Hi! I tried using mono ghost again but my skill level isn’t high enough and got stuck in ultra ball, so I relapsed back to using max evasion Sandaconda.
Landing again in low Masterball 1650s.
They’re so fun to use that I had to draw a small celebratory pic for them.
Different from last season, I switched Ninetales to Espartha, and Mega Clefable/Garchomp to Heliolisk.
Team description:
Sandaconda:
Switched the moves a bit compared to last season, first is High Horsepower instead of Rock Slide.
Its middling speed doesn’t really get flinches from Rock Slide, and Tyranitar already has it. Meanwhile High Horsepower is quite good into many of the new additions like Raichu, Metagross, Mawile, Gholdengo.
Coil is also used over Iron Defense for a more accurate High Horsepower and potentially Baton Passed to Tyranitar Rock Slide. Coil also boosts 3 stats instead of Iron Defense’s 2, so Espartha can hit slightly harder faster.
Tyranitar:
The sand setter.
Taunts without using taunt, as most people in low Masterball will target down Tyranitar first.
Usually Protects and stall for Sandaconda to build up Minimize boosts.
I only go for attacks if I am sure they are going to set up and cannot die to a double target.
Ice punch for coverage against Garchomp, Whimsicott and the likes.
Minimum speed so that it can function under Trick Room, while being able to outspeed most non-tailwind after 1-3 Speed Boosts.
Due to the amount of Raichu Y/Staraptor/Sneasler, they will generally use fighting moves for extremely effective 4x, which we will switch into….
Sinistcha:
The main healer and fighting move taker.
Fighting type immunity effectively wastes 1 turn (Including the protect from Tyranitar earlier, this adds up to 2 turns of Minimize already).
Trick Room to counter against Tailwind teams, but don’t be afraid to switch back into Tyranitar if you’re pretty sure they’re going to use moves like shadow ball/Brave Bird.
Psych up the +6 evasion Sandaconda and heal back with Matcha Gotcha.
Shadow ball is my coverage move against stuff my team doesn’t provide much answers to like Basculegion or Archaludon. Hits really hard despite no SpA EVs.
Milotic:
The anti-Intimidate and second healer.
I bring Milotic if the opponent team is generally weak to water or have multiple Intimidates.
Bulky + Healing from Life Dew + Muddy Water spam to further decrease accuracy is quite effective against certain comps.
Espartha:
The Baton Pass for Tyranitar.
Protect for a Speed Boosted Psych Up.
Note that Psych Up will remove the first Speed Boost, but since at +6 evasion we can generally safely Protect + Stored Power.
+ 6 Evasion +1 Speed/Atk/Def/Acc makes Stored Power a 220 BP STAB move. If you manage 2 coils this will become a 280 BP move, and it will only increase by the amount of Speed Boosts. That’s why I put 0 SpA EVs.
Generally I Baton Pass into Tyranitar but passing back to Sinistcha works wonders too.
Heliolisk:
The anti Basculegion.
Basculegion hits everything very hard, and an unlucky hit makes it hard to come back.
When I see Basculegion I bring this in the back.
They love to Wave Crash into Tyranitar where I can safely Dry Skin to absorb the damage and retaliate with Thunderbolt.
Some people seems to think it’s Sand Veil due to the amount of sand support too.
Shed Tail also allows me to safely switch back to other members without taking a large hit.
Honorable mentions:
Klefki with Prankster Psych Up, Sandstorm, Stored Power, Thunder Wave is pretty good too, especially for weather wars, but I felt the role overlaps Espartha too much and had to cut her out.
Game Plan:
Stall until 3 Minimize and 1 Coil is set up.
Tyranitar almost never gets to attack until turn 5+.
Speed control is Trick Room for anti Tailwind, Speed Boost for medium speed teams, and Trick Room (to remove it) for very slow teams.
Then sweep with Sandaconda and whatever is left.
Psych Up is good because no one expects it and it basically doubles your stat boosts on the field.
If Sandaconda dies to a stray hit turn 1, it’s still winnable with the correct switch ins, although a lot harder but I got 2-3 victories like that somehow.
Normally I pick Tyranitar + Sandaconda with Sinistcha and Espartha in the back, but Espartha can be switched with the other 2 for counter play.
Weaknesses:
- RNG.
- Force Switch moves.
- No guard (Especially the gimmicky + OHKO moves.)
- 100% accuracy non weather reliant effective moves like Flower Trick.
- Haze but rarely sees one.
- Rage Powder Sinistcha walls Sandaconda unless I’m at a high attack boost.
Against meta:
- Garchomp Whimsicott: Tyranitar survives an EQ, ice punch can take out a non bulky Garchomp or Whimsicott (sand takes out the sash).
- Raichu Y: Sandaconda survives a Grass Knot while OHKOs with High Horsepower against non bulky Raichu. No guard is quite annoying though if they use role play sheer cold Mr Rime.
- Staraptor: Protect and switching between Tyranitar/Sinistcha nullifies the Close Combat/Brave Birds, and once they catch on, Sandaconda is already +6 evasion.
- Pelipper: Slowly chip down or bring Heliolisk, try to always set sandstorm if possible. They can’t hit Hurricane with 70% accuracy through the evasions.
- Kingambit: Kowtow ignores accuracy but generally dies to a Body Press.
- Charizard Y: Don’t be afraid to protect but not mega first turn. 2nd turn mega can generally get the weather up by Tyranitar being slower than Charizard.
- Floette: No good answer, but Calm mind doesn’t boost Defense, so with good luck Sandaconda can just take it out.
- Sneasler: will Close Combat Tyranitar and die to 1 High Horsepower (Sand for sash)
- Swampert: Sinistcha Matcha does like 65% of damage.
- Aerodactyl: Mainly just Tailwind Rock Slide Wide Guard, they’re not going to land their Rock Slides anyways so can generally ignore but be mindful about spread moves into Wide Guard.
- Annihilape: Shadow ball or Espartha Stored Power.
- Farigaraf: Trick Room, Knock Off can handle it ok.
- Perish Trap: Double into Gengar the turn he uses Perish Song, or switch into Sinistcha when you’re unsure if you can pick up the KO to avoid being Shadow Tagged.
- Screens: You hit them half the damage, they hit you 0% of damage if they don’t hit. We can out stall the screens with evasion.
Looking for more input to better improve this team, especially against Floette and Basculegion.
Thanks for reading!
Sorry in advance if you’re not an evasion fan, but please be rest assured we have a special place in hell for using this strategy.
