscor
- Dynamicpunch.
credit to dukefan 5 for the top ten leads.
Scizor @ Choice Band
Ability: Technician
EVs: 64 HP / 192 Atk / 252 SpDef
Adamant nature (+Atk, -SpA)
- Bullet Punch
- U-Turn
- Pursuit
- Superpower
Intro: I needed a pokemon to counter the ever threatening Latias, and some priority. Only one pokemon came to mind, Scizor. Scizor also provides me with momentum, and gives me a rather bulky pokemon to destroy the opponents team with.
EVs: I felt that to counter Latias, I should run a more defensive spread. The EV's allow Scizor to always OHKO Latias when she is fleeing with pursuit, and also allow Scizor to always survive a life orb'd hidden power fire from timid, 252 Spatk latias.
Moves: Although the EVs are different from those listed in the analysis, the moves are identical. They don't need to be changed, as they are excellent. Bullet Punch provides a 90 base power priority move, while U-Turn allows me to use free turns to heavily injure my opponents team, or scout their Scizor counter. Pursuit is the reason that I chose Scizor, as well as his unique EV spread. It allows me to not worry about Latias switching out, and coming back later in the match. Superpower rounds off the set, killing Scizor's counters, such as Magnezone and Heatran.
Jirachi @ Leftovers
Ability: Serene Grace
EVs: 252 HP / 220 Def / 36 Spe
Bold nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Wish
- Calm Mind
- Thunderbolt
- Psychic
Intro: I really felt that I needed to have a bulky, special sweeper. I chose Jirachi, for his great set of resistances, especially to Psychic (to cover Machamp), and Rock. I also love the wish that he provides for my team, which frees up moveslots that would normally be dedicated to recovery moves.
EVs: The first set with standard EVs! Max HP is a given, and 36 speed Evs are given to outspeed max speed Tyranitar. The remander are put into defense, as Jirachi can already boost its special defense with calm mind.
Moves: Calm mind is the crux of the set, which allows Jirachi to set up, and sweep. Wish is the best move on the set IMO, as it allows my team to switch into stealth rock without consequences, and allows Latias and Gliscor to run other moves over their often standard recovery moves. It also allows Jirachi to set up a lot easier. Psychic is basic STAB, and Psychic and Thunderbolt offer great neutral coverage, which lets Jirachi easily sweep once it accumulates enough boosts.
Starmie @ Life Orb
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 252 SpAtk / 4 SpDef / 252 Spe
Timid nature (+Spe, -Atk)
- Thunderbolt
- Surf
- Ice Beam
- Rapid Spin
Intro: Who is a great, bulky, special sweeper? There is only one answer: Latias. How could I avoid putting this great pokemon on my team?
EVs: 180 Spe allows Latias to outspeed plus speed, base 100, pokemon (and Infernape). Latias will already get outsped by base 110's because it is running hidden power fire, so why try to outspeed them? The lefrovers are placed into special defense to allow Latias to switch into common threats easier.
Moves: I can't believe that grass knot isn't standard on Latias! It hits everything that Surf and Thunderbolt combined hit, but harder (except for Vaporeon and Heatran)! It also hits Tyranitar for an extra 25 base power, always OHKOing 4/0 HP versions after stealth rock. Draco meteor is the best, and most used move on the set, with an amazing 140 base power. Hidden power is great, Koing Scizors that cockily opt for pursuit or u-turn. Dragon pulse is mostly filler, but allows Latias to KO 252 HP Tyranitar with dragon pulse+grass knot. Latias has been changed to Starmie, thanks to multiple suggestions.
Salamence @ Life Orb
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 16 Atk / 240 SpAtk / 252 Spe
Naive nature (+Spe, -SpDef)
- Draco Meteor
- Outrage
- Earthquake
- Fire Blast
Intro: Salamence is a great partner for Latias, and a great pokemon in general. Salamence tears holes in teams, which my other team members can exploit to sweep to victory.
EVs: The EVs are standard for mixmence. 252 speed allow it to tie with plus speed base 100's, at worst. 16 attack EVs allow it to 2HKO Blissey with Draco Meteor and Outrage. The leftovers go into special attack to allow Salamence to hit as hard as possible.
