RBY old timer needs a team rate

[Deleted]

Hey guys. Can't believe an actual RBY community still exists =) Anyway, I haven't played serious RBY in four years, and I don't really know the metagame right now, so could you guys help a fellow RBYer out and rate my team?

Venomoth:
Sleep Powder
Stun Spore
Psychic
Supersonic

THE fastest Double Powderer in RBY, hands down (picked this up from a guy named CHaRiZaRd of AZURE, in case you guys hung out at Pojo or Azure Heights during the glory days of 2001). Supersonic is in there for paraconfusion. Psychic is there just because.

Starmie:
Thunderbolt
Thunder Wave
Blizzard
Recover

Standard Starmie.

Sandslash:
Slash
Earthquake
Sand-Attack
Substitute

A very interesting moveset (also picked this up from my RBY mentor CHaR). The idea is to predict the Thunder Wave and switch to this guy. Predict the opponent's switch by Subbing up, then nail the opponent with a Sand-Attack, and then go crazy with Slash or Earthquake. If the going gets rough, switch. Your next Pokemon would have a 37% chance of not getting hit, which is better than 0% IMO.

Tauros:
Body Slam
Earthquake
Blizzard
Hyper Beam

Standard Tauros. Pure AWESOMENESS.

Snorlax:
Body Slam
Hyper Beam
Surf
Selfdestruct

Classic Fishlax.

Alakazam:
Seismic Toss
Thunder Wave
Psychic
Recover

Standard fare Alakazam.

So what do you guys think? I tried to spice up the team a bit with Venomoth and Sandslash, but I've recently been experimenting with Golem or Rhydon in place of Sandslash. Any comments and suggestions would be very much appreciated. Thank you!

Lugia7777

[GGFan]

Venomoth:
Sleep Powder
Stun Spore
Psychic
Supersonic

"THE fastest Double Powderer in RBY, hands down (picked this up from a guy named CHaRiZaRd of AZURE, in case you guys hung out at Pojo or Azure Heights during the glory days of 2001). Supersonic is in there for paraconfusion. Psychic is there just because."

I'm not too big a fan of Venomoth, it really can't do that much besides double powder. Plus if your up against something like Gengar, Starmie or Alakazam, this sort of gets nullified to an extent. I would really recommend dumping this, Jynx is a faster sleeper and can paralyze switch ins too with Body Slam. Plus Jynx is a MUCH better attacker as well.

Starmie:
Thunderbolt
Thunder Wave
Blizzard
Recover

"Standard Starmie."

Yeah.

Sandslash:
Slash
Earthquake
Sand-Attack
Substitute

"A very interesting moveset (also picked this up from my RBY mentor CHaR). The idea is to predict the Thunder Wave and switch to this guy. Predict the opponent's switch by Subbing up, then nail the opponent with a Sand-Attack, and then go crazy with Slash or Earthquake. If the going gets rough, switch. Your next Pokemon would have a 37% chance of not getting hit, which is better than 0% IMO."

CHaR was in THE Alternatives first tournament, although he didn't play. Anyways, I'm not too big on Sandslash with Swords Dance. I dont see much point without it, since Swords Dance lets it become a better attacker than Golem and Rhydon and needs it to combat other Pokemon. Sand Attack is only going to work on certain scenarios, basically if you can get a sub up to begin with. I feel in standard, there aren't that many situations where a Pokemon will have to switch out against Sandslash, especially because Sub is a common move on Sandslash. Swords Dance is definitely better over Sand Attack here.

Tauros:
Body Slam
Earthquake
Blizzard
Hyper Beam

"Standard Tauros. Pure AWESOMENESS."

Needs more Fire Blast/Thunder/Take Down IMO.

Snorlax:
Body Slam
Hyper Beam
Surf
Selfdestruct

"Classic Fishlax."

Most Snorlax these days have EQ over Surf, but you can use this too. Just beware of Gengar.

Alakazam:
Seismic Toss
Thunder Wave
Psychic
Recover

"Standard fare Alakazam."

I personally like Reflect over Seismic Toss but that's just me.

