Pokémon TCG: Sword and Shield—Brilliant Stars

Battle Subway Lineup Options

neophenx

neophenx

Member
I'm trying to blast the battle Subway and am having trouble after the 3rd set of fights. Here's what I've been using lately, as well as some other things I throw in from time to time. Looking for constructive criticism, and am open to trying new things. I usually go with the first 3, but let me know what you guys think!

If I've left any blanks, it's because either I'm not sure what to use there, or I forgot what it is since I'm doing this from memory. I'll update and fill in where necessary.

The only thing I do NOT want to hear is "oh that's uber tier, you can't use that!" I don't believe in the university tiers, especially for in-game combat.

Also understand that I'm aware of the rules regarding duplicate items, so some Pokemon would never overlap, or may have an alternate item depending on circumstances.

1) Blaziken @ Life Orb
Speed Boost
Jolly
Max Spe/Atk
Flare Blitz, Hi Jump Kick, Equake, Swords Dance

2) Dragonite @ Lefties/Shell Bell
Multiscale
Adamant
Max Spe/Atk
Dragon Claw, Waterfall, Aerial Ace, Dragon Dance

3) Starmie @ Choice Specs/Wise Glasses/Expert Belt
----
Timid
Max Spe/SpA
Surf, Psychic, Tbolt, Ice Beam

4) Garchomp @ Choice Band/Scarf
Sand Veil
Jolly
Max Spe/Atk
Outrage, Equake, Crunch, Stone Edge (want to replace Crunch)

5) Crobat @ Flying Gem
Inner Focus
Jolly
Max Spe/Atk
Acrobatics, Cross Poison, U-turn, Bite

6) Infernape @ Life Orb/Choice Band
Blaze
Jolly
Max Spe/Atk
Flare Blitz, Close Combat, Equake, Stone Edge

7) Gliscor @ Toxic Orb
Poison Heal
----
Max HP/SpD
Equake, Aerial Ace, Sub, Protect
 
I don't have much experience with fixing up teams, but if you are undecided for Starmie's ability and Gliscor's nature, I would recommend the Natural Cure ability for Starmie, and a Jolly nature for Gliscor, which has been working for my Gliscor pretty well. If you prefer to be more defense based with Gliscor, a careful would be helpful. Other than that, an Adamant nature is probably your best bet.

As for replacing crunch, I would go with Dual Chop as a more reliable dragon move in a double battle, or max happiness return, which tends to do well.
 
I was actually considering rebreeding/training a Gliscor for Jolly or Adamant, with Speed/Atk EVs. Either Flying Gem+Acrobatics or sticking with Toxic Orb/Protect, but I might be leaning more towards the raw power.

I could see Dual Chop, but as a Choiced Garchomp I was trying to figure out another type-move... it's just that Outrage overpowers Crunch even when Crunch hits for weakness. Return might be a good option... it's 108 power at max happiness, correct?
 
I run Scizor, give it attack EV's... (don't remember the proper nature) and give it a Steel gem, and:
Bullet Punch
Acrobatics
Brick break
Swords dance
Posted with Mobile style...
 
BlastBurn said:
I run Scizor, give it attack EV's... (don't remember the proper nature) and give it a Steel gem, and:
Bullet Punch
Acrobatics
Brick break
Swords dance
Posted with Mobile style...
Click to expand...
Oh that does sound interesting. I was familiar with the power packed Choice Band/Bullet Punch or Life Orb set, but I never thought Acrobatics would be a viable set. Does Acrobatics still get Technician boost since it's base power is 55, or does its doubling effect negate Technician?
 
neophenx said:
Oh that does sound interesting. I was familiar with the power packed Choice Band/Bullet Punch or Life Orb set, but I never thought Acrobatics would be a viable set. Does Acrobatics still get Technician boost since it's base power is 55, or does its doubling effect negate Technician?
Click to expand...

Acrobatics checks for item AFTER the gem is used.
Technician checks for power AFTER acrobatics goes to 110 power.

