Sandstorm Team v1.0

[Jack Surge]

Sandstorm Team v1.0​

Okay, so I've trained a few Sandstorm teams before. None of them were really good in retrospect. This time, I'm starting over with a clean slate. I want this to be just as good as any other good OU team, so I'd like help/opinions on this.

Hippowdon@Leftovers
Impish
252 HP/4 Atk/252 Def
Earthquake
Ice Fang
Slack Off
Stealth Rock


Okay, so he's my lead. Nothing special, just standard Hippo. Stealth Rock for support, then go from there. However, I've seen EV listings before were HP is not maxed out, so it gives the most Leftovers recovery. How would that work, and is it better than maxed out HP?

Gliscor@Leftovers
Impish
252 HP/252 Def/4 Spd
Earthquake
Stone Edge/Aerial Ace
Knock Off
Roost


Another mostly standard set. EQ for stab, Roost to heal, Knock Off because I hate Leftovers on opponents, and either Stone Edge or Aerial Ace. I'm leaning toward Stone Edge, because it does more to Gyarados and does decent damage to Heracross. Thoughts?

Regirock@Leftovers
Careful
252 HP/6 Atk/252 Sp Def
Toxic
Rock Slide
Hammer Arm/Earthquake
Ice Punch


In Sandstorm, Regirock has a special defense of 492 (328x1.5) which means he can take a hit or two. Although he can't take Surfs repeatedly due to the weakness, he can certainly get in a Toxic against the likes of Blissey if it doesn't carry Aromatherapy, and other defensive pokemon. His base 100 Attack means Rock Slide and Ice Punch will be quite painful, and either Hammer Arm or Earthquake for T-Tar and Metagross will be quite effective if not prepared for. Which would work better on him, Hammer Arm or EQ? I already have EQ on Hippo and Gliscor, so I was leaning toward Hammer Arm.

Jirachi@Leftovers
Impish
240 HP/56 Atk/76 Def/136 Spd
Wish
U-Turn
Zen Headbutt
Reflect/Light Screen


Wish support from Jirachi. Since Regirock doesn't have a healing move, Jirachi can U-turn him in to get a heal from Wish. Also, since Subseed Sceptile gives Hippo a hard time, Jirachi can come in and break the Sub.

Thunder was left out due to the 50% accuracy in Sandstorm. Either Reflect or Light Screen would go there. I'm thinking Light Screen, but I'm not sure.

Cresselia@Leftovers
Bold
252 HP/108 Def/148 Sp Def
Rest
Sleep Talk
Ice Beam
Charge Beam/Psychic


Since I don't have a Cleric, and Regi isn't the greatest of Special walls, Cress is quite handy to take status moves, and welcomes a Hypnosis. The first three moves are standard, but the last slot would be Charge Beam for Gyara and extra boosts in Special Attack, while Psychic gives him the ability to ruin Nape with Sandstorm and Stealth Rock support.

ChainChomp@Life Orb
Naughty
16 Atk/252 Sp Atk/240 Spd
Swords Dance
Earthquake
Draco Meteor
Fire Blast


XD The notorious ChainChomp set. He functions as my only real sweeper, and since he can use both physical and special attacks, he can take on most walls. He'd come in very late, and because of his Sand Veil, he has great survivability for a sweeper.

I realize Chomp is Uber here on PC, so as a replacement for him, I was thinking a Lucario, but I plan on using Chomp in Shoddy battles, so I listed him first. I'd appreciate suggestions for a replacement to use here on PC.


Well, there you have it, my defensively minded Sandstorm team. Some notable weaknesses I've found are my lack of a Spinner and no one to Haze or Roar, which causes some problems when a team focuses on stalling.

 

[Anti]

Any rain dancer 6-0s this team.

For being very much a defensive team, you do have quite a few problems. Your first three pokemon are weak to water and a ice/water weakness is very obvious on this team.

I'm also against Chain Chomp, since it is killed very easily with Life Orb and is counterintuitive on a team that relies on Defense. I would suggest bulky DDmence over it to counter what you use Gliscor for, so you can sweep and wall. Then I would replace Gliscor for a bulky water that can maybe take the water/ice attacks your team gets murdered by. Your only real concern is water and rain teams especially with Jir around for Weavile, so I would try and mend some of your problems.

Most specifically, your team has overlapping weaknesses and missing resistances, so try and fix that with a pokemon that has good resistances and covers your weaknesses.

 

[Aquilae]

Just a few minor nitpicks - you should not judge what move a pokemon needs by looking at the type coverage of its teammates, you should find out exactly what threats you are planning to deal with.

You do not have any reliable form of offense, meaning that Bulky Pokemon would be a major problem, and Resters, healing off Toxic. I do not think that you would be able to break a stall team, probably the best thing that would help you would be Regirock.

