ORAS OU Solar Surrogate: Volcarona Hyper Offense

[Flygonial]

Banner made by me

I’ve decided to come out with my next RMT as soon as my fingers decided to move, whether it be when I was first allowed to again or when I’ve got all the formatting and other painful little details worked out. This team is centered around what was one of my favorite pokemon, Volcarona. I adamantly used it in mid-XY but it kept on letting me down, there were too many things that stopped it cold, I wasn’t quite familiar with the meta then, and I was awful at teambuilding to boot. However, I’ve recently noticed that Volcarona has steadily been seeing more use, more viability, which has been reflected in it’s jump in the viability rankings from the C ranks to the low A ranks.​

This team went through a previous variation as a HO team, but I scrapped it and started over with this one. The basic idea was a Volcarona + Dugtrio core along with four other ‘mons that could help achieve a Volcarona sweep or just had good synergy, but it was a mess. I had no mega, I was awfully Bisharp weak, I had a defogger paired with a suicide lead, etc. This team has been a bit more difficult to build, but it’s overall been much better.

Teambuilding Process:

Volcarona is a pokemon that I adored when I discovered its existence, especially with its access to Quiver Dance, a move probably that finds a place on almost every special attackers’ wish list to Delibird.

I decided that I wanted a good HO rocks setter that would beat Heatran and would usually survive past turn two so that it could come back to haunt Heatran later. Landorus-Incarnate fitted the bill.

I felt as though some U-turn support and priority would be pretty useful at this point to give Volcarona safe set-up opportunities and get Lando-I in to punch holes. Scizor is my favorite pokemon and provided U-turn support as well as powerful priority that could eliminate fairies. Originally it was bulky Defog Mega Scizor but I decided that my Mega could be better used elsewhere.

I felt as though I needed something else that could eliminate Heatran by now, and some more physical firepower, and was difficult for other teams to switch into as well. Enter Azumarill.

At this point, I realized that I was quite weak to Keldeo now, which as far as I’m concerned, is unacceptable on a team, and must be fixed if it didn’t open up any more weaknesses. Mega Altaria provided some more firepower, and was quite versatile too. I made it special to be less affected by Keldeo’s Scald as well as Hyper Voices that went through Subs.

Finally, Starmie was placed on as a spinner that could beat Heatran, which was more or less mandatory to support Volcarona.

Considering this decision: Replacing Starmie with Scarf Excadrill to compensate for slightly lacking revenge killing potential and alleviate a weakness to Talonflame, Knock Off on Landorus can then be replaced with HP Ice, and Psychic can be run over Sludge Wave to help deal with Mega Venusaur better. However, Scarfed Excadrill is a total momentum killer and doesn't do much else better.

Tonatiuh (Volcarona) @ Passho Berry
Ability: Flame Body
EVs: 72 HP / 252 SpA / 184 Spe
Timid Nature
- Quiver Dance: Set-up appropriately, and seal the fate of the match 85% of the time.
- Fire Blast: Most powerful STAB without guaranteed downsides.
- Bug Buzz: Safely eliminate most of the relevant psychic and dark types in the tier.
- Giga Drain: Take out bulky waters.

This pokemon was one of the main reasons why my brother was hyped up for BW, and I loved it too, especially since the one I caught in-game was Modest first try. It’s quite a potent pokemon as of now, but I won’t pretend that it’s flaws aren’t relevant. A Stealth Rocks weakness and high susceptibility to powerful priority along with its limited coverage are all things that make matters worse. But that’s what the other members of the team are for. The move set is quite standard and needs little explanation, but one. Bug Buzz was selected over Hidden Power Ground since I felt like it would be better leave Heatran to teammates than leaving Volc exposed against more or less every relevant Dragon type not named Dragalge. While it’s role on the team is smaller then I originally visualized, it definitely is a big contributor to victory.

Enten (Landorus) (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Sheer Force
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Naive Nature
- Stealth Rock: Vital support to any competitive team.
- Earth Power: Primary, reliable STAB.
- Sludge Wave: All fairies must die, otherwise still a decent safety net move.
- Knock Off: Puts Chansey on a diet.

The terror of the fields, Landorus-Incarnate grants a competitive player’s wish to obliterate opposing teams with its versatility, acceptable speed tier, and excellent ability. However, Lando-I doesn’t really take a role as a win-condition so much as a non-suicide lead rocks setter that can immediately apply offensive pressure. Although it’s rather obvious that it’s the rocks setter on this team since no other pokemon has access to rocks, many pokemon tend to find themselves switching out against this behemoth. Knock Off is an move that has declined on Lando-I, but sees use on this set since my team appreciates Chansey’s bulk cut. Lando is definitely a vital member of the team, providing valuable support as well as one of the hardest hitters on the team.