In short, no - you get one or the other. Not both.
 
ultimatedra said:
Acrobatics checks for item AFTER the gem is used.
Technician checks for power AFTER acrobatics goes to 110 power.

In short, no - you get one or the other. Not both.
Click to expand...

Oh well. I knew Flying Gem+Acro made for epic power, but Acro55+Technician is still decent power if it'll be a KO before a metal gem gets used up. I'll need to train 3 Scizor for this then... one for the Metal Gem/Acro mix, one for SD+Life Orb and one for Choice Band... Only problem is that for at least one of them I want to include Bug Bite... a 4th gen egg move I think. Anyone got a Scyther with that Egg move?
 
Yeah, it's a nice combo with Scizor... Great way to abuse him and his ability! :D

Another great one, is a Lucario, with speed/attack EV's... With a Choice band or possibly Kings Rock... :
Close Combat
Ice Punch
Mach Punch
Dark Pulse (reconsidering, as he has low special attack, and this is mainly for his ability, which gets you a speed boost for every flinch... I wish Night Slash was open... It'd be much nicer!

Also, I run Metagross, with Attack EV's (still don't know natures) and give him Quick Claw, or Focus Lense
Hammer arm
Zen Headbutt
Meteor Mash
???? (I have psychic, but really need to change that)
Posted with Mobile style...
 
neophenx said:
Oh well. I knew Flying Gem+Acro made for epic power, but Acro55+Technician is still decent power if it'll be a KO before a metal gem gets used up. I'll need to train 3 Scizor for this then... one for the Metal Gem/Acro mix, one for SD+Life Orb and one for Choice Band... Only problem is that for at least one of them I want to include Bug Bite... a 4th gen egg move I think. Anyone got a Scyther with that Egg move?
Click to expand...

Bug Bite is actually a HGSS tutor move, you can't breed it onto Scizor.
 
BlastBurn said:
Yeah, it's a nice combo with Scizor... Great way to abuse him and his ability! :D

Another great one, is a Lucario, with speed/attack EV's... With a Choice band or possibly Kings Rock... :
Close Combat
Ice Punch
Mach Punch
Dark Pulse (reconsidering, as he has low special attack, and this is mainly for his ability, which gets you a speed boost for every flinch... I wish Night Slash was open... It'd be much nicer!

Also, I run Metagross, with Attack EV's (still don't know natures) and give him Quick Claw, or Focus Lense
Hammer arm
Zen Headbutt
Meteor Mash
???? (I have psychic, but really need to change that)
Posted with Mobile style...
Click to expand...
You're mistaken about Steadfast. When a Pokemon that HAS Steadfast flinches, its speed goes up, not when it induces flinching. I'm actually redoing my Lucario set, one with Nasty Plot, Aura Sphere, Flash Cannon and something else, and one with Swords Dance, Close Combat, Bullet Punch, and another move for rounding out. I actually wonder if I could breed it with Blaze Kick AND Bullet Punch...
For Metagross, I'd see more Wide Lens potential since all the moves you have listed, except Psychic, are less-than-perfect accuracy. Maybe toss in a Stone Edge, or Autonomize (I think that one jacks up speed and makes it nimble)

Pikamaster said:
Bug Bite is actually a HGSS tutor move, you can't breed it onto Scizor.
Click to expand...
Ah so I'd need someone to go on HG/SS with an Adamant baby Scyther and get Bug Bite to send to me then... I knew it was something 4th Gen!
 
Thanks for correcting me there! I think I'll try and get another move besides dark pulse... xD and yeah, Metagross should run stone edge, or earthquake...
Posted with Mobile style...
 
BlastBurn said:
Thanks for correcting me there! I think I'll try and get another move besides dark pulse... xD and yeah, Metagross should run stone edge, or earthquake...
Posted with Mobile style...
Click to expand...

I also have a Rhyperior on the side, Equake, Rock Wrecker, Megahorn and Hammer Arm with Zoom Lens to compliment its horrible speed. I guess a bulky/atk Metagross COULD do that but it seems its base speed might be too high to pull it off just right.
 
