Abomasnow
Type: Grass / Ice
Ability: Snow Warning
Base Stats: 90 HP / 92 Atk / 75 Def / 92 SpA / 85 SpD / 60 Spe
Abomasnow's use lies in that it is the only viable summoner of permanent hail. It has a few somewhat decent offensive options throughout its limited movepool. It has access to powerful STABs in Blizzard and Wood Hammer, a STAB priority attack in Ice Shard, and decent coverage moves in Earthquake, Focus Punch, and Hidden Power Fire. Its best bet is as a mixed Choice Scarfer, using both of its STABs and two coverage moves to revenge kill Pokemon weak to its moves or just generally frail Pokemon. Other options include a non-choiced mixed attacker with Ice Shard and a Choice Specs set to make Blizzard hit fairly hard. Abomasnow also has access to Seed Bomb and Energy Ball as other STAB options, the former a physical Grass-type attack without recoil and the latter a special Grass-type attack for non-mixed sets. Since its STABs leave it open to Steel-types, Hidden Power Fire and Earthquake are often used to hit Steel-types, or even Focus Punch for Blissey and Snorlax.
Azelf
Type: Psychic
Ability: Levitate
Base Stats: 75 HP / 125 Atk / 70 Def / 125 SpA / 70 SpD / 115 Spe
Despite being one of the most versatile Pokémon in existence, Azelf is most commonly seen as a suicide lead. With a great base 115 Speed, access to moves such as Stealth Rock, U-turn, Explosion, Taunt and useful attacking moves against other leads including Fire Blast and Psychic, it is easy to understand why Azelf would run such a set. Lead Azelf also commonly runs both Reflect and Light Screen to support an heavy offense team. While all of its support options are great, Azelf isn't bad on the offensive side: 125 attacking stats are more than good. Access to Nasty Plot means it can be a devastating sweeper in the end of the game with the coverage that Psychic, Fire Blast, Hidden Power Fighting and Grass Knot grants, usually running one of the latter two. It can even choose to forego Nasty Plot for an all-out offensive set which switches Nasty Plot with Explosion, allowing it to nail the likes of Blissey with a powerful blast. Finally, Choice items can fit Azelf very well since it has great movepool and access to Trick, with physical versions usually running Zen Headbutt, Fire Punch, and two of these three: U-turn, Explosion and Trick, while special ones prefer Psychic, Flamethrower, Grass Knot and one of these: U-turn, Explosion or Trick.
Breloom
Type: Grass / Fighting
Base Stats: 60 HP / 130 Atk / 80 Def / 60 SpA / 60 SpD / 70 Spe
Ability: Effect Spore / Poison Heal
Breloom is a complete terror. With Spore, it can incapacitate at least one opponent per battle, giving it an easy opportunity to set up. Often, it will set up a Substitute, allowing it to freely fire off STAB Focus Punches from a base 130 Attack or wear the opponent down with Leech Seed. Seed Bomb or Stone Edge are the usual coverage moves on such a set. Alternatively, it can set up Swords Dance to boost that great Attack stat even higher, allowing it to sweep mercilessly. From there, it can fire off souped up priority STAB Mach Punches. Poison Heal, coupled with a Toxic Orb, keeps Breloom consistently healthy enough to set up multiple Substitutes. Toxic Orb also allows Breloom to act as a great status absorber, and gives it a souped-up Facade to toy around with to boot. While its base 70 Speed is a downside, it's high enough to make a Choice Scarf set viable; typically, it will run Spore, Superpower, Seed Bomb, and Stone Edge when holding Choice Scarf.
Celebi
Type: Psychic / Grass
Base Stats: 100 HP / 100 Atk / 100 Def / 100 SpA / 100 SpD / 100 Spe
Ability: Natural Cure
Celebi is blessed with having both decent offenses, Speed, and excellent bulk, all making it a perfect candidate for a bulky attacker. It can utilize setup moves like Nasty Plot and Calm Mind in combination with Recover and its great movepool to sweep teams with the right support. Its STAB moves on their own already have decent coverage, and adding in Hidden Power Fire or Earth Power allows it to hit Steel-types super effectively. Psychic, in addition to being a powerful STAB, keeps slower Fighting-types with super effective coverage moves at bay. With access to Leaf Storm and an array of useful coverage moves, Celebi can run a support move + 3 attacks set. Last but definitely not least, it can combine both its offensive and defensive traits into a set commonly known as Tinkerbell, which utilizes Thunder Wave to cripple fast opponents, Leaf Storm for power, a coverage move, and a recovery move. The main advantage Celebi has as an offensive Pokemon is its typing, as while it may be a curse against U-turn users, it also provides solid resists to Ground, Fighting, Electric, Psychic, and Water that allow it multiple switch-ins. Its versatility as an offensive Pokemon means that you will never know exactly what it is running, and one wrong guess can give Celebi an opportunity to setup or hit something hard.
