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Competitive Team Questions (and Incomplete Team Help)

Ho-Oh

used Sacred Fire!
35,992
Posts
18
Years
    • Seen Jul 1, 2023
    vapes said:
    I never understood why walls like Vaporeon and Jellicent always had to be Bold natured (well Vaporeon more). Aren't they water types, so shouldn't calm nature work better since there are more special electric and grass type attacks than physical?
    Click to expand...

    They're not used to take special electric/grass attacks, but rather be physical walls, so that they have a chance of burning the opponent like Terrakion and such with Scald, making them useless for the rest of the match. If there's a special grass/electric attack they'll just switch to something to check it, etc.
     

    WolfMirage

    "Last Raven"
    174
    Posts
    13
    Years
    • Seen Nov 23, 2016
    okay heres a ru/nu trick room team, i know its not the greatest.
    1) parasect
    1. armomatherapy
    2. spore
    3. x-scissor
    4. giga drain

    2) gallade
    1. trick room
    2. psycho cut
    3. drian punch

    3) dusknoir
    1. trick room
    2. substitute
    3. will-o-wisp
    4. shadow ball

    4) porygon-z
    1. trick room
    2. tri-attack
    3. pain split
    4. conversion 2

    5) rhyperior
    1. rock blast
    2. drill run
    3. ston edge
    4. substitute

    6) eletross
    1. thunderbolt
    2. volt switch
    3. subtitute
    4. drain punch
     

    PlatinumDude

    Nyeh?
    12,964
    Posts
    13
    Years
    • WolfMirage said:
    okay heres a ru/nu trick room team, i know its not the greatest.
    1) parasect
    1. armomatherapy
    2. spore
    3. x-scissor
    4. giga drain

    2) gallade
    1. trick room
    2. psycho cut
    3. drian punch

    3) dusknoir
    1. trick room
    2. substitute
    3. will-o-wisp
    4. shadow ball

    4) porygon-z
    1. trick room
    2. tri-attack
    3. pain split
    4. conversion 2

    5) rhyperior
    1. rock blast
    2. drill run
    3. ston edge
    4. substitute

    6) eletross
    1. thunderbolt
    2. volt switch
    3. subtitute
    4. drain punch
    Click to expand...
    This is better off in UU, considering the presence of Rhyperior and Porygon-Z. Check the Smogon tier lists for more.

    Parasect is better in rain teams courtesy of Dry Skin. Plus, Giga Drain is very bad on it, considering its bad Special Attack.

    Even though Gallade isn't fast to begin with, it doesn't set up Trick Room well compared to things like Slowbro, due to its lack of good support options. Slowbro is a better candidate in that case:
    -Trick Room
    -Slack Off
    -Scald
    -Psyshock/Fire Blast
    Nature: Relaxed
    EVs: 248 HP/216 Def/12 SAtk
    Item: Leftovers
    Ability: Regenerator

    But then again, Gallade sets itself apart from most Trick Room users due to its abiltiy to hit physically rather than specially:
    -Trick Room
    -Drain Punch/Close Combat
    -Zen Headbutt/Psycho Cut/Stone Edge/Ice Punch
    -Shadow Sneak/Night Slash
    Nature: Brave
    EVs: 252 HP/252 Atk/4 SDef
    Item: Leftovers

    Cofagrigus is a bulkier alternative over Dusknoir because it can also go on the offensive with Nasty Plot. Dusknoir is also better with physical moves since its Attack is way higher than its Special Attack:
    Cofagrigus:
    -Trick Room
    -Nasty Plot
    -Shadow Ball
    -Hidden Power (Fighting)
    Nature: Quiet
    EVs: 252 HP/252 SAtk/4 SDef
    Item: Leftovers

    Porygon-Z is too fast for Trick Room. It also has a very wide movepool to take advantage of, and you're wasting it. Porygon2 is also a better Trick Room setter, due to its enhanced defenses with Eviolite:
    -Trick Room
    -Ice Beam
    -Thunderbolt
    -Recover
    Nature: Quiet
    EVs: 252 HP/252 SAtk/4 SDef
    Item: Eviolite
    Ability: Trace

