Hey everyone, I am Max Gil, mostly known as Asurah. I am a Senior Division VGC player who started playing about 1 year and a half ago. I haven’t done well in events until a few months ago, when I started to consistently cut events, back in late Series 7, and now, in Series 9, it’s where I feel I started to actually do well.
I want to thank all people who supported and congratulated me for my result at the VR Circuit: Spring Series Qualifier #5!
Teambuilding process
First of all, most of you will see the team and say: This is the Qualifier #2 team of Kyle Geffner (North), why is he making a report on it? Well, it kind of is, but I already built something really similar before North won the tournament. I was on call with friends a week or so after Series 9 Zelda Challenge and we thought about sun + Regirock + screens. We agreed Venusaur + screens was really good, so we built around it this version with Regieleki.
We thought this could be good, but we didn’t do well with it. We still thought it was an interesting team, but we knew we had to change things, so this is how we ended up with the second version of this team.
This was way better than the first version, because we didn’t use Regieleki at all. Spectrier gave us a more passive lead, and more ways to deal with Thundurus, Landorus (Therian) and it helped against Tapu Fini because of Taunt and Snarl.
We did better with this version of the team, and like two days after this North won with something really similar. We realized that his team was way better than ours for some reasons:
- Coba Berry Venusaur felt so much better when leading it next to Porygon2.
- Ice Beam was better than Ally Switch on Porygon2 to deal with Landorus (Therian).
- Curse + Drain Punch Regirock was strong, and Ice Punch wasn’t 100% necessary.
- Spectrier and Zapdos did different jobs, but having another Dynamax option next to Grimmsnarl was really good, though I didn’t use it too much.
So, after I saw this team I thought it was a better version, and decided I wanted to use it. A few days after that, Jackson Finch (Mao) and North did a report, so I finally decided to apply those changes to the team.
The Team
Get the team’s paste here!
Venusaur-Gmax @ Coba Berry
Ability: Chlorophyll
Level: 50
Gigantamax: Yes
EVs: 148 HP / 156 SpA / 204 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
– Sleep Powder
– Frenzy Plant
– Sludge Bomb
– Earth Power
Venusaur is the most important member of the team, and also the most common Dynamax (Gigantamax in this case). G-Max Vine Lash and Special Attack boosts are really useful next to almost every Pokémon in the team. It can make Porygon2 a huge threat if it gets the Download and Max Ooze boost, and it can also make Torkoal or Regirock really oppressive with the G-Max Vine Lash damage, KOing almost everything with their powerful spread moves.
Speed is to outspeed base 100 Pokémon at +1 or Venusaur at -1 if sun is up.
Nothing specific, it hits a jump in Special Attack with this investment, so it’s cool to deal a bit more damage, though it’s worth to note that G-Max Vine Lash with base Frenzy Plant + recoil has a high roll to OHKO non-Dynamax Landorus (Therian).
4 Atk Incineroar Flare Blitz vs. 148 HP / 0 Def Gigantamax Venusaur-Gmax in Sun: 270-318 (77.5 – 91.3%) — guaranteed 2HKO
252+ Atk Glastrier Max Hailstorm vs. 148 HP / 0 Def Gigantamax Venusaur-Gmax: 306-362 (87.9 – 104%) — 31.3% chance to OHKO
(Not a really common calc, but really useful in some situations where you are forced to Gigantamax Venusaur in front of opponent Glastrier)
180+ Atk Landorus-Therian Max Airstream vs. 148 HP / 0 Def Coba Berry Venusaur-Gmax: 147-174 (84.4 – 100%) — 6.3% chance to OHKO
252+ SpA Heatran Max Flare vs. +1 148 HP / 0 SpD Gigantamax Venusaur-Gmax through Light Screen: 109-129 (31.3 – 37%) — 75.9% chance to 3HKO
(It lives another sun-boosted Max Flare)
Torkoal @ Charcoal
Ability: Drought
Level: 50
EVs: 236 HP / 204 SpA / 68 SpD
Quiet Nature
IVs: 0 Atk / 0 Spe
– Protect
– Eruption
– Burning Jealousy
– Earth Power
Torkoal is probably Venusaur’s best friend. Sets sun up with Drought, doubling Venusaur’s Speed and dealing a lot of damage to some threats like Glastrier. Worth to note that G-Max Vine Lash makes a lot of Pokémon get into Eruption range.
204+ SpA Charcoal Torkoal Eruption (150 BP) vs. 4 HP / 0 SpD Landorus-Therian in Sun: 165-195 (100 – 118.1%) — guaranteed OHKO
204+ SpA Charcoal Torkoal Eruption (150 BP) vs. 68 HP / 4 SpD Assault Vest Celesteela in Sun: 182-216 (100.5 – 119.3%) — guaranteed OHKO
252 SpA Life Orb Transistor Regieleki Max Lightning vs. 236 HP / 68 SpD Torkoal through Light Screen: 147-173 (84 – 98.8%) — guaranteed 2HKO
252 Atk Life Orb Garchomp Max Quake vs. 236 HP / 0 Def Torkoal through Reflect: 146-173 (83.4 – 98.8%) — guaranteed 2HKO
Porygon2 @ Eviolite
Ability: Download
Level: 50
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 244 HP / 124 Def / 4 SpA / 116 SpD / 20 Spe
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
– Recover
– Trick Room
– Tri Attack
– Ice Beam
Porygon2 is the last Pokémon of the main core. A Venusaur + Porygon2 lead is really strong, as you can do a lot of different things and force 50/50s. Trick Room is good for supporting the team, as almost all the members of the team can play in a Trick Room environment. Also, it can be a good Dynamax option next to Grimmsnarl because of Fake Tears, as it can hit really hard after a Download boost.
I chose Calm Nature over Modest and a bulkier set because I’m not a fan of offensive Porygon2. The Speed is to outspeed other Porygon2 and 60 base Speed Pokémon without a lot of investment.
4 SpA Porygon2 Ice Beam vs. 36 HP / 12 SpD Landorus-Therian: 168-200 (99.4 – 118.3%) — 93.8% chance to OHKO
+2 228+ SpA Tapu Fini Moonblast vs. 244 HP / 116+ SpD Eviolite Porygon2: 79-94 (41.3 – 49.2%) — guaranteed 3HKO
252+ SpA Celesteela Max Steelspike vs. 244 HP / 116+ SpD Eviolite Porygon2 through Light Screen: 40-48 (20.9 – 25.1%) — 0% chance to 4HKO
252+ SpA Venusaur-Gmax G-Max Vine Lash vs. 244 HP / 116+ SpD Eviolite Porygon2: 63-75 (32.9 – 39.2%) — guaranteed 3HKO after G-Max Vine Lash damage
252+ Atk Life Orb Landorus-Therian Max Quake vs. 244 HP / 124 Def Eviolite Porygon2 through Reflect: 73-87 (38.2 – 45.5%) — guaranteed 3HKO
+252 Atk Urshifu Close Combat vs. 244 HP / 124 Def Eviolite Porygon2 through Reflect: 88-104 (46 – 54.4%) — 40.6% chance to 2HKO
(It lives the double, so you can set up Trick Room in front of them)
Regirock @ Weakness Policy
Ability: Clear Body
Level: 50
EVs: 228 HP / 236 Atk / 44 SpD
Brave Nature
IVs: 2 Spe
– Curse
– Rock Slide
– Stomping Tantrum
– Drain Punch
Regirock covers a lot of Venusaur’s weaknesses. It resists Fire and Flying-type moves, and also hits Ice types for super effective damage. It’s really bulky in screens and does really well in late game, even if it’s not the Dynamax. Drain Punch over Ice Punch is to win Urshifu, Kartana and Porygon2 in 1 vs. 1, and Curse is really good, as it can become a huge threat and don’t take much damage thanks to Grimmsnarl’s support.
236+ Atk Regirock Max Rockfall vs. 244 HP / 84 Def Incineroar: 204-240 (101.4 – 119.4%) — guaranteed OHKO
+2 236+ Atk Regirock Drain Punch vs. 244 HP / 124 Def Eviolite Porygon2: 100-118 (52.3 – 61.7%) — guaranteed 2HKO
+2 236+ Atk Regirock Max Rockfall vs. 244 HP / 0 Def Tapu Fini: 178-211 (101.1 – 119.8%) — guaranteed OHKO
+2 236+ Atk Regirock Max Rockfall vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Dynamax Rotom-Heat: 380-450 (121 – 143.3%) — guaranteed OHKO
252+ Atk Landorus-Therian Max Quake vs. 228 HP / 0 Def Regirock: 146-174 (79.3 – 94.5%) — guaranteed 2HKO
252 Atk Urshifu Close Combat vs. 228 HP / 0 Def Regirock through Reflect: 76-89 (41.3 – 48.3%) — guaranteed 3HKO
252+ SpA Life Orb Transistor Regieleki Max Lightning vs. 228 HP / 44 SpD Dynamax Regirock through Light Screen: 126-149 (34.2 – 40.4%) — guaranteed 3HKO
252+ Atk Glastrier Max Quake vs. 228 HP / 0 Def Regirock through Reflect: 65-77 (35.3 – 41.8%) — guaranteed 3HKO
Zapdos @ Safety Goggles
Ability: Static
Level: 50
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 76 HP / 180 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
– Protect
– Thunderbolt
– Hurricane
– Heat Wave
The least used Pokémon in the team. I literally picked Zapdos only in one game in the tournament, in Game 1 of my Top 4 match. It pressured some Tapu Fini in preview, but probably there are better fillers, at least in my opinion. Safety Goggles gave me a better Venusaur + Porygon2 mirror, but since a lot of Porygon2 carry Eerie Impulse it wasn’t that good, and I would rather go with the Venusaur + Porygon2 mirror instead.
Didn’t calculate much with Zapdos; just optimized HP for burn damage and made Special Attack optimal for boosts and drops.
Grimmsnarl @ Light Clay
Ability: Prankster
Level: 50
Shiny: Yes
Gigantamax: Yes
EVs: 228 HP / 4 Atk / 108 Def / 156 SpD / 12 Spe
Careful Nature
– Reflect
– Light Screen
– Fake Tears
– Spirit Break
Grimmsnarl is extremely good at making the team bulkier, thanks to its screens. Also, Fake Tears is a really good move, since the team has four special attackers. Dynamax Porygon2 is scary with Fake Tears support, Venusaur is also scary, and same goes with Zapdos and Torkoal.
196+ SpA Life Orb Venusaur Max Ooze vs. 228 HP / 156+ SpD Grimmsnarl: 166-198 (83.4 – 99.4%) — guaranteed 2HKO
252+ Atk Landorus-Therian Max Quake vs. 228 HP / 108 Def Grimmsnarl: 160-189 (80.4 – 94.9%) — guaranteed 2HKO
180+ SpA Life Orb Celesteela Max Steelspike vs. 228 HP / 156+ SpD Grimmsnarl through Light Screen: 166-198 (83.4 – 99.4%) — guaranteed 2HKO
252+ SpA Tapu Fini Moonblast vs. 228 HP / 156+ SpD Grimmsnarl: 138-164 (69.3 – 82.4%) — guaranteed 2HKO
236+ SpA Magnet Transistor Regieleki Max Lightning vs. 228 HP / 156+ SpD Grimmsnarl: 172-204 (86.4 – 102.5%) — 18.8% chance to OHKO
How to use the team
Common leads
Lead | Back |
---|---|
+/ | , |
+ | , |
+ | , |
+ | , / |
Facing specific match-ups
Against | Lead | Back |
---|---|---|
+ | , | |
+ | , | |
+ | , | |
+ | , | |
+ / | / , |
It’s really important to know what your win conditions are, and play around them without losing them. For example, Tapu Fini can be really annoying if you lose Venusaur, so you have to play well around it and keep it alive.
Tournament run
Qualifier #5 Swiss rounds
Round | Result | Opponent | Opponent’s team |
---|---|---|---|
R1 | WW | José C. Neva (NEVA) | |
They were using the runner-up team in the Series 7 High Roller Zelda Challenge. Venusaur + Porygon2 with Torkoal and Regirock did really well in both G1 and G2. | |||
R2 | WLW | Xiao Haotian (DayDay) | |
Alcremie + Glastrier pressured Venusaur a lot, so I had to go for the Grimmsnarl + Porygon2 with Torkoal and Regirock in late. Won G1 without much complications, but in G2 I never had a free switch to Torkoal under Trick Room. In G3 I had to play risky, and hard-switched to Torkoal in turn 2. It went pretty well, and I could clean up easily at that point. | |||
R3 | LWL | Arturo Garnés (Stitch) | |
Weird match-up. Alolan Marowak was annoying next to Will-o-Wisp Dusclops and Tapu Fini. I don’t remember the first two games, but in G3 I came up with Venusaur + Regirock as lead. They led with Dusclops + Marowak, and I read Marowak’s Protect, using Sleep Powder into Dusclops and Curse. Sadly, I missed the Sleep Powder, and with a burned Regirock I just lost. | |||
R4 | WW | Carlos Pérez (charlie) | |
This round was weird. The Grimmsnarl didn’t have Reflect originally on the teamsheet, so I claimed the win after noticing it. My opponent didn’t read that until G1 finished, which I won, so the TO said I was given the win, resulting in a 2-0. | |||
R5 | LWL | Francesco P. Pero (CICCIOTT) | |
Bad match-up. In G1 my Venusaur didn’t attack during its Gigantamax, and then got crit by Registeel when I was going to set up Trick Room, though I critted Eruption in G2. G3 was close, but a few paralyses and reads made me lose the game. | |||
R6 | WW | Alfonso González (Massa) | |
Weird team, I don’t remember much about the set. The only thing I remember is they Dynamaxed their support Spectrier in both games. | |||
R7 | WW | Alexavier Álvarez (Arekusabi) | |
When I saw I had to play versus a really good friend in the win and in I was frustrated. It was a Venusaur + Torkoal mirror, but my match-up was better. I won even though I missed two Sleep Powders. Venusaur cleaned G1, and I won G2 by Dynamaxing Torkoal. |
So with this I only had to win four more rounds to achieve my objective. I knew it was difficult, but seeing how I played in Swiss I was a bit confident.
