Hey smogon, this is my first RMT here :)
Also, I've only been playing for a week or so; any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Changes are in bold.
Aerodactyl (M) @ Focus Sash Trait: Pressure
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Stealth Rock
- Taunt
- Earthquake
- Rock Slide
Description: My lead. I originally led with suicide Azelf, but was getting tired of everything outspeeding me. I taunt foes likely to set up SR and then get my own rocks up. Then, I usually Rock Slide off of the 1HP left from focus sash, or switch out if I'm lucky to have some HP left. This guy usually doesn't last me, and I don't depend on him much, but he's been the most reliable in getting up SR.
Forretress (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Sturdy
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SDef
Careful Nature (+SDef, -SAtk)
- Spikes
- Toxic Spikes
- Payback
- Rapid Spin
Description: My rapid spinner and spikes setup. Also, a nice switch-in for some special attacks. This thing has taken out Rotom forms several times, those pesky bastards. With its already stellar physical defense, the Specially Defensive set stood out to me for two reasons: the first, my team is largely physically based, so having this helps to balance it out, and the second, why invest in already gigantic Defense if you can round them both out?
Tyranitar (M) @ Expert Belt
Trait: Sand Stream
EVs: 56 Atk / 252 SAtk / 200 Spd
Hasty Nature (+Spd, -Def)
- Crunch
- Pursuit- Flamethrower
- Ice Beam
Description: Lure MixTar to cover some of the weaknesses on my team and for some good offensive pairing with Machamp, as well as protection for some of Celebi's major threats. Usually, people aren't expecting this set and end up sending in a second Pokemon for me to take advantage and usually dispose of.
Machamp (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: No Guard
EVs: 252 HP / 128 Atk / 128 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Bulk Up
- Stone Edge
- DynamicPunch
- Payback
Description: Oh, Machamp. Confusion forces lots of switches, which plays hand in hand with the setup of my team. Also, Payback is useful against many switch-ins such as Gengar. The RestTalk set seemed to provide a lot of utility, but in the end Machamp was only taking one or two hits anyway. Instead, I decided to go with a Bulk Up set: Machamp provides good coverage and synergism for the rest of my team, taking heavy physical hits and also benefiting from the paralysis that Celebi can set up.
Celebi @ Life Orb
Trait: Natural Cure
EVs: 232 HP / 224 SAtk / 32 Spd
Modest Nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Thunder Wave
- Leaf Storm
- Recover
- Psychic
Description: Rounds out type coverage, gives me a SpA option, and provides support through Thunder Wave. Usually, my matches come down to this little guy here, and I win more often than not. The use of Psychic over other moves was again, a choice to help me cover more types and opt for a STAB move without the SpA decrease from Leaf Storm.
Rotom-H @ Choice Scarf
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 252 SAtk / 4 Spd / 252 Spe
Modest Nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Thunderbolt
- Shadow Ball
- Overheat
- Trick
Description: I playtested every viable spinblocker, and Rotom-H has been the best option for me. Overheat provides much needed coverage against the likes of Scizor (also, it seems that many players end up not expecting Rotom to carry Overheat, which is strange), and Rotom-H can hold its own against some attackers. Dusknoir ended up stalling for a bit but never could hit back, while Gengar was always just short of a KO, leaving me with only 5 pokemon left.
As per Zeph/AlcadeiasX's suggestions, I decided on Choice Scarf Rotom. This gives me a much-needed revenge killer and also a counter to MixApe and SD Lucario.
I've broken pretty even with this team. At first, I had Roar Swampert, Perish Song Celebi, and DD Bulky Gyarados on my team, which did pretty well. In the end though, I kept on losing against MixApe and other such threats, so I made this build. The only thing that worries me are Pokemon that can come in and set up. I have to take them out quickly.. Usually though, I can predict the setup and hit them hard first before they have the chance.
Speaking of which, I feel that Suicune w/Roar would be a great asset to this team. Only problem is, that leaves me without a good lead. Any ideas?
