Introduction
Although there is no ladder for Monotype LC, I tested the team in Monotype LC OT's as well as low ladder of LC. I won the first OT I used this team in without even testing it on the LC ladder, then I came second in the second OT I took part in. I won a few games on the low LC ladder but did not try to grind through to high ladder to test it fully.
I thought it would be a good idea to showcase this team considering Monotype LC is a part of the Monotype Winter Premier as well as having OT's in the Monotype room. More people are being exposed to this Monotype OM and this is a really easy and simple team to use when just starting out!
I took a liking to Vullaby during a couple of LC seasonal matches I had, especially the Nasty Plot set. The ability to set up a Nasty Plot whilst taking a physical hit and managing to sweep the oppositions team is astounding. I decided that this was the Pokemon I wanted to build this team around.
The idea for Alolan Meowth came from the Alolan Persian set I had seen in videos and on ladder. Z-Parting Shot was such a good utility move especially when paired with sweepers. The idea of being able to set up and kill Pokemon with Vullaby and then Z-Parting Shot and heal it straight back up intrigued me.
Once I added Alolan Meowth to the team I thought it was necessary to add another Pokemon to the team that can set up and deal damage and then be able to go for round 2 with the healing of Alolan Meowth. This time however I wanted a physical attacker to be able to hit things that Vullaby could not.
As you could see by the other three Pokemon and now this Pokemon, I decided to go with hyper offence, not really having many switch ins but always exerting pressure to the opposing team. I went with Life Orb Carvanha because it does not require any set up to hit hard but due to its ability gets an auto speed boost each turn. With the Life Orb recoil it receives when attacking it makes sense to add it to the team with Alolan Meowth to be another option for healing.
Once I realised that this was definitely a hyper offence team, I decided to add a suicide lead. This way the team wont be halted by Focus Sash or Sturdy Pokemon trying to use Berry Juice.
I decided I was happy with the offence I had added on my team and was ready to add a Pokemon to help take hits rather than having to sack a Pokemon every time I am threatened with a Fighting or Fairy-type move. Grimer also offers priority that I lacked on the team before in Shadow Sneak.
Set Explanation
Vullaby @ Eviolite
Ability: Weak Armor
Level: 5
EVs: 116 HP / 240 SpA / 116 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Nasty Plot
- Dark Pulse
- Air Slash
- Heat Wave / HP Ground
The role of this Pokemon on the team is to set up and clean a team, or at least severely weaken a team to the point that another Pokemon can clean. Nasty Plot along with Weak Armour allows Vullaby to set up fully in one turn when being attacked by a Physical Pokemon. Dark Pulse and Air Slash are the preferred STAB attacks and Heat Wave is the preferred coverage move. However Hidden Power Ground is useful for dealing with Magnemite. Eviolite is used to allow Vullaby to take the Physical attacks and set up without being too low on health.
Meowth-Alola @ Darkinium Z
Ability: Technician
Level: 5
EVs: 40 HP / 200 SpA / 36 SpD / 200 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Water Pulse
- Taunt
- Parting Shot
- Dark Pulse
Alolan Meowth's main role on the team is to use Z-Parting Shot in order to make another Pokemon healthy. However, it has Taunt for any cleric Pokemon or for hazard leads. Water Pulse is mainly for dealing with Pokemon such as Weak Armour Onyx as a lead. Dark Pulse is another STAB option that also works in with Darkinium Z very well as it is a second option for the Z move if you do not need to heal up your other Pokemon.
Scraggy @ Eviolite / Berry Juice
Ability: Moxie
Level: 5
EVs: 36 HP / 156 Atk / 36 Def / 36 SpD / 212 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Dragon Dance
- High Jump Kick / Drain Punch
- Knock Off
- Zen Headbutt
Scraggy is pretty much the physical version of Vullaby, the idea is to set up and attack. Scraggy has Dragon Dance and Moxie to abuse, giving it momentum with each kill. High Jump Kick is my preferred STAB with Scraggy however Drain Punch is also a viable option for sustainability. Knock Off is by far Scraggy's best Dark STAB as Knock Off is so important in LC, getting rid of Eviolites and Berry Juices is important to breaking a team. Lastly, Zen Headbutt, this is mainly used to combat Croagunk as it resists both Fighting and Dark but threatens Scraggy with Fighting STAB. Eviolite is my preferred item on Scraggy however Berry Juice can also be effective.
