AusTerrain is Serperior

Hello! My name is Bailey although I usually go by Bargens on Nuggetbridge or BargensVGC on Twitter . I've been really looking forward to the post worlds season because I always take something really stupid to the grassroots tournaments. Last year I took Metapod but unfortunately had to drop at 2-1, and I wanted redemption this year. I was talking to Luke Curtale (Dawg) when he mentioned that he'd been using Secret Power Kang and Grassy Terrain Serperior to abuse sleep, so he sent me a pastebin and I played around with it until I was comfortable with it, and took it to a PokeMelbourne grassroots tournament.

The Team

Kangaskhan @ Kangaskhanite ***2For1Deal

Ability: Scrappy

EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe

Jolly Nature

- Secret Power

- Fake Out

- Low Kick

- Sucker Punch

Brought to 10/10 games

Part 1 of AusTerrain. Jolly Nature with Fake Out helps Serperior get off a Leaf Storm or a Grassy Terrain. Low Kick was chosen over Power-Up Punch as personal preference, as I preferred to pick up the OHKO on Heatran as its the only CHALK Pokemon who can tank a Leaf Storm at +2 with a Metronome boost with relative ease. Secret Power without Grassy Terrain can also Paralyse, so that's fun to use on Landorus switch ins.

Serperior @ Metronome ***AUSTERRAIN

Ability: Contrary

EVs: 100 HP / 156 SpA / 252 Spe

Timid Nature

- Leaf Storm

- Grassy Terrain

- Protect

- Hidden Power [Rock]

Brought to 5/10 games

Serperior was interesting to use to say the least. Maximum speed and Timid Nature outspeeds Terrakion and Infernape and speed ties with Timid Thundurus, so Serperior outsped majority of the metagame. The SAtk EVs guarantee and OHKO on 4 HP Charizard-Y as well as Volcarona at +2, and the HP allows Serperior to survive Modest Heatran Heat Wave. Metronome was an item Sarkastik originally suggested, and let's Serperior spam Leaf Storm without having to make any major predictions, which came into effect against Aegislash switch ins first turn in practice, as well as increasing the chance of OHKOing 4 HP Kangaskhan at +2. Looking back on this I probably would have changed Hidden Power Rock to Ground for Heatran, but it did win me a few games so I can't complain.

Heatran @ Leftovers ***HardLasagne★

Ability: Flash Fire

EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe

Timid Nature

- Substitute

- Heat Wave

- Earth Power

- Protect

Brought to 5/10 games

SubLefties Heatran is my spirit Pokemon. It's been the fire type I've used on every single team this season, and I haven't regretted it. With Serperior setting up to +2/+4 I forced most Kangaskhan and non Scarf Landorus to switch, meaning that Thundurus, Aegislash and Heatran were very common switch ins, and these Pokemon don't appreciate playing a Heatran behind a Substitute. Worked really well with Grassy Terrain too, as Scarf/AV Landorus couldn't pick up the OHKO with Earthquake.

Thundurus @ Sitrus Berry ***♪SWAGTRAIN♪

Ability: Prankster

EVs: 244 HP / 60 Def / 36 SpA / 140 SpD / 28 Spe

Modest Nature

- Thunder Wave

- Swagger

- Thunderbolt

- Hidden Power [Ice]

Brought to 5/10 games

My answer to Australian crap as well as general Kangaskhan synergy. Swagger was chosen over Taunt because it pretty much does the same thing, just with a lower chance of working. It stops the status as well as stopping attacks too, so it's a pretty good move. The Modest Nature was chosen as I've used offensive Thundurus all year and still wanted a relatively strong damage output.

But it didn't matter.

I just clicked Swagger.

Cresselia @ Rocky Helmet ***Sailormoon

Ability: Levitate

EVs: 220 HP / 156 Def / 12 SpA / 108 SpD / 12 Spe

Bold Nature

- Calm Mind

- Ice Beam

- Moonlight

- Psychic

Brought to 6/10 games

I really don't have much to say about Cresselia. EV spread survives attacks from... Well... Everything. 12 Speed EVs was probably a mistake, and going with the 140 Speed Dawg suggested to outspeed Bisharp probably would have worked better, as this Cresselia speed tied with 4 Speed Rotom-W and that was terrible. Ice Beam over Icy Wind because of the consist damage output, although Icy Wind probably would have been better for the team overall. This thing sets up whilst people get scared of Serperior and Kangaskhan. Then it just kinda wins...

