Now that the PokeDraft has ended and the season has now started it is time to look over the team and recap what happened in each team’s draft.
Seneca Sandygasts:
Manaphy, Tapu Fini, Scizor, Forretress, Hydreigon, Cloyster, Venusaur, Whimsicott, and Politoed
With the first overall pick in the draft the Sandygasts went with a pick that was slightly off the boards by taking Manaphy. That pick set the groundwork of what they planned to do in the draft, build a rain team. I expect Scizor to do major damage to opposing teams. If the Sandygasts get up a tailwind then look out for Manaphy and Hydreigon to be just as deadly as Scizor.
Milton Keyens Gastrodons:
Tyranitar, Swampert, Excadrill, Gliscor, Hippowdon, Steelix, Slowbro, Vikavolt, and Gastrodon
The best way to describe this team can simply be sand, sand, and more sand. The Gastrodons truly went “all in” when it came to draft a sand team. Interestingly, while most weather teams opt for only one weather setter, the Gastrodons decided to draft two sand setters in Tyranitar and Hippowdon. They also have the most pokemon that are eligible to mega evolve in Tyranitar, Swampert, and Steelix. I expect to see Swampert and Steelix to be the ones that are mega evolved the most. My favorite pick in their draft has to be when they drafted Swampert in the second round. As a sand team, one of its biggest counters are rain teams. By taking Swampert they manage to get rid of the pokemon that gets the biggest advantage from being in the rain, and now the Gastrodons could possibly take advantage of an opponent’s rain.
Aurora Aurarorussssses:
Mawile, Rotom- Wash, Alolan Ninetails, Serperior, Kommo-o, Cresselia, Smeargle, Uxie, and Aurorus
When someone plays this team they have to be very careful about who has speed control. If smeargle gets sticky webs up Serperior and Kommo-o could become very scary. Another move teams have to worry about is trick room. If trick room gets set up Mawile and Aurorus could just run over teams. They also have the aurora veil option with Ninetails to make his team even bulkier. Expect Mawile to deal the most damage to opposing teams.
Moshannon Gogoats:
Blacephalon, Pelipper, Tapu Lele, Stakataka, Primarina, Kingdra, Shuckle, Heliolisk, and Ditto
With a quick glance you can tell the Gogoats are a rain team. If there is rain up, Kingdra, Heliolisk, and Primarina become threats that need to dealt with carefully. One interesting thing about the Gogoats are that they are the only team that does not have a pokemon that is eligible to mega evolve. This might be an issue they need to address in free agency. My favorite pick in their draft is when they selected Ditto in the last round. Ditto can act as a great swiss army knife, because if the Gogoats can play it correctly it could become an extra mega pokemon or an extra OU pokemon for his team.
Venusaur Victors:
Charizard, Ferrothorn, Victini, Gengar, Heracross, Blastoise, Typhlosion, Toxicroak, and Bouffalant
With their first pick the Venusaurs selected the classic Charizard. This could be tricky to game plan for by his opponents because they will have to guess if he will bring Mega Charizard X or Y. This theme runs to some other pokemon through his team. Heracross could either run guts and be a status absorber or it could run moxie with a choice scarf and become a threatening sweeper. Gengar could also run either focus sash or choice specs effectively. The Venusaur’s will have to hope that their team options can help them achieve victory.
Eire Eelektross:
Volcarona, Tapu Bulu, Zygarde, Sceptile, Metagross, Araquanid, Hitmontop, Minior, and Palossand
With selecting Volcarona the Eelektross got a set up sweeper. They kept the theme of set up sweepers throughout the team with selecting Zygarde and Minior. While there are a fair amount of pokemon that are weak to ice on the Eelektross, they did draft Metagross to handle those ice types. Expect Volcarona and Zygarde to be the major damage dealers on the Eelektross.
Cleveland Castforms:
Greninja, Tapu Koko, Hoopa- Unbound, Blissey, Sharpedo, Cofagrigus, Torkoal, Vileplume, and Skuntank
While I would normally go over what I expect a team to do, the Castforms present a different problem. The trainer behind this team, Peter, runs very different and “off meta” movesets. This causes guessing what his team will do somewhat difficult, so I’ll just say the Castforms primary damage dealers, Greninja and Sharpedo, have the same type. This might cause the team to have some coverage problems down the line.
Royal:
Landorus- Therian, Pinsir, Magearna, Suicune, Togekiss, Snorlax, Sigilyph, Virizion, and Alolan Persian
Straight off the bat, this team is scary. I mean really scary. With the seventh pick in the draft Royal got the biggest steal of the draft in Landorus. It does almost everything well and it truly is a swiss army knife. Pinsir and Magearna can set up and then proceed to sweep through your team. Suicune tends to be very bulky and annoying to play against. Speaking of annoying pokemon to play against, Togekiss also falls into that category. Most of the pokemon on this team can do major damage to most teams, so every opposing trainer has to be careful and look out for Royal’s win condition.
Pittsburgh Steelix:
Heatran, Keldeo, Clefable, Manectric, Terrakion, Quagsire, Ambipom, Braviary, and Ariados
The Steelix managed to draft a very solid team. They have a solid defensive core around Heatran, Clefable, and Quagsire. The Steelix also have quite nice offensive pokemon in Manectric, Keldeo, Terrakion, and Ambipom. Manectric will be able to volt switch and chip down opponents health while the Steelix can then switch into a more favorable matchup. The Steelix also have some speed control in Ariados, if it can survive an attack. Expect Manectric and Terrakion to be the major threats on the Pittsburgh Steelix.
Adam:
Gyarados, Kyurem- Black, Dragonite, Porygon Z, Mandibuzz, Jolteon, Rhydon, Hitmonlee, Electivire
Like the team before him, Adam also drafted a very solid team. This team has a bit of a more offensive focus compared to the Steelix’s team. Gyarados gets two very good abilities in moxie and intimidate. It is also able to mega evolve. To cover for the major electric weakness from Gyarados, Adam drafted Electivire and Rhydon which can also serve as a stealth rocker. He also has a set up sweeper in Dragonite. He also has Kyurem- Black, a pokemon that can just destroy an opposing team if the opponent doesn’t have an immediate answer. Expect Gyarados, Kyurem- Black, and Dragonite to be dealing the most damage for Adam’s team.
This concludes the draft day recap for the PSPS PokeDraft League. Please stay tune to hear the results of week 1 battles!