Hey everyone,
This team was first built for Wi-Fi and I’m now looking for advice on fixing it. If you didn’t get the hint from the title (mind you, I’m not so great at making titles so I don’t blame you :P), this is a Sala-Zone-Gar team (if that term even exists LOL)
Among my friends, we added other rules above the some of the typical clauses.
Additional Team Restrictions:
- No Legendary Pokemon
I do agree that lots of Legendaries are balanced, but it's just a rule for fun, and as long as it remains fun, that's why we're playing, right? :P
Here's an overview before the discussion of each Pokemon choice in order in the party (discussion of the party is out of order, i.e. Salamence is not my lead).
>>>
<<<
Team Building Progress:
I have been fond of Salamence, so I will definitely be including him on the team.
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Salamence @ Life Orb
Intimidate
4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant (+Atk -SpA)
- Outrage
- Dragon Dance
- Earthquake
- Roost
Purpose: Ideally, a late-game physical sweeper when Steel threats have been taken out. After a Dragon Dance, STAB’ed Outrage hurts when nothing resists it. If Salamence is needed mid-game, Earthquake is for type coverage and to be less dependent on Outrage while not having the cost of the resulting confusion. Roost is to allow for Salamence's sweep to last longer and recover off some Stealth Rock damage since I have no Wish support. In addition, Salamence is flying so Roost will temporarily help against Ice and Rock weaknesses.
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Magnezone @ Leftovers
Magnet Pull
40 HP / 252 SpA / 216 Spe
Timid (+Spe -Atk)
- Thunderbolt
- Substitute
- Magnet Rise
- Hidden Power [Grass]
Purpose: Traps and kills Steel types which would normally wall Salamence’s sweep. The choice of HP Ground was because the team could be easily swept by a Jolteon with HP Grass. In addition, it works well against Electivire since I will typically Substitute the switch-in to see how my opponent responds to Magnezone. I am considering Magnet Rise in place of Explosion because of Bronzong.
Changed. Thanks for suggestions, that one kid
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Magnezone seems to really bait out Earthquakes, and I don't want to keep sending out Salamence to let it take damage, so I am going to use Gengar to pair with Salamence. With Levitate, it doesn’t fear Earthquake. He also doubles as an Anti-Spinner
Gengar @ Life Orb
Levitate
4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid (+Spe -Atk)
- Substitute
- Pain Split
- Shadow Ball
- Focus Blast
Purpose: Gengar is here to support Magnezone while not needing Salamence to repetitively enter the field, thereby avoiding heavy Stealth Rock damage. It also adds as an Anti-spinner. In addition, Gengar also helps me against walls along with Magnezone, while being able to scout with Substitute. By using Substitute instead of Protect and with Gengar's low HP, a healing move is ideal, which is why Pain Split is being used. Pain Split will allow me to reduce the danger from my own Substitutes and makes walling Gengar impractical for my opponent.
//////////////////////////
Scizor @ Choice Band
Technician
248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 Spe
Adamant (+Atk -SpA)
- Bullet Punch
- U-Turn
- Superpower
- Pursuit
Purpose: Scizor is here mainly to revenge kill. It also resists Ice, Dragon (both which Salamence fears), and Grass (which Swampert fears). With Bullet Punch, I should be able to kill and run away easily. Choice Band is used in order to deal more damage because I do not need Scizor to stay on the field for a long time. Pursuit is also able to trap and kill Psychics and Ghosts and Superpower is in case Gengar's Focus Blast (70% accuracy) suffers a costly miss. Being Scarfed, U-Turn is mainly for predicting a switch-out so I can switch into an appropriate counter.
//////////////////////////
Swampert @ Leftovers
Torrent
252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Def
Relaxed (+Def -Spe)
- Stealth Rock
- Roar
- Earthquake
- Ice Beam
Purpose: Lead and set-up Stealth Rocks. This lead was chosen above others because many members of the team resist Grass, which is Swampert's only weakness. Swampert will kill with Earthquake if possible, Phaze any Dancers. Ice Beam is being used instead of STABed Surf because typically things weak to Water are also weak to Earthquake.
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As the team stands now, it will be easily swept by DDance Gyarados unless Swampert can Roar it. To fill the last spot, I needed a reliable counter that had synergy with the team.
Porygon2 @ Leftovers
Trace
252 HP / 216 Def / 40 SpA
Bold (+Def -Atk)
- Discharge (changed from Thunderbolt)
- Ice Beam
- Magic Coat (changed from Thunderwave)
- Recover
Purpose: Porygon2 is here in order to counter many things that the team has problems with. DDance Gyarados can easily sweep the team as the only Electric using member of my party is weak to its Earthquake. Jolteon with HP Grass could also prove to be a problem as it can kill Swampert and then proceed to sweep the team with no other Pokemon resisting its STABed Thunderbolts. Trace can help against all of these and against Salamence. For now I'm debating between Thunderbolt or Discharge. Is the higher percent paralysis useful? I'm not experienced with using Porygon2.
Changes: Swapped Thunderbolt for Discharge in order to replace Thunderwave with Magic Coat. Thank you to Aqueos and Crow350 for these suggestions.
