Monotype the bad guys: Hyper-Offensive Dark-type Mono

[Dead by Daylight]

We're the
b a d
g u y s

teambuilding process

First, I decided to start off with a pair of wallbreakers. Moltres-Galar's signature move, Fiery Wrath, alongside a dual dance set with Weakness Policy, let it become a terrifying special sweeper. I opted to run a Weakness Policy set on Tyranitar alongside Rock Polish, due to the fact that its bulk and screens could let it survive most, if not all, super-effective attacks.

Now, I need the aforementioned screens to be up, so I put...


Grimmsnarl is a cool Pokémon. It also offers utility with Prankster Reflect/Light Screen and Thunder Wave, to help my wallbreakers sweep. Speaking of which, the team seems a bit bare bone...


For the special core of the team, I went with Hydreigon-Moltres-Galar as they both have good Dark-type coverage, great STAB coverage, and can rip through teams. But now, we're lacking something physical...


Zarude is a great option, as it can soak up status meant for Tyranitar, and use Jungle Healing to heal it off. Also, it has a great STAB combo of Power Whip and Darkest Lariat and use Bulk Up with its reliable recovery. The team felt really slow, though...


Enter Weavile. Choice Scarfed Weavile is faster than anything else not running Scarf, Alolan Raichu in Electric Terrain, or other boosted 'mons. Its Dark-Ice typing, while flat-out terrible defensively, is an upper-echelon offensive typing. It can singlehandedly win the Flying- and Dragon- matchups, two that would then give me a massive headache.

move sets
(bold = STAB, italics = no damage)

Rocky @ Weakness Policy
EV's: 252 Atk/Spe, 4 SpD
Ability: Sand Stream
Adamant Nature
move 1: Rock Polish
move 2: Stone Edge/Rock Blast
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Heavy Slam

Pheonix @ Weakness Policy
EV's: 252 SpA/Spe, 4 SpD
Ability: Berserk
Modest Nature
move 1: Agility
move 2: Nasty Plot
move 3: Fiery Wrath
move 4: Hurricane

I Need A Haircut @ Light Clay
EV's: 252 HP/Atk, 4 SpD
Ability: Prankster
Adamant Nature
move 1: Light Screen
move 2: Reflect
move 3: Thunder Wave
move 4: Spirit Break

The Hydra @ Heavy-Duty Boots
EV's: 252 SpA/Spe, 4 SpD
Ability: Levitate
Timid Nature
move 1: Substitute
move 2: Nasty Plot
move 3: Earth Power
move 4: Dark Pulse

Monke of Da Jungle @ Leftovers
EV's: 252 HP/Atk, 4 SpD
Ability: Leaf Guard
Adamant Nature
move 1: Power Whip
move 2: Bulk Up
move 3: Jungle Healing
move 4: Darkest Lariat

Gotta Go Fast @ Choice Scarf

EV's: 252 Atk/Spe, 4 SpD
Ability: Pressure
Jolly Nature
move 1: Triple Axel
move 2: Icicle Crash
move 3: Knock Off
move 4: Low Kick

how to use the team

Turns 1-3: Lead off with Grimmsnarl and set up dual screens and Thunder Wave.
Turn 4: Switch into Tyranitar.
Turn 5 or 6: Your opponent, probably expecting a Lum Berry or Leftovers set, has (hopefully) triggered your Weakness Policy. Use Rock Polish on turn 5.
Turn 6 onwards: Continue sweeping.

threatlist

Fairy types such as:

Most Fairy-type Pokémon can severely cripple this team (especially after Tyranitar is out or heavily chipped), but these three Pokémon seem to deal the most damage in testing. While Tapu Lele and Hatterene both have a secondary Psychic typing to offset their resistance to Dark, Tapu Lele can smash the team with STAB Moonblast coming off Specs, while Hatterene can set up Trick Room and again, sweep. Finally, be careful with Azumarill: you do not want this thing setting up a Belly Drum. If you see it, switch into Grimmsnarl and go for Thunder Wave.

