USM OverUsed through WCoP
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Art by Bummer.
Introduction
The World Cup of Pokémon is one of the three official team tournaments on Smogon, where players from all over the world join teams according to their geographic region and battle each other across all generations of OverUsed in hopes of winning the coveted blue trophy. Almost half of the games are played in the most recent OU format, in this case Ultra Sun & Moon, which allows the metagame to evolve and develop new trends to combat current ones.
In this article, we'll take a look at common team structures seen throughout the tournament and break down different roles and ideas in those builds. Next, we'll analyze Pokémon and sets that saw a surge in usage during the tournament and their effect on the metagame, paired with replays showing said Pokémon in action.
The teams
This was a very common template in the first round of WCoP, with these exact 6 Pokémon being used a total of 3 different times, albeit with different sets. This is probably the most straightforward version and was built by TDK for US South, featuring the reliable hazard stacking core of Magic Guard Clefable and Ferrothorn, which provide amazing defensive utility for the team and are capable of setting up Stealth Rock and Spikes, respectively, multiple times in a game. Next in the lineup is Heatran, one of the most threatening wallbreakers in the tier, which provides much-needed offensive pressure and a secondary Steel-type for extra insurance against opposing Tapu Lele. This Heatran in particular is running a Grassium Z set with Solar Beam, which allows it to lure in and eliminate the likes of Gastrodon, Quagsire, and Tapu Fini in order to help the next team member, Protean Greninja. Greninja is another devastating wallbreaker, as it has the coverage to hit most of the tier for super effective damage. Equipped with a Metronome, this Greninja forgoes Spikes, which Ferrothorn already has, in favor of a fourth coverage move, rendering it near unwallable, thus making a very solid addition to the team's offensive core. Next is one of the best Mega Evolutions at this point in time, Mega Latios, which provides added defensive utility as a solid Fire-resistant Pokémon for opposing Heatran and a Ground immunity while maintaining offensive presence thanks to its high Special Attack and Speed. Rounding out the team is another top-tier threat, Choice Scarf Landorus-T, a perfect last addition as a secondary Ground immunity, an Electric immunity, and an amazing pivot thanks to Intimidate and U-turn, grabbing momentum for the team and clearing opposing hazards in a pinch with Defog. This team showcases some of the best Pokémon of its time and is a perfect example of the early WCoP metagame.
Another form of bulky offense is this Mega Alakazam team built by Eternam with a very straightforward structure. This team utilizes the popular VoltTurn core of Tapu Koko and Choice Scarf Landorus-T, which draws in walls such as Ferrothorn and Clefable for the rest of the team to take advantage of. With the dominance of balance teams in the metagame, Mega Alakazam cemented itself as one of the strongest Mega Evolutions and has found its way onto several offensive teams. Its blistering Speed also makes it an excellent revenge killer against the likes of Protean Greninja and Choice Band Kartana, which can be quite annoying to deal with for these kinds of teams. Taking a more aggressive route than most Mega Alakazam teams, Kyurem-B is the next addition as an overlooked threat that can take advantage of the VoltTurn core of Tapu Koko and Landorus-T, which draw in Grass-types that are no match for Kyurem-B's Ice Beam. Following the offensive lineup is Heatran, which continues to find itself on a lot of teams thanks to its offensive capabilities in tandem with its excellent defensive typing and utility moves such as Stealth Rock, which this team needed desperately. Finally, Assault Vest Tangrowth rounds out the team as a sturdy defensive pivot that can switch into big threats such as Ash-Greninja, Tapu Koko, and Zygarde and maintain momentum through double switches, as Regenerator allows it to stay healthy throughout the game.
