Other A Poison Monotype

[Raven094]

Hi everybody and welcome to another RMT! :D I've played really only double battle especially VGC from 2013 (when I started playing competitively). I've decided to try become a Gym Leader starting playing Single Battles in the Monotype tier. At first I was thinking of using a Dark Monotype, so I could use my favorite Pokemon in it but it didn't work so well. I started thinking to another type to use and the other ones that came to my mind was Poison. In first gen my favorite Gym Leader was Koga (the in the second Morty arrived and the things changed) and I always liked to us Pokemon like Arbok, Weezing and Tentacruel.
So I decided to try use this type. I came out with this time; I really enjoy playing it, but I'm not really sure about every moveset, spread and even with the Pokemon. So I hope you can help me improving my team and helping me out be a better player ^^. Also sorry for my english and hoping I can explain myself and give you all the info you need; is not my mother tongue and I don't feel I'm very good in it.

Let's start with the team!

Shimazu (Drapion) (M) @ Assault Vest
Ability: Sniper
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Knock Off
- Cross Poison
- Rock Slide
- Earthquake
​

I really liked my previous Tentacruel but I really needed, as Joshz sad, a way to prevent the Psychic type "just mindlessly press STABs". So I decided to put Drapion in my team replacing Tentacruel. This is a Stunfisk The Great's Set. I decided to run Cross Poison instead of Poison Jab for the High Crit Ratio that could do really good damages thanks to Sniper. Certainly ith as less HP e Sp. Def then Tentacruel but with is typing and attack it can be more useful then the jellyfish in most situation.

James (Weezing) (M) @ Black Sludge
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
- Will-O-Wisp
- Pain Split
- Toxic Spikes
- Flamethrower
​

James is the physical wall of the team; his job is to sponge physical hit and half of his moveset was thought to do this job: WOW to "improve" his defense against the physical attacker and Pain Split to have kinda a way to recover while doing some damage to the opponent. Toxic Spikes is to set a layer of two of entry hazard, and it can easily do it when facing a physical attacker. Flamethrower is here as attacking moves.

Green (Venusaur) @ Venusaurite
Ability: Chlorophyll
EVs: 248 HP / 144 Def / 100 SpD / 16 Spe
Bold Nature
- Leech Seed
- Synthesis
- Giga Drain
- Sludge Bomb
​

There are only three megas with the Poison typing and I decided to go with Venusaur because I preferred to have bulky and kinda annoying Pokemon than a frail and powerful one but a bit too much predictable. The moveset is standard and evs spread is studied to give it good bulks and the possibility of outspeed Adamant Azumarill. The ability is for having a huge speed boost in case of sun the first turn, while megaevolving. Nothing else to say about this Pokemon; I find myself really comfortable using it.

Tiger (Nidoking) @ Life Orb
Ability: Sheer Force
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Earth Power
- Flamethrower
- Ice Beam
- Thunderbolt
​

Nidoking acts as a cleaner for the team. The Timid nature is to maximize is not so wonderful speed. Earth Power is the STAB while the other three moves are all for coverage.

Morty (Gengar) (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Clear Smog
- Shadow Ball
- Focus Blast
- Sludge Bomb
​

Gengar is my Special Sweeper. Here the evs are also for maximizing the damage and the speed. As Item I decided to use the Life Orb to have more power, my first choice was Focus Sash but then I decide to change it because it was too easy to remove it without using it.
Shadow Ball and Sludge Bomb are the two STABs and then I've put Focus Blast to help against Steel types and Clear Smog is to remove enemy stat boosts.

Crawler (Scolipede) (M) @ Choice Band
Ability: Speed Boost
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Superpower
- Rock Slide
- Earthquake
- Megahorn
​

My Physical sweeper is Choice Band Scolipede. Jolly nature is to outspeed base 100 speed mons before Speed Boost. The moves are all for coverage: Megahorn is the STAB and help me out against Dark and Psychic teams, Earthquake help me against Steel types Pokemon, Superpower and Rock Slide give me general coverage.

​

EDIT 1: Replaced Tentacruel with Drapion; Changed Weezing moveset; Replaced Crobat with Nidoking; Changed Gangar moveset; Changed Scolipede item and Moveset.

​

 

[Anttya]

Hello, that looks like a great team! I have some suggestions that should make your weakness's be a lot easier to manage.

