What's going on guys. I decided to try experimenting with a new team set today but the team just felt off. Something about it felt very void when in use and perhaps a RMT will help clear up the problems. As you all know Excadrill with Tyranitar make a scary threat in the OU scene now, so my decision making process started with building a team around a sweeping excadrill. Here's what I've been working on.
Tyranitar (M) @ Smooth Rock
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 252 HP / 184 Atk / 72 SDef
Nature: Adamant
-Crunch
-Earthquake
-Stone Edge
-Stealth Rock
Description: I started this build as nothing more than to get stealth rocks and sand up on the field, but as my team progressed I lacked the ability to tank special attacks. Tyranitar with it's boosted special defence in the sand seemed like a good option to switch in on surprisingly Rotoms, Thundurus (Taunt Set), Landorus, Greninja, and a few other OU hard hitters and surprisingly do well. I'm not saying he can tank hits for days, but his job was to be able to switch in and out setting up sand and leaving. I believe my EV's were set up to take 2 hits from Rotom-W and allow me to set up sand in return and perhaps stealth rocks.
Why on this team: I wanted to be able to set up sand freely. With nobody better considering Tyranitar's stats as well as offensive capabilities. He works well as a pivot as well as a lead.
Excadrill (F) @ Air Balloon
Ability: Sand Rush
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Spd / 4 HP
Nature: Adamant
-Earthquake
-Iron Head
-Rock Slide
-Rapid Spin
Description: Basically one of the biggest threats in the OU scene right. It's as simple as set up sand and watch entire teams fall before his power. The adamant 252 attack is basically to hit absolutely everything hard even things that resist excadrill naturally. A thundurus switch in on an iron head will take away a third of it's health alone. This pokemon has saved me many games. I have not been able to mess around with the speed EV's yet and planned on doing it considering that amount of speed with sand rush is definitely not needed, however I just got very lazy so if you have a better speed EV set with reasoning please let me know.
Why on this team: My primary core pokemon and sweeper. My team was built around the support of allowing excadrill to sweep and checking its counters. Whenever I switch excadrill in I know I'm guaranteed at least 1 knock out.
Dragonite (M) @ Choice Band
Ability: Multiscale
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SDef
Nature: Adamant
-Extremespeed
-Fire Punch
-Outrage
-Earthquake
Description: Basically the ultimate revenge killer for this team. The multiscale allows him to tank one hit from anything barring like a plus four mawile play rough. Also with excadrill on the team I can safely keep his multiscale up and allow basically a late game sweeper out of him. Extremespeed to remove talonflames, pinsirs, and brelooms. Fire Punch because I lack a fire power on my team and otherwise Fortress and Ferrothorn would wall my team. Outrage to hit extremely hard to anything that comes in. Earthquake pretty much for mawile.
Why on this team: Again redundant but he allows for the best revenge killer. His wide move pool as well as bulkyness will also allow a late game sweeper.
Latios (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 SAtk / 252 Spd / 4 HP
Nature: Timid
-Draco Meteor
-Ice Beam
-Psyshock
-Surf
Description: This was one of the last adds to the team and is currently being tested. I needed a special attacker and something that could also force out Landorus-T's that weren't scarfed as they pose a huge problem to my team. The life orb is to allow me to switch up moves. The EV's again weren't configured because I haven't yet decided if he was my best choice for this team. The move pool is basically to allow me to either damage or knock out threats standing in Excadrills path to sweep.
Why on this team: I needed a special attacker to deal with threats like Landorus, Thundurus, Rotom, Latias, and Dragonite. This was my last addition and not the most cemented pokemon on this team.
Thundurus (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 252 SAtk / 252 Spd / 4 SDef
Nature: Modest
-Thunderbolt
-Hidden Power Ice
-Taunt
-Thunder Wave
Description: I absolutely adore this pokemon as a threat. He makes a great bluff as a mixed set when I bring him in on Tyranitars as well as a great way to slow down threats like Greninja, Latios, Pinsir, and more. Taunt is here to prevent not only baton passing teams, but also to shut down early game hazards.
Why on this team: He's a hard hitting support team player. He can come in and check threats to my team when my tyranitar is down by forcing them out fearing the Thunder Wave. He also knocks out Landorus-I, Rotom-W, and Dragonites with ease. Although resisted by a few other pokemon, he still has the ability to leave them taunted and paralyzed before being knocked out.
Pinsir (F) @ Pinsirite
Ability: Hyper Cutter
EVs: 40 HP / 252 Atk / 216 Spd
Nature: Jolly
-Return
-Quick Attack
-Earthquake
-Sword Dance
Description: This is basically my other late game sweeper. He also checks Brelooms as well as Keldeo. The EV spread is to minimize damage intake while still being able to outspeed Charizard Y Timid. The move set is standard just because there really is no better move alternatives needed for my team.
Why on this team: He removes all fighting type threats against my team. He also has the potential to late game sweep and considering I have excadrill I have no need to fear the rocks.
Basically this team was created when I was in the 1500 range and worked well for awhile but lacked something I can't seem to spot. Although extremely powerful there just feels like it's missing that one power kick needed to push this team above and beyond. I've considered a few alternatives like switching to a mixed Thundurus or adding Latios instead of Latias, but mostly this team works well as a core right now and only needs to be cleaned up. I'm open to team changes that don't take away the basic core of my team. Thanks for the read guys and heres a team pastebin.
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