LilOu
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OU Playstyles
By LilOu. With collaboration of Stoned RG. Special thanks to Shurtugal.
Welcome to the OU discussion of the different playstyles! The main purpose of this thread is to choose a playstyle every week (I'll choose it) and you, (yes, you), are going to be able to comment, give your opinion and suggest pokemons that should be considered when making a team around the style [posting teams is also allowed, just keep in mind that this is not the RMT forums, so if you want to post a team try to make it short and use sprites of pokes, explain how does the team work and post replays if possible]. Obviously, your comments must have connection with the chosen style, as well as solid arguments of why your comment(s) are valid. With this, newer players can decide what playstyle they like most and, of course, more experienced players can also expand their knowledge. Remember to be friendly with other people; if you disagree with someone's opinion don't slam with an aggressive response, just let everyone know what you think in a kind way. The links to discussions of each playstyle will be posted in the OP so everyone can read it at anytime!
Don't be afraid of posting! If you have a great offense, stall, etc team, just think about what to say and go for it! Don't forget that participating in this kind of threads gives you opportunity to earn that awesome Community Contributor badge! Be careful of what do you post! Quality posts will be rewarded, but mediocre comments will be infracted. Do your best and I hope that you like to contribute this thread!
Summary of the rules (Must read):
- Make quality posts. No one-lined posts.
- Your comments must be about the weekly playstyle chosen.
- No gimmicks. If you decided to post a team (or pokemon) don't suggest using pursuit Tauros to trap Celebi or Latios while there is an overall better option named Tyranitar.
- Comment how the chosen style affects the current metagame and how it fairs in it.
- Support your team's posts with replays if possible. Explanation of them are a must.
- Having a wide point of view is needed. Don't post that stall sucks because you always lose to it.
- Your new ideas must have strong arguments of why them should be considered.
- This one is important: We don't want this to become a debate of: "this metagame is stale and has no diversity due to weather". This thread is here to make a discussion about the different playstyles, not to discharge all your hate against weather. Please, incoherent posts will be deleted and possibly penalized, so think about what are you going to write.
Week #01: Hyper Offense
Hyper Offense. A playstyle full of real threats that have only one purpose - attack like hell. This boys have no mercy and will do anything to destroy the opponent's team. But, putting a lot of threats together is a nice idea? Do they need support? What about offensive synergy? And defensive? Do I need entry hazards? What can I do against Magic Bounce? Which pokemon should I use?
Guys, this is your opportunity to show all what you know about this. I know, I know, the fifth question is kinda dumb, but there are players that don't know what's the meaning of HO, so try to do your best and good luck!
Archive:
Deoxys-Defense @ Rocky Helmet / Mental Herb / Red Card
Trait: Pressure
Timid Nature (+Spe, -Atk)
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 Spe
- Spikes
- Taunt
- Stealth Rock
- Magic Coat / Night Shade
I have nothing to explain here really. He has the speed to set up rocks really fast and has enough bulk to take 2 hits and set rocks and 1 layer of spikes easily. He also has access to taunt so he can prevent set-up sweepers to, well...set up. Powerful threats such as SD Loom or SD Lucario really appreciate the help of Deo-D because the hazards he sets can turn 2HKOs into OHKOs, as well as breaking Sturdys, Sashs and Multiscales. Definitely, you must consider Deo-D when making a HO team.
Author: LilOu
Dragonite @ Lum Berry
Trait: Multiscale
EVs: 252 Spd / 252 Atk / 4 HP
Adamant Nature
- Dragon Dance
- ExtremeSpeed
- Outrage
- Earthquake/ Fire Punch
Dragonite's bulk is really good and he has an awesome 134 base attack. With this and Multiscale, he can easily set up a Dragon Dance to elevate his attack stat to 604. He works really great as late game sweeper or at leaving holes through the opponent's team at early game. Just be careful about hazards on your side of the field and opposite skarmory.
Author: LilOu
Gengar @ Life Orb / Leftovers
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 252 Satk / 4 Sdef / 252 Spd
Timid nature
- Substitute
- Disable / Pain split
- Shadow ball
- Focus blast
The premier spinblocker for hyper offensive teams to utilize. makes a great pair with taunt or magic coat deo-d variants, set up hazards and then prevent them from being spun away is always a solid strategy. gengar obvious has trouble handling starmie, though, so you might want to consider also running some sort of pursuit trapper.
Author: Lavos Spawn
Tyranitar @ Choice Band
Trait: Sand stream
EVs: 160 HP / 252 Atk / 96 Spd
Adamant nature
- Crunch
- Pursuit
- Stone edge
- Superpower
Another near-essential on deo-d hyper offense teams. makes a great partner for the hazard setter by removing starmie with ease, and serves as an excellent utility weather check as well, especially for pursuit trapping ninetales and cb crunching politoed. also handles the lati twins, which generally give ho some issues. all in all, a good choice for any team.
