Relying on resistances (Shoddy RMT)

[Smarties-chan]

I'm generally used to either basing my team around entry hazard damage or simply raw power. However, the former strategy has turned out to be a bit too unreliable for my tastes (although my bulky Reflect/Roar Raikou has rarely failed me once I get my set up done <3) and the latter strategy, though very effective when I play right, doesn't work very well if I'm not at my best while playing. Unlike most teams, mine doesn't really have a core. Instead, I made every member of the team cover eachother as well as possible. I've received a lot of positive feedback for this on Shoddy, but I'd like to have more views on my team. Without further ado, my team:

Crobat (M) @ Choice Band
Ability: Inner Focus
EVs: 4 HP/252 Atk/252 Spd
Jolly nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Brave Bird
- Pursuit
- U-turn
- Cross Poison
---

This thing makes a great lead. A STAB CBed Brave Bird hurts. Not many Pokémon without instant recovery can switch in on this safely. Brave Bird is a 3-hit KO on a standard Metagross. U-turn does around 50% damage to Tyranitar and is great for scouting switch-ins, which are quite common considering how most people expect me to use Hypnosis and Pursuit is great for finishing off weakened opponents without the fear of my opponent switching.

Heatran (M) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 20 HP/236 Spd/252 SAtk
Modest nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Fire Blast
- Earth Power
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Explosion
---

This guy is a great switch-in after a physical wall switch-in gets hit by Crobat's U-turn - few people dare to take the risk of losing their physical wall so early in the game and since Heatran causes a lot of switches, it's invaluable for scouting my opponent's team. Many of my battles have ended up in a Heatran sweep.

Gliscor (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Hyper Cutter
EVs: 252 HP/4 Atk/252 Def
Impish nature (+Def, -SAtk)
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- Knock Off
- Roost
---

My favorite physical wall in D/P. Knock Off can easily cripple a lot of walls, such as Bronzong, who enjoy switching in on Gliscor. I decided to go with Stone Edge for this team to hit ghosts while still scaring off Salamence and Gyarados switch-ins.

Walrein (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Thick Fat
EVs: 252 HP/252 Def
Bold nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Encore
- Substitute
- Toxic
- Ice Beam
---

How the heck is this guy UU? Walrein is a beast. Heatran's Fire Blast isn't even a 4-hit KO and it can easily come in on many common threats. It also makes a great Garchomp switch-in since it can survive a Swords Dance boosted Earthquake and OHKO back with Ice Beam. I usually go with Encore and switch to Gliscor in fear of Yache Berry, though. Toxic is for stalling out walls and for random switch-ins.

Celebi @ Leftovers
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 252 HP/4 Spd/252 SDef
Careful nature (+SDef, -SAtk)
- Heal Bell
- Recover
- U-turn
- Leech Seed
---

I'm not a huge fan of Celebi in general, but on this team, it's definitely showing its usefulness. I went with a special orientated one since my team has a bit of trouble taking special hits. Heal Bell is necessary to get rid of status, which is a major threat to my team and Leech Seed is there not only to force switches (allowing me to send in a counter to my opponent's Pokémon with U-turn) but also to heal my other team members if my opponent stays in. Recover is needed to keep this thing alive.

Forretress (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 252 HP/96 Def/162 SDef
Impish nature (+Def, -SAtk)
- Light Screen
- Spikes
- Earthquake
- Rapid Spin
---

Why is it that this guy seems to be on every one of my successful teams? Rhetorical question. It's because it's effing awesome! Light Screen provides great team support and turns Magnezone into set up fodder (although unfortunately, Forretress won't survive the encounter, but at least it'll get a free Spikes set up from it) and Earthquake hits our UFO friend along with Heatran and Infernape on the switch. Rapid Spin provides a much needed solution to Stealth Rock and Toxic Spikes, which Walrein in particular doesn't like. Toxic Spikes also severely limits Celebi since I'll have to waste a turn using Heal Bell if I want to stay in and Stealth Rock makes Crobat very sad.

Rate away.

 

[Goldeneyes]

You should go mild or rash on Heatran so you don't hinder Explosion.

 

[Sora_8920]

You should go mild or rash on Heatran so you don't hinder Explosion.

Yeah, I usually run Mild, which is pretty cool.

 

[Dark Azelf]

I cant believe this team hasnt had more feedback, shame on you all =p

Anyway, i do think you need to be careful of : -

Gyarados@Life Orb / Leftovers
6 HP / 252 ATT /252 SPEED
Adamant Nature
- Stone Edge
- Waterfall
- Ice Fang
- Dragon Dance

A.k.a sweeper Gyarados, who for some reason im seeing more of lately...

Ouch..

Also standard BulkyDos causes problems,(EQ/DD/Taunt/Waterfall) as it walls any Celebi without Grass Knot, Taunt Walrein, then its free to sweep basically....

Normally Celebi would go OLOL Grass Knot, but with you focusing primarily on its sp.def, its going to have a hard time, but thats besides the point your Celebi doesnt even have Grass Knot =o


I think possibly go Bold on Celebi @Grass Knot >> U-Turn. OR Zap Cannon/Explosion on forry@Shed Shell (if you fear Magnzone), the former is not reliable, but still. Also have you ever considered Hidden power Electric on Wallrein ?.



I dont really want to remove stuff as it will wreck its synergy but those are some things to consider..

 

[Faceless*]

Good to see you Smarties =)

This team seems to overpower Ice-type attack users, but BoltBeamers might break through Walrein. Some of these Bolt-Beamers can actually be quite painful, but Mixape is more the pain if it gets a safe switch-in. Overall, I would test this team, it looks like a pretty solid built team to me, very good amount of 4x resistances by the way =P

 

[Smarties-chan]

You should go mild or rash on Heatran so you don't hinder Explosion.

I think I'll rather keep the ability to switch in on unboosted Thunderbolts. Explosion is mostly a filler anyway.

@Azelf
Yeah, I've noticed a bit of a Gyarados problem as well. Grass Knot is not really an option for Celebi since I need that U-turn for team support. I might try Zap Cannon on Forry, but I don't really want to remove Earthquake since my team does have a bit of trouble dealing with Tyranitar and I'd like to keep Light Screen to help with Gengar. I've thought of Hidden Power Electric on Walrein myself and it honestly seems like the best way of dealing with Gyarados so I'll probably go with that.

Good to see you Smarties =)

This team seems to overpower Ice-type attack users, but BoltBeamers might break through Walrein. Some of these Bolt-Beamers can actually be quite painful, but Mixape is more the pain if it gets a safe switch-in. Overall, I would test this team, it looks like a pretty solid built team to me, very good amount of 4x resistances by the way =P

Yeah, I've been away from competitive battling for a while, haven't I? But now I've got my motivation back so you can expect to see more of me around.

And boltbeamers aren't really that big of a problem to my team. Walrein can take unboosted T-bolts well enough for Celebi to get it back in a good condition with a bit of Leech Seed support and once they've been Encored, Gliscor scares them away. Celebi can also take most boltbeamers very well (A non-specsed Starmie doesn't even 2-hit KO with Ice Beam) and Ape is actually one of the smallest of my worries. Heatran can switch in on Hidden Power Ice, Grass Knot and Flamethrower and threaten it with Earth Power and Crobat shrugs off Grass Knots and Close Combats like nothing and it's not like Infernape wants to switch in on anything else than Celebi and Forretress and it usually gets U-turned by the former, whereas the latter either hits it with an Earthquake or sets up Light Screen. But thanks for the input. =)