Rate My SS Team V.1.0

[Hadim Sinan Pasha]

You've all given some of your advice already but I still need a bit more criticism and ideas to help me hone my skills with SS teams. This is now a Stall team. Ideas that need help are explained in a little bit more detail at the end of the post.

Hippowdon @ Leftovers
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 252 HP/252 Def/4 SpDef
Impish Nature (+Def, -SpAtk)
- Earthquake
- Ice Fang
- Slack Off
- Stealth Rock
Thanks to Archer for giving me this set and stopping me from having to look around for a good set. I decided to use this as my lead because it is the best lead for Sand Storm teams.

Bronzong @ Light Clay
Ability: Levitate
IVs: 0 Spe
EVs: 252 HP/100 Atk/60 Def/98 SpD
Relaxed Nature (+Def, -Spe)
- Light Screen
- Reflect
- Gyro Ball
- Explosion
Stalling Screener. I think It works because it allows me to stall with Light Screen and Reflect whilst able to hit hard with Gyro Ball. Without 0 Spe IVs it doesn't work as well though but this should work.

Empoleon @ Life Orb
Ability: Torrent
EVs: 6 HP/252 SpAtk/252 Spe
Modest Nature (+SpAtk, -Atk)
- Surf
- Ice Beam
- Grass Knot
- Agility
It's my Special Attacker/Sweeper. The only worrying thing about ti is how similiar it is to my Vaporeon in pretty much all aspects but typing and movepool are in the spotlight as very similiar. My other options are SpecsLuke which i don't quiet like and there's always Roserade but it can't Stall as well as this guy, although Toxic and Toxic Spikes are always aprreciated. Let me know if I should change to a Status-Inducer (Roserade) or keep this guy.

Skarmory @ Leftovers
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 252 HP/52 Atk/182 Def/24 Spe
Impish Nature (+Def, -SpAtk)
- Brave Bird
- Roost
- Spikes
- Whirlwind
The P-Hazer that all Sand Storm teams require and this guy/gal probably does it the best. With Whirlwind to abuse the opponent and tease them by inflicting Spikes/Stealth Rock damage, it can be a trainers worst nightmare.

Vaporeon @ Leftovers
Ability: Water Absorb
EVs: 252 HP/252 Def/6 SpAtk
Bold Nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Wish
- Surf
- HP [Electric]
- Ice Beam
Bulky Water. My only real Gyara/Rain Dance Team counter. Wish sets up some support for the other pokemon and itself.

Gliscor @ Leftovers
Ability: Sand Veil
EVs: 252 HP/40 Def/218 Spe
Impish Nature (+Def, -SpAtk)
- Earthquake
- Fire Fang
- Roost
- Knock Off
I'd like to thank D_A for the changes on this guy. More offensive set now but meh...

Well there you have it. My current Sand Storm Stall Team. It's my first attempt at Sand Storm team, and after being offensive, has been revised to fill out a Stalling role. For the Special Sweeper slot, I'd like your opinions on whther I should use Roserade, set up Toxic/Toxic Spikes, then just abuse that along with Spikes and SR or whther I should stick to my guns, or gun would be the term seeing as though it's a lone figure (i.e. Empoleon).

All comments, suggestions and break-downs are appreciated.

Feuer

​

 

[The Hero Without a Name]

Well, why would you need Rapid Spin Starmie when absolutely none of your Pokemon are weak to SR?

RPerior should be Jolly in order to outspeed Starmie (as well as everything up to base 125s, as well as Skymin if that comes back down to OU) after a Rock Polish. Life Orb really helps put that extra punch in his already powerful attacks. And I think you meant Solid Rock for his ability, as Sturdy is pretty useless (OHKO moves are banned anyway).

DDTar probably shouldn't lead a team; his sweep will get stopped too quickly, and he will do absolutely nothing to stop SR leads either. If you want a leading Tyranitar set, use this:
Tyranitar @ Lum Berry/Focus Sash
Sassy/Careful
Speed IV: 3
240 HP/36 ATK/48 DEF/184 SPDEF
Taunt/Substitute
Counter/Thunder
Fire Punch
Crunch

 

[Hadim Sinan Pasha]

After testing this out on Shoddy, I realised that I shouldn't be using DDTar in that slot so I'm thinking of actually using Hippowdon as my lead. Then I was thinking of replacing Starmie with something like a Metagross w/ThunderPunch because Rain Dance teams, Flying types and Gyarados decimate this team. I also don't really like Luke w/Specs because I have to keep switching out to hit change the moves. So I might replace Choice Specs w/LO. It's all about trial and error. Also, I replaced Passho Berry with Yache Berry before finally realising that leftovers would be the best bet for him.

