This is my first RMT, but not my first competitive team, so I (hope) I have the obvious flaws out of the way. My prior teams had MAJOR problems with full-on stall teams, so my goal when making this team was to beat stall.
When initially theorycrafting this team, I came up with six archetypes I wanted my pokemon to fill: Two mixed sweepers, special set-up sweeper, physical set-up sweeper, cleric, and uncommon yet effective lead. Here's what I came up with:
The uncommon yet effective lead
Gliscor (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Sand Veil
EVs: 252 HP/128 Atk/128 Def
Adamant nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Earthquake
- Stealth Rock
- Stone Edge
- X-Scissor
I may have messed with the EVs too much for my own good, but this is a very effective lead that can easily come back mid game for some physical walling. Adamant nature is chosen because in the lead position Gliscor rarely needs defense. The only common pokemon in the lead position that will attack it physically is Machamp.
Stealth Rock is for non-taunting leads, Stone Edge beats Aerodactyl, and X-Scissor beats Azelf. Earthquake is for (almost) everything else.
Lead comparisons:
The Physical set up/revenge killer
Lucario (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Inner Focus
EVs: 252 Atk/4 Def/252 Spd
Jolly nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Swords Dance
- Close Combat
- Extremespeed
- Crunch
EV values are pretty obvious. Life Orb is chosen because SD Lucario lives on the OHKO. Been going back and forth on Jolly vs Adamant nature. Lucario's medicore speed makes a +speed nature seem like a must to beat other revenge killers, but without a SD it's unreliable as a killer.
If I ever get a SD while Lucario is in, he beats any team without Gengar. Close Combat is usually enough to OHKO, and extremespeed finishes off what's not OHKO'd. Cruch picks off ghosts on the switch, but if Gengar sneaks in without being predicted, Lucario needs to switch out because focus blast will OHKO. It's too bad Lucario is so frail; almost any unresisted STAB attack will kill it, especially after some LO residual damage. For this reason, I'm having a very hard time sweeping when I can't get a SD in. ES is only half as powerful as CC factoring in STAB, so it can't really make up for the mediocre speed. I'm looking to replace it with a physical revenge killer that's either much bulkier or much faster and is not named scizor or tyranitar. Any thoughts?
The bulky water/special set-up/phazer
Suicune @ Leftovers
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 252 HP/252 Def/4 SAtk
Bold nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Surf
- Calm Mind
- Roar
- Ice Beam
This is by far the best pokemon I have ever used. A 115 base defense plus max defense EVs and a +defense nature ensures it can wall hits on the physical spectrum, and a calm mind or two allows this thing to wall specially. After one calm mind, Suicune has 404 HP, 361 Def, 399 SpD, and is water-type. Not bad.
Getting in a calm mind or two with Suicune is too easy. The top 5 most used Pokemon in April were Scizor, Tyranitar, Salamence, Heatran, and Gyarados. Suicune can switch in and set up on all five. The only common pokemon that wall this set are Vaporeon and Blissey. If I've eliminated them, or my opponent doesn't have them, status is the only way to bring Suicune down. Even then, I find a way to switch in Blissey, use Heal Bell, Wish, and switch right back in.
Wall breaker 1
Jirachi @ Expert Belt
Ability: Serene Grace
EVs: 252 Atk/252 Spd/4 SAtk
Naive nature (+Spd, -SDef)
- Energy Ball
- Ice Punch
- Fire Punch
- Thunderbolt
Jirachi has a base 100 speed, along with base 100 attack and special attack. It's attacking stats are on par with Infernape, and it has better typing and defenses. My plan is to bring out Jirachi before I bring out Blissey, which my opponent usually interprets as a sign that I'm using a support Jirachi. Very few things resist all four attacks, meaning my first attack is usually super effective. After my opponent finds out I'm using an offensive Jirachi, its investment in speed shows and it has a very good shot at beating whatever counter they have. If it can't, I can always bring it in once the counter is down and feign a choice scarf set. Unlike my other mixed sweeper, Salamence, Jirachi relies on the element of surprise than on power.
The set is designed to get as many super effective hits as possible. Thunderbolt and Ice punch form the famous boltbeam combo, fire punch hits steels hard, and energy ball beats Swampert, who my team has a lot of trouble beating. Jirachi also has excellent type synergy with Salamence. Jirachi is resistant to ice and dragon, and Salamence resists fire and is immune to ground. Salamence's electric weakness is taken care of by Gliscor.
