I'm trying for a kind of minelayer team, in the form of Spikes, Stealth Rock, and (in a sense) Sandstorm. This is what came of someone's advice to try to focus on my favorite pokemon and work from there (in this case, Cradily, with Gliscor and Lanturn close seconds). Now, whether I *did* that well at crafting a good team...I'm still not entirely certain it's properly gelled.
Note, by the way, that this is WiFi-oriented; PC programs are not being considered. The EV formations are assuming that all IV's are 15—it'll be easiest to adjust for the actual IV's from there. (And I'll not be surprised if I was aiming at the wrong levels for ideal stats...Min/maxer I am not, since I don't like to get outflanked, as it were) Also, I'm going by the no-item-duplication rule.
GLISCOR; equip Smooth Rock
Jolly
EV formation: 124 Att, 208 Def, 176 Spd
All 15 IV stat result: 275 HP, 241 Att, 322 Def, (99 SAtt), 170 SDef, 279 Spd
Sand Veil
*Earthquake
*Sandstorm
*Any two of Aerial Ace, Thunder Fang, U-Turn
Between Sand Veil and the high defense rating, this should make a very effective physical barricade. Unfortunately, Earthquake is the only particularly potent weapon it has; the next best is Aerial Ace (rating 90, taking type bonus into effect). As if that weren't enough, I've got two very appealing alternatives in Thunder Fang (excellent damage against water threats and Earthquake-avoiding fliers) and U-Turn (can sting the enemy while switching). ({grumble} Aesthetically it's interesting—it's a scorpion, and it has fewer vulnerabilities than either component type—but coming up with a good moveset for this one is a nuisance...)
CRADILY; equip Lum Berry
Calm
EV formation: 96 Def, 160 SAtt, 252 SDef
All 15 IV stat result: 297 HP, (163 Att), 238 Def, 222 SAtt, 326 SDef, 106 Spd
Suction Cups
*Energy Ball
*Ancient Power
*Stealth Rock
*Recover
Suction Cups lets it stay enjoying Sandstorm's SDef bonus (making it all but impervious to most special attacks; hopefully, it can still endure things like Ice Beam and Flash Cannon moderately well) and/or passed bonuses from Mr. Mime. Recover just prolongs its capacity for sticking around. Energy Ball and Ancient Power are the turrets (Stone Edge's suboptimal accuracy worries me...). Basically, a special tank. This resilience means that it can merrily restore the Stealth Rock if it's spinned away.
SKARMORY; equip Salac Berry or Shed Shell
Impish
EV formation: 130 Att, 240 Def, 140 Spd
All 15 IV stat result: 255 HP, 212 Att, 396 Def, (90 SAtt), 160 SDef, 195 Spd
Keen Eye
*Drill Peck
*Steel Wing
*Spikes
*Roar
You could argue that it serves the same role as Gliscor, but this is really more of a minelayer (no Sand Veil, so not QUITE as good a physical barrier). Set the mines with Spikes, then send enemies skittering into them with Roar. Drill Peck and Steel Wing are the turrets. May equip Shed Shell to elude Magnet Pull and Mean Look.
LANTURN; equip Leftovers
Timid
EV formation: 124 HP, 40 Def, 120 SAtt, 104 SDef, 120 Spd
All 15 IV stat result: 406 HP, (122 Att), 146 Def, 202 SAtt, 198 SDef, 202 Spd
Volt Absorb
*Surf
*Thunder
*Rain Dance
*Confuse Ray
Typical parafusion, minted in GSC. Rain Dance gets both powered-up Surf and homing Thunder. Rain Dance is also a boon in case you need to shut off Sandstorm early (say, they sent out their own rock-type to benefit from the sand). Leftovers translates to indirect Sandstorm resilience. Main concern: being able to properly predict when they'll switch in ground-types (i.e. when to use Surf instead of Thunder).
