Manipulative
Camila <3
Introduction
Been a long while since I've made an RMT, so I guess it's time! I made this team immediately after the Klefki suspect test began and fortunately it was able to stick around after the test as well. The concept behind it is to simply get as many hazards up as possible while also threatening the opponent with a fair amount of offensive pressure. The team has been functioning nothing short of expected and has seen a good amount of success throughout the ladder as well as tournaments.
Teambuilding Process
Klefki was what the team was built around. It was being suspected at the time and had quite an effect on the meta. One style of play that it definitely opened up more was Hazard Stack, and that's exactly how this team plays.
Obviously I needed Stealth Rock and Pert seemed to be the most solid choice. Additionally, it gave the team an Electric immunity, Fire resist, a check to MAero, and so on.
Tenta was a perfect fit to finish off the Hazard Stack part of the team. It gave the team a TSpike user, while also being able to absorb any TSpikes the opponent lays on my side of the field with its Poison typing. Rapid Spin is a no brainer on this team and Tenta is arguably the best spinner in the tier at the moment.
At this point, I switched my focus to ways to pressure my opponent offensively. Though, I didn't completely ignore defensive utility either. I chose MAero as my mega for a more reliable way of pressuring offensive teams. I also wanted another answer to MBee so that I didn't have to completely rely on Klefki to deal with it. At first, I was running a standard 4 Attacks Pursuit variant, but eventually I decided that Hone Claws was more beneficial for this team, as well as what was best against the current meta in general.
Every team needs a way to deal with bulky waters and Celebi was my pick for that role. Celebi was also very important for me so that I have something to absorb status since I have no Heal Bell or Aromatherapy user on this team. It provided me with another win condition on top of MAero. More importantly, it gave me something to heavily pressure fat teams with.
Conkeldurr was my pick for the last slot for several reasons. I knew that I needed a wallbreaker so that I could immediately put pressure on the opponent. I also wanted something more against Stall teams, since completely relying on a standard Celebi set would be unwise. CB Conk pressures stall very well since it is so insanely difficult to switch into safely. I wanted a fighting type on this team since I was seeming very vulnerable to Snorlax. A priority user was also very helpful since I was lacking one, and so Conk was a perfect fit.
The Team
Klefki @ Leftovers
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpD / 4 Def
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Spikes
- Thunder Wave
- Dazzling Gleam
- Magnet Rise
Swampert @ Leftovers
Ability: Torrent
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 Atk
Relaxed Nature
- Scald
- Earthquake
- Roar
- Stealth Rock
Tentacruel @ Black Sludge
Ability: Clear Body
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Hydro Pump
- Sludge Wave
- Rapid Spin
- Toxic Spikes
Aerodactyl-Mega @ Aerodactylite
Ability: Tough Claws
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Aerial Ace
- Stone Edge
- Hone Claws
- Crunch
Celebi @ Leftovers
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Psychic
- Giga Drain
- Nasty Plot
- Dazzling Gleam
Conkeldurr @ Choice Band
Ability: Iron Fist
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Hammer Arm
- Knock Off
- Poison Jab
- Mach Punch
Conclusion
I hope whoever uses this team has as much fun with it as I do. I also hope you all enjoy your Christmas and New Years. Happy Holidays!
Klefki @ Leftovers
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpD / 4 Def
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Spikes
- Thunder Wave
- Dazzling Gleam
- Magnet Rise
Swampert @ Leftovers
Ability: Torrent
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 Atk
Relaxed Nature
- Scald
- Earthquake
- Roar
- Stealth Rock
Tentacruel @ Black Sludge
Ability: Clear Body
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Hydro Pump
- Sludge Wave
- Rapid Spin
- Toxic Spikes
Aerodactyl-Mega @ Aerodactylite
Ability: Tough Claws
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Aerial Ace
- Stone Edge
- Hone Claws
- Crunch
Celebi @ Leftovers
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Psychic
- Giga Drain
- Nasty Plot
- Dazzling Gleam
Conkeldurr @ Choice Band
Ability: Iron Fist
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Hammer Arm
- Knock Off
- Poison Jab
- Mach Punch
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpD / 4 Def
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Spikes
- Thunder Wave
- Dazzling Gleam
- Magnet Rise
Swampert @ Leftovers
Ability: Torrent
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 Atk
Relaxed Nature
- Scald
- Earthquake
- Roar
- Stealth Rock
Tentacruel @ Black Sludge
Ability: Clear Body
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Hydro Pump
- Sludge Wave
- Rapid Spin
- Toxic Spikes
Aerodactyl-Mega @ Aerodactylite
Ability: Tough Claws
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Aerial Ace
- Stone Edge
- Hone Claws
- Crunch
Celebi @ Leftovers
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Psychic
- Giga Drain
- Nasty Plot
- Dazzling Gleam
Conkeldurr @ Choice Band
Ability: Iron Fist
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Hammer Arm
- Knock Off
- Poison Jab
- Mach Punch
Sableye is one of the biggest threats to this team, as I don't have anything that can directly take it out with ease. My status absorber is Celebi which can be troublesome, and it's able to prevent tenta from spinning. However, it's definitely manageable. Between hazard damange, getting status on it with either tspikes or a scald burn, Knocking it off (and even bluffing Guts Conk), and DGleam Celebi, you'll be able to take it out over time.
