The Legend
An AG HO RMT
Peaked 2076
1st Place
(Scroll down to the end for importable)
Something to listen to while you read the RMT.
It's a great song, according to me anyway
I first started playing AG because I wanted to try out the most powerful Pokemon ever Mega-Rayquaza. But since then, I’ve been able to meet many people and make friends while playing and laddering the meta I enjoy playing a lot.
In this RMT, as the title suggests, I’ll be telling you about a HO Team that helped me peak the AG ladder utilizing the Deoxys-Speed as a Suicide Lead, which is considered to not do too well in the AG Metagame.
But, before we get started with RMT, shout-out to AG HO God T-HunterStorm. I had never been able to make a successful HO Team before and it was with his help that I was able to understand the concept behind HO Builds. All-right, now we’re done with the main shout-out so let us jump right into it!
So, I basically wanted to make a HO Team and had been unsuccessful in making a good one. Therefore, I sought out the help of T-HunterStorm, as mentioned before, to help me understand the concept behind making a HO Team.
It was here the idea of a suicide lead popped up - such as Excadrill, Scolipede, or Deoxys-Speed. Gunner had already used Excadrill successfully as a suicide lead (quite recently) and Scolipede had been used by LLW. As I didn’t really want to copy someone and having seen how good Deo-S did in the Ubers Metagame, I thought of using it.
Next I needed something that could sweep through entire teams with the help of hazard support from Deo-S. So I added a Geo Xern to the team. Xerneas was a really good choice overall because it OHKO’d all relevant defoggers (after Geomancy) after stealth rock damage, thereby ensuring that the hazards stay on the field for good.
Although Xerneas is a really good set-up sweeper it is walled by P-Don regardless of whether SR are up, so next I needed something that could sufficiently weaken relevant Xerneas checks and that had really good Offensive presence. Therefore, I chose to add M-Rayquaza to the team next.
All-right, Xerneas and M-Ray take out the walls in a team leaving the opponent’s team open to be swept by E-killers in the late game. So, without putting in much brain, I tossed three E-killers into the team.
The first one utilizing the most common move-set. The second one had frustration to take on any walls remaining, and the third one being Lum Magic Coat so as to handle WoW and walls better + Rai. I’ll discuss the move-sets in depth in the next section.
It was here the idea of a suicide lead popped up - such as Excadrill, Scolipede, or Deoxys-Speed. Gunner had already used Excadrill successfully as a suicide lead (quite recently) and Scolipede had been used by LLW. As I didn’t really want to copy someone and having seen how good Deo-S did in the Ubers Metagame, I thought of using it.
Next I needed something that could sweep through entire teams with the help of hazard support from Deo-S. So I added a Geo Xern to the team. Xerneas was a really good choice overall because it OHKO’d all relevant defoggers (after Geomancy) after stealth rock damage, thereby ensuring that the hazards stay on the field for good.
Although Xerneas is a really good set-up sweeper it is walled by P-Don regardless of whether SR are up, so next I needed something that could sufficiently weaken relevant Xerneas checks and that had really good Offensive presence. Therefore, I chose to add M-Rayquaza to the team next.
All-right, Xerneas and M-Ray take out the walls in a team leaving the opponent’s team open to be swept by E-killers in the late game. So, without putting in much brain, I tossed three E-killers into the team.
The first one utilizing the most common move-set. The second one had frustration to take on any walls remaining, and the third one being Lum Magic Coat so as to handle WoW and walls better + Rai. I’ll discuss the move-sets in depth in the next section.
IN-DEPTH ANALYSIS
Deoxys (Deoxys-Speed) @ Light Clay
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 240 HP / 68 SpD / 200 Spe
Timid Nature
Taunt/ Reflect/ Light Screen/ Stealth Rock
Can’t really take credit for this set, I copied it directly from the Ubers Sample teams thread (Classic HO) and tinkered the EVs a bit. Deoxys-S is a suicide lead and helps turn the game in my favour from the beginning itself. You almost always lead with Deoxys-Speed, nothing else. Set-up Rocks to break sashes against anything bar something with Magic Coat/ Magic Bounce.
SR damage helps Xern smash through stuff like Lugia and Ho-oh that are usually able to check it.
Taunt to prevent usage of Defog, Roar, Whirlwind and Entry Hazards.
Screens help reduce the damage taken by the team, making it easier for mons to set-up and bear hits from priority moves such a E-Speed.
About the EVs, with Jolly Nature 200 EVs invested in Spe you outspeed everything relevant that Deo-S can outspeed, and as almost no-one uses Deo-S there is no question about a speed tie (Atleast till I hadn't made the RMT). 240 EVs in HP and 68 EVs in SpD helps ensure that Deo-S lives a Dark Pulse from Offensive LO Yveltal with Light Screen up. It also isn’t OHKO’d by a Dark Pulse from the Bulky (Physically Defensive) Darkrai set that is gaining popularity.
