Defaze

Team: [52] Deimos ♂ [52] Despina ♀ [51] Aoide ♀ [52] Mneme ♀ [52] Tarvos ♂ [54] Nix ♂ This team originally started as a Ground monotype before I got bored and redesigned it. I do feel a bit cheap using Garchomp in a regular playthrough, but the rest of the team sort of offsets that slightly. It's a surprisingly competent team all round and I've been having a lot of fun with them; even Watchog has been pulling his weight with Analytic! I'd probably consider Ampharos the MVP; Electric Terrain has saved my ass so many times, and the terrain-boosted Charge + Cotton Guard combo makes her nigh-on impossible to take down (plus it's hilarious using Psych Up Watchog in double battles). I'd say it's definitely my favourite playthrough so far.

Thanks for the response! Although call me stubborn, but I probably won't replace Masquerain, Solrock, and Whiscash. They definitely look poor on paper, but all 3 perform surprisingly well since they've got decent IVs and are fully EV'd (Intimidate switching has actually saved my ass a number of times). Plus, I've completed EP15 previously with the likes of Swanna, Dunsparce, and Kricketune, so competitive viability isn't really an issue for me. Good call on Serperior; I was already considering re-breeding for Modest so I may try for HP Ground/Fire. I did previously have Wring Out, but I tend to just subseed and slowly whittle down their HP, so it's pretty ineffective when they're at less than full health. Yeah, Air Balloon was really just because of a lack of other options (see Metronome on Solrock). I had Charge Beam previously but the chance of para hax from Discharge + Static was too good to pass up. I've actually used that exact Clefable in a previous run - it didn't do much for me personally, so I'll likely just stick with Ampharos. Masquerain actually can set-up pretty decently (although I guess it remains to be seen how easy that is as I get even further through the game), due to Intimidate + natural special bulk, plus Hydro Pump completely maims slower Rock-types that threaten to OHKO before boosting. Good point on Sticky Web; might opt for Baton Pass instead. Yeah I was ideally hoping for DD on Whiscash, but the only potential father is Gyarados, which isn't available. It lacks a bit of power, but hey, it's bulky enough to just whittle down opponents with EQ/Aqua Tail. Great suggestions re Tauros. I've been using Intimidate simply due to a lack of Sheer Force-boosted moves. I had no idea LO was available, nor did I realise Secret Power was in the Wasteland - I must've missed that! I'm confused about the breeding comment though, my understanding was that you couldn't produce Tauros eggs (bar with Ditto), being an exclusively male Pokemon?

Hey guys! Since I've got a bit of free time due to being off uni and work, I figured I'd start a new playthrough. Essentially I'm just looking for a few moveset suggestions, and opinions on my final slot. ♂ Narvi @ Big Root [Mild]; Lvl 54 Giga Drain, Substitute, Leech Seed, Nature Power My trusty starter. Slightly barren movepool but actually really effective at stalling with Sub + Leech Seed. Plus he's EV'd in Special Attack, so his Giga Drain is pretty potent and drains a huge amount of health back when factoring in his Big Root. Nature Power is a fun (albeit unreliable as hell) coverage option, since he has essentially nothing else on the special side (his Hidden Power type is Grass too. ). He's fortunately got Contrary, so Leaf Storm will be added when he reaches level 62. Now here's my dilemma; do I replace Nature Power and stick with mono-Grass coverage, or do I override Substitute and at least have some way of damaging Poison-types/Steel-types etc? ♀ Daphnis @ Air Balloon [Calm]; Lvl 55 Discharge, Cotton Guard, Charge, Electric Terrain This thing exceeded my expectations ten-fold - its Electric Terrain alone saved me against most of the earlier Gym Leaders. She's EV'd fully in HP, so she's pretty naturally bulky, but becomes an absolute tank when you factor in Cotton Guard/Charge (its effect is double under Electric Terrain). However, she's pretty much walled entirely by Ground-types and other Electrics with Volt Absorb/Motor Drive/Lightning Rod, and there lies my issue again. She has Grass-type Hidden Power, which has good synergy with Electric and checks Ground-types, but I've relied on her boosting moves quite heavily in previous battles. So basically, its a compromise between coverage and bulkiness. Any advice here would be appreciated. ♀ Io @ Silver Powder [Modest]; Lvl 54 Quiver Dance, Bug Buzz, Hydro Pump, Sticky Web/Air Slash/Baton Pass This thing is another victim of 'four moveslot syndrome'. Quiver Dance is a necessity for it to even dent most Pokemon at this point in the game, whereas Bug Buzz and Hydro Pump provide decent enough coverage. The last slot is where I'm struggling; I've considered Air Slash because of STAB + flinch chance, but Sticky Web is pretty useful, especially given how slow half my team is (plus, I raised her all the way from an egg to level 46 as a Surskit just to get it). Baton Pass is another option, which would allow her to pass any QD boosts to say, Ampharos or Serperior. I'm personally leaning towards Sticky Web, but she's not exactly the most bulky Pokemon to reliably get them down. Themisto @ Metronome [impish]; Lvl 54 Rock Slide, Cosmic Power, Substitute, Wonder Room My physical wall with fully maxed HP/Defense! Cosmic Power and Rock Slide are pretty much the crux of this set. Substitute + the fourth slot are just utter filler at the moment; Wonder Room is a bit of a niche strategy to allow it to counter special attackers too, but its not proven very effective so far, so I'd ideally like it replaced. I originally had Psychic, but it was barely denting anything with its Impish Nature + terrible base Special Attack. Zen Headbutt would be ideal, but iirc, its not available through move tutors as of EP15. I know Skill Swap is accessible soon, which could be used in conjunction with Slaking, but again, its pretty niche since its limited to double battles. Basically, I'm looking for viable suggestions beyond Rock Slide + Cosmic Power. ♂ Skoll @ Wide Lens [sassy]; Lvl 54 Aqua Tail, Earthquake, Zen Headbutt, Amnesia Not much to add here; surprisingly one of the most reliable on the team, owed partly to its amazing level-up movepool. Anticipation is actually really useful too, since it warns me of any incoming Grass attacks. ♀ Mneme @ Silk Scarf [impish]; Lvl 53 Strength, Play Rough, Shadow Claw, Hammer Arm. I'm pretty much torn between Tauros and Slaking for the last slot. Call me a drip, but I'm normally opposed to ditching early-game team-mates partway through my adventure, regardless of how cumbersome they are to use. However, her ability really is quite a nuisance, since she constantly has to flee after landing a hit (which often fail to OHKO despite her huge Attack stat, due to Strength's low BP). Most of my problems would be alleviated by Return or even Giga Impact, but I don't either are available yet. She does have a much better moveset than Tauros though, so that's definitely something in her favour. ♂ Ferdinand @ Persim Berry [Lonely]; Lvl 54 Thrash, Work Up, Zen Headbutt, Payback Option 2. Pretty much fulfills a similar role to Slaking as a fast physical sweeper, but with less coverage and Attack, and without the awful ability. There's not much else available to him moveset wise, except Bulldoze later on, which would at least check Steel-types. Essentially, it boils down to reliability (Tauros) vs coverage + sentimentality (Slaking). Should probably mention that I'm currently at Route 1.