Thanks for reading and taking your time to consider my first team :)
Also, I've only been playing for a week or so; any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Changes are in bold.
Aerodactyl (M) @ Focus Sash Trait: Pressure
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Stealth Rock
- Taunt
- Earthquake
- Rock Slide
Description: My lead. I originally led with suicide Azelf, but was getting tired of everything outspeeding me. I taunt foes likely to set up SR and then get my own rocks up. Then, I usually Rock Slide off of the 1HP left from focus sash, or switch out if I'm lucky to have some HP left. This guy usually doesn't last me, and I don't depend on him much, but he's been the most reliable in getting up SR.
Forretress (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Sturdy
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SDef
Careful Nature (+SDef, -SAtk)
- Spikes
- Toxic Spikes
- Payback
- Rapid Spin
Description: My rapid spinner and spikes setup. Also, a nice switch-in for some special attacks. This thing has taken out Rotom forms several times, those pesky bastards. With its already stellar physical defense, the Specially Defensive set stood out to me for two reasons: the first, my team is largely physically based, so having this helps to balance it out, and the second, why invest in already gigantic Defense if you can round them both out?
Tyranitar (M) @ Expert Belt
Trait: Sand Stream
EVs: 56 Atk / 252 SAtk / 200 Spd
Hasty Nature (+Spd, -Def)
- Crunch
- Pursuit- Flamethrower
- Ice Beam
Description: Lure MixTar to cover some of the weaknesses on my team and for some good offensive pairing with Machamp, as well as protection for some of Celebi's major threats. Usually, people aren't expecting this set and end up sending in a second Pokemon for me to take advantage and usually dispose of.
Machamp (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: No Guard
EVs: 252 HP / 128 Atk / 128 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Bulk Up
- Stone Edge
- DynamicPunch
- Payback
Description: Oh, Machamp. Confusion forces lots of switches, which plays hand in hand with the setup of my team. Also, Payback is useful against many switch-ins such as Gengar. The RestTalk set seemed to provide a lot of utility, but in the end Machamp was only taking one or two hits anyway. Instead, I decided to go with a Bulk Up set: Machamp provides good coverage and synergism for the rest of my team, taking heavy physical hits and also benefiting from the paralysis that Celebi can set up.
Celebi @ Life Orb
Trait: Natural Cure
EVs: 232 HP / 224 SAtk / 32 Spd
Modest Nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Thunder Wave
- Leaf Storm
- Recover
- Psychic
Description: Rounds out type coverage, gives me a SpA option, and provides support through Thunder Wave. Usually, my matches come down to this little guy here, and I win more often than not. The use of Psychic over other moves was again, a choice to help me cover more types and opt for a STAB move without the SpA decrease from Leaf Storm.
Rotom-H @ Choice Scarf
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 252 SAtk / 4 Spd / 252 Spe
Modest Nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Thunderbolt
- Shadow Ball
- Overheat
- Trick
Description: I playtested every viable spinblocker, and Rotom-H has been the best option for me. Overheat provides much needed coverage against the likes of Scizor (also, it seems that many players end up not expecting Rotom to carry Overheat, which is strange), and Rotom-H can hold its own against some attackers. Dusknoir ended up stalling for a bit but never could hit back, while Gengar was always just short of a KO, leaving me with only 5 pokemon left.
As per Zeph/AlcadeiasX's suggestions, I decided on Choice Scarf Rotom. This gives me a much-needed revenge killer and also a counter to MixApe and SD Lucario.
I've broken pretty even with this team. At first, I had Roar Swampert, Perish Song Celebi, and DD Bulky Gyarados on my team, which did pretty well. In the end though, I kept on losing against MixApe and other such threats, so I made this build. The only thing that worries me are Pokemon that can come in and set up. I have to take them out quickly.. Usually though, I can predict the setup and hit them hard first before they have the chance.
Speaking of which, I feel that Suicune w/Roar would be a great asset to this team. Only problem is, that leaves me without a good lead. Any ideas?
Thanks for reading and taking your time to consider my first team :)