This team was a common concept at the time when Mega Alakazam and Magnezone were rising in usage. This team is centered around the core of Mega Alakazam and Magnezone, which have very good offensive synergy. Mega Alakazam can punch many holes thanks to its outstanding power and can serve as a good answer to Heatran and Mega Latios. The only Pokémon that can really switch into Mega Alakazam are Steel-types such as Mega Scizor and Celesteela, which is why Magnezone is on the team. The team uses Ferrothorn to set up both Stealth Rock and Spikes, which puts a lot more pressure on common Mega Alakazam and Zygarde checks. Clefable is used as a check to Pokémon such as Zygarde, Gliscor, and Hawlucha, which the rest of the team struggles with. Furthermore, Clefable uses Calm Mind to make up for Mega Alakazam's inability to deal with most stall teams. Tornadus-T may seem like a weird choice considering it's a Defogger on a team that revolves around stacking hazards, but it provides a much-needed check to Grass-types such as Kartana and Tapu Bulu. It also synergizes very well with the last member of the team, Zygarde, which is walled by most Grass-types. Zygarde has good synergy with the rest of the team, as it appreciates Mega Alakazam and Tornadus-T's ability to put pressure on Pokémon that usually answer Zygarde, such as Tangrowth. It also synergizes well with Magnezone, which is able to remove Mega Scizor from the match. Zygarde also stops Tapu Koko from freely gaining momentum with Volt Switch whenever it comes in thanks to its Ground typing, something that the rest of the team lacks.
Although it was used a few times in the first couple rounds of the tournament, stall didn’t really stand out as an archetype until the last few SM games of the finals series between US Northeast and US West, where it was used 4 different times by both teams. This stall team was used in the most hyped-up match of the entire tournament, z0mOG vs Bro Fist, the final tiebreaker game. This team features a rather uncommon core in Zapdos and Moltres, which has not been seen much in tournaments at all despite its effectiveness, which was evidenced by Bro Fist's victory. Zapdos and Moltres together form a very powerful Pressure stall core, which revolves around the ability to stall the opposing team out of PP. Together, they cover a wide variety of threatening Pokémon, such as Mega Pinsir, Kartana, Heatran, Hawlucha, Tapu Bulu, and Mega Mawile. Mega Sableye is a staple on a lot of stall teams, as it can keep Pokémon such as Ferrothorn and Mega Tyranitar from freely setting up hazards, which pressure stall teams a lot considering how much switching is involved when using stall. Its defensive typing also lets it deal with Mega Medicham, which is usually a big threat to these teams. Next, there's Chansey, which is another stall staple; it provides necessary cleric support in Heal Bell and is a great blanket check to special attackers in general. Next up is Hippowdon, which provides Stealth Rock support for the team; this is especially useful considering how many switches stall forces. It also functions as a great check to Tyranitar, Mega Mawile, and Zygarde, which the rest of the team really struggles with. In the last slot, there's Pyukumuku, which has recently risen to stardom. Pyukumuku is the Unaware user of choice on the team, which lets it function as a check to setup sweepers; this, when combined with its access to Block, Spite, and Rest, is really what sets it apart from Quagsire and Clefable. The combination of these three moves and Unaware lets it trap and PP stall common nuisances to stall, such as Calm Mind Clefable.
Featured Pokémon
WCoP Spotlight: Mega Alakazam
- Alakazam @ Alakazite
- Ability: Magic Guard
- EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
- Modest Nature
- - Psychic
- - Focus Blast
- - Recover
- - Shadow Ball / Hidden Power Ice / Calm Mind
