Volbeat (M) @ Mental Herb
Trait: Prankster
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Tail Glow
- Bug Buzz
- Encore
- Baton Pass
Most people don't expect it to go Venomoth on them. Bug Buzz actually works pretty nicely. STAB+Tail Glow boost lets it get in a good hit. While this mostly is helpful against Dark, Grass, or Psychic types, it does give a strong neutral hit as well. I can usually know when to use it and when to Baton Pass the hell out of there. Encore is nice to use when my opponent uses an Entry Hazard or stat booster for their first attack, especially when against a Shell Smasher lead, who would otherwise dominate. I go all out sweeper EVs since Volbeat isn't the best in surviving anything that it doesn't resist, even when it gets those EVs.So instead I go for a nice Bug Buzz hit and outspeeding priority users or outspeeding with Bug Buzz. Mental Herb is very nice. Most people seem to expect a Focus Sash. So usually attacking is not their first choice. Taunt if their lead has it is the usual choice. And Mental Herb lets me get by that and Baton Pass away.
Throh (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Guts
EVs: 252 HP / 16 Atk / 240 SDef
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Revenge
- Bulk Up
- Stone Edge
- Payback
Seems outshined by Sawk, but I like this guy better. I needed something with some bulk to it and Throh has done a good job. It can even take Super Effective hits such as Psychic fairly well, usually having a 2HKO in my experience. Revenge is used over Overhead Throw because it hits very hard and I already have both Clear Smog and Dragon Tail. And it isn't like I'm outspeeding anything anyways. Bulk Up lets me hit harder (although it hits hard even with only 16 Attack EVs) and become bulkier. Stone Edge and Payback are coverage. Guts is nice for when my opponent has Toxic Spikes up, or if they try to Burn me thinking I have Mold Breaker or Inner Focus.
Charizard (M) @ Salac Berry
Trait: Blaze
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Air Slash
- Fire Blast
- Focus Blast
- Substitute
Seeing as I don't have any Sun on this team, most people will expect a Belly Drum Charizard. But I've always been a fan of Special. And this lets me take advantage of Tail Glow. Fire Blast and Air Slash get STAB while Focus Blast is for type coverage. Substitute protects me from Thunder Wave as well as lowers my health (while providing me protection) down to the Salac Berry point. And once I have Tail Glow and Salac Berry, as well as Blaze, I can tear through the foe with ease.
Eelektross (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 176 Atk / 80 Def
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Coil
- Dragon Tail
- Spark
- Brick Break
Pretty bulky and hits fairly hard. Coil is there to raise my Attack and Defense (as well as increasing Dragon Tail accuracy.) Spark is used because it doesn't have recoil. Brick Break is coverage. Dragon Tail is there for Steel types who are immune to Clear Smog. Metang is a target for this guy. It resists those Steel attacks and gets it out of there with Dragon Tail.
Amoonguss (M) @ Black Sludge
Trait: Regenerator
EVs: 252 HP / 160 Def / 96 SAtk
Modest Nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Spore
- Giga Drain
- Clear Smog
- Stun Spore
I know this guy isn't released with DW yet, but that is why I said somewhat NU. By the rules of my E4 battle it can be used in NU. So can Contrary Serperior for that matter. This guy is incredibly bulky. And with a nice Tail Glow pass, it hits hard also. Spore is 100% sleep. Usually my foe will switch out and let the Sleep Clause protect them. So I have Stun Spore to deal with those guys. Giga Drain is STAb and healing. When combined with Black Sludge and Regenerator, this guy becomes hard to take down. Clear Smog removes stat boosts. This is one reason why it is used over Sludge Bomb. The other is that it doesn't poison the foe. Which is something I do not want. It does decent damage anyways, especially with Tail Glow.
Gorebyss (M) @ Focus Sash
Trait: Swift Swim
EVs: 8 HP / 252 SAtk / 248 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Scald
- Ice Beam
- Hidden Power [Grass]
- Shell Smash
Tail Glow means +5. But this guy is very powerful. Shell Smash up means a huge sweep. HP Grass and Ice Beam for coverage. I use Scald over Hydro Pump and Surf due to that Burn chance. I know some of you might say "Who cares about Burn? You should just go for the KO with this guy. Use Surf." Well, Scald hits hard to KO most things Surf would. I mean, when it comes down to it, not much can survive STAB backed by 600 Special Attack. But Scald is used to take down Sash and Sturdy. For these guys can survive attacks no matter how strong they are. But if they are burned, I can take them down with me.
