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Introduction
Well a while ago I gave up on the OU Metagame. It really lost its appeal to me any more due to the abundance of weather. So I then decided to move onto another tier.
I spent a lot of time actually seeing which one appealed to me. I was contemplating mainly between either NU or RU and decided to have a shot with the latter due to probably a bit more diversity in that tier.
So anyway I set away, reading the limited RMT's posted on sites, mainly Smogon to try get a feel about what a good team looks like, as well as reading some RU analyses.
I also took to YouTube to watch RU teams in action.
After setting up a rough first team and getting ploughed through by opponents, I knew I still had to work a lot more with practical means than theory-based. This team has had quite a lot of changes to fit my play style. But right now I am rather happy with how it plays. So without further ado, let me introduce you to the team!
At A Glance
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Team Building Process
So as I said, this team has changed quite a lot, and ended up almost COMPLETELY different. I started off with the ever present Honchkrow. Honchkrow can turn into a great sweeper and it's usage is well deserved
The next pokemon added was another friendly face seen in RU. The king of Stealth Rock and Rapid Spin in RU, Claydol.
Next I threw in Druddigon due to its access to an amazingly powerful Outrage due to STAB and Choice Band
Clefable was then added in order to add some much needed Wish and Heal Bell support in order to allow my other pokemon to last longer.
I realised that now my pokemon team required a strong special attacker to threaten the other side of the attacking spectrum. I added Accelgor in order to provide some spikes support as well as being able to counter threats such as Moltres and Claydol.
The final member of my team was Bulk Up Gallade. Gallade can easily set up on a lot of pokemon and set up bulk up and turns into a real offensive powerhouse with Drain Punch and priority Shadow Sneak.
So after testing this team, I wasn't having too much success. So the next round of changes resulted in half the team being swapped out. The new inductions included the changing of Druddigon for CB Entei who had more speed than Drudd and had access to STAB Flare Blitz. Gallade was swapped out for Poliwrath who countered pokemon trying to set up on me, as well as my Gligar threat. Finally, Accelgor was replaced for one of the better walls in the game, Cofagrigus who crippled physical attackers and stopped rapid spin
This team was working much better than my previously made team. However it still lacked much of an answer to Bulk Up Poliwrath and other bulky waters, and lacked a strong special attacker. So in to the team came Rotom-C. Clefable wasn't working out too well either and kept getting set up on easily. So I swapped Clefable in for Eviolite Ferroseed who can set up spikes and still threaten set up pokemon.
The next pokemon added was another friendly face seen in RU. The king of Stealth Rock and Rapid Spin in RU, Claydol.
Next I threw in Druddigon due to its access to an amazingly powerful Outrage due to STAB and Choice Band
Clefable was then added in order to add some much needed Wish and Heal Bell support in order to allow my other pokemon to last longer.
I realised that now my pokemon team required a strong special attacker to threaten the other side of the attacking spectrum. I added Accelgor in order to provide some spikes support as well as being able to counter threats such as Moltres and Claydol.
The final member of my team was Bulk Up Gallade. Gallade can easily set up on a lot of pokemon and set up bulk up and turns into a real offensive powerhouse with Drain Punch and priority Shadow Sneak.
So after testing this team, I wasn't having too much success. So the next round of changes resulted in half the team being swapped out. The new inductions included the changing of Druddigon for CB Entei who had more speed than Drudd and had access to STAB Flare Blitz. Gallade was swapped out for Poliwrath who countered pokemon trying to set up on me, as well as my Gligar threat. Finally, Accelgor was replaced for one of the better walls in the game, Cofagrigus who crippled physical attackers and stopped rapid spin
This team was working much better than my previously made team. However it still lacked much of an answer to Bulk Up Poliwrath and other bulky waters, and lacked a strong special attacker. So in to the team came Rotom-C. Clefable wasn't working out too well either and kept getting set up on easily. So I swapped Clefable in for Eviolite Ferroseed who can set up spikes and still threaten set up pokemon.
Pokemon Analysis
Ability:Water Absorb
EVs: 252 HP / 68 Atk / 188 Def
Nature:Impish
Moves:
~ Waterfall
~ Substitute
~ Ice Punch
~ Circle Throw
So what this Poliwrath does is counter Gligar and the ever so present fire types in the tier such as Entei, Moltres and Magmortar. I found this set on another RMT but changed Toxic to Substitute. This allows me to use Circle Throw more freely and to block potential status inducers trying to cripple Poliwrath.
