I told Jump I’d post when I lost so here it is..
The loss was to a Scientist and quite embarrassing.. it’s a match I should have won but I didn’t set up Suicune on Krookodile and for some reason just attacked instead. This left me open against CM Ninetales and, ultimately, I lost to the Focus Sash Garchomp in back. I broke my ongoing rule for this streak... up until now, I had played no more that 21 battles per day (today I lost at #33)... and I credit a lack of focus to playing stupidly.
Dragonite @Lum Berry
Ability: Multiscale
EVs: 64 HP/252 Atk/192Spe
Nature: Adamant
~ Dragon Dance
~ Outrage
~ Earthquake
~ Fire Punch
Suicune @Leftovers
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 236 HP/244 Def/30 Spe
Nature: Bold
~ Substitute
~ Calm Mind
~ Rest
~ Scald
Scizor @Sitrus Berry
Ability: Technician
EVs: 244 HP/252 Atk/12 Spe
Nature: Adamant
~ Swords Dance
~ Bullet Punch
~ Bug Bite
~ Roost
The genesis of this team started a few months and many pages ago when the question “who [do] you feel is the best self-sufficient pokemon in the Subway?” was posed. At the time, all three of the above pokemon were top responses. I think each has their unique merits but I wondered what would happen if they were put to the test... together. And why not? They cover each other’s weaknesses so well; only six weaknesses and a mere three types not resisted by one mon or another. In fact, the typing combination is so good that it’s nothing new at all. I’d go as far as to credit Advance era Jumpman16 with this team set up, minus one fighting weakness and plus one fire, and that was how many years ago? I’m truly surprised ntrnsc mtvtn was the first person to post the closest thing to this team and even then, it’s not exact (more on this in a minute).
On the team itself, Dragonite hits 124 base speed with those EVs (I actually think I could add to the defense and/or special defense without losing out on anything looking at it now) which is enough to surpass Zebstrika and below after one DD. Outside of Jolteon, I’m not concerned about anything in the subway higher than 184 speed to the point that Dragonite needs to be faster. Regardless, the added HP more than makes up for any speed deficiencies and provides an extra boost to its awesome ability. Nothing resists that combination of moves so that’s a bonus of leading with Dragonite. Between Multiscale and great coverage, I can usually set up a 3-0 sweep without much effort. In addition, the Lum Berry is perfect synergy between Outrage and getting a clean DD off without a hitch. I can’t stress enough how important that item is to the entire package.
You’ve all seen that Suicune before so I won’t elaborate much. I started with the standard 252/252 defensive cune but once I saw Peterko’s EV variation, I switched over. No reason not to. One thing to note is that my current Suicune is HP Electric with a 30 speed IV (didn’t realize at the time) so Excadrill actually matches me in speed. This never hurt me on my streak but it’s something I’ll address for my next go around.
Finally, Scizor is also pretty standard but very necessary... like Lebowski’s rug, tying the room together. My first time using this team I had Superpower over Roost (and Extremespeed over Fire Punch on Dragonite) but quickly realized that wasn’t all that useful. In contrast, the added healing option really maximizes Scizor’s setup potential on the few occasions I needed it. I’d love to use Leftovers here but Suicune needs it more... fortunately, Sitrus Berry has proven to be an adept replacement, turning 2HKOs into 3HKOs and so on.
Now, to answer the question I originally set out to solve, who is the most self-sufficient Subway pokemon out of Dragonite, Suicune, and Scizor? Well, it’s definitely not the bug. I don’t mean to understate Scizor’s value to this team, it was a great safety net when called upon, but Dragonite and Suicune did most of the heavy lifting during this streak. Between those two, though, it’s a tough call. I’d give the edge to Suicune due to Pressure and the fact that it usually had to switch into and absorb an attack first before getting an opportunity to set up. Dragonite was great but got the benefit of being first man out with an active Multiscale.
Which brings me back to ntrnsc mtvtn’s team... I never once doubted the legitimacy of his record, even before he edited the post to include some notes, because I was using a very eerily similar setup. He just lead with Scizor instead of Dragonite and happened to choose a different bulky water. I’m just not sure why Scizor is upfront.. In fact, I’m more interested in the differences in our choices than our similarities. To me, leading Dragonite is logical in that you’re guaranteed to have help from Multiscale to get at least +1/+1. Most pokemon that deterred me were Ice/Rock/Water which were covered by the other two teammates. Win/win in my eyes. I’m assuming lead Scizor faces a different set of trainers and pokemon, so tough to say which approach is better, but getting Dragonite going usually resulted in an easy victory. The only thing I’m questionable about is Milotic over Suicune... Pressure alone is just too good to pass up. You can stall out so many pokemon and turn them into setup bait for the rest of the team... not to mention the ability to almost, almost, hard counter all OHKO users. 579 is excellent, though, so who am I to claim Milotic doesn’t work as well?
Sorry, I don’t mean to wax poetic about a basic Subway team.. this is the first time I’ve had a streak worth noting so I was pretty proud of it. I'm disappointed that my streak ended before closing in on Peterko and Jumpman but, in a way, relieved because I can post this team and record without worry of 'jynxing" myself. I’m confident that I can reach this number, and beyond, with the same team again but I guess that’s for another day. Until then, 404 will have to do...
