Forums · Building a Battle Tower team FAQ
I decided to post this, because there isn't really any help for BT team builders in the RMT section. For all you eagle eyed readers, yes, this is pretty much a copy and paste from a similar topic I posted on Gamefaqs, only I've added bit'sand pieces and that were said later on in that topic.
Also, please note that I don't want this to become a BT RMT thread, or a BT build my team thread, like it became in Gamefaqs.
Here goes:
===========
Building a team
===========
When making a Battle Tower team, it is important to remember that both you and your opponent only have 3 Pokemon. There is actually quite a lot to counter in the Battle Tower, and to do it with just 3 Pokemon can be daunting.
Also, please note that the BT uses Item Clause.
****************
-What a team needs
****************
Here, I?m going to list various things to consider when making your team. You don't neccessarily need everything, and some things are certainly more important than others.
A way to deal with Double Team (DT)
This move is very common even in the early stages of the Tower. After just 1 Double Team, your opponent will be much harder to hit. Shuckle is a fine example of how annoying this can be:
Shuckle @ Brightpowder
~ Double Team
~ Power Trick
~ Stone Edge
~ Earthquake
Damn near impossible to kill, unless you?re prepared.
The best ways to deal with it are as follows:
- Haze ? Resets all stats to their original. In other words, your opponent can DT 6 times, and Haze makes it as if they hadn?t even done it once. Good examples include Gengar, Crobat and Weezing.
- 100% accurate moves, e.g. Aerial Ace, Shock Wave, Swift ? your opponent can DT all he wants, but the accuracy of these moves is unaffected. They always hit, unless your opponent has used Fly, Protect, Dig, etc. Good examples ? almost any Pokemon can learn at least 1 via TM, but an especially good one is Salamence with Aerial Ace.
- Taunt ? your opponent can only use attacking moves. Most DT Pokemon don?t have any attacking moves, so if you use this they will just Struggle themselves to death, whilst you stat up, preparing to sweep the rest of their team. Good examples ? again, a lot of Pokemon can learn it via TM, but especially good are Gyrados or Infernape.
Roar / Whirlwind ? always goes last, but forces your opponent to switch. Also known as PHazing (Pseudo Hazing). To be honest, I wouldn?t rely on this one. Unlike the other counters, these moves are affected by accuracy / evasion. Therefore, if your opponent DTs just once, there is a chance that Roar / Whirlwind won?t hit. Furthermore, if your opponent is down to his last Pokemon, PHazing moves don?t work. Like I said, don?t rely on it. Good examples ? a lot can learn Roar via TM. Just look at your 3 chosen Pokes and see who has room for it.
Out of all the things to watch out for, this is the most common and annoying, and yet so easy to counter. If you take one thing from this, it should be this ? MAKE SURE YOU CAN COUNTER DOUBLE TEAM!!
Priority Moves
Priority moves are moves such as Ice Shard, Bullet Punch, etc (preferably NOT Quick Attack, as Ghosts are immune to it). They are very useful, as in later rounds almost every team will have a Focus Sasher. A good example of a Focus Sasher is Weavile:
Turn 1 ? Weavile used Swords Dance! (He has such a high speed, he will most likely outrun you)
- *Your Pokemon* used *insert Attack here*. It?s Super Effective! Enemy Weavile hung on with its Focus Sash!
Turn 2 ? Weavile used Ice Punch / Night Slash / Whatever!
- *Insert Pokemon here* fainted!
Weavile then proceeds to sweep the remainder of your team? Not very nice!! However, priority moves will guarantee that you still go first (unless they use one as well, and then it?s a case of highest speed wins again) and will always do far more than the requisite 1 damage.
They are also a useful way of getting rid of Endure & Berry users, such as Lucario:
Turn 1 ? Enemy Lucario uses Endure! (or braces itself, or whatever. Can?t remember, sorry)
*Your Pokemon* uses Earthquake
Lucario Endured the hit!
Enemy Lucario?s Salac Berry activated!
Turn 2 ? Enemy Lucario used Close Combat / Whatever.
*Your Pokemon* fainted!
And again, your team is defeated one by one. Not as deadly as a Focus Sasher, but still risky.
