Introduction
Hi, I'm Martha and I'm posting my first RMT. I've been on Smogon for over a year and because this is my 1000th post, I wanted to do something for it. I've never been the best builder, and this team isn't revolutionary or amazing, but it's something that I enjoy using and have a lot of fun with. My time here so far has been great, and I'm not planning on going anywhere anytime soon so I hope it stays just as great or maybe even better. I've surprised myself with how much I've done, how far I've come, and how much I've grown while playing Pokemon, and I've made so many great friends here too.
Teambuilding Process
Mega Altaria, while not as devastating a setup sweeper as it once was, is honestly one of my favourite setup sweepers and Pokemon in UU, so I decided to build the team around it. It’s an underrated setup sweeper for teams, and the rise in Krookodile and especially Hydreigon usage gives this set several setup opportunities in a game.
Mega Altaria’s main problem is the ever-present Scizor; it lacks a Fire-type move to lure it and can’t even pick off a weakened Scizor with Earthquake due to its powerful priority. As a result, I added Moltres to punish it and other Steel-types like Mega Aggron that Mega Altaria struggles to beat.
Nihilego is my Stealth Rock setter of choice, providing a more offensive take on the role while being a Rock-type, which is useful to help deal with opposing Moltres and Togekiss. It provides a good switch-in to several special attackers like Rotom-H as well.
Any team running Moltres mandates reliable entry hazard removal, so I added Empoleon to the team. Empoleon has been rising for a while as arguably the best defensive hazard removal option, especially when paired with Moltres. Empoleon can deal with some of Moltres’s main checks, and Moltres offers a Ground immunity in return.
Chesnaught was then added to give me a Grass-type to help deal with Quagsire more effectively, a better check to physical attackers with Rocky Helmet and overall great physical bulk to compliment Empoleon’s special bulk, and Spikes support to further pressure bulkier teams and switches in general.
Apart from Dragon Dance on Mega Altaria, which is aimed to be the general wincon of the team, it’s rather slow and pressured by a lot of faster Pokemon, particularly Mega Manectric and Zeraora. I added Choice Scarf Krookodile as a result to ease this matchup, act as a secondary check to other faster Pokemon like Latias, and provide an Electric immunity.
The Team
Altaria-Mega @ Altarianite
Ability: Pixilate
Happiness: 0
EVs: 76 HP / 252 Atk / 180 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Dragon Dance
- Frustration
- Roost
- Earthquake
Mega Altaria provides a strong offensive Fairy-type for the team, a typing that has several merits defensively as a switch-in to Fighting-types like Infernape and Kommo-o and allows Mega Altaria to act as an immediate check to almost all Hydreigon variants and even use it and other Pokemon it walls like Zeraora as setup fodder. Its capabilities as a Dragon Dance user with this set enables Mega Altaria to not only act as an extremely strong physical attacker but also double as a late-game sweeper or cleaner. Running 180 Speed allows it to outspeed up to base 115s at +1, so it can take a hit from Pokemon like Latias and Starmie, boost, and then heavily threaten the opposing team. With Earthquake, it can also muscle past weakened Steel-types, UU’s main Fairy resists. This is the main wincon of the team, and it's best to save setting up until it can sweep, preferably using other teammates to eliminate its checks beforehand. It can also come in to act as a Dragon-type check, particularly for Hydreigon.
Moltres @ Flyinium Z
Ability: Flame Body
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Hurricane
- Fire Blast
- Roost
- U-turn
Moltres is a really threatening Pokemon with STABs that are only resisted by Rock-types, and even some of them have secondary typings that prevent this. Its Flying-type STAB moves, which are extremely strong ones in Hurricane and even Supersonic Skystrike, hit a lot of the tier for neutral damage, as well as nailing Grass-types like Celebi, and provide amazing coverage with Fire-type moves; the Z-Move can help break through bulkier Pokemon like Alomomola that a boosted Mega Altaria struggles with. Moltres can generate a lot of momentum for teams with U-turn because its STAB moves as well as its good defensive typing force many offensive and defensive threats alike out. This can enable Mega Altaria to come in earlier than it would otherwise to sweep. Moltres is best used to weaken and break Steel-types early, particularly Mega Aggron and Scizor. For Scizor, keeping it healthy and preferably with Stealth Rock off is important to prevent Swords Dance variants from setting up.
Nihilego @ Black Sludge
Ability: Beast Boost
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Stealth Rock
- Sludge Wave
- Thunderbolt
- Grass Knot
Nihilego’s amazing defensive typing makes it a great partner to compliment Mega Altaria; although they both stack a Steel-type weakness and a large vulnerability to Scizor. Mega Altaria hates Fairy-types and their STAB moves while Nihilego resists them, is specialky bulky enough to survive them, and can easily KO them or force them out. These forced switches from its typing as well as its coverage moves make it an extremely effective Stealth Rock setter. Grass Knot helps a lot against Ground-types like Hippowdon, and Thunderbolt helps to threaten Water- amd Flying-types. It can punish several special attackers, particularly Moltres, being one of the best counters to it in the tier. It can also use its good special bulk and access to passive recovery to switch into other special attackers like Togekiss and Rotom-H too. This also allows it to pressure removal from them as well as Hydreigon if necessary. Nihilego should be used early to get Stealth Rock up and to use its coverage moves to weaken some of its switch-ins like Hippowdon. It should also stay relatively healthy to pivot into special attackers and some removers to keep hazards up.
Empoleon @ Leftovers
Ability: Torrent
EVs: 252 HP / 76 Def / 180 SpD
Calm Nature
- Scald
- Defog
- Toxic
- Protect
Empoleon is by far the best defensive Defog user, using its amazing Steel typing to help it beat Pokemon like Latias and Primarina and find several opportunities to come in. Its bulk, immunity to Toxic, resistance to Dragon, and resistance to Stealth Rock help it find several opportunities to use Defog, which is extremely useful when partnered with Moltres. It has really good defensive synergy with it too, resisting Water- and Rock-type attacks and having the ability to pressure a lot of its answers with Scald or Toxic too. Toxic + Protect really helps Empoleon against bulkier teams, and it can also be an effective way to shut down opposing offensive threats that could otherwise overwhelm the team. It's best to ensure Empoleon is healthy to provide reliable, consistent hazard removal for Moltres. It should only switch in when it's safe to do so unless absolutely necessary and should avoid Knock Off as much as possible too. Protect can be also used for scouting purposes.
Chesnaught @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Bulletproof
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Def
Impish Nature
- Drain Punch
- Spikes
- Wood Hammer
- Synthesis
Chesnaught is a somewhat underrated Spikes user that can take advantage of its typing and high Defense to force out Pokemon like Krookodile, Empoleon, and Blissey and set up Spikes. Over the course of a game, its ability to recover and force Pokemon out allows it to get Spikes up several times to punish switches against the team's more offensive partners further. This also makes it a lot easier for Mega Altaria to win games due to chip damage. It also provides a useful physically defensive pivot, which compliments the specially bulky Nihilego and particularly Empoleon well; Chesnaught can switch into and use Rocky Helmet to chip Cobalion, Scizor, and Zeraora. Synthesis enhances its role as a defensive pivot by keeping it healthy to constantly check physical attackers. Chesnaught's role as a Grass-type Spikes user also helps the team against bulkier archetypes. Pivoting Chesnaught into Scizor and other physical threats that could overwhelm the team early is good, and trying to keep at least one layer of Spikes up is also extremely valuable for offensive partners late-game.
