Creepy Crawlers
Hey guys, I'm smub, and I usually hang around the Monotype chatroom on PS. I felt like trying out Balanced Bug for a while, but I usually had a tough time making it work. However, with the release of Mega Heracross, I managed to make this Balanced Bug team, and I'm pretty happy with the end result. So without further ado, let's dive into the teambuilding process.
I started off with Mega Heracross because I wanted to diverge from Mega Scizor while also having a consistent way of beating SubToxic Zapdos, since I knew beforehand that Balanced Bug was gonna have an extremely rough time dealing with it.
I then moved on to the most important Pokemon to any Bug team, as well as the most potent setup sweeper/wallbreaker the type has access to: Volcarona.
The second most important Pokemon for Bug is usually the Rapid Spinner, which always doubles as the Stealth Rocker. I wanted something that could easily switch into Stone Edges, and since Armaldo simply didn't do that, I went with Forretress, who also takes less from Brave Birds coming from Staraptor.
Immediately after putting Forretress on the team, I knew I needed a specially defensive tank and a Fire switch-in. And the first Pokemon that came to mind was Araquanid, with its incredible 132 special bulk and access to Water Bubble.
This was the point where I wanted to add some speed control, and the immediate first thought was Galvantula with Sticky Web. Main reason it's ran over Shuckle is due to its much better offensive presence and Speed tier.
Sticky Web wasn't quite enough, and I needed even more speed control. Since I couldn't use Scarf Heracross, and Scarf Buzzwole would just be redundant, I went with Scolipede, who has a solid immediate Speed tier alongside a great physical movepool.
Now let's take a look at the Creepy Crawlers!
Forretress @ Leftovers
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Def
Relaxed Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Stealth Rock
- Rapid Spin
- Gyro Ball
- Volt Switch
Here's the obligatory Stealth Rocker/Rapid Spinner for the team: Forretress. Forretress does a fantastic job of switching into powerful physical attacks coming from the likes of Terrakion, Heracross, Landorus-Therian, and Staraptor. Leftovers is the preferred item choice due to having some passive sustain. But Rocky Helmet can be ran over it if you want to chip away at the physical attackers that try to hit it. Stealth Rock is essential for just about any Monotype team, especially Bug, considering how tough the Fire and Flying matchups are. Rapid Spin is essential for Bug teams in order to remove Stealth Rock and keep Volcarona and the rest of the team healthy. I liked using Gyro Ball to have Forretress serve as a more consistent check to Terrakion, as well as Mega Aerodactyl, Kyurem-Black, and Togekiss. But Spikes can be ran over it if you want it to wear down bulkier teams easier and to give Scolipede and Volcarona an easier time sweeping. Finally, Volt Switch is used to get off a slow pivot and give momentum to the team.
Araquanid @ Leftovers
Ability: Water Bubble
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Def / 252 SpD
Careful Nature
- Scald
- Toxic
- Protect
- Leech Life
Here we have the main Fire sponge and overall special switch-in Araquanid. Normally I would go with an Assault Vested offensive set, but since I wanted it to have more of a sustained presence, I went with this specially defensive set instead. Scald is our main Water STAB, and is very nice due to its burn chance, being able to cripple physical attackers. Toxic is nice for slowly wearing things down, as well as to catch certain Water-immune Pokemon and/or opposing walls on the switch, such as Volcanion, Mantine, Porygon2, Chansey, and Mandibuzz. Protect is nice for stalling out an extra turn of Toxic or burn damage, as well as getting off more recovery with Leftovers. Finally, Leech Life gives it an extra form of sustain, while also being a decent STAB option for hitting physically frail Psychic types like Mega Alakazam and Meloetta.
Heracross-Mega @ Heracronite
Ability: Guts
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Pin Missile
- Close Combat
- Earthquake
- Rock Blast
Here we have the Mega for the team and physical wallbreaker Mega Heracross. This is what made me want to retry building Balanced Bug, and Mega Heracross does its wallbreaking job incredibly well. Max Speed with Jolly hits such a nice Speed tier, outspeeding 64 Speed Zapdos variants, Adamant Dragonite, Modest Kingdra outside of rain, Magearna, and positive-natured Breloom, Bisharp, and Volcanion. Pin Missile is the standard Bug STAB, capable of 2HKOing Mega Sableye and Mega Venusaur. Close Combat is its strongest Fighting STAB, and overall great for hitting Ferrothorn, Celesteela, and Magnezone, which can be rather tough to deal with for the team at times. I ran Earthquake mainly to beat Toxapex, which will always be a huge nuisance for Bug. However, Swords Dance is an alternative that can be used to break balanced teams a lot easier. Finally, Rock Blast is absolutely essential for beating the incredible annoyance that is SubToxic Zapdos. It's always a pain to fight just about any Zapdos when it comes to Bug. But having Rock Blast and being able to remove it so easily is undeniably essential for this team.