Crobat
Type: Poison / Flying
Ability: Inner Focus
Base Stats: 85 HP / 90 Atk / 80 Def / 70 SpA / 80 SpD / 130 Spe
Crobat isn't the most powerful Pokemon, but more then makes up for it with its phenomenal Speed and decent movepool. A set with Taunt, Roost, and Super Fang breaks through stall with relative ease, preventing recovery and paralysis with Taunt and taking half of a wall's health whilst recovering its own with Roost. It is an excellent tool for offensive and defensive teams alike, allowing offensive teams to break through walls that may trouble it and defensive teams to break through opposing stall that it may struggle against. Access to Brave Bird, Cross Poison, and U-turn make for an excellent Choice Band set, even getting Pursuit to trap Steel-types. U-turn keeps momentum on Crobat's side, getting Crobat away from its checks and counters with a small chunk of health taken from the target in the process. It even gets access to Nasty Plot, which in combination with its usable Special Attack stat and okay bulk allows multiple setup opportunities, after 2 or more boosts dealing solid damage to many common threats. Its special movepool consists of gems like Sludge Bomb and Heat Wave to accommodate this, with Hidden Power Fighting often used to round out coverage, mainly against Tyranitar.
Electivire
Type: Electric
Ability: Motor Drive
Base stats: 75 HP / 123 Atk / 67 Def / 95 SpA / 85 SpD / 95 Spe
Electivire has two things going for it: the best coverage in OU and one of the most useful abilities in the game. Unfortunately, due to a lack of raw power and Physical STAB, Electivire was never going to overhaul the metagame. Because of a lack of Physical STAB, Electivire often plays mixed, using Thunderbolt, Hidden Power Ice, Flamethrower alongside Cross Chop to gain super effective damage on most every Pokemon in the tier. Other sets will go completely Physical, opting for the elemental punches and Earthquake. Electivire's greatest weapon is its coverage, but it has an added bonus in the ability to boost its Speed. Electivire can easily switch in on a predicted Electric-type attack (even Thunder Wave) and begin wreaking havoc. It also sports a resistance to the most common form of priority in the tier, Scizor's Bullet Punch. It is often used in a bait-and-switch strategy, getting free boosts from Electric-type attacks aimed at a Gyarados or Skarmory. Offensive teams are often easily swept, as often their fastest Pokemon is Scarfed Rotom-A, which is slower than Electivire and cannot use a STAB Thunderbolt on it. Until Electivire is revealed, it remains a dangerous secret weapon.
Empoleon
Type: Water / Steel
Base Stats: 84 HP / 86 Atk / 88 Def / 111 SpA / 101 SpD / 60 Spe
Ability: Torrent
Empoleon has quite a few movesets it can run, though many are not all that common. Regardless, it has many different options that it can run, each with a different set of checks and counters. Its most common set features Substitute, Agility, 2 attacks, and a Petaya Berry, aiming to use Substitute whilst boosting its low Speed in order to reach Petaya Berry range, from where it can use its likely boosted Speed and +1 Special Attack from the Petaya Berry to sweep unhindered once certain threats are out of the way. In addition, once Empoleon has used Substitute to a range where Petaya Berry is activated, it is also in Torrent range, which makes its STAB Water-type attacks even more powerful. Empoleon also has access to Stealth Rock and Aqua Jet to function as a great lead, Stealth Rock near-guaranteed to be setup with Aqua Jet to finish off leads down to their Focus Sash. It can even utilize Choice Specs effectively with its solid Special Attack stat and access to great moves like Hydro Pump, Ice Beam, and Grass Knot to get great coverage against the majority of Pokemon.
Flygon
Type: Dragon / Ground
Base Stats: 80 HP / 100 Atk / 80 Def / 80 SpA / 80 SpD / 100 Spe
Pokemon Abilities: Levitate
Flygon is one of the best Choice Scarfed revenge killer in the game. Powerful dual STABs in Outrage and Earthquake give it all the coverage it needs, resisted only by Skarmory and Bronzong. Not only that, but it can also use U-turn to scout an opponent's moveset and gain switch advantage. Flygon will also be carrying a coverage move, usually Stone Edge or Fire Blast. It will also sometimes use ThunderPunch, as Flygon with a Choice Scarf can outspeed +1 Gyarados. A Choice Scarf is Flygon's most common set, but will sometimes go mixed, using a combination of Draco Meteor, Earthquake, and Fire Blast among another coverage move to dish out damage to anything that doesn't resist it. However, it will more often be used as a revenge killer, as that's what it does best.
