I'm new to smogon, so I'm not sure how this team will go down, or if I've formatted it right, so give me tips if I'm wrong.
My teams always comprises of the same base model, because my brain can't think of an alternative. It's usually: Special anti-lead, Steel Wall, Physical Wall, Slow Bulky Physical Sweeper, Raikou and Choice Scarf Physical Sweeper. This team is no exception.
While I know that I might get criticized for this view, I don't like using top-10 OU pokemon (although Starmie, Bronzong and Hera are still pretty dangerous). I like to set myself apart a little bit, and not using these threats gives me a slight advantage I think, in the fact that no-one sees my pokemon coming, despite them still functioning just as well as any OU Pokemon one could throw at me.
Use this team on WiFi a lot. I'm part of a 'competitive battling community' (dunno exactly how Smogon feels about these) over on the IRC network Purplesurge, so I face good battlers, and this team wins battles. Whether that be my doing or the teams is yet to be known.
Don't judge this team as a mixed team, don't judge it as an OU team with a few gimmicks thrown into it, judge it as an OU team, and rate it accordingly, like you would with the other teams around.
Of course, I don't think drastic changes are needed, but thoughts?
May as well jump right into it.
EIMRATS (Starmie) @ Choice Specs
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 4 HP/252 SpA/252 Spe
Timid Nature (+Spe, -Atk)
- Surf
- Grass Knot
- Ice Beam
- Trick
Leading off with Starmie here. Can wreak havoc with those that underestimate it or predict wrongly. I like attacking on the whole, and I don't like having a non-attacking lead for some reason. I also wanted a lead that beats Infernape, and Starmie fits that bill pretty well.
Moveset is fairly straight forward. Surf absolutely rips apart a lot of leads, and it packs a punch without the Specs as well. I thought about Thunderbolt where Grass Knot is, but I like the fact I can absolutely destroy Swampert. Ice Beam is a good back-up move, and while I don't find myself using it that much, it makes sense to have it. Trick is the (not-so) secret weapon. A lot of leads that annoy me can be stopped through Trick alone. Roserade trying to set up T-Spikes? Trick (although, it does make it dangerous). Gyarados trying to Taunt me/set up? T-Spikes.
Also can help later in a battle. Say I take Roserade's Focus Sash, giving it Specs and locking it into T-Spikes (purely theoretical). Knowing it will most likely switch, I can turn around and Trick the counter that comes in, possibly dehabilitating two pokemon. Bad example, but you know what I mean. Is a very useful move. I thought about Recover in place of a move, but I didn't want to lose coverage, nor my trump card.
Let's see how I deal with the top leads...
Azelf: I don't think I struggle with Azelf. Surf 2HKO's, can also Trick Azelf, but I don't want to give it more SpA power.
Aerodactly: Surf 2HKO's, can also Trick, but Taunt. SR will go up, but Aero usually does that anyway. Personally, I don't mind SR that much.
Swampert: Grass Knot OHKO's. Many see this and switch out, but I think by making it switch I've still gained the upper hand by forcing his entry hazard setter out. Again, can also Trick
Metagross: Surf 2HKO's, but I like Tricking Metagrosses. Forces a switch, which I can use to trick something else. Will usually choose to set up SR first term, so won't be KO'ed.
Jirachi: U-turn scares me. If I do stay in, there is the possibility Jirachi tries to Trick, so Surf could work in my favour in that case (2HKO with Specs, 3HKO without).
Infernape: Ape's covered
Machamp: Another that scares me. Trick debilitates it, but Payback OHKO's. More often than not, I will switch into Weezing. Could pack Psychic, but no other uses.
Ninjask: Never see these things, but is a threat. Can't stop it setting up, and X-Scissor dents me bad. Have to Surf/switch.
Roserade: Personally, I think I should be able to take Roserade. Trick gives me the sash, and hopefully Roserade tries to sleep me/set up T-Spikes first turn. If I do get hit with a Leaf Storm though, Ice Beam doesn't OHKO without Specs, so it can trouble me.
Tyranitar: Scary lead. Pursuit destroys if I try to switch, more often than not I predict a Pursuit and stay in, only to be Crunched. Surf doesn't OHKO without Specs. Usually requires better prediction than my opponent to win this one.
Doesn't stop the opponent's set up, but can take it out if I predict right. Maybe not the most effective lead, but works for me, and I like it.
DaWongGong (Bronzong) @ Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252HP/86Atk/80Def/92/SpD
Sassy Nature (+SpD, -Spe)
0 Spe IV's
-Gyro Ball
-Earthquake
-Stealth Rock
-Explosion
The Steel wall. Standard set, but does everything I want it to. Just adds a defensive clutch to the side, and walls a heap of things. Dragon Switch-in, just brilliant. Can turn speed against a sweeper, and sets up my entry hazard brilliantly.
