Mega Houndoom Focused

KarrsGoVroom

KarrsGoVroom

Hi guys, this is my first UU team and I'm trying to make one built around Mega Houndoom because, well, why not. My aim in this team was to be centered around two lead attackers (one of them being Mega Houndoom), 3 defensive pokemon (Def / Sp Def that could be Utility as well) and 1 Pivot/Offensive pokemon. I'm looking for any suggestions that help work with Mega Houndoom. Here's what my team has to offer so far:

Mega Houndoom
Timid; 252 Sp Atk / 252 Spe / 4 Def
Item: Houndoomite
upload_2014-4-6_18-34-17.png

Moveset:
~ Nasty Plot
~ Fire Blast
~ Dark Pulse
~ Hidden Power Grass

The goal here is to set-up Nasty Plot and wreck people's days. I've had some good plays where it basically destroys some pokemon, while leaving nice dents in bulkier builds. Fire Blast and Dark Pulse are obvious, and Hidden Power Grass is for the Quagsire switch-in. HP Grass OHKOs Quagsire which is good for me, because for having one on my team, I know how annoying it can be. Houndoom's role is too pick off the remaining pokemon that have been weakened by the rest of my team. The high Sp. Atk and Speed are perfect for this, in my opinion.

Toxicroak (Dry Skin)
Adamant; 252 Atk / 4 HP / 252 Spd
Item: Life Orb
upload_2014-4-11_7-7-56.png

Moveset:
~ Drain Punch
~ Poison Jab
~ Sucker Punch
~ Swords Dance / Bulk Up

The goal here is to counter threats such as CroCune and Knock-Off Ambipom. As suggested, this pokemon is great at setting up on CroCune. Most of my original team could not counter Suicune, and with the Calm Mind/Rest Combo, it would sweep my team. Drain Punch usually OHKOs Ambipom, and I can setup Bulk Up or Swords Dance on Suicune. With this new pokemon, it allows for more weaknesses to be covered rather than what Sawsbuck or Bouffalant would be able to take.

Tornadus (Prankster)
Jolly; 252 Atk / 252 Spe / 4 HP
upload_2014-4-6_18-46-41.png

Moveset:
~ Acrobatics
~ Bulk-Up
~ Superpower
~ U-Turn

With Tornadus-T gone, this was my only other choice to help switch-in on Fighting Type moves. Priority Bulk-Up is something that caught my attention and was another reason why I chose it. It's purpose is to either scout or set-up. You may also notice that it's not holding any item, Flying Gem is unreleased so I had to opt for nothing in the item slot so that Acrobatics could have more power. I also had to invest heavily in Speed to justify U-turn.

Quagsire (Unaware)
Relaxed; 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpDef
Item: Leftovers
upload_2014-4-6_18-53-37.png

Moveset:
~ Recover
~ Scald
~ Earthquake
~ Toxic

The goal of Quagsire is pretty clear: Defense wall that can switch into opponents trying to set-up. Scald and Toxic may look redundant, but the goal here was to choose which ailment I want to set. I switch-in Quagsire alot, so if someone is trying to set-up physically (Honchkrow, etc) then I pray for Burn from Scald. If there is a Milotic, then I can choose Toxic.

Empoleon (Torrent)
Calm; 252 HP/ 252 SpDef / 4 SpAtk
Item: Leftovers
upload_2014-4-6_18-58-22.png

Moveset:
~ Defog
~ Stealth Rock
~ Scald
~ Roar

Now I know what your thinking, why the hell did I put in another pokemon that is weak to Fighting. Well, the role of this pokemon is what I found the most useful to me: set-up rocks, defog out entry hazards on my side, Roar out those trying to set-up. I didn't want to only have to rely on Quagsire to counter set-ups, so this was why I chose Empoleon. However... The Fighting type weakness still poses as a problem for me.


Mismagius (Levitate)
Bold; 252 HP / 176 Def / 80 Spe
Item: Leftovers
upload_2014-4-6_19-3-49.png

Moveset:
~ Will-O-Wisp
~ Pain Split
~ Shadow Ball
~ Heal Bell

The goal here was to make a Utility that could switch in on pretty much anything and Heal Bell the team. The reason for the Defense investment was so that it could take hits from both Physical and Special Moves, and if need be, Pain Split to regain health. I want to have at least one pokemon with Heal Bell/Aromatherapy because status ailments are a huge pet peeve of mine. The exception to this is if I end up changing for a pokemon that has the ability: Guts.

Previous Choices:

~ Sap Sipper Sawsbuck
~ Sap Sipper Bouffalant
 

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I like sawsbuck but outside of sun its pretty outclassed. Bouffalant is a better user of sap sipper (though it lacks secondary stab). If you're intent on using sawsbuck, use return because though you have horn leech, your bulk is still compromised by life orb so I wouldn't use it in conjunction with double edge. Return has 102 power iirc so you're only losing out on 18 power and not dying in three turns. Also, jump kick is a nice option as coverage.

As a fast SD sweeper, maybe you could try mienshao instead of sawsbuck. It has a fighting type which offers nice synergy. It also has regenerator which can keep it alive.

Also, mismagius is a favorite of mine, so I appreciate you using it.
 
Ununhexium said:
I like sawsbuck but outside of sun its pretty outclassed. Bouffalant is a better user of sap sipper (though it lacks secondary stab). If you're intent on using sawsbuck, use return because though you have horn leech, your bulk is still compromised by life orb so I wouldn't use it in conjunction with double edge. Return has 102 power iirc so you're only losing out on 18 power and not dying in three turns. Also, jump kick is a nice option as coverage.

