Koridojo_Blaziken
Well-Known Member
In a more official battling environment I'm well aware that choosing all six of your Pokemon from one typing is a choice with high potential for disastrous results. HOWEVER, a while back some buddies and I decided to try and form some single-type teams to try and organize a local "campus gym league" of sorts, just for the novelty and the fun of it. I originally tried out an all Dark-type team, and bombed rather spectacularly for it on the Battle Spot; I think, though, with Poison typing I can potentially cover more range than just flat-out speed or sweeping.
Here's the team I've ended up with--if anyone can offer any suggestions for improvement or replacement, it would be greatly appreciated.
- - -
;407;
Roserade @Big Root
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Spe / 252 SpA
Nature: Timid (+Spe / - Atk)
-Leech Seed
-Toxic Spikes
-Sleep Powder
-Giga Drain
Roserade has been a great lead for me so far. It's primarily built to get Toxic Spikes set up first, and then Leech Seed and/or Sleep Powder if it's still alive after. Toxic Spikes is always the first move I have it use, for the coverage of poisoning whoever else the opponent might switch in after; Sleep Powder is to put the more immediate threats (like Fire- or Psychic-types) out of commision for a few turns, and allow Roserade to either Leech Seed or Giga Drain them depending on its HP at that point. The Big Root gives it more healing from Giga Drain and helps its survivability a little bit further.
Even with its Speed maxed I have occasionally run into Pokemon that were still faster, and in these cases it often ends up getting knocked out before it can set up Toxic Spikes. For the most part, though, it's managed to outspeed a lot of other Pokemon and even deal some good damage of its own with a neutral or super effective Giga Drain. After setting up Toxic Spikes, I like to try and focus on getting a Leech Seed in so that even if Roserade does go down, at least a little bit of health will get traded to my next Pokemon each turn and help wear the enemy Pokemon down a little further.
;110;
Weezing @Black Sludge
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpA
Nature: Bold (+Def / - Atk)
-Will-o-wisp
-Destiny Bond
-Thunderbolt
-Sludge Bomb
Weezing is built as the physical wall of my team, and even serves as a sort of threat neutralizer. Between Levitate taking away its Ground weakness, Will-O-Wisp reducing oncoming Attack STABs and dealing extra damage each turn, and Destiny Bond potentially taking out a particularly threatening Pokemon (assuming Weezing can perform the move before the other Pokemon attacks, of course), it tends to be the one I send out right after Roserade to try and wear down a couple of the opponent's Pokemon. It's managed to survive a few physical Psychic-type attacks, and with Black Sludge restoring its HP it's managed to survive a surprisingly long time in some battles. Its speed and offenses are rather lacking, though, so unless it can somehow manage a lucky paralysis or poisoning from Sludge Bomb or Thunderbolt it really doesn't serve much use beyond tanking, status infliction and somewhat gimmicky KO'ing.
;042;
Golbat @Eviolite
Ability: Inner Focus
EVs: 252 HP / 32 Spe / 220 SpD
Nature: Calm (+SpD / -Atk)
-Super Fang
-Toxic
-Venoshock
-Roost
Honestly, I'm kind of surprised at how well this one works as a Special wall and staller. The Eviolite and his HP / SpD training have boosted him to a point where even a STAB Psychic or Thunderbolt only knocks him down about 1/4 health; he's an unexpectedly durable annoyance with an equally annoying appearance, and I LOVE it.
With Toxic, he acts as a backup Poisoner in Roserade's place and gets a boost to the already STAB'd Venoshock. Super Fang takes down a guaranteed 1/2 of the opponent's current HP and either allows the poison to do its job faster or else leaves an easy clean-up for the sweepers. Roost is there to give it a quick heal when its HP drops down into the low yellow range.
;049;
Venomoth @Silver Powder
Ability: Tinted Lens
EVs: 4 SpD / 252 Spe / 252 SpA
Nature: Timid (+Spe / - Atk)
-Bug Buzz
-Quiver Dance
-Hidden Power (Rock)
-Sleep Powder
Venomoth is my answer to Psychic- and Dark-types--I was originally going to pick Drapion, but then realized that Venomoth would be far speedier. The idea behind this one is to Sleep Powder the Psychic types, safely pull off a Quiver Dance or two, and then Bug Buzz the Psychic type into oblivion. Hidden Power is there as a backup attack, to handle Flying and Fire types. It's frail defensively, and sometimes even a neutral STAB is enough to either knock it out or take it down to red HP.
