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My First Competitive Sandstorm Team

E

erotema

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I would like some advice or tips on how to improve my Sandstorm team for the Pokemon Video Game Championship qualifier in Indianapolis. I have never competed before and I'm just starting to get the idea of everything (I'm familiar with EVs, just starting to understand & identify IVs). I appreciate your help!

1. Tyranitar @ Leftovers
Naughty Nature
EVs: 6 HP/252 Atk/252 Def
~Crunch (STAB)
~Stone Edge (STAB)
~Earthquake/Avalanche
~Substitute

2. Gliscor @ Leftovers
Impish Nature
EVs: 6 HP/252 Atk/200 Def/52 Spd
~Aerial Ace/Earthquake (STAB)
~Ice Fang/Stone Edge
~Knock Off/Stealth Rock
~Roost

3. Garchomp @ Life Orb
Adamant Nature
EVs: 6 HP/252 Atk/252 Spd
Lv50 Stats: 175 HP, 195 Atk, 105 Def, 87 Sp.Atk, 92 Sp.Def, 153 Spd
~Earthquake (STAB)
~Dragon Claw (STAB)
~Crunch/Stone Edge
~Substitute

4. Lucario @ Expert Belt/Choice Specs
Modest Nature
EVs: 6 HP/252 Sp.Atk/252 Spd
Lv50 Stats: 146 HP, 117 Atk, 88 Def, 176 Sp.Atk, 81 Sp.Def, 135 Spd
~Aura Sphere (STAB)
~Shadow Ball/Dark Pulse
~Dragon Pulse
~Psychic

Strategy:
Tyranitar is sent out first (with Gliscor) to create Sandstorm (Sand Stream) and buffer Gliscor's Evasiveness (Sand Veil). Sandstorm will affect any non-Rock/Ground/Steel-types, and won't affect any of my teammates (due to their type combinations). Tyranitar can use Earthquake to affect both opponents (Gliscor is unharmed due to Flying-type).

Gliscor can use Aerial Ace against Fighting-types and other Pokemon that have Super Effective moves against Tyranitar. He can also cause an entry hazard with Stealth Rock, or Knock Off Held Items. Tyranitar and Gliscor should both have Leftovers to keep their HP up, but both can effectively stall with Substitute and Roost. Gliscor can be hurt by Earthquake when Roost is in effect, but Tyranitar can use his STAB moves.

Garchomp and Lucario are the backups for when Tyranitar or Gliscor go down. If Tyranitar stays alive longer, Garchomp should go in first (Sand Veil is also activated during Tyranitar's Sandstorm). Otherwise, Lucario should go in for his diverse Special Sweeping moves. Garchomp should use Dragon Claw unless Earthquake is the better option (to avoid hurting teammates). He can also use Crunch or Stone Edge to cause damage to other types, and stall with Substitute. Lucario should use Aura Sphere most of the time, particularly if he is using Choice Specs, but the Expert Belt makes him useful without the Choice items due to his diverse movepool.

The competition is a Doubles competition and you are supposed to use four primary Pokemon, but these are my back-ups:

5. Rhyperior @ Leftovers/Muscle Band/Life Orb
Adamant Nature
EVs: 6 HP/252 Atk/252 Def
~Earthquake (STAB)
~Stone Edge (STAB)
~Megahorn/Swords Dance
~Avalanche/Substitute

6. Swampert @ Leftovers
Adamant Nature
EVs: 6 HP/252 Atk/52 Def/200 Sp.Def
~Waterfall (STAB)
~Earthquake (STAB)
~Avalanche
~Rest/Curse
 
I've never done a VGC RMT but um I like how you put so much thought into it. I think from what I see it's pretty good.

Just a thing I noticed...don't you think Rhyperior could do better with Rock Polish? Also Shuckle/Cradily/Skarm could be decent subs for this team...they can cause A LOT of agony for your opponent.

But like I said I never done a VGC RMT before...or a doubles RMT. D; sorry if this is fail
 
I have definitely invested a lot of thought into it. =P

I have a Skarmory (Impish) that is ready to EV Train at Lv.1, but I liked Gliscor more than Skarmory. Skarmory's good, though.

I also have a pretty sick Gengar that is fully trained as a speedy special sweeper. He is actually better than my Lucario, but would take damage from the Sandstorm. =\
 
I'm assuming you will allowed to use Garchomp.

One other pokemon you could use would be a Cacturne with Sucker punch and Substitute. I've seen that kill.
 
You do realize this year you are allowed 2 ubers that are not event legendaries. And your whole team is ripped apart by kyogre, the most common pokemon in VGC. sandstorm isn reliable this year due to kyogre being so common and nothing being able to stop it, so you are better off adding some water resists.
 
You do realize this year you are allowed 2 ubers that are not event legendaries. And your whole team is ripped apart by kyogre, the most common pokemon in VGC. sandstorm isn reliable this year due to kyogre being so common and nothing being able to stop it, so you are better off adding some water resists.
Click to expand...

No, I didn't realize that. As I said, this is my first time competing.

I took my team for a spin and won 30 doubles battles in a row at the Battle Tower before I was taken out. You're right, Kyogre would be a major problem - in fact, Water-types were the only major threat through that entire streak. I was eventually killed off by a Starmie on battle #31...he actually wiped out all four of my guys, and got rid of Sandstorm with Rain Dance.

Like I said, I've got a Gengar that's ready to go - he's got a 31 IV for Speed, 252 Special Attack EVs, 252 Speed EVs, and a Timid Nature...basically he's as fast as he can be, and his Special Attack is incredibly good. His moves are Shadow Ball, Thunderbolt, Focus Blast, and Dark Pulse. I was going back and forth about using Psychic instead of Dark Pulse, or going with Dream Eater/Hypnosis, but I'm happy with using him as a Special Sweeper and I think this works well enough.
 
Update: I substituted Tyranitar/the Sandstorm strategy for Gengar and a team of pure sweepers. They're all fast, strong, and diverse (stats/etc. below), but there is no defensive strategy involved. Hope that works out well...so far, I haven't had trouble in 21 straight battles at the Battle Tower.

Gengar @ Wise Glasses
Timid Nature ~ Levitate
Lv50 Stats: HP (129) Atk (66) Def (76) Sp.Atk (167) Sp.Def (82) Spd (176) Total (696)
~Shadow Ball
~Dark Pulse
~Thunderbolt
~Focus Blast

Gengar's Levitate means that Gliscor/Garchomp can use Earthquake without hurting him and get their STAB bonus while Gengar uses his diversity / high Special Attack power to wipe out anyone else left in battle. Thunderbolt is the team's sole defense against Kyogre, but it works out pretty well because Gengar is so fast.

Gliscor @ Leftovers
Impish Nature ~ Sand Veil
Lv50 Stats: HP (142) Atk (133) Def (177) Sp.Atk (52) Sp.Def (91) Spd (121) Total (716)
~Earthquake
~Aerial Ace
~Swords Dance
~Roost

I might change the moveset a little bit, but this Gliscor has been very trusty so far in all of my battle tower battles. Roost is a pain in the ass and Leftovers help out with Swords Dance. I am thinking about getting rid of SD/Leftovers, using Ice Fang, and doing the physical sweeper thing without buffers. The only reason for it? Gliscor's fast, EQ's strong, Aerial Ace covers a lot of the team's weaknesses, and I don't really think that SD is completely necessary. Ice Fang is awesome for Gliscor, but if Swords Dance is truly necessary, I'll keep it with Roost instead. No intentions of getting rid of Roost.

Lucario @ Expert Belt
Modest Nature ~ Inner Focus
Lv50 Stats: HP (146) Atk (117) Def (88) Sp.Atk (176) Sp.Def (81) Spd (135) Total (743)
~Aura Sphere
~Dark Pulse
~Dragon Pulse
~Psychic

This Lucario is a tank. I would have preferred to use HP Ice, and I couldn't decide between DP and Shadow Ball, but I get a kick out of this Lucario making its opponents flinch (simply because this Lucario can't actually flinch...har har). Expert Belt could be replaced by Life Orb or a Choice item, but I like the diversity of it.

Garchomp @ Life Orb
Adamant Nature ~ Sand Veil
Lv50 Stats: HP (175) Atk (195) Def (105) Sp.Atk (87) Sp.Def (92) Spd (153) Total (807)
~Dragon Claw
~Earthquake
~Crunch
~Stone Edge

This guy's awesome. Just awesome. Pure physical sweeper...any ideas? He usually OHKO's everything without much of a problem, or kills off whatever's lucky enough to be alive by the time he comes out.
 
Gengar can reduce the damage non-Choice Scarf Kyogre will do with Water Spout, but your team is still massively weak to Rain. Even if you kill Kyogre, Ludicolo will wreck you :[
 
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