Froslass
Type: Ice / Ghost
Ability: Snow Cloak
Base Stats: 70 HP / 80 Atk / 70 Def / 80 SpA / 70 SpD / 110 Spe
Froslass's main claim to fame as an offensive Pokemon is its ability to setup Spikes and spinblock at the same time. It does so with its blistering Speed and mediocre but usable Special Attack stat, as well as Snow Cloak in hail to boost its evasion. Spikes is on every Froslass, often with Taunt to prevent opposing hazard setup and/or Destiny Bond to take down the opponent when it kills Froslass. Taunt is occasionally used in combination with Pain Split to give stall teams a hard time against it. Destiny Bond is especially effective because of Froslass's high Speed stat and extreme frailness. It is almost always a lead, using either a Focus Sash to guarantee two layer of Spikes or a Choice Scarf to outspeed Aerodactyl and Azelf, as well as anti-leads donning a Choice Scarf. Trick is the main reason to use a Choice Scarf, crippling opposing bulky leads for the rest of the match, as well as giving Froslass a weapon if it doesn't die in the lead position against Blissey and Snorlax. It can even use an extremely frustrating set to abuse Snow Cloak, using Substitute and Thunder Wave to make opponents even less likely to hit Froslass, setting up Spikes with ease due to having a fairly low chance of being hit by an attack. Ice Beam or Blizzard is usually the attack, allowing Froslass to do solid STAB damage if all 3 layers of Spikes manage to be setup. Shadow Ball and Hidden Power Fire are also excellent choices to help handle Ghost-types with the former, Forretress and Scizor with the latter. Froslass is an excellent choice for any offensive team wanting quick Spikes, easily the best in its class.
Gallade
Type: Psychic / Fighting
Ability: Steadfast
Base stats: 68 HP / 125 Atk / 65 Def / 65 SpA / 115 SpD / 80 Spe
Gallade is a unique Pokemon, boasting some of the highest Attack and Special Defense stats for any Fighting-type. While its Speed may be lackluster, top-notch coverage and the ability to increase its Attack with Swords Dance still make it very dangerous. Gallade is also one of the best anti-leads available, able to best Machamp, Azelf, Heatran, Aerodactyl, and Gengar. Thanks to Steadfast, it can use an opponents Fake Out to its advantage, boosting its Speed a great deal. A STAB Close Combat coming off a base 125 Attack and boosted by a Life Orb is nothing to joke about, but Gallade will also commonly carry Zen Headbutt, Stone Edge, Ice Punch, or Shadow Sneak, giving it all the coverage it needs to beat common Fighting-type counters. Gallade has never been a top-tier threat, but by no means should be forgotten about.
Heatran
Type: Fire / Steel
Base Stats: 91 HP / 90 Atk / 106 Def / 130 SpA / 106 SpD / 77 Spe
Ability: Flash Fire
Heatran is the face of DPP OU, consistently one of the most-used Pokemon in the tier, and it doesn't take much digging to figure out why. Its typing gives it the resistances of a Steel-type and the coverage of a Fire-type, along with a neutrality to the ever-so-common Stealth Rock instead of the weakness that plagues most Fire-types. Its main set is a Stealth Rock lead with Shuca Berry, allowing it to setup Stealth Rock against the likes of Metagross and Flygon. That set may also use Passho Berry to setup Stealth Rock against any lead carrying a Water-type attack, such as Empoleon or Gyarados. It can also don a Choice Scarf to revenge kill many top threats, taking away any issues Heatran may have with Speed and utilizing its excellent coverage, STAB Fire-type moves, and Explosion to take down special walls by sacrificing itself. However, those are only a few of Heatran's many options. Heatran can also use Torment to annoy opponents to great effect, as well as Magma Storm to function as a trapper. Substitute, Choice Specs, and Life Orb are all just as threatening offensive options, the former protecting Heatran from faster Pokemon with STAB Water-, Fighting-, and Ground-type attacks. It can also utilize Metal Sound to allow Fire Blast and its coverage moves to hit even resists and special walls hard, particularly allowing Heatran to defeat Blissey without fainting itself in the process. It even has access to Taunt, which prevents paralysis and sleep from crippling Heatran. Heatran can literally fill any role and excel at it, so beware whenever it leaves its Poke Ball, lest it tear apart one's team.
Heracross
Type: Bug / Fighting
Abilities: Guts / Swarm
Base Stats: 80 HP / 125 Atk / 75 Def / 40 SpA / 95 SpD / 85 Spe
Heracross is a very threatening physical attacker, and it is easy to see why. Threatening STABs with decent coverage together and Stone Edge to hit all resists barring Toxicroak, in combination with a base 125 Atk stat, make Heracross one of the most powerful physical attackers in existence. It is most commonly seen donning a Choice Scarf to revenge kill common threats, or even a Choice Band to punch holes in teams. Those sets use another of Heracross's many options, namely Toxic to cripple walls that will not fall to Heracross's attacks, Night Slash to reliably hit Ghost-types, Pursuit to trap Ghost-types, or Sleep Talk to use sleep as an advantage with Guts boosting the move selected by Sleep Talk. Speaking of Guts, it makes Swords Dance a much more viable and harder-hitting option with a Flame Orb or Toxic Orb, essentially getting a Choice Band boost without being locked in. Furthermore, when using a status orb Facade is boosted, providing decent neutral coverage and hitting extremely hard.
