National Dex Mega Medicham + Choice Scarf Kartana Offense

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Introduction
With NDPL off to an amazing start, there has been a noticeable trend in teams used this time around. Notably, the prevalence of offensive teams utilizing terrifying wallbreakers such as Mega Medicham. This team was built by kDCA and used by Raptor during Week 3 of the tour against sensei axew. How the team plays is very straightforward, with Mega Medicham punching humongous holes in enemy teams, taking advantage of more passive Pokemon such as Ferrothorn and Toxapex to land a devastating hit, breaking for a potential clean by Choice Scarf Kartana. Weavile traps and dispatches of Reuniclus and Mega Latias, two Pokemon which would usually prevent the team's main offensive core from forcing progress, while also appreciating Medicham wearing down shared checks such as Clefable. Rotom-W, Landorus-T, and Ferrothorn round out the team, forming a potent defensive core, letting the team handle threats such as Choice Scarf Tapu Lele and Kartana, Mega Lopunny, and Heatran in the short term, while also providing support in the form of entry hazards.

In-Depth
:ss/medicham-mega:

Medicham-Mega @ Medichamite
Ability: Pure Power
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Fake Out
- Zen Headbutt
- High Jump Kick
- Ice Punch

Mega Medicham is the star of the team, and it is a terrifying wallbreaker due to its Huge Power-boosted moves, making it hard for teams lacking a hard counter to pivot around it. Fake Out allows Medicham to pick off or heavily chip faster Pokemon, preventing its middling Speed from being taken advantage of. Ice Punch scores an OHKO on both Gliscor and Landorus-T, preventing them from pivoting into Mega Medicham.

:ss/kartana:
Kartana @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Beast Boost
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Leaf Blade
- Smart Strike
- Knock Off
- Sacred Sword

Choice Scarf Kartana is a potent late-game cleaner and takes advantage of the weakened teams left behind by a well-played Mega Medicham. Kartana also acts as a revenge killer for threats such as Choice Scarf Tapu Lele, Mega Lopunny, and Swords Dance Kartana, which can be threatening to the team if left unchecked. Knock Off cripples checks such as Zapdos and Volcarona, as well as allowing it to bypass a chipped Mega Latias, while Sacred Sword lets it break Steel-types which otherwise wall it.

:ss/weavile:
Weavile @ Choice Band
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Knock Off
- Triple Axel
- Ice Shard
- Pursuit

Choice Band Weavile is integral to the team's offensive core, being able to Pursuit trap key members of the opposing team such as Reuniclus, Mega Latias, Zapdos, and Tapu Lele, allowing its teammates to break and clean unhindered. Triple Axel is chosen here to always OHKO Mega Latias, forcing it into a 50/50 situation with Pursuit. Ice Shard lets Weavile revenge kill boosted threats such as Mega Garchomp and Galarian Moltres.

:ss/rotom-wash:
Rotom-Wash @ Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 200 Def / 56 Spe
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Hydro Pump
- Volt Switch
- Will-O-Wisp
- Pain Split

Defensive Rotom-W forms the start of the team's defensive backbone, checking threats such as Mega Scizor, Mega Swampert, and Heatran. Will-O-Wisp prevents it from being setup fodder for Mega Scizor while also punishing Grass-types such as Ferrothorn for pivoting in. Pain Split provides more sustenance alongside Leftovers for Rotom-W, letting it check the aforementioned checks more consistently. The given EV spread allows Rotom-W to outspeed Choice Band Tyranitar.

:ss/Landorus-therian:
Landorus-Therian (M) @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 HP / 112 Def / 128 SpD / 16 Spe
Impish Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- U-turn
- Smack Down

Mixed defenses Landorus-T provides an invaluable piece to the defensive core, checking Mega Lopunny and Volcarona in a single slot, while also providing a crucial Electric-immunity to the team. Furthermore, with Smack Down, Landorus-T can consistently set up Stealth Rock on more passive Defoggers such as Zapdos and Corviknight. Rocky Helmet allows Landorus-T to punish Mega Lopunny and opposing Choice Scarf Kartana. The given EVs allow Landorus-T to outspeed Choice Band Tyranitar and maximize both its defenses.

