Resource ORAS OU Metagame Discussion

[jordanthejq12]

It is just me, or hoopa-c is new hoopa-u?

and hoopa-u for comparisment

However defensive typing is even worse, speed is lower, but still break shit and has chance to annihilate more than few teams on suspect test ladder, unprepared for hoopa.

One huge thing holding Hoopa-Confined back has been the opportunity cost of using Unbound. Take that away, and the Djinn has its chance to shine--and can it ever shine.

 

[ethanlol]

So I am having easy sweeps with M-Sharpedo which many people don't use since M-Gyarados is a thing. Does Sharpedo function as a good late game sweeper? It is always going to be stopped by priority mach punch users such as Breloom, Conkeldurr, and Infernape. I think paired with Hazard Stack it's actually pretty decent.

 

[Rechi]

It is just me, or hoopa-c is new hoopa-u?
However defensive typing is even worse, speed is lower, but still break shit and has chance to annihilate more than few teams on suspect test ladder, unprepared for hoopa.

http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/oususpecttest-351489827
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/oususpecttest-351524811
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/oususpecttest-351547523
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/oususpecttest-354723744
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/oususpecttest-354723744
I've already replaced every Specs Hoopa-U in my teambuilder with Specs Hoopa-C and I've been liking it so far. Its Specs set functions pretty much exactly the same except you're slightly weaker and can spinblock on some shit. It's obviously never going to replace Hoopa-U but it's definitely going to shine more if when it gets banned.

 

[volx757]

I want to share a Tropius set that I use in OU. I don't dedicate teams/time to laddering anymore really, so I can't say much as far as viability against rock solid teams, but in the low ladder it tends to get me at least one KO per game, is fun to use, and is a break from the monotony OU can fall into.
Tropius fares best against the plethora of fat ground and powerful fighting in the tier. An immunity to ground and resistances to three common attacking types (grass, water, fighting) serve it well. As does the fact that most ppl will underestimate it and see it as a gimmick.

Tropius @ Sitrus Berry
Ability: Harvest
EVs: 144 HP / 184 Def / 180 SpA
Bold Nature
- Leech Seed
- Giga Drain
- Protect
- Air Slash

The general usage is: switch into a resisted move, seed, proceed to deal consistent (if not always big) damage while maintaining your own health. If the opponent is staying in, they won't win the matchup unless they can either A. hit you for >~70% or B. get you to just over 50% so sitrus berry won't activate, then KO you. Giga drain+leech seed+harvest/berry means 1v1, it's probly killing whichever ground it's against. Adamant life orb Lando-T's stone edge, the most powerful attack any of these guys can hit you with, does at most 70%.

A couple other calcs for fun (keep in mind that almost 100% of the time you're going to recover 25% right after the attack)

- CB Azumarill play rough - 61%-73%
--respond with an energy ball for 57%-68%

- LO Diggersby return - 64%-77%
--respond with an energy ball for 73%-87%

- M-Lopunny return 40%-47% (if it has ice punch it's an OHKO after SR, so get out)
--respond with air slash for 59%-70%

- Utility Starmie psyshock 20%-24%
--respond with energy ball for 65%-77%

There are some other nice matchups.. absorb anything from breloom and OHKO with air slash, tank Draco Meteors and outrages from latias and dragonite
(especially if you've already got the seed out, you're probly gonna win that matchup).

Anyway I just try to find non-standard pokemon that can work in OU cause I'm so bored with the same 10 pokemon being on every team and doing the exact same thing all the time. If you are, too, try this tropius. It's fun.

EDIT: thought i'd throw it in there, SR isn't good for trop, but it certainly isn't the end of the world with all the recovery this guy has access to.

 

[Seth_]

Sorry man but even if this set is fun, that is not place for fun sets. Tropius is heavily outclassed by other grass types on offensive and defensive side. It has dank typing with this nasty 4x ice weakness and not even decent stats. Yeah, it can wall banded azu but who stays in?

Maybe fun. Maybe. But not competitive.

 

[volx757]

Sorry man but even if this set is fun, that is not place for fun sets. Tropius is heavily outclassed by other grass types on offensive and defensive side. It has dank typing with this nasty 4x ice weakness and not even decent stats. Yeah, it can wall banded azu but who stays in?

