Volt-Turn's Return
A BW2 OU hyper offensive momentum team by Eclypse
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At A Glance:
Introduction
Greetings, Smogon. This is a team I built because, while Rotom-W and Genesect are a dominant core right now, the concept of VoltTurn as an entire team strategy is virtually unseen. Honestly, I just wanted to prove hazard damage in tandem with VoltTurning is still viable in this metagame and can be rewarding with team building that properly addresses the macabre offensive presence (while still breaking down more defensive threats as well) in this metagame. While I have laddered to the top of Showdown many times with other teams, I tested this team on Pokemon Online and so far have peaked at 1455, but I doubt that is the terminal score of this team, as it has fared well against even top ranked players on the leader board. The most fun team I have ever built in Gen. V and I believe it will remain in my team folder for some time (even if Genesect is to be replaced in the near future) as it matches against most of the BW2 metagame quite nicely.
Team Building Process
I began with sand because it is crucial to stop opposing weather in this metagame - particularly opposing rain.
Tyranitar leads the offensive brigade with his ability to summon a sand storm.
Jirachi was initially added for its ability to outspeed lead Genesect and threaten it out with Fire Punch
Rotom-W joined the team next to better handle rain teams and is the “Volt” user of my team's soubriquet.
Scizor was a natural addition to the team for its ability to complement Rotom-W and add priority in the form of Bullet Punch to the repertoire - a must on any offensive momentum team to pick off weakened enemy team members.
Landorus found his way on the team for a few reasons. Everyone expects the special set, and when the opponent sees me U-Turn out, the opponent believes him scarfed, which is a perfect bluff for me, as it has possibly snagged the most surprise kills on the team.
Starmie briefly fought on the motley crue to spin away hazards and ran HP[Fire] to exterminate Genesect.
Speaking of Genesect, Jirachi was removed for the superior momentum-gaining pivot monarch himself. Jirachi required significant attack investment to dent Genesect and more or less acted as a one-trick pony on the team.
Additionally, after some testing, Starmie proved inferior to Latias. The Artemian archetypal dragon provides a much more succinct response to Rotom-W, Scizor, non-scarfed Genesect and even the scarfed variants on the switch.
Tyranitar leads the offensive brigade with his ability to summon a sand storm.
Jirachi was initially added for its ability to outspeed lead Genesect and threaten it out with Fire Punch
Rotom-W joined the team next to better handle rain teams and is the “Volt” user of my team's soubriquet.
Scizor was a natural addition to the team for its ability to complement Rotom-W and add priority in the form of Bullet Punch to the repertoire - a must on any offensive momentum team to pick off weakened enemy team members.
Landorus found his way on the team for a few reasons. Everyone expects the special set, and when the opponent sees me U-Turn out, the opponent believes him scarfed, which is a perfect bluff for me, as it has possibly snagged the most surprise kills on the team.
Starmie briefly fought on the motley crue to spin away hazards and ran HP[Fire] to exterminate Genesect.
Speaking of Genesect, Jirachi was removed for the superior momentum-gaining pivot monarch himself. Jirachi required significant attack investment to dent Genesect and more or less acted as a one-trick pony on the team.
Additionally, after some testing, Starmie proved inferior to Latias. The Artemian archetypal dragon provides a much more succinct response to Rotom-W, Scizor, non-scarfed Genesect and even the scarfed variants on the switch.
A Closer Look
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Tyranitar @ Chople Berry
Trait: Sand Stream
EVs: 248 HP / 64 Atk / 148 SDef / 48 Spd
Careful Nature (+SDef, -SAtk)
- Stealth Rock
- Pursuit
- Crunch
- Fire Blast
A rather unexpected set, Tyranitar serves many purposes on this team. He commands the weather - providing residual damage on other teams’ members, powering up Landorus to his full attacking potential, and deviously creating imbroglio against offensive rain and sun teams; he sets up entry hazards reliably; with the Chople Berry in tandem with Pursuit, Crunch, and Fire Blast, he terminates Lati@s, Gengar, Alakazam, Reuniclus, Skarmory, Scizor, and even those pesky Genesects attempting to come in on the switch. The Careful nature, HP and Sp. Def. EVs maximize special bulk, while the 48 Speed is enough outspeed common Scizor (which is OHKOed even despite the -SAtk Nature). The 64 Attack EVs add more power to Pursuit-trapping bulkier threats like defensive Latias.
