Which one to replace for Hitmontop?

[madvorak]

Hello!

I attended Krakon 2012 in August and I finished 4th with this team:

Format: VGC 2012

Zapdos @ Leftovers
Trait: Pressure
EVs: 140 HP / 252 SAtk / 116 Spd
Modest Nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Thunderbolt
- Heat Wave
- Protect
- Tailwind

Common Zapdos. I usually want it to launch Tailwind. Thunderbolt and Heat Wave are the best damaging moves. It has Leftovers because it is relatively bulky.

Starmie @ Sitrus Berry
Trait: Natural Cure
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Hydro Pump
- Psychic
- Ice Beam
- Protect

Starmie has a good type coverage and I used it as a lead together with Zapdos usually. I chose two special attackers because of Intimidate. I don't play Thunderbolt here, because Zapdos has this move with STAB. It has Sitrus Berry, because I wanted some recovery item and it isn't as bulky as Zapdos. I would play Modest rather then Timid, but my Starmie is Timid, because it was intended for Single Battle initially.

Conkeldurr (M) @ Life Orb
Trait: Guts
EVs: 116 HP / 252 Atk / 140 SDef
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Drain Punch
- Mach Punch
- Rock Slide
- Protect

Common Conkeldurr with the exception of the item. I prefered Life Orb to Flame Orb because it
1) works even in the first turn
2) has lower self damage
3) doesn't damage on the turn Conkeldurr uses Protect.

Scizor (M) @ Bug Gem
Trait: Technician
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Bug Bite
- U-turn
- Bullet Punch
- Protect

Another good Pokémon IMO. It has both Protect and a priority move (my initially criterion when designing a VGC team). I decided not to play Superpower, because:
1) Bug Bite is its strongest move (thanks to Technician).
2) I wanted Bullet Punch as a priority move.
3) Protect is needed because of Scizor's x4 fire weakness (my other Pokémon can KO the fire threat meanwhile ; Scizor can use Bullet Punch on the next turn if the fire threat is still alive)
4) I play U-Turn. I dislike Superpower drops and I don't want to use Superpower without being able to use U-Turn after it. Moreover there are many Pokémon with Intimidate in VGC.

Snorlax (M) @ Normal Gem
Trait: Thick Fat
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Def
Brave Nature (+Atk, -Spd)
- Protect
- Last Resort

This Snorlax has an interesting moveset. It uses Protect on the first turn and it can use Last Resort (BP 140) then. Compared to Choice Band Snorlax, this Snorlax cannot utilize moves of other types, but it can use Protect and it is stronger, because it can have either Silk Scarf or Normal Gem. It has Brave nature, because it is a counter against Trick Room teams.

Heatran (M) @ Air Balloon
Trait: Flash Fire
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Heat Wave
- Earth Power
- Dragon Pulse
- Protect

I decided to play this Pokémon right before the tournament. It has a nice moveset and is useful especially against Sunny teams.

Now I am getting ready for 2012 Autumn Friendly and I consider replacing one of my Poké with Hitmontop (to use him as a lead together with Zapdos usually).

Hitmontop (M) @ Fight Gem
Trait: Intimidate
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Fake Out
- Close Combat
- Sucker Punch
- Wide Guard

I though I will avoid using the most used Pokémon in this metagame, but I discovered it is awesome together with Zapdos after battling against BZW Golem. It forces the opponent to use Protect (usually with both Pokémon) and I have a free opportunity to launch Tailwind. Moreover the opponent cannot doubleprotect twice during the Tailwind effect if (s)he decides to doubleprotect to avoid Fake Out. Opponent often switches his/her Pokémon on the first turn. I prefer Sucker Punch to Mach Punch, because
1) it gives it a type coverage that Mach Punch doesn't
2) it is stronger then Mach Punch because Hitmontop doesn't have Technician
3) most moves in this metagame are either damaging moves or Protect/Detect, so Sucker Punch won't fail too often

What do you think? Which Pokémon should I remove?

I thank you for your help.

 

[TheMantyke]

Hi! Congratulations on your success in your tournament. I think you’re making a good move in throwing in Hitmontop somewhere; it’s hard to go wrong with Intimidate and Fake Out support on the same Pokemon. I think the obvious choice of Pokemon to replace with Hitmontop is Conkeldurr. Conkeldurr and Hitmontop offer the team near identical offensive and defensive synergy, but Hitmontop offers your team that awesome support instead of just giving the team an anti-trick room support (which Hitmontop still offers to a lesser extent in Fake Out). If you’re really worried about Trick Room after getting rid of Conkeldurr, you could also try implementing a change on your Snorlax.

Let me be the first to say that your Snorlax set is hilarious. I can only imagine the look of horror on someone’s face as Snorlax starts barreling towards them with a 140 Base Power gem boosted STAB attack! I’d really hate to get rid of this, but if Trick Room becomes a major problem, consider changing Snorlax’s moveset to something like this:

Snorlax @ Chople Berry
Thick Fat
Adamant
12 HP / 252 Atk / 60 Def / 180 SpD
-Return
-Crunch
-Fire Punch / Earthquake
-Protect

This offers a lot less raw offensive prowess than your set, but it’s far more reliable and makes the lives of Sun and Trick Room teams a living hell. Again, I only really recommend this change if you find yourself having a lot of difficulties versus Trick Room when Conkeldurr is gone.

Finally, I have one set of changes I think you should consider on Heatran. Consider replacing Dragon Pulse for Substitute and your Air Balloon for a Chople Berry. You don’t have anything on your team firing off Earthquake, so your Air Balloon isn’t a necessity to help anything attack. Additionally, enemy Ground-type attacks are pretty easy to read, as you’ll usually see a levitating Pokemon alongside an Earthquake user. Most opponents will need to hit you with a very specific super-effective attack to damage Heatran, and if you don’t see one around, it’s the perfect opportunity to set up a Substitute while they switch to something to deal with your Heatran! The Chople Berry is there because most of the time, that specific super-effective attack aimed at Heatran will be a Close Combat from Hitmontop or Terrakion. This change will give Heatran a bit of trouble versus levitating Dragon types and Rotom-W, but I think you’re reasonably well prepared for those Pokemon already between your other team members.

Hope my advice helped!