There is also a major Gyarados weakness in your team, and inability to take Water pokemon. Metagross also poses a major problem, namely the CB versions with Ice Punch can OHKO Gliscor and 2HKO Hippowdon, and switchin on everything sans Garchomp, Gliscor and Hippowdon.

Strong special attackers - Azelf, Gengar would also pose a major problem to your team - Jirachi being the only source of defence against these, in the case of Azelf would pack Flamethrower to decimate it. Heatran also picks apart your team - SpecsHeatran and ScarfHeatran would pose a major problem.
Special setup sweepers are even more worrying, simply put Suicune sets up on your entire team - not having a reliable way to damage it besides Garchomp, some Suicunes pack Ice Beam > Rest, completely nullifying Garchomp.

Firstly, I would recommend a change of Garchomp variant, either the SubSalac Garchomp -

Garchomp @ Salac Berry
Adamant, 252 Attack/252 Speed/6 Def (even HP IV)

Substitute
Swords Dance
Outrage/Dragon Claw
Earthquake

or SDYacheChomp or SDLOChomp

Garchomp @ Yache Berry/Life Orb
Jolly, 252 Attack/252 Speed/6 HP

Swords Dance
Outrage
Earthquake
Fire Fang

ChainChomp does not achieve much for this team given that this team does not need ChainChomp to demolish physical walls as it has no powerful sweeper that could follow up otherwise.
Personally the Yache Berry > Life Orb as it offers you protection against random Ice Beams that would help Garchomp sweep. SubSalac is only useful for a lategame sweep which you should be aiming for anyway.

I would recommend a more efficient set for Gliscor -

Gliscor @ Leftovers
Sand Veil
Jolly, 116 HP/136 Attack/40 Def/216 Speed
Earthquake
Ice Fang
Swords Dance
Roost

Outspeeds Lucario enabling a quick Earthquake, namely the SD/CC/ES/HP Ice sets. Swords Dance also allows a sweep.

I would recommend a better Wishpasser over Jirachi which helps with Gyarados -

Vaporeon @ Leftovers
Bold, 188 HP/252 Def/68 SpA

Surf
HP Electric
Wish
Ice Beam

Provides phazing support and handles Gyarados and SDKabutops nicely.

In addition I would like to suggest RestTalk Snorlax as a special wall, the standard set from the analysis with Body Slam and Earthquake. Though it doesn't help against Gengar, I would recommend Earthquake > Crunch for Heatran.

Next Cresselia would have to go seeing that you already have some solid counters to Gyarados and Salamence. I would recommend a Spiker, namely Skarmory to add more residual damage.

Finally Hippowdon's role is redundant considering that Skarmory covers what Hippowdon covers to an extent. MixScarfTar would go over it, slaughtering offensive leads -

Tyranitar @ Choice Scarf
Hasty, 252 Speed, 42 SpA, 214 Attack

Ice Beam
Fire Blast
Stone Edge
Crunch

Sets up Sandstorm and destroys offensive pokemon on turn one provided they stay in.

 

[Jack Surge]

Alright, it looks like everyone in my team just got replaced. :P

So, this is what I'd put together.



Tyranitar @ Choice Scarf
Hasty, 252 Speed, 42 SpA, 214 Attack

Ice Beam
Fire Blast
Stone Edge
Crunch


Gliscor @ Leftovers
Sand Veil
Jolly, 116 HP/136 Attack/40 Def/216 Speed
Earthquake
Ice Fang
Swords Dance
Roost


Vaporeon @ Leftovers
Bold, 188 HP/252 Def/68 SpA

Surf
HP Electric
Wish
Ice Beam


Garchomp @ Salac Berry
Adamant, 252 Attack/252 Speed/6 Def (even HP IV)

Substitute
Swords Dance
Outrage/Dragon Claw
Earthquake

Skarm and Lax.


T_T

It's like a completely different team.

Kay, well, I'll take your advice and rework some things. Both of you were right; it does have problems.

I really wanted to keep Jirachi in there. Would a Calm Mind sweeper work somewhere?

 

[stocksy96]

pretty good but wot would i no?

 

[El Gofre]

pretty good but wot would i no?

Going by your posts you know nothing at all. Stop making pointless rates.

Dont rate without proper knowledge

All i can say is thank god chainchomp is gone. You'll want to add a special sweeper into the new lot since atm you're relying on a mixed TTar and vaporeon to attack special-wise, which aren't the greatest options.

 

[Jack Surge]

All i can say is thank god chainchomp is gone. You'll want to add a special sweeper into the new lot since atm you're relying on a mixed TTar and vaporeon to attack special-wise, which aren't the greatest options.

Would CM Jirachi do well?

I tried to make the list last night, and I put together this.

ScarfTar
Vaporeon
CMJirachi
Forretress
RestTalk Snorlax
SD Gliscor

I wanted Skarm, but I didn't have a spinner, and I had problems with that on shoddy,so...