np: Rating Practice Team Round #32 - Different

[Trinitrotoluene]

Welcome to the newest round of rating practice teams. If you're an aspiring rater, then these will hopefully allow you to pick up on and address any problems with your rating, provide you with experience rating teams that have been specifically made to be as tough to rate as possible, and make you think creatively in order to find the best changes for the team. Any rates we receive will be replied to with personalized feedback by an official Team Rater. At the end of the round, we'll give some general hints and feedback on how things went, and post the best rate that we received as an example of how to rate the team.

After speaking with some other team raters, we have decided to include teams for non-OU metagames in this round of rating practice teams. However, for this round, we do not have practice teams for Ubers (because of a lack of interest shown in the previous round) and LC (because the LC specialists working with me are busy irl). Before you ask, you may rate more than one practice team, and your rate(s) will get feedback proportional to the amount of effort you put into it / them. PM all rates to Trinitrotoluene by Sunday, 26 April, 2015, and make separate PMs for each team you rate. Indicate which tier your rate is for in the title of your PM!

Practice Teams by Tier:

• OU Practice Team by rob.
• UU Practice Team by IronBullet93
• RU Practice Team by galbia
• NU Practice Team by Montsegur

 

[Trinitrotoluene]

OU Practice Team by rob.

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"Like a muddied spring or a polluted fountain is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked."
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Alakazam (M) @ Focus Sash
Ability: Magic Guard
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Psyshock
- Focus Blast
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Shadow Ball

Alakazam is underrated at the moment. I'm not sure why since it does a great job of revenge killing due to its great speed / great power / great ability. A Focus Sash allows it to act as an even better revenge killer because it is guaranteed to attack at least one time. Magic Guard helps preserve the Focus Sash. Hidden Power [Ice] instead of [Fire] since the team doesn't have anything besides Scizor and Latias that could take care of most dragons.

Scizor (M) @ Choice Band
Ability: Technician
EVs: 104 HP / 228 Atk / 176 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Bullet Punch
- U-turn
- Pursuit
- Superpower

Scizor is the Fairy / Latios / Latias check. It's a powerful pokemon that performs this role extremely well. The EVs boost its special defense to help it check things like Diancie and Latios (one lacking HP [Fire]). Scizor can also double as a secondary revenge killing option because of its powerful Choice Band / Technician boosted priority Bullet Punch.

Breloom (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Technician
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Spore
- Bullet Seed
- Mach Punch
- Rock Tomb

Breloom is another underrated pokemon. It supports the team by picking off the opposing teams Dark/Steel types to help Mega Latias perform a Calm Mind boosted Psyshock sweep. Breloom is also the teams answer to bulky water types that can potentially derail the team. Adamant to give Loom's Mach Punch as much power as possible. It does a great job of luring in mon's that Latias can easily set up Calm Mind's against, like Celebi and Mega Venusaur.

Heatran (F) @ Air Balloon
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Fire Blast
- Earth Power
- Hidden Power [Ice]

Heatran is the hazard setter. Air Balloon gives it great leverage over threats like Landorus-T and Excadrill, two mon's that are KOed by Fire Blast. It's here to aid Breloom in getting rid of dangerous Steel types, notably Scizor and Bisharp; Heatran has enough speed EVs to outrun both mon's. Hidden Power [Ice] is more useful than most options because it allows Heatran to hit most things that would strug off a Fire Blast, like Garchomp, Dragonite and specially defensive Gliscor.

Latias @ Latiasite
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 248 HP / 84 Def / 176 Spe
Bold Nature
- Calm Mind
- Roost
- Reflect Type
- Psyshock

I was interested in Mega Latias since I've never built a team with it before. I decided to immerse M-Latias into a team that could provide tremendous support since I was using such a passive moveset on it. After all Dark types are KOed and Steels have been weakened, Latias is thrown out to sweep with Calm Mind & Psyshock. Reflect Type gives it some defense against trappers like Scizor and Bisharp, should I ever need to use Latias mid- game.

Ferrothorn @ Leftovers
Ability: Iron Barbs
EVs: 252 HP / 88 Def / 168 SpD
Relaxed Nature
- Power Whip
- Protect
- Leech Seed
- Thunder-Wave

The team still had some problems with Mega Gyarados so Ferrothorn was thrown in here for some defensive support. It's really a catch-all utility option on this team. Thunder-Wave to slow some mon's down since the team isn't fast. Protect + Leech Seed to restore health and scout. Power Whip is its lone attack and is crucial to beat Mega Gyarados.

