Overview
I have finally decided to stray from the various mono-typed teams i have been running lately, whilst still being competent for their jobs (gym leader at PC) laddering wasn't really a possibility (Note: first time attempting to ladder). Credit goes to Ito_Igami for his excessive help in the construction of this team (some of you may know him from PC). So far the team has been running adequately with a 10win|4loss record, but has a few common threats that screw me over completely (will be explained latter in the post). A spinner would be nice since a majority of my members take alot of damage from entry hazards but currently i dont see room for one, alternatively i could go with a taunting led. Anywho on to the team.At a glance
Metagross | Vaporeon | Salamence | Snorlax | Infernape | Dusknoir
Nothing of a surprise here, all are very commonly used pokemon, but they work well and are frequently used for a reason.
In Depth
Crátos
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Metagross
Item: Leftovers
Ability: Clear body
Nature: Adamant
Ev's: 252hp/232Atk/12Def/12Spe
- SR
- Thunder Punch
- Bullet punch
- Earthquake
This guy is great, sturdy enough to almost guarantee a SR everytime and bulky enough to hit most things back hard. I didn't go with explosion and opted for extra type coverage instead, never been a fan of suicide leads. I went with Lefties over the popluar Occa berry since it would only be usefull against Ran leads whom i would be crazy to keep gross out against. The ev investment allows me to outrun other gross (well a vast majority of them) and hit them hard with EQ. He usually outlasts the majority of the battles till late game, sets up SR a few times if need be and occasionaly manages a sweep. Bullet punch takes care of aero & azelf leads and gives me an easier time against weaviles.
Against top 10 used leads (as of april 09)
Azelf: Is only a problem if its carrying F-thrower, in which case switch>snorlax
Metagross: with my speed investment i can outrun most and hit with EQ or alternatively switch to Vaporeon,mence or ape.
Jirachi: Can usually setup SR and proceed the switch to snorlax.
Swampert: Switch to vaporeon
Aero: 1HKO with thunderpunch if there not holding sash, lol. otherwise 2HKO with bullet punch.
Hippowdon: Switch to vappy
Infernape: Switch to Mence (very unlikey LeadApe will be carrying HP ice) or vappy
Bronzong: This guy can be a pain since most carry hypnosis and proceed to setup. Generally hit it with eq or setup SR, let gross sleep and switch to Nape,mence or Vappy
Ninjask: T-punch can hit it, but safer to switch to vappy so he can phaze Jask or the recipent out.
Heatran: EQ or switch to Vappy
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Metagross: with my speed investment i can outrun most and hit with EQ or alternatively switch to Vaporeon,mence or ape.
Jirachi: Can usually setup SR and proceed the switch to snorlax.
Swampert: Switch to vaporeon
Aero: 1HKO with thunderpunch if there not holding sash, lol. otherwise 2HKO with bullet punch.
Hippowdon: Switch to vappy
Infernape: Switch to Mence (very unlikey LeadApe will be carrying HP ice) or vappy
Bronzong: This guy can be a pain since most carry hypnosis and proceed to setup. Generally hit it with eq or setup SR, let gross sleep and switch to Nape,mence or Vappy
Ninjask: T-punch can hit it, but safer to switch to vappy so he can phaze Jask or the recipent out.
Heatran: EQ or switch to Vappy
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Vaporeon
Item: Leftovers
Nature: Bold
Ability: Water absorb
Ev's: 188hp/252Def/68Spe
- Wish
- Roar
- surf
- hp electric
Vaporeon is a crucial member to the team. My physical wall, she can take care of most leads that plaque metagross and water absorb is a nifty ability for fellow water users switching in on ape. I went with roar over the more commonly used protect to take care of Jask leads, abuse SR and scout, so far its working well and i cant say i've noticed the lack of protect. Wish is necessary to keep her alive and when needed is passed quite effectively. HP elec is my answer to Dos and any other bulky waters.
