Does anyone know if/when Stabmons is getting a ladder?
As many Celesteela are running Goggles to check Kartana, it's much easier to trap and remove it with Magnezone, thus allowing you to run a more consistent Kartana set. Diggersby, Landorus-T, MVenu, etc are common on enough teams that you can draw out the Celesteela, and the former two have U-turn making it even easier.I was planning on saving this, but since I'm out of the tour here's a really obnoxious set that kartana can run to bypass goggles celesteela:
Kartana @ Fightinium Z
Ability: Beast Boost
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- Sacred Sword
- Power Whip
- Sunsteel Strike
All Out Pummeling OHKOes Celesteela at +2: +2 252 Atk Kartana All-Out Pummeling vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Celesteela: 345-406 (86.6 - 102%) -- 93.8% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock, while even if they kings sheild you break through, deal damage, don't get the drops and can hit freely next turn with +2 252 Atk Kartana Sacred Sword vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Celesteela: 178-210 (44.7 - 52.7%) -- 25.8% chance to 2HKO (or since KS sets tend to be SPD just KO it outright).
It's not as good as sash, spore, or life orb outside of beating celesteela, but if you run this+smth checked by celesteela like Landot or they rely on celesteela to answer Kartana, it's gg right there.
You're forgetting Strength Sap on M-Venu. It's probably a better recovery option than Synthesis.Core Ideas
A Teambuilding Guide by Eevee General
I want to discuss a particular core I've been reusing in many of my Sun/Moon teams. I was inspired to use this core after seeing its effectiveness in OU and realizing how transferable it was to the STABmons metagame. The core's conceit is extremely versatile, but the main four Pokemon I'm going to focus on are the best combination I've found to date.
Let's start with a little philosophy. Building around a structured core is a fundamental process for producing teams with reliable match-ups versus the metagame's top trends. My preference is to build around balance cores, as I appreciate having a defensive backbone for my teams, but as I stated above, there is room for creativity and adapting this core for more offensive teams can be done quite easily.
The core itself is a classic FIRE / WATER / GRASS trio plus a dedicated FakeSpeed check. There are three main Pokemon I recycle: Alola Marowak, Tapu Fini, Mega Venusaur, plus usually Celesteela, Garchomp, or Landorus-T, with flexibility depending on your mega needs. The core offers a lot of defensive type-synergy and has hazard / hazard removal self contained in the unit. And as always, longevity is key to any balance core, so every member has access to reliable recovery. When it comes time to fitting the core into a full team, the last two team slots are filled with mainstays of any balance archetype: A Fakespeeder or revenger and a setup sweeper / wallbreaker.
Here's the overview:
[1] Fire: Alola Marowak
[2] Water: Tapu Fini
[3] Grass: Mega Venusaur
[4] FakeSpeed Check
[5] FakeSpeeder / Revenger
[6] Setup Sweeper / Wallbreaker
Here's a sample Balance team with a flexible [4]:
[1]Alola Marowak: Lightning Rod, 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 Def, Adamant () Fire Lash or V-create | Shadow Bone | Shore Up | Stealth Rock or Knock Off
[2]Tapu Fini: Misty Surge, 252 HP / 4 SpA / 252 SpD, Calm () Moonlight | Origin Pulse or Scald | Haze | Moonblast or Defog
[3]Mega Venusaur: Thick Fat, 252 HP / 200 Def / 56 SpD, Bold () Synthesis | Seed Flare | Hidden Power Fire | Spore
[4]Celesteela: Beast Boost, 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD, Calm (/) Defog | Oblivion Wing | Flamethrower | Roost
ORGarchomp: Rough Skin, 252 HP / 192 Def / 64 Spe, Impish () Shore Up | Stealth Rock | Precipice Blades | Dragon Tail
[5]Diggersby: Huge Power, 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe, Adamant () Fake Out | Extreme Speed | Precipice Blades | U-turn or Knock Off
[6]Kyurem-Black: Teravolt, 252 Atk / 4 SpA / 252 Spe, Naive () Dragon Dance | Icicle Crash | Fusion Bolt | Earth Power
Here's a more Offensive approach:
[1]Alola Marowak: Lightning Rod, 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 Def, Adamant () V-create | Shadow Bone or Shadow Sneak | Shore Up | Stealth Rock
[2]Ash Greninja: Battle Bond, 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe, Timid () Steam Eruption | Dark Pulse | Water Shuriken | Parting Shot
[3]Mega Venusaur: Thick Fat, 252 HP / 200 Def / 56 SpD, Bold () Synthesis | Seed Flare | Hidden Power Fire | Spore
[4]Landorus-Therian: Intimidate, 252 HP / 244 Def / 12 Spe, Impish () Defog | Roost | Precipice Blades | U-turn
[5]Diggersby: Huge Power, 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe, Adamant () Fake Out | Extreme Speed | Precipice Blades | Ice Punch or Knock Off
[6]Tapu Koko: Electric Surge, 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe, Jolly (/) Bolt Strike | Play Rough | U-turn | Brave Bird
I have found that other Pokemon can work in lieu of the main FWG + FakeSpeed Check core, but I don't consider them as effective as a cohesive unit. They are still worth exploring, however, and can fulfill the role of a generic FWG or FakeSpeed checker as needed.
