TEAM GOAL: FIND NICHE OF BANETTE
"Mega Banette? Isn't it outclassed by Sableye? What does it even do? It's the worst mega."
My intuition to try Banette was all the negativity it was receiving. How could a mega with 165 attack and prankster be bad? People don't even look at Heracross and I thought it was great. I took it as my duty to find how Banette can be used effectively, and I think I've done it. I could use a little help, though!
The Process
Obviously, Banette was first. Looking at its move set, I saw some notable moves: Taunt, Sucker Punch, Magic Coat, Shadow Sneak, Pursuit, Trick Room, Thunder Wave, Will-O-Wisp, Trick, Shadow Claw... Then I saw what sets it apart from Sableye, and that would be Destiny Bond. Priority Destiny Bond is something that only Banette gets, and I think it's a devastating combination. Combine that with priority Will-O-Wisp, Taunt, and then a powerful Shadow Claw, and you have the move set of something great. I invested special defense into it, knowing that physical attackers won't be having Will-O-Wisp and will be switching.
Greninja is something I had not tried yet, but instantly understood. It can be anything, and it can kill anything, and it can do it fast. Why would I pair it up with Banette? Well, Banette can cripple physical threats and support mons, and Greninja can finish them. Surf, Ice Beam, HP: Grass, and Extrasensory is what I went with for a move set. While it lacks U-Turn, I decided full special investment would be best, and that the coverage would be more useful.
Landorus-T seems normal, but I'm using the Assault Vest on it, which I've found to be a useful sponge for many different types of attacks. Intimidate combined with the Assault Vest gives it an advantage against any sort of attack, not to mention how powerful it is. Everyone knows that it is strong. It fits everywhere, and to be honest, I think that's why I chose it.
Scizor doesn't need a mega form to do well. I mainly wanted something for Pursuit, but what it has that others don't is priority, defog, and useful resistances. Fairies don't like it, ghosts and psychics don't like it, and entry hazards don't like it. While I do sometimes want a fighting move or Swords Dance on it, I think it's plenty useful the way it is. In this meta game, priority moves are incredibly important, and Scizor is a great user.
I use Heatran all the time. It takes discourages the use of fire moves on the opponent's side, and also, with a scarf, works as an excellent revenge killer. I use Ancient Power on it to kill Charizard and other things, which may seem gimmicky, but works nicely. There's no such thing as too much steel, so I don't mind the overlap between Scizor and Heatran. Both complement each other nicely, anyway, so I worry little about that.
I believe in the FWG core, but I was never a fan of grass types. Breloom, Ferrothorn, and Venusaur are common and effective, but none of them appealed to me. I decided to use something I'd seem in a random battle, Tangrowth. The Assault Vest seemed dumb on it, because Leech Seed and Sleep Powder looked great. I slapped Leftovers on it and went with it. It works great! It takes any physical hit with ease...
Including super effective, incredibly powerful ones. If you're wondering, yes, I put that Charizard to sleep right after, and finished it off with Leech Seed.
And that's my process.
Banette @ Banettite
Ability: Frisk
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SDef
Careful Nature
- Will-O-Wisp
- Taunt
- Destiny Bond
- Shadow Claw
The star of my team. I doubt I need to explain what it has over Sableye, but here's a few example battles:
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/ou-86615008
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/ou-86643708
It's meant to cripple stuff and take down with it whatever is set up and dominant. I think it does a great job! Sableye has Recover, but Banette gets Destiny Bond. I think it's a worthwhile trade. Not only that, it can hit stuff. That's something that Sableye will never do.
Greninja @ Life Orb
Ability: Protean
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature
- Surf
- Ice Beam
- Extrasensory
- Hidden Power [Grass]
Life Orb Greninja is great at revenge killing, but also just sweeping. It's very difficult to decide what you will switch into it, especially since you can never know what moves it will have. With the STAB boost, HP: Grass does plenty of damage, despite its measly 60 power. It is one of the best Pokemon on my team, and while it usually requires a free switch, it can do serious damage to the other team.
Landorus-Therian (M) @ Assault Vest
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SDef
Adamant Nature
- Earthquake
- Knock Off
- Stone Edge
- U-turn
Landorus-T is powerful, and with Intimidate, it can switch in rather easily against physical threats. The Assault Vest allows it to do the same against special threats! I've never worried much about Stealth Rock, and I much prefer the utility of Knock Off, which can take the scarf off of revenge killers, or the Assault Vest off of Conkeldurr. Earthquake does insane damage, too. Very few things can shrug off a hit from this, and when they can, that's what U-Turn is for!
Scizor @ Leftovers
Ability: Technician
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SDef
Adamant Nature
- Bullet Punch
- Defog
- Bug Bite
- Pursuit
Scizor takes away the right for psychics and ghosts to freely switch. Bullet Punch is great for revenge killing what barely survives other stuff, and dents fairies. Bug Bite is used instead of U-Turn, because I like to be able to do a bit more damage, stop Sitrus berries from being used, and some times, U-Turn is frustrating when all you want to do is spam a bug move. The EVs give it maximum power and decent defensive abilities.
Heatran @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 252 SAtk / 4 SDef / 252 Spd
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Ancient Power
- Flash Cannon
- Flamethrower
- Earth Power
Scarfed Heatran works very effectively as a revenge killer and late game sweeper. HP: Ice is something I'd love to utilize, but Ancient Power works better in that it kills Charizard, something that is a common switch-in and hassle to my team. Fire Blast is not used, as it misses way too much, and Eruption isn't used (I did like it when I used it at one point) because the quiet nature can put it beneath the speed of other foes, which can cripple the power of it or kill it completely.
Tangrowth @ Leftovers
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SAtk
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Knock Off
- Leech Seed
- Sleep Powder
- Giga Drain
Tangrowth is a monster.
It can take a hit, and then put the foe to sleep, and then use Leech Seed. When the opponent would rather wait out the sleep, Leech Seed can be used to heal my other Pokemon, which is a plus. It takes other Leech Seed and Spore attempts and takes the foe's item off, and it can also do some great damage with Giga Drain. Regenerator allows it to live out the whole battle, usually, with high health. Landorus-T and Tangrowth can really stall a physical threat easily together, as intimidate and regenerator work together to lower the foe's attack and raise Tangrowth's HP. A formidable wall, and a great team player, Tangrowth is one of the most unexpected surprises for me!
This team is a lot of fun to use, but some things can stop me in my tracks, like Gyarados, Charizard, Breloom, and... Gliscor. I'd love some advice, and if you would like to know, Scizor is probably the weakest link in my team. Thanks in advance!
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