OU Team: Operation Priority X

hasbeenkoed

Hi, its HasbeenKOed here, with my second RMT. After making several miserable UU teams I was starting to give up a little on competitive battling. So deciding that to beat the Retirement Reaper a step up back to OU was needed. Deciding that my old All-Priority moveset Hitmontop had been a breakthrough on the OU stage, I decided my gimmick would be Priority moves. After playtesting this did slightly calm down and became more of a Speedy Full Offensive team... but, hey, I suppose I'm still prioritising, right?

Team At A Glance (because I haven't overdone the CAPITALS yet)
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Team At A Less Of A Glance More Of A Look Now (I'll stop the caps now.)

The Suicide Lead
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Frosslass - Focus Sash - Snow Cloak
Jolly - HP 4 - Att 252 - Spe 252
Destiny Bond - Taunt - Spikes - Sucker Punch

A pokemon who has suprised me in usability, it can be a great many things, Anti-lead, Spiker and even a revenge killer. Unless I'm facing an offensive lead, 350 Speed is usually enough to get a Taunt in. So when SR comes in to play I shut it down, and because Frosslass is faster than your verage lead, Sash gives it a free turn to use Spikes. Inevitably, however, Frosslass will be beaten... *sigh*... so we have Destiny Bond to do a revenge kill. Sucker Punch is there in case I misjudge a lead which is faster than Frosslass, just a little more damage. I suppose if somehow it ended up getting switched out, Sucker Punch could revenge kill. If I were to have any criticism of Lassie, she is one of the most easily predicted leads in the game, and Bond often becomes negated by lots of switching or Will-o-wisp/Toxic.

The Speedy Offensive Sweeper
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Infernape - Life Orb - Blaze
Adamant - HP 4 - Att 252 - Spe 252
Flare Blitz - U-Turn - Thunderpunch - Fake Out

Infernape is great if just for ploughing through the ever-so-common Steels we see these days. Flare Blitz provides great STAB, with wonderful Metagross/Scizor/Bronzong breaking ability. Fake Out is the usual opening of affairs move, allowing a little damage, and scouting for a switch. Tpunch was added to try and sweep through water types (with Gyarados especially in mind) and U-turn is U-turn. The invaluable asset which makes even the most outlandish sweeper a team player of sorts. As you can probably tell it coulddo with some stat buffing... but wait till Smeargle, eh? I wish it were faster and more powerful, but, alas! Well I did my best with Adamant, but do you think Jolly is better in this scenario?

The Obstacle Remover
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Azelf - Focus Sash - Levitate
Adamant - HP 4 - Att 252 - Spe 252
Detect - Explosion - U-Turn - Stealth Rock

Azelf is that wonderful trump card any competitive team should have up it's sleeve. With its herculean attack, it seeks to end all walls, and has a Sash to take a hit, then proceed to mop up buffed-up sweepers. Detect gives it a scouting ability, U-Turn... once more is pure artistry in battle. Lastly Stealth Rock provides support which makes even the most hardened of bugs cringe with it's ability to make 2HKOs into almighty OHKOs. Switches into Earthquake well too, a value being underestimated in OU at the moment I feel...

Rapid Spinner... With Teeth
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Donphan - Life Orb - Sturdy
Adamant - Hp 252 - Att 252 - Spe 4
Earthquake - Ice Shard - Stealth Rock - Rapid Spin

Talking of Earthquake...
So at heart Donphan appears as a stereotypical Spinner. However, given the chance to have a Smeargle Baton Pass, it becomes a beast capable of murdering entire teams with just Earthquake. Admittedly, Gyarados is the main threat to Donphan, but look one above and discover my remedy (Azelf, to save youthe bother of checking). Ice Shard is another beautiful priority moves, which all rock after an SD pass. Stealth Rock completes the set, just in case the less defensive Azelf dosen't get a chance.

