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Introduction:
Hello everyone! Today I'd like to show you one of my favorite Ubers teams. Even though most people know me as a fervent OU player, that tier grows boring sometimes. Ubers has always been my second love. As far as the team goes, it has been pretty successful. Even though it's certainly not that big an accomplishment, I peaked #1 on the PO Ubers ladder using this team. This was also one of the three teams I used during my 5-0 POWC run. The team itself is heavily offensive, built around the devastating cleaner Kabutops. Finally, the name of the RMT comes from the song by the same name by Mat Kearney. I only discovered it recently, and it has quickly become one of my favorite songs. Without further ado, I present you Ships in the Night!
Teambuilding process:
On a really bad and old team, I had used a core of Specs Palkia + Kabutops. Even though the rest of the team was horrible, the combination was really strong. I had promised myself I would ever build a successful team around the core.
Kabutops is completely worthless without everlasting Rain, so a Kyogre was added. Since I lacked a revenge killer, I simply went with the Choice Scarf set.
It became fairly obvious this team would go on the offensive route. Eager to try this new Custap Forretress lead, I decided that it'd provide entry hazards for this team.
To not make Forretress a waste of a slot, I needed a Ghost-type to prevent the hazards from being spun away. I decided on CM Arceus Ghost.
Finally, I had trouble with stuff like Darkrai, Latias and other dragons. Genesect sounded like a great fit, even though it left me with 2 Choice Scarf users. I decided I'd just try it out, and see what Kyogre set would be more beneficial to this team. Turned out, 2 Choice Scarf users offered me unexpected flexibility, which I desperately missed if I tried something else.
Kabutops is completely worthless without everlasting Rain, so a Kyogre was added. Since I lacked a revenge killer, I simply went with the Choice Scarf set.
It became fairly obvious this team would go on the offensive route. Eager to try this new Custap Forretress lead, I decided that it'd provide entry hazards for this team.
To not make Forretress a waste of a slot, I needed a Ghost-type to prevent the hazards from being spun away. I decided on CM Arceus Ghost.
Finally, I had trouble with stuff like Darkrai, Latias and other dragons. Genesect sounded like a great fit, even though it left me with 2 Choice Scarf users. I decided I'd just try it out, and see what Kyogre set would be more beneficial to this team. Turned out, 2 Choice Scarf users offered me unexpected flexibility, which I desperately missed if I tried something else.
Ladder peak:
Under the microscope:
Forretress (F) @ Custap Berry
Trait: Sturdy
EVs: 252 Atk
Brave Nature (+Atk, -Spd)
- Stealth Rock
- Spikes
- Rapid Spin
- Gyro Ball
Even though he isn't my lead in team preview, this is the poke I'll lead with more often than not. Obviously, its main job is to set up hazards, but compared to other, more popular suicide leads, it can do way more than that. For one, Forretress is extremely good at preventing that there'll be hazards on my field, or at least, it'll be limited to just SR. Flat out beating the extremely overused Deoxys-S is another trait that my team greatly appreciates. Its EVs and movesets are bog-standard. No EVs or IVs make it much easier to get into Custap range, while a full powered Gyro Ball discourages opposing pokes to set up. Stealth Rocks is the best move in the game, and it's especially helpful against Ho-Oh who is a major threat to any team. Spikes punish grounded pokes by stripping 12.5% of their health everytime they come on. Last but not least, Rapid Spin gets rid of annoying hazards on my field. Even though I don't have a poke weak to SR, everyone is grounded. Combined with the fact Spikes are pretty damn common, Rapid Spin support is a blessing.
Considered changes:
Toxic Spikes > Spikes goes a long way in winning the weather war against both Sun and Sand, but when facing a team with Tentacruel I will miss the extra damage. It's a matter of preference.
