Hey there!
So in PS my name is good dogg (hence snoops face over jake), so I thought I'd use an actual Dogg, Zygarde-10%. This team has been used but is still quite experimental, so any tips/advice from here will be much loved. Lets get right into this:
TEAMBUILDING:
So I started with Zygarde-10%, which was the whole purpose of this team. It is quite fast, and slap a band on it and it hits like a truck. Its not too good alone, however, so I decided to make a typical Dragon/Fairy/Steel core seen so often now. For those who don't know it is a really reliable core offensively as Fairy's weakness, Poison, is blocked by Steel, Dragons weakness, Dragon, is blocked by fairy and the other Dragon/Fairy weaknesses, Fairy, Steel and Ice are all resisted by steel. For this reason a bulky steel is usually run, but I wanted to play a twist on tradition so I add Kartana instead.
So I wanted this core to be very offensive, so I added the super-strong physical attacker Kartana and the
Tapu Fini was the answer to my call for help, and it also gave me a great stallbreaker (with access to Taunt+ Nature's Madness) and a defogger along with a reliable switch in. It also made my team more balanced rather than extremely HO, which is generally how I like to build my teams. Now, though, I still had a very big weakness to Mega Pinsir/Mega Zards/Volcarona, so I needed to add a Rock type. I also needed a rock setter too.
After a long, boring debate over whether to use Mega Aerodactyl, Tyranitar or Nihilego, I chose Nihilego as it gave me a rock setter as well as the Rock coverage that I so desperately needed. Also, it gave me another thing to hit Faries with, and with HP Ice a Garchomp counter (If you slap on a sash/scarf). However, my team was quite weak to all ground types with no Ground immunity, and I lacked a mega. So in the end I chose...
Mega Charizard Y. In a debate over it and Lando T, I chose it as it gave me something to hit Grass/Steel types with, and it also gave me some special coverage for water types. The sun also helps defeat rain teams, as my team is quite slow with a lack of priority, and swift swim users destroy me. Overall I liked the team's look so I got to work making the sets.
THE TEAM:
Zygarde-10% @ Choice Band
Ability: Aura Break
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Thousand Arrows
- Outrage
- Extreme Speed
- Toxic
This is the standard set for any Zygarde-10%. Toxic is more of a filler move but can also help I guess. Thousand Arrows is an INCREDIBLE move and can often sweep close to entire teams. Outrage is just for some hard-hitting STAB, great for going against things like non scarf Garchomp, and Extreme Speed is on there to give me some speed control over things like Pheromosa or Greninja. Here are some calcs for thousand arrows to show just how good it is:
252 Atk Choice Band Zygarde-10% Thousand Arrows vs. 248 HP / 240+ Def Rotom-Wash: 254-302 (83.8 - 99.6%) -- 75% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock
252 Atk Choice Band Zygarde-10% Thousand Arrows vs. 248 HP / 244+ Def Zapdos: 296-350 (77.2 - 91.3%) -- guaranteed OHKO after Stealth Rock
252 Atk Choice Band Zygarde-10% Thousand Arrows vs. 252 HP / 4 Def Skarmory: 272-324 (81.4 - 97%) -- 62.5% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock
Tapu Lele @ Choice Specs
Ability: Psychic Surge
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Moonblast
- Psyshock
- Shadow Ball
- Hidden Power [Fire]
Tapu Lele is an incredible sweeper. It can easily clean up against anything late game but also can be used to get some mid-game kills. Set is pretty self-explanatory, HP Fire for those annoying Steels, and Psyshock for incredibly specially defensive tanks like Chansey. I don't really think that Psychic will be necessary as I have another hard-hitting STAB move in Moonblast for all of those Def tanks as well. I chose specs for the incredible damage they give, but I guess I could just as easily run scarf, to help with my lack of speedy attackers. Here are some calcs:
252 SpA Choice Specs Tapu Lele Psyshock vs. 4 HP / 252+ Def Eviolite Chansey: 390-460 (60.7 - 71.6%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock
252 SpA Choice Specs Tapu Lele Psyshock vs. 252 HP / 232+ Def Toxapex: 320-378 (105.2 - 124.3%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252 SpA Choice Specs Tapu Lele Hidden Power Fire vs. 252 HP / 168 SpD Ferrothorn: 300-356 (85.2 - 101.1%) -- 43.8% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock
252 SpA Choice Specs Tapu Lele Hidden Power Fire vs. 248 HP / 200 SpD Scizor-Mega: 324-384 (94.4 - 111.9%) -- guaranteed OHKO after Stealth Rock
Kartana @ Fightinium Z
Ability: Beast Boost
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- Leaf Blade
- Smart Strike
- Sacred Sword
Kartana is very, very strong, with 181 base attack and a beast boost for more after every kill, this thing can sweep at any point in the game, and if they don't have a fast counter to this, can easily sweep a team. It took me a while to choose between Fightinium Z, Steelium Z and Grassium Z, but after doing a bit of testing with all of them I soon found that Fightinium Z was best as it allowed me to break heavy steel types the easiest. For the following calcs I will do it for a neutral Kartana, but often it will be at at least +1, maybe even more if a Swords Dance is set up.
