INTRODUCTION
Hey everyone. Been playing a lot of DLC 2 recently and wanted to showcase one of the best and most consistent teams I've created. I've been finding this meta extremely fun, as it's been constantly adapting and there's still so many innovative sets that haven't been found yet. There's some mons I think are broken like Kyurem-B, Zygarde, and Magearna, but other than Kyurem-B I don't think anything is too outrageously broken. I wanted to post this RMT as a showcase to what balance teams can look like before the likely bans happen, and while the metagame is still relatively fresh. This balance team does a good job exploiting common meta trends by either being able to defend against most things, or have an offensive out vs them. Hope you enjoy the RMT!
IN-DEPTH ANALYSIS
Tapu Koko @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Electric Surge
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Thunderbolt
- Dazzling Gleam
- U-turn
- Roost
Tapu Koko is one of the most reliable balance speed control mons right now. Heavy-duty boots was such a god send for it and allows it to be a great pivot in this meta. This slot used to be Spectrier but I found Tapu Koko was a lot more consistent as it gave me a way to kill Tapu Fini and Toxapex, and provided general longevity with roost. A lot of my games end up being me getting up hazards and slowly chipping the opponent down by pivoting around with Tapu Koko. Thunderbolt and dazzling gleam provide great coverage, and u-turn alleviates prediction vs ground types.
Buzzwole @ Leftovers
Ability: Beast Boost
EVs: 248 HP / 196 Def / 64 Spe
Impish Nature
- Bulk Up
- Roost
- Ice Punch
- Drain Punch
Buzzwole is a staple glue mon on so many of my balance teams right now due to its ability to check so many threats in the meta including, Kyurem-B, Urshifu, Excadrill, Landorus-T, and Rillaboom. It basically single handedly shuts down the popular HO screens team that's been going around with Zygarde and Kyurem-B, as it hard walls both of those as long as Kyurem-B isn't dual wingbeat. It can struggle offensively, as its hard walled by common mons like Tapu Fini, Clefable, and Toxapex but provides such useful defensive capability it's hard to pass up. It also synergizes well with Spectrier, as Spectrier is able to come in on those previously mentioned mons and sub and/or nasty plot up. The EV spread gives enough speed to outspeed crawdaunt and the rest is dumped into defense to maximize bulk.
Mandibuzz (F) @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Overcoat
EVs: 248 HP / 204 SpD / 56 Spe
Careful Nature
- Knock Off
- Roost
- Foul Play / U-turn
- Defog
Mandibuzz is one of those solid pivot mons that's always going to be pretty good in the meta. It acts as a ghost resist, primarily checking Spectrier in this meta, as well as defogging and spreading knock off. The EV spread is fairly simple, giving me enough speed to outspeed Crawdaunt and knock off its item before it attacks me, or to u-turn into Buzzwole or Toxapex and have them take the hit instead. The rest of the evs are dumped into spdf, to check spectrier as best as possible.
Zygarde @ Leftovers
Ability: Aura Break
EVs: 200 HP / 84 Atk / 208 SpD / 16 Spe
Careful Nature
- Substitute
- Coil
- Thousand Arrows
- Glare / Toxic
One of the most contentious mons in the current metagame, Zygarde, is something I find borderline broken but not clearly quickban worthy. This is a staple set on Zygarde, and for a good reason. You're able to sub up on a variety of offensive and defensive mons and proceed to spam glares in the early-mid game in order to set up a coil sweep late game. People have been adapting to this set with stuff like Buzzwole or by using a slow pivot mon into something faster that can kill Zygarde, which is why I think toxic is a viable choice over glare. You can toxic mons like buzzwole or Slowking which allows you to beat them long-term much easier. Defensively is where I think Zygarde really starts to shine. It provides an invaluable electric immunity, as well as checking key threats such as Heatran, Tapu Koko, and Blaziken. Speed allows it to outspeed max speed Magearna and the rest is spread between HP, atk, and spdf, in order to optimize bulk and damage.
Heatran @ Leftovers
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 248 HP / 136 SpD / 124 Spe
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Stealth Rock
- Magma Storm
- Taunt
- Earth Power / Toxic
Heatran has been a staple every generation it's been in, and gen 8 is no exception. It sets up rocks, provides valuable resistances and immunities, and can be a pain to switch in with the combination of magma storm and taunt. Earth power is typically what I use in the last slot, as Toxapex can be a huge pain to deal with otherwise, but toxic is also usable as it has a lot of relevant targets. EV spread is fairly simple, speed allows it to creep those creeping base 60s and rest is dumped into spdf.
Toxapex @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 252 HP / 120 Def / 136 SpD
Relaxed Nature
IVs: 15 Spe
- Knock Off
- Toxic Spikes
- Recover
- Haze
One of the most annoying defensive mons to deal with, Toxapex rounds out the team by providing several resistances, knock off, and toxic spikes. Toxic spikes are absurd in this metagame, and puts in work almost every game by forcing your opponent into awkward positioning. I prefer knock off over scald as it toxic spikes tends to status a lot of mons anyways, and I like being able to knock items off. Haze is unfortunately still mandatory in this meta as it's a hard counter to calm mind stored power Magearna and can be useful vs other setup sweepers.. EV spread is a generic mixed spread, while the speed allows it to outslow Marowak-a in TR.