DRAPION; equip Scope Lens
Adamant
EV formation: 252 Att, 72 Def, 64 SDef, 120 Spd
All 15 IV stat result: 265 HP, 289 Att, 258 Def, (126 SAtt), 186 SDef, 240 Spd
Sniper
*Night Slash
*Cross Poison
*Fire Fang
*Whirlwind
Standard physical cannon. Night Slash and Cross Poison benefit from both type bonus and Sniper, and Fire Fang is an unpleasant surprise for steel-types. Whirlwind supplies another way to force enemies into the minefield, in case you can't bring Skarmory in safely.
MR. MIME; equip Bright Powder
Filter
Modest
EV formation: 60 HP, 204 SAtt, 128 SDef, 116 Spd
All 15 IV stat result: 220 HP, (99 Att), 150 Def, 298 SAtt, 292 SDef, 229 Spd
Filter
*Psychic
*Charge Beam
*Barrier
*Baton Pass
I can't bring myself to believe that passing on just one kind of bonus is an efficient use of Baton Pass (except Vaporeon with Aqua Ring, but Lanturn's already taking the water slot); Ninjask loses on account of its two usual passes (physical attack and speed) being of no use for Cradily. Thus began my search for something that could learn both Baton Pass and Charge Beam. This was the best candidate I could find (I think most of the other candidates passed Agility...). Cradily and Lanturn benefit from both Charge Beam and Barrier (and everything benefits from Barrier). Charge Beam also makes a nice sidearm in case Mr. Mime ends up alone against a dark-type. You could even argue that Mr. Mime makes for a special glass cannon.
Other notes and concerns:
—If there's a good way to do it, I'd like to give Gliscor Stealth Rock and have Cradily equip Confuse Ray instead. The problem (besides whether Gliscor is the better minelayer to begin with) is that Gliscor's sidearms will become a bit compromised; only one of Aerial Ace, Thunder Fang, and U-Turn, rather than two.
—I'm wondering if, beyond Mr. Mime, I've neglected stat-ups overmuch...
—Then there's the matter of the lack of a truly reliable special cannon. Lanturn's special attack isn't that high, same for Cradily, and Mr. Mime readily crumples before physical attacks.
—Also, am I fretting too much about the Lanturn Rain Dance emergency shutoff for enemy rock? If possible, I'm considering Surf/Discharge/Confuse Ray/Signal Beam|Ice Beam for Lanturn...
Note, by the way, that this is WiFi-oriented; PC programs are not being considered. The EV formations are assuming that all IV's are 15—it'll be easiest to adjust for the actual IV's from there. (And I'll not be surprised if I was aiming at the wrong levels for ideal stats...Min/maxer I am not, since I don't like to get outflanked, as it were) Also, I'm going by the no-item-duplication rule.
GLISCOR; equip Smooth Rock
Jolly
EV formation: 124 Att, 208 Def, 176 Spd
All 15 IV stat result: 275 HP, 241 Att, 322 Def, (99 SAtt), 170 SDef, 279 Spd
Sand Veil
*Earthquake
*Sandstorm
*Any two of Aerial Ace, Thunder Fang, U-Turn
Between Sand Veil and the high defense rating, this should make a very effective physical barricade. Unfortunately, Earthquake is the only particularly potent weapon it has; the next best is Aerial Ace (rating 90, taking type bonus into effect). As if that weren't enough, I've got two very appealing alternatives in Thunder Fang (excellent damage against water threats and Earthquake-avoiding fliers) and U-Turn (can sting the enemy while switching). ({grumble} Aesthetically it's interesting—it's a scorpion, and it has fewer vulnerabilities than either component type—but coming up with a good moveset for this one is a nuisance...)
CRADILY; equip Lum Berry
Calm
EV formation: 96 Def, 160 SAtt, 252 SDef
All 15 IV stat result: 297 HP, (163 Att), 238 Def, 222 SAtt, 326 SDef, 106 Spd
Suction Cups
*Energy Ball
*Ancient Power
*Stealth Rock
*Recover
Suction Cups lets it stay enjoying Sandstorm's SDef bonus (making it all but impervious to most special attacks; hopefully, it can still endure things like Ice Beam and Flash Cannon moderately well) and/or passed bonuses from Mr. Mime. Recover just prolongs its capacity for sticking around. Energy Ball and Ancient Power are the turrets (Stone Edge's suboptimal accuracy worries me...). Basically, a special tank. This resilience means that it can merrily restore the Stealth Rock if it's spinned away.
