So this is the team I used to get suspect reqs. Mega Ampharos was my favorite mega but I hadn't built a team around one since ORAS was released, and now I finally did.
I started with Ampharos, my third favorite pokemon...after Mareep and Flaaffy. I liked the bulky Rest-Talk set better, so I would use a mega ampharos with that set.
Then I started to add a defensive core. Ferrothorn has nice type synergy, being able to cover many of the dragons, grounds, and fairies that threaten Ampharos, while Ampharos can take on some Fire type attackers. It also covered me hazards setting.
Next in the defensive core is Clefable, who can take on many of the Fighting types that threaten Ferrothorn, as well as some of the dragons that could beat both of them. Clefable also added a sweeper to the team.
There's one thing that Ampharos is great at doing with its defensive set. And it's bringing in frail offensive pokemon. I put on Analytic Starmie and Swords Dance Terrakion, who could both really screw up the opponent's team if they got a free switchin and a good matchup. Starmie could also remove hazards, so I had each of the major roles filled at that point except a revenge killer.
Scarfed Hydreigon was my revenge killer. I built this team like the day before the Greninja suspect was announced, and in that day I had Klefki instead, but then I swapped it out when I realized the suspect ladder didn't have Greninja. Anyway, I wanted Hydreigon to take on two threats that I realized I had problems with: Mega Slowbro and Charizard X.
And then a Clefable 6-0'd me with Hydreigon on the team. I put Gengar on instead, and swapped items with Terrakion so that scarfed Terrakion could take out +1 Charizard X reliably. Life Orb Gengar can demolish teams with a free switchin as well.
Ampharos @ Ampharosite
Ability: Static
EVs: 248 HP / 28 Def / 232 SpD
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Dragon Pulse
- Volt Switch
- Rest
- Sleep Talk
Ampharos is just a cool pokemon. In my opinion, anyways. Specially defensive Rest-Talk lets it come in on a variety of pokemon, and then Volt Switch out, giving something a free switchin. Ampharos is my main Talonflame and Thundurus check.
The moves on the set are pretty simple: the two stab types, and Rest-Talk for recovery. The EVs almost max out special defense, with some physical defense so that banded Talonflame can't 3HKO (3HKOs are important for Rest-Talkers because that's what it takes to outdamage the healing). Also 248 HP reduces every form of passive damage by 1 point.
Ferrothorn @ Leftovers
Ability: Iron Barbs
EVs: 252 HP / 168 Def / 88 SpD
Impish Nature
- Leech Seed
- Protect
- Stealth Rock
- Power Whip
Ferrothorn runs a pretty standard support set. Power Whip over Gyro Ball because it is better vs Mega Slowbro and Suicune, and it breaks Gyarados' subs, but I'm not totally sold on it.
The EVs are more physically defensive because Ampharos is already a good special tank. I also have secondary checks to almost all of the special attackers that Ferrothorn takes on (you almost have to when running Ferrothorn, or else they'll just feel like running HP Fire some day to screw up your whole team).
Clefable @ Life Orb
Ability: Magic Guard
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk / 22 Spe
- Moonblast
- Calm Mind
- Soft-Boiled
- Flamethrower
Clefable is my #1 way of winning games. Usually the opponent only has 1-2 ways to stop it from sweeping, and those checks can often be worn down. The moves are pretty standard. I run Life Orb because with magic guard, that 30% damage is basically free. It means Clefable hits a lot harder right away, which helps it wear down its checks as well as check other pokemon more easily if I can't sweep. I don't need Leftovers to passively heal off passive damage because Clefable doesn't take any.
The EVs are also standard, except maybe the 22 Speed IV. That makes Ferrothorn's Gyro Ball do less than 50%, so Clefable can set up on it reliably, or just PP stall it.
Starmie @ Life Orb
Ability: Analytic
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 29 HP / 0 Atk
- Hydro Pump
- Psyshock
- Ice Beam
- Rapid Spin
Analytic Starmie isn't all that bad of a Greninja replacement, actually. Its stab moves hit about as hard as Greninja's, before any Analytic boost. So Hydro Pump and Psyshock can really rip into the opponent if they don't have a good switchin...and in a metagame without Greninja, they usually don't. Rotom-W can provide opponents with one safe switchin, and that's usually it. Starmie is also the Rapid Spinner. It's one of the few hazard removers that doesn't mind Heatran, and Starmie can come in basically every time and just spin the rocks right back off. Or blast something with Hydro Pump instead.
The EVs and stuff are totally standard.
Gengar @ Life Orb
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 29 HP / 0 Atk
- Shadow Ball
- Focus Blast
- Sludge Wave
- Will-O-Wisp
Gengar is one of the most reliable pokemon right now. It's a great wall breaker, but it's also fast so it can take on offense teams. Each time it comes in, something almost always gets crippled or KO'd, since Sludge Wave can 2HKO almost any non-resist, and Shadow Ball can still 2HKO anything else that's not a specially defensive pokemon. Will-O-Wisp can be replaced with Taunt if you hate Chansey, but I find Will-O-Wisp is just one more move that is great to spam. It's unexpected, allowing Gengar to cripple some of its usual switchins like Mandibuzz, and it's also Gengar's only way of doing lasting damage without taking Life Orb recoil.
The set details (EVs etc) are standard.
Terrakion @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Justified
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Rock Slide
- Close Combat
- Stone Edge
- X-Scissor
Standard scarf Terrakion. This thing is easily the weakest link in my team, and I just use it mainly to revenge kill boosted sweepers. Unfortunately, those boosted sweepers often roll through my team if not for him, particularly Charizard X and Bisharp (the latter is the reason I don't run Landorus-T here), but he sees the least action out of any of the team members. Having almost no defensive synergy doesn't help, nor the fact that he can't take nearly as much advantage of an opponent switching out as all of the other team members.