Fighting types such as: :urshifu-r:

While the Fighting type is still a black eye for Dark types, it's not as bad as Fairy. However, use extreme caution with Conkeldurr, as it can destroy your whole team with +1 60 BP Mach Punch, especially Weavile and Tyranitar with their debilitating 4x weaknesses to Fighting. What you have to do is set up Reflect with Grimmsnarl and pray Hurricane doesn't miss.

Bug types such as:

Bug types are the least threatening weakness of the three but be careful as both of these 'mons are fast and hit hard. Your best bet is to sit in with Tyranitar and kill with Stone Edge or Rock Blast.

Miscellaneous threats such as:

These Pokémon both run Close Combat and are extremely fast, so you have to hope for an Icicle Crash flinch on Zeraora and a
OHKO on Barraskewda. Otherwise, you will probably lose the matchup.


replays
Steel: Replays - Pokémon Showdown (pokemonshowdown.com)
Dragon: Replays - Pokémon Showdown (pokemonshowdown.com)
Fairy: Replays - Pokémon Showdown (pokemonshowdown.com)
Poison: Replays - Pokémon Showdown (pokemonshowdown.com)
Ghost: Replays - Pokémon Showdown (pokemonshowdown.com)

yes, I don't really know how to put EV's
​

 

[plunder]

Hi!

Nice team and I really think the ideas are cool. I've made a few screens teams with set up Tyranitar so here are the changes I'd make to make the team even better.

New evs

Grimmsnarl (M) @ Light Clay
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 252 HP / 244 Def / 12 SpD
Impish Nature
- Spirit Break
- Reflect
- Light Screen
- Taunt

16 SpD ensures you live Specs Lele Moonblast (after SR) with Light Screen up. The set is perfect as it is but put the rest into Defense to help vs Iron Defense Kommo-o.

New evs

Zarude @ Leftovers
Ability: Leaf Guard
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Bulk Up
- Jungle Healing
- Darkest Lariat / Taunt
- Power Whip

Zarude's speed is what helps it a lot, under screens you should still be able to bulk up quite easily so imo it's not worth sacrificing ur speed. Although taunt is not super common it's quite a cool move to have in case ur expecting water, it lets you set up on toxapex and prevents your opponent from hazing zarude.

Minor Set change

Tyranitar @ Weakness Policy
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Dragon Dance
- Stone Edge
- Earthquake
- Heavy Slam / Substitute

I wanted to keep weakness policy on this but I changed Rock Polish > DD. Rock polish isn't as reliable and DD can help vs Poison and just overall. Heavy slam is great, but substitute is another good option, you can usually dd and sub / sub first if ur expecting a move not to break sub or someone to switch out, not many people suspect it so it's a nice option to have if your not worried about fairy.

Other considerations


Weavile @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Triple Axel
- Knock Off
- Ice Shard
- Swords Dance

I personally like sd Weavile more on screens Dark. IMO flying becomes much easier, which otherwise is winnable but with no defogger you won't be able to bring weavile in and out with ease, thus reducing its overall worth. SD helps alot vs dragon too. Only problem is you need a new scarfer so you will have to change ur zarude set.


Here are the changes to the original team: https://pokepast.es/d969ace77107c7b0
Here is one with sd weavile: https://pokepast.es/b1a839dfd2d96025

Good luck with the team and hopefully the changes help!

 

[Dead by Daylight]

Hi!

Nice team and I really think the ideas are cool. I've made a few screens teams with set up Tyranitar so here are the changes I'd make to make the team even better.

New evs

Grimmsnarl (M) @ Light Clay
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 252 HP / 244 Def / 12 SpD
Impish Nature
- Spirit Break
- Reflect
- Light Screen
- Taunt

16 SpD ensures you live Specs Lele Moonblast (after SR) with Light Screen up. The set is perfect as it is but put the rest into Defense to help vs Iron Defense Kommo-o.

