Deserted
Hello everyone. I'm pretty much a stranger to the VGC, and I've never been to a VGC event before. I guess it might be because I hate Item Clause because Leftovers has to be used on the Pokemon that needs it the most, and if two Pokemon absolutely need the same item, you're forced to drop one of them. I decided to build a team if I can make it to Nationals or some other event, but even if I don't, it's nice to have such a team built. I'm pretty sure some of the Pokemon I'm using are used on no VGC teams whatsoever, which is what I feel makes my team unique. Without further ado, here's the team.
Teambuilding Process:
To make my team unique, I decided to look at a bunch of the Pokemon that might have a niche in VGC. I finally decided on Mandibuzz, only because the thing is so darn bulky, and works excellently as a Specially Defensive Mon (packing more SpD than Heatran assuming Mandibuzz runs 244+ SpD and Heatran runs 100- SpD). Mandibuzz has a nice ability in Big Pecks as well, and Roost can aggravate many teams. I also needed a physical wall who could deal with Hitmontop and the likes. Steelix, a Pokemon I'm pretty sure nobody uses in VGC, works as the physical wall I need who makes a great combo with Mandibuzz.
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Next, as popular as Weather would be in VGC, I decided to go the same path. Steelix and Mandibuzz both appreciate Sand because you don't have Thunder and Surf threatening the pair, so I went with Tyranitar, the monster that summons sand.
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Next, I needed to strengthen the defensive core by using something that could cover anything Mandibuzz and Steelix couldn't handle (which is surprisingly very little). Fighting types both threaten the two, especially Mandibuzz, so I added the defensive behemoth known as Cresselia to deal with pesky Fighting types like Hitmontop.
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Now, the offensive core was going to need some work. We all know how well both Metagross and Garchomp works in Sand. Metagross is just an offensive beast, packing a powerful Explosion with Normal Gem, and Garchomp with Sand Veil frustrates so many people. I rounded off the team with the offensive core of Garchomp and Metagross.
[animate]248[/animate][animate]445[/animate][animate]630[/animate][animate]208[/animate][animate]488[/animate][animate]376[/animate]
[animate]630[/animate][animate]208[/animate]
Next, as popular as Weather would be in VGC, I decided to go the same path. Steelix and Mandibuzz both appreciate Sand because you don't have Thunder and Surf threatening the pair, so I went with Tyranitar, the monster that summons sand.
[animate]248[/animate][animate]630[/animate][animate]208[/animate]
Next, I needed to strengthen the defensive core by using something that could cover anything Mandibuzz and Steelix couldn't handle (which is surprisingly very little). Fighting types both threaten the two, especially Mandibuzz, so I added the defensive behemoth known as Cresselia to deal with pesky Fighting types like Hitmontop.
[animate]248[/animate][animate]630[/animate][animate]208[/animate][animate]488[/animate]
Now, the offensive core was going to need some work. We all know how well both Metagross and Garchomp works in Sand. Metagross is just an offensive beast, packing a powerful Explosion with Normal Gem, and Garchomp with Sand Veil frustrates so many people. I rounded off the team with the offensive core of Garchomp and Metagross.
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At A Glance:
The basic strategy of the team is to send out Tyranitar and Garchomp (unless I see Abomasnow, in which I switch to Steelix) and set up a Sub with Garchomp while I switch Tyranitar to something desirable to avoid losing the weather war. If I go for the offensive core, I'll use Metagross, Garchomp, Tyranitar, and Steelix, while a defensive core consists of Tyranitar, Cresselia, Mandibuzz, and Steelix. This will not always be the case, but it usually works against a variety of teams. Other than that, the team is actually fairly simple.
In-Depth Analysis:
Lanayru (Tyranitar) (F) @ Chople Berry
Trait: Sand Stream
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SDef
Brave Nature (+Atk, -Spd)
- Crunch
- Rock Slide
- Low Kick
- Protect
So yeah, this is basically the standard VGC Tyranitar. Sand Stream makes this team what it is, and it also forms part o the offensive core. Crunch and Rock Slide cover almost anything, and Low Kick is there to hit Steel types and Rock types. Protect is good to block Close Combats from Hitmontop, one of the biggest counters to the set. Even though a Chople Berry won't prevent a 'Top's LO Close Combat from KOing it, but it is very helpful to survive a Focus Blast from a variety of Pokemon. The set is actually designed to be as slow as possible so T-Tar can abuse the common Trick Room to its advantage. Also, the EV spread ensures that Tyraintar can hit very hard on Pokemon that don't resist it's three move coverage, and it also gives it quite the HP to work with.
