Among the base 108 Fighting types in Pokemon, Infernape has been the most badass looking to me. I mean just look at dat flamin' head. Coupled with base 104 attacking stats, it could potentially go mixed. But Keldeo or Terrakion outclasses it in one way or the other due to superior bulk and better attacking stat on a certain side. Why choose Ape? Simple. Sheer unpredictability. You'll never know what moves it'll carry until it actually attacks. Well, I kinda started off with Nasty Plot Infernape until I figured that it's ridiculously hard to set up unlike the other base 108s. So I made up this weird strategy that will be explained in the next section. :]
Anyway, here's the actual team.
Infernrape (Infernape) @ Leftovers
Trait: Blaze
EVs: 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature
- Fire Blast
- Focus Blast
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Grass Knot
I think I got you when the title said Infernape's plot....nasty. HAHA anyway yep, there's no Nasty Plot. I shall explain to you later why Celebi has a label of secret weapon. Well you can just guess. So you might be wondering why there is no Nasty Plot. Well I left everything for coverage. First, I needed dual STAB and then one coverage move if I opted for NP. Well that just sucks cause I'll be walled by certain Pokemon. I wanted as much coverage as possible. You'll also think that this Ape is weak since it has no Life Orb or anything. Well there's something called Celebi and Bato......nevermind that one. Max speed and special attack to maximize damage. After all, Infernape isn't the one to take hits. Timid to speed tie with other 108s and beat everything slower. That's it really. It works with or without boosts:]
Scar (Tyranitar) @ Choice Band
Trait: Sand Stream
EVs: 80 Spd / 252 Atk / 176 HP
Adamant Nature
- Crunch
- Pursuit
- Stone Edge
- Superpower
So Infernape's main problem is faster Pokemon. Most of which are weak to Tyranitar's STAB dark type moves. Most of them happen to be special attackers. Well I wanted to checkmate all of them at once so here it is, Choice Band Tyranitar. Once it has done its job, it still remains as a powerful threat with dat base 304 attack and the bulk that allows it to take hits and go for the kill. Crunch and Pursuit because there is no proper STAB move for every moment. Stone Edge is, I hate to admit but, Tyranitar's strongest move. Superpower is there for coverage against steel and fighting Pokemon hoping to sponge my STABs, well not that they can take too much hits anyway. Superpower also happens to be the safest move to throw about as fighting moves have great coverage in general. Other than raw power and trapping, Tyranitar is basically there to provide sandstorm for Landorus.
Not a threat (Celebi) @ Leftovers
Trait: Natural Cure
EVs: 252 HP / 224 SDef / 32 Spd
Calm Nature
- Baton Pass
- Nasty Plot
- Giga Drain
- Substitute
Well here it is, the star. Celebi, as you may have guessed, is a Baton Passer. With Nasty Plot and Giga Drain, it isn't a dead weight when my receivers are fainted. Also since Sand teams in general tend to be weak to Keldeo, I opted for Celebi and apparently, Smogon has a Baton Passing set which solves my set up problems with Ape. Rotom could also be a potential receiver as Nasty Plot powers up its already strong Hydro Pump. If conditions aren't in its favor, Rotom can simply smack something with a +2 Volt Switch. If my special attackers are dead, Baton Pass won't lose its use. Substitute works as a cushion for my receivers as Celebi has excellent bulk and HP. 101 subs make sure that Seismic Toss and Night Shade won't break and I can easily set up a Nasty Plot then make another sub then pass or Giga Drain whichever fits the situation. Substitute happens to be a very versatile move that can work for my physical attackers as all of them have decent bulk to take hits and high attack stats to dish out pain.
Power (Rotom-Wash) @ Leftovers
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 232 HP / 56 SAtk / 220 Spd
Modest Nature
- Hydro Pump
- Volt Switch
- Will-O-Wisp
- Pain Split
While this variant does not have the speed and power of the Choiced sets, Bulky Rotom-W makes up for the ability to take hits and somewhat be a sturdy wall with W-o-W and Pain Split. Hydro Pump is the strongest move and is generally used when I just want to stay in and hit something hard. Otherwise, Volt Switch out to something appropriate and start gaining momentum. Rotom-W also serves as my Mamoswine check as Mamo can give this team hell with its STAB attacks alone. Rotom-W also shuts down any physical attackers as its typing allows it to switch in with ease and start spamming WoWs everywhere. Though I may have trouble against bulky mons since Rotom doesn't have much power, but that job is left to a +2 Infernape with a massive coverage and high base power STAB moves.
Roasted (Metagross) @ Leftovers
Trait: Clear Body
EVs: 248 HP / 100 Atk / 160 SDef
Adamant Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Meteor Mash
- Earthquake
- Ice Punch
The only reliable Stealth Rocker that fits my team. Metagross isn't used much due to the nerf of some moves and the massive power creep in BW/2. But Metagross' typing still comes in handy at times when I just want to bring in something and (Meteor) sMash things. Forgive my very bad pun but whatever. Earthquake provides coverage against steels (though sometimes I would want Hammer Arm for Ferrothorn) and Ice Punch for dragons that I wall. Over all, Metagross isn't a Pokemon that's gonna end up in UU or BL any time soon. It's still very potent and very powerful.
Doom Bringer (Landorus) (M) @ Choice Scarf
Trait: Sand Force
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Spd / 4 SAtk
Naive Nature
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- U-turn
Cleaner. Nothing more to say. Just kidding. Of course I have to describe my back up plan in case Infernape dies too early. Coupled with Sand Force, STAB Earthquake coming from a base 125 attack stat will dent every single thing that doesn't resist it. Ferrothorn takes 45% and above, a 2HKO with some prior damage. Some troublesome walls will be taken care of after Stealth Rock damage. Besides, some Pokemon that can avoid a 2HKO will be forced to take some prior damage as I can simply U-turn out and force them out into something else as I switch into a check or counter and they also receive more SR damage as they switch back in, which leads into a solid 2HKO. Ok for the legit explanation. Early game and Late game are two different things for Choice Scarf Landorus. Early game, it's just meant to U-turn or revenge kill. Late game is where the fun begins. STAB Earthquake is very much explained above. Stone Edge overkills everything that resists Earthquake. Hidden Power Ice murders Gliscor and Landorus-T switch ins. I gotta be impressed. Landorus is the only Pokemon (currently) who has two distinct formes that are OU.
Overall, I think Gyarados is the biggest threat to this team. It can be played around though. Depending on the moves it uses, I can easily play around. Other things like Keldeo are taken care of by Celebi and Rotom-W.
