Mega Alakazam Team

[TopoftheFlops]

Hey PC, I cannot decide who my 6th member of this team should be. Here is my team below. Please do not critique my pokemon or moveset choices I have already made, I want to work through them myself. Anyway here's my team.

Alakazam @ Alakazite
Ability: Magic Guard
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Psychic
- Focus Blast
- Shadow Ball
- Taunt

Landorus-Therian @ Leftovers
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 HP / 240 Def / 8 SpD / 8 Spe
Impish Nature
- Stealth Rock
- U-turn
- Earthquake
- Knock Off

Clefable @ Leftovers
Ability: Magic Guard
EVs: 252 HP / 172 Def / 84 SpD
Calm Nature
- Soft-Boiled
- Moonblast
- Flamethrower
- Heal Bell

Scizor @ Leftovers
Ability: Technician
EVs: 150 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Def / 102 SpD
Impish Nature
- U-turn
- Pursuit
- Bullet Punch
- Roost

Keldeo @ Life Orb
Ability: Justified
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Secret Sword
- Scald
- Hidden Power [Electric]
- Taunt

 

[PlatinumDude]

IMO, I'd rather make Scizor be a Choice Band variant. There isn't much reason to use regular Scizor over its Mega form unless it's Choice Band or offensive Swords Dance (latter if Mega slot is already taken), as Mega Scizor is bulkier than regular Scizor. What purpose does Scizor's EV spread serve, really?:
-U-turn
-Bullet Punch
-Superpower
-Pursuit/Knock Off
Nature: Adamant
EVs: 248 HP/252 Atk/8 SDef
Item: Choice Band
Ability: Technician

Keldeo needs the raw power of Hydro Pump to break through things. While it's true that Scald can burn things, there are times that Scald as a lone Water STAB won't be enough because of its not-at-the-best base power, plus if Scald fails to burn a check/counter, you're in trouble:
-Hydro Pump
-Secret Sword
-Scald
-Hidden Power (Electric/Bug)/Icy Wind/Taunt
Nature: Timid
EVs: 4 Def/252 SAtk/252 Spe
Item: Choice Specs/Life Orb

 

[srinator]

Keldeo needs the raw power of Hydro Pump to break through things. While it's true that Scald can burn things, there are times that Scald as a lone Water STAB won't be enough because of its not-at-the-best base power, plus if Scald fails to burn a check/counter, you're in trouble:
-Hydro Pump
-Secret Sword
-Scald
-Hidden Power (Electric/Bug)/Icy Wind/Taunt
Nature: Timid
EVs: 4 Def/252 SAtk/252 Spe
Item: Choice Specs/Life Orb

keldeo does not /need/ the raw power of hydro pump here imo, scald is a decent attack that can be spammed, and taunt helps beat bulkier mons. hp fire or hydro pump is upto you, if sd scizor is a big problem or not. since sd scizor can actually beat this team +2 superpower etc, i think hp fire/ the current set is p okay.

 

[Nah]

Non-mega Scizor doesn't really have to be Choice Band imo either. Yeah, Mega Scizor does all the other sets *better* but that doesn't mean that regular Scizor is ass at them either.

....But what the OP was asking for was for what Pokemon to use in the last slot and not if his sets were ok. Like static said if Superpower Scizors set up they basically eat your team. Talonflames that have set up too can do the same, given that Talonflames checks Keldeo and Scizor really well, Clefable can't do shit to it, and Mega Alakazam is too frail to take priority Brave Bird. Lando-T can tank its hits but can't do much else back besides get Stealth Rock on the field (since yours lacks Stone Edge), but people who use Talonflame generally like to keep the rocks off the field. So you need something for that.

 

[TopoftheFlops]

....But what the OP was asking for was for what Pokemon to use in the last slot and not if his sets were ok. Like static said if Superpower Scizors set up they basically eat your team. Talonflames that have set up too can do the same, given that Talonflames checks Keldeo and Scizor really well, Clefable can't do **** to it, and Mega Alakazam is too frail to take priority Brave Bird. Lando-T can tank its hits but can't do much else back besides get Stealth Rock on the field (since yours lacks Stone Edge), but people who use Talonflame generally like to keep the rocks off the field. So you need something for that.

