Hi there, I used to competitively battle friends using gamesharks and DS lites back when I was in college. We battled using Smogon's rules and tiers. I used Showdown when it was still relatively new, however I wasn't thrilled about having to learn about Dream World abilities being added to the metagame. Since then I've followed the new releases and I thought the addition of fairy types was great for balancing the types. I formed this team about two weeks ago as an exact replica found on this forum, however it has been changed significantly since then. The core of the team is formed by Landorus, Talonflame, and Manaphy. Manaphy is a favorite of mine from when I used it in Ubers. I know this team has a lot of room for improvement. It lacks a fairy type, and struggles in dealing with them simultaneously. Pokemon that are easily handled by ice-type and grass-type moves also give me trouble. Ghost-types are a pain to deal with as well. It also lacks a mega evolution which I'm sure is a huge handicap in today's OU meta. The success of the team is built upon dominating entry hazards and forcing switches with powerful offensive threats.
Landorus-Therian @ Leftovers (Mr Wuggles)
Ability: Intimidate
Nature: Impish
EV spread: 252 HP/240 Def/8 Spe
Earthquake
Knock Off
U-Turn
Stealth Rock
Landorus-T serves as my lead 80% of the time. I find that many teams lead with a physically offensive mon, and if that is the case, Intimidate does a great job crippling an opponent's early game strategy. Landorus serves as an important pivot throughout a battle, soaking up EQ's for Excadrill and Magnezone. He is my team's main physical wall and only entry hazard user.
Dragonite @ Lum Berry (franku senpai)
Ability: Multiscale
Nature: Jolly
EV spread: 252 Atk/ 252 Spe/ 4 Def
Dragon Dance
Earthquake
Dragon Claw
Stone Edge
Dragonite has been one of my favorite pokemon since I cloned my level 100 five times in Silver. When I quit the game, Dragonite was seen as the little brother of Salamence and Garchomp, so being able to use him as my team's primary sweeper has been a great experience. A successful sweep is predicated on him being able to DD at least once, if not twice. I really like Dragonite because his ability is highly beneficial in helping him setup. Lum Berry also catches opponents offguard, allowing for a free DD while they waste a turn trying to use status. Dragon Claw is favored over Outrage because of the prominence of fairy types. I also favor Stone Edge over Extremespeed because of the added coverage and because of the strong priority that Talonflame provides, making ES somewhat redundant.
Magnezone @ Choice Scarf (#RobotLivesMatter)
Ability: Magnet Pull
Nature: Timid
EV spread: 252 Sp Atk/ 252 Spe/ 4 Sp Def
Flash Cannon
Hidden Power Fire
Volt Switch
Thunderbolt
Magnezone acts as a counter to strong Steel-types such as Ferrothorn, Scizor and Skarmory. Magnezone is somewhat of a one trick pony on my team, however he sports a decent defense stat allowing him to absorb some hits on a switch in. Magnezone is my team's only source of Electric-type damage. If I don't lead with Landorus-T I usually lead with Magnezone as a solid check to any steel, water, fairy, or rock-type leads.
Excadrill @ Leftovers (armored mole rat)
Ability: Mold Breaker
Nature: Careful
EV spread: 252 HP/ 4 Atk/ 252 Sp Def
Earthquake
Iron Head
Toxic
Rapid Spin
Excadrill provides much needed support to Talonflame and Dragonite. He is also my primary counter to fairy-types and has excellent tools in dealing with them such as Iron Head and toxic. Excadrill is another pivot who can switch into a variety of threatening attacks, sporting a deceivingly high Special defense stat. He doesn't need EV investment to pack a punch with his two STAB moves, either. Adding Excadrill to my team provided it with coherency and my success in battle is often predicated on making sure he is used well.
Manaphy Leftovers (kawaiidesu)
Ability: Hydration
Nature: Modest
EV spread: 252 HP/ 240 Def/ 16 Spe
Rain Dance
Calm Mind
Scald
Rest
Manaphy is an amazing pokemon who requires very little support to completely sweep a team that's not prepared for it. Reaching 328 Defense with this spread, Manaphy easily tanks any non super effective physical attacks. Manaphy also nullifies pokemon relying on status to get their job done. Manaphy is my team's primary special attacker and splits duties as primary sweeper with Dragonite. Upon bringing Manaphy in, if I know my opponent is switching out, I'll set up a Calm Mind before using Rain Dance, however Rain Dance is usually the safer of the two choices to use first. Once any special attacking Electric-types are taken care of, it is incredibly simple to set up with Manaphy.
Talonflame @ Choice Band (josu)
Ability: Gale Wings
Nature: Jolly
EV Spread: 252 Atk/ 252 Spe/ 4 Sp Def
Flare Blitz
Brave Bird
U-Turn
Return
Talonflame is my team's late game cleaner. I prefer Chocie Band over Scarf or Sharp Beak simply because of the extra power. Brave Bird provides excellent neutral coverage on most non-rock, steel, and electric types and is very spammable in the late game once the opponent's team has been weakened. Flare Blitz provides more coverage against mons that Talonflame doesn't need priority against. U-Turn allows Talonflame to scout.
