howdy, need help fixing my offense team.

[Chaosblazer]

this team represents my battling style, offense to the core, but as of late I find myself in a pinch due to Sun Teams which i'll explain more of as things go along.

Also i've tried posting images form the usual site I get them from but they don't seem to want to work, Next time I have a team checked out i promise to get images.

Dragonite@Lum Berry

Ability: MultiScale
Evs: 252 Atk, 252 Spe, 4 Hp
Nature Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
-Extremespeed
-Dragon Dance
-Fire Punch
-Outrage
This pokemon usually leads off my team (I know a guy like this should come in later on, but Stealth Rock can be a problem especially if Starmie down below can't get them off the feild.), though there are exceptions such as against Ice and Rain teams, thanks to Multiscale I can get off at least one Dragon Dance and then go to town, though there are times when I have to go ahead and battle, Extremespeed is there to deal with faster annoyances, Dragon Dance is for obvious reasons, currently for the other two moves i'm running Fire Punch (due to the fact that it seems like ever since Excadrill got banned everyone's running to use fire now as the main weather type.) besides it helps make fire users pay while hitting all steels except Heatran hard and Outrage for it's pure power though there are times I switch to Dragon Claw as I don't like being locked into one attack, Dragonite's purpose is to help the two steel types I have alongside Hydreigon and Starmie while they in turn protect the dragons back.

Infernape@Life Orb

Ability: Blaze
Evs: 252 Atk, 252 Spe, 4 SpA
Nature Naive (+Spe,- SpDef)
-Close Combat
-Mach Punch
-Stone Edge
-Overheat.

Along with Starmie, Infernape serves a support attacking role for the team, Close Combat and Overheat are there fore STAB, Overheat is used as the fire move as I don't like Flare Blitz, Stone Edge is used to attack Flying types, and Volcorana's that don't have Psychic (or hidden power ground... ) After much testing I decided to go with Mach Punch as the final move, it might not be powerful but it does help finish off weakened enemies as well as hurt Scarftran badly when i see them used, as well as other choice scarf using pokemon provided this does leave Infernape vulnerable to water pokemon now, but he can beat them if thier low on health, him, Lucario and Scizor help cover the dragons and vice versa, that's how I wanted this team simple pokemon to cover each other.

Lucario@Life Orb

Ability: Inner Focus
Evs: 252 Atk, 252 Spe, 4 HP
Nature: Adamant (+Atk,-SpA)
-Swords Dance
-Close Combat
-ExtremeSpeed
-Crunch/Ice Punch

Lucario helps cover for the dragons with his offensive power, after an SD boost he can rip through alot of things with his attacks but only if he can get it off, like Dragonite Extremespeed is there to help attack faster foes, and pick off weakened ones, Close Combat is for STAB, the final move slot is a toss up as Crunch does hurt ghosts and psychics, but Ice Punch hits Grass and Dragon types (and the occasional Gliscor), Currently i'm using Ice Punch and it works ok, but only if I can catch a dragon on the switch as most of them outspeed Lucario, I know having two life orb users isn't always a good idea, but he and Infernape make good use of thier boosts so I see no need to replace those items.

Starmie@Expert Belt

Ability: Natural Cure
Evs: 252 SpA, 252 Spe, 4 Hp
Nature: Timid (+Spe,-Atk)
-Ice Beam
Thunderbolt
-Surf
-Rapid Spin.

Like Infernape this thing helps out with support for the entire team, not only is it packing the BoltBeam Combo, but it also has Surf for power, and more reliable than Hydro Pump which can miss, Rapid Spin is there to help get rid of Rocks that might hinder Dragonite, This pokemon does have to be careful of Ferrothorn and Chansey/Blissey but other than that it does seem to do ok for the most part in helping out the team with the roll it's given.

Hydreigon@Leftovers

Ability: Levitate
Evs: 252 Spe, 252 SpA, 4 Hp
Nature: Modest (+SpA, -Atk)
Substitute
Dragon Pulse
Surf
Fire Blast

I'm not going to lie here, i've modified this one several times because I want to use it effectively and this is the current set it has, after battling a Perish Song/Block Combo Lapras I realised that using Draco Meteor without Life Orb or Choice Specs is probably not the best solution, and an Expert Belt won't give Hydreigon the power he needs all the time (i'm not a big fan of choice items, sans one pokemon who i'll get to after this.) so this is the current set i'm trying but yet I don't feel confident with it. Substitute on a switch then attack with his three moves, Dragon Pulse is there for STAB, Fire Blast to help deal with Steel and Grass types, I gave him surf due to the fact that I have a long history of issues with Focus Blast (it always works for the opponent, but never for me.) and i've been in battles where one mistake such as a miss costed me everything, Surf is stronger than Earth Power and can hit Infernape's and Terrakions on the switch (the latter of which sometimes carries air balloons) as well as Heatrans, still I need some help with this one as he and Dragonite help protect the others while they protect back as i've said.

