Hey guys, your favorite stall builder back with a new team. While all the other people were thinking stall was great now due to the addition of Skarmory and Clodsire, I realized that the real method was elevating shitmons. So introducing to you: Altaria Stall
Also, I could have pushed further but I started to get haxed and couldn't really be bothered to keep pushing mb for the low rank this time
Building Process:
I started with the good stall from the last metagame (me and Askov's avalugg stall)
Obviously, Chansey can now be replaced with Blissey, who is slightly more trick resistant and far more hazard resistant.
I experimented with other options, such as Tera Ghost Cyclizar, but Tera reliant anti-Skarm options are not very good due to how Tera is also required to check other threats. Heatran is also a massive issue, as it can trap and eliminate Blissey, who is the special backbone of the team. I saw discussion of Talonflame in the UU discord, and when looking at its kit, I realized that Altaria could both Defog on Skarmory and force progress on it via Wisp, and use EQ to 2HKO Heatran, while using its massive special bulk to tank resisted moves and some weaker neutral ones.
With more of a hazard resistant core of pokemon, we can now run Heavy Duty Boots on most of the team, and be more safe into playing with hazards up. Also, Mandibuzz has to run Knock to make up for the lack of Cyclizar.
The Team
Blissey @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Natural Cure
Tera Type: Ground
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Def / 252 SpD
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Stealth Rock
- Calm Mind
- Seismic Toss
- Soft-Boiled
Blissey is the clear special wall candidate here. With its immense bulk, it can take on all special threats in the tier, even strong ones such as Focus Blast Thundurus-T. Stealth Rock can put a timer on the opponents team, especially if they lack regen. Calm Mind is still required to counteract the multitude of boosting special sweepers, and Seismic Toss is the attack of choice with good damage into the whole metagame.
Altaria @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Natural Cure
Tera Type: Ghost
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Careful Nature
- Will-O-Wisp
- Defog
- Earthquake
- Roost
Altaria fits on this team nicely, with Wisp to cripple many pokemon incapable of recovery, including Skarmory, Okidogi, and Cobalion. Defog allows it to remove hazards, and with the double Defog core, you can play with 1 hazard up and always remove them when the opponent gets 2 up without any fear of running out of PP. It also has a different matchup spread from Mandibuzz, being able to Defog on Heatran, Cobalion, and Skarmory setting hazards. With its SpDef stat, it can also take many volt switches from Cobalions and defensive Rotoms, acting as another hit taker into these if Toxapex and Blissey are under too much pressure.
Avalugg @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Sturdy
Tera Type: Fighting
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Impish Nature
- Crunch/Ice Spinner/Iron Defense
- Body Press
- Rapid Spin
- Recover
Avalugg is a great physical wall on this team. It is one of the primary forms of counterplay to Excadrill and Ogerpon-C, and can Rapid Spin on almost any physical attacker in the tier. Tera Fighting allows it to do more damage to pokemon such as Ogerpon-C, Rhyperior, or even Keldeo, who may pose a threat to your team. It is also just a good defensive typing, letting it resist STAB from Tyranitar, Ogerpon-C, and Hoopa-Unbound. Sturdy is useful even against special attackers as a way to get a final hit in to kill a pokemon that you may have chipped before. Crunch is picked here to be able to chip Ghost-types who wall you otherwise, and get significant damage onto a Slowking switch in. Ice Spinner can be used to hit Tornadus-T instead, or Iron Defense to set up and win a game.
Skeledirge @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Unaware
Tera Type: Poison
EVs: 248 HP / 96 Def / 164 SpD
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Will-O-Wisp
- Torch Song
- Hex
- Slack Off
Skeledirge is both a great unaware user and a wincon who can win games once targets have been crippled by status. Tera Poison allows it to wall Okidogi, but ideally you want to bring it in on a turn where it Bulks Up or Drain Punches. Blame Meru for this spread because I have no idea what it does but it works. Poison is also a good neutral type, which can help it win endgames where opposing mons like Rotom-Wash and Tornadus-T die to its boosted attacks. Dirge can also wall and kill conditional threats like Serp, and Suicune and SubCM Keldeo after Tera.
