Confronting a Stormy Metagame

Crazykid

Yo, I'm Crazykid and this is my second RMT on Smogon.

I am quite new to the metagame in general, but I believe that I am doing quite well for my inexperience. However, one tier has been giving much trouble - the weather-dominated tier that is standard OU. As someone who doesn't really enjoy using weather teams, I've been trying to find a suitable team that can hold its on in this extremely offensive metagame. I need your guy's suggestions and criticism. Thank you very much.


The Defensive Line
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Skarmory @ Shed Shell
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 252 HP / 240 Def / 16 Spe
Nature: Impish
- Spikes
- Roost
- Whirlwind
- Brave Bird
​

Skarmory is the Pokemon that gives my team durability against Physical attackers. It usually sets up spikes and stays on stand-by for the rest of the game until stat-boosting physical attackers start threatening me. Whirlwind easily helps out against Pokemon that try setting up. Roost is for reliable recovery, although Skarmory should be careful about in-coming Fighting attacks while using Roost. Brave Bird so Skarm doesn't become taunt-bait and for a powerful 120 BP STAB attack.

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Gastrodon @ Leftovers
Ability: Storm Drain
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Sp. Def / 4 Sp. Attack
Nature: Calm
- Toxic
- Scald
- Ice Beam
- Recover
​


The little slug that could, Gastrodon, has been slowly appearing as a popular anti-metagame Pokemon to particularly deal with the weather problem. Gastrodon makes opponents think twice about using their boosted Water moves in the rain due to Storm Drain, and it can break down other bulky waters without reliable recovery or Toxic of their own. Gastrodon can hold its own even against the most threatening special attackers in the tier. Gastrodon can take Specs Latios' Draco Meteor and if he Recovers on that turn, it can hit Latios or the incoming Pokemon with a Ice Beam or simply use Toxic to hit cripple most switch-ins. Gastrodon at full health can go head to head against Thundurus, throwing usually 2 Ice Beams at it for the KO, Thundurus dies to Gastrodon if it does not carry the Grass Knot/random HP Grass. Gastrodon can also deal with the occasional Specially-based Dragonite seen in Drizzle teams with ease.

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Heatran @ Leftovers
Ability: Flash Fire
Nature: Calm
EVs: 252 HP/252 Sp. Def/4 Def
-Lava Plume
-Protect
-Toxic
-Stealth Rock
​

Heatran is one annoying monster, even to Pokemon that can hit it with super effective attacks. Heatran's main role is lay down rocks and to wear down bulk Pokes with Toxic and either hit back with Lava Plume or stall with Protect. Heatran carries most of the resistances that the team has and is usually the middle man in switches. Heatran is usually seen taking Power Whips from Ferrothorn that were directed at Gastrodon and promptly cripples the in-coming Pokemon with Toxic. Heatran trolls Volcarona that do not carry Rest with Toxic, being immune to its Fire STAB and x0.25 resisting its Bug STAB.



The Offensive Momentum


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Scizor @ Choice Band
Ability: Technician
EVs: 252 Attack/ 244 HP/ 12 Speed
Nature: Adamant
- Bullet Punch
- Superpower
- U-turn
- Pursuit
​

An incredible Pokemon and a force to be dealt with on any team. My team needed a priority/U-turn scout and a hard Terrakion and Reuniclus counter, thus I added Scizor. A Banded Pursuit sends the Lati-twins into oblivion. Scizor can take any move from Excadrill and KO it back with a Superpower. 12 Speed EVs to outspeed most other Scizor without getting too ridiculous with the investment. Bullet Punch to destroy weakened T-tar and most Pokes that would get damaged badly from spikes.

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Latias @ Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
Nature: Timid
EVs: 252 HP/252 Speed/4 Special Attack
- Calm Mind
- Dragon Pulse
- Substitute
- Roost
​

Latias is a very underrated Pokemon (main because of her brother Latios) in the metagame. Her natural bulk makes her a predict candidate to be a Calm Mind Pokemon. With Substitute, Latias is able to set up on stat-inducers. Although Roar helps with type match ups, spreading Hazards damage and allows Latias to set up on CM Reuniclus. With her bulk, Latias is able to beat Gliscor even if Gliscor carries the Ice Fang - although Taunt Gliscor can prove to be annoying. Dragon Pulse offers the greatest single move coverage in the game.


REVENGE!!


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Haxorus @ Choice Scarf
EVs: 252 Attack/252 Speed/ 4 HP
Ability: Mold Breaker
Nature: Adamant
- Outrage
- Earthquake
- Brick Break
- X-Scissor
​

With Base 147 Attack, Haxorus can at least 2HKO most of the Metagame with a Choice Scarf. Outrage for its massive power, Earthquake to hit a majority of steel-types, Brick Break to hit the rest and Dual Chop if I don't wish to be locked into Outrage and a way to deal with Pokemon behind a Substitute. Only dedicated Physical walls and faster scarfers give Haxorus trouble. Earthquake is usually the move of choice to hit Pokemon that rely on Levitate.




