Styg van die Spryngbok [Rise of the Springbuck]

[Karpman]

http://i980.photobucket.com/albums/ae289/CKmaster/DroughtTeamLogo.png


Introduction

Hello, I'm Karpman. At the moment, I've been making some pretty bad teams and even my best teams seem lackluster. Don't get me wrong, this is a "bad" team as well, it has no Ladder Achievements to boast, it doesn't 6-0 opponents, but it's probably the funnest team I've ever used, ergo, I've decided to post an RMT for it. Team after team, I came up with the idea to run a somewhat defensive sun team after viewing an RMT over at Smogon. Another goal of mine, when making a team, is to try and use Pokemon that I haven't seen the value in, this time Gliscor was chosen as that Pokemon and it's certainly proven its worth to me.

Team Building


http://www.pokesho.com/img_icon_us/i_ninetales.gif
Since this is a Drought Team, we begin with Ninetales.

http://www.pokesho.com/img_icon_us/i_ninetales.gifhttp://www.pokesho.com/img_icon_us/i_gliscor.gif
As said earlier, Gliscor was to be added to the team, I decided to go for a SubToxic Variant and it has worked quite well.

http://www.pokesho.com/img_icon_us/i_ninetales.gifhttp://www.pokesho.com/img_icon_us/i_gliscor.gifhttp://www.pokesho.com/img_icon_us/i_heatran.gif
In said RMT, one of the Pokemon featured was Specially Defensive Heatran, which has contributed greatly to the team and can take special water type attacks quite well
http://www.pokesho.com/img_icon_us/i_ninetales.gifhttp://www.pokesho.com/img_icon_us/i_gliscor.gifhttp://www.pokesho.com/img_icon_us/i_heatran.gifhttp://archives.bulbagarden.net/media/upload/8/85/Spr_5b_586.png
Added Sawsbuck, who has been extremely beneficial to the team's success.

http://www.pokesho.com/img_icon_us/i_ninetales.gifhttp://www.pokesho.com/img_icon_us/i_gliscor.gifhttp://www.pokesho.com/img_icon_us/i_heatran.gifhttp://archives.bulbagarden.net/media/upload/8/85/Spr_5b_586.pnghttp://www.pokesho.com/img_icon_us/i_blissey.gif
I actually had a Blissey lying around in my Box at this point and decided "why not try it" and it's actually worked quite well, beating things which Heatran cannot and resolving the team of any status.

http://www.pokesho.com/img_icon_us/i_ninetales.gifhttp://www.pokesho.com/img_icon_us/i_gliscor.gifhttp://www.pokesho.com/img_icon_us/i_heatran.gifhttp://archives.bulbagarden.net/media/upload/8/85/Spr_5b_586.pnghttp://www.pokesho.com/img_icon_us/i_blissey.gifhttp://www.pokesho.com/img_icon_us/shine/i_celebi_s.gif
Celebi was chosen as the team's final Pokemon, but since even +6 Giga Drains couldn't slay Dragon Types, it was time for a change.


http://www.pokesho.com/img_icon_us/i_ninetales.gifhttp://www.pokesho.com/img_icon_us/i_gliscor.gifhttp://www.pokesho.com/img_icon_us/i_heatran.gifhttp://archives.bulbagarden.net/media/upload/8/85/Spr_5b_586.pnghttp://www.pokesho.com/img_icon_us/i_blissey.gifhttp://www.pokesho.com/img_icon_us/i_jirachi.gif
And with that, Jirachi became the team's final Pokemon, although the team is far from "complete".

A Closer Look


Ninetales (M) @ Focus Sash
http://www.pokesho.com/img_icon_us/i_ninetales.gif
Trait: Drought
EVs: 252 SAtk / 4 SDef / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
http://veekun.com/dex/media/chrome/types/dark.png Nasty Plot
http://veekun.com/dex/media/chrome/types/psychic.png Psyshock
http://veekun.com/dex/media/chrome/types/fire.png Flamethrower
http://veekun.com/dex/media/chrome/types/grass.png Energy Ball

Let's be honest, Ninetales is dead weight and does nothing but die, I usually sac it if I'm not up against another weather team. If it's up against Politoed, then I'll Energy Ball, but I'll switch if I run into Tar or Hippowdon and use my other teammates to take them out.

Gliscor (M) @ Toxic Orb
http://www.pokesho.com/img_icon_us/i_gliscor.gif
Trait: Poison Heal
EVs: 252 HP / 176 Def / 80 Spd
Impish Nature (+Def, -SAtk)
http://veekun.com/dex/media/chrome/types/normal.png Substitute
http://veekun.com/dex/media/chrome/types/ice.png Ice Fang
http://veekun.com/dex/media/chrome/types/poison.png Toxic
http://veekun.com/dex/media/chrome/types/ground.png Earthquake

This thing is a total boss. I usually Sub or Toxic when I predict a switch, which are common considering the amount of Pokemon that this thing walls. Ice Fang is so I'm not beaten by Gengar and Balloon users, provided I have a Substitute up.

