Speed Demons – A VGC16 Team
Hi. I’m Epic_Mewtwo and this is my first ever VGC16 team – Speed Demons. It is a team focused on both Trick Room and Tailwind. I’m doing quite well with it even though I am new to VGC.
Teambuilding:
First I focused on the Trick Room core:
I chose Aromatisse as my Trick Roomer thanks to its low speed and ability in Aroma Veil.
Then I added Primal Groudon, as it functions well under Trick Room.
I also added Mega Kangaskan, because of its high power and lower speed.
Then I started the Tailwind core:
I chose Zapdos because it has access to both Tailwind and Thunder Wave.
Then I added Primal Kyogre to benefit from the Tailwind.
Finally, I added Mega Salamence to finish off the Tailwind core.
The Team:
Trick Room Core
Out of the two cores, I find this one to be the most successful. Here it is:
Aromatisse @ Chesto Berry
Ability: Aroma Veil
EVs: 252 HP/126 Def/4 SpA/126 SpD
Sassy Nature
- Trick Room
- Aromatherapy
- Heal Pulse
- Dazzling Gleam
Aromatisse is my Trick Room setter, and it is good at what it does. I needed something that could deal with the two things that stop can stop Trick Room from being set up: Thundurus and Dark Void Smeargle. The answer was simple: Aromatisse. Aroma Veil protects it from Prankster Taunt. My way of dealing with Smeargle is more creative.
While Aromatisse’s bulk may be disappointing, it survives longer than you may expect, and I’ve gotten really attached to it.
Groudon-Primal @ Red Orb
Ability: Desolate Land
EVs: 4 HP/252 Atk/252 SpA
Brave Nature
- Precipice Blades
- Eruption
- Solarbeam
- Hammer Arm
Groudon works with Aromatisse under Trick Room to make a terrifying duo. Groudon has 0 Speed EVs and a Speed lowering nature to outspeed other Primal Groudons that have no speed investment. It has the usual Precipice Blades and Eruption. Solarbeam can be used straight away in the sun and can catch Primal Kyogre off guard. Hammer Arm drops Groudon’s speed to make it even faster under Trick Room.
Kangaskhan @ Kangaskhanite
Ability: Inner Focus -> Parental Bond
EVs: 252 HP/252 Atk/4 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Fake Out
- Power-Up Punch
- Return
- Sucker Punch
This is just your typical Kangaskhan set, minus Speed investment for Trick Room. After two Power-Up Punches, thanks to Parental Bond, I’ve found that Kangaskhan becomes a monster. Return hurts a lot on anything. The only thing Kangaskhan seems to struggle with are Ghost types, and pretty much every one I’ve fought will go for a Will-o-Wisp on the first turn, making Sucker Punch useless.
Tailwind Core
While this core is not as successful as the Trick Room core, it has some real powerhouses in the form of Primal Kyogre and Mega Salamence, and it can be deadly should I set up the Tailwind:
Zapdos @ Leftovers
Ability: Static
EVs: 4 HP/252 SpA/252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Thunderbolt
- Tailwind
- Hidden Power Ice
- Thunder Wave
Zapdos is my Tailwind setter and it plays a big part in my team’s speed control. Thunder Wave is to slow down fast Pokemon that might outspeed Kyogre, Thunderbolt is for STAB and Hidden Power Ice is so that Zapdos doesn’t become dead weight against ground types (it can also hit Mega Salamence for a decent amount of damage). While Tailwind is not necessary on my team, I try to use it to outspeed fast threats to my team.
Kyogre-Primal @ Blue Orb
Ability: Primordial Sea
EVs: 252 SpA/4 SpD/252 Spe
Modest Nature
- Water Spout
- Thunder
- Ice Beam
- Origin Pulse
Kyogre is probably the MVP of my team, because it is just so powerful. It scares out Primal Groudon and makes it wish it was never born. I ran Water Spout and Origin Pulse because I didn’t want to have to rely on Water Spout as Kyogre’s main attack. Thunder is for coverage, and Ice Beam does over half to Primal Groudon, which is my only attack against it is there’s harsh sunlight. Kyogre always beats Groudon one-on-one, even in the sun, because it can take a Precipice Blades and hit back with Ice Beam.
Salamence-Mega @ Salamencite
Ability: Intimidate -> Aerilate
EVs: 4 Def/252 SpA/252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Hyper Voice
- Protect
- Draco Meteor
- Hidden Power Ice
I have discovered that Mega Salamence can be deadly under Tailwind. Hyper Voice is for STAB Aerilate Boost and Protect is for, well, protecting. Draco Meteor is for Dragon STAB, while HP Ice is when I need to hit dragons, but I don’t want to drop my special attack. It does so much damage, and can kill the opponents Pokemon before they have the chance to move.
