Taunt-inspired Sandstorm Team *Edited 1/01/2008*

[TombStone]

This is my first real attempt at a truly competitive team. I wanted to be able to use it regardless of the restrictions (i.e. item clause). Please be as (constructively) critical as possible.

Battle Record:
Wins: 17
Losses: 5

Latest EDIT: 1/02/2008

Edits are Bolded.

Aerodactyl () @ Focus Sash
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 6 HP/252 Atk/252 Spd
Jolly nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Taunt
- Thunder Fang
- Earthquake
- Dragon Claw
---
Lead. This guy will outrun anything that isn't choicescarfed or named ninjask. Taunt rules (thanks to Mow's thread for pointing that out to me) and the other moves are standard. EDIT: Thunder Fang counters those dam Gyrados leads! I just wish this guy could learn U-turn....

Lucario () @ Choice Specs
Ability: Inner Focus
EVs: 6 HP/252 Spd/252 SAtk
Timid nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Aura Sphere
- Vacuum Wave
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Shadow Ball
---
He does alright, but I think he can be better.... At any rate, Rhyperior just wasn't working, so he got the boot. Sucks too, I always wanted to use him on an SS team. I needed someone to hit fast and hard, like this guy. EDIT: He works pretty well with his moves. Vacuum Wave has really only been for emergency maneuvers, and I have yet to actually use Shadow Ball...just there in case. Btw, when a sandstorm is going, he can 2HKO a Blissey with Aura Sphere.

Tyranitar () @ Lum Berry
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 252 Atk/6 Def/252 Spd
Jolly nature (+Speed, -SAtk)
- Taunt
- Dragon Dance
- Crunch
- Earthquake
---
It's not a Sandstorm team without one of these. This guy works brilliantly for late game sweeping. EDIT: Replaced Rock Slide with Earthquake. I don't like Rock Slide's accuracy or type coverage in comparison to EQ. Btw, the Lum berry was initially a filler item, but I am keeping it. In every battle so far, that berry was incredibly useful. EDIT: Now it's Jolly, outspeeding is everything.

Weezing () @ Black Sludge
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 132 HP/152 Def/74 Spd/152 SDef
Bold nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Taunt
- Will-o-wisp
- Thunderbolt
- Pain Split
---
I like to call this one my Sponge. When I am at a disadvantage with match-ups, I swap to this guy who proceeds to eat the attack and screw the opponent over with taunt/will o wisp. I then play a stall game or swap to something that I can set up while the opponent tries to fix the burn issue. Thunderbolt is for Gyrados who would otherwise screw me with taunt. EDIT: I am not getting rid of Taunt on Weezing. It is too useful and no one expects it. Every battle so far has had a "WTF?!" when I wrecked their Blissey with Taunt or something to that effect.

Hippowdon () @ Leftovers
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 252 HP/6 Def/252 SDef
Impish nature (+Def, -SAtk)
- Thunder Fang
- Stealth Rock
- Slack Off
- Roar
---
Basically, I swap to this guy right after Aerodactyl to start up the Sandstorm. This allows me to save Ttar for a late game sweep and relieves any overdependence on one poke for Sandstorm. I made him a sponge/phazer. He does his job very well but is rather useless offensively speaking.

Empoleon () @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Torrent
EVs: 6 HP/252 Spd/252 SAtk
Timid nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Grass Knot
- Ice Beam
- Hidden Power [Flying]
- Surf
---
The beauty of this thing is that no one expects it to have any speed. With the ChoiceScarf, it has 358 speed, outrunning anything that doesn't have at least a base speed of 114 with maxed speed (that doesn't take the opponent's possible scarf into account though). EDIT: This guy is a beast. With HP Flying, he can take out Heracross with one hit as long as it isn't Choice Scarfed too. Those Choice Scarfers really give me problems...I also noticed that if the opponent has a Blissey, it will ALWAYS be sent out against this guy.

Type Weaknesses:
Fighting: 3 weak, 1 resists.
Water: 3 weak, 1 resists
Ground: 3 weak, but 2 are immune.
Ice: 2 weak, 2 resist
Steel: 2 weak, 2 resist

Addressed threats:
Heracross (particularly CS): Um...yeah, this one hurts bad. I need to make a counter: I lost two more games due to this prick.
Swampert: Taunt prevents it from Cursing and setting up. I can swap in Weezing to discourage it from using EQ, then swap to Empoleon to outspeed it with a Grassknot.

 

[MysticKenji]

Empoleon > Magnezone for your needs...

EDIT: Also, Magnet Rise and Magnezone is good.

EDIT2: Your Rhyperior is win

 

[Wii4Mii 99]

1600th post

I can see a Swampert and possibly a CS Heracross giving this team problems. Try out Flamethrower / Fire Blast on Weezing and HP Grass on Weezing / Magnezone.

Until wii meet again,
Wii4Mii 99

 

[Reanu]

That Rhyperior set is so awesome!!

Anyways, Swampert+CS Heracross=problems.

 

[Terywj [태리]]

Quick comments:

~Weezing might want Fire Blast...
~Swampert causes some problems...
~Aerodactyl might want Fire Fang to destroy Ice types.
~Rhyperior FTW.

 

[ss118]

...
plz tell me you guys are sarcastic about Rhyperior....

 

[MysticKenji]

After looking at Rhyperiors stats, I've determined that running max. SpDef is a waste of time.

Max. Attack naow

EDIT: Or Max. HP. That would work too.

 

[Problem2]

I've always ran 252 HP / 252 Atk on Rhyperior. Let's him hit hard and HP helps against both physical and special attacks.

Hippowdon seems like he wouldn't do any severe damage to anything. Sounds like SR Roar seems like the only decent damage Hippowdown would do.

@MysticKinji: I agree with you. Empoleon would be great on this team. Only thing that bugs me is that it leaves an electric/ice sweeper weakness.

 

[Deleted member]

ughh rhyperior is so bad.

 

[TombStone]

After looking at Rhyperiors stats, I've determined that running max. SpDef is a waste of time.

Max. Attack naow

EDIT: Or Max. HP. That would work too.

In a Sandstorm, its SpDef gets boosted to about 313. Solid Rock alleviates some of the damage from its critical weaknesses (Grass and Water), too. Max attack seems like overkill to me as, after an SD, it OHKOs pretty much anything anyway.

Empoleon > Magnezone for your needs...

EDIT: Also, Magnet Rise and Magnezone is good.

EDIT2: Your Rhyperior is win

Empoleon! Haha, I can't believe I missed him. Thanks for that.

I can see a Swampert and possibly a CS Heracross giving this team problems. Try out Flamethrower / Fire Blast on Weezing and HP Grass on Weezing / Magnezone.

Until wii meet again,
Wii4Mii 99

I'll probably swap HP ice for Flamethrower on Weezing, and, if I keep Magnezone, I'll probably give him grass. Swampert seems to be the big problem here.

Quick comments:

~Weezing might want Fire Blast...
~Swampert causes some problems...
~Aerodactyl might want Fire Fang to destroy Ice types.
~Rhyperior FTW.

~I think I'll use flamethrower, as the fire attack on Weezing seems highly recommended.
~Ok, I'll probably max speed CS Magnezone and give it a full sweeping set, including HP grass.

...
plz tell me you guys are sarcastic about Rhyperior....

And now I'm confused, lol.

ughh rhyperior is so bad.

Again...conflicting comments... unless the compliments were sarcastic, it is rather hard to detect in type...

Does the Rhyperior set suck balls or am I getting mindgame'd?

 

[shadydentist]

The set isn't bad. Its just that rhyperior is slow and has terrible defensive typing. Maybe try rock polish over swords dance, to outspeed some of the many pokemon that can ohko him.

 

[TombStone]

Alright, what if I replaced the current Rhyperior set up with this one:

Rhyperior () @ Wide Lens
Ability: Solid Rock
EVs: 252 Atk/22 SpDef/252 Speed
Jolly nature (+Spd, -SpAtk)
- Rock Polish
- Megahorn
- Stone Edge
- Earthquake

I would switch it in on something that it walls and Rock Polish on the switch. The EVs for speed give it the ability to outrun everything (after Rock Polish) except: Crobat, Jolteon, Aerodactyl, Electrode, and Ninjask. This is not taking into consideration other possible Scarfers though. It has 379 Attack and two obscenely powerful STAB moves that should allow it to at least 2HKO anything (unless there is a physical wall that resists all of its attacks and has an absurd amount of defense and HP).

 

[The9litch]

http://www.pokemonelite2000.com/sprites/dpmfa/dpmfa142.png[/IMG]
Aerodactyl () @ Focus Sash
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 6 HP/252 Atk/252 Spd
Jolly nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Taunt
-Thunder Fang / Ice Fang
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge / Rock Slide
---
Lead. This guy will outrun anything that isn't choicescarfed or named ninjask. Taunt rules (thanks to Mow's thread for pointing that out to me) and the other moves are standard. I just wish this guy could learn U-turn....

Aero is there to counter other starteds like Gyara and Mence so he needs move that can KO

Rhyperior () @ Wide Lens
Ability: Solid Rock
EVs: 252HP/6 Atk/252 Def
Impish nature (+Def, -SpAtt)
- Swords Dance
- Megahorn
- Stone Edge
- Earthquake
---
I don't really know what to call this guy. He's like a tank because he can take eat even EQs and ask for seconds, but he doesn't have a form of recovery (I gave him the Wide Lens because I HATE inaccuracy). He can't really sweep though, due to his disturbingly low speed. In a Sandstorm, this guy gets an even bigger SpDef boost and becomes a real **** to take down. I also minimized his speed in an attempt to counter Trick Room teams and eliminate Gyroball damage.

Physical wall Rhyperior =], works much better, you can even give this guy support moves like stealth rocks and such if you really want too

Tyranitar () @ Lum Berry
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 252 Atk/6 Def/252 Spd
Jolly nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Taunt
- Dragon Dance
- Crunch
- Earthquake
---
It's not a Sandstorm team without one of these. This guy works brilliantly for late game sweeping. EDIT: Replaced Rock Slide with Earthquake. I don't like Rock Slide's accuracy or type coverage in comparison to EQ. Btw, the Lum berry was initially a filler item, but I am keeping it. In every battle so far, that berry was incredibly useful.

Without Jolly, Infernape, Starmie, Gengar and others are still faster then you after 1 DD and will wreck you.

Weezing () @ Black Sludge
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP/100 Def/58 Spd/100 SDef
Bold nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Pain Split
- Will-o-wisp
- Thunderbolt
- Flamethrower
---
I like to call this one my Sponge. When I am at a disadvantage with match-ups, I swap to this guy who proceeds to eat the attack and screw the opponent over with taunt/will o wisp. I then play a stall game or swap to something that I can set up while the opponent tries to fix the burn issue. Thunderbolt is for Gyrados who would otherwise screw me with taunt. EDIT: Flamethrower is more powerful that HP ice and allows me to hit that Heracross people have warned me about. Not sure about how much damage it could deal to one though....

He will not be sponging without recovery and just what will he be taunting?

Hippowdon () @ Leftovers
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 252 HP/6 Def/252 SDef
Impish nature (+Def, -SAtk)
- Thunder Fang
- Stealth Rock
- Slack Off
- Roar
---
Basically, I swap to this guy right after Aerodactyl to start up the Sandstorm. This allows me to save Ttar for a late game sweep and relieves any overdependence on one poke for Sandstorm. I made him a sponge/phazer. He does his job very well but is rather useless offensively speaking.

