freezai
Live for the Applause
Northern Lights
Hi, I am Serene's Grace as you may have seen me frequenting the LC chatroom. I am a UU and RU main but decided to take a shot at LC while waiting for the lower tiers to develop. One thing that immediately stuck out to me was the more fast paced meta. Stall is basically non existant and Knock off and Eviolite are everywhere. One thing I noticed while theorymonning is how broken Alolan-Vulpix is. I've detailed it in this post , but basically 8 turns of Aurora Veil is literally gamebreaking. It allows set up sweepers ample space to just win. As such,this team is a mindless offensive team based around Vulpix-Alola+Set up spam. The gameplan is literally just
- Get rocks up
- Get screens up
- Sweep
I am not exaggerating when I say this is literally how easy it is. I feel my ladder rank is a testament to how easy it is to use. I am far from a good player but the team just makes it as simple as pie.(#1 is me)
The best support Pokemon in the tier in my humble opinion, and is what the team is based around.
I then picked a volatile shell smasher with great natural bulk in Shellder and then a more high risk high reward sweeper in Zigzagoon. Both just win when the set up with veils.
At this point I knew i would need a fighting check, but didn't want to go with slow and slightly passive stuff like a Spritzee or Snubbul. I added another set up sweeper who checks fighting types and is arguable the best Pokemon in the tier.
I think Onix is the best rocker in the tier, and it fits the team perfectly as a fast electric immunity and rock resist.
I needed some speed control on the team while also needing something that resembles a staryu check. Scarf frillish enters the fold as what I initially thought to be a gimmick, but actually fits quite well.
The Team:
Vulpix-Alola @ Light Clay
Ability: Snow Warning
Level: 5
EVs: 52 HP / 196 SpA / 240 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 1 Atk / 30 Def / 30 SpA / 30 SpD / 30 Spe
- Aurora Veil
- Blizzard
- Hidden Power [Fighting]
- Freeze-Dry
Role: Utility
The beauty herself: Vulpix-Alola's primary task is to set Aurora Veil and then the user's job is to either sack her or generate a free switch in a different manner. Vulpix-A is no slouch offensively either, STAB Blizzards hurt a lot to unresisted targets. Hidden Power fighting is for Pawniard although Moonblast is viable for stuff like Scraggy. Freeze-dry rounds off the coverage by hits water types like Staryu and Chinchou. The given ev spread is just max spatk max speed.
Shellder @ Eviolite
Ability: Skill Link
Level: 5
EVs: 36 HP / 236 Atk / 36 Def / 196 Spe
Lax Nature
- Shell Smash
- Rock Blast
- Icicle Spear
- Hydro Pump
Role: Sweeper
Shellder is a dangerous sweeper whose shell smash antics put a lot of teams on edge and can turn a game around with 1 turn. It can already use its high bulk to obtain set up opportunities, but with veils it sets up on literally any physical move and non super effective special moves. Rock Blast hits water types, Icicle Crash is the attack of choice in most cases because of its power and 100% accuracy. With the absence of Fletchling, Shellder can afford to run razor shell to OHKO Magnemite and Pawniard.
156 Atk Pawniard Sucker Punch vs. -1 36 HP / 36+ Def Eviolite Shellder through Reflect: 3-5 (15 - 25%) -- 0% chance to 4HKO
196+ Atk Grimer Gunk Shot vs. 36 HP / 36+ Def Eviolite Shellder through Reflect: 4-6 (20 - 30%) -- 52.3% chance to 4HKO
as examples of its ability to avoid revenge killing as well and set up skills respectively.
196+ Atk Grimer Gunk Shot vs. 36 HP / 36+ Def Eviolite Shellder through Reflect: 4-6 (20 - 30%) -- 52.3% chance to 4HKO
as examples of its ability to avoid revenge killing as well and set up skills respectively.
Zigzagoon @ Berry Juice
Ability: Pickup
Level: 5
EVs: 132 HP / 196 Atk / 108 Def / 28 SpD / 36 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Belly Drum
- Extreme Speed
- Thief
- Seed Bomb
Role: Sweeper
Zigzagoon is a lot more boom or bust than its buddy Shellder. Traditionally, Zigzagoon's horrendous defensive typing means that setting it up is an art form if you don't have memento support. Under Veils, Ziggy can find set up opportunities from almost anywhere. Hell, it even sets up on Mienfoo.
Moves and Evs are standard from analysis. An interesting thing to note is that both Zigzagoon and Shellder struggle with steel types. But because they share checks, one can be used to weaken the check while the other takes advantage and sweeps.
