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So I decided recently to take a plunge into RU play, a metagame I have no experience with. I put together a team with my core (Banette + Exploud) and then kind of threw together a team around those two. This team could use some tweaking for sure, which is why I'm posting this RMT. For one, while I love Qwilfish, I think it's kind of awful in RU. For a Spikes setter, it's incredibly frail. I kind of want to replace it either with another Spikes setter or a SR setter. I do think Spikes have been more effective than I expected though. I also may want to replace Qwilfish with a Spinner so that I can spin away rocks for Braviary without getting rid of my own rocks/Spikes, while also giving Flygon another attacking option than the somewhat unreliable Earthquake (with so many non-grounded mons). Here are my sets.
Changes made in response to suggestions here in bold
Banette @ Banettite
Ability: Insomnia
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpD
Careful Nature
- Destiny Bond
- Knock Off
- Will-O-Wisp
- Shadow Sneak
Banette is totally clutch with Prankster Destiny Bond, allowing me to put pressure on offensive threats. Particularly, Banette can switch in on Fighting moves from Hitmonlee and Gallade for Exploud and cripple them with Will-O-Wisp. Banette is also my spinblocker. Knock Off + Shadow Sneak is actually a great combination; for most Pokemon that aren't bulky that take neutral damage from both, Knock Off will usually put them in KO range for Shadow Sneak with some hazard damage. I'm not really looking to replace Banette, unless someone really thinks it would improve my team, because I think Banette serves as a good part of my balanced core to compliment Exploud's strengths and weaknesses.
Exploud @ Choice Specs
Ability: Scrappy
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpA / 4 SpD
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Boomburst
- Fire Blast
- Focus Blast
- Surf
Exploud is awesome. Even resists like Magneton and Rhyperior don't want to switch into a Boomburst, especially with the threat of super effective coverage moves. Only Registeel and Diancie can really reliably switch into a Boomburst. While Specs Exploud is predictable, most people don't seem to have prepared for it in teambuilding, and will hopelessly try to OHKO Exploud with a neutral hit or switch in a Fighting type to see it stripped of over half its health. Exploud can switch into Ghost moves for Banette. Furthermore, if the Specs get knocked off, Exploud loses a lot of power, but is then free to pick between moves. This has happened to me several times testing this team and it allowed Exploud to plow through the opposing team's physical walls early game then clean up late game with its coverage moves. A Specs Boomburst also reliably deals with Dugtrio on the switch, and my team is rather Dugtrio weak (though that may soon be irrelevant).
Diancie @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Clear Body
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 SpA
Brave Nature
- Heal Bell
- Moonblast
- Diamond Storm
- Explosion
Diancie provides a nice glue for my balanced core. Diancie is able to take on Pokemon like Scrafty, Emboar, Sneasel, Houndoom, Togetic and Absol that can give both Exploud and Banette trouble. Diancie's dual STAB coverage is excellent in RU. This Diancie set is odd, I know, but it can handle contact opponents incredibly well due to Diamond Storm's defense increase, the relative rarity of Steel types in RU and the Rocky Helmet. Explosion is a bit of a gimmick, and I would consider replacing it, but it has come through 1 or 2 times where I would have lost if I couldn't use Explosion late game. Diancie's cleric support has also provided invaluable.
Qwilfish @ Leftovers
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Def
Impish Nature
- Spikes
- Taunt
- Waterfall
- Thunder Wave
This is where I have the most issues. I like using Spikes because it puts more pressure on Pokemon like Dugtrio, Seismitoad, Rhyperior and Registeel. However, Qwilfish's speed is middling, and its defenses are rather poor. Qwilfish's speed means that Taunt will often come after the opponent uses a status move. Furthermore, Qwilfish's STAB coverage is not great and its attacking stats leave some to be desired. Still, the Spikes-stacking along with a spinblocker and a Defiant user to prevent/discourage Rapid Spin and Defog, respectively. I just wish Qwilfish was a better user of Spikes and had a better matchup against common leads. Perhaps I could give it a Focus Sash to survive Dugtrio's Earthquake and hit back with Waterfall.
Flygon @ Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpD
Careful Nature
- Toxic
- Defog
- Earthquake
- Roost
So I wish I could free up a slot for another attacking move on here, because only being able to hit with Earthquake isn't great. But I definitely want to keep EQ so that Flygon can hit Steel-types. Flygon is exceptional at Toxic + Roost stalling in RU due to the shortage of viable Ice and Dragon types in the tier. Diancie pairs well with Flygon to remove the stray Aurorus/Jynx that show up every so often. If I included a spinner on the team and got rid of Defog, I could give Flygon U-Turn, Dragon Tail, Draco Meteor or Fire Blat. Let me know what you think. I definitely don't want to give Braviary Defog though, since it's weak to Stealth Rock and has no room for it on its set.
Braviary @ Leftovers
Ability: Defiant
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpD
Careful Nature
- Bulk Up
- Brave Bird
- Roost
- Substitute
Interestingly, if I can get a burn or poison on Quagsire, this set can beat Quagsire clean through Unaware. If I've set up before KO'ing Quagsire, Braviary can take on a lot of threats with boosted Defense and Attack. After a few boosts, Braviary can survive some super effective hits from Aerodactyl, and Aerodactyl can't take a boosted Brave Bird if it has too much prior damage despite resisting it. A boosted Braviary can plow through all of RU's special walls-- Slowking, Sigilyph, etc. I just have to make sure Pokemon like Rhyperior, Registeel, Uxie, etc., are appropriately dealt with. Fortunately, I do have some answers to these Pokemon on my team: Banette can cripple the former two with Will-O-Wisp and hit Uxie with Knock Off and Shadow Sneak; they can't reliably switch into Exploud; Flygon can use Toxic on Rhyperior and Uxie and hit Registeel and Rhyperior for super effective STAB damage.
