A Variation on Assist
+
= success?
Werefofel and I created a unique Assist team a little over a month ago. We've both experienced success with it. (It might have gotten him top 10 on the ladder, though I don't remember for sure.) I figure the team is worth sharing before Assist gets banned, since I've already given it to Piccolo Daimao and a few others.
The team draws very heavily from E4 Flint's original Assist teams, which utilized other Pokemon with moves that can't be called by Assist to support a single Groudon. This strategy, while not as purely overpowering as aesf's 35-0 Groudon spam, is incredibly fun and useful. It allows Groudon to use other important moves besides Thousand Arrows, such as Infestation for countering Shedinja, Roost for longevity and Swords Dance for breaking through walls like physically defensive Giratina. Moreover, there are creative strategies that can be employed for the other seemingly useless Pokemon that are actually quite useful in the current metagame.
Here's a rough summary of the teambuilding process:
Without further ado, the team:
Deoxys-Speed @ Assault Vest
Ability: Klutz
EVs: 252 HP / 84 Def / 174 Spe
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Spiky Shield
- Counter
- Destiny Bond
- Switcheroo
I've been a huge fan of Klutz AV Trick Deoxys-Speed ever since I saw Flint first use it. This set is a little unusual, however. Here's the description, copy-pasted from the BH creative sets thread:
When people see Deoxys-Speed, particularly one that isn't Mold Breaker, they tend to lead with their -ate user or their Magic Bouncer. This set beats both.
Spiky Shield blocks -ate Fake Out, then the EVs here guarantee surviving an Extreme Speed from any common user. Deoxys-S can then OHKO with a surprise Counter, and maybe take down the next Pokemon with Destiny Bond if the opponent is reckless enough.
Any Pokemon that relies on status moves is crippled by switching into Switcheroo, provided it doesn't have its Mega Stone or Mail. (This makes Fur Coat Mega Slowbro a serious issue for the team.)
Destiny Bond + minus priority is also a good combination because it gives you two chances to be killed.
Ebert (Groudon-Primal) @ Leftovers
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 244 HP / 252 Atk / 12 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Assist
- Swords Dance
- Infestation
- Roost
Most things that are not dedicated counters die.
While this doesn't have the immediate team-destroying capability of the significantly more common Choice Band set, it can break through bulky things that would otherwise give it trouble, and take many more attacks because of its ability to Recover. Most notably, it can kill Shedinja extremely easily. It still is given trouble by the combination of Shedinja's Endeavor and an -ate user's Fake Out, but that's a rare situation and a good time to switch anyway.
12 Speed is to speed creep 8 Speed Pranksters.
It's also worth noting that Infestation allows you to trap and set up on unsuspecting walls.
Rayquaza-Mega @ Leftovers
Ability: Gale Wings
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpA
Mild Nature
- Chatter
- King's Shield
- Mirror Move
- Dragon Tail
The true inspiration for this team, Mega Rayquaza has immense utility simply by virtue of its ability to throw a wrench into any strategy with Chatter. Here's Werefofel's description of the set (slightly edited):
"This Rayquaza set is created to complement an Assist Primal Groudon. None of these moves can be called by Assist, and Gale Wings makes Chatter spam surprisingly potent (it also does a decent chunk of damage thanks to STAB and SpA EVs), and King's + Mirror Move priority can turn around a move on Rayquaza if desired."
King's Shield also weakens -ate priority, which gives most of the members of this team a hard time, and allows for scouting so that Mirror Move can take effect next turn.
Audino-Mega @ Leftovers
Ability: Soundproof
EVs: 252 HP / 4 SpA / 252 SpD
Calm Nature
- Mirror Coat
- Roar
- Chatter
- Spiky Shield
The strangest member, Mega Audino walls the team's Mega Rayquaza (because of Soundproof and Fairy typing) and doesn't do much else. But it's not replaceable, because otherwise my team would have no way of standing up to Chatter. The set is also designed so that Chansey can do nothing against it; that's why Roar is chosen over Whirlwind.
Mirror Coat can sometimes get surprise kills against random special attackers.
