My Recent VGC Reg H Teambuilding Ventures

 While doing the ‘lightyear’ long anti-meta writeup, I came across an idea that I found highly potent and simultaneously a Pokemon that I really liked, Hariyama. So this team is my proper build around the idea as Hariyama could comfortably take on the P2, Ursaluna, Amoonguss and Incineroar core all the whole it packs Wide guard to throw a wrench in Gholdengo’s way. While most of the team is standard, pairing this mon up with Farigaraf was something I found quite potent. This team also helped me play and learn the strengths of Garchomp, Primarina and Vivillon all the while I reunited with my love for Gholdengo.

HairyMama (Hariyama) (F) @ Flame Orb  Ability: Guts  Level: 50  Tera Type: Steel  EVs: 100 HP / 212 Atk / 196 SpD  Adamant Nature  - Fake Out  - Close Combat  - Knock Off  - Wide Guard	LongNeck (Farigiraf) @ Throat Spray  Ability: Armor Tail  Level: 50  Tera Type: Grass  EVs: 252 HP / 140 SpA / 116 SpD  Quiet Nature  IVs: 0 Atk / 0 Spe  - Trick Room  - Psychic Noise  - Hyper Voice  - Protect	Teefy (Garchomp) @ Life Orb  Ability: Rough Skin  Level: 50  Tera Type: Steel  EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe  Jolly Nature  - Dragon Claw  - Stomping Tantrum  - Earthquake  - Protect
Ariana Grenade (Primarina) @ Sitrus Berry  Ability: Liquid Voice  Level: 50  Tera Type: Grass  EVs: 252 HP / 20 Def / 236 SpA  Bold Nature  IVs: 0 Atk  - Hyper Voice  - Moonblast  - Haze  - Protect	Oui (Vivillon-Pokeball) @ Focus Sash  Ability: Compound Eyes  Level: 50  Tera Type: Ghost  EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe  Modest Nature  IVs: 0 Atk  - Rage Powder  - Sleep Powder  - Hurricane  - Protect	Big Money (Gholdengo) @ Metal Coat  Ability: Good as Gold  Level: 50  Tera Type: Steel  EVs: 252 HP / 60 Def / 156 SpA / 4 SpD / 36 Spe  Timid Nature  IVs: 0 Atk  - Make It Rain  - Shadow Ball  - Nasty Plot  - Protect

Paste: https://pokepast.es/5f4157f06b2fdfc7

Calculations:

Hariyama: Annihilape Final Gambit vs. 100 HP Hariyama: 217-217 (93.5 - 93.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after burn damage 252+ SpA Choice Specs Tera-Steel Gholdengo Make It Rain vs. 100 HP / 196 SpD Hariyama: 194-230 (83.6 - 99.1%) -- 37.5% chance to OHKO after burn damage   -1 212+ Atk Guts Hariyama Close Combat vs. 228 HP / 188+ Def Incineroar: 168-200 (84.4 - 100.5%) -- 6.3% chance to OHKO 212+ Atk Guts Hariyama Close Combat vs. 252 HP / 4 Def Archaludon: 246-290 (124.8 - 147.2%) -- guaranteed OHKO 212+ Atk Guts Hariyama Knock Off (97.5 BP) vs. 236 HP / 44 Def Gholdengo: 166-196 (86.4 - 102%) -- 18.8% chance to OHKO 252+ Atk Guts Hariyama Close Combat vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Indeedee-F: 150-177 (84.7 - 100%) -- 6.3% chance to OHKO

252+ SpA Choice Specs Tera-Steel Gholdengo Make It Rain vs. 252 HP / 116 SpD Farigiraf: 194-230 (85.4 - 101.3%) -- 6.3% chance to OHKO 0 Atk Incineroar Knock Off (97.5 BP) vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Farigiraf: 110-132 (48.4 - 58.1%) -- 92.2% chance to 2HKO   140+ SpA Farigiraf Psychic Noise vs. 236 HP / 116 SpD Amoonguss: 120-144 (54.7 - 65.7%) -- 16% chance to 2HKO after Sitrus Berry recovery +1 140+ SpA Farigiraf Psychic Noise vs. 236 HP / 116 SpD Amoonguss: 180-212 (82.1 - 96.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Sitrus Berry recovery

