Welcome to the Breakdown

[OmgWtfBoom]

Welcome to the Breakdown

Useless Intro I'm only posting because everyone else does:

Hey everyone, this is my new competitive team. While I am new to Smogon, I am not new to Competitive Battling in general, so eh. This is a bulky offense team based around the offensive capabilities of Raikou, with Suicune as backup. I get entry hazards from Nidoking and Swampert, a handy revenge killer with Hydreigon, and an underrated status absorber in Heracross. Overall I have a few problems, mainly Excadrill and Cloyster.

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The Hazards
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Nidoking (M) @ Focus Sash

Trait: Sheer Force
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Toxic Spikes
- Thunderbolt
- Ice Beam
- Earth Power


Moves:Toxic Spikes are for wearing down threats such as Chansey, Blissey, Vaporeon, and many other walls. I only ever set up one pair as since this team is more offensive then it is defensive, I need the automatic 12%. Thunderbolt and Ice Beam have awesome offensive synergy together, using the infamous 'Boltbeam' which hits almost every common Pokémon neutrally. Earth Power is Nidoking's best Special STAB as it takes out the bulky steel types that are very common in the current OU metagame.

Contributions: Nidoking has many uses as a lead, having an immunity to Sandstorm allowing it to take out the (common) Weather Starters, Ninetales, Politoed, Hippowdon and Tyranitar. Toxic Spikes are invaluable to my team, allowing me to slowly kill the pokemon that wall Suicune and Raikou.


- and +s:
+ Sandstorm immunity
+ Thunder Wave and Toxic immunity
+ Awesome Coverage
+ Toxic Spikes
- Taunt Bait
- Poor defensive typing despite the Toxic/Thunder Wave immunities
- No hax on TBolt/Ice Beam

Synergy:
Water: Hydreigon and Suicune
Ice: Suicune
Ground: Hydreigon/Heracross
Psychic: Hydreigon
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Swampert (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Torrent
EVs: 248 HP / 216 Def / 44 SDef

Relaxed Nature (+Def, -Spd)

- Earthquake
- Avalanche
- Roar
- Stealth Rock
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Moves: Earthquake is the standard STAB, hitting many steels and fire types effectively. Avalance is for flying types such as Zapdos, Salamence, and especially Gliscor. Roar is for phazing and racking up Stealth Rock damage along with the bonus effect of scouting the opponent's team. Stealth Rock is for entry damage, allowing many kills I would not normally get. Steath Rock also hits the flying types that evade my Toxic Spikes giving me a distinct advantage.
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Contributions: Swampert is an invaluable wall giving me a solid Sandstorm check as well as Stealth Rock damage. While many pokemon think Swampert is outclassed by Quagsire this generation, Quagsire lacks Stealth Rock, making Swampert the superior option for me. Swampert also has superior offensive stats allowing me to kill Poison Heal Gliscor.
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- and +s:
+ Stealth Rock
+ Roar
+ Great defensive typing
+ Good bulk
+ Thunder Wave and Sandstorm immunity
- Taunt bait
- Easily countered by Ferrothorn and Forretress
- Can be worn down by repeated special attacks

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Synergy:
Grass: Hydreigon and Heracross
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Sleeping Revenge
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Hydreigon (M) @ Choice Scarf
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Flamethrower
- Earth Power
- Draco Meteor
- U-turn
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Moves: Hydreigon is awesome. Seriously. STAB Draco Meteor kills a lot of pokemon after stealth rock while Flamethrower/Earth Power kill the steels it doesn't kill. U-Turn is for scouting and really helps the team keep the momentum. Since they'll probably switch from Hydreigon I can have the switch advantage, allowing my pokemon to set up or kill it.

