Since I work 8 hours per day (and sometimes more), I value more the few free time I have, so this post won,t be as long and detailed as I would like.
Week 1
https://pokepast.es/12855151bed41f01
One of my managers was Analytic , so I had to make a team with Analytic Zone (despite always spelling wrong that ability). Boomer one of the best partners for Zone, since it makes some people think the Zone is Magnet Pull, so they don,t switch out their Corviknights. Kyurem is a nice Mon against Rain, opposing Boomer and bulky teams with Pex + Blissey. Gastro helps against electric types like Zeraora and also absorbs Trick and Knock easily due to Sticky Hold. Clef is the Rocker, Status absorber and Urshifu check in this team. I was really weak to Volcarona, so I choose Talonflame as the Defoguer. It worked for me in Wcop (not as Defoguer though), so I gave him a chance here too.
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/smogtours-gen8ou-515947 < The match-up vs Raiza was not a good one, although winnable. I had to predict a lot with my Zone. I guessed right some turns, but wrong several others which eventually led to a lose.
Week 2
https://pokepast.es/ea8f0ada91a21130
I have never liked Alakazam outside of RBY, where it actually has Defensive Value. However, this team did well in tests, so I decided to use it against Samqian. Instead of predicting when to use Nasty Plot, I prefered just hitting with LO boosted Psychic and Focus Blast, Knocking Shed Shell from Corviknight in order to trap it with Zone. As long as there is no Blissey or a bulky Psychic, this Alakazam is capable of doing a lot of damage. The rest of the team pivots around with U-Turn or Eject Button (Amoonguss) to make easier for Alakazam and Zone to come into the field. Clef is Clef, its always there, and always good.
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/smogtours-gen8ou-516502 < Terrible match-up. Reuniclus + Blissey + Gastro made my Alakazam almost useless. However, the yellow magic and several other hax turns saved me this time.
Week 3
https://pokepast.es/16c17b1bd2b7c953
Heracross has always been easier for me to use than Conkeldurr. And the best way of using either of those is to pair them with a Boomer, in order to mitigate the burn damage. Clefable and Corviknight are clasic balance and hazards core, no need to explain them. AV Slowking is one of the best special walls out there and with Future Sight + Dragon Tail it threatens a lot of teams and forces them to send out Clef in order not to depend on luck. Zeraora is another Mon I don,t like too much, since it has many good counters, depending on its Moves. This is the reason I almost always use Toxic on Zeraora, it makes it less match-up reliant.
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/smogtours-gen8ou-517147 < I was very scared by Marowak when I saw him. Fortunately, Steve Angello missplayed with it and let it take Knock from Clef, which prevented it from doing any significant damage.
Week 4
https://pokepast.es/27d9d8e9681bf84e
One of the best teams I built during this tournament. This team is so good that Ewin ripped it and made it WORSE. So, it started with the Double AV Regenerator idea to troll every Trick Clefable ready to ruin my defensive teams. In case there is no such Clef, the strategy is to SPAM the broken move known as Knock Off and then just Stall by switching. Drill is a powerful win condition when given the chance. It has the European Drill spread, always surviving STAB Foul Play at +2. The last Mon on this team is Centiskorch. It completely destroys Sun, Volcarona and non Meteor Beam Clefable (who does not exist). It also switches easily into Kyurem after I scout its moves with Slowking.
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/smogtours-gen8ou-519571 < At last a good match-up, in fact a perfect one. Like Steve, Zden also sacked his Marowak to my Clefable, but this time it didn,t even matter, since Mandibuzz was a counter anyway.
Week 5
https://pokepast.es/065290d30f13d4f4
I made this team during week 2, but was reluctant to use it until Week 5 due to it being too slow and not bulky enough at the same time. Yet it won test game after test game, so eventually I had to give it a chance. Not much Eeveetechnology here except for the Sand Force Drill. Rest are standart sets to support that Drill, break with Zone or sweep with Clef.
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/smogtours-gen8ou-519841 < I used CM + Flame Clef at the right time, this was an example of what it can do against teams without Pex.
Week 6
https://pokepast.es/41e17426cc86516b
Like Zeraora, I don,t like Togekiss due to the sheer number of counters it has. For the same reason, I decided to try a Toxic one, which destroys Tar and Electrics at the same time, leaving only Steels (and not all of them) as actual counters. Blissey supports Toge with Twave and in general the rest of the team just checks things defensively. I knew that I was getting too defensive with my teams, which is not a good thing, but I was not capable of thinking anything offensive and effective at the time.