Author: Lavos Spawn
Lucario @ Life Orb
Trait: Justified/Inner Focus
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SpA)
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
- Swords Dance
- ExtremeSpeed
- Close Combat
- Crunch/Bullet Punch/Ice Punch
One of the best abusers of priority, this pokemon is a must tryout for Hyper offense. After a SD, the attack is raised to an amazing 700 and very few pokemon can laugh of a +2 close combat. Bullet punches get rid of Terrakions, Ice Punch for Gliscors and Landorus-T, and crunch for those bulky psychics. Use the move slot depending on your teams weakness. Extremespeed provides a +2 Priority, that allows you to OHKO most the meta after stealth rock, not to mention the pokemon that are attracted to Deo-D will usually get hurt by Lucario.
Author: Takion
Kingdra (M) @ Life Orb
Trait: Swift Swim
EVs: 252 SAtk / 4 SDef / 252 Spd
Modest Nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Rain Dance
- Hydro Pump
- Draco Meteor
- Dragon Pulse
With that speed and Modest, you hit 269 Speed, which under rain gives you 538. The benchmark you want to hit is really enough to outspeed Scarf Latios which hits 525, but really 7 extra HP evs aren't going to do anything for you so you might as well run max in case you approach another Kingdra. Hydro Pump is a nuke and does something ridiculous like 40% to spD Rotom and Draco is your nuke, even though must of the time you're going to be pressing Hydro Pump. Kingdra is underrated all in all and people should use it more.
Author: ThunderBlunder
Landorus (M) @ Life Orb
Trait: Sheer Force
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid/Modest Nature
- Earth Power
- Focus Blast
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Rock Polish
I didnt see this one posted yet. Landorus-I is a huge threat and works great for Hyper Offense. After Special Wall like the pink blob and you shouldn't have too much issue as long as Focus Blast will hit. You basically come to force a switch and set a Rock Polish and proceed to sweep.
Author: BlackRussian
Scizor @ Life Orb/Lum Berry
Trait: Technician
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Spd / 4 Def
Adamant nature
- Swords Dance
- Bug Bite
- Bullet Punch
- Superpower
Standard offensive SD scizor, a note on this set: this shouldnt EVER be your main physical sweeper, its way too slow to straight up sweep an offensive team, hell even balanced, but it will shit on stall hard. I consider this more of a ''support'' poke in HO, since +2 LO superpower does 70%< to standard skarm, this turns dnite suddenly into a mayor win condition, i would reccomend using it alongside DD dragonite, or sub salac terrakion in case theres no chance for an SD. Lum is slashed there since it lets scizor bypass 1 scald burn and lets it set up on sp def Rotom W (often meaning game to a sand team in the latter).
Author: Stone RG
Salamence @ Choice Scarf
Trait: Moxie
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Spd / 4 SpA
Naive Nature
- Outrage
- Dragon Claw
- Earthquake
- Fire Blast
Funny i was talking about dnite 2 seconds ago, now this should only be used as a late game sweeper, or a really desperate revenge killer, thats just my thoughts. Outrage works usually for the sheer power it comes with, and if youre feeling lucky, or those kills are life or death situations, this is the move to stick to, however, if youre like me and wanna avoid hax as much as possible, dragon claw is probably a better choice, and the move most of the time is being used in this set. Fire blast and eq serve only as coverage moves. Note: mence is also helped by offensive sd scizor, since it lets it get pass its most common counter: Skarmory, after rocks.
Author: Stone RG
Breloom (M) @ Focus Sash
Trait: Technician
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Spore
- Bullet Seed
- Mach Punch
- Swords Dance / Low Sweep
Sash Breloom is pretty standard, but it gets the job done. A sleeping Pokemon is essentially a Pokemon that is killed in the game, since the high pressure of HO will not give the other team a chance for it to wake up. Like Gengar who spinblocks, Breloom brings an additional utility to the table with powerful priority in the form of Technician Mach Punch. SD vs Low Sweep is up to you, but it is important to note Swords Dance does not make you a sitting duck if you retain your Focus Sash.
Author: ThePillsburyDoughBoy
Gengar (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Destiny Bond
- Shadow Ball
- Focus Blast
- Substitute
Gengar with Destiny Bond is a cool option to level the playing field after you have blocked your hazards with Gengar. His high-speed and frail defenses means most of the time you will be successful. It is a great way to get around Pursuit trapping Tyranitar, who will be adamant to pursuit trap your ass in order to further lower the score.
Author: ThePillsburyDoughBoy
Mamoswine (M) @ Focus Sash
Trait: Thick Fat
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Endeavor
- Earthquake
- Ice Shard
- Icicle Crash / Stealth Rock / Hail
Endeavor Mamoswine can be used as a lead with SR, but it is equally viable as a standalone Pokemon. Terrible defensive Ice-typing+Immunity to Sandstorm+Hail makes it a great Eneavor user. Like Breloom, Mamoswine bring powerful priority to the table with Ice Shard. Now you may be asking yourself why I put Hail in the last slot. Well Hail allows Mamoswine for Endeavor just to be a straight KO move if it gets Hail with its Sash up (other than Kube and opposing Mamoswine of course). In other words, you don't have to waste a turn Ice Sharding, which is an opportunity for the opponent to switch out. More importantly, Hail is there to fuck with all the weather teams running around in OU. Since HO teams are usually weatherless, a Pokemon that can change mess with weather conditions where it is an inherit part of its strategy is greatly appreciated.
Author: ThePillsburyDoughBoy