Rotation Battles is a very complicated format. You have to outpredict your opponent’s outprediction of your prediction of your opponent’s prediction. Do you go for the safest decision or go for the gusto? Any wrong decision you make can be devastating, so be prepared to make mistakes. Hyper offense is probably the riskiest playstyle out there for this format. The ability to Rotate in any of three ‘mons allows for quick setup and quick benching while retaining stat-ups with minimal punishment.
For example you can have your lead starter be Sand Stream Tyranitar and Rotate to a Sand Rush Choice Band Excadrill on turn 1. Neat, huh? Until you realize your opponent can do the exact same thing.
Some of the most effective playstyles I’ve seen involve bulky sweeping. Often with a support ‘mon and two sweepers. Or a support sweeper and two other sweepers, such as Scarf Flinch abusing Togekiss with Mega Kangaskhan and Heatran. I often lead with Mega Mawile in the front, Scarf Garchomp, and CM Suicune.
A few quick tips:
1. Sky Drop is more useless than Splash. You can just Rotate and the ‘mon that has been lifted into the sky will take no damage and the opponent will not do anything for the following turn. That’s basically 1-2 free turns.
2. Only the ‘mon that is actively battling can have its ability activated.
3. If you see a possible intimidator (ex. Gyarados, Mawile) you might not want to lead with a physical attacker unless if you require its ability (ex. Sand Stream).
4. Choice items are really risky. Keep mind your Choice item ‘mon can only be switched out if it attacks, so if you get stuck in an unfavorable attack… You may be screwed for the rest of the battle.
5. Leech Seed can be absolutely brutal. Be weary of Rotating out Leech Seeded ‘mons because they will be still Seeded when they Rotate back in. Whimsicott is really obnoxious…
I used to see quite a bit of Trick Room in Season 2, but in Season 3 it seemed almost non-existent.
To give you an idea of what a Battle Spot Rotations team may look like here is my Season 3 Battle Spot top USA Rotations team (that I also used for Singles).
Thoughts? Questions? Comments? Wanna battle Rotation style?
For example you can have your lead starter be Sand Stream Tyranitar and Rotate to a Sand Rush Choice Band Excadrill on turn 1. Neat, huh? Until you realize your opponent can do the exact same thing.
Some of the most effective playstyles I’ve seen involve bulky sweeping. Often with a support ‘mon and two sweepers. Or a support sweeper and two other sweepers, such as Scarf Flinch abusing Togekiss with Mega Kangaskhan and Heatran. I often lead with Mega Mawile in the front, Scarf Garchomp, and CM Suicune.
A few quick tips:
1. Sky Drop is more useless than Splash. You can just Rotate and the ‘mon that has been lifted into the sky will take no damage and the opponent will not do anything for the following turn. That’s basically 1-2 free turns.
2. Only the ‘mon that is actively battling can have its ability activated.
3. If you see a possible intimidator (ex. Gyarados, Mawile) you might not want to lead with a physical attacker unless if you require its ability (ex. Sand Stream).
4. Choice items are really risky. Keep mind your Choice item ‘mon can only be switched out if it attacks, so if you get stuck in an unfavorable attack… You may be screwed for the rest of the battle.
5. Leech Seed can be absolutely brutal. Be weary of Rotating out Leech Seeded ‘mons because they will be still Seeded when they Rotate back in. Whimsicott is really obnoxious…
I used to see quite a bit of Trick Room in Season 2, but in Season 3 it seemed almost non-existent.
To give you an idea of what a Battle Spot Rotations team may look like here is my Season 3 Battle Spot top USA Rotations team (that I also used for Singles).
Volcarona (F) @ Focus Sash
Ability: Flame Body
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 Spd / 252 SAtk / 4 HP
Timid Nature
- Quiver Dance
- Bug Buzz
- Flamethrower
- Psychic
Designated Whimsicott and Ferrothron slayer. Bug Buzz will hit through subs. 51% chance of a burn if Mega Kangaskhan directly attacks it. Psychic is for fighting types that may be lured to Blissey.