Hermes
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Salamence
Item: Life orb
Nature: Naive
Ability: Intimidate
Ev's: 232Atk/24Spa/252Spe
- Dragon Dance
- Outrage
- Earthquake
- Fire blast
Salamence as always is still a beast. My main physical sweeper, after a DD his virtually unstoppable, only coming to a halt from confusion recoil. Went with a Naive nature to outrun a few things, after a DD he is able to outrun a scarfed gengar. STAB Outrage hits everything hard, taking a huge hunk out of everything even those whom resist it, earthquake hits most things for neutral but is mostly used for heatran. Fire blast hits steels, eg foretress, skarmory and scizor. Main problem with this guy is that he rarely gets a chance to switch in and setup DD, the damage taken from entry hazards doesn't help either.
Hesia
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Snorlax
Item: Leftovers
Ability: Thick fat
Nature: Careful
Ev's: 252hp/28def/228SpD
- Fire Punch
- Rest
- Crunch
- Body slam
Very effective special wall, holds great synergy with vappy and noir, being able to handle almost all of their switch-ins. Fire punch is most notably for hera,scizor,forry & skarm, as unreliable as rest may seem it's actually been working really well. As long as the enemy has no physical sweepers left it works great, making Lax literally impregnable , if on the other hand they still do he can rest & switch out, come back late game or be used to absorb hits. Crunch hits nearly all of noir's switch ins and body slam is for paralysis support.
Ares
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Infernape
Item: Choice specs
Nature: Naive
Ability: Blaze
ev's: 4Atk/252SpA/252Spe
- Fire blast
- Close comabt
- Grass knot
- HP ice
My revenge killer, Ape still proving as versatile as ever. Like Mence however entry hazards are his worst enemy, usually dealing 30%-50% per switch >.< making each switch detrimental. Went with close combat to break walls and OHKO's T-tar. Grass knot hits things like Pert, suicune, donphan & hippo and HP ice is to take care of dragons and supplies great type coverage.
Thánatos
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Dusknoir
Item: Leftovers
Nature: Impish
Ability: Pressure
Ev's: 240hp/184def/84SpD
- W-o-W
- Shadow sneak
- Pain Split
- Ice punch
Definitely an essential member of the team, my spin blocker, status infector, general wall and a nightmare for blissey. I put together this ev spread to achieve maximum leftovers recovery + be able to survive a shadow ball from a LO gengar and if i have to can 2HKO it with Shadow sneak. W-o-W cuts sweepers potential and make it easier for my other pokes to switch in and is just a handy status infection, shadow sneak is for priority against dusknoirs usual counters. Pain split is a great form of recovery, especially against blissey and lax (deals a reasonable amount of damage and grants me a full recovery), works rather well against most other pokes whom havn't received prior damage or who just have a high HP stat. Ice punch hits dragons hard who could pose a problem with ape out of the picture.
Threat List(comprised of the top 30 Used pokes (April 09) + notable threats i've come across
SCizor: Salamence, Ape & lax can take care of it
Salamence: Salamence can outrun and 1HKO with outrage, noir and ape can alse deal wit it
Gyarados: Gross can hit it hard with T-punch but best left to vappy
Heatran: Vappy, alternatively Mence can KO with EQ
Infernape: Gross can EQ, Vappy laughs at it & if need be mence is also cpable of KO'ing
Metagross: Vappy, mence with Fire fang + ape with F-thrower all are capable ok killing.
Tyranitar: Ape can close combat, vappy can wall + kill
Swampert: Vappy walls this and gets the kill or ape can take it out with grass knot
Blissey: Ape & mence(must watch out for ice beam) can both take care of it, noir can also kill sometimes if he has to or ware it down to make it easier for Ape/Mence
Gengar: Snorlax walls + hits hard with crunch, noir is also able to 2HKO
Lucario: Special luke can be walled and hit with fire punch from lax, physical can be taken by vappy, mence is also able to take it with EQ/Fire blast.
Latias: Ape can hit with HP ice and noir can handle it with Ice punch
Jirachi: Snorlax with Fire punch ape can also take care of it.
Azelf: Snorlax can wall it easily and get the kill with crunch
Starmie: Potentially a problem, Snorlax can wall it & so can noir if its the rapid spin set (but since his not carrying T-punch cant get the KO)
Zapdos: Noir can ice punch, or ape can hit it with HP ice.
