La Puente Premier Challenge Team Report

               

   

This team was built with the popularity of certain Pokemon in mind, Namely 

 
XKG 

Kyogre

Timid Nature

Ability: Drizzle > Primordial Sea

Item: Blue Orb

• 4 HP
• 252 Special Attack
• 252 Speed

1. Protect
2. thunder
3. Ice Beam
4. Water Spout

Kyogre was chosen for its ability to protect steel types from fire type attacks effectively checking Groudon in the rain. Having a faster Kyogre allows for outspeeding Groudons after a switch in. Leading against opposing Kyogres is favorable since it outspeeds and will pick up a knock out with sucker punch + thunder combination. It also speed ties Adamant Kangaskhans and jolly Kangaskhans before mega evolving. Having quick guard for fake out allowed for easy knock outs on kangaskhan with water spout. 

HO-OH

Jolly Nature

Ability: Pressure

Item: Leftovers

• 4 hp
• 252 attack
• 252 speed

1. Protect
2. Tailwind
3. Brave Bird
4. Sacred Fire

Ho-Oh was probably the MVP of my team by far. In some of my games, my win condition became simple, keep Ho-Oh alive, and I win. Rock slide is currently not a common move on Primal Groudons, its base special defense is 154, which is ridiculously high. Modest Xerneas' dazzling gleam after a Geomancy boost does only 28.1-33.7%. If my opponent chose to switch in Groudon, it would boost its sacred fire with the strong sunlight not to mention the 50% chance to burn opposing Kangaskhan's paired with Groudon. 

Mawile

Adamant Nature 

Ability: Intimidate > Huge Power 

Item: Mawilite

• 4 speed
• 252 HP
• 252 Attack

1. Protect
2. Iron Head
3. Play Rough
4. Sucker Punch

Mawile was chosen for it's ability to handle current Pokemon that are popular: 

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It's worth mentioning that Mawile has great synergy with Primal Kyogre thanks to the rain. The 4 points in speed are to outspeed any other Mawiles in mirror matchups.

Sceptile

Modest Nature 

Ability: Unburden > Lightning Rod 

Item: Sceptilite

• 4 HP
• 252 Special Attack
• 252 Speed

1. Protect
2. Grass Knot
3. Quick Guard
4. Dragon Pulse

Sceptile was picked to help beat heavy rain teams. Coupled with lightning rod, it allowed for thunder wave to be neutralized. Leading with Kyogre, allowed for immediate use of water spout while blocking fake out. Worthy to note that Sceptile outspeeds and OHKOs Rayquaza due to its base 120 Speed prior to mega evolving. After a special attack boost (can be triggered by Liepard's thunder wave) it can OHKO opposing Primal Kyogres with Grass Knot.

Aegislash

Quiet Nature 

Ability: Stance Change 

Item: Weakness Policy

• 4 Attack
• 252 HP
• 252 Special Attack

1. Shadow Ball
2. King's Shield
3. Flash Cannon
4. Shadow Sneak

Aegislash is a standard set bluffing the wide guard. It carries shadow sneak to pick up KOs on weakened Pokemon. Can KO Xerneas after combination of flash cannon and shadow sneak. 

Liepard

Jolly Nature 

Ability: Prankster 

Item: Focus Sash

• 4 attack
• 252 HP
• 252 Speed

1. Encore
2. Swagger
3. Fake Out 
4. Thunder Wave

Liepard was my support of preference. It allows for great disruption in the combination of forcing protect with fake out and then encoring targets into protect rendering them useless. In that time I could simply setup a tailwind with Ho-Oh and then Proceed to sweep with Water spout in the late game. Shoutout to my friend John for inspiring me to use the Liegod!

Closing Thoughts

This is a team I was really frustrated in practice with, having difficulty understanding the strengths of. I was rather surprised how well it did, given it was put together 1 hour before the event. I ended up with the following record:

• 4 Wins
• 1 Loss

Top cut: Seed 4, almost an undefeated run, losing only to Alicia in swiss and top cut. I will post about the opponents I played against and their teams in the next few days. 

-BattleArenaVGC(: