I was recently playing around with gimmicky leads. Basically all of them were crap. Eventually I created a lead that actually works and fairs well against most of the OU leads. Without further ado, I present to you...
Lead Scarf Cloyster
Cloyster (M) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Skill Link
EVs: 72 HP/252 Atk/184 Spd
Jolly nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Spikes/Toxic Spikes
- Icicle Spear
- Rock Blast
- Explosion
First off I can tell what you are thinking; why put a scarf on something with such low offensive stats? Well I think it makes one of the best leads there are. For starters, it out-speeds and 2HKOs lead Azelf with Rock-Blast. Cloyster breaks through all Focus Sashes allowing him to OHKO Roserade and Smeargle leads. He OHKOs Ninjask even through a substitute. The only sash lead he has a slight problem with is Lead Ape, who cloyster out-speeds and 2HKOS, meaning that Infernape may get up rocks. To add, Cloyster attracts a lot of taunts. I find this as a good thing, as anyone who actually taunts him get ripped apart Rock Blast/Icicle Spear. When someone taunts Cloyster I take it as a free turn.
Another great thing about him is the fact that he is the definitive Lead Aerodactyl counter. Generally they taunt on turn one, then Cloyster OHKOs with Rock Blast. Because he has a scarf, taunt doesnt bother him at all. Because he doesnt out speed Aerodactyl, they usually expect him to be a standard Cloyster, and they bring in something thinking they will outspeed Cloyster. Generally they don't and Cloyster is able to rack up another KO on an unsuspecting opponent.
Icicle spear is Cloysters coverage move. It may seem pathetic at first, a 50 base power move coming off of a base 95 attack pokemon. But it is still a great way of dealing with Lead Gliscor and Dragonite. Not to mention, with salamence banned from OU, breloom has been showing up a lot; and Cloyster out speeds and OHKOs Breloom through his sub (this causes a lot of ragequits). That makes Cloyster the BEST Breloom counter there is.
Of course with only 95 base attack, there will be a few pokemon who will survive Rock Blast or Icicle Spear. It just happens to be that nearly every pokemon who is >2HKOed is set up fodder for spikes. Cloysters 180 base defense tends to come in handy.
The only leads who he cant get up three layers on
or can't prevent them from setting up are Machamp, Heatran, and T-Tar.
Last but not least, Cloyster also annihilates all Trick-Scarf leads. Each of which assure him three layers: the first layer when they use trick, the second when they switch out, and the third when Cloyster out-speeds the switch in.
The speed EVs are for Cloyster to outspeed ScarfTar, which even though Cloyster can barely 3HKO, it still gives him the option of exploding in his face. You could put 252 EVs in speed instead of 184, but this would only allow you to out-speed Scarf Heatran (who resists all your attacks) and Weavile (who no one uses). The EVs in HP give it a little bit extra health and allow it to survive a few crucial attacks. 252 attack is to make him hit less like a wet noodle.
A nice thing about Cloyster is that even after he has done his job as lead, he still has plenty of uses. For one he can come in and Explode on any pokemon slower than ScarfTar (and ScarfTar himself). If he didn't get up layers in the beginning of the game, he can always come back later and set up again. In mid game he can still act as a counter to a lot of pokemon, such as Breloom, Gliscor, Dragonite, and friends.
To summarize:
-Kills all Focus Sash Leads
-Gets free layers on all Trick-Scarf Leads
-Sets up on all bulky leads
-Attracts and counters taunts
-Eats Gliscor and Dragonite for breakfast
-Only loses to three leads
-Makes a good late suicide poke with Explosion
-THE BEST counter for Breloom
-Very unexpected and most people don't know how to handle