Krookodile @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Knock Off
- Earthquake
- Pursuit
- Stone Edge
Krookodile is the standard revenge killer and Choice Scarf user for the team, using Intimidate and Dark-type STAB moves with a lot of utility in Pursuit and Knock Off to benefit its teammates. As well as being arguably the best Choice Scarf user, Krookodile can be an annoyance to bulkier teams as well by removing their items and punishing their switches. Krookodile helps to patch up an overall slow team too, and it can help to clean up if Mega Altaria isn't able to. As a team without a Ground-type Stealth Rock user, Krookodile is extremely useful due to its ability to block Volt Switch from Mega Manectric. Zeraora, and Rotom-H. It also helps the team match up against Latias, revenge killing it or trapping it with Pursuit. Krookodile can be used to revenge kill or trap a Pokemon after a teammate has fainted, or it can switch into Electric-types to block Volt Switch and gain momentum for its team too.
Threatlist
Aside from living one hit with Chesnaught and revenge killing with Krookodile, the team doesn't really have much counterplay for Terrakion. It can force a lot of switches and its STAB moves can really shut the team down.
This team doesn't have the best matchup against stall teams. Despite having Chesnaught to set up Spikes and help with Water-types and Krookodile to remove items, stall can easily outplay this team.
Moltres is the team's main Swords Dance Scizor answer, but it is extremely weak to Stealth Rock and with some chip damage, a boosted Bullet Punch can pick it off. After that, there isn;t much counterplay.
Importable
Altaria-Mega @ Altarianite
Ability: Pixilate
Happiness: 0
EVs: 76 HP / 252 Atk / 180 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Dragon Dance
- Frustration
- Roost
- Earthquake
Moltres @ Flyinium Z
Ability: Flame Body
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Hurricane
- Fire Blast
- Roost
- U-turn
Nihilego @ Black Sludge
Ability: Beast Boost
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Stealth Rock
- Sludge Wave
- Thunderbolt
- Grass Knot
Empoleon @ Leftovers
Ability: Torrent
EVs: 252 HP / 76 Def / 180 SpD
Calm Nature
- Scald
- Defog
- Toxic
- Protect
Chesnaught @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Bulletproof
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Def
Impish Nature
- Drain Punch
- Spikes
- Wood Hammer
- Synthesis
Krookodile @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Knock Off
- Earthquake
- Pursuit
- Stone Edge
Ability: Pixilate
Happiness: 0
EVs: 76 HP / 252 Atk / 180 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Dragon Dance
- Frustration
- Roost
- Earthquake
Moltres @ Flyinium Z
Ability: Flame Body
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Hurricane
- Fire Blast
- Roost
- U-turn
Nihilego @ Black Sludge
Ability: Beast Boost
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Stealth Rock
- Sludge Wave
- Thunderbolt
- Grass Knot
Empoleon @ Leftovers
Ability: Torrent
EVs: 252 HP / 76 Def / 180 SpD
Calm Nature
- Scald
- Defog
- Toxic
- Protect
Chesnaught @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Bulletproof
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Def
Impish Nature
- Drain Punch
- Spikes
- Wood Hammer
- Synthesis
Krookodile @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Knock Off
- Earthquake
- Pursuit
- Stone Edge
Shoutouts
gp
lotiasite you’re basically the reason I even got onto the GP team lol you basically carried me for like 3 months when I was amchecking so thanks sm for that. It’s great you’re back and we really need to talk more.
The Dutch Plumberjack I never really expected to ever talk to you but you’re genuinely one of the nicest and most hardworking people on here. You helped me so much when I was new to GP, to modding, and now to coleading and I really appreciate that. The sheer number of checks you do is really something else too.
A Cake Wearing A Hat I’m super glad I got the opportunity to help you with GP and then start working with you on the room and PS. Randbats working together and with everyone has to be one of my favourite things especially considering how far we came. I think you’re super hardworking and you care about everything you do and it’s great that you’re getting the appreciation for it.
allstarapology Helping you with GP was such a great experience and I love how much you wanted to learn and help us. You’re such a great and caring person and we should talk so much more.
Fireflame479 CryoGyro Kris P Squared GatoDelFuego Electrolyte talkingtree and basically anyone who’s on or has been on the GP team: I didn’t have much on here before I started checking, and after I amchecked for a while and got accepted, I found the most welcoming group of people possible. It’s been so much fun working with everyone here both as a GPer and as leader (still shocked lmao) and I’m just so happy with how the team is and how nice everyone is on it. I’d love to get to know you all more.
frostration mentoring you recently has been super fun and rewarding and I love how much effort you put into amchecks right now. You’re a really cool person and I hope you keep working because you have a ton of potential.
uu
Eyan you helped me get into this tier and that choice to play UU and all your help when I was new helped me to become the player I am now. It sucks that we don’t talk much anymore but I hope school’s treating you okay. You’re such a great friend and I appreciate that.
vivalospride you’re such a great friend and person on here and you’re someone I genuinely enjoy talking to and getting messages from. I hope this team isn’t such a bitch to rate and that you get super far into rating because I know you’re super good at it. Keep following your goals on here because I know you’re really damn good at everything you do.
Nuked It’s weird that we’ve been talking for almost a year because it really doesn’t feel like it. We both started as just contributors who just wrote and checked stuff and played UU and now we’re both forum mods and it’s crazy how that happened lol. You’re such a chill person and I love talking to you and I hope things keep going well.
Sage You’re such a sweet and genuine person and I love talking to you. UUPL was made so much more fun teaming with you when we were both a lot newer and less recognised. You really went so much further after the tour and I hope your tour performances continue to be great.
Kink UUPL has to be one of my highlights of this year and it really helped me grow as both a player and a person and I’m still super thankful you picked me up for it. You’re also super passionate about your team and contributions and UU in general and I really admire that about you.
Amane Misa Hilomilo Kreme Pak and the rest of UU QC I already tagged. When I started to post QC amchecks I never actually expected to make it and to be accepted as a part of this great team. I really enjoy contributing to C&C and the ability to help so many newer players in the position that I was in around this time last year that this gives me, and working with people who are helpful and fun makes the experience so much greater.
ps
Alore You were probably the first person who actually noticed me and wanted to talk to me, which was super surprising. I lurked in tours room for ages and I kept coming back and I eventually got promoted because of the community that you helped me get involved in so much. Thanks for actually seeing the potential in me before I did and for being a good friend for like almost 1.5 years I think.
Quote A Cake Wearing A Hat Qplaz SciencePanda jasprose @A DarkFlames64 pokeblade101 Faisal HeroicTobias Surgeon VigilanteVigoroth Le-Hydra randbats room. This room has been probably my best experience staffing and leading on PS, and I’m so happy with how far we’ve came and how much fun it has been. We started out with nothing and everything we have now is down to everyone in the room so I just wanna say thanks so much to everyone who’s even touched the room.
nui You come under that too as ex-RO but you’re also such a great person to talk to and you’ve really helped me become a better leader and staff member and grow as a person as a result too. You’re super chill and great with policy and I wish we still talked more.
AlphaWittem Robb576 Roseybear Ceteris Paribus Plas Trace frisoeva samjo and probably half the room I missed lol like I said before, tours was my first room on PS. I had been n lobby for a bit but when I axtually started coming on every day to talk and to play Pokemon, tours was the room I'd go to. I got to really know the community there and I enjoyed talking and helping and for some weird reason people liked me back and promoted me three different times. The staff of the room were super welcoming and I met a lot of great people here. I'd love to get to know you all better too.
general
yogi I wanted to leave this at "haha yeet" and see how you'd react I honestly think you're one of the hardest workers on here and really care about your tier. I noticed it first when I was a GP amchecker and I went through a lot of your analyses and I see it even now as council and and a checker too. I admire that and you're a great friend too.
TPP I signed up for OU tutoring just because I thought it'd be useful to know the main tier, but what I have been getting out of it is so much more than that. It's really not as bad as people claim it to be and learning it with you tutoring me has been so great and I've learnt and gained so much as a person and player. Even when you're not helping me, you're super helpful and great to talk to. I hope you take up GP checking soon too.