Jirachi
Type: Steel / Psychic
Ability: Serene Grace
Base Stats: 100 HP / 100 Atk / 100 Def / 100 SpA / 100 SpD / 100 Spe
As an offensive Pokemon, Jirachi is known for three prominent sets. Taking advantage of its ability Serene Grace, Jirachi can afford to utilize Iron Head, U-Turn, the elemental punches, and the occasional Zen Headbutt to be quite the physical nuisance, especially when equipped with a Choice Scarf to revenge kill most Pokemon, including Flygon, Scizor, Starmie, and Tyranitar. Jirachi can also utilize an Expert Belt to feign a Choice Scarf with the same moves to surprise slower teams and becoming a greater nuisance against them, sometimes running Thunderbolt, Grass Knot, and Hidden Power Ice too. Jirachi can also utilize its amazing Steel / Psychic defensive typing and 100 / 100 / 100 defensive stats to take advantage of a Calm Mind set. With Substitute, Wish, Thunderbolt, Psychic, and Flash Cannon at its disposal, Jirachi can be quite a pest to most teams. Faster versions of Calm Mind Jirachi, dubbed "Superrachi," take advantage of Jirachi's base 100 Speed to outspeed commmon checks to Jirachi and utilize the aforementioned moves in addition to Hidden Power Ground, specifically to defeat Heatran, who otherwise walls any Jirachi that lacks it.
Kingdra
Type: Water / Dragon
Abilities: Sniper / Swift Swim
Base Stats: 75 HP / 95 Atk / 95 Def / 95 SpA / 95 SpD / 85 Spe
Kingdra is easily one of the most dangerous sweepers in OU because of its great combination of bulk, typing and movepool. While the latter might not be as impressive as its Dragon- typed brethen it includes pretty much anything Kingdra needs. Sets including the ever popular Dragon Dance are the most commonly seen, notably the Chesto Berry + Rest set, made of Rest, Outrage, Waterfall and Dragon Dance, or the Substitue + Dragon Dance set using the same moves as the previous set, swapping Rest for Substitute. Kingdra's typing reduces the exploitable weaknesses a boosting sweeper can have and makes it much more difficult to revenge kill. Despite Kingdra's immense potential as a physical boosting sweeper, it can use the great coverage granted by its STAB and run a powerful Choice Specs set. Using the sheer power of Hydro Pump and Draco Meteor and the reliability of Surf and Dragon Pulse, it turns Kingdra into an absolute monster which is incredibly difficult to switch into. But Kingdra's Special Attacking options are not limited to Choice Specs. It can run an extremely powerful Rain Dance set using Rain Dance, Hydro Pump, Dragon Pulse and one of Signal Beam and Hidden Power Electric, which is an extremely destructive late-game sweeper that requires very little set-up, boosting both of its Speed and Water STAB to incredible levels. It can also run a variant of this set sacrficing its coverage move for Waterfall, allowing Kingdra to break through special walls such as Blissey.
Lucario
Typing: Fighting / Steel
Abilities: Steadfast / Inner Focus
Base Stats: 70 HP / 110 Atk / 70 Def / 115 SpA / 70 SpD / 90 Spe
Lucario is a fearsome sweeper that can dismantle many teams after very little set up. With an above average Attack stat and the very potent Fighting type, it can do some serious damage even to the bulkiest physical walls. The most popular set is without a doubt the Swords Dance one, usually consisting of Swords Dance, Close Combat, ExtremeSpeed, and one of Crunch, Bullet Punch or Stone Edge. Lucario can also fix its average speed using Agility instead of Swords Dance, giving it the opportunity to mow down frail offensive teams. Its great typing gives it a quadruple resistance to Stealth Rock and plenty of opportnities to set up. Even then, it still has great Special Attack allowing it to use a Choice Specs set very effectively with Aura Sphere, Shadow Ball, Hidden Power Ice and Vaccuum Wave. Finally, Lucario can be turned in a fine revenge killer using Choice Scarf with Close Combat, Crunch, Ice Punch and Thunderpunch.
