Hey everyone!
About a month ago, I started building a mono-bug team, and I tried testing it in Pokebank OU.
It worked (almost) flawlessly, securing me many victories and only losing a few times. I've come to this forum to see what you guys think about my team, and give me some tips and pointers if you can.
Without further ado, here it is!
Smooth Criminal (Yanmega) (M) @ Focus Sash
Ability: Speed Boost
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Modest Nature
- Protect
- Air Slash
- Bug Buzz
- Hidden Power [Ground]
Yanmega, in my opinion, is one of the best bug Pokemon. Not that there are a plethora of excellent ones, but hey, you take what you can. The seller for Yanmega is it's ability, Speed Boost. With a base speed of 95, after one Speed Boost, Yanmega outspeeds a good portion of the unboosted Pokebank OU metagame. Protect is scouting and for building up Speed Boosts. Air Slash and Bug Buzz are reliable STAB attacks, and while nerfed this Generation, Hidden Power [Ground] still gets the job done, and has helped me take out pesky Heatrans.
Amaterasu (Volcarona) (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Flame Body
EVs: 252 Def / 252 SAtk / 4 Spd
Bold Nature
- Quiver Dance
- Fiery Dance
- Bug Buzz
- Giga Drain
The sun goddess Amaterasu. Truly a powerful being, which is exactly why I named my Volcarona after it. This is one of my sweepers. After pulling off one Quiver Dance and getting another special attack boost from Fiery Dance, Volcarona can sweep most of the metagame, unless your name is Talonflame. Bug Buzz is just there for coverage, but I chose Giga Drain over the more popular Hurricane as it takes Rotom-W by surprise. The Bold Nature is so it can take an Earthquake, however, it still falls to Brave Birds from Talonflame or any Rock-type move.
Just to show how dangerous Volcarona can be when allowed to set up
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/pokebankoubeta-67351223
Czar (Scizor) (M) @ Scizorite
Ability: Technician
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 Def / 252 HP / 4 Atk
Impish Nature
- Knock Off
- Bullet Punch
- Defog
- Roost
As someone who used Scizor last gen as a physical sweeper, I was surprised when it's Mega Evo was more Defensive based. This Scizor is simple really. Knock Off gets rid of any annoying items such as Blissey Leftovers or Gliscor Toxic Orbs. Bullet Punch is there for coverage as a STAB priority move that also hits Fairy-types for SE damage. Defog is there to remove Stealth Rocks, which utterly destroy my team, and Roost is for recovering any lost health. This Scizor is defensively built, and is able to take any Earthquakes thrown at it, yet still falls to any Flamethrower or Fire Blast.
Spider Queen (Galvantula) (F) @ Life Orb
Ability: Compound Eyes
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 SAtk / 4 SDef / 252 Spd
Timid Nature
- Thunder
- Bug Buzz
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Giga Drain
WHAT? Not a Sticky Web Galvantula? No! I personally don't think Sticky Web is very viable on my team, and when I lead with Galvantula, it's kind of a doozy when people Taunt me and then get a STAB Compundeyes Thunder to the face. I use Galvantula for the surprise factor mostly. A lead Galvantula is expected to use Sticky Web on the first turn, when in fact mine carries extreme power. Bug Buzz, Hidden Power [Ice] and Giga Drain are really just there for coverage, but my Galvantula packs a punch, and is a nice surprise. Timid nature for the boost in speed, which Galvantula really needs.
Genocide (Genesect) @ Expert Belt
Ability: Download
EVs: 4 Atk / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Hasty Nature
- U-turn
- Ice Beam
- Thunderbolt
- Flamethrower
My main sweeper, Genesect is an absolute must on any Bug team. By far the most viable Bug-type Pokemon, Genesect plays an interesting role on my team. The Expert Belt it carries isn't expected, and it's always fun to spam Thunderbolt then use Ice Beam on a Gliscor. This Pokemon works amazingly, and almost always seems to get at least one KO while in battle. U-Turn is there in case Genesect's ability raises it's attack, and it hits like a truck, while Flamethrower is there for coverage.
Mr. Krabs (Crustle) (M) @ White Herb
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 252 Spd / 252 Atk / 4 HP
Adamant Nature
IVs: 18 SDef / 30 Spd
- Shell Smash
- Rock Slide
- X-Scissor
- Earthquake
Ah Crustle. If I could find a replacement for you, I would. But Shedinja dies to Stealth Rocks far too easily, Forretress doesn't do much, and Heracross is destroyed by Talonflame. Crustle is what I've had to resort to for a counter for Talonflame, and honestly, it hasn't done a bad job. Most teams will see my Bug team and send a Talonflame out immediately. When I send out Crustle, I get a free Shell Smash, and Crustle has actually swept single-handedly before. Rock Slide is there instead of Stone Miss, as I was tired of it missing too often. X-Scissor actually hits very hard on Pokemon that are sent out to counter Crustle, and Earthquake is there for coverage.
So if any of you can help me make this a better team, I would greatly appreciate it. I would like to replace Crustle with....really anything. I need a counter to Talonflame, but Crustle kind of looks...stupid to be honest. If you could help me, that would be great.
Thanks in advance!
