CK's OU team

[CharizardKiller]

This is my first RMT, enjoy! I'm relatively new to the Competitive Battling scene, only having started in the last year. Here is the team:

Erasmus (Forretress (M)) @ Shed Shell
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 252 HP/114 Atk/144 Def
Relaxed nature (+Def, -Spe)
- Gyro Ball
- Rapid Spin
- Spikes
- Toxic Spikes

My Spinner and Hazard Setter. I've used this set in several other teams as well and it has been very useful. Gyro Ball is there for STAB and has won several matches for me when I'm about to lose, like this one time when Erasmus KOed a Salamence by repeatedly Gyro Balling it. I use Erasmus as a lead to set up entry hazards and Rapid Spin away any that the opponent sets up, then usually switching out with one of my other, more offensively minded, pokémon.

Zilla (Tyranitar (M)) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 6 HP/252 Atk/252 Spe
Jolly nature (+Spe, -SpA)
- Crunch
- Stone Edge
- Aqua Tail
- Earthquake

One of my main offensive pokémon, during testing Zilla has been very useful with this set. He is usually brought in as a Revenge Killer, like Leonidas and Ariel, or for the overall coverage. The Sandstorm he brings with him is also useful for whittling down the enemy and preventing them from healing with Leftovers.

Ariel (Vaporeon (F)) @ Choice Specs
Ability: Water Absorb
EVs: 70 Def/188 SpA/252 Spe
Modest nature (+SpA, -Atk)
- Surf
- Ice Beam
- Shadow Ball
- Hidden Power (Electric)

Ariel has been invaluable with the boost from Specs and strong type coverage. This set used to have Signal Beam instead of Shadow Ball, however at that time the team had no way of effectively killing pure Fighting-Types like Machamp, so I replaced it with Shadow Ball which gets better coverage in the metagame. In addition most would expect a defensive or supporting Vaporeon and so a Specially Offensive one has the element of surprise. I can also use Ariel as a Revenge Killer because of the Specs.

Glaedr (Dragonite (M)) @ Life Orb
Ability: Inner Focus
EVs: 252 Atk/6 Def/252 Spe
Jolly nature (+Spe, -SpA)
- Dragon Claw
- Fire Punch
- Superpower
- Thunderpunch

Dragonite, I think, is better with a purely physical set as his SpA isn't that great. Thing is that his physical movepool could be better. Fortunately the great Atk stat Glaedr has on him is useful in surprising the opponent with the power of the moves, partly because most would expect a Mixed set and expect weaker physical attacks.

Leonidas (Gallade (M)) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Swarm
EVs: 6 HP/252 Atk/252 Spe
Adamant nature (+Atk, -SpA)
- Close Combat
- Leaf Blade
- Zen Headbutt
- Night Slash

This space on my team was originally taken up by a Sub +3 Attacks Heracross which wasn't performing up to scratch so I replaced it with Gallade who gives more coverage than Heracross did while playing more to my offensive style of play. Leonidas functions well as a Revenge Killer because of his Scarf getting the drop on enemies.

Downspout (Gliscor (M)) @ Life Orb
Ability: Hyper Cutter
EVs: 252 Atk/6 Def/252 Spe
Jolly nature (+Spe, -SpA)
- U-Turn
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- Fire Fang

When I first made this team I put in Downspout (named after a Gargoyle from the Discworld series) as a fill-a-spot pokémon as I couldn't think of anything to use as my final pokémon. However using Gliscor has won me some matches that I wouldn't have won otherwise and it has been a useful pokémon through the strength of his EdgeQuake and not particularly needing to set up. While the set that I had used with him had Swords Dance in and not U-Turn, I found that I was not needing to set up as Downspout's Atk was high enough to attack from the word "Go". Hence I decided to switch Swords Dance with a Bug-Type move to compensate for the loss of Heracross's Megahorn and Ariel's Signal Beam in terms of coverage.
Threat List:

Offensive Threats:

Aerodactyl - Vaporeon kills it easily with Surf, alternatively Aqua Tail from T-Tar works

Azelf - Gallade with Night Slash, Vaporeon with Shadow Ball, T-Tar with Crunch or Gliscor with U-Turn

Breloom - Fire Fang from Gliscor or Fire Punch from Dragonite or Ice Beam from Vaporeon

Dragonite - Vaporeon's Ice Beam, Dragonite's Dragon Claw or any Stone Edge

Electivire - Earthquake from Gliscor or T-Tar

Empoleon - HP Electric from Vaporeon, Earthquake from Gliscor, T-Tar, Close Combat from Gallade, Superpower from T-Tar/Dragonite or Thunderpunch from Dragonite