Now we come to the final guy.

Scizor@Choice Band.

Ability: Technician
Evs: 252 Atk, 252 hp, 4 Def
Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
-Superpower
-Bullet Punch
-U-turn
-Pursuit

This guy is a beast and probably the only choice item pokemon to ever work right for me, Superpower knocks the daylights out of anything weak to fighting, Bullet Punch gets STAB bonus as well as the Technician boost making it a powerful priority move, U-turn is good for scouting as well as hammering Grass and Dark pokemon and Pursuit is good for catching psychic's who enter and try to run, I used to run a swords dance variation but it didn't work for me so I tried this one and it seems to work out well in covering the two dragons.

This guy used to be a monster when sandstorm teams were running the days, but now with fire making a bigger impact he himself is not doing so well therefore I would like to replace him but with what I don't know.

Overall review: I'm not really into using long strategies in battle, my goal and battling style is to hit the enemy as fast and as hard as I can, that's how I like to battle, but sunny day teams (more specifically Venusaur's in general with thier never missing Sleep Powder) tend to give this team some trouble, I'm willing to replace Scizor for someone else as he does see to be the heaviest chink on this team, but the problem is I don't know who.

Also, I've gotten quite used to not using legendary pokemon and would prefer not to use them on this core team of mine. During the 4th gen I wouldn't have cared, but the transistion to the 5th gen has made me learn to become less reliant on them, and I would like to continue that even if it means the challenge infront of me is tougher, I welcome it because it's more fun to me to not rely on legendaries than it is to do so(especially after seeing both myself and other people get beaten by flinch jirachis, there is no skill at all involved in a stategy like that and where's the fun in it?) Also when I have to battle someone who has three or more legendaries on thier team, that to me is just plain being lazy and uncreative (no offense to anyone that's just my opinion.) because it feels like thier just taking the easy way out.

Other pokemon I have tried to use in Scizor's place.

Espeon: Worked for a while as a dual screener but gave me a huge bug weakness, and was too fragile even with the screens.

Bronzong: same as Espeon, took away the bug weakness but lack of strength and speed did it in.

Bisharp: added in too many weaknesses and didn't last long at all.

I need someone who can face down sunny day teams to replace Scizor as well as modifications for Hydreigon to make him fit better, I appreaciate all help and advice but please like I said don't suggest legendaries as replacements.

 

[Chaosblazer]

a mod can go ahead and close this, don't know why I bothered to register to make a thread here (the fact that I can't get sprites on her like normal on other sites is angering me as it is.), I heard this place was full of eletist types who won't even give teams a chance if they don't follow the standard protocols regarding teams and it appears that claim was correct, i'll just go somewhere else then

 

[tikidude]

This is a cool team man, but you need hazards. Hazards will make it a lot easier for your sweepers to do their thing.

 

[dcae]

Hey,

First of all, welcome to Smogon. Let's get on to your team. You have a well built offensive team here, but we can tweak some things here and there to make it a better team. First of all, I think your team is relatively frail, and therefore weak to priority users. In this case, I can see Bulk Up Conkeldurr being a problem here, being able to take out Hydreigon and Lucario with Mach Punch and dealing huge damage to the rest of the team. Also, Lucario is slightly unnecessary due to it functioning as a frail sweeper, which is not a desirable choice with a less defensive team. Another weakness I identify is to Dragon teams in general. Most teams need that Steel wall to take powerful Dragon attacks, but as of now Specs Latios can really pull a number on this team.