Landorus-Therian @ Choice Band ***★LandRUs★

Ability: Intimidate

EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe

Jolly Nature

- Earthquake

- Rock Slide

- U-turn

- Knock Off

Brought to 9/10 games

Bandorus was by far the best Landorus to have on this team. I tried both Scarf and Assault Vest but found that the damage output didn't really help too much, and with AV I was usually only using one move at a time. This team also had a crippling weakness to Aegislash if I didn't have Heatran or if Swagger didn't pull through. Landorus also helped against bad players, as I often just locked Earthquake and used Thunderbolt with Thundurus to clean up the game. U-Turn was chosen as one of the fillers because I have an addiction to U-Turn on Landorus. Superpower probably would have been better over Knock Off for the consist damage output, as there was a lot of times where I needed damage onto a Rotom that had used its Sitrus Berry, but Knock Off still had a couple uses. EVs spread is nothing special, as surviving Bisharp Sucker Punch really didn't see, necessary to me and I wanted to outspeed Kangaskhan on the turn it Mega Evolved.

Tournament Run

Round 1 Vs James Farrugia

My Team:

Opponents Team: +

We were up on screen for this Round, so right off the bat we had Muk Vs AusTerrain, a Dawg favourite. Too bad he didn't bring Muk. Serperior Leaf Stormed a Gothitelle switch in and managed to put it in range of another Leaf Storm with a Metronome boost, so and after that I managed to EQ through his whole Trick Room team without too much hassle.

1-0

Round 2 Vs Christopher Egan

My Team:

Opponents Team: +

I led Kangaskhan and Landorus into Latias and Gardevoir and got scared of a Scarf Ice Beam, so I switched in Heatran and used Fake Out on Gardevoir. Turns out it was a really bulky mega Latias and this threw me quite a bit. Heatran didn't do too much except sit there fishing for burns, which I managed to pull on Rotom-W. After Kangaskhan Low Kicked Tyranitar I sealed the game up with Landorus and Heatran as he was relying on Draco Meteor to break the Sub. I set up Grassy Terrain here too but Kangaskhan got Crit KO'd by Draco Meteor after I failed to put Latias to sleep.

2-0

Round 3 Vs Sam Benson

My Team:

Opponents Team:

+

I played this game awfully. I called the Landorus switch in many times as well as the Aegislash switch in, but just didn't act accordingly. He played relatively well and Scarf Landorus with U-Turn really posed as a problem, but I managed to Grassy Terrain and put his Entei to sleep. Ultimately this game was saved by a timely Secret Power Critical Hit to seal up the game.

3-0

Round 4 Vs Nihal Noor (UchihaX96)

My Team:

Opponents Team: +

Not gonna lie, I got outplayed pretty badly here. I played too obviously and fell victim to Ice Punch Kangaskhan in the early stages of the game, losing my intimidate. I managed to pick up the KO on his Thundurus along the way somewhere, and do reasonable chip damage to his Kangaskhan before him bringing it to a 3v1. Thankfully he somewhat ignored Cresselia, so +3 Cresselia was able to 3v1 Landorus, Kangaskhan and Heatran and I won the game, much to the salt of Nihal as he screamed "Timer, judges, timer!"

4-0

Round 5 Vs Jonathan Hoare

My Team:

Opponents Team: (Lvl 1) + ???

First turn I called the Level 1 Smeargle Protect and went for Scrappy Fake Out and Leaf Storm onto Cofagrigus. He couldn't Trick Room and I won the game in the next couple turns.

5-0

Round 6 Vs Chris G (TheBatman)

My Team:

Opponents Team: +

This game was very messy on my end. He switched in Rotom-W when Landorus locked EQ. I miscalculated my damage onto Amoonguss thinking Banded EQ + Psychic would get the KO. I let Cresselia get burned, and I didn't deal with the Rotom-W which was by far the biggest threat. It just wasn't a well played set by me. I remember Swaggering around quite a bit here but it having next to no effect, and I learned that my Cresselia actually speed tied with his Rotom. It came down to him having to hit a Hydro Pump on Cresselia, through Swagger, and also win the speed tie to win the game, and Cresselia won the speed tie won the game from there. Not happy with how I played, but we take those.

