VGC 2018 Sand Team... kind of... sometimes.
Please read the descriptions.
Excadrill (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Sand Rush
Level: 50
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Earthquake
- Iron Head
- Rock Slide
- Protect
Excadrill is my main Pokemon who utilises the sand; Sand Rush. Life orb + 2 stab moves and a spread move gives me a lot of flexibility which it's sand partner (Tyranitar) lacks. (Was going to give it Groundium Z, but I've saved the Z-Crystal for someone else ;)). Excadrill is full out attack as Sand Rush will give it all the speed it needs.
Tyranitar (M) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Sand Stream
Level: 50
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Assurance
- Rock Slide
- Ice Punch
- Superpower
The sand setter. essential to make Excadrill work. Tyranitar is scarfed to allow it 1) to work independently from Excadrill, 2) to move before Excadrill in the event he needs to Earthquake 3) Outpace rain team sweepers.
Ice Punch for coverage. Superpower to eliminate/threaten big threats like Mega-Kangaskhan and Heatran etc.
Assurance is my contingency against Trick Room, specifically; Cresselia. Even with Crunch against a Trick Room Cresselia (Or any Cresselia with similar stats). It's a 3-Hit-KO; but with Assurance and the fact Tyranitar is scarfed will make Tyranitar move last (Most likely) and hopefully allow it to retaliate after an attack with a double-powered Assurance (120). *This is assuming it survives, but I usually combat CHALK and/or Cresselia teams with leads that don't involve Tyranitar. Thoughts on this move choice?
Salamence (M) @ Salamencite
Ability: Intimidate
Level: 50
EVs: 60 Atk / 196 SpA / 252 Spe
Hasty Nature
- Double-Edge
- Hyper Voice
- Draco Meteor
- Protect
Intimidate: YES. Mega Salamence stats: YES. Aerilate: YES. I chose a mixed attacker to give me flexibility, catch opponents off guard, give me the ability to ignore intimidates, and allow me to freely switch in and out without losing stat increases (Dragon Dance).
Tapu Koko @ Tapunium Z
Ability: Electric Surge
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Thunderbolt
- Nature's Madness
- Dazzling Gleam
- Protect
Its Fast, Its Tapu, Its Tapu Kokooooo. As the fastest of the Tapus, it's the most useful to my team. All moves are pretty self explanitory BUT, with my 2 slot move option I'm contemplating having Volt Switch over Dazzling Gleam to give me more switch potential to maximise Sand Stream. Thoughts??
For my last slot, I chose Nature's Madness. It is SO helpful to cut down bulky wall Pokemon or otherwise. AND, with the Z-Crystal, it takes out 75% of the opponents HP. Guaranteeing pretty much any attack from my other Pokemon, especially useful in conjunction with spread moves (Hyper Voice, Rock Slide etc.) Thoughts on this??
Celesteela @ Leftovers
Ability: Beast Boost
EVs: 236 HP / 28 Atk / 12 Def / 228 SpD / 4 Spe
Careful Nature
- Heavy Slam
- Leech Seed
- Substitute
- Protect
With this team so hyper offensive, a wall was needed. Celesteela is the most versatile option I could think of. Got any other suggestions for better performance and/or synergy with this team?
Also, Celesteela works in Sand Stream and out in the event that bringing my "Sand Duo" is not the best option. Celesteela works well on its own and with my other Pokemon.
Substitute is debatable in my opinion, it has come in handy when opponents focus my sweeper threats and it also helps in 3v1/2v1 clutches. The only other option I see viable for this set/team is Wide Guard. Thoughts??
Azumarill (F) @ Assault Vest
Ability: Huge Power
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def
Adamant Nature
- Play Rough
- Waterfall
- Aqua Jet
- Knock Off
This was my filler option. Azumarill is a power house, covers a good deal of types and packs a punch. Assault vest allows it to survive switch ins or the consequence of being slow (being hit first). Any other Pokemon I could use to cover other types my team lacks to cover and/or is weak to?
Pokemon Showdown Replays (All victories - should I include defeats?)
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7vgc2018-678393420
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7vgc2018-678394395
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7vgc2018-678767314
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7vgc2018-678777737
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7vgc2018-680025939
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7vgc2018-680093165
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7vgc2018-680131364
[EDIT]
Here are some substitution sets for the Pokemon in this team. Thoughts on replacing some Pokemon with these sets? Or not?
Tapu Koko @ Tapunium Z
Ability: Electric Surge
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Thunderbolt
- Nature's Madness
- Volt Switch
- Protect
[Change] = Volt Switch over Dazzling Gleam.
Celesteela @ Leftovers
Ability: Beast Boost
EVs: 236 HP / 28 Atk / 12 Def / 228 SpD / 4 Spe
Careful Nature
- Heavy Slam
- Leech Seed
- Wide Guard
- Protect
[Change] = Wide Guard over Substitute.
Azumarill (F) @ Sitrus Berry
Ability: Huge Power
EVs: 244 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def / 4 SpD / 4 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Belly Drum
- Aqua Jet
- Play Rough
- Protect
[Change] = Belly Drum set. Play Rough over Knock Off.
Azumarill (F) @ Sitrus Berry
Ability: Huge Power
EVs: 244 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def / 4 SpD / 4 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Belly Drum
- Aqua Jet
- Knock Off
- Protect
[Change] = Belly Drum set. Knock Off over Play Rough.
