Steven's Stall Team: Themed B/W OU RMT

shinyskarmory

shinyskarmory

So this team originally started as a joke team that I played on an alt account. I decided that I wanted to basically take an E4 champion from in-game and upgrade them for today's metagame. I chose Steven (from RSE), because on his team were a lot of...well... interesting sets. The team started out pretty unsuccessful, but after I made a few changes, it became an excellent team that's about halfway between balanced and hardcore stall, in keeping with my flexible playstyle.
Team Building Process
I began with Steven's team from the end of Emerald, leveled up to level 100 and with perfect IVs.
227.png
376.png
344.png
348.png
346.png
306.png

At this point, I realized that using the original sets wouldn't do me any good, since Steven's Aggron had Thunder, Double Edge, Solarbeam, and Earthquake (lol). I created movesets for the pokemon that were more useful then the originals. However, the team was still losing. Therefore, I took the liberty of removing Armaldo for a Hippowdon, to give the team a supporting weather.
227.png
376.png
344.png
450.png
346.png
306.png

Suddenly, the team took off. I was winning matches, possibly more then I did when I was using my main team (which I still use). I stopped using the team on the alt and moved its use to my main account. It boosted my rating from 900 something to around 1050 in a few days.
​
And now, without further to do, the rest of the team:
The Team: In Depth
The Lead (s)
skarmory.png

Skarmory (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Sturdy
EVs: 252 HP / 176 Def / 80 Spd
Impish Nature (+Def, -SAtk)
- Sky Drop
- Toxic
- Spikes
- Protect
For some reason, every serious OU team I've made has had a Skarmory in it. The set is always different, but the result is the same: an effective, if predictable, lead and physical wall that can easily get entry hazards up. This particular set is designed to set up as many layers of spikes as it can before switching out to return later. Toxic, Protect, and Sky Drop are used to stall extremely effectively under Hippowdon's sandstorm, because when I use Sky Drop, the pokemon in Skarmory's claws can't switch out or attack, leaving it to take two turns of toxic+sandstorm damage for free. Skarmory also recovers HP during this time, making it great for stall.

I was considering replacing Protect with Roost or Whirlwind. Other then that, I'm very pleased with this set.
Synergy
Fire: Hippowdon->Cradily->Claydol
Electric: Hippowdon->Claydol->Cradily
Special: Cradily->Claydol->Hippowdon
Z
Z

​
Hippowdon (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Sand Stream
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Spd
Hardy Nature
- Slack Off
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
The only pokemon on the team who wasn't on Steven's team in Emerald. Hippowdon was the addition that really kicked this team off. It is designed to work with Skarmory to set up entry hazards and Sandstorm. It can also serve in mid to late game as a tank and cleaner. I chose Hippowdon over Tyranitar to help overcome my team's ridiculous fighting weakness.

Synergy
Water: Cradily->Skarmory->Metagross
Grass: Skarmory->Cradily->Metagross
Ice: Skarmory->Cradily->Metagross
The Supporters

images

​
Cradily (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Storm Drain
EVs: 252 HP / 96 Def / 160 SDef
Bold Nature (+Def -Atk)
- Toxic
- Energy Ball
- Recover
- AncientPower
Wow. Right now, Cradily is the MVP of this team. Under Hippowdon's Sandstorm, it can take so many special hits that it has no right to take. As just an example, Scarf Latios does less than 50% with Draco Meteor under sandstorm. Cradily also helps the team by dishing out toxic to anything within stem's reach, and by having a little special attacking punch. Storm Drain allows Cradily to fearlessly switch into Rotom-W, Politoed, and Vaporeon.
Synergy
Fighting: Skarmory->Claydol->Hippowdon
Steel: Claydol->Hippowdon->Skarmory
Ice: Skarmory->Metagross
​
images

Claydol @ Leftovers
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 144 Def / 112 SAtk
Bold Nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Rapid Spin
- Toxic
- Earth Power
- Ice Beam
Claydol, like Armaldo, was a pokemon in Steven's team that I didn't have much confidence in using successfully. However, unlike Armaldo, it was at least somewhat successful when I used the first iteration of the team, so it stayed. Claydol is my counter for all manner of Gliscor and physical Dragons, as they usually don't like or expect an Ice Beam to the face. Earth Power gives reliable STAB, Rapid Spin clears away annoying entry hazards, and Toxic helps to spread status around the opposing team.