Carvanha @ Life Orb
Ability: Speed Boost
Level: 5
EVs: 196 Atk / 36 Def / 36 SpD / 236 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Waterfall
- Protect
- Crunch
- Psychic Fangs
Carvanha is a monster, boasting the Ability Speed Boost and dealing big damage with Crunch and Waterfall thanks to its Life Orb. Carvanha is used to quickly come in and revenge kill Pokemon as well as smack whatever is in front of it for huge damage. Life Orb is used to allow it to deal maximum damage but still have use of the move Protect, which is used in order to get the Speed Boost without worrying about a Pokemon killing you first. The coverage move on this set is Psychic Fangs to hit Poison-types but mostly to hit Fighting-types that threaten the team.
Pawniard @ Focus Sash
Ability: Defiant
Level: 5
EVs: 236 Atk / 36 Def / 36 SpD / 198 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Thunder Wave
- Knock Off
- Iron Head
Pawniard is a standard suicide lead. The role is to get up Stealth Rock, Thunder Wave the opponent and then click attacks until it dies. Although it was originally added to be a suicide lead, I like to lead Alolan Meowth to get off a Taunt to stop hazards before using Parting Shot into one of my sweepers. If the field is clear from hazards due to this, Pawniard ends up being a good Pokemon to rely on killing or crippling threats to the team with its Focus Sash.
Grimer-Alola @ Eviolite
Ability: Poison Touch
Level: 5
EVs: 36 HP / 196 Atk / 196 Def / 36 SpD / 36 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Knock Off
- Poison Jab
- Shadow Sneak
- Pursuit
This Pokemon was brought to the team to add its Poison typing, it gives the team a switch in to both Fighting and Fairy-type attacks and can deal with users of Focus Blast such as Abra and users of Dazzling Gleam such as Gastly easily with Pursuit. Shadow Sneak is the teams only form of priority which is good for revenge killing really weak Pokemon or Pokemon with Sturdy. Poison Jab and Knock off are the preferred choice of STAB.
Strategy
I would not normally add a section like this to a RMT but this is for people unaware of how simple this team is to use. Either lead with Pawniard or Alolan Meowth, depending on whether you want hazard early game or want to prevent hazards straight away. Find a safe way to get in to a sweeper, either Carvanha, Scraggy or Vullaby depending on what matches up better against that team. Good ways to get in sweepers safely if you are offensively pressured is to either Parting Shot with Alolan Meowth or pivot in to Alolan Muk first to force a switch. Once you are in with a sweeper, set up, unless you are using Carvanha in which case just make sure you out speed, then deal as much damage as possible until a Pokemon that can kill you comes in. Once this has happened once you should find a safe way into Alolan Meowth and Z -Parting Shot in to the weakened Pokemon you swpt with before if they still have a good match up or another Pokemon that you need healthy.
I did not know that I was going to be doing a RMT of this so here is my only replay with this team against Fighting in the late stages of an OT.
Threat List
Sticky Web
Fairy Typing
Fighting Typing
Bug Typing
Hazard Stack
Hax
Priority
Team Import
Vullaby @ Eviolite
Ability: Weak Armor
Level: 5
EVs: 116 HP / 240 SpA / 116 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Nasty Plot
- Dark Pulse
- Air Slash
- Heat Wave / HP Ground
The role of this Pokemon on the team is to set up and clean a team, or at least severely weaken a team to the point that another Pokemon can clean. Nasty Plot along with Weak Armour allows Vullaby to set up fully in one turn when being attacked by a Physical Pokemon. Dark Pulse and Air Slash are the preferred STAB attacks and Heat Wave is the preferred coverage move. However Hidden Power Ground is useful for dealing with Magnemite. Eviolite is used to allow Vullaby to take the Physical attacks and set up without being too low on health.
