Coontank!'s Poison Team

[Coontank!]

NOTE: Edited because of team change. This is updated to show the most up-to-date version of the team.


Nidoqueen @ Leftovers: Poison Point
Impish/Careful nature; 252 HP, 128 Def, 128 SpDef
- Substitute
- Focus Punch/Earthquake
- Toxic Spikes
- Stealth Rock


Drapion @ Scope Lens: Sniper
Adamant nature; 252 Atk, 128 Def, 128 SpDef
- Knock Off
- Pursuit
- Screech
- Earthquake/Night Slash


Tentacruel @ ???: Clear Body
Modest nature; 252 SpAtk, 252 Spd, 4 SpDef
- Hydro Pump
- Ice Beam
- Giga Drain/Confuse Ray/Surf
- Rain Dance


Toxicroak @ Black Sludge: Dry Skin
Adamant nature; 252 HP, 128 Atk, 128 Spd
- Substitute
- Bulk Up
- Cross Chop
- Sucker Punch


Gengar @ ???: Levitate
Timid nature; 252 SpAtk, 252 Spd, 4 Def
- Thunderbolt
- Shadow Ball
- Psychic
- Focus Blast


Skuntank @ Life Orb: Aftermath
Hasty nature; 252 Atk, 204 Spd, 54 SpAtk
- Crunch
- Fire Blast
- Explosion
- Return/???

 

[Tina]

Sandslash @ Choice Scarf
Sand Veil
Adamant nature
252 Atk, 128 Def, 128 SpDef --OR-- 252 Atk, 252 Spd, 4 SpDef
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- Poison Jab
- Stone Edge

One thing that stuck out to me is that you're using Stealth Rock on a Choice set... You probably should drop that off for Shadow Claw, Night Slash or X-Scissor.

Other than that, I'm focusing on working on my own team right now, so I can't spot anything in particular that's bothering me. ._.

 

[Coontank!]

Oh gosh, you're right! Thanks so much Tina, I wouldn't have noticed that until it was too late. 0_o

 

[Yamato_Ishida]

One suggestion I have, why not try working Gengar in? For the role of special sweeper its got Tentacruel beat by a long shot in most circumstances. The flexibility availiable for it is pretty broad, so I'll leave movesets to you unless you specifically ask for it on this poke.

Hope that helps

 

[Tina]

Crobat @ Choice Band
Inner Focus
Jolly nature
252 Atk, 252 Spd, 4 SpDef
- Whirlwind
- Brave Bird
- Roost
- Cross Poison

Here's the scouting that I was talking about. Whirlwind is good for that, as well as dragging opponents into the Toxic Spikes. Brave Bird for a nice big STAB, and Roost because recoils are scary. Cross Poison is for additional STAB, even though I've never gotten much use out of the move myself. I haven't been able to find any better options though.

Alright, one other thing I noticed- Don't use a recovery move with Choice Band. If you want an attack boost, I'd go with Muscle Band, or just use Leftovers.

 

[Coontank!]

One suggestion I have, why not try working Gengar in? For the role of special sweeper its got Tentacruel beat by a long shot in most circumstances. The flexibility availiable for it is pretty broad, so I'll leave movesets to you unless you specifically ask for it on this poke.

Hope that helps

I also considered Gengar, and the reason I didn't put it on the team was because I feel like a lot of other teams have one. Dumb reason I guess, since a lot of people probably have it for a reason. Although I'm much more open to it than I was when I first brainstormed for this team. So if you (or anyone else, for that matter) have suggestions for a Gengar- such as nature, moveset, etc., but more importantly, who should get the boot if I DO add Gengar- , I'll definately be listening. I'm still keen on keeping Tentacruel though. I'm sure TWO Special attackers would do this team some good.

Alright, one other thing I noticed- Don't use a recovery move with Choice Band. If you want an attack boost, I'd go with Muscle Band, or just use Leftovers.

Yeah I thought about that after you mentioned the Choice item with Sandslash. I was thinking of switching Crobat's and Skuntank's items, but your suggestion of Muscle Band sounds more useful since, in that case, I can still let Skuntank have the boost on Fire Blast.

So...
As an item change for Sandslash, would Salac Berry be of any use? I could REALLY use the speed here. Although I'm afraid just a one stage boost won't be enough, and I don't want to wait until it's going to die soon to get it.
____________________________________________________________________________

EDIT:

I was doing some thinking, and I've decided that it would be hugely in my favor to replace Sandslash on the team with Gengar. I'm not too sure on the specifics yet, but I was thinking of a Timid nature, with the moves Focus Blast, Thunderbolt, and Shadow Ball. As for an EV spread, it would obviously be something like 252 SpAtk, 252 Spd. Nothing too different there, but of course, I'm thinking of Gengar in rough terms at the moment.

