A couple of weeks ago, a friend and I decided to make a team around Zapdos. It's been pretty successful on Showdown, losing only a couple of times. It's a rain stall team using bulky Zapdos, which is honestly a ton of fun, so without furthur ado, here we go:
Team Building Process:
The Team:
[pimg]145[/pimg] [pimg]186[/pimg] [pimg]73[/pimg] [pimg]628[/pimg] [pimg]134[/pimg] [pimg]385[/pimg]
IN-DEPTH EXPLANATION
[pimg]145[/pimg]
Zapdos @ Leftovers
EVs: 252 HP | 240 Sp.D | 16 Spd
Nature: Calm
Ability: Pressure
-Thunderbolt
-Heat Wave
-Roost
-Toxic
With Roost, Zapdos is just a monster. Even without investment, base 125 Special Attack hits hard, and Thunderbolt lets him smash opposing Pokemon hard. Heat Wave, in the rain, 2HKOs Scizor, Forretress, and 3HKOs Ferrothorn, all of which are common switch ins in a metagame that has surprisingly little experience dealing with this threat. Roost keeps him healthy and lets him use his special bulk to stall out powerhouses like Sheer Force Landorus-I (HP Ice does less than 50%). The 16 Speed EVs are to outrun max speed neutral nature Politoed and the like, hitting them with T-bolt before the inevitable Toxic.
[pimg]186[/pimg]
Politoed @ Leftovers
EVs: 248 HP | 156 Def | 64 Sp.A | 40 Speed
Ability: Drizzle
Nature: Bold
-Scald
-Toxic
-Protect
-Perish Song
Oh, how I wish something else had gotten Drizzle. Something like... Suicune. Or Vaporeon. Something with significant utility beyond Drizzle. Instead, we get the 'Toed. Oh well. The speed investment lets him toxic Jellicent before it can taunt. It also hits important threats on the switch, and essentially gives them a timer to work with. Protect lets him scout unusual switch-ins and stall for Toxic damage, and Perish Song forces out anything that manages to set up, and stops any pesky last Pokemon sweepers. Also, with the special attack investment he caries, he has a 50% chance of KOing Landorus-I on the switch.
[pimg]73[/pimg]
Tentacruel @ Black Sludge
EVs: 252 HP | 212 Def | 44 Speed
Ability: Rain Dish
Nature: Bold
-Rapid Spin
-Toxic Spikes
-Scald
-Protect
Tentacruel is fantastic with Zapdos. It resists most hits aimed at the big bird, and Zapdos can switch in on all the Earthquakes Tentacruel provokes. Toxic Spikes are not only rare, but ruin sweepers like Garchomp the second they switch in. Rapid Spin keeps my field clear of hazards, helping Zapdos with its Stealth Rock weakness. Scald is basically to shoot for a burn, and also to hit Gliscor, which it outruns (standard versions) with the Speed investment. Protect buys turns for Toxic to do its magic, and lets me scout the moves of unexpected switch-ins.
[pimg]628[/pimg]
Ferrothorn @ Rocky Helmet
EVs: 252 HP | 88 Def | 168 Sp.Def
Ability: Iron Barbs
Nature: Relaxed
IV: 0 Speed
-Gyro Ball
-Power Whip
-Stealth Rock
-Spikes
The unusual EV spread is to allow for some mixed walling shenanigans. Gyro Ball hits hard against dragons and the like, making this my best answer to them. In addition, all those guys hitting me with Outrage lose 1/4 of their health, and since they usually need a 2HKO, even if they beat Ferrothorn, they've lost half their health, plus Gyro Ball damage. At that point, they're generally dead. Power Whip lets me hit Donphan and Starmie, and Rocky Helmet + Iron Barbs gives me pseudo spin-blocking. Stealth Rock and Spikes are both awesome, and with the switch-in opportunities this team forces and creates, it's not uncommon for me to have all hazards up end game.
[pimg]134[/pimg]
Vaporeon@ Leftovers
EVs: 248 HP | 252 Def | 8 Speed
Ability: Hydration
Nature: Bold
-Scald
-Toxic
-Wish
-Rest
Imagine the following scenario: It's been a long battle. You've worn down most of that dang stall team. Get them a little weaker, and its sweeping time! And then you glance at their pokemon. You see the Vaporeon. It switches in. Starts passing wishes. That Ferrothorn, the one so close to dying, the one stopping your Garchomp from sweeping? It just received the wish. Your plan has been foiled.