This team was first built for Wi-Fi and I’m now looking for advice on fixing it. If you didn’t get the hint from the title (mind you, I’m not so great at making titles so I don’t blame you :P), this is a Sala-Zone-Gar team (if that term even exists LOL)
Among my friends, we added other rules above the some of the typical clauses.
Additional Team Restrictions:
- No Legendary Pokemon
I do agree that lots of Legendaries are balanced, but it's just a rule for fun, and as long as it remains fun, that's why we're playing, right? :P
Here's an overview before the discussion of each Pokemon choice in order in the party (discussion of the party is out of order, i.e. Salamence is not my lead).
Team At a Glance:
>>>
Team Building Progress:
I have been fond of Salamence, so I will definitely be including him on the team.
//////////////////////////
Salamence @ Life Orb
Intimidate
4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant (+Atk -SpA)
- Outrage
- Dragon Dance
- Earthquake
- Roost
Purpose: Ideally, a late-game physical sweeper when Steel threats have been taken out. After a Dragon Dance, STAB’ed Outrage hurts when nothing resists it. If Salamence is needed mid-game, Earthquake is for type coverage and to be less dependent on Outrage while not having the cost of the resulting confusion. Roost is to allow for Salamence's sweep to last longer and recover off some Stealth Rock damage since I have no Wish support. In addition, Salamence is flying so Roost will temporarily help against Ice and Rock weaknesses.
//////////////////////////
Magnezone @ Leftovers
Magnet Pull
40 HP / 252 SpA / 216 Spe
Timid (+Spe -Atk)
- Thunderbolt
- Substitute
- Magnet Rise
- Hidden Power [Grass]
Purpose: Traps and kills Steel types which would normally wall Salamence’s sweep. The choice of HP Ground was because the team could be easily swept by a Jolteon with HP Grass. In addition, it works well against Electivire since I will typically Substitute the switch-in to see how my opponent responds to Magnezone. I am considering Magnet Rise in place of Explosion because of Bronzong.
Changed. Thanks for suggestions, that one kid
//////////////////////////
Magnezone seems to really bait out Earthquakes, and I don't want to keep sending out Salamence to let it take damage, so I am going to use Gengar to pair with Salamence. With Levitate, it doesn’t fear Earthquake. He also doubles as an Anti-Spinner
Gengar @ Life Orb
Levitate
4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid (+Spe -Atk)
- Substitute
- Pain Split
- Shadow Ball
- Focus Blast
Purpose: Gengar is here to support Magnezone while not needing Salamence to repetitively enter the field, thereby avoiding heavy Stealth Rock damage. It also adds as an Anti-spinner. In addition, Gengar also helps me against walls along with Magnezone, while being able to scout with Substitute. By using Substitute instead of Protect and with Gengar's low HP, a healing move is ideal, which is why Pain Split is being used. Pain Split will allow me to reduce the danger from my own Substitutes and makes walling Gengar impractical for my opponent.
//////////////////////////
Scizor @ Choice Band
Technician
248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 Spe
Adamant (+Atk -SpA)
- Bullet Punch
- U-Turn
- Superpower
- Pursuit
Purpose: Scizor is here mainly to revenge kill. It also resists Ice, Dragon (both which Salamence fears), and Grass (which Swampert fears). With Bullet Punch, I should be able to kill and run away easily. Choice Band is used in order to deal more damage because I do not need Scizor to stay on the field for a long time. Pursuit is also able to trap and kill Psychics and Ghosts and Superpower is in case Gengar's Focus Blast (70% accuracy) suffers a costly miss. Being Scarfed, U-Turn is mainly for predicting a switch-out so I can switch into an appropriate counter.
//////////////////////////
Swampert @ Leftovers
Torrent
252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Def
Relaxed (+Def -Spe)
- Stealth Rock
- Roar
- Earthquake
- Ice Beam
Purpose: Lead and set-up Stealth Rocks. This lead was chosen above others because many members of the team resist Grass, which is Swampert's only weakness. Swampert will kill with Earthquake if possible, Phaze any Dancers. Ice Beam is being used instead of STABed Surf because typically things weak to Water are also weak to Earthquake.
//////////////////////////
As the team stands now, it will be easily swept by DDance Gyarados unless Swampert can Roar it. To fill the last spot, I needed a reliable counter that had synergy with the team.
Porygon2 @ Leftovers
Trace
252 HP / 216 Def / 40 SpA
Bold (+Def -Atk)
- Discharge (changed from Thunderbolt)
- Ice Beam
- Magic Coat (changed from Thunderwave)
- Recover
Purpose: Porygon2 is here in order to counter many things that the team has problems with. DDance Gyarados can easily sweep the team as the only Electric using member of my party is weak to its Earthquake. Jolteon with HP Grass could also prove to be a problem as it can kill Swampert and then proceed to sweep the team with no other Pokemon resisting its STABed Thunderbolts. Trace can help against all of these and against Salamence. For now I'm debating between Thunderbolt or Discharge. Is the higher percent paralysis useful? I'm not experienced with using Porygon2.
Changes: Swapped Thunderbolt for Discharge in order to replace Thunderwave with Magic Coat. Thank you to Aqueos and Crow350 for these suggestions.
Thanks for the help!