Ok so I looked for Talonflame counters and checks that would have synergy with my team, and the best three I found were Rotom-W, Heatran, and Empoleon. Correct me if I'm wrong, but Heatran would probably be the best out of the three because 1. Empoleon would be another water type and might not be able to handle a Flare Blitz from Talonflame, though it could check it. 2. Rotom-W does not resist as many types as Heatran does. 3. Heatran can handle opposing grass types Keldeo has trouble with, resists the majority of the types its teammates are weak too, and can help Landurus set up Stealth Rock. Am I correct in that assessment?

 

[Nah]

Ok so I looked for Talonflame counters and checks that would have synergy with my team, and the best three I found were Rotom-W, Heatran, and Empoleon. Correct me if I'm wrong, but Heatran would probably be the best out of the three because 1. Empoleon would be another water type and might not be able to handle a Flare Blitz from Talonflame, though it could check it. 2. Rotom-W does not resist as many types as Heatran does. 3. Heatran can handle opposing grass types Keldeo has trouble with, resists the majority of the types its teammates are weak too, and can help Landurus set up Stealth Rock. Am I correct in that assessment?

Yeah, Heatran would probably be best of those 3. It also can check boosted Superpower Scizors, so there's that too.

 

[srinator]

yeah heatran would be nice. just one thing to ponder upon would be to a have a wincon, or something that can setup and beat stuff as the last mon or something. i mean mega zam is really nice buts its more of a sweeper or late game cleaner if anything.
garchomp is also a cool option for ur 6th slot, it can run rocks/set up with swords dance and also you to run a different set for lando-t.

 

[TopoftheFlops]

Ok, thanks everyone!

 

[TopoftheFlops]

just one thing to ponder upon would be to a have a wincon, or something that can setup and beat stuff as the last mon or something. i mean mega zam is really nice buts its more of a sweeper or late game cleaner if anything.

Static who do you mean by wincon, i'm not familiar with that abbreviation?

 

[srinator]

Static who do you mean by wincon, i'm not familiar with that abbreviation?

https://www.smogon.com/forums/threads/knowing-how-to-find-your-win-condition.3474271/
its old but u get the gist.

 

[PlatinumDude]

keldeo does not /need/ the raw power of hydro pump here imo, scald is a decent attack that can be spammed, and taunt helps beat bulkier mons. hp fire or hydro pump is upto you, if sd scizor is a big problem or not. since sd scizor can actually beat this team +2 superpower etc, i think hp fire/ the current set is p okay.

As I already mentioned, there are times when Scald fails to burn something. You could spam it to fish for the burn, but it's just me, but IMO, more bulky Pokemon are better at relying on Scald's burn chance. Sometimes Hydro Pump is necessary to break through stuff:

252 SpA Choice Specs Keldeo Scald vs. 248 HP / 108 SpD Mandibuzz: 183-216 (43.2 - 51%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Leftovers recovery

252 SpA Choice Specs Keldeo Hydro Pump vs. 248 HP / 108 SpD Mandibuzz: 250-295 (59.1 - 69.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery

252 SpA Life Orb Keldeo Scald vs. 248 HP / 108 SpD Mandibuzz: 157-187 (37.1 - 44.2%) -- 99.9% chance to 3HKO after Leftovers recovery

252 SpA Life Orb Keldeo Hydro Pump vs. 248 HP / 108 SpD Mandibuzz: 218-257 (51.5 - 60.7%) -- 91.8% chance to 2HKO after Leftovers recovery

Again, IMO, I like having Scald and Hydro Pump at the same time, the former for trying to burn things on the switch or can't afford to miss and the latter for simply breaking through things.

 

[TopoftheFlops]

https://www.smogon.com/forums/threads/knowing-how-to-find-your-win-condition.3474271/
its old but u get the gist.

Oh ok, gotcha.