Arceus (Arceus-Ghost) @ Spooky Plate
Trait: Multitype
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Judgment
- Focus Blast
- Calm Mind
- Substitute
To keep my precious hazards on the field, a spinblocker was obviously needed. Giratina-O and Arceus-Ghost are both amazing offensive spinblockers, but in the end I opted for the latter. Its unresisted coverage, combined with its titanic bulk, makes it an enormous threat to any team. Even though Recover + some HP investment make it tougher to kill Ghostceus, I disliked the lack of immediate power. I decided to swap the HP EVs for SpAtk EVs and this change certainly helped, but there was another thing bothering me. Arceus still remained incredibly prone to status. Because of my aggressive playstyle, and the fact that I didn't often use Recover anyway, I decided to drop it for Substitute. No cool EV spread or anything on this mon either. I need max Speed because I need as many checks to Extremekiller as I can possibly get due to my lack of a solid answer to it. The remaining 4 EVs are dumped into Defense, so Genesect gets a SpAtk boost if it were to come in at +0. This also slightly diminishes passive damage such as hazards, Sandstorm and status, because I have an odd HP number.
Considered changes:
Give it Recover > Substitute.
Kyogre @ Choice Scarf
Trait: Drizzle
EVs: 52 Def / 252 SAtk / 204 Spd
Modest Nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Water Spout
- Surf
- Thunder
- Ice Beam
If you want to base your team around Kabutops, Kyogre is definitely a must. It does much more for this team than just summon eternal Rain, however. It’s my first Choice Scarfer and main Sun check. I opted for a Modest nature, because the extra power helps a lot against stuff like a +1 CM Arceus. The Speed EVs allow it to outspeed everything up to Rash Deoxys-A, and that’s really all I need. The extra EVs are dumped into Defense so I take slightly less damage from Ho-Oh’s, Groudon’s or Extremekiller’s assaults. Kyogre is also an excellent late game cleaner when its few checks are weakened, which is easily done by other members of the team. I tend to play somewhat conservatively with Kyogre, since I really need its rain against Sun teams. Not to mention that Kabutops becomes practically worthless if I lose the weather war.
Considered Changes:
Since I already have a Choice Scarf user in Genesect, you could easily change Kyogre to a Choice Specs variant. Then, make sure to change Palkia to Lustruous/Haban. That version of the team works equally well, and is slightly more balanced because there’s one Choice user less.
Palkia @ Choice Specs
Trait: Pressure
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Hydro Pump
- Spacial Rend
- Thunder
- Fire Blast
Choice Specs Palkia has always been a favorite of mine. I don’t think there’s anything in Ubers that completely crushes walls as well as Palkia does. Spacial Rend comfortably 2HKOs standard Dialga, Ferrothorn is 2HKO’d by Hydro Pump in Rain (and there’s a chance it’s OHKO’d by Fire Blast) and even Chansey will struggle to live its assaults. Even though its main job is to weaken Ferrothorn, Dialga and Giratina for Kabutops to sweep, it does much more for the team than that. It’s the main Kyogre check, and it’s the main stallbreaker. The moves are pretty standard; Hydro Pump is the main STAB, 2HKOing the whole tier at worst. Thunder roasts Kyogre, Tentacruel and Lugia, while Fire Blast is my strongest move in Sunny weather. It also OHKO’s Ferrothorn, even in Rain, with only a little bit of prior damage. Spacial Rend rounds off the moveset, doing obscene damage to the Dragon types that are all over the place. The EVs are pretty simple too. Max Speed is necessary to speed tie with opposing Palkia’s and max SpAtk for maximum firepower.
Considered changes:
Lustruous/Haban and make Kyogre the Choice Specs user.
Genesect @ Choice Scarf
Trait: Download
EVs: 252 Atk / 32 SAtk / 224 Spd
Naive Nature (+Spd, -SDef)
- U-turn
- Iron Head
- Sleep Talk
- Ice Beam
I know it’s a cliché, but Genesect truly is the glue of this team. It’s one of the best, if not the best, revenge killers in Ubers, and it gains momentum as easily as any. I opted for the standard Physical Scarf set, but with a little twist. I used to have Explosion in the 4th slot, but I never really got to use it. After getting outplayed by HackHeMust’s Darkrai, he suggested to try out Sleep Talk. I never looked back. The other moves are the standard however. U-Turn is the crux of the set. It OHKOs Latios/Latias and Mewtwo, while doing serious damage to just about everything else. It immediately flips the momentum as well. Iron Head is the the other STAB move, which allows Genesect to consistently beat Kyurem-W and Arceus-Rock. When everything is weakened, it’s another way to sweep late game. Ice Beam’s main use is to revenge DD Rayquaza, but it also hits Zekrom harder than anything else. The EV’s allow me to outspeed everything up to Scarf Kyurem-W. It’s pointless to try and Speed tie with opposing Genesect, since I don’t run a move to hurt them anyway. Instead, the extra EV’s are dumped into Special Attack so Ice Beam hits slightly harder.