Audino is expendable and generally useless, but it's necessary, unfortunately. Please suggest a replacement if you can think of one :\
Arceus @ Choice Specs
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpA / 4 SpD
Modest Nature
- Nature Power
- Chatter
- Switcheroo
- Destiny Bond
Another altered copy-paste:
Nature Power would be a lot better if it still turned into Earthquake. You don't see a lot of people using Prankster Normal-types with Tri Attack, because it just isn't that powerful. But with Specs, it becomes a relatively useful form of priority that can be used without being called by Assist. Arceus can also Switcheroo the Specs to be as annoying as possible, or Destiny Bond. Chatter is filler Shedinja-killing and general annoyance.
Arceus is the team's best method of killing Fur Coat Mega Slowbro, the #1 threat. It can't Switcheroo if the opponent is smart and holds Slowbronite, but if you're using this team, make sure to keep Arceus alive to take out Slowbro. Otherwise, you lose.
Chansey @ Eviolite
Ability: Imposter
Happiness: 0
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpD
Bold Nature
- Whirlwind
- Counter
- Mirror Coat
- Thousand Arrows
What is there to say about Chansey? It sweeps unprepared teams on its own. It's especially valuable on this particular team, which can't use normal methods to take on common threats like Aerilate Mega Rayquaza.
The moveset is basically the best set of non-Assist-called moves you have access to. Whirlwind can defeat boosters behind a substitute, CounterCoat is an unexpected combination that can beat random unwise attackers, and obviously Thousand Arrows is needed to make the team work at all.
Some replays (fofel didn't save enough >.>):
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/balancedhackmons-201528463 Uselesscrab vs an assist team
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/balancedhackmons-209526119 Uselesscrab vs foogie
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/balancedhackmons-208976320 Uselesscrab vs MiguelRRM
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/balancedhackmons-210952322 Uselesscrab vs Spencer Crossland
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/balancedhackmons-196846149 Werefofel vs Uselesscrab (shows some weaknesses)
More to be added to the post later!
Feel free to leave any comments, I'm open to any and all suggestions.
Werefofel and I created a unique Assist team a little over a month ago. We've both experienced success with it. (It might have gotten him top 10 on the ladder, though I don't remember for sure.) I figure the team is worth sharing before Assist gets banned, since I've already given it to Piccolo Daimao and a few others.
The team draws very heavily from E4 Flint's original Assist teams, which utilized other Pokemon with moves that can't be called by Assist to support a single Groudon. This strategy, while not as purely overpowering as aesf's 35-0 Groudon spam, is incredibly fun and useful. It allows Groudon to use other important moves besides Thousand Arrows, such as Infestation for countering Shedinja, Roost for longevity and Swords Dance for breaking through walls like physically defensive Giratina. Moreover, there are creative strategies that can be employed for the other seemingly useless Pokemon that are actually quite useful in the current metagame.
Here's a rough summary of the teambuilding process:
I obviously knew I was going to use Primal Groudon, since that's the centerpiece of any normal Assist team. I decided on the moveset I had seen Flint use on his original Assist team that started the trend.
Chansey was necessary, since it's the carrier of Arrows and thus necessary on any Assist team.
Werefofel asked hypothetically, "What if we ran Chatter alongside this Groudon?" and so Mega Rayquaza was added.
I have a soft spot in my heart for Klutz AV Trick Deoxys-Speed, as I'll explain later. It just so happens to utilize the perfect set of moves for an Assist team, so I figured I had an excuse to use it.
I realized physical walls would give us serious trouble, and Specs Arceus was the closest thing to a wallbreaker I could fit on the team. I also wanted an excuse to use Prankster Destiny Bond.
In early tests of this sort of team, Imposter-copied Mega Rayquaza wrecked us. Fortunately, we found a perfect wall for it in Soundproof Mega Audino. Unfortunately, that perfect wall is somewhat useless, but I'll get to that later.
Chansey was necessary, since it's the carrier of Arrows and thus necessary on any Assist team.
Werefofel asked hypothetically, "What if we ran Chatter alongside this Groudon?" and so Mega Rayquaza was added.
I have a soft spot in my heart for Klutz AV Trick Deoxys-Speed, as I'll explain later. It just so happens to utilize the perfect set of moves for an Assist team, so I figured I had an excuse to use it.
I realized physical walls would give us serious trouble, and Specs Arceus was the closest thing to a wallbreaker I could fit on the team. I also wanted an excuse to use Prankster Destiny Bond.
In early tests of this sort of team, Imposter-copied Mega Rayquaza wrecked us. Fortunately, we found a perfect wall for it in Soundproof Mega Audino. Unfortunately, that perfect wall is somewhat useless, but I'll get to that later.
