DUALGODS
Hi, I'm Steele. Been lurking the site for a solid 4 years, so don't dismiss this RMT like the other people who have 20 posts, I have a solid idea of what I'm doing. As you've seen in the title, this Uber team is centralized around the two most potent Pokemon in the Uber Metagame--nay--the entire game. The Gods of Pokemon themselves: The Classic God of Pokemon, Mewtwo, and the Thousand Armed Creator, Arceus. In Nearly EVERY Single Uber Analysis, these two devistating threats are always mentioned, most teams carry a dedicated counter to both of these Pokemon. And rightly so, an unprepared team will be ripped to shreads at the seams. The general premise was to elimiate threats that dare to oppose diving wrath, and wreak havok. How successful has this team been? I first made it on 6/18/11. Exactly 24 hours later, I peaked on the Uber ladder around #12, but since then I've been hovering around #36.
Additionally, I have a long standing habit of naming all of my Uber Teams after Led Zeppelin songs and Albums. Don't ask me how it started, but there is always one person on the ladder who's like "OMG Led Zeppelin?! Awesome." This team is no exception, please see Led Zeppelin's Physical Graffiti for more information.
Team Building Process:
As stated above, the team started with the Two Gods of Pokemon, Arceus and Mewtwo. I knew early on that I wanted to use the undeniably powerful Extreme Killer Set, due to the shear, devistating power it brings to the table. I started out with a standard CM/Taunt/LO Mewtwo.
Wobuffet was added to the team immediatley, and has been a godsend (Lulz) to the team. Arceus's Main threats are Giratina, Lugia, and Scarfed Pokemon. Wobuffet traps and Encores MOST Lugia and Giratina sets, and demolishes all scarfed Pokemon ever. Wobuffet is NOT KO'd by Scarfed Kyogre's Water Spout at Max HP, and Mirror Coats the Giant Whale to Oblivion. Additionally, if I can catch something else Boosting with an Encore, I am GUARENTEED a free Set-up, usually with Arceus. Wobuffet was swilfty added.
Next, Scizor complemented Wobuffet quite well, trapping, Encoring, and Tickling Lugia as Pursuit fodder for Scizor. It also gave a much needed KO on oppoising Ferrothorn with Superpower, and added ever important Priority outside of my main sweepers. Scizor also fufilled the mandatory Steel typing on Uber teams.
At this point it occured to me that Ubers, much like OU (much to my distain) is a weather dominated metagame. It's been said a million times that the best counter to weather is different weather. After much contemplation, I figured that Kyogre was the best option. It also fufilled the Bulky water role on my team, as I used a max HP/Def RestTalk CM variant.
Finally, Ubers being a Special heavy tier, I needed a dedicated Special Wall. I HATE using Blissey, because everyone has a counter to it, and Chansey is a bit too frail for Ubers in my taste. I went to my fall back Pokemon, Good-ol Forry. Spins, Rocks, Spikes, you know the drill. I was a bit hesitant due to having two Steel/Bugs on my team; a siren in the back of my head from the basics of competitive battling was going off. However, because they served very different roles, and I had great synergy with Kyogre for both of them, it wasn't too big of a problem.
Ok, got 6 pokes, so now it's fine tuning time. Lead Darkrais were demolishing my game, tricking and Voiding me to death. I eventually made a very simple, similar, yet effictive Anti-Lead Mewtwo Set. Essentially, its Scarfed Mewtwo with Trick and three attacks. Nobody expected it, and is totally awesome. Life Orb was doing more harm than good on Arceus, so I swapped that with Silk Scarf. Wobbuffet is Wobbuffet. After a few games, I found that I was Resting usually once to get rid of status, and then killing opposing pokes with a few CMs under my belt. I switched Kyogre to ChestoRest, and immediatley got better results. Mah main main Forry wasn't really cutting the mustard, so I switched to a Special Def. Ferrothorn. Again, better results: Paralysis and Leech Seed and generally better bulk helped.
As stated above, the team started with the Two Gods of Pokemon, Arceus and Mewtwo. I knew early on that I wanted to use the undeniably powerful Extreme Killer Set, due to the shear, devistating power it brings to the table. I started out with a standard CM/Taunt/LO Mewtwo.
Wobuffet was added to the team immediatley, and has been a godsend (Lulz) to the team. Arceus's Main threats are Giratina, Lugia, and Scarfed Pokemon. Wobuffet traps and Encores MOST Lugia and Giratina sets, and demolishes all scarfed Pokemon ever. Wobuffet is NOT KO'd by Scarfed Kyogre's Water Spout at Max HP, and Mirror Coats the Giant Whale to Oblivion. Additionally, if I can catch something else Boosting with an Encore, I am GUARENTEED a free Set-up, usually with Arceus. Wobuffet was swilfty added.