Indigo Plateau Even though we only really started talking relatively recently, it's been great. Youre such a great person and player to talk to and learn from, and I wish you all the best in majors, UU, and OU in the future, and it would be fun to talk and play and test more too.
GL Volkner We don't really talk that much apart from OM QC stuff and we really should lol but I really like how helpful and approachable you are and how much you give to OMs and helping people and the community. I hope that world cup and every tour goes great and that we talk more too.
lyd You're a great friend and contributor in everything and I'm glad you're being recognised and rewarded for it. Your articles are really interesting and always great reads, and you're one of the most chill and kind people here.
Quite Quiet Luna Tikitik LifeisDANK Codraroll TFP staff. I love contributing to articles because it's such an interesting yet underrated part of the site with such good writers and ideas. Moderating the forum for the past few months has been great, and it's even greater with really chill staff too.
Eien curiosity roman banks Simia Baloor Jordy Eternam Gross Sweep Moosical 3017 and the rest of crew. Joining the server was a great decision I made and I made so many good friends through it too. Everyone is so nice and I'd just love to get to know people more.
if I missed you I'm sorry I suck but I do wanna say that I appreciate everyone on here so much. People really welcomed me to the communities I joined, and this year in Pokemon was absolutely crazy for me and I'm so happy that I didn't decide to quit PS back in 2016 when I first joined.
lotiasite you’re basically the reason I even got onto the GP team lol you basically carried me for like 3 months when I was amchecking so thanks sm for that. It’s great you’re back and we really need to talk more.
The Dutch Plumberjack I never really expected to ever talk to you but you’re genuinely one of the nicest and most hardworking people on here. You helped me so much when I was new to GP, to modding, and now to coleading and I really appreciate that. The sheer number of checks you do is really something else too.
A Cake Wearing A Hat I’m super glad I got the opportunity to help you with GP and then start working with you on the room and PS. Randbats working together and with everyone has to be one of my favourite things especially considering how far we came. I think you’re super hardworking and you care about everything you do and it’s great that you’re getting the appreciation for it.
allstarapology Helping you with GP was such a great experience and I love how much you wanted to learn and help us. You’re such a great and caring person and we should talk so much more.
Fireflame479 CryoGyro Kris P Squared GatoDelFuego Electrolyte talkingtree and basically anyone who’s on or has been on the GP team: I didn’t have much on here before I started checking, and after I amchecked for a while and got accepted, I found the most welcoming group of people possible. It’s been so much fun working with everyone here both as a GPer and as leader (still shocked lmao) and I’m just so happy with how the team is and how nice everyone is on it. I’d love to get to know you all more.
frostration mentoring you recently has been super fun and rewarding and I love how much effort you put into amchecks right now. You’re a really cool person and I hope you keep working because you have a ton of potential.
uu
Eyan you helped me get into this tier and that choice to play UU and all your help when I was new helped me to become the player I am now. It sucks that we don’t talk much anymore but I hope school’s treating you okay. You’re such a great friend and I appreciate that.
vivalospride you’re such a great friend and person on here and you’re someone I genuinely enjoy talking to and getting messages from. I hope this team isn’t such a bitch to rate and that you get super far into rating because I know you’re super good at it. Keep following your goals on here because I know you’re really damn good at everything you do.
Nuked It’s weird that we’ve been talking for almost a year because it really doesn’t feel like it. We both started as just contributors who just wrote and checked stuff and played UU and now we’re both forum mods and it’s crazy how that happened lol. You’re such a chill person and I love talking to you and I hope things keep going well.
Sage You’re such a sweet and genuine person and I love talking to you. UUPL was made so much more fun teaming with you when we were both a lot newer and less recognised. You really went so much further after the tour and I hope your tour performances continue to be great.
