Introduction
With Genesect banned from the metagame, I guess that this Celebi's set is significantly more viable. Although rain teams now have Tornadus-T, which can easily revenge kill NP Celebi, I have my ways to play around him, and good checks to him, so that Tornadus-T is not really a problem.
I made this team after hearing people saying that NP Celebi is not good anymore. I had to prove that they were wrong, and then I made this team. I also made this team for other reasons, such as prove people that Tyranitar is just as good or even better than Hippowdon, that Keldeo is really underrated and physical Landorus is just as good or even better than special Landorus (but only on sandstorm teams of course).
NP Celebi requires some support to function, but it's a good sweeper nonetheless. It has many advantages over other sweepers. First, it has Giga Drain to compensate Life Orb recoil and passive damage from Sandstorm. It also has good coverage, and of relevant things, Celebi only misses out Lati@s and Hydreigon, all of which can easily be checked.
I made this team to battle during Genesect suspect test, where there was a ladder on which Genesect was banned. It was also being used to battle on the brazilian PO server, where I kicked so many asses with this team.
The team
Celebi
Lucas (Celebi) @ Life Orb
Celebi
Trait: Natural Cure
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Nasty Plot
- Giga Drain
- Psychic
- Hidden Power [Fire]
Role: Center of team, sweeper.
This is the star of my team, of course. Celebi is a shitty sweeper? No! With support from the rest of team, Celebi can wreck avoc rain teams, and some other teams like weatherless, sandstorm, and even sun if I manage to win the weather war and deal with some things like Volcarona.
While initially the fact that Celebi is not immune to sand damage, combined with Life Orb recoil would make seem that Celebi was going to have a short time on battle, with Giga Drain, this is not the case. Giga Drain makes up for that, keeping Celebi healthy on battle and giving him a great weapon against Water-types. Psychic is chosen because it also receives STAB, and is my only attack on the team that is super-effective against Fighting-types, although most of them have another common weakness, such as to Fire or Ground, and Conkeldurr is OHKOed by Specs Hydro Pump from my Keldeo (even outside rain). However, it has other applications, such as having great neutral coverage alongside Hidden Power Fire and Giga Drain. It OHKOes the dragons and genies after a Nasty Plot boost. Speaking of Hidden Power Fire, it's there to defeat the Steel-types that Grass + Psychic coverage misses out.
Sadly, this combination leaves Celebi walled by Heatran, Victini, Lati@s and Hydreigon. Hydreigon is easy to check, Heatran and Victini are easy to deal with Keldeo and Landorus, and Lati@s is defeated by Tyranitar.
Forretress
Leonardo (Forretress) (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Sturdy
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SDef
Bold Nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Stealth Rock
- Spikes
- Rapid Spin
- Volt Switch
Role: Hazard setter, spinner
What it does to help Celebi: Setup hazards that make sweeping easier
Forretress never disappointed me, and was (and still is) a staple on most of my teams. It can reliably setup hazards and Rapid Spin. If there's a Ghost-type waiting to block Rapid Spin, Volt Switch is there to scout that Ghost and switch to the appropriate check.
I don't use Toxic Spikes because they suck on this metagame, and because I don't need them for most part. Instead, Stealth Rock and Spikes do the job. I am using a specially defensive EV spread, so that Forretress can survive resisted special attacks such as Draco Meteor.
Stealth Rock is a must for every team. Spikes are also good, though I generally setup Stealth Rock first unless I see that the opponent has too many Pokémon resistant to Stealth Rock but vulnerable to Spikes.
A Bold Nature is choosen because Forretress is not using any relevant physical move to which it needs to use max Attack to deal damage (as Rapid Spin is only being used for its effect). I used a Bold nature and 0 Atk IVs just in case that Forretress gets confused, as it takes less damage from confusion. This also lets Volt Switch deal more damage, although it's really only going to do "significant" damage to Cloyster and things 4x weak to it such as Gyarados.
