I've entered an NU tournament online and I've spent the last days practicing on showdown, but today I decided to definitively build my team around my experience.
First, I focused on the win condition, a setup sweeper. My options were Barbaracle, KlingKlang and Omastar, Vivillon and Lilligant.
I left in Omastar and Lilligant because I can offer either one of them weather support,, and also because their moves never miss based on accuracy.
But then I chose Lilligant over Omastar because her counters (flying, fire, poison, ice) are mostly week to stealth rock and thus easier to wear down during the battle.
As I said above, stealth rock support is crucial for Lilligant. For a rocks setter, I was left between Steelix, Rhydon, Miltank, Archeops and Mesprit. But I chose Rhydon based on his ability to threaten fire, flying and poison types.
This duo's main weaknesses are Grass, Fire Ice and even Water types, seeing that unboosted lilligant doesn't hit very hard, and I don't want to use her as an early game wallbreaker but as a late game sweeper.
To deal better with Vileplume, Roselia and other grass types as well as Jynx and other ice types, I chose Pyroar. I chose Pyroar over Magmortar because of speed.
And to deal better with bulky water types and fire types all at once, I'm left between either Lanturn or Lapras. I chose Lanturn for Volt Switch, making the team more offensive and less balanced oriented.
I want to give Lanturn Heal Bell just to help Rhydon, but I have to experiment to see if it fits an offensive set like this and if Assault Vest isn't better than Leftovers.
This team still misses
1 - a second u-turn/volt switch user to make a core with Lanturn
2 - A real way to threaten out Hariyama other than Will-o-wisp in Pyroar, and that's only if I choose Life Orb over Specs
3 - Rapid Spin/Defog support
4 - Sunny Day to make Pyroar hit very hard and make Lilligant twice as fast. Sunny Day isn't crucial, since Lilligant won't hit any harder because I don't pack Solar Beam.
5 - Coverage to hit Fighting types and Weezing.
Right now, the hazards control options that seem like would fit the team are Xatu and Pelliper. Both also get u-turn and deal with Hariyama. Xatu, though, is less reliable, but also has a much bigger offensive presence, dealing with Weezing, who my team otherwise suffers against.
Pelliper is more reliable with defog over magic bounce, but even Hurricane doesn't hit quite hard enough. And I already have a scald user.
Even though I said earlier my team suffered against Hariyama, Weezing is a much bigger threat. And also, my Xatu can easily switch in on a Hariyama knock off and then proceed to roost/psychic to get a three hit KO. Dealing with Weezing is much more important, since it resists Lilligant's STAB and stops a potential late game sweep.
For the last slot in the team, I originally pictured Liepard, but, after some showdown testing, it didn't come in too useful as far as setting up Sunny Day goes. Meanwhile, strong normal type Tauros gave my team a bit of a problem, being able to 3HKO Rhydon, my only switch in, who doesn't get any form of recovery, while also running over Pyroar, Liepard, Lanturn and Xatu.
So, for the last slot, I'm considering Swellow, who outspeeds Tauros and OHKOs right back. Of course, it can't switch in but it's still a solid check. Floatzel could also fill this slot but it would rely on Hydro Pump. Persian could also fit this slot but it doesn't even OHKO Tauros when unboosted.
Guts Swellow also benefits from Xatu and Lanturn's volt-turn core. But I have to be really careful with rocks, since rocks damage + toxic orb + possible rocky helmet and aftermath damage can knock out Swellow in one or two turns.
I've been building this team for the last few hours, so now I need a rest from pokemon. For now, the team looks like this.
If you read the whole thing until here, you may notice I gave up on setting up Sunny Day. Oh well, is happens. Pyroar appreciates it but doesn't need it for it's life like a swift swim or Chlorophyll user would, and Lilligant getting faster doesn't really improve much.
First, I focused on the win condition, a setup sweeper. My options were Barbaracle, KlingKlang and Omastar, Vivillon and Lilligant.
I left in Omastar and Lilligant because I can offer either one of them weather support,, and also because their moves never miss based on accuracy.
But then I chose Lilligant over Omastar because her counters (flying, fire, poison, ice) are mostly week to stealth rock and thus easier to wear down during the battle.
Lilligant @ Life Orb
Ability: Chlorophyll
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Quiver Dance
- Giga Drain
- Hidden Power Rock
- Sleep Powder
Ability: Chlorophyll
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Quiver Dance
- Giga Drain
- Hidden Power Rock
- Sleep Powder
As I said above, stealth rock support is crucial for Lilligant. For a rocks setter, I was left between Steelix, Rhydon, Miltank, Archeops and Mesprit. But I chose Rhydon based on his ability to threaten fire, flying and poison types.