Please read the descriptions.
Excadrill (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Sand Rush
Level: 50
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Earthquake
- Iron Head
- Rock Slide
- Protect
Excadrill is my main Pokemon who utilises the sand; Sand Rush. Life orb + 2 stab moves and a spread move gives me a lot of flexibility which it's sand partner (Tyranitar) lacks. (Was going to give it Groundium Z, but I've saved the Z-Crystal for someone else ;)). Excadrill is full out attack as Sand Rush will give it all the speed it needs.
Tyranitar (M) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Sand Stream
Level: 50
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Assurance
- Rock Slide
- Ice Punch
- Superpower
The sand setter. essential to make Excadrill work. Tyranitar is scarfed to allow it 1) to work independently from Excadrill, 2) to move before Excadrill in the event he needs to Earthquake 3) Outpace rain team sweepers.
Ice Punch for coverage. Superpower to eliminate/threaten big threats like Mega-Kangaskhan and Heatran etc.
Assurance is my contingency against Trick Room, specifically; Cresselia. Even with Crunch against a Trick Room Cresselia (Or any Cresselia with similar stats). It's a 3-Hit-KO; but with Assurance and the fact Tyranitar is scarfed will make Tyranitar move last (Most likely) and hopefully allow it to retaliate after an attack with a double-powered Assurance (120). *This is assuming it survives, but I usually combat CHALK and/or Cresselia teams with leads that don't involve Tyranitar. Thoughts on this move choice?
Salamence (M) @ Salamencite
Ability: Intimidate
Level: 50
EVs: 60 Atk / 196 SpA / 252 Spe
Hasty Nature
- Double-Edge
- Hyper Voice
- Draco Meteor
- Protect
Intimidate: YES. Mega Salamence stats: YES. Aerilate: YES. I chose a mixed attacker to give me flexibility, catch opponents off guard, give me the ability to ignore intimidates, and allow me to freely switch in and out without losing stat increases (Dragon Dance).
Tapu Koko @ Tapunium Z
Ability: Electric Surge
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Thunderbolt
- Nature's Madness
- Dazzling Gleam
- Protect
Its Fast, Its Tapu, Its Tapu Kokooooo. As the fastest of the Tapus, it's the most useful to my team. All moves are pretty self explanitory BUT, with my 2 slot move option I'm contemplating having Volt Switch over Dazzling Gleam to give me more switch potential to maximise Sand Stream. Thoughts??
For my last slot, I chose Nature's Madness. It is SO helpful to cut down bulky wall Pokemon or otherwise. AND, with the Z-Crystal, it takes out 75% of the opponents HP. Guaranteeing pretty much any attack from my other Pokemon, especially useful in conjunction with spread moves (Hyper Voice, Rock Slide etc.) Thoughts on this??
Celesteela @ Leftovers
Ability: Beast Boost
EVs: 236 HP / 28 Atk / 12 Def / 228 SpD / 4 Spe
Careful Nature
- Heavy Slam
- Leech Seed
- Substitute
- Protect
With this team so hyper offensive, a wall was needed. Celesteela is the most versatile option I could think of. Got any other suggestions for better performance and/or synergy with this team?
Also, Celesteela works in Sand Stream and out in the event that bringing my "Sand Duo" is not the best option. Celesteela works well on its own and with my other Pokemon.
Substitute is debatable in my opinion, it has come in handy when opponents focus my sweeper threats and it also helps in 3v1/2v1 clutches. The only other option I see viable for this set/team is Wide Guard. Thoughts??
Azumarill (F) @ Assault Vest
Ability: Huge Power
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def
Adamant Nature
- Play Rough
- Waterfall
- Aqua Jet
- Knock Off
This was my filler option. Azumarill is a power house, covers a good deal of types and packs a punch. Assault vest allows it to survive switch ins or the consequence of being slow (being hit first). Any other Pokemon I could use to cover other types my team lacks to cover and/or is weak to?
Pokemon Showdown Replays (All victories - should I include defeats?)
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7vgc2018-678393420
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7vgc2018-678394395
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7vgc2018-678767314
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7vgc2018-678777737
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7vgc2018-680025939
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7vgc2018-680093165
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7vgc2018-680131364
[EDIT]
Here are some substitution sets for the Pokemon in this team. Thoughts on replacing some Pokemon with these sets? Or not?
Tapu Koko @ Tapunium Z
Ability: Electric Surge
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Thunderbolt
- Nature's Madness
- Volt Switch
- Protect
[Change] = Volt Switch over Dazzling Gleam.
Celesteela @ Leftovers
Ability: Beast Boost
EVs: 236 HP / 28 Atk / 12 Def / 228 SpD / 4 Spe
Careful Nature
- Heavy Slam
- Leech Seed
- Wide Guard
- Protect
[Change] = Wide Guard over Substitute.
Azumarill (F) @ Sitrus Berry
Ability: Huge Power
EVs: 244 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def / 4 SpD / 4 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Belly Drum
- Aqua Jet
- Play Rough
- Protect
[Change] = Belly Drum set. Play Rough over Knock Off.
Azumarill (F) @ Sitrus Berry
Ability: Huge Power
EVs: 244 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def / 4 SpD / 4 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Belly Drum
- Aqua Jet
- Knock Off
- Protect
[Change] = Belly Drum set. Knock Off over Play Rough.
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