Tacho, the unbelievable! (Super offensive team)

[Tacho]

Before I get into the actual team, I'd like to give a big thank you to all the people who were concerned about my "death". I was hit by a car and hospitalized for two weeks, and aside from an injured arm, I should be fine.

Alright, this is a team I've been using for a while now. It actually isn't my team, but it was made by an apprentice of my friend Plus (TEzeon). As far as achievements go, my record on the ladder with this team is roughly 150W-20L, give or take (I'm too lazy to make the leaderboard myself, but a friend of mine named Scimjara made #6 using this team). I also consider this to be the best team I've ever used since Garchomp was banned. In DPPTHGSS, offensive teams seem to have an advantage over stall teams so I've always preferred to use them. Now, without further delay, here is the team at a glance:

And here is a more in depth look:

Metagross [Dark Hidora] @ Lum Berry
220 HP/ 252 Atk/ 38 Speed
Nature: Adamant
Ability: Clear body
Attacks:
Meteor Mash
Bullet Punch
Earthquake
Explosion

Metagross has and always will be one of my favorite pokemon. It really shines as a lead, giving me an early offensive advantage against all but Heatran, Skarmory and Infernape. The moveset is pretty simple; Meteor mash for STAB and an attack boost every now and then, Bullet punch for priority after I get rid of the opponent's focus sash (assuming they had one), Earthquake for other Metagross and Jirachi leads, and Explosion for Swampert and Hippowdon. Exploding on Swampert and Hippowdon before they manage to set up stealth rocks is so advantageous since I disrupt the flow of their play style and also kill off what is most likely their only stealth rocker. This lead tends to score a good number of 2 for 1's (beat a suicide lead, then explode on the switch in) so it is really good at gaining an offensive momentum.

Starmie [Aqua Patrol] @ Choice Scarf
6 HP/ 252 SP.Atk/ 252 Speed
Nature: Modest
Ability: Natural cure
Attacks:
Hydro Pump
Ice Beam
Thunderbolt
Trick

Ah, Starmie. Another great pokemon. Ever since Scarf Tyranitar gained popularity, a normal Starmie fears being trapped and killed by pursuit. With choice scarf, I can hit Tyranitar first, and 2hko him with Hydro pump. That isn't the reason for using choice scarf on this Starmie, though. This Starmie is a great way to check all of the biggest threats in case of emergency. Metagross got in an agility? Trick it or finish it off with Hydro pump assuming it's in range. Gyarados got in a DD? Finish it with Thunderbolt. Suicune/Jirachi setting up calm minds? Trick em. Sub Empoleon setting up on you? Get the revenge kill with Thunderbolt. I could go on, but there really is no need. Starmie also has some nice synergy with Metagross, so yeah...

Dragonite [Destiny Dragon] @ Lum Berry
6 HP/ 252 Atk/ 252 Speed
Nature: Adamant
Ability: Inner focus
Attacks:
Outrage
Earthquake
Fire Punch
Dragon Dance

Dragonite may be a worse Salamence, but if you don't prepare for him, he will still rip your team in half. I usually keep this guy saved up for mid-late game, where he can really do some serious damage. It's ridiculously easy to get in a DD, and after that you just attack until they have nothing left or are too crippled to fight back. If for some reason you can't manage to DD, you can just use Outrage knowing that the lum berry will cure your confusion. Between Outrage, Earthquake and Fire Punch, you hit everything for neutral, so have fun.

Gengar [Skeleton Vise] @ Black Sludge
6 HP/ 252 SP.Atk/ 252 Speed
Nature: Timid
Ability: Levitate
Attacks:
Shadow Ball
Focus Blast
Hypnosis
Substitute

Welcome to the best special sweeper in OU. This thing is an absolute terror. So many opportunities to switch in, put something to sleep, get behind a sub, and then go to work. I can't even stress how difficult it is to counter this thing. Some may argue that Hypnosis is too unreliable, but for those willing to take the risk, you will reap some huge benefits.

