Hi, I'm new to smogon, and quite new to the ORAS way to play. I wanted to try and build a team on a simple base: a rain team without politoed. Why would I want to do that? Because I do not like politoed, but I enjoy rain abuse.
So, I gathered some ideas here and there, and here is what I'm currently trying. I've found some problems, pokemons that wall me or threaten me greatly, and I was hoping you could help we adapt my team to them.
Important note: I intend to play this team in a legend-less OU metagame, on cartridge. So I won't be facing any landorus, latios or heatran. Not even an Articuno.
But first, some short Teambuilding:
At the beginning was Kabutops. I like this pokemon, so I was quite partial when I decided to build the team around it. Of course, it's a real monster when rain is on, so it wasn't unlogical to pick it anyway. I realised that some extra damage might be needed, so I gave it a Choice band.
With Kabutops, I found myself having a good physical damage dealer, and needed obviously two things: a lead rain inducer, and a special rain abuser.
After some research, I came to the conclusion that Espeon might well be the lead I needed, with the blessing of Mirror Bounce and access to fairy type moves as well as STAB psychic.
I decided to try Kingdra as special rain abuser, with swift swim of course. But I'm having the feeling that it's somewhat short on power to fulfill that job really well.
So I added another special attacker, Galvantula, to hit dark types, reset rain dance, and abuse thunder with perfect precision (with the advantage that galvantula is a bit less rain dependant than the others).
I started to need something capable of flooding the place with earthquakes and combat moves. This time, it was Mega Swampert that caught my eye. Another swift swimmer with access to STAB Earthquake and Waterfall, while capable of using Superpower or Hammer Arm. To be honnest, it wasn't my first pick, I tried Mega Altaria too, and was quite disappointed by the way it worked (or didn't work) with the rest of the team.
And then Gengar showed its teeth, and I produced a situationnal check for it, Bisharp with a life orb. I was quite surprised by the efficiency of Bisharp, a pokemon I never had the occasion to play with. With rain dance, it is able to support the team quite efficiently, when not wrecking ghosts or psychic types. But it's also sadly predictable, with the obvious sucker punch.
Here is my team, with more details and explanations, and questions too.
Lead/support
Espeon
Item: Damp Rock
Ability: Mirror Bounce
Nature: Calm
EV spread: HP: 252; SpDef: 252; Def: 4
Moveset:
Psychic,
Rain Dance,
Dazzling Gleam
Protect
Espeon is here to rain dance at the beginning of the battle. That's almost it. I'm also trying to use it a bit more as an opportunist hazard blocker, and to damage the opponent lead whenever possible. Protect is here to help Kabutops enter the battle without dying. I've been using it like a fire and forget missile, and it usually dies when it has done its job reversing spikes and status, and of course rain dancing. I think I could use something a bit bulkier here, but I don't know what. Dazzling Gleam is here to slap dragons willing to set up on it, and Sableye too. Or so I thought, but a Hydreigon kicked my nether region last time. I'm starting to think that protect is not such a good idea without light clay, but I need the wet rock and have found no alternative to it.
Main Physical Sweeper
Kabutops
Item: Choice Band
Ability: Swift Swim
Nature: Adamant
EV spread: HP: 4; Speed: 252; Atk: 252
Stone Edge
Waterfall
Low kick
Aqua Jet
Kabutops... Ok, that's not brand new and original. It's basically here to do what any kabutops does, abuse swift swim, and hit hard. Low kick is here to keep an effective fighting type move against heavy steel types, should Swampert die early. Aqua jet is one of my team's two priority moves, and benefits from the rain to allow some revenge killing. Waterfall is a bit redundant with Swampert, but I really don't see what I could use in its place. Stone Edge or Rock Slide? Tough choice. For now, I'm more confortable with the extra damage.
Earthquake Shitter:
Mega Swampert
Item: Swampertite (o rly?)
Ability: Swift Swim
Nature: Adamant (should I switch to Jolly?)