Kink UUPL has to be one of my highlights of this year and it really helped me grow as both a player and a person and I’m still super thankful you picked me up for it. You’re also super passionate about your team and contributions and UU in general and I really admire that about you.
Amane Misa Hilomilo Kreme Pak and the rest of UU QC I already tagged. When I started to post QC amchecks I never actually expected to make it and to be accepted as a part of this great team. I really enjoy contributing to C&C and the ability to help so many newer players in the position that I was in around this time last year that this gives me, and working with people who are helpful and fun makes the experience so much greater.
ps
Alore You were probably the first person who actually noticed me and wanted to talk to me, which was super surprising. I lurked in tours room for ages and I kept coming back and I eventually got promoted because of the community that you helped me get involved in so much. Thanks for actually seeing the potential in me before I did and for being a good friend for like almost 1.5 years I think.
Quote A Cake Wearing A Hat Qplaz SciencePanda jasprose @A DarkFlames64 pokeblade101 Faisal HeroicTobias Surgeon VigilanteVigoroth Le-Hydra randbats room. This room has been probably my best experience staffing and leading on PS, and I’m so happy with how far we’ve came and how much fun it has been. We started out with nothing and everything we have now is down to everyone in the room so I just wanna say thanks so much to everyone who’s even touched the room.
nui You come under that too as ex-RO but you’re also such a great person to talk to and you’ve really helped me become a better leader and staff member and grow as a person as a result too. You’re super chill and great with policy and I wish we still talked more.
AlphaWittem Robb576 Roseybear Ceteris Paribus Plas Trace frisoeva samjo and probably half the room I missed lol like I said before, tours was my first room on PS. I had been n lobby for a bit but when I axtually started coming on every day to talk and to play Pokemon, tours was the room I'd go to. I got to really know the community there and I enjoyed talking and helping and for some weird reason people liked me back and promoted me three different times. The staff of the room were super welcoming and I met a lot of great people here. I'd love to get to know you all better too.
general
yogi I wanted to leave this at "haha yeet" and see how you'd react I honestly think you're one of the hardest workers on here and really care about your tier. I noticed it first when I was a GP amchecker and I went through a lot of your analyses and I see it even now as council and and a checker too. I admire that and you're a great friend too.
TPP I signed up for OU tutoring just because I thought it'd be useful to know the main tier, but what I have been getting out of it is so much more than that. It's really not as bad as people claim it to be and learning it with you tutoring me has been so great and I've learnt and gained so much as a person and player. Even when you're not helping me, you're super helpful and great to talk to. I hope you take up GP checking soon too.
Indigo Plateau Even though we only really started talking relatively recently, it's been great. Youre such a great person and player to talk to and learn from, and I wish you all the best in majors, UU, and OU in the future, and it would be fun to talk and play and test more too.
GL Volkner We don't really talk that much apart from OM QC stuff and we really should lol but I really like how helpful and approachable you are and how much you give to OMs and helping people and the community. I hope that world cup and every tour goes great and that we talk more too.
lyd You're a great friend and contributor in everything and I'm glad you're being recognised and rewarded for it. Your articles are really interesting and always great reads, and you're one of the most chill and kind people here.
Quite Quiet Luna Tikitik LifeisDANK Codraroll TFP staff. I love contributing to articles because it's such an interesting yet underrated part of the site with such good writers and ideas. Moderating the forum for the past few months has been great, and it's even greater with really chill staff too.
Eien curiosity roman banks Simia Baloor Jordy Eternam Gross Sweep Moosical 3017 and the rest of crew. Joining the server was a great decision I made and I made so many good friends through it too. Everyone is so nice and I'd just love to get to know people more.
if I missed you I'm sorry I suck but I do wanna say that I appreciate everyone on here so much. People really welcomed me to the communities I joined, and this year in Pokemon was absolutely crazy for me and I'm so happy that I didn't decide to quit PS back in 2016 when I first joined.
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