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Landorus @ Expert Belt
Trait: Sand Force
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spd
Naive Nature (+Spd, -SDef)
- Earthquake
- U-turn
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Stone Edge
Expert Belt Landorus, oh how the mighty have fallen... in usage. Landorus’s use as of recent is criminally low. An aggregate of all Landorus sets combined doesn’t even muster 6% the past month. Add to that the fact that the physical set has been almost universally discarded for the Sheer Force set and we have ourselves a double-bluff Pokemon. Threatening to Sub or Rock Polish on the switch and then bluffing the Choice Scarf after revealing that the set is physical is a crucial aspect of Landorus’s play. Denting switch-ins with STAB Sand Force-boosted Earthquakes or simply U-turning out, Landorus is one of my favorite scouts and demanded a spot on the team. HP[Ice] removes opposing Landorus and Stone Edge provides nearly perfect physical coverage. He may even pick off another Pokemon after it seems he has “locked” himself into a certain move.
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Rotom-W @ Chesto Berry
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 248 HP / 28 SAtk / 228 SDef / 4 Spd
Calm Nature (+SDef, -Atk)
- Hydro Pump
- Volt Switch
- Thunder Wave
- Rest
This used to be the typical bulky Rotom-W, but then I saw this modernized set used by Princess Bri. And my goodness. There are times under opposing rain that Rotom-W can spam Hydro Pump to punish switch-ins expecting Volt Switch; it denies Tornadus-T the Hurricane-spams he desires; it takes status and Rests it off; and, it may very well bluff a choice item early game before the entire set is revealed. All EVs are invested in Special bulk, except for the 28 Special Attack necessary to remove 252 HP EV Gliscor and 4 Speed to outpace opposing Rotom-W.
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Genesect @ Choice Scarf
Trait: Download
EVs: 8 Atk / 248 SAtk / 252 Spd
Naive Nature (+Spd, -SDef)
- U-turn
- Flamethrower
- Ice Beam
- Thunderbolt
The ubiquitous choice scarfer. Practically the definition of the current metagame. If you aren’t using one, you probably don’t stand a chance right now. To the fortune and dismay of many battlers, there is practically no reason not to run a Genesect on your team. It keeps momentum with download-boosted STAB U-Turns and covers a variety of threats with its remaining moves. Dragonite got a free DD? Well, fortunately you outspeed and have Ice Beam. +1 Gyarados subbed down on your Rotom-W’s Volt Switch? Well, you still outspeed and have Thunderbolt. Want to risk the speed tie against opposing Genesect? Go right ahead and click Flamethrower. A simple answer to Reuniclus (with U-turing pressure from Scizor and trapping pressure from Tyranitar), +1 DD users, Ferrothorn, all variants of Scizor (including the abhorred SD set), Politoed, and Breloom.
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Scizor @ Choice Band
Trait: Technician
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 SDef
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- U-turn
- Bullet Punch
- Superpower
- Quick Attack
Choice Banded Scizor completes the momentum core with the set that made him infamous. U-turn razes switch-ins while providing me with the switch advantage. Bullet Punch kills off weakened threats and faster attackers on the other team. Superpower annihilates Tyranitar, Heatran, and Ferrothorn. Quick Attack provides secondary priority and can damage Gyarados and others who resist steel, and is used in favor of Pursuit for two reasons: Tyranitar does that job much better and this is a team that places momentum at the pinnacle priority. If I Pursuit-trap a Gengar, then I provide a free turn of set up for the opponent’s DD Dragonite or RP Genesect. Sure, I net a KO, but at the opportunity cost of one valuable turn; not only would I lose all offensive momentum, it would prove difficult to win back the momentum or even the match itself.
