Hey Smogon,
So I needed some help in rating this team based around Mega gardevoir. I think it is a strong team and have found decent success on showdown using it, getting to around 1600 while using this team. However, I have come into trouble when using it against some stall teams, Mega Lopunny teams, and when finding an answer to Volcanion, which I have none. It is also very standard so maybe if you have suggestions that could make this team more diverse or unpredictable that would help as well!! Anything you can help suggest to help make my team stronger I would much appreciate it.
So I needed some help in rating this team based around Mega gardevoir. I think it is a strong team and have found decent success on showdown using it, getting to around 1600 while using this team. However, I have come into trouble when using it against some stall teams, Mega Lopunny teams, and when finding an answer to Volcanion, which I have none. It is also very standard so maybe if you have suggestions that could make this team more diverse or unpredictable that would help as well!! Anything you can help suggest to help make my team stronger I would much appreciate it.
Here's what we're looking at:
Serperior @ Leftovers
Ability: Contrary
EVs: 56 HP / 200 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Leaf Storm
- Hidden Power [Fire]
- Substitute
- Leech Seed
Serperior is a great way to give my team speed, but also acts as a set up sweeper with contrary leaf storm. I helps my team versus heatran and Zapdos as it can one-on-one these pokes by predicting the switch and setting up a sub and then setting up leech seed and repeatedly setting up subs/leech seeds, using leaf storm in between to weaken them. This pokemon is about my only saving grace for rain teams with Mega-Swampert and Kingdra etc. Lastly, sub helps serp so well in dodging incoming t-waves and toxics from Slowbro, Chancey, Ferrothorns, etc. which would otherwise slow it down, rendering it almost completely useless, or putting it on a timer so I can't set up any more subs later.
Tentacruel @ Black Sludge
Ability: Liquid Ooze
EVs: 248 HP / 8 SpA / 240 SpD / 12 Spe
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Scald
- Sludge Wave
- Rapid Spin
- Toxic Spikes
Tentacruel is my hazard control on this team. While being able to set up my own toxic spikes at times, its main purpose is to get rid of hazards for my team. However, probably its equal or more important role is to wall Keldeo. Without Tentacruel, keldeo can sweep my team outside of Serp, but serperior cannot switch into keldeo's secret swords making it not much of a counter. Sludge Waves also help in controlling fairy types and walling Clefables, but with my SpAtk being so low it doesn't do as well a job at this and can be taken out by Calm Mind Clef sets
Gardevoir-Mega @ Gardevoirite
Ability: Trace
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk / 30 SpA / 30 Spe
- Hyper Voice
- Psyshock
- Hidden Power [Fire]
- Substitute
Mega Gardevoir is my janitor or late game sweeper on this team. While I built this team around this poke, with its low speed, I found the most effective way to counter this is surrounding it with speedy threats which then I can keep Garde in the back for a late game sweep. It also is my secondary fighting/psychic resist, which means I can safely switch it in on Conkeldurr or Latios/Latias pretty safely resisting both their stabs. Substitute also works well in predicting my opponent's switch outs if I'm not exactly sure what the switch in will be. Moreover, the sub basically helps in protecting me from an incoming move if I can predict a switch out, thus giving me the chance to fire off a free attack. Gardevoir is also my resist to other sub users such as Keldeo or Raikou. While Raikou is faster, with stealth rocks and no calm minds set up, Gardevoir should be able to K'O with one hyper voice. Hidden power fire helps in rejecting Scizor which walls Gardevoir very well. I chose HP fire over focus blast because along with walling Scizor, it helps counter Ferrothorns, Excadrills, and Magezones on switch in.
Darmanitan @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Sheer Force
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Flare Blitz
- Rock Slide
- U-turn
- Superpower
Darmanitan is my main revenge killer. With sheer force flare blitz, its able to come in and blast away any remaining threats pretty well. With weakened teams, darmanitan can easily finish up shop with flare blitz. It also helps in giving me switch initiative with U-turn. Lastly, this poke helps me outspeed weaviles, another poke which counters my team with about no answer, but I can only bring it in after another poke faints, thus making it a collateral damage helper.
Landorus-Therian @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 248 HP / 236 Def / 16 SpA / 8 SpD
Relaxed Nature
- Earthquake
- Stealth Rock
- U-turn
- Stone Edge
Lando is my main defense wall. This poke walls about every poke that threatens my team, outside of weavile, and also dishes out damage to other landos with the rocky helmet. I use to run HP ice over stone edge and this very much helped me in two hit k'oeing other Landos, but Talonflame proved to be a nuisance as without stone edge, can set up bulk ups or sword dances and sweep.
