Anti-meta, kinda. (Revised!)

Rubyiris

I put about 4 hours into making the team, and several more hours playing. Something is horribly wrong with the team, apparently, as I've only won 2 games. =\

Infernape (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Blaze
EVs: 64 Atk/252 Spd/192 SAtk
Naive nature (+Spd, -SDef)
- Earthquake
- Fire Blast
- Grass Knot
- Close Combat
---

I'm proud of myself here. This counters nearly every one of the top leads, and a significant portion of the top 30 most used pokemon.

Lead-wise, I cannot under any circumstance beat out an Aerodactyl Lead. Azelf may cause problems if it decides to attack rather than set up stealth rock.

Close Combat may be a better choice than Fake Out. With Focus Blast as my only other fighting move, I'm thinking about dropping Fake Out.

The Ivs, and move spread allows to OHKO MOST of the most commonly used pokemon.

I'm debating on dropping LO for Focus Sash. I'm also debating on dropping Fake Out for Close Combat. On closer inspection, Fake Out seems terrible on a frail LO user.

I like the idea of a offensive Focus Sash user. I read a war story a while back, and it inspired me, but I'm not too sure I should try it with this team.

I dropped Fake Out for Close Combat, just for testing. So far, no major differences have been noticed, since I've never had the need to Close Combat once, over the last two days I've been battling on Standard Ladder.

Porygon2 @ Leftovers
Ability: Trace
EVs: 228 HP/188 Def/92 SAtk
Bold nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Toxic
- Thunderbolt
- Ice Beam
- Recover
---

Blue Ace's set, after dropping the SPD Evs for Def. The set functions as a pseudo-wall, and my premier answer to most common Dragon-types. It's obviously not the best answer to Latias, or Kingdra, however.

There's been alot of discussion whether or not to run Discharge over Thunder Bolt, but I don't see the point, honestly.

Gengar (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 4 HP/252 Spd/252 SAtk
Timid nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Shadow Ball
- Psychic
- Thunder Bolt
- Focus Blast
---

Though frail, Gengar covers several weaknesses the team has on both the defensive, and offensive planes. Decent coverage with its move set, and covers several types my team is weak to.

Gengar is one of my premier sweepers, despite his frailty. My old set used to run Energy Ball over Thunder Bolt, but I changed it due to better typing.

Weavile (M) @ Choice Band
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 4 HP/252 Atk/252 Spd
Jolly nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Brick Break
- Ice Shard
- Pursuit
- Night Slash
---

Replacement for Tyranitar, and has already proven significantly better from testing. Brick Break makes up the second fighting attack, but I'm still debating on dropping Fake Out for Close Combat, but it also defeats the point of using Infernape as an anti-lead.

Swampert (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Torrent
EVs: 252 HP/252 Def/4 SDef
Relaxed nature (+Def, -Spd)
- Roar
- Stealth Rock
- Surf
- Earthquake
---

My old team had Gliscor, and Tentacruel, both set to be bulky/defensive. I mostly ran them only because I've never used them in D/P/P, but upon closer inspection, Swampert seemed like a better choice.

Infernape's biggest threats are faster leads, Aerodactyl, and Gliscor, which Swampert often counters.

Swampert acts as both my Phaser, and my SR user, as well as obviously being a bulky water. The Evs are set purely to defense, since I'm more worried about his logevity, than his ability to hit hard. Due to his bulkiness, he'll get in enough roars/attacks to spread around damage. I'm not too worried about whether or not I KO/OHKO anything other than Aerodactyl/Gliscor.

Gyarados (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 156 HP/108 Atk/100 Def/144 Spd
Adamant nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Dragon Dance
- Waterfall
- Taunt
- Stone Edge
---

Gyarados has been added over Jirachi, as per suggestions. He hasn't been -TOO- useful, since I haven't seen a SINGLE Scizor in two full days. He did win me a game versus an OU adaption of a BP-Mew team. Clutch victory against a Rock Polish-passed Heracross. I also DD-swept a Hail Stall team. =3
 
You probably should put focus sash on your ape because it will save you from sash users like aero. You should take out earthquake for Close Combat because it provides similar coverage with STAB. It really helps against Mamo leads.
 
