PYRAMID of STRENGTH
Welcome smogon, it is I, DEMo_Gorogn47, back again with another RMT. So while I'm still on my anti-weather kick, I am also on an "Outsiders Challenge" kick. Yup, this team does not contain a single Pokemon that is in the top 10. And like a pyramid, I built this team from the ground up, and in my opinion I have made a pretty solid team, able to counter and set up on a vast majority of the metagame. On the whole I havent encountered any glaring weaknesses, and most of the time my losses come from misplays and hax. While some types of teams are more difficult to counter than others, I feel I have a reliable answer to most what the metagame can throw at me. So without further ado I present the Pyramid of Strength.
The Team at a Glance
The Team Building Process
So first I needed the base to my Pyramid. And for me the obvious base would to be a lead. Now the question became: Who should I lead with? Landorous came to mind, as did Heatran, heck I even considered Azelf, but none of them had what I was looking for. Then I thought of an extremely underappreciated Pokemon: Metagross. Metagross has all the stats in all the right places, and a fantastic typing to boot. Even his movepool is decent. So with that in mind, Metagross became the first memeber of my Pyramid.
Well now that I had a base, I needed the middle of my Pyramid. Something that could support the top tier. So in my mind, this meant support Pokemon. First I began looking for Pokemon to patch up Metagross' unfortunate weaknesses to Fire and Ground. So after looking around a bit, I came upon Defensive Gyarados, and immediately I knew he would be a success. Next I needed someone to balance out Gyarados-- clearly a special wall was in order. I have had much experience using Evoilite Chansey, so she was a natural choice to be Gyarados' partner as the bulwark against the monsters of the OU metagame.
With a base and the support in place, my Pyramid was beginning to take shape. But what was team without a little offense? Looking back on my experience I found myself drawn to two Pokemon which have always worked fantastically with each other: Latios and Lucario. Providing excellent attacking stats on opposite ends of the spectrum and perfect synergy, these two would have no trouble supporting each other and meshing with the rest of the Pyramid.
Now all that was left for my Pyramid to be complete was the apex. Someone to glue the team together, and make the Pyramid last for ages to come. I scanned the massive pool of Pokemon and found myself looking at Sub + 3 attacks Hydreigon. At first I thought it would be an instant success, but after some testing the top crumbled, and I was forced to rebuild it.
3 Attacks + Rapid Spin + Leftovers Starmie took Hydreigon's place on the top of the Pyramid. Serving as a beacon of light, it illuminated my Pyramid. With its blistering Speed and passable Special Attack as well as a great movepool Stramie is an excellent secondary revenge killer and a good special attacker just out of sheer coverage. With its Speed and coverage it can also be an adequate check rain, sun, and sand storm teams. But Starmie too, could not hold up like I needed, and he crumbled away.
3 Attacks + Rapid Spin + Leftovers Starmie took Hydreigon's place on the top of the Pyramid. Serving as a beacon of light, it illuminated my Pyramid. With its blistering Speed and passable Special Attack as well as a great movepool Stramie is an excellent secondary revenge killer and a good special attacker just out of sheer coverage. With its Speed and coverage it can also be an adequate check rain, sun, and sand storm teams. But Starmie too, could not hold up like I needed, and he crumbled away.
With nothing left to go on, I looked high and low for someone to complete my Pyramid and make it the tower of strength it deserved to be. After much searching, I somehow stumbled upon DD + Fire Blast Salamece. Placing him at the top of my Pyramid, he completed the structure, and made it a creation that would endure for a millenia.
Well after some time, my subjects spoke and decided my mighty Pyramid needed some referbashing. The rock had worn away it some areas, and it no longer seemed to stand as a symbol of strength. So after my best architects (the raters lol) came together and helped me recreate my Pyramid. Leaving the team was Chansey and Latios. In their place came the legendaries Heatran and Latias came in, giving the Pyramid the new sheen it needed. With this I have now another Pyramid presentable to the world.
