Don't Give Me That Mean Look
[A UU RMT]
[A UU RMT]
(Note: The original version of this thread was locked due to my having more than one active RMT at the time. Consequently I have waited until my other two RMTs have fallen out of usage before I posted the revamped version of this.)
(Note #2: The title is a bit of a misnomer, now that Mean Look has been taken out of my arsenal. Heh.)
Introduction:
I'm home sick with what appears to be the H1N1 virus (fever and chills... so fun) and what better way to distract myself than to make another UU Team?
This team is a very rough draft, so I would appreciate it to no end if you'd unleash your criticism upon it. = D
AT A GLANCE:
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TEAM BUILDING PROCESS
First, I needed a lead. I wanted something fast that could benefit the team by setting up an entry hazard as well as managing to avoid the many Normal-Type moves leads like Ambipom often run. So I chose Froslass.
Next I wanted something that could set up dual screens, throw in a Stealth Rock, and escape to come back in when the screens wore out. Uxie, with its access to all those moves and U-Turn, seemed like the proper choice.
I also wanted a Rapid Spinner. I was going to choose Donphan, but I also wanted a Pokemon who could learn Roar in case I was up against something that liked to abuse stat boosts, so I went with Blastoise.
Next, I needed a Baton Pass/Mean Look Pokemon. Umbreon was the obvious choice.
Since I'm only using two sweepers, I wanted to find the most powerful physical and special sweepers available in the UU metagame. Alakazam, though fragile, has the speed and Special Attack to kill fast, and Rhyperior, who is slow, can take a hit before dishing one out from a massive 140 base Attack.
Next, I was informed by a rater that I'm in danger of being killed by Scarf Rotom, and that I should give my sweepers a chance to set up instead of relying on Choice items, which would require a constant Trap-Pass switch. Raikou was recommended, and it seemed like a good choice.
I then decided to switch Rhyperior for Feraligatr, who works well with entry hazards like Spikes and Screens, who can boost both Attack and Speed as opposed to Rhyperior having only Rock Polish, and who works better overall with the synergy of the team.
I was then told my a rater to make Uxie my lead, which allowed for a faster set-up of screens and Stealth Rock; to add Honchkrow as a wall-breaker; and to add Registeel as a wall, which I have done.
And THEN I decided it was time for some major revamping. The team wasn't really working for me, so I decided to make some major changes. First was the lead. Uxie was really too slow for my tastes, and I like to kill the opposing lead early on so it doesn't come back to haunt me later, so I decided to look for an Anti-Lead. Alakazam was an option, but it just didn't sit right with me. And then I found Moltres, who is an excellent Anti-Lead and whose Stealth Rock issue is less of a problem if used right off the bat. I decided to keep Registeel, who works in tandem with Moltres and provides Stealth Rock support. I wanted something to take those Fire attacks aimed at Registeel, and I'd been needing a bulky Water, so Milotic was added. I also needed a Rapid Spinner, mainly for Moltres, who could also provide some offensive heft to the team. Donphan, with massive 120 Attack, became an addition. Raikou stayed. I then decided to add Leafeon as a physical sweeper for some much-needed type coverage, as Feraligatr wasn't really doing it for me.
Wow, this team-building string is getting long. I bet you're sick of it by now. Anyway, I added Venusaur over Leafeon to help check Registeel and to add some sleep support after I took Hypnosis off Milotic.
Next up were some more major changes. I was told by a rater that Alakazam worked better as an anti-lead than Moltres, and didn't require Rapid Spin support, so I decided to use it and cut Donphan. I wanted more defensive support as well as offensive, so I decided to replace Donphan with Rhyperior, who can take a hit and dish one out. I also replaced Raikou with Mismagius.
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Now, without further ado,
THE TEAM ITSELF
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TEAM BUILDING PROCESS
First, I needed a lead. I wanted something fast that could benefit the team by setting up an entry hazard as well as managing to avoid the many Normal-Type moves leads like Ambipom often run. So I chose Froslass.
Next I wanted something that could set up dual screens, throw in a Stealth Rock, and escape to come back in when the screens wore out. Uxie, with its access to all those moves and U-Turn, seemed like the proper choice.
I also wanted a Rapid Spinner. I was going to choose Donphan, but I also wanted a Pokemon who could learn Roar in case I was up against something that liked to abuse stat boosts, so I went with Blastoise.
Next, I needed a Baton Pass/Mean Look Pokemon. Umbreon was the obvious choice.