EV spread: HP: 4; Atk: 252; Speed: 252
Moveset:
Earthquake
Waterfall
Stealth Rock
Hammer Arm
I wanted something able to hit fire types anytime, should the rain disappear. STAB earthquake gets the job done, Hammer Arm is here to hit dark types (I'm quite vulnerable to them if Bisharp goes down) and Ferrothorn. Stealth rock is here to annoy Charizard and Talonflame, especially to keep M-charizard Y at bay to avoid weather changes. Jolly could really be a better option, given than a lot of things are still able to top its speed, while it's power is usually high enough. Solarbeam is a major problem, because it oft comes with the very fire types I want to block.
Main Special Sweeper
Kingdra
Item: Life Orb
Ability: Swift Swim
Nature: Timid
EV Spread: HP: 156; SpAtk: 252; Speed: 100
Moveset:
Draco-Meteor,
Hydro Pump,
Ice Beam,
Rain Dance
Kingdra is maybe a bit underpowered for what I have in mind. I needed something capable to take on dragons and flying types when the rain is on. Ice Beam is here to do this, and to give me some of the coverage I lack due to watertyped STAB attacks in the team. Draco-Meteor and Hydro Pump are here to deal heavy STAB damage until Kingdra dies. Rain Dance is used when facing a dangerous counter to prepare efficiently for the revenge kill. The EV spread is an attempt to give it some bulk, as the lower speed is not a major problem with a timid nature and swift swim.
Support/Special
Galvantula
Item: Focus Sash
Ability: Compound eye
Nature: Timid
EV Spread: HP: 4; SpAtk: 252; Speed: 252
Moveset:
Bug Buzz
Thunder
Sticky Web
Rain Dance
Galvantula works pretty well, being able to outspeed a lot of things an reset the rain. Sticky web works fine with my team, given that the rain is not always there due to the only wet rock being on my expendable Espeon. Thunder and Bug Buzz are reliable attacks, (high accuracy with compound eye makes it less dependant on rain), providing coverage and hiting hard both annoying dark types like Tyranitar and some bulky water. It also helps a lot when facing Azumarill. Focus sash is here to unsure that Galvantula will perform its duty. Sometimes, It's able to do some terrible damage once the faster revenge killers/priorities are down, but it needs the entry hazards removed by Espeon beforehand
Revenge Killer/Gengar foe
Bisharp
Item: Life Orb
Ability: Defiant
Nature: Adamant
EV Spread: Hp: 4; Atk 252; Speed: 252;
Moveset:
Rain Dance
Iron Head
Sucker Punch
Knock off
Rain Dance, to prepare for an immediate switch when some Bisharp counter arises. Iron Head and knock off are here for some more coverage: steel type to hit fairies and knock off to annoy all dem item carriers, especially scarfers (my team hates faster foes). Sucker punch is my second priority move, and of course has the downside that it is way too predictable, and is a setup niche for almost every bulky sweeper. Defiant helps messing with any dragon dance gyarados trying to set up on me, or some similar problems. Talonflame is a pain when the rain is down, due to quicker than Sucker Punch Brave Birds.
Pokemons I'm having trouble with:
Munja (here is stealth rock for you): yeah, if it appears late game, I'm screwed ^^.
Mega Charizard Y: A real threat, even if it does not like water moves, drought is a major hindrance for my team. Kabutops and Swampert hate solarbeam.
Gengar: Gengar magnificent coverage made it a threat to Espeon, Swampert and Kabutops. None of my pokemons liked shadow ball (Bisharp being the answer).
Scizor: Scizor is an annoying rain opportunist, and I feel unprepared for it, even though some prediction allowed me to kill it with Galvantula and aqua jet from Kabutops.
Dragons really don't like ice beam from Kingdra, but without stealth rock support, I'm usually taking risks. I would like to find some reliable Hydreigon and Garchomp check.
Azumarill: Another annoying rain opportunist
Quagsire: Quagsire is not countered by my team, and it laughs at Bisharp. What should I do?
Pokemons that I considered
Mamoswine: ice attacks, some more earthquakes, and entry hazards. Could work well with Kingdra and Bisharp.
M-Altaria: I tried a bulky version of it, but I lacked coverage and powerful moves to use it efficiently. Plus, it wasn't working well with kingdra.
Scizor: Of course Scizor was one of the first ideas that I had when looking for a capable revenge killer and Gengar counter. Maybe better than Bisharp, while just as predictable (it would be without the mega gem, though). It likes the rain a lot. But... I've been using Scizor in a TSS in DPP, then in a standard team in B2w2 and XY (with the mega gem this time) and I'm quite willing to try something else.
Crawdaunt: Maybe a bit too slow, but otherwise another hard hitter, a potent alternative to Bisharp.
Omastar: The x4 weakness to grass was what decided against it, but Shell Smash and hig special attack still appeal to me (and good defense too).
Ferrothorn: It likes the rain, it counters Quagsire, it lays spikes, it does residual damage. But it's ugly... Do I really have to use it?
Heliolisk: I like this Pokemon, and considered it for some time over Galvantula. I decided to use the spider rather than the lizard because of the bug typing and sticky web.
Dragonite: I would prefer not to, because of the hard to find multiscale ability. But I still like Thunder and Hurricane in the rain a lot. It could be better than Kingdra, even though it would be slower and not really hitting any harder specially speaking.
Flaws I've found so far in the team:
- Lack of coverage,
- few options to hit fairies.
- Lack of power on the special side.
- Frail Espeon.
- Rain opportunists like Gyarados or Scizor are able to set up on Bisharp through easily predicted sucker punch.
- Maybe too much rain dancers on the team?
- Maybe not enough damp rocks?
- Skarmory an annoying check to all of my physical attackers, laying horrid spikes when Espeon is down?
- EV spread not really taking Swift Swim into account (I'm having trouble doing well done EV spreads, I have a tendency to stick to the basics).
- Grass types and attack still dangerous.
I thank you a lot in advance for your answers and comments. I also would like to apologize for my english, it's not my mother tongue. Also, as I said, I'm quite knew to the ORAS metagame, I'm having kind of a "4th generation bias" when playing, and I understand it's quite a bad idea in this faster and harder meta. If you see any major thinking flaw, maybe a result of this bias, please tell me. It's the only way I'll be able to improve my skill.
So, I gathered some ideas here and there, and here is what I'm currently trying. I've found some problems, pokemons that wall me or threaten me greatly, and I was hoping you could help we adapt my team to them.
Important note: I intend to play this team in a legend-less OU metagame, on cartridge. So I won't be facing any landorus, latios or heatran. Not even an Articuno.
But first, some short Teambuilding:
At the beginning was Kabutops. I like this pokemon, so I was quite partial when I decided to build the team around it. Of course, it's a real monster when rain is on, so it wasn't unlogical to pick it anyway. I realised that some extra damage might be needed, so I gave it a Choice band.
With Kabutops, I found myself having a good physical damage dealer, and needed obviously two things: a lead rain inducer, and a special rain abuser.
After some research, I came to the conclusion that Espeon might well be the lead I needed, with the blessing of Mirror Bounce and access to fairy type moves as well as STAB psychic.
I decided to try Kingdra as special rain abuser, with swift swim of course. But I'm having the feeling that it's somewhat short on power to fulfill that job really well.
So I added another special attacker, Galvantula, to hit dark types, reset rain dance, and abuse thunder with perfect precision (with the advantage that galvantula is a bit less rain dependant than the others).
I started to need something capable of flooding the place with earthquakes and combat moves. This time, it was Mega Swampert that caught my eye. Another swift swimmer with access to STAB Earthquake and Waterfall, while capable of using Superpower or Hammer Arm. To be honnest, it wasn't my first pick, I tried Mega Altaria too, and was quite disappointed by the way it worked (or didn't work) with the rest of the team.
And then Gengar showed its teeth, and I produced a situationnal check for it, Bisharp with a life orb. I was quite surprised by the efficiency of Bisharp, a pokemon I never had the occasion to play with. With rain dance, it is able to support the team quite efficiently, when not wrecking ghosts or psychic types. But it's also sadly predictable, with the obvious sucker punch.
Here is my team, with more details and explanations, and questions too.
