NU Juggernaut

[Valkyria]

I've always been fond of non-OU tiers. Although I play mostly Monotype, I built this NU team to see how far it could go. My expectations were shattered by it's ridiculous success. In the first four battles, it 6-0'd three OU teams and beat an Uber team with 4 pokemon remaining.

Let's meet the superstars.

Persephone (Masquerain) (F) @ Leftovers

Trait: Intimidate

EVs: 248 HP / 92 Def / 168 Spd

Bold Nature (+Def, -Atk)

- Quiver Dance

- Bug Buzz

- Roost

- Baton Pass

Not only is shiny Masquerain one of the most stunning pokemon in the game, but it's a beast of a lead. It's the only pokemon that can Quiver Dance and Roost. I invested generous EVs in defence, which when coupled with Intimidate, allows it to survive non-rock physical attacks very well. Just enough speed EVs are used to outspeed timid/jolly base 130 pokemon after 2 quiver dances. Masquerain rapidly accumulaters boosts, roosts off damage, and either proceeds to sweep with STAB bug buzz, or baton pass the power to a better suited teammate.

Prometheus (Octillery) (M) @ Leftovers

Trait: Moody

EVs: 248 HP / 4 Atk / 4 SAtk / 252 Spd

Naive Nature (+Spd, -SDef)

- Protect

- Substitute

- Surf

- Bullet Seed

The most common recipient of Masquerain's passes, Octillery just flat out PWNS. With just 1 quiver dance, it outspeeds the vast majority of OU pokemon. With 2, the opponent is in serious trouble. With 3 or more, the match is practically won. The Protect & Substitute combo stocks up on a +2 boost to a random stat every turn, tranforming octillery into a massive tank or a fearsome sweeper. Evasion +2 boosts are seriously awesome, and allows Octillery to set up free substitutes, behind which it can collect even more boosts. Surf is a reliable STAB attack, and Bullet Seed breaks through opponent's subs and obliterates Unaware Quagsires.

Poseidon (Gastrodon-East) (M) @ Leftovers

Trait: Storm Drain

EVs: 252 HP / 4 SAtk / 252 SDef

Calm Nature (+SDef, -Atk)

- Scald

- Earth Power

- Recover

- Toxic

One of my two Special Defence tanks. Access to dual STABs as well as a crippling status and reliable recovery makes Gastrodon a very valuble team member. It can also occasionally be put to offensive use if I correctly predict a water attack, allowing Gastrodon to hit 331 SpA.

Hades (Haunter) (F) @ Focus Sash

Trait: Levitate

EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd

Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)

- Shadow Ball

- Destiny Bond

- Sludge Bomb

- Giga Drain

Gengar Jr. Reliable dual stabs and very good speed makes Haunter my revenge killer of choice. The focus sash & destiny bond combo wastes any slower revenge killers the opponent sends out.

Aphrodite (Audino) (F) @ Leftovers

Trait: Regenerator

EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SDef

Calm Nature (+SDef, -Atk)

- Wish

- Protect

- Heal Bell

- Toxic

The cleric of my team, as well as a squishy special sponge. With 252 HP, it can pass huge Wishes to either teammates or itself. Very useful as a toxic staller, and can clear up any status effects teammates might have.

Argus (Tangela) (M) @ Eviolite

Trait: Regenerator

EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 6 SDef

Bold Nature (+Def, -Atk)

- Sleep Powder

- Leech Seed

- Giga Drain

- Sludge Bomb

I've been using tangela since eviolite came out, and he never ceases to amaze me. Reaching a mammoth 541 Defence without any boosts, it can even survive Victini's V-create. How freaky is that? With Leech Seed, Giga Drain and Regenerator, it can tank hits and recover with ease. My go-to guy for any physical attacker the opponent throws at me.

What threatens this team on the NU tier?

Edited May 19, 2012 by Valkyria

[Noivy]

Tropius could be a possible threat to this team. The Lum Harvest with Leech Seed and Rest build automatically shuts down Gastrodon and Audino in a stall war, and will also wall Octillery, assuming that Moody (Which IS INDEED AN OverUsed ABILITY HERE, we havent implemented it's ban yet) isnt in the field. To check that you have Masqurain and Haunter, though Tropius can do a good job in walling Special attacks.

[Kiozo]

Couple things.

Venomoth AND Butterfree can learn both Quiver and Roost...and Venomoth can pass..and run that entire set.

Those ev's you listed give Gastrodon 331 SpA after a drain boost.

Tangela gets 541 Defense after the hold item.

[Valkyria]

If Octillery w/ Moody is ever removed from the NU tier, I'm giving him the boot. Suction cups might work to stop roar/whirlwind, but I'll probably still kick him out. As long as he has Moody though, he has a good chance of beating Tropius.

Bat, the info you provided is very valuble. My source was http://www.serebii.net/attackdex-bw/roost.shtml. Did not know venomoth could run that set until you pointed it out. Intimidate vs Compoundeyes...tough choice made easy due to Venomoth being UU. If it was NU, I would seriously consider it.

Gastro's and Tangela's stats were from memory. Thank you for the more accurate data. Will update.

[Kiozo]

It will be when the tier is updated, rest assured.

I'm just going by whatever is on the PO client/server right now, honestly. I know that it's great to have a search engine, but if PO/the engine doesn't have it, than it's not useful . So I get affiliated with the way the actual program works...it helps you find things quicker and you will get extra ideas out of it.

Veno/Masq is a good question no one thinks of. Masq has a great feel to its intimidate and whatnot, but Venomoth's speed and sleep powder helps out a lot. It's a huge toss up, but the sleep and speed usually tosses people to Venomoth.

No problem, I actually found those very weird because I too, run both of the Pokemon similarly, and for a while, and memory served me otherwise . Figured you might wanna know here before a battle makes you go O_O.