Wall breaker 2
Salamence (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 16 Atk/252 Spd/240 SAtk
Naive nature (+Spd, -SDef)
- Draco Meteor
- Earthquake
- Flamethrower
- Outrage
This is mixmence. Not much needs to be said, so I'll keep it brief.
Draco Meteor does at least 60% to anything that doesn't resist it. Flamethrower and Earthquake beat the steels who love to switch in on Salamence anticipating an outrage. Outrage is for the rare instances that Salamence is acutally alive late game.
Salamence is invaluable to my team in that it is the only pokemon I have that can switch into a powerful earthquake and kill whatever uses it.
Other than that, Salamence has been pretty underwhelming. I rely on Draco Meteor too much to be able to change the set to DDmence, and I find that Mence is already under 50% health after it makes one attack (stealth rock + life orb + opponent's attack). Am I just not using him right? On my team does he basically serve as a frail Jirachi? Along with Lucario, I'm looking into replacing him.
The cleric
Blissey (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 24 HP/252 Def/232 SDef
Calm nature (+SDef, -Atk)
- Seismic Toss
- Heal Bell
- Wish
- Toxic
An astute observer may notice that none of my pokemon have recovery moves, and I have no status absorbers, or any moves designed to inflict status (random burns and paralysis from Jirachi don't count). This is the glue that holds everything together. Seismic Toss breaks substitutes if the pokemon behind them poses significant threat to Suicune, Heal Bell and wish combined rejuvinate a sweeper on its last legs, and toxic stalls out pokemon that would otherwise pose a very significant threat to the team (Latias). The moveset ensures that this one blissey can suddenly flip my team from balanced offense to stall. This set can't touch Gengar, but then again Gengar can't touch it, so I can wish and switch to something else without fear. Really, this team would be worthless without blissey.
Threat List:
When initially theorycrafting this team, I came up with six archetypes I wanted my pokemon to fill: Two mixed sweepers, special set-up sweeper, physical set-up sweeper, cleric, and uncommon yet effective lead. Here's what I came up with:
The uncommon yet effective lead
Gliscor (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Sand Veil
EVs: 252 HP/128 Atk/128 Def
Adamant nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Earthquake
- Stealth Rock
- Stone Edge
- X-Scissor
I may have messed with the EVs too much for my own good, but this is a very effective lead that can easily come back mid game for some physical walling. Adamant nature is chosen because in the lead position Gliscor rarely needs defense. The only common pokemon in the lead position that will attack it physically is Machamp.
Stealth Rock is for non-taunting leads, Stone Edge beats Aerodactyl, and X-Scissor beats Azelf. Earthquake is for (almost) everything else.
Lead comparisons:
Azelf: X-Scissor 2HKOs leaving time for taunt and rocks.
Aerodactyl: Stone Edge 2HKOs when it doesn't miss, leaving time for taunt and rocks
Swampert: Switch to Suicune to take the ice beam, surf it while it sets up rocks, see what their cune counter is (which gliscor usually beats). Not that bad of a start.
Metagross: We both set up rocks, earthquake beats him if he doesn't explode, if he does then it's 5v5 with two sets of rocks up.
Jirachi: Use rocks on the first turn and take the scarf. Gliscor loves coming back in mid-game with a scarf.
Infernape: Fake out does 1-2% after leftovers recovery. Earthquake threatens to kill it so I set up rocks while he switches. Great start.
Machamp: Switch to Suicune to take the ice punch, surf while he dynamicpunches, and pray for no confusion hax.
Ninjask: Set up rocks, switch to Suicune, use roar.
Roserade: Never actually played against one, but in theory it could be very problematic. Sleep prevents rocks from getting up, switching lets in a layer of toxic spikes. Blissey's heal bell solves the problems, but I'm starting the game off on the wrong foot.
Tyranitar: Gliscor's pretty much a 100% counter.
Aerodactyl: Stone Edge 2HKOs when it doesn't miss, leaving time for taunt and rocks
Swampert: Switch to Suicune to take the ice beam, surf it while it sets up rocks, see what their cune counter is (which gliscor usually beats). Not that bad of a start.