Ludicolo
Type: Water / Grass
Base Stats: 80 HP / 70 Atk / 70 Def / 90 SpA / 100 SpD / 70 Spe
Ability: Swift Swim / Rain Dish
While it might not look like much, Ludicolo is a top threat in the rain. It's unique Water / Grass typing offers good offensive coverage, resisted only by Dragon- and Grass-types, which Ice Beam hits super effectively. Usually, Ludicolo will set up rain to power up its Surf or Hydro Pump while doubling its Speed thanks to Swift Swim. Although normally a special attacker, Ludicolo can also run a surprise Swords Dance set that punishes Blissey switch-ins, though it needs Rain Dance support from a teammate to function optimally. Resistances to the common Earthquake, Surf, and Bullet Punch provide it with several opportunities to set up rain or a Swords Dance throughout the battle. Once Rain Dance's timer runs out, however, it's a sitting duck for any powerful physical hits from faster sweepers.
Machamp
Machamp's high Attack, perfectly accurate moves, natural bulk, and lack of common weaknesses make it one of the most reliable Pokemon in OU. It's most commonly seen as an all-out attacker, carrying an incredibly frustrating DynamicPunch and coverage moves such as Payback, Ice Punch, Stone Edge, and Bullet Punch. This set is frequently used in the lead position, usually with a Lum Berry or Focus Sash. When not leading the charge, Machamp usually uses Substitute (with paralysis support) to eliminate the need for prediction.
Magneton
Type: Electric / Steel
Abilities: Sturdy / Magnet Pull
Base Stats: 50 HP / 65 Atk / 95 Def / 120 SpA / 70 SpD / 70 Spe
There is only one reason to use Magneton over its evolution, Magnezone, and that is its increased Speed stat. Because of this, Choice Scarf is by-and-far its best set. With a Choice Scarf attached, Magneton can revenge kill many common threats, including Gyarados and Dragonite, as well as trap and kill Steel-types. This set uses Explosion to kill Blissey and other threats that its other moves cannot deal with. Specifically, the added Speed allows Magneton to outspeed most Scizor with little-to-no investment, KOing with Thunderbolt or Hidden Power Fire. Magneton's main use is still trapping Steel-types, taking advantaged of its increased Speed to do so.
Magnezone
Type: Electric / Steel
Base Stats: 70 HP / 70 Atk / 115 Def / 130 SpA / 90 SpD / 60 Spe
Abilities: Sturdy / Magnet Pull
Magnezone's claim to fame is its ability to kill bulky Steel-types like Skarmory and Forretress that wall many otherwise nigh-uncounterable Pokemon. It does so by trapping them with Magnet Pull and then proceeding to do basically whatever it wants. It can utilize Substitute, leaving it free wear down Steel-types and just generally hitting hard with Thunderbolt with whatever Hidden Power it wants for coverage and Explosion for Blissey in the last slot. Alternatively, Magnezone can use Magnet Rise instead of Explosion and get a temporary immunity to Ground-type moves. A Choice Scarf set can revenge kill common Steel-types that it normally falls to, including Lucario and Scizor. With Choice Specs attached, Magnezone is turned into a powerhouse, steamrolling through anything that does not resist its STABs. Magnezone can even throw all of this behind and setup dual screens via trapping Steel-types.
Mamoswine
Type: Ice / Ground
Base Stats: 110 HP / 130 Atk / 80 Def / 70 SpA / 60 SpD / 80 Spe
Abilities: Oblivious / Snow Cloak
Mamoswine is can be an effective physical attacker once the things that wall it are removed. It has all of the tools: an off-the-charts Attack stat, a great STAB combination, and a powerful priority attack, Ice Shard no less. Its Earthquake steamrolls through all but the bulkiest of resists, holding the crown of the most powerful Ground-type attack commonly found in OU. An Ice Shard coming from it is one of the most potent attacks found in OU, allowing it to revenge kill common Dragon-types, such as Dragonite and Flygon. It also has access to powerful coverage moves like Stone Edge and Superpower, the latter putting a dent in the only common Pokemon that resists Mamoswine's STABs, Bronzong. Stealth Rock and Endeavor allow it to function as an excellent lead, with the Endeavor + Ice Shard combination being a great way to ensure that opposing leads faint. Its typing makes it immune to both sandstorm and hail and takes away the curse of being weak to Stealth Rock that is normally attributed to Ice-types. To top all of this off, Mamoswine has a useful ability in Snow Cloak that allows it to abuse hail with a 20% boost to its evasion.