Finally, Priority moves are a good way to clear weakened Pokemon,
Good examples include Weavile w/ Ice Shard, Metagross w/ Bullet Punch, etc.
Sturdy Ability - negates OHKO moves such as Fissure, Guillotine, etc
In the later stages, you will come across OHKO users, and it?s then that the insane Hax that the AI has becomes clear. My personal favourite is this one:
Crawdaunt @ Quick Claw
Adamant
~ Guillotine
~ Frustration
~ Ancientpower
~ Aerial Ace
There has been quite a lot of talk concerning this guy, and how he can destroy almost any unlucky team
However, Sturdy negates OHKO moves, so hopefully only 1 Pokemon is killed. After that, you can send out your Sturdy Pokemon, and just kill it. Even Skarmory can do this, as most OHKO users only have OHKO moves, so you can just sit and keep Drill Pecking them.
However, there is a Pinsir with the Mold Breaker ability (negates the opponents ability) that knows a OHKO move. In this instance, Sturdy can?t save you. Just pray that luck is on your side? Or that you?re faster.
Pokemon with the Sturdy Ability:
Geodude, Graveler, Golem, Nosepass, Aron, Lairon, Aggron, Magnemite, Magneton, Skarmory, Donphan, Onix, Sudowoodo, Pineco, Forretress, Steelix, Shuckle, Shieldon, Bastiodon, Bonsly, Magnezone
Also, Gengar is an excellent addition to any team, as his typing and ability make him immune to all OHKO moves apart from Sheer Cold.
A way to deal with Status effects
When your Pokemon is still asleep FOUR turns after it had Hypnosis used against it, you?ll realise how much you need this. Also, remember that Battle Tower doesn?t use Sleep Cause. Counters:
- Lum Berry ? cures any Status effect, once. Giving this to one of your Pokemon will often prove beneficial, especially on slower sweepers like Metagross or Tyranitar, allowing them to 2HKO your opponent?s status user.
- Rest Talker ? A Pokemon who knows Rest (fully restores HP, cures Status, sleep for 2 turns), Sleep Talk (chooses a random move to use when asleep) and, typically, 2 attack moves. Negates pretty much any status effect apart from freeze (which is VERY uncommon). Also, if your Pokemon is ?fully paralysed? or ?hurts itself in it?s confusion,? then Rest won?t do anything that turn.
- Guts Ability ? provides a Pokemon with a 1.5x boost to attack when inflicted with a status.
A good example of the previous 2 points is Heracross:
Heracross @ Leftovers
Guts
~ Rest
~ Sleep Talk
~ Megahorn
~ Close Combat / Stone Edge / Earthquake
A way to deal damage!!
Yep, the big one. You can follow all the above points, but without a fast sweeper (I?d recommend 2) you?ll never get anywhere, and even if you do win, battles will really drag. It is beneficial to have a Physical Sweeper and a Special Sweeper. An example of a Pokemon who gets the job done is as follows (note ? it is VERY cheap, haha?)
Latios @ Choice Specs
Timid / Modest
252 SpAtk / 252 Speed / 6 HP
Levitate
~ Draco Meteor
~ Thunderbolt
~ Ice Beam
~ Dragon Pulse/Earthquake
Don?t have the same types
Basically, don?t have 3 Pokemon who are all one-shotted by an Ice Beam, for example. Metagross, Tyranitar & Heatran are all very good Pokemon, but do not make a good team, as they are all taken out by both Earthquake and Fighting moves, which are very common.
Also, don?t have 3 Special Sweepers, or 3 Physical Sweepers. You will not be a happy bunny when either Blissey or Skarmory shows up.
***************
Putting it together
***************
Now, the hard part. You need to find a way to get all these counters into just 3 Pokemon, whilst leaving room for dealing damage yourself ? remember, you only get 12 moves!!
I think I?ll leave it at that for now.
I'll add more things as and when I think of them, or when someone mentions something useful.
************
BT Ramblings
************
This section is just going to be comprised of various tidbits of things I've noticed, or think are interesting...
1. Counter & Mirror Coat are EXCELLENT moves.
I've just been trying out a Blissey with Counter, and it has saved my ass so many times. Admittedly, it DID lose out against a Heracross' Close Combat, but now I know for next time...
2. Battle Tower IS fixed
I'm aware this is common knowledge, but allow me to explain... In all my BT runs thus far, I've used a Skarmory with the Sturdy Ability. I have never seen a OHKO move. Ever.
(And I've been using this link - http://mewn.psupedia.info/Pokemon/BTMovesets.htm - to confirm whether or not the Pokes I'm going against even have a chance of knowing a OHKO move)
Earlier, I swapped Skarmory for the Blissey I mentioned earlier. I immediately faced THREE teams in a row, all with at least one Poke that knew Fissure (Hell, in one team, ALL THREE Pokes knew the damn move...) Lucky for me, Latios Levitates, but even so...
*****
Links
*****
1 - http://www.gamefaqs.com/portable/ds/file/925601/49097
My very own FAQ. *Insert shamless self-plug here
* Useful if you have an issue with the basics of the BT, or need to know how much something costs, etc
2 - http://mewn.psupedia.info/Pokemon/BTMovesets.htm
A list of <b>every</b> Pokemon that you will face, with their moves and items and EV spreads. If you are really serious about getting 100 wins, make use of this
3 - http://www.smogon.com/forums/showthread.php?t=23270
Some examples of teams. Some have reached over 150...
Comments? Contributions?
EDIT - Let's try and keep this about legitimate tactics... No more No Guard & Sheer Cold or whatever
Also, please note that I don't want this to become a BT RMT thread, or a BT build my team thread, like it became in Gamefaqs.
Here goes:
===========
Building a team
===========
When making a Battle Tower team, it is important to remember that both you and your opponent only have 3 Pokemon. There is actually quite a lot to counter in the Battle Tower, and to do it with just 3 Pokemon can be daunting.
Also, please note that the BT uses Item Clause.
****************
-What a team needs
****************
Here, I?m going to list various things to consider when making your team. You don't neccessarily need everything, and some things are certainly more important than others.
A way to deal with Double Team (DT)
This move is very common even in the early stages of the Tower. After just 1 Double Team, your opponent will be much harder to hit. Shuckle is a fine example of how annoying this can be:
Shuckle @ Brightpowder
~ Double Team
~ Power Trick
~ Stone Edge
~ Earthquake
Damn near impossible to kill, unless you?re prepared.
The best ways to deal with it are as follows:
- Haze ? Resets all stats to their original. In other words, your opponent can DT 6 times, and Haze makes it as if they hadn?t even done it once. Good examples include Gengar, Crobat and Weezing.
- 100% accurate moves, e.g. Aerial Ace, Shock Wave, Swift ? your opponent can DT all he wants, but the accuracy of these moves is unaffected. They always hit, unless your opponent has used Fly, Protect, Dig, etc. Good examples ? almost any Pokemon can learn at least 1 via TM, but an especially good one is Salamence with Aerial Ace.
- Taunt ? your opponent can only use attacking moves. Most DT Pokemon don?t have any attacking moves, so if you use this they will just Struggle themselves to death, whilst you stat up, preparing to sweep the rest of their team. Good examples ? again, a lot of Pokemon can learn it via TM, but especially good are Gyrados or Infernape.
Roar / Whirlwind ? always goes last, but forces your opponent to switch. Also known as PHazing (Pseudo Hazing). To be honest, I wouldn?t rely on this one. Unlike the other counters, these moves are affected by accuracy / evasion. Therefore, if your opponent DTs just once, there is a chance that Roar / Whirlwind won?t hit. Furthermore, if your opponent is down to his last Pokemon, PHazing moves don?t work. Like I said, don?t rely on it. Good examples ? a lot can learn Roar via TM. Just look at your 3 chosen Pokes and see who has room for it.
Out of all the things to watch out for, this is the most common and annoying, and yet so easy to counter. If you take one thing from this, it should be this ? MAKE SURE YOU CAN COUNTER DOUBLE TEAM!!