Next, Scizor complemented Wobuffet quite well, trapping, Encoring, and Tickling Lugia as Pursuit fodder for Scizor. It also gave a much needed KO on oppoising Ferrothorn with Superpower, and added ever important Priority outside of my main sweepers. Scizor also fufilled the mandatory Steel typing on Uber teams.
At this point it occured to me that Ubers, much like OU (much to my distain) is a weather dominated metagame. It's been said a million times that the best counter to weather is different weather. After much contemplation, I figured that Kyogre was the best option. It also fufilled the Bulky water role on my team, as I used a max HP/Def RestTalk CM variant.
Finally, Ubers being a Special heavy tier, I needed a dedicated Special Wall. I HATE using Blissey, because everyone has a counter to it, and Chansey is a bit too frail for Ubers in my taste. I went to my fall back Pokemon, Good-ol Forry. Spins, Rocks, Spikes, you know the drill. I was a bit hesitant due to having two Steel/Bugs on my team; a siren in the back of my head from the basics of competitive battling was going off. However, because they served very different roles, and I had great synergy with Kyogre for both of them, it wasn't too big of a problem.
Ok, got 6 pokes, so now it's fine tuning time. Lead Darkrais were demolishing my game, tricking and Voiding me to death. I eventually made a very simple, similar, yet effictive Anti-Lead Mewtwo Set. Essentially, its Scarfed Mewtwo with Trick and three attacks. Nobody expected it, and is totally awesome. Life Orb was doing more harm than good on Arceus, so I swapped that with Silk Scarf. Wobbuffet is Wobbuffet. After a few games, I found that I was Resting usually once to get rid of status, and then killing opposing pokes with a few CMs under my belt. I switched Kyogre to ChestoRest, and immediatley got better results. Mah main main Forry wasn't really cutting the mustard, so I switched to a Special Def. Ferrothorn. Again, better results: Paralysis and Leech Seed and generally better bulk helped.
And there we have it! On to the team itself!
TenYearsGone (Mewtwo) @ Choice Scarf
Trait: Pressure
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Trick
- Psystrike
- Aura Sphere
- Ice Beam
I'm well aware that I am grossly underusing Mewtwo's potential with Choice Scarf, but hear me out. This set works surprisingly well, due to its element of surprise. Unless I've battled with them before on the ladder, nobody expects a Trick comming from a Mewtwo, or that my Mewtwo will outspeed their Scarf Darkrai. Against Darkrai, Aura Sphere is a solid 2HKO, while Dark Pulse is also a 2HKO. While I may have greatly weakened my Mewtwo in the process, Darkrai goes down. Against walls like Chancey and Lugia, Groudon that dare set up on me, a surprise Trick cripples them for the rest of the game. (Quick Note: I once tried Tricking against a regular Giratina with Leftovers, and it failed. Can you not switch with Giratina at all, or is that a PO Mechanic problem?). Everything else is very standard, Psystrike and Aura Sphere to give perfect type and spectrum coverage, bar two. Ice Beam to clean up all those Dragons who want to ruin my fun. Again, Scarf Mewtwo is unheard of in the current Metagame, 2-1HKOing opposing Scarfers like Zekrom with Ice Beam, catching them completley offguard.
I tend to lead with Mewtwo, just to get the early Trick advantage, or the early KO depending on the opposing lead. However, if the matching lead isn't favorable from team preview, I have plenty of options with Kyogre to either boost or bluff Choice, Ferrothorn to set up rocks, or Scizor to scout out.
HolyHouses (Wobbuffet) (F) @ Leftovers
Trait: Shadow Tag
EVs: 28 HP / 228 Def / 252 SDef
Calm Nature (+SDef, -Atk)
- Encore
- Mirror Coat
- Counter
- Tickle
As I said in the Teambuilding, Wobbuffet is Wobbuffet. Pure, simple, and bouncing your attack right back at ya since 1999. Tickle over Safeguard for Pursuit trapping with Scizor. It's so easy to slap Wobbuffet on a team and call it a day, but it serves quite a purpose on the team, and is often the saving grace in a pinch, allowing Arceus or even Kyogre to set up without threat. Standard EVs, only a few things could OHKO. Specs Kyogre comes to mind, with max HP Water Spout, which is a big problem (See threat List). With some prediction, Wobbuffet easilly Encores opponents trying to set up, and guarentees a free switch and set-up with Arceus or Kyogre, which in the Uber metagame could spell 'The End' for weakened or unprepared teams.