;094;
Gengar★ @Scope Lens
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 Spe / 252 SpA / 4 HP
Nature: Timid (+Spe / -Atk)
-Shadow Ball
-Sludge Bomb
-Focus Blast
-Thunderbolt
I originally considered going with a Gengarite/Perish Song build, but realized that my already trained SpA Sweeper Gengar could likely cover the gaps that my physical sweeper would struggle with. I'd already been using this Gengar as a sweeper long before building this team, and while she is a glass cannon she can usually outspeed most everything else that's been thrown at her, and has often managed to 1HKO or 2HKO anything that hasn't had a resistance to either her STABs or Focus Blast. Thunderbolt provides an extra bit of much-needed coverage against those pesky Water- and Flying-types, and also has the chance for a potential paralysis. The Scope Lens is there to boost her chances of getting a critical hit, and thus hopefully better her chances of knocking more Pokemon out.
;034;
Nidoking @Life Orb
Ability: Sheer Force
EVs: 4 Def / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Nature: Adamant (+Atk / -SpA)
-Megahorn
-Earthquake
-Poison Jab
-Rock Slide
Nidoking is built to be a pure, physical sweeper. Although Sheer Force does take away the chance of getting off a poison (Poison Jab) or flinch (Rock slide), his ability combined with the Life Orb has given him some insane attack power, and so long as he can get in the first hit he's managed to clean up the floor pretty well with an opponent's roster. Aside from the STAB Earthquake and Poison Jab, Rock Slide helps to counter the Flying and Fire types (and is pretty dang useful for AoE damage in Triples or Doubles), while Megahorn is the second choice after Venomoth to handle Psychics and the occasional Grass- or Dark-type. The Life Orb drain and lackluster defenses against super-effective STAB mean he doesn't last long, but if his predecessors can do their job right there usually isn't much left for him to finish up anyways, so it's not a terrible loss.
- - -
Thanks again in advance for any input you guys can provide as to how I can improve or substitute any of the Pokemon on this roster--I highly appreciate it!
Here's the team I've ended up with--if anyone can offer any suggestions for improvement or replacement, it would be greatly appreciated.
- - -
;407;
Roserade @Big Root
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Spe / 252 SpA
Nature: Timid (+Spe / - Atk)
-Leech Seed
-Toxic Spikes
-Sleep Powder
-Giga Drain
Roserade has been a great lead for me so far. It's primarily built to get Toxic Spikes set up first, and then Leech Seed and/or Sleep Powder if it's still alive after. Toxic Spikes is always the first move I have it use, for the coverage of poisoning whoever else the opponent might switch in after; Sleep Powder is to put the more immediate threats (like Fire- or Psychic-types) out of commision for a few turns, and allow Roserade to either Leech Seed or Giga Drain them depending on its HP at that point. The Big Root gives it more healing from Giga Drain and helps its survivability a little bit further.
Even with its Speed maxed I have occasionally run into Pokemon that were still faster, and in these cases it often ends up getting knocked out before it can set up Toxic Spikes. For the most part, though, it's managed to outspeed a lot of other Pokemon and even deal some good damage of its own with a neutral or super effective Giga Drain. After setting up Toxic Spikes, I like to try and focus on getting a Leech Seed in so that even if Roserade does go down, at least a little bit of health will get traded to my next Pokemon each turn and help wear the enemy Pokemon down a little further.
