Pigeons
pidge pidge
Art by Yuga42
Welcome to my second AG RMT! After playing with the first team I built for a long time and having much success with it (I played with it for almost a year), I decided it was about time I started building teams again. As such, I've built all sorts of teams lately, but this particular one ended up being my favourite. It took a bit of polishing but I think it's one of the better teams I've built, and it did allow me to accomplish my highest rating yet, and also helped me win a few tournament battles. Enough rambling though, onto the team itself.
The Team At First Glance
Teambuilding Process
I generally like to build teams around 2 Pokemon cores and this one is no exception. Darkrai is something I wanted to build a dedicated team around and I'd had this core in mind for a while. Gengar compliments Darkrai nicely by taking out Fairy-types and wearing down some of Darkrai's other checks.
Darkrai and Gengar are both quite vulnerable to EKiller Arceus and neither could switch into anything, so naturally a bulkier Pokemon would fill this slot nicely. I considered using a Defensive Yveltal to cover EKiller, but stacking weaknesses with Darkrai so early in teambuilding seemed like a bad idea, so I added Rocky Helmet Arceus, something I've always enjoyed as an EKiller check that also provides rocks and can bluff attacking sets as well.
This is where I sort of hit a rock while teambuilding, there were a lot of possibilities for this slot because there were no massive weaknesses (or at least, ones that couldn't be covered fairly easily) and I was still undecided whether I wanted a more offensive team or a balanced one. Eventually, I came to the conclusion that I was going to go a more offensive direction because I had enough balance teams as it was. Looking at the threats I needed to further check, my main concerns were opposing Darkrai and Scarfed Xerneas, so I decided on a more niche pick in Scarf Genesect.
At this point I had a decent idea of what the team was going to be like in nature, so I decided to continue building off that. I was somewhat worried about Kyogre, there were zero switchins on the team so it got almost a free KO every time it came in. Other things of concern to me were Steel types, I had no offensive answer except trying to beat them with Darkrai and no resists. Klefki in particular troubled me because it was extremely hard for most of the team to function while paralyzed. Primal Groudon became a very clear choice here so I added it.
For some reason I always find the last Pokemon on the team the hardest to decide on. There wasn't anything that seemed big enough a threat to need another defensive Pokemon, so I looked for more offensive Pokemon. At this point I decided just to get on an alt and see what was threatening me, and I figured out pretty quickly that Groudon was a big threat, as well as most other Ground types. Klefki was still annoying as well, and with that in mind I decided that Primal Kyogre would work well as a final team member, and this was the final version of the team.
Team Breakdown
CHCl3 (Darkrai) @ Leftovers
Ability: Bad Dreams
EVs: 128 HP / 128 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Dark Pulse
- Nasty Plot
- Substitute
- Dark Void
Hooray organic chemistry jokes! Darkrai is a very potent late game sweeper with few reliable counters thanks to Substitute and lack of Sleep Clause. Because it is so strong later in a match, Darkrai is usually played with reservation not brought out unless I think I'm in a position to attempt a sweep or get a free Substitute or Nasty Plot off.
- Dark Pulse- Darkrai's only attack, Dark Pulse was a natural choice thanks to STAB and decent neutral coverage.
- Nasty Plot- Boosts Darkrai's power to respectable levels, and is the main mechanism by which it can sweep teams in the later stages of a match.
- Substitute- Keeps Darkrai safe from status moves and greatly eases the pressure to get a high number of sleep turns, as when the opponent wakes up they'll simply break Darkrai's sub and be put back to sleep in most cases. Also useful for predicted switches, because many of Darkrai's "checks" cannot deal with Darkrai if it has a Substitute up.
- Dark Void- Puts stuff to sleep and misses when you need it to hit most. Dark Void can be used liberally thanks to the lack of Sleep Clause in AG, but caution must be exercised, otherwise Darkrai could be crippled by a Magic Coat or Sleep Talk Pokemon.
Possibly a Trap (Gengar-Mega) @ Gengarite
Ability: Shadow Tag
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Sludge Wave
- Shadow Ball
- Taunt
- Protect
Personally one of my favourite Mega evolutions, Gengar is quite adept at removing Pokemon that annoy Darkrai and is also a useful late game sweeper itself thanks to a high Speed stat and decently powerful attacks.
- Sludge Wave- STAB #1 that helps Gengar get rid of Fairy-types for Darkrai and also can finish off a variety of weakened sweepers like EKiller Arceus or Mega Ray.
- Shadow Ball- STAB #2, while not as powerful as Sludge Wave, it is still important for hitting Steel-types as well as Primal Groudon hard enough to not be setup bait for them.
- Taunt- Puts a quick end to a wide variety of shenanigans such as Baton Pass or Swagplay if it hits the user on the switch, both of which are noteworthy threats in AG. It also stops setup sweepers from becoming too threatening (possibly at the cost of Gengar), which may be a worthwhile trade if Arceus has gone down.
- Protect- Critical to ensure a safe Mega evolution given Gengar's horrible bulk, it also allows Gengar to scout out potential coverage moves and play mindgames against opponents that might try to predict Gengar switching out.