:ss/ferrothorn:
Ferrothorn @ Leftovers
Ability: Iron Barbs
EVs: 252 HP / 24 Def / 232 SpD
Careful Nature
- Spikes
- Knock Off
- Leech Seed
- Power Whip

Ferrothorn rounds off the defensive core of the team, providing useful resistances to Water and Grass while preventing opposing Choice Scarf Kartana from plowing through the team. Ferrothorn also provides additional entry hazard pressure in the form of Spikes, wearing down checks to the team's offensive core such as Mega Scizor and Slowbro. Knock Off lets it cripple switch-ins such as Heatran, Zapdos, and Volcarona and, combined with Leech Seed chip damage, greatly pressures these switch-ins. Power Whip lets Ferrothorn check Tapu Fini while dealing good damage to non-resistant foes.

Threatlist
:clefable:
Calm Mind Clefable can get out of hand if left unchecked, although it can be discouraged from setting up if pressured offensively by Weavile and Mega Medicham. Smart Strike from Kartana can also be used in case it manages to set up, forcing a trade at best with it.

:weavile: :moltres-galar:
Due to the team's lack of a sturdy Dark-resistant Pokemon, both these Dark-types are extremely threatening. If Ferrothorn is kept healthy, however, the former shouldn't be much of a threat due to the offensive pace of the team. The latter can easily get out of hand if not played around correctly, although it can still be revenge killed by Mega Medicham's Fake Out and Weavile's Ice Shard.

:volcarona:
Bulky Volcarona can easily break past the team's defensive core if Landorus-T gets too weakened, but it can be prevented from setting up with good play. Offensive Volcarona can also be hard for the team to face, but if it is lacking Heavy-duty Boots, it becomes significantly easier to play around and Landorus-T and Rotom-W can always take a hit in a pinch.

:serperior: :kartana:
Offensive Grass-types that have ways around Ferrothorn and Kartana are extremely threatening for the team due to the lack of defensive pivots into them. Serperior can be revenge killed and potentially Pursuit trapped by Weavile easily but becomes much more annoying to face if it has Substitute. Choice Scarf Kartana can still be played around with Ferrothorn and Landorus-T, but it can be devastating if it predicts correctly on the switch. Swords Dance variants can be revenge killed by Weavile and the team's own Choice Scarf Kartana, but it breaks through the defensive core much more consistently.

:lopunny-mega:
Mega Lopunny can be extremely threatening if played conservatively agasint the team, as Landorus-T can get worn down very quickly; however, Choice Scarf Kartana can revenge kill it if it gets to that point, and the team generally has enough offensive pressure to prevent it from winning first.

:charizard-mega-y:
A natural consequence of using Rotom-W-based defensive cores is that the team is mauled by Mega Charizard Y, although if Stealth Rock is up, it becomes a lot easier to handle. Weavile can also potentially Pursuit trap it, removing it entirely. This is an extremely hard matchup for the team, but it can be solved with offensive play.

:reuniclus:
Calm Mind Reuniclus can be a threat if not played around well; however with how pressured it is by Mega Medicham and Pursuit Weavile, it shouldn't be that hard to bypass it.

Replays

https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/smogtours-gen8nationaldex-649712 - sensei axew vs Raptor

Importable
Medicham-Mega @ Medichamite
Ability: Pure Power
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Fake Out
- Zen Headbutt
- High Jump Kick
- Ice Punch

Kartana @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Beast Boost
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Leaf Blade
- Smart Strike
- Knock Off
- Sacred Sword

Weavile @ Choice Band
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Knock Off
- Triple Axel
- Ice Shard
- Pursuit

Rotom-Wash @ Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 200 Def / 56 Spe
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Hydro Pump
- Volt Switch
- Will-O-Wisp
- Pain Split

Landorus-Therian (M) @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 HP / 112 Def / 128 SpD / 16 Spe
Impish Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- U-turn
- Smack Down

Ferrothorn @ Leftovers
Ability: Iron Barbs
EVs: 252 HP / 24 Def / 232 SpD
Careful Nature
- Spikes
- Knock Off
- Leech Seed
- Power Whip

Credits
Created by: kDCA
Written by: adem
Quality Checked by: Kaede
Grammar Checked by: dex
Art by: Ticken
 

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