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/smogtours-gen8ou-521424 < Despite the above, I was very close from winning this game against an HO, but I threw by not thinking about the posibility of Zeraora being itemless in a team that already has a Boomer. Tangrowth died from Acrobatics and a very painful lose happened, which eventually prevented us from getting a Win this week.
Week 7
https://pokepast.es/f7c10734377c24db
Still in the defensive side of the spectrum, but at least the win conditions this time are more solid. Both Magic Guard Mons allow me to not fear Status while the rest of the team (except Mandibuzz) distributes it. The Jirachi set is a sign of me fearing Kyurem and Togekiss more than I should, but it was a viable set nonetheless that helps the rest of the team with Wish while being a threat on its own thanks to Toxic and the paralisis from Dragapult.
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/smogtours-gen8ou-522324 < The one thing I feared most was a Rhyperior and Garay used one. This was the worst match-up I had in the entire tour, it was totally impossible to win this game. Deserved punishment for becoming too predictable with my team choices.
Week 8
https://pokepast.es/11f3fd4dba39b888
Tiepans were still not out, but I needed to change my mentality as my opponents adapted to my playstyle during the previous weeks. I needed to go more offensive and crazier. This is an example of my crazy teams. Roserade hits very hard in terrain to anything that does not resist its STABs. What does resist, unless its a Grass, gets put to Sleep while Rose throws Spikes in order to break the opposing team with Boomer, Clefable or Cobalion. Speaking of Cobalion, it has the legendary AV + Rocks combo, but since its offensive power its not too high, opponents don,t fear it and just SPAM Knock, letting Cobalion use those Rocks. The AV itself helps Cobalion to switch into Kyurem, Clefable and Hatterene, among others. The terrain helps it to switch into EQ, using its very high bulk for an offensive fast Mon. Mandibuzz has no Defog on this team, but its not needed: the idea is to go as offensive as possible, pivoting around, killing Volcarona or opposing Boomer with Brave Bird and unless the opponent happens to have a Drill, he will Defog his own Hazard in order to take out mine, so I am not actually too weak to them.
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/smogtours-gen8ou-523655 < I almost lost to the unviable in Zone meta set known as BU Corviknight, but Robjr commited the mistake of switching it out too many times instead of just boosting and sweeping my team. Eventually I caught that Corvi with Band Superpower and the battle was essentially won after that.
https://pokepast.es/7c533abf9eddbafe
As almost every HO, this team is bad and relies on luck, match-up or surprise factor. Fortunately, there are many surprise sets here. The Ribombee always lives Iron Head from Excadrill and just Tricks it in order to use such Drill for set-up with another Mon. It still outspeeds non-scarf Togekiss after Tricking. Zard and Cloyster should not even be explained, they are bad, but can cheese their way in certain match-ups. Drill is the suicide lead, rocker and spinner. I don,t remember what Zarude EVs are for, except for the Speed ones. I think Jordy was the one who made this exact spread for another team. Dragapult is here the pinacle ofmadness Eeveetechnology. It has enough Speed to outspeed base 100 Mons and enough bulk to only have 6,3% chance of dying to LO Clef Moonblast. If it uses WoW to Mandibuzz, it will always live Foul Play at +1 too, from full. Weakness Policy is a fun item given this (also helps against random Pexes with Knock who think they can stop this dragon and allows Pult to boost in Zeraora). WoW + Cursed Body ease the sweeping chance of Zard, Cloyster or Zarude. Dragapult and Ribombee are the real supporters of this team.
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/smogtours-gen8ou-524494 < This team not only allowed Dice to win his first battle, but it also meant our first week won, giving us some hope to qualify entering the final week (that hope ended quite fast though).
Week 9
https://pokepast.es/5f668f7b1d4b05cb
So, we were mathematically out by the time I played, but I still wanted to break my curse against italians (lost to Rexus in Wcop, lost to Raiza and Lopunny Kicks here). I therefore used what I felt was my best team. I built it one hour before battling Garay Oak in Week 7, but since I hadn,t tested it enough back then (despite already looking very good on ladder) I decided not to risk and got destroyed that week. In both tests and ladder, this team has obliterated almost every opponent and was very fun to use at the same time.