Mandibuzz @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Overcoat
Tera Type: Electric
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpD
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Defog
- Knock Off
- Foul Play
- Roost
Mandibuzz helps spread Knock Offs for the team, making mons such as Slowking and Torn-T susceptible to Blissey's Rocks. Knock can also stop bulky Excadrill from healing up. Foul Play can OHKO boosted threats such as Excadrill, Revavroom, Haxorus, and Scizor, who may be problems for the team otherwise. Mandibuzz is also the only Pokemon on the team capable of taking repeated assaults from Hoopa-Unbound, who can be a massive threat. In general, if Mandibuzz can consistently switch in to their rocker then it is fine accepting a knock on Mandi. Tera Electric allows you to resist Metagross Steel STAB in a pinch, eat an Excadrill Iron Head/Rock Slide, or
Toxapex @ Leftovers
Ability: Regenerator
Tera Type: Steel
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Def / 252 SpD
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Toxic
- Haze/Baneful Bunker
- Surf
- Recover
Toxapex is the defensive linchpin of the team. It can take nearly any hit in the tier, even strong super effective ones, so you can throw it into most pokemon to scout for moves. Toxic heavily pressures every single non immunity in the tier and puts them on a timer, also boosting Skeledirge's Hex. Haze is great to limit set up from Pokemon such as Bulk Up Okidogi, Nasty Plot Pecharunt, and SubCM Keldeo. You can often stay in vs a strong hit, even a Soul Dew Latios Luster Purge or a Thundurus-T Thunderbolt, to Toxic, as you can heal up just by switching out, while they are put on a timer that essentially cannot be removed. The 8 Defense EVs ensure that you will always live a +2 Ogerpon-C Stomping Tantrum from full.
Threats
This pokemon is strong as balls, and there is no natural Rock resist on the team. Tera Fight Avalugg does wall it, but before you can get Tera off it can be a massive threat. You can sacrifice one of your other mons if they are not needed in the matchup in order to get Avalugg in safely.
Despite having two checks to Excadrill, it can still be difficult to beat it, especially with the bullshit potential of flinches. Try to identify what tera it is, as +2 Tera Rock Rock Slide can drop Mandibuzz after very minor chip.
Specs Keldeo can kill Toxapex from only 30%, but you have both Toxapex and Altaria to pivot around it. SubCM Keldeo can cook Toxapex if it was knocked/statused, but Skeledirge should fodder it after Tera Poison.
Trick is really hard to absorb vs choiced varaints but you need to keep either Blissey Untricked or get Toxic on it. Luster purge drops can be annoying for Blissey though. Full HP Toxapex always lives a Soul Dew Luster Purge, which you can use to get Toxic on it. If choice locked, Mandibuzz can use its immunity to Psychic nicely here.
Okidogi can almost 6-0 this team if not properly played against. The main plan is to Tera Skeledirge ASAP once you have identified it as Bulk Up. If it is Assault Vest, sacrificing HP on Altaria for the wisp can be worth it, so Pex can beat it. You may need Tera for another threat more urgently, but remember that Terad Dirge can wall Ogerpon-C as well if it is not having to switch in. Make sure to come in on a turn where you are not getting hit, as a Toxic Chain proc can be game ending.
Weavile is one of the strongest new additions to the tier. Toxapex can semi wall it once it has been Knocked off but if you allow it to boost to +4 it may drop you. Avalugg can easily wall Weavile and OHKO with Body Press, but hates losing its Boots. Skeledirge can be a decent last line of defense.
Avalugg walls unboosted Heavy Slam Metagross in its base typing, but having already Terad or it being Meteor Mash Metagross can be dangerous. Mandibuzz can OHKO it and Altaria can Wisp it, so just use your tools available smartly. If it is CB Meta, Skeledirge takes next to nothing from Heavy Slam, and Mandibuzz walls many other common moves.
Toxapex can land a Toxic on it and put it on a fast timer, with Tera Steel Pex. Alternatively, Tera Fighting Avalugg can OHKO it, but be sure not to waste too much time as +2 Power Whip does over 50%.
Choice Band Tyranitar is a massive menace for the team. Stone Edge does a bajillion to Pex, and nothing else on the team can take it well either. Tera Fighting Avalugg is your best bet, potentially on a double if you have identified that it is Choice Band.