Maybe fun. Maybe. But not competitive.

oh wrong forum then, this seemed like the place to write about pokemon you use in OU, but i guess it's reserved for pokemon/things that are officially OU?

 

[Eclipse]

oh wrong forum then, this seemed like the place to write about pokemon you use in OU, but i guess it's reserved for pokemon/things that are officially OU?

Well, not necessarily pokemon that are officially OU, but this thread rather is for the discussion of the metagame itself - whether that be what mons are thriving in the current meta or what mons are generally struggling at the moment. While sure, you may certainly find it fun to use Tropius, which is no problem at all, especially if you're having fun with it, Tropius sadly serves no real place in the OU meta, and this thread is more so for those mons that actually are doing well in the meta right now. n_n

And speaking of mons that are doing well right now, Band Terrakion is just freaking phenomenal. This thing is honestly ridiculous, I've never seen a pokemon where all you have to do to wreak havoc is to literally click between two moves (Stone Edge & CC). Teams find themselves heavily struggling to search for something to switch into it whenever Terrakion is on the field, and being able to do like 75% to a Starmie of all things is just insane. I just wanted to throw these thoughts out there, as I have been having so much fun using this thing as of late, and more people really need to prep for it besides using Slowbro/Lando as their only "Rock-resist". Just some thoughts about this mon, it's great.

 

[Flamer]

You can talk about any mon you like using in ORAS OU, but keep in mind that doesn't mean other people won't argue with you.

 

[Ojo46]

Just want to get thoughts on Virizion in OU. My team needs Grass and Fighting coverage so I thought this would be a good choice, since it's decently fast and faster then Breloom and Chestnaught. I was also thinking about running an offensive Lum Berry set with Leaf Blade, Close Combat, Stobe Edge, and Swords Dance. Any thoughts on how it would do in OU?

 

[ethanlol]

Just want to get thoughts on Virizion in OU. My team needs Grass and Fighting coverage so I thought this would be a good choice, since it's decently fast and faster then Breloom and Chestnaught. I was also thinking about running an offensive Lum Berry set with Leaf Blade, Close Combat, Stobe Edge, and Swords Dance. Any thoughts on how it would do in OU?

I mean breloom is really good because it has strong priority paired with Technician and is used over Virizion, well at least for me, because the power it provides. Virizion lacks power, but it has coverage for things like Venusaur and Amoongus in Zen Headbutt which separates it from Breloom. Stone Edge is not needed since it is outsped by Tornadus and priority Brave Bird can't be avoided. Unless you want to kill them on the switchin it should be swapped. Does your team need speed or priority and power. Chesnaught is usually used as a defensive backbone vs. dark types and water types.

 

[Thatwackycruton]

I've been having fun using this mon lately, and I think it will pick up speed if Hoopa-U gets banned as a replacement dark type. Though, to be honest, I've been using the scarfed set, which packs an oddly large punch with dark pulse, and, obviously with a bit more power, Draco Meteor. U-Turn is sweet for grabbing momentum and whatnot. It's defensive typing is kinda unfortunate but also nice at the same time, making it easy to switch in on Slowbro and other bulky waters like support starmie. Earth Power or flamethrower can bop whatever you need, be it Ferro and Scizor or Heatran. Overall it's been a really cool mon that I haven't regretted adding to my team ever since I needed a secondary bisharp check.​

 

[Martin]

I've never liked scarf Hydra for the same reason that I don't like most other scarfers (lacks KO power outside of RKing, in which case you might as well just use priority). However, I've used its LO+Taunt+Roost set a lot recently and it is fun as hell. It just does a number on stall and it benefits heavily from the extra longevity that Roost provides (as otherwise it gets worn down quickly between LO and SR). I've also used Specs to decent success, although I think that the fact that it can't just mindlessly spam its STABs with the odd Fire Blast and Earth Power chucked in like it could in gen 5 is a big drawback to it (it now needs to sacrifice the ability to take on certain threats due to the introduction of the fairy type, although the changed steel type chart helps alleviate this slightly) and as such I'm not as keen on it. Also it just loves the ability to switch moves so much anyway that its honestly fine with LO. That and mixed is life.

