Team Jigsaw
Introduction:
In Depth:
Roserade @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 4 Def / 252 Spd / 252 SpAtk
Timid nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Leaf Storm
- Sleep Powder
- Sludge Bomb
- Hidden Power [Ground]
Scarf Roserade has easily become my all time favorite lead, surpassing even the great Swampert. She pretty much sets the tone for the entire match with her fast sleep and hard hitting attacks. Later she serves as a makeshift switchin on waters and can quickly regain any lost momentum or keep the pressure on the opponent.
Team Support:
As I said before, she pretty much sets the tone for the match. Sleep Powder is a great move to throw around at the beginning of the match, as the use of Lum Berry leads have decreased and most teams dont have a solid Sleep fodder. STAB Leaf Storm coming off such high base Special Attack, can severely dent any non steel or grass, but the get met with a HP Ground or Sludge Bomb respectively. Roserade is rarely left to wither early in the match, as later in the match is where she can really shine due to the Scarf. Roserade also serves as a makeshift status absorber with her ability, Natural Cure.
The Ev's and nature are pretty standard. Timid with Max Speed and SpAtt for maximum damage dealt out. The ability to outrun neutral base 100s rather than the extra power of Modest hasn't been that noticable and welcome at times.
Swampert @ Leftovers
Ability: Torrent
EVs: 252 HP/228 Def/28 SAtk
Relaxed nature (+Def, -Spd)
- Stealth Rock
- Roar
- Ice Beam
- Earthquake
I think I run Pert on almost every team of mine. He's just that reliable at what he does: SR and scouting. I just love his ability to take all sort of Non Grass type moves and hit back with his great coverage he gets with just two moves. In my opinion, Pert is the best pokemon in the game.
Team Support:
Being my main switch right after I hopefully Sleep Powder something, he fulfills his first goal really quickly: SR. Stealth Rocks being ever so important now a days and pretty much implied. His second goal is to show me the opponents team and hopefully kill a thing or two in the process. Pert is also my only line of defense against Baton Passers with Roar but with Gliscor running Taunt, I normally just Ice Beam. Speaking of which, Ice Beam gets the nod over Avalanche as it hits things like Celebi and the formidable Gliscor harder. Earthquake for great coverage when paired with Ice Beam, gets the nod over Waterfall.
Relaxed to maximize Ice Beam's power and to keep the defense boosted. 252 HP and 228 Def lets me live a +1 LO Outrage most of the time and if I dont boom, Mamo. 28 SpAtt to guarentee an OHKO on Mence.
Heatran @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 4 Atk/252 Spd/252 SAtk
Naive nature (+Spd, -SDef)
- Earth Power
- Explosion
- Fire Blast
- Dragon Pulse
Ahh Heatran. Such a great addition on any OU team with his massive Special Attack and tons of resistances. He, like Roserade, help keep the pressure on the opponent. He's really the glue that holds everything together. Without him, Scizor and Lucario can walk all over me almost untouched. He's in the top 10 most used Pokemon every month for a good reason, and most player can attest to his ability to get the job done.
Team Support:
Heatran serves as the only thing keeping SD Scizor at bay. Again like Roserade, he keeps constant pressure on the opponent with STAB Fire Blasts. Earth Power give great coverage with Fire Blast letting me hit incoming Trans and play mind games with the opponent wiether I'll use FB or EP on their active Steel. Dragon Pulse gets the nod over HP Ice as Mamo and Scizor can cover any Dragon that lives it with their priorities. Explosion is one of the ways I deal with Blissey or immediate threats like Suicune.
Again, nature and EV's are standard as I want to deal as much damage as possbible while being able to take constant Uturns or boosted Espeeds, so Naive gets the nod over Hasty.
Latias @ Life Orb
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 4 Def/252 Spd/252 SAtk
Timid nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Draco Meteor
- Thunderbolt
- Surf
- Roost
Man how this thing has grown on me. The immediate power 3 attack LO Latias brings to the table is somewhat insane. I love bringing this guy in and just firing off Draco Meteors even if I know the opponent has a Steel as it puts a nice dent into them, then coming back in later to Roost off the recoil and SR damage. Sometimes I even let her get Pursuited as it gives Mamo a free switchin to reak havic. This Latias hasnt let me down yet.
Team Support:
With her massive SpDef and instant 50% recovery moves in Roost allows her to come in on most bulky waters and threaten back with either Thunderbolt or the obvious Dragon STAB, this case being Draco Meteor. Draco gets the nod over Pulse for the extra power. Surf allows me to take out those annoying annoying Fire types without resorting to using DM. Thunderbolt allows her to "beat" most Gyarados that don't run Ice Fang as well serve as the teams only safe switchin to MixApe. Overall, the team would fall apart without her.
Timid over Modest for the fact I need to outspeed Ape and the drop in power isnt that noticable. Max speed and SpAtt for hurting things and the leftover in Def to preserve a LO number at 301.
Scizor @ Life Orb
Ability: Technician
EVs: 120 HP/224 Atk/16 Spd/148 SDef
Adamant nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Bullet Punch
- U-turn
- Superpower
- Roost
My thoughts:
Oh boy how I do love this set on Scizor. When looking at which set to use on Scizor for this team (cause you know an OU team cannot be without him), I just couldnt decide on either the CB set or Uber Trapper one. I tested both and found that Pursuit hasnt been doing much as many opponents just stay in to get that extra hit on him. So I tried Superpower over it just out of whim and what do ya know, it worked like a charm. So I just kept with it and never regreted the choice.
Team Support:
The first of my two Priority revenge killers. First off, Scizor and Bullet Punch need almost no explaination as it's obvious what it's purpose is. Uturn is mostly for scouting and to keep the pressure on the opponent, as well as giving me the advantage for a switchin. Superpower is the selling point of the set for me. I can sometimes throw one out knowing the opponent will bring in a Tran or Zone they never even shown yet and OHKO them on a predicted Bullet Punch. Its also there to take out Blissey. Roost for recovery.
Now here's where I need some help. The EVs. I wanted to make him hit hard enough with BP to KO 4HP Mence after SR while still keeping bulk to switch into Gengar, Latias, etc since he's my only line against them. If they do run HP Fire, my Latias would beat them though. 16 speed is for those who run 12 speed to bea the 8 speed ones (yeah Im a bit paranoid). Hopefully you guys, the raters, have a good spread for me.
Mamoswine @ Life Orb
Ability: Snow Cloak
EVs: 252 Atk/4 Def/252 Spd
Jolly nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Earthquake
- Ice Shard
- Stone Edge
- Superpower
What a beast this little piggy is when everything is worn down. Most of the time I dont even save him for late game as he can punch holes into teams by himself. With the rise of Scizor and BP, many have forgotten how deadly Mamo is as a stand alone sweeper. The highest powered EQ in OU is nothing to laugh at alongside his deceiving speed, makes for a fun outing each match.
Team Support:
The main physical attack for the team and what a good one he is. He provides an immediate threat with his great coverage. EQ being the main attack deals off massive damage to a metagame filled with steels. Fliers want to come in and spoil the EQ fest? Fine as Stone Edge allows me to nail them. Superpower for things like Blissey and Lax as they are both a pain for this team. Ice Shard is a great asset in such an Outrageous metagame full of Dragons.
Jolly lets me beat all the way up to neutral base 90 and even Jolly Gyara before a DD. LO and Max attack for damage purposes and the rest into Def to keep the LO number at 361.