Llama in a Fence (Arceus) @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Multitype
EVs: 248 HP / 224 Def / 36 Spe
Impish Nature
- Extreme Speed
- Recover
- Stealth Rock
- Roar
The primary EKiller check on the team as well as its Stealth Rock setter, Bulky Helmet Arceus holds the team together nicely and can catch many opponents off-guard. It excels at wearing opponents down so another Pokemon can clean up later.
- Extreme Speed- I've had people question ESpeed on bulky Arceus, but to me it's important to avoid being screwed by Magic Coat EKiller and also lets Arceus bluff an attacking set or pick off a weakened Pokemon.
- Recover- Keeps Arceus healthy, it's especially important against Godspam teams, where this Arceus is my main defence.
- Stealth Rock- Supports the team by making it easier to land KOs against certain Pokemon, also keeps pressure on otherwise threatening Pokemon like Mega Ray or Ho-Oh. Arceus makes for a decent setter because people are less likely to send in something like a Mega Diancie or use Magic Coat on an Arceus against it for fear of it being an EKiller.
- Roar- Stops Rayquaza or EKiller if they try to set up, always useful for shuffling Pokemon around and racking up Stealth Rock/Rocky Helmet damage.
SANIC (Genesect) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Download
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 248 Atk / 8 SpA / 252 Spe
Hasty Nature
- Iron Head
- U-turn
- Bug Buzz
- Extreme Speed
The fast master himself, Genesect was something I was unsure of at first but quickly grew to love, U-turn is amazing for grabbing momentum and it's high Speed combined with Download can make it an excellent late game sweeper.
- Iron Head- Mostly here for Xerneas, but Iron Head is also Genesect's best option for late game sweeping because so few Pokemon resist it and it has that delicious 30% flinch chance which has won me more games than I care to admit.
- U-turn- Easily the most spammed move on the set, U-turn is excellent for keeping the momentum of the battle in my favour, particularly if it is forcing something like a Darkrai or Mewtwo out. It always provides a nice bit of damage and allows me to send in an appropriate Pokemon to keep offensive pressure on, and offensive pressure is vital to the team's success.
- Bug Buzz- This is almost exclusively here to hit Darkrai behind a Substitute, because Genesect lacks Special Attack investment it won't hit too hard if it isn't supereffective.
- Extreme Speed- For maximum fast, Ice Beam or Flamethrower were the other moves I was considering here but Extreme Speed has been very useful for picking off weakened DD Rayquazas and EKillers if Arceus has fainted.
Don Iveson (Groudon-Primal) @ Red Orb
Ability: Desolate Land
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Precipice Blades
- Fire Punch
- Stone Edge
- Thunder Wave
Yet another offensive powerhouse, Groudon also provides some switching utility with its decent typing and bulk while being able to take advantage of forced switches with Thunder Wave.
- Precipice Blades- Groudon's strongest attack and most reliably unreliable. I try to avoid Precipice Blades due to its accuracy but the power is too much to pass up. It's mainly used against opposing Primal Groudon or Primal Kyogre.
- Fire Punch- Groudon's second STAB and much more reliably, Fire Punch is usually used against all the Steel types that Groudon is used to beat on this team, except in the presence of a Primal Kyogre, in which case it is usually safer to Precipice Blades.
- Stone Edge- Covers Flying-types nicely, notably Ho-Oh and Rayquaza on the switch. It is also occasionally useful against the uncommon Giratina-Origin.
- Thunder Wave- Keeps fast sweepers in check, it's very useful when the opponent is likely going to switch into something that can take Groudon's attacks. Thunder Wave should be used with some degree of caution, it is important not to paralyze something that I might want to put to sleep with Darkrai later.
It's All OGRE Now (Kyogre-Primal) @ Blue Orb
Ability: Primordial Sea
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Origin Pulse
- Thunder
- Ice Beam
- Sleep Talk
The final Pokemon, Kyogre is a potent wallbreaker that I've really enjoyed in the past. Similarly to Groudon, Kyogre's main role is to beat down bulkier Pokemon so the fast sweepers can clean up.
- Origin Pulse- Kyogre's STAB that hits stupidly hard when it hits. The miss chance is unfortunate but Surf's Power is too low and Water Spout is unreliable. Still, Origin Pulse is mandatory to beat Groudon, Ho-Oh and Groundceus efficiently.
- Thunder- Mostly for other Kyogres, but it also ignores evasion boosts, which is pretty handy against the occasional Smeagle, Drifblim or Double Team Klefki. The 30% chance to paralyze has also saved me against GeoXern, because once paralyzed it is fairly easy to deal with.
- Ice Beam- Does a decent amount of damage to Groudon under harsh sun, and also hits Mega Rayquaza for a lot of damage. It's particularly nice on this Kyogre because it outspeeds Adamant Rayquaza if it hasn't Mega evolved yet, which can catch some people by surprise and get a very useful KO.
- Sleep Talk- Allows Kyogre to be a decent switchin to Darkrai, far from reliable but it's still something in case Genesect goes down. Unfortunately, Sleep Talk forces mindgames when facing Darkrai, usually in the Darkrai user's favour.
