After testing the current set out +expert belt Jirachi (more a placeholder than anything, just wanted to get a feel for the team), I feel I can contribute a bit more to this discussion now. I'll start of general then get into some specific (but untested as of now) suggestions.
We've been building our High Offense team all wrong. High Offense is not about having Pokemon that can beat individual threats, and it's definitely not about defensive synergy. What it is about is pressure, pressure to the point where taking out a Pokemon on our side doesn't feel like a victory for them since another just comes up and takes its place. In order to do that, a team needs two things. One, it needs Pokemon that can weaken eachothers checks for eachother. We have that covered. The other thing a HO team needs is a revenge killing core, as that is what allows HO teams to keep the pressure on even against other offensive teams. Without that aspect, as soon as the opponent gains the momentum it's game over for us because we have no way to steal it back. Furthermore, there needs to be REDUNDANT revenge killing coverage, because there are going to be times when you CAN'T preserve a check you need for later. This is what we're missing in our team, and I have an idea to fix it.
For one, when I say "revenge killing core" you might be thinking Scarfers immediately, but I think we should avoid scarf users at all costs if we can. Scarf users invite the opponent to set up after they've taken something down, handing offensive momentum right back to our opponents. While this is OK on more balanced teams that can handle giving the opponent a turn to set up, it isn't OK for our HO team. Instead, I suggest we use other revenge killing methods, such as naturally high base speed, priority moves and sturdy / sashed Pokemon, which do not become set up bait once their job is done since they can switch moves.
As for specific suggestions for our team, I think most of us are in agreement that our Haxorus, Gyarados and Zoroark core are here to stay and do their job quite nicely. I agree, and I also like that Gyarados can function somewhat as a revenge killer due to Intimidate as well. We need a lot more than this though if we want to avoid being swept by faster opponents though, and a single Pokemon to try and cover all the extra threats against us isn't going to cut it. As such, I have a few suggestions.
Alakazam @ Focus Sash Trait: Magic Guard
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Psychic
- Shadow Ball
- Focus Blast
- Hidden Power [Rock]
Alakazam is exactly the revenge killer we need. Alakazam is perfect it that it can revenge kill almost any offensive Pokemon... once a game. Thankfully, due to the redundancies I plan on having in our team and the fact we'll be keeping the opponent from setting up much anyway, once will be all we need, and Alakazam covers a broader range of threats than anything else we could use while still maintaining massive offensive pressure by virtue of its massive Special attack stat and coverage alone. There aren't a lot of things that can set up on Alakazam, so that makes it perfect for us. Of course, we'll have to be conservative as to when we use Alakazam, who will basically be out get-out-of-jail-free card. Alakazam should only be used when our other options are exhausted, but when they are (and they will be exhausted from time to time), it'll be there to save our sorry asses.
Azelf @ Life Orb Trait: Levitate
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Psychic
- Flamethrower
- Thunderbolt
- Stealth Rock
Azelf is here simply because it's one of the few offensive stealth rock users that could feasibly fit on our team. It serves a dual purpose; get rocks up when we need them, and revenge threats without a speed boost when we don't. Exactly what moves we want to use can be switched around of course, but I chose the moves I did to best work with Alakazam, allowing us to easily check unboosted Gyarados, non-rock polish Terrakion, Virizon, Cloyster before shell smash and a few other choice threats. It's not likely to become set up fodder either, thanks to great power and coverage.
Scizor @ Life Orb
Trait: Technician
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Swords Dance
- U-turn
- Bullet Punch
- Superpower
Yessir, this is another Scizor set to be suggested, but one different than before. Rather than the bog standard Choice Band set, which is easily set up upon when locked into Bullet Punch, I've opted to go for and offensive SD set that still serves the revenge killing purpose we need, well while being far less likely to get our asses set up on and killed. Truthfully, this does leave Volcarona as a major threat, but Alakazam can handle that as long we keep Hidden power Rock on it. But this set doesn't just revenge kill, oh no, it does TRIPLE duty. It functions as yet another Zoroark illusion partner when sand is not present, taking the same hazard damage (well, barring toxic spikes but those aren't exactly common) and actually lures in things Zoroark can hurt, unlike some other options we've had on our team. And because of Sword Dance, the opponent pays if they assume it's Zoroark and switch to blissey or something. For the final duty, U-turn gives us that cruicial ability to get our frailer teammembers in so they can do their job. Haxorus particularly enjoys this capability, as it means he doesn't have to risk status or major damage switching in.
Again, I'd like to emphasize
I haven't tested these suggestions just yet and they are subject to change. However, I do believe they represent the idea I'm trying to get across with regards to how we should build our team.
EDIT: After testing I've found these teammates to work pretty well, especially Scizor and Alakazam (Azelf gets its job done but feels like a wasted teamslot). Bug Bite has been substituted in for U-Turn on Scizor, as it fits the "punish the opponent for mispredicting" theme much better and I usually find U-turn doing no more than losing me my boosts when I could have kept on sweeping. I've replaced Thunderbolt with Explosion for now in the hopes of getting more out of Azelf, but I might change it again in the future is it continues to dissapoint. I do miss having Rapid Spin a little bit, but at the same time usually taking the time to spin would be counterproductive anyway.