One last Pheromosa

[Sirfetch’d]

I wanted to build a team around Pheromosa one last time before it's banned. I did a few battles with this squad and went about 8-1 with it. Its not a bad team in practice so far, but definitely has it's weaknesses.

Landorus-Therian @ Leftovers
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- U-turn
- Stone Edge

Standard fast rocks setting Lando here. Can quickly U-turn out of a bad matchup and hits hard with EQ STAB and Stone Edge coverage. Helps take out some of the Flying threats that can check Pheromosa. Not opposed to changing out this Pokemon though as it has definitely been a weak link at times.

Pheromosa @ Focus Sash
Ability: Beast Boost
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Quiver Dance
- Ice Beam
- Bug Buzz
- Focus Blast

Pretty self explainitory. Team was built around this girl and she does her job well! I tested multiple sets including Z move, Life Orb, Band, Specs, and Scarf but ultimately found the Quiver Dance set to be the most fun. Setting up late game is easy with hazards cleared, thanks to Latios, and my Sash intact. Lele helps keep priority moves away from Pheromosa such as the common Water Shuriken and Sucker Punch.

Greninja @ Life Orb
Ability: Protean
EVs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Hasty Nature
- Ice Beam
- Dark Pulse
- Hydro Pump
- Gunk Shot

I've been flopping back and forth between this and Ash Greninja, but found this set to be a bit better. The three first moves are common coverage moves and the last one is specifically for Tapu Fini, which is a big threat to this team. Greninja has probably been the MVP aside from Pheromosa so far.

Charizard @ Charizardite X
Ability: Blaze
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Dragon Dance
- Earthquake
- Dragon Claw
- Flare Blitz

I wanted a Mega on this team and Zard X felt like the right choice. It can set up on a lot of different things and can clean up late game if Pheromosa goes down or if it has a bad matchup. Zard has a favorable matchup too against Metagross as Metagross cannot freely Earthquake on the first turn as it doesn't know what Charizard I am and can outspeed and KO with Flare Blitz on the second turn.

Latios @ Life Orb
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Defog
- Draco Meteor
- Roost
- Psyshock

I threw Latios on the team purely for Defog. I didn't like Skarmory much and Tapu Fini didn't fit on the team very well. Considered trying out Excadrill as it can beat Tapu Lele better, but so far Latios has been a great addition.

Tapu Lele @ Choice Specs
Ability: Psychic Surge
EVs: 248 HP / 252 SpA / 8 SpD
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Psychic
- Thunderbolt
- Hidden Power [Fire]
- Moonblast

This is the mon I am most unsure about. I opted for a bulkier Specs set as it can tank a surprising amount of damage and absolutely nuke things with Psychic and Moonblast. HP fire is for Ferrothorn and Thunderbolt is for Celesteela, which threatens my team once Zard is out.


Any help will be appreciated!

 

[Frozocrone]

think this lando works better

Landorus-Therian @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 HP / 216 Def / 24 SpD / 16 Spe
Impish Nature
- Earthquake
- Stealth Rock
- Stone Edge
- U-turn

slower U-turn means you can get Pheromosa in without losing Sash, and Helmet means you can threaten a Beast Boost by chipping a bit more damage off.

Only other thing I could think off is Tapu Koko or Magnezone over Tapu Lele to deal with Celesteela and Skarmory and other flying types for Pheromosa, but then you lose out on Psychic Terrain so idk. Volt Turn might be ideal though.

Zard Y may also be worth considering, between it and Rocky Helmet Landorus you've got Metagross covered. Also helps against Heatran I guess (by not being weak to Earth Power). Then again Chansey starts to become an issue...

Actually annoyed that Manectric doesn't have it's Mega, as I think it would be great over Charizard for your team.

 

[Sirfetch’d]

think this lando works better

Landorus-Therian @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 HP / 216 Def / 24 SpD / 16 Spe
Impish Nature
- Earthquake
- Stealth Rock
- Stone Edge
- U-turn

slower U-turn means you can get Pheromosa in without losing Sash, and Helmet means you can threaten a Beast Boost by chipping a bit more damage off.

Only other thing I could think off is Tapu Koko or Magnezone over Tapu Lele to deal with Celesteela and Skarmory and other flying types for Pheromosa, but then you lose out on Psychic Terrain so idk. Volt Turn might be ideal though.

Zard Y may also be worth considering, between it and Rocky Helmet Landorus you've got Metagross covered.

I'll try out that Lando set for sure. I've used it in the past and have quite enjoyed it. Might also try out Tapu Koko or Magnezone, but idk if losing the Psychic Terrain is worth. Worth a try though!

I originally had Zard Y on this team tbh, but the Sun did kind of impede with Greninja at very unfortunate times. I could maybe consider bringing it back though and maybe replacing Greninja with Tapu Koko or something.

 

[Frozocrone]

I'll try out that Lando set for sure. I've used it in the past and have quite enjoyed it. Might also try out Tapu Koko or Magnezone, but idk if losing the Psychic Terrain is worth. Worth a try though!

I originally had Zard Y on this team tbh, but the Sun did kind of impede with Greninja at very unfortunate times. I could maybe consider bringing it back though and maybe replacing Greninja with Tapu Koko or something.

Yeah I edited my post. I think Mega Manectric would have been the perfect Mega, intimidate, outspeeds metagross and volt turn, not to mention helping with flying types but alas, unreleased to my knowledge.

I guess Raikou? Meh. Hesitant to add more special attackers because Chansey is a thing.

 

[Sirfetch’d]

Yeah I edited my post. I think Mega Manectric would have been the perfect Mega, intimidate, outspeeds metagross and volt turn, not to mention helping with flying types but alas, unreleased to my knowledge.

I guess Raikou? Meh. Hesitant to add more special attackers because Chansey is a thing.

I might run Psyshock on my Lele just for a better Chansey matchup. Pheromosa has to set up a bit to beat it and so does Charizard because it can survive a Flare Blitz and then KO with the recoil + Seismic Toss.

 

[5qwerty]

Would change Greninja to have HP Fire over Dark Pulse, helps a lot versus Ferro/Skarm/Celesteela - you can catch a lot of things on the switch. Dark Pulse doesn't hit too much when considering your other moves' coverage, so I think you could forgo that.

I don't know about HP Ice vs Stone Edge on your Lando. HP Ice is more common because you can 2HKO other Lando, but I guess Stone Edge gives you advantage vs Zard/Volc. Just know that you lose to other Lando if you run SE (but I guess you can just switch in your Zard and DD up).

Also you get murdered by Ash Greninja's Dark Pulse, especially if your own Gren dies.

 

[wolf]

Agreeing with 5q, Greninja might be a problem. Your only option is Pheromosa, which gets KOed by Water Shuriken. I'm sure it's possible to play around it, though.

Also, you're weak to Pheromosa if SR is up.

Mantine > Latios seems to fix both problems, but it could kill your momentum. Alternatively, M Gyara > Zard is something to consider, but it might require a lot of further changes. Or slap a Scarf on Lele. However, I'm not fond of that, because it removes a nice breaker to advantage of Toxapex switch-ins.