Rate my new and improved National Dex AG team!

Question

I got to 1700+ with this team. I managed to beat some strong opponents using this team. I'm still working some moves out with Zacian-Crowned, Shadow-Calyrex, and even Primal-Groudon a little.

Xerneas @ Power Herb
Ability: Fairy Aura
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Geomancy
- Moonblast
- Hidden Power [Fire]
- Thunderbolt

Pretty simple explanation. A sweeper. Use Geomancy, then start attacking. Great Dyna option.

Yveltal @ Life Orb
Ability: Dark Aura
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Mild Nature
- Oblivion Wing
- Dark Pulse
- Heat Wave
- Sucker Punch

Another great Dyna. Life orb plus Max Flare KOs Zacian-Crowned. Max Darkness KOs Necrozma-Dusk, which I previously had trouble with.

Zacian-Crowned @ Rusted Sword
Ability: Intrepid Sword
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Behemoth Blade
- Close Combat
- Play Rough
- Crunch

Okay, this set is just amazing for me. The only problems are Ditto and I need options for slot 4. I never find myself using slot 4.

Rayquaza-Mega @ Life Orb
Ability: Delta Stream
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Dragon Dance
- Dragon Ascent
- V-create
- Extreme Speed

I use M-ray as a lead so much. Dragon Ascent KOs a lo of mons. I can even take on S-Calyrex with a Dragon Dance speed boos. Only main problem is S-Calyrex with sash and Zacian-Crowned. Both are trouble if I don't have +1 speed.

Groudon-Primal @ Red Orb
Ability: Desolate Land
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 Atk / 128 Def / 128 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Rock Slide
- Precipice Blades
- Fire Punch

Main role is Stealth Rock setter and absorbing Zacian-Crowned hits. It specializes in bulk instead of speed. I'm still stuck with Rock Slide. It's main role is supposed to be for Ho-oH, but I never got to test the damage. It also does a fair amount of damage to M-ray.

Calyrex-Shadow @ Focus Sash
Ability: As One (Spectrier)
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Astral Barrage
- Grass Knot
- Psyshock
- Draining Kiss

A sash Caly. I still need a little help with moveset. Grass Knot is mainly for T-tar and Primal-Kyogre. I know Pollen Puff exists, but most Dark types I encounter aren't weak to Bug. (CoughCoughYveltalCoughCough)

Please comment suggestions such as changes in Item, moveset, EVs, and Pokemon as a whole.

Answer 1

First thing, why no Defogger, nothing to improof Xerneas from Ditto, same goes for Calyrex-S.

• Xerneas getting 252 Spe is waste of EVs, since you outsped hundred things after +2 Geomancy. In normal cases, you had go some Defense EVs to stop Dusk Mane, Groudon-Primal from OHKO-ing you, but investing in HP allows Xerneas to beat Ditto 1v1, since the latter doesn't copy HP stats.
• Yveltal is fine, but why Crunch on Zacian-Crowned? Use Wild Charge over it to hit Ho-Oh and Lugia hard.
• M-Ray is also OK. Moving to Primal Groudon, as you said "Stealth Rock setter only" and trades bulk for speed, why not more defensive moves and EVs?
  Groudon @ Red Orb
  Ability: Drought
  EVs: 252 HP / 36 Def / 220 SpD
  Sassy Nature/Careful Nature
• Stealth Rock
• Precipice Blades
• Stone Edge
• Overheat/Rest
  This is the standard set of defensive P-Don. Careful nature and Rest over Overheat can also be chosen.

With a specially defensive set, Primal Groudon notably acts as a great switch-in to Primal Kyogre and a reliable way of wasting Dynamax turns from Xerneas. Stealth Rock is a great move on Primal Groudon, since its bulk and typing give it numerous switch-in opportunities against common Pokemon such as Zacian-C, defensive Necrozma-DM, and Ho-Oh. Although uninvested, Precipice Blades is a powerful STAB move that 2HKOes Primal Kyogre and non-Dynamaxed Xerneas. Stone Edge is mainly run in order to force Ho-Oh, the best Defogger, out immediately. Overheat severely punishes Yveltal if it tries to switch into Primal Groudon, OHKOing it after little prior chip damage. It also lets Primal Groudon OHKO Necrozma-DM and Ferrothorn and force recovery from Arceus-Ground. Rest allows Primal Groudon to wall Ho-Oh, defensive Necrozma-DM, and Arceus-Water throughout the entire game by curing it from Toxic poison.

Specially Defensive Primal Groudon is important for this team to stall out Xerneas, Primal Kyogre, etc.
Moving in to Calyrex-S, Nasty Plot isn't there. Why? Grass Knot inferior to Pollen Puff.

I know Pollen Puff exists, but most Dark types I encounter aren't weak to Bug.

Seriously? Look at the usage stats here.

| Checks and Counters |
| Arceus-Dark 66.128 (83.94±4.45) |
| (29.4% KOed / 54.5% switched out)|
| Marshadow 65.199 (83.17±4.49) |
| (42.2% KOed / 40.9% switched out)|
| Yveltal 63.613 (75.36±2.94) |
| (36.4% KOed / 39.0% switched out)|
| Tyranitar 53.311 (78.02±6.18) |
| (45.7% KOed / 32.4% switched out)|

So, most common check is Arceus Dark. CoughCoughArceus-DarkCoughCough.
Replace Grass Knot with Pollen Puff, and you're done.
Hope this helps.

Comments

Okay. Thanks.

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Erm, Marshadow isn't Dark type.

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Marshadow isn't but its good priority Shadow Sneak makes up for that. Life Orb Shadow Sneak OHKOes Dynamax Calyrex-S.