Building The Team
Seeing as I've never made a sandstorm team, and seeing as they've become better than ever, I wanted to try my hand at one.
After seeing the raw destructive power of Doryuzu first hand, I knew I had to try it out.
Of course I needed Sandstorm to use Doryuzu effectively, so I slapped a lead Hippo on.
Next I added a defensive Sand Veil Gliscor to give my team some bulk.
Now I wanted a good revenge killer to mop up, so I added a Scarftar who could also restore the sand if Hippo got killed and different weather had come into effect.
It was now that I noticed my crippling weakness to Water, Ice and Fighting. I added a Bulky Gyarados to my team because it resists both water and fighting and is neutral to Ice.
Now I wanted more Defense on my team, so after looking around Smogon awhile I found the answer to my problem, Cradily.
An In Depth Look
Hipster (Hippowdon) (F) @ Leftovers
Trait: Sand Stream
EVs: 253 HP/ 252 Def/ 4 Sp.Def
Impish Nature (+Def, -SAtk)
- Earthquake
- Stealth Rock
- Slack Off
- Roar
Just your typical lead Hippowdon, but he works SO WELL. He can come in, set up rocks and SS, then stall to no end. He also makes a great late game staller, EQ, Slack Off and repeat, and if there's something he can't hurt he can just roar it out and spam rocks damage.
MOLEsted (Doryuuzu) (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Sand Throw
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Earthquake
- Swords Dance
- Rock Slide
- X-Scissor
This thing is just scary. Once it gets up a swords dance or two not much can take it. I didn't invest in speed because his speed is high enough with Sand Throw, and the HP EV's help his survivability a lot. I basically just come in on something that can't touch it and set up swords dance, then sweep. If I can sense an EQ or fighting move coming I switch to Gliscor.
Zorro (Gliscor) (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Sand Veil
EVs: 252 HP / 124 Atk / 124 Def / 4 SDef
Impish Nature (+Def, -SAtk)
- Taunt
- Toxic
- Earthquake
- Roost
Ahh, Gliscor. This thing can take hits like a tank, break stalls with taunt and dish out damage with EQ. Toxic is for what he can't kill. Skarmory walls this thing completely though, when one comes out I switch to Gyarados, since Skarm is basically set up fodder for him.
Overdose (Gyarados) (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Intimidate
EVs: 124 HP / 252 Atk / 124 Def / 4 SDef
Impish Nature (+Def, -SAtk)
- Dragon Dance
- Taunt
- Waterfall
- Earthquake
I love BulkyDos. He deals with the weaknesses of the team. He can absorb hits well and set up and sweep.
When another water type or fighting type comes in I switch to this and set up. But when an electric move comes I switch to one of my ground types.
Guitar (Tyranitar) (M) @ Choice Scarf
Trait: Sand Stream
EVs: 2 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Crunch
- Earthquake
- Pursuit
- Stone Edge
My revenge-killer. If the opponent tries to switch I can just pursuit, otherwise he has Stone Edge, EQ and Crunch at his disposal. He also pairs nicely with Gyarados, since Gyarados is immune to or resists T-Tars three main weaknesses, Fighting, Ground and Water. Also if Hippo faints and my opponent cancels out Sandstorm, T-Tar can restore it.
Cradle (Cradily) (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Suction Cups
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Def / 252 SDef
Impish Nature (+Def, -SAtk)
- Stockpile
- Toxic
- Protect
- Earthquake
Cradily is a great Toxic staller. After three stockpiles is defenses are huge. He can stall out Pokemon I can't take out normally, wearing them out with SS, Toxic and staying safe with Protect. While is SP. Def is lacking compared to his Def., Sandstorm can increase it.
So tell me what you think, what should I add, change etc.
Hipster (Hippowdon) (F) @ Leftovers
Trait: Sand Stream
EVs: 253 HP/ 252 Def/ 4 Sp.Def
Impish Nature (+Def, -SAtk)
- Earthquake
- Stealth Rock
- Slack Off
- Roar
Just your typical lead Hippowdon, but he works SO WELL. He can come in, set up rocks and SS, then stall to no end. He also makes a great late game staller, EQ, Slack Off and repeat, and if there's something he can't hurt he can just roar it out and spam rocks damage.
MOLEsted (Doryuuzu) (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Sand Throw
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Earthquake
- Swords Dance
- Rock Slide
- X-Scissor
This thing is just scary. Once it gets up a swords dance or two not much can take it. I didn't invest in speed because his speed is high enough with Sand Throw, and the HP EV's help his survivability a lot. I basically just come in on something that can't touch it and set up swords dance, then sweep. If I can sense an EQ or fighting move coming I switch to Gliscor.
Zorro (Gliscor) (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Sand Veil
EVs: 252 HP / 124 Atk / 124 Def / 4 SDef
Impish Nature (+Def, -SAtk)
- Taunt
- Toxic
- Earthquake
- Roost
Ahh, Gliscor. This thing can take hits like a tank, break stalls with taunt and dish out damage with EQ. Toxic is for what he can't kill. Skarmory walls this thing completely though, when one comes out I switch to Gyarados, since Skarm is basically set up fodder for him.
Overdose (Gyarados) (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Intimidate
EVs: 124 HP / 252 Atk / 124 Def / 4 SDef
Impish Nature (+Def, -SAtk)
- Dragon Dance
- Taunt
- Waterfall
- Earthquake
I love BulkyDos. He deals with the weaknesses of the team. He can absorb hits well and set up and sweep.
When another water type or fighting type comes in I switch to this and set up. But when an electric move comes I switch to one of my ground types.
Guitar (Tyranitar) (M) @ Choice Scarf
Trait: Sand Stream
EVs: 2 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Crunch
- Earthquake
- Pursuit
- Stone Edge
My revenge-killer. If the opponent tries to switch I can just pursuit, otherwise he has Stone Edge, EQ and Crunch at his disposal. He also pairs nicely with Gyarados, since Gyarados is immune to or resists T-Tars three main weaknesses, Fighting, Ground and Water. Also if Hippo faints and my opponent cancels out Sandstorm, T-Tar can restore it.
Cradle (Cradily) (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Suction Cups
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Def / 252 SDef
Impish Nature (+Def, -SAtk)
- Stockpile
- Toxic
- Protect
- Earthquake
Cradily is a great Toxic staller. After three stockpiles is defenses are huge. He can stall out Pokemon I can't take out normally, wearing them out with SS, Toxic and staying safe with Protect. While is SP. Def is lacking compared to his Def., Sandstorm can increase it.
So tell me what you think, what should I add, change etc.