After a few months of playing on and off, i've made some major changes and improvements. The strategy is still the same as before, to set-up for a Paralyse and Sub-Seed Breloom and stall/sweep. No Spore is used!
Breloom @ Toxic Orb
Ability: Poison Heal
EVs: 252 HP, 252 DEF, 4 SPEED
Nature: Impish
- Stun Spore
- Substitute
- Leech Seed
- Facade
Step 1: Switch into a slower opponent, preferably one that don't have a super effective attack and use Stun Spore.
Step 2: Substitute.
Step 3: If they switched, stun again. If they break the sub, sub again. Continue until a sub is intact.
Step 4: Leech Seed.
Step 5: Enjoy!
The aim of the strategy is to cycle steps 3 and 4 until their whole team is paralysised and simply leech and facade away. Only Breloom can pull this strategy because you need the extra poison heal to keep making substitutes. Breloom pretty much outruns all paralysed opponents.
The last attack I will stick with facade, due superior PP, Power and coverage. Not too worried about resisted types, leech seed does enough already. Ghost types will be supported by team mates.
It is important not to reveal this trumph card too early, otherwise opponent will try to sacrifice a pokemon to break the sub which will leave Breloom exposed. The best time is when paralyse has found it way round to the opposing team.
TEAM MATES: The rest of the team will either focus on eliminating threats to Breloom or to take advantage of the Paralysed enemies to set up a sweep.
Lead Sub Machamp @ Leftovers
Ability: No Guard
EVs: 252 HP, 252 Attack
Nature: Adamant
- Dynamic Punch
- Substitute
- Payback
- Bullet Punch
The team does not require stealth rock, so i picked the most aggressive and annoying lead i can find.
Against suicide/sash leads, go for a quick kill with Dynamic punch and bullet punch.
Against defensive leads, punch turn 1 and sub turn 2. then continue punching.
If you predict a switch substitute, then use payback if its a ghost.
Of all the outcomes, the 3rd is the most ideal because that usually gets rid of rotom and gengars which can stop breloom, and champ keeps most of his hp.
Follow the below against specific leads.
Azelf: Psychic can OHKO, a safer play is switch to tyranitar. Dodge psychic, sand will break sash and pursuit will win.
Machamp: Switch to Slowbro, use slack-off and psychic. DO NOT use thunderwave, since it will make payback do twice the damage.
Metagross: Go slowbro and thunderwave, etc.
Ambipom: Ironically, i have trouble with this, fake out, u-turn and double hit will beat champ. I have no definite answer besides hoping to eventually paralyse it.
Trap Magnezone @ Life Orb
Ability: Magnetic Pull
EVs: 252 SP Attack, 252 Speed
Nature: Timid
- Thunderbolt
- Substitute
- Hidden Power Ground
- Explosion
To remove: Scizor, Skarmory
Against Scizor, the speed should be enough out run superpower and u-turn and get a easy OHKO. Scizor will disrupt Breloom's substitute cycle with its priority.
Against Skarmory, most likely have shed shell so substitute to scout. Hopefully getting a free kill on an incoming swampert, heatran or magnezone. Skarmory's whirlwind will easily blow away Breloom, but try to stun spore and leech seed before it phazes.
Unfortunately due to shed shell, I don't have a guaranteed method to beat skarmory.
A good predicted sub while opponent switches for fear of magnezone, will usually land a you a heatran for hp ground. Against gyarados, vaporeon (water types) or shed shell scizor/skarm, will most likely yield this outcome.
Of all the team mates, i believe magnezone is the most expendable. so feel free to explode or absorb sleep.
Tyranitar @ Choice Band
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 252 HP, 252 Attack
Nature: Adamant
- Crunch
- Stone Edge
- Pursuit
- Earthquake
Pursuit ghosts, blisseys and lead azelfs is the main role. In late game, with team reveals and paralysed, he is free to sweep.
Defense and Paralysis team
Physical wall Slowbro @ Leftovers
Ability: Own tempo
EVs: 252 HP, 252 DEF
Nature: BOLD
- Slack-off
- Thunderwave
- Surf
- Psychic
Thunderwave, slack-off against most physical damage. Remember not to t-wave champ which will double the power payback.
Spam as much paralyse as possible, attack only when they dont switch.
Special Defense Blissey @ Leftovers
Ability: natural cure
EVs: 252 Def, 252 Sp def
Nature: calm
- Wish
- Thunderwave
- Ice Beam
- Seismic Toss
Same function as slowbro, but against sp atks. Making use of wish passing is an important tactic, inorder to preserve champ and ttar. Switch to blissey when facing gliscor, ice beam is the team's only way to deal with it.
Seismic toss is useful at times, but i barely get the chance to use it.