 

[Trinitrotoluene]

UU Practice Team by IronBullet93

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Krookodile @ Dread Plate
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Spe / 4 SpD
Jolly Nature
- Knock Off
- Earthquake
- Pursuit
- Stealth Rock

Krookodile sets up rocks and causes havoc with its powerful dual STABs. Knock Off is especially useful for crippling defensive Pokemon to make my sweepers' jobs easier. Pursuit is used in order to remove Ghost-types from the game to make it easier for Mienshao to clean up late-game. Intimidate + its decent physical bulk makes it a solid check to stuff like Crobat, Lucario, non-Aqua Tail Mega Aerodactyl, and Entei.

Dragalge @ Choice Specs
Ability: Adaptability
EVs: 188 HP / 252 SpA / 68 Spe
Modest Nature
- Draco Meteor
- Sludge Wave
- Dragon Pulse
- Focus Blast

Dragalge's job is mainly to simply annihilate things with an Adaptability-boosted Draco Meteor, which OHKOs most Pokemon in the tier that don't resist it. Sludge Wave and Dragon Pulse provide more reliable STABs, while Focus Blast hits annoying Steels like Empoleon and Mega Aggron. Dragalge also provides me with a Fighting- and Fire-type resistance, which along with its solid bulk makes it a great check to the likes of Heracross and Darmanitan.

Pidgeot @ Pidgeotite
Ability: Keen Eye
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Hurricane
- Heat Wave
- Roost
- U-turn

Pidgeot is Dragalge's partner in crime, destroying opposing Pokemon with No Guard Hurricanes. Its speed also makes it an excellent tool against offense to revenge-kill certain threats. Heat Wave roasts Steels like Mega Aggron and Magneton. I prefer U-turn for its ability to pivot out of obvious switch-ins like Aerodactyl and Florges and respond appropriately.

Mienshao @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Reckless
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- High Jump Kick
- U-turn
- Knock Off
- Poison Jab

Mienshao is my late-game cleaner and main revenger. With Krookodile taking Ghosts out of the game with Pursuit, Mienshao is usually offered free reign to spam its ridiculously powerful High Jump Kicks to destroy offensive and defensive teams alike. Knock Off + U-turn cripples and builds up chip damage on its common counters, making it easier to sweep late-game. Poison Jab is preferred over Stone Edge for its ability to hurt Fairies, who can be a nuisance to my team.

Reuniclus @ Leftovers
Ability: Magic Guard
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpA
Bold Nature
- Calm Mind
- Psyshock
- Focus Blast
- Recover

Reuniclus' excellent ability makes it a wonderful status absorber and a huge threat against defensive teams. It also provides me with an extremely useful Fighting-type resist. Magic Guard also allows it to set up on Water-types without fear of a Scald burn, which makes it my main check to Calm Mind Suicune. Psyshock is preferred over Psychic to allow it to win CM wars against Suicune and opposing Psychic-types who run Psychic. Focus Blast destroys Dark-types such as Hydreigon and Krookodile, and Steel-types like Empoleon.

Empoleon @ Shuca Berry
Ability: Torrent
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpA / 4 Spe
Modest Nature
- Defog
- Scald
- Ice Beam
- Grass Knot

Empoleon provides my team with hazard control and a check to threatening sweepers such as DD Salamence, DD Feraligatr and Mega Aerodactyl. Shuca Berry allows it to absorb an Earthquake from the aforementioned threats, while max special attack is used to pack as much of a punch as possible. It also provides me with a much-needed check to Dragons thanks to its Steel typing and Ice Beam.

 

[Trinitrotoluene]

RU Practice Team by galbia

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Amoonguss @ Black Sludge
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 252 HP / 204 SpA / 52 Spe
Modest Nature
- Hidden Power [Fire]
- Giga Drain
- Sludge Bomb
- Spore

Offensive Amoonguss is the Pokemon i decided on building around. It is still quite bulky even with limited investment into defenses and can hit fairly hard with STAB Sludge Bomb and Giga Drain. Hidden Power Fire breaks Cobalion's substitute and does some damage to Escavalier on the switch. Spore is awesome.