Oh, what a suprise, Scizor (Buff-Up Sweeper)
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Scizor - Life Orb - Technician
Adamant - HP 4 - Att 252 - Spe 252
Bullet Punch - X-Scissor - U-Turn - Swords Dance

Scizor doing what Scizor does best: hitting hard and hitting fast. No messing about, SD, Bullet Punch, bang. X-Scissor provvdes alternative damage, especially after a Smeargle pass, U-Turn is once more the team move and Swords Dance allows itself the ability to sustain oneself. What more can I say? Scizor is possibly the most popular OU sweeper, and probably the most dangerous. Bizzarely, I find many people believe they can counter it, but after a Smeargle pass, I never get to see them try.

The Baton Pass Extroadinaire
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Smeargle - Focus Sash - Own Tempo
Jolly - HP 252 - Def 4 - Spe 252
Baton Pass - Swords Dance - Rock Polish - Spore

Ah Smeargle. Your stat buffing ways are the stuff that only a great painter could reproduce (Da Vinci famous for that masterpiece "Swords Dance and Baton Pass in harmony :/). Joking aside, Smeargle can make, or brek, my team. Spore is underlined, you may notice. Why? It is the single most powerful move on my team. I can shutout anything, leading to an inevitable Rock Polish. Switch or no switch, I will then continue to Swords Dance, leading to the activation of the Sash leading to a Baton Pass. However this also leads to one of my greatest weaknesses... the lack of switch-in options.​

Which leads me quite conveniantly to my summary! It isn't as successful as my analytical touch makes it appear (I have been talented analytically all my life, and consider myself a weak battler, but an excellent advisor) and I would appreciate any help that would make my team more practical. Also if you have a question, please ask, as I wanted to say more, but time restricted me from doing so, and I'm intrigued as to where, if I di, forget to consider something I'll consider making a threat list in the near future... I hope that covers everything, so in advance, thanks for rating!​
 
How do handle Heatran? He resists just about every move on this entire team and nothing is taking Fire Blasts besides Ape, who does not even have Close Combat to kill Tran with. You could put Tyranitar in place of Donphan, since you don't really need Rapid Spin support with this team. TTar could also catch the baton pass from Smeargle and make better use of it than Donphan.
 
I find Donphan can slaughter, but I'll playtest Tyranitar and see which I prefer, and I just played a match where not having Close Combat lost me the match, so its definitely in, thanks for the advice (even if it was slightly spirit crushing). Also Tyranitar's Sand Stream messes up my heavy reliance on Focus Sash, since that's why I would need a spinner in the first place.
 
More than likely, Froslass will be dead cause it's too fragile, so TTar is a good choice.

Give Protect to Azelf for better PP.

You could also definitely use a special sweeper or two, or even a special wall. Donphan, Scizor, and Smeargle don't have that great SpD.
 
I'll have to have a look in to getting a Special something. The only reason I am so physically orientated is to try and maximise my choice of SD passes. Also its not just Frosslass (who I basically mean to die anyway, just getting out Spikes and Destiny Bond in the process) Smeargle will be ruined by Sand Stream, Azelf can take a hit, and probably needs Sash less, but as I pointed out, it allows it take a hit frome even the most buffed-up sweeper and use Explosion. I've even SD passed to it in the past, solely for getting rid of set up walls, like Snorlax, for example. But all suggestions will be tried, so thanks!

I've decided I'm going to play test Ttar and a Porygon-z then go down a different route again. Perfection is the goal! (although I'm almost sure it won't be achieved with these Pokemon...)
 
okay at the moment this team is a bit jumbled up, with roles overlapping.

I feel that leading with azelf may be best, A simple set of Stealth Rock, Zen Headbutt, Explosion, Taunt/Fire Blast with a Hasty Nature and an EV spread of 252 Atk / 252 Spe / 4 Sp. Atk will do (more special attack can be added depending on your teams relationship with skarmory, though it is unlikely to be switching in apart from predicted explosions).

At the moment, your teams seems to be a mixture of offense + baton pass, but I am doubtful on how well this would work, as that particular smeargle is countered quite easily by numerous playstyles (a large amount of teams will have phazing and/or strong priority (scizor). I find it hard to believe that you would ever get off a swords dance and a rock polish.