Tyranitar [Cursed Totem] @ Choice Band
44 HP/ 252 Atk/ 214 Speed
Nature: Adamant
Ability: Sandstream
Attacks:
Crunch
Stone Edge
Earthquake
Aqua Tail

CB Tyranitar. Not much to say really. Crunch and Stone Edge for STAB, and from 604 attack, good luck trying to defend yourself from that. Earthquake is very important for taking on grounded steels like CM Jirachi and Metagross switch ins. It's also really good against other Tyranitars and Heatrans. As for Aqua Tail, it beats on Gliscor and Hippowdon, the prime switch ins for Tyranitar. I don't really like Pursuit since it turns Tyranitar into set up fodder anytime I use it, and you really can't let that happen when using offensive teams like this.

Magnezone [Slash Charger] @ Leftovers
252 HP/ 138 SP.Atk/ 120 Speed
Nature: Rash
Ability: Magnet pull
Attacks:
Thunderbolt
Hidden Power [ice]
Explosion
Substitute

Last but not least, we have Magnezone. Here is my steel type, so don't say I have no dragon resists! Anyway, STAB Thunderbolt isn't the easiest thing to switch into if you don't have Blissey or a pokemon immune to electric attacks, and Blissey gets exploded on. Hidden Power ice because I am more afraid of Dragonite/Gliscor/Flygon than I am of Swampert.

Final Notes: The main selling point to this team is the synergy. The weaknesses of each member is covered very nicely by it's team mates, but it doesn't end there. Each team mate has a way of taking advantage of the opponent on every switch in, in some way or form. For instance, whatever breaks Gengar's subs ends up getting subbed on by Magnezone, and vice versa. If my opponent thinks they can stop my Dragonite after it gets in a dance by hitting it with Scizor's bullet punch, I just switch to Magnezone and turn the tables on them. Using these tactics, I can pretty much force my opponent to attack in a certain way and then take advantage of that attack, gaining offensive momentum. IMO, this is how bulky offense should be played.

Props go to Plus for being cool and chinese, TEzeon for being a genius team builder and chinese, me for writing this, surviving that car accident and being 25% chinese, and finally, Seph, for training me and being half chinese.

 

[Tacho]

Offensive Threats:

Azelf - Metagross lead pretty much destroys this guy. Worst case scenario is that it's a CB lead and blows me up, which really doesn't matter. If it's late game, I can outrun it with Starmie and I also have Tyranitar.

Breloom - Tyranitar or Magnezone take the sleep since they are the slowest on the team and most likely to be useless later on. After that, Gengar or Dragonite can handle him.

Dragonite - This guy can be a bit tricky. Sometimes the DD versions have Extremespeed, so Starmie can't just Ice beam it. It has a hard time setting up against me though. Between Tyranitar, Magnezone, Gengar, and my own Dragonite, I can usually play around the LO variants.

Empoleon - If it somehow manages to set up, Starmie will be faster and can finish it off.

Flygon - The combination of Magnezone and Gengar really make this guy cry. No matter what he chooses to do, I can sub on it with one of those two. Starmie is also faster and has Ice beam.

Gengar - Assuming I still have Metagross, I can break the sub with Bullet punch and then finish it off with Starmie. If not, Magnezone survives Focus blast and breaks the sub for Starmie to kill/scare it off. I could also break the sub with Starmie and then go to Dragonite, who can set up a DD without fear of being OHKO'd and then go for a sweep of my own. Worst case scenario, Starmie can break the sub and then I go for the speed tie with my own Gengar.

Gyarados - Starmie.

Heatran - Tyranitar, Dragonite, Starmie.

Infernape - Against leads, I switch to Tyranitar to get rid of their sash and then go to Gengar to take the CC and go for some hypnosub action. Or I could just go to Dragonite and get free dances. Non leads get beat up by Starmie.

Jirachi - The single best OU guys, I'm serious. Magnezone for non CM variants, and Tyranitar for the CM variants. If Tyranitar is gone, then Starmie can trick it.

Jolteon - Tyranitar for the most part, and sometimes Magnezone. If I need to revenge it, then Starmie.

Kingdra - Starmie outruns it and can trick it if I need to, maybe even finish it off if it's been weakened enough. I can also force it to outrage and then go to Magnezone.

Lucario - Gengar beats all of them except the ones with Bullet punch, which are rare. Starmie can take a +2 Extremespeed if it's healthy enough, and then finish it with Hydro pump. If it doesn't have ice punch, it can't OHKO Dragonite either. Agility Lucario is another story though...

