PFA Season 6 Week 1 Report: Toronto Maple Leafeons

Greetings! Tommy aka AbruptFury, coach of the Toronto Maple Leafeons, here! I will be bringing you my report on what happened in my very first match of the sixth season of the Pokemon Forever Association. My body is ready! Let's get into it.

The Team Line-ups

My Team : Kyurem-B, Scizor, Sylveon, Vaporeon, Darmanitan(Z), Drapion, Electivire(Z), Dhelmise, Donphan, Mesprit(Z), Sawk

Alec (Indianapolis Keldeos): M-Manectric, Landorus-T, Togekiss(Z), Cobalion(Z), Hoopa-C, Moltres, Ferroseed, Goodra(Z), Starmie, Frogadier, Slurpuff

The Game Plan

Gypsy (Mesprit) @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 80 Def / 176 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Psyshock
- Ice Beam
- Shadow Ball
- Stealth Rock

For the first game of the season, I figured that Mesprit would be a good Stealth Rock setter. But that's not all it can do. Psyshock allows it to get some good damage off on anything that doesn't resist. Ice Beam easily OHKOs Lando-do, as well as hits Togekiss for supereffective. Shadow Ball destroys the biggest offensive threat to this Pokemon on Alec's team, Hoopa. This Hoopa takes 4x damage from Ghost type attacks. This coverage is perfect for hitting his team. Rocky Helmet punishes any physical attacks that come Mesprits way, like U-turn for Landorus. This Pokemon is also the best one I have to take both of Cobalion's STAB type attacks. So it makes an okay switch-in to that beast.

Offensive Calcs:

• Fast enough to outspeed Timid Hoopa-C by 1 point; and subsequently, Togekiss and Goodra too.
• 0 SpA Mesprit Ice Beam vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Landorus-Therian: 324-384 (101.5 - 120.3%) -- guaranteed OHKO
• 0 SpA Mesprit Psyshock vs. 4 HP / 0 Def Goodra: 120-142 (37.2 - 44%) -- guaranteed 3HKO | Even Specs Goodra will take more from Psyshock than Ice Beam.
• 0 SpA Mesprit Shadow Ball vs. 0 HP / 8 SpD Hoopa: 192-228 (63.7 - 75.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

Defensive Calcs:

• 252 Atk Landorus-Therian U-turn vs. 252 HP / 80 Def Mesprit: 146-174 (40.1 - 47.8%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
• 252 SpA Life Orb Protean Frogadier Dark Pulse vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Mesprit: 242-289 (66.4 - 79.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
• 252 Atk Cobalion Corkscrew Crash (160 BP) vs. 252 HP / 80 Def Mesprit: 180-213 (49.4 - 58.5%) -- 98.8% chance to 2HKO

Ribbons (Sylveon) (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Pixilate
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpA
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Hyper Voice
- Wish
- Protect
- Hidden Power [Fire]

This is a pretty standard Sylveon set. The usual UU defensive one nowadays. Instead of Heal Bell, Sylveon has Hidden Power Fire. This is specifically for Ferroseed. My team in it's completion was a little weak to it. Hyper Voice allows Sylveon to hit everything on Alec's team, except for Moltres and Ferroseed, for some big damage. Even with so little investment, it can 2HKO a lot of his Pokemon. Wish and Protect allow Sylveon to scout, bait and take very little from Z moves, and recover itself and it's teammates. Goodra was the main reason I wanted to bring Sylveon. Big special attack damage from that thing hurts my Pokemon a lot, especially Dragon type attacks. And with Moltres and Ferroseed covered, Sylveon runs wild on his team with it's damage output and support.

Offensive Calcs:

• 4 SpA Pixilate Sylveon Hyper Voice vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Landorus-Therian: 153-180 (47.9 - 56.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO 
• after Stealth Rock
• 4 SpA Pixilate Sylveon Hyper Voice vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Cobalion: 165-195 (51 - 60.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
• 4 SpA Pixilate Sylveon Hyper Voice vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Goodra: 180-212 (46.8 - 55.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock | Any less damage may signify Assault Vest.
• 4 SpA Pixilate Sylveon Hyper Voice vs. 4 HP / 0 SpD Goodra: 180-212 (55.9 - 65.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

Defensive Calcs:

• 252 Atk Cobalion Iron Head vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Sylveon: 192-228 (48.7 - 57.8%) -- 50.8% chance to 2HKO
• 252 Atk Life Orb Hoopa Gunk Shot vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Sylveon: 286-338 (72.5 - 85.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
• 252 Atk Life Orb Protean Frogadier Gunk Shot vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Sylveon: 304-359 (77.1 - 91.1%) -- guaranteed 
• 2HKO
• 0 Atk Ferroseed Gyro Ball (150 BP) vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Sylveon: 176-210 (44.6 - 53.2%) -- 0.4% chance to 2HKO

Ariel (Vaporeon) (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Water Absorb
EVs: 252 HP / 192 Def / 64 SpA
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Scald
- Shadow Ball
- Hidden Power [Fire]
- Heal Bell

Talk about Sylveon having a great matchup with it's offensive presence. Vaporeon has the same Special Attack stat and similar coverage options. Scald hits Pokemon like Landorus-T and Moltres hard, and can burn physical attackers like Cobalion. Shadow Ball messes up Hoopa-C and Starmie, and does neutral damage to everything else. You see - Alec somehow overlooked a Ghost weakness in the team. And I wanted to make him pay the price. It would be a very easy weakness to abuse without a Dark or Normal type to stop me. Hidden Power Fire deals with the Ferroseed. I did not want that thing coming in for free, setting up hazards and Leech Seeds. Heal Bell would help off any status moves that Alec might like to go for such as Thunder Wave and Toxic.

Offensive Calcs:

• 64+ SpA Vaporeon Hidden Power Fire vs. 252 HP / 124 SpD Eviolite Ferroseed: 148-176 (50.6 - 60.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
• 64+ SpA Vaporeon Shadow Ball vs. 0 HP / 8 SpD Hoopa: 232-276 (77 - 91.6%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
• 64+ SpA Vaporeon Scald vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Landorus-Therian: 264-312 (82.7 - 97.8%) -- 62.5% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock
• 64+ SpA Vaporeon Scald vs. 248 HP / 0 SpD Moltres: 252-296 (65.7 - 77.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

Defensive Calcs:

• 252 Atk Landorus-Therian Earthquake vs. 252 HP / 192 Def Vaporeon: 205-243 (44.1 - 52.3%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
• 252 SpA Manectric-Mega Thunderbolt vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Vaporeon: 314-372 (68.5 - 80.6%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
• 252 SpA Life Orb Moltres Hidden Power Grass vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Vaporeon: 174-205 (37.5 - 44.1%) -- guaranteed 3HKO

Spark Plug (Electivire) @ Life Orb
Ability: Motor Drive
EVs: 12 Def / 252 SpA / 12 SpD / 232 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Thunderbolt
- Flamethrower
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Toxic

The combination of Mega Manectric and Landorus-T is very strong. They can get away with Volt Switch/U-turning all over you and cripple physical attackers with Intimidate on top of that. With the ability Motor Drive, I could take advantage of his Mega Manectric's Electric type attacks and gain a speed boost. This speed boost would allow Electivire to outspeed both Mega Manectric and Choice Scarf Landorus-T.  All I needed was 232 Speed investment to outspeed Scarf Landorus-T after a Motor Drive boost, since Electivire's natural Base speed is faster. Then, Electivire could simply OHKO Landorus-T with Life Orb Hidden Power Ice. Initially, I wanted Elecitivire to be a Choice Specs set for major damage output, but I decided that versatility is better. Electivire's natural HP means that it can use Life Orb 10 times without fainting since the number ends in 1. Thunderbolt dominates Togekiss, Starmie, Frogadier, and Moltres. Flamethrower beats Ferroseed and Cobalion down, and can hit Mega Manectric hard. Hidden Power Ice beats Landorus-T, like I mentioned earlier, and hits Goodra too. Toxic helps where down the bulkier mons like Goodra, which don't take a lot from it's Special Attacks. Overall, one of my best answers to his team.

Offensive Calcs:

• Set to outspeed Landorus-T by 1 point. Outspeeds Choice Scarf after a Motor Boost.
• 252+ SpA Life Orb Electivire Flamethrower vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Manectric-Mega: 135-160 (48 - 56.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock
• 252+ SpA Life Orb Electivire Hidden Power Ice vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Landorus-Therian: 364-432 (114.1 - 135.4%) -- guaranteed OHKO
• 252+ SpA Life Orb Electivire Thunderbolt vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Togekiss: 304-359 (81.2 - 95.9%) -- guaranteed OHKO after Stealth Rock
• 252+ SpA Life Orb Electivire Thunderbolt vs. 248 HP / 0 SpD Moltres: 390-460 (101.8 - 120.1%) -- guaranteed OHKO
• 252+ SpA Life Orb Electivire Flamethrower vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Cobalion: 294-348 (91 - 107.7%) -- 62.5% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock
• 252+ SpA Life Orb Electivire Hidden Power Ice vs. 4 HP / 0 SpD Goodra: 107-127 (33.2 - 39.4%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Stealth Rock