252 Atk Kartana All-Out Pummeling (175 BP) vs. 252 HP / 88+ Def Ferrothorn: 328-388 (93.1 - 110.2%) -- 93.8% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock
252 Atk Kartana All-Out Pummeling (175 BP) vs. 252 HP / 4 Def Celesteela: 238-280 (59.7 - 70.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery
252 Atk Kartana Leaf Blade vs. 248 HP / 240+ Def Rotom-Wash: 264-312 (87.1 - 102.9%) -- 93.8% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock
252 Atk Kartana Leaf Blade vs. 248 HP / 192 Def Tapu Fini: 284-336 (82.7 - 97.9%) -- 62.5% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock
Tapu Fini @ Leftovers
Ability: Misty Surge
EVs: 248 HP / 180 Def / 16 SpD / 64 Spe
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Scald
- Defog
- Taunt
- Nature's Madness
Tapu Fini is a great tank, and also probably one of the best stallbreakers in the game. Misty Surge stops all hope of Status Stall, and taunt often forces stall mons to use their attacking moves, ruining them. Also, Natures Madness can severely lower tanky mons like Celesteela, putting them in range of Kartana's Z move. the EVs, however, are not so self-explanatory. It basically has enough bulk to tank a Heatran Bloom Doom nearly all of the time, whilst also completely walling nearly all physical mons. Also, with 180 Defense, it is never 1-shot by a Timid Kartana Leaf Blade .The following calcs are all defensive (obviously).
252 SpA Heatran Bloom Doom (190 BP) vs. 248 HP / 16+ SpD Tapu Fini: 296-350 (86.2 - 102%) -- 12.5% chance to OHKO
252 Atk Tough Claws Metagross-Mega Thunder Punch vs. 248 HP / 180 Def Tapu Fini: 176-208 (51.3 - 60.6%) -- 91.8% chance to 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
252+ Atk Pheromosa Poison Jab vs. 248 HP / 180 Def Tapu Fini: 152-180 (44.3 - 52.4%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Leftovers recovery
252 Atk Kartana Leaf Blade vs. 248 HP / 180 Def Tapu Fini: 288-342 (83.9 - 99.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
Nihilego @ Focus Sash
Ability: Beast Boost
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Power Gem
- Sludge Wave
- Hidden Power [Ice]
So Nihilego is usually my lead, the fact that it is very fast and quite offensive, along with the fact that it can always take a hit, means that it can be great for countering other common leads like Pheromosa or Landorus. However, if I think that rocks won't be necessary for the game (usually against HO teams), then I often save my Nihil for the late game, as with decent coverage and a lifeline, along with decent speed and an offence boost after every kill, this thing is great for cleaning up. CALCS TIME:
252 SpA Nihilego Hidden Power Ice vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Landorus-Therian: 312-368 (97.8 - 115.3%) -- 87.5% chance to OHKO (Offensive)
252 SpA Nihilego Hidden Power Ice vs. 252 HP / 24 SpD Landorus-Therian: 304-360 (79.5 - 94.2%) -- 43.8% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock (Defensive)
252 SpA Nihilego Power Gem vs. +2 0 HP / 4 SpD Volcarona: 252-300 (81 - 96.4%) -- guaranteed OHKO after Stealth Rock (Even at +2 kills Volc)
252 SpA Nihilego Sludge Wave vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Tapu Lele: 270-320 (96 - 113.8%) -- guaranteed OHKO after Stealth Rock
Charizard-Mega-Y @ Charizardite Y
Ability: Drought
EVs: 252 SpA / 6 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Flamethrower
- Solar Beam
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Roost
Finally, we come to Charizard Y. This mon is a monster of a sweeper, at any time of the game. Roost is for recovering rocks damage against stall mons that I know I will win against, like Fini or Ferro. Charizard is also my absolute 'f*ck you' to rain teams, with drought being awesome to stop swift swimmers destroying my team, and Solar Beam killing pretty much everything that they could throw at me. HP Ice is to improve my ability to sweep with this thing, as with it I can kill other threats like Salamence and, if it is locked into anything but Rock Slide/Stone Edge, Scarfed Garchomp. I run Flamethrower over Fire Blast on this guy as in the sun, Flamethrower is still very potent, and I also have no chance of missing. Some Calcs for you:
252 SpA Charizard-Mega-Y Hidden Power Ice vs. 4 HP / 0 SpD Garchomp: 352-416 (98.3 - 116.2%) -- guaranteed OHKO after Stealth Rock
252 SpA Charizard-Mega-Y Flamethrower vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Celesteela in Sun: 368-434 (92.4 - 109%) -- guaranteed OHKO after Stealth Rock
252 SpA Charizard-Mega-Y Solar Beam vs. 248 HP / 64 SpD Pelipper: 187-220 (57.8 - 68.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock
252 SpA Charizard-Mega-Y Flamethrower vs. 248 HP / 8 SpD Assault Vest Magearna in Sun: 306-360 (84.2 - 99.1%) -- 37.5% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock
Finally, I reach the end of what has been probably the best RMT/Team I've ever made. To make a quick threat list, I would say that the main threats to this team are:
- Lack of Speedy Mons/Scarfers, can hurt quite badly when going against things that have set up eg. DD Lando T, Quiver dance Phero/Volcarona.
- Extreme HO/ Extreme Stall: This team can only properly show its potential against Balanced Teams/Slight Stall/Bulky Offence.
- Big weakness to Heatran.
If you have ANY changes/suggestions for the team, please leave them down below. I will try out every one for sure.
Thank you all for reading and I'll leave you with an importable:
Zygarde-10% @ Choice Band
Ability: Aura Break
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Thousand Arrows
- Outrage
- Extreme Speed
- Toxic
Tapu Lele @ Choice Specs
Ability: Psychic Surge
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Moonblast
- Psyshock
- Shadow Ball
- Hidden Power [Fire]
Kartana @ Fightinium Z
Ability: Beast Boost
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- Leaf Blade
- Smart Strike
- Sacred Sword
Tapu Fini @ Leftovers
Ability: Misty Surge
EVs: 248 HP / 180 Def / 16 SpD / 64 Spe
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Scald
- Defog
- Taunt
- Nature's Madness
Nihilego @ Focus Sash
Ability: Beast Boost
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Power Gem
- Sludge Wave
- Hidden Power [Ice]
Charizard-Mega-Y @ Charizardite Y
Ability: Drought
EVs: 252 SpA / 6 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Flamethrower
- Solar Beam
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Roost
Ability: Aura Break
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Thousand Arrows
- Outrage
- Extreme Speed
- Toxic
Tapu Lele @ Choice Specs
Ability: Psychic Surge
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Moonblast
- Psyshock
- Shadow Ball
- Hidden Power [Fire]
Kartana @ Fightinium Z
Ability: Beast Boost
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- Leaf Blade
- Smart Strike
- Sacred Sword
Tapu Fini @ Leftovers
Ability: Misty Surge
EVs: 248 HP / 180 Def / 16 SpD / 64 Spe
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Scald
- Defog
- Taunt
- Nature's Madness
Nihilego @ Focus Sash
Ability: Beast Boost
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Power Gem
- Sludge Wave
- Hidden Power [Ice]
Charizard-Mega-Y @ Charizardite Y
Ability: Drought
EVs: 252 SpA / 6 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Flamethrower
- Solar Beam
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Roost
CHANGELOG:
Avidity found that my Steel core member, Kartana, wasn't quite making the cut (if you'll excuse the pun). With it being my Fairy switch in, and most Fairys are special attackers, its awful SpDef stat would just not do. Magearna, however, has impressive defensive stats, and good offensive stats, and so fits the slot nicely. See his comment for sets/calcs.
Focus Blast>Hidden Power [Fire]
Choice Scarf>Choice Specs
Focus Blast>Hidden Power [Ice]
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