Rhydon @ Eviolite
Ability: Lightning Rod
EVs: 252 HP / 16 Atk / 240 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- Rock Blast
- Megahorn
Lilligant @ Life Orb
Ability: Chlorophyll
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Quiver Dance
- Giga Drain
- Hidden Power Rock
- Sleep Powder
Ability: Lightning Rod
EVs: 252 HP / 16 Atk / 240 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- Rock Blast
- Megahorn
Lilligant @ Life Orb
Ability: Chlorophyll
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Quiver Dance
- Giga Drain
- Hidden Power Rock
- Sleep Powder
This duo's main weaknesses are Grass, Fire Ice and even Water types, seeing that unboosted lilligant doesn't hit very hard, and I don't want to use her as an early game wallbreaker but as a late game sweeper.
To deal better with Vileplume, Roselia and other grass types as well as Jynx and other ice types, I chose Pyroar. I chose Pyroar over Magmortar because of speed.
And to deal better with bulky water types and fire types all at once, I'm left between either Lanturn or Lapras. I chose Lanturn for Volt Switch, making the team more offensive and less balanced oriented.
Pyroar @ Life Orb/Choice Specs
Ability: Unnerve
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Fire Blast
- Hyper Voice
- Hidden Power Grass
- Will-O-Wisp
Lanturn @ Leftovers
Ability: Volt Absorb
EVs: 252 SpA / 144 SpD / 112 Spe
Modest Nature
- Scald
- Volt Switch
- Ice Beam/Heal Bell
- Hidden Power Fire/Heal Bell/Thunderbolt
Rhydon @ Eviolite
Ability: Lightning Rod
EVs: 252 HP / 16 Atk / 240 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- Rock Blast
- Megahorn
Lilligant @ Life Orb
Ability: Chlorophyll
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Quiver Dance
- Giga Drain
- Hidden Power Rock
- Sleep Powder
Ability: Unnerve
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Fire Blast
- Hyper Voice
- Hidden Power Grass
- Will-O-Wisp
Lanturn @ Leftovers
Ability: Volt Absorb
EVs: 252 SpA / 144 SpD / 112 Spe
Modest Nature
- Scald
- Volt Switch
- Ice Beam/Heal Bell
- Hidden Power Fire/Heal Bell/Thunderbolt
Rhydon @ Eviolite
Ability: Lightning Rod
EVs: 252 HP / 16 Atk / 240 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- Rock Blast
- Megahorn
Lilligant @ Life Orb
Ability: Chlorophyll
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Quiver Dance
- Giga Drain
- Hidden Power Rock
- Sleep Powder
I want to give Lanturn Heal Bell just to help Rhydon, but I have to experiment to see if it fits an offensive set like this and if Assault Vest isn't better than Leftovers.
This team still misses
1 - a second u-turn/volt switch user to make a core with Lanturn
2 - A real way to threaten out Hariyama other than Will-o-wisp in Pyroar, and that's only if I choose Life Orb over Specs
3 - Rapid Spin/Defog support
4 - Sunny Day to make Pyroar hit very hard and make Lilligant twice as fast. Sunny Day isn't crucial, since Lilligant won't hit any harder because I don't pack Solar Beam.
5 - Coverage to hit Fighting types and Weezing.
Right now, the hazards control options that seem like would fit the team are Xatu and Pelliper. Both also get u-turn and deal with Hariyama. Xatu, though, is less reliable, but also has a much bigger offensive presence, dealing with Weezing, who my team otherwise suffers against.
Pelliper is more reliable with defog over magic bounce, but even Hurricane doesn't hit quite hard enough. And I already have a scald user.
