What team for VGC!?

[youhaveaface]

Here are two rough drafts for the two teams I'm considering for VGC 2012...

SANDROOM

Cresselia @ Mental Herb
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Def / 252 SpD
Relaxed Nature (+Def/-Spe)
-Trick Room
-Helping Hand
-Safeguard
-Protect

Cresselia is here to set up trick room, safeguard if needed, and lend a helping hand. All of the pokemon on this team have naturally low speed and have -spe natures, therefore, trick room is like a baws. Helping hand because all of my pokemon are strong, but not strong enough, and I want them STRONGER! Protect is a given and Safeguard is incase they have a status inflicter.

Hippowdon @ Focus Sash
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Def / 252 SpD
Brave Nature (+Atk/-Spe)
-Ice Fang
-Thunder Fang
-Fire Fang
-Protect

Hippowdon is led with cresselia and sets up sandstorm. Fire, ice, and thunder fangs provide insane coverage, while protect is a given. All of the pokemon have bulky EVs and Hippowdon is no exception.

Gastrodon @ Rindo Berry
Ability: Storm Drain
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Def / 252 SpD
Quiet Nature (+SpA/-Spe)
-Recover
-Muddy Water
-Rock Slide
-Protect

Gastrodon protects my team from water. It lives long and does it's job, therefore a great addition to the team.

Heatran @ Air Baloon
Ability: Flame Body
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Def / 252 SpD
Quiet Nature (+SpA/-Spe)
-Flamethrower
-Earth Power
-Flash Cannon
-Protect

Heatran has flame body to deter physical attackers with a chance of burn, but of course they won't know that until it's too late. Flamethrower and earth power for coverage and flash cannon for added STAB with protect as a given. Bulky EVs, yadda yadda yadda, Air Baloon to protect from earthquake.

Garchomp @ Yache Berry
Ability: Sand Veil
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 126 Def / 126 SpD
Brave Nature (+Atk/-Spe)
-X-Scissor
-Earthquake
-Dragon Claw
-Protect

Garchomp is a bundle of joy wrapped in an evasive ability. Protect, duh. Dragon claw and earthquake are for STAB and X-Scissor to kill Cactau, er, Ludicolos. EVs are slightly less bulky and more offense oriented.

Steelix @ Sitrus Berry
Ability: Sheer Force
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Def / 252 SpDef
Sassy Nature (+SpD/-Spe)
-Smack Down
-Earthquake
-Crunch
-Protect

Steelix is mainly for filler, but serves as an excellent defensive wall. Smack Down is so I can kill those pesky flying-types with STAB earthquake with a S. Crunch is for filler and protect is on everyone. Bulky EVs are standard for this team.




RAINDANCE

Politoed @ Rindo Berry
Ability: Drizzle
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpA / 4 SpD
Modest Nature (+SpA/-Atk)
-Scald
-Surf
-Ice Beam
-Protect

Politoed is the Weather Starter. Scald is when I only need to hit one foe, and Surf when I need to hit both. The rain team is much more offensive than the sand team, and EVs reflect that. Ice beam for addional coverage and protect because pritect is baws.

Ludicolo @ Absorb Bulb
Ability: Swift Swim
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature (+Spe/-Atk)
-Surf
-Fake Out
-Energy Ball
-Protect

Cactaur (Ludicolo) has absorb bulb to get a boost on it's attacks and get a one-time freebie on an ally's surf. Surf and Energy Ball STAB and Fake Out shenanigains. Protect is to protect.Timid + Swift Swim + 252 Spe EVs = Outspeeding nearly everything...

Toxicroak @ Payapa Berry
Ability: Dry Skin
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Spe
Adamant Nature (+Atk/-SpA)
-Poison Jab
-Brick Break
-Rock Slide
-Protect

Toxicroak is pretty nice. Poison Jab and Brick Break for STAB Coverage and Rock Slide for a spread move with a great type. Protect is on everyone NO EXCEPTIONS. Adamant Nature + 252 Attack EVs means it will hit very hard. Max HP EVs mean it will heal just a little bit more every turn with dry skin and heal more when an ally uses surf. Plus Toxicroak is a boss...

Kingdra @ Haban Berry
Ability:Swift Swim
EVs: 200 HP / 56 SpA / 252 Spe
Modest Nature (+SpA/-Atk)
-Dragon Pulse
-Surf
-Rain Dance
-Protect

Kingdra has 1 weakness that is supressed by its berry. Rain Dance just to be safe, along with Surf and Dragon Pulse for STAB coverage. Protect to be safe. I used Kingdra's set as a template for the next two pokemon. (Protect + Rain Dance + 2 STAB Attacks)

Pelipper @ Wacan Berry
Ability: Rain Dish
EVs: 255 HP / 4 Def / 248 SpD
Serious Nature (neutral)
-Hurricane
-Surf
-Rain Dance
-Protect

Agian, 1 weakness supressed by berry. Rain Dance to be safe with STAB moves and Protect. Pelipper is not as bad a 'mon as people say and it is often overlooked, ignored, and never considered.

