Woah, check this out.

I've been using this team on shoddy a bit now, and i've had a fair bit of sucsess, and I rarely lose. I am, however posting it here for some feedback and advice to make it better. Thanks.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
roserade.png

Roserade @ Focus Sash
Timid
6 HP / 252 Spe / 252 SpA
  • Sleep Powder
  • Toxic Spikes
  • Grass Knot
  • HP Fire
Here, is the lead of the team, and the set up is really easy.
I start off with a Sleep Powder, then I use Toxic Spikes at least once (depending on their lead), and then i'll use either Grass Knot or HP Fire to KO their lead.

This set works fine, with the exception of taunt leads. However, the most common taunt lead i've seen on Shoddy has been Aerodactyl, so with me expecting a taunt (and it always occours) I hit with Grass Knot twice, which lets him taunt and set up SR, which is later controlled.

Focus Sash allows me to either set up (on a non-taunt lead) or do some damage (on a taunt lead).

Explosion / Taunt leads (Azelf mainly) always do the same thing.
1) Taunt
2) SR
3) Explosion.

This is easily countered by switching into Gengar.

magnezone.png

Magnezone @ Leftovers
Timid Basi
Magnet Pull
40 HP / 218 Spe / 252 SpA
  • Substitute
  • Magnet Rise
  • Thunderbolt
  • HP Fire
Ahh, Magnezone. His main use is to scout and KO steel types with HP Fire. However, many teams don't have steel types and use this by sending out Salamence, which is quite quickly covered by Thunderbolt.

Basically, Magnezone is used to weaken / KO Pokemon that Scizor / Salamence would hve trouble with otherwise.

gengar.png

Gengar @ Life Orb
Timid
6 Def / 252 Spe / 252 SpA

  • Focus Blast
  • Hidden Power Ice
  • Shadow Ball
  • Thunderbolt
Gengar has been amazing in my team. With the amount of Gliscors running around trying to EQ me, it's the perfect switch in. All of my moves here have been used and Gengar by himself can ruin teams. He is my main attacker in the team, and i'll explain why.

Focus Blast deals with a heap of pokemon (Dark, Ice, Normal, Rock and Steel.) And generally makes a mess of Metagross as well.

Shadow Ball, is used against all my Ghost / Psychic buddies, like Azelf and opposing Gengars (and for some reason, other Gengars never KO me.) Shadow Ball has also come in handy against Latias's, which can be pretty annoying.

Thunderbolt helps me with my Flying and Water opponents, but mainly Gyarados. It's been a really effective move and has helped me with my last minute attacks.

And now HP Ice (and I know what you're all thinking), is better for this set than HP Fire for two reasons. 1) HP Ice is a OHKO to the biggest threat in the OU game, Salamence. 2) I already have two other pokemon with HP Fire. HP Ice has been a massive help, and with Gliscors switching in thinking that all my moves are useless get a shock when HP Ice hits them. I can switch into Salamence from most of my pokemon because Salamence always use's EQ.

pokemon_salamenceSprite.gif

Salamence @ Life Orb
Naive
234 Atk / 252 Spe / 24SpA

  • Dragon Dance
  • Earthquake
  • Fire Blast
  • Outrage
Basically, after Magnezone and Gengar have weakened everything, Salamence comes in as a late-game sweeper.

After one Dragon Dance, Salamence is almost un-stopable, and after two DD's, he is unstopable. EQ basically OHKO's everything anyway. Fire Blast is used against Pokemon that EQ can't hit (Like Skarmory) and Outrage is to KO Dragon threats (like Salamence, Latias, Dragonite ect.)

scizor-f.png

Scizor @ Life Orb
Adamant
6 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
  • Swords Dance
  • Bullet Punch
  • Brick Break
  • U-Turn
After a Swords Dance, everymove here become's amazing. Bullet Punch is used against all my Ice and Rock friends for OHKO's. Brick Break is used for
Dark, Ice, Normal, Rock and Steel pokemon which really don't stand a chance. And U-Turn is for all Psychic pokemon, which also allow me to escape and switch into something that can do heaps of damage.

starmie_sprite.png

Starmie @ Leftovers
136 HP / 156 Def / 218 Spe
Timid
  • Rapid Spin
  • Hydro Pump
  • Thunderbolt
  • Recover
And finally, Starmie.
Rapid Spin is used to get rid of all ground threats (SR, Spikes, Toxic Spikes), and because of Natural Cure, Toxic Spikes is useless because I can just switch.
Hydro Pump is used mainly for Heatran, and other Fire / Rock threats.
Thunderbolt is used for Water / Flying threats (again, Gyarados)
And recover to heal.
 