Metagross: We both set up rocks, earthquake beats him if he doesn't explode, if he does then it's 5v5 with two sets of rocks up.
Jirachi: Use rocks on the first turn and take the scarf. Gliscor loves coming back in mid-game with a scarf.
Infernape: Fake out does 1-2% after leftovers recovery. Earthquake threatens to kill it so I set up rocks while he switches. Great start.
Machamp: Switch to Suicune to take the ice punch, surf while he dynamicpunches, and pray for no confusion hax.
Ninjask: Set up rocks, switch to Suicune, use roar.
Roserade: Never actually played against one, but in theory it could be very problematic. Sleep prevents rocks from getting up, switching lets in a layer of toxic spikes. Blissey's heal bell solves the problems, but I'm starting the game off on the wrong foot.
Tyranitar: Gliscor's pretty much a 100% counter.
The Physical set up/revenge killer
Lucario (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Inner Focus
EVs: 252 Atk/4 Def/252 Spd
Jolly nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Swords Dance
- Close Combat
- Extremespeed
- Crunch
EV values are pretty obvious. Life Orb is chosen because SD Lucario lives on the OHKO. Been going back and forth on Jolly vs Adamant nature. Lucario's medicore speed makes a +speed nature seem like a must to beat other revenge killers, but without a SD it's unreliable as a killer.
If I ever get a SD while Lucario is in, he beats any team without Gengar. Close Combat is usually enough to OHKO, and extremespeed finishes off what's not OHKO'd. Cruch picks off ghosts on the switch, but if Gengar sneaks in without being predicted, Lucario needs to switch out because focus blast will OHKO. It's too bad Lucario is so frail; almost any unresisted STAB attack will kill it, especially after some LO residual damage. For this reason, I'm having a very hard time sweeping when I can't get a SD in. ES is only half as powerful as CC factoring in STAB, so it can't really make up for the mediocre speed. I'm looking to replace it with a physical revenge killer that's either much bulkier or much faster and is not named scizor or tyranitar. Any thoughts?
The bulky water/special set-up/phazer
Suicune @ Leftovers
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 252 HP/252 Def/4 SAtk
Bold nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Surf
- Calm Mind
- Roar
- Ice Beam
This is by far the best pokemon I have ever used. A 115 base defense plus max defense EVs and a +defense nature ensures it can wall hits on the physical spectrum, and a calm mind or two allows this thing to wall specially. After one calm mind, Suicune has 404 HP, 361 Def, 399 SpD, and is water-type. Not bad.
Getting in a calm mind or two with Suicune is too easy. The top 5 most used Pokemon in April were Scizor, Tyranitar, Salamence, Heatran, and Gyarados. Suicune can switch in and set up on all five. The only common pokemon that wall this set are Vaporeon and Blissey. If I've eliminated them, or my opponent doesn't have them, status is the only way to bring Suicune down. Even then, I find a way to switch in Blissey, use Heal Bell, Wish, and switch right back in.
Wall breaker 1
Jirachi @ Expert Belt
Ability: Serene Grace
EVs: 252 Atk/252 Spd/4 SAtk
Naive nature (+Spd, -SDef)
- Energy Ball
- Ice Punch
- Fire Punch
- Thunderbolt
Jirachi has a base 100 speed, along with base 100 attack and special attack. It's attacking stats are on par with Infernape, and it has better typing and defenses. My plan is to bring out Jirachi before I bring out Blissey, which my opponent usually interprets as a sign that I'm using a support Jirachi. Very few things resist all four attacks, meaning my first attack is usually super effective. After my opponent finds out I'm using an offensive Jirachi, its investment in speed shows and it has a very good shot at beating whatever counter they have. If it can't, I can always bring it in once the counter is down and feign a choice scarf set. Unlike my other mixed sweeper, Salamence, Jirachi relies on the element of surprise than on power.
The set is designed to get as many super effective hits as possible. Thunderbolt and Ice punch form the famous boltbeam combo, fire punch hits steels hard, and energy ball beats Swampert, who my team has a lot of trouble beating. Jirachi also has excellent type synergy with Salamence. Jirachi is resistant to ice and dragon, and Salamence resists fire and is immune to ground. Salamence's electric weakness is taken care of by Gliscor.
