Introduction
I'll start saying, like i often do when i write on the forum, if you could please apologize my poor english: i'll do my best! So let's get started and...Welcome to my Battle Spot Singles "Dancing beyond the Veils" team!
We are now living the last days of the 6th generation, and this Rate My Team is mostly a memento of the Oras days, since not only the team has been my loyal partner for a good part of the last pokemon generation (a while ago i've done another RMT on a very early version of it), but also because it led me to the fantastic Battle Spot Room, that is now like a little family for me.
About the team, the idea behind is pretty simple: Fast offense behind the dual Screens. Speaking fairly, the more i played the Bss metagame, the more i've seen that teams were often not prepared for this overlooked strategy; the offensive and defensive EVs, accurately calculated by players, usually ignored the dual screen scenarios, and this has probably been the main factor of the success of my team. Going a little more in dept, i've built the team around a well known core: the Dragon-Steel core. Behind the screens Dragon Dance Mega Salamence and Weakness Policy Aegislash are no joke. Let's now take a closer look to the team...
We are now living the last days of the 6th generation, and this Rate My Team is mostly a memento of the Oras days, since not only the team has been my loyal partner for a good part of the last pokemon generation (a while ago i've done another RMT on a very early version of it), but also because it led me to the fantastic Battle Spot Room, that is now like a little family for me.
About the team, the idea behind is pretty simple: Fast offense behind the dual Screens. Speaking fairly, the more i played the Bss metagame, the more i've seen that teams were often not prepared for this overlooked strategy; the offensive and defensive EVs, accurately calculated by players, usually ignored the dual screen scenarios, and this has probably been the main factor of the success of my team. Going a little more in dept, i've built the team around a well known core: the Dragon-Steel core. Behind the screens Dragon Dance Mega Salamence and Weakness Policy Aegislash are no joke. Let's now take a closer look to the team...
Team Members
Lumi @ Light Clay
Ability: Magic Bounce
EVs: 236 HP / 76 Def / 196 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Yawn
- Reflect
- Light Screen
- Psychic
Lumi @ Light Clay
Ability: Magic Bounce
EVs: 236 HP / 76 Def / 196 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Yawn
- Reflect
- Light Screen
- Psychic
Everything started from Espeon, since I wanted to make it work in a team that could achieve some good results. I really tried hard, switching a lot of sets, different EVs and moves. At last a dual screen supporter came out as the final result.
I've had a lot of debating on how other screeners (Klefki, Latias or Raikou for example) should be better than it; I also ended up writing an entire analysis of Espeon in the tier, since i strongly think that this pokemon it's worth a place in competitive teams, so i won't really take this topic on this thread.
In my team Espeon usually works as the lead, and since it is a pretty frail pokemon i need to decide smartly the move to use. The team preview becomes a much more crucial factor when playing the dual screen strategy, since it's often not just an "it's a physical attacker pokemon, go for reflect". Espeon surprisingly handles a lot of common threats, such as Garchomp or Thundurus, setting up a screen and firing back with Psychic. Infact, behind the screens Espeon becomes fairly bulky: for example Jolly Garchomp's Earthquake becomes a guaranteed 3HKO; it also survive attacks such as Adamant Conkeldurr's Knock Off, +1 Jolly Mega Salamence's Double-Edge, Adamant Mega Kangaskhan's Sucker Punch or Double-Edge, Quiet Aegislash's Shadow Ball and Modest Hydreigon's Dark Pulse. Yawn is a key move that forces switches and stops opposing setup sweepers to further help Espeon's supporting role. Psychic is its STAB, that does decent chip damage to most mons that don't resist it. Its fantastic ability, Magic Bounce, keeps it safe from statuses, and could play a role on switch-ins when predicting a status move, for example if the opponent is trying to burn Salamence. The defensive EVs maximize Espeon's chances to spell at least a screen, allowing it to always survive Life Orb Adamant Talonflame's Brave Bird or Jolly Garchomp's Outrage (since many of them run Choice Scarf) before setting up Reflect, and to have a great chance to survive Timid Gengar's Shadow Ball, without Light Screen. 196 Speed EVs with a Timid nature are used to outspeed positive-natured base 100 Speed Pokemon, such as Mega Kangaskhan and even to be faster than Jolly Garchomp by 1.
I've had a lot of debating on how other screeners (Klefki, Latias or Raikou for example) should be better than it; I also ended up writing an entire analysis of Espeon in the tier, since i strongly think that this pokemon it's worth a place in competitive teams, so i won't really take this topic on this thread.