Qualifier #5 Top Cut
Round | Result | Opponent | Opponent’s team |
---|---|---|---|
Top 32 | WW | Francesco Deiana (Francis) | |
I don’t remember much about G1. I used Sleep Powder into Umbreon, had a few turns of sleep on it and won with Regirock in late game. In G2 I haxed a lot in turn 1. We both led Venusaur + Porygon2, and we both used Sleep Powder into Porygon2. I hit mine, but he missed. Then my Ice Beam critted his Venusaur. This left me in a really good spot, and the rest of the game was just clicking buttons. | |||
Top 16 | WW | Yoav Reuven (Gold) | |
Bad match-up, but they didn’t show up so I won. | |||
Top 8 | WW | Juan Borreguero (Blue) | |
The match-up was good. I went with Venusaur + Porygon2 with Torkoal and Regirock in the back. G-Max Vine Lash and late-game Trick Room won pretty easily. In G2 I went to timer stall due to a crit hit into my Venusaur from Lapras, but Porygon2 ended up winning. | |||
Top 4 | WW | Álex Gómez (PokeAlex) | |
I feel really proud about this set. The match-up looked really scary, since Glastrier + Gothitelle + Registeel + Politoed was so good against my team, and Registeel felt unkillable, though in the end it wasn’t. In G1 I led Venusaur + Regirock, and used Sleep Powder into Glastrier and Curse. Gothitelle missed Hypnosis into Regirock and I hit Sleep Powder. Glastrier woke up in its last Dynamax turn. Then Zapdos switched in, and I used Heat Wave, burning the Glastrier. Then, it activated my Weakness Policy. Next turn, I used Heat Wave again, getting two KOs, and using Curse again. With a +4 Regirock and a Zapdos, I managed to win vs. Politoed and Registeel in the back. In G2 hax wasn’t a big factor. We both led the same, but I decided to Gigantamax my Venusaur, and used G-Max Vine Lash and Rock Slide to KO Gothitelle. My Venusaur lived the Fake Out + Max Hailstorm at 2 HP, and I ended up in a really good spot, with Torkoal and Porygon2 in Trick Room, KOing both Politoed and Registeel. You can watch the set here, it starts at minute 52:30 more or less. At this point I had already accomplished what I wanted to do, and I relaxed a lot. I played Finals way worse than the rest of the tournament, but I was proud of myself. | |||
Finals | LL | Damiano La Barbera (Naji) | |
Lost 2-0, couldn’t do much and he played better. Sadly I couldn’t find the VOD in Damiano’s stream, but I basically got stomped. |
Spring Grand Finale
To sum up, I want to talk about VR Circuit Spring Grand Finale. I tried new things, but “VenuKoal” was the archetype I felt more comfortable with.
Round | Result | Opponent | Opponent’s team |
---|---|---|---|
Top 16 | WLL | Francesco P. Pero (CICCIOTT) |
I used this team, but sadly lost in Top 16, mostly because I threw G2 and G3.
Anyways happy with what I accomplished, it’s something I never thought could happen. The team doesn’t need much explanation, Venusaur + Porygon2 and Regieleki + Landorus were just too strong on testing, and Incineroar was a cool addition for the Glastrier match-up and to deal a lot of damage in Trick Room with sun.
Conclusion
Shoutouts to Alexavier Álvarez (Arekusabi) and Juan M. Santizo (Teka) for the help in testing and building; Juan Salerno (Juanfi), Joaquín Salerno (Joaco), Omar Sbayou (Onaika) and Joaquín Blanch (TheXich) for supporting me; and Kyle Geffner (North) and Jackson Finch (Mao) for building the final version of the Qualifier #5 team.