    Earthquake >>>>>>>>>> Drill Run on Rhyperior:
    -Earthquake
    -Stone Edge
    -Megahorn
    -Ice Punch/Rock Blast
    Nature: Brave
    EVs: 252 HP/252 Atk/4 SDef
    Item: Choice Band
    Ability: Solid Rock

    or
    -Stealth Rock
    -Earthquake
    -Rock Blast/Stone Edge
    -Dragon Tail
    Nature: Brave
    EVs: 252 HP/16 Atk/244 SDef
    Item: Leftovers
    Ability: Solid Rock

    While Eelektross can go mixed, you're wasting away its good movepool as well:
    -Thunderbolt
    -Flamethrower
    -Giga Drain
    -Superpower/Hidden Power (Ice)
    Nature: Quiet
    EVs: 252 HP Atk/252 SAtk/4 SDef
    Item: Life Orb/Expert Belt
     

    WingedDragon

    Competitive Trainer
    1,288
    Posts
    11
    Years
    • For a weather tank Politoad is there a suitable replacement for encore? Its Hidden is Dragon which I know isnt Ideal but working a Beam, surf scold, protect layout right now.
     

    PlatinumDude

    Nyeh?
    12,964
    Posts
    13
    Years
    • AdrianD said:
    For a weather tank Politoad is there a suitable replacement for encore? Its Hidden is Dragon which I know isnt Ideal but working a Beam, surf scold, protect layout right now.
    Click to expand...

    Defensive Politoed typically uses:
    -Scald
    -Protect/Ice Beam/Refresh
    -Perish Song/Encore
    -Toxic/Hypnosis
    Nature: Bold
    EVs: 252 HP/252 Def/4 Spe
    Item: Leftovers
    Ability: Drizzle

    Non-Choice offensive Politoed usually uses:
    -Hydro Pump
    -Ice Beam
    -Focus Blast/Hidden Power (Grass)
    -Perish Song/Encore/Hypnosis
    Nature: Modest
    EVs: 252 HP/252 SAtk/4 Spe
    Item: Leftovers
    Ability: Drizzle
     

    WingedDragon

    Competitive Trainer
    1,288
    Posts
    11
    Years
    • I have my Toad adjusted for Trick room. Is that a good idea? Pondering the idea of a like a slow tank team. Composing of Toad, Magnazone, Slowking, Ferroseed. With maybe a walling with a Prankster pokemon or something of that nature
     

    PlatinumDude

    Nyeh?
    12,964
    Posts
    13
    Years
    • AdrianD said:
    I have my Toad adjusted for Trick room. Is that a good idea? Pondering the idea of a like a slow tank team. Composing of Toad, Magnazone, Slowking, Ferroseed. With maybe a walling with a Prankster pokemon or something of that nature
    Click to expand...

    That's a bit too much on the plate given your current lineup as Slowking is the only TR setter you have. Slowbro is actually better suited in OU because it checks Fighting opponents better thanks to its better physical Defense. Also, you may be talking about Ferrothorn; Ferroseed is Ferrothorn's pre evolved form; don't mix them up.
     

    WingedDragon

    Competitive Trainer
    1,288
    Posts
    11
    Years
    • PlatinumDude said:
    That's a bit too much on the plate given your current lineup as Slowking is the only TR setter you have. Slowbro is actually better suited in OU because it checks Fighting opponents better thanks to its better physical Defense. Also, you may be talking about Ferrothorn; Ferroseed is Ferrothorn's pre evolved form; don't mix them up.
    Click to expand...


    Is a raining Trick team a good idea. With a Slowbro, Ferrothorn, Magnazone and perhaps a slow Ludicolo with rain dish. Or is it better to just do a rain team with Swift swim abusers
     

    PlatinumDude

    Nyeh?
    12,964
    Posts
    13
    Years
    • AdrianD said:
    Is a raining Trick team a good idea. With a Slowbro, Ferrothorn, Magnazone and perhaps a slow Ludicolo with rain dish. Or is it better to just do a rain team with Swift swim abusers
    Click to expand...

    Swift Swim + Drizzle is banned in simulators, but not on WiFi. Might be better to find a backup TR user for this to be a true Trick Room team.
     