 

[Archer]

After testing this out on Shoddy, I realised that I shouldn't be using DDTar in that slot so I'm thinking of actually using Hippowdon as my lead. Then I was thinking of replacing Starmie with something like a Metagross w/ThunderPunch because Rain Dance teams, Flying types and Gyarados decimate this team. I also don't really like Luke w/Specs because I have to keep switching out to hit change the moves. So I might replace Choice Specs w/LO. It's all about trial and error. Also, I replaced Passho Berry with Yache Berry before finally realising that leftovers would be the best bet for him.

Um, you do realise that HP Ice is mainly there for taking out Gliscor, don't you?
And Metagross is not a Gyarados counter. Use Vaporeon/Suicune/Porygon2/Rotom for that. Just keep in mind that you don't need a team to be entirely immune to SS to work in an SS Team.

Hippowdon @ Leftovers
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 252 HP/252 Def/4 SDef
Impish Nature (+Def, -SAtk)
- Earthquake
- Ice Fang
- Slack Off
- Stealth Rock

That's the best Lead. Just don't expect to get SR up every time with Taunters running riot.

 

[Hadim Sinan Pasha]

Thank-you for the Hippo set. This is what i was thinking for a replacement with Starmie:

Vaporeon: Leftovers
Nature: Bold
Ability: Water Absorb
EV Spread: 176HP:252Def:82SpAtk
Wish
Surf
HP [Electric]
Ice Beam

and I'm thinking of replacing Rhyperior with DDTar.

 

[Skip Shot]

I wouldn't go with Wish Vappy, seeing as only Luke would benefit from it. Surf/Ice Beam/HP Electric/ Toxic.

 

[Hadim Sinan Pasha]

Should I replace Rhyperior with DDTar though? I'll make the changes to my first post now, but I'm stuck on whether I should continue using Rhyperior or cvhange it to Tyranitar.

 

[Dark Azelf]

I wouldn't go with Wish Vappy, seeing as only Luke would benefit from it. Surf/Ice Beam/HP Electric/ Toxic.

What the wtf ?

Umm you do realize its to heal vappy too right and without it it will get dominated by everything ?

Defensive Vappy without Wish is the equivalent of a Blissey without Softboiled and i really shouldnt have to decipher how much that fails.


And because you have SUCH a major Gyarados weak, just go max hp and def on vappy.

In regards to the team

Honestly this is kinda a mess, nothing can take a special hit (For example you have THE worst Starmie weak ive ever seen lol) and you cant even revenge kill things which is really asking for an auto sweep for foe powerful offensive threats, so this really aint gonna work. Its kinda one of those "balanced" team which time and time again have been proved to not work this metagame (bulky offense, which this team is not, is the only kind of "balance" that works), its just sitting in between stall and offense. I mean what good are Spikes and SR when they will just be spun away and you have no spin blocker ? Then you have JUST 2 sweepers/offensive threats which is just asking to get stalled yourself by foe full on stall.

What is U-Turn on Gliscor for? Oh noes watch out Exeggutor !! lol. Use Fire Fang >> it for that horrific Scizor weakness.

Also why do you have Stealth Rock on both Hippowdon and Gliscor ? Gliscor gets Knock off and other supportive moves which it can use.


So firstly you need to decide on

A. Do i want to stall ?
B. Do i want to be offensive ?

The above play styles are really the only ones viable for winning in DPPt.

Not to be mean here, im trying to help, but sitting in no mans land with this team so to speak really needs sorting out, so yeah deciding on what you want the team to acomplish would be a starting point for further help.

 

[Archer]

As much as I agree with you D_A, it's quite a viable option to play defensively until late game and bring in the Monster Sweepers, such as DDTar. I realise that the team isn't effectively doing that, but you can't discount anything other than Pure Offense and Stall.

It's stupid to run a SS Team without taking advantage of the 1.5x SDef boost for Rock Types. You can either run a more offensive based Wall, such as SpWall TTar, or you can go with the inanimate Cradily. Either way, D_A is right, as you need to pick a team purpose and take advantage of what you have. (in this case: SS support.)

 

[Anti]

After testing this out on Shoddy, I realised that I shouldn't be using DDTar in that slot so I'm thinking of actually using Hippowdon as my lead. Then I was thinking of replacing Starmie with something like a Metagross w/ThunderPunch because Rain Dance teams, Flying types and Gyarados decimate this team. I also don't really like Luke w/Specs because I have to keep switching out to hit change the moves. So I might replace Choice Specs w/LO. It's all about trial and error. Also, I replaced Passho Berry with Yache Berry before finally realising that leftovers would be the best bet for him.