This is a very nice team -- the Magnezone + Gengar + Salamence combo has always been one of my favorites.

However, I see a glaring Life Orb Starmie weakness in this team. With Stealth Rock up, everything on your team is OHKO'd by Hydro Pump, Ice Beam, and Thunderbolt. Not to mention, everything is outsped before you can even attempt to do anything. A starmie can come in after Gengar or Magnezone kills something, or when Starmie tries to do a Rapid Spin, Hydro Pump, or Recover. Your lack of SR is something to note as well.

While everything on your team has its merits, I would at least consider running Pursuit onto Scizor, perhaps making it CB with some more bulk, while using the Ubers spread as well. While this isn't the most ideal response to Starmie, you can at least bring your Scizor in on an Ice Beam and kill Starmie off.

Stealth Rock is really important for your team, and while toxic spikes is generally a nice thing to have, having Stealth Rock is efficient in weakening the pokemon that need to be weakened, such as Salamence and Gyarados. I would recommend losing Roserade for a Metagross lead, which can take a hit and explode or bullet punch later on in the game when you are in a predicament. I am suggesting metagross over other Sr leads because Infernape and Heatran have Starmie to worry about, so it should be a relatively easy switch should you find a problem.

Metagross @ Lum
Adamant 252 HP / 236 Atk / 12 Def / 8 Spe
Meteor Mash / Bullet Punch / Explosion / Stealth Rock

Scizor @ Choice Band
Adamant 200 HP / 56 Atk / 252 Spd
Bullet Punch / Pursuit / U-turn / Superpower

Good luck with your team, it is very well built.
 
Personally a MYSTIC gar set might help you scout steel types better than your current set.
As is lets you scout for Pursuit or Bullet Punch from scizor letting you switch out to magnetzone if he bullet punch's or KO with HP Fire if he uses Pursuit
 
I definitely agree with Plus on having Pursuit on your Scizor. It's a nice move to get a good hit on any Specially Defensive walls or some other Pokémon you know that will run, like opposing Gengar.

I like a bulkier Choice Band Scizor because basically everything you don't Bullet Punch (besides some walls) will outspeed you. So, you might as well focus on taking a few hits as you switch in instead. I used Swords Dance Scizor in the past myself, but I have long switched to Choice Band Scizor.
Though you lose some flexibility, the immediate power boost is very much worth it.

Scizor -
Bag_Choice_Band_Sprite.png
Choice Band | Technician
Adamant | 200 HP / 252 Atk / 56 Sp.Def
Bullet Punch___U-Turn
Superpower____Pursuit


The Special Defense EVs are great when you have to take attacks like Draco Meteor or Surf from the likes of Swampert (and other bulky Waters) or Starmie, which is a big threat to your team (as Plus already stated).


I also notice half of your team is weak to Fire-type moves. I'm not entirely sure which lead would be the best for this team, but I wouldn't go with a Metagross. While you do have 2
Pokémon which resist Fire, and one of the Pokémon weak to Fire is simply your lead, it is still not something you want to have.

I believe a Lead Aerodactyl may work out for the better. It resists Fire and has weaknesses which are resisted by Magnezone and Starmie. Besides being able to stop Azelf, Aerodactyl allows you to set up Stealth Rock - something your team would greatly appreciate. Salamence and Scizor's job are made much easier when the opponent's team has already taken some damage from switching in.



Besides those points, this is a nice team. D: Magnezone's dangerous...
Would you mind checkin' out my own team below? :D I see you are a good Trainer, so some feedback would be greatly appreciated.
 
@Piccolo, Metagross was suggested because it is not weak to starmie while Aerodactyl gets destroyed by it.
 
Back
Top