Hey everybody, welcome to the RMT. This is a new NU team that I made, and it's not bad at all. It's a stall team, my first in NU - for those of you unfamiliar with stall, it's a playstyle revolving around wearing down your opponent's team with residual damage by having a solid defensive core and forcing switches, racking up hazard damage. I came up with it while trying to find a good use for Vileplume and Mawile, and I have to say, they are underestimated in the NU environment. At the moment, Vileplume is overshadowed by Amoonguss, but he will likely be moving up in the next tier changes. Mawile is also great, Intimidate and his excellent typing make him a solid switch in to so many threats in NU. From there I threw in Hypno for Wish support, Misdreavus for Heal Bell, Garbodor for my beloved hazards, and finally Rotom-S, to revenge kill and threaten +2 Gorebyss. Anyway, without further ado, let's get to the team!
(M) @ Black Sludge
Trait: Effect Spore
EVs: 252 HP / 76 Def / 180 SDef
Calm Nature (+SDef, -Atk)
- Sludge Bomb
- Giga Drain
- Sleep Powder
- Synthesis
Vileplume is a nice defensive pokemon. This EV spread is more focused on SDef, because I will be taking lots of Grass, Electric and Water hits. Effect Spore is chosen because it could get a handy paralysis on a Sawk or something. Sludge Bomb and Giga Drain are reliable STAB, one with HP restore. Sleep Powder cripples an opposing pokemon, effectively removing them from the game (if it hits of course, screw you Amoonguss). Synthesis is reliable recovery, because there's no permanent weather in NU.
(F) @ Eviolite
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 96 Def / 8 SAtk / 152 SDef
Bold Nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Shadow Ball
- Will-O-Wisp
- Heal Bell
- Pain Split
I needed Heal Bell support to stop my walls getting Toxic'd. I originally had Aromatherapy on Vileplume, but I needed another moveslot, so I put in Misdreavus. She does her job, at least, and a Fighting immunity is always nice to have with Gurdurr and Sawk around every corner. Shadow Ball is STAB, and hits offensive pokemon surprisingly hard. Will-O-Wisp cripples most physical attackers in NU. Heal Bell cures my team of annoying status, and Pain Split is semi reliable recovery, all the more necessary without Leftovers.
(M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Intimidate
EVs: 252 HP / 248 Def / 8 SDef
Impish Nature (+Def, -SAtk)
- Stealth Rock
- Knock Off
- Iron Head
- Pain Split
I've only recently tried this guy, but wow he's amazing. Intimidate, his awesome Defense and his coveted Steel typing means he comfortably walls many NU threats such as Swellow, Cinccino, and Klang. Lack of reliable recovery hinders him a little, but he can force switches like a baws. He also has access to Stealth Rock, stacking my hazards. Knock Off is one of my favorite moves - it rids the opponent of their Eviolite, Choice item, and Leftovers recovery among other things. Iron Head is STAB in case I'm taunted, and Pain Split restores my HP.
(M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Insomnia
EVs: 252 HP / 176 Def / 80 SDef
Calm Nature (+SDef, -Atk)
- Wish
- Protect
- Psychic
- Toxic
Hypno is chosen over other bulky Psychic types in NU for his ability to provide Wish support. The EV spread is a little odd, but he can take most special hits along with tanking most weak or resisted physical attacks. Psychic is STAB, again, so I'm not screwed over by Taunt. It also does nice damage to Amoonguss, who Hypno is a safe switch into thanks to Insomnia. Toxic is to add to the residual damage, and hits Flying types immune to Toxic Spikes.
@ Choice Scarf
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Thunderbolt
- Air Slash
- Trick
- Volt Switch
With Sawk's huge fall from grace, Rotom-S is commonly seen as the best Choice Scarfer in NU. Good Special Attack, decent Speed, access to two reliable STAB moves, Trick to cripple walls, and Volt Switch for scouting purposes mean he is almost perfectly built for a scarf. Timid is needed to outspeed +2 Gorebyss, Jolly Scarf Sawk, and other pokemon I can't remember. 4 EVs in Defense so I can switch in 5 times on Stealth Rock.
(M) @ Black Sludge
Trait: Stench
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SDef
Impish Nature (+Def, -SAtk)
- Spikes
- Toxic Spikes
- Gunk Shot
- Clear Smog
Such an ugly pokemon, but Garbodor's utility in NU cannot be denied. Access to both Spikes and Toxic Spikes make him a great choice for any stall team. Toxic Spikes aren't great, with such high usage of Amoonguss who absorbs them upon entry, so I usually set up my Spikes first. Gunk Shot is STAB, while it may not have reliable accuracy it's his only viable physical Poison type move (how does he not learn Poison Jab?). Clear Smog stops setup sweepers in their tracks.
There's a few things I need to point out.
- Vileplume is a bit redundant with so many new Fighting resists in my team, so replacing him would be fine. Still searching for a good use for him...
- Unfortunately, this team has no safe switchin to NU wallbreaker #1 Emboar. I really would like to find a team member that can check him, but the idea of using Alomomola is just... no.
- I've tried to keep the synergy as good as possible, so if you replace a team member, try to keep it that way. Also, bear in mind it's a stall team, so JCM that means no "hyper offensive is the only way to victory!" ;]
- If you answer, I'm not asking for you to be a complete pro at NU, but please know what you're talking about and have some vaild suggestions xD
- Also, why are more people not using Physical Wall Mawile? It's amazing.