Opposing Klefki + any spinblocker can also be a pain! With how easily Klefki can get up Spikes, if you're not able to get rid of them with tenta, you're vulnerable to being worn down at a fair pace. The best way to take care of this is just to play wisely from the beginning to limit the amount of hazards your opponent can get up, as well as to take out the spinblocker as soon as possible. TSpikes help with the likes of Sableye and Jellicent. Doublade isn't the best switch into Tenta to begin with, so Hydro Pump on the switch can be huge.
CB Krook can be really difficult to switch into, but the team has more than a fair amount of counterplay to it. Between CB + Iron Fist boosted Mach Punch, fast Tenta, Pert, Celebi, and to some degree Klef, you'll be able to play around it just fine.
Bulky psychics can be an issue with my psychic resists being Klefki and Celebi. The former can only TWave them, while the latter loses 1v1 most of the time if they get any amount of Calm Minds up ahead of time. I originally had Shadow Ball on Celebi over Dazzling Gleam to deal with them better, but I found DGleam more important since Sableye was a bigger issue. For cress, you're still able to handle it fairly well by getting a scald burn on it or phazing it out with Pert and Knocking it off with Conkeldurr (perhaps even TWaving it first to guarantee being able to outspeed it). Since Cress is pretty commonly switched into Aero, you can also set up an HC as it comes in and then 2HKO it with Crunch (guaranteed if you get a burn on it first). Reuni can be dealt with between Conk's Knock Off and Aero's Crunch as well.
Opposing Conk can also pose an issue, what a surprise!! This thing is a monster. I also don't have the best fighting resists, especially since neither of them have any investment into bulk, which means that opposing CB Conk can have some fun. Of course, BU Conk can also do some work. You'll be able to deal with it between Celebi, Aero, your own Conk, and even Klefki. Cobalion can also be an issue, especially since I got rid of EQ on Aero, though they tend to carry Shuca anyway. Pert and Tenta can both take a hit even from +2 Coba, Klef can para it, Aero can outspeed it regardless, and Conk has Mach Punch. If it lacks X-Scissor, Celebi can also take a hit and do some damage back. However, it's still threatening and you may have to sac something in order to put it in range of something else.
Escav can be yet another huge threat, since just about nothing wants to neither switch into it nor take an unboosted hit necessarily. Fortunately, CB Conk has a really good chance at being able to take it out from full. If it's already weakened a bit, it also can't come in on +1 MAero.
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/smogtours-uu-220474 - vs King UU for LTPL
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/uu-477395959 - vs Sableye
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/uu-477449414
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/uu-477480218
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/uu-477404905 - vs dodmen
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/uu-480739321 - vs Christo
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/uu-477423120
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/uu-477417348
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/uu-480631858
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/uu-480728142
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/uu-480609496 - vs Sableye
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/uu-480786827 - vs Klef + Spinblocker
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/uu-478782979 - vs Stall
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/uu-478849432 - vs Stall
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/uu-480776064 - vs Stall
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/uu-481470036 - vs Stall
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/uu-477395959 - vs Sableye
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/uu-477449414
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/uu-477480218
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/uu-477404905 - vs dodmen
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/uu-480739321 - vs Christo
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/uu-477423120
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/uu-477417348
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/uu-480631858
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/uu-480728142
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/uu-480609496 - vs Sableye
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/uu-480786827 - vs Klef + Spinblocker
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/uu-478782979 - vs Stall
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/uu-478849432 - vs Stall
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/uu-480776064 - vs Stall
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/uu-481470036 - vs Stall
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