Machamp - There are a few ways to get this guy. Most of the time it's a lead, and so Metagross beats it down at the start of the game, but if it isn't, Gengar can switch into a Dynamicpunch and then Magnezone takes the Payback. From there it's pretty much a mental battle, but if I really think it's that big a deal I can just explode on it. The resttalk versions without Stone edge or Ice punch get set up on by Dragonite.

Magnezone - Tyranitar. Even if it has Magnet rise, Stone edge does like 40ish.

Mamoswine - Gengar can switch into an Earthquake and survive an Ice shard, and also finish it with Focus blast. Starmie can also finish it off pretty easily.

Metagross - I am usually faster than the common lead Metagross's, and some of them don't even use Earthquake, so my lead wins. As for late game, Starmie is my main check for agility Metagross, having the ability to trick it or finish it off depending on how healthy it is.

Rotom - Tyranitar. Magnezone can also sub on it and beat it if it doesn't have Overheat or Rest.

Scizor - Lol.

Shaymin - Gengar makes a nice switch in, since it's faster and is immune to Earth power. He also resists grass moves and can put it to sleep. Most of them don't use HP ice either, so Dragonite.

Starmie - My Starmie is faster. Tyranitar and Magnezone can't be OHKO'd either, so they can revenge if they are at full health.

Suicune - This thing can be a real pain late game. Magnezone can come in on the bulkier versions, Thunderbolt once, and then Explode. I can then follow up with Starmie to finish it off once it's crippled. If Magnezone is gone, Starmie can trick it. It doesn't set up too safely against me though, for the most part.

Tyranitar - I think Groudon is like the only viable counter to CB Tyranitar. Anyway, it isn't very fast so Gengar can usually finish it off with Focus blast or Hypnosis if I think it might survive. Scarf variants are like the worst thing to use against my team since I can abuse it being stuck to a pitifully weak move and then set up accordingly with either Gengar, Dragonite or Magnezone.

Zapdos - Tyranitar.

(Threat list taken from one of Phil's RMT's and then I filled in the rest.)

 

[Bartman101]

Well I think this team needs Stelath Rock somewhere, plus try runnig Pain Split over Hypnosis on Gengar with a Life Orb, and also Jolly over adamant on Dragnite, while you loose power, it allows you to outspeed and KO Jolteon after a Single DD, as well as outspeeding other base 130s like Aerodactyl and Crobat. Perhaps also try a more offensive Magnezone, with max, or higher special attack, as well as 216 speed, which outspeeds something important, but i've forgotten it, but it misght not be good for this team, i'm not too sure tbh....

anyways, Hope I helped

~Bartman101

 

[Shimrit As]

Hi,

Really impressive team, looks solid and the use of underrated/"outdated" sets is always a plus. Firstly, it seems like you're gearing for a Dragonite sweep here. However, you don't really have a way around scarfers like Rotom, Heatran and Flygon - you have adequate switch-ins but no way to get rid of them (apart from a surprise hit with Scarf Starmie). May I suggest you reconsider Pursuit on CBTar over Aqua Tail - it has a good chance to KO a Flygon when it tries to U-turn on you, eliminates Scarf Rotom easily and actually hits Heatran for 1/3 of it's health. LO Starmie is also a major bitch to the team and it can keep switching and out, not fearing anything from Tyranitar. Gliscor and Hippowdon aren't major threats to be honest, most can't touch Gengar or Dragonite and they can set-up Substitute or Dragon Dance respectively on them (Dragonite can bluff Draco Meteor).

Secondly, you might want to try Extremespeed over Fire Punch on Dragonite. Fire Punch hits steels like Skarmory and Forretress which you'll be better off trapping with Magnezone, and the coverage lost is pretty negligable. However with the priority you can have another answer to theats like Jolteon, Starmie and +1 Gyarados which are all pretty problematic. I've been using offensive DDNite with Extremespeed and it's a very good fit.

Thirdly, SD Scizor is a big problem. Magnezone is running too little speed - I know a +SpA nature is nice for getting a kill on specially defensive Forretress and Skarmory but you're getting outsped by Scizor (KO with fighting move) and even some Skarmory which aim for 200+ to beat Rest Talk Gyarados (extra layer of Spikes). For that reason, consider going Naive with max speed, the power loss is harsh I admit but better that than getting swept by the Scizor you were supposed to beat.