Team Importable
CHCl3 (Darkrai) @ Leftovers
Ability: Bad Dreams
EVs: 128 HP / 128 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Dark Pulse
- Nasty Plot
- Substitute
- Dark Void
Possibly a Trap (Gengar-Mega) @ Gengarite
Ability: Shadow Tag
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Sludge Wave
- Shadow Ball
- Taunt
- Protect
Llama in a Fence (Arceus) @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Multitype
EVs: 248 HP / 224 Def / 36 Spe
Impish Nature
- Extreme Speed
- Recover
- Stealth Rock
- Roar
SANIC (Genesect) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Download
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 248 Atk / 8 SpA / 252 Spe
Hasty Nature
- Iron Head
- U-turn
- Bug Buzz
- Extreme Speed
Don Iveson (Groudon-Primal) @ Red Orb
Ability: Desolate Land
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Precipice Blades
- Fire Punch
- Stone Edge
- Thunder Wave
It's All OGRE Now (Kyogre-Primal) @ Blue Orb
Ability: Primordial Sea
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Origin Pulse
- Thunder
- Ice Beam
- Sleep Talk
Ability: Bad Dreams
EVs: 128 HP / 128 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Dark Pulse
- Nasty Plot
- Substitute
- Dark Void
Possibly a Trap (Gengar-Mega) @ Gengarite
Ability: Shadow Tag
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Sludge Wave
- Shadow Ball
- Taunt
- Protect
Llama in a Fence (Arceus) @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Multitype
EVs: 248 HP / 224 Def / 36 Spe
Impish Nature
- Extreme Speed
- Recover
- Stealth Rock
- Roar
SANIC (Genesect) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Download
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 248 Atk / 8 SpA / 252 Spe
Hasty Nature
- Iron Head
- U-turn
- Bug Buzz
- Extreme Speed
Don Iveson (Groudon-Primal) @ Red Orb
Ability: Desolate Land
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Precipice Blades
- Fire Punch
- Stone Edge
- Thunder Wave
It's All OGRE Now (Kyogre-Primal) @ Blue Orb
Ability: Primordial Sea
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Origin Pulse
- Thunder
- Ice Beam
- Sleep Talk
Proof of Peak
Threats
If it gets up a Rock Polish I pretty much have to Roar it out with Arceus. It's very important to keep pressure on the Groudon so it can't set up, using Gengar's Taunt is an option if things look dire.
My only decent check to Klefki is Primal Groudon, and even that is luck dependant. Arceus can Roar out its Subs, Gengar can Taunt it on the switch and Darkrai can win to some extent if it has a Sub up. Mono-Klefki is pretty much a guaranteed loss, but nobody runs that high ladder.
If it manages to set up a Geomancy I'm in a bad position. Luckily, virtually everything on the team is able to stop it from setting up to some degree. Darkrai can Sleep it, Genesect and Gengar can hit it supereffectively, Kyogre outspeeds most variants before they Geo and puts it within ESpeed range with Origin Pulse, Groudon can Thunder Wave it or just punch it and Arceus can Roar it out if the opponent doesn't expect it.
Replays
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/anythinggoes-376630039 vs. Rock Polish Groudon
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/anythinggoes-376677741 vs. Anno-nyme, who peaked #1 around when I did
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/anythinggoes-376701878 vs. Anno-nyme again
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/anythinggoes-376803654 vs. Arceus spam
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/anythinggoes-376295985 vs. thelinearcurve
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/anythinggoes-376805557 vs. Curve again
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/anythinggoes-376915702 vs. Curve once again
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/anythinggoes-376855829 vs. PachChomp
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/anythinggoes-376862451 vs. Keys
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/anythinggoes-373135779 vs. More keys
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/anythinggoes-376291494 vs. PurpleGatorade, we battled a whole lot of times but I didn't save all the replays
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/anythinggoes-377794744 vs. PurpleGatorade again
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/anythinggoes-377803993 vs. Gatorade again
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/anythinggoes-379899222 vs. Gatorade again lol
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/anythinggoes-376556871 vs. Rock Polish Groudon again
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/anythinggoes-377464980 vs. Pro Donno, where Iron Head hax bails me out
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/anythinggoes-377787106 vs. GeoXern
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/anythinggoes-378280492 vs. dragonite drake
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/anythinggoes-378285983 vs. drake again
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/anythinggoes-378292269 vs. thehungrysage
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/anythinggoes-378293973 vs. sage again
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/anythinggoes-379521466 vs. Black Schatten
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/anythinggoes-379534322 vs. Schatten again
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/anythinggoes-379905168 vs. Piratilla
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/anythinggoes-379911363 vs. Piratilla again
Conclusion
Thank you for reading all of this! I'm totally open to suggestions on the team, I've talked with one or two people on the ladder but generally it's been hard to change things just because I get used to a certain way of playing the team, but if you have any ideas then please let me know! I've really enjoyed playing Anything Goes lately, thanks also to everyone in the AG room and on the ladder for being such great people (except Klefki users)! I hope you enjoyed reading this somewhat or at least found it interesting. If not...oh well.
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