MK26
Smash Master
This thread seems to have morphed from 'help me make a SmashPass Smeargle team' to 'The Chronicles of a Pokemon Noob'. Round 3 leaves me at a spot I originally didn't want to be, but that I slowly was gravitating towards - a fairly standard Rain team. After all, standards are standard for a reason. This latest revision swaps out Smeargle, who was setting up my own pokemon to be ko'd more often than to ko, and Thundurus, who was awesome at taking down a pokemon or three when he could, but between life orb, stealth rocks, and even minor scrapes and bruises nearly never survived to the end of a match. The newcomers are a much-needed revenge killer in Latios (seriously, this thing should still be in Ubers) and the game's preeminent special wall/healer combo in Blissey. With the latest changes, of my original six pokemon only the Ferrothorn-Jellicent core remains.
I'm very satisfied with the way the team turned out so far, but I'm still accepting changes. Jirachi, Dragonite, and Scizor have been suggested, and might work out in the future, but the six I have now work perfectly right now. Not to mention, it doesn't really have a 'true' lead, just a Politoed that goes out first in most situations and a Latios that I send out whenever I see my opponent has a Thundurus on their team (but I always get outsped by Volt Switch anyway - curse that 1 base speed difference)
===
Politoed @ Choice Scarf
Water Absorb | Timid (+Spd, -Atk)
252 SAtk / 4 SDef / 252 Spd
- Surf
- Ice Beam
- Focus Blast
- Hidden Power [Electric]
Since Poli isn't going to do much sweeping any time soon, I swapped out the Specs for a Scarf to let it get a few more hits in. He seems to be the most uncertain of my 6, with his nature, item, and even hidden power type all still up for changes.
Latios @ Choice Specs
Levitate | Timid (+Spd, -Atk)
4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Draco Meteor
Surf
Thunder
Trick
Latios is a monster. Draco Meteor will crush anything in its path as long as it's not resisted, and the other three slots can almost be seen as filler. However, they are the most efficient moves to place on a rain team, and they're appreciated when they're there.
Blissey @ Leftovers
Natural Cure | Bold (+Def, -Atk)
252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SDef
- Aromatherapy
- Softboiled
- Seismic Toss
- Toxic
Cleric Blissey because I was getting annoyed by some people who loved to spread status around. Over half my team has leftovers anyway so Wish wouldn't be entirely needed. Beyond that, the other three moves are standard - but what really makes Blissey fit is the amazing synergy both it and Ferrothorn have with Jellicent.
Ferrothorn @ Leftovers
Iron Barbs | Careful (+SDef, -SAtk)
EVs: 252 HP / 60 Def / 196 SDef
- Power Whip
- Thunder Wave
- Leech Seed
- Stealth Rock
Old reliable Ferrothorn. Switching into everything that hits Jellicent super-effectively for pitiful damage, then annoying the hell out of whatever tries to come in. Sometimes thats as simple as Leech Seeding something, then switching over and over until it's down to half life and forced to switch out. And now with Blissey in the picture, I can even afford to sacrifice Ferrothorn to severely dent a threat without tearing a hole in my own defenses to do so.
Jellicent @ Leftovers
Water Absorb | Bold (+Def, -Atk)
248 HP / 216 Def / 44 Spd
- Surf
- Will-O-Wisp
- Taunt
- Recover
Jellicent is still Jellicent. I was hurting for Toxic support, but now Blissey's on the scene so I can spread status in more than enough ways. This guy can do its fair share of stalling as well, especially after an opponent has been Seeded by Ferrothorn. Like I said before, the synergy between this guy and my other walls is amazing.
Toxicroak @ Leftovers
Dry Skin | Adamant (+Atk, -SAtk)
EVs: 244 HP / 252 Atk / 12 Def
- Bulk Up
- Substitute
- Drain Punch
- Payback
Oh Toxicroak, you troll. As soon as my opponent's Psychic user has been ko'd (or even before that if I'm feeling ballsy), this guy can come in, tank a few hits, and proceed to unload. 2 Bulk Ups aren't enough? Keep restoring HP with Lefties and Dry Skin until you're up at 6, then Sub and go to town. This guy actually functions like a pseudo-physical wall, able to take anything on that side of the spectrum and hit everything back for neutral damage. He's even gotten me a few mid- and late-game sweeps when an opponent thinks he'll get taken down easily...but he just refuses to die until he's at +6/+6, and then I set up a Sub and have my fun from there.
[collapse=06/24/11 team]
This is my first attempt at any form of competitive pokemon, and as such I think I need help. I hope to create a team that will rip holes in the opposition when given the opportunity, but can also slow the pace down and wall some common threats. It doesn't necessarily try to abuse Rain, but it more than appreciates an opposing Politoed lead.
I just realized that this set shares Breloom and Smeargle with Brosuke's RMT :/
===
Smeargle @ Focus Sash
Own Tempo | Jolly (+Spd, -SAtk)
88 HP / 168 Def / 252 Spd
- Rain Dance
- Spore
- Shell Smash
- Baton Pass
This team's gimmick comes in its lead, Smeargle. With a little bit of prediction, it can get a Shell Smash, Spore, and Baton Pass off to one of the offensive members of the team, who can proceed to wreck things. Rain Dance is to catch Tyranitar and Hippowdon off guard; simultaneously, it cancels Sand Stream, ensures the Sash doesn't get circumvented, and allows Smeargle to incapacitate at least one of the opponent's pokemon.