Since I'm only using two sweepers, I wanted to find the most powerful physical and special sweepers available in the UU metagame. Alakazam, though fragile, has the speed and Special Attack to kill fast, and Rhyperior, who is slow, can take a hit before dishing one out from a massive 140 base Attack.
Next, I was informed by a rater that I'm in danger of being killed by Scarf Rotom, and that I should give my sweepers a chance to set up instead of relying on Choice items, which would require a constant Trap-Pass switch. Raikou was recommended, and it seemed like a good choice.
I then decided to switch Rhyperior for Feraligatr, who works well with entry hazards like Spikes and Screens, who can boost both Attack and Speed as opposed to Rhyperior having only Rock Polish, and who works better overall with the synergy of the team.
I was then told my a rater to make Uxie my lead, which allowed for a faster set-up of screens and Stealth Rock; to add Honchkrow as a wall-breaker; and to add Registeel as a wall, which I have done.
And THEN I decided it was time for some major revamping. The team wasn't really working for me, so I decided to make some major changes. First was the lead. Uxie was really too slow for my tastes, and I like to kill the opposing lead early on so it doesn't come back to haunt me later, so I decided to look for an Anti-Lead. Alakazam was an option, but it just didn't sit right with me. And then I found Moltres, who is an excellent Anti-Lead and whose Stealth Rock issue is less of a problem if used right off the bat. I decided to keep Registeel, who works in tandem with Moltres and provides Stealth Rock support. I wanted something to take those Fire attacks aimed at Registeel, and I'd been needing a bulky Water, so Milotic was added. I also needed a Rapid Spinner, mainly for Moltres, who could also provide some offensive heft to the team. Donphan, with massive 120 Attack, became an addition. Raikou stayed. I then decided to add Leafeon as a physical sweeper for some much-needed type coverage, as Feraligatr wasn't really doing it for me.
Wow, this team-building string is getting long. I bet you're sick of it by now. Anyway, I added Venusaur over Leafeon to help check Registeel and to add some sleep support after I took Hypnosis off Milotic.
Next up were some more major changes. I was told by a rater that Alakazam worked better as an anti-lead than Moltres, and didn't require Rapid Spin support, so I decided to use it and cut Donphan. I wanted more defensive support as well as offensive, so I decided to replace Donphan with Rhyperior, who can take a hit and dish one out. I also replaced Raikou with Mismagius.
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Now, without further ado,
THE TEAM ITSELF
THE ANTI-LEAD
ALAKAZAM @ Focus Sash
Inner Focus
Timid
252 Spe / 252 SpA / 4 HP
~ Taunt
~ Encore
~ Counter
~ Psychic
Alakazam is an excellent Anti-Lead. Aside from Electrode, it outspeeds frequently used UU leads such as Ambipom, which allows me to prevent entry hazards with Taunt.
Since Taunt means I know the opposition will be attacking, Counter lets me deal double the damage that would have been done to me. Thanks to Alakazam's frailty, this means Counter will be dealing a lot of damage. This especially is useful against leads like Uxie and Ambipom that attempt to U-Turn out. This combined with Inner Focus prevent Fake Out from doing much at all. Counter also beats Pokemon who like to switch into Alakazam, like Umbreon, Drapion, and Honchkrow.
Encore lets me stop stat-boosters in their tracks. If Focus Sash leaves Alakazam with one HP, it can switch back in later and Encore a sweeper trying to set up, which lets me in turn set up on them.
Psychic is a good STAB move that hits other leads harshly and may even let me revenge kill Pokemon like Venusaur later in the game.
HOW ALAKAZAM DOES AGAINST SEVERAL TOP LEADS:
Ambipom: Alakazam outspeeds. I use Counter for the inevitable Fake Out/Return/U-turn.
Froslass: Alakazam outspeeds. Taunt for Spikes and Destiny Bond. Then I take it out with Psychic.
Uxie: Alakazam outspeeds. Taunt for Stealth Rock, and then either Counter for U-Turn or switch out into Mismagius.
Moltres: Since Alakazam is OHKO'd by Air Slash/Overheat, I switch out to Milotic. That or Counter.
Arcanine: Switch out to Rhyperior.
Spiritomb: Taunt and then switch out to Registeel.
Cloyster: Straight to Mismagius to take out with Thunderbolt.