Metagross
Ability: Clear Body
Base Stats: 80 HP / 135 Atk / 130 Def / 95 SpA / 90 SpD / 70 Spe
If Pokemon were The Goonies, Metagross would be Chunk. Slow, but quite bulky, Metagross is a formidable foe. Everyone seems to forget him until he shows up with that gigantic Attack stat. Even when uninvested in Attack, STAB Meteor Mash hurts everything that doesn't resist it. With a CB, even Pokemon that resist Steel won't like switching into Metagross often, especially if it gets an Attack raise or worse, a critical hit. Defensive Pokemon will not appreciate being Tricked a Choice Band either. Metagross is typically the average Pokemon player's Stealth Rock user and a common lead as it can also explode to make a hole in the opponent's team and let a teammate come in for free. To help overcome its mediocre Speed, Metagross can finish off faster foes with Bullet Punch. Metagross can also use Agility to nab a boost in Speed and sweep frailer, offensive teams with Meteor Mash, Earthquake, an elemental punch, or Zen headbutt. In the same vein, Metagross can utilize Choice Scarf for a surprise instantaneous Speed boost to take out faster attackers. Naturally, Metagross' typical counters are immune to Earthquake and resist Meteor Mash. Fortunately, Metagross gets around that easily with the combination of Trick and Iron Ball. Metagross is also capable of running a mixed set with Psychic, Hidden Power Fire, and Grass Knot to make itself a bigger nuisance to Rotom-A, Forretress, and Swampert.
Mismagius
Type: Ghost
Ability: Levitate
Base Stats: 60 HP / 60 Atk / 60 Def / 105 SpA / 105 SpD / 105 Spe
Mismagius has only one card to play in order to not be outclassed by other Ghost-types, and a good one at that. Mismagius is the only viable Ghost-type that can use Nasty Plot, boasting a high Speed stat and decent Special Defense to help it setup. Its STAB Shadow Ball in combination with Hidden Power Fighting is more than enough for coverage. Mismagius even has access to Thunderbolt to hit bulky Water-types. Substitute can even be used to help setup, as Shadow Ball + Hidden Power Fighting equates to perfect coverage, allowing the last slot to be a choice of whatever is wanted. It also gets access to Taunt and Will-O-Wisp, both of which can fill the last slot quite nicely, the former preventing status attempts and the latter making up for Mismagius's low Defense stat. It even has access to Calm Mind, which abuses Mismagius's high Special Defense stat. Trick and a choice item, Scarf or Specs, can cripple many a Pokemon by locking them into a move, with Scarf making a quite decent revenge killer due to Mismagius's high Speed and Special Attack stats and Specs hitting hard without having to setup and still having excellent Speed.
Ninjask
Type: Bug / Flying
Ability: Speed Boost
Base stats: 61 HP / 90 Atk / 45 Def / 50 SpA / 50 SpD / 160 Spe
Ninjask is the fastest Pokemon in OU, by a long shot. Unfortunately, this isn't enough for it to succeed on its own. However, Ninjask makes great use of Baton Pass, which can really destroy opponents. With the ability to pass off a possible Attack boost, Speed Boost, and Substitute, Ninjask can set up another Pokemon for an easy sweep. Ninjask will often also use Protect or X-scissor to give it a fighting chance against opponents. As much potential as it has, Ninjask will have trouble setting up on teams that carry a Taunt user or phazer. Ninjask can easily lure these Pokemon in, allowing for a double switch to, say, a Magnezone to take out a Skarmory, but with a 4x weakness to Stealth Rock Ninjask will find trouble switching in as well. Countering it isn't about beating Ninjask, but rather about beating Ninjask's team's style - and without a dedicated Baton Pass counter, you'll be in for a world of hurt.
Porygon-Z
Type: Normal
Ability: Download / Adaptability
Base stats: 85 HP / 80 Atk / 70 Def / 135 SpA / 75 SpD / 90 Spe
Once hailed as the only Special Attacker able to OHKO Blissey, Porygon-Z boasts the highest Special Attack in OU with two killer abilities that allow it to boost its attacks to sky-high levels. Porygon-Z can run a variety of sets, but using mostly the same coverage: Tri Attack, Dark Pulse, a Hidden Power, usually Fighting, Ground, or Fire, and Ice Beam. The most common set uses Choice Specs to blast serious holes in any opponent, even heavily dedicated walls. However, it also can use Agility or Nasty Plot to beat foes that outspeed it or outright OHKO many walls. Porygon-Z can also utilize a Choice Scarf, outpacing many foes that would beat it previously and allows it to function as a viable revenge killer. Beating Porygon-Z boils down to mostly knowing its set, but until that point it should remain a big red flag in your opponent's team.
Raikou
Type: Electric
Base Stats: 90 HP / 85 Atk / 75 Def / 115 SpA / 100 SpD / 115 Spe
Ability: Pressure
Raikou's base Speed lets it Speed tie with Starmie and Azelf as well as outspeed Infernape, Gengar, and everything in the Base 100 Speed tier. A STAB Thunderbolt coming off of a 329 Special Attack Stat scares off most frail Pokemon. Hidden Power Ice and Hidden Power Grass complement its coverage to take out bulky Grounds that are immune to Thunderbolt. Shadow Ball hits Rotom-A and Celebi, Pokemon that resist Thunderbolt, for supereffective damage. Hidden Power Fighting is also an option to dent Tyranitar. Furthermore, Raikou can capitalize on its switches to use Calm Mind to make it a bigger threat. Raikou can also afford to use its 90 / 75 / 100 defenses to set up a Substitute and Calm Mind, living weaker attacks to set up for a sweep. Raikou can also utilize a Choice set efficiently. Choice Specs Raikou hits for more damage, whereas Choice Scarf Raikou can revenge faster threats, such as Infernape, Azelf, and Starmie. Raikou also has Aura Sphere in its arsenal, but because it is an event-only move, Raikou is forced to run a Rash nature and deal with being slower than Infernape, Gengar, Starmie, and Azelf.