So Circle Throw allows me to counter pokemon who hope to set up and phaze them away. Coupled with Stealth Rock and Spikes support, this can prove quite a successful tactic. Waterfall provides a powerful STAB move and Ice Punch adds more coverage for grass types and the common Honchkrow.
Possible Changes
I was thinking about maybe putting in Bulk Up over Ice Punch. But I don't think its really needed with the Circle Throw + Hazards combo.
I was also thinking maybe about switching Circle Throw for possibly Focus Punch? But I doubt I will because Circle Throw has won me many games and surprise pokemon who see the substitute and expect a focus punch, instead they just get phazed away.
Ability:Iron Barbs
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SDef
Nature:Relaxed
Moves:
~ Spikes
~ Leech Seed
~ Thunder Wave
~ Gyro Ball
Ferroseed, like his evolution in the higher tiers provides excellent support to teams in RU. With access to Spikes and Eviolite, Ferroseed is almost always guaranteed to set up a few layers. Thunder Wave can easily cripple faster sweepers hoping to set up on Ferroseed and Leech Seed can help recover some health and also hurt set up sweepers while setting up. Gyro Ball can provide some extra damage where needed.
Possible Changes
None at the moment
Ability:Pressure
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spd
Nature:Adamant
Moves:
~ Flare Blitz
~ ExtremeSpeed
~ Stone Edge
~ Iron Head
I have started with Entei first in many games and just Flare Blitzed my way through many teams without a viable counter. True he doesn't last long in battle but he takes down even more pokemon down with him.
Possible Changes
I was considering Life Orb so Entei can use different moves but I feel that the Choice Band is still superior. Not much can handle his attacks anyway.
Ability:Levitate
EVs: 252 SAtk / 4 SDef / 252 Spd
Nature:Timid
Moves:
~ Volt Switch
~ Leaf Storm
~ Hidden Power [Fire]
~ Trick
Rotom-C is the premier special attacker of this team. Rotom-C plays almost the same role as his cousin in OU. Volt Switch provides and excellent STAB move when coupled with Specs and allows me to scout the the opponents team and get some momentum in the match. Leaf Tornado adds another powerful STAB move so I don't get walled by ground types, namely Claydol. Hidden Power [Fire] provides some extra coverage to hit other grass types hard, as well as hitting Steels harder. Trick is to mess with walls such as Munchlax and Miltank.
I chose specs over scarf namely due to already having two priority users in Entei and Honchkrow, to handle weakened pokemon and allowing the Krow to potentially get a Moxie Boost.
Possible Changes
I was considering changing Rotom-C for an Accelgor again. He has a real offensive presence anywhere. Although maybe a scarf will be a good replacement. I'm not entirely sure though :l
Ability:Moxie
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def/ 252 Spd
Nature:Adamant
Moves:
~ Brave Bird
~ Roost
~ Substitute
~ Sucker Punch
Once Honchkrow gets going, he proves impossible to stop due to his boosted Sucker Punch.
Possible Changes
None
Ability:Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SAtk
Nature:Bold
Moves:
~ Rapid Spin
~ Stealth Rock
~ Earth Power
~ Toxic
Claydol is the third most used pokemon in this tier, due to it having the title of being the best pokemon able to both set up stealth rocks, and clear hazards in the field. Claydol can cripple walls with Toxic and do some damage with Earth Power.
Claydol's main role is trying to keep a clear field for Entei to wreak havoc. Without any form of recovery, Entei needs as much health as possible, and losing a whole lot to Stealth Rock is not helping at all.
Possible Changes
I was considering changing Claydol for an offensive spinner like Hitmonchan and adding in a new Stealth Rocker but I'm not sure at the moment
Threat List
I haven't versed Galvantula very often but sometimes he can be very painful to verse. I don't have many safe switch ins at all. Choice sets are much easier to pick off and the suitable pokemon should be switched in according to the move. The life orb version can be taken out due to its horrible defences.
Closing
Well this is my first real attempt at making a team outside of the OU tier. Due to the lack of RU players, it was quite difficult to find opponents and so I haven't had as many games as I would have liked. This tier has been a lot of fun playing and its good to play with some old favourites. Thanks for the taking the time for reading my RMT and I hope it inspires you guys to give the lower tiers a shot ^.^
