The offensive core the team functions around. Koko and Zard X have great synergy; Koko can volt on any grass types that it can't break to freely bring in Zard X to throw off a powerful Blitz / Roost if it's a bit low on health. Koko deals with bulky waters Zard X struggles to break and somewhat lures in Lando.
Next comes the defensive core - the bread and butter if you will. Nothing special, just defensive Lando and AV Magearna.
I then added Clef so I'm not as reliant on Landorus to check mons like Zygarde and Mega Medicham, while also giving me another wincon. It fits well as the most annoying thing for it is Steels, for which I have Koko to pressure and Zard X to force out.
And finally, I added Latias for some speed control, a defogger and as a healing wisher to bring back one of my mons that does a lot of work in the matchup back to full.
Sets -
Charizard-Mega-X @
Ability: Blaze
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Flare Blitz
- Dragon Claw
- Earthquake
- Roost
I find that 3 attacks + roost tends to be the mons best set - it's the most consistent, as you don't really need boosts to break through teams for the most part, and you're not forced to drop one of D Claw / EQ / Roost which all give Charizard problems if you don't have them. Flare Blitz is the main STAB attack you'll be clicking with the mon for the most part, hitting even resists really hard. Dragon Claw is the second STAB of the set, hitting Dragon types like the Lati twins, Zygarde and Garchomp that can stomach Flare Blitz for super effective damage. Earthquake hits things that would wall you otherwise, namely Toxapex and Heatran. Roost for longevity, mitigating rocks and recoil damage. Despite the comment I made earlier, I do want to try out SD or DD Zard X, as I lack immediately threatening setup.
Tapu Koko @
Ability: Electric Surge
EVs: 128 HP / 188 SpA / 192 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Thunderbolt
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Volt Switch
- Roost / Defog
This is what I was referring to when I called Koko somewhat of a lure for Landorus-T. Shuca makes it so you'll easily lived an Earthquake from even offensive Landorus, and you can hit it super effectively with Hidden Power Ice for heavy damage, to the point where it's in range of a Flare Blitz from Zard X. This particular spread allows Koko to live a Banded / +1 Thousand Arrows from an Adamant Zygarde after rocks always. Thunderbolt hits hard in Electric Terrain, even without a boosting item or full investment. Hidden Power Ice, as mentioned earlier, hits common ground types that try to switch in on your electric moves like Zygarde and Landorus. Volt Switch allows Koko to pivot on defensive countermeasures that it can't break through like Amoonguss, AV Tapu Bulu, Tangrowth and Mega Venusaur and bring in Charizard X / any other mons to take advantage of the grass type. Roost again is for longevity to get back up to full after numerous rocks / spikes switchins (due to the nature of Koko's fantastic ability to pivot, it'll be switching in and out a lot). Defog is also an option to provide a secondary defogger for Zard, but I've found that I prefer Roost's ability to keep Koko in the game for longer.
Landorus-Therian @
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 HP / 240 Def / 16 Spe
Impish Nature
- Earthquake
- Stealth Rock
- U-turn
- Hidden Power [Ice]
Standard defensive set, running leftovers to allow Lando to switch into the mons it checks and counters more frequently. Earthquake is there as a fantastic STAB attack, hitting decently hard even on a set with no attack investment. Stealth Rock as Landorus forces a lot of switches defensively as it's a hard stop to a plethora of physical attackers lacking ice coverage in the tier, meaning you can freely get rocks up on their expected switch and start racking up the chip on their mons / force them to defog for your own Charizard if they also have something that is crippled by rocks being up. U-Turn allows me to generate more momentum by getting chip on mons coming on / scouting what will come in and forcing them out again with a different mon. Hidden Power Ice hits opposing Landorus for a clean 2HKO which clears the way for Zard X, but it also hits Zygarde for super effective damage too.