;110;
Weezing @Black Sludge
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpA
Nature: Bold (+Def / - Atk)
-Will-o-wisp
-Destiny Bond
-Thunderbolt
-Sludge Bomb
Weezing is built as the physical wall of my team, and even serves as a sort of threat neutralizer. Between Levitate taking away its Ground weakness, Will-O-Wisp reducing oncoming Attack STABs and dealing extra damage each turn, and Destiny Bond potentially taking out a particularly threatening Pokemon (assuming Weezing can perform the move before the other Pokemon attacks, of course), it tends to be the one I send out right after Roserade to try and wear down a couple of the opponent's Pokemon. It's managed to survive a few physical Psychic-type attacks, and with Black Sludge restoring its HP it's managed to survive a surprisingly long time in some battles. Its speed and offenses are rather lacking, though, so unless it can somehow manage a lucky paralysis or poisoning from Sludge Bomb or Thunderbolt it really doesn't serve much use beyond tanking, status infliction and somewhat gimmicky KO'ing.
;042;
Golbat @Eviolite
Ability: Inner Focus
EVs: 252 HP / 32 Spe / 220 SpD
Nature: Calm (+SpD / -Atk)
-Super Fang
-Toxic
-Venoshock
-Roost
Honestly, I'm kind of surprised at how well this one works as a Special wall and staller. The Eviolite and his HP / SpD training have boosted him to a point where even a STAB Psychic or Thunderbolt only knocks him down about 1/4 health; he's an unexpectedly durable annoyance with an equally annoying appearance, and I LOVE it.
With Toxic, he acts as a backup Poisoner in Roserade's place and gets a boost to the already STAB'd Venoshock. Super Fang takes down a guaranteed 1/2 of the opponent's current HP and either allows the poison to do its job faster or else leaves an easy clean-up for the sweepers. Roost is there to give it a quick heal when its HP drops down into the low yellow range.
;049;
Venomoth @Silver Powder
Ability: Tinted Lens
EVs: 4 SpD / 252 Spe / 252 SpA
Nature: Timid (+Spe / - Atk)
-Bug Buzz
-Quiver Dance
-Hidden Power (Rock)
-Sleep Powder
Venomoth is my answer to Psychic- and Dark-types--I was originally going to pick Drapion, but then realized that Venomoth would be far speedier. The idea behind this one is to Sleep Powder the Psychic types, safely pull off a Quiver Dance or two, and then Bug Buzz the Psychic type into oblivion. Hidden Power is there as a backup attack, to handle Flying and Fire types. It's frail defensively, and sometimes even a neutral STAB is enough to either knock it out or take it down to red HP.
;094;
Gengar★ @Scope Lens
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 Spe / 252 SpA / 4 HP
Nature: Timid (+Spe / -Atk)
-Shadow Ball
-Sludge Bomb
-Focus Blast
-Thunderbolt
I originally considered going with a Gengarite/Perish Song build, but realized that my already trained SpA Sweeper Gengar could likely cover the gaps that my physical sweeper would struggle with. I'd already been using this Gengar as a sweeper long before building this team, and while she is a glass cannon she can usually outspeed most everything else that's been thrown at her, and has often managed to 1HKO or 2HKO anything that hasn't had a resistance to either her STABs or Focus Blast. Thunderbolt provides an extra bit of much-needed coverage against those pesky Water- and Flying-types, and also has the chance for a potential paralysis. The Scope Lens is there to boost her chances of getting a critical hit, and thus hopefully better her chances of knocking more Pokemon out.
;034;
Nidoking @Life Orb
Ability: Sheer Force
EVs: 4 Def / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Nature: Adamant (+Atk / -SpA)
-Megahorn
-Earthquake
-Poison Jab
-Rock Slide
Nidoking is built to be a pure, physical sweeper. Although Sheer Force does take away the chance of getting off a poison (Poison Jab) or flinch (Rock slide), his ability combined with the Life Orb has given him some insane attack power, and so long as he can get in the first hit he's managed to clean up the floor pretty well with an opponent's roster. Aside from the STAB Earthquake and Poison Jab, Rock Slide helps to counter the Flying and Fire types (and is pretty dang useful for AoE damage in Triples or Doubles), while Megahorn is the second choice after Venomoth to handle Psychics and the occasional Grass- or Dark-type. The Life Orb drain and lackluster defenses against super-effective STAB mean he doesn't last long, but if his predecessors can do their job right there usually isn't much left for him to finish up anyways, so it's not a terrible loss.
- - -
Thanks again in advance for any input you guys can provide as to how I can improve or substitute any of the Pokemon on this roster--I highly appreciate it!
