Recently I have been smitten with the move Hi Jump Kick. 130 Base Power, reasonable accuracy but with a big recoil drawback. However, In my opinion, The risks of HJK are outweighed by their benefits. As long as you play your cards carefully you can avoid losing half your health to Protect or to Ghosts. I built this team to include two fighting types that take advantage of HJK with STAB and good abilities.
TEAM BUILDING PROCESS
My two Hi Jump Kick users: Mienshao and Medicham.
Although rare to see Flying type moves, my entire team so far is weak to them. In addition, Mienshao is weak to psychic and Medicham is weak to ghosts. Tyranitar covers all of these weaknesses.
Next I chose Jellicent as a ghost to stop Fighting type attacks targeting Ttar.
Ferrothorn was next to cover Jellicent's weaknesses, as well as Jellicent covering Ferro's.
Gliscor is a good partner for Jellicent and Ferrothorn, and I needed a ground immunity. I chose to run a SD set for the potential of sweeping as well.
After some testing, I found that Jellicent really wasn't cutting it against fighting types. Conkeldurr kept setting up and crushing me time after time. So i swapped Jellicent for Tentacruel. Tentacruel covered the same types and had the benefit of liquid ooze to suck up drain punches. Toxic Spikes was a constant problem as well and Tentacruel sucked them up as well.
Gliscor didn't have enough devastating sweeping power for me so I swapped him for Landorus. Same typing, but more powerful.
THE TEAM
Mienshao (M) @ Life Orb
Trait: Regenerator
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- U-turn
- Taunt
- Hi Jump Kick
- Fake Out
Mienshao, one of my two HJK users, boasts an incredible ability as well as very good stats. Very quick on the draw, Mienshao can taunt most threats that don't have Prankster. Max speed and attack help take advantage of his very good ability. Mienshao can hit hard with Life Orb, even miss once with Hi Jump Kick and U-turn or switch and heal one third of his health. He makes a very annoying pokemon that pops up even after multiple uses in the late game stages. I start most battles with Mienshao and will Fake Out to scout out items and switch out or U-Turn over to either Ttar or Ferrothorn to start setting up or even HJK to knock out a threat early.
Medicham (M) @ Choice Scarf
Trait: Pure Power
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Hi Jump Kick
- Psycho Cut
- Fire Punch
- Ice Punch
PURE POWER. Boy do I love being able to just double the attack of Medicham to a nice 480 without a single boost. I ran an adamant nature to take more advantage of attack power considering I had slapped a Choice Scarf on him. Medicham can outpace several threats to my team like Dragons and Gengar and usually OHKO them with Ice Punch or Psycho Cut, respectively. HJK and Psycho Cut are for STAB, Fire Punch and Ice Punch are for coverage. I'm considering swapping Fire Punch for Bullet Punch. If Mienshao goes down, I have no priority, and sometimes that can be a weakness.
Tyranitar (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Sand Stream
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SDef
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Stealth Rock
- Crunch
- Fire Blast
- Superpower
Everybody needs the weather to be on their side, and my team is no exception. Tyranitar allows Landorus to sweep in sand and provides valuable support for my team. I run Ttar with full SDef Evs to catch a lot of people off guard. Its really nice to watch special attacks, even super effective ones, glance off Ttar and get countered by a strong coverage move. Crunch for STAB, Fire Blast to counter the likes of Ferro, Forretress, and Scizor (if Scizor tries to boost in my face), and Superpower to beat other Ttars. My one weakness in using this set as been burn. Will-O'-Wisp normally renders me useless. Paralysis is bad as well but it can be dealt with.
Tentacruel (M) @ Life Orb
Trait: Liquid Ooze
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Hydro Pump
- Giga Drain
- Sludge Bomb
- Haze
Instead of running an all-out support set like a typical Tentacruel set. Even with no EV investment in its defenses, Tentacruel can still absorb neutral and ineffective attacks and outspeed and KO threats. The fact that I maxed out speed EVs helps me KO pokemon that people would think would outspeed it. My moves I chose were Hydro Pump and Sludge Bomb for STAB and Giga Drain to deal with other bulky waters. Haze is used as my way to suprise stat boosters as they try to incessantly boost against one of my pokemon. Even though Tentacruel is very useful and covers some of my weaknesses well, its weakness to Ground can be very annoying since lots of attackers carry EQ.
Landorus (M) @ Life Orb
Trait: Sand Force
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- Rock Polish
- Swords Dance
In the sand, Landorus is a devastating sweeper. This particular set uses two boost options to finish off whatever may be left on the opponent's side of the field. EQ and Stone Edge are boosted by Landorus' ability in the Sand, plus life orb and maybe a Swords Dance equals a very powerful attack that can deal with anything bar Skarmory (who is a real pain in the neck for my entire team). I've included Rock Polish on this set as well in case there is something I need to outpace remaining instead of overpower such as Excadrill without Balloon. With my team being a sand team, Excadrill can come and try and boost up, but Landorus can stop all of his moves bar the occasional Return. I've been considering a Choice Scarf set to outspeed Thundurus, but I'm afraid of leaving half my team choiced.
Ferrothorn (M) @ Choice Band
Trait: Iron Barbs
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SDef
Brave Nature (+Atk, -Spd)
- Power Whip
- Gyro Ball
- Spikes
- Bulldoze
Ferrothorn plays the key role of laying down multiple layers of spikes early on while the opponent thinks that this is a typical Ferro set. Spikes are essential for me to achieve OHKOs with all the many sweepers I have. Later on Ferro can easily come in and absorb an attack or two before totally whomping on an opponent with one of the two (usually) base 120 STABs. The main attraction in this set is that the opponent won't realize that Ferrothorn has maxed out attack and a Choice Band. As far as weaknesses, this set fears Jellicent if it hasn't been taunted by Mienshao due to Will-O'-Wisp crippling the otherwise punishing attacks. Also, the suprise HP Fire always makes me want to ragequit.
GENERAL STRATEGY AND THREATS
My general strategy is to block an opponent's early game setup with Mieshao (maybe also get an early game KO) then set up my own layers of spikes and stealth rock. Then I basically bombard the enemy with suprise attacks they don't suspect (such as suprise ones from my LO Cruel and CB Ferro). As long as I play a smart game I have a good chance of winning except for Skarmory. I hate Skarmory with a burning passion as I only have several roundabout ways to deal with it. Mienshao can Taunt, but then Brave Bird destroys it. Medicham can usually 2HKO, but once again, Brave Bird kills me. TTar has Fire Blast, but it isn't good enough to put a decent dent in it. Skarmory is my main problem and i need help dealing with it. Other problem pokemon include Gengar (who either can be taken down by sacrificing TTar or revenging with Medicham), The Musketeers, THUNDURUS (hate him), and getting stuck in someone else's weather.
My greatest thanks to those who rate and help me out! It has been a good team so far but still needs work! Thanks!
TEAM BUILDING PROCESS
My two Hi Jump Kick users: Mienshao and Medicham.
Although rare to see Flying type moves, my entire team so far is weak to them. In addition, Mienshao is weak to psychic and Medicham is weak to ghosts. Tyranitar covers all of these weaknesses.
Next I chose Jellicent as a ghost to stop Fighting type attacks targeting Ttar.
Ferrothorn was next to cover Jellicent's weaknesses, as well as Jellicent covering Ferro's.
Gliscor is a good partner for Jellicent and Ferrothorn, and I needed a ground immunity. I chose to run a SD set for the potential of sweeping as well.
After some testing, I found that Jellicent really wasn't cutting it against fighting types. Conkeldurr kept setting up and crushing me time after time. So i swapped Jellicent for Tentacruel. Tentacruel covered the same types and had the benefit of liquid ooze to suck up drain punches. Toxic Spikes was a constant problem as well and Tentacruel sucked them up as well.
Gliscor didn't have enough devastating sweeping power for me so I swapped him for Landorus. Same typing, but more powerful.
THE TEAM
Mienshao (M) @ Life Orb
Trait: Regenerator
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- U-turn
- Taunt
- Hi Jump Kick
- Fake Out
Mienshao, one of my two HJK users, boasts an incredible ability as well as very good stats. Very quick on the draw, Mienshao can taunt most threats that don't have Prankster. Max speed and attack help take advantage of his very good ability. Mienshao can hit hard with Life Orb, even miss once with Hi Jump Kick and U-turn or switch and heal one third of his health. He makes a very annoying pokemon that pops up even after multiple uses in the late game stages. I start most battles with Mienshao and will Fake Out to scout out items and switch out or U-Turn over to either Ttar or Ferrothorn to start setting up or even HJK to knock out a threat early.