Meowth-Alola @ Darkinium Z
Ability: Technician
Level: 5
EVs: 40 HP / 200 SpA / 36 SpD / 200 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Water Pulse
- Taunt
- Parting Shot
- Dark Pulse
Alolan Meowth's main role on the team is to use Z-Parting Shot in order to make another Pokemon healthy. However, it has Taunt for any cleric Pokemon or for hazard leads. Water Pulse is mainly for dealing with Pokemon such as Weak Armour Onyx as a lead. Dark Pulse is another STAB option that also works in with Darkinium Z very well as it is a second option for the Z move if you do not need to heal up your other Pokemon.
Scraggy @ Eviolite / Berry Juice
Ability: Moxie
Level: 5
EVs: 36 HP / 156 Atk / 36 Def / 36 SpD / 212 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Dragon Dance
- High Jump Kick / Drain Punch
- Knock Off
- Zen Headbutt
Scraggy is pretty much the physical version of Vullaby, the idea is to set up and attack. Scraggy has Dragon Dance and Moxie to abuse, giving it momentum with each kill. High Jump Kick is my preferred STAB with Scraggy however Drain Punch is also a viable option for sustainability. Knock Off is by far Scraggy's best Dark STAB as Knock Off is so important in LC, getting rid of Eviolites and Berry Juices is important to breaking a team. Lastly, Zen Headbutt, this is mainly used to combat Croagunk as it resists both Fighting and Dark but threatens Scraggy with Fighting STAB. Eviolite is my preferred item on Scraggy however Berry Juice can also be effective.
Carvanha @ Life Orb
Ability: Speed Boost
Level: 5
EVs: 196 Atk / 36 Def / 36 SpD / 236 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Waterfall
- Protect
- Crunch
- Psychic Fangs
Carvanha is a monster, boasting the Ability Speed Boost and dealing big damage with Crunch and Waterfall thanks to its Life Orb. Carvanha is used to quickly come in and revenge kill Pokemon as well as smack whatever is in front of it for huge damage. Life Orb is used to allow it to deal maximum damage but still have use of the move Protect, which is used in order to get the Speed Boost without worrying about a Pokemon killing you first. The coverage move on this set is Psychic Fangs to hit Poison-types but mostly to hit Fighting-types that threaten the team.
Pawniard @ Focus Sash
Ability: Defiant
Level: 5
EVs: 236 Atk / 36 Def / 36 SpD / 198 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Thunder Wave
- Knock Off
- Iron Head
Pawniard is a standard suicide lead. The role is to get up Stealth Rock, Thunder Wave the opponent and then click attacks until it dies. Although it was originally added to be a suicide lead, I like to lead Alolan Meowth to get off a Taunt to stop hazards before using Parting Shot into one of my sweepers. If the field is clear from hazards due to this, Pawniard ends up being a good Pokemon to rely on killing or crippling threats to the team with its Focus Sash.
Grimer-Alola @ Eviolite
Ability: Poison Touch
Level: 5
EVs: 36 HP / 196 Atk / 196 Def / 36 SpD / 36 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Knock Off
- Poison Jab
- Shadow Sneak
- Pursuit
This Pokemon was brought to the team to add its Poison typing, it gives the team a switch in to both Fighting and Fairy-type attacks and can deal with users of Focus Blast such as Abra and users of Dazzling Gleam such as Gastly easily with Pursuit. Shadow Sneak is the teams only form of priority which is good for revenge killing really weak Pokemon or Pokemon with Sturdy. Poison Jab and Knock off are the preferred choice of STAB.