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Contributions: Hydreigon can revenge kill Salamence, Gyarados, Haxorus, Infernape (without priority) Lucario, and pretty much anything that doesn't boost up special defense (eg. Calm Mind/Quiver Dance). Late Game he can switch in and kill whatever he needs to, and is basically an awesome addition to the team.
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- and +s:
+ Speed
+ Probably best offensive STAB typing ever
+ Immunity to Psychic (Hah Espeon!)
- Weak to Thunder Wave
- Mach Punch weak
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Synergy:
Ice: Suicune
Fighting: Nidoking and Heracross
Bug: Nidoking and Heracross

Dragon: Nothing, though I usually just revenge kill dragons with Hydreigon anyway (and Swampert can beat most physical ones)
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Heracross (M) @ Leftovers Trait: Guts
EVs: 252 HP / 40 Atk / 216 SDef
Careful Nature (+SDef, -SAtk)
- Rest
- Sleep Talk
- Megahorn
- Brick Break


Moves: Rest and Sleep Talk allow me to take any status the opponent throws at me, and shrug them off while gaining all my HP back. Megahorn and Brick Break are standard STABs.
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Contributions: The reason I am running Guts Heracross is because it is probably the best status absorber currently in existance. While most people expect a Scarfed Moxie Heracross, I am running a Guts Heracross. I basically use the Bulk Up Mono EV spead from the 4th Gen as it allows me to survive many hits, for example 2 Heat Waves from Zapdos. I might change it to Adamant nature or give him more attack EVs, as currently he is unable to OHKO Excadrill even after Stealth Rock, which is a huge problem.
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- and +s:
+ Guts
+ STAB only resisted by Heracross, Toxicroak and Chandeleure (who is broken with Shadow Tag anyway)
+ Good bulk
+ Good check for many pokémon
+ Blissey is a fat bitch
+ Chansey is a small bitch
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- Sleep Talk is unpredictable
- ST Chandeleure bait
- Taunt bait
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Synergy:
Fire: Swampert, Hydreigon and Suicune
Flying: Raikou
Psychic: Hydreigon
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The Calm Storm
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Suicune @ Leftovers
Trait: Water Absorb
EVs: 32 HP / 252 SAtk / 224 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Calm Mind
- Substitute
- Surf
- Ice Beam
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Moves: Calm Mind is for gaining boosts, obviously. Substitute is for blocking status and in my opinion is probably way better then Rest could ever be/ Surf is for the general STAB and Ice Beam is for coverage.
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Contributions:I used to have Gyarados here, but got rid of it as it was not bulky enough. Suicune has been way better for me recently as it sets up on bulky ground types such as Hippowdon or Donphan which annoy Raikou. Suicune also baits in bulky waters, allowing Raikou to set up. Additionally, Suicune also weakens Blissey and Chansey allowing Raikou to kill them later if Suicune doesn't manage to.
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- and +s:
+ Awesome STAB
+ Ice Beam is great against grass types
+ More speed than the standard Breloom, allowing Suicune to kill it with Ice Beam.
+ Bait for bulky waters
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- Wild Bolt is now common on quite a few pokemon (eg. Victini)

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Synergy:
Grass: Hydreigon and Heracross
Electric: Nidoking, Swampert, Hydreigon and Raikou

Raikou @ Leftovers
Trait: Volt Absorb
EVs: 128 HP / 76 Def / 52 SAtk / 252 Spd
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Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
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- Calm Mind
- Substitute
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- Thunderbolt
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- Hidden Power [Grass]
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Moves: Same as Suicune really, Calm Mind and Substitute are for late game sweeps while Thunderbolt provides an awesome STAB move. Hidden Power [Grass] is for Swampert and Quagsire who would otherwise kill me. If I'm feeling risky I switch Raikou into Poison Heal Gliscor with Protect after something dies. I can fake it pretending it is HP Ice and they usually switch giving me the advantage.​

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Contributions: lolcontributions. This is the Pokémon I based the team around. Raikou is probably the most underrated Gen IV threat at the moment. After a few Calm Mind boosts he can kill a lot of pokemon, effectively meaning game over. Raikou is definetly my new favourite Pokémon and needs more respect.​

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- and +s:
+ Calm Mind
+ Sets up on bulky waters
+ Beats stall
+ Epic move coverage
+ It's a fucking Electric Lion
- Revenge killes by Sandstorm Excadrill

Synergy:
Ground: Hydreigon and Heracross

Thanks for Reading! :D
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[OmgWtfBoom]

Offensive Threats

Fine Problematic Holy Shit.

Aerodactyl - Swampert destroys it. Suicune can take a few hits also.

Archeops - Swampert destroys it. Suicune can take a few hits also.

Azelf - Hydreigon can switch into anything really and kill it/U-Turn. Suicune and Swampert can take non-Grass Knot sets.