The idea with Gardevoir is the following one: since everyone relies on Walls with Regenerator and Magic Guard to wear down and pivot around strong LO Mons similar to Gardevoir... Trace would end that game plan. Tracing Regenerator or Magic Guard allows Gardevoir to just fire of powerful moves without being worn down by LO AND being able to switch moves. Now, a smart opponent would not switch Mons that are fodder for Gardevoir easily, so I needed something to force them in. U-Turn Watershifu is the perfect Mon for the job, since almost every check it has is a Regenerator Mon or a Clefable. I prefered to go with a Scarf on it, in order not to be weak against offense (and get surprise kills sometimes). The rest of the team also pivots and helps Gardevoir to enter the field and break every bulky team it encounters. Boomer is Jolly here, since Togekiss is a huge threat. Gardevoir is Modest, so it has a chance to 2HKO Bliss with Psyshock WITHOUT Rocks.
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/smogtours-gen8ou-525424 < Rexus used the opposite of what I wanted him to use. And his Hawlucha was a huge threat due to me not having a Clefable this time. I did not realize this at the beginning of the battle, so I risked my Gardevoir on turn 2. I did realize the Hawlucha threat later and preserved Gardevoir until his Boomer died using Wood Hammer on my Bliss, so he was forced to send the Hawlucha. Garde managed to live an Acrobatics from +0 Hawlucha and killed it despite Aurora Veil being there.
Some other ideas I did not end up using.
Duraludon:
Poligodraco (Duraludon) (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Light Metal
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 Def / 240 SpA / 16 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Draco Meteor
- Thunder
- Body Press
- Flash Cannon
Fun Special breaker that does not get stopped by Bliss due to Body Press.
Sub SD Weavile:
Comaligna (Weavile) (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 248 Atk / 8 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Substitute
- Swords Dance
- Knock Off
- Icicle Crash
With Pex being so common, standart Weavile sets can,t break it. This one however stalls out Pex with Pressure and the high number of SD PPs. Eventually Pex will die to either Icicle Crash flinches or by not using Haze. If Weavile still has a Sub when that happens, opponent better have a Dragapult, or he will lose at least another Mon.
Sun with many fire Mons: Tried several times, but was not convinced by any of them. On their own, Darmanitan, Zard, Censtiskorch or Rapidash are decente, but its very hard to put them together with Ninetales or Torkoal (+ Venusaur).
Golurk:
Robocop (Golurk) @ Leftovers
Ability: No Guard
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Toxic
- Power-Up Punch
- Poltergeist
- Earthquake
Hits very hard and Toxics what it can,t kill. Many Blisses don,t use Toxic, so they are free to switch into and use PuP.
Restalk Poliwrath + Spikes: Worked in other gens, but not this time. Still a very good Dark (especially Crawdaunt) counter though.
Anti Amoonguss Zeraora:
Zidaora (Zeraora) @ Scope Lens
Ability: Volt Absorb
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Bulk Up
- Blaze Kick
- Plasma Fists
- Close Combat
So, it boosts on the switch and has a 50% to kill the mushroom with Blaze Kick, helped by Scope Lens. Also helps against other Zeraora checks, such as Gastrodon.
Restalk Primarina: Good Urshifu check, but it was way better last Gen than this one.
Avalugg: It has always been a good Mon, but its even better this gen with Boots, Icicle Spear and Body Press. I made several balances and Stall with it, but none ended up used in this tour.
Ring Target Trick Rotom + Band Dracozolt: Immune to Electric Mons are not immune anymore. Of course, they still are because Dracozolt will miss.
Hail: I have made it work in Gen 4, in Gen 5, in Gen 6, in Gen 7 and prior to DLC 1 too, with Specs Kyurem + NP Ninetales Alola. I still miss Mega Abomasnow though, and despite Sandslash Alola being released, the Hail teams I made during DLC 1 were not good enough. Hopefully I make the new fossiles work now that they have Slush Rush.
Tailwind Pelipper + Band Arctovish: Time to OHKO those offensive teams.
Roseli Berry Clanger:
Clanger (Kommo-o) (M) @ Roseli Berry
Ability: Bulletproof
EVs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Naive Nature
- Clangorous Soul
- Clanging Scales
- Flash Cannon
- Drain Punch
It will always live a Moonblast from Clef at +1, and after trading with it, we can send an Hydreigon, Pult or Urshifu to finish the job.
