XY OU OU Balance Team

[Xfing]

This is my first team in ORAS. Got me on an extended winning streak up to like 1400 (record was 17 wins to 3 losses) before I started losing matches regularly.

I believe this team could be considered a "balance" team, a more or less equalized focus on offense and defense. I've got two immediate heavy hitters, two setup sweepers one of whom doubles as a potent wall, a dedicated wall and an all-purpose annoyer.

Thucker (Charizard) (M) @ Charizardite X
Ability: Blaze
EVs: 144 HP / 252 Atk / 112 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Dragon Claw
- Earthquake
- Dragon Dance
- Roost

An extremely potent physical sweeper after two Dragon Dances, decent survivability due to the bulk and Roost. Switched out Dragonite for this guy, never regretted it. Gives some good play potential with predictions - withholding the mega evolution when anticipating a Dragon Pulse is quite a rewarding maneuver when pulled off right :D

Motherfucker Moth (Volcarona) (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Flame Body
EVs: 248 HP / 136 Def / 124 Spe
Bold Nature
- Fiery Dance
- Giga Drain
- Quiver Dance
- Roost

Deadly as ever, can set up almost with impunity on physical tanks and even special attackers such as Keldeo when they enter once several stat increases have already been accrued. Defeats any Heatran without Roar or Toxic one on one, wrecks pretty much everything. Amazing Pokemon overall, and my favorite. I've used it to amazing effect and success in both Gen V and VI, and so am quite puzzled by how it is so unused it's in BL. It is usually reserved for last in matches, but sometimes I switch it in earlier - I can generally tell the point in the match where I can switch it in, and victory becomes just a matter of time by that point - barring critical hits of course. The physically defensive spread is in my opinion THE spread to run on Volcarona - that way it can survive surprisingly heavy physical hits from the likes of Garchomp, Conkeldurr or Bisharp. Giga Drain works wonders whis generation (I used to run Bug Buzz right util ORAS), giving the bulky waters and rock-types something to remember it by - overall this guy is monstrous and kicks ass as both a cleaner and a special wall.

Bad Boi (Latios) (M) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Draco Meteor
- Psyshock
- Defog
- Trick

Draco Meteor on this guy is a very reliable way to wreck shit and assure OHKO's or serious dents, but I think the Choice Scarf set isn't working that well actually. I rarely get to use Defog due to Draco Meteor taking priority, and haven't used Trick even once to good effect. Please advise on whether I should consider a LO instead, that item is much more versatile and I remember having more success with a LO Latios in XY.

Doctor Death (Mamoswine) (M) @ Focus Sash
Ability: Thick Fat
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Stone Edge
- Endeavor
- Ice Shard
- Earthquake

Still as good as always, Mamo provides immediate Earthquake support as well as strong priority in the form of Ice Shard. Can stop dangerous setup sweepers with FEAR, but there are problems whenever Stealth Rock is present, it needs to be removed. Stone Edge is good for Talonflame - I used to have Stealth Rock in this slot, but kinda decided I didn't need it that much - perhaps a mistake. I'd appreciate advice on whick Poke to put Stealth Rock, if any.

Fetus Fatale (Mew) @ Leftovers
Ability: Synchronize
EVs: 252 HP / 104 Def / 152 Spe
Impish Nature
- Taunt
- Soft-Boiled
- Will-O-Wisp
- Knock Off

Fantastically useful with an amazingly useful moveset, Mew stops most stallers and annoyers dead in their tracks thanks to Taunt, cripples physical attackers with Will-O-Wisp and even outright stalls and walls them to death. Tyranitar, Garchomp, Terrakion, Lucario... everything falls to this guy one on one eventually. Lovin' him.

Fukky Dukky (Porygon2) @ Eviolite
Ability: Trace
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 HP / 196 Def / 60 SpD
Calm Nature
- Ice Beam
- Thunderbolt
- Recover
- Thunder Wave

I decided to switch out Skarmory for this dude to obtain an all-purpose wall, rather than just a physical one. His defense stats are equalized and sit at 265 each, which makes it 530 after Eviolite. Thunder Wave is great for fast sweepers, rendering them more manageable, and the BoltBeam combo gives it sufficient attacking power. In the past I used to run Charge Beam rather than Thunderbolt, and build up his Sp. Atk to give it better offensive presence - please advise whether it's a viable tactic.

SUMMARY:

Overall, the team is quite fun to play because it can be good at both extremes: stall and hyper offense, and can pull of wins both after extended stall wars and really soon.

Here's an example match of me beating a dedicated stall team with 3 left, in 111 turns
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/ou-205549131

And here's a 15-turn pwnfest with Volcarona
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/ou-204732193

Of course the higher on the ladder I get, the longer the matches generally tend to last, but being swept in under 20 turns happens very, very seldom to this team if ever. Please give me some advice on the subjects moved in respective Pokemon descriptions, thanks :)

 

[Riahi]

You should give 140 Spe to Charizard to be able to outrun base 135 after a DD.

And

Mamoswine @ Life Orb / Focus sash
Ability: Thick Fat
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Icicle Crash / Icicle Spear
- Ice Shard
- Earthquake

 

[BlueLobster]

You need a more reliable defogger IMO, with so many megas/choice pokes around it's not that easy to get rid of a scarf so you aren't choice locked into defog. I suggest you run either LO 3 attacks + defog on our Latios or use Latias with leftovers/LO with dual STAB, roost and defog.

