Introduction:
This is a team I have been using for a very long time. My first version of this team was made in May 2009 after seeing a successful team use lead Breloom plus a LatiLuke combination. In its earliest incarnation, this team was similar to its current state but had a Metagross instead of Heatran, a Choice Band set for Tyranitar, a more offensive EV spread for Gyarados, and ThunderPunch over Stone Edge on Breloom. My team has since been updated and improved. Less than a month ago, this current version took me to #50 on the OU ladder, with a CRE of 1516. However, my rating sharply dropped afterward, and so I am looking for ways to improve my team. This team focuses on using team members that support each other to let Lucario, or sometimes Latias, sweep.Team at a glance:
The Details:
The Details:
The First Lead:
Breloom (M) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Poison Heal
EVs: 6 HP/252 Atk/252 Spd
Jolly nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Spore
- Seed Bomb
- Superpower
- Stone Edge
Breloom may seem like an odd choice for a lead, but it actually works well. It can immediately give me the upper hand against every lead that does not outspeed me or carry a Lum Berry, which includes Azelf, Swampert, Heatran, Roserade, and most Metagross, Breloom's purpose on this team is to keep the opponent from setting up Stealth Rock, but not instantly dying afterward of becoming dead weight the way an Aerodactyl would. Immediately after putting one Pokemon to sleep with Spore, Breloom switches, usually to Heatran, and can be used for revenge-killing later on. I chose to use a Jolly nature rather than the recommended Adamant one so that I could always be faster than the +1 Jolly Tyranitar that are running around everywhere these days.
The Second Lead:
Heatran (M) @ Shuca Berry
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 6 Atk/252 Spd/252 SAtk
Naive nature (+Spd, -SDef)
- Earth Power
- Flamethrower
- Stealth Rock
- Explosion
Heatran is my Stealth Rock user, and the first Pokemon I go to after Breloom puts the opponent's lead to sleep. This Heatran works well for this role because of its unpredictability; the opponent usually expects it to be a Scarfed Heatran, especially if it has taken Stealth Rock damage. This makes the opponent not expect a move switch, which sometimes leads to Heatran getting an KO as well as setting up SR. I chose the Shuca Berry as Heatran's item so that I would be able to bluff a Choice Scarf, and that I can sometimes survive an Earthquake or Earth Power and then explode. This is a particularly useful strategy against Celebi and Shaymin. The item is not particularly necessary on this Heatran; Heatran could just as easily use other gimmicky options like Passho Berry or Quick Claw.
The Midgame Sweeper:
Gyarados (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 156 HP/72 Atk/184 Spd/96 SDef
Adamant nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Bounce
- Dragon Dance
- Waterfall
- Taunt
Gyarados is often the first Pokemon to come out after Heatran. This Gyarados serves the purpose on my team as being a midgame opener that can draw out some of the Pokemon that could counter my main sweeper, Lucario. Gyarados attracts Rotom-h, Jirachi, Metagross, and Gengar, all of which can potentially stop a Lucario sweep. This Gyarados also helps my team do well against stall, because it can Taunt Skarmory, Bounce Latias, and lure out Rotom-h for Tyranitar to eliminate. Gyarados is often the first member of my team to go down, because it mainly serves a supporting role to Lucario and is often used to absorb hits from mixed sweepers.
The Bait and the Trap:
Tyranitar (M) @ Expert Belt
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 252 Atk/208 Spd/50 SAtk
Hasty nature (+Spd, -Def)
- Crunch
- Flamethrower
- Pursuit
- Superpower
After Gyarados or Latias has drawn out a piece of Pursuit bait, Tyranitar comes in to Pursuit it to death. This is instrumental in helping my team, because it removes Lucario counters like Scarfed Rotom-h and Gengar. But that is not Tyranitar's only purpose; it can also remove threats to the team through baiting. An innumberable number of times, my opponent has switched in Scizor after getting a Pokemon killed by Pursuit, and gets Fire Blasted to the face when trying to U-turn. Also, Tyranitar can take out Lucario, Blissey, Empoleon, and other Tyranitar with Superpower. This threat removal removes the Pokemon that could keep Latias from sweeping in the late game.