Xatu @ Colbur Berry
Ability: Magic Bounce
EVs: 252 HP / 240 Def / 16 Spe
Timid Nature
- Psychic
- Roost
- Grass Knot/Heat Wave
- U-turn
Pyroar @ Life Orb/Choice Specs
Ability: Unnerve
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Fire Blast
- Hyper Voice
- Hidden Power Grass
- Will-O-Wisp
Lanturn @ Leftovers
Ability: Volt Absorb
EVs: 252 SpA / 144 SpD / 112 Spe
Modest Nature
- Scald
- Volt Switch
- Ice Beam/Heal Bell
- Hidden Power Fire/Heal Bell/Thunderbolt
Rhydon @ Eviolite
Ability: Lightning Rod
EVs: 252 HP / 16 Atk / 240 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- Rock Blast
- Megahorn
Lilligant @ Life Orb
Ability: Chlorophyll
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Quiver Dance
- Giga Drain
- Hidden Power Rock
- Sleep Powder
Ability: Magic Bounce
EVs: 252 HP / 240 Def / 16 Spe
Timid Nature
- Psychic
- Roost
- Grass Knot/Heat Wave
- U-turn
Pyroar @ Life Orb/Choice Specs
Ability: Unnerve
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Fire Blast
- Hyper Voice
- Hidden Power Grass
- Will-O-Wisp
Lanturn @ Leftovers
Ability: Volt Absorb
EVs: 252 SpA / 144 SpD / 112 Spe
Modest Nature
- Scald
- Volt Switch
- Ice Beam/Heal Bell
- Hidden Power Fire/Heal Bell/Thunderbolt
Rhydon @ Eviolite
Ability: Lightning Rod
EVs: 252 HP / 16 Atk / 240 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- Rock Blast
- Megahorn
Lilligant @ Life Orb
Ability: Chlorophyll
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Quiver Dance
- Giga Drain
- Hidden Power Rock
- Sleep Powder
Even though I said earlier my team suffered against Hariyama, Weezing is a much bigger threat. And also, my Xatu can easily switch in on a Hariyama knock off and then proceed to roost/psychic to get a three hit KO. Dealing with Weezing is much more important, since it resists Lilligant's STAB and stops a potential late game sweep.
For the last slot in the team, I originally pictured Liepard, but, after some showdown testing, it didn't come in too useful as far as setting up Sunny Day goes. Meanwhile, strong normal type Tauros gave my team a bit of a problem, being able to 3HKO Rhydon, my only switch in, who doesn't get any form of recovery, while also running over Pyroar, Liepard, Lanturn and Xatu.
So, for the last slot, I'm considering Swellow, who outspeeds Tauros and OHKOs right back. Of course, it can't switch in but it's still a solid check. Floatzel could also fill this slot but it would rely on Hydro Pump. Persian could also fit this slot but it doesn't even OHKO Tauros when unboosted.
Guts Swellow also benefits from Xatu and Lanturn's volt-turn core. But I have to be really careful with rocks, since rocks damage + toxic orb + possible rocky helmet and aftermath damage can knock out Swellow in one or two turns.
I've been building this team for the last few hours, so now I need a rest from pokemon. For now, the team looks like this.
Swellow @ Toxic Orb
Ability: Guts
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Facade
- Brave Bird
- U-turn
- Protect
Xatu @ Colbur Berry
Ability: Magic Bounce
EVs: 252 HP / 240 Def / 16 Spe
Timid Nature
- Psychic
- Roost
- Grass Knot/Heat Wave
- U-turn
Pyroar @ Life Orb/Choice Specs
Ability: Unnerve
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Fire Blast
- Hyper Voice
- Hidden Power Grass
- Will-O-Wisp
Lanturn @ Leftovers
Ability: Volt Absorb
EVs: 252 SpA / 144 SpD / 112 Spe
Modest Nature
- Scald
- Volt Switch
- Ice Beam/Heal Bell
- Hidden Power Fire/Heal Bell/Thunderbolt
Rhydon @ Eviolite
Ability: Lightning Rod
EVs: 252 HP / 16 Atk / 240 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- Rock Blast
- Megahorn
Lilligant @ Life Orb
Ability: Chlorophyll
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Quiver Dance
- Giga Drain
- Hidden Power Rock
- Sleep Powder
Ability: Guts
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Facade
- Brave Bird
- U-turn
- Protect
Xatu @ Colbur Berry
Ability: Magic Bounce
EVs: 252 HP / 240 Def / 16 Spe
Timid Nature
- Psychic
- Roost
- Grass Knot/Heat Wave
- U-turn
Pyroar @ Life Orb/Choice Specs
Ability: Unnerve
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Fire Blast
- Hyper Voice
- Hidden Power Grass
- Will-O-Wisp
Lanturn @ Leftovers
Ability: Volt Absorb
EVs: 252 SpA / 144 SpD / 112 Spe
Modest Nature
- Scald
- Volt Switch
- Ice Beam/Heal Bell
- Hidden Power Fire/Heal Bell/Thunderbolt
Rhydon @ Eviolite
Ability: Lightning Rod
EVs: 252 HP / 16 Atk / 240 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- Rock Blast
- Megahorn
Lilligant @ Life Orb
Ability: Chlorophyll
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Quiver Dance
- Giga Drain
- Hidden Power Rock
- Sleep Powder
If you read the whole thing until here, you may notice I gave up on setting up Sunny Day. Oh well, is happens. Pyroar appreciates it but doesn't need it for it's life like a swift swim or Chlorophyll user would, and Lilligant getting faster doesn't really improve much.
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