Honestly i recomend sash on ape and life orb on your weavile because while weavile is a great sweeper it doesnt have the power like azumarill to come in use any move with a choice band and do alot of damage. also i recommend ice punch or aerial ace over pursuit because pursuit is a great move the requires alot of predictions to be effective and it appears that you are going to have a few problems with fighting types if you lose gengar you'll want to have something to hit him for super effective damage

jarachi can run protect if your worried about surviving throw up your wish
and protect to make sure you heal.

not to mention you appeal to be missing a special attack absorber
 
Hmmm...I sense serious trouble with Blissey on this team: without Close Combat on Infernape, you won't be able to get past it as you don't have any stat-uppers. I recommend it over Earthquake.

All in all, I think you should be able to beat most offensive teams if you play your cards right. But I don't see you beating ANY defensive teams unless you come up with an answer to the walls of OU.

I recommend Bulky Gyarados (right off the smogon page, I'm kinda sick of loading Shoddybattle to export the sets). Taunt lets you laugh in Blissey's face and come in on a Skarmory, killing it if not setting up on it as only BulkyGyara can do (you need a Bulky or a Resttalk set or Skarm will win).

I recommend you put it in over Gengar or Jirachi (I prefer over Jirachi, as it isn't realy helping you out much). Watch out for typing issues, but Swampert covers the Rock and Electric weaknesses of Gyarados and you aren't Electric or Rock weak anyways with or without Gyarados.

Also get Close Combat on Infernape, and the trio of Infernape, Weavile, and Gyarados should be able to get past Skarmory and rape a stall team, while Porygon2, Swampert, and Weavile check the threats from an aggressive team.
 
Weavile is threatened by Scizor with Bullet Punch. Gengar is threatened by Scizor by Bullet Punch AND Pursuit. Porygon2 is threatened by Superpower.

Sound familiar?

I'm [Twilight], I've seen your team here too. Believe me, CB Scizor is the first Scizor that comes to mind and I make a switch accordingly. I rarely see the SD set, but any set it is, Bulky Gyara will do you justice. Not only can it set up on Scizor, it also Taunts walls. Skarmory can't phaze you and Blissey just... cries, as the above person said.

Personally, I would put it over Weavile. Scizor's too dominant, and Bullet Punch forces it out. With SR up Weavile won't be switching in too much. Okay, Gyarados also has an SR weakness. But, it can Taunt walls and set up on Scizor. That's a definite boon.

Don't forget, the off Infernape or Lucario may pack priority moves as well. Oh, and Gyarados sets up on them with not much problem either, save for the rare Thunderpunch Infernape.

Well... personally, I'm just not a fan of Weavile. Priority pretty much ignores his famed speed stat, AND it has an SR weakness. Because it has a CB it'll get in an attack and switch out. They'll send in a Scizor and they'll force you out.

Swampert can force IT out, but Roar can only go so far. It won't get rid of it.

Long story short, I personally prefer Bulky Gyara over Weavile. Also, what can take Special attacks? Porygon2 can't take everything, Jirachi's is only meh, and Swampert's bulkiness can only go so far, and it might have been worn down to many physical hits, while the rest are frail.

So, something should go over Jirachi. Latias maybe?
 
Heres an idea which is another great check for scizor, but as a lead. Aksi a anti meta lead.

I just 6-0d with it, any it counters so many leads in OU, however would be a horrible lead for UU.

