Snaquaza
KACAW
Lately, when I've joined STABmons tours, I've used a well, innovative team. It works fairly well and although it's far from perfect (BellySpeed Kangaskhan and Stoutland destroy it), it's a lot of fun to use with the underused mons and sets I use, and the fact it still works reasonably well. The main idea of the team was Hex Aegislash, to get a better Special STAB move.
Aegislash @ Leftovers
Ability: Stance Change
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpA / 4 SpD
Modest Nature
- Hex
- Flash Cannon / Doom Desire
- King's Shield
- Hidden Power [Fire]
So this thing has always been great, both in standard and in STABmons, but I feel special sets are underappreciated in STABmons, due to it getting better physical moves and Shift Gear. The special set is still good in STABmons, but I decided to use this fun new move Aegislash gets in STABmons: Hex. While it is normally inferior to Shadow Ball, it has an astonishing 130 BP when the opponent is status'd, allowing it to easily break through most opponents, especially due to most status hurting them as well. While I don't think calcs prove anything, I'll post some to show the power difference with Shadow Ball.
252+ SpA Aegislash-Blade Shadow Ball vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Sableye: 151-178 (49.6 - 58.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
252+ SpA Aegislash-Blade Hex (130 BP) vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Sableye: 244-288 (80.2 - 94.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery and poison damage
252+ SpA Aegislash-Blade Shadow Ball vs. 92 HP / 0 SpD Azumarill: 193-228 (53 - 62.6%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252+ SpA Aegislash-Blade Hex (130 BP) vs. 92 HP / 0 SpD Azumarill: 313-369 (85.9 - 101.3%) -- 12.5% chance to OHKO
As you can see, the power difference is rather big. Although you need some support, it allows you to nuke most things. When the opponent is not poisoned, burned, or having another status, you can still use Flash Cannon or Hidden Power Fire. I also included Doom Desire here, while I don't use it, I know a lot of people love it and it seems a decent option over Flash Cannon. If you do have it, you need to watch out a lot more though, since its easier to take advantage of you when you aren't facing a statused opponent. King's Shield is to get back into Shield Form and is great for mindgames, although I spam it a lot. Hidden Power Fire was my final coverage move, to not let Scizor set up on me and lure it in. Aegislash won't get KO'd by Knock Off even at +1 (it caps out at 99.3 when Scizor is offensive, so watch out), so you're free to spam King's Shield and Hidden Power Fire. I usually just use Hidden Power Fire as they usually attempt to set up, just to get KOd and I feel its usually better to have a dead Aegislash and an opposing Mega Scizor without boosts, than possibly allowing Mega Scizor to set up, though this depends on your team. Obviously this set enjoys status support, so Toxic Spikes are great and I use Sableye to spread burns to Pokemon who are immune to Toxic Spikes (quite a lot :s). If you use this set, it may be worth burning random special attackers as well with Sableye, since you can take advantage of them easily that way.
For Toxic Spikes support, I use Crobat. It's not great, but it gets its job done.
Crobat @ Sharp Beak
Ability: Inner Focus
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Toxic Spikes
- Roost
- Dragon Ascent
- Taunt
So, the main purpose of this Pokemon is to get up Toxic Spikes at all costs and its a great Pokemon for it as its extremely speedy and has decent bulk, so it can even switch into certain threats and either force them out, or set up on them. It also means it won't fodder to priority that easily. Although it may die setting up Toxic Spikes, it'll have done its purpose, but often it is important to check threats as well with its high speed, and it even counters some things. Because of this, I usually allow it to die early during the game, but sometimes I keep it alive when it needs to check important mons (also try to keep it alive when there are Defoggers you can't stop, or grounded Poison types). Toxic Spikes is obviously the crux of the set, giving Hex a power boost and causing residual damage on the opponent. Roost is for when you can stall out the opponent and allows it to beat more defensive Pokemon (or sometimes offensive!). Dragon Ascent is a good STAB move, to keep a bit of offensive presence, which has good coverage. It may allow you to revenge Pokemon, especially fighting types, due to its high speed. Taunt is the final move for if you lead with this, so you can stop Stealth Rock, Defog and setting up, which is really important in STABmons! Finally, it allows you to stallbreak.
While these may not be the best Pokemon in STABmons, they're fun to use for sure, and I've had some success with them. Maybe you will too!
