National Dex AG team

I lead with a Ninjask @ Focus Sash.

He knows Double Team, Baton Pass, X-scisor and Arial Ace.
I always start with a Double Team, if the enemy miss the move I go for another DoubleTeam, if the enemy attack me (I will survive because I'm Focus Sash) so I used my baton pass. Since DoubleTeam is a very generic move I don't have a exactly pokémon to switch, I just never give evasion to Smeargle.

Smeargle @ Salac Berry.

He knows Endure, Spore, Endeavor and Extreme Speed.
I put this Smeargle against strong sweepers, I need to predict a atk to use my Endure to survive with 1 HP and active my Salac Berry to be a bit more fast. Smeargle's EV is all in Speed and he is Naive (+Speed - Sdef).
It's ability is Own Tempo, I used to have Moody ability, but it's so random and I just care only about my speed (and there is a risk of lost my speed with this ability, so I take out this ability).

Breloom @ Toxic Orb.

He knows Spore, Focus Punch, Leech Seed and Energy Ball.
Since in this tier don't have the Sleep Clause I put two pokémons with Spore to put all enemy team to sleep. If I managed to receive some Speed boost of Ninjask helps a lot to out speed the enemy and put him to sleep. I just need to be aware of Ghost pokémon, because they are imune a Focus Punch. And aware about Grass pokémon since they are imune to Spore and Leech Seed in this generation.

Articuno @ Leftovers.

He knows Mind Reader, Sheer Cold, Hurricane and Ice Beam.
Since in this tier don't have the OHKO Clause, I put one pokémon with OHKO move. First I go to Mind Reader and then to Sheer Cold to garantee a kill. If the enemy used Gygantamax after I used Mind Reader I use Hurricane since Gygantamax pokémon are imune to OHKO moves. I also have Ice Beam in case I find a Sturdy/Focus Sash pokémon... So I need a very accurate move to eliminate they.
Also Articuno is the pokémon I like to Gygantamax, because Hurrican become Max Airstream and raise my speed each time I used it.


Zacian-Crowned @Rusted Sword.

He knows Sacred Sword, Crunch, Fire Fang and Psychic Fang.
He is just a very powerfull pokémon with 4 atk moves. He is a good option to receive the Ninjask boosts because it can deal with a lot of Pokémons.
And also it have the Intrepid Sword ability who raise it's atk in one stage when it's enter in battle.

Primal-Kyogre @ Blue Orb.

He knows Calm Mind, Water Spout, Ice Beam and Thunder.
Also another very powerfull pokémon just to complete the team, he is also a option to receive Ninjask boost.
What I don't understand is why in this generation the rain not continues when Kyogre is out of battle.

Now some replays to you understand how this team works:
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8nationaldexag-1656094807
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8nationaldexag-1656136557-hcstirycprgds9gcvoiajo0uqxxt069pw
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8nationaldexag-1656143308
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8nationaldexag-1656281180
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8nationaldexag-1656289102
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8nationaldexag-1656293095
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8nationaldexag-1656297630-j19ibehl0yy7rw2cdyuinehjddsbz91pw
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8nationaldexag-1656306996
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8nationaldexag-1656369463
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8nationaldexag-1657507752
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8nationaldexag-1657518785
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8nationaldexag-1666008526


And to finish, there is the pokepasta of this team: https://pokepast.es/5dd16341f2440822
 
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Energy ball is bad on look, use bullet seed. I don't understand the smeargle. Even without mac STAB behemoth blade is good. Try freeze dry on Articuno.
 
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Energy ball is bad on look, use bullet seed.
Okay I will try that on Breloom.


Try freeze dry on Articuno.
This Freeze Dry is weaker then Ice Beam. I kill Water pokémons with Sheer Cold.


I don't understand the smeargle.
Smeargle start with Endure and active it's Salac berry. Used Spore to be safe, then go for Endeavor to put the enemy with 1 hp as him and finish the enemy with ExtremeSpeed.

Even without mac STAB behemoth blade is good.
Cool Steel move, I will teach it for Zacian... Thanks.
 
I I see lol. Sorry i think the layout got to me. I zoned out for a bit.

Standard layout is:
Pokemon @ item
Ability
EVs
Nature
-move
-move
-move
-move

You're probably right on freeze-dry, I just like the move.