Lanturn @ Air Baloon
Ability: Water Absorb
EVs: 252 SpA / 252 SpD / 4 Spe
Serious Nature (neutral)
-Thunder
-Surf
-Rain Dance
-Protect

For the third time, Rain Dance for backup and STAB moves plus protect.

So, SANDROOM or RAINDANCE

 

[tlyee61]

Maybe for the "SandRoom" team, have TTar instead of Hippowdon.

 

[Wildfire]

Changes in bold
SANDROOM

Cresselia @ Sitrus berry (Not many people using taunt anymore)
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Def / 252 SpD
Relaxed Nature (+Def/-Spe)
-Trick Room
-Helping Hand
-Psychic (Need an attacking option)
-Protect

Hippowdon @ Leftovers
(Never give a pokemon a focus sash when you put so much defenseive evs into it. That makes focus sash usefuless.)
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 4 Def/ 252 Attacks/ 252 HP
Brave Nature (+Atk/-Spe)
-Ice Fang/Slack off
-Earthquake
-Rock Slide
-Protect

Although the elemental fangs give coverage, they have 60 base power which is hardly enough to do any real damage. I'm partial to ice fang because of how many pokemon with ice weaknesses are around, but it can be replaced.

Gastrodon @ Rindo Berry
Ability: Storm Drain
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Sp,A / 4 SpD
Quiet Nature (+SpA/-Spe)
-Recover
-Muddy Water/Scald
-Earth power
-Protect

Rock slide does not recieve any boost in power from a quiet nature. Earth power does and it has STAB to boost the damage.

Heatran @ Air Baloon/Shuca Berry
Ability: Flame Body
EVs: 252 HP / 252Sp.A / 4 SpD
Capitalize on SP.A rather than bulk. In vgc, the metagame is quick. Stalling and walling pokemon don't work as well as straightforward sweepers.
Quiet Nature (+SpA/-Spe)
-Flamethrower
-Earth Power
-Flash Cannon
-Protect

I've never like air balloon because once it's hit with any other kind of attacks it's gone. Shuca is more reliable because if an opponent does use a ground attack, it will come in handy while an air ballon might be gone before it can be used.

Garchomp @ Yache Berry
Ability: Sand Veil
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Speed
Jolly Nature (-Sp.Atk/+Spe)
-X-Scissor/Swords Dance
-Earthquake
-Dual Chop(Same thing as dragon claw except dual chop breaks sashes)
-Protect

Garchomp is a relatively quick pokemon. Forcing it to take the role of a tr sweeper would require an iron ball. You also need one quick pokemon that will be able to work outside of trick room when it ends.


Steelix @ Passho berry
Ability: Sheer Force
EVs: 252 HP / 252 attack / 4 SpDef
Brave Nature (+Attack/-Spe)
-RockSlide
-Earthquake
-Crunch
-Protect

Not a very good pokemon. Rhyperior outclasses. Steelix is too frail.




RAINDANCE

Politoed @ Rindo Berry
Ability: Drizzle
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpA / 4 SpD
Modest Nature (+SpA/-Atk)
-Scald
-Surf
-Ice Beam
-Protect

Politoed is the Weather Starter. Scald is when I only need to hit one foe, and Surf when I need to hit both. The rain team is much more offensive than the sand team, and EVs reflect that. Ice beam for addional coverage and protect because pritect is baws.

Ludicolo @ Absorb Bulb
Ability: Swift Swim
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature (+Spe/-Atk)
-Surf
-Fake Out
-Giga Drain
-Protect

Cactaur (Ludicolo) has absorb bulb to get a boost on it's attacks and get a one-time freebie on an ally's surf. Surf and Energy Ball STAB and Fake Out shenanigains. Protect is to protect.Timid + Swift Swim + 252 Spe EVs = Outspeeding nearly everything...

Toxicroak @ Payapa Berry
Ability: Dry Skin
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature (+Atk/-SpA)
-Poison Jab
-Drain Punch
-Fake out
-Protect

Toxicroak is pretty nice. Poison Jab and Brick Break for STAB Coverage and Rock Slide for a spread move with a great type. Protect is on everyone NO EXCEPTIONS. Adamant Nature + 252 Attack EVs means it will hit very hard. Max HP EVs mean it will heal just a little bit more every turn with dry skin and heal more when an ally uses surf. Plus Toxicroak is a boss...

