Recently I've been attempting to use Porygon2 effectively in UU play. It usually finds itself a niche on OU teams looking to counter specific threats like Gyarados and Salamence, but it can be better than mediocre in the lower tiers, specifically through the use of Download. This team is not centered around Porygon2, but Porygon2's tankish feel has fit this team fairly well.
Crobat @ Life Orb
Ability: Inner Focus
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid nature (+Spe, -Atk)
~ Nasty Plot
~ Sludge Bomb
~ Heat Wave
~ Roost
Nasty Plot Crobat is a tremendous lead. Using its Speed and unpredictability, it can be quite easy for Crobat to pull off a Nasty Plot. Inner Focus is great for negating Fake Out leads. Although Crobat doesn't have the best Special Attack, a combination of Life Orb, Nasty Plot, and Crobat's Speed make it threatening. Sludge Bomb provides a strong STAB attack while Heat Wave hits Steel-types.
The main goal of using Nasty Plot Crobat is to keep the pressure on the opponent from square one. Crobat usually takes out at least one Pokemon if it pulls off a Nasty Plot. Unless it is completely walled, I'll usually keep Crobat in to get a heavy hit on an opponent's wall, assuming Crobat has set up, and clean up with Hitmontop. The fact that I have seen Crobat survive a Thunderbolt from Magmortar means that it has the defenses to take a hit without EV investment, which is critical. Roost is mostly filler, but it can come in handy if Crobat can afford to come in later. Doubtful, with Stealth Rock around.
Porygon2 @ Leftovers
Ability: Download
EVs: 252 HP / 120 Def / 136 SpA
Modest nature (+SpA, -Atk)
~ Charge Beam
~ Ice Beam
~ Tri Attack
~ Recover
This thing can be a nice surprise for the opponent. I switch it in to something which (a) doesn't cause Porygon2 trouble and (b) whose base Defense is greater than or equal to its Special Defense in order to gain the +1 SpA boost from Download. Charge Beam over Thunderbolt to add further boosts to its Special Attack (62% chance, if I recall correctly). Tri Attack provides STAB while having the added bonus of potentially inflicting status. Ice Beam was originally Psychic in order to surprise Fighting-types which think they can switch in for free, but this team doesn't have enough trouble with Fighting-types to merit the loss of coverage. Ice Beam also covers Grass-types like Tangrowth, whose SubSeeding variant has been a particular annoyance to this team. Recover gives Porygon2 the properties of a tank.
The EV spread is pretty much up in the air. Sometimes, even after a boost from Charge Beam, Porygon2 doesn't seem to be doing the mass amounts of damage that I want it to. However, I'm probably taking the Defense boost from the EV investment for granted, as Porygon2 has been quite successful at Recovering off more damage than it has taken. Obviously, this set is completely walled by Steelix. Hidden Power Fighting has been a consideration, as Ice Beam is decidedly less useful in UU than in OU.
Slowbro @ Leftovers
Ability: Own Tempo
EVs: 212 HP / 252 Def / 44 SpA
Bold nature (+Def, -Atk)
~ Calm Mind
~ Slack Off
~ Surf
~ Psychic
Probably my favorite tank. It shrugs off most physical attacks, heals the damage, and Calm Minds. Psychic is definitely my favorite attack for the last slot, as Fighting-types have sometimes bluffed and stayed in, giving Slowbro a definitive way to take care of them quickly. It also means that Slowbro isn't walled to the extent that it is when it carries Ice Beam.
Nidoking @ Life Orb
Ability: Poison Point
EVs: 200 Atk / 252 SpA / 56 Spe
Rash nature (+SpA, -SpD)
~ Earthquake
~ Megahorn
~ Thunderbolt
~ Ice Beam
Nidoking adds a crucial immunity to Electric, as well as the ability to absorb Toxic Spikes, which cripple both Porygon2 and Slowbro. With its massive movepool, Nidoking is difficult to predict. Megahorn is to hit Umbreon and Spiritomb, who would otherwise wall this much easier.
Registeel @ Leftovers
Ability: Clear Body
EVs: 252 HP / 168 Atk / 88 Def
Impish nature (+Def, -SpA)
~ Stealth Rock
~ Iron Head
~ Earthquake
~ Ice Punch
Registeel provides the team with crucial resistances and Stealth Rock support. Other than that, it is my main Mismagius counter, using STAB Iron Head to cause respectable damage. Earthquake and Ice Punch for general coverage.
Hitmontop @ Life Orb
Ability: Technician
EVs: 240 HP / 252 Atk / 16 Spe
Adamant nature (+Atk, -SpA)
~ Fake Out
~ Mach Punch
~ Close Combat
~ Pursuit
Hitmontop has been fairly effective for this team acting as a revenge killer. Fake Out + Mach Punch is pretty much guaranteed some nice damage. Close Combat provides a nice STAB against anything that is slower, while Pursuit means Hitmontop isn't just set up fodder for something like Mismagius.