IMPORTABLE
Cellular Nightmare
Hey everyone. Been playing a lot of DLC 2 recently and wanted to showcase one of the best and most consistent teams I've created. I've been finding this meta extremely fun, as it's been constantly adapting and there's still so many innovative sets that haven't been found yet. There's some mons I think are broken like Kyurem-B, Zygarde, and Magearna, but other than Kyurem-B I don't think anything is too outrageously broken. I wanted to post this RMT as a showcase to what balance teams can look like before the likely bans happen, and while the metagame is still relatively fresh. This balance team does a good job exploiting common meta trends by either being able to defend against most things, or have an offensive out vs them. Hope you enjoy the RMT!
IN-DEPTH ANALYSIS
Tapu Koko @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Electric Surge
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Thunderbolt
- Dazzling Gleam
- U-turn
- Roost
Tapu Koko is one of the most reliable balance speed control mons right now. Heavy-duty boots was such a god send for it and allows it to be a great pivot in this meta. This slot used to be Spectrier but I found Tapu Koko was a lot more consistent as it gave me a way to kill Tapu Fini and Toxapex, and provided general longevity with roost. A lot of my games end up being me getting up hazards and slowly chipping the opponent down by pivoting around with Tapu Koko. Thunderbolt and dazzling gleam provide great coverage, and u-turn alleviates prediction vs ground types.
Buzzwole @ Leftovers
Ability: Beast Boost
EVs: 248 HP / 196 Def / 64 Spe
Impish Nature
- Bulk Up
- Roost
- Ice Punch
- Drain Punch
Buzzwole is a staple glue mon on so many of my balance teams right now due to its ability to check so many threats in the meta including, Kyurem-B, Urshifu, Excadrill, Landorus-T, and Rillaboom. It basically single handedly shuts down the popular HO screens team that's been going around with Zygarde and Kyurem-B, as it hard walls both of those as long as Kyurem-B isn't dual wingbeat. It can struggle offensively, as its hard walled by common mons like Tapu Fini, Clefable, and Toxapex but provides such useful defensive capability it's hard to pass up. It also synergizes well with Spectrier, as Spectrier is able to come in on those previously mentioned mons and sub and/or nasty plot up. The EV spread gives enough speed to outspeed crawdaunt and the rest is dumped into defense to maximize bulk.
Mandibuzz (F) @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Overcoat
EVs: 248 HP / 204 SpD / 56 Spe
Careful Nature
- Knock Off
- Roost
- Foul Play / U-turn
- Defog
Mandibuzz is one of those solid pivot mons that's always going to be pretty good in the meta. It acts as a ghost resist, primarily checking Spectrier in this meta, as well as defogging and spreading knock off. The EV spread is fairly simple, giving me enough speed to outspeed Crawdaunt and knock off its item before it attacks me, or to u-turn into Buzzwole or Toxapex and have them take the hit instead. The rest of the evs are dumped into spdf, to check spectrier as best as possible.
Zygarde @ Leftovers
Ability: Aura Break
EVs: 200 HP / 84 Atk / 208 SpD / 16 Spe
Careful Nature
- Substitute
- Coil
- Thousand Arrows
- Glare / Toxic
One of the most contentious mons in the current metagame, Zygarde, is something I find borderline broken but not clearly quickban worthy. This is a staple set on Zygarde, and for a good reason. You're able to sub up on a variety of offensive and defensive mons and proceed to spam glares in the early-mid game in order to set up a coil sweep late game. People have been adapting to this set with stuff like Buzzwole or by using a slow pivot mon into something faster that can kill Zygarde, which is why I think toxic is a viable choice over glare. You can toxic mons like buzzwole or Slowking which allows you to beat them long-term much easier. Defensively is where I think Zygarde really starts to shine. It provides an invaluable electric immunity, as well as checking key threats such as Heatran, Tapu Koko, and Blaziken. Speed allows it to outspeed max speed Magearna and the rest is spread between HP, atk, and spdf, in order to optimize bulk and damage.
Heatran @ Leftovers
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 248 HP / 136 SpD / 124 Spe
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Stealth Rock
- Magma Storm
- Taunt
- Earth Power / Toxic
Heatran has been a staple every generation it's been in, and gen 8 is no exception. It sets up rocks, provides valuable resistances and immunities, and can be a pain to switch in with the combination of magma storm and taunt. Earth power is typically what I use in the last slot, as Toxapex can be a huge pain to deal with otherwise, but toxic is also usable as it has a lot of relevant targets. EV spread is fairly simple, speed allows it to creep those creeping base 60s and rest is dumped into spdf.
Toxapex @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 252 HP / 120 Def / 136 SpD
Relaxed Nature
IVs: 15 Spe
- Knock Off
- Toxic Spikes
- Recover
- Haze
One of the most annoying defensive mons to deal with, Toxapex rounds out the team by providing several resistances, knock off, and toxic spikes. Toxic spikes are absurd in this metagame, and puts in work almost every game by forcing your opponent into awkward positioning. I prefer knock off over scald as it toxic spikes tends to status a lot of mons anyways, and I like being able to knock items off. Haze is unfortunately still mandatory in this meta as it's a hard counter to calm mind stored power Magearna and can be useful vs other setup sweepers.. EV spread is a generic mixed spread, while the speed allows it to outslow Marowak-a in TR.
IMPORTABLE
Cellular Nightmare
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