Standard RU: Practice Team
Credit to complete legitimacy
Overview:
This is a semistall team focused on a Moltres sweep. Each member of the team is necessary for countering certain threats, and they all aid Moltres in some way. A paralysis core is built between Ferroseed and Lanturn, and they are both very sturdy to last throughout the match. Ferroseed also lays Spikes for Moltres to take advantage of. Cryogonal is necessary for keeping my side of the field free of Stealth Rock, and is one of the most reliable spinners in the metagame. Cofagrigus is helpful for the Fighting-types that the core doesn't cover too well, and keeps all hazards on the field. Finally, Nidoqueen sets up Stealth Rock to aid Moltres's sweep, while having admirable synergy with it and can clean up with the help of paralysis support as well.
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Moltres @ Life Orb
Trait: Pressure
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature
IVs: 3 Atk / 30 SAtk
- Fire Blast
- Hurricane
- Hidden Power [Grass]
- Roost
Moltres is my main sweeper, and it's one of the best Pokemon in the metagame right now. I use a standard Life Orb set to get maximum damage output. Fire Blast and Hurricane are powerful STAB moves that can wreck the opposition, and Hidden Power Grass allows me to hit Pokemon such as Kabutops, Omastar, and Rhydon that could otherwise kill Moltres. Roost is good for when I'm not playing well and I forget that Stealth Rock is up, or if Moltres is forced out by a phazing move. It also helps against Sucker Punch users such as Spiritomb and Absol. Max Speed allows Moltres to outspeed Lilligant (both HP Rock and HP Fire have to use an imperfect Speed IV) and max Special Attack is obviously to hit as hard as possible.
Ferroseed (F) @ Eviolite
Trait: Iron Barbs
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SDef
Relaxed Nature
IVs: 0 Spd
- Spikes
- Leech Seed
- Thunder Wave
- Gyro Ball
Ferroseed is an excellent defensive pivot that I've always loved using, and it fits well on this team. Its helpful qualities include laying Spikes, spreading paralysis, countering Water- and Rock-types, and passing healing to other members of the team. I feel that this is the only set that Ferroseed should ever be running, since all of the moves are indispensable. Spikes (or Stealth Rock) is the main reason to use Ferroseed in the first place, while Leech Seed allows it to augment its otherwise complete lack of recovery. Thunder Wave and Gyro Ball are both necessary to avoid becoming setup fodder, and can both be useful to hit things on the switch. A physically defensive spread is needed for Pokemon such as Feraligatr, Kabutops, and Aggron.
Lanturn (F) @ Leftovers
Trait: Volt Absorb
EVs: 112 HP / 144 Def / 252 SDef
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Rest
- Sleep Talk
- Discharge
- Scald
Lanturn forms a good paralysis core with Ferroseed, and I've chosen Discharge to take advantage of this. A RestTalk set is necessary in my opinion, since it allows me to check threats such as Magmortar and Moltres consistently throughout the match. I'm using both Scald and Discharge because I need Discharge for Moltres, Slowking, and others, while Scald ensures that Nidoqueen can't switch in for free, among other things. The EV spread is slightly more specially defensive than the standard spread, and it allows Lanturn to be only 3HKOed by Magmortar's Hidden Power Grass after Stealth Rock.
Cryogonal @ Leftovers
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 248 HP / 168 Def / 68 SDef / 24 Spd
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Rapid Spin
- Recover
- Ice Beam
- Haze
Cryogonal is one of my favorite spinners to use in the current metagame, since it can beat every common spinblocker with relative ease. Recover grants it a lot more longevity than its competition, such as Kabutops, and Ice Beam can be pretty powerful without investment. Haze is necessary to counter Nasty Plot Cofagrigus, and can also help against other slow setup sweepers such as Absol and Gallade in a pinch. The EV spread is quite common in higher level play, allowing Cryogonal to avoid being OHKOed by Pursuit from the likes of Spiritomb, Drapion, or Escavalier, while also outspeeding Modest Nidoqueen. The remaining EVs are placed in Special Defense, so Cryogonal can still counter threats such as Rotom-C, Manectric, and Rotom.
Cofagrigus @ Leftovers
Trait: Mummy
EVs: 248 HP / 220 Def / 40 SDef
Bold Nature
IVs: 30 Def / 30 SAtk / 30 SDef / 30 Spd / 3 Atk
- Will-O-Wisp
- Shadow Ball
- Pain Split
- Hidden Power [Fighting]
Cofagrigus is my spinblocker of choice for this team, and its defensive set completes my defensive core. Will-O-Wisp cripples physical attackers such as Kabutops, which tried to spin on Cofagrigus, and Shadow Ball allows me to wear things down. Pain Split is very much appreciated from BW2, and it's miles above Rest. Hidden Power Fighting typically isn't seen on defensive Cofagrigus, but it is useful to handle two threats that my team otherwise would have trouble with: Zangoose and Crawdaunt. The EV spread not only avoids the OHKO from +1 Crawdaunt, but also allows Cofagrigus to switch into Escavalier's Iron Head without worry, since I can burn it while it doesn't 2HKO me after Stealth Rock.
Nidoqueen (F) @ Life Orb
Trait: Sheer Force
EVs: 96 HP / 236 SAtk / 176 Spd
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Stealth Rock
- Earth Power
- Thunderbolt
- Fire Blast
Nidoqueen completes the team with Stealth Rock, a vital part of its moveset. Otherwise, it's a great offensive partner for Moltres, since they synergize well, and can clean up after one another. Earth Power, Thunderbolt, and Fire Blast offer exceptional coverage on the majority of the metagame, 2HKOing almost everything with the appropriate move. The EV spread allows Nidoqueen to become a better Stealth Rock user, with the HP EVs allowing it to always live a Leaf Storm from Life Orb Sceptile and a Fire Blast from Life Orb Moltres. 168 Speed EVs are needed to outspeed max Speed Crawdaunt, and I've taken a few more EVs out of Special Attack for Speed creeping purposes, as there are many other Pokemon that aim for that benchmark.