LO weakens SpecsLuke too much and the recoil is really tough. There are better special attackers that don't need Choice Specs to operate...Lucario pretty much does need Specs though.

ThunderPunch Metagross really isn't going to help with any of those problems btw, so I wouldn't put it in if that's what it's there for.

I wouldn't go with Wish Vappy, seeing as only Luke would benefit from it. Surf/Ice Beam/HP Electric/ Toxic.

What D_A said, lol. Also Tyranitar, but seriously, Vaporeon with no recovery is just beyond stupid x_x

Should I replace Rhyperior with DDTar though? I'll make the changes to my first post now, but I'm stuck on whether I should continue using Rhyperior or cvhange it to Tyranitar.

If you're going to use Rhyperior, make sure it can abuse SS and become a tough attacker to take down. But uh, don't make it defensive because then it's Hippowdon 0.5, lol (as in it's inferior).

Gliscor is much more of a liability though.

As much as I agree with you D_A, it's quite a viable option to play defensively until late game and bring in the Monster Sweepers, such as DDTar. I realise that the team isn't effectively doing that, but you can't discount anything other than Pure Offense and Stall.

It's stupid to run a SS Team without taking advantage of the 1.5x SDef boost for Rock Types. You can either run a more offensive based Wall, such as SpWall TTar, or you can go with the inanimate Cradily. Either way, D_A is right, as you need to pick a team purpose and take advantage of what you have. (in this case: SS support.)

In regards to the bolded part, you really CAN. There's a reason NOBODY uses balanced teams, and when they do, we get an rmt on here that says "well my last team went 0-575.6 so I'm redoing it!"

Also, Tyranitar and Cradily are both horrible special walls. Cradily is at least usable though, but still, this team already suffers from enough "ALL ROCK/GROUND TYPES + bulky water!" syndrome.

Which reminds me...

Team is wreck, dude. Skarmory/Gliscor/Hippowdon is WAY overkill. Gliscor and Hippowdon are really doing the same thing except Hippowdon is starting SS while Gliscor is beating fighters that otherwise 6-0 your team easily. As I just mentioned, this team really does suffer a lot from the SS resistant pokemon syndrome + Vaporeon, which is the blueprint for a mess of a Sandstorm team. Vaporeon is NOT enough to wall everything else that comes at rock types, which are defensive horrible in the typing department.

As D_A said, you need to choose either offense or defense. Until you do that, I can't really recommend replacements. But ugh, get Vaporeon some help or it's going to get slaughtered.

 

[Hadim Sinan Pasha]

There are better special attackers that don't need Choice Specs to operate...

As D_A said, you need to choose either offense or defense.

I'm going to try a more defensive (STALL) approach I guess. It's probably my best bet with a Sand Storm team seeing as though I'll be trying to get as many hits in as possible with my Pokemon and the Weather. Also, I may have to rethink some of my team members. I got lost in thought that all the Pokemon.. or atleast most of the pokemon should be resistant to the weather. That shouldn't be the case if it's stopping me from hurting the opponent.

As I'm trying a more defensive approach, I'll have to be re-picking the pokemon. Not all of them but some need to be changed for something more capable to STALL. Below are the 2 changes I'm making. I'm sacrificing tons of power, for tons of defense but I'm also making sure that the pokemon I'm using are able to KO the opponents pokemon. So anyways, here goes.

Bronzong @ Light Clay
Ability: Levitate
IVs: 0 Spe
EVs: 252 HP/152 Atk/8 Def/96 SpD
Relaxed Nature (+Def, -Spe)
- Light Screen
- Reflect
- Gyro Ball
- Explosion
DD-Tar replacement. Light Clay makes Reflect and Light Screen last 3 turns longer, making a total of 8 turns of extra Defense and Sp. Defense. Plus, most stall SS teams have this guy so I thought he wouldn't be too bad in my team.

Empoleon @ Life Orb
Ability: Torrent
EVs: 6 HP/252 SpAtk/252 Spe
Modest Nature (+SpAtk, -Atk)
- Surf
- Ice Beam
- Grass Knot
- Agility
I know I already have Vaporeon but that's a bulky water. The only thing upsetting me about this set is how similiar it is to Vaporeon's set in terms of the movepool. There's always Roserade which can serve as an OK Special Sweeper/Attacker but I think it lacks the defenses to do anything about stalling.