Introduction and Building Process
I built this because I wanted to see whether I could build some non-standard teams and still be successful. I was actually kind of frustrated with the ladder at the time and so I built this team very quickly. I knew I wanted Nidoking with Stealth Rock and the correct coverage moves to break all the Cele-Pex teams infesting the ladder, and I paired this with Ash - Greninja to pressure the opponent with hazards even more. Nidoking also threatens all of the greninja checks barring Chansey. Then I chose Scizor + Thundurus for volt turning shenanigans, and CB Victini as a solid physical wallbreaker. Lastly, Bulu patched up the holes in the team defensively and also gave me speed control since it is choice scarfed.
Proof of Peak: https://prnt.sc/huue5c
I could possibly have gone further than this, but my aim was just to see how well the team performed rather than to reach a specific point on the ladder. This is also my first solo RMT so apologies for any mistakes.
Team Breakdown
Nidoking @ Life Orb
Ability: Sheer Force
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Earth Power
- Ice Beam
- Flamethrower
- Stealth Rock
The inspiration for the team. I chose these coverage moves to threaten a range of defensive pokemon such as Landorus-t, Toxapex, Celesteela, Ferrothorn and Scizor. It is also my Stealth Rocker since it can often force switches and find a turn to set up rocks.
Greninja-Ash @ Choice Specs
Ability: Battle Bond
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Spikes
- Hydro Pump
- Water Shuriken
- Dark Pulse
This is the standard Greninja set, I chose spikes to threaten the opposing team which is very effective with volt - turn.
Scizor-Mega @ Scizorite
Ability: Technician
EVs: 248 HP / 244 Def / 16 Spe
Impish Nature
- Bullet Punch
- U-turn
- Roost
- Defog
Mega Scizor provides some backbone to the team, switching into physical attackers such as Landorus-t and Mega Lopunny. It also provides momentum with U-Turn, allowing me to bring in threats such as Nidoking and Victini more easily. I originally wanted this to be SD but after adding in Thundurus and Victini I decided to make it defog instead. It is just the standard ev spread from the calc and could possibly be optimised, I haven't really tried.
Thundurus @ Fightinium Z
Ability: Defiant
EVs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Naive Nature
- Volt Switch
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Knock Off
- Focus Blast
Now this set is quite interesting. I wanted volt switch because it worked really well with hazard support and it did a great job of luring in fat mons such as Clefable which Victini can nuke. HP Ice and Z Focus Blast round out the coverage, and I chose knock off as last because it is nice to knock assault vest from tangrowth for greninja (for example). It's just a nice move in the last slot. I think this moveset could potentially be tweaked, for example I could have z superpower instead of focus blast or I could have prankster t wave instead of knock off. So far I have not experimented much, but this moveset has served me very well.
Victini @ Choice Band
Ability: Victory Star
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- V-create
- Bolt Strike
- U-turn
- Brick Break
This pokemon is incredibly strong, and most of the time you will be clicking V-Create. If the opponent has a Tyranitar/Heatran you can just U Turn or Brick Break them on the switch. It's typing helps out a lot with threats such as Kartana and Lele if Scizor becomes too pressured. This pokemon is also my main weapon against stall (more on this in the threatlist).
Tapu Bulu @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Grassy Surge
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Wood Hammer
- Horn Leech
- Superpower
- Stone Edge
This pokemon holds my team together by checking threats such as Tapu Koko and Ash Greninja. It is also some much needed speed control and can sometimes net some surprise kills since not many people expect this to be the scarfer. It can hit relatively hard with wood hammer and can also nab pokemon such as Pinsir and Tornadus-t on the switch with stone edge.
Threatlist
Stall: These are usually only an issue if the opponent has more than one solid fire resist along with a way to reliably keep hazards off the field. If this is the case, then Victini is hard pressed to break through because you need to predict correctly every turn to stand a chance. Other stall archetypes fall to the combined pressure of knock off + vswitch Thundurus, spikes Greninja, and CB Victini. I have actually beaten stall many times with this team, but certain archetypes are more annoying than others.
Protean Greninja with HP Fire: I actually never faced this on the ladder since it is very rare, but I imagine it would be a big issue since only Tapu Bulu can outspeed it. However it can still be played around using my own Greninja and also Scizor's priority if Greninja has just used ice beam.
Ash Greninja: A well played Ash Greninja can be an issue since Bulu without an AV isnt the most reliable answer, however it can be played around.
Kommo-o: He is lowkey broken
Nidoking @ Life Orb
Ability: Sheer Force
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Earth Power
- Ice Beam
- Flamethrower
- Stealth Rock
Greninja-Ash @ Choice Specs
Ability: Battle Bond
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Spikes
- Hydro Pump
- Water Shuriken
- Dark Pulse
Scizor-Mega @ Scizorite
Ability: Technician
EVs: 248 HP / 244 Def / 16 Spe
Impish Nature
- Bullet Punch
- U-turn
- Roost
- Defog
Thundurus @ Fightinium Z
Ability: Defiant
EVs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Naive Nature
- Volt Switch
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Knock Off
- Focus Blast
Victini @ Choice Band
Ability: Victory Star
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- V-create
- Bolt Strike
- U-turn
- Brick Break
Tapu Bulu @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Grassy Surge
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Wood Hammer
- Horn Leech
- Superpower
- Stone Edge
Ability: Sheer Force
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Earth Power
- Ice Beam
- Flamethrower
- Stealth Rock
Greninja-Ash @ Choice Specs
Ability: Battle Bond
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Spikes
- Hydro Pump
- Water Shuriken
- Dark Pulse
Scizor-Mega @ Scizorite
Ability: Technician
EVs: 248 HP / 244 Def / 16 Spe
Impish Nature
- Bullet Punch
- U-turn
- Roost
- Defog
Thundurus @ Fightinium Z
Ability: Defiant
EVs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Naive Nature
- Volt Switch
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Knock Off
- Focus Blast
Victini @ Choice Band
Ability: Victory Star
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- V-create
- Bolt Strike
- U-turn
- Brick Break
Tapu Bulu @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Grassy Surge
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Wood Hammer
- Horn Leech
- Superpower
- Stone Edge
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7ou-682006732 - Thundurus puts in work
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7ou-682019953 - Nidoking wallbreaks and Bulu cleans up, also gets a surprise kill
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7ou-682029051 - Win vs standard stall
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7ou-682048976 - Win vs Suicune Stall
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7ou-682537970 - Greninja sweep
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7ou-682488954 - Knock off thundurus helping out greninja
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7ou-682558507 - An example of Nidoking winning at team preview if used right
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7ou-682019953 - Nidoking wallbreaks and Bulu cleans up, also gets a surprise kill
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7ou-682029051 - Win vs standard stall
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7ou-682048976 - Win vs Suicune Stall
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7ou-682537970 - Greninja sweep
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7ou-682488954 - Knock off thundurus helping out greninja
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7ou-682558507 - An example of Nidoking winning at team preview if used right
s/o WoA