Thus, I believe it be more beneficial to eliminate the baton passing idea of smeargle and replace it with a core of sorts. If you want to continue with this baton passing idea, I would suggest playtesting Gliscor as it is much sturdier and may often have an easier time passing then smeargle.

Moveset/EV Changes:

Infernape could use a moveset and slight EV change. I suggest changing to a moveset of Overheat, Close Combat, Stone Edge and mach punch with an accompaning EV spread of 252 Atk / 64 Sp. Atk / 196 Speed. This allows you to keep your "priority" theme and will allow you to wall-break more effectively.

Replace U-turn on Scizor with Roost or Superpower.

Okay now, you are still quite weak to speedy fire and water types, so I suggest changing smeargle to a latias, preferrably an offensive Life Orb Set such as the following:

Latias @ Life Orb
252 Speed / 252 Special Attack / 4 HP
Draco Meteor
Surf
Thunderbolt / Hidden Power [Fire]
Recover

With Azelf covering Stealth Rock, donphan can be replaced with a scarfed rotom, which will help against gyarados (I suggest a Rotom-H and use overheat to defeat scizor and lucario). Timid nature, 252 Sp. Atk / 252 Speed / 4 Hp will suffice.

And you said you were play testing tyranitar, which I believe is a fine choice.

So in conclusion:

1) Lead with azelf
2) Tyranitar (likely CB) > frosslass
3) Latias > Smeargle
4) Infernape moveset and EV change
5) Superpower / roost > uturn on scizor
6) Scarfed Rotom > Donphan.

Hope that wasn't too many changes, good luck!
 
Thanks Panamaxis, really helpful tips that should make my team much more effective in the metagame. I do find Smeargle can Rock Polish and Swords Dance Since things usually happen like this:
Spore, opponent sleeps (I usually use it on a slow pokemon, or a wall, which usually switches out)
Rock Polish, opponent either sleeps or switches
Swords Dance (because of Rock Polish Smeargle is faster than most any opponents and Sash provides security) or Baton Pass (to avoid a priority move KO, e.g. opponent switches in Lucario), opponent attacks and activates Sash.
If still in play, uses Baton Pass.

Either way I'll playtest all/most of your suggestions, but I think if I follow your advice to the letter it won't really feel like my team... I can have good ideas... and execute them really poorly. The team I present to you now is probably an example.
 
hasbeenkoed said:
Thanks Panamaxis, really helpful tips that should make my team much more effective in the metagame. I do find Smeargle can Rock Polish and Swords Dance Since things usually happen like this:
Spore, opponent sleeps (I usually use it on a slow pokemon, or a wall, which usually switches out)
Rock Polish, opponent either sleeps or switches
Swords Dance (because of Rock Polish Smeargle is faster than most any opponents and Sash provides security) or Baton Pass (to avoid a priority move KO, e.g. opponent switches in Lucario), opponent attacks and activates Sash.
If still in play, uses Baton Pass.

Either way I'll playtest all/most of your suggestions, but I think if I follow your advice to the letter it won't really feel like my team... I can have good ideas... and execute them really poorly. The team I present to you now is probably an example.
Click to expand...

If you're still trying to pull off a passer-type pokemon, Gliscor does the exact same thing as Smeargle, except it uses Taunt/Earthquake instead of Spore; it obviously has much more of everything than Smeargle, so it will be able to do the job far better than Smeargle (without Spore, you'll obviously have to find ways to set up. Taunt prevents other pokemon from setting up or phazing/statusing you, so opportunities will present themselves). That is, if you're still going down that route.
 
Well, you could have something better than donphan as a spinner.you could have a starmie, and go a bit offensive with something like surf/rapid spin/thunderbolt/recover or ice beam.
 
azelf is a beter lead than frosglass i think, and just swap detect for taunt and it is sorted, frosglass could have substitute over taunt now, and sub works well with succer punch as it encourages the foe to attack, eases prediction and makes getting up spikes alot easier with lefties and utalises destiny bond as you don't have to worry about a broken sash.