I have a rhyperior, sacrificed SPD for Speed... (so dumb) and I run quick claw, or zoom Lense...

He knows megahorn, avalanche, rock wrecker, and earthquake! So we are similar to some regards!
Posted with Mobile style...
 
All I can say is try out different Pokemon and find which ones you can utilize best. Like I like fast Pokemon so I can always get the first strike and Jigglypuff. Who knows what you might like. Find what works for you and stick with it. All I can say.
 
He's got a good point... I ran Rhyperior, Garchomp, and Braviary for the longest time... Traded for some games, got some new guys, and now I run a Sandstorm team:
Tyranitar, (attack EV's) holding hard stone for now:
Stone edge
Dark Pulse
Earthquake
Thrash

Aerodactyl, (speed/attack EV's):
Iron head
Stone edge
Earthquake
Gigs impact

Registeel, (SPD/attack EV's):
Iron head
Thunderbolt
Explosion
???? (forget lol)

Bronzong, (Defense/Attack EV's)
Gyro ball
Hypnosis
Dream eater
Grass Knot

Lucario, from earlier
Metagross from earlier
Posted with Mobile style...
 
BlastBurn said:
He's got a good point... I ran Rhyperior, Garchomp, and Braviary for the longest time... Traded for some games, got some new guys, and now I run a Sandstorm team:
Tyranitar, (attack EV's) holding hard stone for now:
Stone edge
Dark Pulse
Earthquake
Thrash

Aerodactyl, (speed/attack EV's):
Iron head
Stone edge
Earthquake
Gigs impact

Registeel, (SPD/attack EV's):
Iron head
Thunderbolt
Explosion
???? (forget lol)

Bronzong, (Defense/Attack EV's)
Gyro ball
Hypnosis
Dream eater
Grass Knot

Lucario, from earlier
Metagross from earlier
Posted with Mobile style...
Click to expand...

Nice information and thanks for sharing the information of playing tact's that is very informative to me which i never had before and this is as important for others .
 
No problem! Hopefully this can stand to serve as a decent model for other people to see what kind of teams can be made... Mine isn't close to best tier, but it works.... And I guess that's what matters! :D

My level 50 team, I'll share shortly... And it's pretty good!
Posted with Mobile style...

---------- Post added 02/07/2012 at 10:32 AM ----------

Alright, so for my Lv 50 team, so far I run:

Salamence (Attack/speed EV's)
Leftovers
Intimidate
Dragon Dance, Fire Fang, Dragon Claw, and ????? (forgot)

Scizor (attack/defense EV's)
Technician
Flying gem
Acrobatics, Bullet Punch, Swords dance, and brick break

Deoxys (Attack/SpA EV's) (No, it's not allowed, but W/E)
Pressure
Choice band/Spec glasses
Psycho boost, meteor punch, Superpower, and ????? (forget)

Infernape (Attack/speed EV's)
Blaze
Life orb/choice band
Mach punch, Close combat, Swords dance, and Flare Blitz
Posted with Mobile style...
 
Have you considered Fire Fang on Garchomp? It's pretty useful.

One of the problems you may be running into is that all of the Pokemon you listed are 'glass cannon' types. They hit hard, but a single SE move will knock them out. I'd consider running one bulky/sturdier Pokemon to get through stall wars. As you get farther into the Subway, it seems like you come across more and more stallers. Having one of your own would help.

A Suicune will get you far. :) Its Pressure ability lets you get rid of your opponent's PP twice as fast as any other staller, and it has decent Speed/Special Attack. I'd run it:

Suicune (Bold @Chesto Berry)
Calm Mind
Rest
Sleep Talk
Scald/Surf (Scald if you want the burn chance, Surf if you don't care about burn)

OR you could run it offensively

Suicune (Timid @Leftovers)
Calm Mind
Hidden Power Electric
Surf
Ice Beam

You could run Modest on the second to get more power, but I think Calm Mind does enough that the speed boost is better. Either way, she's got more staying power than pretty much everything you listed. (Except for Rhyperior, but Rhyperior's speed... yeah...)
 
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