Hey, so this be the first team I've posted a team on the forums but I'm not exactly new to team-building. After getting wrecked by a team that featured Memento shenanigans I decided I'd give it a go myself and see if it was actually a feasible strategy. Result? Very fun and actually works out quite well for the most part. Physical walls, particularly bulky waters can be pretty troublesome but if they get worn down early-game or take enough damage from rocks I can usually work around them. As you can imagine, this team makes battles very fast-paced so climbing the ladder hasn't been too hard so far.
In-Depth
Whimsicott @ Leftovers
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 252 Spd / 248 HP / 8 SDef
Timid Nature
- Stun Spore/Leech Seed
- Substitute/Leech Seed
- Memento
- Encore/Leech Seed/U-turn/Giga Drain
Whimsicott has proven itself pretty invaluable, and almost no one seems to expect the Memento from it. Generally I have it come in on resisted hits, encore unless I expect a switch-out, sub to scout moves and Memento when it's in on some set-up bait. Paralysis is somewhat useful but rarely any scarfers come in on Whims, so it feels a little redundant. Leech Seed is aright, but this set doesn't really get to stall a whole lot and any other moves do mostly chip damage. I was originally running a Scarf-Switcheroo set but that ended up forcing Whimsicott to Memento not always at favourable times more often than not. Overall though, this Pokemon's proved to be pretty solid and very often paves the way for a sweep.
Cloyster @ White Herb
Ability: Skill Link
EVs: 252 Spd / 252 Atk / 4 HP
Jolly Nature
- Icicle Spear
- Razor Shell
- Rock Blast
- Shell Smash
Come in after a Memento or two mid-late game and sweep. Pretty simple stuff. The difference between Adamant and Jolly is pretty noticeable but it's annoying to have sacked teammates with Memento only to have Cloyster outsped and KO'd after getting in just one KO. I might switch back to Adamant though since some of the physical walls can check this really well. Cloyster is only really stopped by Blastoise/Slowbro/Milotic/Intimidate Scrafty and a few other less-seen threats, so once they're out of the way it's smooth-sailing. Life Orb is tempting, but White Herb ensures quite a surprising bulk after a memento or two.
Empoleon @ Leftovers
Ability: Torrent
EVs: 252 Def / 252 HP / 4 SAtk
Bold Nature
- Defog
- Scald
- Roar
- Stealth Rock
My lead and probably the least valuable member of the team. Its main function is to prevent rocks staying on my side of the field through Defog/Roar/Scald pressure, and hopefully get rocks of my own up. Often I find myself just sacking it by spamming Scald to weaken down bulky walls that my team will have trouble with later on, particularly Blastoise. That being said, it's still quite a good Pokemon at luring Choiced Thunderbolts which is exactly what Dugtrio loves.
Dugtrio @ Focus Sash
Ability: Arena Trap
EVs: 252 Spd / 252 Atk / 4 HP
Jolly Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- Hone Claws/Stone Edge/Final Gambit
- Memento
Very underrated Pokemon imo. The amount of times I've brought this in on Thunderbolt-locked Nidoking/Porygon-Z/Azelf and got rocks up and revenge killed is pretty amazing. It's also great at coming in on Chandelure/Arcanine/Victini (particularly after V-create) and disposing of them after a Whimsicott Memento. I originally ran Final Gambit in the third slot with max HP over Attack, but it would never quite OHKO anything and Stone Edge was never really doing a whole lot. Occasionally Dugtrio can set-up Hone Claws and go for its own mini-sweep late game before Memento sacrificing after being knocked down to Sash. Even Cloyster becomes very bulky after a double Memento.
Aerodactyl @ Aerodactylite
Ability: Unnerve
EVs: 252 Spd / 252 Atk / 4 HP
Jolly Nature
- Hone Claws
- Aerial Ace
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
Pretty good late-game cleaner. It can take quite a lot of hits from its typing after a Memento, but usually it only needs to take one to get up a HC and sweep. This is usually more for if Cloyster can't come in on something as it's not as effective at cleaning, but can still do work. Hippowdon and co. give it a good bit of trouble. It has quite a bit of overlap with Honchkrow, but they don't render each other redundant. Aero can take the Electric types that Dugtrio never got quite often, while Honchkrow gets the Grass generally.
Honchkrow @ Life Orb
Ability: Moxie
EVs: 4 Spd / 252 HP / 252 Atk
Adamant Nature
- Brave Bird
- Substitute
- Roost
- Sucker Punch
Come in after a Memento, sub, wreck. Honchkrow does quite a good job after Memento at sweeping when Cloyster can't come in. Things like Tangrowth, Slowbro, Milotic and a few others really can't do anything once Honch subs and it usually means gg if I can predict correctly with when to Sucker Punch/Brave Bird.