Magearna @
Ability: Soul-Heart
EVs: 248 HP / 8 SpA / 252 SpD
Sassy Nature
- Fleur Cannon
- Iron Head
- Hidden Power [Fire]
- Volt Switch
Again, standard defensive pivot. Maximised investment in HP and SpD to stomach hits from special attackers the set is meant to check, Assault Vest maximising this bulk to insane levels, hitting 541 SpD factoring in the item. Fleur Cannon gives Magearna it's main offensive presence. Iron Head may look odd on a special attacker, however it hits Pokemon that boost their SpD with setup such as Calm Mind Clefable and opposing Magearnas for more consistent damage. Hidden Power Fire stops the set from being fodder for Ferrothorn to setup spikes, for Scizor to get up a Swords Dance and it also knocks out Kartana with ease which can't be said for any other move on the set. Volt Switch solidifies the VoltTurn core the team has, again being able to freely bring in Zard X to punch holes is quintessential for the teams success.
Clefable @
Ability: Magic Guard
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Cosmic Power
- Stored Power
- Moonblast
- Soft-Boiled
I wanted to try a less conventional set on Clefable this time; Cosmic Power + Stored Power. This set is just so annoying to play against, once it gets a boost up it's so hard to kill it outside of crits. However, the downside of the set is if you do setup and you're in a position to sweep, you will get crit and die. It's insane how many matches I've lost purely because I've been crit with this mon. Anyway, max HP and max Def to check Mega Medicham and DD Groundium Zygarde as best as possible (watchout if Medicham Zen's on the switchin as there's quite a high chance you'll get 2HKO'd). Cosmic Power allows you to boost both your defensive stats, meaning you are nigh unkillable, even if you're being hit for super-effective damage. Stored Power is obviously boosted by Cosmic Power, hitting pretty hard once you get the ball rolling. Moonblast is just the strong stab, I chose to over Flamethrower as I have enough ways to apply pressure to steel types, and being hard walled by Dark types is annoying (you also don't beat the mons you're supposed to without Moonblast). Soft-Boiled lets you recover any damage dealt to Clef for future switchins / to keep on setting up.
Latias @
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Draco Meteor
- Psyshock
- Defog
- Healing Wish
Finally, Latias. I ran a Choice Scarf as I chose this mon for speed control, and a scarfer is the most common form of speed control. Draco Meteor and Psyshock as spammable STABs for the set, I opted for Psyshock over Psychic as it hits Chansey, Toxapex and Volcarona harder. Defog is fantastic for keeping the team alive and well, particularly Zard. Healing Wish is really nice as it allows me to sack off Latias if it's not necessary in the matchup and bring back in a severely weakened teammate.
Importable
Threatlist -
Volcarona
Due to this team lacking a bulky water / a scarfer that OHKOs, Volcarona is a big threat to this team. Thankfully I have Zard X, which will live any attack at +1 outside of Psychium Z which I can scout for, but if it's weakened it's very difficult for me to deal with Volcarona, considering my lack of priority to finish it off after Lati weakens it with Psyshock.
Kyurem-Black
Nothing new, this thing threatens every team. Icium Z pretty much claims a kill outside of Magearna, which nearly dies after the next hit, which can be catastrophic against teams with Ash Greninja for me.
Rain
The team is lacking a grass type, which means switching into common abusers of rain can be very difficult. However, with the combination of Cosmic Power Clefable, Latias and Magearna, I have a fighting chance.
Calm Mind Mega Latias
Thankfully this thing is very rare to find on the ladder, but it seriously destroys this team. My best bet is to go hard into Zard X if I suspect at all they could be Mega and click Dragon Claw; I can't go into something to scout then go Zard X as it dies to Stored Power after 2 Calm Minds. This mon is lowkey nasty.
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7ou-716154629 rain matchup
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7ou-716464533 beating a team with volc on it (ft. a gay ass set and a gay ass opponent)
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7ou-716483934 beating icium z kyub (aka sack something)
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7ou-717058516 clef 6-0
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7ou-716464533 beating a team with volc on it (ft. a gay ass set and a gay ass opponent)
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7ou-716483934 beating icium z kyub (aka sack something)
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7ou-717058516 clef 6-0
Thanks for any advice in advance! :]
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