Besides Spe Ninjask can't pass much. If this is indeed...oh. You say airstream, this is a max meta so it might not be viable to HP evasion. I'll let others decide. But I was gonna say Ninjask should try to pass a sub. SD is an option too, but keep an attack either way(I think X-scissor.) Aerial ace shouldn't be too important, it's low BP.
 
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Besides Spe Ninjask can't pass much. If this is indeed...oh. You say airstream, this is a max meta so it might not be viable to HP evasion. I'll let others decide. But I was gonna say Ninjask should try to pass a sub. SD is an option too, but keep an attack either way(I think X-scissor.) Aerial ace shouldn't be too important, it's low BP.
I need to agree a Substitute Ninjask is a god option, but I think that should change also it's iten Focus Sash if Ninjask knows Substitute. Maybe puting instead a Liechi Berry or a Petaya Berry.
But I think Double Team + Focus Sash is very more simple to do, of course it is a bit useless against gygantamax pokémon, but not all trainers gygantamax so early theirs pokémons.
And also have the speed bonus of the speed boost ability, what is ever usefull.
 

Dusk Mage Necrozma

formerly XenonHero126
1) There are a huge amount of newbies and gimmick players low ladder. 1350ish elo is where I would consider decent players to start appearing

2) Kyogre and Zacian are solid, but the rest of your team is pretty meh.

Smeargle works best with SmashPass (Shell Smash -> Baton Pass) you can remove Ninjask if you do that for something like Yveltal (to check Calyrex-S)

Breloom is really threatening in an OU meta but the higher power level in AG makes it really struggle to make any progress. You already have Smeargle for Spore, you could replace it with a defogger to remove hazards for a lategame SmashPass sweep as recommended by the smogdex. (It’s better to use an offensive Yveltal set here than a Defog one) I recommend Defog Arceus-Fairy for this role.

Mind Reader Sheer Cold Articuno is gimmicky and unreliable, the opponent can just switch out or Dynamax. I’d replace it with some wallbreaker or sweeper that can 2hko pretty much anything anyway, perhaps Mega Rayquaza (obscenely threatening after a SmashPass)

3) Changes to individual sets:

Zacian pretty much needs Behemoth Blade to melt Dynamaxed Pokemon. You can keep Sacred Sword or replace it with Close Combat. If you want to go 4 attacks the best choices are Crunch and Wild Charge.

Calm Mind Primal Kyogre doesn’t like to use Water Spout as it’s likely to get hit while setting up, replace with Origin Pulse.

Final Pokepaste: https://pokepast.es/e76d0cc47f33f508

I wouldn’t call it a great team (Smeargle is kind of the weak link) but it’s functional, retains your initial concepts of Baton Pass and Smeargle, and doesn’t replace more than 3 mons.
 
1) There are a huge amount of newbies and gimmick players low ladder. 1350ish elo is where I would consider decent players to start appearing

2) Kyogre and Zacian are solid, but the rest of your team is pretty meh.

Smeargle works best with SmashPass (Shell Smash -> Baton Pass) you can remove Ninjask if you do that for something like Yveltal (to check Calyrex-S)

Breloom is really threatening in an OU meta but the higher power level in AG makes it really struggle to make any progress. You already have Smeargle for Spore, you could replace it with a defogger to remove hazards for a lategame SmashPass sweep as recommended by the smogdex. (It’s better to use an offensive Yveltal set here than a Defog one) I recommend Defog Arceus-Fairy for this role.

Mind Reader Sheer Cold Articuno is gimmicky and unreliable, the opponent can just switch out or Dynamax. I’d replace it with some wallbreaker or sweeper that can 2hko pretty much anything anyway, perhaps Mega Rayquaza (obscenely threatening after a SmashPass)

3) Changes to individual sets:

Zacian pretty much needs Behemoth Blade to melt Dynamaxed Pokemon. You can keep Sacred Sword or replace it with Close Combat. If you want to go 4 attacks the best choices are Crunch and Wild Charge.

Calm Mind Primal Kyogre doesn’t like to use Water Spout as it’s likely to get hit while setting up, replace with Origin Pulse.