Molgera (Garchomp) (F) @ Yache Berry
Trait: Sand Veil
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Dragon Claw
- Earthquake
- Substitute
- Protect
Garchomp works excellently under the Sand, and this set utilizes it to the fullest. A Substitute combined with Sand Veil is very difficult to take down under Sand. The Jolly Nature and 252 Speed EVs make Garchomp very quick, and Dragon Claw and Earthquake are two unforgiving STABs of Garchomp. Yache Berry is useful unless Cresselia removes it with Icy Wind, but it still doesn't stop Abomasnow's Blizzard from slaughtering it. Protect is pretty useful when I see Hitmontop or Weavile (though the latter usually KOs with Ice Shard). Abomasnow is the biggest threat to Garchomp overall, so I will obviously use Metagross if I see one thanks to Team Preview. Overall, Garchomp can make teams cry with its Substitutes that are very hard to take down during a Sandstorm.
Cassani (Cresselia) (F) @ Leftovers
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SDef
Calm Nature (+SDef, -Atk)
- Icy Wind
- Trick Room
- Light Screen
- Helping Hand
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SDef
Calm Nature (+SDef, -Atk)
- Icy Wind
- Trick Room
- Light Screen
- Helping Hand
Cresselia is just a pain for many people to face. Icy Wind is possibly the most helpful move they could have given Cresselia, because it allows me to KO opposing Garchomp with my own (plus it removes their Yache Berry). Trick Room mainly counters opposing Trick Room and can give me the edge over Tailwind users. Light Screen supports the team a lot from Surfs that Rain teams like to use, and it also boosts Cresselia's special bulk to higher levels. Helping Hand is pretty neat; it allows me to make certain KOs utilizing Garchomp's Dragon Claw and Earthquake, which can remove threats the rest of the team has a hard time with. Because Cresselia is the bulkiest member on the team, it is the member that receives Lefties.
Speaking of Garchomp, the two make a pretty good combo together. While Cresselia helps Garchomp with Helping Hand and Light Screen, Garchomp is Earthquaking away while Cresselia protects itself with Levitate. This also takes pressure off of Garchomp and forces the opponent to hit Cresselia, and it is able to sponge the attacks quite easily. Cresselia is a really cool 'Mon, and is a great addition to the team, covering some of the team's biggest problems.
Barujiina (Mandibuzz) (F) @ Sitrus Berry
Trait: Overcoat
EVs: 248 HP / 244 SDef / 16 Spd
Careful Nature (+SDef, -SAtk)
- Taunt
- Roost
- Toxic
- Brave Bird
Mandibuzz is just so awesome. I don't see why this bird isn't used very often. Overcoat is helpful on this team because it focuses on Sand. Mandibuzz hits 317 SpD with the EV spread and Nature iirc, which makes it a sitting bird, literally, while it annoys the foe with Tanut and Toxic. Perhaps the most helpful move Mandibuzz has is Roost, which allows it to take Burns with ease while avoiding damaging Rock type attacks from the likes of Stone Edge Tyranitar. Although Mandibuzz's Speed stat isn't great, it can still out pace many Pokemon in VGC and Taunt + Toxic them to death so they cannot use Roost, Recover, or Rest. Brave Bird is so Mandibuzz doesn't get Taunt locked, forcing it to Struggle, and it also removes the threat of Breloom (if anyone uses it). Mandibuzz is what I feel makes my team unique, and it is very helpful to the team.
Colossus (Steelix) (F) @ Passho Berry
Trait: Sturdy
EVs: 252 HP / 96 Def / 160 SDef
Relaxed Nature (+Def, -Spd)
- Toxic
- Gyro Ball
- Earthquake
- Protect
Steelix is here to make for a nice combo with Mandibuzz, taking the rock type attacks Mandibuzz would rather not handle. Steelix reaches a massive 506 Defense stat with the EV spread and Nature, so this set focuses on that stat (since Mandibuzz covers special attacks that Steelix doesn't take too well). Toxic and Protect can stall out the opponent while Mandibuzz does its job with Roost and Taunt, and Gyro Ball and Earthquake hit a lot of stuff for at least neutral damage (except for Bronzong). The Passho Berry is only here because of Item Clause. Passho Berry has saved me on a few occasions, though, so I do appreciate its usefulness against Rain teams. Unfortunately, Steelix isn't here for much else other than making nice synergy with Mandibuzz, and is probably the least useful member on the team. However, it is a great defensive tank, and I am gracious for its effectiveness on the team.