The Powerful Opener:
Latias (F) @ Choice Specs
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 6 HP/252 Spd/252 SAtk
Timid nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Draco Meteor
- Thunderbolt
- Surf
- Trick
There is a good reason some people consider this set to be Uber. On this team, Latias not only displays the characteristic power present in its Choice Specs set, but it also serves a defensive role, switching into attacks with its many resistances and revenge-killing some threats with its above-average speed. Latias can also often sweep late-game with either Thunderbolt or Surf once Tyranitar has removed the opponent's Latias counter. By acting as Pursuit bait, Latias can also give Lucario to set up on a Choiced Dark attack. Latias also attracts Bullet Punches, which Lucario can set up on as well.
The Lategame Cleaner:
Lucario (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Inner Focus
EVs: 6 HP/252 Atk/252 Spd
Adamant nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Close Combat
- Crunch
- Extremespeed
- Swords Dance
Lucario is arguably the best late-game sweeper in OU, especially with the right support. My team gives Lucario support by setting up Stealth Rock with Heatran, luring out threats to Lucario with Gyarados, eliminating those threats with Tyranitar, Latias, or Heatran, and giving Lucario an opprotunity to set up with Latias. Once my other Pokemon have fulfilled their roles, little will stop Lucario from sweeping, especially against a stall team. Also, if a situation absolutely requires priority, Lucario can revenge-kill threats that can otherwise sweep my team.
Threat List:
Aerodactyl: Against Breloom as a lead, it Taunts and sets up Stealth Rock while I use Seed Bomb twice. It sets up Stealth Rock and forces me to switch, but faints.
Azelf: Gets put to sleep by Breloom's Spore. Azelf usually stay in, so I can switch to Tyranitar and OHKO with Pursuit/Crunch and Sandstorm. Sweeper variants can usually do little to Heatran.
Blissey: Tyranitar's Pursuit often convinces Blissey users that I am Scarfed, so after they switch in Blissey, it is easily OHKOed by Superpower. Latias can Trick it, and Heatran can Explode.
Breloom: Breloom is often difficult to deal with, since I will need to let one Pokemon take the sleep and possibly sacrafice another to break its Substitute. But Breloom often switch in after Tyranitar Pursuits something, and Flamethrower is an OHKO.
Bronzong: Heatran usually induces Bronzong to flee. Gyarados can Taunt it, and only fears Explosion.
Celebi: Heatran is the obvious switch-in here. The Shuca Berry often lets me survive Earth Power if they happen to have it. Latias can switch in on anything but Thunder Wave.
Dragonite: Gyarados can Intimidate it and take an Outrage before using Bounce. Latias can easily revenge-kill it, and Lucario can as well if necessary.
Dusknoir: Tyranitar can Crunch it, and if Tyranitar gets Burned and cannot OHKO, then any of my other Pokemon can finish the job.
Electivire: Latias can counter it as long as Electivire does not have a Motor Drive boost. There is only one Electric move on my team, so this situation is rare, especially compounded by the rarity of Electivire on all but the low sections of the OU ladder.
Empoleon: If Empoleon gets an Agility, I will have to sacrafice some Pokemon as it Subs down to Petaya activation. Then Lucario can easily revenge-kill it with Extremespeed. If I no longer have Lucario, Empoleon will likely sweep my whole team.
Flygon: Gyarados can take any of Flygon's attacks except for Stone (Miss) Edge, an easy setup opprotunity for Lucario.
Forretress: Heatran hard-counters Forretress. Also, Tyranitar can use the usually unexpected Flamethrower.
Gengar: If Gengar is Scarfed and is locked on anything other that Focus Blast, then Tyranitar can Pursuit it. But most likely I will have to sacrafice a Pokemon to revenge-kill it with Breloom or Latias. Gengar is also a Pokemon that can very easily keep Lucario from sweeping.
Gliscor: Latias can Surf it, and Gyarados can Waterfall it.
Gyarados: Latias can counter most Gyarados except the most offensive ones, which can OHKO with Stone Edge after getting a DD. Breloom can also counter some Gyarados with Stone Edge.
Heatran: Any Heatran that tries to attack my own Heatran will get Earth Powered as I survive with the Shuca Berry or absorb a mispredicted, useless attack. Gyarados and Latias are very good counters for it, and Lucario can predict its switching in and use Close Combat.
Infernape: Latias, and to a lesser extent Gyarados, are Infernape counters.
Jirachi: Jirachi can potentially stop both Gyarados and Lucario from sweeping. Heatran can come in on most of Jirachi's moves but dislikes being Paralyzed.
Jolteon: Tyranitar counters Jolteon. Latias can switch in on anything but Shadow Ball.
Kingdra: Especially in the Rain, Kingdra threatens to sweep my team. The best I can do usually is to switch in Gyarados to Intimidate and possibly take a Draco Meteor, then use Bounce as Kingdra KOes it. Then I can revenge-kill Kingdra with Lucario's Extremespeed. Kingdra is the single most threatening Pokemon to my team.
Latias: My Latias will, at worst, speed tie. Tyranitar can kill Latias with Crunch or Pursuit, but fears Specs Surf and Draco Meteor.
Lucario: Gyarados counters Lucario, although less effectively than a Gyarados with Earthquake. My Lucario will speed tie with Adamant Lucario. Heatran often forces SD Lucario to switch by bluffing Scarf.
Machamp: I will almost always have to sacrafice one Pokemon to take a Dynamicpunch and possibly break a Substitute. Then I can easily reveng-kill it.
Magnezone: Scarf variants will keep Lucario from sweeping if they are not switched in on Close Combat. Most Magnezone are countered by Latias.
Mamoswine: I switch in Gyarados. To win, Mamoswine will have to use Stone Edge on the switch, use Stone Edge again, and hit both times.
Metagross: If a lead Metagross is holding a Lum Berry, it can use Meteor Mash the first turn, take the Spore, and KO with Bullet Punch. Agility Metagross can potentially sweep my team if it has Life Orb. If it has Leftovers, Heatran will usually be able to survive and Earthquake and use Flamethrower in return.
Ninjask: I switch to Gyarados and use Taunt. At most, Ninjask can pass one Speed Boost.
Roserade: Breloom Spores it the first turn, and then it is a prediction war as to whether I will use Spore again, or switch. I usually have to let something take the sleep, but only one Pokemon on my team is affected by Toxic Spikes.
Rotom-A: Tyranitar can switch in and use Pursuit. This will always KO Scarf variants, but other variants might Burn Tyranitar first.
Salamence: Salamence is quickly worn down by Stealth Rock, Sandstorm, and Life Orb, letting it easily be revenge-killed. Latias can revenge-kill mixed variants, but I will have to use Lucario to revenge-kill DD variants. Gyarados is usually my first switch-in, since Earthquake and Fire Blast are two popular choices for the first turn Salamence is in. I might end up having to meatshield a Draco Meteor, however.
Scizor: Heatran can take anything Scizor throws at it, except the rarely-used Superpower. Tyranitar can lure out Scizor and OHKO with Fire Blast. Lucario can set up on Bullet Punch, as well.
Skarmory: Heatran can Flamethrower it, and Gyarados can Taunt it. Tyranitar often lures it out, and Flamethrower is an easy 2HKO.
Smeargle: I will have to let something take the Sleep against Scarfed Smeargle leads. Against Sash ones, I can just have Breloom use Spore. Sporing a Smeargle lead is my first course of action.
Snorlax: Gyarados has a safe switch-in, as long as it does not get paralyzed. Latias can Trick it a useless Choice Specs, and Lucario can use Close Combat on it.
Starmie: Scarfed Starmie that try to counter Gyarados can be trapped by Tyranitar. Rapid Spinner or Life Orb Starmie are greater threats, and often require a sacrafice or at least fancy prediction. Breloom can Seed Bomb it for an OHKO, but cannot switch into Ice Beam. Starmie can usually Rapid Spin away my Stealth Rocks.
Suicune: Latias can switch in and Thunderbolt it for a 2HKO. Offensive Suicune that can OHKO Latias with a boosted Ice Beam can be revenge-killed by Breloom.
Swampert: Gyarados can Taunt it to prevent Roar, and can set up on it.
Tentacruel: I usually cannot prevent Rapid Spin, but I can set up on it with Gyarados or OHKO it with Latias. My team does not mind Toxic Spikes.
Togekiss: None of my team members like being Paralyzed. However, Latias can use Thunderbolt and Tyranitar can Crunch non-Aura Sphere versions. It usually takes out one Pokemon, though.
Tyranitar: Breloom outspeeds all +1 DDtar and Scarftar. Band Tyranitar's attacks are an important source of setup fodder for Lucario. My Tyranitar can also use Superpower to OHKO.
Vaporeon: Latias's Thunderbolt 2HKOs. Breloom can finish the job if Latias has insufficient HP to get two hits in.
Weavile: Gyarados can set up on it.
Zapdos: Tyranitar can usually force it out with the threat of Stone Edge. Latias does significant damage, but does not like to be Paralyzed.
I hope you liked my team. Please help me make it better!
