Not much gimmick here, except for the lead. And a lot of Substitute, I guess.
Alakazam (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Inner Focus
EVs: 4 HP/252 Spd/252 SAtk
Timid nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Substitute
- Encore
- Psychic
- Signal Beam
Resist:
Weak:
Alakazam can do some very mean things to typical leads with Encore, forcing them to switch out rather than do their usual job of taking out the opposing lead after a Stealth Rock. Since none of my team is particularly bothered by Stealth Rock, I prefer the Encore to Taunt, which grants me a free Substitute to see their switch-in. Signal Beam is run to counter Dark types that might try to come in and quickly kill Alakazam.
---
Skarmory (M) @ Shed Shell
Ability: Keen Eye
EVs: 252 HP/176 Def/80 Spd
Impish nature (+Def, -SAtk)
- Roost
- Stealth Rock
- Whirlwind
- Protect
Null:
Resist:
Weak:
When the opponent finally sends in something that Alakazam can't actually deal with, Skarmory can usually come in to tank the hit, resisting both of Psychic type's weaknesses, and set up Stealth Rock. Whirlwind is also very useful, since my team generally wants to force switches, and has trouble dealing with Pokémon that set up otherwise. Protect is for a bit of teamwork with Flygon - in the event that I can't properly stall something out with Toxic Flygon, Skarmory can typically come in to tank the rest of the hits.
---
Heatran (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 4 HP/252 Spd/252 SAtk
Timid nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Flamethrower
- Earth Power
- Substitute
- Will-o-wisp
Flash Fire:
Null:
Resist:
Weak:
Covering the first half of Skarmory's weaknesses, Heatran is in for a very obvious purpose. Again, Substitute. This team wants to buy turns hard. Will-o-wisp can punish people attempting to switch in a resist or a wall, as well as cripple offensive counters, like Gyarados.
---
Jolteon (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Volt Absorb
EVs: 4 HP/252 Spd/252 SAtk
Timid nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Substitute
- Baton Pass
- Thunderbolt
- Hidden Power [Ice]
Volt Absorb:
Resist:
Weak:
Jolteon covers the second half of Skarmory's weakness. With Substitute, it can even stop Choice Scarf Flygon from forcing a switch. If they instead decide to send in something to stall me, I can Baton Pass the substitute to Lucario and gain a setup turn.
---
Lucario (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Inner Focus
EVs: 4 HP/252 Atk/252 Spd
Adamant nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Swords Dance
- Close Combat
- Extremespeed
- Crunch
Null:
Resist:
Weak:
Standard Swords Dance Lucario set. Not much to explain - it sweeps up when its more common threats are gone, or if it got passed from Jolteon.
---
Gyarados (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 156 HP/72 Atk/96 Def/184 Spd
Adamant nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Dragon Dance
- Taunt
- Waterfall
- Earthquake
Null:
Resist:
Weak:
The final piece of the switch-ins. Heatran, Jolteon, and Lucario all share a weakness to Ground type moves, which Gyarados easily flies over, and can retaliate with strong Earthquake of its own. It can also Dragon Dance on forced switches, and Leftovers keeps it going even when switched into Stealth Rock. Gyarados also resists several other typings that my other Pokémon have trouble with, like Fighting and Water.
---
Basically this team tries to run early tricks to force lots of switches and take advantage of those switches by Subbing up, then acting accordingly. This will inevitably either weaken or kill several of the opponent's Pokémon, especially with Stealth Rock out, at which point Lucario can come in and begin to sweep.
Don't let this happen to you.
Alakazam (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Inner Focus
EVs: 4 HP/252 Spd/252 SAtk
Timid nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Substitute
- Encore
- Psychic
- Signal Beam
Resist:
Weak:
Alakazam can do some very mean things to typical leads with Encore, forcing them to switch out rather than do their usual job of taking out the opposing lead after a Stealth Rock. Since none of my team is particularly bothered by Stealth Rock, I prefer the Encore to Taunt, which grants me a free Substitute to see their switch-in. Signal Beam is run to counter Dark types that might try to come in and quickly kill Alakazam.
---
Skarmory (M) @ Shed Shell
Ability: Keen Eye
EVs: 252 HP/176 Def/80 Spd
Impish nature (+Def, -SAtk)
- Roost
- Stealth Rock
- Whirlwind
- Protect
Null:
Resist:
Weak:
When the opponent finally sends in something that Alakazam can't actually deal with, Skarmory can usually come in to tank the hit, resisting both of Psychic type's weaknesses, and set up Stealth Rock. Whirlwind is also very useful, since my team generally wants to force switches, and has trouble dealing with Pokémon that set up otherwise. Protect is for a bit of teamwork with Flygon - in the event that I can't properly stall something out with Toxic Flygon, Skarmory can typically come in to tank the rest of the hits.
---
Heatran (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 4 HP/252 Spd/252 SAtk
Timid nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Flamethrower
- Earth Power
- Substitute
- Will-o-wisp
Flash Fire:
Null:
Resist:
Weak:
Covering the first half of Skarmory's weaknesses, Heatran is in for a very obvious purpose. Again, Substitute. This team wants to buy turns hard. Will-o-wisp can punish people attempting to switch in a resist or a wall, as well as cripple offensive counters, like Gyarados.
---
Jolteon (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Volt Absorb
EVs: 4 HP/252 Spd/252 SAtk
Timid nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Substitute
- Baton Pass
- Thunderbolt
- Hidden Power [Ice]
Volt Absorb:
Resist:
Weak:
Jolteon covers the second half of Skarmory's weakness. With Substitute, it can even stop Choice Scarf Flygon from forcing a switch. If they instead decide to send in something to stall me, I can Baton Pass the substitute to Lucario and gain a setup turn.
---
Lucario (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Inner Focus
EVs: 4 HP/252 Atk/252 Spd
Adamant nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Swords Dance
- Close Combat
- Extremespeed
- Crunch
Null:
Resist:
Weak:
Standard Swords Dance Lucario set. Not much to explain - it sweeps up when its more common threats are gone, or if it got passed from Jolteon.
---
Gyarados (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 156 HP/72 Atk/96 Def/184 Spd
Adamant nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Dragon Dance
- Taunt
- Waterfall
- Earthquake
Null:
Resist:
Weak:
The final piece of the switch-ins. Heatran, Jolteon, and Lucario all share a weakness to Ground type moves, which Gyarados easily flies over, and can retaliate with strong Earthquake of its own. It can also Dragon Dance on forced switches, and Leftovers keeps it going even when switched into Stealth Rock. Gyarados also resists several other typings that my other Pokémon have trouble with, like Fighting and Water.
---
Basically this team tries to run early tricks to force lots of switches and take advantage of those switches by Subbing up, then acting accordingly. This will inevitably either weaken or kill several of the opponent's Pokémon, especially with Stealth Rock out, at which point Lucario can come in and begin to sweep.
Don't let this happen to you.