You are really Chansey weak, a competent Chansey can take out Volcarona, Latios and Mamoswine pretty easily, and do alot of damage to Zard X (you'd take alot of poison damage before you can OHKO it). That Mamo set is weird and you should use the one posted above.

 

[Prince Oberyn]

I agree with s0me1 b0red, with 2 Pokemon who take 50% of the health on switch in (assuming Zard hasn't mega'd yet) and a Pokemon with a Focus Sash, it's really important that you are able to get Stealth Rock off your side of the field. Life Orb might suit your Latios better, and you could replace Trick with something like HP Fire to catch Ferrorthorns, or perhaps HP Fighting to deal with Bisharps (especially as they might try and predict your Defog to get a Defiant boost). Alternatively, a Healing Wish Latias might do you some good. But Choice Scarfed Latios doesn't seem to be too useful at the moment.

Charge Beam on the Porygon...hmm, that's interesting! It could work, but overall I think Thunderbolt is better. Thunderbolt is 100% accurate and deals more damage, and you've already got Zard X and Volcarona which can set up, so I think having a third Pokemon who can set up is a bit unnecessary.

I'm just wondering how your team will fare against Fairies, in particular, Clefable. I suppose Mew can Taunt it, but if it starts setting up you might find yourself in a pinch, seeing as you haven't got anything to hit Fairies super-effectively. Watch out for that.

Other than you Mamo which others have already pointed out^, I think this is a pretty solid team! Nice job :)

 

[Fourth Inversion]

FEAR on Mamoswine is only really effective when it's being used as a dedicated/suicide lead. Stealth Rocks are too good to pass up, as they have utility against every type of team, even when you may need to Defog the hazards away for Zard-X and Volcarona. If you're looking for a pokemon that learns Stealth Rock and can beat Talonflame, then you could try changing Mamoswine to Rhyperior, as that would give your team a good answer to Talonflame, particularly Swords Dance sets.

Rhyperior @ Leftovers
Ability: Solid Rock
EVs: 212 HP / 44 Atk / 252 Def
Adamant Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- Rock Blast / Stone Edge
- Ice Punch / Toxic

Trick on Latios is decent as it has extra utility compared to the Life Orb set against both stall and hyper offense, but when your team has a Stealth Rock weakness, the Life Orb set is generally going to be more reliable at keeping hazards off the field. I'd probably start by running Draco Meteor/Psyshock/Roost/Defog.

I'm not sure about Charge Beam Porygon2, as I've only ever tested it out on Alakazam before as a 4th attack in Gen. 5 OU (wasn't particularly reliable). Given that Porygon2 is using Thunder Wave to slow down opposing sweepers, the more reliable damage output of Thunderbolt is likely to be better if you have to try and stop a pokemon like Mega Gyarados (Thunderbolt 3HKOes, while Charge Beam 5HKOes without any boosts, and factoring in the possibility of a miss, there's only a 63% chance of getting a special attack raise).

Overall though, I like the team, as it takes advantage of some under-appreciated pokemon in the OU metagame. I'd be interested to hear how the team fairs after the changes that have been suggested in this thread.

 

[Xfing]

Thanks for the suggestions, guys! I'll tweak Latios and give Mamo Stealth Rock and see how it goes.

For the record though - I never opened with Mamo even when he had Stealth Rock, I open 90% of my matches with Mew, which is usually the right decision as it lets me to stop enemy rockers and inflict a lot of burns. Mamo is usually brought in later, shining as a setup stopper with its FEAR strategy.

Besides, if I run Defog, doesn't it kinda defeat the purpose of having SR myself? I'd have to set it all over again for my enemy after using Defog too. Perhaps I should go for a spinner instead?

 

[Sablenite]

You Could do a spinner: Excadrill, Starmie, Tentacruel, and Donphan are the most decent.

Mamoswine @ Focus sash
Ability: Oblivious
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Icicle Crash / Icicle Spear / Endeavor
- Ice Shard
- Earthquake

I saw the replay and no dedicated Stall team would have Gengar or D-pulse Heatran (really what was that).

 

[Xfing]

Why oblivious doe? I though Thick Fat was better, helping against Fire attacks and all.

Ok. made some changes according to your advice and I'll see how matches go:

- Upped Zard's speed investment to 140 at the cost of HP
- Gave Latios 3 attacks + Defog on Life Orb: Draco Meteor, Psyshock and Surf (open to alternate suggestions)
- Took out Mamo's Stone Edge in favor of Stealth Rock.

Update: Lost the first match just because I suicide-led with Mamo. I think I'll be sticking to Mew openings :P

jirachee edit: no double post plz

 

[Sablenite]

Why oblivious doe? I though Thick Fat was better, helping against Fire attacks and all.

Depends on you, Oblivious keeps you from being taunted, and what fire type would like to eat an EQ? But Thick Fat if it isn't a lead.

 

[Xfing]

Depends on you, Oblivious keeps you from being taunted, and what fire type would like to eat an EQ? But Thick Fat if it isn't a lead.

I lead using Mew 90% of the time, and it's almost always a good decision. Mamo is used mostly for Ice Shard and FEAR operations.