Kingdra @ Haban Berry
Ability:Swift Swim
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Modest Nature (+SpA/-Atk)
-Dragon Pulse
-Surf
-Draco Meteor
-Protect

Kingdra has 1 weakness that is supressed by its berry. Rain Dance just to be safe, along with Surf and Dragon Pulse for STAB coverage. Protect to be safe. I used Kingdra's set as a template for the next two pokemon. (Protect + Rain Dance + 2 STAB Attacks)

Pelipper @ Wacan Berry
Ability: Rain Dish
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 Speed
Timid Nature (neutral)
-Hurricane
-Surf
-Rain Dance
-Protect

Completly outclassed my swanna. Also both pokemon don't work well in the metagame. They are frail, and don't pack enough power.
252, 252, 4 is standard. 255 won't give you an extra point. Replace this with some other pokemon.


Lanturn @ Air Baloon/Sitrus
Ability: Volt Absorb
EVs: 252 SpA / 252 Hp / 4 Spe
Modest Nature (neutral)
-Thunder
-Surf
-Discharge
-Protect

Never use serious, hardy, or any other nature like that. There is always a better nature than neutral. Giving it volt absorb it better because it get's rid of a neutral weakness. Lanturn already has a x2 resistance against water.

So, SANDROOM or RAINDANCE

 

[soul_survivor]

Did you, uhh test these teams yet¿

 

[youhaveaface]

I think I'll edit sandroom (thank you wildfire) and use that (75% of votes) and test it some more...

And yes, I did test them a little...

 

[youhaveaface]

Sandroom is not doing too well on PO so I'll ditch weather in general and build a new team...

 

[tennisace]

Weather is really overprepared for in general for VGC, since it's a really simple playstyle. Contrary to everyone who posted, your rain team is "better" than your sand team if you make some changes.

First, get rid of Rindo Berry on Politoed and give it Iron Ball. Iron Ball lets you intentionally go last to both screw over TR teams that rely on Rhyperior and to set up your weather guaranteed (since you underspeed the other weather starters unless your opponent uses something silly like Iron Ball Abomasnow). If you want a more offensive Politoed (which is ehhhh in VGC), go with Specs to hit harder, or Scarf to somehow surprise people? Also replace Scald for a better coverage move like Psychic to hit Toxicroak, or even Encore to screw with setups.

Second, get rid of Lanturn. Lanturn is 110% outclassed by Rotom-W, which can fire off boosted Hydro Pumps and actually damage things. It also beats Zapdos a lot of the time (if they don't invest in special defense, max SpA Modest Thunderbolt cleanly 2hko's). If I can recommend one thing on Rotom, don't use Thunder. Rotom-W screws with Hail really hard, and you really need that Thunderbolt to hit the Water/Ice types.

Third, get rid of Pelipper. There are like a ton of better rain abusers that aren't 4x weak to Thunder and are stronger/bulkier. If you still want Hurricane, go with either (Inner Focus) Dragonite or Tornadus. Alternately, Scizor is a really great Pokemon in the rain because it patches up a lot of the weaknesses Rain traditionally has (like: Tyranitar, Abomasnow, Bulky Grass types, Latios). The choice is really yours there.

Fourth, Ice Beam should go over Protect on Ludicolo, since you really should be attacking every turn with it anyway and you could use the coverage on the 4x weak Dragons. Your strategy should generally be Surf with Politoed and Fake Out with ludi, giving ludi +1 SpA +2 Spe. Also, nobody uses Timid Ludicolo, and it doesn't outspeed anything noteworthy at +2 that Modest doesn't.

Finally, a small tweak for Toxicroak: use Sucker Punch over Poison Jab, Low Kick over Drain Punch (all the things you want to use it on are really heavy), and Focus Sash as the item. You don't need Drain Punch since you're healing 12.5% each turn as long as you can keep rain up (which isn't too hard if you use smart switches), and Poison Jab is pretty useless considering most Grass-types can't do anything back to you at all (The exceptions are silly things like Venusaur and Torterra, but Poison Jab is merely neutral on them regardless).

I hope this helped!

 

[MrPWNtart]

Well not to be rude or anything but you are running a terrible Hippowdon set, and as Wild Fire said, "Never give a pokemon a focus sash when you put so much defenseive evs into it. That makes focus sash useless." Here are 2 decent Hippowdon sets;

name: Physical Tank
move 1: Earthquake
move 2: Ice Fang
move 3: Crunch
move 4: Protect / Slack Off
item: Sitrus Berry / Passho Berry / Leftovers
nature: Brave
ability: Sand Stream
evs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def
ivs: 0 Spe

&

For a defensive set change the following;
Brave nature; Impish Nature
252 Atk; 252 Def