Mega Alakazam got blessed with a big surge in usage and viability. With Heatran and balance further rising in the USM OU metagame, a choice that deals with both is clearly a good pick. Mega Alakazam now opts for a Modest nature, increasing its firepower and ability to handle bulkier teams, and Recover is also a solid pick that lets it take on the likes of Heatran and Mega Latios consistently. For those wondering how it handles Heatran and Mega Latios, it's all courtesy of Trace, making Mega Alakazam immune to both Pokémon's main way of hitting it: Magma Storm and Earthquake, respectively. Trace also helps tremendously against Regenerator cores, featuring the likes of Toxapex and Tangrowth, as Mega Alakazam steals the ability and keeps itself healthy to constantly pivot into them. For a closer look on Mega Alakazam, let's take a look at some replays:
Quaze and suapah's match already kicks off strong with suapah switching Mega Alakazam in on Mega Latios, displaying the spoonmaster's surprising defensive capabilities. Quaze manages to get his Mega Latios on field again, only to be yet again stopped by Mega Alakazam. Then, Quaze takes advantage of Mega Alakazam's Recover to send in Hoopa-U. This ends up letting suapah send in his Landorus-T, swinging the momentum to his side by successfully pivoting in Mega Alakazam. In attempt to scout Quaze's Landorus-T's set, suapah baited Landorus-T to attack, coming to the conclusion that it most likely held a Choice Scarf. Then, the Mega Latios against Mega Alakazam situation happens again, but now the magician is healthy and free to fire off an attack against Quaze's team. Focus Blast deals heavy damage to Alomomola, and afterward, predicting an incoming switch to Hoopa-U, suapah sends in his Heatran, which is then 2HKOed by Hyperspace Fury. Magearna comes in to set up on Hoopa-U, which makes Quaze switch in his Heatran in an attempt to stop it. Unfortunately for suapah, Heatran ends up dodging Magearna's Focus Blast. Mega Alakazam then comes in attempting to pick up some momentum; it connects the Focus Blast that Magearna didn't and takes down Heatran. After all, Quaze's team really lacks a switch-in to Mega Alakazam. From there, suapah's gameplay comes down to pressuring Hoopa-U and Landorus-T to win with Mega Alakazam. In order to prevent Hoopa-U from coming in for free, suapah sends in Landorus-T as Quaze attempts to pivot Hoopa-U into a Wish from Alomomola. Some switching around leads again to the Mega Latios and Mega Alakazam stance from early-game. Quaze pivots in Hoopa-U once more to try to keep Mega Alakazam at bay and spread damage on the remainder of suapah's squad. Hoopa-U nearly 2HKOes Tangrowth, and in an excellent play to grab back momentum, suapah sends in Mega Alakazam while expecting Hoopa-U to be switched out; after all, Quaze needs it to break past suapah's squad and take on Mega Alakazam. This forces Quaze to let Tapu Bulu drop to the spoonmaster. Hoopa-U then comes in, and suapah sacrifices his Landorus-T to the Hoopa-U's Hyperspace Fury, which is a wise decision to avoid losing to Alomomola in the long run. Tangrowth is picked by suapah, but considering how important Hoopa-U is for Quaze, he once again preserves it in lieu of Mega Latios, which is awarded a free Roost but lets Mega Alakazam come in. Mega Latios is finally knocked out by Mega Alakazam's Hidden Power Ice; Hoopa-U couldn't come in as it would get knocked out by Hidden Power Ice into Focus Blast. Hoopa-U then came in, but suapah's best bet at that point was actually staying in and risking the roll. Factoring the chance of hitting and the chance of a critical hit, there was roughly a 40% chance for suapah's Mega Alakazam to do enough damage. Thankfully for the Canadian player, Mega Alakazam was indeed motivated and took down its worst enemy throughout the match. From there, the "Regenerating" duo of Mega Alakazam and Tangrowth could take on Quaze's two remaining Pokémon and seal the game.
