I wanted to make a Baton Pass team for the longest that would be extremely fun to use and not a stressful long chain. Then Wdro had to go and ruin everything with his Gliscor ---> Metagross team. However, I came up with my own approach to using Baton Pass and I wanted to share this with you since I don't bother seriously laddering with it. Despite the win ratio (which is decent, but not extraordinary), this team remains extremely fun to play provided I survive the short set-up, and usually results in the opponent quitting or me fucking up totally and losing right away. So here it is!
Team Work: Ambipom wins games.
Possible Replacements: Mew, if it ever becomes OU (yeah right!).
Team Work: Celebi gives me another "out" against many fighting threats to Ambipom, such as Machamp or a Focus Blasting Gengar.
Possible Replacements: Drifblim
The Team
Strategic Briefing:
So instead of using one of those long chains that involves multiple pokemon setting up, this chain uses one stat-upper, and the rest of the pokemon have resistances that aid in the destruction of the enemy. Lucario is the final recipient, but doesn't always have to take the glory. So on to the details, shall we?
Azelf | Azelf
Ability: Levitate
Item: Light Clay
Nature: Jolly (+Spe, -SpA)
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Spe
Move Set Breakdown:
Ability: Levitate
Item: Light Clay
Nature: Jolly (+Spe, -SpA)
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Spe
Move Set Breakdown:
- Reflect: Azelf sports a weakness to the ever common Tyranitar, so Reflect is the most important move on this set, increasing his physical longevity enough to continue the set-up. Reflect also helps against those annoying Scizor.
- Light Screen: Light Screen covers the other base, but I've found most leads to be physical, so Light Screen is usually the second or last move I use before Azelf dies. Light Screen turns Infernape's Fire Blast into a 3HKO.
- Stealth Rock: Important as always for breaking sashes. Against Tyranitar I never get this up though because I just screen and die. That isn't a problem though, since Sandstorm teams don't have Focus Sashes.
- Explosion: When I've set up my rocks and screens, I needn't wait for the enemy can kill me. Azelf can just go boom at its heart's content and open things up for the rest of the team.
Description: Azelf is my dual-screen suicide lead, following in the footsteps of the beloved Deoxys-E. I used to use Alakazam, but Encore wasn't enough to make up for its lack of Stealth Rock or Explosion.
Team Work: sets the buffers for Ambipom to set up. Stealth Rock makes sweeping easier in the end also.
Possible Replacements: Alakazaam, if I am convinced...
Ambipom | Ambipom
Ability: Technician
Item: Lum Berry
Nature: Jolly (+Spe, -SpA)
EVs: 252 HP / 200 Def / 56 Spe
Move Set Breakdown:
Ability: Technician
Item: Lum Berry
Nature: Jolly (+Spe, -SpA)
EVs: 252 HP / 200 Def / 56 Spe
Move Set Breakdown:
- Agility: Agility is the most important move in any Baton Passer's arsenal. You mustbe faster than the opponent to do what you have to do. Right now, my EV spread has Ambipom sitting at 308 Speed, which is enough to outrun Porygon-Z, Lucario, and Roserade. Not that I need this much speed since I always agility first, but I would need convincing otherwise since the spread has been working.
- Taunt: Taunt is the next most important move on this set. Ambipom screams phazers on helpless stall teams and Taunt renders any attempt useless. Since I can usually Agility on the switch, I now have the fastest Taunt in the game so don't try anything!
- Nasty Plot: When Wdro used his uberly cheap Baton Pass team, he used Gliscor and Swords Dance, but I felt that going the special route of it would be a lot cooler, and Ambipom's frailty would make it more of a challenge. Furthermore, it makes my Baton Pass team unique and you will see why in a bit.
- Baton Pass: No explanation.
Team Work: Ambipom wins games.
Possible Replacements: Mew, if it ever becomes OU (yeah right!).
