Six Wonders of the Desert

[Parivir]

Six Wonders of the Desert​

A Generation V Sandstorm Team​

Hello, and welcome to this RMT of mine. After twiddling a bit with Rain teams and a lot with Sun teams, I discovered that Sand teams have the most impact on the face of the new metagame. After getting my ass handed to me with my first Sandstorm Team, I constructed this one and have been gaining improvement since. It has its shares of losses, but it's been one of my best teams. Ever.​

Team Building Process:

Spoiler:

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I wanted to build a better team than my former one, and since the last one had a Tyranitar lead, I decided to do something different and invited into the team Hippowdon, one of the best two physical walls in Gen 4, the other being Skarmory.

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There's not much I can explain. What is a sand team without Excadrill? A very bad sand team.

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The almighty haxdragon, running the SubDance set. There has been a significant amount of matches won due to this guy's hax.

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This guy laid spikes, but aside from that he was dead weight on my side.

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On numerous circumstances people claimed that Landorus was far better than Excadrill. Excadrill has been far more than helpful to the team, and if Landorus was far better than him I can definitely use his firepower.

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To finish up, I added Hydreigon, because of his stallbreaking capabilities, and also because I needed a special attacker.

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After a few matches against Skarmories and Hippowdons aplenty, I decided that one special attacker just wasn't going to cut it. Say hello to the new tank, Rotom-W. Besides having decent walling capabilities, he packs the now-STAB Hydro Pump coming off his excellent SpA stat.

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I found an amazing weakness to Cloyster in this team, and thus added the broken bullet punch bug into my army, at the price of losing haxdragon.

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Hydreigon had done its job very well, but it simply lost out to Latios in all aspects that mattered. Well, that's good-bye to you.

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By now I figured out that my team looked pretty offensive, so the hippo might as well just GTFO before he becomes dead weight to my team. Tyranitar has been doing the hippo's job wonderfully.

At a Glance:
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In-Depth Look:

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Tyranitar @ Leftovers
Trait: Sand Stream
EVs: 252 HP / 180 SAtk / 76 SpD
Sassy Nature (+SpD, -Spd)
- Crunch
- Ice Beam
- Fire Blast
- Stealth Rock

Balloon Mixtar is by far the most successful Tyranitar set I have ever run. Oblivious Gliscors comes in to take an Ice Beam to the face and Skarmories is 2HKOed by Fire Blast (due to Sturdy). Besides setting up sand and the rocks, this guy plays an important role in taking out the key supporters in the foe's team.

Changes:

Spoiler:

Due to someone's suggestion in a forum far far away, Superpower was added to the set in place of EQ, for the purpose of hitting Dory and other Tars for a OHKO.

DarkAzelf suggested a different set, and I followed. Superpower was switched for Crunch. Beforehand, his set was:
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Tyranitar (M) @ Balloon
Trait: Sand Stream
EVs: 4 Atk / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Hasty Nature (+Spd, -Def)
- Superpower
- Ice Beam
- Fire Blast
- Stealth Rock

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Doryuuzu (F) @ Balloon
Trait: Sand Throw
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Earthquake
- Rock Slide
- Brick Break
- Swords Dance

I'm sure you've all been on one end of a Dory sweep at some point of your lives. Well this SS trademark is just awesome at whatever offense she needs to do, be it stallbreaking or revenge-killing. She's such a troll <3

Changes:

Spoiler:

Brick Break > X-Scissors, to hit other Dories while they try to break my balloon.

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Scizor (M) @ Iron Plate
Trait: Technician
EVs: 232 HP / 96 Atk / 180 SpD
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Bullet Punch
- Bug Bite
- Swords Dance
- Roost

Okay, this set is awesome. After one SD Bullet Punch can KO anything that doesnt resist it, and after two it can KO absolutely everything not named Rotom-W. Bug Bite is there for additional coverage and for a harder-hitting STAB against slower, bulkier walls.

Changes:

Spoiler:

Change the EV Spread from 248 HP / 240 Atk / 20 SpD to the one above.

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Rotom-W @ Leftovers
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 128 HP / 252 SAtk / 128 Spd
Modest Nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Hydro Pump
- Thunderbolt
- Hidden Power [Fire]
- Pain Split

This guy can tank the universe all day. Sporting 5 resistances, one weakness and immunity to ground attacks makes it extremely ideal for its purpose. Rotom-W's main selling point is its flexibility to switch from a sweeper to a supporter (and vice versa) at the blink of an eye, and it helps take on some of the team's top threats.

Changes:

Spoiler:

Switched WoW for HP Fire.