The only thing about the set that might not be standard are the 2 weaker moves. Terrakion's movepool is terrible after its stabs are covered, thankfully it doesn't need much more. Stone Edge is used for power when I need it, and Rock Slide sees use when I just need to kill something reliably with a rock move. X-Scissor is my best option vs Lati@s, Mew, and other Psychics.
If there is one team member I want to improve, it would be this guy. Suggestions that aren't revenge killers are actually welcome as well, because I can take on most of the other sweepers before I need them revenge killed.
Threat list, ie, how to counterteam me. These are the things I want covered, preferably by replacing Terrakion. In order of most threatening to least.
Sets up on me way too easily, and offensive versions can sweep the whole team except Starmie (who can't OHKO back) at +2 with Bullet Punch / Bug Bite / Superpower.
I only have one pokemon capable of 2HKOing or OHKOing each of these (Gengar and Starmie respectively), and I can't wear them down with status moves (because Taunt) while they can wear down my lone check, exploiting the fact that it has no recovery. I can't set up on them with Clefable because of Taunt, although if Clefable was already set up then it would have enough power to sweep through them.
No real good switchins to their Hyper Voices. Gengar generally works once, but that leaves it at about 20-30% health, and I still need to keep it around to efficiently revenge kill these two. Ferrothorn can work sometimes against Specs Sylveon, but not if they have HP Fire and a brain.
Specifically, those with Substitute or Hammer Arm, because Ferrothorn would otherwise be my best check.
Clefable has one check- Gengar. Once Gengar is gone, my only other option is to send in my own Clefable, get into a Calm Mind war and hope for the first crit.
Latias is similar, but some of them can win the speed tie against Gengar and kill it right there. Starmie can't 2HKO after Latias gets a Calm Mind. Clefable can't 2HKO if Latias gets 2 Calm Minds, and Clefable can't Calm Mind itself because then it gets beat by Psyshock or Stored Power.
Gengar is a Mega Slowbro check, but Psyshock screws it over. Ferrothorn can Leech Seed Slowbro which annoys it but doesn't necessarily stop it if it has enough boosts and burns Ferrothorn.
My only way of dealing with Suicune is to Leech Seed it, then hope I don't get burned during power whipping it.
It's mainly Rock Polish that gives me problems, since it effortlessly takes out Starmie, who otherwise revenge kills it with no issue. It also has bitten me in the rear to switch to Gengar on a predicted Earth Power or Focus Blast, only to see it hit Rock Polish.
Lol it can actually sweep me at +2 and Clefable is at 70-80 % (or if it can Sky Attack Clefable at +2 and get a decent roll). This would be a lot higher on my threat list if it were common. Seriously, my last hope after Clefable is to lure it into Kicking the Gengar.
Fairly low priority, but I have no resists to Mold Breaker Earthquake. If Ferrothorn is weakened, or if I can't allow Ferrothorn to get weakened so it can take on another pokemon better, then this becomes difficult to switch into.
They're not really threats now, but they would be if Terrakion were to be replaced. Theoretically, Starmie can survive +2 Quick Attack from Pinsir, but only at perfect health. Ampharos can check Pinsir without Earthquake but again it has to be very healthy (85% or so vs Close Combat Pinsir)
Some Replays:
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/oususpecttest-197639006 Basically the Ampharos / Wallbreaker core at its best.
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/oususpecttest-197667759 Another showing of Gengar's power.
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/oususpecttest-198246242 A good battle, I managed to wear down Tentacruel over time which opened the way up for both Gengar and Clefable to put in work.
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/oususpecttest-199078128 What battling stall is like...on a good day, that is
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/oususpecttest-198275208 A derpy little fairy can totally take on a string of badass monsters
Ferrothorn @ Leftovers
Ability: Iron Barbs
EVs: 252 HP / 168 Def / 88 SpD
Impish Nature
- Leech Seed
- Protect
- Stealth Rock
- Power Whip
Gengar @ Life Orb
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 29 HP / 0 Atk
- Shadow Ball
- Focus Blast
- Sludge Wave
- Will-O-Wisp
Clefable @ Life Orb
Ability: Magic Guard
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk / 22 Spe
- Moonblast
- Calm Mind
- Soft-Boiled
- Flamethrower
Starmie @ Life Orb
Ability: Analytic
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 29 HP / 0 Atk
- Hydro Pump
- Psyshock
- Ice Beam
- Rapid Spin
Ampharos @ Ampharosite
Ability: Static
EVs: 248 HP / 28 Def / 232 SpD
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Dragon Pulse
- Volt Switch
- Rest
- Sleep Talk
Terrakion @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Justified
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Rock Slide
- Close Combat
- Stone Edge
- X-Scissor
Ability: Iron Barbs
EVs: 252 HP / 168 Def / 88 SpD
Impish Nature
- Leech Seed
- Protect
- Stealth Rock
- Power Whip
Gengar @ Life Orb
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 29 HP / 0 Atk
- Shadow Ball
- Focus Blast
- Sludge Wave
- Will-O-Wisp
Clefable @ Life Orb
Ability: Magic Guard
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk / 22 Spe
- Moonblast
- Calm Mind
- Soft-Boiled
- Flamethrower
Starmie @ Life Orb
Ability: Analytic
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 29 HP / 0 Atk
- Hydro Pump
- Psyshock
- Ice Beam
- Rapid Spin
Ampharos @ Ampharosite
Ability: Static
EVs: 248 HP / 28 Def / 232 SpD
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Dragon Pulse
- Volt Switch
- Rest
- Sleep Talk
Terrakion @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Justified
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Rock Slide
- Close Combat
- Stone Edge
- X-Scissor
Thanks for reading, then! Leave your suggestions below
Last edited:
