Hi, I’ve been using this team over the past month and I really like it, but there are some matchups I'd like some help against.
Torkoal @ Heat Rock
Ability: Drought
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpD
Bold Nature
- Lava Plume
- Body Press
- Toxic
- Rapid Spin
Torkoal is my sun setter. It’s a basic set: Rapid Spin for hazard removal if Mandibuzz is unavailable, Lava plume or Toxic to status switch-ins like Garchomp or Landorus, and Body Press to get a surprise KO on Tyranitar. I tried having Stealth Rock instead of Body Press, but most of the time I prefer Body Press due to how weak my team is to Tyranitar. I usually lead with it if I think I have a good matchup against my opponent.
Venusaur @ Life Orb
Ability: Chlorophyll
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Growth
- Giga Drain
- Weather Ball
- Earth Power
Venusaur is a great wallbreaker and sweeper under Sun. I tried Solar Beam over Giga Drain, but after Growth, the added power doesn't make much difference, and I prefer the recovery of Giga Drain. Weather Ball helps against Corviknight, Ferrothorn and Weavile, while also hitting Tornadus-T hard, who would otherwise counter it. Earth Power helps against Heatran and Blacephalon.
Victini @ Choice Band
Ability: Victory Star
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- V-create
- Bolt Strike
- U-turn
- Brick Break
Victini is probably my favourite and most fun pokemon to use in this team. Choice Band Victini's V-Create under Sun is just such a powerful nuke, OHKOing anything that isn't a bulky water or a weather changer like Tyranitar or Pelipper. Bolt Strike is super-effective against the bulky water-types like Tapu Fini, Toxapex, Slowbro and Pelipper, while Brick Break is for Tyranitar and Heatran. U-turn allows me to pivot to another wallbreaker like Blacephalon and Venusaur. I use it primarily as a Hit-and-Run attacker.
Blacephalon @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Beast Boost
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Overheat
- Flamethrower
- Shadow Ball
- Trick
Blacephalon is also really powerful, though its Overheat isn't as satisfying to use as Victini's V-Create. Nevertheless, Blacephalon allows me to offensively check Dragapult and its general powerfulness and speed are why it's on the team. I've tried other pokemon like Heatran and Volcanion, but Blacephalon just has the best results among them. Toxapex is hard to break, even with Venusaur, so Trick would help me with that.
Mandibuzz (F) @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Overcoat
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpD
Impish Nature
- Foul Play
- U-turn
- Roost
- Defog
Mandibuzz is my defogger and pivot. I use Rocky Helmet for the chip damage but I’m wondering if I’m better off using HDB. I originally had Corviknight instead of Mandibuzz, but I needed a Ghost-type check since Victini and Blacephalon are weak to them. Foul Play is fun to use against physical attackers like Garchomp and Excadrill, although I may consider using Knock Off instead. U-turn allows Mandibuzz to pivot out to other team members, usually to Victini or Venusaur.
Gastrodon @ Leftovers
Ability: Storm Drain
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Sassy Nature
- Scald
- Earthquake
- Toxic
- Recover
Gastrodon is my check against Fire-types like Heatran and Volcarona as well as special attackers like Tapu Koko and Nidoking. All other pokemon in the team will lose to Volcarona, so having a wall that can poison it while surviving a few hits is really useful. It's also immune to Water-type moves, so could come in against Urshifu's Surging Strikes. Scald can burn switch-ins like Rillaboom and Kartana. Earthquake takes out Tapu Koko and Zeraora. Toxic is to put Volcarona's or Dragonite's sweep on a timer.
Threatlist:
Thanks for Reading! Here's the pokepaste: https://pokepast.es/1bed0728743b378a






Torkoal @ Heat Rock
Ability: Drought
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpD
Bold Nature
- Lava Plume
- Body Press
- Toxic
- Rapid Spin
Torkoal is my sun setter. It’s a basic set: Rapid Spin for hazard removal if Mandibuzz is unavailable, Lava plume or Toxic to status switch-ins like Garchomp or Landorus, and Body Press to get a surprise KO on Tyranitar. I tried having Stealth Rock instead of Body Press, but most of the time I prefer Body Press due to how weak my team is to Tyranitar. I usually lead with it if I think I have a good matchup against my opponent.
Venusaur @ Life Orb
Ability: Chlorophyll
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Growth
- Giga Drain
- Weather Ball
- Earth Power
Venusaur is a great wallbreaker and sweeper under Sun. I tried Solar Beam over Giga Drain, but after Growth, the added power doesn't make much difference, and I prefer the recovery of Giga Drain. Weather Ball helps against Corviknight, Ferrothorn and Weavile, while also hitting Tornadus-T hard, who would otherwise counter it. Earth Power helps against Heatran and Blacephalon.
Victini @ Choice Band
Ability: Victory Star
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- V-create
- Bolt Strike
- U-turn
- Brick Break
Victini is probably my favourite and most fun pokemon to use in this team. Choice Band Victini's V-Create under Sun is just such a powerful nuke, OHKOing anything that isn't a bulky water or a weather changer like Tyranitar or Pelipper. Bolt Strike is super-effective against the bulky water-types like Tapu Fini, Toxapex, Slowbro and Pelipper, while Brick Break is for Tyranitar and Heatran. U-turn allows me to pivot to another wallbreaker like Blacephalon and Venusaur. I use it primarily as a Hit-and-Run attacker.
Blacephalon @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Beast Boost
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Overheat
- Flamethrower
- Shadow Ball
- Trick
Blacephalon is also really powerful, though its Overheat isn't as satisfying to use as Victini's V-Create. Nevertheless, Blacephalon allows me to offensively check Dragapult and its general powerfulness and speed are why it's on the team. I've tried other pokemon like Heatran and Volcanion, but Blacephalon just has the best results among them. Toxapex is hard to break, even with Venusaur, so Trick would help me with that.
Mandibuzz (F) @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Overcoat
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpD
Impish Nature
- Foul Play
- U-turn
- Roost
- Defog
Mandibuzz is my defogger and pivot. I use Rocky Helmet for the chip damage but I’m wondering if I’m better off using HDB. I originally had Corviknight instead of Mandibuzz, but I needed a Ghost-type check since Victini and Blacephalon are weak to them. Foul Play is fun to use against physical attackers like Garchomp and Excadrill, although I may consider using Knock Off instead. U-turn allows Mandibuzz to pivot out to other team members, usually to Victini or Venusaur.
Gastrodon @ Leftovers
Ability: Storm Drain
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Sassy Nature
- Scald
- Earthquake
- Toxic
- Recover
Gastrodon is my check against Fire-types like Heatran and Volcarona as well as special attackers like Tapu Koko and Nidoking. All other pokemon in the team will lose to Volcarona, so having a wall that can poison it while surviving a few hits is really useful. It's also immune to Water-type moves, so could come in against Urshifu's Surging Strikes. Scald can burn switch-ins like Rillaboom and Kartana. Earthquake takes out Tapu Koko and Zeraora. Toxic is to put Volcarona's or Dragonite's sweep on a timer.
Threatlist:
Thanks for Reading! Here's the pokepaste: https://pokepast.es/1bed0728743b378a