Vaporeon | Vaporeon
Ability: Water Absorb
Item: Leftovers
Nature: Bold (+Def, -Atk)
EVs: 128 HP / 252 Def / 128 Spe
Move Set Breakdown:
Ability: Water Absorb
Item: Leftovers
Nature: Bold (+Def, -Atk)
EVs: 128 HP / 252 Def / 128 Spe
Move Set Breakdown:
- Wish: Vaporeon is very good for any Baton Pass team because it has that ever-important Wish support. Since Heatran is a powerful, fast, and threatening force in the metagame today, I found Vaporeon to be a necessity for absorbing its hits. Furthermer, Vaporeon is a fine user of the Wish + Baton Pass combo, as if both screens are still up I can go back to Ambipom to get another plot before the final screen fades.
- Surf: Now, here is where my Baton Pass team is different. Although Vaporeon has excellent Baton support in Wish, Baton Pass, and things like Aqua Ring, Substitute, and Acid Armor, I despise long Baton chains because too many things can go wrong. So Vaporeon is the first link in my trio of defensive pokemon that can still make use of the +2 Speed and +2 Special attack to demolish the enemy without even having to bring in my final recipient. Even with no EVs, Vaporeon is setting with a comfortable 256 Special Attack and 198 Speed, which is doubled to 512 and 396 respectively, which means even this little mermaid can sweep. Surf is an excellent attack so I can expect to do good damage with it.
- Ice Beam: Ice Beam provides good coverage alongside Surf for obvious reasons, and can do upwards of 80% to Celebi after a Nasty Plot. Furthermore, it allows me to take out that haxy Skymin before it destroys me, as switching into Zapdos is easy but may make my entire chain lose its special defense... bummer.
- Baton Pass: This is a Baton Pass team, so once the match-up becomes unfavorable to Vaporeon (like a Suicune coming in), I can get the fuck out of there and keep all my boosts... mwahahahahahahaha!
Description: Vaporeon is a sturdy attacker for my chain, and can still Baton Pass out to another pokemon should a bad match-up occur. The EVs allow for 433 HP, which is a good leftovers number +1, 198 (396)Speed to outspeed Jolteon, Crobat, and Shaymin-S, and max defense for sturdiness.
Team Work: Offers a solid switch into Heatran, and a secondary switch into Scizor. Also gives valuable Wish support for the team.
Celebi | Vaporeon
Ability: Natural Cure
Item: Leftovers
Nature: Bold (+Def, -Atk)
EVs: 252 HP / 220 Def / 36 Spe
Move Set Breakdown:
Ability: Natural Cure
Item: Leftovers
Nature: Bold (+Def, -Atk)
EVs: 252 HP / 220 Def / 36 Spe
Move Set Breakdown:
- Recover: Celebi offers me another defensive pokemon with valuable resists in my chain. The main objective of course, is to finally get to my main recipient, but Celebi gives me a good switch into fighting pokemon, without losing so much health to Stealth Rock. Recover gives me valuable healing should I need to do so.
- Psychic: The main perk of Celebi is that it resists the fighting pokemon that prey on Ambipom (even though ambi survives). Zapdos resists their attacks also, but can't always OHKO Machamp after a Nasty Plot. Celebi allows me to do this. Furthermore, Psychic is a reliable STAB attack as opposed to Grass Knot, Energy Ball, or Leafstorm (which would really kill me).
- Earth Power: Psychic + Ground is decent coverage. I could definately use Grass Knot or Energy Ball but I prefer the ability to OHKO Heatran before he explodes on my chain (they always resort to that after seeing that I have Vaporeon to wall them).
- Baton Pass: Again, Celebi can attack and score a KO or two before Baton Passing out against an unfavorable match-up. I have to use Baton Pass with Celebi more often then my other pokemon, because I can predict the typical Skarmory switch-in as they always try to seize the opportunity to Whirlwind my chain. Baton Passing pre-emptively can keep the pressure on.
Team Work: Celebi gives me another "out" against many fighting threats to Ambipom, such as Machamp or a Focus Blasting Gengar.
Possible Replacements: Drifblim
Zapdos | Zapdos
Ability: Pressure
Item: Leftovers
Nature: Bold (+Def, -Atk)
EVs: 252 HP / 220 Def / 36 Spe
Move Set Breakdown:
Ability: Pressure
Item: Leftovers
Nature: Bold (+Def, -Atk)
EVs: 252 HP / 220 Def / 36 Spe
Move Set Breakdown:
- Roost: Again, Zapdos is my third "out" in my little defensive trio. Zapdos has amazing typing and gives me a switch against things like Yanmega.