Other adaptations:
[1]Mega Charizard X: Offense,Rotom-H: Balance / Offense,Heatran: Balance, Offense
[2]Rotom-W: Balance / Offense,Slowking: Balance / Offense
[3]Ferrothorn: Balance,Amoonguss: Balance,Tapu Bulu: Offense
[4]Ghost Silvally: Balance / Offense,Steel Silvally: Balance
Considerations:
- The main balance core of four is slow.
- The core has a bad match-up versus stall.
- There is no rapid spin option unless you fill that role in slots [5] or [6].
Threats to the main Core:
Thundurus: The standard NP + Taunt set can rip through all three Pokemon of the main FWG core and Celesteela or Landorus-T easily.
Kyurem-Black: Thanks to Teravolt, the mixed set (like in the first team) can land super effective hits against teamslots [1] - [4].
Bulky Sub Zygarde: Tapu Fini is your best bet to stop Zygarde with a combination of Haze and Moonblast. Otherwise it can setup on most of your team.
Choice Band Aerodactyl: If the core lacks Celesteela (and sometimes even with Celesteela), Banded Aerodactyl has a field day with your team.
Belly Drum Sweepers: As long as they carry Earthquake or Crunch for Marowak, Snorlax and Ursaring can clean out the core with ease should Celesteela be absent.
Suggestions? Recommendations? Questions? Have you used this core or something else similar? Share! And thanks for reading.
Why would you use scald on Tapu Fini? It can't burn foes in the Misty Terrain that it sets and is therefore outclassed by Surf or Origin Pulse.Core Ideas
A Teambuilding Guide by Eevee General
I want to discuss a particular core I've been reusing in many of my Sun/Moon teams. I was inspired to use this core after seeing its effectiveness in OU and realizing how transferable it was to the STABmons metagame. The core's conceit is extremely versatile, but the main four Pokemon I'm going to focus on are the best combination I've found to date.
Let's start with a little philosophy. Building around a structured core is a fundamental process for producing teams with reliable match-ups versus the metagame's top trends. My preference is to build around balance cores, as I appreciate having a defensive backbone for my teams, but as I stated above, there is room for creativity and adapting this core for more offensive teams can be done quite easily.
The core itself is a classic FIRE / WATER / GRASS trio plus a dedicated FakeSpeed check. There are three main Pokemon I recycle: Alola Marowak, Tapu Fini, Mega Venusaur, plus usually Celesteela, Garchomp, or Landorus-T, with flexibility depending on your mega needs. The core offers a lot of defensive type-synergy and has hazard / hazard removal self contained in the unit. And as always, longevity is key to any balance core, so every member has access to reliable recovery. When it comes time to fitting the core into a full team, the last two team slots are filled with mainstays of any balance archetype: A Fakespeeder or revenger and a setup sweeper / wallbreaker.
Here's the overview:
[1] Fire: Alola Marowak
[2] Water: Tapu Fini
[3] Grass: Mega Venusaur
[4] FakeSpeed Check
[5] FakeSpeeder / Revenger
[6] Setup Sweeper / Wallbreaker
Here's a sample Balance team with a flexible [4]:
[1]Alola Marowak: Lightning Rod, 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 Def, Adamant () Fire Lash or V-create | Shadow Bone | Shore Up | Stealth Rock or Knock Off
[2]Tapu Fini: Misty Surge, 252 HP / 4 SpA / 252 SpD, Calm () Moonlight | Origin Pulse or Scald | Haze | Moonblast or Defog
[3]Mega Venusaur: Thick Fat, 252 HP / 200 Def / 56 SpD, Bold () Synthesis | Seed Flare | Hidden Power Fire | Spore
[4]Celesteela: Beast Boost, 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD, Calm (/) Defog | Oblivion Wing | Flamethrower | Roost
ORGarchomp: Rough Skin, 252 HP / 192 Def / 64 Spe, Impish () Shore Up | Stealth Rock | Precipice Blades | Dragon Tail
[5]Diggersby: Huge Power, 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe, Adamant () Fake Out | Extreme Speed | Precipice Blades | U-turn or Knock Off
[6]Kyurem-Black: Teravolt, 252 Atk / 4 SpA / 252 Spe, Naive () Dragon Dance | Icicle Crash | Fusion Bolt | Earth Power
Here's a more Offensive approach:
[1]Alola Marowak: Lightning Rod, 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 Def, Adamant () V-create | Shadow Bone or Shadow Sneak | Shore Up | Stealth Rock
[2]Ash Greninja: Battle Bond, 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe, Timid () Steam Eruption | Dark Pulse | Water Shuriken | Parting Shot
[3]Mega Venusaur: Thick Fat, 252 HP / 200 Def / 56 SpD, Bold () Synthesis | Seed Flare | Hidden Power Fire | Spore
[4]Landorus-Therian: Intimidate, 252 HP / 244 Def / 12 Spe, Impish () Defog | Roost | Precipice Blades | U-turn
[5]Diggersby: Huge Power, 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe, Adamant () Fake Out | Extreme Speed | Precipice Blades | Ice Punch or Knock Off
[6]Tapu Koko: Electric Surge, 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe, Jolly (/) Bolt Strike | Play Rough | U-turn | Brave Bird
I have found that other Pokemon can work in lieu of the main FWG + FakeSpeed Check core, but I don't consider them as effective as a cohesive unit. They are still worth exploring, however, and can fulfill the role of a generic FWG or FakeSpeed checker as needed.
