First off, I'd like to say that yes, my team might be a bit unconventional. I've used it to some success on Pokemon Online, but have encountered difficulties now and then. Therefore, I'd appreciate any suggestions you could give to improve this. It is also the first time I've made a team on my own, so just know that!
AT A GLANCE :
TEAM BUILDING PROCESS :
I wanted to build a team around a Mew built as a Sweeper. I thought due to it's really balanced stats and gigantic movepool, it could be used to great effect. Therefore, Mew was the first to be chosen.
Next up was my idea of passing one of the new Gen 5 stat boosts to it, to give it an edge when using Calm Mind to bulk up. Since Smeargle is the most versatile pokemon there is, it can learn all the new stat boosting moves as well as baton pass it.
When bulking up/baton passing, Smeargle especially is extremely weak. Therefore, I figured a Light Screen and Reflect support would go a long way in ensuring it's survival. For this reason I chose Deoxys-S as my Light Screener, as well as used to Stealth Rock. It also has taunt to prevent the opponent from setting up the same.
I wanted something to counter other weather teams, and decided to use the new Ninetales with Drought to change the weather as it suited me.
The fact that Gengar has a number of immunities and has gigantic speed made me want it in my team. It can switch in on an Earthquake and other ground moves that Ninetales in particular invites.
And finally, Tyranitar is a big threat in today's game. It gives both Ninetales and Gengar problems, and isn't effectively countered by anything else I have. Machamp is a really good counter to it, and can switch into any of it's moves without worrying and proceed to destroy it with Dynamic Punch.
IN DETAIL :
Deoxys-S @ Light Clay
Trait: Pressure
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 Spd
Timid Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Light Screen
- Reflect
- Taunt
EVs are spread to ensure I outspeed anything and to maximize survival. I use it as a suicide lead of sorts, taunting to ensure opponent does not set up Stealth Rock and getting Reflect and Light Screen up as soon as possible. Light Clay is to increase the number of turns both LS and Reflect last, of course.
Smeargle (M) @ Focus Sash
Trait: Own Tempo
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Def / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Butterfly Dance
- Baton Pass
- Spore
- Taunt
Either switching in when I know it's safe, or switches in when Deoxys-S faints. Focus Sash is to ensure I survive at least 2 turns. EV spread again, to maximize survival and to make sure I out-speed mostly anything with one speed boost from Butterfly Dance. Basically, I spore on turn 1. Butterfly Dance on turn 2 when a switch happens, and then baton pass either immediately or after another Butterfly dance, depending on the situation. Couldn't really think of anything better in the last slot, Taunt seemed like a good option to ensure I'm able to get the BP off, if such a cause for concern exists.
Mew @ Lum Berry
Trait: Synchronize
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 Spd
Bold Nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Calm Mind
- Shadow Ball
- Roost
- Aura Sphere
The stat boosts gained by Smeargle are passed onto Mew. With LS and Reflect hopefully still up, and the obscene defensive EVs I've given Mew, as well as the S.Def boosts from Butterfly Dance, Mew will be hard as hell to faint. I can proceed to either Calm Mind once or twice, or do so when I predict a switch. Speed boosts from Butterfly Dance will also help in ensuring I go first most of the time. Lum Berry is to clear status ailments which can stop a sweep. The moveset is to ensure maximum coverage and Roost is self healing. Another option I thought of was using Leftovers and Substitute to take care of stat problems. I'm not sure which one would be better.
Machamp (M) @ Lum Berry
Trait: No Guard
EVs: 128 HP / 252 Atk / 128 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Substitute
- DynamicPunch
- Payback
- Stone Edge
Pretty standard Machamp setup. Three attacking moves for coverage, and substitute for when I predict a switch. I can switch into Tyranitar and possibly Heatran without fear and destroy it with Dynamic Punch.
Gengar (M) @ Life Orb
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Substitute
- Focus Blast
- Shadow Ball
- Pain Split
Again, standard Gengar set. Life Orb is used to ensure I get some OHKOs which I will not get without. Since it doesn't stay in the field for very long, the backlash dmaage from Life Orb isn't too much of a problem.
Ninetales (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Drought
EVs: 252 HP / 92 SDef / 164 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Flamethrower
- Will-O-Wisp
- Disable
- Substitute
Highly defensive Ninetales setup. Will-O-Wisp for burning physical attackers, substitute to ease prediction and Flamethrower for STAB, which hurts in sunlight. Couldn't think of anything good for the 4th slot, but I found a use for Disable once or twice, so I threw that there. The speed EV is given to let it outspeed some threats.
KNOWN THREATS :
Following are the threats I have encountered to the strat, I would appreciate any insight into how to get around them.
1. Topping the list is the danger of Roar and Whirlwind.
2. Sandstorm weather screws up the Focus Sash of Smeargle, giving it no way to survive. Ninetales counters this somewhat, but it's still an issue.
3. A huge problem is status ailments on Mew when I've set up Calm Minds and have baton passed to it. Lum Berry helps, but if I get status'd again, I have no way out.
4. Haven't encountered many of these, but Haze did prove to be a problem in a fight or two.
5. Hail is also an issue, but not as much as sandstorm is.
Basically, if setting up Mew fails, I don't really have many options to win. I was wondering if you could suggest something to fix that. I do not want to change the basic idea behind the team of course, but over and above that any suggestion will be welcomed. I've noticed most of the times I've won, it was also due to the unexpectedness of this strat, so I assume this is somewhat unconventional.