"So what do you guys think? I tried to spice up the team a bit with Venomoth and Sandslash, but I've recently been experimenting with Golem or Rhydon in place of Sandslash. Any comments and suggestions would be very much appreciated. Thank you!"

Venomoth needs to be dumped IMO. Dump it for Jynx or Gengar. You have good physical power with both Tauros and Snorlax, the team is pretty good besides Venomoth. You can always try Chansey or Exeggutor over Sandslash if Sandslash isn't cutting it. Or Golem or Rhydon too.

Lugia7777

[Deleted]

Hmmm... if Swords Dance is used on Sandslash, shouldn't Slash be dumped in favor of Rock Slide?

[Kampfer]

Venomoth:
Sleep Powder
Stun Spore
Psychic
Supersonic

Poor lead. It may be the fastest doubel powderer, but like GG fan stated, that is it. It gets no STAB, and most standard leads will ouspeed and destroy it with its average special. Jynx, Gengar and Exeggutor all carry Psychic, and will blast you in the face by exploiting Venomoth's Poison Type. At least Jynx has high speed and special and gets STAB Blizzard and Psychic.


Starmie:
Thunderbolt
Thunder Wave
Blizzard
Recover

STANDARD²
Sandslash:
Slash
Earthquake
Sand-Attack
Substitute

Like GGFan said, Swords Dance is needed. And if you Sand Attack, you'll have a vulgar comment thrown your way proceeded by a forfiet.

Tauros:
Body Slam
Earthquake
Blizzard
Hyper Beam

STANDARD²
Snorlax:
Body Slam
Hyper Beam
Surf
Selfdestruct

I do prefer EQ, but surf IS a suprise these days. Especially if they switch in a flyer expecting the EQ.

Alakazam:
Seismic Toss
Thunder Wave
Psychic
Recover

I actually prefer reflect over Seimic Toss. Gives Alakazam a fighting chance against physical attackers.

Overall:

Dump Venomoth, as he really doesn't belong in standard play. Eggy is a better double powderer since he has more stability, STAB Psychic, and can Explode. I'd also reccomend changing Sandslash, but he is a good UU and thats your call. You do a good job including status where you can, but you should have a backup sleeper in the event that your primary one gets KO'd or sleeped himself. One thing I do notice is the lack of an EQ sponge. I do stongly belive all teams shoudl have at least one flyier, preferably Dragonite or Zapdos since they don't have Electric weakness like other flying types in the game do (although, still watchout for Ice).

[GGFan]

"Hmmm... if Swords Dance is used on Sandslash, shouldn't Slash be dumped in favor of Rock Slide?"

No, Rock Slide is pretty crappy in RBY, it doesn't really do that much. It mainly hits Articuno and Zapdos, Articuno OHKOs Sandslash though and it already nullifies Zapdos' electric attacks. You could try EQ/Swords Dance/Slash or Body Slam/Hyper Beam, Slash or Body Slam.

"Like GGFan said, Swords Dance is needed. And if you Sand Attack, you'll have a vulgar comment thrown your way proceeded by a forfiet."

Well, I dont think Sand Attack is really frowned upon in competitive play, unless Smogon made some rule about it and all the zombies there obeyed as usual.

[Kampfer]

Well, in a way it IS an evasion booster. Its actually worse thatn Double Team since it still remains when you make the switch.

[GGFan]

It goes away if you switch out. It only works on the targeted Pokemon.

[Deleted]

The point of Sand-Attack was to induce a switch or risk being mauled by Slash and Earthquake while missing 37% of the time.

[GGFan]

Essentially, you're taking just as much of a risk by keeping Sandslash in. Sandslash outspeeds Snorlax, Exeggutor, Chansey, Lapras, Golem and Rhydon in standard. Exeggutor, Lapras and Chansey maul Sandslash with their respective attacks (Psychic, Ice Beam/Blizzard and Mega Drain). I dont think Golem and Rhydon would stay in to begin with unless they had no choice. What I'm saying, I think Sandslash has better things to do then roll dice and play Russian Roulette.

[Deleted]

Meh, before that unlucky battle, I decided to switch out Sandslash with Eggy, although Jynx raped him...

[GGFan]

;X

Well dont feel too bad, it would have raped Sandslash too. ;/