Primal Groudon kills my Groudon every time and destroys the Trick Room core, but can’t touch the Tailwind core.
Ferrothorn is a problem. With only a fire weakness, I can’t bring Groudon because of how dangerous it is to set up Trick Room against it.
Mega Salamence can be dangerous to my team. Hyper Voice tears holes, and it can usually get a hit off before my Ice coverage kills it.
Mega Rayquaza is also a huge problem, for the same reasons as Mega Salamence, but it takes the Ice coverage better.
Yveltal can also be a problem, while not as dangerous as the ones mentioned above, due to its power and access to Sucker Punch.
I did fight one team with a Ho-Oh, and it just downright walled everything I had and just recovered off all the damage.
So that’s the team. I will accept any feedback if it helps my team. Thanks for reading :)
Hi. I’m Epic_Mewtwo and this is my first ever VGC16 team – Speed Demons. It is a team focused on both Trick Room and Tailwind. I’m doing quite well with it even though I am new to VGC.
Teambuilding:
First I focused on the Trick Room core:
I chose Aromatisse as my Trick Roomer thanks to its low speed and ability in Aroma Veil.
Then I added Primal Groudon, as it functions well under Trick Room.
I also added Mega Kangaskan, because of its high power and lower speed.
Then I started the Tailwind core:
I chose Zapdos because it has access to both Tailwind and Thunder Wave.
Then I added Primal Kyogre to benefit from the Tailwind.
Finally, I added Mega Salamence to finish off the Tailwind core.
The Team:
Trick Room Core
Out of the two cores, I find this one to be the most successful. Here it is:
Aromatisse @ Chesto Berry
Ability: Aroma Veil
EVs: 252 HP/126 Def/4 SpA/126 SpD
Sassy Nature
- Trick Room
- Aromatherapy
- Heal Pulse
- Dazzling Gleam
Aromatisse is my Trick Room setter, and it is good at what it does. I needed something that could deal with the two things that stop can stop Trick Room from being set up: Thundurus and Dark Void Smeargle. The answer was simple: Aromatisse. Aroma Veil protects it from Prankster Taunt. My way of dealing with Smeargle is more creative.
1) Smeargle uses Dark Void, putting both Aromatisse and Groudon to sleep.
2) Aromatisse eats its berry, wakes up, and goes for Trick Room.
3) With Aromatisse being the fastest on the field, it uses Aromatherapy to wake up Groudon.
4) Groudon wakes up and either:
a) Goes for Eruption and annihilates Smeargle
b) The Smeargle is Focus Sash and lives the hit, but as the Smeargle never saw it coming, dies the next turn to a Dazzling Gleam from a now faster Aromatisse.
2) Aromatisse eats its berry, wakes up, and goes for Trick Room.
3) With Aromatisse being the fastest on the field, it uses Aromatherapy to wake up Groudon.
4) Groudon wakes up and either:
a) Goes for Eruption and annihilates Smeargle
b) The Smeargle is Focus Sash and lives the hit, but as the Smeargle never saw it coming, dies the next turn to a Dazzling Gleam from a now faster Aromatisse.
While Aromatisse’s bulk may be disappointing, it survives longer than you may expect, and I’ve gotten really attached to it.
Groudon-Primal @ Red Orb
Ability: Desolate Land
EVs: 4 HP/252 Atk/252 SpA
Brave Nature
- Precipice Blades
- Eruption
- Solarbeam
- Hammer Arm
Groudon works with Aromatisse under Trick Room to make a terrifying duo. Groudon has 0 Speed EVs and a Speed lowering nature to outspeed other Primal Groudons that have no speed investment. It has the usual Precipice Blades and Eruption. Solarbeam can be used straight away in the sun and can catch Primal Kyogre off guard. Hammer Arm drops Groudon’s speed to make it even faster under Trick Room.
Kangaskhan @ Kangaskhanite
Ability: Inner Focus -> Parental Bond
EVs: 252 HP/252 Atk/4 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Fake Out
- Power-Up Punch
- Return
- Sucker Punch
This is just your typical Kangaskhan set, minus Speed investment for Trick Room. After two Power-Up Punches, thanks to Parental Bond, I’ve found that Kangaskhan becomes a monster. Return hurts a lot on anything. The only thing Kangaskhan seems to struggle with are Ghost types, and pretty much every one I’ve fought will go for a Will-o-Wisp on the first turn, making Sucker Punch useless.