Bisharp - Swampert and Heracross

Breloom - Heracross destroys it. Suicune can bait it in and kill with Ice Beam.

Chandelure - Hydreigon can revenge kill it, Suicune and Raikou can set up on it.

Cloyster - Leads are problems. Either I lose half my team, or I lose Nidoking and any Toxic Spikes.

Cobalion - Swampert or Suicune

Conkeldurr - Heracross can beat it. Swampert can handle it if needed, while Suicune can stall it out.

Darmanitan - Swampert and Suicune counter it. Hydreigon can revenge kill.

Deoxys-S - As a lead, Nidoking TSpikes once then 2HKOs with Earth Power. Hydreigon revenge kills.

Dragonite - Leads are killed by Ice Beam (when Multi-Scale is not in play). Anything else is countered by Swampert and revenge killed by Hydreigon.

Druddigon - Lol this thing sucks. Swampert kills it and Hydreigon revenge kills.

Eelektross - Hydreigon can switch in and kill it, Raikou sets up.

Electivire - Swampert counters it. Hydreigon can revenge kill it.

Emboar - Swampert and Suicune.

Empoleon - Swampert beats physical sets, Hydreigon revenge kills and can switch into anything not Ice Beam.

Espeon - Hydreigon can switch in and U-Turn/Draco Meteor it.

Escavalier - Swampert, Suicune, and Heracross

Excadrill - Swampert can deal with it, but after a +2 Earthquake gets left in the yellow. After a bit of residual damage Heracross can kill it though.

Garchomp - Swampert can counter it. Hydreigon revenge kills.

Genesect - Bit of a problem, it depends on who is in at the time, or more precisely, what stat is boosted.

Gengar - Usually dies from clever switching with Heracross and Hydreigon. Suicune can beat it 1v1 too.

Golurk - Swampert and Heracross.

Gyarados - Swampert can phaze it out. Hydreigon can revenge kill.

Haxorus - Same sa Gyarados really, except with an Avalanche weakness.

Heatran - Swampert and Suicune can counter it, and Hydreigon can switch into it too.

Heracross - Swampert counters it, and my Heracross can stall it out provided it isn't a booster. Hydreigon can revenge kill most variants.

Hydreigon - Suicune can switch in and proceed to set up.

Infernape - Suicune and Swampert handle non-Grass Knot variants. Hydreigon can kill it also. Raikou is faster and Thunderbolts it to oblivion.

Jirachi - Swampert counters, and Heracross can be used as a check too. Calm Mind sets are beaten by Raikou.

Jolteon - Raikou sets up Calm Minds on it, and Hydreigon can switch into whatever to kill.

Keldeo - Hydreigon can revenge kill any non-cmers, Calm Minders are bait for Raikou though.

Kingdra - Swampert beats physical variants, Suicune beats special variants. Can be trouble in rain.

Krookodile - Swampert, Heracross, and Suicune. Hydreigon is a good check too.

Kyurem - Suicune is a great check for this.

Landorus - Suicune can take a +2 Earthquake and kill it, as can Swampert.

Latios - Revenge killed by Hydreigon. Calm Mind variants are bitches though and usually mean Good Game..

Lilligant - Heracross takes sleep, Hydreigon kills.

Lucario - Swampert and Heracross.

Machamp - Heracross and Swampert can take it, confusion sucks though.

Magnezone - Hydreigon and Raikou.

Mamoswine - Swampert and Suicune can kill it with ease.

Meloetta-S - Swampert can kill it, Hydreigon revenge kills. Set up bait for Suicune

Meloetta-V - Same as above, Suicune can usually get a calm mind off before killing with Surf.

Metagross - Swampert and Suicune.

Mienshao - Swampert and Heracross.

Reuniclus - GG unless it uses Psychic over Psyshock, in which case I can occasionally beat it with my Calm Minders

Roserade - Heracross is an awesome counter. Hydreigon works too.

Salamence - Hydreigon revenge kills, Swampert takes on Dragon Dancers. Suicune can live a +1 Outrage and sets up on DMeteor too, so it's a good check.

Sawsbuck - In sun I usually beat it with Heracross, out of sun Hydreigon can kill with Flamethrower.

