[RATE MY TEAM] VGC18 "Helping Sand" Team

[Kris]

The following is a Sandstorm Team I've put together for VGC18. I've picked Pokemon that can handle most of VGC18's common Pokemon, while having a bit of fun and throwing in a few personal favorites. Let's get into the sets.
 

The Team

 

Stacks (Stakataka) @ Rockium Z
Ability: Beast Boost
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD
Lonely Nature
IVs: 15 Def / 0 Spe
- Gyro Ball
- Stone Edge
- Trick Room
- Wide Guard

Reaper (Salamence-Mega) @ Salamencite
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 148 HP / 40 SpA / 180 SpD / 140 Spe
Hasty Nature
- Double-Edge
- Fire Blast
- Protect
- Rock Slide

Godzilla (Tyranitar) @ Assault Vest
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 172 HP / 116 Atk / 220 SpD
Careful Nature
- Low Kick
- Pursuit
- Ice Punch
- Rock Slide

Monty (Excadrill) @ Groundium Z
Ability: Sand Rush
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Earthquake
- Iron Head
- Rock Slide
- Protect
- Protect

Blitz (Zapdos) @ Safety Goggles
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 236 HP / 116 Def / 60 SpA / 4 SpD / 92 Spe
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Tailwind
- Roost
- Thunderbolt

Usagi (Cresselia) @ Wiki Berry
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 196 HP / 76 Def / 212 SpA / 12 SpD / 12 Spe
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Ice Beam
- Psychic
- Trick Room
- Helping Hand

---

Team Explanation

So I wanted a hyper-offensive Team that can also handle Speed control, so I have a Tailwind user and two Trick Room setters. Zapdos was my go to Tailwind setter as it can handle itself really well this year, and with Thundurus being nerfed, it swiftly took it's spot. I've already explained how Zapdos works, this is just the seed set but with Safety Goggles to prevent weather damage. I've picked Tyranitar as the Sandstorm setter because it's shaping to be the best Sandstorm Pokemon in this year's format, it outclasses Gigalith now as it's variety of moves and sets is far more diverse. This set's 170 / 220 + Assault Vest + Careful Nature is unbelievably strong, it hits a benchmark of surviving Tapu Lele's Z-Focus Blast, even Modest variations can't OHKO it. It can OHKO opposing Tyranitar, and 2HKO Stakataka. Excadrill is my main powerhouse, getting abnormal Speed after a Sand Rush boost it was too good to not throw on. The set is pretty standard, maximum Speed and Attack to ensure fast clean kills, Groundium Z turning Earthquake into a Tectonic Rage which can secure OHKOs on Mega Metagross, a Pokemon that can threaten the Salamence I have. Rock Slide also manages to handle Charizard and Iron Head can tear through Ninetales, both who are prominent Weather setters. Salamence is here to get rid of Ferrothorn and Tapu Bulu, Ferrothorn being an obnoxious Pokemon to fight sometimes and Tapu Bulu poses a threat to some of my team. Salamence is a little more experimental and is mostly here as a personal pick, but it also carries the role of being my Intimidator. I have previously covered VGC18 Stakataka in a separate thread so I'll skip to the most important Pokemon. Cresselia has always been a Pokemon I've never liked, ever, until recently when I saw it had Helping Hand. This, paired with it being incredibly bulky means it can provide a lot of help to the team, Ice Beam threatens a few Pokemon that can potentially cripple my team like Landorus and Salamence, Psychic is a solid STAB move and Trick Room allows Cresselia to be the secondary setter.

Team's Weakness Chart

(Stakataka, Tyranitar and Excadrill)
(Stakataka, Tyranitar and Excadrill)
(Stakataka, Tyranitar and Excadrill)
(Salamence and Tyranitar)
(Salamence and Zapdos)
​ (Salamence and Zapdos)​​​​​​
(Salamence)
(Cresselia)
(Cresselia)
(Cresselia)
(Excadrill)
(Tyranitar)

Damage Calculations (bar Zapdos and Stakataka as they've been covered)

[Offensive]
 

• 212 SpA Cresselia Ice Beam Vs. 0 Hp / 0 SpD Salamence-Mega: 283 - 340 (18.8% chance to OHKO)
  
• 212 SpA Cresselia Ice Beam Vs. 212 Hp / 220 SpD Assault Vest Landorus-Therian: 168 - 200 (44.1% chance to 2HKO)
  
• 252 Atk Excadrill Earthquake Vs. 252 Hp / 0 Def Stakataka: 408 - 480 (guaranteed OHKO)
  
• 252 Atk Excadrill Rock Slide Vs. 0 Hp / 0 Def Charizard-Mega-Y: 412 - 488 (guaranteed OHKO) <outspeeds Charizard Y under Sand Rush>
  
• -1 116 Atk Tyranitar Ice Punch Vs. 0 Hp / 0 Def Landorus-Therian: 224 - 264 (guaranteed 2HKO)
  
• 116 Atk Tyranitar Low Kick Vs. 0 Hp / 4 Def Tyranitar-Mega: 340 - 404 (93.8% chance to OHKO)
  
• 40 SpA Salamence-Mega Fire Blast Vs. 252 Hp / 252 SpD+ Ferrothorn: 248 - 296 (guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers) [372 - 400 after Helping Hand (guaranteed OHKO)]
  
• 0 Atk Aerialate Salamence-Mega Double-Edge Vs. 0 Hp / 0 Def Salamence-Mega: 285 - 336 after Helping Hand (12.5% chance to OHKO)
  

[Defensive]
 

• 108+ Atk Scizor-Mega U-Turn Vs. 196 Hp / 76 Def Cresselia: 204 - 242 (82.6% chance to 2HKO)
  
• 252+ Atk Bisharp Knock Off (97.5 BP) Vs. 196 Hp / 76 Def Cresselia: 326 - 386 (guaranteed 2HKO)
  
• -1 252+ Tyranitar-Mega Ice Punch Vs.  148 Hp / 0 Def- Salamence-Mega: 232 - 276 (guaranteed 2HKO)
  
• 252 Atk+ Tyranitar-Mega Rock Slide Vs. 148 Hp / 0 Def- Salamence-Mega: 260 - 308 (guaranteed 2HKO)
  
• 252 SpA+ Tapu Lele Z-Focus Blast Vs. 172 Hp / 220+ SpD Assault Vest Tyranitar in Sand: 300 - 356 (guaranteed 2HKO)
  
• 156 SpA+ Tapu Fini Moonblast Vs. 172 Hp / 220 SpD+ Assault Vest Tyranitar in Sand: 84 - 102 (7.5% chance to 4HKO)
  

That's wraps up the summary of my team. I'd like as much feedback as possible as I'm still tinkering with everything, so yeah, suggestions welcome. I'm not changing the Pokemon as I'm happy with this team.