Slowking @ Assault Vest
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 248 HP / 252 SpA / 8 SpD
Bold Nature
- Scald
- Fire Blast
- Psyshock
- Dragon Tail

Slowking is my answer to Fire and Psychic types that trouble Amoonguss. Makes a decent regenerator core with it too.

Cobalion @ Leftovers
Ability: Justified
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- Iron Head
- Close Combat
- X-Scissor

Cobalion is my main setup sweeper. I am using X-Scissors over substitute to better deal with Pokemon such as Slowking. Cobalion also checks Knock Off aimed at Slowking.

Glalie @ Glalitite
Ability: Inner Focus
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
Naive Nature
- Double-Edge
- Spikes
- Earthquake
- Dark Pulse

Glalie is my Mega Pokemon, Spikes setter, and Doublade "lure" since i can bait it in fairly easily and 2HKO it with uninvested Dark Pulse so that Cobalion can sweep.

Rhyperior @ Leftovers
Ability: Solid Rock
EVs: 248 HP / 16 Atk / 244 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Earthquake
- Rock Blast
- Stealth Rock
- Roar

Rhyperior is another Normal and Fire resitance for my team. It helps me take on Pokemon such as Drapion and sets up Stealth Rock nicely.

Emboar @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Reckless
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Wild Charge
- Earthquake
- Flare Blitz
- Superpower

Emboar is my revenge killer for Pokemon such as Cobalion and my best Houndoom check. It can also sweep weakened teams late game. Earthquake is used for Delphox.

 

[Trinitrotoluene]

NU Practice Team by Montsegur

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Exeggutor @ Sitrus Berry
Ability: Harvest
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Swords Dance
- Wood Hammer
- Zen Headbutt
- Substitute
What I built the team around, Swords Dance Exeggutor was something that most people scoffed at when I brought it up. But base 95 atk is nothing to scoff at, with a Swords Dance up it has good sweeping potential and hits surprisingly hard. I debated on wether to have a boosting nature berry or lum berry to switch into scalds, but the recoil + sub coupled with Sitrus harvest was to good to pass up. Sub is there to avoid status and setup on weak mons, another alternative is double edge to better hit things like xatu.

Garbodor @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Aftermath
EVs: 136 HP / 252 Def / 120 Spe
Impish Nature
- Gunk Shot
- Drain Punch
- Toxic Spikes
- Spikes
Spike stacking is amazing and I wanted to quickly wear down opposing teams to setup a sweep for Exeggutor. A combination of Toxic Spikes and Spikes accomplishes that, the EVs are to outpace Adamant Pawniard. Not much else to say on Garbodor, its role is pretty straight forward.

Rhydon @ Eviolite
Ability: Lightning Rod
EVs: 240 HP / 16 Atk / 252 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Rock Blast
- Earthquake
- Megahorn
My Fire Spam stop, I wanted something other than the standard Hariyama and Rhydon fit that bill. Being able to setup rocks as well as provide a check to Malamar with Megahorn. Megahorn is also nice for hitting Uxie for good damage. Roar could be used in conjunction with hazards, but tbh I don't really force switches with Rhydon.

Sawk (M) @ Choice Band
Ability: Mold Breaker
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Close Combat
- Earthquake
- Knock Off
- Stone Edge
I wanted something to wall break and possibly lure in Xatu (a counter to eggy). Sawk hits incredibly hard. Mold Breaker is used over Sturdy because I don't have any hazard control on this team, so there is little point in having sturdy.

Rotom @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Volt Switch
- Shadow Ball
- Trick
- Will-O-Wisp
The spinblocker on the team, I needed a scarfed Pokemon to patch up my rather slow team and rotom fit in. It provides amazing utility with a scarf set, being able to cripple walls for eggy to later have an easier time sweeping.

Cacturne @ Life Orb
Ability: Water Absorb
EVs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Mild Nature
- Giga Drain
- Dark Pulse
- Destiny Bond
- Sucker Punch
I needed something to absorb Scald, Cacturne with water absorb was added. Its also a pretty cool lure for common switchins as most people still expect the physical set and when you bop them with a Dark Pulse they aren't quite sure what happened. I added Destiny Bond over spikes as I was never a fan of spikes on Cacturne and I already had them on Garbodor.