THE TEAM WITHOUT A NAME
So this is my first competitive team that I've designed, with which I've achieved positive results. You may've run into me on the smogon PO server, under the name Imbadatpokemon, because after 19 tried and tested teams (yes, 19) that all failed, I realized I'm not too great at this game. (Unfortunately so, I missed the Battling 101 by a day which I would've happily signed up for. June I guess.) This team, though, has helped me achieve a level of confidence that I didn't have before, so I'm sticking with it! Though I do know it's not without faults, which is why I'm here. Of course, all criticisms and compliments are welcome. In advanced, thank you for reading and rating; without anymore babbling, here's the team!:
And, if you'd like to read it, the story behind it:
Ah, Breloom. He is one of the many pokemon I've run into that gave me so much frustration, I just said after a while "if you can't beat him, join him!" So here he is, working as a great lead.
Next was a pokemon whom I've loved ever since he was revealed: Terrakion. He and Breloom do make a great pair, a subpuncher and an all-out attacker with various moves to cover what the subpuncher can't.
Gliscor makes a great counter to both of those opening two, so I decided to pick a better version of Gliscor, and that is Landorus. He does act as a good counter to Gliscor given the right hidden power (ice, obv), And can switch in on most of what gives the other two troubles fairly safely. Also, he's fast and strong, which is good.
Something about this team that is bothersome is a weakness to grass and steel (you'll see that later), which is where Darmanitan fits perfectly. An extra subpuncher can't hurt, and a fast strong physical fire guy is a valuable asset with Scizor still being hyperactive, and Ferrothorn doing the bulk of his damage in the metagame. However, after testing...
It's true: Heatran fills out Darmanitan's niche better than he does. After heavy suggestion, the Steel typing plus outright immunity to fire DOES help against sun teams. Thanks for the suggestions everyone!
Starmie; what a...guy? Well, he's cool anyway! Rapid spinner and special attacker (which this team needed after those guys) is just what the doctor ordered.
To cap it all off, we have our favorite ice guy: Mamoswine! He acts as a late game SR set up, as well as Ice and Ground physical attacker. For more detailed stuff, see below.
And now, the team in a more dissected light!
So this is my first competitive team that I've designed, with which I've achieved positive results. You may've run into me on the smogon PO server, under the name Imbadatpokemon, because after 19 tried and tested teams (yes, 19) that all failed, I realized I'm not too great at this game. (Unfortunately so, I missed the Battling 101 by a day which I would've happily signed up for. June I guess.) This team, though, has helped me achieve a level of confidence that I didn't have before, so I'm sticking with it! Though I do know it's not without faults, which is why I'm here. Of course, all criticisms and compliments are welcome. In advanced, thank you for reading and rating; without anymore babbling, here's the team!:
And, if you'd like to read it, the story behind it:
Ah, Breloom. He is one of the many pokemon I've run into that gave me so much frustration, I just said after a while "if you can't beat him, join him!" So here he is, working as a great lead.
Next was a pokemon whom I've loved ever since he was revealed: Terrakion. He and Breloom do make a great pair, a subpuncher and an all-out attacker with various moves to cover what the subpuncher can't.
Gliscor makes a great counter to both of those opening two, so I decided to pick a better version of Gliscor, and that is Landorus. He does act as a good counter to Gliscor given the right hidden power (ice, obv), And can switch in on most of what gives the other two troubles fairly safely. Also, he's fast and strong, which is good.
Something about this team that is bothersome is a weakness to grass and steel (you'll see that later), which is where Darmanitan fits perfectly. An extra subpuncher can't hurt, and a fast strong physical fire guy is a valuable asset with Scizor still being hyperactive, and Ferrothorn doing the bulk of his damage in the metagame. However, after testing...
It's true: Heatran fills out Darmanitan's niche better than he does. After heavy suggestion, the Steel typing plus outright immunity to fire DOES help against sun teams. Thanks for the suggestions everyone!
Starmie; what a...guy? Well, he's cool anyway! Rapid spinner and special attacker (which this team needed after those guys) is just what the doctor ordered.
To cap it all off, we have our favorite ice guy: Mamoswine! He acts as a late game SR set up, as well as Ice and Ground physical attacker. For more detailed stuff, see below.
And now, the team in a more dissected light!
Breloom (M) @ Toxic Orb
Trait: Poison Heal
EVs: 56 HP / 200 Atk / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Substitute
- Seed Bomb
- Spore
- Leech Seed
It was tough getting used to having only a fighting type attack, since he couldn't hold down as well towards bulky waters; so I eventually went with just Seed Bomb instead of Focus Punch, and it worked - of course - very effectively. Now Heatran has hidden power grass as a double check to all of those guys that are physically bulky, and they make a great team. Just to reiterate, though, SubSeeding with the occasional seed-bombing and sporing when necessary...yeah, some people forfeited after this guy dealt with their FIRST pokemon on PO. No wonder this guy continues to remain a very effective lead.
Terrakion @ Choice Scarf
Trait: Justified
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- X-Scissor
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- Close Combat
My all-out mixed physical attacker. Choice scarf is there for him to outspeed just about everything without priority. It works with him having choice scarf instead of band, because his attack is already high enough to do substantial damage even on non-STAB attacks. X-Scissor is to anticipate the pesky Psychic types that like to switch in; Earthquake is for any fire and electric type, but also for Chandelure who likes to anticipate a Close Combat upon switch in; Stone Edge and Close Combat are for the STABs and the types they combat (no pun intended).
MOST BAMF PICTURE EVER!!!