Sting (Drapion) (M) @ Shuca Berry
Ability: Battle Armor
EVs: 24 HP / 252 Atk / 232 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Ice Fang
- Pursuit
- Earthquake
- Swords Dance

This set was designed to deal with Hoopa if it was getting out of hand. As well as perhaps take something out with a Swords Dance boosted attack. Ice Fang hits Pokemon like Landorus-T, Togekiss, and Goodra. Pursuit traps and beats Hoopa. Earthquake hits Mega Manectric and Cobalion. Battle Armor means that I don't have to worry about critical hits. Shuca Berry helps Drapion survive an attack from Landorus-T, hopefully baiting it to stay in and take some serious damage if not get taken out. Drapion's speed was also set to be higher than max speed Landorus-T's.

Offensive Calcs:

• Outspeeds non-Scarf max speed Landorus-T by 1 point.
• 252 Atk Drapion Pursuit vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Hoopa: 304-364 (100.9 - 120.9%) -- guaranteed OHKO
• -1 252 Atk Drapion Ice Fang vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Landorus-Therian: 160-192 (50.1 - 60.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
• +2 252 Atk Drapion Ice Fang vs. 184 HP / 0 Def Togekiss: 230-272 (64.4 - 76.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
• +2 252 Atk Drapion Ice Fang vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Goodra: 296-350 (77 - 91.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

Defensive Calcs:

• 252 Atk Cobalion All-Out Pummeling (190 BP) vs. 24 HP / 0 Def Drapion: 222-262 (77.3 - 91.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
• 248 SpA Choice Specs Hoopa Shadow Ball vs. 24 HP / 0 SpD Drapion: 138-162 (48 - 56.4%) -- 87.5% chance to 2HKO

Rupert (Dhelmise) @ Assault Vest
Ability: Steelworker
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 SpD
Brave Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Anchor Shot
- Shadow Claw
- Earthquake
- Rapid Spin

He's back! Dhelmise has returned to us and is coming to battle once again! Dhelmise's main purpose is sponging special attacks, walling Dhelmise, and keeping opposing hazards off the field. Anchor Shot traps and beats down Togekiss and Slurpuff. Shadow Claw destroys his whole team, just like Shadow Ball on my other Pokemon. Earthquake beats Cobalion and Mega Manectric. Rapid Spin keeps Stealth Rock and Sticky Web at bay.

Offensive Calcs:

• 252+ Atk Steelworker Dhelmise Anchor Shot vs. 184 HP / 0 Def Togekiss: 306-360 (85.7 - 100.8%) -- guaranteed OHKO after Stealth Rock
• 252+ Atk Dhelmise Earthquake vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Cobalion: 194-230 (60 - 71.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
• 252+ Atk Dhelmise Shadow Claw vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Hoopa: 768-904 (255.1 - 300.3%) -- guaranteed OHKO
• 252+ Atk Dhelmise Shadow Claw vs. 252 HP / 4 Def Starmie: 288-342 (88.8 - 105.5%) -- guaranteed OHKO after Stealth Rock
•  -1 252+ Atk Dhelmise Earthquake vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Manectric-Mega: 192-228 (68.3 - 81.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

Defensive Calcs

• 0 Atk Ferroseed Gyro Ball (131 BP) vs. 248 HP / 0 Def Dhelmise: 82-97 (23.9 - 28.2%) -- guaranteed 5HKO
• 252+ SpA Choice Specs Goodra Fire Blast vs. 248 HP / 8 SpD Assault Vest Dhelmise: 254-300 (74 - 87.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
• 252 SpA Moltres Fire Blast vs. 248 HP / 8 SpD Assault Vest Dhelmise: 254-300 (74 - 87.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
• 252 SpA Life Orb Starmie Ice Beam vs. 248 HP / 8 SpD Assault Vest Dhelmise: 156-185 (45.4 - 53.9%) -- 41.4% chance to 2HKO
• 252 SpA Manectric-Mega Overheat vs. 248 HP / 8 SpD Assault Vest Dhelmise: 212-250 (61.8 - 72.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

The Aftermath

Here is the battle link: https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/battlearea-gen7draftleague-26849

Week 1: Toronto Maple Leafeons (AbruptFury) vs. Indianapolis Keldeos (Slec)

Team that Alec brought: Landorus-T, Togekiss, Goodra, Cobalion, Starmie, Slurpuff

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I think that I should retire Turn by Turn Analysis. Some turns don't really need commentary. They are pretty straightforward. I think I will just go over the important ones and summarize which Pokemon got kills and which got deaths. 

