Hey, guys! I've been around Smogon since all the way back in Gen IV, which was the last time I played competitively. After a few years, I'm finally beginning to get back into the competitive side of the game. Since the new generation's metagame is just starting to heat up, I figured I'd throw my hat in. Here's my team!
We'll start off with the main lead of the team: Galvantula.
Galvantula @ Focus Sash
Ability: Compoundeyes
EVs: 252 Spd/252 SpA/4 HP
Nature: Modest
- Sticky Web
- Volt Switch
- Bug Buzz
- Thunder
The main focus of this guy is to come in fast, set up Sticky Web, and get the fudge out. Since a large portion of this team has a considerable amount of bulk behind it, the Sticky Web is helpful in keeping the offensive momentum up. Beyond that, Thunder OHKOs things like Skarmory (unless it has Sturdy) and Greninja. Bug Buzz is a good STAB move. But for real, though...Sticky Web. I can't count the number of times I've had him around and stopped a sweep because I threw him in late to set up webs.
Since Galvantula has Volt Switched out and you need a reliable follow-up, I present to you one of the more interesting members of the team: Blissey
Blissey @ Leftovers
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 252 Def/252 SpD/4 HP
Nature: Bold
- Stealth Rocks
- Toxic
- Aromatherapy
- Seismic Toss
This Blissey is a little different than most. Instead of maxing out special bulk, and statusing the other team to death, this Blissey likes to come in, tank a hit if necessary, and set up its Stealthy Stalagmites. After it sets up rocks. The EV spread ensures that it can take physical hits as well as special ones. Toxic can be useful to cripple any bulky mons that want to overstay their welcome. Aromatherapy can heal the team, and Seismic Toss gets far more consistent damage than Flamethrower, albeit at the cost of not hitting ghosts.
Greninja, the other possible lead of this team, serves as more of an anti-lead than anything else.
Greninja @ Life Orb
Ability: Protean
EVs: 252 SpA/252 Spd/4 HP
Nature: Timid
- Hydro Pump
- Ice Beam
- Dark Pulse
- U-Turn
Greninja, in my opinion, is one of the best anti-leads in the game right now. With Protean and the amount of coverage its movepool allows it, Greninja can effectively scare off most of the commonly used leads in the game. Hydro Pump 2HKOs Tyranitar in the sand, as well as hitting a lot of other mons for neutral damage. Ice Beam provides great late game coverage against dragons, and U-Turn helps to complete the VoltTurn core. I chose Dark Pulse over Grass Knot because ghosts were popping up far more than bulky water types.
Dragonite serves as one of the main sweepers on this team.
Dragonite @ Weakness Policy
Ability: Multiscale
EVs: 252 Atk/248 Spd/8 HP
Nature: Adamant
- Dragon Dance
- Dragon Claw
- Extreme Speed
- Fire Punch
First off, the weird EV spread ensures an odd amount of HP, so Dragonite can take rocks with ease. With Spin/Defog support, Multiscale-WP Dragonite can be a gamebreaker. Since Dragonite is SE bait, he should have no problem getting his boost. The real danger here comes from Dragon Dance. If predicted correctly, he could end up with +3Atk, +2SpA, and +1Spd in one turn. This is a fairly standard moveset, with the bulk of the work coming from STAB Dragon Claw. Extreme Speed is for messing with things like Talonflame and other priority abusers, while Fire Punch covers Ferrothorn, Forretress, Scizor, and even hits Aegislash hard with a DD boost.
BULKY SCIZOR FOR PRESIDENT!!!
Scizor-Mega @ Scizorite
Ability: Technician
EVs: 252 HP/252 Def/252SpD
Nature: Impish
- Defog
- U-Turn
- Roost
- Bullet Punch
This Scizor really helps this team function. The EV spread here allows him to take even Fire Punch from an unboosted Dragonite and live to tell the tale. With Defog, he is able to ensure that Dragonite keeps his Multiscale intact. It also helps to clear out things like Sticky web so the possible sweep won't be hindered by the lowered speed. Roost keeps Scizor alive to blow away more entry hazards, and Bullet Punch allows Scizor to check those pesky fairies.
Speaking of pesky fairies...
Azumarill @ Lum Berry
Ability: Huge Power
EVs: 252 Atk/252 HP/4 SpD
Nature: Adamant
- Rest
- Superpower
- Play Rough
- Aqua Jet
Azumarill is one of the best pokes in the metagame right now. He walls dragons, checks the ever-present steel types and even hits most walls (i.e. Blissey, Steelix, etc) like a freight train. This guy originally was a Belly Drum sweeper, but after testing, I was never able to really set up with him, so I figured I'd put Rest and a Lum on him. As it turns out, it works like a dream. Even if Rest isn't used, the Lum Berry takes care of WoW, Thunder Wave, and Toxic users, allowing for a free hit, or switch-in (with a good prediction). Aside from that, this guy is as standard as they come.
WEAKNESSES
- Breloom: Breloom keeps royally screwing my team up after D-Nite kicks the bucket
- MegaKang: Seriously, this thing needs to be banned. It sucks, and I hate it.