Chitin (Scizor) @ Choice Band
Ability: Technician
EVs: 208 HP / 252 Atk / 48 Spe
Adamant Nature
- U-turn: Easily gains momentum due to Scizor’s tendency to force lots of switches.
- Bullet Punch: Powerful priority that got better with the rise of fairies.
- Pursuit: Yes, I have Bug Buzz on Volc, but this makes dealing with Lati@s less painful.
- Superpower: Nuke walls like Ferrothorn and Heatran.

There was a time in mid/late-XY where about half of the active OU chatroom dismissed CB Scizor off as a set that has fallen from grace. At the time, I happened to be using CB Scizor on one of my main teams. Since mid-XY, I couldn’t stand the idea of running a bulky offense team without a pokemon that had U-turn or Volt-Switch, so Scizor or Rotom-W usually found their way onto my teams. While he wasn’t the MVP at all, he definitely pulled his weight. Now, I can’t say much differently. The EV spread is the exact same as I used on that team, 48 speed EVs for outspeeding 4 Spe Skarmory and Belly Drum Azumarill. Although it’s no longer as effective for helping deal with BD Azu, it definitely fills the niche that I believe any offense team needs covered - a designated executioner for fairies, and this is one that can U-turn in it's counters' face.

Brine (Azumarill) @ Choice Band
Ability: Huge Power
EVs: 88 HP / 252 Atk / 168 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Waterfall: Powerful, reliable STAB. Primary Heatran + bulky ground busting move.
- Play Rough: Absolutely nukes all offensive pokemon that don’t resist it.
- Superpower: Cripples Ferrothorn and rounds off coverage.
- Aqua Jet: Powerful priority that eliminates Lando-I, MDiancie, and Excadrill.

Behold, the most adorable predator in existence. I’m actually serious, since Azumarill’s Pokedex entries say that it uses its hearing to detect prey in the water while on shore or lurking camouflaged underwater. The EV spread is the standard Band one with a tweak - 4 Defense EVs moved over to speed, to outspeed 4 Spe Skarmory which has no reason not to run 4 Spe, and other Azumarills with the standard spread. Superpower was picked over Knock Off the safety net move since even though I have a Volcarona, it won’t always be able to scare Ferrothorn out or hit it. Azumarill eliminates threatening pokemon such as Sand Rush Excadrill, Lando-I with prior damage, as hitting like a truck with passable bulk, good typing, and forcing quite a few switches.

Contrast (Altaria) @ Altarianite
Ability: Cloud Nine
EVs: 80 HP / 252 SpA / 176 Spe
Timid Nature
- Hyper Voice: Substitute penetrating, all-round powerful STAB.
- Earthquake: Again, all Heatrans must die.
- Fire Blast: Death to the Ferrothorn.
- Roost: Recovery helps Mega Altaria abuse its typing and increase its longevity.

Mega Altaria is a mega that I initially underestimated. Sure, it seemed like it would gain quite the bit of bulk and offensive power, but surely the lack of speed would deter DD sets, while it would need heavy bulk investment to actually be so bulky as it seems. At first, I tried Mega Altaria as a defog user on the team, but after finding out that it didn’t get Defog, I made it Timid to check Bisharp. The only member with recovery on this team, it’s still no slouch in terms of offensive presence and coverage. It can abuse U-turns from Scizor to get free switch-ins, or pull a pivot itself. While it’s not necessarily the strongest link in the team, it currently seems like the most fitting mega.

Amethyst (Starmie) @ Life Orb
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Rapid Spin: Absolutely vital for supporting Volcarona and Sticky Web.
- Hydro Pump: Powerful STAB that helps take out bulky grounds and Heatran.
- Psyshock: Deals with Venusaur and Sub CM Keldeo.
- Thunderbolt: Deals with other bulky waters such as Slowbro.

Offensive Starmie is a pokemon I adamantly used after the Aegislash ban before I got comfortable with the concepts of defog. It functions as a secondary Keldeo check, a Mega Venu finisher, and most importantly, hazard removal. Rapid Spin is a rare, but very valuable move to have on a team, and as far as I’m concerned, it’s never a waste of a moveslot unless you already have hazard removal. Natural Cure was used over Analytic to have a more reliable Thundy check, while also allowing for it to absorb status. Volcarona isn’t the only pokemon that appreciates having rocks off the field, the rest of the team wouldn’t mind not taking chip damage. Ultimately, I believe that despite its valuable role, I feel like it’s the weakest link on the team and could possibly be replaced.

