Gen 9 Monotype: Double Steel/Dragon Bulky Offense [Dragon]

Question

Importable

With DLC 2, Dragon got quite a bit of new toys to use, so I decided to build a Bulky Offense Dragon team that uses a couple of new Pokemon. I tested the team out and it seems to be decent, but I haven't played Monotype in a while, so good suggestions will be appreciated. So here is the team breakdown:

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Archaludon

Archaludon @ Leftovers
Ability: Stamina
Tera Type: Steel
EVs: 252 HP / 40 Def / 216 Spe
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Stealth Rock
- Body Press
- Draco Meteor
- Iron Defense

I wanted to try Archaludon since Stamina and its good Defense stat lets it tank physical moves. Archauldon also serves as a Stealth Rocker, which is neat role compression. Body Press is the main attacking move to hit Pokemon such as Mamoswine, Baxcalibur, Kingambit, Heatran, Hisuian Goodra for super effectively. Draco Metoer is used for a nuke move against Dragon-types such as Latios, Dragonite, Baxcalibur, and Dragapult, though I'm wonder if I could get away with using Dragon Pulse. Iron Defense is used since opposing Pokemon may not attack Archaludon immediately. The given EV spread lets Archaludon outspeed Mamoswine so it can use Iron Defense to tank an Earthquake.

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Goodra-Hisui

Goodra-Hisui @ Chesto Berry
Ability: Shell Armor
Tera Type: Steel
EVs: 252 HP / 88 Def / 168 SpD
Careful Nature
- Heavy Slam
- Body Press
- Acid Armor
- Rest

Since Archaludon doesn't have a good Special Defense stat, I decided to use Hisuian Goodra to tank special moves, which is useful to tank Fairy moves. Heavy Slam let Hisuian Goodra get rid of Fairy-types such as Flutter Mane and Iron Valiant. Body Press is used for Pokemon such as Chien-Pao, Kingambit, and Heatran. Acid Armor lets Hisuian Goodra have the ability to take physical hits better and increase Body Press' damage output, with Rest + Chesto Berry letting Hisuian Goodra get full HP recovery. 88 Defense EVs allow Hisuian Goodra to OHKO Chien-Pao with an unboosted Body Press.

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Baxcilbur

Baxcalibur @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Thermal Exchange
Tera Type: Dragon
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Dragon Dance
- Icicle Crash
- Ice Shard
- Earthquake

Baxcalibur is nice for Dragon teams due its Ice typing and power being useful to beat Flying teams. Dragon Dance lets Baxcalibur break past teams while being able to outspeed Pokemon. Ice Shard lets Baxcalibur pick off faster Pokemon should Baxcalibur not get off a Dragon Dance or be slower than fast Choice Scarf Pokemon. Earthquake is used to hit Steel-types such as Heatran, Gholdengo, Kingambit, Hisuian Goodra, and Iron Treads.

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Gouging Fire

Gouging Fire @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Protosynthesis
Tera Type: Fire
EVs: 252 HP / 48 SpD / 208 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Dragon Dance
- Heat Crash
- Dragon Claw
- Morning Sun

I chose Gouging Fire since its Fire/Dragon typing makes it neutral to Fairy moves. I've been using a Bulky Dragon Dance set since it lets Gouging Fire use its bulk and typing to use Dragon Dance multiple times so it can hit hard with its nearly unresisted STAB combination. Heat Crash is used since Gouging Fire can make use of its decently heavy weight. Dragon Claw is used for the Dragon STAB since this Gouging Fire set prefers to not lock itself into Outrage. The speed EVs let Gouging Fire outspeed Choice Scarf Kleavor after a +1 speed boost.

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Latios

Latios (M) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Levitate
Tera Type: Dragon
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Draco Meteor
- Luster Purge
- Ice Beam
- Flip Turn

I chose Latios since I wanted a good special wallbreaker as well as a Pokemon who can serve as speed control with a Choice Scarf. Luster Purge is better Psychic now, with the 50% Special Defense drop allowing Latios to break past bulky Pokemon easier. Ice Beam allows Latios to hit Dragon-types without using Draco Meteor. Ice Beam is also useful for Flying-types such as Landorus, Zapdos, Gliscor, Enamorus, and Mandibuzz. Flip Turn lets Latios bring in a teammate and is useful should Latios force a switch.

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Dragapult

Dragapult @ Leftovers
Ability: Infiltrator
Tera Type: Dragon
EVs: 108 Atk / 148 SpA / 252 Spe
Naive Nature
- Will-O-Wisp
- Hex
- Dragon Darts
- Substitute

I wasn't sure what to use for the last slot, but I eventually decided to use Dragapult for its Hex set. Will-O-Wisp lets Dragapult cripple physical wallbreaker as well as spreading a status so Dragapult can use a powerful Hex against burned Pokemon. Dragon Darts is useful in Dragon matchup and can help wear down Pokemon such as Clodsire. Substitute allows this set to be a stallbreaker, which is really nice against Poison teams. 252 Speed EVs are used to make Dragapult as fast as possible. With 148 Special Attack EVs, Dragapult can OHKO Flutter Mane with Hex after it gets statused.

