[TOURNAMENT] Amethyst 0mega Presents: Little Hail Cup 2017!

[0kamii]

Thank you to everyone that made the first ever PokémonForever Little Hail Cup as fun a tournament as it was. Though we had fewer participants than expected, matches were intense, and everyone involved was thoroughly entertained. Congratulations to our winner, @PerchPond! I will send you the details on your 1st place prize in a few days time.

In the meantime, I'd like to showcase my team. Just for anyone that cares to join us in the excitement next year!

 

   

 

Building a team in such a limited format was as challenging as it was fun. It really relied on the litte details of the team. I tried to impliment a fast mode and a Trick Room mode, but I found myself mostly relying on the fast mode for the majority of battles. My Sandshrew was definitely team leader, but Spheal was probably MVP. Also, I absolutely adore Spheal's Z-move animation. She just looks so DETERMINED! It's adorable. Overall, I would probably switch out Solosis for someone else, as it turned out to be too frail, especially with Vullaby running around. I would also change Spheal for Seel, which our champ showed could be used to great effect.

 

Sandshew-Alola @ Chople Berry
Ability: Slush Rush
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Sp. Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Protect
- Iron Head
- Brick Break
- Rock Slide

 

Pretty self explanatory, I think. Chople Berry to weaken opposing Alolan Sandshrews' Brick Break, Rock Slide for super-effective spread damage plus flinch chance, Iron Head for super-effective STAB, and Jolly nature to outspeed opposing Sandshrew which I anticipated to be running an Adamant nature.

 

Vullaby @ Eviolite
Ability: Overcoat
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 Sp. Def
IVs: 0 Atk
Calm Nature
- Roost
- Knock Off
- Tailwind
- Taunt

 

The main utility mon of the team, Vullaby's job was to sponge hits from opposing Solosis and to provide Taunt and Tailwind support as needed. Eviolite was basically the only item to give it, and the maxed Def EVs were for any rouge physical Ice-Type attacks like Icicle Crash and Ice Shard. Taunt also prevent Trick Room, which came in handy.

 

Vulpix-Alola @ Focus Sash
Ability: Snow Warning
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Sp. Atk / 252 Spd
IVs: 30 Sp. Atk, 30 Spd
Timid Nature
- Aurora Veil
- Encore
- Moonblast
- Hidden Power - Fire

 

I chose Alolan Vulpix as my one and only Hail setter mainly because it was the only one with access to Aurora Veil. While it didn't come into play as much as I had hoped, the few times I used it, it was quite useful. Moonblast was a secret weapon for opposing Vullaby, but the damage output wasn't nearly as much as I'd hoped. Hidden Power - Fire I think is pretty self explanatory. It basically hits the entire format for super-effective damage, especially Alolan Sandshrew, the premier attacker. Focus Sash was for longevity, since Vulpix is lacking natural bulk.

 

Spheal @ Waterium Z
Ability: Thick Fat
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 Sp. Atk
Modest Nature
- Protect
- Brine
- Super Fang
- Surf

 

Spheal was MVP, that's for sure. She snagged a lot of OHKOs with her Z-Surf. Her Thick Fat ability was also meant to take hits from opposing mons running HP - Fire. Super Fang was there for utility purposes, though I only had the opportunity to use it once. Brine was good for dealing massive damage once below half health, which paired nicely with Super Fang. Obviously, Surf was virtually useless outside of using my Z-move, but frankly that one turn of big damage was all I really needed.

 

Bergmite @ Iapapa
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Sp. Def
IVs: 0 Spd
Brave Nature
- Recover
- Stone Edge
- Curse
- Gyro Ball

 

My Spheal may have been MVP, but Bergmite was probably my favorite team member. I really like Avalugg, and getting the chance to use its pre-evolution was a lot of fun. Gyro Ball hit like a truck against most of the format thanks to its Steel typing. Bergmite is also one of the slowest mons in the format, so it works really well under Trick Room with super-effective Stone Edge. In hindsight, I'd probably replace Curse, as I never used it. But I'm not sure with what I'd replace it. Sturdy was to survive rouge critical hits and HP - Fire, Fighting, Steel, anything of the sort.

 

Solosis @ Expert Belt
Ability: Overcoat
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 Sp. Atk
IVs: 30 HP, 30 Sp. Atk, 30 Sp. Def, 0 Spd
Sassy Nature
- Recover
- Psychic
- Hidden Power - Fighting
- Trick Room

 

Admittedly, Solosis is probably where my team flopped the hardest. Boasting a huge 105 base Sp. Atk for a first form evolution, plus getting Trick Room, it seemed like the natural choice. Well, everyone else seemed to realize it too and came packing Vullaby with Knock Off. Solosis's defenses are unbearably frail, and it rarely survived a Knock Off. Solosis was also my original Eviolite user, but I opted against it at the last minute when I EV trained Vullaby and noticed how much it could tank with and Eviolite. Hidden Power - Fighting was Solosis best coverage move against the format, and Psychic was its strongest STAB attack. I should've opted for Protect over Recover, and probably a 50% berry over the Expert Belt. Next time, I'm not sure I'll even opt to bring a Trick Room user at all. I honestly never got the chance to use it effectively.

Well, that was my team for the Little Hail Cup. I look forward to seeing the thought processes of my opponents, especially @stephenWITNESS. Hope you guys are seeing this!

Thanks so much for reading, everyone! Battle onwards, friends!

- 0kamii