Team Preview:
So I have here today, a Gen 5 Sand team. I’m slightly aggravated that
it took me up to Gen 6 to make a really nice team for myself, but
there we have it. I was inspired in two ways to make this team. The
first was a SubSalac Terrakion set someone used in a warstory. The
other was my idea to have two scarfers which would surprise the
opponent and allow me to be a little more risky with one of them.
Terrakion did not stay SubSalac, and I did not keep two scarfers. In
fact there is only one scarfer on the team, however there are three
potential ScarfedMon. This team actually functions better against more
experienced battlers and those who actually predict. This is partly
the reason I haven’t laddered much with it. The other reason, if you
must know, is because I carry a deep loathing for the Showdown’s
ladder. But I digress. The team functions by surprising my opponent,
and wearing them down leaving them open to my revenge killers.
Enjoy.
Tyranitar @ Leftovers
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 252 HP / 4 SAtk / 252 SDef
Sassy Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Pursuit
- Fire Blast
- Thunder Wave
Although initially not a sand team Tyrannitar fit it perfectly as a SupportMon. I originally had a set that patched up some Defense holes, However when I had gone to Mew he suggested I switch over to full Special Defense as I was having issues with special attackers. Stealth Rock is the first hazard move I try to get up, with 80% chance of success. Thunder Wave provides some team support to help cripple the opponent’s speedy folks. Pursuit and Fire Blast are designed to hit exactly five pokemon, no more no less, Ferrothorn, Scizor, Gengar, and the Lati twins. Gengar can be a danger when running Focus Blast, but I take my chances. This set is a mix of Smogon’s Support set, and standard Trapper set.
Terrakion @ Liechi Berry
Ability: Justified
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SDef / 252 Spd
Adamant Nature
- Rock Polish
- Substitute
- Stone Edge
- Close Combat
The first pokemon behind the team’s creation, Terrakion was inspired by a warstory I read on Smogon. The set there was actually SubSalac but I decided to run SubLiechi instead to be able to hit Scarfers at +2/+3 Speed, using Rock Polish. Dual Stabs, Stone Edge and Close Combat, gives me enough coverage to be effective late game. Defensive walls such as Jellicent and Skarmory are annoying as they have the strength to break a sub and they have the bulk to survive an attack. Generally Terrakion manages to get one kill in before dying, although that one death is normally enough for the balance of the game to swing for me.
Keldeo @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Justified
EVs: 252 SAtk / 4 SDef / 252 Spd
Timid Nature
- Hydro Pump
- Secret Sword
- Icy Wind
- Hidden Power [Grass]
Keldeo is my Scarfed revenge killer, and a (mostly) fine job of it he does. Hydro Pump and Secret Sword are my two main STABs, while Icy Wind and HP Grass take up the slack. I chose HP Grass over HP Electric so I could hit Gastro and other Keldeo for SE damage. Icy Wind is weak, bot normally I’m not having to go for OHKOs so I’m happy with it so far. Nothing special about the set otherwise.
Gengar @ Life Orb
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature
- Substitute
- Pain Split
- Shadow Ball
- Focus Blast
SubSplit Gengar takes the role as my main special attacker. With a sub up he can wear down those ginormous walls that won’t die using Pain Split which gets a massive amount of HP back. Shadow Ball is STAB with Focus Blast giving me coverage for a neutral vs all coverage (pretty sure at least). Life Orb is to give me some additional power and aids in dropping my HP to utilize Pain Split.
Garchomp @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Rough Skin
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 96 Def / 156 Spd
Jolly Nature
- Dragon Tail
- Roar
- Rest
- Sleep Talk
I know it looks crazy, and the reason is because it is crazy. When I saw someone use Dragon Tail on Garchomp once I started thinking. My time in Ubers proved to me that RestTalk + Roar + DTail + Giratina + Hazards = GG. So why not utilize Garchomp’s amazing speed and decent bulk, and its interesting ability, to create a RestTalk Speed Phazer? With Skarm’s spikes up and TTar’s Rocks strewn around it can outspeed several pokemon in the tier and force them to rip themselves apart on my hazards. Mamoswine easily kills Chomp, although Keldeo Icy Wind does not, at full health. The only drawback behind the set is that I have to use Rest for it to work, which is partly the reason I like to switch it in on Breloom’s spore. 96 Defense EVs help to sponge some of the physical attacks that I want to take to even further damage them with Rough Skin and Rocky Helmet. The sucker works which is what surprises me the most.
Skarmory @ Leftovers
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 248 HP / 228 Def / 32 Spd
Impish Nature
- Brave Bird
- Tailwind
- Spikes
- Roost
My answer to “What made all physical attackers cry like little girls?” My Defensive wall capable of tanking pretty much any physical attack, Skarm is also my Spikes setter. Brave Bird is in case of Taunt and to kill off any annoying stragglers. Roost heals off damage and BB recoil. Because I didn’t have to run Stealth Rock on Skarm, I was stuck on what to use for a fourth move. However, when I battled Mechanism L he used Tailwind Skarm. Well isn’t that brilliant? So I slapped it on, and between Tailwind and Paralysis, my team quite often becomes the speedier of the two. 32 Speed EVs gives me big Speed Creep over every other Skarm, and some other pokemon after Tailwind is up.
Thanks for reading, any suggestions welcome.
~MrK