Without further ado, the team:
Deoxys-Speed @ Assault Vest
Ability: Klutz
EVs: 252 HP / 84 Def / 174 Spe
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Spiky Shield
- Counter
- Destiny Bond
- Switcheroo
I've been a huge fan of Klutz AV Trick Deoxys-Speed ever since I saw Flint first use it. This set is a little unusual, however. Here's the description, copy-pasted from the BH creative sets thread:
When people see Deoxys-Speed, particularly one that isn't Mold Breaker, they tend to lead with their -ate user or their Magic Bouncer. This set beats both.
Spiky Shield blocks -ate Fake Out, then the EVs here guarantee surviving an Extreme Speed from any common user. Deoxys-S can then OHKO with a surprise Counter, and maybe take down the next Pokemon with Destiny Bond if the opponent is reckless enough.
Any Pokemon that relies on status moves is crippled by switching into Switcheroo, provided it doesn't have its Mega Stone or Mail. (This makes Fur Coat Mega Slowbro a serious issue for the team.)
Destiny Bond + minus priority is also a good combination because it gives you two chances to be killed.
Ebert (Groudon-Primal) @ Leftovers
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 244 HP / 252 Atk / 12 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Assist
- Swords Dance
- Infestation
- Roost
Most things that are not dedicated counters die.
While this doesn't have the immediate team-destroying capability of the significantly more common Choice Band set, it can break through bulky things that would otherwise give it trouble, and take many more attacks because of its ability to Recover. Most notably, it can kill Shedinja extremely easily. It still is given trouble by the combination of Shedinja's Endeavor and an -ate user's Fake Out, but that's a rare situation and a good time to switch anyway.
12 Speed is to speed creep 8 Speed Pranksters.
It's also worth noting that Infestation allows you to trap and set up on unsuspecting walls.
Rayquaza-Mega @ Leftovers
Ability: Gale Wings
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpA
Mild Nature
- Chatter
- King's Shield
- Mirror Move
- Dragon Tail
The true inspiration for this team, Mega Rayquaza has immense utility simply by virtue of its ability to throw a wrench into any strategy with Chatter. Here's Werefofel's description of the set (slightly edited):
"This Rayquaza set is created to complement an Assist Primal Groudon. None of these moves can be called by Assist, and Gale Wings makes Chatter spam surprisingly potent (it also does a decent chunk of damage thanks to STAB and SpA EVs), and King's + Mirror Move priority can turn around a move on Rayquaza if desired."
King's Shield also weakens -ate priority, which gives most of the members of this team a hard time, and allows for scouting so that Mirror Move can take effect next turn.
Audino-Mega @ Leftovers
Ability: Soundproof
EVs: 252 HP / 4 SpA / 252 SpD
Calm Nature
- Mirror Coat
- Roar
- Chatter
- Spiky Shield
The strangest member, Mega Audino walls the team's Mega Rayquaza (because of Soundproof and Fairy typing) and doesn't do much else. But it's not replaceable, because otherwise my team would have no way of standing up to Chatter. The set is also designed so that Chansey can do nothing against it; that's why Roar is chosen over Whirlwind.
Mirror Coat can sometimes get surprise kills against random special attackers.
Audino is expendable and generally useless, but it's necessary, unfortunately. Please suggest a replacement if you can think of one :\
Arceus @ Choice Specs
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpA / 4 SpD
Modest Nature
- Nature Power
- Chatter
- Switcheroo
- Destiny Bond
Another altered copy-paste:
Nature Power would be a lot better if it still turned into Earthquake. You don't see a lot of people using Prankster Normal-types with Tri Attack, because it just isn't that powerful. But with Specs, it becomes a relatively useful form of priority that can be used without being called by Assist. Arceus can also Switcheroo the Specs to be as annoying as possible, or Destiny Bond. Chatter is filler Shedinja-killing and general annoyance.
Arceus is the team's best method of killing Fur Coat Mega Slowbro, the #1 threat. It can't Switcheroo if the opponent is smart and holds Slowbronite, but if you're using this team, make sure to keep Arceus alive to take out Slowbro. Otherwise, you lose.
Chansey @ Eviolite
Ability: Imposter
Happiness: 0
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpD
Bold Nature
- Whirlwind
- Counter
- Mirror Coat
- Thousand Arrows
What is there to say about Chansey? It sweeps unprepared teams on its own. It's especially valuable on this particular team, which can't use normal methods to take on common threats like Aerilate Mega Rayquaza.