AT A GLANCE :
TEAM BUILDING PROCESS :
I wanted to build a team around a Mew built as a Sweeper. I thought due to it's really balanced stats and gigantic movepool, it could be used to great effect. Therefore, Mew was the first to be chosen.
Next up was my idea of passing one of the new Gen 5 stat boosts to it, to give it an edge when using Calm Mind to bulk up. Since Smeargle is the most versatile pokemon there is, it can learn all the new stat boosting moves as well as baton pass it.
When bulking up/baton passing, Smeargle especially is extremely weak. Therefore, I figured a Light Screen and Reflect support would go a long way in ensuring it's survival. For this reason I chose Deoxys-S as my Light Screener, as well as used to Stealth Rock. It also has taunt to prevent the opponent from setting up the same.
I wanted something to counter other weather teams, and decided to use the new Ninetales with Drought to change the weather as it suited me.
The fact that Gengar has a number of immunities and has gigantic speed made me want it in my team. It can switch in on an Earthquake and other ground moves that Ninetales in particular invites.
And finally, Tyranitar is a big threat in today's game. It gives both Ninetales and Gengar problems, and isn't effectively countered by anything else I have. Machamp is a really good counter to it, and can switch into any of it's moves without worrying and proceed to destroy it with Dynamic Punch.
IN DETAIL :
Deoxys-S @ Light Clay
Trait: Pressure
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 Spd
Timid Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Light Screen
- Reflect
- Taunt
EVs are spread to ensure I outspeed anything and to maximize survival. I use it as a suicide lead of sorts, taunting to ensure opponent does not set up Stealth Rock and getting Reflect and Light Screen up as soon as possible. Light Clay is to increase the number of turns both LS and Reflect last, of course.
Smeargle (M) @ Focus Sash
Trait: Own Tempo
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Def / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Butterfly Dance
- Baton Pass
- Spore
- Taunt
Either switching in when I know it's safe, or switches in when Deoxys-S faints. Focus Sash is to ensure I survive at least 2 turns. EV spread again, to maximize survival and to make sure I out-speed mostly anything with one speed boost from Butterfly Dance. Basically, I spore on turn 1. Butterfly Dance on turn 2 when a switch happens, and then baton pass either immediately or after another Butterfly dance, depending on the situation. Couldn't really think of anything better in the last slot, Taunt seemed like a good option to ensure I'm able to get the BP off, if such a cause for concern exists.
Mew @ Lum Berry
Trait: Synchronize
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 Spd
Bold Nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Calm Mind
- Shadow Ball
- Roost
- Aura Sphere
The stat boosts gained by Smeargle are passed onto Mew. With LS and Reflect hopefully still up, and the obscene defensive EVs I've given Mew, as well as the S.Def boosts from Butterfly Dance, Mew will be hard as hell to faint. I can proceed to either Calm Mind once or twice, or do so when I predict a switch. Speed boosts from Butterfly Dance will also help in ensuring I go first most of the time. Lum Berry is to clear status ailments which can stop a sweep. The moveset is to ensure maximum coverage and Roost is self healing. Another option I thought of was using Leftovers and Substitute to take care of stat problems. I'm not sure which one would be better.
Machamp (M) @ Lum Berry
Trait: No Guard
EVs: 128 HP / 252 Atk / 128 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Substitute
- DynamicPunch
- Payback
- Stone Edge
Pretty standard Machamp setup. Three attacking moves for coverage, and substitute for when I predict a switch. I can switch into Tyranitar and possibly Heatran without fear and destroy it with Dynamic Punch.
Gengar (M) @ Life Orb
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Substitute
- Focus Blast
- Shadow Ball
- Pain Split
Again, standard Gengar set. Life Orb is used to ensure I get some OHKOs which I will not get without. Since it doesn't stay in the field for very long, the backlash dmaage from Life Orb isn't too much of a problem.
Ninetales (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Drought
EVs: 252 HP / 92 SDef / 164 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Flamethrower
- Will-O-Wisp
- Disable
- Substitute
Highly defensive Ninetales setup. Will-O-Wisp for burning physical attackers, substitute to ease prediction and Flamethrower for STAB, which hurts in sunlight. Couldn't think of anything good for the 4th slot, but I found a use for Disable once or twice, so I threw that there. The speed EV is given to let it outspeed some threats.
KNOWN THREATS :
Following are the threats I have encountered to the strat, I would appreciate any insight into how to get around them.
1. Topping the list is the danger of Roar and Whirlwind.
2. Sandstorm weather screws up the Focus Sash of Smeargle, giving it no way to survive. Ninetales counters this somewhat, but it's still an issue.
3. A huge problem is status ailments on Mew when I've set up Calm Minds and have baton passed to it. Lum Berry helps, but if I get status'd again, I have no way out.
4. Haven't encountered many of these, but Haze did prove to be a problem in a fight or two.
5. Hail is also an issue, but not as much as sandstorm is.
Basically, if setting up Mew fails, I don't really have many options to win. I was wondering if you could suggest something to fix that. I do not want to change the basic idea behind the team of course, but over and above that any suggestion will be welcomed. I've noticed most of the times I've won, it was also due to the unexpectedness of this strat, so I assume this is somewhat unconventional.