About a month ago, I started building a mono-bug team, and I tried testing it in Pokebank OU.
It worked (almost) flawlessly, securing me many victories and only losing a few times. I've come to this forum to see what you guys think about my team, and give me some tips and pointers if you can.
Without further ado, here it is!
Smooth Criminal (Yanmega) (M) @ Focus Sash
Ability: Speed Boost
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Modest Nature
- Protect
- Air Slash
- Bug Buzz
- Hidden Power [Ground]
Yanmega, in my opinion, is one of the best bug Pokemon. Not that there are a plethora of excellent ones, but hey, you take what you can. The seller for Yanmega is it's ability, Speed Boost. With a base speed of 95, after one Speed Boost, Yanmega outspeeds a good portion of the unboosted Pokebank OU metagame. Protect is scouting and for building up Speed Boosts. Air Slash and Bug Buzz are reliable STAB attacks, and while nerfed this Generation, Hidden Power [Ground] still gets the job done, and has helped me take out pesky Heatrans.
Amaterasu (Volcarona) (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Flame Body
EVs: 252 Def / 252 SAtk / 4 Spd
Bold Nature
- Quiver Dance
- Fiery Dance
- Bug Buzz
- Giga Drain
The sun goddess Amaterasu. Truly a powerful being, which is exactly why I named my Volcarona after it. This is one of my sweepers. After pulling off one Quiver Dance and getting another special attack boost from Fiery Dance, Volcarona can sweep most of the metagame, unless your name is Talonflame. Bug Buzz is just there for coverage, but I chose Giga Drain over the more popular Hurricane as it takes Rotom-W by surprise. The Bold Nature is so it can take an Earthquake, however, it still falls to Brave Birds from Talonflame or any Rock-type move.
Just to show how dangerous Volcarona can be when allowed to set up
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/pokebankoubeta-67351223
Czar (Scizor) (M) @ Scizorite
Ability: Technician
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 Def / 252 HP / 4 Atk
Impish Nature
- Knock Off
- Bullet Punch
- Defog
- Roost
As someone who used Scizor last gen as a physical sweeper, I was surprised when it's Mega Evo was more Defensive based. This Scizor is simple really. Knock Off gets rid of any annoying items such as Blissey Leftovers or Gliscor Toxic Orbs. Bullet Punch is there for coverage as a STAB priority move that also hits Fairy-types for SE damage. Defog is there to remove Stealth Rocks, which utterly destroy my team, and Roost is for recovering any lost health. This Scizor is defensively built, and is able to take any Earthquakes thrown at it, yet still falls to any Flamethrower or Fire Blast.
Spider Queen (Galvantula) (F) @ Life Orb
Ability: Compound Eyes
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 SAtk / 4 SDef / 252 Spd
Timid Nature
- Thunder
- Bug Buzz
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Giga Drain
WHAT? Not a Sticky Web Galvantula? No! I personally don't think Sticky Web is very viable on my team, and when I lead with Galvantula, it's kind of a doozy when people Taunt me and then get a STAB Compundeyes Thunder to the face. I use Galvantula for the surprise factor mostly. A lead Galvantula is expected to use Sticky Web on the first turn, when in fact mine carries extreme power. Bug Buzz, Hidden Power [Ice] and Giga Drain are really just there for coverage, but my Galvantula packs a punch, and is a nice surprise. Timid nature for the boost in speed, which Galvantula really needs.
Genocide (Genesect) @ Expert Belt
Ability: Download
EVs: 4 Atk / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Hasty Nature
- U-turn
- Ice Beam
- Thunderbolt
- Flamethrower
My main sweeper, Genesect is an absolute must on any Bug team. By far the most viable Bug-type Pokemon, Genesect plays an interesting role on my team. The Expert Belt it carries isn't expected, and it's always fun to spam Thunderbolt then use Ice Beam on a Gliscor. This Pokemon works amazingly, and almost always seems to get at least one KO while in battle. U-Turn is there in case Genesect's ability raises it's attack, and it hits like a truck, while Flamethrower is there for coverage.
Mr. Krabs (Crustle) (M) @ White Herb
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 252 Spd / 252 Atk / 4 HP
Adamant Nature
IVs: 18 SDef / 30 Spd
- Shell Smash
- Rock Slide
- X-Scissor
- Earthquake
Ah Crustle. If I could find a replacement for you, I would. But Shedinja dies to Stealth Rocks far too easily, Forretress doesn't do much, and Heracross is destroyed by Talonflame. Crustle is what I've had to resort to for a counter for Talonflame, and honestly, it hasn't done a bad job. Most teams will see my Bug team and send a Talonflame out immediately. When I send out Crustle, I get a free Shell Smash, and Crustle has actually swept single-handedly before. Rock Slide is there instead of Stone Miss, as I was tired of it missing too often. X-Scissor actually hits very hard on Pokemon that are sent out to counter Crustle, and Earthquake is there for coverage.
So if any of you can help me make this a better team, I would greatly appreciate it. I would like to replace Crustle with....really anything. I need a counter to Talonflame, but Crustle kind of looks...stupid to be honest. If you could help me, that would be great.
Thanks in advance!
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