Lead/support
Espeon
Item: Damp Rock
Ability: Mirror Bounce
Nature: Calm
EV spread: HP: 252; SpDef: 252; Def: 4
Moveset:
Psychic,
Rain Dance,
Dazzling Gleam
Protect
Espeon is here to rain dance at the beginning of the battle. That's almost it. I'm also trying to use it a bit more as an opportunist hazard blocker, and to damage the opponent lead whenever possible. Protect is here to help Kabutops enter the battle without dying. I've been using it like a fire and forget missile, and it usually dies when it has done its job reversing spikes and status, and of course rain dancing. I think I could use something a bit bulkier here, but I don't know what. Dazzling Gleam is here to slap dragons willing to set up on it, and Sableye too. Or so I thought, but a Hydreigon kicked my nether region last time. I'm starting to think that protect is not such a good idea without light clay, but I need the wet rock and have found no alternative to it.
Main Physical Sweeper
Kabutops
Item: Choice Band
Ability: Swift Swim
Nature: Adamant
EV spread: HP: 4; Speed: 252; Atk: 252
Stone Edge
Waterfall
Low kick
Aqua Jet
Kabutops... Ok, that's not brand new and original. It's basically here to do what any kabutops does, abuse swift swim, and hit hard. Low kick is here to keep an effective fighting type move against heavy steel types, should Swampert die early. Aqua jet is one of my team's two priority moves, and benefits from the rain to allow some revenge killing. Waterfall is a bit redundant with Swampert, but I really don't see what I could use in its place. Stone Edge or Rock Slide? Tough choice. For now, I'm more confortable with the extra damage.
Earthquake Shitter:
Mega Swampert
Item: Swampertite (o rly?)
Ability: Swift Swim
Nature: Adamant (should I switch to Jolly?)
EV spread: HP: 4; Atk: 252; Speed: 252
Moveset:
Earthquake
Waterfall
Stealth Rock
Hammer Arm
I wanted something able to hit fire types anytime, should the rain disappear. STAB earthquake gets the job done, Hammer Arm is here to hit dark types (I'm quite vulnerable to them if Bisharp goes down) and Ferrothorn. Stealth rock is here to annoy Charizard and Talonflame, especially to keep M-charizard Y at bay to avoid weather changes. Jolly could really be a better option, given than a lot of things are still able to top its speed, while it's power is usually high enough. Solarbeam is a major problem, because it oft comes with the very fire types I want to block.
Main Special Sweeper
Kingdra
Item: Life Orb
Ability: Swift Swim
Nature: Timid
EV Spread: HP: 156; SpAtk: 252; Speed: 100
Moveset:
Draco-Meteor,
Hydro Pump,
Ice Beam,
Rain Dance
Kingdra is maybe a bit underpowered for what I have in mind. I needed something capable to take on dragons and flying types when the rain is on. Ice Beam is here to do this, and to give me some of the coverage I lack due to watertyped STAB attacks in the team. Draco-Meteor and Hydro Pump are here to deal heavy STAB damage until Kingdra dies. Rain Dance is used when facing a dangerous counter to prepare efficiently for the revenge kill. The EV spread is an attempt to give it some bulk, as the lower speed is not a major problem with a timid nature and swift swim.
Support/Special
Galvantula
Item: Focus Sash
Ability: Compound eye
Nature: Timid
EV Spread: HP: 4; SpAtk: 252; Speed: 252
Moveset:
Bug Buzz
Thunder
Sticky Web
Rain Dance
Galvantula works pretty well, being able to outspeed a lot of things an reset the rain. Sticky web works fine with my team, given that the rain is not always there due to the only wet rock being on my expendable Espeon. Thunder and Bug Buzz are reliable attacks, (high accuracy with compound eye makes it less dependant on rain), providing coverage and hiting hard both annoying dark types like Tyranitar and some bulky water. It also helps a lot when facing Azumarill. Focus sash is here to unsure that Galvantula will perform its duty. Sometimes, It's able to do some terrible damage once the faster revenge killers/priorities are down, but it needs the entry hazards removed by Espeon beforehand
Revenge Killer/Gengar foe
Bisharp
Item: Life Orb
Ability: Defiant
Nature: Adamant
EV Spread: Hp: 4; Atk 252; Speed: 252;
Moveset:
Rain Dance
Iron Head
Sucker Punch
Knock off
Rain Dance, to prepare for an immediate switch when some Bisharp counter arises. Iron Head and knock off are here for some more coverage: steel type to hit fairies and knock off to annoy all dem item carriers, especially scarfers (my team hates faster foes). Sucker punch is my second priority move, and of course has the downside that it is way too predictable, and is a setup niche for almost every bulky sweeper. Defiant helps messing with any dragon dance gyarados trying to set up on me, or some similar problems. Talonflame is a pain when the rain is down, due to quicker than Sucker Punch Brave Birds.