In my team Espeon usually works as the lead, and since it is a pretty frail pokemon i need to decide smartly the move to use. The team preview becomes a much more crucial factor when playing the dual screen strategy, since it's often not just an "it's a physical attacker pokemon, go for reflect". Espeon surprisingly handles a lot of common threats, such as Garchomp or Thundurus, setting up a screen and firing back with Psychic. Infact, behind the screens Espeon becomes fairly bulky: for example Jolly Garchomp's Earthquake becomes a guaranteed 3HKO; it also survive attacks such as Adamant Conkeldurr's Knock Off, +1 Jolly Mega Salamence's Double-Edge, Adamant Mega Kangaskhan's Sucker Punch or Double-Edge, Quiet Aegislash's Shadow Ball and Modest Hydreigon's Dark Pulse. Yawn is a key move that forces switches and stops opposing setup sweepers to further help Espeon's supporting role. Psychic is its STAB, that does decent chip damage to most mons that don't resist it. Its fantastic ability, Magic Bounce, keeps it safe from statuses, and could play a role on switch-ins when predicting a status move, for example if the opponent is trying to burn Salamence. The defensive EVs maximize Espeon's chances to spell at least a screen, allowing it to always survive Life Orb Adamant Talonflame's Brave Bird or Jolly Garchomp's Outrage (since many of them run Choice Scarf) before setting up Reflect, and to have a great chance to survive Timid Gengar's Shadow Ball, without Light Screen. 196 Speed EVs with a Timid nature are used to outspeed positive-natured base 100 Speed Pokemon, such as Mega Kangaskhan and even to be faster than Jolly Garchomp by 1.
Enola Gay @ Salamencite
Ability: Intimidate / Aerilate
EVs: 84 HP / 188 Atk / 236 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Dragon Dance
- Return
- Earthquake
- Roost
Cant Say's Avatar @ Weakness Policy
Ability: Stance Change
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpA / 4 SpD
Quiet Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- King's Shield
- Shadow Sneak
- Shadow Ball
- Flash Cannon
With the exception of Modest Mega Charizard-Y's Overheat, that has less than 40% chances to OHKO it in the Sun, there are literally zero attacks that can OHKO Aegislash behind the screens. To give you an idea of how bulky it is with Reflect or Light Screen up, even a +1 Knock Off from Adamant Mega Tyranitar or a Dark Pulse from Modest Choice Specs Hydreigon would fail to OHKO, leading to the activation of the Weakness Policy.
Aegislash completes my Dragon-Steel core, switching-in into Mence's weakness, being fairly bulky even without the screens support, and also working as a Cresselia counter. Even without Weakness Policy's activation it still hits hard, also thanks to the major presence of physical-oriented tanks in Battle Spot Singles metagame. Because of this, and due to my other sweeper being a Physical sweeper, i decided to make it a Special attacker. When Aegislash goes +2 it can pretty much be as letal as +1 Mega Salamence. With its two main STABs it has a pretty solid attacking coverage, while Shadow Sneak makes it a good revenge killer, giving it also the opportunity to take out sashed pokemon without taking any further damage. The EVs are quite standard, while the nature and the speed IVs are there to make sure it underspeeds or tie with other Aegislash.
Aegislash completes my Dragon-Steel core, switching-in into Mence's weakness, being fairly bulky even without the screens support, and also working as a Cresselia counter. Even without Weakness Policy's activation it still hits hard, also thanks to the major presence of physical-oriented tanks in Battle Spot Singles metagame. Because of this, and due to my other sweeper being a Physical sweeper, i decided to make it a Special attacker. When Aegislash goes +2 it can pretty much be as letal as +1 Mega Salamence. With its two main STABs it has a pretty solid attacking coverage, while Shadow Sneak makes it a good revenge killer, giving it also the opportunity to take out sashed pokemon without taking any further damage. The EVs are quite standard, while the nature and the speed IVs are there to make sure it underspeeds or tie with other Aegislash.