Has good partnership with Weezing, as well as the rest of the team, and can also go forward and attack against weaker/faster opponents. Not much more to say about this guy
PurpleHaze (Weezing) @ Black Sludge/Leftovers (forget which one I have, think it's the Sludge)
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 164HP/252Def/94SpA
Bold nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Flamethrower
- Thunderbolt
- Pain Split
- Will-O-Wisp
Firstly, I need help with the EV's here. What do I aim for Special Attack wise? I want Weezing to be actually able to hit something for decent damage. I don't subscribe to using WoW and Fire Blast on the same set, as I don't want to have two risks accuracy wise. Thoughts? I had 94 for a reason, but I forgot that reason.
Onto the pokemon. Excellent duo with Bronzong, and can take a lot of what Bronzong can't. Levitate helps a bit, and helps me to force things out. Main Scizor counter, and does it very well. Gyarados is beaten handily, and WoW really helps me nerf attackers. Most physical attackers hate burns, so that works in my favour. Pain Split provides recovery, although risky recovery at that.
Heatran and Infernape are pokemon that neither touches, and the next pokemon tries to rectify this problem.
Poli Force (Poliwrath) @ Leftovers
Ability: Water Absorb
EVs: 252HP/252Atk/4Spe
Adamant nature (+Atk, -SpA)
- Waterfall
- Focus Punch
- Substitute
- Bulk Up
Poliwrath is a smokey pick. Unlikely to cause a fuss, and won't get much more than a laugh at the start of a battle, but is able to pack a solid punch if I set it up properly. Plan is to force something out, Substitute, and set up from there. Unfortunately, Bulk Up isn't overly useful early game (which is when I have to use this to counter threats), as usually a fast special threat (Latias...) comes in to ruin my fun. Waterfall and Focus Punch maximise my attacking potential, at the expense of hit-and-run attacking, if that is feasible with Poliwrath.
Mainly used as a switch-in more than anything, and the weakest link in my team chain, but provides those vital fire, rock, dark, ice, water and steel resistances (did I forget any?) which allows me to switch in on threats such as Tyranitar, Choice Scarf Heatran, Metagross (T-Punch could hurt...), Scizor and Vaporeon lacking HP Electric, force them out, and hope to hurt things with Focus Punch.
I am thinking of using a Bulky Water set, but then I can't attack for scrub. I like it this way, but I'm not sure if it's alright.
Nodaa (Raikou) @ Life Orb
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 252SpA/4SpD/252Spe
Timid nature (+Spe, -Atk)
- Thunderbolt
- Shadow Ball
- HP Grass
- Calm Mind
Can I start this off by saying this thing can absolutely rip things a new one? Terrific pokemon, and everything I could ask for from my main special force. You might ask why I use this over Jolteon? Two main reasons:
1) Bulk
2) Calm Mind
Bulk helps me get in, and while it's not meant to take hits, it makes that initial switch-in, in case I need it, just a bit easier.
Second is Calm Mind. While Jolteon has Charge Beam, that doesn't help with Jolty's SpD, nor does it work against Ground types. One CM followed by a HP Grass sinks Swampert, and a one CM T-Bolt sinks many, many threats in OU.
CM isn't even needed most of the time. Raikou's sheer power makes it ideal for hit-and-run kills if needed, and it a force that cannot be underestimated.
Raikou is just a terrific sweeper, everything I could want.
HURRacross (Heracross) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Guts
EVs: 4HP/252Atk/252Spe
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SpA)
- Close Combat
- Megahorn
- Night Slash
- Stone Edge
Last, but most certainly not least, Heracross. Late game sweeper. More often than not wraps a battle up. Quick, fast, often doesn't need to change moves, perfect.
Close Combat hits mega-hard, and late game when Scizor is eliminated and nothing is faster, it is almost unbearable. Megahorn is also useful, although has lost me a battle once with it's shaky accuracy. Still mega powerful.
Night Slash is weak, but helps if I switch into a Dusknoir WoW, and Stone Edge rounds out the four.
Heracross is the perfect late-game sweeper, and the role it plays is absolutely vital to the team.
Would you guys be able to pass judgement on my team? It seems a little lacking (most likely due to the members I selected), but it does win battles. I would like to see what improvements could be made, because I am bad at picking faults in things. Thanks a bunch guys, and if any changes need to be made to my RMT, don't hesitate to tell me.
If you want a link to see a couple youtube battles with my team (albeit with a Hitmontop in place of Poliwrath) just say so.