The moveset is basically the best set of non-Assist-called moves you have access to. Whirlwind can defeat boosters behind a substitute, CounterCoat is an unexpected combination that can beat random unwise attackers, and obviously Thousand Arrows is needed to make the team work at all.
I tried out a weird Xerneas very recently:
Xerneas @ Pixie Plate
Ability: Pixilate
EVs: 248 HP / 252 SpA / 8 SpD
Modest Nature
- Nature Power
- King's Shield
- Mirror Coat
- Transform
I tried to find a replacement for Mega Audino. Xerneas is immune to Dragon Tail and doesn't care too much about Chatter. Pixilate Nature Power kills stuff that this team doesn't like: Mega Rayquaza, Mega Slowbro, etc. The other three moves were pretty random, but it was very important that the set be walled by my own Primal Groudon, so Chansey (again) wouldn't destroy everything. For that reason, I had to avoid Chatter.
A second Chansey might not be a bad idea, though you run the risk of getting wrecked by Chatter.
Magic Bounce solves this team's inability to deal with random status users; I believe Werefofel used it on Giratina at one point.
Unaware would help to deal with obnoxious setup sweepers, but it doesn't really have many moves it can use.
Xerneas @ Pixie Plate
Ability: Pixilate
EVs: 248 HP / 252 SpA / 8 SpD
Modest Nature
- Nature Power
- King's Shield
- Mirror Coat
- Transform
I tried to find a replacement for Mega Audino. Xerneas is immune to Dragon Tail and doesn't care too much about Chatter. Pixilate Nature Power kills stuff that this team doesn't like: Mega Rayquaza, Mega Slowbro, etc. The other three moves were pretty random, but it was very important that the set be walled by my own Primal Groudon, so Chansey (again) wouldn't destroy everything. For that reason, I had to avoid Chatter.
A second Chansey might not be a bad idea, though you run the risk of getting wrecked by Chatter.
Magic Bounce solves this team's inability to deal with random status users; I believe Werefofel used it on Giratina at one point.
Unaware would help to deal with obnoxious setup sweepers, but it doesn't really have many moves it can use.
Mega Slowbro, especially Fur Coat. Water offensive typing and physical bulk allow this to hard-wall Groudon. I also can't trick it AV or Specs because of Slowbronite. As a result, I have to hope to overwhelm it with Tri Attack, Chatter and Chansey's Impostered attacks. Blue Orb Fur Coat Primal Kyogre and Griseous Orb Fur Coat Giratina (lol) also mess me up.
Random status users, especially stuff with Spore. I have no Magic Bounce or Safety Goggles on this team, though I suppose the latter could be considered for Mega Audino.
Fast Pranksters. Prankster Taunt from something very fast, though rare, destroys Groudon, Arceus, Audino, and Deoxys-Speed, leaving the responsibility to Mega Rayquaza.
Other Assist teams. I have dealt with these, but it's not too easy. Deoxys-S can try to permanently Disable one's Assist with Switcheroo, or Counter or Destiny Bond against Thousand Arrows. Arceus and Mega Rayquaza do solid damage. It's usually a losing battle, though.
More to be added later.
Random status users, especially stuff with Spore. I have no Magic Bounce or Safety Goggles on this team, though I suppose the latter could be considered for Mega Audino.
Fast Pranksters. Prankster Taunt from something very fast, though rare, destroys Groudon, Arceus, Audino, and Deoxys-Speed, leaving the responsibility to Mega Rayquaza.
Other Assist teams. I have dealt with these, but it's not too easy. Deoxys-S can try to permanently Disable one's Assist with Switcheroo, or Counter or Destiny Bond against Thousand Arrows. Arceus and Mega Rayquaza do solid damage. It's usually a losing battle, though.
More to be added later.
Some replays (fofel didn't save enough >.>):
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/balancedhackmons-201528463 Uselesscrab vs an assist team
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/balancedhackmons-209526119 Uselesscrab vs foogie
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/balancedhackmons-208976320 Uselesscrab vs MiguelRRM
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/balancedhackmons-210952322 Uselesscrab vs Spencer Crossland
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/balancedhackmons-196846149 Werefofel vs Uselesscrab (shows some weaknesses)
More to be added to the post later!
Feel free to leave any comments, I'm open to any and all suggestions.
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