Volcarona @ Firium Z
Ability: Flame Body
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Fire Blast
- Giga Drain
- Hidden Power [Ground]
- Quiver Dance
This is literally the most essential Pokemon to all Bug teams, the best asset for the team in the Steel matchup, and an incredible setup sweeper/wallbreaker. This Pokemon is the sun moth Volcarona. With the Firium Z, Volcarona becomes a fierce setup sweeper and wallbreaker capable of tearing through matchups such as Water, Ground, Grass, Ice, and especially Steel. Quiver Dance is the main setup move and the prime reason Volcarona is so incredible. Fire Blast is its best Fire STAB due to the sheer power coming from the Inferno Overdrive(185 BP). Giga Drain is essential coverage for hitting Water types like Keldeo, Swampert, and Seismitoad, as well as Ground types like Hippowdon and Mamoswine. Finally, Hidden Power Ground is used to get past Heatran, which is the one thing stopping Volcarona from spamming Fire Blast vs Steel, as well as targeting Fire types like Torkoal and Infernape. However, Hidden Power Ice can serve as a decent alternative in order to hit the Lati twins, Dragonite, and Salamence.
Galvantula @ Life Orb
Ability: Compound Eyes
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Thunder
- Energy Ball
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Sticky Web
This right here is not only the team's speed control asset with Sticky Web, but it's both my favorite Bug type and my favorite Electric type. Galvantula is simply amazing and a fantastic pick on just about any Bug team. I usually always went with Focus Sash whenever I put it on my Bug teams. But then I found out just how great Life Orb was on it. While it won't always be guaranteeing Sticky Web, the extra power backing it has proven to be incredibly more helpful, scoring OHKOes where there were once 2HKOes(a specific example would be Garchomp). Thunder is fantastic STAB when paired with Compound Eyes, giving it 91 accuracy. Energy Ball is important coverage for hitting Water types that are immune to Thunder like Gastrodon and Swampert, as well as Ground types like Hippowdon and Mamoswine. Hidden Power Ice is great for picking off threats like Garchomp, Dragonite, Landorus, and Salamence. Finally, Sticky Web slows the opponent down, giving my sweepers/wallbreakers an easier time doing their jobs.
Scolipede @ Life Orb
Ability: Speed Boost
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Megahorn
- Rock Slide
- Earthquake
- Protect
Ability: Speed Boost
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Megahorn
- Rock Slide
- Earthquake
- Protect
Here we have our secondary form of speed control and 3rd Terrakion check Scolipede. A Jolly nature is ran simply to take advantage of its fantastic 112 Speed tier, being able to outspeed Scarf Latios, Terrakion, and Infernape after a single Speed Boost. Megahorn is fantastic Bug STAB, which does incredibly in the otherwise difficult Psychic matchup. Rock Slide is nice for revenge killing Mega Charizard Y and Volcarona, as well as Dragonite, Zapdos, and Mantine. Earthquake is extremely important to make sure you aren't walled out by Heatran and Magnezone. Finally, Protect is used to get up a free Speed Boost.
So that was The Creepy Crawlers! I really hoped you enjoyed checking out this Balanced Bug team! Here it is so you can try it for yourself!
Forretress @ Leftovers
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Def
Relaxed Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Stealth Rock
- Rapid Spin
- Gyro Ball
- Volt Switch
Araquanid @ Leftovers
Ability: Water Bubble
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Def / 252 SpD
Careful Nature
- Scald
- Toxic
- Protect
- Leech Life
Heracross-Mega @ Heracronite
Ability: Guts
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Pin Missile
- Close Combat
- Earthquake
- Rock Blast
Volcarona @ Firium Z
Ability: Flame Body
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Fire Blast
- Giga Drain
- Hidden Power [Ground]
- Quiver Dance
Galvantula @ Life Orb
Ability: Compound Eyes
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Thunder
- Energy Ball
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Sticky Web
Scolipede @ Life Orb
Ability: Speed Boost
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Megahorn
- Rock Slide
- Earthquake
- Protect
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Def
Relaxed Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Stealth Rock
- Rapid Spin
- Gyro Ball
- Volt Switch
Araquanid @ Leftovers
Ability: Water Bubble
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Def / 252 SpD
Careful Nature
- Scald
- Toxic
- Protect
- Leech Life
Heracross-Mega @ Heracronite
Ability: Guts
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Pin Missile
- Close Combat
- Earthquake
- Rock Blast
Volcarona @ Firium Z
Ability: Flame Body
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Fire Blast
- Giga Drain
- Hidden Power [Ground]
- Quiver Dance
Galvantula @ Life Orb
Ability: Compound Eyes
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Thunder
- Energy Ball
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Sticky Web
Scolipede @ Life Orb
Ability: Speed Boost
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Megahorn
- Rock Slide
- Earthquake
- Protect
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