Steroids Frog @ Expert Belt
Ability: Torrent
EVs: 252 HP / 140 Def / 116 SpA
Relaxed Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Yawn / Toxic
- Scald
- Ice Beam
- Earth Power
Swampert is on the team mainly for two reasons: its fantastic offensive coverage and defensive type, and its ability to check most Thundurus-I and Zapdos sets (even if it struggles with the Toxic sets of both. But that is when Magic Bounce Espeon comes to help). Thanks to it's fantastic moveset it is able to deal supereffective damage to a lot of pokemon that could otherwise threaten my team, such as Mega Mawile, Mega Manectric, bulky sets of Talonflame, Mamoswine, and of course Thundurus (i still have to be careful to Thund-T, since it can carry Grass Knot) and Zapdos, while its bulk and superb defensive typing makes it able to tank attacks from those threats. Thanks to its impressive coverage it also hits hard common pokemon like Garchomp, Mega Salamence, Aegislash, Dragonite, Heatran, and so on. Swampert's only supporting move is Yawn, which helps supporting the team. I've been debating on using Toxic instead, just to have an answer to Cresselia or Toxic Zapdos, but this was before adding Aegislash. The EVs and the nature are to maximize its bulk, and to survive attacks like +1 Return from Adamant Mega Salamence and KO back with an Ice Beam or Mega Mawile's +2 Sucker Punch. The 0 IVs in speed are to try to underspeed or just to speedtie with Aegislash, while its item, the Expert Belt, is there to ensure some 2HKOs that it wouldn't otherwise score (for example on some variants of Quiver Dance Volcarona, or on Specially Defensive Mega Mences that use Roost to lighten the ice damage and to continue to boost).
Free Hugs @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Iron Barbs
EVs: 252 HP / 212 Def / 44 SpD
Relaxed Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Leech Seed
- Gyro Ball
- Bullet Seed
- Protect
Ferrothorn was the original half of the first Dragon-Steel core of the team, before Aegislash was a part of it. Even not being as good as Aegislash is inside the dual screen strategy, since it lacks its offensive power, it still remained a part of the team. There is more than one reason for this redundant choice of two steel types; first of all even Ferrothorn has a fantastic synergy with Salamence, being also able to check most of Cresselia's sets (it struggles with the Calm Mind one, whereas Aegislash doesn't) and being even a better Suicune check than Aegislash. Secondly it offers a better answer to standard Mega Kangaskhan that threatens both, Salamence with Ice Beam, and Aegislash with Earthquake (that could miss the OHKO with a +2 Flash Cannon and can't revenge kill with Shadow Sneak), and to Power up Punch Mega Kangaskhan for the same reason, but that will take out Mence with Return instead. Last but not least, it is a great 1vs1 pokemon, so if screens run out, Mence dies and i am in a late game one on one situation, Ferrothorn usually saves my day. For example if i'm facing up a Banded Garchomp, Ferrothorn would work obviously better than Aegislash, without the protection of Reflect. The movepool is quite standard, with Bullet Seed over Power Whip for accuracy, for the No-Contact factor and having more PPs for the stall wars. The EVs are of course to maximize its bulk, while the reason of the 44 EVs in SpD is to have more chances to survive a Fire Blast from Mega Kangaskhan, since it doesn't really change much its Physical bulk.
Zoff @ Assault Vest
Ability: Guts
EVs: 156 HP / 252 Atk / 100 SpD
Adamant Nature
IVs: 15 Spe
- Knock Off
- Ice Punch
- Mach Punch
- Drain Punch
Conkeldurr is the last pokemon of my team. It is a farly potent tank, which can take hits from either the Special and Physical side even without the screens support, thanks to its natural physical bulk and to the Assault Vest's help. Infact i usually use him when not using Espeon, as the third part of the Dragon-Steel core. It also plays the role of the another status absorber, saving Mence from burns and paralysis, which instead boosts its already high attack thanks to Guts. It plays a key role versus pokemon like Greninja, Mega Lopunny, Mega Genger or Rotom-A, being able to check them quite well. The moveset is pretty standard, with Knock Off hitting hard Psychic and Ghost types and removing Rocky Helmets and Sitrus Berries; Ice Punch for Dragons and the two standard STABs, which make it also able to revenge kill mons or to survive even further thanks to Drain Punch's recovery.
The EVs are invested to make it hit as hard as possible, while also balacing its bulk on both sides. The IVs ensure that Conkeldur will always be slower than Aegislash, to KO its Blade Form with Knock Off (even at -2).
The EVs are invested to make it hit as hard as possible, while also balacing its bulk on both sides. The IVs ensure that Conkeldur will always be slower than Aegislash, to KO its Blade Form with Knock Off (even at -2).
Download P2 is quite a problem for my team, and if it carries Hidden Power Fire the only pokemon that can take care of is Conkeldurr (even tho i've seen a Psychic p2 once). With Mega Mawile being its partner, it becomes even harder, especially if Porygon carries Trick Room.
