On the first of February, the VGC ruleset will change to Series 8. I've been working on a team for when the official ladder starts and I'd appreciate any advice on it!
PokePaste
Zacian-Crowned @ Rusted Sword
Ability: Intrepid Sword
Level: 50
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Protect
- Behemoth Blade
- Close Combat
- Wild Charge
I chose to build around Zacian as my Restricted Legendary. There's not much to change here, just a standard spread and moveset. One thing I was curious about is if Substitute is better than Wild Charge, since I have an electric type already.
Riolu @ Focus Sash
Ability: Prankster
Level: 50
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Detect
- Coaching
- Feint
- Copycat
I wanted support for Zacian and Riolu does that very well, stacking prankster coaching boosts to make Zacian ridiculously powerful and bulky. Copycat is anti- Trick Room, and feint is nice for endgames or when a Pokemon lives on a sash.
Thundurus (M) @ Lum Berry
Ability: Prankster
Level: 50
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Protect
- Fly
- Wild Charge
- Superpower
After my core of Riolu and Zacian, I needed something to stop fake out, since neither Dynamax and are susceptible to it, and Intimidate, which is a nuisance to Zacian. Thundurus' Defiant scares off intimidators, is a great Dynamax target so it doesn't mind fake out, and it also beats the most common fake out users in Incineroar and Rillaboom. I gave Thundurus a Lum berry mostly to help it beat Venusaur.
Grimmsnarl (M) @ Light Clay
Ability: Prankster
Level: 50
EVs: 252 HP / 60 Def / 196 SpD
Careful Nature
- Spirit Break
- Reflect
- Light Screen
- Scary Face
Grimmsnarl was kind of thrown on to help with a few matchups. Scary Face helps against TornOgre, because it allows Thundurus to outspeed even after tailwind. I need some way to deal with TornOgre but I haven't brought Grimmsnarl very much so suggestions for a different mon would be appreciated.
Moltres-Galar @ Life Orb
Ability: Berserk
Level: 50
EVs: 20 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 228 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Protect
- Nasty Plot
- Fiery Wrath
- Air Slash
The team struggles against Calyrex-S, so I added Moltres-G. The spread outspeeds max speed Eleki at -2 and OHKOs with Fiery Wrath if it has no bulk, since Eleki is a big problem for the team. However, this doesn't work if a) They have some bulk, b) they're sashed, c) eleki Dynamaxes, or d) It's partnered with something like Calyrex-S or Thundurus that Max Strikes or Max Airstreams before Moltres can move, so it might be better to change the spread to more bulky. I'm also not sure if taunt would be good, since Follow me/Rage Powder/Protect will mess up copycatting Trick Room. I gave it a life orb since it was available, but would Weakness Policy be better?
Rillaboom-Gmax @ Miracle Seed
Ability: Grassy Surge
Level: 50
Gigantamax: Yes
EVs: 92 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def / 60 SpD / 100 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Grassy Glide
- Fake Out
- Wood Hammer
- Protect
Rillaboom is another thing I just kind of threw on at the end because it's such a solid mon in general, so other suggestions would be great.
I like the core of Riolu/Zacian/Thundurus, but I'm not sure about the other 3 except that I need answers to things like Regieleki, TornOgre, and Calyrex-S. would something like a Sashed, Screens Eleki + Policy Moltres be good? Landorus-T for Regieleki? Stakataka, for Max Guard + Copycat Trick room, then vacuum wave into a weakness policy? (I don't think that Trick Room is great with Zacian, but it could work, I guess.) All feedback is appreciated!
