Rate my NU Team

This is an NU tier team, designed around Toxic stalling. The primary issue I'm having is with the movesets, as Toxic and Roar are almost too redundant. I also would like to hear the overall weaknesses the team has, such as certain Pokemon that could set up or power straight through it. Thanks!

Lairon @ Eviolite
Nature- Impish
Ability- Rock Head
252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Stealth Rock
Head Smash
Roar
Toxic / Earthquake

While Earthquake is a strong move choice, Toxic is better suited to this team. However, depending on how many other team members end up with Toxic, it is easily changed.

Altaria @ Leftovers
Nature- Calm
Ability- Natural Cure
252 HP / 252 SpD / 4 Def
Roost
Dragon Pulse
Perish Song
Toxic

Perish Song is used over Roar to guard against last man standing setup sweepers.

Flareon @ Leftovers
Nature- Calm
Ability- Flash Fire
252 HP / 252 SpD / 4 SpA
Wish
Protect
Flamethrower
Roar / Toxic

Roar and Toxic are redundant with other team members; the question is how redundant should each be on this team.

Quagsire @ Leftovers
Nature- Careful
Ability- Unaware
252 HP / 252 SpD / 4 Def
Curse
Recover
Earthquake
Waterfall

I considered the non Curse set, but I did not like the absolutely pathetic Special Defense it had. I also considered using Water Absorb, but Unaware is useful in more situations.

Luxray @ Leftovers
Nature- Bold
Ability- Intimidate
252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpA
Thunderbolt
Roar / Crunch
Toxic / Crunch
Volt Switch

The moveset here is what you would expect on a Toxic Stall team, but Roar or Toxic can be removed for Crunch if needed since both moves can be carried by at least two other team members.

Vileplume @ Leftovers
Nature- Bold
Ability- Effect Spore
252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Giga Drain
Aromatherapy
Moonlight
Sludge Bomb / Venoshock

The only thing I'm torn on is the last move. Since the team is based around Toxic, Venoshock would do more damage as long as long as the opponent is poisoned already, which is going to be very likely. Aromatherapy frees up a slot on both Altaria and Flareon, as Heal Bell isn't needed.


I realize that there is no Rapid Spin user on the team, but considering that only one of my Pokemon is weak to Stealth Rock, and four of them (including the weak one) have recovery moves, it was not an enormous concern. Spikes take three turns to set up for maximum damage, and if I let someone set that up, I'm not playing well. Toxic Spikes can be absorbed by Vileplume, and he can also heal anyone who was poisoned with Aromatherapy.

Heal Bell needs to go somewhere on Altaria so that it can rid its teammates of other statuses like burn or poison. I'll leave it up to you or anyone else who posts here where it can go.

Try this moveset for your Altaria:

Careful nature
Leftovers
Natural Cure
EVs: 252 HP, 228 Sp. Def, 28 Speed
- Dragon Claw
- Roost
- Heal Bull / Earthquake
- Dragon Dance

It's one of the best defensive sets to use on Altaria.

PlatinumDude said:

Heal Bell needs to go somewhere on Altaria so that it can rid its teammates of other statuses like burn or poison. I'll leave it up to you or anyone else who posts here where it can go.

Click to expand...

So I need two Pokemon with Heal Bell/Aromatherapy? I'd really prefer not to have to put it on Altaria since I don't have Gen 4 access. I guess I should've mentioned this is Wifi, not a simulator.

Hikari10 said:

Try this moveset for your Altaria:

Careful nature
Leftovers
Natural Cure
EVs: 252 HP, 228 Sp. Def, 28 Speed
- Dragon Claw
- Roost
- Heal Bull / Earthquake
- Dragon Dance

It's one of the best defensive sets to use on Altaria.

Click to expand...

What is this set supposed to outspeed with the 28 EVs? And why is DD chosen on a defensive minded set? What makes it better than having Perish Song for the last 'mon standing?

VoxynZ said:

So I need two Pokemon with Heal Bell/Aromatherapy? I'd really prefer not to have to put it on Altaria since I don't have Gen 4 access. I guess I should've mentioned this is Wifi, not a simulator.



What is this set supposed to outspeed with the 28 EVs? And why is DD chosen on a defensive minded set? What makes it better than having Perish Song for the last 'mon standing?

Click to expand...

That's just in case if one cleric goes down, the other cleric can continue curing statuses. But since you not having Gen IV access is the case, having Vileplume as your sole cleric is fine.