I was also considering adding Toxicroak. Maybe...

Toxicroak @ Black Sludge/Leftovers
Dry Skin
Adamant nature
252 Atk, 128 Def, 128 Spd
- Sucker Punch
- Cross Chop
- Bulk Up
- Substitute

... or something like that. My other thought was that, if I do add Toxicroak, then I could possibly replace Drapion's Brick Break with something else, if I can find something more useful. Of course I could keep it anyway, but I think Fighting would have more focus on Toxicroak. As for who would be replaced by Toxicroak, the only one I think would be best to eliminate would be Venomoth, but I'm not too sure.

Again, just developing ideas.

 

[Coontank!]

Just bumping this up because I've made significant adjustments since last time. Sorry for the double post!

Anyway, I’ve made some very large changes to my Poison team, and here’s what I have now (note, I’ve also made these edits to my first post):


Nidoqueen @ Leftovers: Poison Point
Impish/Careful nature; 252 HP, 128 Def, 128 SpDef
- Substitute
- Focus Punch/Earthquake
- Toxic Spikes
- Stealth Rock

I didn’t have a majorly defensive Pokemon last time, and I figured I could use one since I noticed that Crobat didn’t really have a functional purpose on the team. I guess the nature will depend on which one I can capture, and whichever has the best IVs. As for the offensive move, I’m not sure if I should go for STAB Earthquake or for Focus Punch since I can rely on it with Substitute.




Drapion @ Scope Lens: Sniper
Adamant nature; 252 Atk, 128 Def, 128 SpDef
- Knock Off
- Pursuit
- Screech
- Earthquake/Night Slash

I’m not so foggy on this one anymore. Knock Off deals with opponents holding Leftovers or other such items. Screech and Pursuit is a known combo. And I’d give it Earthquake only if Nidoqueen doesn’t get it. Otherwise, I’d take STAB Night Slash with increased critical hit.




Tentacruel @ ???: Clear Body
Modest nature; 252 SpAtk, 252 Spd, 4 SpDef
- Hydro Pump
- Ice Beam
- Giga Drain/Confuse Ray/Surf
- Rain Dance

With Toxic Spikes gone to Nidoqueen, I can dedicate Tentacruel to attacking. The only reason why Rain Dance is on there is because I have a Toxicroak who can benefit from the move on the team as well. I’m not so sure whether to use Giga Drain, Confuse Ray, or Surf. I’m thinking more Giga Drain than the others because Surf would make it a bit of a one-trick-pony, and I may not have a spare turn for Confuse Ray. Item?




Toxicroak @ Black Sludge: Dry Skin
Adamant nature; 252 HP, 128 Atk, 128 Spd
- Substitute
- Bulk Up
- Cross Chop
- Sucker Punch

No surprises here. If anyone has any advice on the EV spread, that would be great as I’m not confident about mine.




Gengar @ ???: Levitate
Timid nature; 252 SpAtk, 252 Spd, 4 Def
- Thunderbolt
- Shadow Ball
- Psychic
- Focus Blast

I feel like I’ve seen this moveset a lot, but couldn’t think of anything better. I know Psychic won’t cover much, but I don’t have anything for Fighting types on this team, and I like to have my bases covered. An item suggestion would be great (I’m not keen on Choice items, but if that’s all there is, than that’s fine I guess).




Skuntank @ Life Orb: Aftermath
Hasty nature; 252 Atk, 204 Spd, 54 SpAtk
- Crunch
- Fire Blast
- Explosion
- Return/???

What would be better choice than Return? Poison Jab maybe? I know it doesn’t cover anything, but it’s a STAB at least.



Well there it is. This version of the team gave Crobat, Venomoth, and Sandslash the boot, and I changed a couple roles as well. I think this is more efficeint. I'd love any and all advice if it can be given!

 

[Sigmon]

For tentacruel I would suggest
Surf
Ice beam
Rapid Spin
Rain Dance since you seem to want it

 

[Coontank!]

For tentacruel I would suggest
Surf
Ice beam
Rapid Spin
Rain Dance since you seem to want it

That's a good idea with Rapid Spin. I thought I was losing my spinner when I got rid of Sandslash, but I guess I forgot about Tentacruel. I just wish that Rain Dance had more of a benefit though, other than for Toxicroak. Maybe I should just take that out of the moveset and leave any Rain Danicing up to the opponent. Thanks for the suggestions Sigmon!


And I hate to ask this directly, but can someone please help me with my team as a whole? I feel like I'm missing the bigger picture, but no one has pointed out areas where my team could fail or succeed.