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Randorosu (M) @ Life Orb
Trait: Sand Power
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Rock Polish
- Swords Dance
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge

After one turn to set up, Randorosu can effectively kill walls (with SD) or sweepers (with RP). If he manages to pull out both, then it's pretty much GG to any team lacking Ice Shard/Aqua Jet. He hasn't been living up to his reputation IMO, but sure as hell he's useful.

Changes:

Spoiler:

None atm.

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Jetwing (Latios) (M) @ Choice Specs
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Draco Meteor
- Surf
- Hidden Power [Fire]
- Trick

Who doesn't love Latios? People who get swept by it. Having the amazing base speed of 110, an amazing SpA stat, Choice Specs and a STAB move with 140 Base Power, Latios has things going on for it. Trick cripples the pink blob and her little sister on the switch in, thus limiting her usefulness severely. Latios is just so pro.

Changes:

Spoiler:

HP Fire > Psycho Shock to instant-kill Nattorei (who resists the other two attacks).

Conclusion:
This is actually a pretty effective team for a newcomer (see how I avoided n00b thar? I'm so clever 8D) to sandstorm, if I do say so myself. However, as I mentioned earlier, this team has its pros and cons (mainly the cons). Therefore I ask you, PC raters, to rate and improve this team. Thanks for taking the time to read through this excuse of an RMT.

Importable:
Whether for testing or for stealing, here is the Importable version.

Spoiler:

Tyranitar (M) @ Balloon
Trait: Sand Stream
EVs: 4 Atk / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Hasty Nature (+Spd, -Def)
- Earthquake
- Ice Beam
- Fire Blast
- Stealth Rock

Rotom-W @ Leftovers
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 128 HP / 252 SAtk / 128 Spd
Modest Nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Hydro Pump
- Thunderbolt
- Will-O-Wisp
- Pain Split

Jetwing (Latios) (M) @ Choice Specs
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Draco Meteor
- Surf
- Psycho Shock
- Trick

Doryuuzu (F) @ Balloon
Trait: Sand Throw
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Earthquake
- Rock Slide
- Brick Break
- Swords Dance

Randorosu (M) @ Life Orb
Trait: Sand Power
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Rock Polish
- Swords Dance
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge

Scizor (M) @ Iron Plate
Trait: Technician
EVs: 220 HP / 108 Atk / 180 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Bullet Punch
- U-turn
- Swords Dance
- Roost

 

[Dark Azelf]

I like this team.

However, Rotom-W and Latios want Hidden Power Fire over Will-O-Wisp and Psycho Shock. Hidden Power Fire beats all the things Wisp would and stops you being set up bait for Ferrothorn, Forretress and Sp.Def Scizor (insta OHKO instead of burning it and taking damage, ive also seen alot of Lum Bulky Roost Scizors lately). Additionally both Rotom and Latias can overwhelm Ferrothrorn this way thus opening up sweeps.

Scizor needs more special bulk this gen, Reuniclus and Latios (yeah resisted specs draco Ko's your current spread if you switch in :/ lol) beat it otherwise. Switch Scizor's ev spread to: 232 HP / 96 Atk / 180 Sp.D. Hits a Leftovers number (IIRC), rounds down LO +SR recoil if you run it and gives a jump point in attack. This also lets you not lose to Latios and Reuniclus resisted hits. Lum Berry is also available to run (ghosts with Wisp piss me off, same with Rotom and Lum lets you Ko both), Iron Plate is fine though.

Tyranitar benefits from more bulk and Leftovers. You dont want Stealth Rock to wear it down with keep switching in and out which WILL mean you get swept by foe weather teams. Basically more bulk and leftovers lets you conserve it better, since in this terrible metagame it usually ends up as "who's weather team starter can be eliminated first". lol

Tyranitar @ Leftovers
Trait: Sand Stream
EVs: 252 HP / 180 SAtk / 76 SpD
Sassy Nature (+SpD, -Spd)
- Crunch
- Ice Beam
- Fire Blast
- Stealth Rock

Id suggest Mix Tank Tar.

Lastly, consider Brick Break over X-Scissor on Excadrill. Balloon users are immensely annoying (other Excadrill) for this team.

Hope this helps a little. Good luck. ^^

 

[Parivir]

Okay, thank you, this was an immense help. I'll get that HP Fire on both.

On Scizor's stat spread, I don't know if the loss of power in Bullet Punch will be significant enough to cost me matches, but for now I'll follow your advice and follow that stat spread (I'm keeping Iron Plate, though). Do I keep Adamant?

Next, BalloonTar has been a great help because not many people read the "Tyranitar is floating on a balloon!" message at the beginning of the battle on PO. However, I do agree that it is rather a gimmick and I'll try that other Tyranitar set.

Also, I'll try that Brick Break.

Thanks for the help :>

 

[Parivir]

/bump

No one else? :( Please, come on.