Hi everyone, I’m Junghoon Jang, also known as Miel. I’m here to share with you guys the team I used at Korean Nationals, where I made it to the finals. Last year I also managed to top cut, though I was still in the Seniors division. This time I managed to come up as the runner-up, and given that I competed in Masters, this means a lot more to me.
Teambuilding
In season 1 to 3, I could not prepare much so this time I started practice 2 weeks before Nationals. I expected RayOgre to be dominant, so built based on Kyogre + Zekrom core which seemed strong against RayOgre.
Based on bit of SpringsVGC’s season 3 team, I tried Icy Wind Kyogre + Icy Wind / Telekinesis Tapu Fini + Telekinesis Stakataka, which would cause Bolt Strike to hit all the time. I thought it would be strong and practiced with it. But the team actually did not work well and did not win much, so Kyogre Zekrom was probably not the play.
I was looking through which restricted Pokémon to use, and discovered that Ho-Oh learns weather ball! This strengthened my Groudon match ups and was especially strong against XernDon. So I decided to use this core and ‘let’s make this strong against RayOgre’ was my theme.
My first thoughts were these six. But Scrafty had literally no usage, and since I had both Togedemaru and Koko on the team, I has to use Assault Vest Koko – which wasn’t so pleasing as well.
Second version, I fixed some stuff and was better than the first one, but it was weak to Rayquaza.
Third version, I tried Mawile so as to be strong against Rayquaza, leaving out Gengar which was kind of left out. This was what I used until the day before the tour, but was very weak against Togedemaru + Kyogre and even just Kyogre by its own. Juyoung Hong, 2017 Senior World Champion gave me some advice including that this can’t win Kyogre and Mawile doesn’t look like a good fit on the team.
So I came back to Gengar, gave Fairium Z to Koko (for Rayquaza), Will-O-Wisp on Gengar, and Pinch Berry (from what was Flynium Z) on Ho-Oh to stand attacks from Salamence and Rayquaza. In retrospect, I feel Pinch Berry saved my top 16 match. I felt satisfied with this team, so decided to use this.
The team
▶️ Get the importable version of the team here!
Ho-Oh @ Mago Berry
Ability: Pressure
Level: 50
EVs: 244 HP / 156 Atk / 20 SpA / 4 SpD / 84 Spe
Adamant Nature
– Brave Bird
– Sacred Fire
– Tailwind
– Weather Ball
The special attack allows Weather Ball in rain to OHKOs H252 D156 Primal Groudon. The speed outspeeds scarfed Tapu Lele with Tailwind.
This is the only speed control on the team, and manages well against Groudon / Xerneas. But I never faced any XernDon this tour. This set has a bit of drawbacks. I originally thought that the 20 EVs invest on Sp.A wouldn’t be necessary elsewhere, but turns out if I give 20 on Sp.D I can stand 44 SpA Primal Kyogre spread Origin Pulse.
Kyogre-Primal @ Blue Orb
Ability: Primordial Sea
Level: 50
EVs: 252 HP / 204 Def / 52 SpA
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
– Water Spout
– Origin Pulse
– Ice Beam
– Protect
The bulk withstands banded Mega-Rayquaza’s Dragon Ascent.
This is the weather setter for Ho-Oh’s weather ball, and a strong Pokémon. Knocking out Incineroar at once is very good, and full health Kyogre in tailwind is a beast.
Gengar-Mega @ Gengarite
Ability: Shadow Tag
Level: 50
EVs: 68 HP / 4 Def / 36 SpA / 148 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
– Sludge Bomb
– Will-O-Wisp
– Taunt
– Protect
The bulk withstands Modest 100 SpA Primal Kyogre’s spread Origin Pulse in rain.
If mega evolves, it helps by just being on the field. It really did its job. Taunt was the slot I had thoughts on, and lots of moves – Perish Song, Disable, Trick Room- were my second thoughts but Taunt seemed strong against Xerneas. Sadly I never met one and never used it. Maybe Trick Room would have been better?
Ferrothorn @ Figy Berry
Ability: Iron Barbs
Level: 50
EVs: 252 HP / 108 Atk / 148 SpD
Sassy Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
– Gyro Ball
– Power Whip
– Leech Seed
– Protect
The bulk takes two +2 252 SpA timid Xerneas’ Moonblast, and pops Pinch Berry.
This was the MVP for the tour. It stood many water type attacks from Kyogres, so clearly worked well in Korea.
Incineroar @ Aguav Berry
Ability: Intimidate
Level: 50
EVs: 236 HP / 236 SpD / 36 Spe
Careful Nature
– Fake Out
– U-turn
– Snarl
– Snatch
The bulk takes +2 252 SpA timid Xerneas’ Moonblast.
Incineroar makes better the match ups against Lunala and Necrozmas. Originally I had Protect instead of Snatch, but I changed it since opponents using Tailwind was hard to play aginst. I only used it once, and it failed.
Tapu Koko @ Fairium Z
Ability: Electric Surge
Level: 50
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
– Thunderbolt
– Volt Switch
– Dazzling Gleam
– Protect
Banded Rayquaza was more viable and Salamence was hard to deal with, so I changed to Fairium Z from Focus Sash. This allowed me to KO opposing Koko, so it was quite good to run.
Closing words
I decided to write this team report because this is my first Masters top cut at a major event, and since I did so with a rather unusual team of Kyogre and Ho-Oh, I wanted to share it with you all. Not playing against XernDon even once was a bummer, but coming in 2nd place is quite satisfying. The next tour would be held on the Nintendo Switch console and I don’t have one yet, but I wish to see you all there!