Salazzle:
Flames (Salazzle) (F) @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Corrosion
EVs: 244 SpA / 64 SpD / 200 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Flamethrower
- Sludge Wave
- Endeavor
- Toxic
Its still viable. If Pex is poisoned, Watershifu will break. If Blissey dies to Endeavor, Specs Pult or CM Clef go wild.
Hopefully you all have enjoyed this post and I will be able to go back with more during SPL.
Week 1
https://pokepast.es/12855151bed41f01
One of my managers was Analytic , so I had to make a team with Analytic Zone (despite always spelling wrong that ability). Boomer one of the best partners for Zone, since it makes some people think the Zone is Magnet Pull, so they don,t switch out their Corviknights. Kyurem is a nice Mon against Rain, opposing Boomer and bulky teams with Pex + Blissey. Gastro helps against electric types like Zeraora and also absorbs Trick and Knock easily due to Sticky Hold. Clef is the Rocker, Status absorber and Urshifu check in this team. I was really weak to Volcarona, so I choose Talonflame as the Defoguer. It worked for me in Wcop (not as Defoguer though), so I gave him a chance here too.
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/smogtours-gen8ou-515947 < The match-up vs Raiza was not a good one, although winnable. I had to predict a lot with my Zone. I guessed right some turns, but wrong several others which eventually led to a lose.
Week 2
https://pokepast.es/ea8f0ada91a21130
I have never liked Alakazam outside of RBY, where it actually has Defensive Value. However, this team did well in tests, so I decided to use it against Samqian. Instead of predicting when to use Nasty Plot, I prefered just hitting with LO boosted Psychic and Focus Blast, Knocking Shed Shell from Corviknight in order to trap it with Zone. As long as there is no Blissey or a bulky Psychic, this Alakazam is capable of doing a lot of damage. The rest of the team pivots around with U-Turn or Eject Button (Amoonguss) to make easier for Alakazam and Zone to come into the field. Clef is Clef, its always there, and always good.
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/smogtours-gen8ou-516502 < Terrible match-up. Reuniclus + Blissey + Gastro made my Alakazam almost useless. However, the yellow magic and several other hax turns saved me this time.
Week 3
https://pokepast.es/16c17b1bd2b7c953
Heracross has always been easier for me to use than Conkeldurr. And the best way of using either of those is to pair them with a Boomer, in order to mitigate the burn damage. Clefable and Corviknight are clasic balance and hazards core, no need to explain them. AV Slowking is one of the best special walls out there and with Future Sight + Dragon Tail it threatens a lot of teams and forces them to send out Clef in order not to depend on luck. Zeraora is another Mon I don,t like too much, since it has many good counters, depending on its Moves. This is the reason I almost always use Toxic on Zeraora, it makes it less match-up reliant.
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/smogtours-gen8ou-517147 < I was very scared by Marowak when I saw him. Fortunately, Steve Angello missplayed with it and let it take Knock from Clef, which prevented it from doing any significant damage.
Week 4
https://pokepast.es/27d9d8e9681bf84e
One of the best teams I built during this tournament. This team is so good that Ewin ripped it and made it WORSE. So, it started with the Double AV Regenerator idea to troll every Trick Clefable ready to ruin my defensive teams. In case there is no such Clef, the strategy is to SPAM the broken move known as Knock Off and then just Stall by switching. Drill is a powerful win condition when given the chance. It has the European Drill spread, always surviving STAB Foul Play at +2. The last Mon on this team is Centiskorch. It completely destroys Sun, Volcarona and non Meteor Beam Clefable (who does not exist). It also switches easily into Kyurem after I scout its moves with Slowking.
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/smogtours-gen8ou-519571 < At last a good match-up, in fact a perfect one. Like Steve, Zden also sacked his Marowak to my Clefable, but this time it didn,t even matter, since Mandibuzz was a counter anyway.
Week 5
https://pokepast.es/065290d30f13d4f4
I made this team during week 2, but was reluctant to use it until Week 5 due to it being too slow and not bulky enough at the same time. Yet it won test game after test game, so eventually I had to give it a chance. Not much Eeveetechnology here except for the Sand Force Drill. Rest are standart sets to support that Drill, break with Zone or sweep with Clef.
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/smogtours-gen8ou-519841 < I used CM + Flame Clef at the right time, this was an example of what it can do against teams without Pex.
