Ransei
Garde Mystik
1) Both Mega Venusaur used to be Mega Aerodactyl but I manually changed them using import/export. I didn't change its ability since it didn't matter.I wonder why venusaur-Mega comes out with tough claws. I understand that abilities don’t factor into this metagame, but it’s interesting how it changes it from thick fat to tough claws on each instance of your team.
What could you say is a counter to your team? When establishing great metagame threats/standards, this is where we can establish great metagame counters (or at least checks)/anti-metagame standards.
Would you like to say what gave you the most trouble, or hypothetically what would give you the most trouble if someone hasn’t thought of a potential Pokémon / set that stops your team?
For example, I see you have MMX and Venusaur because you can stop Gyarados-Mega and not be weak to Beedrill-Mega, but what about Aerodactyl-Mega which can use Flying moves and Speed ties with Zam for the Substitute set up and then Shell Smash.
Aerodactyl-Mega
Ability: Tough Claws
EVs: 200 HP / 200 Def / 200 SpA / 200 SpD / 200 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Spore
- Shell Smash
- Substitute
- Drill Peck
Drill Peck is for Beedrill, Venusaur, Exeggutor(s), MMX, as Rock Slide doesn’t hit as many for Super Effective Damage (itself, Beedrill, and the odd Cloyster).
Does Gengar-Mega threaten your team (Hi Jump Kick recoil happens on Protect moves and when opponents switch in a Ghost Type, I.e. if it fails it hurts) and is 4x resistant to your MMX’s unSTABbed Mega Horn.
Gengar-Mega
Ability: Shadow Tag
EVs: 200 HP / 200 Def / 200 SpA / 200 SpD / 200 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Spore
- Shell Smash
- Glitzy Glow
- Shadow Ball
Glitzy Gleam handles Special Attacks thanks to setting up a light screen to more than negate the Shell Smash Defensive drops, and hurts Poison types like Venusaur and Beedrill-Mega, while Shadow Ball is anti-meta for hurting itself, Zam, and Mewtwo-Megas.
2) From the battles I've seen, this team's biggest weakness comes from a Mega Venusaur or Mega Alakazam with Substitute. Since this metagame is incredibly bulky, it's surprisingly hard to break its sub with most moves right from the get go, and you can't lure it to sleep either. After it uses Spore, Shell Smashes, and Substitute it seems hard to get out of this trap. Sappy Seed against non Mega Venu does high amounts of damage in most cases after a boost and leeches Pokemon who manage to survive it. After two Shell Smashes it seems your own Venusaur would be unable to beat the other Venusaur and it carries on. An Exeggutor has potential to fix this problem by carrying Shell Smash and Glitzy Glow but it risks getting outspeed and KOed by a potential Sludge Bomb.
This is exactly the same case with Mega Alakazam except you use Spore by outspeeding the opponent. It also uses Glitzy Glow to do significant amounts of damage to Mega Venusaur that try to block Spore.
Here is a replay for when Sub was a problem
Realistically there I don't see much of a direct way to beat this team or Spore teams in general outside of Substitute and Speed ties as long as Sparkly Swirl is there.
Before I carried Sparkly Swirl, I had a problem with a team of Glare Mega Aerodactyl with Double Iron Bash. Tried it out. It doesn't seem to work as effectively if you're not carrying a team full of them.
Taunt has been a minor issue for me but I haven't suffered too much from it. In most cases, it just forces me to switch out and risk the foe using Spore, which Mega Venusaur can be a great help against, and a x2 Shell Smash half the time doesn't do enough to gather an OHKO so I would find myself able to attack or even Spore myself. (I'm not sure in the case of my own team but from other Venusaur I've seen this to be true. If it does OHKO my own you can give them a +SpD nature).
Mega Aerodactyl in itself is theoretically a minor threat until I lose about two speed ties and sleep for multiple turns. However as I mentioned, Substitute is the biggest issue I have put up against so far.
3) I don't think Mega Gengar threatens the team, especially with that set not having Sub. Mega Alakazam can outspeed it itself and use Glitzy Glow, Crunch Mega Mewtwo X speed ties it and can fend for itself if it wins the speed tie and sets up once, the Mega Venusaur can Spore it, use Shell Smash, and Leech off it. Even if one of them get KOed Sappy Seed after Sporing would either have the Gengar switch out, losing all of its stat boosts, or become knocked out. If the other Mega Mewtwo X is sent out, you'll have to hope to be able to win the speed tie, use Spore, and switch out without having Gar wake up on the first turn. Sometimes when I'm up against Pokemon that resist the attacks I use, this is what I do.
However despite all of this I think the main problem it has as a special attacker is its speed. 2/3rd of my team either outspeed or speed tie it, leaving Gar to potentially sacrifice itself in the game.