Hoopa can cook this team. Mixed Hoopa packing Thunderbolt is almost instantly a forfeit, as it does over 50% to Toxapex. If you think that it is mixed Hoopa, you can stay in and Toxic it with Pex and then predict around until it dies. Even physical Hoopa can still pose a problem though, as Gunk Shot Poison combined with Knocking off Mandibuzz means that it is essentially forced to Roost every time it comes in.
These three volt switchers can be a massive pain in the ass. Rotom Wash has incredible longevity without a dedicated wall and can Pain Split down Blissey, while Shocks and Thundy output massive damage and run Boots, meaning Rocks are useless against them. Tera Ground Blissey can counter Shocks and Thundurus if other threats on the team do not require tera, or nailing them on the switch with a Knock or status can be effective. Make sure to not get stuck in the vortex and Blissey Tera may be required.
Zarude serves as another threat to this team. Jungle Healing allows it to shrug off status, and it does massive damage to Toxapex even unboosted. Mandibuzz walls the dual STAB, so you can try to chip away at it with Foul Play. Tera Dirge is also effective.
Replays
Win vs Double Regen Heatran Balance
Win vs SkarmWeav spikestack
Win vs Mew HO
Win vs Hoopa Weav Offense
Win vs another Mew HO
Also, I could have pushed further but I started to get haxed and couldn't really be bothered to keep pushing mb for the low rank this time
Building Process:
I started with the good stall from the last metagame (me and Askov's avalugg stall)
Obviously, Chansey can now be replaced with Blissey, who is slightly more trick resistant and far more hazard resistant.
I experimented with other options, such as Tera Ghost Cyclizar, but Tera reliant anti-Skarm options are not very good due to how Tera is also required to check other threats. Heatran is also a massive issue, as it can trap and eliminate Blissey, who is the special backbone of the team. I saw discussion of Talonflame in the UU discord, and when looking at its kit, I realized that Altaria could both Defog on Skarmory and force progress on it via Wisp, and use EQ to 2HKO Heatran, while using its massive special bulk to tank resisted moves and some weaker neutral ones.
With more of a hazard resistant core of pokemon, we can now run Heavy Duty Boots on most of the team, and be more safe into playing with hazards up. Also, Mandibuzz has to run Knock to make up for the lack of Cyclizar.
The Team
Blissey @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Natural Cure
Tera Type: Ground
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Def / 252 SpD
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Stealth Rock
- Calm Mind
- Seismic Toss
- Soft-Boiled
Blissey is the clear special wall candidate here. With its immense bulk, it can take on all special threats in the tier, even strong ones such as Focus Blast Thundurus-T. Stealth Rock can put a timer on the opponents team, especially if they lack regen. Calm Mind is still required to counteract the multitude of boosting special sweepers, and Seismic Toss is the attack of choice with good damage into the whole metagame.
Altaria @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Natural Cure
Tera Type: Ghost
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Careful Nature
- Will-O-Wisp
- Defog
- Earthquake
- Roost
Altaria fits on this team nicely, with Wisp to cripple many pokemon incapable of recovery, including Skarmory, Okidogi, and Cobalion. Defog allows it to remove hazards, and with the double Defog core, you can play with 1 hazard up and always remove them when the opponent gets 2 up without any fear of running out of PP. It also has a different matchup spread from Mandibuzz, being able to Defog on Heatran, Cobalion, and Skarmory setting hazards. With its SpDef stat, it can also take many volt switches from Cobalions and defensive Rotoms, acting as another hit taker into these if Toxapex and Blissey are under too much pressure.
Avalugg @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Sturdy
Tera Type: Fighting
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Impish Nature
- Crunch/Ice Spinner/Iron Defense
- Body Press
- Rapid Spin
- Recover
Avalugg is a great physical wall on this team. It is one of the primary forms of counterplay to Excadrill and Ogerpon-C, and can Rapid Spin on almost any physical attacker in the tier. Tera Fighting allows it to do more damage to pokemon such as Ogerpon-C, Rhyperior, or even Keldeo, who may pose a threat to your team. It is also just a good defensive typing, letting it resist STAB from Tyranitar, Ogerpon-C, and Hoopa-Unbound. Sturdy is useful even against special attackers as a way to get a final hit in to kill a pokemon that you may have chipped before. Crunch is picked here to be able to chip Ghost-types who wall you otherwise, and get significant damage onto a Slowking switch in. Ice Spinner can be used to hit Tornadus-T instead, or Iron Defense to set up and win a game.