First, I'd change Tentacruel to Nidoking (I'll explain more later). LO Nidoking is excellent at beating Steel types with a combination of Earth Power and Flamethrower, and it has great coverage moves. This is the set I'd use:

Nidoking @ Life Orb
Ability: Sheer Force
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Earth Power
- Flamethrower
- Ice Beam
- Thunderbolt / Sludge Wave

Earth Power + Flamethrower is for Steel Monotypes, often able to make huge dents in your opponent's team. Just be careful of Scarf Excadrill and possibly AV Empoleon.
Ice Beam is for Flying types, and it has pretty good coverage while Thunderbolt hits Water types (Who should be that big of a problem because you have Venusaur) and Sludge Wave which is extra STAB. Helps immensely vs Fairy and Klefki.

For Weezing, I'd change some moves. You have the correct natures, but I personally feel like Thunderbolt is redundant. Haze / Clear Smog or Toxic Spikes is better because they provide more utility than Thunderbolt. I'd keep Flamethrower mostly for Scizor. However, be careful of Taunt. (You can use Smog when taunted but Haze goes through Subs and has no immunity)

Nice Venusaur set, I'd keep what you currently have if you like it but if you find yourself having trouble against Heatran, Aegislash or Scizor try Earthquake or Hidden Power Fire. (You need to put 20 speed if you're using HP Fire)

For Crobat, I'd change it to a Defog set. Since Nidoking replaced Tenta, you'll need a new hazard removal. Unfortunately, Band Crobat isn't that good in the meta, especially now that Zapdos is unbanned. However, Crobat is a good Defogger because it has access to Roost, and Taunt. Super Fang is great at chipping down Chanseys as well. Keep in mind that Crobat has plenty of options, so feel free to pick and choose w/e suits you best.

Crobat @ Black Sludge
Ability: Infiltrator
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 Spe (an alternate spread would be 248 HP and 252 Speed)
Bold Nature
- Brave Bird
- Defog
- Taunt
- Super Fang / Toxic / U-turn etc

For Gengar, you have the right moves, however, Sucker Punch is pretty weak. Instead, you could try Will-o-Wisp to whittle down Meloetta switch ins, or Pain Split to regain HP. Disable is also an option, but Dazzling Gleam isn't the best.

Ah Scolipede, an amazing mon for Poison users. You say you have trouble with Psychic so I recommend giving it a Choice Band. That way, you instantly gain the power to 1HKO a majority of Psychic mons and eventually outspeed them as well. Also, unlike LO and Protect sets, Scolipede actually has a chance of 1HKOing Slowbro after rocks which is crucial to your sweep. It also kills Victini after rocks.

Scolipede @ Choice Band
Ability: Speed Boost
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Megahorn
- Earthquake
- Rock Slide
- Superpower / Aqua Tail

I chose Jolly over Adamant because without Protect, you cannot outspeed Base 100s before a speed boost. Megahorn is self explanatory, Earthquake and Rock Slide provide EdgeQuake coverage, but most importantly beating Fire monotypes. Superpower is there to break Chansey / P2, while Aqua Tail beats Rhyperior.

Whew, I made a lot of changes. I hope you find them hopeful, and enjoy laddering with it ^_^

 

[Raven094]

Hi! I don't like much the idea of losing my special wall and then have both Weezing and Crobat as Physical wall... wouldn't be better if I keep Tentacruel and switch out Crobat for Nidoking

I will think about using Haze or Clear Smog during the day, after doing some try...

I don't feel confident in giving up both quick attack and Sucker Punch and then having no priority against a mons that could sweep my team.

I would try Scolipide with the Choice Item because I don't feel confident about the choice item... I don't know if it would work, but I only need to try it first ^^

 

[Josh]

Hey there, nice looking team. There are a couple suggestions I have though.

1) You're right; having a psychic immunity would really help so they can't just mindlessly click stabs. Drapion > Tentacruel is the way to go imo. Tentacruel is honestly an underwhelming mon, and doesn't offer much, especially without rapid spin.

Drapion set

Drapion @ Assault Vest
Ability: Sniper
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Knock Off
- Cross Poison / Poison Jab
- Rock Slide
- Earthquake

I stole this set from Stunfisk The Great so thanks to him. Basically, Drapion gives you a psychic immunity, some bulk, a powerful knock off which is great because nothing wants to lose their item, and just decent coverage. It isn't the hardest hitting thing in the world but definitely offers a lot of defensive synergy.

2) With that suggestion, I'd change Weezing to your Toxic Spikes setter and drop Thunderbolt on it. Weezing is a really bulky mon, and will find it pretty easy to set up.

3) Sucker Punch Gengar is trash. Gengar outspeeds pretty much all notable threats anyways, and a special mon with a base 65 Atk uninvested isn't actually going to kill much even when you do click Sucker Punch. I prefer Dazzling Gleam (despite it not being popular) or Disable but Will-o-Wisp is definitely a decent suggestion as well.

4) Give Scolipede LO, focus sash isn't worth it on a non toxic spikes (or baton pass which is now banned) set. Like Anttya said, Choice Band is an option, but I really prefer Scolipede as a cleaner so LO is my preference.

5) Honestly, that Crobat set is subpar, and now that you have LO Scolipede you don't really need it. This is where I suggest you add Nidoking to help with Steel a ton.

Anttya's Set

Nidoking @ Life Orb
Ability: Sheer Force
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Earth Power
- Flamethrower
- Ice Beam
- Thunderbolt

Thunderbolt hits waters o3o

6) HP Fire > Leech Seed will help a lot on Mega Venu imo, so you aren't walled by every steel ever. This one is more personal preference though.


Overall cool team man, gl.

 

[Raven094]

Oh yeah! I Like a lot that Drapion!

I don't know if on Weezing would be better to have the spikes or the haze/clear smog... I need to think about it... but actually I'm prefering the T-Spikes.

As I sad before I feel like I needed a priorty in a single team to stop set up monster like my focus sash scolipede... is this a wrong thought or could I be right?

With the Life Orb on Scolipede would be worth to change Sword Dance with Protect?

Like a lot tha change of Crobat with Nidoking.

With this one I prefer to keep leech seed amd have a stally bulky mons

 

[Dece1t]

Hi everybody and welcome to another RMT! :D I've played really only double battle especially VGC from 2013 (when I started playing competitively). I've decided to try become a Gym Leader starting playing Single Battles in the Monotype tier. At first I was thinking of using a Dark Monotype, so I could use my favorite Pokemon in it but it didn't work so well. I started thinking to another type to use and the other ones that came to my mind was Poison. In first gen my favorite Gym Leader was Koga (the in the second Morty arrived and the things changed) and I always liked to us Pokemon like Arbok, Weezing and Tentacruel.
So I decided to try use this type. I came out with this time; I really enjoy playing it, but I'm not really sure about every moveset, spread and even with the Pokemon. So I hope you can help me improving my team and helping me out be a better player ^^. Also sorry for my english and hoping I can explain myself and give you all the info you need; is not my mother tongue and I don't feel I'm very good in it.

Let's start with the team!

Christine (Tentacruel) (F) @ Black Sludge
Ability: Liquid Ooze
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Calm Nature
- Toxic Spikes
- Giga Drain
- Scald
- Ice Beam
​

Tentacruel is the special wall of the team. I have decide to maximize its special defense and HP so it can tank all the special attack incoming. As ability I decided to use Liquid Ooze because to me it seems the more useful one to prevent the enemy to drain his HP. I'm not certain about the moveset: I like Scald as STAB but I find myself with some doubts, Ireally like the recovery Giga Drain gives; The coverage Ice Beam gives and the utility of the Toxic Spikes are really nice but I don't fine myself using them much, also there are other move that could help me. For Example Knock Off or Rapid Spin; the first could give me the chance to do some damages and remove the item from Psychic pokemon, the second one could help me removing stealth rocks which can heavily damage Crobat and Scolipede.
I have also seen that Dragalge have similar stat to Tentacruel... could be worth to change Christine with it?

James (Weezing) (M) @ Black Sludge
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
- Will-O-Wisp
- Pain Split
- Thunderbolt
- Fire Blast
​

James is the physical counterpart of Tentacruel; his job is to sponge physical hit and half of his moveset was thought to do this job: WOW to "improve" his defense against the physical attacker and Pain Split to have kinda a way to recover while doing some damage to the opponent. Thunderbolt and Fire Blast are for coverage; I've decide to use Fire Blast instead of Flamethrower to have more power but I didn't do the same thing with Thunderbolt for the lack of precision Thunder has.

