SS OU My first attempt at a Competitive team, Cinderace team

[Faikou]

Hey everyone! I just recently decided to get into the competitive scene. I think I understand it quite well, and I’m ready to start, but my main problem is my team. I need to know if it’s good. The team is revolved around Cinderace, my favorite Gen 8 Pokémon. I’ve tested them out in Showdown for the past week, and they do pretty good. My MAIN problem, is Trick Room. My whole team just goes to hell in Trick Room

Cinderace (M) @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Blaze
Happiness: 160
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Pyro Ball
- U-turn
- Sucker Punch
- Court Change

Cinderace is the main Pokémon on the team. Good Speed, Good Attack, and Court Change takes care of those stupid Spikes/Stealth Rock. Pyro Ball is by far his best Fire Move, U-Turn allows him to get out safely while still dealing damage, and Sucker Punch has good priority for Dragapult. I’m not sure if this is the best set for him, but If anything needs changing, please let me know.

Toxtricity (M) @ Throat Spray
Ability: Punk Rock
Happiness: 160
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Overdrive
- Boomburst
- Sludge Bomb
- Volt Switch

Toxtricity is here because he kinda covers Cinderace’s Water Weakness. He hits Fairies pretty hard and is a great counter for Sub/Bulk Up Corviknight. Overdrive is a great move that goes through Subs, Sludge Bomb is his best poison move, Boomburst has excellent damage, and Volt Switch to get outta there. The Throat Spray is one of the best/only ways for this Pokémon to higher it’s SpA

Grimmsnarl (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 248 HP / 88 Atk / 172 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Taunt
- Thunder Wave
- Spirit Break
- Sucker Punch

Grimmsnarl is here because of his great Offensive and Defensive typing. Taunt takes care of Pokémon who rely on status moves, and Thunder Wave+Prankster is an amazing counter to Dragapult’s incredible speed. The rest are just Good STAB

Seismitoad (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Water Absorb
Happiness: 160
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Impish Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Scald
- Earthquake
- Toxic

Seismitoad is great for switching in when someone is about to use a water move. (Banded Dracovish) Stealth Rock sets up annoying hazards for the enemy, and Toxic is great for stalling out some Pokémon with this guys defense. Earthquake and Scald for decent STAB. Also kinda covers Cinderace’s Water, Ground, and Rock weaknesses.

Darmanitan-Galar (M) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Gorilla Tactics
Happiness: 160
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Icicle Crash
- Flare Blitz
- Earthquake
- U-turn

This Pokemon is such a monster, and I couldn’t resist putting it on my team, Scarf + Gorilla Tactics is game over, and it has amazing coverage. I think it’s getting banned from Showdown? Not sure. It outspeeds most Pokemon and can easily OHKO. I don’t think I have to explain this Pokémon’s set. It speaks for itself

Gardevoir (F) @ Choice Specs
Ability: Trace
Shiny: Yes
Happiness: 160
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Moonblast
- Psychic
- Mystical Fire
- Thunderbolt

Lastly, Gardevoir is simply here to Cover some types that the rest of the team doesn’t already. Also, it’s one of my favorite Pokémon and I love using it. Moonblast is her best fairy STAB move, same with Psychic, and Thunderbolt/Mystical Fire are just Coverage. Choice Specs allows her to get the job done pretty well. I don’t think this Pokémon needs to be switched

That was my team! I have all their Shinies in SwSh. Like I said, if anyone has any suggestions, I’d love to hear them. Anything helps and I’m willing to make some changes. Thanks!

 

[chimp]

Hey. So, yes, Darmanitan-Galar is being banned from OU. You can still use it on the cartridge, but you won't be allowed to do so on Pokemon Showdown. So if you intend to do so, you're have to replace it. A couple of good physical attacker replacements include Dracovish, Mamoswine and Conkeldurr.

However, one suggestion I would make would be replacing Darmanitan with Corviknight. Toxtricity and Cinderace make for a good offensive combo, but makes you very susceptible to Ground-type moves, which you otherwise have no resist for. Having no Ground absorber in general is not preferable, because it means your opponent is free to launch out Earthquakes without any real hesitation. Which is great for Ground-types, of course, but also for other powerful Pokemon like Conkeldurr.

Corviknight @ Leftovers
Ability: Mirror Armor
EVs: 252 HP / 76 Def / 180 SpD
Impish Nature
- Brave Bird
- Roost
- Defog / Taunt / Body Press
- U-turn

I suggest using Mirror Armor because it allows Corviknight to function as a decent check to Trick Room. It's more specifically a check to Hatterene, since Corviknight resists both of its STABs and will bounce back the Sp.A drops from Mystical Fire, but in my experience Hatterene is the ringleader of most TR teams. Having another source of U-turn can also help get in one of your frailer attackers in for free. Defog and Taunt are both great but you technically have both covered in Cinderace and Grimmsnarl, respectively (Though, Defog is a bit more consistent in terms of hazard removal than Court Change and Taunt helps your match-up against TR) so you could run Body Press prevents Excadrill from setting up on you.

Hope this helps!

 

[Faikou]

Hey. So, yes, Darmanitan-Galar is being banned from OU. You can still use it on the cartridge, but you won't be allowed to do so on Pokemon Showdown. So if you intend to do so, you're have to replace it. A couple of good physical attacker replacements include Dracovish, Mamoswine and Conkeldurr.

However, one suggestion I would make would be replacing Darmanitan with Corviknight. Toxtricity and Cinderace make for a good offensive combo, but makes you very susceptible to Ground-type moves, which you otherwise have no resist for. Having no Ground absorber in general is not preferable, because it means your opponent is free to launch out Earthquakes without any real hesitation. Which is great for Ground-types, of course, but also for other powerful Pokemon like Conkeldurr.

Corviknight @ Leftovers
Ability: Mirror Armor
EVs: 252 HP / 76 Def / 180 SpD
Impish Nature
- Brave Bird
- Roost
- Defog / Taunt / Body Press
- U-turn

I suggest using Mirror Armor because it allows Corviknight to function as a decent check to Trick Room. It's more specifically a check to Hatterene, since Corviknight resists both of its STABs and will bounce back the Sp.A drops from Mystical Fire, but in my experience Hatterene is the ringleader of most TR teams. Having another source of U-turn can also help get in one of your frailer attackers in for free. Defog and Taunt are both great but you technically have both covered in Cinderace and Grimmsnarl, respectively (Though, Defog is a bit more consistent in terms of hazard removal than Court Change and Taunt helps your match-up against TR) so you could run Body Press prevents Excadrill from setting up on you.

Hope this helps!

Hello! Thanks for replying! I completely forgot about Ground types while making this. In fact, I ran into an Excadrill a little while ago that almost swept me. Corviknight is a Pokémon I’ve actually been considering. Once again, thank you so much. Any help I can get is amazing. I’ll definitely make the switch.