Tyranitar
Guilherme (Tyranitar) (M) @ Choice Band
Trait: Sand Stream
EVs: 100 HP / 252 Atk / 156 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Stone Edge
- Pursuit
- Crunch
- Superpower
Role: Weather setter, wallbreaker, trapper
What it does to help Celebi: Defeat Lati@s. Can also pursuit some dangerous things, and open holes on the opponent's team
Before someone asks why I haven't chose Hippowdon, let's me explain why. Tyranitar has much more utility in general. It is able to counter/check Lati@s, and can use Pursuit to trap and defeat some dangerous Pokémon. Apart from Psychic and Ghost-types, Tyranitar can trap some frail Choice users locked on the wrong attack, such as Thundurus-T and Tornadus-T locked on Thunder/HP Ice or Hurricane, respectively.
Stone Edge 2HKOes even physically defensive Skarmory, most of time after Stealth Rock damage. Crunch is more reliable than Stone Edge and stronger than Pursuit, and is so powerful that it's able to 2HKO most bulky Water-types, not to mention the havoc that it causes on Psychic-types, slow Ghost-types and more frail things that are neutral to it. Finally, there's Superpower. It's as powerful as Crunch, though I only use it against things weak to it, and when I suspec that the opponent is going to switch a Fighting-type. Superpower deals heavy damage to most Fighting-types, and in fact, it saved me from being swept by a Focus Punch Breloom.
156 Speed EVs are chosen to outspeed minimum Speed Dragonite. 252 Attack EVs for obvious reasons, and the rest goes to HP, for more bulk.
Landorus
Gustavo (Landorus) (M) @ Choice Scarf
Trait: Sand Force
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SAtk / 252 Spd
Naive Nature (+Spd, -SDef)
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- U-turn
- Hidden Power [Ice]
Role: Revenge killer, late-game sweeper
What it does to help Celebi: Outspeed and defeat some dangerous things, especially Tornadus-T.
Landorus is the best revenge killer for sandstorm teams, on my opinion. It becomes stronger with sandstorm, has U-Turn for scouting, and outspeeds so many dangerous threats, such as Dragonite and Salamence after a Dragon Dance boost.
It's very sad that Landorus doesn't have a good Flying-type attack, but Earthquake and Stone Edge generally give sufficient coverage for him. Hidden Power Ice is rarely needed, but is useful against Landorus-T and Gliscor. It's also more reliable against Dragon-types, although even Stone Edge does more damage if they weren't previously weakened.
Keldeo
Vitor (Keldeo) @ Choice Specs
Trait: Justified
EVs: 252 SAtk / 4 SDef / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Hydro Pump
- Secret Sword
- Hidden Power [Electric]
- Icy Wind
Role: Wallbreaker, late-game sweeper, dealing with some things like Steel-types
What it does to help Celebi: Deal with some things like Heatran, and open holes on the opponent's team. It's a great attacker in general.
Keldeo was a blessing to my team. The primary reason why I put him is because it can deal with some things that I would need, for example, of Fire-type attacks to deal with, such as Scizor and Ferrothorn, both of which are OHKOed by Hydro Pump (even outside rain) and 2HKOed by Secret Sword, respectively. Although Keldeo is depply associated with rain, it wrecks avoc on sandstorm as well.
If you don't have anything with good Special Defense AND a resistance to Water not named Chansey or Blissey, good luck trying to tank a Specs-boosted Hydro Pump. Even the aforementioned blobs are defeated by Secret Sword. Having a STAB Fighting-type attack is always good to deal with Rock-, Dark- and Steel-types, all of which are common on the metagame. Secret Sword also hits the opponent's defense, which somewhat means that Keldeo is technically a mixed wallbreaker, and it is the only special attacker that can easily bypass the pink blobs without prior setup!
My choice of Hidden Power was Electric. I don't need Hidden Power Ghost because Tyranitar and Landorus can both easily deal with Celebi. So, I chose Hidden Power Electric because it still lets Keldeo bypass Jellicent, but it also deals with Gyarados and Tentacruel, both of which would give headaches to Keldeo otherwise. It's also slighty stronger than Secret Sword against any bulky Water-type that is not specially defensive.
Icy Wind is chosen on the last slot. In past, I understimated Icy Wind's utility, but it's a great attack. Should I predict a Dragon-type switch-in, Icy Wind lets me weaken them and outspeed. It also 2HKOes Dragonite and Lati@s, and OHKOes most things doubly weak to it. Even if the opponent doesn't switch a Dragon-type, the speed-reducing side effect lets me switch something that can defeat the opponent while it has its speed lowered.