That scenario up there isn't too uncommon. Vaporeon's main function is to hop in, pass a wish to an ailing team mate, repeat. With its solid base 110 Sp.A and base 130 HP, it not only passes huge wishes, but also packs a punch if you mispredict, hitting you with a STAB, Rain-boosted Scald. The 8 Speed EVs, together with Toxic, let you cripple Jellicent before it gets the Taunt off. Rest is normally sub-par healing, putting you to sleep and not activating the sleep clause, but with Hydration, you fully restore your health and then wake up, leaving you with no ill-effects. It makes Vaporeon frustratingly hard to kill, and lets Vaporeon pass wishes around all day. The EVs manage to balance Vaporeon's defences, outrun Jellicent, and maximise survivability. This thing is the bomb.
[pimg]385[/pimg]
Jirachi @ Choice Scarf
EVs: 252 Atk | 252 Speed | 4 HP
Ability: Serene Grace
Nature: Jolly
-Iron Head
-Ice Punch
-U-turn
-Trick
Jirachi is my Mr. Fixit. He ruins most set up sweepers with Trick, nails Tyranitar and Terrakion with Iron Head, deals with Dragons, and cripples Reuniclus. Iron Head is the go to STAB move, hitting reasonably hard, and utilizing Serene Grace's effect to get a little hax here and there. It also lets me beat Tyranitar, thereby winning me the weather war. Ice Punch with Choice Scarf lets me outrun and KO +1 Dragonite and Salamence, which is useful if Ferrothorn is dead or weakened. U-turn lets me scout, and hits the Lati twins for reasonable damage. Trick is used for stallers, like Sableye, other walls, like Ferrothorn, bulky set-up sweepers (I once locked a Volcarona at 50% health into Quiver Dance. Stealth Rocks were up, and his spinner was dead) and Reuniclus. I hate that thing so much. It beats most of the team, but Trick locks it into Focus Blast (nothing else hurts Jirachi) and Zapdos can easily handle it from there.
Threat list:
-Lati@s: They come in fairly easily, then start Nuking with Draco Meteor. Or expect me to predict a nuke and hit my steels with HP Fire.
-Reuniclus: CM or Trick Room, it doesn't matter. The blob hurts this team, hard. If Jirachi happens to be weakened, say by Lati@s, then its pretty much game over.
So there you have it. A Rain stall team (gee, that's a new idea!) with Zapdos. I get that it's Stealth Rock weak, but if more people gave it a chance, they'd see how devastating this bird can be, with its awesome blend of power, bulk, typing, and a reliable movepool with just the right things. A pity Lightningrod hasn't been released...
Thanks for reading, and even more thanks for rating! If you decide to use this team, I hope you have fun!
Team Building Process:
[pimg]145[/pimg]
The pokemon we built the team around. The rest of the team is built around using this guy in a rain stall situation.
[pimg]145[/pimg] [pimg]186[/pimg]
Politoed brings in the rain, which lets me use a pokemon that compliments Zapdos almost perfectly:
[pimg]145[/pimg] [pimg]186[/pimg] [pimg]73[/pimg]
Tentacruel covers most of Zapdos counters, and Zapdos does the same for Tentacruel.
[pimg]145[/pimg] [pimg]186[/pimg] [pimg]73[/pimg] [pimg]628[/pimg]
Ferrothorn not only gives me hazards, but also covers a ridiculous amount of things with Tentacruel by its side.
[pimg]145[/pimg] [pimg]186[/pimg] [pimg]73[/pimg] [pimg]628[/pimg] [pimg]113[/pimg]
Chansey provided valuable healing with its huge Wishes, and let me stall out a lot of special attacking threats.
[pimg]145[/pimg] [pimg]186[/pimg] [pimg]73[/pimg] [pimg]628[/pimg] [pimg]113[/pimg] [pimg]385[/pimg]
At this point, we noticed a huge weakness to set up sweepers and Reuniclus, and brought in Scarf Jirachi to stop them.
[pimg]145[/pimg] [pimg]186[/pimg] [pimg]73[/pimg] [pimg]628[/pimg] [pimg]134[/pimg] [pimg]385[/pimg]
Chansey found itself unable to pass Wishes to Ferrothorn, as the inevitable fighting move aimed at Chansey would also take out Ferrothorn. Vaporeon passes smaller wishes, but they are still fairly large, and we haven't looked back since.