The Altaria set Hikari10 posted is meant to set up as many Dragon Dances as possible, while healing on occasion, before sweeping with it. 28 Speed EVs allows Altaria to outspeed +1 neutral-natured base 85 Speed Pokemon after 2 DD boosts. But then again, since this is a Toxic-stall team, your current Altaria set is more suited for the team.

I think Hikari wants to point out that you should at least have something that can kill and still maintains some bulk. Instead of Dragon Dance, you can also use Cotton Guard which will greatly help Altaria maintain its bulk then heal the damage off with Roost.

Musica said:

I think Hikari wants to point out that you should at least have something that can kill and still maintains some bulk. Instead of Dragon Dance, you can also use Cotton Guard which will greatly help Altaria maintain its bulk then heal the damage off with Roost.

Click to expand...

Eh, I think Quagsire can be the bulky setup sweeper if needed.

Also, do you think Luxray can fit Crunch in his moveset? I'd like to have it, but I'm not sure how many Pokemon need Toxic/Roar. Since it is a stall team, should the answer be as many as possible?

Altaria can be an excellent DDancer due to its bulk and reliable recovery in Roost but isn't capable of much offensive prowess without Dragon Dance sadly due to its rather lackluster Atk and Sp.Atk stats. If you're going to go with a defensive set try the moveset of Roost, Cotton Guard, Toxic, and either Dragon Claw or Dragon Pulse, preferably Dragon Claw since it has more PP. Cotton Guard will increase its bulk giving it the opportunity to stall with Roost until Toxic wears the opponent down. Hope that helps regarding Altaria there. You can also replace your STAB attack with either Flamethrower or Fire Blast to smack around any Steel types that may try to wall you if you find yourself in that type if situation.

For Luxray replace I'd suggest replacing Thunderbolt with Thunder Fang since its Atk stat is naturally higher but due to the nature you're using either one is fine. I'd recommend replacing Volt Switch with Crunch though if you feel like you need it that badly.

Not really, you just have to focus on survivability of the main Pokemon. With Luxray, I think you can make it an attacker with some bulk. Also, not all Pokemon would be Toxic'ed so I suggest you put Thunder Wave on Luxray and cripple faster pokemon who will attempt to sweep.

Luxray @ Leftovers
Intimidate - Bold Nature (+Def -Att)
252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpA
~Thunder Wave
~Volt Switch
~Roar
~Hidden Power Ice (For Ground types and Grass types which will try to out-stall Luxray) or Toxic.

Volt-switching is the core of this set, after a (hopefully not) failed Roar, bar the Ground types, you can switch into something that can resist the opposing Pokemon's attacks. If it is a Ground-type, Altaria can come to the rescue!

Musica said:

Not really, you just have to focus on survivability of the main Pokemon. With Luxray, I think you can make it an attacker with some bulk. Also, not all Pokemon would be Toxic'ed so I suggest you put Thunder Wave on Luxray and cripple faster pokemon who will attempt to sweep.

Luxray @ Leftovers
Intimidate - Bold Nature (+Def -Att)
252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpA
~Thunder Wave
~Volt Switch
~Roar
~Hidden Power Ice (For Ground types and Grass types which will try to out-stall Luxray) or Toxic.

Volt-switching is the core of this set, after a (hopefully not) failed Roar, bar the Ground types, you can switch into something that can resist the opposing Pokemon's attacks. If it is a Ground-type, Altaria can come to the rescue!

Click to expand...

I'll go with this^ set, because every single move listed is a TM, so I can swap moves around really easily. I wanted the Thunderbolt in there somewhere, but I think that you're right, that Thunder Wave is more important.

Also, I really hadn't considered Cotton Guard on Altaria. Is it better to have a (really good) boosting move as opposed to Perish Song? I'm just worried that if the opponent's last Pokemon is a setup sweeper, I won't be able to toxic stall it before it can finish me.

Xulek said:

If you're that concerned about set up sweepers you can cut Toxic and Cotton Guard for Perish Song and either a coverage move or Protect but personally I prefer using Altaria as a booster since its base stats pretty much demand it if you want to use it as either a tank or a sweeper but again that's personal preference there. Then again Unaware Quagsire should be able to handle any set up sweeper cocky enough to try and get a boost under its belt due to access to Recover and all which really does help it stay on the field longer.

Click to expand...

Haha wow. I feel dumb- I forgot about Unaware. Thanks for reminding me, as now I feel a lot better about not running Perish Song. :D

Thank you to all who replied! I'm really inexperienced with competitive battling and am learning new things all the time.