You are Challenged by Leader Koga!
Yes, that's right. A Poison-only team. Since Gen 1, there has been no Gym leader who has come near the status of a Gym Leader as much as Koga has. He's also the only Gym Leader (Besides Wallace) to get into the Elite 4! So for the monthly RMT, I decided to do a special Koga-inspired team, using only Poison types. Now I know, this team couldn't win any tournaments (for the most part), and is in no way a great team. But it's just a great experience to create a homage to one of Pokemon's greatest characters, as well as a competitive team for him.
At a glance, the team looks solid, and is using the best poison types in the game (debatable). However, this isn't saying much. Poison has a few key weaknesses, such as Earthquake and Steel-types. Some Poison-types remedy this, but with generally pathetic HP, it wouldn't matter for very long. They are also completely wrecked by sandstorm. But, Poison-types do have their advantages. Toxic had been a easy-to-use and a sheer force of nature to deal with since Gen. 1. Poison types also do very well against stall teams, as their balance of offensive and defensive power defines them as the definition of a slow and painful death. It's really a mixed bag, and you never really know what to expect during a match.
But enough about slowly dying from toxic substances, let's get at the team!
Roserade@Focus Sash
Timid Nature
EV's: 4 HP/252 SpA/252 Spe
Natural Cure Ability
Moves:
-Toxic Spikes
-Leaf Storm
-Sleep Powder
-Hidden Power Fire/Hidden Power Ice
The entry hazard of the team. Roserade is great at what it does, and that's why it landed the spot of the Lead on the team. For a lead, Roserade actually carries a lot of offensive power. He can beat down Sandstorm leads with some ease, but this doesn't reverse the fact that Sandstorm still kills off a lot of my team.
Using Sleep powder and Toxic Spikes in succession is a deadly combination, and rightfully so. With a decent speed, Roserade can poison or put to sleep a good portion of the opponent's team, if not for it's frailness. This usually doesn't stop it from giving out quite a bit of destruction, as the opponent is poisoned before it can even defend itself.
I changed Energy Ball to Leaf Storm, mainly because of it's speed and fragility determining how long it will stay on the field. Hidden power fire is used for those pesky Skarmory and Bronzong leads, while Hidden power Ice is used for Dragons hoping to set up Dragon Dance. Roserade makes for a perfect lead, and I plan to use it it many more teams in the future.
Crobat@Black Sludge
Jolly Nature
EV's: 104 HP/152 Atk/252 Spe
Inner Focus Ability
Moves:
-Air slash
-Taunt
-Roost
-U-Turn
Crobat, or what I would like to call, the Air support. Crobat comfortably finds its way onto the team, utilizing it's "Standard Bat" move set to really give my team an edge against walls. Yet again, however, Crobat is somewhat frail. A Special sweeper can take him down with a hit or two. Roost takes care of that in most situations, and helps add to the poison the opponent is already suffering from. Good thing there's no such thing as a poison clause...
Air slash is fun because of the flinching. It's always a great experience to watch two flinches in a row, which happens more often that you think. This also is good to use against walls Crobat has an offensive advantage over.
Roost and u-turn is also irritating to the opponent, as healing yourself and getting a free switch in while the opposing Pokemon is diagnosed with Cancer from poison can get on the opponent's nerves.
Once you look at it from a competitive standpoint, Crobat can add a lot of psychological pressure to the opponent, which is one of they key goals in a Poison-type team. The EV's and Ability are to be expected, as well as his Jolly nature. Another beast of a Toxic Pokemon to add to the roster.
Tentacruel@Black Sludge
Timid Nature
EV's: 252 HP/136 SpA/120 SpD
Liquid Ooze Ability
Moves:
-Rapid Spin
-Hydro Pump
-Sludge Bomb
-Ice Beam
Ah, the ever-present Tentacruel. It always manages to find it's way into my teams. It's the resident Spinner of OU, and it fits perfectly into this team. Since I've got Toxic Spikes onto the field, Tenty here takes a little bit more of an offensive role, using good ol' Ice Beam in place of his usual Toxic Spikes. It isn't groundbreaking, but it is effective against, *shutter*, ground types. Type coverage and basic Sandstorm resistance overall is why Tentacruel makes such a great addition.
Rapid Spinning is a must for the team, as with already low HP, many Pokemon can't take extra damage before they even set up. Tentacruel didn't get many new toys in the new generation, but that still doesn't stop him from being the defensive gargantuan that he was meant to be. You really couldn't ask for more specialty!