Importable:
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Tonatiuh (Volcarona) @ Passho Berry
Ability: Flame Body
EVs: 72 HP / 252 SpA / 184 Spe
Timid Nature
- Quiver Dance
- Fire Blast
- Bug Buzz
- Giga Drain

Enten (Landorus) (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Sheer Force
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Naive Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Earth Power
- Sludge Wave
- Knock Off

Chitin (Scizor) @ Choice Band
Ability: Technician
EVs: 208 HP / 252 Atk / 48 Spe
Adamant Nature
- U-turn
- Bullet Punch
- Pursuit
- Superpower

Brine (Azumarill) @ Choice Band
Ability: Huge Power
EVs: 88 HP / 252 Atk / 168 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Waterfall
- Play Rough
- Superpower
- Aqua Jet

Contrast (Altaria) @ Altarianite
Ability: Cloud Nine
EVs: 80 HP / 252 SpA / 176 Spe
Timid Nature
- Hyper Voice
- Earthquake
- Fire Blast
- Roost

Amethyst (Starmie) @ Life Orb
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Rapid Spin
- Hydro Pump
- Psyshock
- Thunderbolt

Replays:
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http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/ou-223760181
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/ou-223630015 (This team doesn't appreciate rain)
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/ou-223204674
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/ou-222829996
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/ou-222273706

Conclusion:
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This team is my second best take at Hyper Offense so far, but I still see some room for improvement. For starters, there's possibly changing Starmie out for Excadrill, and patching up some weaknesses in the team as well. Hopefully you enjoyed reading and rates are appreciated!

 

[Flygonial]

Reserved For Threatlist

S Rank

: Not a big concern with Band Scizor as well as Sludge Wave Lando-I keeping it from setting up.

: Mega Altaria and Starmie can both deal with it, one being able to do so through its sub.

: Rock Polish wrecks teams, but a combination of both priority users can take it down, otherwise it's checked by Starmie.

: It sucks to switch into this thing, since Band 'Zor can't do so reliably, but it can be checked by Scizor, Volcarona without Rocks, and Starmie can finish it off.

A+ Rank

: Can revenge kill a weakened Volcarona or after its Passho Berry is gone, and cannot be safely switched into - period. It's not too hard to threaten out or revenge kill though. Belly Drum variants are threatening but have to make it through a Pixilate Hyper Voice, a Life Orb Thunderbolt, and a Choice Band Aqua Jet.

: Mega Altaria is mandotory for keeping it in check, since it obliterates this team in every other respect once it's set-up an SD.

: Azumarill and Mega Altaria both take massive damage from a +1 Flare Blitz, but both can deal hefty damage back.

: Scizor can cripple it in a single turn while Azumarill can bust through it with raw power.

: Azumarill, Scizor, Starmie, none of these pokemon make it any less of a nightmare to switch into.

: A nightmare to switch into, but easily revenge killed.

: Annoying as ever, but Starmie, Azumarill, and Mega Altaria combined tend to be able to deal with all of its sets.

: The biggest roadblock to a Volcarona sweep, but every other member of the team has a method to get past it.

: Every member of the team can deal with this thing.

: Shreds apart most HO teams, the best I can do is sack something and force it out with Azumarill or MAlt.

: Volcarona can get past it, Scizor can trap it, Azumarill and MAlt can switch into it's most powerful STAB, etc.

: Volcarona can use it as set-up fodder, and Azumarill can OHKO it.

: A huge threat, rocks must be kept off the field and Volcarona healthy. Everything dies after prior damage.

: Absolutely murders everything after an SD, the only thing you can do is not let it set-up. It's easier to do then it seems, but its still one of the biggest threats to this team around.

: Hits everything hard, outspeeds most of the team, but is revenge killed by one that can switch out and be cured of its paralysis - except for pursuit users but none of them want to switch-into Hydro Pump.

Other Threats:

+

: Rain obliterates this team. Volcarona is deterred by them since I'm not running Hurricane for them, Kabutops and Kingdra both have ways they can be stopped, but Mega Swampert does nothing short of obliterate everything.

: Resists everything Volcarona can throw at it, and isn't easily switched into. It can be forced out and worn down quite easily though.

: Quite the pain to deal with, especially considering the amount of hax in the replay where I faced it, but there's about one pokemon that it can set-up on without taking major damage - barring switching into a Play Rough which some do but that's lower ladder for you.