Celebi: Noir can wall + hit hard with ice punch, mence can also handle with fire blast
Bronzong: Lax with fire punch, ape with flamethrower or mence with fire fang
Skarmory: Ape or Mence with fire blast.
Vaporeon: problem to my team, vappy can hit it with HP elec but not hard enough since wish + lefties recovers all damage done vice versa. Lax is able to wall + paralyse and metagross can survive a hit and strike back with T-punch
Breloom: Let something sleep,afterwards mence, ape and lax can all kill it.
Gliscor: Vaporeon
Jolteon: Snorlax, mence is also able to EQ
Flygon: Mence 1HKO's with outrage, noir and ape can also take care of it with ice punch/HP ice
Machamp: Can be ticky, but noir can wall it, induce status then either ware it down with ice punch or switch to vappy or mence/meta and hit with EQ
Kingdra: both vappy and lax can wall and mence can hit with outrage
Togekiss: Ape can outrun and hit with HP ice, noir is also able to handle it with ice punch
Rotom: Lax with crunch
Suicune: Dangerous threat to my team, vappy and lax can wall it but will be unable to get the kill if its running rest.
Weavile: Gross can take care of it easily and hit it with Bullet punch
Notable dangerous threats
Electivire: Massive threat, vappy and lax are unable to stop it, noir can status and switch to mence/meta for the EQ , thats about it.
Salamence: Salamence can outrun and 1HKO with outrage, noir and ape can alse deal wit it
Gyarados: Gross can hit it hard with T-punch but best left to vappy
Heatran: Vappy, alternatively Mence can KO with EQ
Infernape: Gross can EQ, Vappy laughs at it & if need be mence is also cpable of KO'ing
Metagross: Vappy, mence with Fire fang + ape with F-thrower all are capable ok killing.
Tyranitar: Ape can close combat, vappy can wall + kill
Swampert: Vappy walls this and gets the kill or ape can take it out with grass knot
Blissey: Ape & mence(must watch out for ice beam) can both take care of it, noir can also kill sometimes if he has to or ware it down to make it easier for Ape/Mence
Gengar: Snorlax walls + hits hard with crunch, noir is also able to 2HKO
Lucario: Special luke can be walled and hit with fire punch from lax, physical can be taken by vappy, mence is also able to take it with EQ/Fire blast.
Latias: Ape can hit with HP ice and noir can handle it with Ice punch
Jirachi: Snorlax with Fire punch ape can also take care of it.
Azelf: Snorlax can wall it easily and get the kill with crunch
Starmie: Potentially a problem, Snorlax can wall it & so can noir if its the rapid spin set (but since his not carrying T-punch cant get the KO)
Zapdos: Noir can ice punch, or ape can hit it with HP ice.
Celebi: Noir can wall + hit hard with ice punch, mence can also handle with fire blast
Bronzong: Lax with fire punch, ape with flamethrower or mence with fire fang
Skarmory: Ape or Mence with fire blast.
Vaporeon: problem to my team, vappy can hit it with HP elec but not hard enough since wish + lefties recovers all damage done vice versa. Lax is able to wall + paralyse and metagross can survive a hit and strike back with T-punch
Breloom: Let something sleep,afterwards mence, ape and lax can all kill it.
Gliscor: Vaporeon
Jolteon: Snorlax, mence is also able to EQ
Flygon: Mence 1HKO's with outrage, noir and ape can also take care of it with ice punch/HP ice
Machamp: Can be ticky, but noir can wall it, induce status then either ware it down with ice punch or switch to vappy or mence/meta and hit with EQ
Kingdra: both vappy and lax can wall and mence can hit with outrage
Togekiss: Ape can outrun and hit with HP ice, noir is also able to handle it with ice punch
Rotom: Lax with crunch
Suicune: Dangerous threat to my team, vappy and lax can wall it but will be unable to get the kill if its running rest.
Weavile: Gross can take care of it easily and hit it with Bullet punch
Notable dangerous threats
Electivire: Massive threat, vappy and lax are unable to stop it, noir can status and switch to mence/meta for the EQ , thats about it.
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