Wall breaker 2
Salamence (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 16 Atk/252 Spd/240 SAtk
Naive nature (+Spd, -SDef)
- Draco Meteor
- Earthquake
- Flamethrower
- Outrage
This is mixmence. Not much needs to be said, so I'll keep it brief.
Draco Meteor does at least 60% to anything that doesn't resist it. Flamethrower and Earthquake beat the steels who love to switch in on Salamence anticipating an outrage. Outrage is for the rare instances that Salamence is acutally alive late game.
Salamence is invaluable to my team in that it is the only pokemon I have that can switch into a powerful earthquake and kill whatever uses it.
Other than that, Salamence has been pretty underwhelming. I rely on Draco Meteor too much to be able to change the set to DDmence, and I find that Mence is already under 50% health after it makes one attack (stealth rock + life orb + opponent's attack). Am I just not using him right? On my team does he basically serve as a frail Jirachi? Along with Lucario, I'm looking into replacing him.
The cleric
Blissey (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 24 HP/252 Def/232 SDef
Calm nature (+SDef, -Atk)
- Seismic Toss
- Heal Bell
- Wish
- Toxic
An astute observer may notice that none of my pokemon have recovery moves, and I have no status absorbers, or any moves designed to inflict status (random burns and paralysis from Jirachi don't count). This is the glue that holds everything together. Seismic Toss breaks substitutes if the pokemon behind them poses significant threat to Suicune, Heal Bell and wish combined rejuvinate a sweeper on its last legs, and toxic stalls out pokemon that would otherwise pose a very significant threat to the team (Latias). The moveset ensures that this one blissey can suddenly flip my team from balanced offense to stall. This set can't touch Gengar, but then again Gengar can't touch it, so I can wish and switch to something else without fear. Really, this team would be worthless without blissey.
Threat List:
Azelf: I have never seen one that's not in the lead position. Blissey could wall nasty plot ones, Suicune could probably tank it, and Gliscor's x-scissor would be bad for it.
Breloom: Gliscor walls its focus punches and x-scissor's it, suicune roars it out from behind its substitute, salamence intimidates it and uses flamethrower, Jirachi can take a hit and respond with fire punch. All those counters, yet it still is a major pain.
Breloom: Gliscor walls its focus punches and x-scissor's it, suicune roars it out from behind its substitute, salamence intimidates it and uses flamethrower, Jirachi can take a hit and respond with fire punch. All those counters, yet it still is a major pain.
Celebi: Gliscor's x-scissor 2HKOs defensive Celebi, Jirachi can take leaf storm and HP ice and get it with fire punch, suicune can calm mind on the grass knot sets and beat it with ice beam.
Electivire: I only have one electric attack on my team, and if I let Electivire predict a thunderbolt from Jirachi, I'm doing something wrong.
Empoleon: Suicune can easily phaze it away. If Suicune's down or low on health, then I don't have a reliable counter.
Flygon: Suicune's ice beam, Jirachi's ice punch, and Salamence's draco meteor all OHKO. All three can switch in easily.
Gengar: The best I can hope for is to hit it on the switch with Lucario's crunch. Other than that, I have nothing against Gengar. Nothing at all.
Gliscor: Suicune or Salamence if I predict an earthquake, Jirachi if I don't.
Gyarados: Suicune sets up on this, and Jirachi can give it a surprise thunderbolt. If it's the taunt variety... I prefer not to think about it.
Heatran: Suicune takes minimal damage from fire blast and gets in a free CM as Heatran switches.
Infernape: Gliscor, Suicune, Salamence
Jirachi: Gliscor can absorb the choice scarf, blissey walls CM sets, my Jirachi beats other Jirachi.
Latias: Switch in Blissey and use toxic.
Lucario: Suicune can take its hits and do a lot of damage. Jirachi outspeeds it and gets it with fire punch. Salamence intimidates physical ones, outspeeds it, and gets the OHKO with earthquake or flamethrower.
Machamp: Who doesn't hate these things? All I can do is whittle it down with one or two pokemon then revenge it with Lucario.
Magnezone: Both my steels beat this if Magnezone tries to trap them. Suicune has to switch out, but Blissey can wall it.