Weavile @ Life Orb
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Knock Off
- Icicle Crash
- Ice Shard
- Low Kick
Weavile, like serperior, is my physical speed sweeper. It helps take out opposing Lando-T's as well as being a great sweeper in the meta by itself. Gives my team its only form of priority as well.
Any suggestions will help!!
Serperior @ Leftovers
Ability: Contrary
EVs: 56 HP / 200 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Leaf Storm
- Hidden Power [Fire]
- Substitute
- Leech Seed
Serperior is a great way to give my team speed, but also acts as a set up sweeper with contrary leaf storm. I helps my team versus heatran and Zapdos as it can one-on-one these pokes by predicting the switch and setting up a sub and then setting up leech seed and repeatedly setting up subs/leech seeds, using leaf storm in between to weaken them. This pokemon is about my only saving grace for rain teams with Mega-Swampert and Kingdra etc. Lastly, sub helps serp so well in dodging incoming t-waves and toxics from Slowbro, Chancey, Ferrothorns, etc. which would otherwise slow it down, rendering it almost completely useless, or putting it on a timer so I can't set up any more subs later.
Tentacruel @ Black Sludge
Ability: Liquid Ooze
EVs: 248 HP / 8 SpA / 240 SpD / 12 Spe
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Scald
- Sludge Wave
- Rapid Spin
- Toxic Spikes
Tentacruel is my hazard control on this team. While being able to set up my own toxic spikes at times, its main purpose is to get rid of hazards for my team. However, probably its equal or more important role is to wall Keldeo. Without Tentacruel, keldeo can sweep my team outside of Serp, but serperior cannot switch into keldeo's secret swords making it not much of a counter. Sludge Waves also help in controlling fairy types and walling Clefables, but with my SpAtk being so low it doesn't do as well a job at this and can be taken out by Calm Mind Clef sets
Gardevoir-Mega @ Gardevoirite
Ability: Trace
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk / 30 SpA / 30 Spe
- Hyper Voice
- Psyshock
- Hidden Power [Fire]
- Substitute
Mega Gardevoir is my janitor or late game sweeper on this team. While I built this team around this poke, with its low speed, I found the most effective way to counter this is surrounding it with speedy threats which then I can keep Garde in the back for a late game sweep. It also is my secondary fighting/psychic resist, which means I can safely switch it in on Conkeldurr or Latios/Latias pretty safely resisting both their stabs. Substitute also works well in predicting my opponent's switch outs if I'm not exactly sure what the switch in will be. Moreover, the sub basically helps in protecting me from an incoming move if I can predict a switch out, thus giving me the chance to fire off a free attack. Gardevoir is also my resist to other sub users such as Keldeo or Raikou. While Raikou is faster, with stealth rocks and no calm minds set up, Gardevoir should be able to K'O with one hyper voice. Hidden power fire helps in rejecting Scizor which walls Gardevoir very well. I chose HP fire over focus blast because along with walling Scizor, it helps counter Ferrothorns, Excadrills, and Magezones on switch in.
Darmanitan @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Sheer Force
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Flare Blitz
- Rock Slide
- U-turn
- Superpower
Darmanitan is my main revenge killer. With sheer force flare blitz, its able to come in and blast away any remaining threats pretty well. With weakened teams, darmanitan can easily finish up shop with flare blitz. It also helps in giving me switch initiative with U-turn. Lastly, this poke helps me outspeed weaviles, another poke which counters my team with about no answer, but I can only bring it in after another poke faints, thus making it a collateral damage helper.
Landorus-Therian @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 248 HP / 236 Def / 16 SpA / 8 SpD
Relaxed Nature
- Earthquake
- Stealth Rock
- U-turn
- Stone Edge
Lando is my main defense wall. This poke walls about every poke that threatens my team, outside of weavile, and also dishes out damage to other landos with the rocky helmet. I use to run HP ice over stone edge and this very much helped me in two hit k'oeing other Landos, but Talonflame proved to be a nuisance as without stone edge, can set up bulk ups or sword dances and sweep.
Weavile @ Life Orb
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Knock Off
- Icicle Crash
- Ice Shard
- Low Kick
Weavile, like serperior, is my physical speed sweeper. It helps take out opposing Lando-T's as well as being a great sweeper in the meta by itself. Gives my team its only form of priority as well.
Any suggestions will help!!