Landorus (M) @ Life Orb
Trait: Sand Force
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SAtk / 252 Spd
Naive Nature (+Spd, -SDef)
- Earthquake
- Rock Polish
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Rock Slide
My favorite of the genies, this guy actually can act as an effective sweeper if Terrakion gets a miss off of stone edge and is taken out unseemingly. If he gets a Rock Polish off, he can outspeed anything that would outspeed him otherwise, which isn't a problem as he's already pretty fast. Earthquake is the obvious stab, plus Rock Slide for pesky fliers and a check against his ice weakness. Hidden Power ice is (as previously stated) namely for Gliscor, but also a mirror match and Dragon types that Mamoswine can't handle.
Heatran (M) @ Air Balloon
Trait: Flash Fire
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Modest Nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Flamethrower
- Flash Cannon
- Earthpower
- Hidden Power [Grass]
Yes, I've tested only a few battles with this guy and he WRECKS unprepared Sun teams, which is just what I've been lacking! Flamethrower fills the obvious STAB role, then Flash Cannon actually hits pretty hard if it's neutral damage; otherwise I'm not exactly sure what else to run in that spot. Earthpower is towards other fire types like Chandelure, other Heatrans without balloon, etc. I tried Hidden Power Grass mainly for Swampert and Quagsire - which works well - and also because Hidden Power Ice is already on Landorus.
(I lol'ed at this pic)
Starmie @ Expert Belt
Trait: Natural Cure
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Ice Beam
- Surf
- Psychic
- Thunderbolt
Deer sweet Starmie. Along with Breloom, this one is another that I eventually said to, "if you can't beat them, join them!" And so I did, and boy was I not disappointed; I'm amazed at how many guys Starmie outspeeds! A good speed on a Special Sweeper makes this guy pretty much the MVP of the team. Rapid Spin has since been removed for Ice Beam, giving him more special coverage, and realizing that with Heatran now instead of Darmanitan I don't really have to worry about the likes of Stealth Rock. Surf (now added for more power than Scald) and Psychic are good stabs (with his speed, Machamp and Conkeldurr are no longer problems, as psychic almost ALWAYS OHKOs them). Thunderbolt is for bulky waters that are not also ground, which have proven to give my team trouble time and again. Typically he fulfills the role of special sweeper with flying colors.
Mamoswine (M) @ Focus Sash
Trait: Snow Cloak
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Stealth Rock
- Avalanche
- Earthquake
- Ice Shard
Last but certainly not least, one of my favorites: Mamoswine. I know it's odd putting SR on one of my last guys, but often times I find I don't really need it unless he can set up on a Sun team, in which case he does that quite well. Besides that, he's just a great fast, physical sweeper. Earthquake is an obvious strong STAB, and Ice Shard has worked really well as a priority move that, even though kinda weak, still hits hard with those EVs.
--------------------------------
Threat List
Threat List
Really any bulky water gives me trouble, but I singled out Slowbro because he's the WORST! Even with Breloom, because of Slowbro's bulk, I have no real counter for this guy, and the water typing just tears up most of my team in general. Any recommendations to deal with them without changing the team too radically would be greatly appreciated!
Technician + Bullet Punch, I have learned the hard way, says goodbye to both Terrakion and Mamoswine, who are two main components of the team. Sometimes a Darmanitan switch in isn't enough, especially if he gets a critical hit on bullet punch the first time, in which case it's an easy 2HKO. It's no wonder this guy remains such a force to be reckoned with over the generations.
Remember how I said my team is anti-weather except sun? Well it's true, and this harbinger of death is a nightmare to face. You wouldn't think because of how many rock and ground I have, but the real problem lies with the grass pokemon they pack on their team. Drizzle for a rain team, I could handle. Clorophyll on a sun team?? That's another story. Speaking of which,...
This is the main culprit of killing my team from a Sun standard. Even with their resistances, after a growth on this guy, he can sweep almost ANYTHING with Solar Beam. Again, Darmanitan just isn't enough after a growth, as he can die to a very quick Sludge Bomb, or just be put to sleep by Sleep Powder.
Of course, as a physical wall, this guy can take a lot of hits. You would THINK that thunderbolt on Starmie and Darmanitan in general would be enough, but sadly not, at least not after a few layers of spikes are set up. Then, he can Brave Bird away, typically getting the whole team (save for Terrakion, who can 2HKO sometimes off of Close Combat).
I never understood why this guy was such a powerhouse; but after playing against him so many times, I get it! He's bulky, powerful, and has very few resistances. If he gets Starmie off of my team, typically he can sweep the rest; even Mamoswine if they pack Fire Fang. Also, he effectively is an anti-Breloom lead; even a STAB Seed Bomb won't knock too much off of this guy.
Anything with Prankster can really mess up my team, but Whimsicott is the prime criminal in this field. The best counter is to effectively substitute on Darmanitan, but it can't work if they use taunt. Anyone else have this problem?
--------------------
CLOSING STATEMENTS
Again, thank you for all who read this. This is my first RMT, so if there are some things I left off, please let me know. I'm pretty sure I hit all the points after reading the guidelines, but I could make a mistake or two. I'll be adding more aspects as they're realized. Thanks, and happy rating!
Also, just in case: All images belong to their respective owners on Deviantart.
CLOSING STATEMENTS
Again, thank you for all who read this. This is my first RMT, so if there are some things I left off, please let me know. I'm pretty sure I hit all the points after reading the guidelines, but I could make a mistake or two. I'll be adding more aspects as they're realized. Thanks, and happy rating!
Also, just in case: All images belong to their respective owners on Deviantart.