Aaaand that's my team! Thanks for taking the time to read my post. I know my team needs lots of improvements and since I'm still in the process of relearning the meta, any suggestions for replacement pokemon are not only welcomed but encouraged.
Landorus-Therian @ Leftovers (Mr Wuggles)
Ability: Intimidate
Nature: Impish
EV spread: 252 HP/240 Def/8 Spe
Earthquake
Knock Off
U-Turn
Stealth Rock
Landorus-T serves as my lead 80% of the time. I find that many teams lead with a physically offensive mon, and if that is the case, Intimidate does a great job crippling an opponent's early game strategy. Landorus serves as an important pivot throughout a battle, soaking up EQ's for Excadrill and Magnezone. He is my team's main physical wall and only entry hazard user.
Dragonite @ Lum Berry (franku senpai)
Ability: Multiscale
Nature: Jolly
EV spread: 252 Atk/ 252 Spe/ 4 Def
Dragon Dance
Earthquake
Dragon Claw
Stone Edge
Dragonite has been one of my favorite pokemon since I cloned my level 100 five times in Silver. When I quit the game, Dragonite was seen as the little brother of Salamence and Garchomp, so being able to use him as my team's primary sweeper has been a great experience. A successful sweep is predicated on him being able to DD at least once, if not twice. I really like Dragonite because his ability is highly beneficial in helping him setup. Lum Berry also catches opponents offguard, allowing for a free DD while they waste a turn trying to use status. Dragon Claw is favored over Outrage because of the prominence of fairy types. I also favor Stone Edge over Extremespeed because of the added coverage and because of the strong priority that Talonflame provides, making ES somewhat redundant.
Magnezone @ Choice Scarf (#RobotLivesMatter)
Ability: Magnet Pull
Nature: Timid
EV spread: 252 Sp Atk/ 252 Spe/ 4 Sp Def
Flash Cannon
Hidden Power Fire
Volt Switch
Thunderbolt
Magnezone acts as a counter to strong Steel-types such as Ferrothorn, Scizor and Skarmory. Magnezone is somewhat of a one trick pony on my team, however he sports a decent defense stat allowing him to absorb some hits on a switch in. Magnezone is my team's only source of Electric-type damage. If I don't lead with Landorus-T I usually lead with Magnezone as a solid check to any steel, water, fairy, or rock-type leads.
Excadrill @ Leftovers (armored mole rat)
Ability: Mold Breaker
Nature: Careful
EV spread: 252 HP/ 4 Atk/ 252 Sp Def
Earthquake
Iron Head
Toxic
Rapid Spin
Excadrill provides much needed support to Talonflame and Dragonite. He is also my primary counter to fairy-types and has excellent tools in dealing with them such as Iron Head and toxic. Excadrill is another pivot who can switch into a variety of threatening attacks, sporting a deceivingly high Special defense stat. He doesn't need EV investment to pack a punch with his two STAB moves, either. Adding Excadrill to my team provided it with coherency and my success in battle is often predicated on making sure he is used well.
Manaphy Leftovers (kawaiidesu)
Ability: Hydration
Nature: Modest
EV spread: 252 HP/ 240 Def/ 16 Spe
Rain Dance
Calm Mind
Scald
Rest
Manaphy is an amazing pokemon who requires very little support to completely sweep a team that's not prepared for it. Reaching 328 Defense with this spread, Manaphy easily tanks any non super effective physical attacks. Manaphy also nullifies pokemon relying on status to get their job done. Manaphy is my team's primary special attacker and splits duties as primary sweeper with Dragonite. Upon bringing Manaphy in, if I know my opponent is switching out, I'll set up a Calm Mind before using Rain Dance, however Rain Dance is usually the safer of the two choices to use first. Once any special attacking Electric-types are taken care of, it is incredibly simple to set up with Manaphy.
Talonflame @ Choice Band (josu)
Ability: Gale Wings
Nature: Jolly
EV Spread: 252 Atk/ 252 Spe/ 4 Sp Def
Flare Blitz
Brave Bird
U-Turn
Return
Talonflame is my team's late game cleaner. I prefer Chocie Band over Scarf or Sharp Beak simply because of the extra power. Brave Bird provides excellent neutral coverage on most non-rock, steel, and electric types and is very spammable in the late game once the opponent's team has been weakened. Flare Blitz provides more coverage against mons that Talonflame doesn't need priority against. U-Turn allows Talonflame to scout.
Aaaand that's my team! Thanks for taking the time to read my post. I know my team needs lots of improvements and since I'm still in the process of relearning the meta, any suggestions for replacement pokemon are not only welcomed but encouraged.
Last edited:
