[PU] RMT: Zebstrika + Floatzel Offense

Question

Introduction

I decided to get back into Pokemon and have been playing PU for a while. I started off my return with an idea I had in mind for a PU team. So here it goes:

Team Building Process

I started off with the nice offensive core of Floatzel + Zebstrika because they can cover each other's checks fairly well.

Then I decided that I wanted a nice offensive SR lead. Golem always appealed to me because of the Custap Berry + Sturdy + Explosion combo, so I decided to put it in.

I needed some support for SR suicide lead to make sure that SR stays. If I already clicked Explosion and they can just Defog / Rapid Spin, then bye bye Stealth Rocks. So I decided to have Pawniard to counter Defog and Misdreavus to completely block Rapid Spin. They also exert some offensive pressure.

Now, I wanted a Mixed sweeper to take care of tanks that can completely wall Floatzel and Zebstrika (namely Audino). Simisage can help wear down these walls or downright defeat it.

Team Overview

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Golem @ Custap Berry
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Explosion
- Stone Edge
- Earthquake

Standard suicide SR lead. I click SR and then the opponent usually activates Sturdy. My next decision is either to hit them back with Stone Edge / Earthquake (if it is super-effective) or click Explosion (if they don't have any Ghost-types).

Zebstrika @ Life Orb
Ability: Lightning Rod
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Volt Switch
- Thunderbolt
- Overheat
- Hidden Power [Ice]

This is also another standard set for Zebstrika. I don't really need to get into depth here.

Floatzel @ Mystic Water
Ability: Swift Swim
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Hydro Pump
- Ice Beam
- Taunt
- Baton Pass

Now, I was experimenting with Floatzel and found out that most opponents who have a more defensive team would take care of Simisage and Pawniard so they can just wall with Audino. I decided to use a combination of Taunt + Baton Pass. Taunt ensures they switch out, while Baton Pass enables me to switch, without making unnecessary predictions. Hydro Pump + Mystic Water hits very hard and I really don't want residual damage from stuff like Life Orb. Ice Beam deals with Grass-types.

Simisage @ Life Orb
Ability: Overgrow
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
Naive Nature
- Leaf Storm
- Knock Off
- Gunk Shot
- Superpower

Standard mixed sweeper set for Simisage.

Pawniard @ Eviolite
Ability: Defiant
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Swords Dance
- Knock Off
- Sucker Punch
- Iron Head

This set is a lot like Bisharp's main set and I intended it to be like that. If played correctly, I can just use Swords Dance and alternate between Knock Off or Sucker Punch. I can also use Iron Head if the opposing 'mon resists Dark-types.

Misdreavus @ Eviolite
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
- Nasty Plot
- Will-O-Wisp
- Shadow Ball
- Thunderbolt

Nasty Plot is for set-up, Will-O-Wisp enables it to cripple Physical sweepers, Shadow Ball is a must STAB. Thunderbolt is a rather interesting choice because it enables me to hit Dodrio, Simipour, and Floatzel pretty hard, especially when Zebstrika is down.

Well that's it for now. All advice / help is appreciated!

Comments

I would hate to think you made your team just to counter mine. All of the threats you mentioned in your comment are on this team.

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I actually had this team for a while now. I made a massive overhaul of my original team around a few days ago. ( I literally had to start from scratch).

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Anyways, if I did wanted to counter your team, I would've put something like a combination of Rotom-Frost, Machoke, and Pawniard and maybe put a Choice Specs / Scarf variant for Floatzel.

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Nice presentation. I like it. I do not play PU though so I may be irrelevant in rating this team, but why do you have Baton Pass on Floatzel if it has no stats to pass on to other teammates, unless I'm seeing wrong?

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It's for momentum. It's safer than double switching because you can choose who you switch too after you've seen what your opponent does, and if floatzel was to be outsped hen you get a free switch in. You do know what momentum is right?

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^ yeah pretty much. it also forms a nice psuedo-VoltTurn core with Baton Pass and Volt Switch.
I'll post up my replays soon with a pastebin of the team.

Any other suggestions?

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Can somebody remind me how Pawniard and Bisharp counter defog?

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Defiant boosts their Attack stat, and is triggered by the Evasion drop from Defog.

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Strange...I play Monotype and there are a lot of dark teams, yet I've never seen a Bisharp switch into defog...maybe it's because nobody expects defog from Articuno?

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It's probably because they don't know that Articuno would use Defog. I would expect something like Sub + Roost + Hurricane + Ice Beam.

Defog / Rapid Spin should be left out for other users because Articuno can't switch into SR reliably (50% of HP just to use Defog is a lot of damage ; 25 %  or 12 % or 6% would be better for entry removal support).

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If you've ever seen my flying team, you would know that all of my Pokemon (except Thundurus, which I don't think can learn defog) have four moves already and I'm not willing to give them up.

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I just checked your flying mono and Skarmory can learn Defog, which is far better than Iron Head or Brave Bird ( you don't need STAB ; they prob expected Skarmory Defog rather than Articuno Defog). Other Pokemon like Zapdos can also learn Defog, if you put them in your team.

And yes, you can predict the Defog, like how I switched Bisharp into a Defog from Latias.

Anyways, this is about PU, so let's stay on topic.