Anti-Lead Samurott, and Friends

[Cheren and Friends]

All right, this is my first RMT! Whoo!

I'm just gonna jump right into it.

Samurott @ Life Orb
Ability: Torrent
Nature: Adamant
EV's: 252 Attack, 252 Speed
-Taunt
-Aqua Jet
-Megahorn
-Superpower

This is the Anti-Lead Samurott that this teams` name sake is from. The main focus of this guy is to Taunt any other poke that wants to set up Spikes, Stealth Rocks, Spore, etc. Endgame, the main thing for this guy to do is spam Aqua Jet, absorb status, and revenge kill.

Zangoose @ Toxic Orb
Ability: Toxic Boost
Nature: Jolly
EV's: 252 Attack, 252 Speed
-Close Combat
-Facade
-Night Slash
-Quick Attack

All right, this guy is a huge powerhouse. All he needs is a turn for his Toxic Orb to kick in, and bam! Huge power. Main focus of him is to dish out massive damage, and if the situation calls for it, revenge kill with Quick Attack.

Braviary @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Sheer Force
Nature: Adamant
EV's: 252 Attack, 252 Speed
-Brave Bird
-Return
-Rock Slide
-Superpower

Up next, we have the obligatory Scarfer. This was the last addition to the team after I realized that I had no anti Fighting, so I figured the big bad american eagle could deal with them. Also hits Amoongus very hard.

Elektross @ Life Orb
Ability: Levitate
Nature: Modest
EV's: 252 HP, 252 Special Attack
- Volt Switch
- Thunderbolt
- Giga Drain
- Flamethrower

Up next is the tank and the Ground immunity. This guy is here to mainly keep, or even start up, momentum with Volt Switch. The EV spread is for max damage, while also letting it take a hit or two.

Rapidash @ Life Orb
Ability: Flash Fire
Nature: Hasty
EV's: 252 Speed, 252 Attack
- Overheat
- Flare Blitz
- Wild Charge
- Drill Run

The anti grass, anti bug, and even a fire immunity. This guy hits things hard, but due to a lot of recoil, it doesn't last long if there's stealth rock on the field, which is always assumed since there's no rapid spinner on the team.

Golurk @ Leftovers
Ability: Iron Fist
Nature: Adamant
EV's: 252 HP, 252 Attack
- Shadow Punch
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- Stealth Rock

This is the stealth rocker, and the electric immunity. He usually switches into the taunted lead, a la Samurott, sets up rocks, and even grants a few free switches if there's a choiced electric user on their team.

Now, thanks for looking, and feel free to rate however you feel.

 

[WhiteDMist]

Ok, this team needs some work. Read the rules, especially 16 and 17. If you need help, try Battling 101 in order to improve your overall skills. I'll do what I can to make your team more efficient for now.

Samurott as an anti-lead is a nice idea, though going physical is rather odd. Most of the leads in the NU metagame are physically bulky (except for Miltank, which you still won't beat so easily even with Superpower). I would say using Special Attacking Samurott will do the job just as well. Now you can actually beat Regirock and Relicanth, who would actually be able to take your attacks and inflict massive damage.

Braviary doesn't need Sheer Force, and Rock Slide only provides coverage against Rotom-S. Defiant is the more useful ability to prevent Intimidate Mawile, Luxray, and Tauros from weakening your attacks. That makes Return the better move, since it still does plenty to Rotom-S, and is much more accurate. It also provides an auxiliary STAB move in case you don't want Brave Bird's recoil.

Eelektross should run at least 88 Speed EVs to outpace standard Golem, or 128 Speed EVs to outpace standard Golurk and Alomomola. Other than that, I would say that Expert Belt would more more effective if you want power, while Leftovers is more useful for survivability. Life Orb may provide a greater boost in power, but you won't always want to Giga Drain. Your entire team is already worn down pretty easily, so you should really keep Eelektross a little more bulky.

As for Rapidash, Overheat is just no. It would probably be better if you stick with Choice Band, and go with Megahorn instead of Overheat. Rapidash already gets worn down pretty easily, and there is no reason to bring it closer to KO range for priority moves. The extra power is also very much appreciated in order to somewhat reach a decent damage output. Also, your team would very much appreciate having as many options to handle opposing Psychic types as possible, since you have no real way to tank their hits.

Finally, Golurk needs at least 88 Speed EVs for the same reason Eelektross does: in order to outrun standard Alomomola. Upping the Speed to 164 EVs lets you outpace standard Garbodor and EQ it. I would also stick with the standard Ice Punch over Stone Edge. It gives you a reliable move to hit Flying and Grass types much more effectively.