Final Pokepaste: https://pokepast.es/e76d0cc47f33f508

I wouldn’t call it a great team (Smeargle is kind of the weak link) but it’s functional, retains your initial concepts of Baton Pass and Smeargle, and doesn’t replace more than 3 mons.
anything below 1500 is bottom ladder
 
1) There are a huge amount of newbies and gimmick players low ladder. 1350ish elo is where I would consider decent players to start appearing

2) Kyogre and Zacian are solid, but the rest of your team is pretty meh.

Smeargle works best with SmashPass (Shell Smash -> Baton Pass) you can remove Ninjask if you do that for something like Yveltal (to check Calyrex-S)

Breloom is really threatening in an OU meta but the higher power level in AG makes it really struggle to make any progress. You already have Smeargle for Spore, you could replace it with a defogger to remove hazards for a lategame SmashPass sweep as recommended by the smogdex. (It’s better to use an offensive Yveltal set here than a Defog one) I recommend Defog Arceus-Fairy for this role.

Mind Reader Sheer Cold Articuno is gimmicky and unreliable, the opponent can just switch out or Dynamax. I’d replace it with some wallbreaker or sweeper that can 2hko pretty much anything anyway, perhaps Mega Rayquaza (obscenely threatening after a SmashPass)

3) Changes to individual sets:

Zacian pretty much needs Behemoth Blade to melt Dynamaxed Pokemon. You can keep Sacred Sword or replace it with Close Combat. If you want to go 4 attacks the best choices are Crunch and Wild Charge.

Calm Mind Primal Kyogre doesn’t like to use Water Spout as it’s likely to get hit while setting up, replace with Origin Pulse.

Final Pokepaste: https://pokepast.es/e76d0cc47f33f508

I wouldn’t call it a great team (Smeargle is kind of the weak link) but it’s functional, retains your initial concepts of Baton Pass and Smeargle, and doesn’t replace more than 3 mons.
Breloom is very garbo in ndou lol
 
Breloom is very garbo in ndou lol
I kind of disagree, Breloom is able to learn Spore a very powerfull move even more valuable in a tier as National Dex AG where I can put all enemy team to sleep, even in tiers with the Sleep Clause I like to use Breloom because of Spores.
I guess just Parasect and Smeargle also learns Spores. And Smeargle is already in the team and Parasect sucks a lot.
 
I kind of disagree, Breloom is able to learn Spore a very powerfull move even more valuable in a tier as National Dex AG where I can put all enemy team to sleep, even in tiers with the Sleep Clause I like to use Breloom because of Spores.
I guess just Parasect and Smeargle also learns Spores. And Smeargle is already in the team and Parasect sucks a lot.
No? Breloom is slow and frail. A good player will take advantage of that and kill it before it can even do a thing.
 

Giyu

Love is the most twisted curse of them all
is a Site Content Manageris a Forum Moderatoris a Contributor to Smogon
You need to look at sample teams and viability rankings, this isn't salvageable unfortunately.
 

SpaceSpeakers

eeny mine moe
is a Tiering Contributor
I lead with a Ninjask @ Focus Sash.

He knows Double Team, Baton Pass, X-scisor and Arial Ace.
I always start with a Double Team, if the enemy miss the move I go for another DoubleTeam, if the enemy attack me (I will survive because I'm Focus Sash) so I used my baton pass. Since DoubleTeam is a very generic move I don't have a exactly pokémon to switch, I just never give evasion to Smeargle.

Smeargle @ Salac Berry.

He knows Endure, Spore, Endeavor and Extreme Speed.
I put this Smeargle against strong sweepers, I need to predict a atk to use my Endure to survive with 1 HP and active my Salac Berry to be a bit more fast. Smeargle's EV is all in Speed and he is Naive (+Speed - Sdef).
It's ability is Own Tempo, I used to have Moody ability, but it's so random and I just care only about my speed (and there is a risk of lost my speed with this ability, so I take out this ability).

Breloom @ Toxic Orb.

He knows Spore, Focus Punch, Leech Seed and Energy Ball.
Since in this tier don't have the Sleep Clause I put two pokémons with Spore to put all enemy team to sleep. If I managed to receive some Speed boost of Ninjask helps a lot to out speed the enemy and put him to sleep. I just need to be aware of Ghost pokémon, because they are imune a Focus Punch. And aware about Grass pokémon since they are imune to Spore and Leech Seed in this generation.