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Problems/Concerns/Potential Changes

• Is the EV spread on Archaludon fine? I've been liking Draco Meteor on it, but could I get away using Dragon Pulse instead? If so, why?
• Is the Hisuian Goodra set fine or is a Protect + 3 Attacks set better for the team?
• Is there some sort of bulky Dragon Dance set I should use for Baxcalibur or is a max max EV spread fine?
• Maybe it's because I haven't played Monotype in a while, but I feel like I struggle with the Fire matchup? Is the Fire matchup a problematic matchup or is there a certain way I need to play whenever I face Fire teams?

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That's all for now. Looking forward to making this team better!

Comments

I got a few suggestions but not really optimized ones for an answer.

Archaludon: It’s kinda sad your set gets walled by Fairies. By setting up instead of activating Stamina, you could be in a pickle. Your team especially doesn’t enjoy that against Enamorus, with no safe switch-ins between perfect coverage in Earth Power and Moonblast. About EV spread, I’m not really the greatest at that. Archaludon should probably run Flash Cannon to cover against the Fairies, maybe over Iron Defense.

It seems Archaludon and Goodra-H fill extremely similiar rolls. You could in fact further suppress rolls by giving Arch AV and removing Goodra-H. Then replace Rocks with Flash Cannon and Iron Defense with Dragon Tail.

Since Mamoswine is only OHKOing you with Band, losing Goodra-H for Hydrapple could work in your favor. Arch can easily swap with Hydrapple so the apple can absorb the Earthquake, then force Mamo out. This would especially help in the Ice matchup. You can take advantage of Scale Shot / Icicle Spear Bax by swapping Hydrapple with Archaludon and activate Stamina multiple times. Swapping Groodra-H for Hydrapple also lessens the weakness to Ground you have.

Hydrapple @ Leftovers / Assault Vest
Ability: Regenerator  
Tera Type: Grass  
EVs: 252 HP / 4 SpA / 252 SpD  
Calm Nature  
IVs: 0 Atk  
- Hydro Pump
- Giga Drain  
- Nasty Plot / Protect /  Earth Power
- Draco Meteor / Fickle Beam

Set idea.

Bax: Not much to say.

Gourging Fire: Fine to me.

Latios: I know you want that speed control, and this is fine, but Spec Latios OHKOs Defensive Landorus-T, Gliscor, and has a chance to OHKO defensive Zapdos. Enamorus is dealt with by Arch and Mandibuzz gets ripped. With that Ice Beam is unnecessary and you could run Aura Sphere to cover against the potent Mono-Dark.

Pult: I Don’t have anything to say.

You say you have problems with Mono-Fire? Probably because Ogerpon-Hearthflame rips your team apart with Stomping Tantrum coverage. Hydrapple helps with this. Heatran also looks like it’s a pain. Running Aura Sphere on Latios will keep it from getting walled. I’m not really good at Mono. Just a few suggestions, and not really complete ones at that, but hope I helped a little.

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Hmm, thanks for the suggestions. I had Heavy Slam instead of Iron Defense on Archaludon originally, should I go back to that? If I do, then I think IronPress Hisuian Goodra is fine.
AV without hazard control on the team sounds kind of bad.
If I decide to keep Iron Defense on Duraludon, should I do a Protect/Heavy Slam/Body Press/Earthquake or Flamethrower set on Hisuian Goodra?
I don't really like Hydrapple if I'm not using Double Steel/Dragon due to its 4x Ice weakness. Nasty Plot Hydrapple could work in Dragapult's slot, however. Might experiment with it.
I'm not concerned about Landorus-T, as Lando-I is the used Lando form, which is why I like Ice Beam on it.
I do agree that Heatran can be quite a problem, especially Air Balloon Heatran.

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Heavy Slam is actually pretty bad on Archaludon, since Arch is surprisingly not that heavy. ( 60 K.G. to Goodra-H’s 334.1 K.G.)

Edit: Okay, not too bad, but you wanna ram Enamorus, right?

0 Atk Archaludon Heavy Slam (40 BP) vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Enamorus: 120-144 (41.5 - 49.8%) -- guaranteed 3HKO

0 SpA Archaludon Flash Cannon vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Enamorus: 252-296 (87.1 - 102.4%) -- 18.8% chance to OHKO

So Flash Cannon is better. Probably should put it over Iron Defense. Sorry for not answering this one earlier, but Draco Meteor is fine since you usually just want to nuke a Dragon type real quick and will usually just use Body Press. If you choose Iron Defense for Arch, Goodra-H could use either E-Quake or Flamethrower, but you should use Earthquake if you choose to keep Ice Beam on Latios.
Calc for Incarnate instead of T:

252 SpA Choice Specs Latios Draco Meteor vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Landorus: 382-450 (100 - 117.8%) -- guaranteed OHKO