Suicune @ Lum Berry
Ability: Pressure
Shiny: Yes
IVs: 30 SAtk
EVs: 252 HP / 176 Def / 80 SDef
Bold Nature
- Calm Mind
- Scald
- Ice Beam
- Rest
Do I need to explain this? You Calm Mind, hope that Scald burns (51% chance after two attempts), and Ice Beam Dragons.
Landmaster (Garchomp) (F) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Rough Skin
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature
- Iron Head
- Outrage
- Earthquake
- Rock Slide
If a base 100 gets a +Spd boost I’m going to send Garchomp in to deal with it. How many Dragon Dancers can Garchomp OHKO? I know how risky it is, but it also lets me get the drop on Mega Lucario and any Lati I see.
Fat Egg Thing (Blissey) (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SDef
Bold Nature
- Aromatherapy
- Seismic Toss
- Toxic
- Soft-Boiled
Cleric because hax happens and she can take most Special hits or even Physical hits with...
Cresselia @ Flame Orb
Ability: Levitate
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 HP / 160 Def / 96 SDef
Sassy Nature
- Psycho Shift
- Moonblast
- Sleep Talk
- Rest
(Still looking for a Calm Cressy.) Flame Orb Cresselia is something I have used since 4th Gen. With no Sleep Clause I can Psycho Shift Sleep Talk to my heart’s content. Moonblast and burning things can nerf Physical and Special attackers, which can really help with sweeping. Fun fact, Magic Bounce does not block Psycho Shift. I typically have her be my fourth ‘mon that I actually switch (not Rotate) to activate Flame Orb (and get Garchomp outta danger).
Fairy Poots (Mawile) (F) @ Mawilite
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 HP / 216 Atk / 40 SDef
Adamant Nature
- Swords Dance
- Play Rough
- Iron Head
- Sucker Punch
Sweeps and hits ridiculously hard.
Ability: Flame Body
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 Spd / 252 SAtk / 4 HP
Timid Nature
- Quiver Dance
- Bug Buzz
- Flamethrower
- Psychic
Designated Whimsicott and Ferrothron slayer. Bug Buzz will hit through subs. 51% chance of a burn if Mega Kangaskhan directly attacks it. Psychic is for fighting types that may be lured to Blissey.
Suicune @ Lum Berry
Ability: Pressure
Shiny: Yes
IVs: 30 SAtk
EVs: 252 HP / 176 Def / 80 SDef
Bold Nature
- Calm Mind
- Scald
- Ice Beam
- Rest
Do I need to explain this? You Calm Mind, hope that Scald burns (51% chance after two attempts), and Ice Beam Dragons.
Landmaster (Garchomp) (F) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Rough Skin
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature
- Iron Head
- Outrage
- Earthquake
- Rock Slide
If a base 100 gets a +Spd boost I’m going to send Garchomp in to deal with it. How many Dragon Dancers can Garchomp OHKO? I know how risky it is, but it also lets me get the drop on Mega Lucario and any Lati I see.
Fat Egg Thing (Blissey) (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SDef
Bold Nature
- Aromatherapy
- Seismic Toss
- Toxic
- Soft-Boiled
Cleric because hax happens and she can take most Special hits or even Physical hits with...
Cresselia @ Flame Orb
Ability: Levitate
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 HP / 160 Def / 96 SDef
Sassy Nature
- Psycho Shift
- Moonblast
- Sleep Talk
- Rest
(Still looking for a Calm Cressy.) Flame Orb Cresselia is something I have used since 4th Gen. With no Sleep Clause I can Psycho Shift Sleep Talk to my heart’s content. Moonblast and burning things can nerf Physical and Special attackers, which can really help with sweeping. Fun fact, Magic Bounce does not block Psycho Shift. I typically have her be my fourth ‘mon that I actually switch (not Rotate) to activate Flame Orb (and get Garchomp outta danger).
Fairy Poots (Mawile) (F) @ Mawilite
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 HP / 216 Atk / 40 SDef
Adamant Nature
- Swords Dance
- Play Rough
- Iron Head
- Sucker Punch
Sweeps and hits ridiculously hard.
Thoughts? Questions? Comments? Wanna battle Rotation style?
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