#117 Seadra

Marcusube · Dec 20, 2016, 08:20 AM

Metal Jungle: Bulky Offense VGC'17 Team

[Image: metagross_speed_painting_by_aetaluta-d6yxlu8.jpg]

Credit to Aetaluta - Link here

Can we all agree that VGC'17 is a very hard metagame to teambuild in? Sure we know how Tapu Lele, Tapu Koko, Celesteela and Marowak pretty much centralize the metagame but what if we just want to build a team for fun? Welcome to the Metal Jungle where we take scraps of less popular Pokemon in the format and make them into a destructive force to be reckoned with. Jokes aside, the name of this team branches from the core of Metagross + Tapu Bulu. Credit to LouisCyphre for making a post on this core over at Smogon

Spoiler of LouisCyphre's explanation on the core:

Tapu Bulu @ Leftovers / Life Orb / Grassium Z
Ability: Grassy Surge
Level: 50
EVs: 240 HP / 252 Atk / 12 Spe or 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant / Jolly Nature
- Wood Hammer
- Horn Leech
- Stone Edge
- Protect

Metagross @ Lum Berry / Life Orb / Adrenaline Orb
Ability: Clear Body
Level: 50
EVs: EVs: 204 HP / 252 Atk / 52 Spe or 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant / Jolly Nature
- Meteor Mash
- Zen Headbutt
- Earthquake or Bullet Punch or Explosion
- Protect

Bulu's 12 Spe EVs, and Metagross' 52 Spe EVs, both speed creep enemy 4 Spe Tapu Bulu.

Let's talk about the downsides and potential partners first: they're both middling speed, hit physically, a bit lacking in special bulk, and they share a common weakness to Fire-types. They struggle to get passed enemy Steel-types, such as Celesteela and Scizor; as well having issues with Fire-types like Marowak-Alola and Arcanine in general. If your team can handle all of that, you're looking at a hell of a house right here.

Defensively, Tapu Bulu and Metagross protect one another from a wide range of team staples. Metagross is resistant to Tapu Bulu's Steel-, Flying-, and Ice-type weaknesses, and is immune to its Bulu's lethal Poison-type weakness. Clear Body allows Metagross to work unphased in the face of Intimidates that mitigate Bulu's attacks, as well. In turn, Tapu Bulu can switch in to Metagross's Ground- and Dark-type weaknesses, as well as powerful neutral Electric- and Water-type attacks that give Metagross grief. Furthermore, Tapu Bulu can negate Metagross' weakness to specifically Earthquake by placing Grassy Terrain, even by switching with Metagross' partner. Grassy Terrain also gives the pair power neutral-damage matchups and provides both Pokemon recovery.

Offensively, Tapu Bulu's strength needs no introduction. It 2HKO's the majority of the metagame and OHKO's a significant portion of it with Wood Hammer. Specifically, it removes bulky Water- and Ground-types like Gyarados, Garchomp, and Tapu Fini that could otherwise ignore Metagross. Metagross, in return, can deal with enemy Poison-types with Zen Headbutt and dispose of enemy Tapus, particularly Tapu Lele, with Steel STAB.

This pair appreciates just about any bulky Water- or Fire-type to switch in to Flare Blitz and deal with Celesteela. Arcanine can be offensive, bulky, or supportive; enjoys the Earthquake mitigation and recovery Bulu offers, and brings crucial Intimidate and Fire STAB. Milotic can switch in to predicted Intimidates for a boost, brings its own reliable recovery, and can use Hydro Pump, Muddy Water, or Scald for its STAB depending on your needs. Tapu Fini brings Misty Terrain and with it status immunity for its teammates, can support your attackers with Heal Pulse and no-confusion Swagger, or go offensive with Water and Fairy STAB. Metagross further supports Fini in particular by switching in to its Grass- and Poison-type weaknesses

This core plays out pretty solid on paper alongside another core taken consisting of Tapu Bulu + Xurkitree. Basically my thought process was to collect as much cores as possible and implement them into different modes

At this point the team was pretty weak to Physical attackers and the overall core composition was frail and too offensively oriented. Also the core has bad matchups against Magnezone, Tapu Lele + Gengar leads, Celesteela + Marowak leads, Garchomp + Tapu Koko leads and sun teams. I added Arcanine as a measure of dealing with these leads plus Arcanine has Intimidate to scare away Physical attackers and the Competitive/Defiant holders all get destroyed by the core of Xurkitree + Tapu Bulu + Metagross

Next I added Tapu Fini for more bulky support as well as to have Water STAB to deal with the abundance of Fire types in the format and to create a FWG core with Tapu Bulu and Arcanine

Finally I added Mudsdale as it checks all the Electric types in the metagame, it's ridiculously bulky and can sponge physical attacks well, is an answer for Trick Room and its Ground STAB hits hard against a lot of the metagame

