Wi-Fi RMT: The Grass Monotype

[UltimoVenusaur]

This is my first attempt at a Smogon RMT, but I've been doing this at LJ for a good long time. A little background, I'm not what you'd call a hardcore battler, although I do have hardcore trainer/breeder tendencies. I like doing different things with teams and thinking of creative and themed teams that work in the competitive arena in varying degrees.

One thing I've taken to doing is creating monotype teams. Grass is my favorite type, so it's only natural that it's my first team. It's a mix of OU, BL and UU Pokémon, and it's more of an all-out attacking team. There isn't a whole lot of support (odd for a type known for its support moves, I know), but 2/3 of the team knows Leech Seed, perhaps the best support move in all of the game in my opinion.

I welcome all constructive criticism, but please, no obvious comments like "you're fire/ice/flying weak." I know the defensive deficiencies of the team, and I tried to address those through offensive firepower. Now, without futher ado...

At a Glance

Mission Statement

Through offensive firepower, leeching recovery moves and topical status, this team aims to prove that the Grass-type isn't as horrifyingly bad as it's made out to be.

TEAM

Sceptile @ Lum Berry
Overgrow, Adamant, 252 EVs in Atk and Spd 4 in HP
- Leaf Blade
- Crunch
- Rock Slide
- Swords Dance

My starter. I like to come out of the gate guns blazing. Sceptile outspeeds a lot and it has good type coverage with its three attacking moves, although Crunch might be better suited to be dropped in favor of Dragon Claw (although it does OHKO Gengar, a common lead). Swords Dance is for boosting the attack, and the Lum Berry is to absorb one status and be able to land another attack.

Torterra @ Leftovers
Overgrow, Adamant, 252 EVs in HP and Atk 4 in SpDef
- Wood Hammer
- Stone Edge
- Earthquake
- Leech Seed

Very tanky build, and I've found out it can withstand an Infernape Flamethrower and deal an OHKOing Earthquake. Good times. Good times. Leftovers+Leech Seed recovery easily recoups damage from SR.

Exeggutor @ Heat Rock
Chlorophyll, Modest, 252 EVs in SpAtk and Spd 4 in HP
- Sunny Day
- SolarBeam
- Psychic
- Leech Seed

The good ol' Egghead. Sunny Day can be problematic to set up unless you're in against hte right opponent, but the speed boost is clutch. Beware Tyranitar switch-ins, because they ruin your fun.

Shiftry @ Wise Glasses
Chlorophyll, Modest, 252 EVs in SpAtk and Spd, 4 in HP
- Nasty Plot
- Dark Pulse
- Energy Ball
- Extrasensory

Shiftry gets some good spillover from Eggy's SD. Not much to be said about this guy.

Breloom @ Life Orb
Effect Spore, Adamant, 252 EVs in Atk and Spd, 4 in HP
- Spore
- Focus Punch
- Seed Bomb
- Leech Seed

SporePunch FTW! Easily the best attacking set-up in the game if you're sure they don't have any Ghost switch-ins ready. Seed Bomb is a pretty good STAB option if you're getting foiled by Early Bird/Insomnia/Ghost-types. I have Leech Seed there as a utility recovery move. I prefer Effect Spore for the pesky Early Birders who wake up after one turn of sleep and ruin the Focus Punch.

Venusaur @ Leftovers
Overgrow, Modest, 252 EVs in HP and SpAtk 4 in SpDef
- Leech Seed
- Substitute
- Energy Ball
- Sludge Bomb

You can pretty much tank all day with this guy as long as you don't get statused. Leech Seed + Leftovers provides great recovery (one turn and your SR damage is wiped away), and it provides a good amount of Subs to abuse with the recovery. Dual STAB moves won't do anything against Steels, but hopefully it won't have to come to that.

That's the team. Hope you don't tear it apart too badly :)

 

[Falkner12]

Each of your pokemon act as individuals. I mean, that should be evident when your lead has to set up. Go with Choice Band please instead of trying to set up such a frail lead up with swords dance.

Also, shouldn't you be trying to cover the Grass types' common weaknesses, as in, Flying, Fire, Ice, Bug? You have two Bug neutrals in Venusaur and Breloom only to have two 4x weaks in Shiftry and Eggy (who, again, have to set up to do anything). You have no Ice, Fire, or Flying neutrals but again, 4x weaks. You need to consider who gets a spot on your team again. Ludicolo has nice SpDef and typing, taking neutral hits from Fire and Ice. Cradily takes neutral hits from Fire, Flying and Bug and can set up Stealth Rock.

I'd put Cradily over Torterra and Ludicolo over Shiftry. That's my two cents.

 

[Ransen]

Shift and Eggy are quite redundant together since they do about the same thing. Replace Shift with something that is neutral to Grass's weaknesses, like Cradily or Ludi.

 

[Physics]

(although it does OHKO Gengar, a common lead).

The second most common-lead behind Bronzong, according to ShoddyBattle statistics!

Speaking of Bronzong, he walls the entire team except Breloom. As soon as he's down, Zong can come in, set up Rocks, and start Hypnosis-ing stuff.

Also, not a ton of options against plenty of OU guys, like Gross, Mence, Garchomp, Heatran, Cresselia, and I'm not 100% sure about what a Celebi would do to your team.

Hippowdon also screws up SD, not just TTar.

 

[Zootch]

Among other intristic problems with having one type of pokemon in your team, Breloom should have Poison Heal and be holding Toxic Orb. This prevents it from having any other negative stat reducer such as sleep or burn and heals equivalent to leftovers.

also, on a sunny day/solar beam exeggutor, you should put a power herb on him. it will only be used when sunny day is down and it will take out tyranitar and hippowdown when they least expect it.

 

[blasphemy1]

You really need a Scarfer to outrun those pesky fire/ice types. You have no hopes against Heracross, so maybe a Tropius could fit somewhere in here. In the sun it is just about the most powerful grass type available. After a Swords Dance in the sun it has 516 Attack and 402 Speed. Or, you can go the special route. With just Solar Power you have 400 Special Attack. With Choice Specs that is 600, which is great. 201 Max Speed however, is not, which is why I suggest the SDer if you are going to use it, or maybe set up Trick Room with either Exeggutor or switch him for Celebi. Exeggutor w/Trick Room, Explosion, Grass Knot, and Sleep Powder sure is nice tho.


EDIT: Cradily is hit SE by bug... Maybe some people shouldn't suggest certain things after all.

 

[Rag]

Your defensive core is awful. :/ Except for your lead, nothing on your team is really well-though. You lack a synergy, and your whole team is brought down by some of the most common moves (Ice Beam, Fire Blast, Megahorn, etc). You should consider Pokémon such as Ludicolo and Tropius (as mentioned above) to cover some weaknesses.

Sunny Day makes your team even weaker to Fire moves, and should be avoided at all costs in a mono Grass team. o.O A idea is to build your team around Rain Dance and try to cover some of your biggest weaknesses as much as possible. Like CMCelebi and Swift Swim Ludicolo got a lot of potential. It would help you a lot defensive, and it will also give you something to build your team around.