Stalls and Surprises

Created by ShinyKecleon

Heh, this is my first squad, let's see how this is done... With this team, I have two main goals in mind: to fall within the Item Clause and to be somewhat resistant to Stealth Rock. In regards to the Item Clause, I know people who like to avoid battling teams with all leftovers, etc, so I wanted a team that could match the picky standards of some people. With Stealth Rock, I wanted to minimize the damage from switching because I knew I'd be switching a lot and want to keep my team semi healthy. As such, I have no Pokemon that are weak to Stealth Rock.

AridWraith the Flygon
Holding Choice Scarf
Ability: Levitate
Moves:

Nature: Naive
Attack EV: 104
Special Attack EV: 150
Speed EV: 252

As an anti-lead, I expect this to work well, it can certainly disrupt some opponents. I haven't tested it, but in regards to countering Infernape, Metagross, both Azelf variations, Starmie, and others, I feel that this set should work fairly well. Earth Power hits Metagross harder than Earthquake and OHKOs nonsashed Infernape. Fire Blast can also hit Meta, but lays waste to Azelf (I'd U-turn for the extra damage, but TrickZelfs will Trick the Scarf to me after I attack some of the time, and I'd like to hold off switching Eternity in on SashZelfs as a surprise for Explosion). In addition, it can OHKO Scizor and lead Foretresses. Draco Meteor provides useful STAB when the opponent sends anything out of the ordinary (or Aerodactyl) as a lead, and U-turn will put a noticable dent in Starmie.

Nordavind the Absol
Holding Choice Band
Ability: Super Luck
Moves:

Nature: Jolly
Attack EV: 252
Speed EV: 252
HP EV: 4

After I learned that Scope Lens was a hax item, I changed Absol's item to Choice Band and switched Will-o-Wisp with Sucker Punch... but I feel that it desperately needs further revising. It's meant to be a tank killer, capable of OHKOing pretty much anything slower than it (Barring Skarmory, unless I get lucky with Stone Edge) because of the boosted chance of critical hits. I like the set as it is, but with Superpower, Pursuit, and Megahorn all as viable attacks, do you think there are better selections I could use in replacement of this?

Eternity the Bronzong
Holding Light Clay
Ability: Levitate
Moves:

Nature: Relaxed
Defense EV: 192
Special Defense EV: 66
HP EV: 244

Standard Dual Screen Bronzong with a weird nickname (like all of my Pokemon). Need I say more?

Ultimatum the Gardevoir
Holding Leftovers
Ability: Trace
Moves:

Nature: Calm
Defense EV: 112
Special Attack EV: 80
Special Defense EV: 208
HP EV: 108

Gardy provides a huge boost as a Cleric with status support. Wish is vital to keep Rhyperior, Bronzong, and other injured team memebers in the game, and Thunderwave can cripple teams without Aromatherapy (which, by the way, I currently lack- any opinions as to whether I should fit it in?). A lot of alternates have been suggested for this set, including Thunderbolt over Focus Blast and or Will-o-Wisp over Thunder Wave. Psychic and Wish are must stays, obviously, but which do you think would help Gardevoir the most?

Impurity the Muk
Holding Black Sludge
Ability: Sticky Hold
Moves:

Nature: Impish
Attack EV: 108
Defense EV: 128
Special Defense EV: 112
HP EV: 160

Muk should come to a big surprise to some competitve battlers because it's so rarely seen; I don't know of anyone who uses a Muk on their normal team. As a tank, Muk can take over once Defensive Steel types like Steelix and Skarmory are out of the way, adding physical bulk and power with Curse and following up with a stallfest to the death, ending with an Explosion if Muk gets too close to fainting. I'd like to add Fire Punch to dent Scizor (the 4x weakness along with a few Curse boosts could really add up), but the set I'm working on right now looks pretty good... I'm going into testing with it to see what works. Also, it's worth noting that Muk will dispell Toxic Spikes, something I'm very wary of.

Earthmover the Rhyperior
Holding Life Orb
Ability: Solid Rock
Moves:

Nature: Jolly
Attack EV: 252
Speed EV: 252
HP EV: 4

This Rock Polish set was suggested by Team Building forum regular Zy. Ideally, I switch in on a Choice Banded Pokemon after their kill, and force them to switch out thinking that I'm bulky. Rock Polish brings me up to 392 speed, and I sweep away.

COMMENTS

Richard and Blaziken on Wed Sep 23 01:05:53 2009.

Vote:
4

I like this squad, it's got a lot of uniqueness while still being a good team. Now onto suggestions... Firstly, more important than advice, thorough testing of teams is important, and for this team, especially Gardevoir and Muk. I would also like you to test the set I'd reccomended to you before, so I'll post it again: Gardevoir@ Choice Scarf {Trace} Bold nature (+Sp. Attack, -Attack) EVs: 252 Speed/ 200 HP/ 58 Defense Psychic Trick Will-o-Wisp Thunderbolt/ Wish Send Gardevoir in on something specially bulky, especially something that thinks it can setup on Gardevoir (Suicune and Blissey spring to mind). Trick the Scarf onto them, and decide what to do from there. Will-o-Wisp is a great option since Scizor is a very common switch-in for Gardevoir, threatening STAB U-Turn or Pursuit, or could even begin setup up SDs on Gardevoir, and if you hit it with Will-o-Wisp, you can switch-out to safety, not taking tool much damage from Pursuit. Psychic is from STAB, and to have a move that damages foes outright. In the last slot, Wish is a great support move, which can also help Gardevoir and it's teammates stay in the game. However, Thunderbolt provides Gardevoir a great tool to combat Gyarados, since it can come in, Trace Intimidate, and OHKO Gyara with Thunderbolt. Abuse Trace when you can, but don't make bad switch-ins just because you have trace. As an example, you can come in on Jolteon and get a free Volt Absorb, but most will just Shadow Ball you. Good luck with your team! ^^

ShinyKecleon on Wed Sep 23 23:50:27 2009.

I might test it out for another team, but Scarf won't work because of the item clause, like I said in the team building thread. I'd like to try it out with Thunderbolt if wishing is taken care of because A) it'd provide extra coverage and B)Like I said, TrickScarfCleric is a lot of jobs for one Pokemon, and it's hard to juggle Gardy at first- what if I needed to switch out early to Wish while I still have the Choice Scarf? It can lead to a lot of confunding moves that could cost me a game. I'll try it out sometime, just not on this team. Thanks again.

Awkward Squirtle on Mon Feb 8 17:51:23 2010.

Your Muk could hit a lot of trouble with STAB psychic.

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