Xerneas @ Power Herb
Ability: Fairy Aura
EVs: 176 HP / 28 Def / 252 SpA / 52 Spe
Modest Nature
Moonblast/ Geomancy/ Thunder/ Focus Blast
The move-set and the EVs are standard on Xerneas, with a bit of speed creep. Moonblast is the main STAB move, Geomancy to set-up and sweep, Focus Blast to OHKO relevant Steel type mons and Thunder for good coverage (OHKOs Ho-oh and most P-Kyogre after SR damage). As the rest of the team is physically offensive, using Xerneas well is crucial in winning matches.
Other Options : Psyshock > Thunder
Reasoning : OHKOs almost all Ho-ohs after SR, 2HKOs the not so common P-Kyogre, hits Poison types for super-effective damage (Kill mushrooms :^))
Dragoon (Rayquaza-Mega) @ Choice Band
Ability: Delta Stream
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
Dragon Ascent/ Waterfall/ V-create/ Extreme Speed
Unaware walls can be a real pain while using this team. They wall everything in this team, except this monster. As it has CB, nothing can really switch into this with SR up. Dragon Ascent is the main STAB move, Waterfall OHKOs P-Don thereby helping Xerneas sweep. V-Create is a really powerful move, hits Steel types and Skarmory in general which can be a menace to deal with if Xern is dead. Espeed for priority.
It’s a good wall breaker in general and OHKOs all variants of Ekiller after SR damage.
Other Item(s): Using Lum instead of Choice Band helps handle Skarmory better as you don't get locked into a move, it also gives M-Ray the option to set-up and win. But you lose offensive pressure.
The move-set I used on Lum M-Ray is :
Dragoon (Rayquaza-Mega) @ Lum Berry
Ability: Delta Stream
EVs: 48 HP / 252 Atk / 80 Def / 128 Spe
Adamant Nature
Dragon Ascent/ Dragon Dance/ V-Create/ Extreme Speed
The EVs are not standard, so I’ll explain them. 252 EVs invested in Attack to maximize damage out-put, as usual. 128 EVs invested in Spe to out-speed Modest Scraf Xerneas (after a DD) which is gaining popularity. Rest of the EVs in Def so that its as bulky as possible. I’m sure most people won’t agree with the spread, but okay.
Other Options : Earthquake can be used over V-Create on Lum M-Ray in order to hit Rock types - support Arceus-Rock in specific which is gaining some popularity.
You can also simply run 200 HP / 252 Atk / 56 Spe, Adamant Nature on M-Ray ~Curve
The move-set I used on Lum M-Ray is :
Dragoon (Rayquaza-Mega) @ Lum Berry
Ability: Delta Stream
EVs: 48 HP / 252 Atk / 80 Def / 128 Spe
Adamant Nature
Dragon Ascent/ Dragon Dance/ V-Create/ Extreme Speed
The EVs are not standard, so I’ll explain them. 252 EVs invested in Attack to maximize damage out-put, as usual. 128 EVs invested in Spe to out-speed Modest Scraf Xerneas (after a DD) which is gaining popularity. Rest of the EVs in Def so that its as bulky as possible. I’m sure most people won’t agree with the spread, but okay.
Other Options : Earthquake can be used over V-Create on Lum M-Ray in order to hit Rock types - support Arceus-Rock in specific which is gaining some popularity.
You can also simply run 200 HP / 252 Atk / 56 Spe, Adamant Nature on M-Ray ~Curve
Arceus @ Lum Berry
Ability: Multitype
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
Extreme Speed/ Swords Dance/ Earthquake/ Magic Coat
Lum – Magic Coat Arceus can help in handling walls such as Lugia and Bulky Arceus if I’ve been unable to set-up rocks or if Xerneas has died or if I've been unable to damage them at all. All you have to do is predict the turn they use Toxic/ Wisp or Roar/ Whirlwind, Set-up with SD and kill them or weaken them to the point other mons in the team can take them out. Also, this is a legit switch-in to Darkrai. Espeed is the main STAB/ Priority move, EQ hits Steel types. If Rai is still alive on the opponent’s team mid-game, toss this out.
Arceus @ Life Orb
Ability: Multitype
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
Extreme Speed/ Swords Dance/ Earthquake/ Shadow Claw
The Standard Ekiller Set. ES because it’s an Ekiller, SD increases damage out-put, EQ hits Steel-types and Shadow Claw hits Ghost types. Toss it out if you fear facing Arceus-Ghost, because at +2 Shadow Claw has a 75% chance to OHKO Arceus-Ghost after SR damage.
Arceus @ Life Orb
Ability: Multitype
Happiness: 0
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
Extreme Speed/ Swords Dance/ Earthquake/ Frustration
The other Standard Ekiller Set. This thing absolutely decimates things that are not Skarmory or Giratina after SR damage. I added it for pure power, nothing else. ES, SD, EQ are staple. One can either use Adamant Nature and Frustration which helps ensure you almost every time take out mons like Yveltal with +2 Frustration after SR damage, Frustration also hits very hard in general and is able to take out Support Arceus forms if they are at 76% (or below). Or, one can also opt to use Jolly Nature and Stone Edge, which ensures that Yveltal gets killed unless it has Charti Berry. Stone Edge also helps hit Gengar - which it can’t touch if running Frustration (Or any ghost type with levitate in general).