Changes:

Samurott: Special>Physical
Braviary: Defiant>Sheer Force
Eelektross: Expert Belt>Life Orb; Speed>HP
Rapidash: Physical Choice Band>Mixed Life Orb
Golurk: 164 Spe; Ice Punch>Stone Edge

Sets

Samurott @ Life Orb
Trait: Torrent
EV's: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Taunt
- Hydro Pump/Surf
- Ice Beam
- Hidden Power Grass

Braviary @ Choice Scarf
Trait: Defiant
EV's: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Brave Bird
- U-turn
- Superpower
- Return

Eelektross @ Expert Belt
Trait: Levitate
EV's: 128 HP / 252 SAtk / 128 Spe
Modest Nature
- Volt Switch
- Thunderbolt
- Giga Drain
- Flamethrower

Rapidash @ Choice Band
Trait: Flash Fire
EV's: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Flare Blitz
- Megahorn
- Wild Charge
- Low Kick/Drill Run

Golurk @ Earth Plate/Leftovers
Trait: Iron Fist
EV's: 176 HP / 168 Atk / 164 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- Shadow Punch
- Ice Punch

 

[Alfalfa]

I want to say that your team can fall pretty hard against entry hazards. Braviary and Rapidash can die after a few switch-ins. I recommend Swords Dance + Rapid Spin Armaldo > Zangoose. It appears you prefer an offensive style over balance or stall, so Armaldo can still spin and be offensive at the same time.

Hide

Armaldo @ Lum Berry/Leftovers
Trait: Battle Armor
EVs: 128 HP / 252 Atk / 128 Spd
Adamant Nature
IVs: 0 SAtk
- Swords Dance
- Rapid Spin
- Stone Edge
- X-Scissor

 

[watashi]

WhiteDMist already made some very good suggestions, but I would like to add on to them by suggesting Ludicolo over Samurott. Gorebyss can basically sweep your team clean after a Shell Smash and Ludicolo happens to be one of the best (and only) counters to it. It can still OHKO many common Stealth Rock setting leads due to its wonderful coverage.


Summary of changes:

Samurott —> Ludicolo

Set(s)

Ludicolo @ Life Orb
Trait: Swift Swim
EVs: 252 SAtk / 252 Spd / 4 Def
Timid Nature
- Giga Drain
- Hydro Pump
- Ice Beam
- Rain Dance

 

[Cheren and Friends]

Thanks White, A Dude, and FLCL for your input. I have put in all of the changes so far, except I have refrained of changing Smurott to special, since if I did, I would lack a form of priority, and I have also not put Ludicolo on the team as the inspiration of this team was taunt Samurott, although if I fond that Ludicolo would make the team that much better, I will change it. Again, thanks for the input.

 

[ium]

Thanks White, A Dude, and FLCL for your input. I have put in all of the changes so far, except I have refrained of changing Smurott to special, since if I did, I would lack a form of priority, and I have also not put Ludicolo on the team as the inspiration of this team was taunt Samurott, although if I fond that Ludicolo would make the team that much better, I will change it. Again, thanks for the input.

zangoose already has a strong priority move and can easily (and safely) get its toxic orb activated with eelektross' slow volt switch against a faster threat or switch-in. the issue with your samurott set right now is that it gets stopped hard by a lot of things easily, which is why the physical set makes use of swords dance and usually has no room for other moves like taunt. however, the special set that whitedmist gave grants a free moveslot since samurott's usual three special attacking moves are sufficient in coverage. the way you're using samurott right now—well, skuntank does it better. however, i'm going to second the idea of adding ludicolo since there will be nothing left to stop a +2 gorebyss unless it's in KO range for zangoose's quick attack.

also, rock slide on braviary doesn't really provide any significant coverage that it needs since the other moves hit everything hard enough already. try using u-turn over rock slide (i believe whitedmist meant this since you already have return? :p) since braviary does threaten a lot of things out and can gain momentum with it. it'll also be another way to get zangoose in for its toxic orb to activate. also, by replacing rock slide, you can use defiant as your ability; even though it's not extremely useful, it helps against the occasional arbok and mawile and sheer force doesn't boost anything else.

 

[WhiteDMist]

also, rock slide on braviary doesn't really provide any significant coverage that it needs since the other moves hit everything hard enough already. try using u-turn over rock slide (i believe whitedmist meant this since you already have return? :p) since braviary does threaten a lot of things out and can gain momentum with it. it'll also be another way to get zangoose in for its toxic orb to activate. also, by replacing rock slide, you can use defiant as your ability; even though it's not extremely useful, it helps against the occasional arbok and mawile and sheer force doesn't boost anything else.

Yeah, I wasn't really paying too much attention to this. :p Thanks for catching that!

Anyways, I didn't bother changing any of the Pokes because if I did, this would become one of those teams that isn't worth rating because I would have basically changed a huge amount of your team. If you really want Samurott, I'd stick with the special set. Having a weak priority move for your main STAB is unwise, and even if you changed Superpower to Waterfall, it wouldn't really help you with your goal of stopping and defeating common leads since you can't even 2HKO several of them without Waterfall. The Special set CAN do this, and basically prevent the setting up of hazards, which also includes Spikes from common Spikers like Garbodor and Cacturne. You also lack enough descriptions to be a convincing argument for your current set, so take that as you will. Or just make it easier and try out Ludicolo. :)