VGC Reg G: a rather crappy ho-oh team (prototype)

[GGholdengo]

Here’s My Pokepaste: https://pokepast.es/0d14012f3ad7df0f

Greetings, good people of the internet, I have returned with yet another crappy team that I have made which centers around the newly introduced restricted legendary of ho-oh. Normally, formats like VGC wouldn’t appreciate defensive teams to the slightest since double battles are considerably more fast-paced and most matches can end within 7 turns; I would still like to give this team a shot however (it is a prototype after all) and see what monstrosity I can cook up inside the teambuilder


Birb (Ho-Oh) @ Clear Amulet
Ability: Regenerator
Level: 50
Tera Type: Steel
EVs: 252 HP / 76 Atk / 148 Def / 4 SpD / 28 Spe
Careful Nature
- Sacred Fire
- Iron Head
- Brave Bird
- Protect

Ho-oh is the first part of my defensive core. Being a fire type and access to the ability regenerator, it fits the perfect role of a bulky attacker who pivots around its teammates to gain maximum potential out of its ability and type combo. I snatched this set from the VGC repository but still added some of my own creativity with tera-steel iron head. Overall it’s as basic as ho-oh can get, and I don’t see any reasons to change it.


Sinistcha-Masterpiece @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Hospitality
Level: 50
Tera Type: Water
EVs: 244 HP / 166 Def / 98 SpD
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Matcha Gotcha
- Shadow Ball
- Rage Powder
- Life Dew

Most people will use rillaboom for the grass type of choice, both providing fake out pressure and recovery with grassy terrain. Instead, I recruited sinistcha for this slot instead, since hospitality is also a great ability that benefits from the constant switching ins and outs and I feel that my team would’ve appreciated redirection and healing moves like life dew just a little more (I could always slap in strength sap tho).






Cow (Tauros-Paldea-Aqua) @ Choice Band
Ability: Intimidate
Level: 50
Tera Type: Water
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Aqua Jet
- Wave Crash
- Close Combat
- High Horsepower

Probably my most controversial pick here. The only reason I picked Tauros over urshifu-r is because it gets intimidate and choice band wave crash does slightly more damage than mystic water urshifu does (keep in mind this is only an experimental set). But if using urshifu-r provides more benefit than hehe-funny-cow-with-intimidate does, I’ll be happy to switch mon.


Tornadus @ Covert Cloak
Ability: Prankster
Level: 50
Tera Type: Dark
EVs: 252 HP / 100 Def / 4 SpA / 124 SpD / 28 Spe
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Bleakwind Storm
- Tailwind
- Taunt
- Icy Wind

Tornadus doesn’t need much explaining. My core has a very crowded speed tier so I suppose it’s best for them to get some speed control and tailwind support.


Chien-Pao @ Focus Sash
Ability: Sword of Ruin
Level: 50
Tera Type: Ghost
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Ice Spinner
- Sucker Punch
- Sacred Sword
- Protect

Chien-pao fits this team in so many ways, as my defensive core excels at introducing frail attackers, and they can in return benefit from Chien-pao’s ability to deal massive damage. Also bonus points for sword of ruin also synergizing with the whole cycling in and out gimmick


Isshin Ashina (Kingambit) @ Safety Goggles
Ability: Defiant
Level: 50
Tera Type: Dragon
EVs: 244 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def / 4 SpD / 4 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Sucker Punch
- Kowtow Cleave
- Protect
- Iron Head

This is an alternative for Chien-pao when facing against trick room teams. With the great matchup into calyrex-i which is the primary trick room abuser as of now, kingambit turns into a formidable sweeper which adds some huge bursts of damage for my defensive backbone.

 

[UselessLumpOfCrap]

nice, simple team. I like it! 8/10

 

[Pengu]

Here’s My Pokepaste: https://pokepast.es/0d14012f3ad7df0f

Greetings, good people of the internet, I have returned with yet another crappy team that I have made which centers around the newly introduced restricted legendary of ho-oh. Normally, formats like VGC wouldn’t appreciate defensive teams to the slightest since double battles are considerably more fast-paced and most matches can end within 7 turns; I would still like to give this team a shot however (it is a prototype after all) and see what monstrosity I can cook up inside the teambuilder


Birb (Ho-Oh) @ Clear Amulet
Ability: Regenerator
Level: 50
Tera Type: Steel
EVs: 252 HP / 76 Atk / 148 Def / 4 SpD / 28 Spe
Careful Nature
- Sacred Fire
- Iron Head
- Brave Bird
- Protect

Ho-oh is the first part of my defensive core. Being a fire type and access to the ability regenerator, it fits the perfect role of a bulky attacker who pivots around its teammates to gain maximum potential out of its ability and type combo. I snatched this set from the VGC repository but still added some of my own creativity with tera-steel iron head. Overall it’s as basic as ho-oh can get, and I don’t see any reasons to change it.


Sinistcha-Masterpiece @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Hospitality
Level: 50
Tera Type: Water
EVs: 244 HP / 166 Def / 98 SpD
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Matcha Gotcha
- Shadow Ball
- Rage Powder
- Life Dew

Most people will use rillaboom for the grass type of choice, both providing fake out pressure and recovery with grassy terrain. Instead, I recruited sinistcha for this slot instead, since hospitality is also a great ability that benefits from the constant switching ins and outs and I feel that my team would’ve appreciated redirection and healing moves like life dew just a little more (I could always slap in strength sap tho).