PS: I am not sure if these are the best EV spreads. I just have standard ones and there may be much better ones to live certain hits, or creep certain threats.
Aegislash @ Leftovers
Ability: Stance Change
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpA / 4 SpD
Modest Nature
- Hex
- Flash Cannon / Doom Desire
- King's Shield
- Hidden Power [Fire]
So this thing has always been great, both in standard and in STABmons, but I feel special sets are underappreciated in STABmons, due to it getting better physical moves and Shift Gear. The special set is still good in STABmons, but I decided to use this fun new move Aegislash gets in STABmons: Hex. While it is normally inferior to Shadow Ball, it has an astonishing 130 BP when the opponent is status'd, allowing it to easily break through most opponents, especially due to most status hurting them as well. While I don't think calcs prove anything, I'll post some to show the power difference with Shadow Ball.
252+ SpA Aegislash-Blade Shadow Ball vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Sableye: 151-178 (49.6 - 58.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
252+ SpA Aegislash-Blade Hex (130 BP) vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Sableye: 244-288 (80.2 - 94.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery and poison damage
252+ SpA Aegislash-Blade Shadow Ball vs. 92 HP / 0 SpD Azumarill: 193-228 (53 - 62.6%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252+ SpA Aegislash-Blade Hex (130 BP) vs. 92 HP / 0 SpD Azumarill: 313-369 (85.9 - 101.3%) -- 12.5% chance to OHKO
As you can see, the power difference is rather big. Although you need some support, it allows you to nuke most things. When the opponent is not poisoned, burned, or having another status, you can still use Flash Cannon or Hidden Power Fire. I also included Doom Desire here, while I don't use it, I know a lot of people love it and it seems a decent option over Flash Cannon. If you do have it, you need to watch out a lot more though, since its easier to take advantage of you when you aren't facing a statused opponent. King's Shield is to get back into Shield Form and is great for mindgames, although I spam it a lot. Hidden Power Fire was my final coverage move, to not let Scizor set up on me and lure it in. Aegislash won't get KO'd by Knock Off even at +1 (it caps out at 99.3 when Scizor is offensive, so watch out), so you're free to spam King's Shield and Hidden Power Fire. I usually just use Hidden Power Fire as they usually attempt to set up, just to get KOd and I feel its usually better to have a dead Aegislash and an opposing Mega Scizor without boosts, than possibly allowing Mega Scizor to set up, though this depends on your team. Obviously this set enjoys status support, so Toxic Spikes are great and I use Sableye to spread burns to Pokemon who are immune to Toxic Spikes (quite a lot :s). If you use this set, it may be worth burning random special attackers as well with Sableye, since you can take advantage of them easily that way.
For Toxic Spikes support, I use Crobat. It's not great, but it gets its job done.
Crobat @ Sharp Beak
Ability: Inner Focus
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Toxic Spikes
- Roost
- Dragon Ascent
- Taunt
So, the main purpose of this Pokemon is to get up Toxic Spikes at all costs and its a great Pokemon for it as its extremely speedy and has decent bulk, so it can even switch into certain threats and either force them out, or set up on them. It also means it won't fodder to priority that easily. Although it may die setting up Toxic Spikes, it'll have done its purpose, but often it is important to check threats as well with its high speed, and it even counters some things. Because of this, I usually allow it to die early during the game, but sometimes I keep it alive when it needs to check important mons (also try to keep it alive when there are Defoggers you can't stop, or grounded Poison types). Toxic Spikes is obviously the crux of the set, giving Hex a power boost and causing residual damage on the opponent. Roost is for when you can stall out the opponent and allows it to beat more defensive Pokemon (or sometimes offensive!). Dragon Ascent is a good STAB move, to keep a bit of offensive presence, which has good coverage. It may allow you to revenge Pokemon, especially fighting types, due to its high speed. Taunt is the final move for if you lead with this, so you can stop Stealth Rock, Defog and setting up, which is really important in STABmons! Finally, it allows you to stallbreak.
While these may not be the best Pokemon in STABmons, they're fun to use for sure, and I've had some success with them. Maybe you will too!
PS: I am not sure if these are the best EV spreads. I just have standard ones and there may be much better ones to live certain hits, or creep certain threats.