Flygon - Ice Beam from Vaporeon or Dragon Claw from Dragonite

Gengar - Crunch from T-Tar or Night Slash from Gallade

Gyarados - HP Electric from Vaporeon, any Stone Edge or Thunderpunch from Dragonite

Heatran - Earthquake from Gliscor, T-Tar with Earthquake/Aqua Tail or Surf from Vaporeon

Heracross - Fire Fang from Gliscor or Fire Punch from Dragonite

Infernape - Earthquake from Gliscor, T-Tar with Earthquake/Aqua Tail or Surf from Vaporeon

Jirachi - Fire Fang from Gliscor or Fire Punch from Dragonite

Jolteon - Earthquake from Gliscor or T-Tar

Kingdra - Dragonite's Dragon Claw

Latias - Dragonite's Dragon Claw, Gallade's Night Slash, Vaporeon's Shadow Ball/Ice Beam, T-Tar's Crunch or Gliscor's U-Turn

Lucario - Fire Fang from Gliscor, Fire Punch from Dragonite or Earthquake from Gliscor/T-Tar

Machamp - Shadow Ball from Vaporeon or Zen Headbutt from Gallade

Magnezone - Fire Fang from Gliscor, Fire Punch from Dragonite or Earthquake from Gliscor/T-Tar

Mamoswine - Fire Fang from Gliscor, Fire Punch/Superpower from Dragonite, Surf from Vaporeon, Aqua Tail/Superpower from T-Tar or Close Combat from Gallade

Metagross - Fire Fang from Gliscor, Fire Punch from Dragonite or Earthquake from Gliscor/T-Tar

Ninjask - Fire Fang from Gliscor, Fire Punch from Dragonite or any Stone Edge

Roserade - Fire Fang from Gliscor or Fire Punch from Dragonite

Salamence - Vaporeon's Ice Beam, Dragonite's Dragon Claw or any Stone Edge

Scizor - Fire Fang from Gliscor, Fire Punch from Dragonite or Earthquake from Gliscor/T-Tar

Smeargle - Superpower from Dragonite/T-Tar or Close Combat from Gallade

Starmie - HP Electric/Shadow Ball from Vaporeon, Crunch from T-Tar, Night Slash/Leaf Blade from Gallade, Thunderpunch from Dragonite or U-Turn from Gliscor

Togekiss - Any Stone Edge, HP Electric from Vaporeon or Thunderpunch from Dragonite

Tyranitar - Superpower from Dragonite/T-Tar, Close Combat/Leaf Blade from Gallade, Aqua Tail from T-Tar or Surf from Vaporeon

Weavile - Superpower from Dragonite/T-Tar, Close Combat from Gallade, Fire Punch from Dragonite or Fire Fang from Gliscor


Defensive Threats:

Blissey - Superpower from Dragonite/T-Tar or Close Combat from Gallade

Bronzong - With Levitate: Fire Fang from Gliscor or Fire Punch from Dragonite. With Heatproof: Earthquake from Gliscor or T-Tar

Celebi - Ice Beam/Shadow Ball from Vaporeon, Night Slash from Gallade, Crunch from T-Tar, Fire Fang/U-Turn from Gliscor or Fire Punch from Dragonite

Dusknoir - Night Slash from Gallade, Crunch from T-Tar or Shadow Ball from Vaporeon

Forretress - Fire Fang from Gliscor, Fire Punch from Dragonite or Earthquake from Gliscor/T-Tar

Gliscor - Surf/Ice Beam from Vaporeon, Aqua Tail from T-Tar or any Stone Edge

Hippodown - Surf/Ice Beam from Vaporeon, Aqua Tail from T-Tar or Leaf Bolade from Gallade

Rotom-A - Night Slash from Gallade, Crunch from T-Tar or Shadow Ball from Vaporeon

Skarmory - HP Electric from Vaporeon, Thunderpunch/Fire Punch from Dragonite or Fire Fang from Gliscor

Snorlax - Superpower from Dragonite/T-Tar or Close Combat from Gallade

Suicune - HP Electric from Vaporeon, Thunderpunch from Dragonite or Leaf Blade from Gallade

Swampert - Gallade with Leaf Blade otherwise Vaporeon is guaranteed a 2HKO against Standard sets from the Strategy dex with Surf when at full health

Tentacruel - HP Electric from Vaporeon or Thunderpunch from Dragonite

Vaporeon - HP Electric from Vaporeon, Thunderpunch from Dragonite or Leaf Blade from Gallade

Zapdos - Any Stone Edge or, if completely necessary, Ice Beam from Vaporeon

All opinions, criticisms and suggestions are welcome and will be taken on board.