Both Lopunny Kicks and robjr decide to bring Mega Alakazam to this match; in fact, their teams are very similar, with a whopping four Pokémon in common. The game already starts spicy, with Greninja getting up a layer of Spikes and Tangrowth revealing that Lopunny Kicks's Landorus-T is a Z-Move variant. In attempt to stop the Landorus-T, robjr sends in his own Landorus-T, only to get hit by a U-turn, letting Greninja in once again. After a couple successive uses of U-turn from Lopunny Kicks, Alakazam gets to come in on robjr's Heatran in an attempt to pressure robjr's Mega Alakazam-weak team. Mega Alakazam goes for a Calm Mind as Heatran uses Stealth Rock; as robjr has no reliable switch-in to Mega Alakazam, he is forced to let Heatran drop. Robjr's Choice Scarf Landorus-T then comes in to revenge kill Mega Alakazam. In an attempt to pivot into robjr's Greninja, Lopunny Kicks ends up letting his own Greninja get knocked out. Lopunny Kicks's Mega Alakazam then comes in once again, and expecting a Shadow Ball from robjr's Mega Alakazam, Landorus-T comes in on an unfortunate critical hit. However, it does grab the momentum back; after all, Lopunny Kicks also didn't have an answer to Mega Alakazam, as his own Mega Alakazam lost to robjr's one. A couple of turns later, robjr manages to get his Mega Alakazam in again, eventually leading to Lopunny Kicks sacrificing his Landorus-T, leaving the Italian player defenseless against the opposing Mega Alakazam. Tapu Bulu could still take a hit, though, so it forced Mega Alakazam out. Lopunny Kicks then goes to make an excellent play; Heatran would give Greninja or Mega Alakazam yet again another free switch—or so robjr thought, as Heatran actually wasn't a standard set. Greninja got blasted by a Nature Power under Grassy Terrain. Tapu Koko then comes in to revenge kill Heatran, but Lopunny Kicks sacrifices Magnezone instead. Tapu Bulu then came in to force it out and reactivate the Grassy Terrain, which could enable Heatran to also knock out robjr's Mega Alakazam. Heatran then came in and nearly knocked out Mega Alakazam with an Earth Power. Why Lopunny Kicks didn't go for Nature Power there is beyond me, though, as Mega Alakazam barely survived the Earth Power. From there Tapu Bulu had to be sacrificed to robjr's Mega Alakazam, and then robjr could win with his Choice Scarf Landorus-T.
WCoP Spotlight: Tapu Bulu
- Tapu Bulu @ Leftovers / Grassium Z
- Ability: Grassy Surge
- EVs: 224 HP / 216 SpD / 68 Spe
- Careful Nature
- - Swords Dance
- - Horn Leech
- - Superpower
- - Synthesis
A new innovative Tapu Bulu set got a major burst in usage as people displayed the value that Synthesis + Swords Dance Tapu Bulu had. With HP investment, Tapu Bulu can comfortably switch into Pokémon such as Tapu Koko and Battle Bond Greninja much like the Assault Vest set, due to its ability to recover back its health using Synthesis. Unlike the Assault Vest set, however, Tapu Bulu also has wallbreaking potential with Swords Dance, especially if coupled with a Grassium Z, helping it punch holes through teams. Swords Dance also allows Tapu Bulu to check Pokémon such as Calm Mind Clefable and Calm Mind non-Acid Armor Reuniculus. Let's take a closer look at Swords Dance + Synthesis Tapu Bulu.
This Tapu Bulu set was first intoduced by Empo in his match against ima. After a few turns where both players scope out the opposing team, Empo is able to bring his Tapu Bulu in on Clefable, which cannot threaten Tapu Bulu. When ima tries to threaten it out using his Heatran, Empo takes advantage of another benefit of having a much bulkier set on this Tapu Bulu; it is able to take a Magma Storm from Heatran and OHKO back, removing a large roadblock to Tapu Bulu. Empo expects Clefable to use Wish against Landorus-T, and he takes this chance to heal Tapu Bulu, with Synthesis coming as a surprise to ima. After a Clefable vs Clefable matchup, Empo is able to pass a Wish to his Tapu Bulu, as Clefable can do little to threaten it and soon gets major damage off on Zygarde with Tapu Bulu's Bloom Doom. Ima struggles to deal with this Tapu Bulu set; he tries pivoting for Intimidate in vain, and instead, Tapu Bulu heavily damages his Choice Scarf Landorus-T and nabs Swords Dance boosts on Clefable. Even ima's Mega Latios is unable to 2HKO Tapu Bulu, and it was sacrificed to try to chip Tapu Bulu. However, Empo again uses Wish Clefable in a Clefable vs Clefable matchup to keep Tapu Bulu healthy. This time, Tapu Bulu freely boosts against Tangrowth and dismantles the rest of ima's team, KOing all 6 Pokémon in a 6-0!
