Weather Versatile RMT

[patthecat11756]

So, I've decided to make a team that can survive in almost any kind of weather. It's balanced and tests pretty well. Unfortunately, I don't have pictures readily available but it'll be organized nonetheless:

Heatran@Focus Sash
Timid Nature
Flash Fire
4 HP/ 252 Sp Attack/ 252 Speed
-Lava Plume
-Earth Power
-Stealth Rock
-Taunt

I've decided to bring Heatran back from my gen 4 HG. Focus Sash so I can at least get SR up. A bit old school set up, but he can KO some common threats today (Terakion, Whimsicott, etc.) I chose Focus Sash over Air Balloon because Drizzle and Fighting Types are everywhere and it'll be hard for him to take a +1 Drain Punch from Conkeldurr.

Dragonite@Leftovers
Careful Nature
Multiscale
252 HP/ 4 Def/ 252 Sp Def
-Thunder Wave
-Dragon Tail
-Roost
-Substitute

This is my ParaShuffler. His goal is to ParaShuffle and be a pain in the neck with Multiscale. Roost is for HP recovery and Sub is to stop Status Inducers.

Salamence@Life Orb
Naive Nature
Intimidate
4 Attack/ 252 Sp Attack/ 252 Speed
-Fire Blast
-Dragon Dance
-Earthquake
-Dragon Claw

This is my MixMence. Max EVs in Sp attack and Speed to sweep. With foes paralyzed, boosting is easier and can do so more quickly and just sweep. Naive nature to boost speed and Life Orb to boost Fire Blast and all moves.

Gyarados@Leftovers
Jolly Nature
Moxie
252 HP/ 4 Def/ 252 Sp Def
-Substitute
-Dragon Dance
-Waterfall
-Stone Edge

When all foes are paralyzed, MoxieDos can come in and Sub and DD. After 1 or 2 boosts, it'll be faster than most of the game that could KO him. Waterfall is for STAB and to abuse ParaFlinch. Stone Edge is for Dragons. Max HP and Sp Def because electric attacks are his bane and what he is most prone to being KOed on.

Starmie@Expert Belt
Timid Nature
Natural Cure
4 HP/ 252 Sp Attack/ 252 Speed
-Ice Beam
-Thunderbolt
-PsychShock
-Rapid Spin

Starmie is here to as my Ice Absorber and Rapid Spinner. BoltBeam is here plus PsychoShock against Blisseys. Expert Belt to bluff Choice Specs so the opponent will switch in carelessly.

Excadrill@Air Balloon
Jolly Nature
Sand Rush
4 HP/ 252 Attack/ 252 Speed
-Rapid Spin
-Earthquake
-Rock Slide
-X-Scissor

Excadrill's here in case of SS and as a secondary Rapid Spinner and Thunder Wave absorber since my Salamence, Dragonite and Gyarados are prone to ThunderWave and SR. Good Coverage overall, I know Skarm walls him. If that's the case then Starmie or Salamence will take care of Skarm.

My team can handle any of the weathers. SR, Fire Blast, Rock Slide and Stone Edge are there for Hail/Drought. I have Waterfall for Drizzle and Excadrill for SS. I have 2 Spinners/Sweepers (if given the opportunity). 2 Bulky Dragons (MoxieDos and Dragonite). I've tested and this team is balanced, cover each others weaknesses effectivley and play very efficiently to each other's strengths/strategies.

All input is appreciated :-)

[patthecat11756]

Any Suggestions, comments or thoughts anybody?

[Raikiri]

Any Suggestions, comments or thoughts anybody?

I would but you probably won't like them...

[Solace]

Small nitpicks.

1. Swords Dance over X-Scissor on Excadrill for late/mid-game sweeping potential.

2. The EVs on Gyarados baffle me. Is that the standard or something? Even after a few DD's, you're still outsped by anything that uses a Choice Scarf. I would run a little more speed EVs just in case. (Note: You should not rely so heavily on T-wave.)

Gyarados (D/P) - Smogon University

Scroll down and take a look at the D/P Dragon Dance chart. I'm sure it's useful in this gen as well.

3. Change the EVs on your Salamence to 252 Attack, 4 SpAttack, 252 Speed. You should also go with Outrage over Dragon Claw, as you're not using Moxie.

[patthecat11756]

Thanks for the input but here's a few things that I've actually dealt with before:

1. Excadrill, I find that with all the Mach Punches and Gliscor/Landorus, he is fairly fragile and is susceptible to Fire, Fighting, Ground and Water. 2 of which are very popular weather techniques. And I find Grass, Dark and Psychic pokes are more abundant these gen with Whimsicott, Venusaur, Hydreigon (*especially) Alakazam, Starmie, just to name a few. I find that he doesn't have the staying power Scizor has. Hence why I chose X-Scissor.

