Pokémon Rate My Team
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Teambuilding

I decided to base my whole team on a Pokemon that caught my attention as of recently: Mega-Houndoom. I had never tested this hellhound before so I wanted to give it a try. I wanted at first to run a Sun-based team but as much as I love this weather condition, I judged it was too weak now with auto-weather no longer permanent. Therefore, I decided to walk over Solar Power, which is pretty shameful over Flash Fire for example. From there, I immediately noticed the amazing speed and special attack it has, especially after a Nasty Plot.

And what I found best to support the helldog was an angelic blue bunny. Azumarill was a natural pick in my opinion. Its typing synergizes pretty well with Houndoom's: Azumarill resists well fighting and water, which Houndoom doesn't stand, and reciprocally, Houndoom takes some grass hits for bunny. Plus, Houndoom picks on the special side of the spectrum while Azumarill works on the physical side. It's part of my offensive core, Houndoom and Azumarill.

I added Latias to the offensive core as a utility-based member. Her role is to Defog hazards out of the way. She isn't passive at all, too, she hits pretty hard with her Draco Meteor and Psyshock. Her presence also allows me to play more recklessly because she can Healing Wish on any of my wounded members to cure them and give them a second chance to come and sweep.

Ferrothorn was eventually added as it has fantastic synergy with Houndoom and Azumarill: it can take Ground-, Rock-, Electric-, Poison- and Steel-type like no other tomorrows for my offensive core while Houndoom absorbs Fire-type attacks for a Flash Fire boost and Azumarill takes Fighting-type attacks. Ferrothorn can equally set Spikes which are valuable for my team. While it is sort of passive, its attacks aren't weak at all so frailer Pokemon like Sceptile should be wary.

I added Landorus-Therian to take physical attacks because my Ferrothorn is specially defensive. Landorus forms a double core with Ferrothorn: a defensive core as it takes physical attacks with intimidate and in return, Ferrothorn takes special hits easily with its 116 base special defense, and a hazard core as it sets Stealth Rock up while Ferrothorn deposits Spikes. Its typing is nice too, although at this point, the defensive core is wrecked by Fire-type attacks if my offensive core is weakened. This is not a huge problem thanks to Latias' presence and Azumarill's passable bulk, though.

Everybody's washing machine was added for its pure utility and pivoting ability. It can also screw over some physical threats with Will-O-Wisp and has some good uninvested power, especially on super-effective hits. Synergy is not a concern with it, as its sole weakness is resisted by half my team. It takes Ice-type hits too, for Latias and Landorus, but Azumarill and Houndoom also do whatsoever.


In Detail


Hellfire (Houndoom) (M) @ Houndoominite
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Fire Blast
- Dark Pulse
- Nasty Plot
- Destiny Bond

Houndoom's got seriously good power. Alternating between its STAB that are only resisted by 4 Pokemon in OU and 27 Pokemon globally, few Pokemon really resist it and if this isn't enough, Azumarill can give her helping hand anytime to pick off where Houndoom left. Houndoom forces many switches against passive Pokemon like Skarmory or Ferrothorn, which can't touch it. Thus, it gets the opportunity to setup and sweep as far as it can. Finally, Destiny Bond is a parting shot move I use it whenever I face a Pokemon that I can't beat with one hit and that can beat me, or when against a slower Pokemon that did some setup to take it out.


Angela (Azumarill) (F) @ Sitrus Berry
Ability: Huge Power
EVs: 92 HP / 252 Atk / 164 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Aqua Jet
- Belly Drum
- Play Rough
- Waterfall

Azumarill achieves what Houndoom starts. She comes in, Belly Drum to max her attack, eat her citron (yuck) and Aqua Jet all the time. The EV spread is designed to outspeed uninvested Skarmory and whatever is slower, while maintaining acceptable bulk for a sweeper. Waterfall is my secondary water STAB that can beat slow Pokemon or hit on the switch for serious damage. Finally, powerful Play Rough is powerful.