Finally, Metagross really wants Stealth Rock. The coverage of Earthquake isn't quite worth giving up a moveslot for it, since offensive teams like yours really need that hazard support. I would guess that you're running from stuff like Infernape and Heatran anyway - both beat you without Occa berry and you have adequate switch-ins for them. The only thing you miss out on is Metagross but they can't touch you either (or you can get your rocks up and boom). Really really try Stealth Rock over Earthquake.

That's it, I hope I helped. (And congrats on the team again.) All the best :]

 

[Scimjara]

Well I think this team needs Stelath Rock somewhere, plus try runnig Pain Split over Hypnosis on Gengar with a Life Orb, and also Jolly over adamant on Dragnite, while you loose power, it allows you to outspeed and KO Jolteon after a Single DD, as well as outspeeding other base 130s like Aerodactyl and Crobat. Perhaps also try a more offensive Magnezone, with max, or higher special attack, as well as 216 speed, which outspeeds something important, but i've forgotten it, but it misght not be good for this team, i'm not too sure tbh....

anyways, Hope I helped

~Bartman101

This is one of the better teams I've used during the gen 4 meta game after Salamence ban simply because of Gengar's unorthodox set. Just like you said if you take a risk you will be highly rewarded. All that I have to say for this team is that I've been using Pursuit on Tyranitar just to trap pesky Rotom etc; I do have something to say to you Bartman101! Sorry to say it, but your but most of what you said was rather ill-advised to be honest. Instead of stating how Pain Split on Gengar would be "better or even more helpful to his team" which it clearly isn't. Hypnosis even with 60% accuracy has still the greater odds of hitting rather then missing. Hypnosis would provide instant Substitute's allowing Gengar to pursue it's offensive demolition while being behind a Substitute. Hypnosis Gengar can potentially beat everything in OU which Pain Split does not, such as Skarmory, Forretress, and choice scarfers Choice Scarfers like Flygon. LO Gengar isn't OHKOing it and can always switch back in , Hypno Gar also can fight off support and even Scarf Jirachi, Bulky Waters such as Milotic and Vaporeon who have high SpD, Suicune, Machamp with Lum Berry, and even Blissey at times, just like Pain Split. Hypnosis also prevents something such as bulky DD Dragonite which easily absorbs LO Shadow Ball and can roost of the damage. This also fares better against Scizor if it uses Bullet Punch while being under a Substitute and putting it to sleep setting up another Substitute while 2hko' with Focus Blast which Pain Split Gengar cannot. As for Pain Split which would completely ruin the point and is generally used to play against Blissey more easily which it still fails to beat at times unless it receives the SpD drop from Focus Blast. Is there any reason to make his team less unorthodox and effective if it isn't helping the cause? Overall Sub/Hypno Gengar is a "clutch" pokemon while there is a risk to using it it's always better to have the risk then not having it at all and losing. This is merely an intelligent player using unorthodox sets, there is no need to fall back into the standard rut with them as it is blatantly obvious that he is trying to use minimal creativity in the OU meta game, which in the long run actually benefits his team as a whole.

 

[HD]

no i believe it

after seeing this team in action, there isn't much that really gives it trouble. the only thing i don't like is hypnosis, but as scim mentioned, it has a greater chance to hit then not.

 

[TEzeon]

Nice. You made it look really good. I'm glad you finally got around to making this. Anyway, my opinion is probably biased, but I do agree that this is a great team. Definitely consider using Stealth rock on Metagross and pursuit on Tyranitar. They really help, for the reasons mentioned above.

 

[Seph]

Solid team Tacho I can tell you put a lot of though into this one. My only complaint is that the text using to describe your reasoning for your metagross lead is in light blue, something that imo is a must change.

 

[Plus]

Seconding sephs comment, mentioning in hot pink would probably be better imo!

Anyways although I don't like using this team I'm aware it's good, I suggest using Scizor over Magnezone and using Heatran over Metagross. Also I recommend using Plus instead of Destiny Dragon because he can whoop ass even after Bombazar gets summoned and attacks like shit. Bold. Word.