Skeledirge @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Unaware
Tera Type: Poison
EVs: 248 HP / 96 Def / 164 SpD
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Will-O-Wisp
- Torch Song
- Hex
- Slack Off
Skeledirge is both a great unaware user and a wincon who can win games once targets have been crippled by status. Tera Poison allows it to wall Okidogi, but ideally you want to bring it in on a turn where it Bulks Up or Drain Punches. Blame Meru for this spread because I have no idea what it does but it works. Poison is also a good neutral type, which can help it win endgames where opposing mons like Rotom-Wash and Tornadus-T die to its boosted attacks. Dirge can also wall and kill conditional threats like Serp, and Suicune and SubCM Keldeo after Tera.
Mandibuzz @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Overcoat
Tera Type: Electric
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpD
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Defog
- Knock Off
- Foul Play
- Roost
Mandibuzz helps spread Knock Offs for the team, making mons such as Slowking and Torn-T susceptible to Blissey's Rocks. Knock can also stop bulky Excadrill from healing up. Foul Play can OHKO boosted threats such as Excadrill, Revavroom, Haxorus, and Scizor, who may be problems for the team otherwise. Mandibuzz is also the only Pokemon on the team capable of taking repeated assaults from Hoopa-Unbound, who can be a massive threat. In general, if Mandibuzz can consistently switch in to their rocker then it is fine accepting a knock on Mandi. Tera Electric allows you to resist Metagross Steel STAB in a pinch, eat an Excadrill Iron Head/Rock Slide, or
Toxapex @ Leftovers
Ability: Regenerator
Tera Type: Steel
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Def / 252 SpD
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Toxic
- Haze/Baneful Bunker
- Surf
- Recover
Toxapex is the defensive linchpin of the team. It can take nearly any hit in the tier, even strong super effective ones, so you can throw it into most pokemon to scout for moves. Toxic heavily pressures every single non immunity in the tier and puts them on a timer, also boosting Skeledirge's Hex. Haze is great to limit set up from Pokemon such as Bulk Up Okidogi, Nasty Plot Pecharunt, and SubCM Keldeo. You can often stay in vs a strong hit, even a Soul Dew Latios Luster Purge or a Thundurus-T Thunderbolt, to Toxic, as you can heal up just by switching out, while they are put on a timer that essentially cannot be removed. The 8 Defense EVs ensure that you will always live a +2 Ogerpon-C Stomping Tantrum from full.
Threats
This pokemon is strong as balls, and there is no natural Rock resist on the team. Tera Fight Avalugg does wall it, but before you can get Tera off it can be a massive threat. You can sacrifice one of your other mons if they are not needed in the matchup in order to get Avalugg in safely.
Okidogi can almost 6-0 this team if not properly played against. The main plan is to Tera Skeledirge ASAP once you have identified it as Bulk Up. If it is Assault Vest, sacrificing HP on Altaria for the wisp can be worth it, so Pex can beat it. You may need Tera for another threat more urgently, but remember that Terad Dirge can wall Ogerpon-C as well if it is not having to switch in. Make sure to come in on a turn where you are not getting hit, as a Toxic Chain proc can be game ending. Weavile is one of the strongest new additions to the tier. Toxapex can semi wall it once it has been Knocked off but if you allow it to boost to +4 it may drop you. Avalugg can easily wall Weavile and OHKO with Body Press, but hates losing its Boots. Skeledirge can be a decent last line of defense.
These three volt switchers can be a massive pain in the ass. Rotom Wash has incredible longevity without a dedicated wall and can Pain Split down Blissey, while Shocks and Thundy output massive damage and run Boots, meaning Rocks are useless against them. Tera Ground Blissey can counter Shocks and Thundurus if other threats on the team do not require tera, or nailing them on the switch with a Knock or status can be effective. Make sure to not get stuck in the vortex and Blissey Tera may be required. Zarude serves as another threat to this team. Jungle Healing allows it to shrug off status, and it does massive damage to Toxapex even unboosted. Mandibuzz walls the dual STAB, so you can try to chip away at it with Foul Play. Tera Dirge is also effective.Replays
Win vs Double Regen Heatran Balance
Win vs SkarmWeav spikestack
Win vs Mew HO
Win vs Hoopa Weav Offense
Win vs another Mew HO