Claydol has been a mixed bag for me; it's worked fine at countering Gliscor and rapid spinning, but it doesn't really have any other use on the team. A replacement that still fits within the theme of the team would be great.
Synergy
Water: Cradily->Skarmory->Metagross
Ice: Skarmory->Cradily->Metagross
Grass: Cradily->Skarmory->Metagross
Dark: Skarmory->Cradily->Aggron
Ghost: Skarmory->Cradily->Hippowdon
Bug: Skarmory->Cradily->Hippowdon
The Cleaners

2Q==
2Q==

​
Metagross @ Expert Belt
Trait: Clear Body
EVs: 80 HP / 124 Atk / 252 SAtk / 52 Spd
Hardy Nature
- Bullet Punch
- Meteor Mash
- Psychic
- Hidden Power [Fire]
Metagross is a great pokemon, but it hasn't been working on this team. For one thing, the only thing it can really do is roasting Ferrothorn and revenge killing. I do, however, wish it could do more, considering how much of a beast it is in-game.
Synergy
Fire: Hippowdon->Claydol->Cradily
Ground: Claydol->Skarmory->Hippowdon
Fighting: Skarmory->Claydol->Hippowdon
9k=
9k=

​
Aggron (M) @ Life Orb
Trait: Rock Head
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Head Smash
- Earthquake
- Autotomize
- Low Kick
Steven's Aggron set had Solarbeam (wtf?), Thunder (WTF?!), Metal Burst, and Earthquake. I, obviously disliking a Special Attacking Aggron, switched it to a Autotomize Aggron. After one boost, Aggron reaches 396 speed, making it very difficult to defeat. I switch Aggron in on something it forces out, use Autotomize on the switch, and then Head Smash until it faints.

Aggron is also a mixed bag, because I don't often get chances to use him without Skarmory, Jellicent, or Ferrothorn in the way. But once they're gone, Aggron can destroy whatever remains.
Synergy
Fighting: Skarmory->Claydol->Hippowdon
Ground: Claydol->Skarmory->Hippowdon
Fire: Hippowdon->Claydol->Cradily
Water: Cradily->Skarmory->Metagross
​

This team has surprised me already. I hope you can help me improve it even more.

EDIT: Fixed images for Metagross and Aggron, plus adding Synergy and more detail.
​
 
it looks like a pretty fun team to play with.. but.. meh..

i think it would be easily destroyed by lots of teams out there... I mean.. any fire atk would kill half of your team... water atacks would kill the other half..

basicaly, weather teams would be a problem, considering they are everywhere in current's metagame..

so.. i dunno for sure what advice to give you =/
 
^^Any fire attack can be walled by Cradily if Sandstorm is running, and Claydol if not.
Any water attack can be walled by Cradily, period. (Storm Drain)
 
This looks really interesting. I'll do some testing and get back to you with the results. At a glance, opposing weather looks like a terror, and Fire attacks as mentioned. Sun may be a pain in the ass for you.
EDIT: Could you explain why you chose certain EVs on your Pokemon? What exactly are they doing for you? Also, Hippowdon and Aggron have Hardy natures. And does Spd meand Special Defense or Speed?
 
I just will use a Bulky Rotom-w To beat it w/hydro pump :O. Watch Out rotomW and others water specs :O

Good Team, Try Gastrodon.
 
@KiR0: In all of the B/W OU battling I have done, I have yet to actually see a Sigilyph.

@DatRicanBoy: Cradily absorbs hydro pump with Storm Drain. Nice try.
 
If Air Balloon Heatran comes out it is pretty much good game.

I'd help but you seem pretty set on using a team based around Steven's emerald team.

6.3/10

You have a hell of alot of weaknesses.
 
After some testing, I can tell you this:

Blissey / Chansey walls this whole team.
Also does gliscor, if Claydoll is gone.

And you're lucky if you haven't seen a Sigilyph, cause i have, and it's not nice!

But, it's definetly a nice team to play with, after some common threats are gone!
 
You seem to like that cradily and i liked it too.
But it has weaknesses that almost every pokemon has.
If they taunt you , it will be game over for cradily.
Looking from the comments above you really REALLY count on cradily to take any special hits but when its down the game is lost for you and honestly its not hard to take down.
I replaced mine with a jellicent , you might want to consider that too.

As for your skarmory , its a differrent set as most skarmory's are, wich is surprising to play against. On the other hand , the fact that you dont have a shed shell as item will make it that magnezone eats skarmory rather easy. After that your 2 best walls are down. So maybe use shed shell and a normal roosting set for skarmory.

With the EV's you have given your hippowdon , it wont live long. It can slack off but after several turns that wont even save him.

The metagross is weird if you ask me , change it to adamant. It can learn zen headbutt and i believe also ice punch, no reason at all to go mixed as it only lowers its potential.
agiligross is a rather effective set to use too so u could look into that.

Aggron ... i really dont see why you like him. It was used against me 1 time wiith endeavour , that was tricky , but the set you use is cleaned away without effort by the very comon excadrills.

I also noticed how you lack any reliable special attacks.
If i'm not mistaken a normal skarmory can compltely wall this team as physical attacks are a joke for him and the special attacks you have will either not even hit , or wont do much because its a 60 basepower move or because its a typing that skarmory resists well. Only chance against skarmory you have is hoping for freezehax.

But judging from your other comments you dont like to change anything from this team.
So if i had to give it a score it would be 5.2/10 as most teams have taunt to stop cradily from healing and the sweepers arent much of a challenge to handle.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top