[OU] My Sandstorm Team - Desert Storm

[Kane Dunestorm]

This is Desert Storm, a Sandstorm team I have worked on for the past couple of years. It uses original and unconventional Pokémon/move sets in a cohesive Sandstorm team that actually works. I have had some slight successes with it, but I would still like to improve upon it a bit. Just a note however, I chose all Pokémon in the team specifically to resemble something out of the Sonoran Desert, whether it be a plant, animal, artifact or natural occurrence.

So, without further ado, here is the team.

Haboob (Tyranitar) (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 252 HP / 80 SAtk / 176 SDef
IVs: 0 Spd
Brave Nature (+Atk, -Spd)
- Stone Edge
- Fire Blast
- Stealth Rock
- Superpower

This is Haboob, my Tyranitar lead. She is as slow as possible to get the sand in after other weather leads get theirs in, cancelling out theirs. As far as move set goes, its pretty much standard T-Tar lead.

Behind the name:

Spoiler

A Haboob is an intense duststorm, which can be seen in the Sonoran Desert where the team gets its inspiration from. Obviously, as Tyranitar makes a sandstorm when it comes out, the name fits.

Scorpion (Gliscor) (M) @ Toxic Orb
Ability: Poison Heal
EVs: 252 HP / 184 Def / 72 Spd
Impish Nature (+Def, -SAtk)
- Substitute
- Protect
- Earthquake
- Taunt

This Gliscor is an absolutely annoying physical wall. You can’t status him with his Toxic Orb and Poison Heal protecting him, which also means he’ll be healing most of the damage you deal to him, and after he sets up a sub and a taunt, you’re pretty much locked into either switching out and hoping to find a better way to beat him, or simply try your luck at continuing the hopeless assault on his sky high defenses.

Behind the name:

Spoiler

Gliscor, of course would be a Scorpion. More specifically, the Bark Scorpion, but I limited myself to one word names, and it wouldn’t make much sense to name him Bark.

Apache (Scizor) (M) @ Choice Band
Trait: Technician
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 SpD
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- U-turn
- Bullet Punch
- Superpower
- Pursuit

Apache, my Scizor uses a traditional Choice Band set that can really wreck havoc on my opponent. With a high 130 base attack coupled with a choice band, his attacks tend to hurt. Not only that, but thanks to technician, it means that the priority moves he uses hit harder than most other moves.

Behind the name:

Spoiler

The Apache were a tribe of Native Americans that lived in the Sonoran Desert, and were known as very fierce warriors, and excellent strategists, similar to how this set is made – fierce warrior in that it packs a punch, and excellent strategist in that it can ambush opponents very easily with its priority moves.

Saguaro (Cacturne) (M) @ BrightPowder (or Focus Sash, depending on the legality of BrightPowder)
Trait: Sand Veil
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SDef / 252 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Spikes
- Sucker Punch
- Seed Bomb
- Swords Dance

Where do I start? I simply love this guy. Once he gets set up, he’s simply amazing. Even if the opposing Pokémon does survive, it’s very likely they will miss him when they strike back, thanks to Sand Veil, where he’ll have room to set up some spikes, and boost his attack even more with Swords Dance.

Behind the name:

Spoiler

Named after the Saguaro Cactus, as, well duh, he’s a Cactus, and the Saguaro is found only in the Sonoran Desert.

Kachina (Sigilyph) (M) @ Flame Orb
Trait: Magic Guard
EVs: 252 HP / 200 Def / 56 SDef
Bold Nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Cosmic Power
- Roost
- Stored Power
- Psycho Shift

Kachina, my Sigilyph is quite literally intended to harness the power of the cosmos. Not only will it boost its defenses significantly, but it also provides essential means for boosting the power of stored power. Roost is for healing up when you haven’t quite gotten in enough cosmic powers, and psycho shift takes advantage of magic guard + flame orb to cripple the opponents physical attack and cause residual damage.

Behind the name:

Spoiler

Named after the Kachina Doll, dolls made by the Hopi Indians to honor deities, which bare a striking resemblance to Sigilyph.

Monsoon (Jellicent) (M) @ Choice Specs
Trait: Water Absorb
EVs: 172 HP / 252 SAtk / 84 Spe
Modest Nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Water Spout
- Shadow Ball
- Surf
- Ice Beam

Monsoon is a lot more offensively tuned than a Jellicent you would usually see on a Sand team. While he still is there to block rapid spin effectively, he’s more inclined to simply go all out attack instead of stall (which is all he can do considering its a choice specs set…). He also does act as a sponge for my major water/ice weakness still, which is important.

Behind the name:

Spoiler

When it does rain in the Sonoran Desert, it pours, or, a Monsoon. I figured since Jellicent is part Water-type, and looks like a rain cloud (I know, it’s not supposed to, but just go along with me), that Monsoon would be the perfect name for it.

 

[Chiss]

Can't really improve on the team, it's already pretty awesome. But I love the work and the depth you've put into this team.

 

[Kane Dunestorm]

Thanks! I guess that's what two years of constant tweaking and practice will do for you.

 

[ninfiaVI]

Hmmm... That Sigilyph set looks like it is directly taken from Serebii's Pokemon of the week.

The team looks amazing, and I have only a small suggestion.
Jellicent's Surf does not seem to fit, as all of your other pokemon except Cacturne and Sigilyph would take massive damage from it in doubles. Scald helps with its burn, and Hydro Pump has massive power, while Brine Compliments Water Spout well.

 

[SharKing]

Hmmm... That Sigilyph set looks like it is directly taken from Serebii's Pokemon of the week.

Which is in turn taken directly from Smogon.

Jellicent's Surf does not seem to fit, as all of your other pokemon except Cacturne and Sigilyph would take massive damage from it in doubles.

Except this is a Singles team.

Anyway, there's one fatal flaw in the team: Sand Veil on Gliscor and Cacturne. Most competitive battles are Smogon-regulated, and because of that, Sand Veil is banned (on grounds of violating the Evasion Clause). Might want to take that into consideration.

 

[Kane Dunestorm]

As an FYI, I know of the Smogon rules, but I don't follow them, at least not on that (because I find it quite silly). I battle mostly over infrared. As an FYI, my Gliscor uses Poison Heal anyways.