So what do you think? That is my OU team in a nutshell, please comment as all criticisms and suggestions will be very much appreciated! Thank you in advance!
 
you have too many EVs on breloom, Rivalry helps Haxxy more than mold breaker with Scarf (unless you fing gengar or bronzong annoying)
Right now you only have special walls/tanks and no physical ones, so I'd suggest using ferrothorn over bronzong, as he lures in more fire moves than zong to help tran more. here's the set:

Ferrothorn @ Leftovers
Trait: Iron Barbs
EVs: 252 HP / 48 Def / 208 SDef
Relaxed Nature (+Def, -Spd)
- Stealth Rock / Spikes
- Leech Seed
- Thunder Wave / Gyro Ball
- Power Whip / Protect

so many slashes!
gl
 
Whoops, didn't notice the overdose of EVs. Thanks for your help but without Bronzong, I don't have much to deal with Gliscor as he walls most of my other Pokemon.

Rivalry is too unreliable to use to be honest. (this is WiFi, not PO)

Thanks for your help though.
 
Crazykid said:
Whoops, didn't notice the overdose of EVs. Thanks for your help but without Bronzong, I don't have much to deal with Gliscor as he walls most of my other Pokemon.

Rivalry is too unreliable to use to be honest. (this is WiFi, not PO)

Thanks for your help though.
Click to expand...

Gastrodon, Ferrothorn can 4HKO with Gyro Ball, and takes nothing in return, Haxxy can do a number, and Reuniclus can set up on it. you need a ton of help with it ;)
Yeah in-game rivalry sucks
gl
 
The setting up variations of Gliscor still threaten me quite a bit, and even Haxorus fails to 2HKO Gliscor with Outrage.

Would Shadow Ball be better for Reuiniclus? To be walled by less pokes in exchange for the instant power Psychic provides?
 
Nice team. Just to point out Heatran and rotom-w kinda take this team to the dumps. I suggest having Ferrothorn over Bronzong.
 
Hmm, I may consider Ferro over Bronzong now, but anyone recommend a different set for Heatran then? Maybe something offensive?
 
Opposing Calm Mind Reuniclus, Dragon Dance Scrafty, SD Toxicroak and SD Virizion look like they can give you problems. Reuniclus can set-up on Gastrodon, Bronzong, or choice-locked Haxorus, and threaten to sweep you. Your only chance of winning is a CM war with your own Reuniclus, which if you lose due to a timely crit or whatever, you lose. Scrafty, Toxicroak and Virizion can also set-up on choice-locked Haxorus, the latter two on Gastrodon as well, and sweep you with boosted attacks. Scrafty is only outsped by Haxorus, but is not KOed by Brick Break, while Ice Punch KOes you. Toxicroak can also KO your revenge killer with +2 Sucker Punch after SR.

Without messing up your synergy too much, I would like for you to try a Physically Defensive Skarmory over Bronzong. Skarmory can take on everything Bronzong can, but it comes with the added benefit of being a stop to DD Scrafty, SD Toxicroak, and Virizion, along with reliable recovery to fulfill its duties. You already have the Lati- twins covered relatively well with Gastrodon, and Haxorus can revenge them, whilst Reuniclus can set-up on Specs Latios locked into a move. Skarmory can also support Breloom with Spikes support, helping it rack up damage as it forces switches with Spore + Fpunch. Outside of this, your team doesn't lose to any other threats with the replacement of Bronzong for Skarmory, but has answers to more threats. With this change, you might want to move Stealth Rock and Protect over Substitute and Roar on Heatran. SR is obvious, while Protect helps you against TR Reuniclus, stalling its Trickroom turns.

You might want to keep Psyshock on Reuniclus rather than Psychic to come out on top against most Reuniclus 1 on 1. This is because most of them tend to carry Psychic over Psyshock, and you can target their weaker Defense stat, while they try to chip at your health with Psychic. You could try Shadow Ball over Psychic as well, to beat CM Latias, but I don't recommend it, as the lack of a powerful STAB attack hurts the sweeping potential. Finally, you can try Mach Punch over Substitute on Breloom for an easier time against SD Lucario with Crunch as well as Terrakion if Skarmory is weakened, though that is up to you.

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Skarmory (F) @ Shed Shell / Leftovers
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 252 HP / 240 Def / 16 Spe
Impish nature (+Def, -SAtk)
- Spikes
- Roost
- Whirlwind
- Brave Bird
---

GL
 
Oh, LK, just another thing. Only stat-boosting Terrakion threatens me, right? Oh, and should I give Haxorus X-Scissor instead of Dual Chop to hit those Physically Defensive Celebis that wall my team? (Besides Reuniclus) It also hits incoming Psychics such as Reuniclus and Latios rather hard. In the Rain, Physically Defensive Celebi completely walls me, especially if Reuniclus is indisposed.
 
When I saw the Heatran/Gastro/Skarm Core I was like YES! A great start for an Anti-Weather team. There are a few things missing however...