DwnByThCside/Down By The Seaside (Kyogre) @ Chesto Berry
Trait: Drizzle
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 Spd
Bold Nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Calm Mind
- Rest
- Scald
- Ice Beam
Kyogre is obscenely powerful enough to sweep with just a few Calm Minds under it's belt. The point of Rest-Talkers is to be able to boost, rest, talk and repeat until they're at a good point to start sweeping. However, with only one Calm Mind, without ANY EV or Nature investment, Kyogre's SpAtt breaks 500, and one can't forget to factor in the infinite rain that Kyogre brings, boosting his attacking prowess to crazy levels. With just one or two Calm Minds, this guy is ready to sweep. Because it needs so few boosts to attack, a Chesto Rest variant works much better than the regular SleepTalker set. It also provides a handy check to Darkrai who want to try to Dark Void me to prevent the setup, only to be demolished by a devistating Scald. It also allows for the occasional Choiced bluff, which can turn the tables on opponents. It's hard to forget that Kyogre's main point of being on the team was a weather counter when it has such a staple role on the roster.
Why not Specs or Scarf you may be asking? Well I think of it like this: Kyogre defines the Uber Metagame, there is no arguing that. You play differently depending on wether your opponent has Kyogre right from the start. However, Kyogre is amazing at doing one thing: Causing switches. Nobody wants to stay in on Kyogre, because they either A) Have a dedicated Special Wall, or B) Need to change the Weather immediatley (AKA Switching to Groudon, more times than not). I would much rather capatilalize on the switch with a nice happy Calm Mind instead of using Specs or Scarf.
Kashmir (Scizor) (M) @ Choice Band
Trait: Technician
EVs: 200 HP / 56 Atk / 252 SDef
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- U-turn
- Bullet Punch
- Superpower
- Pursuit
Scizor is an absolute monster in Ubers, as I'm sure you all know. Scores Solid OHKOs on opposing Mewtwo and Darkrai with U-turn, usually with Paralysis support from Ferrothorn, although most variants cannot OHKO without a fire move. Superpower provides an ever so important kill on Ferrothorn, who walls Arceus and Kyogre, two staples of the team. Pursuit, as stated above, works in tandem with Tickle Wobbuffet to trap and kill major threats like Lugia. It's old, worn out, everyone knows it, but it gets the job done. And of course what would Scizor be without Bullet Punch?
Custard Pie (Ferrothorn) (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Iron Barbs
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SDef
Sassy Nature (+SDef, -Spd)
- Leech Seed
- Power Whip
- Stealth Rock
- Thunder Wave
Ah yes, Ferrothorn in the Rain. How droll, how droll. Ferrothorn, as you all know, operates so well in the rain. It takes the plethora and abundance of special attacks aimed at it for funzies, and is a complete menace in the Uber setting. Even in the rain, it can't take Fire attacks from the absurdly powerful Reshiram, or Mewtwo, so I play with a lot of discretion. Leech seed for epic recovery-stall-tasticness. Gyro Ball as my only attacking move because I wanted Ferrothorn to play more of a supporing role, and Gyro Ball still hits like a train on anything that doesn't reist it. Thunder Wave aids the Bulky Kyogre set I run, and Scizor whose speed is a bit lackluster for Uber.
The eternal question: Spikes or Stealth Rocks? I remember reading an article at the very beginning of 4th gen that outlined why Stealth Rocks was the best move in the game. Since then, it's always been on a higher priotity than Spikes on a move slot. Also, because Lugia NEEDS to be eliminated for this team to be successful, Stealth Rocks was the way to go. I dunno, if you feel that spikes would be better, sound off--let me know.
The Rover (Arceus) @ Silk Scarf
Trait: Multitype
EVs: 60 HP / 252 Atk / 196 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Swords Dance
- ExtremeSpeed
- Shadow Claw
- Earthquake
Dun, dun dun!! Yes, the ever infamous, always annoying, eternally holy Extreme Killer Arceus. Bask in its undeniable glory and power. Earthquake over Overheat because it won't be heating much of anything in the rain. A few extra Speed EVs to outspeed oppising Arceus. I'm considering going 4/252/252 just to be sure that I outpace or at least tie opposing Arceus. Life Orb was becoming the reason that Arceus was dying more often than not, so Silk Scarf was a much happer (and stylish) relacement.
I'll be making a threat list below (It's 3AM as I'm typing this) to better outline some of the problems I've been having.
Rate away!
Thanks,
Steele