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Latias @ Leftovers
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 252 SAtk / 4 SDef / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Dragon Pulse
- Psyshock
- Hidden Power [Fire]
- Recover
Latias, you just might be my new favorite Pokemon. Seriously. Bulkier than her brother, but not to be offensively underestimated Latias ties together the aggressive presence of the team. Soaring at a 110 Base Speed, Latias is able to outspeed and KO many threats that resist my VoltTurn stratagem. Patching up otherwise indelible weaknesses to Terrakion, Keldeo, and other Fighting-types, Latias shrugs off their attacks and KOs with Psyshock. Also able to outspeed and KO opposing team dragons, and sear any non-scarfed Steel-type named Genesect, Latias is the jill-of-all-trades on this team. 2HKOing and outspeeding a plethora of switch-ins, Latias rips holes through standard offensive teams and forces switches on those of the more balanced or defensive variety. Plus, if it doesn’t sacrifice too much pressure, Latias can easily Recover back its HP to retain durability. Another criminally underused and underprepared for Pokemon in this metagame.
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Conclusion
Anyway, there is the team. I spent a considerable amount of time attempting to make the layout of this RMT look as not-repulsive as possible and tried to keep the descriptions informative and entertaining. Please voice your critiques and suggestions, ask any questions you have, or enjoy the team for yourself. Thank you for reading and have fun battling if you choose to import this team for your own use.Conclusion
Also, if you liked this team or decided to try it out for yourself, don't forget to leave a Luvdisc for others to see as well! :)
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Importable
Importable
Tyranitar (F) @ Chople Berry
Trait: Sand Stream
EVs: 248 HP / 64 Atk / 148 SDef / 48 Spd
Careful Nature (+SDef, -SAtk)
- Stealth Rock
- Pursuit
- Crunch
- Fire Blast
Landorus (M) @ Expert Belt
Trait: Sand Force
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spd
Naive Nature (+Spd, -SDef)
- Earthquake
- U-turn
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Stone Edge
Rotom-W @ Chesto Berry
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 248 HP / 28 SAtk / 228 SDef / 4 Spd
Calm Nature (+SDef, -Atk)
- Hydro Pump
- Volt Switch
- Thunder Wave
- Rest
Genesect @ Choice Scarf
Trait: Download
EVs: 8 Atk / 248 SAtk / 252 Spd
Naive Nature (+Spd, -SDef)
- U-turn
- Flamethrower
- Ice Beam
- Thunderbolt
Scizor (F) @ Choice Band
Trait: Technician
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 SDef
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- U-turn
- Bullet Punch
- Superpower
- Quick Attack
Latias (F) @ Leftovers
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 252 SAtk / 4 SDef / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Dragon Pulse
- Psyshock
- Hidden Power [Fire]
- Recover
Trait: Sand Stream
EVs: 248 HP / 64 Atk / 148 SDef / 48 Spd
Careful Nature (+SDef, -SAtk)
- Stealth Rock
- Pursuit
- Crunch
- Fire Blast
Landorus (M) @ Expert Belt
Trait: Sand Force
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spd
Naive Nature (+Spd, -SDef)
- Earthquake
- U-turn
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Stone Edge
Rotom-W @ Chesto Berry
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 248 HP / 28 SAtk / 228 SDef / 4 Spd
Calm Nature (+SDef, -Atk)
- Hydro Pump
- Volt Switch
- Thunder Wave
- Rest
Genesect @ Choice Scarf
Trait: Download
EVs: 8 Atk / 248 SAtk / 252 Spd
Naive Nature (+Spd, -SDef)
- U-turn
- Flamethrower
- Ice Beam
- Thunderbolt
Scizor (F) @ Choice Band
Trait: Technician
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 SDef
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- U-turn
- Bullet Punch
- Superpower
- Quick Attack
Latias (F) @ Leftovers
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 252 SAtk / 4 SDef / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Dragon Pulse
- Psyshock
- Hidden Power [Fire]
- Recover