Platinum strategies are definitely improving and it is a great addition to the metagame. However, some of these strategies are perhaps too good. So Olie and I sat down, and started to think of making an anti-metagame team. Hours and hours (well, more like 2-3) of hard work has presented us with this:
A team with Dugtrio AND Magnezone is pretty much laughing at Steel types, and slower Pokemon that can be OHKOd by Dugtrio. Notice the Feraligatr and Cresselia, two Pokemon not common nowadays (Feraligatr was never popular, but).
Team Anti-Platinum
Dugtrio (M) @ Focus Sash
Ability: Arena Trap
EVs: 216 Atk/236 Spd/56 SDef
Jolly nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Stealth Rock
- Stone Edge
- Earthquake
- Night Slash
Dugtrio as a lead may seem odd, but it works extremely well. It outspeeds Azelf, will always survive one Psychic and can hit it with Night Slash, bringing it to 1 HP, and because of the Focus Sash, can probably kill Azelf again, then setting up Rocks. Dugtrio traps and kills Tyranitar, again due to Focus Sash. Aerodactyl will definitely set up, but not before getting hit with a Stone Edge. Dugtrio is an essential part of the team, as is:
Magnezone @ Leftovers
Ability: Magnet Pull
EVs: 88 HP/216 Spd/204 SAtk
Timid nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Hidden Power [Fire]
- Thunderbolt
- Substitute
- Reflect
Magnezone kills those pesky Scizors who can deal damage to just about every team. Magnezone also kills the less common Forretress, and Skarmory isn't surviving without a Shed Shell either. Magnezone can hold its own against physical attackers with Reflect as well.
Feraligatr (F) @ Liechi Berry
Ability: Torrent
EVs: 4 HP/252 Atk/252 Spd
Jolly nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Flail
- Dragon Dance
- Substitute
- Waterfall
Feraligatr is an odd choice, and may even seem like a gimmick, but this not so. Feraligatr is bulky enough that a Thunderbolt usually will not kill, and after a Dragon Dance, Liechi Berry kicks in, effectively putting Feraligatr at +2 Attack and +1 Speed, and is ready to decimate with Waterfall and Flail (Water/Normal provides awesome coverage). If Feraligatr comes in on something likely to switch, such as a Heatran locked into Fire Blast or Earth Power, it can get 2 Dragon Dances up, and not be outsped by most things. Feraligatr is one of those Pokemon that does well when at low HP.
Porygon2 @ Leftovers
Ability: Trace
EVs: 252 HP/120 Def/40 SAtk/96 SDef
Bold nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Ice Beam
- Thunderbolt
- Recover
- Thunder Wave
Replacing Cresselia is the NFE Porygon2. P2 is a reliable Gyarados and Salamence counter, because it can Intimidate them, and OHKO with Ice Beam or TBolt. Thunder Wave because I dislike using Discharge, and Recover because P2 is annoying like that. This spot pending for a potential Zapdos if it turns out to be better.
Machamp (F) @ Life Orb
Ability: No Guard
EVs: 252 HP/160 Atk/96 SDef
Brave nature (+Atk, -Spd)
- Dynamicpunch
- Payback
- Stone Edge
- Fire Blast
Machamp is a great Pokemon, with immense attack and No Guard. It also gets brilliant coverage. Dynamicpunch is great against Paralyzed stuff, due to Confusion AND Paralysis. Fire Blast is for Steels that don't take too much from Dynamicpunch, Payback for Ghosts and Psychics, and Stone Edge to hit flyers. Machamp is also a pseudo-Zapdos counter, with the SDef EVs being very useful.
Scizor (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Technician
EVs: 32 HP/252 Atk/224 Spd
Adamant nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Bullet Punch
- X-Scissor
- Swords Dance
- Superpower
Ironic that an anti-metagame team would carry Scizor, but after all is said and done, Scizor is the most used Pokemon for a reason. Superpower is used here, for the quick hit against incoming Heatrans. X-Scissor is for STAB, and coverage. Bullet Punch is obvious, as Scizor is quite slow, and Technician will power it up even more.
