Feedback for this M-Blastoise team (MB2-3)
Was able to climb from 1600 to 1800 with this team. I'm currently hovering between MB2 and MB3 and is struggling to climb higher. Will appreciate any kind of feedback.
I'm quite familiar with the VGC format, but I'm also not a veteran. I loosely follow the metagame through Aaron Zheng and Wolfe Glick's socials.
As you all can see, this team is built predominantly around Mega Blastoise's Water Sprout, with a non-mega Raichu as a deceptive mega choice (or a fakeout heh).
70% of the time I lead with Talonflame and Tsareena, with Blastoise and Maushold in the back. The main strategy is for Talonflame is set up Tailwind, with Tsareena shielding them from fake outs and other priority moves. I don't sash the bird because ideally I want the bird to go down and safely switch in a healthy Blastoise to capitalize on the tailwind. Tsareena would also sometimes get a surprise KO on some mons like Garchomp, Aerodactyl, Kingambit and Basculegion. Zen Headbutt is there purely to deal with M-Gengar.
When big man Blastoise comes out, it's then a no brainer to spam Water Sprout. The typings that resist water can then be covered by Tsareena's move pools (assuming that the wilted veggie is still alive). And I usually use Shell Smash as an all or nothing maneuver on the last turn of Tailwind, hoping that the opposition double protects their mon to dry out the tailwind. Dark pulse is my only other attacking move to use when the HP is too low to reliable use Water Sprout. It also deals good damage to Basculegion, Sinistcha and F*rig. Altho it usually doesnt one shot without shell smash or helping hand.
The Raichu's main purpose is lightning rod and speed control with Electro Web. I usually have the rat in the back and switch it in when I read an electric move coming. Leading with a Raichu is also pretty fun when alot of people expect it to mega. Encore is extremely useful when alot of people get baited to use protect, and I would just lock them in their cycles. And Helping Hand is just for extra damage boost.
I decide to go for a more offensive Maushold with technician and Population Bomb. Follow me is a given to draw attacks away from Blastoise. Feint is reliable at finishing off weakened mon and brushing off protect for the big man to go for the KO. Rain Dance is my answer to sun teams. Plus rain makes big man's water sprout goes boom boom.
Having had 50+ battles with this team, I notice 3 major weakness for them
- Trick Room teams (F*rig)
I struggle the most against trickroom teams especially that freaking giraffe. In lower elo I would lead with Tinkaton and mold breaker + fake out the giraffe to catch them off guard then try to finish it off on the 2nd turn. However at my current ratings, my strategy are too predictable, and more often than not the giraffe would just helping hand their partner and finish off my leads on turn 1. And when trick room does go off I usually struggle to live through it.
- Opposition's Tailwind
The core strategy of this team is for Blastoise to be faster and spam Water Sprout. However when the speed advantage is neutralized, most often than not the big man would take damage before Water Sprout could go off. The most common tailwind setters that I've seen are Whimsicott, Aerodactyl, M-Staraptor and more recently, Dragonite. Tsareena's Triple Axel is usually enough to finish off Dragonite and Aerodactyl (assuming all 3 hits land). In lower elo, whimsicott were pretty easy to deal with, usually a beak boosted Dual Wingbeat is enough to finish it off even with intimidate. In higher elo i've been seeing alot of bulkier whimsicott that survives the beating, or they inevitably read that I would attack so they protect'd and KO or break gale wing with the other mon. My biggest trouble is probably M-Staraptor. It's intimidate affected 4/6 of my team, Raichu's Electro Web will backfire, and a turn 1 Tailwind + Water Sprout doesnt ko it.
- Spread moves
Obviously Follow Me doesnt do jack against spread moves. Usually it isnt a major problems but I seem to run into trouble with Sylveon and M-Floette in general. They don't go down from a max hp Water Sprout, and Dark Pulse isnt ideal. Sometimes I also run into issues with Garchomp when my Tsareena goes down before their Gchomp. A non boosted Water Sprout sometimes dont KO it, and population bomb is obviosly suicide.
I've been thinking of switching out Tinkaton for a mon with wide guard, since it is the mon with the least usage in this team. But then I'm also not sure which other mon would fit this team best.
Any feedback or insight into how I could improve this team would be greatly appreciated. Or if you guys got any advice on how I could better climb up to MB1, please share them.
Sorry for making such a long write-up, and thank you to anyone who read till the end.