M-Gardevoir Sand Balance
INTRODUCTION
Hey guys! I've been playing Pokémon since the last year, being this year when I started to play competitively and now, with M-Gardevoir being available, I decided build this team with her around my favourite playstyle: Sand Balance!. Sand isn't a common playstyle right now in the ladder, however, I think it could be a threat to a number of teams. Any feedback and constructive criticism is really appreciated. Let's go ahead!
The starting core of the team. Classic core since last gen, with M-Gardevoir putting pressure on bulkier teams, and Excadrill in sand against faster builds. I decided to run Hippowdon over Tyranitar as my sand setter because the former has access to reliable recovery and its great ability to handle a bunch of physical threats such as M-Loppuny, Landorus-T and Zygarde.
The starting core gets destroyed by threats like M-Charizard Y, Volcarona, Ash-Greninja and Rain. To fix this issue I decided to add Mantine. It can handle a lot of special attackers, improves my matchup against rain, only fearing M-Swampert's Stone Edge and Tapu Koko's Thunder/Thunderbolt, both of them can be handled by the rest of the team, and has really good defensive sinergy with the other members. Also, It gives to my team very useful Defog support, which lets me run SD Excadrill.
Next Pokémon added is Ash-Greninja. The main reason to include it is to improve my matchup against faster comps and also, It gives me another cleaner if Excadrill goes down early in the match. It shares many checks with M-Gardevoir, such as AV Magearna, Ferrothorn, Chansey and others, both being able to wear down those mutual checks. It enjoys M-Gardevoir's ability to check Keldeo and break through Toxapex, Tapu Fini, Amoonguss and M-Venusaur, giving it an easier time to transform. In return, Ash-Greninja beats Heatran, defensive Celesteela, Skarmory, Jirachi, and Gengar. Also, It helps Excadrill destroying bulky Ground-Types bar the uncommon Gastrodon, Slowbro and Rotom-W, while, Excadrill can knock out Tapu Koko, Tapu Lele, and Magearna.
Last slot, I decided to run SD Fightinium Z Kartana. It gives me another wallbreaker alongside M-Gardevoir to deal with bulkier teams, mainly with stall. I use it mainly as early game wallbreaker, wearing down mutual checks with Excadrill like Landorus-T, Skarmory, Celesteela and M-Scizor, also, it breaks bulky Water-type helping Excadrill and Ash-Greninja. Kartana really enjoys team support against faster builds and also, with its two weaknesses. Finally, if faster threats are out of play, this Pokémon can sweep on its own with Swords Dance, All-out Pummeling and Beast Boost.
DETAILED_ANALYSIS
Gardevoir-Mega (F) @ Gardevoirite
Ability: Trace
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Taunt
- Hyper Voice
- Psyshock
- Focus Blast
The main wallbreaker of my team. I decided run M-Gardevoir because the great sinergy between it with Excadrill and Ash-Greninja, being able to open holes in the rival team to both of them to clean. EV spread, Nature and ability are pretty standar, being able to speed tie with other 100s such as M-Medicham, and both M-Charizard, while outspeeding threats such as Landorus-T, Tapu Lele and Zygarde. Taunt to deal with many walls shutting down their status moves, Hyper Voice and Psyshock as STAB moves and Focus Blast to pressure Steel-Types.
Excadrill (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Sand Rush
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- Iron Head
- Earthquake
- Rock Slide
The main sweeper of my team and my sand abuser. With this LO SD set, Excadrill is able to muscle its way through some otherwise, goods check, such as Ferrothorn, Tangrowth and M-Scizor. Classic EV spread with a Jolly nature, letting it outspeed threats such as Timid Heatran, Modest Tapu Lele, Jolly Mamoswine as well as 100s with neutral nature outside of sand, while outspeeding the entire unboosted metagame in sand, only speed-tying with opposing Excadrill. Moveset with Swords Dance to boost its Attack stat to sky-high levels, while Earthquake and Iron Head as STAB moves, and Rock Slide to hit Skarmory and Celesteela at least for neutral damage.
Hippowdon (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 252 HP / 144 Def / 112 SpD
Impish Nature
- Slack Off
- Earthquake
- Stealth Rock
- Whirlwind
My sand setter as well as my physical wall. Hippowdon is a key member of this team being able to set up sand as well Stealth Rock and be a massive check to most fearing physical attackers in the tier like Landorus-T, Zygarde, Tyranitar and Mega Loppuny. EV spread gives Hippowdon good mixed bulk, being able to check survive strong moves such as +2 Adamant Landorus-T's Earthquake, while avoiding the 2HKO from LO Thundurus's HP Ice, among others, while Leftovers provides passive recovery. Moveset pretty standar with Slack Off as recovery, Earthquake to avoid being shut down by Taunt, Stealth Rock to pressure rival's switch-ins and Whirlwind to phaze out setup sweepers such as Landorus-T and Zygarde.