As a fast SD sweeper, maybe you could try mienshao instead of sawsbuck. It has a fighting type which offers nice synergy. It also has regenerator which can keep it alive.

Also, mismagius is a favorite of mine, so I appreciate you using it.
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This is very helpful, thank-you!! I actually love both of your suggestions for Bouffalant and Mienshao. The one thing I love about Sap Sipper is that it allows Bouffalant to switch-in on Spores, negating it's effect. In that case I would replace Sawsbuck with Bouffalant. Mienshao is good too, and i've seen it kick some serious butt, but after playing a couple of matches with Bouffalant, i've noticed it synergizes very well with Quagsire. Not only does Sap Sipper make Bouffalant the perfect switch in from Quagsire, but incase my opponent uses another move thats not Grass, Bouffalant has the necessary bulk to take the hit. I've started using the Choice Band set with Bouffalant and it does some serious damage, especially with a Sap Sipper boost.

I'll definitely give Mienshao a shot though, Double U-Turn Scouts with Tornadus and Mienshao may be the thing I was looking for all along in my team. With their high attack and speed, a number of U-Turns on the right pokemon can put the necessary dents I would need for Mega Houndoom to sweep.

I have yet to use it on one pokemon that has caused me some anguish: Knock-Off Ambipom. I'm not sure how well Mienshao can do since Ambipom is faster, but I would imagine Bouffalant to wall Ambipom a bit better, which in turn would allow me to get at least one Superpower off on it.
 
Bump. Was recently playing this team and got destroyed by RestTalk Suicune. I was using Bouffalant as well (whom I must say, does still put in alot of work). I know Horn Leech from Sawsbuck can 2HKO, but i'm not sure if it could do enough damage/take enough of a hit from Suicune to knock it out. What do you guys think?
 
Hello there. Solid team here. CroCune is a pretty potent threat to a lot of teams. Assuming a the usual spread of 252 HP / 252+ Def / 4 SAtk (or was it 4 SDef) and Rest / Sleep Talk / Calm Mind / Scald, Toxicroak counters it completely thanks to Dry Skin. Be sure to scout for Extrasensory before switching in though. Therefore, I suggest replacing Sawsbuck (or is it Bouffalant now) with LO Toxicroak which turns mono attacking CroCune into pure setup fodder. Feel free to explore other pokes though, just note that Suicune could be whittled down by strong physical attacks.
Toxicroak @ Life Orb
Ability: Dry Skin
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 HP / 252 Spd
Adamant Nature / Jolly Nature
- Drain Punch
- Poison Jab
- Sucker Punch
- Swords Dance / Bulk Up
Might want to update the OP now lol. Hope I helped and good luck with your team
 
NotBruceWayne said:
Hello there. Solid team here. CroCune is a pretty potent threat to a lot of teams. Assuming a the usual spread of 252 HP / 252+ Def / 4 SAtk (or was it 4 SDef) and Rest / Sleep Talk / Calm Mind / Scald, Toxicroak counters it completely thanks to Dry Skin. Be sure to scout for Extrasensory before switching in though. Therefore, I suggest replacing Sawsbuck (or is it Bouffalant now) with LO Toxicroak which turns mono attacking CroCune into pure setup fodder. Feel free to explore other pokes though, just note that Suicune could be whittled down by strong physical attacks.
Toxicroak @ Life Orb
Ability: Dry Skin
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 HP / 252 Spd
Adamant Nature / Jolly Nature
- Drain Punch
- Poison Jab
- Sucker Punch
- Swords Dance / Bulk Up
Might want to update the OP now lol. Hope I helped and good luck with your team
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Thank you for the suggestion! I never thought of using Toxicroak, and i've noticed now how well Houndoom and Toxicroak actually go together. Houndoom covers alot of Toxicroak weaknesses AND Txoicroak counters alot of annoying pokemon like Knock-Off Ambipom and CroCune. In terms of the EV spread, are you recommending investment in Special Defense or Speed?
 
KarrsGoVroom said:
Thank you for the suggestion! I never thought of using Toxicroak, and i've noticed now how well Houndoom and Toxicroak actually go together. Houndoom covers alot of Toxicroak weaknesses AND Txoicroak counters alot of annoying pokemon like Knock-Off Ambipom and CroCune. In terms of the EV spread, are you recommending investment in Special Defense or Speed?
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Normally, I'd say max Speed. But if you think that Toxicroak needs more bulk, you should look up threats that Toxicroak needs to outspeed and give him enough Speed EVs to outrun them with their most common sets. Sorry, I can't name a lot of threats to Mega Doom of the top of my head, but Scarf Mienshao and Mega Blastoise are 2 of the top Mega Doom threats I can recall. You do resist all the moves Mienshao commonly carry (HJK, Knock Off, U-turn, Stone Edge or even Poison Jab). Any Mega Blastoise without Ice Beam is easy pickings for Toxicroak. But if it does run Ice Beam, you'll have problems (does about ~60% max to 4 HP Croak). You could run a spread of 248 HP / 252+ Atk / 8 Spd and for bulk but the spreads are really up to you. Btw, if you're going to invest in bulk, I suggest investing in HP because it improves your overall bulk. Good luck with your team!

EDIT: Toxicroak and Houndoom share a weakness to Ground. Better have someone to cover that lol
 
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If you use SD invest in speed with LO. If you use bulk up, I would invest in bulk with leftovers. Both can screw crocune. Force a switch and nab a boost. Then you can do a lot of damage. You could turn your weakness into a win condition for thus team.
 
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