 

[Ojo46]

I mean breloom is really good because it has strong priority paired with Technician and is used over Virizion, well at least for me, because the power it provides. Virizion lacks power, but it has coverage for things like Venusaur and Amoongus in Zen Headbutt which separates it from Breloom. Stone Edge is not needed since it is outsped by Tornadus and priority Brave Bird can't be avoided. Unless you want to kill them on the switchin it should be swapped. Does your team need speed or priority and power. Chesnaught is usually used as a defensive backbone vs. dark types and water types.

Ah I didn't realize that about Stone Edge, thanks. I prefer Virizion because of the fact that while priority Mach Punch is nice on Breloom, it's a little slow so I find it's a little hard to get off a Bullet Seed or Spore since it also can only take one neutral hit at best if I'm running an offensive set. Virizion has salvageable speed IMO so I feel I can get hits in with Leaf Blade and Close Combat (and the coverage with Zen Headbutt is nice).

 

[ethanlol]

Ah I didn't realize that about Stone Edge, thanks. I prefer Virizion because of the fact that while priority Mach Punch is nice on Breloom, it's a little slow so I find it's a little hard to get off a Bullet Seed or Spore since it also can only take one neutral hit at best if I'm running an offensive set. Virizion has salvageable speed IMO so I feel I can get hits in with Leaf Blade and Close Combat (and the coverage with Zen Headbutt is nice).

What I meant by stone edge is not needed is that u can use stone edge to lure them in, but u aren't going to be staying in vs a Tornadus-t or talonflame since they OHKO you with flying STAB. If I used Virizon I would use it for a wall breaking set (SD, Leaf Blade, Close Combat, Zen Headbutt) that is supported with something to check birds such as raikou, manectric, etc.

 

[Ojo46]

What I meant by stone edge is not needed is that u can use stone edge to lure them in, but u aren't going to be staying in vs a Tornadus-t or talonflame since they OHKO you with flying STAB. If I used Virizon I would use it for a wall breaking set (SD, Leaf Blade, Close Combat, Zen Headbutt) that is supported with something to check birds such as raikou, manectric, etc.

Ah ok, thanks.

 

[Taliheim]

At some point there was a scrapped idea for an E rank, this is what it said about viriz:

Virizion: Faster than Belly Drum Chesnaught and more immediately threatening. Interesting balance breaker and a solid Speed tier w/ great Special Defense. Life Orb with Swords Dance is effective once it gets a boost.

 

[Ramses]

Although the hype for it when it was first announced was strong, it inevitably died down and left Mega Slowbro in an awkward position where many insisted it was hard to justify it's use over base Slowbro, while countless others viewed it as an unbreakable monster that was initially ban worthy iirc.

Mega Slowbro has started to gain more traction in the metagame and it'd be interesting to see other opinion on it. Mega Slowbro is a behemoth with 95 / 180 / 80 defenses backed by an impressive movepool. However the main reason I've decided to touch on Mega Slowbro, is that it's in my eyes one of the better defensive Mega Evolutions that fits very well on offense and stall, while it's full potential on balanced teams are generally weaker than that of the former two. It has such a great place on these teams as it base form is fully functional as a defensive pivot into the likes of many powerful threats rising to power such as Offensive Garchomp and Band Terrakion who's been super popular lately. It's Calm Mind set, which is arguably it's best set, is very reliable wincondition and nearly unstoppable after a boost. Any counterplay involves Special Attackers that hit it super effectively or massive damage such as Gengar and Latios or reliance upon wearing it down with Toxic.

Although I'm not a big stall user, Mega Slowbro stall has certainly been the more popular and solid Stall teams rather than generic Mega Sableye stall. The common issue that arises with Mega Sableye stall is that there is usually the lack of a solid way of securing a victory, making it easier to take advantage of than Mega Slowbro stall. The main problems I see with stall, is that wallbreakers can wear them down to such a low standing that setup sweepers can potentially get through with little to no trouble. Mega Slowbro gives stall a slight nudge in the correct direction in having a reliable wincondition that can hold it's own against a bevy of wallbreakers.