Strategy
I would not normally add a section like this to a RMT but this is for people unaware of how simple this team is to use. Either lead with Pawniard or Alolan Meowth, depending on whether you want hazard early game or want to prevent hazards straight away. Find a safe way to get in to a sweeper, either Carvanha, Scraggy or Vullaby depending on what matches up better against that team. Good ways to get in sweepers safely if you are offensively pressured is to either Parting Shot with Alolan Meowth or pivot in to Alolan Muk first to force a switch. Once you are in with a sweeper, set up, unless you are using Carvanha in which case just make sure you out speed, then deal as much damage as possible until a Pokemon that can kill you comes in. Once this has happened once you should find a safe way into Alolan Meowth and Z -Parting Shot in to the weakened Pokemon you swpt with before if they still have a good match up or another Pokemon that you need healthy.
I did not know that I was going to be doing a RMT of this so here is my only replay with this team against Fighting in the late stages of an OT.
Threat List
Sticky Web
Fairy Typing
Fighting Typing
Bug Typing
Hazard Stack
Hax
Priority
Team Import
Grimer-Alola @ Eviolite
Ability: Poison Touch
Level: 5
EVs: 36 HP / 196 Atk / 196 Def / 36 SpD / 36 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Knock Off
- Poison Jab
- Shadow Sneak
- Pursuit
Pawniard @ Focus Sash
Ability: Defiant
Level: 5
EVs: 236 Atk / 36 Def / 36 SpD / 198 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Thunder Wave
- Knock Off
- Iron Head
Vullaby @ Eviolite
Ability: Weak Armor
Level: 5
EVs: 116 HP / 240 SpA / 116 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Nasty Plot
- Dark Pulse
- Air Slash
- Heat Wave
Meowth-Alola @ Darkinium Z
Ability: Technician
Level: 5
EVs: 40 HP / 200 SpA / 36 SpD / 200 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Water Pulse
- Taunt
- Parting Shot
- Dark Pulse
Scraggy @ Eviolite
Ability: Moxie
Level: 5
EVs: 36 HP / 156 Atk / 36 Def / 36 SpD / 212 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Dragon Dance
- High Jump Kick
- Knock Off
- Zen Headbutt
Carvanha @ Life Orb
Ability: Speed Boost
Level: 5
EVs: 196 Atk / 36 Def / 36 SpD / 236 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Waterfall
- Protect
- Crunch
- Psychic Fangs
Ability: Poison Touch
Level: 5
EVs: 36 HP / 196 Atk / 196 Def / 36 SpD / 36 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Knock Off
- Poison Jab
- Shadow Sneak
- Pursuit
Pawniard @ Focus Sash
Ability: Defiant
Level: 5
EVs: 236 Atk / 36 Def / 36 SpD / 198 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Thunder Wave
- Knock Off
- Iron Head
Vullaby @ Eviolite
Ability: Weak Armor
Level: 5
EVs: 116 HP / 240 SpA / 116 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Nasty Plot
- Dark Pulse
- Air Slash
- Heat Wave
Meowth-Alola @ Darkinium Z
Ability: Technician
Level: 5
EVs: 40 HP / 200 SpA / 36 SpD / 200 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Water Pulse
- Taunt
- Parting Shot
- Dark Pulse
Scraggy @ Eviolite
Ability: Moxie
Level: 5
EVs: 36 HP / 156 Atk / 36 Def / 36 SpD / 212 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Dragon Dance
- High Jump Kick
- Knock Off
- Zen Headbutt
Carvanha @ Life Orb
Ability: Speed Boost
Level: 5
EVs: 196 Atk / 36 Def / 36 SpD / 236 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Waterfall
- Protect
- Crunch
- Psychic Fangs
Imp: Catalystic The Excadrill Amane Misa Isotonex Thimo North roman MiyoKa Ghost Cream Haakunite
OM Lords: ScarfWynaut Ransei
Sabella and Leru for helping me to get better every time I ask for help
OM Lords: ScarfWynaut Ransei
Sabella and Leru for helping me to get better every time I ask for help