The pokemon we built the team around. The rest of the team is built around using this guy in a rain stall situation.
[pimg]145[/pimg] [pimg]186[/pimg]
Politoed brings in the rain, which lets me use a pokemon that compliments Zapdos almost perfectly:
[pimg]145[/pimg] [pimg]186[/pimg] [pimg]73[/pimg]
Tentacruel covers most of Zapdos counters, and Zapdos does the same for Tentacruel.
[pimg]145[/pimg] [pimg]186[/pimg] [pimg]73[/pimg] [pimg]628[/pimg]
Ferrothorn not only gives me hazards, but also covers a ridiculous amount of things with Tentacruel by its side.
[pimg]145[/pimg] [pimg]186[/pimg] [pimg]73[/pimg] [pimg]628[/pimg] [pimg]113[/pimg]
Chansey provided valuable healing with its huge Wishes, and let me stall out a lot of special attacking threats.
[pimg]145[/pimg] [pimg]186[/pimg] [pimg]73[/pimg] [pimg]628[/pimg] [pimg]113[/pimg] [pimg]385[/pimg]
At this point, we noticed a huge weakness to set up sweepers and Reuniclus, and brought in Scarf Jirachi to stop them.
[pimg]145[/pimg] [pimg]186[/pimg] [pimg]73[/pimg] [pimg]628[/pimg] [pimg]134[/pimg] [pimg]385[/pimg]
Chansey found itself unable to pass Wishes to Ferrothorn, as the inevitable fighting move aimed at Chansey would also take out Ferrothorn. Vaporeon passes smaller wishes, but they are still fairly large, and we haven't looked back since.
The Team:
[pimg]145[/pimg] [pimg]186[/pimg] [pimg]73[/pimg] [pimg]628[/pimg] [pimg]134[/pimg] [pimg]385[/pimg]
IN-DEPTH EXPLANATION
[pimg]145[/pimg]
Zapdos @ Leftovers
EVs: 252 HP | 240 Sp.D | 16 Spd
Nature: Calm
Ability: Pressure
-Thunderbolt
-Heat Wave
-Roost
-Toxic
With Roost, Zapdos is just a monster. Even without investment, base 125 Special Attack hits hard, and Thunderbolt lets him smash opposing Pokemon hard. Heat Wave, in the rain, 2HKOs Scizor, Forretress, and 3HKOs Ferrothorn, all of which are common switch ins in a metagame that has surprisingly little experience dealing with this threat. Roost keeps him healthy and lets him use his special bulk to stall out powerhouses like Sheer Force Landorus-I (HP Ice does less than 50%). The 16 Speed EVs are to outrun max speed neutral nature Politoed and the like, hitting them with T-bolt before the inevitable Toxic.
[pimg]186[/pimg]
Politoed @ Leftovers
EVs: 248 HP | 156 Def | 64 Sp.A | 40 Speed
Ability: Drizzle
Nature: Bold
-Scald
-Toxic
-Protect
-Perish Song
Oh, how I wish something else had gotten Drizzle. Something like... Suicune. Or Vaporeon. Something with significant utility beyond Drizzle. Instead, we get the 'Toed. Oh well. The speed investment lets him toxic Jellicent before it can taunt. It also hits important threats on the switch, and essentially gives them a timer to work with. Protect lets him scout unusual switch-ins and stall for Toxic damage, and Perish Song forces out anything that manages to set up, and stops any pesky last Pokemon sweepers. Also, with the special attack investment he caries, he has a 50% chance of KOing Landorus-I on the switch.
[pimg]73[/pimg]
Tentacruel @ Black Sludge
EVs: 252 HP | 212 Def | 44 Speed
Ability: Rain Dish
Nature: Bold
-Rapid Spin
-Toxic Spikes
-Scald
-Protect
Tentacruel is fantastic with Zapdos. It resists most hits aimed at the big bird, and Zapdos can switch in on all the Earthquakes Tentacruel provokes. Toxic Spikes are not only rare, but ruin sweepers like Garchomp the second they switch in. Rapid Spin keeps my field clear of hazards, helping Zapdos with its Stealth Rock weakness. Scald is basically to shoot for a burn, and also to hit Gliscor, which it outruns (standard versions) with the Speed investment. Protect buys turns for Toxic to do its magic, and lets me scout the moves of unexpected switch-ins.