The loss was to a Scientist and quite embarrassing.. it’s a match I should have won but I didn’t set up Suicune on Krookodile and for some reason just attacked instead. This left me open against CM Ninetales and, ultimately, I lost to the Focus Sash Garchomp in back. I broke my ongoing rule for this streak... up until now, I had played no more that 21 battles per day (today I lost at #33)... and I credit a lack of focus to playing stupidly.
Dragonite @Lum Berry
Ability: Multiscale
EVs: 64 HP/252 Atk/192Spe
Nature: Adamant
~ Dragon Dance
~ Outrage
~ Earthquake
~ Fire Punch
Suicune @Leftovers
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 236 HP/244 Def/30 Spe
Nature: Bold
~ Substitute
~ Calm Mind
~ Rest
~ Scald
Scizor @Sitrus Berry
Ability: Technician
EVs: 244 HP/252 Atk/12 Spe
Nature: Adamant
~ Swords Dance
~ Bullet Punch
~ Bug Bite
~ Roost
The genesis of this team started a few months and many pages ago when the question “who [do] you feel is the best self-sufficient pokemon in the Subway?” was posed. At the time, all three of the above pokemon were top responses. I think each has their unique merits but I wondered what would happen if they were put to the test... together. And why not? They cover each other’s weaknesses so well; only six weaknesses and a mere three types not resisted by one mon or another. In fact, the typing combination is so good that it’s nothing new at all. I’d go as far as to credit Advance era Jumpman16 with this team set up, minus one fighting weakness and plus one fire, and that was how many years ago? I’m truly surprised ntrnsc mtvtn was the first person to post the closest thing to this team and even then, it’s not exact (more on this in a minute).
On the team itself, Dragonite hits 124 base speed with those EVs (I actually think I could add to the defense and/or special defense without losing out on anything looking at it now) which is enough to surpass Zebstrika and below after one DD. Outside of Jolteon, I’m not concerned about anything in the subway higher than 184 speed to the point that Dragonite needs to be faster. Regardless, the added HP more than makes up for any speed deficiencies and provides an extra boost to its awesome ability. Nothing resists that combination of moves so that’s a bonus of leading with Dragonite. Between Multiscale and great coverage, I can usually set up a 3-0 sweep without much effort. In addition, the Lum Berry is perfect synergy between Outrage and getting a clean DD off without a hitch. I can’t stress enough how important that item is to the entire package.
You’ve all seen that Suicune before so I won’t elaborate much. I started with the standard 252/252 defensive cune but once I saw Peterko’s EV variation, I switched over. No reason not to. One thing to note is that my current Suicune is HP Electric with a 30 speed IV (didn’t realize at the time) so Excadrill actually matches me in speed. This never hurt me on my streak but it’s something I’ll address for my next go around.
Finally, Scizor is also pretty standard but very necessary... like Lebowski’s rug, tying the room together. My first time using this team I had Superpower over Roost (and Extremespeed over Fire Punch on Dragonite) but quickly realized that wasn’t all that useful. In contrast, the added healing option really maximizes Scizor’s setup potential on the few occasions I needed it. I’d love to use Leftovers here but Suicune needs it more... fortunately, Sitrus Berry has proven to be an adept replacement, turning 2HKOs into 3HKOs and so on.
Now, to answer the question I originally set out to solve, who is the most self-sufficient Subway pokemon out of Dragonite, Suicune, and Scizor? Well, it’s definitely not the bug. I don’t mean to understate Scizor’s value to this team, it was a great safety net when called upon, but Dragonite and Suicune did most of the heavy lifting during this streak. Between those two, though, it’s a tough call. I’d give the edge to Suicune due to Pressure and the fact that it usually had to switch into and absorb an attack first before getting an opportunity to set up. Dragonite was great but got the benefit of being first man out with an active Multiscale.
Which brings me back to ntrnsc mtvtn’s team... I never once doubted the legitimacy of his record, even before he edited the post to include some notes, because I was using a very eerily similar setup. He just lead with Scizor instead of Dragonite and happened to choose a different bulky water. I’m just not sure why Scizor is upfront.. In fact, I’m more interested in the differences in our choices than our similarities. To me, leading Dragonite is logical in that you’re guaranteed to have help from Multiscale to get at least +1/+1. Most pokemon that deterred me were Ice/Rock/Water which were covered by the other two teammates. Win/win in my eyes. I’m assuming lead Scizor faces a different set of trainers and pokemon, so tough to say which approach is better, but getting Dragonite going usually resulted in an easy victory. The only thing I’m questionable about is Milotic over Suicune... Pressure alone is just too good to pass up. You can stall out so many pokemon and turn them into setup bait for the rest of the team... not to mention the ability to almost, almost, hard counter all OHKO users. 579 is excellent, though, so who am I to claim Milotic doesn’t work as well?
Sorry, I don’t mean to wax poetic about a basic Subway team.. this is the first time I’ve had a streak worth noting so I was pretty proud of it. I'm disappointed that my streak ended before closing in on Peterko and Jumpman but, in a way, relieved because I can post this team and record without worry of 'jynxing" myself. I’m confident that I can reach this number, and beyond, with the same team again but I guess that’s for another day. Until then, 404 will have to do...
