I recently joined a very active local league after observing their recent tournament to kick off the 5th gen metagame for them. The team I'm using, albeit with some major updates (including a totally new member), has withstood trial by fire before, but I wanted to get it rated here before the season starts.
Here are the special league rules:
-Anything banned on Smogon is banned.
-Legendaries, Salamence, Garchomp, Haxorus, Wobuffet, Wynaut, and Cloyster are all banned.
-Items (not moves or abilities) that provide a higher critical hit or flinching ratio are banned.
-No item may appear twice on the same team
I'll start off with the threatlist, since I went into this knowing the main things I'm up against.
-The most abundant Pokémon in the league is Mienshao; the team has to be able to take them down quickly 100% of the time or I won't get anywhere in the league.
-Gengar also shows up fairly often.
-The league's current champion boasts a powerful Excadrill holding an Air Balloon, and a heretofore unbeaten Cradily. I'm not optimistic about my chances at beating him, but I have to have a team that stands some shadow of a chance.
So here's the team. The earlier ones are less easily replaced.
1. Alakazam
Ability: Inner Focus
Item: Wise Glasses
252 Sp Atk/252 Spd
Nature: +Spd/-Atk
-Psychic
-Shadow Ball
-Focus Blast
-Energy Ball
With Alakazam, there's absolutely no better counter to the abundant Mienshao leadoff. Inner Focus prevents Fake Out from working, and the massive speed blocks Mienshao from even getting a U-Turn in. Obviously, the opponent might switch to a Sucker Punch counter, but that's the only major threat; anything incapable of Sucker Punch will probably lose in a speed contest.
2. Porygon2
Ability: Download
Item: Eviolite
252 Def/252 Sp Atk
Nature: +Sp Def/-Atk
-Tri Attack
-Psychic
-Ice Beam
-Recover
I know this one probably bugs some of you guys, but with the Eviolite and a well-timed switch-in with Download, Porygon2 suddenly has the stats of a Kyurem. Considering that, the nature, and the EV training, this pokemon suddenly has not two, but three massive stats to ride on.
3. Cradily
Ability: Suction Cups
Item: Leftovers
252 Def/252 Sp Def
Nature: Neutral
-Toxic
-Stockpile
-Recover
-Rock Slide
Remember when I said the Champion has an unstoppable Cradily? Well, he happens to know that Cradily is one of my all-time sentimental favorites, and even named his after me. I really don't feel much of a need to defend this guy.
4. Flygon
Ability: Levitate
Item: ?
252 Atk/252 Spd
Nature: +Atk/-Sp Atk
-Earthquake
-Fire Punch
-Dragon Claw
-Stone Edge
Flygon is easily my favorite Pokemon of all time. And since it's one of the few Dragons outside of the NU level allowed in this league, it has major advantages. Not to mention the fact that this particular moveset has fantastic offensive coverage.
5. Volcarona
Ability: Flame Body
Item: ?
128 Def/252 Sp Atk/128 Sp Def
Nature: +Sp Atk/-Spd
-Flamethrower
-Bug Buzz
-Psychic
-Quiver Dance
The obvious disadvantage is that nasty speed-lowering nature, but this particular Volcarona has pulled off a sweep after getting a nice Quiver Dance in there. It also holds up well against the major threats of the league, with Psychic instantly finishing off both Mienshao and Gengar. Flame Body may get in a lucky burn, completely turning the tables in my favor.
6. Drapion
Ability: Sniper
Item: Air Balloon
128 Atk/128 Def/252 Spd
Nature: Neutral
-X-Scissor
-Crunch
-Toxic Spikes
-Cross Poison/Ice Fang/Fire Fang
As you can see, I haven't decided how to cure this poor guy's Four Move Syndrome, but Drapion makes a good leadoff against any team that doesn't start with Mienshao; toxic spikes are incredibly useful and Drapion is difficult to finish with one hit. Black and White also saw to it that the Poison type stays rare in the metagame, so a rapidly spinning Blastoise, Starmie, or Excadrill would be the only threat to a Toxic Spikes setup.