Unfortunately, Olie couldn't be here to input his comments, which would be much more informative than mine, but I hope mine will suffice.
Have fun rating, and thanks in advance.
A team with Dugtrio AND Magnezone is pretty much laughing at Steel types, and slower Pokemon that can be OHKOd by Dugtrio. Notice the Feraligatr and Cresselia, two Pokemon not common nowadays (Feraligatr was never popular, but).
Team Anti-Platinum
Dugtrio (M) @ Focus Sash
Ability: Arena Trap
EVs: 216 Atk/236 Spd/56 SDef
Jolly nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Stealth Rock
- Stone Edge
- Earthquake
- Night Slash
Dugtrio as a lead may seem odd, but it works extremely well. It outspeeds Azelf, will always survive one Psychic and can hit it with Night Slash, bringing it to 1 HP, and because of the Focus Sash, can probably kill Azelf again, then setting up Rocks. Dugtrio traps and kills Tyranitar, again due to Focus Sash. Aerodactyl will definitely set up, but not before getting hit with a Stone Edge. Dugtrio is an essential part of the team, as is:
Magnezone @ Leftovers
Ability: Magnet Pull
EVs: 88 HP/216 Spd/204 SAtk
Timid nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Hidden Power [Fire]
- Thunderbolt
- Substitute
- Reflect
Magnezone kills those pesky Scizors who can deal damage to just about every team. Magnezone also kills the less common Forretress, and Skarmory isn't surviving without a Shed Shell either. Magnezone can hold its own against physical attackers with Reflect as well.
Feraligatr (F) @ Liechi Berry
Ability: Torrent
EVs: 4 HP/252 Atk/252 Spd
Jolly nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Flail
- Dragon Dance
- Substitute
- Waterfall
Feraligatr is an odd choice, and may even seem like a gimmick, but this not so. Feraligatr is bulky enough that a Thunderbolt usually will not kill, and after a Dragon Dance, Liechi Berry kicks in, effectively putting Feraligatr at +2 Attack and +1 Speed, and is ready to decimate with Waterfall and Flail (Water/Normal provides awesome coverage). If Feraligatr comes in on something likely to switch, such as a Heatran locked into Fire Blast or Earth Power, it can get 2 Dragon Dances up, and not be outsped by most things. Feraligatr is one of those Pokemon that does well when at low HP.
Porygon2 @ Leftovers
Ability: Trace
EVs: 252 HP/120 Def/40 SAtk/96 SDef
Bold nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Ice Beam
- Thunderbolt
- Recover
- Thunder Wave
Replacing Cresselia is the NFE Porygon2. P2 is a reliable Gyarados and Salamence counter, because it can Intimidate them, and OHKO with Ice Beam or TBolt. Thunder Wave because I dislike using Discharge, and Recover because P2 is annoying like that. This spot pending for a potential Zapdos if it turns out to be better.
Machamp (F) @ Life Orb
Ability: No Guard
EVs: 252 HP/160 Atk/96 SDef
Brave nature (+Atk, -Spd)
- Dynamicpunch
- Payback
- Stone Edge
- Fire Blast
Machamp is a great Pokemon, with immense attack and No Guard. It also gets brilliant coverage. Dynamicpunch is great against Paralyzed stuff, due to Confusion AND Paralysis. Fire Blast is for Steels that don't take too much from Dynamicpunch, Payback for Ghosts and Psychics, and Stone Edge to hit flyers. Machamp is also a pseudo-Zapdos counter, with the SDef EVs being very useful.
Scizor (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Technician
EVs: 32 HP/252 Atk/224 Spd
Adamant nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Bullet Punch
- X-Scissor
- Swords Dance
- Superpower
Ironic that an anti-metagame team would carry Scizor, but after all is said and done, Scizor is the most used Pokemon for a reason. Superpower is used here, for the quick hit against incoming Heatrans. X-Scissor is for STAB, and coverage. Bullet Punch is obvious, as Scizor is quite slow, and Technician will power it up even more.
Unfortunately, Olie couldn't be here to input his comments, which would be much more informative than mine, but I hope mine will suffice.
Have fun rating, and thanks in advance.