Mantine @ Leftovers
Ability: Water Absorb
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 240 HP / 196 Def / 72 SpD
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Roost
- Scald
- Toxic
- Defog
My specially defensive wall, Water resist and Ground immunity. Mantine is a great mon to this team with its great bulk and utility. It check threats which otherwise destroy this team like M-Charizard Y, Ash-Greninja and Volcarona. EV spread ensures that Ash-Greninja's Dark Pulse is a 3HKO without rocks up, while the rest is given to Defense to take physical hits better. As moves, Roost is mandatory to stay healthy through the match, Scald to give it some offensive presence as well as for its nifty burn chance, Toxic is here to cripple Switch-ins like Tangrowth, Latios and Rotom-W, while Defog gets rid of the hazards to support the team.
Greninja-Ash @ Choice Specs
Ability: Battle Bond
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Water Shuriken
- Hydro Pump
- Dark Pulse
- Ice Beam
Other cleaner and a sort of "wallbreaker" for this team. Ash-Greninja is great to wear down rival's team while It's waiting to net a KO and transform to wreak havoc, as well the other sinergy benefits it offers to this team. Pretty standar set in every way, with maximum Speed and Special Attack and Choice Specs to further boost its offensive capabilities. As moves, Hydro Pump and Dark Pulse as STAB moves, Water Shuriken is a good priority move to pick off weakened threats and Ice Beam to hit Tangrowth and another Grass-Types hard, which if not carrying this move, walls Ash-Greninja to no end.
Kartana @ Fightinium Z
Ability: Beast Boost
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- Leaf Blade
- Smart Strike
- Sacred Sword
Other wallbreaker for this team. Kartana is here to deal with most bulky Water-Type, as well luring in threats such as Skarmory, Ferrothorn, Celesteela and Mega Scizor, and weakening them for other team members to take advantage. Standar set with Max Speed and Attack with a Jolly Nature to take advantage of its good speed tier. The moveset with Swords Dance helps it breaking through bulkier builds, Leaf Blade and Smart Strike as STAB moves, while Sacred Sword coupled with Fightinium Z gives it a one-time nuke to lure in common checks and blows them back with a +2 All-Out Pummeling.
Gardevoir-Mega (F) @ Gardevoirite
Ability: Trace
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Taunt
- Hyper Voice
- Psyshock
- Focus Blast
Excadrill (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Sand Rush
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- Iron Head
- Earthquake
- Rock Slide
Hippowdon (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 252 HP / 144 Def / 112 SpD
Impish Nature
- Slack Off
- Earthquake
- Stealth Rock
- Whirlwind
Greninja-Ash @ Choice Specs
Ability: Battle Bond
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Water Shuriken
- Hydro Pump
- Dark Pulse
- Ice Beam
Kartana @ Fightinium Z
Ability: Beast Boost
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- Leaf Blade
- Smart Strike
- Sacred Sword
Mantine @ Leftovers
Ability: Water Absorb
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 240 HP / 196 Def / 72 SpD
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Roost
- Scald
- Toxic
- Defog
Ability: Trace
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Taunt
- Hyper Voice
- Psyshock
- Focus Blast
Excadrill (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Sand Rush
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- Iron Head
- Earthquake
- Rock Slide
Hippowdon (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 252 HP / 144 Def / 112 SpD
Impish Nature
- Slack Off
- Earthquake
- Stealth Rock
- Whirlwind
Greninja-Ash @ Choice Specs
Ability: Battle Bond
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Water Shuriken
- Hydro Pump
- Dark Pulse
- Ice Beam
Kartana @ Fightinium Z
Ability: Beast Boost
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- Leaf Blade
- Smart Strike
- Sacred Sword
Mantine @ Leftovers
Ability: Water Absorb
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 240 HP / 196 Def / 72 SpD
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Roost
- Scald
- Toxic
- Defog
FINAL_THOUGHTS
I'm pretty happy with this team, it fits my playstyle really well and I think It has a decent matchup against most archetypes. Maybe Webs team could be really problematic if Smeargle reflects Taunt with Magic Coat or something like that. Let me know any feedback You could have in order to improve this team and make it more solid. Thanks in advance! Cheers!
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