And there you go. Sorry about the lack of those precious visual aids, but my computer's slow enough that getting six pictures would take at least an hour. Anyway, feel free to rate.
Here are the special league rules:
-Anything banned on Smogon is banned.
-Legendaries, Salamence, Garchomp, Haxorus, Wobuffet, Wynaut, and Cloyster are all banned.
-Items (not moves or abilities) that provide a higher critical hit or flinching ratio are banned.
-No item may appear twice on the same team
I'll start off with the threatlist, since I went into this knowing the main things I'm up against.
-The most abundant Pokémon in the league is Mienshao; the team has to be able to take them down quickly 100% of the time or I won't get anywhere in the league.
-Gengar also shows up fairly often.
-The league's current champion boasts a powerful Excadrill holding an Air Balloon, and a heretofore unbeaten Cradily. I'm not optimistic about my chances at beating him, but I have to have a team that stands some shadow of a chance.
So here's the team. The earlier ones are less easily replaced.
1. Alakazam
Ability: Inner Focus
Item: Wise Glasses
252 Sp Atk/252 Spd
Nature: +Spd/-Atk
-Psychic
-Shadow Ball
-Focus Blast
-Energy Ball
With Alakazam, there's absolutely no better counter to the abundant Mienshao leadoff. Inner Focus prevents Fake Out from working, and the massive speed blocks Mienshao from even getting a U-Turn in. Obviously, the opponent might switch to a Sucker Punch counter, but that's the only major threat; anything incapable of Sucker Punch will probably lose in a speed contest.
2. Porygon2
Ability: Download
Item: Eviolite
252 Def/252 Sp Atk
Nature: +Sp Def/-Atk
-Tri Attack
-Psychic
-Ice Beam
-Recover
I know this one probably bugs some of you guys, but with the Eviolite and a well-timed switch-in with Download, Porygon2 suddenly has the stats of a Kyurem. Considering that, the nature, and the EV training, this pokemon suddenly has not two, but three massive stats to ride on.
3. Cradily
Ability: Suction Cups
Item: Leftovers
252 Def/252 Sp Def
Nature: Neutral
-Toxic
-Stockpile
-Recover
-Rock Slide
Remember when I said the Champion has an unstoppable Cradily? Well, he happens to know that Cradily is one of my all-time sentimental favorites, and even named his after me. I really don't feel much of a need to defend this guy.
4. Flygon
Ability: Levitate
Item: ?
252 Atk/252 Spd
Nature: +Atk/-Sp Atk
-Earthquake
-Fire Punch
-Dragon Claw
-Stone Edge
Flygon is easily my favorite Pokemon of all time. And since it's one of the few Dragons outside of the NU level allowed in this league, it has major advantages. Not to mention the fact that this particular moveset has fantastic offensive coverage.
5. Volcarona
Ability: Flame Body
Item: ?
128 Def/252 Sp Atk/128 Sp Def
Nature: +Sp Atk/-Spd
-Flamethrower
-Bug Buzz
-Psychic
-Quiver Dance
The obvious disadvantage is that nasty speed-lowering nature, but this particular Volcarona has pulled off a sweep after getting a nice Quiver Dance in there. It also holds up well against the major threats of the league, with Psychic instantly finishing off both Mienshao and Gengar. Flame Body may get in a lucky burn, completely turning the tables in my favor.
6. Drapion
Ability: Sniper
Item: Air Balloon
128 Atk/128 Def/252 Spd
Nature: Neutral
-X-Scissor
-Crunch
-Toxic Spikes
-Cross Poison/Ice Fang/Fire Fang
As you can see, I haven't decided how to cure this poor guy's Four Move Syndrome, but Drapion makes a good leadoff against any team that doesn't start with Mienshao; toxic spikes are incredibly useful and Drapion is difficult to finish with one hit. Black and White also saw to it that the Poison type stays rare in the metagame, so a rapidly spinning Blastoise, Starmie, or Excadrill would be the only threat to a Toxic Spikes setup.
And there you go. Sorry about the lack of those precious visual aids, but my computer's slow enough that getting six pictures would take at least an hour. Anyway, feel free to rate.