Gholdengo: 252 Atk Life Orb Garchomp Stomping Tantrum vs. 228 HP / 60 Def Gholdengo: 164-195 (85.8 - 102%) -- 6.3% chance to OHKO +1 164+ SpA Archaludon Electro Shot vs. 228 HP / 4 SpD Gholdengo: 119-141 (62.3 - 73.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO 252+ Atk Dondozo Wave Crash vs. 228 HP / 60 Def Gholdengo: 93-109 (48.6 - 57%) -- 90.2% chance to 2HKO

 

First VGC Team Redux!

My first VGC team was built around the idea that I found it cool how Xatu could learn the two contrasting speed control options in VGC: Trick room and Tailwind! Furthermore, for the VGC 2014 metagame Xatu had the Magic Bounce ability allowing it to counter Smeargle’s Dark Voids with ease.

This is the idea that I wanted my team to revolve around: A single Pokemon able to support the team with both these moves and since Xatu is not around, I’d have to explore other options: The available ones are Whimsicott, Comfey and Drifblim. Going by the obvious I tested Whimsicott first but found it underwhelming in the current metagame. Even its best partners in Typhlosion or Farigaraf and Ursaluna felt weak against the current metagame’s behemoth’s. after this disappointment I had left the idea be, but then something popped into my mind: Drifblim as a ghost and flying type has good matchups into Sneasler: The King of this format. I could make this work! Furthermore, Drifblim gets trick room and imprison making this fantasy idea that wouldn’t work elsewhere become a hard trick room counter for my team instantly! For the last move, judging by the fact a defensive seed item is the best for it as it gets Unburden: Acrobatics would be nice.

I tested a squad with Rillaboom, Primarina (a mon I just used), Blaziken with coaching (A Pokémon that actually really impressed me) and Kingambit on the squad but the two aspects of the team didn’t blend well together at all! Blaziken was by far the superior leader here.

I decided to scrap that Idea and thought about an offensive Galarian Weezing, just like the one Wolfe Glick had recently used. I actually used the exact 4 moveslots here. Even though earlier I tested with Tera Flying, tera Fire was much needed vs Gholdengo. The next partner was Garchomp that synergized well now that it can’t be burned by Will-o-Wisps but the move choice of Dragon claw gets put in jeopardy.

Upnext I decided to go with Kingambit, a mon I tested and actually liked a fair bit just earlier. I needed a hard Garchomp counter because it was kind of killing the vibe here; so Baxcalibur it was! Lastly a raincore, Gholdengo, Dozo Matchup patch could be really sweet so I felt Gastrodon fits in the best checking all the boxes.

Following is the team with the final spreads and Important calcs:

Drifblim @ Misty Seed  Ability: Unburden  Level: 50  Tera Type: Dark  EVs: 20 HP / 4 Atk / 236 Def / 188 SpD / 60 Spe  Jolly Nature  - Trick Room  - Acrobatics  - Tailwind  - Imprison	Weezing-Galar @ Choice Specs  Ability: Misty Surge  Level: 50  Tera Type: Fire  EVs: 252 HP / 28 Def / 148 SpA / 4 SpD / 76 Spe  Modest Nature  IVs: 0 Atk  - Sludge Bomb  - Strange Steam  - Dazzling Gleam  - Overheat	Garchomp @ Life Orb  Ability: Rough Skin  Level: 50  Tera Type: Steel  EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe  Jolly Nature  - Stomping Tantrum  - Dragon Claw  - Protect  - Earthquake
Kingambit @ Assault Vest  Ability: Defiant  Level: 50  Tera Type: Ghost  EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD  Adamant Nature  - Kowtow Cleave  - Sucker Punch  - Low Kick  - Iron Head	Baxcalibur @ Loaded Dice  Ability: Thermal Exchange  Level: 50  Tera Type: Poison  EVs: 228 HP / 140 Atk / 4 Def / 44 SpD / 92 Spe  Adamant Nature  - Ice Shard  - Icicle Spear  - High Horsepower  - Protect	Gastrodon @ Leftovers  Ability: Storm Drain  Level: 50  Tera Type: Poison  EVs: 172 HP / 236 Def / 92 SpA / 4 SpD / 4 Spe  Modest Nature  IVs: 0 Atk  - Earth Power  - Yawn  - Protect  - Clear Smog

