Introduction: This is a team made for the post-Kangaskhanite XY OU metagame, and with Pokemon Bank coming soon, this RMT is a final farewell to a pure, beautiful metagame. The team has served me well on the ladder, with a record of 72-8 in the current, stable form. The fundamental concept is to clear the way for a Mega Gyarados sweep, aided by Magnezone to trap and destroy the biggest roadblock, Ferrothorn. The other pokemon form a defensive core in order to combat the biggest threats in XY OU.
On to the Pokemon!
Gliscor @ Toxic Orb
Ability: Poison Heal
EVs: 184 Def / 252 HP / 72 Spd
Impish Nature
- Protect
- Knock Off
- Earthquake
- Toxic
This team doesn't carry a true lead, but usually Gliscor and Tyranitar do the job. Tyranitar is more of a set-up lead, and Gliscor is for scouting. This set is pretty standard, with the standard EVs to outspeed Jolly Tyranitar. One of the last members I put on the team, I found it necessary in order to deal with Lucario and other Gliscor, and to switch in on status and Knock Off. He also helps greatly against stall teams with his own Knock Off, which increases the power of Tyranitar's sandstorm.
Tyranitar @ Leftovers
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 252 SDef / 160 HP / 96 Atk
Sassy Nature
- Pursuit
- Stealth Rock
- Stone Edge
- Fire Blast
Besides setting up sand and Stealth Rock, Tyranitar serves as the only dedicated special wall on the team. His resistances are also extremely useful, helping to check Talonflame. He can be key to opening up a potential Gyarados sweep by Pursuit-trapping scarfers and other fast Pokemon.
Mandibuzz @ Leftovers
Ability: Overcoat
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 Spd
Bold Nature
- Foul Play
- Defog
- Roost
- Taunt
I believe that the current metagame requires stall teams to play two insane physical walls in order to deal with all of the crazy Megas running around. Mandibuzz serves that role admirably, countering Swords Dance sweepers as well as providing Defog support. I also lead him against Smeargle, packing Taunt, Defog, and immunity to Spore to beat almost all Smeargle sets.
Gyarados @ Gyaradosite
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 112 HP / 252 Atk / 144 Spd
Adamant Nature
- Dragon Dance
- Earthquake
- Ice Fang
- Waterfall
Mega evolving is interesting because it grants Gyarados massive bulk and a new typing, which means most electric moves are no longer OHKOs. Furthermore, Mold Breaker is really nice in beating all the Levitate, Sturdy, Storm Drain, Dry Skin, etc. Pokemon that are often switched in.
Gyarados forms the offensive center of the team and complements the stall part defensively, switching in on Mamoswine and Azumarill with Intimidate. I try to save him for the late game, when his counters have been removed and the sandstorm has faded. However, he's often needed during the midgame for things like Rotom-W and Mamoswine, which are difficult to wall using this team.
I prefer Ice Fang over Stone Edge because its gets an OHKO on Gliscor (where sometimes Waterfall does not) and is the more reliable attack for most things that resist Waterfall and Earthquake. This one is EVed to outspeed Timid Gengar (base 110); you can also run max speed, which helps in outspeeding things like Noivern, Greninja, and Alakazam, all OHKOs after a DD. The extra bulk helps in his defensive role, but then Tyranitar is needed to remove the fast Pokemon.
Magnezone @ Leftovers
Ability: Magnet Pull
EVs: 248 HP / 252 SAtk / 8 Spd
Modest Nature
- Charge Beam
- Hidden Power [Fire]
- Substitute
- Flash Cannon
His main purpose is to trap Ferrothorn. It is much more difficult to trap other Steel types, but it is possible by predicting a Choiced Scizor Bullet Punch or coming in on Skarm/Forretress setup. In addition to steel trapping, he has a crucial role checking bulky waters which cause the rest of the team a lot of trouble. Usually Magnezone plays by switching in on Ferrothorn's Stealth Rock (or less commonly, simply predicting the Ferrothorn switch). Substitute blocks the incoming Leech Seed, and then use Charge Beam (reapplying Substitute when it is broken by 2 Power Whips). Hidden Power Fire can be used if Magnezone's health is getting low. When Ferrothorn is dead, Magnezone should be around +3 Sp. A and behind a sub, ready to take out another of the opponent's Pokemon.
Noivern @ Choice Specs
Ability: Infiltrator
EVs: 252 Spd / 252 SAtk / 4 SDef
Timid Nature
IVs: 30 Atk / 30 Def
- Switcheroo
- Dragon Pulse
- Flamethrower
- Boomburst
Noivern was originally my answer to Sub Gliscor, packing HP Ice to OHKO. But he serves admirably to patch up the holes in the team, most notably Rotom-W. When Gyarados is needed in the middle game, matches often end with a Noivern sweep. Of course, with Choice Specs he is also helpful to take Tricks and cripple defensive Pokemon.