Since you already have a SS starter, swampert fills this position way better IMO. think about a mixpert, since you have pretty much all physical attacker.. plus MixPert rocks.

Empoleon () @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Torrent
EVs: 252Hp/6Spd/252SpDef
Calm nature (+SpDef, -Atk)
- Grass Knot
- Ice Beam
- Yawn
- Surf / Roar
---
The beauty of this thing is that no one expects it to have any speed. With the ChoiceScarf, it has 358 speed, outrunning anything that doesn't have at least a base speed of 114 with maxed speed (that doesn't take the opponent's possible scarf into account though).

I dont think hes a good scarfer...he does his job better as a special wall.

Type Weaknesses:
Fighting: 3 weak, only one resists.
Water: 4 weak, 1 resists
Ground: 3 weak, but 2 are immune.
Ice: 3 weak, 1 resists
Steel: 3 weak, 1 resists

Addressed threats:
Heracross (particularly CS): If Aerodactyl is still alive, Aerial Ace does the trick. If Hera is CS'd, then Aerodactyl will need full life for the Focus Sash to work. If that's not the case, Weezing's Flamethrower should be able to do some damage.
Swampert: Taunt prevents it from Cursing and setting up. I can swap in Weezing to discourage it from using EQ, then swap to Empoleon to outspeed it with a Grassknot.

Please point out:
1) any pokemon that pose a serious threat to this team
2) any pokemon that would make a good replacement for Magnezone.
--Lucario and Dusknoir seem like better choices to me....



REJECTED

Magnezone @ Salac Berry
Ability: Magnet Pull
EVs: 80 HP/72 Spd/252 SAtk/100 SDef
Modest nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Explosion
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Thunder Wave
- Thunderbolt
---
And this...thing. I hate him and I don't know why. He has been somewhat useful in previous matches, but it required very careful predicting. Earthquake ***** him hard. The only reason he is on this team is because I needed a pokemon that can hit with special attacks and is a steel type. Suggestions for this guy/its replacement are more than welcome.

Fixes in wuote...hope I helped

 

[mood4food77]

bronzong can help this team out too, removing a bunch or weaknesses for your team (but adds a fire weakness, which isn't that much of a big deal) and he walls the most common leads too, like gyra and some salamences, but he can be a sideliner

i don't agree, without empo, he has nothing that will resist water, which his team is weak fairly weak to

 

[TombStone]

Fixes in wuote...hope I helped

Never thought of Thunder fang's use as a Gyrados counter. I kind of hate the fang attacks...but I hate Gyardos leads more, lol. And I'll probably be switching to a Jolly Tyranitar now, I like outspeeding things after one DDance.

Taunt has been pretty useful on Weezing, really. I put it in instead of Pain Split, but the lack of recovery has been irritating. Not sure if I'll make that switch though.

I know Empoleon is best as a Special Tank, but I need something that can hit fast and hard. A plus side is that I don't think anyone expects a speedy Empoleon.

And Hippowdon is the primary SS starter, Tyranitar doesn't come out until late game. Swampert is pretty cool though...

Many thanks for your help

bronzong can help this team out too, removing a bunch or weaknesses for your team (but adds a fire weakness, which isn't that much of a big deal) and he walls the most common leads too, like gyra and some salamences, but he can be a sideliner

i don't agree, without empo, he has nothing that will resist water, which his team is weak fairly weak to

Bronzong would be pretty good, yeah. His resistances are useful, but I don't know who'd I give the boot for him. Maybe Rhyperior? But I was just thinking of modifying him...Anyway, thanks for your help, too.

 

[mood4food77]

pain split over taunt on weezing, he's a horrible taunter

you can replace hippowdon with bronzong, it removes and ice weakness and a water weakness, also adds an immunity to ground, and he can also SR

he is also able to deal a lot of damage with the CM set