This duo can simply troll my Dragon-Steel core, since Zapdos handles Mence pretty well, and Lopunny takes out Aegislash and even 2HKOs Mence at -1 with Ice Punch. This two kind of forces me to make hard reads, since i don't have any safe switch ins. It gets even harder since Lopunny can take out Espeon with Fake Out + Return, preventing the screens. The only decent answer to this duo is Conkeldurr, but even using it i'm still forced to make reads.
With the combination of Hidden Power Ice and Flame Charge my only real answer to Charizard Y is Light Screen. With it i'm ok, without i'm done. If the original fire starter is working with Greninja by its side, things get much worse; so even when facing this two pokemon i'm forced to play the guessing game, since if i lead with Conkeldurr to beat Greninja, and i get Charizard instead, it can freely go +1 speed and then burn my whole team (Ice Punch it's a 3HKO vs 0 HP CharY), if instead i lead with Espeon to use Light Screen vs Charizard, and get Greninja instead, i will probably end up losing 1/3 of my team, and maybe even the match. So it's mostly up to the first turn. Another problem is that you can be never sure if it's CharX or Y, so also choosing the proper screen is crucial, making this match up even harder for my team.
Mostly Casinogar tho. It doesn't need explanations: Hynosis + Hex + Destiny Bond and i'm 1v2. Hello lose. This, of course, if Hypnosis lands.
Importable:
Espeon @ Light Clay
Ability: Magic Bounce
Level: 50
EVs: 236 HP / 76 Def / 196 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Yawn
- Psychic
- Light Screen
- Reflect
Salamence-Mega @ Salamencite
Ability: Aerilate
Level: 50
EVs: 84 HP / 188 Atk / 236 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Dragon Dance
- Return
- Earthquake
- Roost
Ferrothorn @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Iron Barbs
Level: 50
EVs: 252 HP / 212 Def / 44 SpD
Relaxed Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Gyro Ball
- Bullet Seed
- Leech Seed
- Protect
Conkeldurr @ Assault Vest
Ability: Guts
Level: 50
EVs: 156 HP / 252 Atk / 100 SpD
Adamant Nature
IVs: 15 Spe
- Mach Punch
- Drain Punch
- Knock Off
- Ice Punch
Swampert @ Expert Belt
Ability: Torrent
Level: 50
EVs: 252 HP / 140 Def / 116 SpA
Relaxed Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Yawn
- Scald
- Earth Power
- Ice Beam
Aegislash @ Weakness Policy
Ability: Stance Change
Level: 50
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpA / 4 SpD
Quiet Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Shadow Ball
- Shadow Sneak
- Flash Cannon
- King's Shield
Ability: Magic Bounce
Level: 50
EVs: 236 HP / 76 Def / 196 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Yawn
- Psychic
- Light Screen
- Reflect
Salamence-Mega @ Salamencite
Ability: Aerilate
Level: 50
EVs: 84 HP / 188 Atk / 236 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Dragon Dance
- Return
- Earthquake
- Roost
Ferrothorn @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Iron Barbs
Level: 50
EVs: 252 HP / 212 Def / 44 SpD
Relaxed Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Gyro Ball
- Bullet Seed
- Leech Seed
- Protect
Conkeldurr @ Assault Vest
Ability: Guts
Level: 50
EVs: 156 HP / 252 Atk / 100 SpD
Adamant Nature
IVs: 15 Spe
- Mach Punch
- Drain Punch
- Knock Off
- Ice Punch
Swampert @ Expert Belt
Ability: Torrent
Level: 50
EVs: 252 HP / 140 Def / 116 SpA
Relaxed Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Yawn
- Scald
- Earth Power
- Ice Beam
Aegislash @ Weakness Policy
Ability: Stance Change
Level: 50
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpA / 4 SpD
Quiet Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Shadow Ball
- Shadow Sneak
- Flash Cannon
- King's Shield
Closing Comments and Shoutouts
Since the old VGC '13 days and my Hailroom team, this was probably the most succesful one for me. I'm sure that with some more time it could still be improved, but with the Oras days being at their end, i'm just going to keep it the way it is. I have to say i'm pretty attached to this team, even ending up building it on my 3ds. Thanks to it not only i was able to achieve some little goals, such as the peaks on Showdown and on cartridge, or Espeon's bss analysis, i was also able to start living the Smogon community. The more i used the team, the more i lived the Battle Spot room, and the more i felt part of it. Today i'm happily part of the crew, to whom i extend my shoutouts. Thanks boys, and thanks to whoever is going to read my RMT.
That's all...
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