- Bulky Water types: I don't really have much of anything to hit them hard (specifically Quagsire)
- Bulky teams in general: They take my hits, and run me into the ground with stalls and set-ups
We'll start off with the main lead of the team: Galvantula.
Galvantula @ Focus Sash
Ability: Compoundeyes
EVs: 252 Spd/252 SpA/4 HP
Nature: Modest
- Sticky Web
- Volt Switch
- Bug Buzz
- Thunder
The main focus of this guy is to come in fast, set up Sticky Web, and get the fudge out. Since a large portion of this team has a considerable amount of bulk behind it, the Sticky Web is helpful in keeping the offensive momentum up. Beyond that, Thunder OHKOs things like Skarmory (unless it has Sturdy) and Greninja. Bug Buzz is a good STAB move. But for real, though...Sticky Web. I can't count the number of times I've had him around and stopped a sweep because I threw him in late to set up webs.
Since Galvantula has Volt Switched out and you need a reliable follow-up, I present to you one of the more interesting members of the team: Blissey
Blissey @ Leftovers
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 252 Def/252 SpD/4 HP
Nature: Bold
- Stealth Rocks
- Toxic
- Aromatherapy
- Seismic Toss
This Blissey is a little different than most. Instead of maxing out special bulk, and statusing the other team to death, this Blissey likes to come in, tank a hit if necessary, and set up its Stealthy Stalagmites. After it sets up rocks. The EV spread ensures that it can take physical hits as well as special ones. Toxic can be useful to cripple any bulky mons that want to overstay their welcome. Aromatherapy can heal the team, and Seismic Toss gets far more consistent damage than Flamethrower, albeit at the cost of not hitting ghosts.
Greninja, the other possible lead of this team, serves as more of an anti-lead than anything else.
Greninja @ Life Orb
Ability: Protean
EVs: 252 SpA/252 Spd/4 HP
Nature: Timid
- Hydro Pump
- Ice Beam
- Dark Pulse
- U-Turn
Greninja, in my opinion, is one of the best anti-leads in the game right now. With Protean and the amount of coverage its movepool allows it, Greninja can effectively scare off most of the commonly used leads in the game. Hydro Pump 2HKOs Tyranitar in the sand, as well as hitting a lot of other mons for neutral damage. Ice Beam provides great late game coverage against dragons, and U-Turn helps to complete the VoltTurn core. I chose Dark Pulse over Grass Knot because ghosts were popping up far more than bulky water types.
Dragonite serves as one of the main sweepers on this team.
Dragonite @ Weakness Policy
Ability: Multiscale
EVs: 252 Atk/248 Spd/8 HP
Nature: Adamant
- Dragon Dance
- Dragon Claw
- Extreme Speed
- Fire Punch
First off, the weird EV spread ensures an odd amount of HP, so Dragonite can take rocks with ease. With Spin/Defog support, Multiscale-WP Dragonite can be a gamebreaker. Since Dragonite is SE bait, he should have no problem getting his boost. The real danger here comes from Dragon Dance. If predicted correctly, he could end up with +3Atk, +2SpA, and +1Spd in one turn. This is a fairly standard moveset, with the bulk of the work coming from STAB Dragon Claw. Extreme Speed is for messing with things like Talonflame and other priority abusers, while Fire Punch covers Ferrothorn, Forretress, Scizor, and even hits Aegislash hard with a DD boost.
BULKY SCIZOR FOR PRESIDENT!!!
Scizor-Mega @ Scizorite
Ability: Technician
EVs: 252 HP/252 Def/252SpD
Nature: Impish
- Defog
- U-Turn
- Roost
- Bullet Punch
This Scizor really helps this team function. The EV spread here allows him to take even Fire Punch from an unboosted Dragonite and live to tell the tale. With Defog, he is able to ensure that Dragonite keeps his Multiscale intact. It also helps to clear out things like Sticky web so the possible sweep won't be hindered by the lowered speed. Roost keeps Scizor alive to blow away more entry hazards, and Bullet Punch allows Scizor to check those pesky fairies.
Speaking of pesky fairies...
Azumarill @ Lum Berry
Ability: Huge Power
EVs: 252 Atk/252 HP/4 SpD
Nature: Adamant
- Rest
- Superpower
- Play Rough
- Aqua Jet
Azumarill is one of the best pokes in the metagame right now. He walls dragons, checks the ever-present steel types and even hits most walls (i.e. Blissey, Steelix, etc) like a freight train. This guy originally was a Belly Drum sweeper, but after testing, I was never able to really set up with him, so I figured I'd put Rest and a Lum on him. As it turns out, it works like a dream. Even if Rest isn't used, the Lum Berry takes care of WoW, Thunder Wave, and Toxic users, allowing for a free hit, or switch-in (with a good prediction). Aside from that, this guy is as standard as they come.
WEAKNESSES
- Breloom: Breloom keeps royally screwing my team up after D-Nite kicks the bucket
- MegaKang: Seriously, this thing needs to be banned. It sucks, and I hate it.
- Bulky Water types: I don't really have much of anything to hit them hard (specifically Quagsire)
- Bulky teams in general: They take my hits, and run me into the ground with stalls and set-ups
THANKS, GUYS!!!