The reason why Tentacruel fits in so many of my teams is that it's so adaptive. You can throw it in almost any situation, and it has the tools to handle the job. The same goes for here, the Team needed a Rapid spinner and some special offense, and Tentacruel fit the bill perfectly. Cheers to another successful year in OU for my pal, Tentacruel!
Weezing@Black Sludge
Calm Nature
EV's: 252 HP/200 Def/52 SpD/6 SpA
LEVITATE Ability
Moves:
-Stockpile
-Flamethrower/Venom shock/Clear smog
-Will-o'-wisp/Toxic
-Pain split/Swallow
I'm giggling with joy. Know why? Cause mah boi Weezing got some stellar new toys in the 5th gen! As if levitate didn't make him great enough. Weezing plays its part on this team by acting as it's main wall, and by using it's developed stats and wall-like abilities, Weezing definitely will be kicking some hind corners this year.
One of the best additions to Weezing's repertoire is the stockpile trio. This FINALLY allows Weezing to brush up his terrible Special Defense, making him that much more of a threat. Pain split is always useful for walls/tanks, so it was natural to add it on. Weezing can either further the Poison Cause with Toxic, or mix it up a little with Will-o'-Wisp. I'm having a hard time deciding between Flamethrower and Clear Smog. Flamethrower can give those disgusting Steel-types what they finally deserve, or he can Haze away all stat changes (including his own, unfortunately) with Clear smog.
Whatever move is chosen, Weezing is one the best members on the team, and I hope to see him in further Competitive play this year. With all these great additions and wonderful new opportunities, it can be enough to make a guy cry...
Gengar@Leftovers
Timid Nature
4 HP/252 SpA/252 Spe
Levitate Ability
Moves:
-Substitute
-Thunderbolt
-Shadow Ball
-Focus Blast
You didn't think I wouldn't put the best Poison-type in the game on my team, did you? Gengar has been with the top dogs since Red and Blue, and he'll always continue to be the best of the best. With a random Poison attribute given to him, I can legally place one of the best SubSweepers in the metagame onto my team.
The set you see here is very common among Gengars, and has a huge sweeping capability. Thunderbolt is great just for basic coverage, just like Focus blast for those pesky Steel and Dark types. Shadow Ball is crazy powerful on him, as giving STAB to a 90 base damage attack can be very useful. Subgar has always been a prominent set, and can even take down (with patience) the bane of special sweepers, Blissey.
Gengar fits in well with the team because it doesn't fit with the rest of the team's strategy. This is used to throw the opponent off balance with a surprise offensive balance. To be honest, there really aren't any signs of ToxicStall here at all, so Gengar stands proud and alone on my team as it's main Offensive Team slot. But I may have spoke too soon...
Pendoraa@Life Orb
Jolly Nature
4 HP/252 Atk/252 Spe
Swarm Ability
Moves:
-Swords Dance
-X-Scissor
-Earthquake
-Rock Slide
What do we have here? A physical sweeper? Well, well, well! Pendoraa is a new Generation 5 Pokemon, complete with it's own evolutionary line. It looks kinda like a weevil of some sort, and with good reason. This Pokemon is easily set up for using the Spikes thrown out earlier, and can begin it's Swords Dance rampage. A great addition to Team Poison!
I love this guy's movepool. No other Poison type had the Physical strength to pull off Swords dance, but with Pendoraa, my team has a fighting chance. Although he has many common weaknesses, the little Weevil can be in battle one moment and out the next. With a little predictability, Pendoraa can decimate an opponent's team. He's the only one on my team that can use the Earth/Rock moves everyone so desperately craves.
Even with his downsides, Pendoraa was an obvious choice for the team. He held in his hands something no other Poison type has: Sheer Power. After the team has set up, I can always rely on this guy to finish the job. And who said Nintendo didn't have any ideas left for Gen 5?
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That's the team, in an essence. I know it has a lot of problems, but you're bound to have a lot of threats to the team when it's mono-type.
Well, I hope you enjoyed the team. I always have fun when I use it on Pokemon online, and I hope you can utilize the Gym Leader in you to create a team similar to this one. I always enjoy creating teams too, and I hope you've walked away today with the notion that Pokemon isn't about winning, having a good record, or even the Game franchise itself. It's about having fun, and doing what you love for as long as you love it.
With the Mushy stuff aside, I WELCOME all comments and critiques on the team, as this is hopefully in the running for the RMT of the month. So come on, Pokebeach! Tell me what you think. And as always, remind yourself every day about the sheer Power of Poison!
Happy Holidays, Everyone!
~ShadowLugia~