Priority Moves
Priority moves are moves such as Ice Shard, Bullet Punch, etc (preferably NOT Quick Attack, as Ghosts are immune to it). They are very useful, as in later rounds almost every team will have a Focus Sasher. A good example of a Focus Sasher is Weavile:
Turn 1 ? Weavile used Swords Dance! (He has such a high speed, he will most likely outrun you)
- *Your Pokemon* used *insert Attack here*. It?s Super Effective! Enemy Weavile hung on with its Focus Sash!
Turn 2 ? Weavile used Ice Punch / Night Slash / Whatever!
- *Insert Pokemon here* fainted!
Weavile then proceeds to sweep the remainder of your team? Not very nice!! However, priority moves will guarantee that you still go first (unless they use one as well, and then it?s a case of highest speed wins again) and will always do far more than the requisite 1 damage.
They are also a useful way of getting rid of Endure & Berry users, such as Lucario:
Turn 1 ? Enemy Lucario uses Endure! (or braces itself, or whatever. Can?t remember, sorry)
*Your Pokemon* uses Earthquake
Lucario Endured the hit!
Enemy Lucario?s Salac Berry activated!
Turn 2 ? Enemy Lucario used Close Combat / Whatever.
*Your Pokemon* fainted!
And again, your team is defeated one by one. Not as deadly as a Focus Sasher, but still risky.
Finally, Priority moves are a good way to clear weakened Pokemon,
Good examples include Weavile w/ Ice Shard, Metagross w/ Bullet Punch, etc.
Sturdy Ability - negates OHKO moves such as Fissure, Guillotine, etc
In the later stages, you will come across OHKO users, and it?s then that the insane Hax that the AI has becomes clear. My personal favourite is this one:
Crawdaunt @ Quick Claw
Adamant
~ Guillotine
~ Frustration
~ Ancientpower
~ Aerial Ace
There has been quite a lot of talk concerning this guy, and how he can destroy almost any unlucky team
However, Sturdy negates OHKO moves, so hopefully only 1 Pokemon is killed. After that, you can send out your Sturdy Pokemon, and just kill it. Even Skarmory can do this, as most OHKO users only have OHKO moves, so you can just sit and keep Drill Pecking them.
However, there is a Pinsir with the Mold Breaker ability (negates the opponents ability) that knows a OHKO move. In this instance, Sturdy can?t save you. Just pray that luck is on your side? Or that you?re faster.
Pokemon with the Sturdy Ability:
Geodude, Graveler, Golem, Nosepass, Aron, Lairon, Aggron, Magnemite, Magneton, Skarmory, Donphan, Onix, Sudowoodo, Pineco, Forretress, Steelix, Shuckle, Shieldon, Bastiodon, Bonsly, Magnezone
Also, Gengar is an excellent addition to any team, as his typing and ability make him immune to all OHKO moves apart from Sheer Cold.
A way to deal with Status effects
When your Pokemon is still asleep FOUR turns after it had Hypnosis used against it, you?ll realise how much you need this. Also, remember that Battle Tower doesn?t use Sleep Cause. Counters:
- Lum Berry ? cures any Status effect, once. Giving this to one of your Pokemon will often prove beneficial, especially on slower sweepers like Metagross or Tyranitar, allowing them to 2HKO your opponent?s status user.
- Rest Talker ? A Pokemon who knows Rest (fully restores HP, cures Status, sleep for 2 turns), Sleep Talk (chooses a random move to use when asleep) and, typically, 2 attack moves. Negates pretty much any status effect apart from freeze (which is VERY uncommon). Also, if your Pokemon is ?fully paralysed? or ?hurts itself in it?s confusion,? then Rest won?t do anything that turn.
- Guts Ability ? provides a Pokemon with a 1.5x boost to attack when inflicted with a status.
A good example of the previous 2 points is Heracross:
Heracross @ Leftovers
Guts
~ Rest
~ Sleep Talk
~ Megahorn
~ Close Combat / Stone Edge / Earthquake
A way to deal damage!!
Yep, the big one. You can follow all the above points, but without a fast sweeper (I?d recommend 2) you?ll never get anywhere, and even if you do win, battles will really drag. It is beneficial to have a Physical Sweeper and a Special Sweeper. An example of a Pokemon who gets the job done is as follows (note ? it is VERY cheap, haha?)