Moves: Draco meteor is great STAB, with its base 140 power. Draco meteor is awesome for the fact that all of the opponents pokemon that could absorb it would have already been killed, from countering Latias. Earthquake and Fire Blast are coverage moves, and great ones at that. They both hit steels super effectively, and steels are the only pokemon that can absorb Salamence's dual dragon STAB moves.
Gliscor @ Leftovers
Ability: Sand Veil
EVs: 252 HP / 36 Def / 220 Spe
Jolly nature (+Spe, -SpAtk)
- Earthquake
- U-Turn
- Stealth Rock
- Taunt
Intro: Gliscor is the glue for the team, setting up stealth rock, countering sweepers, and absorbing status like thunderwave, which is a huge hinderence for the rest of my team.
EVs: 216 speed allows Gliscor to outspeed all base 90s, even those with a boosting nature. This also allows gliscor to outspeed neutral natured base 100s. 252 hp is a given, and the leftovers are put into HP to add to Gliscor's natural bulkiness. 4 evs have moved from defense to speed, to outrun other gliscors.
Moves: Earthquake is basic STAB, and OHKO's Lucario, who is the main pokemon that Gliscor counters. U-turn has great synergy with Scizor, and helps the team scout. Stealth rock is needed somewhere on the team, and is easily set up when Gliscor switches in on its plenthora of resistances. Taunt over roost is because I have wish on Jirachi, and taunt counters those sweepers, like Gyarados, who feel that Gliscor is nothing but set up bait.
What I might replace: I might replace dragon pulse on Latias for substitute or protect, for a MysticGar or a sub+3 attack espeon like feel. I might change my lead and gliscor completely. I might decide to change Salamence's set to a standard DD mence. I might switch machamp to a Bullet Punch/Dynamic Punch/Stone Edge/Payback Moveset.A closer look
Machamp @ Lum Berry
Ability: No Guard
EVs: 240 HP / 244 Atk / 8 Spe / 16 SpDef
Adamant nature (+Atk, -SpA)
Intro: Machamp is my lead, and a great one at that. Machamp counters pretty much every commonly used lead today, and can stick around to wreak havok.
EVs: The EVs are very simple. The HP and Special Defense EVs allow for Machamp to always survive a lead Azelf's psychic, encore it, then switch to Jirachi to set up. The leftover EVs go into Attack to do some serious damage.
Moves: Standard moves for a standard anti-lead. Dynamic Punch is the reason Machamp is so dangerous, hitting 100% of the time. Stone Edge also always hits, and is my coverage move of choice. Encore allows me to encore attacks, and allows me to switch in my pokemon safely. It also lets me encore stealth rock, set up a sub, then wreck my opponent's team with STAB Dynamic Punches. Substitue allows me to scout, and rewards my encore. It also lets me avoid status, which is an issue for my team. Encore and Substitute changed to Ice Punch and Bullet Punch, to better handle today's leads. Thanks snorlaxe!
How it fares against the top 10 leads:
credit to dukefan 5 for the top ten leads.
Scizor @ Choice Band
Ability: Technician
EVs: 64 HP / 192 Atk / 252 SpDef
Adamant nature (+Atk, -SpA)
Intro: I needed a pokemon to counter the ever threatening Latias, and some priority. Only one pokemon came to mind, Scizor. Scizor also provides me with momentum, and gives me a rather bulky pokemon to destroy the opponents team with.
EVs: I felt that to counter Latias, I should run a more defensive spread. The EV's allow Scizor to always OHKO Latias when she is fleeing with pursuit, and also allow Scizor to always survive a life orb'd hidden power fire from timid, 252 Spatk latias.
Moves: Although the EVs are different from those listed in the analysis, the moves are identical. They don't need to be changed, as they are excellent. Bullet Punch provides a 90 base power priority move, while U-Turn allows me to use free turns to heavily injure my opponents team, or scout their Scizor counter. Pursuit is the reason that I chose Scizor, as well as his unique EV spread. It allows me to not worry about Latias switching out, and coming back later in the match. Superpower rounds off the set, killing Scizor's counters, such as Magnezone and Heatran.