Match Summary and Explanations

• I led Mesprit to get my Stealth Rock up as Alec leads Slurpuff.
• Because he led Slurpuff, I knew he had to be Sticky Web. So I went out to Dhelmise to Rapid Spin. Alec switches into Landorus-T, perhaps expecting this.
• I have Dhelmise go for the Rapid Spin. I did not want to deal with Sticky Web.
• Alec is adamant about getting them up, but Anchor Shot doesn't OHKO the Slurpuff anymore, allowing Dhelmise to Rapid Spin the rest of Slurpuff's health away. Along with any hopes of him setting up Stealth Rock. First kill of my season goes to Dhelmise.
• Cobalion comes in and I decide to Earthquake with Dhelmise. Despite the Intimidate, I knew Earthquake would still do damage. Maybe even get rid of a Shuca Berry.
• Cobalion beats down Dhelmise with a couple of Iron Heads.
• I sent out Vaporeon, knowing that it could tank a hit and possibly get a burn with Scald.
• Alec makes a good switch to Starmie. My spinblocker is gone, he can get a free switch in on Scald and spin the hazards away. 
• I knew that so I went back into Mesprit to set them back up.
• Alec pulls the switch into Togekiss and goes for Wish as I bring in Electivire on what I hoped would be Thunder Wave.
• Knowing very well that he wouldn't risk Starmie against Electivire on the Wish pass, I went for Hidden Power Ice and hit the Landorus-T. One kill for Electivire.
• Goodra comes out as I go right for Toxic.
• I didn't want to risk Sylveon coming in on Goodra's Sludge Wave, so I made the mid-ground play of Drapion, but it does not take the Draco Meteor well.
• Since his Goodra is sitting at -2 and Drapion is low on health, I went for Pursuit trying to catch it switching out into something else. Alec makes a good play by staying in and taking less from the Pursuit.
• With Goodra weakened, I sent in Sylveon to finish it off.
• Starmie comes in and goes down to Sylveon's Hyper Voice. One kill for Sylveon.
• Cobalion comes in and sets up a Swords Dance on Sylveon. Unfortunately for me, Hyper Voice does not knock it out, so I know I'm losing a Pokemon.  
• I try to Protect on the Z move because I'm sure it is Steelium Z Iron Head. That way, it wouldn't be wasted on something like Mesprit or Dhelmise. And my Steel resists are not very tanky. Alec just goes for Iron Head and down goes Sylveon.
• I sent in Mesprit and it immediately goes down to Corkscrew Crash. In hindsight, I probably could've scouted for it better by sending in Vaporeon to take it, but I knew that Vaporeon could take a Close Combat from +2 Cobalion and that it was hard to play around in the first place when I was planning. And Cobalion got 3 kills in this battle.
• Scald from Vaporeon finishes off Cobalion. One kill for Vaporeon.
• Alec brings in Togekiss and I try the same thing again with Electivire by trying to get my Motor Boost.
• Goodra comes in on the Wish pass and survives the Hidden Power Ice from my Life Orb Electivire. Goodra gets a good amount of health back.
• I sent out Vaporeon as fodder for the Draco Meteor and bring Electivire back in.
• The combination of Hidden Power Ice and Toxic finishes off the Goodra. One kill for Electivire.
• The only way Alec could beat Electivire was if he was Choice Scarf'd. I tried to remember what it had done all game and if it had outsped any of my Pokemon it shouldn't have. It turned out that it was in fact Choice Scarf Togekiss with Wish. A very interesting set that I did not expect. And the Toronto Maple Leafeons take a 0-1 loss in their first game.

In Conclusion

Good game to Alec ! I think he played very well. And while his plays and moveset choices were a bit predictable, that doesn't mean they were bad. I just knew that those kinds of things would give me the most trouble. And so did he. If I have any advice for Alec this season it would be to GET A GHOST RESIST, YA GOOF! Transaction week will be coming up soon and I really hope he fixes that problem because I think that his team is very strong and it's a very obvious hole in it. Quite exploitable. 

Thank you very much for taking the time to read my article :) I hope you enjoyed it and I will be bringing the results of my next match soon. My week 2 match is against Epiclolz aka Justin. I have played him before and I'm looking forward to another battle with him. See you next time!