Lopunny Kicks also used this set in his game against Zamrock. He brings his Tapu Bulu onto Tornadus-T in an aggressive switch after his Heatran was severely weakened, attempting to predict a U-turn. However, the heavy bulk investment means that even though Tornadus-T can hit it super effectively, Tapu Bulu survives any hit and can threaten Tornadus-T with Bloom Doom to open up holes for Kartana. Zamrock's Tornadus-T uses Knock Off, anticipating a double switch or Horn Leech, while Lopunny Kicks's Tapu Bulu uses Horn Leech, anticipating a switch himself. This time, Zamrock goes into Ferrothorn and correctly predicts a Bloom Doom from Tapu Bulu. Lopunny Kicks gets a fortunate freeze and double switches into Tapu Bulu on Mega Slowbro. Tapu Bulu gets a Swords Dance boost as Zamrock goes into Tornadus-T, and he is forced to sacrifice it and go into Excadrill to force Tapu Bulu out. However, Lopunny Kicks is able to pick off Tyranitar and Excadrill with Kartana and eventually gets a boost with Tapu Bulu on Ferrothorn, which seals the game, as Tapu Bulu KOes Slowbro and Zamrock forfeits, knowing it will clean up the remaining two Pokémon
WCoP Spotlight: Heatran
- Heatran @ Steelium Z
- Ability: Flash Fire
- EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
- Modest Nature
- - Flash Cannon
- - Lava Plume / Magma Storm
- - Earth Power
- - Stealth Rock / Taunt
Heatran has cemented itself as one of the best Pokémon in the tier in the last few months. Thanks to its wide offensive movepool backed up by its respectable 130 base Special Attack, Heatran is able to threaten common walls such as Celesteela, Tangrowth, and Toxapex. One of the most important aspects of Heatran is its ability to tweak its set in order to defeat certain checks and counters. For example, the popularity of Mega Latios, Mega Alakazam, and Gliscor as Heatran countermeasures in the current metagame led to Heatran often opting to run Steelium Z with a Modest nature, which allows it to OHKO the aforementioned Pokémon after Stealth Rock damage. Here's a replay from the finals series where Heatran can be seen in action!
Going into this game, US West found itself in the lead with a 3-2 score, which meant that a win from z0mOG would put them two wins away from the trophy. The match starts with both players leading Greninja and immediately switching in fear of an opposing Choice Scarf U-turn. With Heatran on the field against Jirachi, bro fist uses this as an opportunity to set up Stealth Rock to pressure the opposing team. A few turns later, bro fist manages to get his Ferrothorn in safely to set up two layers of Spikes before getting trapped by Magnezone, which, in turn, got its Choice Scarf removed by Knock Off. After a couple turns of pivoting around with Magnezone's Volt Switch and Greninja's U-turn, z0mOG gets Tapu Fini in against Gliscor and lets it boost with Swords Dance in exchange of getting rid of the hazards. He then proceeds to sacrifice his Landorus-T to an Ice Fang from Gliscor in order to get Kyurem-B onto the field. bro fist decides to save his Gliscor and switch into Mega Scizor, which would heal the Ice Beam damage with Roost as z0mOG confidently sends in Magnezone to trap it. However, Scizor reveals to be a fast variant with Superpower, which allows bro fist to knock out Magnezone and shift the momentum in his favor. Next, he gets Heatran back on the field against Jirachi and sets up Stealth Rock again as z0mOG sends out Tapu Fini to clear it with Defog. This is where Steelium Z comes into play, allowing Heatran to knock out Tapu Fini with Corkscrew Crash and keep the hazards up. With only three Pokémon remaining, z0mOG attempts to somehow pull off a comeback with Kyurem-B, but a healthy Mega Scizor walls it comfortably and knocks it out with Bullet Punch. Despite a late Ice Beam freeze on Heatran, bro fist manages to clean up the last two Pokémon with Lava Plume and take the victory for US Northeast.
Conclusion
The World Cup of Pokémon is now over, with US Northeast taking the trophy home after winning a finals that came down to the very last game. Certain metagame trends have been established and will continue to develop going into the future, with balance breakers such as Mega Alakazam and Heatran sitting at the top and stall having been used by both US Northeast and US West to secure the most important games of their series. Make sure to keep up with the OLT playoffs, which will be starting in a few weeks, and the upcoming Smogon Snake Draft if you want to watch more top-level matches as the metagame continues to develop. Who knows what will be top tier next!
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