THE TANK
REGISTEEL @ Leftovers
Careful
252 HP / 100 Atk / 156 SpD
~ Iron Head
~ Earthquake
~ Toxic
~ Stealth Rock
Registeel's a great tank, endangered only by Fire, Fighting, and Ground switch-ins. The Fire switch-ins can be crippled by Earthquake, and Thunder Wave is to cut the speed and reduce attack rate of fast sweepers that switch into Registeel.
I don't like Explosion on walls (not a big fan of blowing up my tank.) Stealth Rock for support. Toxic can wear down even the sturdiest of Pokemon.
Iron Head gets great STAB, and Earthquake can hurt Fire switch-ins and even damage bulky Waters that arrive to take Iron Head.
THE BULKY WATER
MILOTIC @ Leftovers
Bold
148 HP / 252 Def / 108 SpA
~ Hidden Power Grass
~ Recover
~ Surf
~ Ice Beam
Milotic provides good partnership with Registeel, acting as a sponge for the inevitable Fire switch-in. This Milotic used to be a sleep-inducer, but I was told this left it wide-open to being set up upon by Pokemon like Feraligatr. Since I'm no longer running Roar on Donphan, I didn't want that, so I changed Hypnosis to HP Grass, which helps with other bulky Waters and such.
Surf is great STAB and helps me against those Fires, Rocks, et cetera. Ice Beam is for grasses like Venusaur who might try to switch in on Milotic.
CHOICE BAND ATTACKER AND WALL
RHYPERIOR @ Choice Band
Solid Rock
Adamant
252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Def
~ Earthquake
~ Stone Edge
~ Aqua Tail
~ Fire Punch
With its sky-high Attack stat and almost equally impressive Defense, Rhyperior makes an excellent candidate for a Choice Attacker. Even with Speed EVs, it's not going to be outspeeding much from 40 base Speed, so I've put the Speed EVs that normally accompany into this set into Defense, which allow for a somewhat tank-ish attacker. The basic plan is to come in on a physical attack and wreak havoc with two useful STABs and Water/Fire coverage.
SPECIAL SWEEPER
MISMAGIUS @ Leftovers
Timid
4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
~ Nasty Plot
~ Substitute
~ Shadow Ball
~ Thunderbolt
This set makes an excellent pair to Registeel and overall provides great synergy to the team. I had a massive Ground weakness, which is covered by Mismagius, who also handles the Fighting/Ground switch-ins from Registeel. Mismagius comes in on those (and anything else it directly threatens) which allows it a free turn of set-up as the opponent switches out. (It's also great for Rapid Spinners like Donphan and Hitmontop.) I can either use Substitute or Nasty Plot right away, which gives me a +2 Special Attack boost. Leftovers is for recovering Substitute damage.
Shadow Ball is great STAB that takes care of Psychic walls like Slowbro and Uxie. Thunderbolt handles switch-ins like Honchkrow and Milotic, OHKOing both after Stealth Rock damage. This, however, means that Mismagius will have difficulty taking care of Pokemon like Clefable, Steelix, Chansey, and Registeel; nevertheless, those are handled by Rhyperior, whose immunity to Thunder Wave also helps out Mismagius.
THE PHYSICAL SWEEPER
VENUSAUR @ Life Orb
Jolly
Overgrow
252 Atk / 252 Speed / 4 SpDef
~ Power Whip
~ Earthquake
~ Sleep Powder
~ Swords Dance
A Swords Dance Venusaur. Venusaur has a higher base SpA, but its physical movepool is something to be reckoned with. If it gets a chance to set up, its decent bulk, type coverage, and 80 base Speed make it rather hard to stop.
With this Venusaur, I use Sleep Powder on my first turn, which allows me to set up with Swords Dance as the opposition sleeps or switches.
Another quote from Reyscarface:
This set is really powerful on play. +2 Venusaur, and max speed ones, are really hard to stop if used correctly, because it can sleep its counters, set up on them, and then finish them. Its not good that your 2 main sweepers (Raikou and Leafeon) cant beat a Registeel at all, so Venusaur helps with this issue. Venusaur wont be OHKOd by +1 HP Ice from Raikou also, while you OHKO with LO EQ, something you couldnt do with Leafeon.
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A FINAL LOOK
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PREVIOUS MEMBERS
SCREEN SUPPORT AND STEALTH ROCKER
UXIE @ Light Clay
Impish
252 HP / 180 Def / 76 Spe
~ Reflect
~ Light Screen
~ U-Turn
~ Stealth Rock
Uxie provided reliable screens, but I wanted Registeel for Moltres support. I considered keeping both, but since Registeel has Stealth Rock, all Uxie was really doing was screens. I decided I could find another (more multi-purpose) Pokemon for the job, since I don't like my team members to be devoted to one cause only.