Jirachi @ Leftovers
Ability: Serene Grace
EVs: 252 HP / 220 Def / 36 Spe
Bold nature (+Def, -Atk)
Intro: I really felt that I needed to have a bulky, special sweeper. I chose Jirachi, for his great set of resistances, especially to Psychic (to cover Machamp), and Rock. I also love the wish that he provides for my team, which frees up moveslots that would normally be dedicated to recovery moves.
EVs: The first set with standard EVs! Max HP is a given, and 36 speed Evs are given to outspeed max speed Tyranitar. The remander are put into defense, as Jirachi can already boost its special defense with calm mind.
Moves: Calm mind is the crux of the set, which allows Jirachi to set up, and sweep. Wish is the best move on the set IMO, as it allows my team to switch into stealth rock without consequences, and allows Latias and Gliscor to run other moves over their often standard recovery moves. It also allows Jirachi to set up a lot easier. Psychic is basic STAB, and Psychic and Thunderbolt offer great neutral coverage, which lets Jirachi easily sweep once it accumulates enough boosts.
Starmie @ Life Orb
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 252 SpAtk / 4 SpDef / 252 Spe
Timid nature (+Spe, -Atk)
Intro: Who is a great, bulky, special sweeper? There is only one answer: Latias. How could I avoid putting this great pokemon on my team?
EVs: 180 Spe allows Latias to outspeed plus speed, base 100, pokemon (and Infernape). Latias will already get outsped by base 110's because it is running hidden power fire, so why try to outspeed them? The lefrovers are placed into special defense to allow Latias to switch into common threats easier.
Moves: I can't believe that grass knot isn't standard on Latias! It hits everything that Surf and Thunderbolt combined hit, but harder (except for Vaporeon and Heatran)! It also hits Tyranitar for an extra 25 base power, always OHKOing 4/0 HP versions after stealth rock. Draco meteor is the best, and most used move on the set, with an amazing 140 base power. Hidden power is great, Koing Scizors that cockily opt for pursuit or u-turn. Dragon pulse is mostly filler, but allows Latias to KO 252 HP Tyranitar with dragon pulse+grass knot. Latias has been changed to Starmie, thanks to multiple suggestions.
Salamence @ Life Orb
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 16 Atk / 240 SpAtk / 252 Spe
Naive nature (+Spe, -SpDef)
Intro: Salamence is a great partner for Latias, and a great pokemon in general. Salamence tears holes in teams, which my other team members can exploit to sweep to victory.
EVs: The EVs are standard for mixmence. 252 speed allow it to tie with plus speed base 100's, at worst. 16 attack EVs allow it to 2HKO Blissey with Draco Meteor and Outrage. The leftovers go into special attack to allow Salamence to hit as hard as possible.
Moves: Draco meteor is great STAB, with its base 140 power. Draco meteor is awesome for the fact that all of the opponents pokemon that could absorb it would have already been killed, from countering Latias. Earthquake and Fire Blast are coverage moves, and great ones at that. They both hit steels super effectively, and steels are the only pokemon that can absorb Salamence's dual dragon STAB moves.
Gliscor @ Leftovers
Ability: Sand Veil
EVs: 252 HP / 36 Def / 220 Spe
Jolly nature (+Spe, -SpAtk)
Intro: Gliscor is the glue for the team, setting up stealth rock, countering sweepers, and absorbing status like thunderwave, which is a huge hinderence for the rest of my team.
EVs: 216 speed allows Gliscor to outspeed all base 90s, even those with a boosting nature. This also allows gliscor to outspeed neutral natured base 100s. 252 hp is a given, and the leftovers are put into HP to add to Gliscor's natural bulkiness. 4 evs have moved from defense to speed, to outrun other gliscors.
Moves: Earthquake is basic STAB, and OHKO's Lucario, who is the main pokemon that Gliscor counters. U-turn has great synergy with Scizor, and helps the team scout. Stealth rock is needed somewhere on the team, and is easily set up when Gliscor switches in on its plenthora of resistances. Taunt over roost is because I have wish on Jirachi, and taunt counters those sweepers, like Gyarados, who feel that Gliscor is nothing but set up bait.
credit to pokestadium for the sprites, and august for the RMT format.