Poliwrath @ Leftovers
Ability: Damp
Nature: Impish
EVs: 252 HP / 24 Atk / 4 Def / 216 SpD / 12 Spe
-Substitute
-Bulk Up
-Focus Punch / Brick Break (screens)
-Waterfall / Ice Punch (better coverage)

With Damp it easily covers bronzong, heatran and metagross, as well as other suicide leads, substitute also blocks out status from bronzong. Focus Punch is for raw STAB power from behind a sub, and waterfall is also a nifty STAB, but this leaves dragons to come in easy, so ice punch is another option.

With the given evs, it outspeeds metagross lead, and after a bulk up, earthquake will not break a substitute leaving you fee to bulk up more, and he cant explode thanks to Damp. The 252 HP / 4 Def, is why metagross cant break sub after +1 Def. Aerodactyl just gets screwd, taking SE from waterfall / ice punch. Even azelf leads you go nicely, taking only 233 and 274 damage! From psychic. Most will either taunt or SR first, allowing you to use waterfall for the 3HKO, however on the expectant psychic, you can switch to weavile and pursuit azelf.

So again, lets look at the leads he covers:
metagross, heatran, bronzong, swampert (no roar), azelf (with weavile), infernape, gyarados (both gyaradoses moves are NE), aerodactyl, pretty sweet if you ask me. I would also like to point out, that a scizor 252 Atk BP does not break sub.
 
Immortal Bushi said:
You probably should put focus sash on your ape because it will save you from sash users like aero. You should take out earthquake for Close Combat because it provides similar coverage with STAB. It really helps against Mamo leads.
Click to expand...

Keeping Infernape against Aerodactyl, sash or not, is a TERRIBLE idea.

Swampert is pretty much the best Aero counter.

Thanks everyone for the input. I'll adjust my team, and respond accordingly when I get more time to more closely read into the input.
 
Rubyiris said:
I put about 4 hours into making the team, and several more hours playing. Something is horribly wrong with the team, apparently, as I've only won 2 games. =\

Infernape (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Blaze
EVs: 64 Atk/252 Spd/192 SAtk
Naive nature (+Spd, -SDef)
- Earthquake
- Fire Blast
- Grass Knot
- Fake Out
---
First of all you need to put a focus sash on this, and i would recomend encore over fake out, as it helps you setup better and makes the opponent switch out making you able to scout, i would also go with SR on a lead nape and with close combat over EQ

I'm proud of myself here. This counters nearly every one of the top leads, and a significant portion of the top 30 most used pokemon.

Lead-wise, I cannot under any circumstance beat out an Aerodactyl Lead. Azelf may cause problems if it decides to attack rather than set up stealth rock.

Close Combat may be a better choice than Fake Out. With Focus Blast as my only other fighting move, I'm thinking about dropping Fake Out.

The Ivs, and move spread allows to OHKO MOST of the most commonly used pokemon.

I'm debating on dropping LO for Focus Sash. I'm also debating on dropping Fake Out for Close Combat. On closer inspection, Fake Out seems terrible on a frail LO user.

I like the idea of a offensive Focus Sash user. I read a war story a while back, and it inspired me, but I'm not too sure I should try it with this team.

Porygon2 @ Leftovers
Ability: Trace
EVs: 228 HP/188 Def/92 SAtk
Bold nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Toxic
- Thunderbolt
- Ice Beam
- Recover
---
Pretty standard I guess I am not sure waht the 92 spA evs are for unless you are trying to ensure an OHKO on a mence ?

Blue Ace's set, after dropping the SPD Evs for Def. The set functions as a pseudo-wall, and my premier answer to most common Dragon-types. It's obviously not the best answer to Latias, or Kingdra, however.

There's been alot of discussion whether or not to run Discharge over Thunder Bolt, but I don't see the point, honestly.

Gengar (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 4 HP/252 Spd/252 SAtk
Timid nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Shadow Ball
- Psychic
- Thunder Bolt
- Focus Blast
---
I would go for explosion over psychic, psychic has pretty much the same coverage as shadowball anyways.