6-0

Round 7 Vs Sam Pandelis (ZeldaVGC)

My Team:

Opponents Team: +

I critted every move I needed to here and he could have won if he just used Follow Me + Belly Drum against my Thundurus and Cresselia, but he said it was too obvious of a play. He soon realised there was literally nothing I could do, especially considering Clefable was Lum Berry. I then continued to critical hit everything in sight.

7-0

Top 8 Vs Joshua Spriggins (NidoVGC)

My Team:

Opponents Team: +

His team had a very noticeable Heatran weakness without Swampert, so I knew removing that off of the field and getting up a Substitute was my win condition. I led fairly well here threatening the Swampert with Leaf Storm, because I assumed that he didn't have Protect. I went straight for the Fake Out knowing that Ferrothorn could have come in, because I figured a double switch would be fine considering I'd get to +2. I kinda just flailed about with Kangaskhan here until it fainted whilst Protecting Serperior. I managed to force out the Swampert so I could bring in Heatran safely and then KO the Salamence on the turn it Mega Evolved with +4 Hidden Power Rock, which rolled in my favour. Serperior and Heatran swept from here. Bringing Cresselia here was kinda stupid, and Thundurus would have dealt with Salamence just as effectively, especially considering the fact that Snarl and Leech Seed is a thing.

Top 4 Vs Sam Pandelis (ZeldaVGC)

My Team:

Opponents Team: +

I remember Landorus Earthquaking here putting Kangaskhan and Azumarill in Rocky Helmet range, so he was hard pressed and had to switch accordingly. His Talonflame got off a Swords Dance here after a great read, but it did 60% to itself after Brave Birding Cresselia. With recoil, Rocky Helmet and Life Orb, Talonflame was brought within suicide range if it touched Cresselia, meaning whatever touched Cresselia essentially just fainted. I managed to retain a lot of momentum here thanks to Rocky Helmet and after getting off a Moonlight I sealed up the game.

Finals Vs Nihal Noor (UchihaX96)

My Team:

Opponents Team: +

Finals was Best Of One because I had to leave, and Nihal agreed to play Best Of One because he'd already gotten information from Swiss. I made a very risky play first turn, assuming he'd take the speed tie risk with Kangaskhan to get off a guaranteed Belly Drum, so I switched Kangaskhan to Cresselia for Rocky Helmet damage and Earthquaked, similar to what I'd done against Sam in the previous game. If he'd Ice Punched and Belly Drummed I would have lost straight away, but I'm glad it worked in my favour. He then had to play around Cresselia awkwardly and brought in Amoonguss, which I Critted with EQ and then took out with a Psychic, essentially winning me the game from this point onwards with Kangaskhan and Cresselia.

Overall Score: 10-0

Placement: 1st in Swiss, 1st overall

Conclusion

After multiple second place finishes this season I was really excited I'd finally won something, but I'm surprised it came from using Serperior and Secret Power Kangaskhan. I realised after this event that I'd won both PokeMelbourne September events undefeated, so I was 19-0 in September tournaments, and that was cool. As for the team itself, Kangaskhan, Serperior and Landorus carried me through Swiss, and Cresselia and Landorus carried me through top cut, so MVP here was definitely Banded Landorus, with Thundurus being without a doubt the weakest team member as Swagger didn't pull through as often as I would have liked. Overall I'm super excited with how the team went and will probably take this to PCs in the near future.

Shoutouts:

- The AusTerrain crew for coming up with the idea, as it was really you guys who created the team and I just put my personal finishing touches on it.

- PokeMelbourne for another September 1st place trophy. Oh, and they ran the event well too

- Sam Pandelis for the "Undefeated Maki Keyring" he used to win undefeated in Janurary. I swear that thing is cursed.

- The Delphox Cubs, because you guys are awesome

- PKHex My extreme luck when breeding and soft resetting shiny Pokemon

Hope you enjoyed the report! Thanks for reading!