Pokémon TCG: Sword and Shield—Brilliant Stars

Sandstorm and friends > VGC

S

Spike

New Member
This is my first venture into 5th Gen, and VGC.

SandRush:

Tyranitar @ Choice Band
Adamant
Sand Stream
EV: 180 hp/252 atk/76 spd

Crunch
Fire Punch
Earthquake
Stone Edge

---

Excadrill @ Air Balloon
Jolly
Sand Rush
EV: 252 atk/4 sdef/252 spd

Swords Dance
Earthquake
X-Scissor
Rapid Spin

---

Garchomp @ Yache Berry
Jolly
Sand Veil
EV: 4 hp/ 252 atk/ 252 spd

Swords Dance
Dragon Claw
Fire Blast
Earthquake

---

Rotom Wash @ Choice Specs
Modest
Levitate
EV: 4 def/ 252 sp atk/ 252 spd

Thunderbolt
Hydro Pump
Hidden Power (Ice)
Will-o-Wisp

---

Skarmory @ Eviolite
Impish
Sturdy
EV: 252 hp/ 252 def/ 4 spd

Stealth Rock
Spikes
Roost
Drill Peck

---

Blissey @ Leftovers
Bold
Natural Cure
EV: 80 hp/252 def/176 sp def

Softboiled
Seismic Toss
Toxic
Ice Beam




Okay, so I haven't been into the competitive scene since middle of 4th gen. This is basically the team I used before with the addition of Rotom-W and Excadrill. If this team is absolute garbage, just let me know. Thanks.

T-Tar:
Obviously used for Sandstream and because he's a general beast of a Pokemon.

Excadrill:
Takes advantage of Sandstorm being up to become pretty fast and a good physical sweeper. Also Rapid Spin to get rid of nasty traps.

Garchomp:
Again, takes advantage of Sandstorm being up and is super fast, great for sweeping again.

Rotom-W:
I put him in to cover some of my weaknesses and he's a special attacker. He also has Levitate so he can be immune to my EQ's.

Skarmory:
A phsyical wall/trapper. Drop Stealth Rock, Spikes, and sit there to wall physical attackers. Heal when necessary.

Blissey:
My special wall. I don't think she needs much explanation, but I used her over Chansey for Icebeam and for Skarmory to get Eviolite.
 
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This looks like a very Singles team. I don't think Rapid Spin is necessary in VGC, and I don't think Skarmory is as good a Pokemon when he can be circumvented and/or when he's faced with two threats that might carry a special Fire move.

I would absolutely recommend Rock Slide on Excadrill, either over Rapid Spin or X-Scissor. I would rather you run Flamethrower than Fire Punch on Tyranitar (but that might just be me being stupid). Volt Switch over WoW on a choiced Rotom-W. Something else entirely over Skarmory (I'm not sure what though).

Skarmory does not benefit from Eviolite. The VG Eviolite works differently from the TCG. Read the ingame description again: improves the defense and special defense of a Pokemon that has yet to evolve... meaning, one that does evolve, but hasn't yet. :thumb:
 
I didn't realize that Eviolite was for pokemon who CAN evolve only, I just thought it was for any unevolved pokemon.

I use Fire Punch on TTar because I have a SpAtk lowering nature, so I went with physical.

So Spikes and Stealth Rock aren't big in VGC's? They were so dominant in 4th gen you had to have a Rapid Spinner, I just assumed they would still be used.
 
They are very dominant in Singles, but I don't think they are so prevalent in Doubles. I could be wrong there.
 
If you are looking for a Trapper to use entry hazards, there is always Forretress or Ferrothorn. Though Ferrothorn takes som fenagling to get EH moves on it. Mainly breeding and hoping for the right nature.
 
Tyranitar @ Choice Band
Adamant
Sand Stream
EV: 180 hp/252 atk/76 spd

Crunch
Fire Punch
Earthquake
Stone Edge

Choice Band Tyranitar is probably usable but it's hard to use. Drop Choice Band for Chopple Berry. Change Stone Edge to Rock Slide. Drop Fire Punch and Earthquake for Low Kick and Protect.

---

Excadrill @ Air Balloon
Jolly
Sand Rush
EV: 252 atk/4 sdef/252 spd

Swords Dance
Earthquake
X-Scissor
Rapid Spin


Jolly is overkill with Sand Rush. Rapid Spin is useless. Entry Hazards are never used in VGC. Excadrill is too frail and won't survive long enough to take advantage of Sword Dance. Drop Rapid Spin and Swords Dance for Rock Slide and Protect. You might want to drop Air Balloon for Focus Sash, Ground Gem or Life Orb.

---

Garchomp @ Yache Berry
Jolly
Sand Veil
EV: 4 hp/ 252 atk/ 252 spd

Swords Dance
Dragon Claw
Fire Blast
Earthquake

Replace Swords Dance for Protect. While there are exceptions, in general you should avoid power up moves like Swords Dance. Fire Blast should probably be dropped for Rock Slide or Substitute. You can keep Fire Blast if you really want to since it can surprise Scizor and Ferrothorn.

---

Rotom Wash @ Choice Specs
Modest
Levitate
EV: 4 def/ 252 sp atk/ 252 spd

Thunderbolt
Hydro Pump
Hidden Power (Ice)
Will-o-Wisp

Replace Hidden Power Ice with Hidden Power Grass. This lets you deal with Gastrodon better. Drop Will-O-Wisp for Trick so you can toss your Choice item if you need to.

