Carrying small, largely-casual groups through legendary raids
There was a time where every legendary raid in Singapore would have twenty to over a hundred people waiting as the egg hatched. Looks like those days are over due to underwhelming legendaries and SGPokeMap going down for seven months (recently went back up but many have yet to realise).
Yesterday, I carried a group of five through a Cresselia raid, winning with six seconds left and no relobbying. The boss had Aurora Beam and at least one other raider was using Aggrons. This was my team:
1. L30 Gengar, Lk/Sh, 14/14/15
2. L30 Gengar, SC/Sh, 13/15/13
3. L40 Tyranitar, Bi/Cr, 15/13/15
4. L30 Weavile, FA/FP, 15/14/13
5. L30 Tyranitar, Bi/Cr, 13/15/13
6. L30 Tyranitar, Bi/Cr, 12/15/15
The only other Cresselia raid that I did had eight people; it was easier despite Future Sight decimating my Gengars. Against Giratina, I have also twice carried groups of five (advising other players what counters to use), winning with little worry about the clock (once had to relobby though). My team:
1. L30 Gengar, Lk/Sh, 14/14/15 (same as above)
2. L30 Gengar, SC/Sh, 13/15/13 (same as above)
3. L40 Tyranitar, Bi/Cr, 15/13/15 (same as above)
4. L30 Dragonite, DT/OR, 15/15/14
5. L30 Dragonite, DT/OR, 14/13/14
6. L30 Tyranitar, Bi/Cr, 13/15/13 (same as above)
Which (upcoming or likely to return) legendaries would be easier to carry small casual groups through (I know Deoxys is easy)? Any advice from others who are used to carrying small casual groups?
Bonus questions: Would any 96+% Larvitars caught during community weekend be better maxed with Bi/Cr (compared to SD/SE)? Which "easy to carry" legendaries is Dragonite a top counter against (may also max that 98%)?
P.S. Salute all the suburban/rural players who have to carry small groups on a regular basis!
Answers
12 perfect maxed L/ShB Gengars can duo Azelf 88% of the time even if Azelf has C/FS and the trainers are not friends. Heatran is also duoable with 12 L40 perfect Groudons, 27% win at No Friends and 100% win at Best Friends, but it depends heavily on the moveset. The above results were achieved with BB/SE.
I hear you brother, I hear you. Carry most people I raid with that much that me and a couple others have formed a quad squad :') We gave up trying to inform other players about leveling, making teams, using correct counters. Don't think we will ever go back to group raiding now unless Niantic make it impossible to 4-man any of the upcoming legendaries :').
Almost any legendary that has been (and likely to return) should be easy for you to lead the pack. You, unlike many players, know your stuff and use the correct counters and most likely have your mon to the respectable breakpoints for each of them.
Personally, I have a small army of Ttar with B/C so would aim to get more SD/SE Ttar for trade purposes for freinds that don't have them or can't obtain them during the event. They will be legacy again after the event so they will hold their value to those who are seeking them. As for 96%+ If you have 6 96%+ B/C Ttar, Get more SD/SE :D or vice versa.
Happy hunting!
I also play in Singapore and am amazed by how many suboptimal (often just plain bad) teams trainers through out there for raids. The other day I did a Ttar raid with 12 trainers, including several at L38+. I still got 3 damage balls plus my team had the most damage, even through we only had 4 out of 12 trainers.
The player base is large and dedicated, but they just don’t seem to care about maximizing damage.
People around here don't believe I can beat Cresselia by myself (best friends 3 phones, 40, 38, 35). They are partially correct. Using only the daily pass I try it as much as I can...lately been getting Future Sight and not much time to try to battle it 2-3 times each raid. My worst one has no TMs, otherwise I would change a 2400 Weavile dark and a 3480 SD Tyranitar to B/C. I've been losing by 1 to 3 sec vs. FS. Did win twice against Moonblast.
