VGC '16 Groudon Trick Room Team

[Sayuri]

With the reintroduction of many legendaries in 2016 that 2010 had (plus some new ones and Primal formes), I decided to take a more unique approach to my team than I normally would. I was inspired by Huy's team from 2010 when I started making this team (thought that might be interesting to note). Anyway, here's the team:

Spoiler:

Groudon-Primal @ Red Orb
Ability: Desolate Land
Level: 50
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpA
Brave Nature
- Precipice Blades
- Eruption
- Protect
- Rock Slide

With Groudon's Primal forme available for use, I decided to form the team around it. Groudon is my main offensive Pokemon and the one I always bring to every game. It's a pretty standard set overall. I previously ran Fire Punch but switched to Eruption for added power under sunlight.

Gardevoir-Mega (F) @ Gardevoirite
Ability: Trace
Level: 50
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpA
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Trick Room
- Hyper Voice
- Protect
- Skill Swap

The Trick Room setter and Mega of the team. She's actually done quite well thus far, being able to deal a lot of damage to a large amount of the metagame. Again, a pretty standard/basic set. I decided to run Skill Swap over something like Psychic/Psyshock in case Mega Rayquaza or Primal Kyogre were sent out while Groudon was on the field; I could skill swap abilities with Groudon and get sunlight back up.

Xerneas @ Power Herb
Ability: Fairy Aura
Level: 50
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpA / 4 SpD
Modest Nature
- Flash Cannon
- Geomancy
- Dazzling Gleam
- Psychic

One of my two main Special Attackers. Nothing much to say here except that I decided to run a very bulky Xerneas instead of investing in Speed, as this allows it to still outspeed a lot after using Geomancy, and work well under TR without having used Geomancy. I put Psychic on there mainly for Pokemon like Amoonguss and Venusaur.

Venusaur (F) @ Life Orb
Ability: Chlorophyll
Level: 50
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
- Sleep Powder
- Grass Knot
- Hidden Power [Fire]
- Protect

Speaking of Venusaur... She's my other Special attacker. Grass Knot is on there for Kyogre, HP Fire for coverage against Pokemon like Amoonguss, and Sleep Powder is there to, well... put others to sleep.

Aegislash (F) @ Weakness Policy
Ability: Stance Change
Level: 50
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpA
- Iron Head
- Shadow Ball
- King's Shield
- Wide Guard

I'm not too sure about Aegislash; this is the spot that I'm looking for the most help with. I originally was running Milotic, but she wasn't bringing much to the team at the time, so I switched it out for something that could counter Xerneas mainly. Iron Head is on there to attack Xerneas that have used Geomancy already and it takes about 60-70% of its HP away. Plus I needed Wide Guard for when I'm unable to switch out Groudon against Kyogre.

Meowstic @ Sitrus Berry
Ability: Prankster
Level: 50
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
- Fake Out
- Quick Guard
- Psychic
- Charm

Honestly my favorite Pokemon on the team. Meowstic has proven itself to be very viable in this meta (at least for me) and has helped me through many tight situations. I run Quick Guard to, for example, allow Gardevoir to set up Trick Room against a Kangaskhan, Liepard, etc. Charm is there to cripple Physical attackers like Groudon, Kanga, and Rayquaza, which are huge potential threats to my team. Psychic is there so he's not entirely helpless when Taunted. Fake Out is there for obvious reasons.

I'm really looking for help improving this team, as I feel like it's pretty solid but is lacking something, especially in the Aegislash slot. If anyone could give me some feedback, I'd be very grateful. Thanks for reading. ^^

 

[PlatinumDude]

The main problem with Eruption is that as Primal Groudon gets worn down throughout the battle, Eruption becomes less useful. Having Fire Blast over that not only makes Primal Groudon less prone to Wide Guard, but also provides it with a consistent Fire STAB.

 

[The Evil Mewtwo]

Maybe have a Brave Groudon and teach it Fire Punch.
-Fire Punch
-Precipice Blades/Earthquake
-SolarBeam
-Bulk Up
Item: Red Orb
Ability: Desolate Land
EVs: 252 Attack, 252 Sp.Def/Def/HP/Sp.Att, 4/HP/Sp.Def/Def/Sp.Att
Nature: Brave

How about Exeggcutor?
-Trick Room
-Solar Beam
-Psychic/Psyshock/Extrasensory
-AncientPower/Sludge Bomb/Calm Mind/Infestation
Item: Lum Berry/ Sitrus Berry
Ability: Harvest
EVs: 252 HP, 252 Sp.Att, 4 Sp.Def/Def
Nature: Quiet

 

[Sayuri]

The main problem with Eruption is that as Primal Groudon gets worn down throughout the battle, Eruption becomes less useful. Having Fire Blast over that not only makes Primal Groudon less prone to Wide Guard, but also provides it with a consistent Fire STAB.

Thanks, I'll try Fire Blast.

Maybe have a Brave Groudon and teach it Fire Punch.
-Fire Punch
-Precipice Blades/Earthquake
-SolarBeam
-Bulk Up
Item: Red Orb
Ability: Desolate Land
EVs: 252 Attack, 252 Sp.Def/Def/HP/Sp.Att, 4/HP/Sp.Def/Def/Sp.Att
Nature: Brave

How about Exeggcutor?
-Trick Room
-Solar Beam
-Psychic/Psyshock/Extrasensory
-AncientPower/Sludge Bomb/Calm Mind/Infestation
Item: Lum Berry/ Sitrus Berry
Ability: Harvest
EVs: 252 HP, 252 Sp.Att, 4 Sp.Def/Def
Nature: Quiet

I actually really like this idea. I definitely will try this out and tell you how it goes.

 

[PlatinumDude]

Maybe have a Brave Groudon and teach it Fire Punch.
-Fire Punch
-Precipice Blades/Earthquake
-SolarBeam
-Bulk Up
Item: Red Orb
Ability: Desolate Land
EVs: 252 Attack, 252 Sp.Def/Def/HP/Sp.Att, 4/HP/Sp.Def/Def/Sp.Att
Nature: Brave

How about Exeggcutor?
-Trick Room
-Solar Beam
-Psychic/Psyshock/Extrasensory
-AncientPower/Sludge Bomb/Calm Mind/Infestation
Item: Lum Berry/ Sitrus Berry
Ability: Harvest
EVs: 252 HP, 252 Sp.Att, 4 Sp.Def/Def
Nature: Quiet

Max HP/max Attack is most effective for Trick Room Primal Groudon. Yes, it can use Solar Beam to hit Water Pokemon, but that problem is nonexistent while Desolate Land is active, as it makes all Water moves useless.

As for Exeggutor, what does Ancient Power, Sludge Bomb, Calm Mind, and Infestation even do for it? Neutral STAB Psychic still outdamages a 2x super effective Ancient Power, and still hits the 4x Rock weaks for reasonable damage. A neutral STAB Solar Beam also hits just as hard as a 2x super effective Sludge Bomb. Switching is very rarely done, so there's no point in having Infestation at all. Doubles formats like VGC make it hard to set up stat boosts; this is more easily done with Pokemon that have a reasonable amount of bulk and/or a good defensive typing, neither of which Exeggutor has.

 

[Sayuri]

Max HP/max Attack is most effective for Trick Room Primal Groudon. Yes, it can use Solar Beam to hit Water Pokemon, but that problem is nonexistent while Desolate Land is active, as it makes all Water moves useless.

As for Exeggutor, what does Ancient Power, Sludge Bomb, Calm Mind, and Infestation even do for it? Neutral STAB Psychic still outdamages a 2x super effective Ancient Power, and still hits the 4x Rock weaks for reasonable damage. A neutral STAB Solar Beam also hits just as hard as a 2x super effective Sludge Bomb. Switching is very rarely done, so there's no point in having Infestation at all. Doubles formats like VGC make it hard to set up stat boosts; this is more easily done with Pokemon that have a reasonable amount of bulk and/or a good defensive typing, neither of which Exeggutor has.

Sadly, I wasn't able to get Trick Room up with Exeggutor at all. :( I really liked the Harvest + Sitrus Berry idea with Groudon, though!

I took your suggestion with Fire Blast > Eruption and it has helped a lot. Thanks.

I still feel like the team needs some work though. So if anyone can help me still, it'd be appreciated. ^^