That about it! What a great way of using Breloom wouldn't you say? Any suggests will be most appreciated.
Breloom @ Toxic Orb
Ability: Poison Heal
EVs: 252 HP, 252 DEF, 4 SPEED
Nature: Impish
- Stun Spore
- Substitute
- Leech Seed
- Facade
Step 1: Switch into a slower opponent, preferably one that don't have a super effective attack and use Stun Spore.
Step 2: Substitute.
Step 3: If they switched, stun again. If they break the sub, sub again. Continue until a sub is intact.
Step 4: Leech Seed.
Step 5: Enjoy!
The aim of the strategy is to cycle steps 3 and 4 until their whole team is paralysised and simply leech and facade away. Only Breloom can pull this strategy because you need the extra poison heal to keep making substitutes. Breloom pretty much outruns all paralysed opponents.
The last attack I will stick with facade, due superior PP, Power and coverage. Not too worried about resisted types, leech seed does enough already. Ghost types will be supported by team mates.
It is important not to reveal this trumph card too early, otherwise opponent will try to sacrifice a pokemon to break the sub which will leave Breloom exposed. The best time is when paralyse has found it way round to the opposing team.
TEAM MATES: The rest of the team will either focus on eliminating threats to Breloom or to take advantage of the Paralysed enemies to set up a sweep.
Lead Sub Machamp @ Leftovers
Ability: No Guard
EVs: 252 HP, 252 Attack
Nature: Adamant
- Dynamic Punch
- Substitute
- Payback
- Bullet Punch
The team does not require stealth rock, so i picked the most aggressive and annoying lead i can find.
Against suicide/sash leads, go for a quick kill with Dynamic punch and bullet punch.
Against defensive leads, punch turn 1 and sub turn 2. then continue punching.
If you predict a switch substitute, then use payback if its a ghost.
Of all the outcomes, the 3rd is the most ideal because that usually gets rid of rotom and gengars which can stop breloom, and champ keeps most of his hp.
Follow the below against specific leads.
Azelf: Psychic can OHKO, a safer play is switch to tyranitar. Dodge psychic, sand will break sash and pursuit will win.
Machamp: Switch to Slowbro, use slack-off and psychic. DO NOT use thunderwave, since it will make payback do twice the damage.
Metagross: Go slowbro and thunderwave, etc.
Ambipom: Ironically, i have trouble with this, fake out, u-turn and double hit will beat champ. I have no definite answer besides hoping to eventually paralyse it.
Trap Magnezone @ Life Orb
Ability: Magnetic Pull
EVs: 252 SP Attack, 252 Speed
Nature: Timid
- Thunderbolt
- Substitute
- Hidden Power Ground
- Explosion
To remove: Scizor, Skarmory
Against Scizor, the speed should be enough out run superpower and u-turn and get a easy OHKO. Scizor will disrupt Breloom's substitute cycle with its priority.
Against Skarmory, most likely have shed shell so substitute to scout. Hopefully getting a free kill on an incoming swampert, heatran or magnezone. Skarmory's whirlwind will easily blow away Breloom, but try to stun spore and leech seed before it phazes.
Unfortunately due to shed shell, I don't have a guaranteed method to beat skarmory.
A good predicted sub while opponent switches for fear of magnezone, will usually land a you a heatran for hp ground. Against gyarados, vaporeon (water types) or shed shell scizor/skarm, will most likely yield this outcome.
Of all the team mates, i believe magnezone is the most expendable. so feel free to explode or absorb sleep.
Tyranitar @ Choice Band
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 252 HP, 252 Attack
Nature: Adamant
- Crunch
- Stone Edge
- Pursuit
- Earthquake
Pursuit ghosts, blisseys and lead azelfs is the main role. In late game, with team reveals and paralysed, he is free to sweep.
Defense and Paralysis team
Physical wall Slowbro @ Leftovers
Ability: Own tempo
EVs: 252 HP, 252 DEF
Nature: BOLD
- Slack-off
- Thunderwave
- Surf
- Psychic
Thunderwave, slack-off against most physical damage. Remember not to t-wave champ which will double the power payback.
Spam as much paralyse as possible, attack only when they dont switch.
Special Defense Blissey @ Leftovers
Ability: natural cure
EVs: 252 Def, 252 Sp def
Nature: calm
- Wish
- Thunderwave
- Ice Beam
- Seismic Toss
Same function as slowbro, but against sp atks. Making use of wish passing is an important tactic, inorder to preserve champ and ttar. Switch to blissey when facing gliscor, ice beam is the team's only way to deal with it.
Seismic toss is useful at times, but i barely get the chance to use it.
That about it! What a great way of using Breloom wouldn't you say? Any suggests will be most appreciated.