Scizor - Swampert and Suicune.

Scrafty - Swampert and Heracross.

Seismitoad - Suicune and Heracross

Serperior - Heracross can take choiced ones. Hydreigon revenge kills. Not an impossible threat, but goddamn annoying if played ocrrectly.

Shaymin - same as above tbh.

Sigilyph - Heracross can take the burn, Subbed Up Suicune/Raikou can take them out too.

Smeargle - Heracross, definetly. If it takes the sleep then Hydreigon can kill it.

Starmie - Suicune, Raikou, and Hydreigon

Terakion - Swampert Heracross and Suicune can all check it.

Thundurus - Raikou, definetly. Hydreigon can revenge kill Nasty Plotters, as they never run TWave.

Togekiss - Raikou, fuck yeah. Suicune can sub on the twave and set up too.

Tornadus - Raikou beats it. Specs Hurricane hurts though.

Tyranitar - Swampert Suicune and Heracross.

Venusaur - Heracross can take it, but in sun it's a bitch. I end up having to let Heracross take the sleep then killing it with Hydreigon.

Victini - Hydreigon Suicune and Swampert can all check it rather well.

Virizion - Heracross checks it and Hydreigon revenge kills it.

Volcarona - Swampert can phaze it out, Suicune can take a hit or two.

Weavile - Swampert and Suicune

Zoroark - Hydreigon revenge kills.

 

[OmgWtfBoom]

Defensive Threats

Alomomola - Heracross destroys it, Raikou and Suicune can set up provided they can avoid Toxic.

Blissey - Heracross.

Bronzong - Heracross can take it. Swampert walls most variants too. Suicune can set up also.

Celebi - Heracross. Hydreigon can take on CM variants.

Chansey - Heracross.

Deoxys-D - Heracross, although Suicune sets up.

Cofagrigus - Heracross and Suicune.

Crustle - Swampert.

Dusclops - Heracross.

Ferrothorn - Heracross.

Forretress - Heracross, although Hydreigon can do well too.

Garbodor - Swampert.

Gigalith - Swampert.

Gliscor - Swampert and Heracross.

Hippowdon - Swampert and Suicune. Heracross can deal with it too.

Jellicent - Raikou beats it if it can avoid toxic, Heracross can take Toxic too lol.

Latias - Shit. Calm Mind variants destroy me.

Mandibuzz - Swampert, Raikou, Heracross, and Suicune.

Murkrow - Same as Mandibuzz.

Ninetales - Hydreigon.

Politoed - Set up bait for Suicune.

Porygon2 - Heracross.

Rotom-H - Swampert and Raikou.

Rotom-W - Swampert and Raikou.

Scolipede - Swampert and Heracross.

Skarmory - Nidoking, Suicune, Raikou, and Hydreigon.

Snorlax - Heracross.

Suicune - Raikou.

Swampert - Suicune and Heracross.

Tentacruel - Swampert and Heracross. Nidoking has to get rid of tspikes too though.

Vaporeon - Heracross and Raikou.

Whimsicott - Heracross and Hydreigon.

Xatu - Raikou. Calm Minders are really annoying though.

Zapdos - Raikou, Heracross, Swampert and Hydreigon.

 

[kc4444]

I don't know why you said nidoking is taunt bait, but it should carry life orb instead of focus sash. Way more damage, no recoil, and Nidoking isn't that frail.
You are probably better off using waterfall on swampert over avalanche. You do the same amount of damage on Gliscor, and you get STAB, and flinch hax.

Your quite susceptible to any priority users, especially if they are fast and have Mach Punch or Ice Shard which ruins your revenge killer. So, a special Raikou
Raikou @ Life Orb/Balloon
Timid/Modest
4Atk/252SpA/252Spe
Thunderbolt
Hidden Power Ice
Extrasensory
Extremespeed

 

[OmgWtfBoom]

For the Nidoking, I really prefer sash, it helps against stuff like Ninjask and Smeargle who pass boosts to pokemon such as Machamp. It also lets me deal massive damage on Politoed. Overall I still prefer Focus Sash so I'll stick with it. While Waterfall was also for Gliscor, it also hit Dragonite and other dragons I wouldn't normally be able to hit without letting something die first, then going to Hydreigon. Raikou is who this team was based around, and as useful as Extremespeed is, Calm Mind is much better at breaking stall in general. Also, Volt Absorb cannot be used with Extremespeed making me weak to Thunder Wave pokemon such as Porygon2. Thanks for the suggestions though, nice to finally get a rate.

