GIROTINA'S REVENGE!
INTRODUCTION
After the spike on Deoxys-A usage I thought other not so used Ubers needed some love too. From the suggested pokes for CCAT, Shaymin-S was left behind because "it's a dirty pokemon" or "it's annoying". Well if that's a valid argument, then some may say that stall as a playstyle is also "annoying" or "dirty".
Anyways, I tried to come up with a team showcasing Skymin. But to my surprise, my MVP didn't turn out to be Skymin but Girotina (yes, with an O). This team abuses hazards with Girotina's unique set and Shaymin-S ability to create switches and stall out several pokes with Substitute + Leech Seed. The team did better than I thought, getting +1500 (top 15) in the PO ladder. I guess I could have gone higher but I was just trying to prove a point. I'd have tested this on the Smogon ladder but honestly few people ladder there.
TEAM BUILDING
Like I said, the team started off with Shaymin-S in mind so it was my first pick.
Then I thought Toxic Spikes would be beneficial for the SubSeed set. I don't like Tentacruel that much because it means you kinda have to run Kyogre, and as a moral rule I try to avoid using Kyogre on my team. So Forretress was my pick.
Now I needed a spin blocker if I was going to abuse T-spikes. I originally thought of Ghost Arceus but then I remember this set I wanted to try with Giratina-A so I chose him instead.
Since my only offensive pokemon is not exactly the bulkiest, I decided to have my trusty bulky Dialga who has proven me many times how versatile he is.
I usually don't like to have scarf pokes for some reason so I always try to include some speedy attacker (Deoxys-A in the past). This time I went with Mewtwo because I can't afford switching that much with this team.
Finally, I know for a fact that 95% of the teams I face are rain based. So just to against the metagame I went with Groudon. He is also my physical attacker and late game sweeper.
Then I thought Toxic Spikes would be beneficial for the SubSeed set. I don't like Tentacruel that much because it means you kinda have to run Kyogre, and as a moral rule I try to avoid using Kyogre on my team. So Forretress was my pick.
Now I needed a spin blocker if I was going to abuse T-spikes. I originally thought of Ghost Arceus but then I remember this set I wanted to try with Giratina-A so I chose him instead.
Since my only offensive pokemon is not exactly the bulkiest, I decided to have my trusty bulky Dialga who has proven me many times how versatile he is.
I usually don't like to have scarf pokes for some reason so I always try to include some speedy attacker (Deoxys-A in the past). This time I went with Mewtwo because I can't afford switching that much with this team.
Finally, I know for a fact that 95% of the teams I face are rain based. So just to against the metagame I went with Groudon. He is also my physical attacker and late game sweeper.
TEAM REVIEW
Haxmin @ Leftovers
Ability: Serene Grace
Nature: Timid (+Spe / -Atk)
16 HP / 252 SpAtk / 240 Spe
Leech Seed
Air Slash
Substitute
Seed Flare
Ah, Haxmin. How many rage quits I've seen because of him? The reason I put him as a "lead" is for the remote chance that people might think it's scarfed. I rarely use him as lead unless I suspect (or guess) they might lead with Groudon or Darkrai (who I outspeed). EVs are straightforward, enough speed to outspeed Darkrai and the rest in HP. I don't care about speed tying with other Shaymin-S because I've only seen another one in +100 battles plus the extra HP does help (I've survived a lot of things with <10 HP). Normally I don't bring him into battle unless TS are up. If they are, then possible switch-ins are Ferrothorn or Chansey (they have to be smart switches otherwise status owns him).
Forretress @ Leftovers
Ability: Sturdy
Nature: Calm (+ SpDef, -Atk)
252 HP / 16 Def / 240 SpDef
Spikes
Rapid Spin
Volt Switch
Toxic Spikes
I remember that I used Forry to spin (or at least try) on my old sun team. To your surprise, I used to spin 25% of the times. This time, it's mostly for setting up Toxic Spikes. If I see a Tentacruel on the other team then I go for Spikes. Volt Switch is very useful and helps me switch against Giratina-A without getting statused. Normally I lead with Forry so that I can get poison damage asap. I usually don't keep him alive very long unless there is a Deoxys-A in the other team. If they try to spinblock with their ghost then I get more hazard layers.
Girotina @ Leftovers
Ability: Pressure
Nature: Careful (+SpDef / -SpAtk)
236 HP / 236 SpDef / 20 Spe
Substitute
Calm Mind
Will O' Wisp
Dragon Tail
My MVP. Extra cool points if you figure out where/who did I steal the name from. I know what you are thinking. What is this rubbish set? CM with no special attack and a negative nature?? Well the thing is, I've found that Giratina's role as spin blocker often allows opposing spinner (Tenta or Forry) to set up their own hazards while he 1. switches in 2. WoW/Dragon Tail. I've seen few players taking this into their own advantage using both Giratina/Gira-O's SubCM set (I guess Gira-A can also run a Resttalk CM set but imo is not very effective). With this set, you become almost untouchable. Will O' Wisp against steels who don't get poisoned by TS and physical attackers (some EKArceus run Lum Berry), Careful nature + CM allows me to stall out special attackers while poison -and hopefully hazards- damage racks up. If they try to go into CM wars (Kyogre, Manaphy, Mewtwo, Arceus and the nowadays rare Latios) then just Dragon Tail them. The speed EVs ensure that he is faster than most phazers (support Groudon/Dialga, CroOgre, Skarmory). Only Lugia and Ghost Arceus are faster and I can't afford to put speed EVs just to outphaze them. Lugia is not that common anymore and Roar on Ghost Arceus is also not that common. If I see Lugia I just need to not let him switch on me by dragon tailing his tail(?) on the switch-in. If unavoidable I can Will O' Wisp Lugia as it phazes me so that it will take passive damage over time. I've ran into several teams that let me CM as they lay multiple hazards just to lose to Girotina + one layer of TS. If I see Tenta on the other team I try to get either SR or a layer of Spikes and then switch Girotina quickly before TS are on my field otherwise this set loses effectiveness. The EVs are specially defensive oriented because this is my first answer to Kyogre. Water Spout deals about 30-35% when scarfed and maxes out at 51% when Specs so I avoid being 2HKOed without SR (most SpecsOgre are leads so no SR on my field right away). Substitute helps a lot against physical attackers, crits, status, Trick, flinches, Leech Seed, etc. plus along with pressure it drains PP while they try to break my sub as I CM. This set is really something, not a super general slap-onto-any-team set, but try it and see it yourself.
Dialga @ Leftovers
Ability: Pressure
Nature: Modest (+SpAtk / -Atk)
252 HP / 240 SpAtk / 8 SpDef / 8 Spe
Roar
Thunder
Fire Blast
Dragon Pulse
My bulky Dialga. It's my check against Kyogre and Manaphy. Based on the other -rain- team, if I think my Girotina is gonna play a big role in a hazard war, then I lead with Groudon (to get the sun up) and then switch in Dialga as it takes little from Kyogre in the sun. Fire Blast and Thunder gives him perfect coverage under the most used weathers (rain and sun) and it is also my answer to Giratina-O. Roar helps to rack up hazards damage and avoids those pinky blobs who are always lured by it.
BigDaddy @ Life Orb
Ability: Pressure
Nature: Modest (+SpAtk / -Atk)
4 Def / 252 SpAtk / 252 Spe
Will O' Wisp
Ice Beam
Psystrike
Flamethrower
Modest Mewtwo because I need the firepower to punch holes through teams. Timid means I speed tie with other Mewtwos and I don't like speed ties. Downside is that I get outspeed by Darkrai (and max speed Arceus forms I think) although most players assume this is Timid so they don't risk it. WoW is just as safety control against Arceus, Wobba or Jirachis (in rain). I guess I could change that, but when I had CM, it wasn't thaaat useful to be honest.
Groudon @ Life Orb
Ability: Drought
Nature: Adamant (+ Atk, - SpAtk)
88 HP / 252 Atk / 44 Def / 124 Spe
Rock Polish
Earthquake
Stone Edge
Stealth Rock
My late/mid game sweeper. I don't "try" to set up a RP sweep unless I notice they don't have an answer for it. I usually use him to set up SR and sometimes as a lead to catch off guard support Dialgas with EQ (most think this is support Groudon leading). Other than that, the EVs are meant to outspeed scarf Palkia after one RP and the rest goes to attack and split between HP and Def. If you have a better EV spread then I'm all ears.
CONCLUSION
This team may not the best out there but it was a fun test. It also helped to prove myself two things:
1) Skymin's viability with TS around
2) Girotina's set
Hope you have enjoyed this RMT, constructive criticism is welcomed. I guess I could use a more effective Mewtwo set/EV spread for example.
1) Skymin's viability with TS around
2) Girotina's set
Hope you have enjoyed this RMT, constructive criticism is welcomed. I guess I could use a more effective Mewtwo set/EV spread for example.
REPLAYS
Here are some recent replays against decent players. I always try to include these in RMTs as it shows better how does it handle certain threats. I think most of them were against rain teams (how surprising). It was hard to come up with good replays because a lot of my wins were rage quits. I hope these will show you how annoying my Girotina set can be!
http://pokemon.aesoft.org/replay-Mat...--2012-01-16-1
http://pokemon.aesoft.org/replay-Rea...--2012-01-16-1
http://pokemon.aesoft.org/replay-loc...ng--2012-01-17
http://pokemon.aesoft.org/replay-loc...le--2012-01-18
http://pokemon.aesoft.org/replay-loc...er--2012-01-19
http://pokemon.aesoft.org/replay-loc...ar--2012-01-20
http://pokemon.aesoft.org/replay-Ion...-2--2012-01-20
http://pokemon.aesoft.org/replay-Rea...--2012-01-16-1
http://pokemon.aesoft.org/replay-loc...ng--2012-01-17
http://pokemon.aesoft.org/replay-loc...le--2012-01-18
http://pokemon.aesoft.org/replay-loc...er--2012-01-19
http://pokemon.aesoft.org/replay-loc...ar--2012-01-20
http://pokemon.aesoft.org/replay-Ion...-2--2012-01-20