Vullaby @ Eviolite
Ability: Weak Armor
Level: 5
EVs: 116 HP / 236 SpA / 116 Spe
Modest Nature
- Nasty Plot
- Air Slash
- Dark Pulse
- Heat Wave
Role: Sweeper
Vullaby is yet another sweeper who contributes to the barrage. Vullaby is different from the other two as it is not a "Free switch and win" type of sweeper. I use Vullaby to pivot into threats to take advantage of Weak Armour. Vullaby is a kind of catch all to various threats and is hence not as one dimensional as the former 2. The Evs are standard for Nasty Plot Vullaby, hitting 14 speed. I did contemplate running a 13 speed variant for some bulk on a team which is lacking bulk, but I didn't want to lose to scarf Dodou.(although I'm not sure how relevant it is) I'm using Heat wave as opposed to HP Fighting for the OHKO on Magnemite; Only doing 80 and it BJing is annoying for my team.
Onix @ Berry Juice
Ability: Sturdy
Level: 5
EVs: 76 HP / 236 Atk / 196 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Earthquake
- Rock Blast
- Stealth Rock
- Taunt
Role: Lead
Onix is probably my favorite stealth rocker in the tier and for good reason too. It's extremely fast which in conjunction with taunt makes it have a good matchup versus other common leads like Dwebble. It also service as a volt switch deterrent, which is always valuable as it helps deter Volt Switch which would otherwise steal momentum against a team that relies on momentum to win. Being a flying resist is also gorgeous as otherwise something like Scarf Rufflet would just win. Once again, standard Evs and moves.
Frillish @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Water Absorb
Level: 5
EVs: 76 HP / 236 SpA / 196 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Water Spout
- Shadow Ball
- Hydro Pump
- Energy Ball
Role: Revenge Killer
Threatlist:
Replays: found on alts
Dewpider Blue and A is for Avril
Conclusion:
This is a very offensively oriented team and has to be played as such. Don't be afraid to sack things if need be. Your one and only goal should be to find a way to get screens up. Once that's done, the game is just a master of cold execution. The team can not afford to let the match get drawn out as Vullaby can only do so much before getting overloaded.
And if you didn't get it: Northern Lights = Aurora Borealis = Aurora Veil
Vulpix-Alola @ Light Clay
Ability: Snow Warning
Level: 5
EVs: 52 HP / 196 SpA / 240 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 1 Atk / 30 Def / 30 SpA / 30 SpD / 30 Spe
- Aurora Veil
- Blizzard
- Hidden Power [Fighting]
- Freeze-Dry
Shellder @ Eviolite
Ability: Skill Link
Level: 5
EVs: 36 HP / 236 Atk / 36 Def / 196 Spe
Lax Nature
- Shell Smash
- Rock Blast
- Icicle Spear
- Hydro Pump
Zigzagoon @ Berry Juice
Ability: Pickup
Level: 5
EVs: 132 HP / 196 Atk / 108 Def / 28 SpD / 36 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Belly Drum
- Extreme Speed
- Thief
- Seed Bomb
Vullaby @ Eviolite
Ability: Weak Armor
Level: 5
EVs: 116 HP / 236 SpA / 116 Spe
Modest Nature
- Nasty Plot
- Air Slash
- Dark Pulse
- Heat Wave
Onix @ Berry Juice
Ability: Sturdy
Level: 5
EVs: 76 HP / 236 Atk / 196 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Earthquake
- Rock Blast
- Stealth Rock
- Taunt
Frillish @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Water Absorb
Level: 5
EVs: 76 HP / 236 SpA / 196 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Water Spout
- Shadow Ball
- Hydro Pump
- Energy Ball
Ability: Snow Warning
Level: 5
EVs: 52 HP / 196 SpA / 240 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 1 Atk / 30 Def / 30 SpA / 30 SpD / 30 Spe
- Aurora Veil
- Blizzard
- Hidden Power [Fighting]
- Freeze-Dry
Shellder @ Eviolite
Ability: Skill Link
Level: 5
EVs: 36 HP / 236 Atk / 36 Def / 196 Spe
Lax Nature
- Shell Smash
- Rock Blast
- Icicle Spear
- Hydro Pump
Zigzagoon @ Berry Juice
Ability: Pickup
Level: 5
EVs: 132 HP / 196 Atk / 108 Def / 28 SpD / 36 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Belly Drum
- Extreme Speed
- Thief
- Seed Bomb
Vullaby @ Eviolite
Ability: Weak Armor
Level: 5
EVs: 116 HP / 236 SpA / 116 Spe
Modest Nature
- Nasty Plot
- Air Slash
- Dark Pulse
- Heat Wave
Onix @ Berry Juice
Ability: Sturdy
Level: 5
EVs: 76 HP / 236 Atk / 196 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Earthquake
- Rock Blast
- Stealth Rock
- Taunt
Frillish @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Water Absorb
Level: 5
EVs: 76 HP / 236 SpA / 196 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Water Spout
- Shadow Ball
- Hydro Pump
- Energy Ball
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