 

[CharizardKiller]

Bumped from 3rd Page.

 

[GrimHawke]

Hey this is a good team, and here are my suggestions for it.

Firstly, Forretress can do very little against the common leads today. Since you already have a revenge killer in Gallade, I would switch Tyranitar to your lead position (lead T-tar set in the analysis)
You also don't have any pokemon to set up stealth rocks, so I recommend that over toxic spikes on Forretress.

Choice specs Vaporeon is unexpected, but it has so many better options than it. I recommend the standard Wish-passer variant with HP electric to beat Gyarados.

Dragonite want Extremespeed NAO. No, seriously. Dragonite has medicore speed at best, and priority really helps. Dragonite is pretty good at running a mixed set, but if you want all physical, I recommend a CB Dragonite set with
Outrage / Aqua Tail / Extremespeed and either Superpower, Earthquake or Fire Punch, depending on your needs.

LOL at life orb Gliscor. Gliscor is not able to get past many bulky pokemon like Hippowdon and Swampert, who can Roar you out or OHKO with Ice beam.
I recommend the stallbreaker Gliscor, who carries Taunt/Roost/U-turn/Earthquake to deal the annoying walls who like to switch in.

Finally, I'm baffled by your threat list. Many of your pokemon can't switch into several threats (please explain how Vaporeon is supposed to switch into Breloom)
Unless they're choice-locked, they will often have moves to deal with the pokemon you switch in.

 

[eastamazonantidote]

Switch Forretress out of your lead position.

Wish - Protect - Surf - filler is the most used Vaporeon set for a reason. With your entry hazards, Roar might be the best option for the last spot.

Choice Band Dragonite is superior to your set. Extremespeed - Outrage - Fire Punch - Superpower / Earthquake 2HKOs everything in the game or better.

Stallbreaker Gliscor is great. Taunt, Earthquake and Roost, Stealth Rock, or U-turn for the last 2 slots.

Quoted and edited for truth. Some explanations:

Forretress is not a good lead right now. Just too much sets up on it or destroys it. Too many leads can threaten a Fire-type attack nowadays, so you're better off leading with someone else. Your moveset is fine. Just remember that you can do nothing to Rotom-a coming in to spinblock. I like to set down Toxic Spikes as they enter but that's the user's choice so we won't get into it. If you cannot find a place for Stealth Rock somewhere else on your team, put it over Toxic Spikes on Forretress. In fact, let's do that now. Forretress' new set is Rapid Spin - Gyro Ball - Spikes - Stealth Rock. You're still taking advantage of free turns but now you don't need as many to be a threat. Spikes does more for your team than Toxic Spikes anyway.

Tyranitar is fine. I don't particularly like ScarfTar, but it gets the job done so this is fine. One thing to watch is the number of choice item users.

Vaporeon needs Wish and Protect. Your team instantly became more durable. Slap on Surf and Roar or Hidden Power: Electric. Vaporeon really has no business against Salamence so Ice Beam is not needed. Keep in mind that Hidden Power: Electric often does not OHKO Gyarados so don't think of Vaporeon as a counter. Roar is more reliable but can get Taunted.

People use Dragonite as a mixed wall breaker because of a few things. STAB'd Draco Meteor, Roost, and Superpower. No one sweeps with a mixed Dragonite. Looking at your team, you need a revenge killer. Sorry, but ScarfTar just doesn't cut it. Choice Band and Extremespeed - Outrage - Fire Punch - Superpower / Earthquake literally 2HKOs everything in OU with an Adamant nature and Stealth Rocks down. Don't worry about your speed stat too much with Extremespeed. If you're going to go all-physical DNite, go DD or CB. Dragonite is too slow for Life Orb.

Gliscor should become a stallbreaker. Taunt and Earthquake are givens. Roost is great and so is U-turn. Stealth Rock is an option but I wouldn't go there because Forretress already has that covered. Keep your nature an EVs. Gliscor can be used as a lead if you really want.

Gallade seems to be the weak point of your team. What does he bring to the table? There are better options for Choice Scarf users out there. You have 3 choice item users right now, so we probably shouldn't add in another one. You have entry hazards but no one to protect them. How about a Ghost? Spiritomb is my personal favorite. You could go with the standard Rotom-a as well. Take your pick.

 

[CharizardKiller]

Thank you both for your suggestions I shall test them out before seeing if they make it into the final team.

Edit: Also as far as my threat list goes I just put down any super-effective attacks. I shoulda thought more about whether the pokémon would be able to switch in.