Rotom-A
Type: Electric / Ghost
Ability: Levitate
Base Stats: 50 HP / 65 Atk / 105 Def / 107 SpA / 105 Def / 86 Spe
Rotom-A is a very unique Pokemon in that it gains an extra move by changing its forme, said move being Leaf Storm for Rotom-C, Blizzard for Rotom-F, Air Slash for Rotom-S, Overheat for Rotom-H, and Hydro Pump for Rotom-W. Rotom-W and Rotom-H are the most common forms by far due to their much superior coverage moves. When combined with its STAB Thunderbolt and Shadow Ball, along with its respectable Special Attack stat, it can succeed immensely as an offensive Pokemon. Rotom-A is most commonly seen utilizing a Choice item (Specs or Scarf) with both of its STABs and a coverage move, rounding the moveset out with Trick to cripple walls by giving them a Choice item. Will-O-Wisp may also make an appearance, allowing Rotom-A to cripple physical attackers. Hidden Power Ice can also be used for coverage against Dragon-types and Grass-types if using Rotom-W or Rotom-C. Rotom-A has access to Pain Split, which in combination with Substitute and its low HP stat allow it to recover its health from a lower amount. Rotom-A learns Charge Beam, which can be used as a boosting move to sweep teams. It even has access to two weather-inducing moves, one being Rain Dance, which can be setup to boost Rotom-W's Hydro Pumps. Rotom-W and Rotom-H are the two most common formes and the two to look out for, as they got the better end of the stick when it comes to the move that they received. To top all of this off, it has Ground-, Normal-, and Fighting-type immunities along with a myriad of resistances to grant it many switch-in opportunities.
Scizor
Type: Bug / Steel
Abilities: Swarm / Technician
Base Stats: 70 HP / 130 Atk / 100 Def / 55 SpA / 80 SpD / 65 Spe
Scizor is easily the most popular priority user in OU because of the sheer power of Technician Bullet Punch. Coupled with one of the highest Attack stats in OU, Scizor is sure to hit faster, frailer threats very hard. The Choice Band set is the most commonly seen, usually including Bullet Punch, U-turn, Superpower and Pursuit, sometimes replacing the latter with Quick Attack. It is often used to revenge kill threats such as Dragons locked into Outrage, or weakened ones that do not resist Bullet Punch. However Scizor is capable of utilizing its great priority move, good typing and capacity to force switches to use Swords Dance to boost its already high attack turning it into a powerful late-game cleaner. Scizor is also capable of surprising the opponent with a Choice Scarf set bringing its speed above base 115, which include pokémon like Starmie, who normally check Scizor. This set uses almost the same moves as the Choice Band set, albeit sometimes replacing Bullet Punch with Iron Head for the higher power, given that Bullet Punch's priority is now less beneficial.
Starmie
Type: Water / Psychic
Abilities: Illuminate / Natural Cure
Base Stats: 60 HP / 75 Atk / 85 Def / 100 SpA / 85 SpD / 115 Spe
With a generous base 115 Speed, an higher than average base 100 Special Attack and extraordinary coverage, Starmie is without a doubt one of the best late-game cleaners in OU. The Life Orb set is terrifying to face because of the devastating power it packs. Usually consisting of Hydro Pump (or Surf), Thunderbolt, Ice Beam and one of Recover and Rapid Spin, the coverage it has is only resisted by Shedinja, which is very rare due to Tyranitar's Sand Stream and the prevalence of Stealth Rock. Altough Starmie's coverage makes Life Orb the most popular item choice, it is by no means a bad user of other items such as Choice Specs and Choice Scarf. The first turns Starmie into a devastating powerhouse capable of crippling common switch-ins such as Blissey with Trick, while the latter makes it an awesome revenge killer capable of putting an end to the sweep of common threats such as Gyarados and Dragonite, while also being able to use Trick. Finally, Starmie is an awesome lead because of its great Speed and access to Rapid Spin: it is able to bring many common leads to 1 HP due to Focus Sash and then KO them using Rapid Spin while also removing Stealth Rock from the field for the rest of the game.