- Thunderbolt: If you think Thunderbolt hurts with no EVs, wait until you see this thing with a Nasty Plot behind it. Zapdos can do a fair bit of sweeping with a Nasty Plot Thunderbolt, as it OHKOs other Zapdos with Stealth Rock help.
- Heat Wave: Heat Wave was a great addition to Zapdos' movepool, and allows me to fry Scizor, as Zapdos is my #1 switch into Scizor. Additionally, Heat Wave scores a crucial OHKO against most Bronzong after a Nasty Plot, foiling their attempts at exploding on me.
- Baton Pass: As I've said time and again, Zapdos has Baton Pass to switch to a more favorable match-up while retaining my boosts. The same pre-emptive tactic remains here, as people view Zapdos as an opportunity to use their bulky ground to Roar me out and break my chain, allowing me to bring in Lucario untouched for the sweep.
Description: Zapdos is an amazing tank, and is even more deadly with 572 Special Attack and 490 Speed to complement its defenses.
Team Work: Zapdos provides a check against Scizor and Suicune, blasting through Suicune's Calm Mind to OHKO with Nasty Plot Thunderbolt. It also gives me checks against the nasty Yanmega and Togekiss, as my other pokemon can't handle them well.
Possible Replacements: none
Lucario | Lucario
Ability: Inner Focus
Item: Life Orb
Nature: Rash (+SpA, -SpD)
EVs: 80 Atk / 236 SpA / 192 Spe
Move Set Breakdown:
Ability: Inner Focus
Item: Life Orb
Nature: Rash (+SpA, -SpD)
EVs: 80 Atk / 236 SpA / 192 Spe
Move Set Breakdown:
- Aura Sphere: Lucario sweeps the game with its broom of doom. Aura Sphere is a fantastic STAB option that takes full advantage of Lucario's Nasty Plot boost(s).
- Shadow Ball: Shadow Ball allows perfect neutral coverage alongside Aura Sphere, dealing fatal damage to the games Ghost and Psychic Pokemon (save Spritomb)
- Hidden Power Rock: Hidden Power Rock complement's Lucario's other options by offering a strong attack to Lucario's common counters, easily OHKO Zapdos and Gyarados with a Nasty Plot boost.
- Close Combat: This move is for one pokemon only, yup, Blissey. A +2 Life Orbed Aura Sphere only does about 80% to Blissey, who can Flamethrower me for fatal damage, or Thunderwave me to make me a sitting duck. With 80 Attack EVs and a neutral nature, I am guarenteed to make sure that doesn't happen. Since my other three moves cover virtually everything in the game, I'm not missing out on any coverage.
Description: Lucario is my late-game sweeper, who cleans up the match after all the boosts have been passed around. His EVs give 263 speed, which allow me to outrun Scarf Modest Shaymin-S, and Scarfgar, as well as Adamant Gyarados before a Dragon Dance (and before an agility).
Team Work: Aside from being the Gloryhound, I chose Lucario as the recipient because he has physical Close Combat to handle Blissey, and he resists Tyranitar's STAB moves. Tyranitar can come in on my pokemon and wreak serious havok. Lucario gives me a switch in to that monster. At +2 / +2 Lucario can pretty much OHKO every pokemon in OU with Stealth Rock damage, only coming up short to Tentacruel, some forms of Heracross, and Spiritomb. Since Tentacruel and Spiritomb are normally on stall teams, I usually manage to get him more than one Nasty Plot so they usually aren't a problem. Heracross is usually lured in and beaten easily by Celebi as well. I also lose to Choice Specs Lucario and Mach Punch Breloom, but like I said, Lucario doesn't sweep 6-0. In a good number of matches, he never even sees the field.
Possible Replacements: none.
Conclusion:
So there is my unique Baton Pass team. It is extremely fun to use, and nets some cool sweeps with Lucario. May be fun to try on Wifi one day.
Oh yeah, I thought about adding this guy over Celebi. He resists Machamp's DynamicPunch (which doesn't matter unless I give it Psychic to beat him), and resists Explosion, which can usually be spotted from a mile a way. But other than that, Drifblim sucks... lol.