[pimg]628[/pimg]
Ferrothorn @ Rocky Helmet
EVs: 252 HP | 88 Def | 168 Sp.Def
Ability: Iron Barbs
Nature: Relaxed
IV: 0 Speed
-Gyro Ball
-Power Whip
-Stealth Rock
-Spikes
The unusual EV spread is to allow for some mixed walling shenanigans. Gyro Ball hits hard against dragons and the like, making this my best answer to them. In addition, all those guys hitting me with Outrage lose 1/4 of their health, and since they usually need a 2HKO, even if they beat Ferrothorn, they've lost half their health, plus Gyro Ball damage. At that point, they're generally dead. Power Whip lets me hit Donphan and Starmie, and Rocky Helmet + Iron Barbs gives me pseudo spin-blocking. Stealth Rock and Spikes are both awesome, and with the switch-in opportunities this team forces and creates, it's not uncommon for me to have all hazards up end game.
[pimg]134[/pimg]
Vaporeon@ Leftovers
EVs: 248 HP | 252 Def | 8 Speed
Ability: Hydration
Nature: Bold
-Scald
-Toxic
-Wish
-Rest
Imagine the following scenario: It's been a long battle. You've worn down most of that dang stall team. Get them a little weaker, and its sweeping time! And then you glance at their pokemon. You see the Vaporeon. It switches in. Starts passing wishes. That Ferrothorn, the one so close to dying, the one stopping your Garchomp from sweeping? It just received the wish. Your plan has been foiled.
That scenario up there isn't too uncommon. Vaporeon's main function is to hop in, pass a wish to an ailing team mate, repeat. With its solid base 110 Sp.A and base 130 HP, it not only passes huge wishes, but also packs a punch if you mispredict, hitting you with a STAB, Rain-boosted Scald. The 8 Speed EVs, together with Toxic, let you cripple Jellicent before it gets the Taunt off. Rest is normally sub-par healing, putting you to sleep and not activating the sleep clause, but with Hydration, you fully restore your health and then wake up, leaving you with no ill-effects. It makes Vaporeon frustratingly hard to kill, and lets Vaporeon pass wishes around all day. The EVs manage to balance Vaporeon's defences, outrun Jellicent, and maximise survivability. This thing is the bomb.
[pimg]385[/pimg]
Jirachi @ Choice Scarf
EVs: 252 Atk | 252 Speed | 4 HP
Ability: Serene Grace
Nature: Jolly
-Iron Head
-Ice Punch
-U-turn
-Trick
Jirachi is my Mr. Fixit. He ruins most set up sweepers with Trick, nails Tyranitar and Terrakion with Iron Head, deals with Dragons, and cripples Reuniclus. Iron Head is the go to STAB move, hitting reasonably hard, and utilizing Serene Grace's effect to get a little hax here and there. It also lets me beat Tyranitar, thereby winning me the weather war. Ice Punch with Choice Scarf lets me outrun and KO +1 Dragonite and Salamence, which is useful if Ferrothorn is dead or weakened. U-turn lets me scout, and hits the Lati twins for reasonable damage. Trick is used for stallers, like Sableye, other walls, like Ferrothorn, bulky set-up sweepers (I once locked a Volcarona at 50% health into Quiver Dance. Stealth Rocks were up, and his spinner was dead) and Reuniclus. I hate that thing so much. It beats most of the team, but Trick locks it into Focus Blast (nothing else hurts Jirachi) and Zapdos can easily handle it from there.
Threat list:
-Lati@s: They come in fairly easily, then start Nuking with Draco Meteor. Or expect me to predict a nuke and hit my steels with HP Fire.
-Reuniclus: CM or Trick Room, it doesn't matter. The blob hurts this team, hard. If Jirachi happens to be weakened, say by Lati@s, then its pretty much game over.
So there you have it. A Rain stall team (gee, that's a new idea!) with Zapdos. I get that it's Stealth Rock weak, but if more people gave it a chance, they'd see how devastating this bird can be, with its awesome blend of power, bulk, typing, and a reliable movepool with just the right things. A pity Lightningrod hasn't been released...
Thanks for reading, and even more thanks for rating! If you decide to use this team, I hope you have fun!