Heatran
Vinicius (Heatran) (M) @ Air Balloon
Trait: Flash Fire
EVs: 252 SAtk / 4 SDef / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Fire Blast
- Earth Power
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Will-O-Wisp
Role: Spread burns, check some things like Dragonite and Venusaur
What it does to help Celebi: Protect him from some dangerous Sun-based and Dragon-type sweepers
Heatran was the answer to my problem with some sun sweepers and Dragonite. It checks all of them reliably most of time. At cost of another Water- and Fighting-type weakness (the latter which can somewhat be alleviated by burns) I have something that can stop sun teams on their tracks once I remove their Dugtrio (or whatever they use to defeat Heatran). It also defeats any Dragon-type lacking a Fighting- or Water-type attack. Heatran serves as a supportive attacker that also spreads burns. Fire Blast is there for obvious STAB and because it becomes even stronger with Flash Fire activated or against Sun teams. Earth Power is there so that Heatran is not walled by opposing Heatran. It is also a more consistend attack than Fire Blast to use against Magnezone and weakened grounded Steel-types weak to Ground. Hidden Power Ice is what lets me defeat Dragon-types so reliably. Will-O-Wisp is a nasty surprise to physical sweepers, especially Fighting-types, that think that can switch on Heatran safely.
Jirachi
Lucas (Jirachi) @ Leftovers
Trait: Serene Grace
EVs: 252 HP / 224 SDef / 32 Spd
Careful Nature (+SDef, -SAtk)
- Wish
- Body Slam
- Iron Head
- Fire Punch
Role: Spread paralysis, check some things like Tornadus-T, Wish support
What it does to help Celebi: Support him (and the team in general) with Wish, spread paralysis to help Celebi, Tyranitar and Keldeo outspeed more things, and check one of the biggest threats to Celebi on rain teams: Tornadus-T
Jirachi fell to me from the sky. Joke aside, Jirachi is a key supporter on my team. It spreads paralysis, which is very important, not only to Celebi, but to the rest of team. It checks dragons like no other Pokémon on my team can, and haxes them to death. The reason why I chose Body Slam instead of Thunder Wave is because of Baton Pass teams, and also because paralyzing Landorus and Garchomp can cost games. It has been actually a very reliable way to paralyze opponents, and Body Slam is also Jirachi's strongest attack against Fire- and Water-types. Wish Support is also ideal, as although Celebi has Giga Drain, not even him likes to switch in at low health.
Iron Head is chosen for obvious reasons, and Fire Punch is there to not leave Jirachi walled by Ferrothorn, Scizor, Forretress, and some other things.
Threats to the team
Needs update after I test this team as I changed it a bit
Final thougths
I tried, and sucessfully created a team that can wrek avoc with Celebi. I hope that with Genesect being banned, this team becomes even more viable. The threats that I mentioned above, such as Victini, Dugtrio and Venusaur, were generally paired with Genesect, and I hope that they also drop on usage with Genesect's ban.
Now I would like to know what are your opinon on this team. Is it good? Do I need to change something? Am I giving the right support to Celebi?
Code:
Leonardo (Forretress) (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Sturdy
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SDef
Relaxed Nature (+Def, -Spd)
- Stealth Rock
- Gyro Ball
- Rapid Spin
- Volt Switch
Lucas (Celebi) @ Life Orb
Trait: Natural Cure
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Nasty Plot
- Giga Drain
- Psychic
- Hidden Power [Fire]
Guilherme (Tyranitar) (M) @ Choice Band
Trait: Sand Stream
EVs: 100 HP / 252 Atk / 156 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Stone Edge
- Crunch
- Pursuit
- Superpower
Gustavo (Landorus) (M) @ Choice Scarf
Trait: Sand Force
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SAtk / 252 Spd
Naive Nature (+Spd, -SDef)
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- U-turn
- Hidden Power [Ice]
Vitor (Keldeo) @ Choice Specs
Trait: Justified
EVs: 252 SAtk / 4 SDef / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Hydro Pump
- Secret Sword
- Hidden Power [Electric]
- Icy Wind
Vinicius (Heatran) (M) @ Air Balloon
Trait: Flash Fire
EVs: 252 SAtk / 4 SDef / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Fire Blast
- Earth Power
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Will-O-Wisp