The Team

Tapu Bulu @ Grassium Z
Ability: Grassy Surge
Level: 50
EVs: 240 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 12 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Leech Seed
- Horn Leech
- Stone Edge
- Protect

EV Spread taken right from the original post, Tapu Bulu is running Leech Seed instead of Wood Hammer on this set as the passive recovery it gives Tapu Bulu is really good on top of the fact that Leech Seed chips away at bulky Pokemon such as Celesteela, Oranguru and Porygon2. Tapu Bulu's performance on this team has been great as it has more than never been able to net important KOs and function effectively as an offensive support and a Terrain disruptor. Stone Edge hasn't been very reliable due to its accuracy and damage output particularly against Arcanine so I'm not sure what move to switch it with yet. Maybe Substitute or Toxic for a more stall oriented build to take on bulkier threats

Xurkitree @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Beast Boost
Level: 50
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Thunderbolt
- Energy Ball
- Volt Switch
- Hidden Power [Ice]

Xurkitree is running the Choice Scarf as it allows it to outspeed threats such as Tapu Koko, Garchomp, Arcanine and Kartana and get off a strong attack or Volt Switch which generally results in a KO. Thunderbolt for STAB, Energy Ball to hit Gastrodon and other Ground types harder, HP Ice for Garchomps and Salamences and Volt Switch to pivot out to get a better matchup

DAMAGE CALCULATIONS:

Offensive:

Metagross @ Life Orb
Ability: Clear Body
Level: 50
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Meteor Mash
- Zen Headbutt
- Protect
- Substitute

Explained already in the spoiler, I have Substitute here so Metagross can evade more attacks and block status moves such as Will-o-Wisp and Leech Seed

Arcanine @ Leftovers
Ability: Intimidate
Level: 50
EVs: 212 HP / 132 SpA / 164 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Burn Up
- Snarl
- Roar
- Will-O-Wisp

I have Burn Up on this set as it provides a strong Fire STAB move plus Arcanine's main utility here is to spam Snarl and Burn the opponent with Will-o-Wisp to make it easier for the main core to take hits. Roar is to phaze out Arcanine mirrors as well as Set Up Pokemon who carry stat boosting moves, Trick Room and Substitute

DAMAGE CALCULATIONS:

Offensive:

Defensive:

Tapu Fini @ Sitrus Berry
Ability: Misty Surge
Level: 50
EVs: 244 HP / 84 Def / 140 SpA / 28 SpD / 12 Spe
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Hydro Pump
- Moonblast
- Nature's Madness
- Heal Pulse

Hydro Pump is Tapu Lele's strongest STAB move and it's chosen over Scald since Misty Terrain prevents burns. Nature's Madness is a good utility option for bringing Pokemon down a level where the main core can pick them off and Heal Pulse is for keeping Pokemon around longer

DAMAGE CALCULATIONS:

Offensive:

Defensive:

Mudsdale @ Assault Vest
Ability: Stamina
Level: 50
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD
Brave Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- High Horsepower
- Heavy Slam
- Rock Tomb
- Earthquake

Basic 252/252 EV spread. High Horsepower for STAB, Heavy Slam OHKOs Tapu Lele, Rock Tomb is for speed control and Earthquake for AOE in case Mudsdale ends up in a 2v1 situation

Closing Thoughts, Comments and Importable

A majority of these spreads are 252/252/4 mostly because EVing Pokemon is admittedly time-consuming and the irregular spreads I've taken from here. I'm still getting into this metagame so expect more in depth and intuitive set explanation down the road! This team has been very fun to use on the ladder and I'm hoping to improve it. I've placed about 6th in a Showdown tournament with it and have the replays to show you all here :D

http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7vgc2017-499087984
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7vgc2017-499087411
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7vgc2017-499080315
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7vgc2017-499075620
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7vgc2017-499073704

Once again, thank you all for reading this thread. All constructive criticism is appreciated and this team is free for public use so I'm encouraging you all to use it and comment on your experiences with it if you so please

TempleVGC · Dec 20, 2016, 09:54 AM

Quick note on your Tapu Bulu's EV Spread. If you take 4 EVs out of HP, you can put them in Sp. Defense and take special attacks a little better.

Black117 · Dec 21, 2016, 11:04 PM

Interesting team you have done there @Marcusube. There are some niche pokemon here I like such as the Tapu Fini, Metagross, and the Mudsdale since have used them rather extensively over since the format started. That said, would ask some concerns here.

To start off, for this team specifically, it doesn't have a solid answer to most weather-based offense notable Rain given how Pelipper + Golduck can play around this team. Scarf Xuritree won't be able to outpace even Swift Swim Golduck which is rather problematic as it can in turn fire a Hydro Vortex (Hydro Pump) and get the OHKO on it. Pelipper can threaten Tapu Bulu with STAB Hurricane or even setup Tailwind to further give the opposing team the speed control. If anything, Tapu Fini here is somewhat replaced for another Water-type like Gastrodon has the opponent can't freely use their Rain mode against you. If possible, try out Safety Goggles Arcanine as a method to check most sun-based teams around Torkoal-Liligant, notable to block the Sleep Powder.