Green (Venusaur) @ Venusaurite
Ability: Chlorophyll
EVs: 248 HP / 144 Def / 100 SpD / 16 Spe
Bold Nature
- Leech Seed
- Synthesis
- Giga Drain
- Sludge Bomb
​

There are only three megas with the Poison typing and I decided to go with Venusaur because I preferred to have bulky and kinda annoying Pokemon than a frail and powerful one but a bit too much predictable. The moveset is standard and evs spread is studied to give it good bulks and the possibility of outspeed Adamant Azumarill. The ability is for having a huge speed boost in case of sun the first turn, while megaevolving. Nothing else to say about this Pokemon; I find myself really comfortable using it.

Fang (Crobat) @ Choice Band
Ability: Infiltrator
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Brave Bird
- U-turn
- Cross Poison
- Quick Attack
​

Choice Band Crobat is my Physical Sweeper; The Evs are for maximizing is power and speed and the moveset is really simple. Brave Bird is the main STAB; U-Turn is for use it as a scout and switching while doing damage; Cross Poison is the other STAB which I use when it does more damage then Brave Bird or I can afford the BB recoil; Quick Attack is for having a nice priority. I'm a bit insecure about this Pokemon; Yeas, it's nice to have a fast attacker but I find that maybe this place should be use for someone even better. Waiting for some suggestion ^^

Morty (Gengar) (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Sucker Punch
- Shadow Ball
- Focus Blast
- Sludge Bomb
​

Gengar is my Special Sweeper. Here the evs are also for maximizing the damage and the speed. As Item I decided to use the Life Orb to have more power, my first choice was Focus Sash but then I decide to change it because it was too easy to remove it without using it.
I've also some doubt about the moveset: Shadow Ball and Sludge Bomb are the two STABs and then I've put Focus Blast to help against Steel types and Sucker Punch to have a non-Normal type Priority to hit even the Ghosts with a priority; Other moves I considered to use were Disable and Dazzling Gleam.

Crawler (Scolipede) (M) @ Focus Sash
Ability: Speed Boost
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Swords Dance
- Rock Slide
- Earthquake
- X-Scissor
​

Scolipede is usually tha Pokemon which I like to lead with. If it can set up a Sword Dance or two it can easily sweep teams. X-Scissor is the main STAB while Rock Slide and EQ are for coverage. Nature and Spread is for having all the power and speed it need. Focus Sash is for ensuring the Speed Boost and let it Sword Dance. The major problem with this Mons are the Stealth Rocks that breaks its Sash and do it some damage. I like playing it, is always wonderful seeing one of your Pokemon start sweeping.

​

Threats to the Team:
Monotype Psychic: this type can hit hard everyone of my Pokemon, I was thinking about insert in the team someone which is immune to hit or at least receive neutral damage.
Monotype Steel: Steel type can wall one third of my team

Mons I was thinking to use in place of someone:
Dragalge
It has good special defense and it has more defense and Special Attack of Tentacruel instead having less HP and crappy Speed.
Drapion
Skuntank
Both have the Dark typing that can help me against Psychic
Toxicroak
Muk
Both have good attack... the first one is more frail and the second one is more bulky.
Nidoking
Nidoqueen
Both have the sheer force ability that give them so much power

Thank you for reading all the RMT. Again, sorry for my bad English.

Hoping to receive some good advice!! Thank youuuu! :)

Hey ma, this is a good poison team. Ant stole my thunder before I could pitch in suggestions lol. Anyways, definitely agree that banded scoli is gonna be better for ypu, but I don't think you're gonna need to replace tenta, especially with venu's leech seed support, that'll be helpful. I thnx if anything you should replace crobat for nidoking. As for weezing, I agree, I'd replace thunderbolt for haze. Everything else is good tho, nice job :)

 

[Raven094]

Ok! I've edited the team making some of the suggestion you have made the main problem I have now is with Gengar/Weezing - Clear Smog/haze...
I don't have used this move much during my testing but I understand the importance of having a way to stop the enemy setup, but at the same time I really like the entry hazard support.
The solutions I thought were:

1) Keep my team as it is now.
2) Removing WoW from Weezing and put it on Gengar while giving Haze to Weezing
3) Use Clear Smog in place of Flamethrower on Weezing, but this would give my another Pokemon that could be completely walled by Steel types

Suggestion?

EDIT: also I've seen that with the current moveset, Weezing is completly useless against firemonotype