Intro:
This team is just a build for the most matchup based offense playstyle ever. However in PU, the lack of a sticky webs setter that could also set up rocks makes this type of team scuffed as hell but after cutting many corners, I feel confident that this team is close to optimal build for the tier. This team can function even without webs up, as many of these sweepers cover each other’s weaknesses and are difficult for every team to deal with in general.
Import: http://pokepast.es/01aaf69ada039dc1
Masquerain @ Focus Sash
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Sticky Web
- Air Slash
- Hydro Pump
- Bug Buzz
Masquerain is the go-to webs setter for the team due its ability to scare off Hitmonchan and Skuntank keeping webs on the field, the two most common hazard removals in the tier is why it’s picked over Leavanny. Air Slash, Hydro Pump, and Bug Buzz are the most consistent other 3 options as it nets the most amount of coverage against mons that both remove hazards, try to boost in front of it, and hazard leads making it capable of beating Regirock, Piloswine, Mesprit, and Hitmonchan. This coverage only really loses to Swanna which isn’t that large of a nuisance to the team to deal with (can set up on with Carracosta and Raichu-Alola)
Carracosta @ White Herb
Ability: Solid Rock
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Shell Smash
- Liquidation
- Stone Edge
- Aqua Jet
Carracosta is an absolute monster outside of webs and even more difficult to defeat with webs up. White Herb is probably the best catch all item as the Z move is being used by another mon however Chople Berry or Rindo Berry could also work. Sets up on Skuntank if it tries to defog. This should be lead if you predict the opposing Archeops is the stealth rock lead set allowing for a free smash and a couple of kills if they don’t pack a hard counter.
Lilligant @ Life Orb
Ability: Chlorophyll
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Sleep Powder
- Giga Drain
- Quiver Dance
- Hidden Power [Fire]
Lilligant is a great accomplice to Carracosta as it sets up on its hardest counters (Gourgeist, Gastrodon, and Ferroseed) and with webs up, it can outspeed any grounded threat and Sleep Powder it for the sweep. HP fire to deal with Ferroseed to make spike stack less of a nuisance, makes Sun the easiest matchup ever, and Life Orb + Giga Drain is just an amazing way to break through bulkier teams while keeping a decent amount of hp at all times.
Ditto @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Imposter
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Def
Relaxed Nature
IVs: 0 Atk / 30 SpA / 0 Spe
- Transform
Ditto is an oddball for webs but patches up the team’s susceptibility to setup sweepers and overall has great general utility (can copy even lightning rod from Manectric/Zebstrika and grab a free kill off a volt switch which is useful for Masquerain) and if the matchup does not require webs and rocks are better, Ditto can simply just copy a rocker to get them up if need be. I went for HP fire ditto but HP ice can work as well, just need a hidden power that allows Lilligant to beat itself.
Arbok @ Groundium Z
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Coil
- Earthquake
- Gunk Shot
- Sucker Punch
Arbok is generally mediocre mon but for this team, it’s quite useful for doing a myriad of tasks. This can straight up just set up in front of Hitmonchan that aims to spin or Drain Punch, wins against Skuntank due to Tec Rage and Intimidate, sets up on Togetic that wants to Defog, wins against Qwilfish due to Tec Rage prevent Spikes from going up, and +1 Sucker Punch many mons that to revenge kill it like Mesprit and scarf Archeops to defeatist range. It can also suck up T-spikes which is just great. Reasons listed above why Tec Rage > Hydro Vortex because they generally hit the same stuff anyway (Gunk Shot resists) and can at least dent Ferroseed to half with +1 (although this does leave you walled completely by Weezing that takes a decent chunk from Hydro Vortex).
Raichu-Alola @ Life Orb
Ability: Surge Surfer
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Nasty Plot
- Thunderbolt
- Psyshock
- Encore
Raichu-Alola’s probably the most expendable member of the team but overall works well with the rest of the mons. Nasty Plot along with STAB coverage allows it to take on a large portion of the metagame and Encore is great for punishing anything that tries to spam recovery or set up against any of the other sweepers allowing for a sweep of its own and catches Sucker Punch fishers in their tracks. Psychic can be used here to catch Gourgeist-L (good chance of OHKO at +2 and kills Weezing) but Psyshock catches AV Magmortar and AV Lanturn in their tracks and Life Orb secures many KO’s and losing health is often not a big issue for Racihu-A. It’s also inherently the fastest member of the team and can do feats like outspeed Adamant Stoutland in sand when webs are up and speed ties with non-scarf Archeops if need be. Ayellow magic thunder wave immunity is nice as well.
Conclusion:
Overall, webs is still webs and will have bad matchups like stall and trick room but this team build works well for what it is. The most annoying mon to face is probably Piloswine though, due to the lack of Hydro Vortex of Arbok, there’s nothing that can outright kill it and will most likely nab a kill against this team but it’s easily worn down anyway. Sap Sipper Drampa is annoying as well to face against as switching into Liligant is just a free kill. Persian-Alola is annoying but bug buzz nabs it if tries taunt mindgames so it's cool.
Any Suggestions welcomed though :].
This team is just a build for the most matchup based offense playstyle ever. However in PU, the lack of a sticky webs setter that could also set up rocks makes this type of team scuffed as hell but after cutting many corners, I feel confident that this team is close to optimal build for the tier. This team can function even without webs up, as many of these sweepers cover each other’s weaknesses and are difficult for every team to deal with in general.
Import: http://pokepast.es/01aaf69ada039dc1
Masquerain @ Focus Sash
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Sticky Web
- Air Slash
- Hydro Pump
- Bug Buzz
Masquerain is the go-to webs setter for the team due its ability to scare off Hitmonchan and Skuntank keeping webs on the field, the two most common hazard removals in the tier is why it’s picked over Leavanny. Air Slash, Hydro Pump, and Bug Buzz are the most consistent other 3 options as it nets the most amount of coverage against mons that both remove hazards, try to boost in front of it, and hazard leads making it capable of beating Regirock, Piloswine, Mesprit, and Hitmonchan. This coverage only really loses to Swanna which isn’t that large of a nuisance to the team to deal with (can set up on with Carracosta and Raichu-Alola)
Carracosta @ White Herb
Ability: Solid Rock
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Shell Smash
- Liquidation
- Stone Edge
- Aqua Jet
Carracosta is an absolute monster outside of webs and even more difficult to defeat with webs up. White Herb is probably the best catch all item as the Z move is being used by another mon however Chople Berry or Rindo Berry could also work. Sets up on Skuntank if it tries to defog. This should be lead if you predict the opposing Archeops is the stealth rock lead set allowing for a free smash and a couple of kills if they don’t pack a hard counter.
Lilligant @ Life Orb
Ability: Chlorophyll
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Sleep Powder
- Giga Drain
- Quiver Dance
- Hidden Power [Fire]
Lilligant is a great accomplice to Carracosta as it sets up on its hardest counters (Gourgeist, Gastrodon, and Ferroseed) and with webs up, it can outspeed any grounded threat and Sleep Powder it for the sweep. HP fire to deal with Ferroseed to make spike stack less of a nuisance, makes Sun the easiest matchup ever, and Life Orb + Giga Drain is just an amazing way to break through bulkier teams while keeping a decent amount of hp at all times.
Ditto @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Imposter
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Def
Relaxed Nature
IVs: 0 Atk / 30 SpA / 0 Spe
- Transform
Ditto is an oddball for webs but patches up the team’s susceptibility to setup sweepers and overall has great general utility (can copy even lightning rod from Manectric/Zebstrika and grab a free kill off a volt switch which is useful for Masquerain) and if the matchup does not require webs and rocks are better, Ditto can simply just copy a rocker to get them up if need be. I went for HP fire ditto but HP ice can work as well, just need a hidden power that allows Lilligant to beat itself.
Arbok @ Groundium Z
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Coil
- Earthquake
- Gunk Shot
- Sucker Punch
Arbok is generally mediocre mon but for this team, it’s quite useful for doing a myriad of tasks. This can straight up just set up in front of Hitmonchan that aims to spin or Drain Punch, wins against Skuntank due to Tec Rage and Intimidate, sets up on Togetic that wants to Defog, wins against Qwilfish due to Tec Rage prevent Spikes from going up, and +1 Sucker Punch many mons that to revenge kill it like Mesprit and scarf Archeops to defeatist range. It can also suck up T-spikes which is just great. Reasons listed above why Tec Rage > Hydro Vortex because they generally hit the same stuff anyway (Gunk Shot resists) and can at least dent Ferroseed to half with +1 (although this does leave you walled completely by Weezing that takes a decent chunk from Hydro Vortex).
Raichu-Alola @ Life Orb
Ability: Surge Surfer
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Nasty Plot
- Thunderbolt
- Psyshock
- Encore
Raichu-Alola’s probably the most expendable member of the team but overall works well with the rest of the mons. Nasty Plot along with STAB coverage allows it to take on a large portion of the metagame and Encore is great for punishing anything that tries to spam recovery or set up against any of the other sweepers allowing for a sweep of its own and catches Sucker Punch fishers in their tracks. Psychic can be used here to catch Gourgeist-L (good chance of OHKO at +2 and kills Weezing) but Psyshock catches AV Magmortar and AV Lanturn in their tracks and Life Orb secures many KO’s and losing health is often not a big issue for Racihu-A. It’s also inherently the fastest member of the team and can do feats like outspeed Adamant Stoutland in sand when webs are up and speed ties with non-scarf Archeops if need be. A
Conclusion:
Overall, webs is still webs and will have bad matchups like stall and trick room but this team build works well for what it is. The most annoying mon to face is probably Piloswine though, due to the lack of Hydro Vortex of Arbok, there’s nothing that can outright kill it and will most likely nab a kill against this team but it’s easily worn down anyway. Sap Sipper Drampa is annoying as well to face against as switching into Liligant is just a free kill. Persian-Alola is annoying but bug buzz nabs it if tries taunt mindgames so it's cool.
Any Suggestions welcomed though :].
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