Zachmac
Well-Known Member
That's my peak on Smogon's ladder. I've been struggling to get any higher than that, but I really want to do it.
There are just two rules to this team. First, I must use Gyarados, as required by my clan. After that, I must always use at least one Johto pokemon in my team, also as a requirement from my clan.
Well, let's start this off with a team preview.
As for the details;
Zoroark @ Expert Belt
Ability: Illusion
EVs: 252sp.att/252speed
Nature: Naive
- Night Daze
- Flamethrower
- Focus Blast
- Sucker Punch
When many trainers see Zoroark, they expect it to use it's ability to the fullest. People say, for example, that Infernape makes a great partner as it shares Nasty Plot, Flamethrower, and Focus Blast. That, in my opinion, is completely false. The point of Zoroark's ability is not for a defensive purpose like that. Looks at it's stats. It's to catch enemies off guard for a surprise kill, not to save it from one attack when it won't be taking hits anyway. If one sends in a Gyarados on a Reuniclus, they don't expect to be hit with Night Daze. If one sends in a Ferrothorn on a Skarmory, they don't expect to be flamethrowered to the face. That is exactly why I use Zoroark over Hydreigon.
I pretend it's my lead, but thanks to team veiwer, it rarely ever is. It can sweep in the late game sometimes, but my favorite part about it is hitting those darn Skamory. No one really expects a Gyrados or Ferrothorn to give their Skarmory a flamethrower to the face, and I'm very grateful for my Zoroark for that, as I just hate fighting Skarmory. Night Daze is reliable STAB, catching ghost and psychics by surprise, while Flamethrower hits steel types. Focus Blast will hit other Dark types, along with Heatran who realize it's a Zoroark and try to come in on flamethrower. Sucker Punch may seem out of place on a special set, but that move is invaluable, finishing off many weakened base 110, and KOing Gengar, Latios, Latias, Alakazam and Starmie that want to revenge kill it and realize what it really is. I chose expert belt mostly because I hate the extra damage from the life orb, and the life orb damage could give away it's identity in a couple situations.
Gyarados @ Leftovers
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 248HP/252def/8sp.def
Nature: Impish
- Waterfall
- Dragon Tail
- Rest
- Sleep Talk
Okay, you may be raising an eyebrow or two at this set. I'm going to assure you, my team is not to catch my enemies off guard, defensive gyarados is just simply a good member for it. Waterfall is a reliable STAB move, and can cause flinching sometimes. Dragon tail, along with intimidate, makes it my favorite Dragon counter. It can come in on Haxorus, Dragonite, or Salamence, then catch them off guard by removing their boost and doing super effective damage. Also, Dragon Tail is useful when I expect a counter to swap in, damaging them and then forcing them to take more stealth rock damage. Often, on a physical attacker, this Gyarados will often be able to withstand more then two attacks, making resttalk effective, even though sleep resets upon swapping out in the fifth generation. While I mostly use it for dragon dancers, it's also my best Gliscor counter, and makes a nice stall breaker while it's at it.
Scizor @ Leftovers
Ability: Technician
EVs: 252 HP/40 att/216 sp.def
Nature: Impish
- Swords Dance
- Bullet Punch
- Bug Bite
- Roost
Every time I make a team, I make sure I have one set up sweeper. In this case, it's Scizor. Swords Dance is fairly obvious, doubling it's attack. Bullet Punch is something I'll assume you already know if you're really good enough to be rating teams. Bug Bite is powerful STAB, as I don't like the stat drops from Super Power, and Brick Break just doesn't hit hard enough for me. Roost rounds this off, restoring it's health and also helping it get more swords dances. It also helps it shrug off entry hazards, and even helps it defeat the dreaded paraflinch Jirachi one on one.
Ferrothorn @ Leftovers
Ability: Iron Barbs
EVs: 252 HP/88def/168sp.def
Nature: Impish
- Power Whip
- Stealth Rock
- Leech Seed
- Thunder Wave
I needed two things. First, I needed a way to handle bulky waters, especially rotom-W. Next, I needed something to set up stealth rock for my my Gyrados. Ferrothorn pulls off this role nicely. Leech Seed is it's only means of recovery, while stalling out an enemies health. Thunder Wave is mostly so I don't have to predict swap ins, as many fighting and fire types, or pokemon carrying those moves, won't usually enjoy paralysis.
Salamence @ Life Orb
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 116 att/216 sp.att/176speed
Nature: Rash
- Draco Meteor
- Fire Blast
- Brick Break
- Roost
I decided I needed something to handle Breloom and Venasaur. However, if I removed Gliscor, I'd find myself having troubles with Conkeldurr. Tyranitar is also a problem, as I can't safely counter it until I know the set. So, I decided to add something that could handle all four, the mixmence. Draco Meteor does massive damage, allowing me to blast holes through any non-steel type wall. While at it, Fire Blast can burn any steel types in my way, along with Breloom and Venasuar. Brick Break is a way to hit Tyranitar, but also break subs before a meteor. Roost is finally to make up for life orb and stealth rock damage, as they can really where it down.
Terrakion @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Justified
EVs: 252 att/252 speed
Nature: Jolly
- Close Combat
- Stone Edge
- Rock Slide
- Earthquake
Terrakion is an amazing revenge killer, being able to outspeed any dragon dancer at +1, OHKOing any except Dragonite(which it can beat if that has taken a little bit of damage). Meanwhile, it's STABs are offensively amazing. Rock Slide is mostly a back up move, when I don't want to risk missing a +1 Salamence or Volcarona. Earthquake is a nice way to hit Tentacruel swap ins as well. I didn't use X-scizor because Reuniclus doesn't really pose a threat to this team, so I find myself using earthquake more.
Currently Testing:
Nothing at the moment.
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