2. That Gyarados is my bulky sweeper (credit to Poe). I got swept by this thing one time and I've found that it's bulkiness + DD + Sub can prove to be effective. I've swept whole teams with this Gyarados just after 2 DD. It is more of an original Moveset that I've experimented with and enjoy very much. I find that some Gen 4 Movesets are outdated given how the whole strategy changed. Before, hazards were a plenty especially SR. Now, it isn't so much. It's still around, but the lack of a TM made it less frequent. It's a new moveset and trust me, some common Choice Scarf threats; Hydreigon, Flygon and Chandelure can be taken down between the coverage he has.

[patthecat11756]

I also forgot to add on last night for Salamence.

I can't boost his Sp Attack, so that's why i went with 252 EVs Sp Attack. I figured if he Will-o-Wisped, he can still have a fighting chance with Fire Blast, which is only resisted by Water, Rock and pokes with Flashfire.

[Solace]

Thanks for the input but here's a few things that I've actually dealt with before:

1. Excadrill, I find that with all the Mach Punches and Gliscor/Landorus, he is fairly fragile and is susceptible to Fire, Fighting, Ground and Water. 2 of which are very popular weather techniques. And I find Grass, Dark and Psychic pokes are more abundant these gen with Whimsicott, Venusaur, Hydreigon (*especially) Alakazam, Starmie, just to name a few. I find that he doesn't have the staying power Scizor has. Hence why I chose X-Scissor.

2. That Gyarados is my bulky sweeper (credit to Poe). I got swept by this thing one time and I've found that it's bulkiness + DD + Sub can prove to be effective. I've swept whole teams with this Gyarados just after 2 DD. It is more of an original Moveset that I've experimented with and enjoy very much. I find that some Gen 4 Movesets are outdated given how the whole strategy changed. Before, hazards were a plenty especially SR. Now, it isn't so much. It's still around, but the lack of a TM made it less frequent. It's a new moveset and trust me, some common Choice Scarf threats; Hydreigon, Flygon and Chandelure can be taken down between the coverage he has.

1. You misunderstand. Excadrill is not here to sweep an entire team. With Swords Dance, it poses an immediate threat to those that wall Salamence and Gyarados. As such, it grants the two sweepers an opportunity to finish off with a late-game sweep. Or vice-versa with Excadrill. Anyway, you have Grass types covered well enough if you play your cards right with the Dragons. As for the other aforementioned types, you have Dragonite.

This brings up another thought that I will explain shortly.

2. I wasn't talking about the movesets actually. If you scroll down on that page, it lists a few EV options that you might find useful. I would suggest 94 Speed EVs w/ Jolly, now that I revisit this team.

I also forgot to add on last night for Salamence.

I can't boost his Sp Attack, so that's why i went with 252 EVs Sp Attack. I figured if he Will-o-Wisped, he can still have a fighting chance with Fire Blast, which is only resisted by Water, Rock and pokes with Flashfire.

I don't know about you, but if I suspect a possible WoW coming my way while I had a physical sweeper in play, then I would immediately switch to something that doesn't mind it. Same with any other status inducing move.

Anyway, Salamence is sure to miss those potential OHKO's if you do not invest the full 252 EVs into its Attack. Fire Blast is an option for Salamence to deal with the common walls that threaten it (i.e. Skarmory, Ferrerthorn, etc.). Nothing more, and nothing less.



I honestly don't see the purpose behind Starmie. What's it supposed to do? It seems to me that you're just filling in the spot with something that's fast and can deal (fast) damage. While that isn't a bad idea at all, I suggest replacing it with something more bulkier. Chansey/Blissey comes to mind, as it halts Rain Dancing teams and gives you access to a cleric.

[patthecat11756]

I battled Excadrill in the past and have never seen one get a SD up and sweep. I'll be more afraid of a Choice Banded Excadrill in the SS than a SD one. I don't see how it can pose a threat with 2 moves that will leave some weakness open.
1. Earthquake/Rock Slide (Flygon)
2. Earthquake/Return (Skarmory who will set up and just Whirlwind away)
3. Earthquake/X-Scissor (Gliscor, Landorus, Gengar)
4. Earthquake/Brick Break (Same as above)

All are common who will just KO Excadrill in 5 secs. Those movesets are assuming Rapid Spin and SD are on there.

Starmie has saved my team more times than I care to say. It's my rapid spinner, water attack blocker, special attacker that gets rid of other dragons. He's my multi-fucntional poke that I can't see any team without. On this team, he stops the Ice moves that are meant for Salamence and Dragonite and handles Blissey situations with Psyshock.

And as far as Blissey/Chansey go, I don't like using them. They are a headache and can't really function as multi-roles other than Status Inducer/Healer. I have used much better Walls before (Scrafty and Jellicent). In my opinion, if I can shut down a poke completely with Taunt, then I don't want it on my team. Heck, I find more usefulness out of Shuckle on a SS team than Blissey. It can take a SuperEffective Water attack and still be fine

[Raikiri]

I battled Excadrill in the past and have never seen one get a SD up and sweep.

Are you serious? We definately need to play eachother.

[patthecat11756]

Sure I'd love to battle one time. But I've never battled an excadrill that boosted with Swords Dance and was able to fully sweep.