Week 6
https://pokepast.es/41e17426cc86516b
Like Zeraora, I don,t like Togekiss due to the sheer number of counters it has. For the same reason, I decided to try a Toxic one, which destroys Tar and Electrics at the same time, leaving only Steels (and not all of them) as actual counters. Blissey supports Toge with Twave and in general the rest of the team just checks things defensively. I knew that I was getting too defensive with my teams, which is not a good thing, but I was not capable of thinking anything offensive and effective at the time.
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/smogtours-gen8ou-521424 < Despite the above, I was very close from winning this game against an HO, but I threw by not thinking about the posibility of Zeraora being itemless in a team that already has a Boomer. Tangrowth died from Acrobatics and a very painful lose happened, which eventually prevented us from getting a Win this week.
Week 7
https://pokepast.es/f7c10734377c24db
Still in the defensive side of the spectrum, but at least the win conditions this time are more solid. Both Magic Guard Mons allow me to not fear Status while the rest of the team (except Mandibuzz) distributes it. The Jirachi set is a sign of me fearing Kyurem and Togekiss more than I should, but it was a viable set nonetheless that helps the rest of the team with Wish while being a threat on its own thanks to Toxic and the paralisis from Dragapult.
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/smogtours-gen8ou-522324 < The one thing I feared most was a Rhyperior and Garay used one. This was the worst match-up I had in the entire tour, it was totally impossible to win this game. Deserved punishment for becoming too predictable with my team choices.
Week 8
https://pokepast.es/11f3fd4dba39b888
Tiepans were still not out, but I needed to change my mentality as my opponents adapted to my playstyle during the previous weeks. I needed to go more offensive and crazier. This is an example of my crazy teams. Roserade hits very hard in terrain to anything that does not resist its STABs. What does resist, unless its a Grass, gets put to Sleep while Rose throws Spikes in order to break the opposing team with Boomer, Clefable or Cobalion. Speaking of Cobalion, it has the legendary AV + Rocks combo, but since its offensive power its not too high, opponents don,t fear it and just SPAM Knock, letting Cobalion use those Rocks. The AV itself helps Cobalion to switch into Kyurem, Clefable and Hatterene, among others. The terrain helps it to switch into EQ, using its very high bulk for an offensive fast Mon. Mandibuzz has no Defog on this team, but its not needed: the idea is to go as offensive as possible, pivoting around, killing Volcarona or opposing Boomer with Brave Bird and unless the opponent happens to have a Drill, he will Defog his own Hazard in order to take out mine, so I am not actually too weak to them.
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/smogtours-gen8ou-523655 < I almost lost to the unviable in Zone meta set known as BU Corviknight, but Robjr commited the mistake of switching it out too many times instead of just boosting and sweeping my team. Eventually I caught that Corvi with Band Superpower and the battle was essentially won after that.
https://pokepast.es/7c533abf9eddbafe
As almost every HO, this team is bad and relies on luck, match-up or surprise factor. Fortunately, there are many surprise sets here. The Ribombee always lives Iron Head from Excadrill and just Tricks it in order to use such Drill for set-up with another Mon. It still outspeeds non-scarf Togekiss after Tricking. Zard and Cloyster should not even be explained, they are bad, but can cheese their way in certain match-ups. Drill is the suicide lead, rocker and spinner. I don,t remember what Zarude EVs are for, except for the Speed ones. I think Jordy was the one who made this exact spread for another team. Dragapult is here the pinacle of
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/smogtours-gen8ou-524494 < This team not only allowed Dice to win his first battle, but it also meant our first week won, giving us some hope to qualify entering the final week (that hope ended quite fast though).
Week 9
https://pokepast.es/5f668f7b1d4b05cb
So, we were mathematically out by the time I played, but I still wanted to break my curse against italians (lost to Rexus in Wcop, lost to Raiza and Lopunny Kicks here). I therefore used what I felt was my best team. I built it one hour before battling Garay Oak in Week 7, but since I hadn,t tested it enough back then (despite already looking very good on ladder) I decided not to risk and got destroyed that week. In both tests and ladder, this team has obliterated almost every opponent and was very fun to use at the same time.
