So Kartana is probably my favorite Pokémon of this gen. I’ve always been a sucker for the glass cannons. I’ve been building teams around it lately. I feel like i’m struggling though, and I can’t tell if it’s just me unable to play well or the team. Any input is appreciated.
Kartana @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Beast Boost
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Leaf Blade
- Sacred Sword
- Smart Strike
- Knock Off
My team is actually built around taking out Kartana’s checks and counters for a late game sweep. But Kartana can weaken it’s own counters with a knock off early game too. Kartana’s coverage and ability allow it to roll through teams late game when the right counter to the right move is gone. Kartana also acts as an offensive check to fast, frail pokemon. I can struggle sometimes with Zam, Gren, and Lele, but Kartana can threaten them out if brought in on a predicted switch, or revenge KO’ing.
Greninja-Ash @ Choice Specs
Ability: Battle Bond
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Hydro Pump
- Dark Pulse
- Water Shuriken
- Spikes
Another fast, frail sweeper meant for late game, with early game utility. Spikes go up asap. Gren can threaten the psychic types that my team can sometimes struggle with, such as Lele. Greninja and Kartana share a common foe in bulky grass types, and can weaken counters for each other. Kartana takes care of bulky waters for Greninja, while Gren threatens fire types for Kartana.
Tyranitar @ Tyranitarite
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 248 HP / 84 Atk / 68 Def / 64 SpA / 12 SpD / 32 Spe
Sassy Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Ice Beam
- Stone Edge
- Fire Punch
This Tyranitar is the bulkiest I’ve ever run one, and it really helps out. The extra bulk and typing really balance out the defensive coverage of my team. Stealth rock gives room for Lando-T to run proper coverage. Ice beam is for Garchomp, Gliscor, and Lando-T. All three of which think they can stay in on T-Tar and earthquake. Stone edge is for the flying types (Zapdos) Kartana struggles to handle. Fire punch is for ferro and scizor, and steel types in general.
Toxapex @ Black Sludge
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Scald
- Haze
- Recover
- Toxic
Here is my special wall. Toxapex does what Toxapex does and walls most of the tier of lacking proper coverage. Toxic + Recover stall works great on lots of pokemon. The steel and poison types that don’t mind risk a burn, or are covered by other mons on the team. Haze for the set up mons. Two flying types cover pex’s ground weakness, two dark types cover the psychic weakness, and one ground type plus resists for electric.
Landorus-Therian @ Flyinium Z
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Swords Dance
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- Fly
Lando is the breaker of the team. Swords dance allows it to break though it’s normal checks. Z fly is mainly for the grass types that this team can really struggle with, namely venusaur and bulu, but can nuke anything unresisted. Stone edge for the flyers, and good coverage in general with earthquake. Earthquake covers the steel types like mawile and magearna.
Zapdos @ Leftovers
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 248 HP / 240 Def / 20 Spe
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Discharge
- Roost
- Heat Wave
- Defog
Zapdos rounds out the defensive coverage of the team. Zapdos specifically walls a few of the Pokémon that Kartana struggles with. Like venusaur, scizor, and celesteela. Pressure stalling them out of leech seed or their recovery options. Discharge can get a nice paralyze when i’m lucky, and heatwave for the steel types. Hazard control is mandatory on a team, and Zapdos defogs well, again leaving lando free to run coverage.
All in all I feel like it’s a pretty good team, if not a little prediction heavy at times.
I can struggle with ice types, particularly ones that can hurt toxapex like mamoswine or kyurem black with fusion bolt. But Kartana can threaten or revenge kill those mons when necessary.
Special attackers with coverage for toxapex can be troublesome too, although I have option for switch ins (again prediction reliant) or revenge killing.
When playing, I don’t notice any major gaps in coverage offensively. Besides maybe only one ground type attack.
Please feel free to offer any advice or changes.
Kartana @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Beast Boost
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Leaf Blade
- Sacred Sword
- Smart Strike
- Knock Off
My team is actually built around taking out Kartana’s checks and counters for a late game sweep. But Kartana can weaken it’s own counters with a knock off early game too. Kartana’s coverage and ability allow it to roll through teams late game when the right counter to the right move is gone. Kartana also acts as an offensive check to fast, frail pokemon. I can struggle sometimes with Zam, Gren, and Lele, but Kartana can threaten them out if brought in on a predicted switch, or revenge KO’ing.
Greninja-Ash @ Choice Specs
Ability: Battle Bond
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Hydro Pump
- Dark Pulse
- Water Shuriken
- Spikes
Another fast, frail sweeper meant for late game, with early game utility. Spikes go up asap. Gren can threaten the psychic types that my team can sometimes struggle with, such as Lele. Greninja and Kartana share a common foe in bulky grass types, and can weaken counters for each other. Kartana takes care of bulky waters for Greninja, while Gren threatens fire types for Kartana.
Tyranitar @ Tyranitarite
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 248 HP / 84 Atk / 68 Def / 64 SpA / 12 SpD / 32 Spe
Sassy Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Ice Beam
- Stone Edge
- Fire Punch
This Tyranitar is the bulkiest I’ve ever run one, and it really helps out. The extra bulk and typing really balance out the defensive coverage of my team. Stealth rock gives room for Lando-T to run proper coverage. Ice beam is for Garchomp, Gliscor, and Lando-T. All three of which think they can stay in on T-Tar and earthquake. Stone edge is for the flying types (Zapdos) Kartana struggles to handle. Fire punch is for ferro and scizor, and steel types in general.
Toxapex @ Black Sludge
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Scald
- Haze
- Recover
- Toxic
Here is my special wall. Toxapex does what Toxapex does and walls most of the tier of lacking proper coverage. Toxic + Recover stall works great on lots of pokemon. The steel and poison types that don’t mind risk a burn, or are covered by other mons on the team. Haze for the set up mons. Two flying types cover pex’s ground weakness, two dark types cover the psychic weakness, and one ground type plus resists for electric.
Landorus-Therian @ Flyinium Z
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Swords Dance
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- Fly
Lando is the breaker of the team. Swords dance allows it to break though it’s normal checks. Z fly is mainly for the grass types that this team can really struggle with, namely venusaur and bulu, but can nuke anything unresisted. Stone edge for the flyers, and good coverage in general with earthquake. Earthquake covers the steel types like mawile and magearna.
Zapdos @ Leftovers
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 248 HP / 240 Def / 20 Spe
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Discharge
- Roost
- Heat Wave
- Defog
Zapdos rounds out the defensive coverage of the team. Zapdos specifically walls a few of the Pokémon that Kartana struggles with. Like venusaur, scizor, and celesteela. Pressure stalling them out of leech seed or their recovery options. Discharge can get a nice paralyze when i’m lucky, and heatwave for the steel types. Hazard control is mandatory on a team, and Zapdos defogs well, again leaving lando free to run coverage.
All in all I feel like it’s a pretty good team, if not a little prediction heavy at times.
I can struggle with ice types, particularly ones that can hurt toxapex like mamoswine or kyurem black with fusion bolt. But Kartana can threaten or revenge kill those mons when necessary.
Special attackers with coverage for toxapex can be troublesome too, although I have option for switch ins (again prediction reliant) or revenge killing.
When playing, I don’t notice any major gaps in coverage offensively. Besides maybe only one ground type attack.
Please feel free to offer any advice or changes.