New evs

Zarude @ Leftovers
Ability: Leaf Guard
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Bulk Up
- Jungle Healing
- Darkest Lariat / Taunt
- Power Whip

Zarude's speed is what helps it a lot, under screens you should still be able to bulk up quite easily so imo it's not worth sacrificing ur speed. Although taunt is not super common it's quite a cool move to have in case ur expecting water, it lets you set up on toxapex and prevents your opponent from hazing zarude.

Minor Set change

Tyranitar @ Weakness Policy
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Dragon Dance
- Stone Edge
- Earthquake
- Heavy Slam / Substitute

I wanted to keep weakness policy on this but I changed Rock Polish > DD. Rock polish isn't as reliable and DD can help vs Poison and just overall. Heavy slam is great, but substitute is another good option, you can usually dd and sub / sub first if ur expecting a move not to break sub or someone to switch out, not many people suspect it so it's a nice option to have if your not worried about fairy.

Other considerations


Weavile @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Triple Axel
- Knock Off
- Ice Shard
- Swords Dance

I personally like sd Weavile more on screens Dark. IMO flying becomes much easier, which otherwise is winnable but with no defogger you won't be able to bring weavile in and out with ease, thus reducing its overall worth. SD helps alot vs dragon too. Only problem is you need a new scarfer so you will have to change ur zarude set.


Here are the changes to the original team: https://pokepast.es/d969ace77107c7b0
Here is one with sd weavile: https://pokepast.es/b1a839dfd2d96025

Good luck with the team and hopefully the changes help!

Thanks!

On Tyranitar: it has great bulk, but at +1, it's still outsped by many unboosted Pokémon (such as Close Combat Zeraora which would kill instantly), not to mention every single viable Scarfer in existence. +2 is a reliable outspeed on those 'mons, so I'm gonna keep Rock Polish. Also, I was very worried about Fairy if I attempted to run Substitute over Heavy Slam, because Tyranitar is heavy and not many viable Fairy-types take neutral from it. Behind dual screens, Tyranitar lives all Fairy-type attacks really well (especially Special moves thanks to the SpD boost from Sand Stream) and activates Weakness Policy, so you're getting +2 Attack and Speed on the same turn. I don't think +3 KO's anything important, but I could be wrong.

Also, is Low Kick a better option than Ice Shard? It helps vs. Steel/etc.

 

[plunder]

Thanks!

On Tyranitar: it has great bulk, but at +1, it's still outsped by many unboosted Pokémon (such as Close Combat Zeraora which would kill instantly), not to mention every single viable Scarfer in existence. +2 is a reliable outspeed on those 'mons, so I'm gonna keep Rock Polish. Also, I was very worried about Fairy if I attempted to run Substitute over Heavy Slam, because Tyranitar is heavy and not many viable Fairy-types take neutral from it. Behind dual screens, Tyranitar lives all Fairy-type attacks really well (especially Special moves thanks to the SpD boost from Sand Stream) and activates Weakness Policy, so you're getting +2 Attack and Speed on the same turn. I don't think +3 KO's anything important, but I could be wrong.

Also, is Low Kick a better option than Ice Shard? It helps vs. Steel/etc.

So regarding the low kick over Ice Shard point, honestly shard is more beneficial. I think if you run flamethrower + dark pulse on Hydreigon then steel should never be a problem anyway so that allows you to run ice shard on weavile (would highly recommend flamethrower + dark pulse Hydreigon)

Your points about the +1 Ttar not outspeeding many threats is very fair but you are going to be trying to set it up under screens so you should always be able to get around 2 dragon dances off, the other benefit of it is also if you get hazed you can set up again, though at the end of the day if rock polish works better for you choice then it's better to stick with it.

 

[Dead by Daylight]

boop!

Thanks for the suggestions. I've tried them out and found a few things...

A. Low Kick > Ice Shard ----> If I'm not running Earth Power on Hydreigon, Heatran absolutely kills this team. To counter this, I put Low Kick on Weavile.

B. Rock Polish > Dragon Dance ----> While +3 is nice, Tyranitar only has enough bulk (under screens) to survive one Play Rough from a Mimikyu-Busted, and Dragon Dance would not accomplish anything.