HONCHKROW @ Life Orb
Insomnia
Naughty
252 Atk / 196 Spe / 60 SpA
~ Sucker Punch
~ HP Grass
~ Superpower
~ Brave Bird
Didn't work well with the synergy of the team.
THE MEAN LOOK PASSER
UMBREON @ Leftovers
Careful
252 HP / 92 SpD / 164 Spe
~ Mean Look
~ Baton Pass
~ Wish
~ Yawn
Eh. With Hypnosis support from Milotic, Umbreon wasn't really needed anymore.
PHYSICAL SWEEPER
LEAFEON @ Life Orb
Jolly
252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
~ Swords Dance
~ Leaf Blade
~ Return
~ X-Scissor
Venusaur worked better.
THE LEAD:
MOLTRES @ Life Orb
Timid
4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
~ Fire Blast
~ Roost
~ HP Grass
~ Air Slash
Still up for debate as a lead, but I chose Alakazam because Alakazam doesn't require Rapid Spin support, which opens up a valuable spot on my team.
THE ATTACKING RAPID SPINNER
DONPHAN @ Leftovers
Adamant
52 HP / 252 Atk / 204 Def
~ Rapid Spin
~ Earthquake
~ Assurance
~ Ice Shard
Without Moltres as a lead, my need for Rapid Spin support is greatly diminished, so Donphan was unnecessary.
THE SPECIAL SWEEPER
RAIKOU @Leftovers
Timid
68HP/116SAtk/72SDef/252Spd
-Calm Mind
-Substitute
-Thunderbolt
-HP Ice
Mismagius provided more useful resistances.
AFTERWORD:
Again, this is a VERY VERY rough draft of a team, and it needs a lot of help. I love competitive battling, but I'm still fairly new at it, and any assistance offered would really help shape me as a battler. So please feel free to comment and rate, even if it's only the smallest of nitpicks. Thanks in advance!
A FINAL LOOK
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PREVIOUS MEMBERS
SCREEN SUPPORT AND STEALTH ROCKER
UXIE @ Light Clay
Impish
252 HP / 180 Def / 76 Spe
~ Reflect
~ Light Screen
~ U-Turn
~ Stealth Rock
Uxie provided reliable screens, but I wanted Registeel for Moltres support. I considered keeping both, but since Registeel has Stealth Rock, all Uxie was really doing was screens. I decided I could find another (more multi-purpose) Pokemon for the job, since I don't like my team members to be devoted to one cause only.
HONCHKROW @ Life Orb
Insomnia
Naughty
252 Atk / 196 Spe / 60 SpA
~ Sucker Punch
~ HP Grass
~ Superpower
~ Brave Bird
Didn't work well with the synergy of the team.
THE MEAN LOOK PASSER
UMBREON @ Leftovers
Careful
252 HP / 92 SpD / 164 Spe
~ Mean Look
~ Baton Pass
~ Wish
~ Yawn
Eh. With Hypnosis support from Milotic, Umbreon wasn't really needed anymore.
PHYSICAL SWEEPER
LEAFEON @ Life Orb
Jolly
252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
~ Swords Dance
~ Leaf Blade
~ Return
~ X-Scissor
Venusaur worked better.
THE LEAD:
MOLTRES @ Life Orb
Timid
4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
~ Fire Blast
~ Roost
~ HP Grass
~ Air Slash
Still up for debate as a lead, but I chose Alakazam because Alakazam doesn't require Rapid Spin support, which opens up a valuable spot on my team.
THE ATTACKING RAPID SPINNER
DONPHAN @ Leftovers
Adamant
52 HP / 252 Atk / 204 Def
~ Rapid Spin
~ Earthquake
~ Assurance
~ Ice Shard
Without Moltres as a lead, my need for Rapid Spin support is greatly diminished, so Donphan was unnecessary.
THE SPECIAL SWEEPER
RAIKOU @Leftovers
Timid
68HP/116SAtk/72SDef/252Spd
-Calm Mind
-Substitute
-Thunderbolt
-HP Ice
Mismagius provided more useful resistances.
AFTERWORD:
Again, this is a VERY VERY rough draft of a team, and it needs a lot of help. I love competitive battling, but I'm still fairly new at it, and any assistance offered would really help shape me as a battler. So please feel free to comment and rate, even if it's only the smallest of nitpicks. Thanks in advance!