In regards of offensive archetypes, Mega Slowbro again offers itself as an incredibly reliable wincon that takes offense another step to proving that bulky offense is the best offense in the metagame. Common offensive breakers such as Mega Lopunny and Weavile sort of just kneel over to Mega Slowbro. Expanding upon the latter, Mega Slowbro effortlessly walls even Physical Attackers that hit it super effectively unless they have some method of boosting or access to Taunt, if not they get hopelessly walled used as setup fodder and it becomes nigh unbreakable. In other words it usually just negates Physical means of taking it on, not to mention that even if they have a method of boosting Scald burns do exist and could simply make that answer obsolete.

Other observations I've noticed is that Sand will remain a top tier playstyle perhaps until the release of the upcoming Pokemon Sun and Moon. It's just becoming such a common aspect of OU, despite it's ubiquity of checks such as the increasingly common Rotom-W and Landorus-T.

Physically Defensive Tangrowth is all the rage now as it's ability to blanket check nearly any Physical Attacker in the tier is a huge plus in it's direction, despite being KO'ed by nearly all Special Attackers in the tier.

I haven't seen too many Mega Charizard Y around and I'm curious why. I'm assuming that the sole role of a wallbreaker while under Sun isn't valuable anymore especially with Sand becoming the dominant weather and there are actually other wallbreakers in the tier who just do it better.

Mega Diancie seems to always be the go-to Fairy for offensive builds as it offers a large degree of power and speed while also having solid bulk and a defensive typing to allow it to blanket check a few threats to offensive teams such as Talonflame and Tornadus-T.

I spoke on Band Terrakion earlier, and it's incredibly viable in today's metagame as a terrifying wallbreaker. If you really know me you'd see that I often pair Terrakion with Mega Slowbro. I do as Terrakion is perhaps the best teammates possible to use with Mega Slowbro. This doesn't only apply to the Band Variant as the Scarf Variant works well too as it allows Terrakion to revenge kill Tornadus-T, Weavile, Mega Charizard Y, etc.

I've been preaching this for a while, but bulky offense is the best offense.

 

[Seth_]

My notes about what's goingn' on here.

Mixed thundurus is beast. It hits super effecitive dmg most top threats like torn, keldeo, lando, drill, tyranitar... It is not so simple to have good switch in for this monster. It can ever improve your matchup against stall by knocking off eviolite. To bad life orb and rocks hurts so bad so I advice yo use it with some hazard control/ taunt/ magic bounce.

Pursuit is everywhere. Sunddely people realized that is actuallu good move.

Mega aerodactyl is quiet underrated thread. It has this suprise element against many teams which just aren't preapared for this. And it is not gimmick since your damagr is actually something. OHKO keldeo with aerial ace, solid damage on tanks with ice fang/ aqua tail. A lot coverage options.

I see that mixed attackers are more and more popular. I think that's quite good.

Also: klefki is devil.

 

[Ojo46]

I know it's technically UU, but I've been having a lot of fun using Florges in OU lately. My team wanted some kind of physical wall and a Fairy type and Florges can be both! With a Calm Mind set I can also make her specially bulky too (on top of the fact that she has massive special defense anyway). I also like how she has a respectable 115 Special Attack stat can can deal decent damage without any boosts. Aromatherapy is great for healing status, and Synthesis along with Leftovers makes her last for ages if she wants too! The one thing I do think is really lame is that both of her abilities are absolutely useless in Singles, which is what I mainly do.

 

[bludz]

I know it's technically UU, but I've been having a lot of fun using Florges in OU lately. My team wanted some kind of physical wall and a Fairy type and Florges can be both! With a Calm Mind set I can also make her specially bulky too (on top of the fact that she has massive special defense anyway). I also like how she has a respectable 115 Special Attack stat can can deal decent damage without any boosts. Aromatherapy is great for healing status, and Synthesis along with Leftovers makes her last for ages if she wants too! The one thing I do think is really lame is that both of her abilities are absolutely useless in Singles, which is what I mainly do.