    WingedDragon

    Competitive Trainer
    1,288
    Posts
    11
    Years
    • Thing is I dont use Sims. My experience is the people who use them cheat and cheat often. Back up TR user, you mean someone like Slowbro?
     

    Lord_Storm

    305
    Posts
    14
    Years
    • I've been pretty successful battling with my Darmanitan with my friends, but it doesn't seem to cut it competitively. I can re-breed another one if this one's no good.

    Darmanitan
    -Fire Punch
    -Earthquake
    -Rock Slide
    -U-turn

    Nature: Adamant
    EVs: 252 Atk, 252 Speed, 6 HP
    Item: Choice Scarf

    Any kind of tips on how to improve would be appreciated.
     

    Miss Doronjo

    Gaiden
    4,473
    Posts
    13
    Years
    • Actually, that Darmanitan looks pretty good! Alternatively, you could try Flare Blitz > Fire Punch for more power, or even try out Superpower against stuff like Heatran or Normal-type pokemon.
     

    Lord_Storm

    305
    Posts
    14
    Years
    • Miss Doronjo said:
    Actually, that Darmanitan looks pretty good! Alternatively, you could try Flare Blitz > Fire Punch for more power, or even try out Superpower against stuff like Heatran or Normal-type pokemon.
    Click to expand...

    It works pretty well, but I think I may try the Flare Blitz because it usually struggles to OHKO with neutral Fire Punch. I doubt I'll use Superpower though because it lowers Attack.
     

    PlatinumDude

    Nyeh?
    12,964
    Posts
    13
    Years
    • Lord_Storm said:
    It works pretty well, but I think I may try the Flare Blitz because it usually struggles to OHKO with neutral Fire Punch. I doubt I'll use Superpower though because it lowers Attack.
    Click to expand...
    Superpower is actually important for Darmanitan so that it can hit bulky Normals like Snorlax (who has Thick Fat to reduce the damage Flare Blitz does to it), Porygon2 (who has Eviolite to buff its defenses) and any opponent who carries Air Balloon to avoid Earthquake (like Heatran, who's immune to Flare Blitz thanks to Flash Fire and Terrakion, who resists Flare Blitz). EQ is the safe option, though, and should only be used if you've broken your opponent's Air Balloons. And given the fact that Choice users aren't meant to stay in battle for long (they get in, attack, then get out), Superpower is still the better option.
     
    Satoshi Ookami

    Satoshi Ookami

    Memento Mori
    14,254
    Posts
    15
    Years
    • Lord_Storm said:
    I've been pretty successful battling with my Darmanitan with my friends, but it doesn't seem to cut it competitively. I can re-breed another one if this one's no good.

    Darmanitan
    -Fire Punch
    -Earthquake
    -Rock Slide
    -U-turn

    Nature: Adamant
    EVs: 252 Atk, 252 Speed, 6 HP
    Item: Choice Scarf

    Any kind of tips on how to improve would be appreciated.
    Click to expand...
    If your Darmanitan has Sheer Force then Flare Blitz is very good choice. ;)
    Also... if it does, you may switch Choice Scarf with Life Orb and go for Superpower instead of U-Turn.
     

    Lord_Storm

    305
    Posts
    14
    Years
    • Thanks guys. I'm not too sure about replacing the Choice Scarf because Darmanitan will then be hit first by most things and it isn't too bulky.

    About Superpower, what would be best to replace with it?
     

    Aryan143

    The Fennekin Fan!
    757
    Posts
    11
    Years
    • Lord_Storm said:
    Thanks guys. I'm not too sure about replacing the Choice Scarf because Darmanitan will then be hit first by most things and it isn't too bulky.

    About Superpower, what would be best to replace with it?
    Click to expand...

    U-turn if you are not using Choice Scarf and Rock Slide if you are using Choice Scarf.
     

    Miss Doronjo

    Gaiden
    4,473
    Posts
    13
    Years
    • I'd honestly prefer if you take out Earthquake, and replace with Superpower, since it pretty much super effectively hits your main threats like Terrakion or Heatran, without worrying about Air Balloon. Plus, Rock Slide can be needed for Dragonite or other Flying Dragons.
     
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