Simisear aka Dat Monkey @ Salac Berry Ability: Gluttony EV's: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd Modest Nature (+SAtk, -Atk) - Substitute - Nasty Plot - Flamethrower/Fire Blast - Hidden Power [Grass]/Focus Blast Self explanatory Nasty Plot set yet creative and under-rated. Getting hit by stealth rocks actually helps so as soon as dis monkey switches in, sub and get your salac boost. Your choice with flamethrower or fire blast but I prefer to hit than to miss.... Last slot depends on your team, I prefer Hp Grass to Focus Miss but just make sure your opponents fire types are out of the way. I advise to go with Modest as it makes a difference.
I'd give some other Hidden Powers some love too, such as Electric and Ground. Electric for Mantine, and Ground simply for great neutral coverage. Very few things resist both (ironically Mantine is one of them. :( )
Giving this a bump: Lairon @ Custap Berry Ability: Sturdy EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def Brave nature -Metal Burst -Endeavor -Stealth Rock -Head Smash Bit of a random idea I had while writing the analysis for Lairon earlier. Basically SturdyBurst with a few extra assets. Once Lairon's been reduced to 1 HP (hopefully), it activates its Custap Berry and can use Endeavor, all but taking another poke out with it. If that doesn't appeal, Custap Rocks can get them out before Lairon dies. Head Smash is there mostly for filler, but the recoil from a lack of Rock Head gives it an unorthodox means of blocking Rapid Spin. If you successfully get Rocks up, this could be a decent means of keeping them there. I didn't go into a huge explanation bcus lazy, but on paper this looks amazing. Thoughts?
Lampent @ Eviolite Abillity: Flash Fire EVs: 252 HP 252 Def 4 SpD Bold Nature -Flamethrower -Shadow Ball -Will-O-Wisp -Pain Split This is a defensive lampent that abuses his immunities to Fighting, Normal, and Fire type moves. He isn't meant to counter sawk unless you're 100% sure they'll ice punch/CC, he is meant to deter your opponent from using fighting type moves. He can take a banded EQ/SE from sawk, although he really doesn't like it. He's a nice counter to things like tangela and Klingklang as well. He's also a hard counter to Emboar since he can take a banded EQ and superpower/flare blitz do nothing, literately. A specially defensive set is also rather nice and can be used to counter things like Charizard, completely blocking fire blast, and simisage/serperior. He's also a good answer to dusclops, able to take a will o and hit clops w/ SE shadow balls to 3hko, if clops carries night shade it gets off decent damage, but the superior move is seismic toss from my testing so clops shouldn't really be able to touch it. Lampent is also a nice counter to things like Cacturn who only carry sucker punch to hit it for SE damage allowing you to burn it. You get a free switch into many things and are able to just get a free hit off. Paired up with wartortle, they form a nice NFE core that stops many things. Lampent is a pretty versatile poke as well, being able to run specs, trick room, and offensive sub split sets as well so your opponent will be caught off guard. It also fully stops Afro Smashes Monferno :]
Here's a set I like to use: Altaria @ Leftovers Trait: Natural Cure EVs: 248 HP / 196 Atk / 64 Spd Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk) - Dragon Dance - Roost - Dragon Claw - Substitute Boring EV spread explanation: Spoiler Enough speed to hit 318 after a Dragon Dance which outspeeds stuff like Houndoom, Sawsbuck, Haunter etc. There's nothing more that you need to outrun really, as stuff like Electabuzz often runs HP Grass or they're scarfed anyway. The rest is dumped in HP to get a nice leftovers number + 4 SR switch ins with 353 hp, and the rest is used to maximize attack. After one DD you're on the same level as Adamant max attack Druddigon, which is pretty good. Substitute lets you set up on Alomomola, Seismitoad, Ferroseed, Misdreavus and Tangela without HP Ice (which honestly it should be running less and less, HP Fire is more useful for hitting Ferroseed nowadays). I like this EV spread a lot better than what Smogon recommends, because now at least you get some power without having to set up to +6 (and still not 2HKO'ing Alomomola).[/HIDE] So Altaria barely gets used anymore which is kinda sad because it's a great poke. Dragon/Flying typing is unique in NU, and provides Altaria with so many useful resistances and she has great bulk to make use of them. This set imo makes the best use out of Altaria's traits. It can tank hits and Roost off damage, absorb status thanks to Natural Cure, has one of the best boosting moves ingame as well as the best offensive STAB. Just cover Klinklang and Altaria will always do well on your team~
Apologies. I can see the advantage that spread has over Smogons - you would hit harder sooner, but it would be easier to revenge kill. I've never had good results with Altaria, although I have seen it used well by other people. Anyway, a set I've used with good success. Rotom-S @ Damp Rock Trait: Levitate Modest Nature (+SAtk -Atk) EV: 248 HP, 8 Def, 252 SAtk Rain Dance Volt Switch Thunder Air Slash/HP Water Designed to support Rain Dance teams. It sets up Rain, and then uses a slow Volt Switch to safely bring in a teammate. If you want to leave Rotom-S in, Thunder's there for a super powerful STAB. Air Slash is another STAB which does good damage to the bulky Grass types standing in the way of your Rain sweeper. HP Water on the other hand gets a pseudo STAB in rain and hurts the bulky Ground types Rotom-S lures in. EVs maximise bulk and power, with HP odd for Stealth Rock.
I actually posted a very similar set to that on the Rotom-S analysis, only it was faster instead of bulky. If only the little guy got Hurricane, huh? D:
Hurricane charizard! On a more serious note, hp water o-o seems out of place, I guess he'll get pseudo stab with the rain up and it'll hit rock/ground types. Any specific pokes you're carrying it for? Also, if you want to make sure you're slower, maybe - speed nature and 0 speed ivs? guaranteed safe switch in unless they have something that's really slow.
I'd use Hidden Power Grass on Rotom-S, if using Hidden Power. It hits Gastrodon and Seismitoad while still destroying Golem, Rhydon, and other ground types/Rock types. Standard set's typically Scarf/Ebelt/Specs with Tbolt/VoltSwitch/AirSlah/Trick or HpGrass. No offense to anyone, but it doesn't have many options. Of course, a bulky set is viable with will o wisp or TWave, but outside that it is pretty limited, in my opinion.
Yeah you're right HP Grass would be better. No Rotom-S doesn't have a whole lot of options, but a Rain Dance support set is surprisingly effective. It would be epic if it got Hurricane, mind you NU might lose it since it would work well in OU's rain teams. Still, Gen 6 is coming...