In-Depth
Whimsicott @ Leftovers
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 252 Spd / 248 HP / 8 SDef
Timid Nature
- Stun Spore/Leech Seed
- Substitute/Leech Seed
- Memento
- Encore/Leech Seed/U-turn/Giga Drain
Whimsicott has proven itself pretty invaluable, and almost no one seems to expect the Memento from it. Generally I have it come in on resisted hits, encore unless I expect a switch-out, sub to scout moves and Memento when it's in on some set-up bait. Paralysis is somewhat useful but rarely any scarfers come in on Whims, so it feels a little redundant. Leech Seed is aright, but this set doesn't really get to stall a whole lot and any other moves do mostly chip damage. I was originally running a Scarf-Switcheroo set but that ended up forcing Whimsicott to Memento not always at favourable times more often than not. Overall though, this Pokemon's proved to be pretty solid and very often paves the way for a sweep.
Cloyster @ White Herb
Ability: Skill Link
EVs: 252 Spd / 252 Atk / 4 HP
Jolly Nature
- Icicle Spear
- Razor Shell
- Rock Blast
- Shell Smash
Come in after a Memento or two mid-late game and sweep. Pretty simple stuff. The difference between Adamant and Jolly is pretty noticeable but it's annoying to have sacked teammates with Memento only to have Cloyster outsped and KO'd after getting in just one KO. I might switch back to Adamant though since some of the physical walls can check this really well. Cloyster is only really stopped by Blastoise/Slowbro/Milotic/Intimidate Scrafty and a few other less-seen threats, so once they're out of the way it's smooth-sailing. Life Orb is tempting, but White Herb ensures quite a surprising bulk after a memento or two.
Empoleon @ Leftovers
Ability: Torrent
EVs: 252 Def / 252 HP / 4 SAtk
Bold Nature
- Defog
- Scald
- Roar
- Stealth Rock
My lead and probably the least valuable member of the team. Its main function is to prevent rocks staying on my side of the field through Defog/Roar/Scald pressure, and hopefully get rocks of my own up. Often I find myself just sacking it by spamming Scald to weaken down bulky walls that my team will have trouble with later on, particularly Blastoise. That being said, it's still quite a good Pokemon at luring Choiced Thunderbolts which is exactly what Dugtrio loves.
Dugtrio @ Focus Sash
Ability: Arena Trap
EVs: 252 Spd / 252 Atk / 4 HP
Jolly Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- Hone Claws/Stone Edge/Final Gambit
- Memento
Very underrated Pokemon imo. The amount of times I've brought this in on Thunderbolt-locked Nidoking/Porygon-Z/Azelf and got rocks up and revenge killed is pretty amazing. It's also great at coming in on Chandelure/Arcanine/Victini (particularly after V-create) and disposing of them after a Whimsicott Memento. I originally ran Final Gambit in the third slot with max HP over Attack, but it would never quite OHKO anything and Stone Edge was never really doing a whole lot. Occasionally Dugtrio can set-up Hone Claws and go for its own mini-sweep late game before Memento sacrificing after being knocked down to Sash. Even Cloyster becomes very bulky after a double Memento.
Aerodactyl @ Aerodactylite
Ability: Unnerve
EVs: 252 Spd / 252 Atk / 4 HP
Jolly Nature
- Hone Claws
- Aerial Ace
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
Pretty good late-game cleaner. It can take quite a lot of hits from its typing after a Memento, but usually it only needs to take one to get up a HC and sweep. This is usually more for if Cloyster can't come in on something as it's not as effective at cleaning, but can still do work. Hippowdon and co. give it a good bit of trouble. It has quite a bit of overlap with Honchkrow, but they don't render each other redundant. Aero can take the Electric types that Dugtrio never got quite often, while Honchkrow gets the Grass generally.
Honchkrow @ Life Orb
Ability: Moxie
EVs: 4 Spd / 252 HP / 252 Atk
Adamant Nature
- Brave Bird
- Substitute
- Roost
- Sucker Punch
Come in after a Memento, sub, wreck. Honchkrow does quite a good job after Memento at sweeping when Cloyster can't come in. Things like Tangrowth, Slowbro, Milotic and a few others really can't do anything once Honch subs and it usually means gg if I can predict correctly with when to Sucker Punch/Brave Bird.
