March-April09 Rotation: First Team-- Basic

So, here's my first (well, first relatively successful...) NU team for the MarchApril09 rotation. It needs more testing, of course, but it's worth mentioning, some individuals more than others- namely Combusken and Venomoth.


Combusken @Lum Berry
-Protect/Substitute
-WilloWisp/Hidden Power Grass
-Flamethrower
-Vacuum Wave
Blaze, Modest
212 HP, 252 Sp.Atk, 44 Spd

So far, probably the most successful member of the team. This Combusken acts as an anti-lead to the likes of Mawile, Persian, Purugly, and Butterfree. I forgot what exactly the Spd EVs for for... I think to outrun some other Pokemon with priority attacks or something, I dunno... Anyway, Protect acts as a scout, and a defense against Purugly and Persian's Fake Out. Lum Berry's there for Sleep Powder and Hypnosis from Butterfree and Purugly/Persian, respectively. Vacuum Wave 2HKO's Purugly and Persian, while Flamethrower OHKO's Mawile and Butterfree- Sashed Butterfree gets Vacuum Waved on turn two. I can also note that Vacuum Wave OHKO's Aggron, and Flamethrower OHKO's Jynx after a Calm Mind. It's nichey, but it's good at what it does. Protect fairs better against Persian and Purugly, while Substitute fairs better against Butterfree- I prefer Protect in this case. WilloWisp is always useful, mainly for predicting switch-ins, but HP Grass keeps you from being walled by things like Whiscash, though, you won't OHKO if they've got enough HP/Sp.Def investment. Focus Punch is an option if you predict switches well, but you'd have to sacrifice your already shitty defensive stats- a Butterfree seeing this might either U-Turn or attack right away- Boots' ran HP Flying, and almost OHKO'd it- if it can survive an HP Flying which otherwise would've kept it from beating Butterfree properly, then that's Sp.Def worth keeping, and Purugly and Persian are sure to pack right nasty STAB moves. Beware.


Bellossom @Leftovers
-Stun Spore
-Substitute
-Leech Seed
-Energy Ball
Chlorophyll, Bold
244 HP, 252 Def, 12 Sp.Atk

Pretty standard SubSeed Bellossom for lack of a better option... I wanted something resistant to Ground and Water attacks to help Cumbusken along, but Flying hits just as hard. Carnivine and Meganium were options, and I might try Meganium again (particularly for Aromatherapy), but it's hard not to be tempted by Bellossom's Stun Spore.


Kingler @Choice Scarf
-Crab Hammer
-Brick Break
-Rock Slide
-X-Scissor
Hyper Cutter, Adamant
252 Atk, 32 Def, 224 Spd

Scarfer Kingler- until I start SEEING things Scarfed to be faster than this, I'm not gonna bother maxing Spd- with this spread, you outrun Sneasel and Persian, which for now, is good enough for me. 394 Atk with 363 Spd is pretty nasty, and with respectable Def, too. Too bad his HP is crappy.


Electabuzz @Life Orb
-Cross Chop
-Thunder Punch
-Ice Punch
-Meditate
Static, Jolly
252 Atk, 252 Spd, 6 HP

Destined for failure, it seems. I haven't been able to get this to work yet, and I don't think it will. The idea was to switch into things it could scare off, the opponent assuming it's Scarfed and switching to something to resist or be immune to Buzz's attack, and end up switching into a free Meditate. After that, rape. Like I said, though, that hasn't exactly worked out for me yet... This is probably gonna be replaced soon. Too bad Magmar doesn't get T-Bolt. :\


Misdreavus @Petaya Berry
-Thunderwave
-Pain Split
-Shadow Ball
-Hidden Power Fighting
Levitate, Timid
252 Sp.Atk, 252 Spd, 6 HP

Well, you know me, I love a speedy Pokemon with Thunderwave, but Misdreavus seems to be falling short... Even with Petaya Berry, it doesn't quite deal the same damage I'd like it to, and it's not as speedy as I'd like, either. Besides that, it's Sucker Punch fodder, as Boots pointed out to me after a couple battles. This will probably be replaced- I was considering Haunter, but that'd just be more Sucker Punch fodder... Might have to get creative with this one.


Venomoth @Wise Glasses
-Substitute
-Sleep Powder
-Baton Pass
-Bug Buzz
Tinted Lens, Timid
252 Sp.Atk, 252 Spd, 6 HP

This one has been doing pretty well. Bug Buzz with Tinted Lens is ridiculous sometimes, but besides that, this is more meant to knock shit out, and then pass out Subs. I bet there are fifty other Pokemon that could do this better, but I like Venomoth, and I used it on a whim. ><;

Haunter isn't Sucker Punch fodder if you know what you're doing. If that's what's stopping you from running him, give him Substitute. That way, even if you think there might be a chance of Sucker Punch coming, you can scout and see. If they had used it, now you have a free Sub and can also switch out of Pursuit if needed.