Latios @ Choice Specs
Timid / Modest
252 SpAtk / 252 Speed / 6 HP
Levitate
~ Draco Meteor
~ Thunderbolt
~ Ice Beam
~ Dragon Pulse/Earthquake
Don?t have the same types
Basically, don?t have 3 Pokemon who are all one-shotted by an Ice Beam, for example. Metagross, Tyranitar & Heatran are all very good Pokemon, but do not make a good team, as they are all taken out by both Earthquake and Fighting moves, which are very common.
Also, don?t have 3 Special Sweepers, or 3 Physical Sweepers. You will not be a happy bunny when either Blissey or Skarmory shows up.
***************
Putting it together
***************
Now, the hard part. You need to find a way to get all these counters into just 3 Pokemon, whilst leaving room for dealing damage yourself ? remember, you only get 12 moves!!
I think I?ll leave it at that for now.
I'll add more things as and when I think of them, or when someone mentions something useful.
************
BT Ramblings
************
This section is just going to be comprised of various tidbits of things I've noticed, or think are interesting...
1. Counter & Mirror Coat are EXCELLENT moves.
I've just been trying out a Blissey with Counter, and it has saved my ass so many times. Admittedly, it DID lose out against a Heracross' Close Combat, but now I know for next time...
2. Battle Tower IS fixed
I'm aware this is common knowledge, but allow me to explain... In all my BT runs thus far, I've used a Skarmory with the Sturdy Ability. I have never seen a OHKO move. Ever.
(And I've been using this link - http://mewn.psupedia.info/Pokemon/BTMovesets.htm - to confirm whether or not the Pokes I'm going against even have a chance of knowing a OHKO move)
Earlier, I swapped Skarmory for the Blissey I mentioned earlier. I immediately faced THREE teams in a row, all with at least one Poke that knew Fissure (Hell, in one team, ALL THREE Pokes knew the damn move...) Lucky for me, Latios Levitates, but even so...
*****
Links
*****
1 - http://www.gamefaqs.com/portable/ds/file/925601/49097
My very own FAQ. *Insert shamless self-plug here
* Useful if you have an issue with the basics of the BT, or need to know how much something costs, etc2 - http://mewn.psupedia.info/Pokemon/BTMovesets.htm
A list of <b>every</b> Pokemon that you will face, with their moves and items and EV spreads. If you are really serious about getting 100 wins, make use of this
3 - http://www.smogon.com/forums/showthread.php?t=23270
Some examples of teams. Some have reached over 150...
Comments? Contributions?
EDIT - Let's try and keep this about legitimate tactics... No more No Guard & Sheer Cold or whatever
| QUOTE (Ryo82439 @ Aug 31 2007, 07:46 PM) | ||
the most hax l've used is jolty with ice beam and grass knot with sturdy. |
Pure Power Regigigas @ Leftovers
"RegiEPICWIN"
Pure Power
Adamant - 252 Attack, 252 Speed, 6HP
~ Belly Drum
~ Extremespeed
~ Sacred Fire
~ Explosion
Yeah, scary.
| QUOTE (Breloom @ Sep 15 2007, 04:01 PM) | ||
I am right now; this guide has really helped me.  |
Why, thank you very much. Glad someone found it useful
| QUOTE (Raptor @ Sep 20 2007, 12:45 PM) |
| I hate the BT so much. I can't get further than 57 wins. Ugh. The upside though, is that because you don't have to walk around, you only have to tap the bottom screen, it's super-easy to play while at work, with no one being the wiser. |
Once I get my team set up, I'll be bringing my DS to work study everytime so I can get the third Star for my Trainer Card. Gonna be badass.
| QUOTE (Thelonius @ Sep 30 2007, 07:23 PM) |
| Cheapest Anti-Haxtower Pokemon EVAR Ninjask @ Choice Scarf No Guard Jolly- 252 Speed, "And nothing else matters." ~ Sheer Cold ~ W/e ~ W/e ~ W/e |
Focus Sash over over Choice scarf. I don't think that the Scarf is needed and the Sash prevents against priority moves.
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