(sprites taken from pldh.net, Noivern sprite credit Janske05)
Summary:
This team might seem very imbalanced, but that is only the product of an imbalanced metagame where the most potent offensive threats are Mega Evolutions. Each Pokemon was selected for its unique features, and plays a very particular niche on the team. It's a team that you have to practice with for a while before you can understand exactly what to do in each situation. That being said, I hope you think about it a little bit and make some comments or suggestions!
On to the Pokemon!
Gliscor @ Toxic Orb
Ability: Poison Heal
EVs: 184 Def / 252 HP / 72 Spd
Impish Nature
- Protect
- Knock Off
- Earthquake
- Toxic
This team doesn't carry a true lead, but usually Gliscor and Tyranitar do the job. Tyranitar is more of a set-up lead, and Gliscor is for scouting. This set is pretty standard, with the standard EVs to outspeed Jolly Tyranitar. One of the last members I put on the team, I found it necessary in order to deal with Lucario and other Gliscor, and to switch in on status and Knock Off. He also helps greatly against stall teams with his own Knock Off, which increases the power of Tyranitar's sandstorm.
Tyranitar @ Leftovers
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 252 SDef / 160 HP / 96 Atk
Sassy Nature
- Pursuit
- Stealth Rock
- Stone Edge
- Fire Blast
Besides setting up sand and Stealth Rock, Tyranitar serves as the only dedicated special wall on the team. His resistances are also extremely useful, helping to check Talonflame. He can be key to opening up a potential Gyarados sweep by Pursuit-trapping scarfers and other fast Pokemon.
Mandibuzz @ Leftovers
Ability: Overcoat
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 Spd
Bold Nature
- Foul Play
- Defog
- Roost
- Taunt
I believe that the current metagame requires stall teams to play two insane physical walls in order to deal with all of the crazy Megas running around. Mandibuzz serves that role admirably, countering Swords Dance sweepers as well as providing Defog support. I also lead him against Smeargle, packing Taunt, Defog, and immunity to Spore to beat almost all Smeargle sets.
Gyarados @ Gyaradosite
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 112 HP / 252 Atk / 144 Spd
Adamant Nature
- Dragon Dance
- Earthquake
- Ice Fang
- Waterfall
Mega evolving is interesting because it grants Gyarados massive bulk and a new typing, which means most electric moves are no longer OHKOs. Furthermore, Mold Breaker is really nice in beating all the Levitate, Sturdy, Storm Drain, Dry Skin, etc. Pokemon that are often switched in.
Gyarados forms the offensive center of the team and complements the stall part defensively, switching in on Mamoswine and Azumarill with Intimidate. I try to save him for the late game, when his counters have been removed and the sandstorm has faded. However, he's often needed during the midgame for things like Rotom-W and Mamoswine, which are difficult to wall using this team.
I prefer Ice Fang over Stone Edge because its gets an OHKO on Gliscor (where sometimes Waterfall does not) and is the more reliable attack for most things that resist Waterfall and Earthquake. This one is EVed to outspeed Timid Gengar (base 110); you can also run max speed, which helps in outspeeding things like Noivern, Greninja, and Alakazam, all OHKOs after a DD. The extra bulk helps in his defensive role, but then Tyranitar is needed to remove the fast Pokemon.
Magnezone @ Leftovers
Ability: Magnet Pull
EVs: 248 HP / 252 SAtk / 8 Spd
Modest Nature
- Charge Beam
- Hidden Power [Fire]
- Substitute
- Flash Cannon
His main purpose is to trap Ferrothorn. It is much more difficult to trap other Steel types, but it is possible by predicting a Choiced Scizor Bullet Punch or coming in on Skarm/Forretress setup. In addition to steel trapping, he has a crucial role checking bulky waters which cause the rest of the team a lot of trouble. Usually Magnezone plays by switching in on Ferrothorn's Stealth Rock (or less commonly, simply predicting the Ferrothorn switch). Substitute blocks the incoming Leech Seed, and then use Charge Beam (reapplying Substitute when it is broken by 2 Power Whips). Hidden Power Fire can be used if Magnezone's health is getting low. When Ferrothorn is dead, Magnezone should be around +3 Sp. A and behind a sub, ready to take out another of the opponent's Pokemon.
Noivern @ Choice Specs
Ability: Infiltrator
EVs: 252 Spd / 252 SAtk / 4 SDef
Timid Nature
IVs: 30 Atk / 30 Def
- Switcheroo
- Dragon Pulse
- Flamethrower
- Boomburst
Noivern was originally my answer to Sub Gliscor, packing HP Ice to OHKO. But he serves admirably to patch up the holes in the team, most notably Rotom-W. When Gyarados is needed in the middle game, matches often end with a Noivern sweep. Of course, with Choice Specs he is also helpful to take Tricks and cripple defensive Pokemon.
(sprites taken from pldh.net, Noivern sprite credit Janske05)
Summary:
This team might seem very imbalanced, but that is only the product of an imbalanced metagame where the most potent offensive threats are Mega Evolutions. Each Pokemon was selected for its unique features, and plays a very particular niche on the team. It's a team that you have to practice with for a while before you can understand exactly what to do in each situation. That being said, I hope you think about it a little bit and make some comments or suggestions!