I think you'll find that Clefable outclasses Florges in a pretty big way in OU. Yes Florges does have a higher special defense and special attack stat, but it's also vulnerable to hazards (which Clefable is not because of Magic Guard). It also doesn't have nearly as good of a movepool as Clefable which can run Thunder Wave to cripple switch-ins, or a variety of coverage/utility moves like Flamethrower, Ice Beam, Thunderbolt, Knock Off, Encore, Stored Power, etc. Ultimately being not weak to status (I know Florges can Aromatherapy, but that wastes a turn) makes Clefable an extremely strong win condition, and it's a very capable mixed wall thanks to avoiding hazard damage as well

 

[Ojo46]

I think you'll find that Clefable outclasses Florges in a pretty big way in OU. Yes Florges does have a higher special defense and special attack stat, but it's also vulnerable to hazards (which Clefable is not because of Magic Guard). It also doesn't have nearly as good of a movepool as Clefable which can run Thunder Wave to cripple switch-ins, or a variety of coverage/utility moves like Flamethrower, Ice Beam, Thunderbolt, Knock Off, Encore, Stored Power, etc. Ultimately being not weak to status (I know Florges can Aromatherapy, but that wastes a turn) makes Clefable an extremely strong win condition, and it's a very capable mixed wall thanks to avoiding hazard damage as well

Clefable is an excellent option, but I guess I also really like how Florges can heal statuses for my entire team, as I found it being weak to status. I completely get what you're saying. Clefable is objectively the better choice.

 

[Ramses]

Clefable is an excellent option, but I guess I also really like how Florges can heal statuses for my entire team, as I found it being weak to status. I completely get what you're saying. Clefable is objectively the better choice.

I mean Heal Bell is a thing and the only thing Clefable hates is paralysis.

 

[Ojo46]

I mean Heal Bell is a thing and the only thing Clefable hates is paralysis.

Oh right! Heal Bell slipped my mind. Thanks for the tip!

 

[Vert]

just some anti-metagame trend sets i have been using to beat this sand and clef invested metagame:

Ampharos-Mega @ Ampharosite
Ability: Static
EVs: 88 HP / 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 164 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Thunderbolt
- Dragon Pulse
- Agility
- Cotton Guard

i think i saw this set a while back, but this can do certain work against certain offenses. the main problem with modest m-ampharos is that is still outpaced by weavile and lopunny for example, and timid is just weak as fuck, so that makes it a garbage sweeper. however, all you have to do is trade focus blast coverage, and you can run cotton guard which can be clutch as hell since you can either get multiple agility boosts or just get up the +3 defense and start plowing through teams whose only answer to ampharos is ground types like that popular m-medicham team and common offenses that don't run fairy types. 88 hp lets you beat weavile 1v1 if you stay non mega'd, while giving you flexibility against non life orb excadrill if you manage to get the cotton guard off the switch. max special attack as always and 164 speed lets you beat garchomp at +2 speed. a very weird set that shit on certain builds, but make sure you run a balance breaker because this set struggles to break toxic heatran, bulky tyranitar, and ferrothorn without focus blast. sub calm mind keldeo + pursuit is always a nice combo and gliscor is good too.

Sceptile-Mega @ Sceptilite
Ability: Lightning Rod
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Giga Drain
- Dragon Pulse
- Hidden Power [Fire] / Leaf Storm
- Grassy Terrain

for those who don't know what grassy terrain does, it is basically a +1 special attack for all grass types on the field while giving an extra leftovers to every grounded pokemon on the field. while giving your opponent extra leftovers seems redundant, the point of this set is to sweep late game with ease since it lacks serperior-esque power to plow through some balances. this set heals you while giving your giga drain massive boosts gaining crucial ko's. however, grassy terrain also has one more effect which is weakening all ground-type moves. this means that your opponent can use earthquake on your raikou and watch you shrug it off with ease. your bisharp can beat garchomp 1v1 because it heals off the the rocky helmet recoil with grassy terrain (and possibly leftovers too). leaf storm is the godly option if you are using this with magnezone to trap steels. it beats sceptile's number one counter in clefable if you manage to get it to 80% prior to your sweep. frenzy plant garuntees the ohko on clef while ripping through bisharp which magnezone can't switch into to trap steels. while frenzy plant seems like a gimmick, most teams with clefable lack a secondary way to revenge kill mega sceptile leaving your opponent in a bad position afterwards. AM saw this in a teambuilder, so i was like why not, and i have been getting some funny ass results with it last night and today.

 

[p2]

Volcanion will be distributed in Japan as the pre-booking ticket distribution for the movie, Volcanion & The Ingenius Magearna. It will run from April 16th via a Serial Code distributed with the movie ticket, with pre-booking running from April 16th through July 15th.

so basically volcanion is gonna be released on saturday

hype

edit: idk i found it out in dou