Suggestions are welcome, thanks.
Crobat @ Life Orb
Ability: Inner Focus
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid nature (+Spe, -Atk)
~ Nasty Plot
~ Sludge Bomb
~ Heat Wave
~ Roost
Nasty Plot Crobat is a tremendous lead. Using its Speed and unpredictability, it can be quite easy for Crobat to pull off a Nasty Plot. Inner Focus is great for negating Fake Out leads. Although Crobat doesn't have the best Special Attack, a combination of Life Orb, Nasty Plot, and Crobat's Speed make it threatening. Sludge Bomb provides a strong STAB attack while Heat Wave hits Steel-types.
The main goal of using Nasty Plot Crobat is to keep the pressure on the opponent from square one. Crobat usually takes out at least one Pokemon if it pulls off a Nasty Plot. Unless it is completely walled, I'll usually keep Crobat in to get a heavy hit on an opponent's wall, assuming Crobat has set up, and clean up with Hitmontop. The fact that I have seen Crobat survive a Thunderbolt from Magmortar means that it has the defenses to take a hit without EV investment, which is critical. Roost is mostly filler, but it can come in handy if Crobat can afford to come in later. Doubtful, with Stealth Rock around.
Porygon2 @ Leftovers
Ability: Download
EVs: 252 HP / 120 Def / 136 SpA
Modest nature (+SpA, -Atk)
~ Charge Beam
~ Ice Beam
~ Tri Attack
~ Recover
This thing can be a nice surprise for the opponent. I switch it in to something which (a) doesn't cause Porygon2 trouble and (b) whose base Defense is greater than or equal to its Special Defense in order to gain the +1 SpA boost from Download. Charge Beam over Thunderbolt to add further boosts to its Special Attack (62% chance, if I recall correctly). Tri Attack provides STAB while having the added bonus of potentially inflicting status. Ice Beam was originally Psychic in order to surprise Fighting-types which think they can switch in for free, but this team doesn't have enough trouble with Fighting-types to merit the loss of coverage. Ice Beam also covers Grass-types like Tangrowth, whose SubSeeding variant has been a particular annoyance to this team. Recover gives Porygon2 the properties of a tank.
The EV spread is pretty much up in the air. Sometimes, even after a boost from Charge Beam, Porygon2 doesn't seem to be doing the mass amounts of damage that I want it to. However, I'm probably taking the Defense boost from the EV investment for granted, as Porygon2 has been quite successful at Recovering off more damage than it has taken. Obviously, this set is completely walled by Steelix. Hidden Power Fighting has been a consideration, as Ice Beam is decidedly less useful in UU than in OU.
Slowbro @ Leftovers
Ability: Own Tempo
EVs: 212 HP / 252 Def / 44 SpA
Bold nature (+Def, -Atk)
~ Calm Mind
~ Slack Off
~ Surf
~ Psychic
Probably my favorite tank. It shrugs off most physical attacks, heals the damage, and Calm Minds. Psychic is definitely my favorite attack for the last slot, as Fighting-types have sometimes bluffed and stayed in, giving Slowbro a definitive way to take care of them quickly. It also means that Slowbro isn't walled to the extent that it is when it carries Ice Beam.
Nidoking @ Life Orb
Ability: Poison Point
EVs: 200 Atk / 252 SpA / 56 Spe
Rash nature (+SpA, -SpD)
~ Earthquake
~ Megahorn
~ Thunderbolt
~ Ice Beam
Nidoking adds a crucial immunity to Electric, as well as the ability to absorb Toxic Spikes, which cripple both Porygon2 and Slowbro. With its massive movepool, Nidoking is difficult to predict. Megahorn is to hit Umbreon and Spiritomb, who would otherwise wall this much easier.
Registeel @ Leftovers
Ability: Clear Body
EVs: 252 HP / 168 Atk / 88 Def
Impish nature (+Def, -SpA)
~ Stealth Rock
~ Iron Head
~ Earthquake
~ Ice Punch
Registeel provides the team with crucial resistances and Stealth Rock support. Other than that, it is my main Mismagius counter, using STAB Iron Head to cause respectable damage. Earthquake and Ice Punch for general coverage.
Hitmontop @ Life Orb
Ability: Technician
EVs: 240 HP / 252 Atk / 16 Spe
Adamant nature (+Atk, -SpA)
~ Fake Out
~ Mach Punch
~ Close Combat
~ Pursuit
Hitmontop has been fairly effective for this team acting as a revenge killer. Fake Out + Mach Punch is pretty much guaranteed some nice damage. Close Combat provides a nice STAB against anything that is slower, while Pursuit means Hitmontop isn't just set up fodder for something like Mismagius.
Suggestions are welcome, thanks.