Eona (Latias) @ Life Orb
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Draco Meteor
- Psyshock
- Defog
- Healing Wish

Latias' purpose is to Defog. She always has plenty of opportunities to do that since her STAB scare some and her typing leave her untouched by some. Draco Meteor can severely dent Bisharp and beat a lot of Pokemon on the switch, while Psyshock is the pick against what it hits for supereffective damage or to finish off a foe without sacrificing special attack. Healing Wish allows me to play more recklessly.


Washington (Rotom-Wash) @ Chesto Berry
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 216 SpD / 40 Spe
Calm Nature
- Rest
- Hydro Pump
- Will-O-Wisp
- Volt Switch

Washing-a-ton with Hydro Pump, Scouting-a-ton with Volt Switch, Crippling-a-ton with Will-O-Wisp and Healing-a-ton with Rest. Ah, Rotom-Wash, you're so helpful. You're everywhere, anywhere, and can do it all. Rotom is my lead for all of these reasons and is pretty straightforward; its EVs are designed in a way that it outspeeds most Suicune and Venusaur-mega, and retain a lot of bulk.


Thornn (Ferrothorn) (M) @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Iron Barbs
EVs: 252 HP / 88 Def / 168 SpD
Sassy Nature
- Spikes
- Leech Seed
- Gyro Ball
- Power Whip

Ferrothorn is a staple in most balanced team that has its weaknesses covered. It sets hazards and recovery for my team's needs with Spikes and Leech Seed and to avoid being bait to Taunt, it has Gyro Ball and Power Whip. Ferrothorn is a consistent setter of Spikes because of its great bulk and ability to beat common entry hazard removers, such as Lati-twins, and Excadrill. Gyro Ball is a primary choice for an attacking move, as it OHKOes Mega Gardevoir, and does significant damage to many fast Pokemon such as Lati-twins and Landorus, and Fairy-types such as Clefable and Sylveon. Finally, Power Whip deals with Keldeo and Gyarados-mega among others.


Landor (Landorus-Therian) @ Leftovers
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 HP / 240 Def / 8 SpD / 8 Spe
Impish Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- U-turn
- Knock Off

252 HP and 240 EVs in Defense are crucial for Landorus to handle the likes of Talonflame, Excadrill, and Mega Pinsir. 8 Speed EVs are enough to outspeed Modest Magnezone while still having a slow U-turn to take a hit and pivot out to another teammate and especially the frail Houndoom. 8 Special Defense EVs are run to prevent Mega Manectric from OHKOing with Hidden Power Ice. Landorus sets Stealth Rock and gets great attacking moves while also VoltTurning with motor-w.

Hope you like it! :)

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edited by
after all the junk in battle subway, I'm happy to see a legit team
Very glad to hear that Generekt. If you have any suggestions, go on.
I must agree that the battle subway is no longer as active as before though, and is full of gimmick teams / teams that are unviable.
Your team is great. I see rating qualities in Rotom and Hellfire; you may want to go with Flamethrower instead of Fire Blast because in a hypothetical situation which you have Mega-Evolved and Binged Plotted all for one counter to see it misses. Hellfire doesn't exactly have the best movepool so I understand that. Destiny Bond is Smart if you choose Suicide to stop a sweeper or Curser. Rotom could use A Scarf and trick as it will make you reasonably faster and Trick can change the situations dramatically. Maybe Azu could be Banded, because it isn't super bulky and since it doesn't get Gluttony it can't truly manipulate the Belly Drum technique.
Take out 4 HP Evs on Rotom and put them into Speed: This allows you to minimize rocks damage and outspeed Max Speed Azumarill.
Looks like you put a lot of effort into making and presenting your team. These kinds of RMTs are few and far between. Good work!
Thank you guys for the positive feedback! :)

2 Answers

1 vote
 
Best answer

I must say that this team is extremely solid! I can understand why this team has almost no answers as there is pretty much nothing to suggest. Even this rate I am about to give right now might be less than satisfactory as I really have nothing much to recommend.

Onto the rate!

Looking at this team, it has a very solid core of both FWG (Fire-Water-Grass) and DFS (Dragon -Fairy-Steel) which gives this team a lot of offensive and defensive synergy type-wise.

Just a minor nitpick- I would run an EV spread of 248 HP/216 Def/44 Spe on Rotom-Wash in order to outspeed Jolly Azumarill and minimize damage from entry hazards.

As I searched for Pokemon that can possibly be a threat to this team, I should say that this:
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is still a threat. Considering that you use Landorus-T to check some physical threats most of the time, wearing it down is not that hard to do, which brings it into HP Ice's KO range. You do not have many reliable switch-ins to this thing and it puts a ton of pressure on your team if played well. Above that it outspeeds your entire team, so whatever Pokemon you are going to use to kill it is either going to take a huge hit or it can freely Volt Switch out to whatever counter the opponent has for your Pokemon in play. An option to check it more reliably is to give your Landorus a Choice Scarf. This will act as a revenge-killer on your team.

Other than that, nothing much else to suggest here, awesome team! Cheers!

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selected by
Scarved Landorus proved his worth in my team grandly. Thanks a lot for this small but important suggestion.
0 votes

Changes I made through suggestions and testing

Landorus (Landorus-Therian) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 Atk / 12 Def / 244 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Explosion
- Earthquake
- U-turn
- Knock Off

I redid my Landorus entirely because as X3Evanescence noted, I had a weakness against Mega-Manectric and this turned out to be very true. Therefore, I scarved the Landorus to take on Manectric with a lot less mind-gaming and anxiety. As I freed Leftovers, I could easily pass it to another member whom I badly wanted to give first, Rotom-Wash. The EVs in speed allows Landorus to outspeed all it needs to (up to Mega-Aerodactyl because let's face it, Ninjask sucks and Deoxys-S is banned) while retaining acceptable bulk with 12 EVs in defense and Intimidate.
Explosion allows me to take down almost anything once Landorus is too weakened.

Washington (Rotom-Wash) @ Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 248 HP / 216 SpD / 44 Spe
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Pain Split
- Hydro Pump
- Will-O-Wisp
- Volt Switch

The standard set everybody uses. I ditched Rest very gladly as Pain Split is seriously more useful overall. EVs to outspeed most Venusaur, Suicune and Jolly Azumarill while magnifying bulk as much as possible.

I also redid Latias' EVs: EVs: 76 HP / 180 SpA / 252 Spe
To more bulk, a Life Orb number and as much power as possible.


THE TEAM IS RESOLVED AND I AM NO LONGER LOOKING FOR RATES.

Some replays: (will add for future reference as I am breeding the Pokemon for IVs)
Azumarill 6-0ing a whole team
May not be a complete battle but showcases Houndoom's stallbreaking abilities

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edited by
You can freely use this team of mine on Showdown but be sure to keep the names I came up with and name the team "Hellfire's squadron". Have fun! ;)
Importable:

Hellfire (Houndoom) (M) @ Houndoominite
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Fire Blast
- Dark Pulse
- Nasty Plot
- Destiny Bond

Thornn (Ferrothorn) (M) @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Iron Barbs
EVs: 252 HP / 88 Def / 168 SpD
Sassy Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Leech Seed
- Gyro Ball
- Power Whip

Landorus (Landorus-Therian) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 Atk / 12 Def / 244 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Explosion
- Earthquake
- U-turn
- Knock Off

Washington (Rotom-Wash) @ Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 248 HP / 216 SpD / 44 Spe
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Pain Split
- Hydro Pump
- Will-O-Wisp
- Volt Switch

Eona (Latias) @ Life Orb
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 76 HP / 180 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Draco Meteor
- Psyshock
- Defog
- Healing Wish

Angela (Azumarill) (F) @ Sitrus Berry
Ability: Huge Power
EVs: 92 HP / 252 Atk / 164 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Aqua Jet
- Belly Drum
- Play Rough
- Waterfall
Awesome replay and fantastic team.  That Azumarill sweep was satifying to watch. I think it was thechnically a 5-0, but I dunno if Healing Wish counts.
Haha, this is very kind to hear from a good battler :)