The idea with Gardevoir is the following one: since everyone relies on Walls with Regenerator and Magic Guard to wear down and pivot around strong LO Mons similar to Gardevoir... Trace would end that game plan. Tracing Regenerator or Magic Guard allows Gardevoir to just fire of powerful moves without being worn down by LO AND being able to switch moves. Now, a smart opponent would not switch Mons that are fodder for Gardevoir easily, so I needed something to force them in. U-Turn Watershifu is the perfect Mon for the job, since almost every check it has is a Regenerator Mon or a Clefable. I prefered to go with a Scarf on it, in order not to be weak against offense (and get surprise kills sometimes). The rest of the team also pivots and helps Gardevoir to enter the field and break every bulky team it encounters. Boomer is Jolly here, since Togekiss is a huge threat. Gardevoir is Modest, so it has a chance to 2HKO Bliss with Psyshock WITHOUT Rocks.
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/smogtours-gen8ou-525424 < Rexus used the opposite of what I wanted him to use. And his Hawlucha was a huge threat due to me not having a Clefable this time. I did not realize this at the beginning of the battle, so I risked my Gardevoir on turn 2. I did realize the Hawlucha threat later and preserved Gardevoir until his Boomer died using Wood Hammer on my Bliss, so he was forced to send the Hawlucha. Garde managed to live an Acrobatics from +0 Hawlucha and killed it despite Aurora Veil being there.
Some other ideas I did not end up using.
Duraludon:
Poligodraco (Duraludon) (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Light Metal
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 Def / 240 SpA / 16 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Draco Meteor
- Thunder
- Body Press
- Flash Cannon
Fun Special breaker that does not get stopped by Bliss due to Body Press.
Sub SD Weavile:
Comaligna (Weavile) (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 248 Atk / 8 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Substitute
- Swords Dance
- Knock Off
- Icicle Crash
With Pex being so common, standart Weavile sets can,t break it. This one however stalls out Pex with Pressure and the high number of SD PPs. Eventually Pex will die to either Icicle Crash flinches or by not using Haze. If Weavile still has a Sub when that happens, opponent better have a Dragapult, or he will lose at least another Mon.
Sun with many fire Mons: Tried several times, but was not convinced by any of them. On their own, Darmanitan, Zard, Censtiskorch or Rapidash are decente, but its very hard to put them together with Ninetales or Torkoal (+ Venusaur).
Golurk:
Robocop (Golurk) @ Leftovers
Ability: No Guard
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Toxic
- Power-Up Punch
- Poltergeist
- Earthquake
Hits very hard and Toxics what it can,t kill. Many Blisses don,t use Toxic, so they are free to switch into and use PuP.
Restalk Poliwrath + Spikes: Worked in other gens, but not this time. Still a very good Dark (especially Crawdaunt) counter though.
Anti Amoonguss Zeraora:
Zidaora (Zeraora) @ Scope Lens
Ability: Volt Absorb
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Bulk Up
- Blaze Kick
- Plasma Fists
- Close Combat
So, it boosts on the switch and has a 50% to kill the mushroom with Blaze Kick, helped by Scope Lens. Also helps against other Zeraora checks, such as Gastrodon.
Restalk Primarina: Good Urshifu check, but it was way better last Gen than this one.
Avalugg: It has always been a good Mon, but its even better this gen with Boots, Icicle Spear and Body Press. I made several balances and Stall with it, but none ended up used in this tour.
Ring Target Trick Rotom + Band Dracozolt: Immune to Electric Mons are not immune anymore. Of course, they still are because Dracozolt will miss.
Hail: I have made it work in Gen 4, in Gen 5, in Gen 6, in Gen 7 and prior to DLC 1 too, with Specs Kyurem + NP Ninetales Alola. I still miss Mega Abomasnow though, and despite Sandslash Alola being released, the Hail teams I made during DLC 1 were not good enough. Hopefully I make the new fossiles work now that they have Slush Rush.
Tailwind Pelipper + Band Arctovish: Time to OHKO those offensive teams.
Roseli Berry Clanger:
Clanger (Kommo-o) (M) @ Roseli Berry
Ability: Bulletproof
EVs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Naive Nature
- Clangorous Soul
- Clanging Scales
- Flash Cannon
- Drain Punch
It will always live a Moonblast from Clef at +1, and after trading with it, we can send an Hydreigon, Pult or Urshifu to finish the job.
Salazzle:
Flames (Salazzle) (F) @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Corrosion
EVs: 244 SpA / 64 SpD / 200 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Flamethrower
- Sludge Wave
- Endeavor
- Toxic
Its still viable. If Pex is poisoned, Watershifu will break. If Blissey dies to Endeavor, Specs Pult or CM Clef go wild.
Hopefully you all have enjoyed this post and I will be able to go back with more during SPL.