As for Hdreigon being priority weak, most Ice Shard users are hopelessly walled by Swampert, and Mach Punch users (eg. Conkelderp and Breloom) and killed by Heracross.


quick edit: Just so you know, I have tested both.

 

[OmgWtfBoom]

Come on guys!
Just looked at Juice! or whatever's thread and he has nine replies already. NINE. I only have one D:

Please help guys, seriously. My team needs work, it definetly isn't that good.

also bump

 

[Temporal]

Quagsire over swampert for sure! You have a weakness to set-up sweepers and cm reuniclus that don't run psyshock.

Quagsire @ leftovers
Unaware
252hp, 252 sp Def, 4 Def
Nature that raises sp def and lowers sp atk *forgot*
Recover
Stockpile/curse
Waterfall
Earthquake/Toxic

This will serve you much better than swampert will and it can act as a defensive core that you really need against set up ssweepers and bre-loom.


You are missing stealth rock now, all I can really say is replace raikou as it doesn't seem to be as bulky as you would think, (Kind of frail on the physical side and can really be set-up for bulk up toxicroak/conkeldurr)

If you really want stealth rock then I would say forretress or ferrothorn. You really need a steel type as you have really nothing to sponge off dragon attacks. Okay calm minding is great but what about outrage? How will you handle a scarfed chomp? Ferrothorn w/ SR+ leech seed is really great coverage and force switches into the Toxic Spikes and since you get only 1 layer up you said, 12% automatically before they switch is just awesome.

*I am more of a defensive player, so sorry that I took away some offense but I think it'll help=D!*

 

[Juice!]

Come on guys!
Just looked at Juice! or whatever's thread and he has nine replies already. NINE. I only have one D:

Please help guys, seriously. My team needs work, it definetly isn't that good.

also bump

Way to look at my thread and not comment, jerk. =P

Okay, so first off, I feel you are wasting Nidoking's potential using it as a Toxic Spikes lead. Nidoking is such an amazing check to so many threats, it seems like a shame to let it get up a layer and then die. I know this is an offensive team, but I recommend Forretress as your Toxic Spikes lead. Not only does it only have one weakness, it has Sturdy which is a free Focus Sash, which means you can run a different item.
Forry also has Rapid Spin, which means if your opponent has a Toxic Spikes user, your Raikou/Suicuine aren't comepletely fucked if Nidoking isn't there to absorb the T-Spikes.
Forry also gets Stealth Rock meaning you can replace Swampert with something better, which I'll get to in a second.
If you do decide to go with both Toxic Spikes and Stealth Rock on Forry, you could consider Cutsap Berry as the item. Combined with Sturdy, this guarentees you will get both Rocks and one layer of T-Spikes, which is essentially all your team needs.
In the last slot you can run a multitude of moves including Volt Change, Gyro Ball, Earthquake, Payback, or even Explosion (although it kinda sucks now) depending on what you feel best helps your team.

Now that you have Forry, you can drop Swampert for Gliscor. It is hands down the best counter to Excadrill in the game, which you said your team has problems with. It's also an excellent stallbreaker as Blissey/Eviolite Chansey has a field day with you if Heracross goes down. If you don't like Gliscor or you feel it isn't working, I would go with Unare Quagsire in this spot. It basically shits all over anythign that tries to set up on you, and this includes Excadrill. Go with Recover, either Curse or Stockpile, Waterfall, and either Earthquake or Toxic (depending if you went with Curse or Stockpile).

I really like the idea of keeping Nidoking on your team however, but as a Life Orb + 4 attacks variant, with Flamethrower in the last slot and a simple 4 HP/252 SpA/252 Spe Timid spread. I think it may be worth considering dropping Raikou for it. Raikou will hit harder after setting up, Nidoking tears holes in things right off the bat, and checks so many things.
Just as an example, with Sheer Force, Life Orb, and STAB, Nidoking's Earth Power has a BP of 228.15 without any set up.

Good luck with the team, hopefully I helped.