Let me know what you think and what changes I should make.
Changes made in response to suggestions here in bold
Banette @ Banettite
Ability: Insomnia
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpD
Careful Nature
- Destiny Bond
- Knock Off
- Will-O-Wisp
- Shadow Sneak
Banette is totally clutch with Prankster Destiny Bond, allowing me to put pressure on offensive threats. Particularly, Banette can switch in on Fighting moves from Hitmonlee and Gallade for Exploud and cripple them with Will-O-Wisp. Banette is also my spinblocker. Knock Off + Shadow Sneak is actually a great combination; for most Pokemon that aren't bulky that take neutral damage from both, Knock Off will usually put them in KO range for Shadow Sneak with some hazard damage. I'm not really looking to replace Banette, unless someone really thinks it would improve my team, because I think Banette serves as a good part of my balanced core to compliment Exploud's strengths and weaknesses.
Exploud @ Choice Specs
Ability: Scrappy
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpA / 4 SpD
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Boomburst
- Fire Blast
- Focus Blast
- Surf
Exploud is awesome. Even resists like Magneton and Rhyperior don't want to switch into a Boomburst, especially with the threat of super effective coverage moves. Only Registeel and Diancie can really reliably switch into a Boomburst. While Specs Exploud is predictable, most people don't seem to have prepared for it in teambuilding, and will hopelessly try to OHKO Exploud with a neutral hit or switch in a Fighting type to see it stripped of over half its health. Exploud can switch into Ghost moves for Banette. Furthermore, if the Specs get knocked off, Exploud loses a lot of power, but is then free to pick between moves. This has happened to me several times testing this team and it allowed Exploud to plow through the opposing team's physical walls early game then clean up late game with its coverage moves. A Specs Boomburst also reliably deals with Dugtrio on the switch, and my team is rather Dugtrio weak (though that may soon be irrelevant).
Diancie @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Clear Body
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 SpA
Brave Nature
- Heal Bell
- Moonblast
- Diamond Storm
- Explosion
Diancie provides a nice glue for my balanced core. Diancie is able to take on Pokemon like Scrafty, Emboar, Sneasel, Houndoom, Togetic and Absol that can give both Exploud and Banette trouble. Diancie's dual STAB coverage is excellent in RU. This Diancie set is odd, I know, but it can handle contact opponents incredibly well due to Diamond Storm's defense increase, the relative rarity of Steel types in RU and the Rocky Helmet. Explosion is a bit of a gimmick, and I would consider replacing it, but it has come through 1 or 2 times where I would have lost if I couldn't use Explosion late game. Diancie's cleric support has also provided invaluable.
Qwilfish @ Leftovers
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Def
Impish Nature
- Spikes
- Taunt
- Waterfall
- Thunder Wave
This is where I have the most issues. I like using Spikes because it puts more pressure on Pokemon like Dugtrio, Seismitoad, Rhyperior and Registeel. However, Qwilfish's speed is middling, and its defenses are rather poor. Qwilfish's speed means that Taunt will often come after the opponent uses a status move. Furthermore, Qwilfish's STAB coverage is not great and its attacking stats leave some to be desired. Still, the Spikes-stacking along with a spinblocker and a Defiant user to prevent/discourage Rapid Spin and Defog, respectively. I just wish Qwilfish was a better user of Spikes and had a better matchup against common leads. Perhaps I could give it a Focus Sash to survive Dugtrio's Earthquake and hit back with Waterfall.
Flygon @ Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpD
Careful Nature
- Toxic
- Defog
- Earthquake
- Roost
So I wish I could free up a slot for another attacking move on here, because only being able to hit with Earthquake isn't great. But I definitely want to keep EQ so that Flygon can hit Steel-types. Flygon is exceptional at Toxic + Roost stalling in RU due to the shortage of viable Ice and Dragon types in the tier. Diancie pairs well with Flygon to remove the stray Aurorus/Jynx that show up every so often. If I included a spinner on the team and got rid of Defog, I could give Flygon U-Turn, Dragon Tail, Draco Meteor or Fire Blat. Let me know what you think. I definitely don't want to give Braviary Defog though, since it's weak to Stealth Rock and has no room for it on its set.
Braviary @ Leftovers
Ability: Defiant
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpD
Careful Nature
- Bulk Up
- Brave Bird
- Roost
- Substitute
Interestingly, if I can get a burn or poison on Quagsire, this set can beat Quagsire clean through Unaware. If I've set up before KO'ing Quagsire, Braviary can take on a lot of threats with boosted Defense and Attack. After a few boosts, Braviary can survive some super effective hits from Aerodactyl, and Aerodactyl can't take a boosted Brave Bird if it has too much prior damage despite resisting it. A boosted Braviary can plow through all of RU's special walls-- Slowking, Sigilyph, etc. I just have to make sure Pokemon like Rhyperior, Registeel, Uxie, etc., are appropriately dealt with. Fortunately, I do have some answers to these Pokemon on my team: Banette can cripple the former two with Will-O-Wisp and hit Uxie with Knock Off and Shadow Sneak; they can't reliably switch into Exploud; Flygon can use Toxic on Rhyperior and Uxie and hit Registeel and Rhyperior for super effective STAB damage.
Let me know what you think and what changes I should make.
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