The Team:
A Note:
Sorry this won't be the best rmt, I should be studying for a test right now but I decided to take a break and post this since I won't have time to peak higher.
Team Building Process:
The team started with an interesting Gholdengo set I lost to on ladder in mid-1900s with Vert's fairy spam. They were using Sub-Salac with Dazzling Gleam Tera Fairy, which I later changed to Focus Blast and Tera Dark when Roaring Moon was banned. I wanted to abuse the set in a similar way that my opponent did, using screens, but find a way to support it and tailor a team to its strengths, which I will write about in the set description. With that decision made, I needed a screens setter, and I was dissatisfied with the lack of defensive utility brought by setters like Grimmsnarl and Alolan-Ninetales. Dragapult offered a Fire and Water resist that could emergency check dangerous threats like Iron Moth, Cinderace, and Ogerpon with Thunder Wave. Next I thought that Grassy Terrain + Reflect would give Gholdengo an abundance of setup opportunities into all kinds of teams, namely balance (like Stresh balance with Gliscor) and stall. So, I added CB Rillaboom (my favorite even though some good players I know prefer AV) and Sneasler. The last two slots went through many variations. I was very tempted to run hazards to abuse Gholdengo's ability and my two ghost types, but I found that neither could threaten offensive tusk well, with Gholdengo underspeeding and Dragapult running twave>wisp. So, I scrapped the idea of running hazards entirely, and focused on Ghold's ability to shred defensive structures and its newfound sweeping potential with Salac Berry. CM Valiant and Tera Fire Kingambit were chosen to further abuse screens (and Gterrain in gambit's case) and to provide additional ways to revenge Cinderace and especially Iron Moth.
Gholdengo
Gholdengo @ Salac Berry
Ability: Good as Gold
Tera Type: Dark
EVs: 20 HP / 236 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Substitute
- Nasty Plot
- Shadow Ball
- Focus Blast
This. Set. Is. Insane. I will show replays at the end of the RMT to illustrate it, but trust me, play with it smartly for a few games and you will be rewarded with some very exciting moments. Sub not only gives you the opportunity for Salac activations, it provides opportunities to set up and beat threats like Garganacl and Haze-Mirror Coat Milotic (if you outplay/get SpDef drops). Tera Dark is for resisting Dark + Ghost, common revenge killers for Ghold, and 20 HP EVs gives an HP stat divisible by 4. Some advice on usage. When facing webs, lead this and sub. Then NP and sub again when they break the sub w/ Ribombee's moonblast. NP and sub again to reach salac range. I have 6-0d several webs with this setup or at least gotten 2-3 mons for one with Gholdengo, which is more value than it otherwise would get in the webs matchup without Air Balloon.
Dragapult
Dragapult (F) @ Light Clay
Ability: Clear Body
Tera Type: Water / Fairy
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Thunder Wave
- Hex
- Light Screen
- Reflect
This is another set that I'm proud of, but is somewhat less unique than the Ghold set. I was disatisfied with Curse's inability to threaten Gliscor, so I decided to invest in offense with Hex to not only give Pult utility outsite of screens, but pick up surprise chip on Gliscor. It is also helpful for things like Clefable, Heatran, and endgame Dondozo. I mentioned that this also serves an important role as a Fire check for a team that is otherwise quite weak to Cinderace/Iron Moth. Tera Water was chosen to be neutral to Dazzling Gleam while maintaining Fire Resistance, but other teras are possible. It is also nice for resisting Ice Spinner from booster tusk. Pult is the most common lead for the team, followed by Rillaboom. I always lead pult against Glimmora HO, as paraing it, setting screens, and killing with haze is the most efficient way you have to kill it without risking poison on Rilla/Valiant.
Rillaboom
Rillaboom (F) @ Choice Band
Ability: Grassy Surge
Tera Type: Grass
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Wood Hammer
- Grassy Glide
- Knock Off
- U-turn
There really isn't much to say about this mon. It's a fantastic addition to the tier especially since Bax left us. Great priority into offense and breaking power with entry opportunities against everything else. I decided to go with Jolly to speedtie other base 85s like Hammurott and outspeed other Rillas with Uturn, though I admit that's a matter of preference. I mentioned earlier that Rilla is the second most common lead. I lead it especially when encountering Gliscor structures, as they tend to lead and protect turn 1 to scout the choice locked move and activate Toxic Orb. Wood Hammer T1 and then double to Ghold or Pult on their Rillaboom answer (Amoong/Corv/Mandibuzz/etc.) to setup, setup screens, or spread para.
Sneasler
Sneasler (F) @ Grassy Seed
Ability: Unburden
Tera Type: Dark
EVs: 216 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def / 36 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Dire Claw
- Low Kick
- Lash Out
- Swords Dance
Sneasler is a great addition to the team with Rillaboom, though I may consider building versions without her. This spread outspeeds Booster Valiant with unburden activated. Though, you may choose to go two points higher to oustpeed Ribombee under webs. I think that Dark/Ghost coverage on Sneasler is the way to go because getting walled by 2/3 top 3 mons sounds so bad. Tera and Gterrain can help you boost through Gliscor, though. This is the most intuitive addition to the team, use her like you would use any Sneasler. Clean with her or SD and force tera for another member to clean.
Iron Valiant
Iron Valiant @ Booster Energy
Ability: Quark Drive
Tera Type: Steel
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Moonblast
- Focus Blast
- Psyshock
- Calm Mind
This is my favorite Ival set right now, even if Focus Blast has tilted me more than a few times. The ability to power through somewhat bulky checks like Rillaboom, Ogerpon, and Cinderace that expect to be able to take a Moonblast and revenge, as well as beating Heatran and Zamazentas that tera steel on your Moonblast is so satisfying. Idk, use the thing like you would use Ival on any offense. Tera steel is for other vals but mainly it's to avoid Toxic and set up on Clefables that don't cary Sticky Barb/Twave.
Kingambit
Kingambit (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Supreme Overlord
Tera Type: Fire
EVs: 240 HP / 252 Atk / 16 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Kowtow Cleave
- Iron Head
- Sucker Punch
- Swords Dance
I may talk later in this post about how I want Gholdengo banned, but this thing should have gone a long time ago. It's your wincon in so many matchups. I chose to forgo Low Kick/a different terablast option because the rest of the team already beats up on other Kingambits. Tera fire is for Iron Moth and Will-o-Wisp users. I have run many different amounts of speed on this and odds are if you run into me on ladder after this I'm running more :P. But I prefer bulk on this team especially because it's our only solid pult answer outside of tera.
Threat List:
/
: Wall Gholdengo and can set upTera Poison
: Save Dragapult to twave it or get Ghold going before it comes in.
: The team's stall matchup is pretty good but this fucker nullifies that. Thankfully less common now.
: sash can just win :/Unaware Setup
: run encore on val if you anticipate facing thisReplays:
Webs getting gholded
Peak
Will add more, I just have too many replays saved privately and I'm tired of writing.
Acknowledgements:
Shoutout Storm Zone and MAVERICK SHOOTERS for looking at this team and offering input. Shoutout njnp for being a great friend and mentor on this site. Shoutout Vkhss Exotic64 Srn awyp for watching games while I laddered and being great friends. And shoutout to whatever demon was running this set on ladder in the first place, I'm glad I could improve it and "peak" (I know I didn't actually) with it.
Finally, a word from my good friend SEA
Anyway, leng signing off. Wishing everyone a sp00ky late Halloween.
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