==

hokay! joke aside and you told me to post here and comment so I'll talk anyways, Hypnosis is actually a nice move on Gengar if you aren't anal about accuracy and look at pokemon in a way of risk and reward, where I feel perfectly comfortable taking that risk of missing for the ability to beat pokemon that Gengar normally has a tough time beating in the given amount of hits it can usually land.

There isn't much to change so long as you keep the Scarfstar long enough so you dont get fucked by Agilicario or something of that sort. Pursuit isn't that terrible of a move really, hit and run Scarf Rotom do tend to do a number on Tyranitar if you repeatedly switch it in (same goes with magnezone who can't even kill it in one hit), so Pursuit is my preference on that slot over Aqua Tail. (CM Jirachi dicks with the team more without EQ)

EDIT thanks for the mention and i'm glad you enjoy us chinese folk nigga, good luck with your arm and i hope you dont need to get it amputated. rest up nig

props to daniel "chin sun" lin for this fun team, I enjoyed playing against it and using it, and scimjara definitely enjoyed topping the leaderboard with it as well.

 

[Tacho]

Hi,

Really impressive team, looks solid and the use of underrated/"outdated" sets is always a plus. Firstly, it seems like you're gearing for a Dragonite sweep here. However, you don't really have a way around scarfers like Rotom, Heatran and Flygon - you have adequate switch-ins but no way to get rid of them (apart from a surprise hit with Scarf Starmie). May I suggest you reconsider Pursuit on CBTar over Aqua Tail - it has a good chance to KO a Flygon when it tries to U-turn on you, eliminates Scarf Rotom easily and actually hits Heatran for 1/3 of it's health. LO Starmie is also a major bitch to the team and it can keep switching and out, not fearing anything from Tyranitar. Gliscor and Hippowdon aren't major threats to be honest, most can't touch Gengar or Dragonite and they can set-up Substitute or Dragon Dance respectively on them (Dragonite can bluff Draco Meteor).

Secondly, you might want to try Extremespeed over Fire Punch on Dragonite. Fire Punch hits steels like Skarmory and Forretress which you'll be better off trapping with Magnezone, and the coverage lost is pretty negligable. However with the priority you can have another answer to theats like Jolteon, Starmie and +1 Gyarados which are all pretty problematic. I've been using offensive DDNite with Extremespeed and it's a very good fit.

Thirdly, SD Scizor is a big problem. Magnezone is running too little speed - I know a +SpA nature is nice for getting a kill on specially defensive Forretress and Skarmory but you're getting outsped by Scizor (KO with fighting move) and even some Skarmory which aim for 200+ to beat Rest Talk Gyarados (extra layer of Spikes). For that reason, consider going Naive with max speed, the power loss is harsh I admit but better that than getting swept by the Scizor you were supposed to beat.

Finally, Metagross really wants Stealth Rock. The coverage of Earthquake isn't quite worth giving up a moveslot for it, since offensive teams like yours really need that hazard support. I would guess that you're running from stuff like Infernape and Heatran anyway - both beat you without Occa berry and you have adequate switch-ins for them. The only thing you miss out on is Metagross but they can't touch you either (or you can get your rocks up and boom). Really really try Stealth Rock over Earthquake.

That's it, I hope I helped. (And congrats on the team again.) All the best :]

Well, the point of this team is not sweeping with Dragonite, its simply to win by any means necessary. If I need to send Dragonite in early to soften some things up and pave the way for my other guys to sweep, I won't hesitate to do so. For that reason, I think I will keep fire punch, since it just gives him the ability to hit more things. Especially since Skarmory can be annoyingly hard to kill at times.

The pursuit vs aqua tail thing on CB Tyranitar is a really difficult decision, but I think I will try pursuit for a few games and compare the two. You did bring up a good point with the ability to trap and finish off scarfers like Rotom and Flygon.

It is kind of important to the success of this team that Metagross has earthquake, even if it is only for other Metagross leads (and the occasional Jirachi). All I need to do is net one kill with Metagross and then explode for a quick 2 for 1 and a nice offensive start.

As for Magnezone, I think I really might try using more speed. Scizor can be deadly to this team, especially the rare swords dancing LO variants.

Thanks for the rate.