Mamoswine: In theory, a non-choiced Mamoswine destorys my team. Only suicune isn't weak to either ice or ground, so if he goes down, my team goes down. In practice, they're all choiced. Switch to Salamence or Glicor if he's going to use earthquake, switch to Jirachi or Suicune if he's going to use ice shard.
Metagross: Salamence and Jirachi both beat non-agility versions. Agiligross really hurts me though.
Porygon-Z: Switch in Blissey, use toxic.
Rotom-A: As long as he doesn't switch into a thunderbolt, Suicune can CM set up on Rotom.
Salamence: Unless their salamence is max speed, Jirachi and my Salamence both outspeed it. If it is max speed, Suicune will force it to switch, granting me a free CM.
Scizor: Suicune, Jirachi, and Salamence all beat it. Lucario out-revenges it.
Snorlax: Suicune roars out the curselaxes, Lucario's CC OHKO's other varieties.
Starmie: Blissey can out-stall it, Jirachi has a hard time switching in but can beat it once in, and Suicune beats sets without HP electric. Still a pain though.
Suicune: Blissey used toxic.
Togekiss: All of my pokemon except for Gliscor beat this one-on-one.
Weavile: These are becoming increasingly rare, but without a fighting type move on my team (seismic toss doesn't count), it's hard to directly counter. On the other hand, I have no psychic or ghost type attacks on my team, so it has a hard time switching in.
Yanmega: Blissey.
Zapdos: Blissey
Electivire: I only have one electric attack on my team, and if I let Electivire predict a thunderbolt from Jirachi, I'm doing something wrong.
Empoleon: Suicune can easily phaze it away. If Suicune's down or low on health, then I don't have a reliable counter.
Flygon: Suicune's ice beam, Jirachi's ice punch, and Salamence's draco meteor all OHKO. All three can switch in easily.
Gengar: The best I can hope for is to hit it on the switch with Lucario's crunch. Other than that, I have nothing against Gengar. Nothing at all.
Gliscor: Suicune or Salamence if I predict an earthquake, Jirachi if I don't.
Gyarados: Suicune sets up on this, and Jirachi can give it a surprise thunderbolt. If it's the taunt variety... I prefer not to think about it.
Heatran: Suicune takes minimal damage from fire blast and gets in a free CM as Heatran switches.
Infernape: Gliscor, Suicune, Salamence
Jirachi: Gliscor can absorb the choice scarf, blissey walls CM sets, my Jirachi beats other Jirachi.
Latias: Switch in Blissey and use toxic.
Lucario: Suicune can take its hits and do a lot of damage. Jirachi outspeeds it and gets it with fire punch. Salamence intimidates physical ones, outspeeds it, and gets the OHKO with earthquake or flamethrower.
Machamp: Who doesn't hate these things? All I can do is whittle it down with one or two pokemon then revenge it with Lucario.
Magnezone: Both my steels beat this if Magnezone tries to trap them. Suicune has to switch out, but Blissey can wall it.
Mamoswine: In theory, a non-choiced Mamoswine destorys my team. Only suicune isn't weak to either ice or ground, so if he goes down, my team goes down. In practice, they're all choiced. Switch to Salamence or Glicor if he's going to use earthquake, switch to Jirachi or Suicune if he's going to use ice shard.
Metagross: Salamence and Jirachi both beat non-agility versions. Agiligross really hurts me though.
Porygon-Z: Switch in Blissey, use toxic.
Rotom-A: As long as he doesn't switch into a thunderbolt, Suicune can CM set up on Rotom.
Salamence: Unless their salamence is max speed, Jirachi and my Salamence both outspeed it. If it is max speed, Suicune will force it to switch, granting me a free CM.
Scizor: Suicune, Jirachi, and Salamence all beat it. Lucario out-revenges it.
Snorlax: Suicune roars out the curselaxes, Lucario's CC OHKO's other varieties.
Starmie: Blissey can out-stall it, Jirachi has a hard time switching in but can beat it once in, and Suicune beats sets without HP electric. Still a pain though.
Suicune: Blissey used toxic.
Togekiss: All of my pokemon except for Gliscor beat this one-on-one.
Weavile: These are becoming increasingly rare, but without a fighting type move on my team (seismic toss doesn't count), it's hard to directly counter. On the other hand, I have no psychic or ghost type attacks on my team, so it has a hard time switching in.
Yanmega: Blissey.
Zapdos: Blissey