Suicune
Offensive Suicune is almost synonymous with modern bulky offense. Its incredible natural bulk essentially ensures opportunities to set up with Calm Mind, after which Suicune can use its near-perfect coverage and deceptively high Speed to tear through weakened teams. Suicune's attacks typically include Surf (or Hydro Pump), Ice Beam, and Hidden Power Electric. Battlers looking to take a more balanced approach to Suicune can take advantage of its ability to create 101 HP Substitutes, or even use Roar in order to get free wins during Calm Mind wars. Of course, the classic RestTalk Calm Mind set can also be used, and it easily foils teams whose contingency plan is to to deal with Suicune by gradually whittling down its health.
Swampert
Type: Water / Ground
Ability: Torrent
Base stats: 100 HP / 110 Atk / 90 Def / 85 SpA / 90 SpD / 60 Spe
With huge defensive stats coupled with only one weakness, Swampert is immediately thought of as a defensive threat. However, Swampert is also very effective on offensive teams. It is capable of setting up Stealth Rock early in a game, while fairing very well against common suicide leads, such as Azelf or Aerodactyl. While equipped with a Choice Band, Swampert's combination of Waterfall, Earthquake, and Ice Beam/Avalanche allow it to use its natural bulk to sponge hits while dishing out major damage. Once an opposing Grass-type, such as Celebi or Breloom, has been removed, Swampert becomes an even more dangerous threat. With access to Curse, Swampert can boost its Attack and Defense to untouchable levels. It can also use Rest to alleviate itself of a pesky burn or poison, healing back all the health lost from boosting up with Curse. Swamperts that use Rest will also carry Sleep Talk, allowing it to take down the opponent even when sleeping.
Togekiss
Type: Normal / Flying
Abilities: Serene Grace / Hustle
Base Stats: 85 HP / 50 Att / 95 Def / 120 SpA / 115 SpD / 80 Spe
Despite the Jubilee pokemon's appearance, Togekiss can be a terror to face. Togekiss is granted a heavenly ability, Serene Grace, which she can abuse with air slash having a 60% flinch rate with Serene Grace (70% chance of the opponent being unable to move when paralyzed). Furthermore, Togekiss gets near perfect With just two moves: Air Slash and Aura Sphere. Infact, That move duo only misses out on Zapdos and the Rotoms. In addition, Togekiss is blessed with 85/95/115 defenses and access to instant recovery moves making her very bulky. She also has a dangerous 120 base sp. att which she can boost even higher with the excellent boosting move nasty plot. Though having a rather average base 80 speed, she can make great use of a choice scarf having perfect coverage in 3 moves and access to trick. Togekiss can even make a physical set with hustle, life orb, and extreme speed. Don't under-estimate, Togekiss or you may be flinched till the point of insanity.
Toxicroak
Type: Poison / Fighting
Ability: Dry Skin / Anticipation
Base stats: 83 HP / 106 Atk / 65 Def / 86 SpA / 65 SpD / 85 Spe
While Toxicroak's stats leave much to be desired, it makes up for it with moves other Pokemon would kill for. Access to fantastic priority attacks, both Physical and Special, powerful STAB moves, and a handy immunity in Dry Skin to Water-type attacks give Toxicroak ample opportunities to come in and damage opponents. Toxicroak often carries Cross Chop, Sucker Punch, and Swords Dance, though is not unknown to use Substitute and Focus Punch. It can also opt to go Special, using Nasty Plot to surprise opponents. However, Toxicroak has no way to boost its Speed, and even with multiple options for priority, will often wind up being revenge killed.
Tyranitar
Type: Rock / Dark
Abilities: Sand Stream
Base Stats: 100 HP / 134 Atk / 110 Def / 95 SpA / 100 SpD / 61 Spe
Description
Great stats, good typing and formidable movepool make Tyranitar one of the most versatile threat in OU. The most common sets include Choice Scarf, Choice Band and Dragon Dance, all of which focusing on its monstruous Attack stat, with the Choice sets carrying the ever useful Pursuit, allowing it to remove dangerous foes such as Rotom-A, Gengar and Starmie. The most common moves on these sets are Stone Edge, Crunch, Earthquake, Superpower, Fire Punch and Ice Punch. Even though the physical attacking variations are the most popular, Tyranitar is more than capable of utilizing Special Attacks, having great movepool including Fire Blast, Dark Pulse, Ice Beam and Thunderbolt turning it into a powerful mixed wallbreaker. With its ability Sand Stream (useful for negating Focus Sash) and access to Stealth Rock, Tyranitar can also be a very useful lead, having a good match-up against other popular leads such as Starmie and Azelf. Finally Tyranitar is an excellent lure for a team looking to get rid of a threat such as Scizor, which is a common switch-in for Tyranitar, only to get KO'ed by Flamethrower after Bullet Punch's power was reduced by Babiri Berry.
Oct 20th, 2012, 9:12:44 PM