SKARMORY; equip Salac Berry or Shed Shell
Impish
EV formation: 130 Att, 240 Def, 140 Spd
All 15 IV stat result: 255 HP, 212 Att, 396 Def, (90 SAtt), 160 SDef, 195 Spd
Keen Eye
*Drill Peck
*Steel Wing
*Spikes
*Roar
You could argue that it serves the same role as Gliscor, but this is really more of a minelayer (no Sand Veil, so not QUITE as good a physical barrier). Set the mines with Spikes, then send enemies skittering into them with Roar. Drill Peck and Steel Wing are the turrets. May equip Shed Shell to elude Magnet Pull and Mean Look.
LANTURN; equip Leftovers
Timid
EV formation: 124 HP, 40 Def, 120 SAtt, 104 SDef, 120 Spd
All 15 IV stat result: 406 HP, (122 Att), 146 Def, 202 SAtt, 198 SDef, 202 Spd
Volt Absorb
*Surf
*Thunder
*Rain Dance
*Confuse Ray
Typical parafusion, minted in GSC. Rain Dance gets both powered-up Surf and homing Thunder. Rain Dance is also a boon in case you need to shut off Sandstorm early (say, they sent out their own rock-type to benefit from the sand). Leftovers translates to indirect Sandstorm resilience. Main concern: being able to properly predict when they'll switch in ground-types (i.e. when to use Surf instead of Thunder).
DRAPION; equip Scope Lens
Adamant
EV formation: 252 Att, 72 Def, 64 SDef, 120 Spd
All 15 IV stat result: 265 HP, 289 Att, 258 Def, (126 SAtt), 186 SDef, 240 Spd
Sniper
*Night Slash
*Cross Poison
*Fire Fang
*Whirlwind
Standard physical cannon. Night Slash and Cross Poison benefit from both type bonus and Sniper, and Fire Fang is an unpleasant surprise for steel-types. Whirlwind supplies another way to force enemies into the minefield, in case you can't bring Skarmory in safely.
MR. MIME; equip Bright Powder
Filter
Modest
EV formation: 60 HP, 204 SAtt, 128 SDef, 116 Spd
All 15 IV stat result: 220 HP, (99 Att), 150 Def, 298 SAtt, 292 SDef, 229 Spd
Filter
*Psychic
*Charge Beam
*Barrier
*Baton Pass
I can't bring myself to believe that passing on just one kind of bonus is an efficient use of Baton Pass (except Vaporeon with Aqua Ring, but Lanturn's already taking the water slot); Ninjask loses on account of its two usual passes (physical attack and speed) being of no use for Cradily. Thus began my search for something that could learn both Baton Pass and Charge Beam. This was the best candidate I could find (I think most of the other candidates passed Agility...). Cradily and Lanturn benefit from both Charge Beam and Barrier (and everything benefits from Barrier). Charge Beam also makes a nice sidearm in case Mr. Mime ends up alone against a dark-type. You could even argue that Mr. Mime makes for a special glass cannon.
Other notes and concerns:
—If there's a good way to do it, I'd like to give Gliscor Stealth Rock and have Cradily equip Confuse Ray instead. The problem (besides whether Gliscor is the better minelayer to begin with) is that Gliscor's sidearms will become a bit compromised; only one of Aerial Ace, Thunder Fang, and U-Turn, rather than two.
—I'm wondering if, beyond Mr. Mime, I've neglected stat-ups overmuch...
—Then there's the matter of the lack of a truly reliable special cannon. Lanturn's special attack isn't that high, same for Cradily, and Mr. Mime readily crumples before physical attacks.
—Also, am I fretting too much about the Lanturn Rain Dance emergency shutoff for enemy rock? If possible, I'm considering Surf/Discharge/Confuse Ray/Signal Beam|Ice Beam for Lanturn...
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