Considered Changes:
None really.
Kabutops (M) @ Life Orb
Trait: Swift Swim
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Stone Edge
- Rapid Spin / Aqua Jet
- Waterfall
- Low Kick
Finally, we’ve arrived at the star of the team. Before Aldaron’s proposal, it was one of the most feared Swift Swimmers in OU, and for good reason. Its 115 base Attack isn’t that impressive, but when you factor in Life Orb, a positive nature and some high powered STABs… Kabotops is the finisher of this team. Waterfall hits like a truck with STAB, Rain and Life Orb to back it up. Stone Edge is the other STAB, 2HKOing Lati’s and offensive versions of Kyogre. Low Kick is used to hit Ferrothorn and Dialga for about 70%, depending on the sets. There are 2 equally good options in the 4th moveslot. Rapid Spin gets rid hazards, and it’s particularly useful against Defensive teams, where Kabutops would have trouble standing out otherwise. Aqua Jet, on the other hand, OHKOs Scarf Terrakion who would outspeed and kill otherwise. I usually go with Rapid Spin, because I already have Ghostceus to softly check Terrakion.
Considered Changes:
I’ve seen some people use CB Kabutops to great success, but that’d give me yet another Choice user.
Conclusion:
This team has been a lot of fun to play with. It might not have the best defensive synergy, but it puts loads of offensive pressure on the opponent’s team from turn 1 onward. Hate, rate and
Importable:
Kyogre @ Choice Scarf
Trait: Drizzle
EVs: 52 Def / 252 SAtk / 204 Spd
Modest Nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Water Spout
- Surf
- Thunder
- Ice Beam
Kabutops (M) @ Life Orb
Trait: Swift Swim
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Stone Edge
- Rapid Spin
- Waterfall
- Low Kick
Genesect @ Choice Scarf
Trait: Download
EVs: 252 Atk / 32 SAtk / 224 Spd
Naive Nature (+Spd, -SDef)
- U-turn
- Iron Head
- Sleep Talk
- Ice Beam
Arceus (Arceus-Ghost) @ Spooky Plate
Trait: Multitype
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Judgment
- Focus Blast
- Calm Mind
- Substitute
Palkia @ Choice Specs
Trait: Pressure
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Hydro Pump
- Spacial Rend
- Thunder
- Fire Blast
Forretress (F) @ Custap Berry
Trait: Sturdy
EVs: 252 Atk
Brave Nature (+Atk, -Spd)
- Stealth Rock
- Spikes
- Rapid Spin
- Gyro Ball
Trait: Drizzle
EVs: 52 Def / 252 SAtk / 204 Spd
Modest Nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Water Spout
- Surf
- Thunder
- Ice Beam
Kabutops (M) @ Life Orb
Trait: Swift Swim
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Stone Edge
- Rapid Spin
- Waterfall
- Low Kick
Genesect @ Choice Scarf
Trait: Download
EVs: 252 Atk / 32 SAtk / 224 Spd
Naive Nature (+Spd, -SDef)
- U-turn
- Iron Head
- Sleep Talk
- Ice Beam
Arceus (Arceus-Ghost) @ Spooky Plate
Trait: Multitype
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Judgment
- Focus Blast
- Calm Mind
- Substitute
Palkia @ Choice Specs
Trait: Pressure
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Hydro Pump
- Spacial Rend
- Thunder
- Fire Blast
Forretress (F) @ Custap Berry
Trait: Sturdy
EVs: 252 Atk
Brave Nature (+Atk, -Spd)
- Stealth Rock
- Spikes
- Rapid Spin
- Gyro Ball
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