Articuno @ Leftovers.

He knows Mind Reader, Sheer Cold, Hurricane and Ice Beam.
Since in this tier don't have the OHKO Clause, I put one pokémon with OHKO move. First I go to Mind Reader and then to Sheer Cold to garantee a kill. If the enemy used Gygantamax after I used Mind Reader I use Hurricane since Gygantamax pokémon are imune to OHKO moves. I also have Ice Beam in case I find a Sturdy/Focus Sash pokémon... So I need a very accurate move to eliminate they.
Also Articuno is the pokémon I like to Gygantamax, because Hurrican become Max Airstream and raise my speed each time I used it.


Zacian-Crowned @Rusted Sword.

He knows Sacred Sword, Crunch, Fire Fang and Psychic Fang.
He is just a very powerfull pokémon with 4 atk moves. He is a good option to receive the Ninjask boosts because it can deal with a lot of Pokémons.
And also it have the Intrepid Sword ability who raise it's atk in one stage when it's enter in battle.

Primal-Kyogre @ Blue Orb.

He knows Calm Mind, Water Spout, Ice Beam and Thunder.
Also another very powerfull pokémon just to complete the team, he is also a option to receive Ninjask boost.
What I don't understand is why in this generation the rain not continues when Kyogre is out of battle.

Now some replays to you understand how this team works:
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8nationaldexag-1656094807
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8nationaldexag-1656136557-hcstirycprgds9gcvoiajo0uqxxt069pw
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8nationaldexag-1656143308
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8nationaldexag-1656281180
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8nationaldexag-1656289102
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8nationaldexag-1656293095
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8nationaldexag-1656297630-j19ibehl0yy7rw2cdyuinehjddsbz91pw
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8nationaldexag-1656306996
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8nationaldexag-1656369463
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8nationaldexag-1657507752
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8nationaldexag-1657518785
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8nationaldexag-1666008526


And to finish, there is the pokepasta of this team: https://pokepast.es/5dd16341f2440822
ahh
Its funny to use but idt it will work against high ladder players
 
your opponent can taunt the passer, webs can easily be defogged away or flown over, and a sash is broken by rocks.
Not just the Taunt brokes a baton pass chain, but also Roar/Whirlwind.
Not just Defog destroy sticky web, but also Rapid Spin.
And Sash pokémon should lead the team to avoid be broken by Stealthy rock. Also, Sash pokémon are killed by Pokémon who hit multiple time with a single move as Double Kick, for example.

I think all strategies have a counter part, and that is what make this game so fun. Is impossible be prepare against all strategies and some times my strategy works because a lack of counter of my enemy.
 
Not just the Taunt brokes a baton pass chain, but also Roar/Whirlwind.
Not just Defog destroy sticky web, but also Rapid Spin.
And Sash pokémon should lead the team to avoid be broken by Stealthy rock. Also, Sash pokémon are killed by Pokémon who hit multiple time with a single move as Double Kick, for example.

I think all strategies have a counter part, and that is what make this game so fun. Is impossible be prepare against all strategies and some times my strategy works because a lack of counter of my enemy.
Okay, but there are more consistent strategies out there. There are strategies that don't automatically lose just because your opponent brought counterplay. You may be able to have a way to break through a wall, but the wall can switch out and wall something else later. You may be able to wall an offensive mon, but it's still dealing damage that needs to be recovered later. They don't become deadweight just because your opponent can beat you. If your Baton Pass chain is broken, you've basically lost. If webs are cleared, Breloom's just gonna die. If the sash is broken... Breloom's just gonna die again. There are mons that do things like Breloom (like Smeargle) who are much more worth the team slot. Who can do things even if the opponent happens to have 1 or 2 moves.
 
Nowadays I think Buterfree should replace Breloom, because have more speed and copound eyes make the sleep powder also accurate.
(ignore the evs)
Butterfree @ Leftovers
Ability: Compound Eyes
EVs: 200 HP / 28 Def / 52 SpA / 228 Spe
Timid Nature
- Quiver Dance
- Baton Pass / Hurricane
- Sleep Powder
- Substitute

by the way, butterpass is a thing, and its pretty funny, or you could just go for wins with a 91% accurate hurricane

edit: you do kinda want to pair it with webs support though, to get off the initail powder could be hard
 

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