The Team in Detail
Metagross (-) @ Leftovers
Nature: Adamant
Ability: Clear Body
EV's: 252 HP/ 252 Atk/ 4 Def
Moves: Stealth Rock, Meteor Mash, Earthquake, Ice Punch
Nature: Adamant
Ability: Clear Body
EV's: 252 HP/ 252 Atk/ 4 Def
Moves: Stealth Rock, Meteor Mash, Earthquake, Ice Punch
Metagross is a seriously underrated Pokemon who deserves a lot more love. With his great stat distribution and great typing Metagross is a near perfect lead. Setting up Stealth Rock is his most important job, as it provides the residual damage for Gyarados' shuffling. But his duties do not end there. He provides the all important Dragon resistance and not only that, but he is an excellent tank. With a sky high attack at 405 he leaves quite a dent in his opponents. Now usually people run Bullet Punch, but because it is such a weak move, I felt the additional coverage from Ice Punch was worth it (Besides, Lucario has Bullet Punch). Overall Metagross is a great Pokemon on this team, and on any team in general. And despite much urging by my architects, I kept him as the base of the Pyramid.
Gyarados (M) @ Leftovers
Nature: Impish
EV's: 248 HP/ 252 Def/ 8 Spe
Ability: Intimidate
Moves: Waterfall, Dragon Tail, Taunt, Thunderwave
Nature: Impish
EV's: 248 HP/ 252 Def/ 8 Spe
Ability: Intimidate
Moves: Waterfall, Dragon Tail, Taunt, Thunderwave
Gyarados is my dedicated Physical Wall, and another extremely underrated Pokemon. With an immunity to Ground-type attacks, resistance to Fighting, and Intimidate he makes him an ideal Physical wall. Heck, he even has passable Special Defense to take some neutral Special Attacks. Waterfall is there for the obvious STAB and taunt is to prevent slower foes from setting up (looking at you Ferrothorn and Skarmory). But Gyarados' most important jobs are Thunderwave spamming and phazing. With Phazing Gyarados can not only ruin a set-up sweeper's fun, but it also creates residual damage with Dragon Tail. Yeah, Gyarados is a Pokemon who pulls his weight and then some.
Heatran (M) @ Leftovers
Nature: Calm
EV's: 248 HP/100 SpD/160 Spe
Ability: Flash Fire
Moves: Lava Plume, Earth Power, Toxic, Roar
Nature: Calm
EV's: 248 HP/100 SpD/160 Spe
Ability: Flash Fire
Moves: Lava Plume, Earth Power, Toxic, Roar
As recommended by my Pyramid Architect Motagua, I have replaced Chansey with Heatran as my dedicated Special Wall. Heatran provides the essential Sun Team immunity. He also can take many weak, Super Effective attacks with aplomb. But my only concern is the loss of overall bulk, and the inability to take on Rain Teams, as well as the loss of Heal Bell and a reliable Recovery move. While there is no question that Heatran is move useful against Sun, I am concerned that it has weakened my ability to fight off Rain.
Latias (F) @ Life Orb
Nature: Modest
EV's: 152 HP/176 SpA/180 Spe
Ability: Levitate
Moves: Surf, Draco Meteor/Dragon Pulse, Thunderbolt, Recover
Nature: Modest
EV's: 152 HP/176 SpA/180 Spe
Ability: Levitate
Moves: Surf, Draco Meteor/Dragon Pulse, Thunderbolt, Recover
With my eyes opened to the utility of Latias, I added her in place of her brother on the Pyramid. While I'm not sure if she has more power than her brother (at 330 SpA + Life Orb vs. Latios' 358 unboosted SpA), she has the usefulness of much better bulk, and the ability to change move and heal herself. She serves as my barrier agaisnt the atrocious elements that aim to wear away at the structure of my Pyramid. But she laughs those attacks off and responds with destruction. She gets my Seal of Approval. The only thing I question is Draco Meteor vs. Dragon Pulse. DP allows her to stay in longer while losing power, DM has way more power, but she has to switch out almost immediately. So I would like my "architects" opinions on this.
Lucario (M) @ Life Orb
Nature: Adamant
EV's: 4 HP/ 252 Atk/ 252 Spe
Ability: Inner Focus
Moves: Sword Dance, Close Combat, Bullet Punch, Extremespeed
Nature: Adamant
EV's: 4 HP/ 252 Atk/ 252 Spe
Ability: Inner Focus
Moves: Sword Dance, Close Combat, Bullet Punch, Extremespeed
Sword Dance Double Priority Lucario is a great sweeper, no questions asked. After one Sword Dance Lucario's attack goes sky high. And once dedicated counters are out of the way it is pretty smooth sailing for Lucario. Even when he does faint, he's usually done enough damage that the rest of the team can pick up the slack. His only nemesis is Jellicent, who can take all the attacks Lucarion throws at it without issue. But all in all Lucario is a solid member of this team.
Salamence (F) @ Choice Scarf
Nature: Naive
EV's: 252 Atk/ 252 Spe/ 4 HP
Ability: Moxie
Moves: Dragon Claw, Outrage, Earthquake, Fire Blast
Nature: Naive
EV's: 252 Atk/ 252 Spe/ 4 HP
Ability: Moxie
Moves: Dragon Claw, Outrage, Earthquake, Fire Blast
Salamence is the final member of the team, and the mixed attacker of the group. Despite his fall from grace this generation he is still a Pokemon to be feared. Sporting a great Attack stat and a good Special Attack stat even without investment he can hit like a truck from all sides of the spectrum. After some tweaking I have changed Salamence to my Mixed Revenge Killer. With Moxie every kill just makes him more ferocious foe to face. Never shall I underestimate MoxieScarfMence again.
Threat List
Jellicent: This annoy Pokemon has the ability to wall and cripple most of my team. Metagross and Lucario can't do anything to it, while if Latios doesnt have a full power Draco Meteor he cant KO. Chansey is outsped and Taunted, and even if Gyarados Taunts it, he can still be burned by Scald. Salamence can also be burned if he switches in.
Landorous: While not a complete threat, he is a nuisance. U-Turns are annoying, and powerful Earthquakes leave everyone cringing. And sitting at the annoying 101 speed tier leaves Salamence rather sad, as even at +1 he cant outspeed. But all in all, he isnt THAT big of an issue.
Jirachi: All I have to say is: FUUUUUUUUUU!!!!! It is so unpredicatble, so bulky, so haxy, and such a great typing, I hate it. I have no way to burn Physical varients, and Gyarados is out so he cant Paralyze reliably. On special varients its even worse. They can set up with CM, and they are immune to Chansey's Toxic, and Gyarados cannot Paralyze it. Latios cant KO, and a full speed Jirachi Speed Ties with Salamence if Salamence just switched in, meaing I have no reliable way to KO. He just makes life suck.
Reuinclus: Similar to Landorous in the way that it is more of a nuisance than actually a real threat. Trick Room is annoying, because most of my team is speedy, while CM varients just have so much bulk that I have trouble achieving KO's. But usually if I play smart I can handle it.
Rain Teams: While not as huge of a threat, they are annoying. Water has such good neutral coverage that I have trouble countering the power behind them. But again, playing smart I can survive.
Sun Teams: I HATE SUN TEAMS. Venasuar is evil, as my only reliable counter is Latios (and Lucario if it is a weakened Venasaur, as Priority can usually KO). Volcarona is another one, as a team with a bunch of Fire-types makes setting Stealth Rock extremely difficult. (It also doesnt help that a lot of Sun Teams carry Espeon.) Yeah, Sun Teams suck.
Whimsicott: Pain in the ass, 'nough said
Gyarados: As Ningildo showed me, this thing can wreck my entire team if it has set up. If Latias is down, I have no super Effective Attack to take it down. Substitute varients will really cause me grief. I need more fail-safe measures against this guy
Mew: Stallbreak varients are a pain, but in general it is similar to Jirachi. With great bulk and unpredictability I am hard pressed to counter it. And with Synchronize I can't even status it to try and cripple it. Yeah, I need some advice here.
Kingdra: While Kingdra on a Drizzle Team is no problem, a Kingdra who uses Rain Dance is. At Double Speed, I have no way of outspeeding it (that was usually where Latios came into play, since not many people run Max Speed on Kingdra if it has Rain Dance.) But anyway, most of its attacks can OHKO or 2HKO my entire team. Meanwhile, the Pokemon that can survive one hit lack the moves to KO back. My best bet against it is only if Lucario is set up with a Sword Dance and the Kingdra has taken some prior damage.
So far nothing else comes to mind, but I will update if I find something else.
Closing Statements
The Pyramid of Strength stands tall as a pretty solid team in my opinion, but I know there are other teams that are above it. My goal is to ascend above those teams, and I hope you all looking at this RMT can help me. Thank you to all who take the time to view this!