Now that we have the threats outlined, I think you will prefer having Earthquake over Fire Punch due to the omnipresent Rain, the most used weather as of now. Over Lucario, I propose you test out a Trick Room Reuniclus. That poke is one of the best counters to Conkeldurr, and will solve that problem while adding bulk to your team. Trick Room offensive messes up Sun teams badly because they rely on hitting hard and fast with Chlorophyll users and powerful Sun abusers. Another benefit of Reuniclus is it can be used as a status absorber, with moves such as Toxic allowing it a way to switch into Sleep inducing moves. You said Scizor was replaceable, and I think you need a bulky Steel to deal with Dragons. I suggest a Specially Defensive Heatran to test out. It provides hazards to allow you to sweep better with Dragonite and Hydreigon. It also uses phazing to deal with set uppers such as Volcarona. Hope I helped and Good Luck.

TL;DR

Heatran > Scizor
Reuniclus > Lucario

Set(s)

Furnace (Heatran) (F) @ Leftovers
Trait: Flash Fire
EVs: 204 HP / 136 SpD / 168 Spd
Calm Nature (+SDef, -Atk)
- Stealth Rock
- Lava Plume
- Roar
- Hidden Power [Ice]

Reuniclus (F) @ Life Orb
Trait: Magic Guard
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpA (Run 0 Speed IVs)
Quiet Nature (+SAtk, -Spd)
- Trick Room
- Psychic
- Hidden Power [Fire]/Focus Blast
- Shadow Ball

 

[Chaosblazer]

This is a cool team man, but you need hazards. Hazards will make it a lot easier for your sweepers to do their thing.

You got any good hazard users that ain't legendary?

First of all, welcome to Smogon. Let's get on to your team. You have a well built offensive team here, but we can tweak some things here and there to make it a better team. First of all, I think your team is relatively frail, and therefore weak to priority users. In this case, I can see Bulk Up Conkeldurr being a problem here, being able to take out Hydreigon and Lucario with Mach Punch and dealing huge damage to the rest of the team. Also, Lucario is slightly unnecessary due to it functioning as a frail sweeper, which is not a desirable choice with a less defensive team. Another weakness I identify is to Dragon teams in general. Most teams need that Steel wall to take powerful Dragon attacks, but as of now Specs Latios can really pull a number on this team.

That might be the case, but i'm more worried about taking on sunny day teams than anything right now.

Now that we have the threats outlined, I think you will prefer having Earthquake over Fire Punch due to the omnipresent Rain, the most used weather as of now.

Over at Gamefaqs where I play Fire is the more dominant choice, Rain is a close second though.

Over Lucario, I propose you test out a Trick Room Reuniclus. That poke is one of the best counters to Conkeldurr, and will solve that problem while adding bulk to your team. Trick Room offensive messes up Sun teams badly because they rely on hitting hard and fast with Chlorophyll users and powerful Sun abusers.

The problem I see here is that yes it messes up Sunny Day teams, but a gimmick pokemon like this is going to hurt my team long term as I won't always run into sunny day teams, and what good is trick room then considering Infernape and Starmie who get most of the kills are speedsters?

You said Scizor was replaceable, and I think you need a bulky Steel to deal with Dragons. I suggest a Specially Defensive Heatran to test out. It provides hazards to allow you to sweep better with Dragonite and Hydreigon. It also uses phazing to deal with set uppers such as Volcarona. Hope I helped and Good Luck.

TL;DR

Heatran > Scizor
Reuniclus > Lucario

Set(s)

Furnace (Heatran) (F) @ Leftovers
Trait: Flash Fire
EVs: 204 HP / 136 SpD / 168 Spd
Calm Nature (+SDef, -Atk)
- Stealth Rock
- Lava Plume
- Roar
- Hidden Power [Ice]

Reuniclus (F) @ Life Orb
Trait: Magic Guard
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpA (Run 0 Speed IVs)
Quiet Nature (+SAtk, -Spd)
- Trick Room
- Psychic
- Hidden Power [Fire]/Focus Blast
- Shadow Ball

Don't get me wrong man I appreaciate the advice, but Nergal(Heatran, don't ask me why I call it this it just stuck one day) isn't the best choice here as he falls under the same pretense as Lucario and Hydreigon do.

Besides i'm trying to do this without using Legendaries, I did think of possibly swapping out Hydreigon for a Mixed Salamence, but if I do that, I want to keep in at least one 5th gen pokemon and i'm looking at Scrafty, problem is if I do that it means I have three pokemon with set up moves unless I swap Lucario's physicality for special prowless.

 

[GARCHOMPZILLA]

this looks almost perfect. One thing I would change is the hydregion set:

Hydregion@white herb
modest/timd (modest preffered)
252 sp.atk/252 speed
-draco meteor
-dark pulse
-focus blast/surf
-fire blast

it has better coverage than latios despite the slightly lower stats and can hurt almost anything in the tier. It can:

-2KO 252 Hp calm reuniclus with dark pulse and leave it with too little for calm mind to enable surviving the next hit

-2Ko or OHKO jellicent, who looks like it could be a big threat to the team (It can take a hit from and will-o-wisp almost everything here to cripple it, shadow balls starmie and scald/surfs infernape).

-2Ko or OHKO rotom-w, who can hurt starmie, infernape and possibly scizor or lucario with hydro pump or thunderbolt.

 

[Chaosblazer]

this looks almost perfect. One thing I would change is the hydregion set:

Hydregion@white herb
modest/timd (modest preffered)
252 sp.atk/252 speed
-draco meteor
-dark pulse
-focus blast/surf
-fire blast

This set has been tested and I can't tell you how many times people type "dat dragon is scary" or something, it has better coverage than latios despite the slightly lower stats. It can:

-2KO 252 Hp calm reuniclus with dark pulse and leave it with too little for calm mind to enable surviving the next hit

-2Ko or OHKO jellicent, who looks like it could be a big threat to the team (It can take a hit from and will-o-wisp almost everything here to cripple it, shadow balls starmie and scald/surfs infernape).

-2Ko or OHKO rotom-w, who can hurt starmie, infernape and possibly scizor or lucario with hydro pump or thunderbolt.

and now i will commence facepalming for not thinking about the White Herb Item--;; I always had problems picking an item for the guy, that is awsome!

So let's see, if I was to swap out Scizor for someone, who would it be, people seem to suggest entry hazard's well i'm all ears now, who's a good phsyical non legendary bulky pokemon that can take his place.

 

[Chaosblazer]

Edit: i know what needs to be done for the time being, I need a pokemon that can use Trick room as a move, but at the same time not need to use it unless it's absolutely necessary, and only three pokemon come to mind.

Gallade, Dusknoir, and Bronzong as they don't give me too many weaknesses, something the above psychic type and nergal do is give me massive bug and ground weaknesses.

 

[Arcticblast]

I don't understand your bias against legendaries. Aside from Kyurem and Regigigas (both below OU!), all of the legendaries that are OU or below have a base stat total of 600 or below. For reference, Dragonite and Hydreigon also have BSTs of 600.

Anyway, Skarmory, Ferrothorn and Forretress are arguably the two best hazard-setters that are legal in OU. Other good users include Donphan, Tentacruel, Tyranitar, Roserade, Froslass (if you want it to block Rapid Spin too), Heatran and Deoxys-D.

 

[Chaosblazer]

I don't understand your bias against legendaries. Aside from Kyurem and Regigigas (both below OU!), all of the legendaries that are OU or below have a base stat total of 600 or below. For reference, Dragonite and Hydreigon also have BSTs of 600.

Let me explain, once long ago when 5th gen battles were just getting started (and I had other teams) I got into battle with a Jirachi that knew Substitute, Thunder Wave, and Iron Head, a good tactic I will admit, but that one little pokemon ended up finishing off my team with ease. sure it's fustrating to lose to such a pokemon, but at the same time I realised how easy it is to win with them compared to normal pokemon and I don't wanna be the guy doing that to other people.

Anyway, Skarmory, Ferrothorn and Forretress are arguably the two best hazard-setters that are legal in OU. Other good users include Donphan, Tentacruel, Tyranitar, Roserade, Froslass (if you want it to block Rapid Spin too), Heatran and Deoxys-D.

i'll look them over, but jellicent is looking like a possibility with Trick Room.

 

[Arcticblast]

Jirachi shouldn't influence your opinion on legendary Pokemon. Jirachi is a hax magnet but can usually be played around.

Trick Room on one Pokemon is generally a failed strategy on a very fast team like this. I hear Eviolite Porygon2 is an excellent Venusaur counter, but on your team it doesn't really seem to fit in. Really, Heatran is your best bet against Venusaur. Or if it comes in on your Dragonite, Lum will cure Sleep and you can Fire Punch it.

 

[Prickly Comedian]

I'm sorry but an offensive team without hazards is very silly. I know you want to have that super offensive team, but one defensive pokemon that can set up spikes and or stealth rock is crucial. It'll help you get so many more KO's, and since your team is so offensive, your opponent will be forced to keep switching to try and counter you.
Main Point: NEED hazards. NEED.