Hello, Smogon! Below you can read about my attempt at venturing into the UU tier. I haven't tried to get a particular peak on an alt so far, and just stuck to playing on my main account, as I am still in the proccess of teambuilding. Highest I got so far is ~1750 rating, and I'm hoping to get further with proper guidance.
When creating this team I was trying of using the idea of having a spiker, SR setter, scarfer, sweeper (special or physical depending on the scarfer) and a defensive core, often testing and comparing various options.
Froslass (F) @ Focus Sash
Trait: Cursed Body
EVs: 248 HP / 8 SDef / 252 Spd
Timid Nature
- Spikes
- Ice Beam
- Taunt
- Destiny Bond
My spiker. This set is rather basic, with HP EVs hitting SR number, and SDef EVs for Download pokes to get an Attack boost. She's often my lead, and her role is usually gone after she hopefully sets up some spikes, and takes an enemy with her through Destiny Bond. She can also spinblock for herself, which is useful sometimes, especially if my opponent leads with a spinner.
I also tried Roserade in this slot, however she fulfills a completely different role overall, and generally wasn't that useful (even when I was not using Shaymin).
Nidoqueen @ Black Sludge
Trait: Sheer Force
EVs: 252 HP / 232 Def / 24 Spd
Bold Nature
- Earth Power
- Ice Beam
- Stealth Rock
- Roar
Defensive Nidoqueen, mostly used to set up Stealth Rocks. The reason why I'm using Nidoqueen over another SR setter is because of Togekiss. Swampert was just getting flinched to death and couldn't do much in return, and Rhyperior was decimated by NP sets (Grass Knot to the horn, boom). Nidoqueen gives me a fighting chance. Her Spd EVs let me outspeed and finish off a weakened defensive Blastoise, which saved my hazards from being removed a few times. She's also a fire resist, and one of the switch-ins to pokes like Darm, Victini or Arcanine. Takes fighting attacks like a boss, too.
I tried Swampert and Rhyperior here. Compared to Nidoqueen they were too slow and offered nothing significant in return (except maybe Flying resist from Rhyperior).
Darmanitan @ Choice Scarf
Trait: Sheer Force
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SAtk / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature
- Flare Blitz
- U-turn
- Earthquake
- Superpower
My scarfer. This thing is a beast, plain and simple. It can not only revenge kill like a boss, but also clean up after all fire resists are eliminated. To my knowledge the only faster scarfers in UU are Flygon and Mienshao. Everything else just dies. It's quite funny how people sometimes leave a scarf Heracross in, expecting to outspeed, and eat a Flare Blitz..
As for other scarfers I tried, Victini was quite good but V-Create's speed drop was a huge problem. It could still work as a revenge killer, but forget about cleaning up. Also his physical coverage is sub par at best. Mienshao on the other hand did not bring anything useful to the team at all. Except missing HJKs and Stone Edges, that is..
Shaymin @ Life Orb
Trait: Natural Cure
EVs: 252 SAtk / 4 SDef / 252 Spd
Timid Nature
- Seed Flare
- Earth Power
- Air Slash
- Rest
Since my scarfer is physical, I went with a special sweeper. Shaymin fits perfectly, removing water types who would otherwise give me trouble (excluding random Ice Beams on the switch, ugh). Air Slash is great for opposing Grass types and slower Fighting types, while Earth Power rounds up the coverage quite nicely. Her only problem is Seed Flare's accuracy: it's very unreliable, and capable of missing twice in a row if I'm unlucky. True story.
In this spot, I have also tried Zapdos. Sadly, he wasn't really any better. Shaymin has both better ability and recovery, also it does not lose when it comes to power. When Lightingrod Zapdos is released, I might revise this.
Cofagrigus (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Mummy
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Def / 252 SAtk
Quiet Nature
IVs: 2 Atk / 30 Def / 30 SAtk / 30 SDef / 2 Spd
- Hidden Power [Fighting]
- Trick Room
- Shadow Ball
- Nasty Plot
First part of my defensive core, also a spinblocker. This thing is a MONSTER. If it manages to set up Trick Room and Nasty Plot, preferably without being statused while doing it, it can sweep teams by itself. He has won me so many games against unprepared players, it's just unbelievable. Other than this, I'm mostly treating him as a physical tank. Perfect synergy with my last poke, too.
Snorlax (M) @ Choice Band
Trait: Thick Fat
EVs: 252 Atk / 52 Def / 200 SDef / 4 Spd
Adamant Nature
- Earthquake
- Crunch
- Body Slam
- Pursuit
This guy sponges special attacks, Pursuit traps a lot of annoying threats (Azelf, Chandelure), and if he's sent out when TR is up.. shit gets real. With Choice Band, his damage is through the roof, basically 2HKOing (at worst) almost everything with the correct move. Works insanely well with Cofagrigus, too, forming probably my favourite core ever.
THREATS
I strongly believe that this team has a way of playing around anything. There are however three pokes that I'm having some trouble with.
Paraflinch is broken like hell, I tell ya. This thing can become a serious issue. Nidoqueen has a good fighting chance against the NP set, however defensive paraflincher is a huge threat, and the only thing I can do is revenge him with Darm. Everything else gets paraflinched to death.
Rare, but extremely dangerous. Good coverage nails most of my team super effectively, Sucker Punch can prevent being revenge killed by Darm. My only decent answer is Cofagrigus, and even then I'm stuck trying to kill him with a HP Fighting.
More of a troll than a real threat, however it is worth noting that if it manages to get Roar off and there are hazards on my side of the field, I can only forfeit.