Tailwind Core
While this core is not as successful as the Trick Room core, it has some real powerhouses in the form of Primal Kyogre and Mega Salamence, and it can be deadly should I set up the Tailwind:
Zapdos @ Leftovers
Ability: Static
EVs: 4 HP/252 SpA/252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Thunderbolt
- Tailwind
- Hidden Power Ice
- Thunder Wave
Zapdos is my Tailwind setter and it plays a big part in my team’s speed control. Thunder Wave is to slow down fast Pokemon that might outspeed Kyogre, Thunderbolt is for STAB and Hidden Power Ice is so that Zapdos doesn’t become dead weight against ground types (it can also hit Mega Salamence for a decent amount of damage). While Tailwind is not necessary on my team, I try to use it to outspeed fast threats to my team.
Kyogre-Primal @ Blue Orb
Ability: Primordial Sea
EVs: 252 SpA/4 SpD/252 Spe
Modest Nature
- Water Spout
- Thunder
- Ice Beam
- Origin Pulse
Kyogre is probably the MVP of my team, because it is just so powerful. It scares out Primal Groudon and makes it wish it was never born. I ran Water Spout and Origin Pulse because I didn’t want to have to rely on Water Spout as Kyogre’s main attack. Thunder is for coverage, and Ice Beam does over half to Primal Groudon, which is my only attack against it is there’s harsh sunlight. Kyogre always beats Groudon one-on-one, even in the sun, because it can take a Precipice Blades and hit back with Ice Beam.
Salamence-Mega @ Salamencite
Ability: Intimidate -> Aerilate
EVs: 4 Def/252 SpA/252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Hyper Voice
- Protect
- Draco Meteor
- Hidden Power Ice
I have discovered that Mega Salamence can be deadly under Tailwind. Hyper Voice is for STAB Aerilate Boost and Protect is for, well, protecting. Draco Meteor is for Dragon STAB, while HP Ice is when I need to hit dragons, but I don’t want to drop my special attack. It does so much damage, and can kill the opponents Pokemon before they have the chance to move.
I will always use the Trick Room core unless there is:
Ferrothorn, Amoongus or Primal Groudon. My Groudon has a terrible matchup against other Groudons thanks to the fact that it has no speed, and Ferrothorn and Amoongus under Trick Room can be a nightmare.
No matter what, I will always use Trick Room is there is:
A Smeargle. I have never seen a person not lead with a Smeargle, so they will fall for the trap every time.
Another Trick Room team. My Tailwind core wouldn’t stand a chance against it.
Xerneas. My Trick Room core has physical attackers, meaning that they don’t care about the Special Defense boost from Geomancy. They can also turn Xerneas’ Speed boost against it.
If I choose that the Trick Room core is best, I will always bring these mons, in the same order everytime:
If the Tailwind Team is best for the job, I will always bring these mons in this order:
Ferrothorn, Amoongus or Primal Groudon. My Groudon has a terrible matchup against other Groudons thanks to the fact that it has no speed, and Ferrothorn and Amoongus under Trick Room can be a nightmare.
No matter what, I will always use Trick Room is there is:
A Smeargle. I have never seen a person not lead with a Smeargle, so they will fall for the trap every time.
Another Trick Room team. My Tailwind core wouldn’t stand a chance against it.
Xerneas. My Trick Room core has physical attackers, meaning that they don’t care about the Special Defense boost from Geomancy. They can also turn Xerneas’ Speed boost against it.
If I choose that the Trick Room core is best, I will always bring these mons, in the same order everytime:
If the Tailwind Team is best for the job, I will always bring these mons in this order:
Primal Groudon kills my Groudon every time and destroys the Trick Room core, but can’t touch the Tailwind core.
Ferrothorn is a problem. With only a fire weakness, I can’t bring Groudon because of how dangerous it is to set up Trick Room against it.
Mega Salamence can be dangerous to my team. Hyper Voice tears holes, and it can usually get a hit off before my Ice coverage kills it.
Mega Rayquaza is also a huge problem, for the same reasons as Mega Salamence, but it takes the Ice coverage better.
Yveltal can also be a problem, while not as dangerous as the ones mentioned above, due to its power and access to Sucker Punch.
I did fight one team with a Ho-Oh, and it just downright walled everything I had and just recovered off all the damage.
So that’s the team. I will accept any feedback if it helps my team. Thanks for reading :)