Metagross @ Normal Gem
Trait: Clear Body
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Zen Headbutt
- Bullet Punch
- Protect
- Explosion
Metagross is the most interesting member on the team, since he can either clean up late game or fire off an Explosion early game. With the Normal Gem, Explosion gets so much power that almost nothing can stand up to the sheer power of it. It requires much prediction, however, so I don't use it unless I need to, and that's where Bullet Punch and Zen Headbutt come in. Zen Headbutt and Bullet Punch provide great coverage, and Bullet Punch is an excellent priority move. Protect can help Metagross avoid Earthquakes from Garchomp if they are on the field together, and it protects it from nasty hazards, such as Paralysis, and the worst of all, Burn, because it lowers the power of Explosion. Clear Body is very useful because it blocks Intimidate, which would otherwise prevent Metagross from getting needed KOs. The EV spread and Nature make Metagross that much more powerful. Overall, Metagross is one heck of a Pokemon, and it provides support to threats that would otherwise decimate this team.
Threat List:
Anything in red is a major threat
Anything in orange is a minor threat
Export:
Tyranitar (F) @ Chople Berry
Trait: Sand Stream
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SDef
Brave Nature (+Atk, -Spd)
- Crunch
- Rock Slide
- Low Kick
- Protect
Garchomp (F) @ Yache Berry
Trait: Sand Veil
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Dragon Claw
- Earthquake
- Substitute
- Protect
Cresselia (F) @ Sitrus Berry
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SDef
Calm Nature (+SDef, -Atk)
- Icy Wind
- Psychic
- Light Screen
- Helping Hand
Mandibuzz (F) @ Leftovers
Trait: Big Pecks
EVs: 248 HP / 244 SDef / 16 Spd
Careful Nature (+SDef, -SAtk)
- Taunt
- Roost
- Toxic
- Brave Bird
Steelix (F) @ Occa Berry
Trait: Sturdy
EVs: 252 HP / 96 Def / 160 SDef
Relaxed Nature (+Def, -Spd)
- Toxic
- Gyro Ball
- Earthquake
- Protect
Metagross @ Normal Gem
Trait: Clear Body
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Zen Headbutt
- Bullet Punch
- Protect
- Explosion
Trait: Sand Stream
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SDef
Brave Nature (+Atk, -Spd)
- Crunch
- Rock Slide
- Low Kick
- Protect
Garchomp (F) @ Yache Berry
Trait: Sand Veil
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Dragon Claw
- Earthquake
- Substitute
- Protect
Cresselia (F) @ Sitrus Berry
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SDef
Calm Nature (+SDef, -Atk)
- Icy Wind
- Psychic
- Light Screen
- Helping Hand
Mandibuzz (F) @ Leftovers
Trait: Big Pecks
EVs: 248 HP / 244 SDef / 16 Spd
Careful Nature (+SDef, -SAtk)
- Taunt
- Roost
- Toxic
- Brave Bird
Steelix (F) @ Occa Berry
Trait: Sturdy
EVs: 252 HP / 96 Def / 160 SDef
Relaxed Nature (+Def, -Spd)
- Toxic
- Gyro Ball
- Earthquake
- Protect
Metagross @ Normal Gem
Trait: Clear Body
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Zen Headbutt
- Bullet Punch
- Protect
- Explosion
Conclusion:
Thank you so much for reading my RMT. I learned a lot from starting out VGC, and I'd like to give a shout-out to [member]ohyeah1988[/member] for being so helpful with his suggestions, and I feel my team got much better with his tips, and also to [smod]King Arceus[/smod] for giving me some formatting tips. I probably won't be using this team competitively any time soon irl, but if I do, I know what team I want to use. I found an interest in VGC, and it helped improve my knowledge of VG. Thanks again for reading!