Cow (Tauros-Paldea-Aqua) @ Choice Band
Ability: Intimidate
Level: 50
Tera Type: Water
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Aqua Jet
- Wave Crash
- Close Combat
- High Horsepower

Probably my most controversial pick here. The only reason I picked Tauros over urshifu-r is because it gets intimidate and choice band wave crash does slightly more damage than mystic water urshifu does (keep in mind this is only an experimental set). But if using urshifu-r provides more benefit than hehe-funny-cow-with-intimidate does, I’ll be happy to switch mon.


Tornadus @ Covert Cloak
Ability: Prankster
Level: 50
Tera Type: Dark
EVs: 252 HP / 100 Def / 4 SpA / 124 SpD / 28 Spe
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Bleakwind Storm
- Tailwind
- Taunt
- Icy Wind

Tornadus doesn’t need much explaining. My core has a very crowded speed tier so I suppose it’s best for them to get some speed control and tailwind support.


Chien-Pao @ Focus Sash
Ability: Sword of Ruin
Level: 50
Tera Type: Ghost
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Ice Spinner
- Sucker Punch
- Sacred Sword
- Protect

Chien-pao fits this team in so many ways, as my defensive core excels at introducing frail attackers, and they can in return benefit from Chien-pao’s ability to deal massive damage. Also bonus points for sword of ruin also synergizing with the whole cycling in and out gimmick


Isshin Ashina (Kingambit) @ Safety Goggles
Ability: Defiant
Level: 50
Tera Type: Dragon
EVs: 244 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def / 4 SpD / 4 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Sucker Punch
- Kowtow Cleave
- Protect
- Iron Head

This is an alternative for Chien-pao when facing against trick room teams. With the great matchup into calyrex-i which is the primary trick room abuser as of now, kingambit turns into a formidable sweeper which adds some huge bursts of damage for my defensive backbone.

OK GGholdengo, an interesting team. Here are a few suggestions.

Pokemon Changes:

->or
So here's the deal. If you don't bring Kingambit or Chien-Pao (or they get KO'd), A Nasty Plot boosted Calyrex will steam roll your team. Amoonguss is a good way to deal with that, boasting the same redirection and healing abilities as Sinistcha, with Spore, A tool Sinistcha doesn't have, making Amoonguss not only a better support Pokemon, but a better disruption Pokemon as well (btw the healing move is pollen puff). Amoonguss also has the ability to switch in an out like Ho-Oh, thanks to the Regenerator ability, forming a good defensive core with the two Regenerator Pokemon, with Ho-Oh eating Fire attacks, and Amoonguss taking Water and Electric type attacks. Next is Rillaboom, which is a really good Pokemon overall. I would run a AV set over CB or Miracle Seed, as this will help to form a nice defensive core, with Fake Out and Terrain support from Rillaboom. Not to mention, this Pokemon with High Horsepower not only overrides Electric Terrain Miraidon, but hits it for good damage. U-Turn could also be in this slot, letting Ho-Oh come in unscathed, protecting you from reads with a slow pivot.

->
You mentioned this yourself, and I think Urshifu-R is the right fit for this team. It may do less damage, but it is more consistent than Tauros, with a more threatening presence. Surging Strikes beats the uncommon Sturdy, as well as some Berry Pokemon and Focus Sash. Wave Crash deals damage to Tauros that it doesn't want to take. You did talk about the Mystic Water item, but I think getting some speed without Tornadus would be nice, with a Scarf set with U-Turn, as a Pokemon like Ho-Oh loves switching in and out.

Move Changes:

Iron Head->Will-O-Wisp/Tailwind
Here is a unique case, as Ho-Oh doesn't have any other good options. Recover could be considered, alongside Helping Hand. I think since after swapping Tauros for Urshifu-R you lose Intimidate, I would choose Will-O-Wisp as a permanent pain for physical attackers. Tailwind could be slotted on, but I do believe that Wisp is the better option.

Icy Wind->Protect
Icy Wind isn't very much needed here, as your team feels more of the bulky type instead of a fast and offensive team. Protect allows you to stall opposing Tailwind and TR, as well as annoying weather.

Tera Type Changes:

Tera Steel->Tera Water/Grass
Tera Steel is good and all, but then your team seems to fall into the hands of Kyogre+Urshifu, A formidable duo. Tera Grass is the better one here, as it allows you to ignore all powder moves, like Rage Powder and Spore. Water is the better defensive type, also baiting in Grass types into their fate, but it could drag in the wrong crowd in Electric type Pokemon.

EV Tweaks:

Ho-Oh Careful->Adamant
This allows you to OHKO Clear Amulet Koraidon.

Tornadus->252 HP/4 DEF/4 SPATK/228 SPDEF/20 SPE careful nature
Allows you to live +2 252 SPATK Astral Barrage from Caly-S

Here is your new paste:

https://pokepast.es/23736f5aa6793429

Hope this helped! Let me know if you have questions.