 Pokepaste:https://pokepast.es/6534b1a06c02db7e

Calculations:

Weezing: Outspeeds Maushold in Tailwind 252+ Atk Life Orb Garchomp Stomping Tantrum vs. 252 HP / 28+ Def Weezing-Galar: 140-166 (81.3 - 96.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Sitrus Berry recovery 252 Atk Life Orb Garchomp Stomping Tantrum vs. 252 HP / 28 Def Weezing-Galar: 140-166 (81.3 - 96.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Sitrus Berry recover 148+ SpA Tera-Fire Weezing-Galar Flamethrower vs. 4 HP / 0 SpD Gholdengo: 126-150 (77.3 - 92%) -- guaranteed 2HKO 148+ SpA Tera-Fire Weezing-Galar Overheat vs. 4 HP / 0 SpD Gholdengo: 182-216 (111.6 - 132.5%) -- guaranteed OHKO 148+ SpA Tera-Fire Weezing-Galar Overheat vs. 236 HP / 28 SpD Gholdengo: 174-206 (90.6 - 107.2%) -- 50% chance to OHKO

Drifblim 252+ SpA Choice Specs Gholdengo Shadow Ball vs. +1 4 HP / 180 SpD Drifblim: 188-224 (83.1 - 99.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO 252+ SpA Choice Specs Tera-Steel Gholdengo Make It Rain vs. +1 4 HP / 180 SpD Drifblim: 142-168 (62.8 - 74.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO 252+ SpA Choice Specs Tera-Fire Torkoal Eruption (150 BP) vs. +1 20 HP / 188 SpD Drifblim in Sun: 194-230 (85 - 100.8%) -- 6.3% chance to OHKO 252+ Atk Kingambit Kowtow Cleave vs. 20 HP / 236 Def Drifblim: 210-248 (92.1 - 108.7%) -- 56.3% chance to OHKO   4 Atk Drifblim Acrobatics (110 BP) vs. 4 HP / 0 Def Sneasler: 158-188 (101.2 - 120.5%) -- guaranteed OHKO

Baxcalibur 252+ SpA Primarina Moonblast vs. 228 HP / 44 SpD Baxcalibur: 186-222 (84.9 - 101.3%) -- 6.3% chance to OHKO 140+ Atk Baxcalibur Icicle Spear (4 hits) vs. 4 HP / 0 Def Sneasler: 144-172 (92.3 - 110.2%) -- approx. 81.3% chance to OHKO 140+ Atk Baxcalibur High Horsepower vs. 236 HP / 44 Def Gholdengo: 120-142 (62.5 - 73.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery

Gastrodon 92+ SpA Gastrodon Earth Power vs. 252 HP / 68 SpD Assault Vest Archaludon: 102-120 (51.7 - 60.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO +4 4 Def Archaludon Body Press vs. 116 HP / 252 Def Gastrodon: 113-134 (56.2 - 66.6%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery +4 4 Def Archaludon Body Press vs. 172 HP / 236 Def Gastrodon: 116-137 (55.7 - 65.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery

 This was a rather short writeup, and admittedly I did not put a lot of effort into making these teams as I have done in the past, I still felt like sharing these is worth. I hope you enjoyed reading through. Bye for now!