Pokemons I'm having trouble with:
Munja (here is stealth rock for you): yeah, if it appears late game, I'm screwed ^^.
Mega Charizard Y: A real threat, even if it does not like water moves, drought is a major hindrance for my team. Kabutops and Swampert hate solarbeam.
Gengar: Gengar magnificent coverage made it a threat to Espeon, Swampert and Kabutops. None of my pokemons liked shadow ball (Bisharp being the answer).
Scizor: Scizor is an annoying rain opportunist, and I feel unprepared for it, even though some prediction allowed me to kill it with Galvantula and aqua jet from Kabutops.
Dragons really don't like ice beam from Kingdra, but without stealth rock support, I'm usually taking risks. I would like to find some reliable Hydreigon and Garchomp check.
Azumarill: Another annoying rain opportunist
Quagsire: Quagsire is not countered by my team, and it laughs at Bisharp. What should I do?
Pokemons that I considered
Mamoswine: ice attacks, some more earthquakes, and entry hazards. Could work well with Kingdra and Bisharp.
M-Altaria: I tried a bulky version of it, but I lacked coverage and powerful moves to use it efficiently. Plus, it wasn't working well with kingdra.
Scizor: Of course Scizor was one of the first ideas that I had when looking for a capable revenge killer and Gengar counter. Maybe better than Bisharp, while just as predictable (it would be without the mega gem, though). It likes the rain a lot. But... I've been using Scizor in a TSS in DPP, then in a standard team in B2w2 and XY (with the mega gem this time) and I'm quite willing to try something else.
Crawdaunt: Maybe a bit too slow, but otherwise another hard hitter, a potent alternative to Bisharp.
Omastar: The x4 weakness to grass was what decided against it, but Shell Smash and hig special attack still appeal to me (and good defense too).
Ferrothorn: It likes the rain, it counters Quagsire, it lays spikes, it does residual damage. But it's ugly... Do I really have to use it?
Heliolisk: I like this Pokemon, and considered it for some time over Galvantula. I decided to use the spider rather than the lizard because of the bug typing and sticky web.
Dragonite: I would prefer not to, because of the hard to find multiscale ability. But I still like Thunder and Hurricane in the rain a lot. It could be better than Kingdra, even though it would be slower and not really hitting any harder specially speaking.
Flaws I've found so far in the team:
- Lack of coverage,
- few options to hit fairies.
- Lack of power on the special side.
- Frail Espeon.
- Rain opportunists like Gyarados or Scizor are able to set up on Bisharp through easily predicted sucker punch.
- Maybe too much rain dancers on the team?
- Maybe not enough damp rocks?
- Skarmory an annoying check to all of my physical attackers, laying horrid spikes when Espeon is down?
- EV spread not really taking Swift Swim into account (I'm having trouble doing well done EV spreads, I have a tendency to stick to the basics).
- Grass types and attack still dangerous.
I thank you a lot in advance for your answers and comments. I also would like to apologize for my english, it's not my mother tongue. Also, as I said, I'm quite knew to the ORAS metagame, I'm having kind of a "4th generation bias" when playing, and I understand it's quite a bad idea in this faster and harder meta. If you see any major thinking flaw, maybe a result of this bias, please tell me. It's the only way I'll be able to improve my skill.
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