Well, that's it I suppose. Thanks for reading. I'm looking forward to suggestion on how to improve this team.
When creating this team I was trying of using the idea of having a spiker, SR setter, scarfer, sweeper (special or physical depending on the scarfer) and a defensive core, often testing and comparing various options.
Froslass (F) @ Focus Sash
Trait: Cursed Body
EVs: 248 HP / 8 SDef / 252 Spd
Timid Nature
- Spikes
- Ice Beam
- Taunt
- Destiny Bond
My spiker. This set is rather basic, with HP EVs hitting SR number, and SDef EVs for Download pokes to get an Attack boost. She's often my lead, and her role is usually gone after she hopefully sets up some spikes, and takes an enemy with her through Destiny Bond. She can also spinblock for herself, which is useful sometimes, especially if my opponent leads with a spinner.
I also tried Roserade in this slot, however she fulfills a completely different role overall, and generally wasn't that useful (even when I was not using Shaymin).
Nidoqueen @ Black Sludge
Trait: Sheer Force
EVs: 252 HP / 232 Def / 24 Spd
Bold Nature
- Earth Power
- Ice Beam
- Stealth Rock
- Roar
Defensive Nidoqueen, mostly used to set up Stealth Rocks. The reason why I'm using Nidoqueen over another SR setter is because of Togekiss. Swampert was just getting flinched to death and couldn't do much in return, and Rhyperior was decimated by NP sets (Grass Knot to the horn, boom). Nidoqueen gives me a fighting chance. Her Spd EVs let me outspeed and finish off a weakened defensive Blastoise, which saved my hazards from being removed a few times. She's also a fire resist, and one of the switch-ins to pokes like Darm, Victini or Arcanine. Takes fighting attacks like a boss, too.
I tried Swampert and Rhyperior here. Compared to Nidoqueen they were too slow and offered nothing significant in return (except maybe Flying resist from Rhyperior).
Darmanitan @ Choice Scarf
Trait: Sheer Force
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SAtk / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature
- Flare Blitz
- U-turn
- Earthquake
- Superpower
My scarfer. This thing is a beast, plain and simple. It can not only revenge kill like a boss, but also clean up after all fire resists are eliminated. To my knowledge the only faster scarfers in UU are Flygon and Mienshao. Everything else just dies. It's quite funny how people sometimes leave a scarf Heracross in, expecting to outspeed, and eat a Flare Blitz..
As for other scarfers I tried, Victini was quite good but V-Create's speed drop was a huge problem. It could still work as a revenge killer, but forget about cleaning up. Also his physical coverage is sub par at best. Mienshao on the other hand did not bring anything useful to the team at all. Except missing HJKs and Stone Edges, that is..
Shaymin @ Life Orb
Trait: Natural Cure
EVs: 252 SAtk / 4 SDef / 252 Spd
Timid Nature
- Seed Flare
- Earth Power
- Air Slash
- Rest
Since my scarfer is physical, I went with a special sweeper. Shaymin fits perfectly, removing water types who would otherwise give me trouble (excluding random Ice Beams on the switch, ugh). Air Slash is great for opposing Grass types and slower Fighting types, while Earth Power rounds up the coverage quite nicely. Her only problem is Seed Flare's accuracy: it's very unreliable, and capable of missing twice in a row if I'm unlucky. True story.
In this spot, I have also tried Zapdos. Sadly, he wasn't really any better. Shaymin has both better ability and recovery, also it does not lose when it comes to power. When Lightingrod Zapdos is released, I might revise this.
Cofagrigus (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Mummy
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Def / 252 SAtk
Quiet Nature
IVs: 2 Atk / 30 Def / 30 SAtk / 30 SDef / 2 Spd
- Hidden Power [Fighting]
- Trick Room
- Shadow Ball
- Nasty Plot
First part of my defensive core, also a spinblocker. This thing is a MONSTER. If it manages to set up Trick Room and Nasty Plot, preferably without being statused while doing it, it can sweep teams by itself. He has won me so many games against unprepared players, it's just unbelievable. Other than this, I'm mostly treating him as a physical tank. Perfect synergy with my last poke, too.
Snorlax (M) @ Choice Band
Trait: Thick Fat
EVs: 252 Atk / 52 Def / 200 SDef / 4 Spd
Adamant Nature
- Earthquake
- Crunch
- Body Slam
- Pursuit
This guy sponges special attacks, Pursuit traps a lot of annoying threats (Azelf, Chandelure), and if he's sent out when TR is up.. shit gets real. With Choice Band, his damage is through the roof, basically 2HKOing (at worst) almost everything with the correct move. Works insanely well with Cofagrigus, too, forming probably my favourite core ever.
THREATS
I strongly believe that this team has a way of playing around anything. There are however three pokes that I'm having some trouble with.
Paraflinch is broken like hell, I tell ya. This thing can become a serious issue. Nidoqueen has a good fighting chance against the NP set, however defensive paraflincher is a huge threat, and the only thing I can do is revenge him with Darm. Everything else gets paraflinched to death.
Rare, but extremely dangerous. Good coverage nails most of my team super effectively, Sucker Punch can prevent being revenge killed by Darm. My only decent answer is Cofagrigus, and even then I'm stuck trying to kill him with a HP Fighting.
More of a troll than a real threat, however it is worth noting that if it manages to get Roar off and there are hazards on my side of the field, I can only forfeit.
Well, that's it I suppose. Thanks for reading. I'm looking forward to suggestion on how to improve this team.