Though frail, Gengar covers several weaknesses the team has on both the defensive, and offensive planes. Decent coverage with its move set, and covers several types my team is weak to.

Gengar is one of my premier sweepers, despite his frailty. My old set used to run Energy Ball over Thunder Bolt, but I changed it due to better typing.

Weavile (M) @ Choice Band
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 4 HP/252 Atk/252 Spd
Jolly nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Brick Break
- Ice Shard
- Pursuit
- Night Slash
---
I would honestly just completly replace this with a CB scizor, look on the smogon analysis for one that would prefer this team, I would go with one invested in some spD for latias.

Replacement for Tyranitar, and has already proven significantly better from testing. Brick Break makes up the second fighting attack, but I'm still debating on dropping Fake Out for Close Combat, but it also defeats the point of using Infernape as an anti-lead.

Swampert (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Torrent
EVs: 252 HP/252 Def/4 SDef
Relaxed nature (+Def, -Spd)
- Roar
- Stealth Rock
- Surf
- Earthquake
---
I would recommend an EV spread of 252 HP / 220def / 36 to add a little bit more bulk to it from both sides of the spectrum, since i recomended SR on your nape, I would go with Ice beam / protect / eq / roar on pert. Ice beam has way more coverage then surf and hits everything eq doesnt.

My old team had Gliscor, and Tentacruel, both set to be bulky/defensive. I mostly ran them only because I've never used them in D/P/P, but upon closer inspection, Swampert seemed like a better choice.

Infernape's biggest threats are faster leads, Aerodactyl, and Gliscor, which Swampert often counters.

Swampert acts as both my Phaser, and my SR user, as well as obviously being a bulky water. The Evs are set purely to defense, since I'm more worried about his logevity, than his ability to hit hard. Due to his bulkiness, he'll get in enough roars/attacks to spread around damage. I'm not too worried about whether or not I KO/OHKO anything other than Aerodactyl/Gliscor.

Jirachi @ Leftovers
Ability: Serene Grace
EVs: 4 HP/252 Atk/252 Spd
Jolly nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- U-turn
- Wish
- Iron Head
- Fire Punch
---
I dont really see this being bulky enough to get out wish passes out but if its working out then I would keep it

Wish support. My team has several frail pokemon, and this helps me switch in with more leasure.

It's not an attacking set, but I wasn't sure what to do with the EVs, and I'd appreciate it if someone were to help me out with the EVs. I'm more worried about Jirachi surviving for a long period of time rather than attacking, since most of the rest of the team is offensive-orientated.
Click to expand...

Overall honestly I think the team would be a lot better with scizor over weavile.
 
I really wish people would stop suggesting I use the common leadape.

Suicide leads are garbage, unless it's name is Electrode, or Aerodactyl.

Keeping my pokemon alive is infinitely more important than setting up stealth rocks.

Due to the decrease in sash users on Shoddy, offensive leads, such as this, or a Scarfnape variant I worked on work EXTREMELY well in the current metagame. Infernape, having an incredibly versatile move set makes a perfect offensive lead, which often allows me to cripple their team early on.

I don't think Scizor will do better than Weavile. If I omit Weavile, I'll pretty much immediately have a glaring ghost weakness, just from my first observation. Gengar, and Rotom-A would cause all sorts of problems, unless I manage to kill either off immediately with a lucky prediction/crit.

I'm sorry to say, but from my experience, pretty much anyone who says to take a look at the smogon strategydex pretty much doesn't know what they're talking about, and are simply going by personal preference/bad judgment.

I always hope for critique, and fixes, but I hope to recieve input from players who can think on their own, without having to resorting to copy/pasting mediocre builds from the strategydex.

*Further edit*

I finally took the time to pay more close attention to the feedback I received, and I plan on going with Gyarados over Jirachi.

Also; I have to say that Porygon2 is much more durable than you're all giving it credit for. Actually using it would give you all a better outlook on exactly how good it is versus offensive teams.
 
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