Medicham (M) @ Choice Scarf
Trait: Pure Power
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Hi Jump Kick
- Psycho Cut
- Fire Punch
- Ice Punch
PURE POWER. Boy do I love being able to just double the attack of Medicham to a nice 480 without a single boost. I ran an adamant nature to take more advantage of attack power considering I had slapped a Choice Scarf on him. Medicham can outpace several threats to my team like Dragons and Gengar and usually OHKO them with Ice Punch or Psycho Cut, respectively. HJK and Psycho Cut are for STAB, Fire Punch and Ice Punch are for coverage. I'm considering swapping Fire Punch for Bullet Punch. If Mienshao goes down, I have no priority, and sometimes that can be a weakness.
Tyranitar (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Sand Stream
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SDef
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Stealth Rock
- Crunch
- Fire Blast
- Superpower
Everybody needs the weather to be on their side, and my team is no exception. Tyranitar allows Landorus to sweep in sand and provides valuable support for my team. I run Ttar with full SDef Evs to catch a lot of people off guard. Its really nice to watch special attacks, even super effective ones, glance off Ttar and get countered by a strong coverage move. Crunch for STAB, Fire Blast to counter the likes of Ferro, Forretress, and Scizor (if Scizor tries to boost in my face), and Superpower to beat other Ttars. My one weakness in using this set as been burn. Will-O'-Wisp normally renders me useless. Paralysis is bad as well but it can be dealt with.
Tentacruel (M) @ Life Orb
Trait: Liquid Ooze
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Hydro Pump
- Giga Drain
- Sludge Bomb
- Haze
Instead of running an all-out support set like a typical Tentacruel set. Even with no EV investment in its defenses, Tentacruel can still absorb neutral and ineffective attacks and outspeed and KO threats. The fact that I maxed out speed EVs helps me KO pokemon that people would think would outspeed it. My moves I chose were Hydro Pump and Sludge Bomb for STAB and Giga Drain to deal with other bulky waters. Haze is used as my way to suprise stat boosters as they try to incessantly boost against one of my pokemon. Even though Tentacruel is very useful and covers some of my weaknesses well, its weakness to Ground can be very annoying since lots of attackers carry EQ.
Landorus (M) @ Life Orb
Trait: Sand Force
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- Rock Polish
- Swords Dance
In the sand, Landorus is a devastating sweeper. This particular set uses two boost options to finish off whatever may be left on the opponent's side of the field. EQ and Stone Edge are boosted by Landorus' ability in the Sand, plus life orb and maybe a Swords Dance equals a very powerful attack that can deal with anything bar Skarmory (who is a real pain in the neck for my entire team). I've included Rock Polish on this set as well in case there is something I need to outpace remaining instead of overpower such as Excadrill without Balloon. With my team being a sand team, Excadrill can come and try and boost up, but Landorus can stop all of his moves bar the occasional Return. I've been considering a Choice Scarf set to outspeed Thundurus, but I'm afraid of leaving half my team choiced.
Ferrothorn (M) @ Choice Band
Trait: Iron Barbs
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SDef
Brave Nature (+Atk, -Spd)
- Power Whip
- Gyro Ball
- Spikes
- Bulldoze
Ferrothorn plays the key role of laying down multiple layers of spikes early on while the opponent thinks that this is a typical Ferro set. Spikes are essential for me to achieve OHKOs with all the many sweepers I have. Later on Ferro can easily come in and absorb an attack or two before totally whomping on an opponent with one of the two (usually) base 120 STABs. The main attraction in this set is that the opponent won't realize that Ferrothorn has maxed out attack and a Choice Band. As far as weaknesses, this set fears Jellicent if it hasn't been taunted by Mienshao due to Will-O'-Wisp crippling the otherwise punishing attacks. Also, the suprise HP Fire always makes me want to ragequit.
GENERAL STRATEGY AND THREATS
My general strategy is to block an opponent's early game setup with Mieshao (maybe also get an early game KO) then set up my own layers of spikes and stealth rock. Then I basically bombard the enemy with suprise attacks they don't suspect (such as suprise ones from my LO Cruel and CB Ferro). As long as I play a smart game I have a good chance of winning except for Skarmory. I hate Skarmory with a burning passion as I only have several roundabout ways to deal with it. Mienshao can Taunt, but then Brave Bird destroys it. Medicham can usually 2HKO, but once again, Brave Bird kills me. TTar has Fire Blast, but it isn't good enough to put a decent dent in it. Skarmory is my main problem and i need help dealing with it. Other problem pokemon include Gengar (who either can be taken down by sacrificing TTar or revenging with Medicham), The Musketeers, THUNDURUS (hate him), and getting stuck in someone else's weather.
My greatest thanks to those who rate and help me out! It has been a good team so far but still needs work! Thanks!