Heatran (M) @ Leftovers
http://www.pokesho.com/img_icon_us/i_heatran.gif
Trait: Flash Fire
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SDef
Calm Nature (+SDef, -Atk)
http://veekun.com/dex/media/chrome/types/rock.png Stealth Rock
http://veekun.com/dex/media/chrome/types/fire.png Lava Plume
http://veekun.com/dex/media/chrome/types/normal.png Protect
http://veekun.com/dex/media/chrome/types/normal.png Roar

This thing forms a cute defensive combo with Gliscor, Heatran taking special water attacks and Gliscor taking the physical ones. I might switch protect out for another move, but it does help quite a bit in stalling Pokemon that have been burned or hit with Gliscor's Toxic.

Jirachi @ Leftovers
http://www.pokesho.com/img_icon_us/i_jirachi.gif
Trait: Serene Grace
EVs: 252 HP / 224 SDef / 32 Spd
Careful Nature (+SDef, -SAtk)
http://veekun.com/dex/media/chrome/types/normal.png Body Slam
http://veekun.com/dex/media/chrome/types/ice.png Ice Punch
http://veekun.com/dex/media/chrome/types/normal.png Wish
http://veekun.com/dex/media/chrome/types/steel.png Iron Head

Ice Punch is there for Dragons, the team's biggest problem, although I'm considering swapping Body Slam out for Protect, since Ice Punch can already get freezehax. All in all, Jirachi hasn't proven too effective with out Wish+Protect.

Blissey (F) @ Leftovers
http://www.pokesho.com/img_icon_us/i_blissey.gif
Trait: Natural Cure
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Def / 252 SDef
Calm Nature (+SDef, -Atk)
http://veekun.com/dex/media/chrome/types/fire.png Flamethrower
http://veekun.com/dex/media/chrome/types/fighting.png Seismic Toss
http://veekun.com/dex/media/chrome/types/normal.png Softboiled
http://veekun.com/dex/media/chrome/types/normal.png Heal Bell

Blissey is the team's premier special wall and cleric. Flamethrower is for blasting ghosts and steel type switch ins whereas Seismic Toss beats things like Heatran, not much to say here, really, Blissey is a solid Pokemon through and through, although I was considering giving it more Special Attack power, maybe a 252 Def/80 SpAtk/176 SDef spread would help.



Sawsbuck (M) @ Life Orb
http://archives.bulbagarden.net/media/upload/8/85/Spr_5b_586.png
Trait: Chlorophyll
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
http://veekun.com/dex/media/chrome/types/normal.png Swords Dance
http://veekun.com/dex/media/chrome/types/fighting.png Jump Kick
http://veekun.com/dex/media/chrome/types/grass.png Horn Leech
http://veekun.com/dex/media/chrome/types/electric.png Wild Charge

Sawsbuck has filled the role of the team's revenge killer and "star". After one Swords Dance, it's usually ready to sweep. In hindsight, I'm probably going to swap Wild Charge for Return, so that I can hit Dragons harder, although Nature Power [Earthquake] is another option that I'm considering.

[flamehaze94]

I love SubToxic Gliscor + specially defensive Heatran! I actually used it to get to finals in the little tournament after the first class of tutoring. After a couple battles I can say that Ice Fang is probably better than Protect in OU since everything from Heatran to Excadrill uses Balloon. You can't nearly stall as well as in Ubers, but it should suffice.

Ninetales needs to be much more defensive. Keeping the weather advantage is actually more important in Sun teams than other weather since it naturally has a disadvantage the other two (not Hail lol). Use 248HP / 8SpD / 252Spe w/ a Timid (+Spe, -Atk) nature so you can can at least abuse Ninetales decent bulk. Dying the instant Tyranitar comes in will ruin your day. You probably want a double status inducer set with Flamethrower / Will-O-Wisp / Toxic / Rest @ Leftovers. It can cripple Tyranitar and survive even CB Crunch and provides a blanket defense against physical attackers in general. Toxic is for things like Jellicent that you would rather poison than burn. This works well in junction with Gliscor because Gliscor can then come in and spam Subs without wasting a turn using Toxic. You'll have much more control over your opponent this way. I stuck Rest in there because Blissey can heal the sleep, thus you'll likely win the weather war since TTar and Politoed don't have recovery.

For Heatran, you can give it Dragon Pulse or HP Ice over Protect to better combat dragons. HP Ice has the added bonus of killing Gliscor outright. Although Dragon Pulse will hit the Lati@s harder.

Run Double-Edge or at least Return over Wild Charge ._. Double Edge has the necessary power to revenge kill things like Virizion or Latias (does a bunch to Gyara too) without a boost while Return is the safer attack option. Both are much better than Wild Chrage.

Now I'll address the real problems. Opposing Gliscor can likely set up on everything since it scares the heck out of Heatran , Blissey, Sawsbuck, and even your own Gliscor since it doesn't care about Toxic. It can likely outrun everything bar Sawsbuck and Ninetales and knock heads with EQ + Ice Fang. Then there's Landorus that can Rock Polish and destroy face Sand boosted attacks. Mamoswine can also eat things up and can potentially break Gliscor through its Sub using Icicle Spear. Hey, everything here has an Ice + Ground attack combo!

You can fix this but replacing either Jirachi or Blissey since their roles sorta intermingle and they offer almost the same things to this team. Probably Jirachi, since it feels like deadweight imo and the Sun accentuates its Fire weakness. I'm not sure what to add though, but I'll keep my eye open if I see anything interesting. A Spinner like Starmie could be nice I guess.