The general idea while using this team is to set up both Screens (more importantly Reflect) and SR and Taunt when required (especially when facing support Arceus formes to prevent phasing/ using status moves). Then set up Xerneas or Ray accordingly and sweep through. Or weaken walls using Xerneas and M-Ray till the E-killers can sweep through.
Ditto
Ditto can be a real pain to handle with this team. The most important thing to do while facing a team that has Ditto, is not to lead with Deoxys-S >_>. They'll probably lead with Ditto to make use of Deoxys-Speed's hazard support or to just taunt it. So lead with Frustration E-killer Arceus and hope to get Ditto killed soon. Deoxys-S will have to come in the field somewhere mid-game to set-up SR, so that if you're unable to take down Ditto, it gets worn down every time it switches in.
Arceus-Ghost
Physical Arceus-Ghost can be a real problem to deal with if the opposing player is able to preserve it or if it leads and is able to get a SD up (you should usually set-up Light Screen first turn to check for the Special variant). There is nothing you can do other than using plays to your advantage.
Unaware Walls
Unaware walls such as Quagsire and Clefable can be a pain to deal with, especially if you're using Lum M-Ray. Try and preserve Xerneas if facing Quagsire and, LO Frustration Arceus if facing Clefable.
Ditto can be a real pain to handle with this team. The most important thing to do while facing a team that has Ditto, is not to lead with Deoxys-S >_>. They'll probably lead with Ditto to make use of Deoxys-Speed's hazard support or to just taunt it. So lead with Frustration E-killer Arceus and hope to get Ditto killed soon. Deoxys-S will have to come in the field somewhere mid-game to set-up SR, so that if you're unable to take down Ditto, it gets worn down every time it switches in.
Arceus-Ghost
Physical Arceus-Ghost can be a real problem to deal with if the opposing player is able to preserve it or if it leads and is able to get a SD up (you should usually set-up Light Screen first turn to check for the Special variant). There is nothing you can do other than using plays to your advantage.
Unaware Walls
Unaware walls such as Quagsire and Clefable can be a pain to deal with, especially if you're using Lum M-Ray. Try and preserve Xerneas if facing Quagsire and, LO Frustration Arceus if facing Clefable.
I was able to save quite a few replays but was unable to save a few good ones as I never ceased to forget to save the replays >_>
Proof of Peak
Shoutouts
Chloe : First person I ever talked to on PS! Creative teams, fren :]
DoW : Stall and Shedninja aren't viable in AG >_>
DEG : I'm beginning to like Gengars
White Lion18 : Introduced me to the world of plays
GonxKillua : KILL-U-A
Bacon : Begone
HunterStorm : God tier AG player
LinearCurve : ^
Gunner : ^
LLW : ^
Joshz : I wanna be popular S E N P A I
Infernub : I've been spying on you using different accounts since 2 weeks now >_>
Megazard : Make me look popular :^)
AG Fam : Megaqwer :], Black Schatten, Whis Khalifa, Ratkiller, Donno, TheHungrySage, Cryptis
Deoxys (Deoxys-Speed) @ Light Clay
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 240 HP / 68 SpD / 200 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Taunt
- Reflect
- Light Screen
- Stealth Rock
Xerneas @ Power Herb
Ability: Fairy Aura
EVs: 176 HP / 28 Def / 252 SpA / 52 Spe
Modest Nature
- Moonblast
- Geomancy
- Thunder
- Focus Blast
Dragoon (Rayquaza-Mega) @ Lum Berry
Ability: Delta Stream
EVs: 252 Atk / 128 Def / 128 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Dragon Ascent
- Dragon Dance
- V-create
- Extreme Speed
Arceus @ Lum Berry
Ability: Multitype
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Extreme Speed
- Swords Dance
- Earthquake
- Magic Coat
Arceus @ Life Orb
Ability: Multitype
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Extreme Speed
- Swords Dance
- Earthquake
- Shadow Claw
Arceus @ Life Orb
Ability: Multitype
Happiness: 0
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Extreme Speed
- Swords Dance
- Earthquake
- Frustration
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 240 HP / 68 SpD / 200 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Taunt
- Reflect
- Light Screen
- Stealth Rock
Xerneas @ Power Herb
Ability: Fairy Aura
EVs: 176 HP / 28 Def / 252 SpA / 52 Spe
Modest Nature
- Moonblast
- Geomancy
- Thunder
- Focus Blast
Dragoon (Rayquaza-Mega) @ Lum Berry
Ability: Delta Stream
EVs: 252 Atk / 128 Def / 128 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Dragon Ascent
- Dragon Dance
- V-create
- Extreme Speed
Arceus @ Lum Berry
Ability: Multitype
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Extreme Speed
- Swords Dance
- Earthquake
- Magic Coat
Arceus @ Life Orb
Ability: Multitype
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Extreme Speed
- Swords Dance
- Earthquake
- Shadow Claw
Arceus @ Life Orb
Ability: Multitype
Happiness: 0
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Extreme Speed
- Swords Dance
- Earthquake
- Frustration
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