Other adaptations:
[1]Mega Charizard X: Offense,Rotom-H: Balance / Offense,Heatran: Balance, Offense
[2]Rotom-W: Balance / Offense,Slowking: Balance / Offense
[3]Ferrothorn: Balance,Amoonguss: Balance,Tapu Bulu: Offense
[4]Ghost Silvally: Balance / Offense,Steel Silvally: Balance
Considerations:
- The main balance core of four is slow.
- The core has a bad match-up versus stall.
- There is no rapid spin option unless you fill that role in slots [5] or [6].
Threats to the main Core:
Thundurus: The standard NP + Taunt set can rip through all three Pokemon of the main FWG core and Celesteela or Landorus-T easily.
Kyurem-Black: Thanks to Teravolt, the mixed set (like in the first team) can land super effective hits against teamslots [1] - [4].
Bulky Sub Zygarde: Tapu Fini is your best bet to stop Zygarde with a combination of Haze and Moonblast. Otherwise it can setup on most of your team.
Choice Band Aerodactyl: If the core lacks Celesteela (and sometimes even with Celesteela), Banded Aerodactyl has a field day with your team.
Belly Drum Sweepers: As long as they carry Earthquake or Crunch for Marowak, Snorlax and Ursaring can clean out the core with ease should Celesteela be absent.
Suggestions? Recommendations? Questions? Have you used this core or something else similar? Share! And thanks for reading.
Both have their uses. I'll slash it.You're forgetting Strength Sap on M-Venu. It's probably a better recovery option than Synthesis.
Scald still burns Flyers, Levitators, and other Tapus.Why would you use scald on Tapu Fini? It can't burn foes in the Misty Terrain that it sets and is therefore outclassed by Surf or Origin Pulse.
Also the Mega Garchomp minisprite with a regular Garchomp set is somewhat misleading.
(Rotom-W and Electric Silvally can also do this. (Actually, any Rotom and Silvally can, but those are probably the best options.))
Lanturn @ Leftovers
Ability: Volt Absorb
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Calm Nature
- Steam Eruption
- Volt Switch
- Nuzzle
- Soak
As the only fully evolved Water/Electric type, this is a delightful combination that only Lanturn can achieve! Soak + Nuzzle to paralyse electric types, Steam Eruption for damage and a healthy burn chance on anything else that DARES to switch in! Obviously if you use Soak, the incoming Nuzzle is obvious - but you can use that to force switches while you rack up entry hazard damage on the opposing team and pivot around with STAB Volt Switch.
Banettite is not released.Here are a couple of fun sets.
Aerodactyl-Mega @ Aerodactylite / Choice Band
Ability: Rock Head
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Accelerock
- Dragon Ascent / Brave Bird
- Head Smash
- Iron Head
Aerodactyl is very strong in this meta due to it being able to either run Mega and abuse Tough Claws, or go banded, and fire off multiple Head Smashes and Brave Birds with no recoil. Accelerock allows it to have Priority, and Tough Claws boosts it even further, and Iron Head is there for coverage.
Banette @ Banettite
Ability: Cursed Body
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD
Brave Nature
- Trick Room
- Spectral Thief
- Return / Shadow Sneak / Sucker Punch
- Knock Off
This is a Trick Room user, with 149 Speed and Trick Room, most things won't underspeed(?) this. Spectral Thief is a strong Ghost STAB, and can destroy setup sweepers, Shadow Sneak and Sucker Punch are priority to counter other priority spammers, and Knock Off is coverage in a good move.
Medicham-Mega @ Medichamite
Ability: Pure Power
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Mach Punch
- High Jump Kick
- Psychic Fangs
- Agility / Bullet Punch
So, Pure Power and High Jump Kick, along with priority STAB and Psychic Fangs. It's your choice between Agility and Bullet Punch.