Infernape really likes his bread and butter, close combat, I know it is predictable but it sure is useful and fake out mid game isn't needed so much as you have stealth rock to break sashed, flare blits is good, but i find most fire weak pokemon have a weaker special defence and overheat works well on scizor, skarm, forretress, metagross and bronzong is balanced etc. and it doesn't cut your hp, though you would need to change the nature, also jolly does work better, and you don't have to max out speed just bring it up to 329, make it 331 and you beat other mix apes. Fake out for scouting a switch in? that is the worst idea ever, why not use close combat on the switch in which 2hko's allot of things and with a jolly nature you can outspeed allot of things, i would go with hasty or naive though to boost overheat if you use it. Overheat also works well with u-turn and a speed boosting nature to get out and neglate the special attack drop. Stone edge is better than T-punch in my opinion still Ko's gyrados after stealth rock, and a straight ko with no intimidate. Stone edge also hits salamance who would completely wall you and does not fear donphans ice shard if he gets an indimidate off on him. Jolly infernape also outspeeds all non scarfed salamance, adamant does not outspeed a jolly salamance and all other base 100's, it is also nice to u-turn out before glyscor EQ's you. If you really want infernape to keep fake out make him a lead, but azelf is better in my opinion.

Donphan, being your only wall, could do with roar over stealth rock as you have spikes and stealth rock alread, roar works well with these entry hazards and phazes sweepers, i find ice shard kinda pathetic, but it's popular amoung other people, i prefer stone edge.

Scizor, u-turn and x-scizor it is normally best to pick ond, and put superpower in, superpower works well with u-turn to neglate the defence drop, and the attack drop can be neglated by sword dance. Though quick attack is good over the bug moves to continue a sword dance sweep, and double hit makes him a great breloom counter, after the sleep clause is active as brellom won't be able to focus punch and you get a "free" sub break, this works on all sub punches, except for dusknoir, who fears pursuit and gengar, who is very rare and useless/doesn't exist and is OHKOed by bullet punch after stealth rock (I think). brick break is an option but superpower still outdamadges it in two hits and fails to OHKO some oponents. Pursuit is good as after a sword dance no one epects a pursuit, then come in later on and pursuit there gener/alakazam/anything fearing a bullet punch.

Finally, smergle, well it's more of a suggestion for donphan, he learns sunny day it may seem odd but with all your focus sashes it can break the sand and ko that pesky tyranitar with EQ and therfore help smergle, i would also suggest a wish passing umbreon over frosglass to heel donphan and your team of sweepers with the wish, take a hit and baton pass stratagy to heal your team and reset there sashes if you bring them back up to 100% health, or a wish blish, who works well with your donpahn giving you a donphan bliss combo that has neaver been tryed before, (except by all the people who have tried it after the skarm bliss combo was banned).

as for team synergy, I don't see the need for scizor, donphan has ice shard for priority and infernape can sweep, i would remove scizor and frosglass, and put in a wishbliss/umbreon/snorlax or a dusknoir/spiritomb to provide some covergae against explosiona and rapid spin and the fighting type, or a rotom form or a specs gengar to break walls for you, or a scarf gengar to break sweepers.

Ok so I think the team needs a bit of re-arranging, but it does have good foundations and just needs tweeking here and there (and well everywhere in my opinion).


I wrote this then read panamaxis's comment, lol, who put it better than me, yea go with panamaxis's bassically, oviously you need to look into the options more than we have, but two comments sharing the same thought, i would suggesting making some of the suggested changes and latias is a great idea, with trick and choice specs can cripple all slow pokemon, mainly set up tanks (curse users are the best to trick) and they are forced to switch out if they are stuck on a useless move neglating there set up who could currently give you some trouble, i would also suggest a set up tank for your team, or a sub calm mind sweper like jirachi or mismagius.
 
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