Starmie @ White Herb/Leftovers
Natural Cure | Timid (+Spd, -Atk)
4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
- Surf
- Psyshock
- Rapid Spin
- Recover
If I can get the SmashPass off, Starmie will be its recipient. Even without the Pass, however, dual STAB that hits on both sides of the spectrum from Special Attack alone is nothing to scoff at. It doubles as my Rapid Spinner if it needs to, and Recover is the obvious choice for the fourth move.
Thundurus @ Life Orb
Prankster | Timid (+Spd, -Atk)
4 Def / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
- Rain Dance
- Thunder
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Thunder Wave
I can forego the obvious BoltBeam coverage on Starmie by spreading the love to Thundurus. With Prankster, my second Rain Dancer can all but guarantee getting a Dance in before bowing out...and if it doesn't bow out, Thunder Wave and 100% accurate STAB Thunder are there simply for trolling. (As an aside, I put 30 IVs in attack and defense to get HP Ice, rather than in speed. Attack is unnecessary and defense's point is restored by the 4 leftover EVs - 0 in HP gives me 299, which is a magic Life Orb number.)
Ferrothorn @ Leftovers
Iron Barbs | Relaxed (+Def, -Spd)
EVs: 252 HP / 60 Def / 196 SDef
- Power Whip
- Gyro Ball
- Leech Seed
- Stealth Rock/Protect
Ferrothorn appreciates rain dampening its 4x Fire weakness, and is a general-purpose tank. I want Stealth Rock over Protect for the fourth slot because I feel like it, but tell me if that's a stupid idea.
Jellicent @ Leftovers
Water Absorb | Bold (+Def, -Atk)
248 HP / 216 Def / 44 Spd
- Scald
- Will-O-Wisp
- Taunt
- Recover
Standard Jelly. Nothing to see here. Awesome synergy with Ferrothorn, right down to Spinblocking the Rocks that it lays down.
Breloom @ Toxic Orb
Poison Heal | Adamant (+Atk, -SAtk)
12 HP / 252 Atk / 244 Spd
- Substitute/???
- Mach Punch/Focus Punch
- Seed Bomb
- Stone Edge
Foregoing Spore (Smeargle will sleep something) to have both Seed Bomb and Stone Edge, Breloom is my late-game sweeper. I think Mach Punch would be a better choice for Fighting STAB given what I'm using it for, but Focus Punch is just too good of a move to disregard. Regardless, Toxic Orb Breloom is a bad*** and everybody should have one on their team.
===
Basically, I'm looking for a few things out of this RMT. First, are there any obvious, glaring errors that I've made? Things this team simply doesn't have a counter for, or even just general nooby errors. Second, I have no idea how to make an EV spread, and simply went off standard recommendations. Are those good enough, or do I have alternate options? Third, obviously, the pros and cons of the things I haven't decided on. White Herb on Starmie, Thundurus' IVs, and Ferrothorn/Breloom's moves are still undecided, so assuming no drastic changes are needed, I would still like some help on those two.[/collapse]
[collapse=06/25/11 team]Team Preview of Round Two:
Check the collapse box at the bottom of this post for original notes on the team - this is my second attempt on a team based on a lead SmashPassing Smeargle.
===
Smeargle @ Focus Sash
Own Tempo | Jolly (+Spd, -SAtk)
88 HP / 168 Def / 252 Spd
- Protect
- Spore
- Shell Smash
- Baton Pass
Protect makes a more effective Passer (Sub actually makes a less effective passer <_<) than round 1's gimmicky (but much-appreciated) anti-weather Rain Dance in Slot 1. However, Rain Dance isn't needed because...
Politoed @ Choice Specs
Water Absorb | Timid (+Spd, -Atk) / Modest (+SAtk, -Atk)
252 SAtk / 4 SDef / 252 Spd
- Surf/Hydro Pump
- Ice Beam
- Focus Blast
- Hidden Power [Grass]
Yep, this is officially a Rain team now. Drizzle gives me that precious Rain Dance setup turn every time I switch to Politoed. Tentatively, I put Timid over Modest and Surf over Hydro Pump, but those can change. I'll be putting Politoed first in Team Preview to catch opponents off-guard when I bring in Smeargle (and I can leave Poli in in on leads that outspeed Smeargle).
Thundurus @ Life Orb
Prankster | Timid (+Spd, -Atk)
4 Def / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
- Nasty Plot
- Thunder
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Focus Blast
A more 'standard' set, hitting hard and being able to set up to do so.
Ferrothorn @ Leftovers
Iron Barbs | Careful (+SDef, -SAtk)
EVs: 252 HP / 60 Def / 196 SDef
- Power Whip
- Thunder Wave
- Leech Seed
- Stealth Rock
Careful and more status for Ferrothorn
Jellicent @ Leftovers
Water Absorb | Bold (+Def, -Atk)
248 HP / 216 Def / 44 Spd
- Surf
- Will-O-Wisp
- Taunt
- Recover
Still the same standard Jelly. Still nothing to see here.
Toxicroak @ Leftovers
Dry Skin | Adamant (+Atk, -SAtk)
EVs: 244 HP / 252 Atk / 12 Def
- Bulk Up
- Substitute
- Drain Punch
- Payback/Sucker Punch
Toxicroak is in over Breloom because the latter just wasn't cutting it. This is the standard set that (I am told) best takes advantage of Drizzle Politoed. I don't know what to fill the last slot with - reliability with Payback or damage and priority via Sucker Punch.[/collapse]