Another concern is the fact the team itself is rather "middling" without any form of speed control. Normally this won't be an issue unless there's at least a few "fast" mons" here and there, though aside the Scarf Xurkitree, there isn't much. Definitely this team has the bulk to take on certain matchups, but when it comes down to speed control in general such as having a Trick Room or "fast mode" response, its rather lacking.

There's an unique direction I could take the team as it can "solve" your middling speed issues, though it will require replacing about half the team such as Tapu Fini, Metagross, and Xuritree and going rather hyper offensive. Some of these mons you've see before, though keep in mind what this is going.

For Tapu Bulu, the aside the EV Spread change suggest by TempleVGC, try to give it Wood Hammer over Leech Seed to get a stronger "Bloom Doom" attack instead of using it with Horn Leech. Stone Edge can be replaced with Rock Slide if pleased, though Rock-type coverage on Bulu is appreciated.

Now here's where the changes happen. Replace Metagross for Kartana. TBH, Kartana synergies better with the Tapu Bulu than with Metagross for a number of reasons given how 1) both Grass-types receive a boosts to their attacks, and 2) Kartana CAN threaten opposing Tapu better than Metagross. In terms of movesets, its really up to you here, though an Focus Sash set with Sword Dance, Leaf Blade, and either Smart Strike/Sacred Sword to bolster its already sky high attack to monstrous levels. Despite its "frail" special defense, Kartana is rather bulky with its Steel/Grass-typing and can take some hits with an Assault Vest before it goes down. A final thing to note is SD Kartana (if you go this route), can 1v1 Celesteela assuming its not special or has substantial boosts.

Scarf Pelipper with Soak can be rather funny to use on this team since not only will Pelipper be able to change the typing of Pokemon to Water-type, but look at your team. A rather hard hitting Tapu Bulu, a fast Kartana with Leaf Blade, and an fast Electric-type of your choice ( Xurkitree / Tapu Koko ) can all essentially OHKO any "water" type in the format. Imagine just changing Celesteela's type to Water and have Tapu Koko or Tapu Bulu OHKO it immediately. The Drizzle can cover for the team's weakness to Fire and will for the opposing side to reconsider bringing their Fire-types.

In addition, Pelipper can give the team a decent response to weather, though its rather shaky since it will be the "fastest" Weather setter on the field, meaning the opposing ones will go up first. This Pelipper is fast enough to outpace Nihilego, Garchomp, Alolan Raichu, and even Kartana so it can get off a one of STAB Coverage moves to deal with its respective threats.

Tapu Koko on this team can help alleviate some of the much needed speed for this team and can function as a strong revenge killer with its Electric Terrain-boosted Thunderbolts. Note this isn't the only way to run a Tapu Koko as some are usually have a support move like Taunt or Nature's Madness to prevent setup or deal damage to targets Koko can't hit as effective. Taunt seems to work better for this team given how you don't have responses to some anti-setup Pokemon. The EV Spread will allow it to underspeed Pelipper before Soak, so that's fun.

Arcanine can remain the same, though Burn Out isn't the most reliable STAB option. Would understand if Arcanine has the Firium Z + Burn Out / Overheat to deal heavy damage with Inferno Overdrive, though a safe option like Flamethrower can be utilize. As mention above, Safety Goggles is a decent option for Arcanine so it can prevent itself from being Spore or Sleep Powdered, especially against the Torkoal - Liligant matchup.

Finally Mudsdale's EV Spread can be spread out a bit to take advantage of its Assault Vest, though Adamant nature should be opted. Only change I'd consider is sashing either EQ or Rock Tomb for Close Combat since its always helpful to hit Snorlax or Porygon2.

Well if anyone noticed, most of the suggested are based on this video, though I can see these changes fitting the original team better. Frankly there are multiple ways you can consider re-working the team itself since there's several "niche" mons stacked together here. Hope this helps.

Marcusube · Dec 22, 2016, 05:25 AM

Thank you very much @Black117 for you thorough analysis!

Indeed this team does have bad matchups against weather so thanks for pointing that out. Gastrodon does seem like a good check for rain and is also a good replacement for Tapu Fini as it still provides Water STAB, however, I do feel like I would miss out on the utility options that Tapu Fini offer with Nature's Madness and Heal Pulse which concerns me in terms of the team's synergy

Safety Goggles Arcanine looks solid so I'll look into that and fit Morning Sun on the set for longevity

The Scarf Pelipper idea looks very fun on paper and pairing it with Tapu Koko seems decent

I'll definitely look deeper into what you've suggested and try to incorporate them and see what happens!

Marcusube · Dec 22, 2016, 05:26 AM

@TempleVGC Good call, thanks for pointing that out

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