A Team like this is heavily reliant on entry hazards. With having two types of entry hazards on you're team, Haxorus, Reuiniclus and Breloom can get easier KO's on those hard-to-break walls like Blissey for example. Heatran, Skarmory and Gastrodon can also switch around on incoming attacks and force a lot of swithes, racking up damage on the opponents sweepers.

So you can see how important it is to keep hazards on the field, therefore I recommend a spin blocker in Gengar. Gengar is great as it can easily come in on banded Terrakion locked in to Close Combat (which Skarm has problems with) and set up a free sub with it's SubDisable set. You've pointed out that Reuniclus is the weakest link on you're team, as well as Gengar fitting the best on your team in this spot, so I'd replace Reuniclus. Another option would be to replace Breloom for whats called "Parallel Sweeping" whereby two similar sweepers fit together on the same team, as Reuniclus checks can't usually survive an onslaught from both Reuniclus AND Gengar. This one's your call. Anyway, here's the set:
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Gengar:
Substitute + Disable
Item: Leftovers
Nature: Timid
EV's: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Moveset
~ Substitute
~ Disable
~ Shadow Ball
~ Focus Blast

Now for some nitpicking:

-I would go for Shed Shell on Skarmory over Leftovers thanks to the ever popular Magnezone+Haxorus Teams. These teams are usually well prepared for fellow dragon types, so Haxorus won't save you when Skarm goes down :(

-Go for Air Balloon on Heatran over Leftovers, as many Sun Teams nowadays carry Dugtrio. Air Balloon allows you to dodge that bullet, as otherwise you're team will get destroyed by popular sun sweepers like Venusaur and Volcarona.

Overall this is a really solid team and good luck :)
 
The very same Gengar was actually used over Reuniclus in early stages of this team, but it didn't end up working well, and Reuniclus usually excels once T-tar/Scizors/Trick Scarfers are out of the way and Trick Scarfers are usually easy to identify this generation.

Although a spin blocker does sound nice - I'll definitely consider it, but I'll do some more testing with my team as it is. But if I do replace anyone, it'll probably be Breloom.

I'll also consider your item recommendations, especially Shed Shell on Skarm, as Magnezone is a much more prominent threat than Dugtrio.

Anyone have any opinions with X-Scissor on Haxorus? Physically Defensive Celebi walls my team to no ends.
 
Reuniclus doesn't like being paralyzed though -as I can't do much without many boosts with both of my attacks - giving a few switch to a counter as I am forced to boost. Once Reuniclus goes down, I am completely walled by Celebi in the rain. This scenario has actually happened to me a few times with this team. :/
 
i'd run 252 hp EV's instead of speed for breloom, even with speed invested you wouldn't outspeed much that u need anyways. the bulk is better
 
CrazyKid, while I can't help you with your team, this team looks like an amazing counter to mine, which I was hard-pressed to find. Good job, CrazyKid! :)
 
Thanks Lady Salamence and everyone else! Everyone on this board is so helpful. I am so tempted to use Gengar again over Breloom. :x
 
Threats
Calm Mind Reuniclus
Entry hazards and status don't bother it at all, and it's so bulky that it can shrug off hits from even your hardest hitter, Haxorus.

Dugtrio+sun teams
Your only check to sun teams is Heatran and he's damn good at taking Chlorophyll sweepers on, but they commonly carry Dugtrio, who can trap Tran and then leave you helpless against the aforementioned sweepers.
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I really don't think Breloom is pulling its weight on this team. It's walled by too many common Pokemon in the metagame to be effective [Gliscor, Dragonite, Celebi]. I'd like you to try a Calm Mind + Roar Latias in its place. It's an incredible Reuniclus counter; simply CM up alongside it and then phaze it out, getting rid of their boosts while retaining yours. Sun teams also have an incredibly hard time dealing with this set once it gets a CM up, which can easily be done after their Dugtrio has trapped your Heatran. Lati also is a great fit for this team because it shares counters with Reuniclus [Tyranitar, Scizor, Jirachi], and with a well-timed you can significantly weaken them through all your entry hazards, so one of these two Calm Minders will most likely sweep.

Latias @ Leftovers | Timid | EVs: 252 HP / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
Calm Mind | Roar | Dragon Pulse | Roost

Just something to consider, nice team!
 
Thanks BKC. I used to run the very same Latias set a few teams back, worked wonderfully. :D But how do you think I should deal with those aforementioned counters? With Haxorus' EQ or simply wear them down by constantly phazing them out with Skarmory?
 
i personally ran a team like this before, i would recommend changing your breloom to a virizion with 252 spd/sp att hp ice,focus blast giga drain and cm other wise youll find yourself getting wrecked and stopped by the more and more comon gliscors also if a cb terrakion comes in on weekend pokes due to hazards you'll have a pretty hard time dealing with it so id reccomend a spinner somewhere otherwise a pretty tight team
 
Hmm, can anyone help me with this question? ^ I suppose nearly 24 hours have passed, so I believe I get a free bump.
 
Nice team I think this team is very effective and gastrodon/skarmory sybergy is put very well. Why don't you switch reuncilus for Scizor?
 
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