---

Skarmory @ Eviolite
Impish
Sturdy
EV: 252 hp/ 252 def/ 4 spd

Stealth Rock
Spikes
Roost
Drill Peck

Drop Skarmory. It's no good in VGC.

---

Blissey @ Leftovers
Bold
Natural Cure
EV: 80 hp/252 def/176 sp def

Softboiled
Seismic Toss
Toxic
Ice Beam

While Blissey has some uses, it generally isn't what you want on a VGC team. It can tank special attacks but it can't stop your opponent from killing your ally while Blissey can't do much. If you want something bulky, try Cresselia:

Cresselia @ Sitrus Berry
Bold/Sassy
-Psyshock
-Ice Beam
-Thunder Wave
-Helping Hand
 
So taking out Skarmory and Blissey, the first 4 are okay together? Is there a better choice specs user I could/should replace Rotom-Wash with?
 
I do Latios with choice Specs in the Battle subway it worked pretty well but here are my suggestions:

Tyranitar @ Choice Band
[DEL]Adamant[/DEL] Brave (if you can) if not adamant is good
Sand Stream
EV: 180 hp/252 atk/76 spd

Crunch <--- Good
Fire Punch <--- not bad
Earthquake <--- good orProtect
[DEL]Stone Edge[/DEL] Rock Slide
---

[DEL]Excadrill @ Air Balloon
Jolly
Sand Rush
EV: 252 atk/4 sdef/252 spd

Swords Dance
Earthquake
X-Scissor
Rapid Spin[/DEL]


Excadrill is not really good or used in VGC
---

Garchomp @ Yache Berry
Jolly
Sand Veil
EV: 4 hp/ 252 atk/ 252 spd

[DEL]Swords Dance[/DEL] Protect
Dragon Claw
[DEL]Fire Blast[/DEL] Rock Slide
Earthquake

---

Rotom Wash @ [DEL]Choice Specs[/DEL] Leftovers
Modest
Levitate
EV: 4 def/ 252 sp atk/ 252 spd

Thunderbolt
Hydro Pump
Hidden Power (Ice)
[DEL]Will-o-Wisp[/DEL] Protect

---

[DEL]Skarmory @ Eviolite
Impish
Sturdy
EV: 252 hp/ 252 def/ 4 spd

Stealth Rock
Spikes
Roost
Drill Peck[/DEL]

Skymory is never used in VGC

[DEL]Blissey @ Leftovers
Bold
Natural Cure
EV: 80 hp/252 def/176 sp def

Softboiled
Seismic Toss
Toxic
Ice Beam[/DEL]

Blissy is good in OU not VGC

Find like 3 new pokemon and post here again so I can help you get you a good team
 
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ok so ill do the team edits then i'll say what i have to say about other peoples edits

Tyranitar @ Choice Band
Adamant
Sand Stream
EV: 180 hp/252 atk/76 spd

Crunch
Fire Punch
Earthquake
rock slide

looks good on this, and i like how you added fire punch, as this team looks like it has no way to combat scissor
---

Excadrill @ ground gem
Jolly
Sand Rush
EV: 252 atk/4 sdef/252 spd

Swords Dance
Earthquake
X-Scissor
rockslide

i actually like swords dance on excadrill, and i don't believe jolly is over kill with the speed (Team Rocket Elite) or not used in vgc (pokemonrocks777) as it can decimate unprepared teams. i have seen it used at big tournaments, and used properly, is a beast. ground gem is mainly to hit harder with EQ, and with sand rush, is a very good threat early game
---

Garchomp @ focus sash
Jolly
Sand Veil
EV: 4 hp/ 252 atk/ 252 spd

protect
Dragon Claw
rock slide
Earthquake

on here, it looks fine other then the swords dance and fireblast. i see how your trying to hit steels. but it wont do much with a nature that minuses special attack
---

Rotom Wash @ Choice Specs
Modest
Levitate
EV: 252 hp/ 4 def/ 252 sp atk/

Thunderbolt
Hydro Pump
Hidden Power grass/fire
trick

rotom-w, so annoying at times. for the hidden power, you should use grass or fire, depending on what you would like to kill more. scissor, (other than fire punch t-tar) semi walls your team, but then gastrodon walls it too, so its really what you would like to kill more. i would run grass over fire, just as it walls your team more and hits most everything for super effective
---

heatran @ air balloon
modest
flash fire
EV: 252 hp/ 252 sa/ 4 sd

overheat/flamethrower
hidden power ice
substitute/protect
earth power

on here, is a very fun set. over heat puts a dent in everything, and counters your steel type problems. also, with max hp, he can take a few hits, before going down.
---

amoonguss @ black sludge
relaxed
effect spore
EV: 252 hp/ 140 de/ 112 sd

spore
rage powder
gigadrain
synthesis/protect

this ev spread, is something of my own creation. bulky enough to survive pretty much every physical attack (barring some super effective moves) and i believe this spread also is able to survive dragon gem draco meteor from latios. spore and rage powder are standard team support, and gigadrain is your best attacking move, with synthesis for healing or protect witch is standard on most pokemon.

i think i covered what i wanted to, and made the edits i would make, and so i hope i helped!
~Jake
 
If you have Sand up, Excadrill is already faster than just about anything without needing to boost its speed. Outside of Sand, the extra speed doesn't really help you outrun anything important. There are exceptions but it's more useful to have the extra attack. If you are confident you can keep the Sand going, you can even drop a lot of the Speed EV.
 
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