Hi everyone. I'm a newcomer to the forums, but I've been lurking and playing competitively on showdown since about middle/late gen5.
This is a team that has evolved from my gen5 OU team as I've learned the metagame. I like to use pokemon I like of course, but I'm not sure if this is cutting it or what I can do to improve. I'm not sure the team as a whole works that well cohesively, or if some mons may not be pulling their weight. I'm not too knowledgeable, since I have mostly learned by repeated failures. So i'm hoping you guys could help me out. I'm totally open to suggestions and I wanna learn the meta better. (:
This is essentially a balanced team, revolving around defensive/utility mons Tentacruel, Sableye, and Mega-Venusaur whittling down and taking out threats for Dnite to come in and sweep.
Sableye @ Leftovers
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 252 HP / 248 Def / 8 Spd
Impish Nature
- Foul Play
- Will-O-Wisp
- Recover
- Taunt
Main Role: Physical Wall/Utility/Stallbreaker
I love this guy. He can be annoying to face, but fun to use. This is his standard set, but physically defensive. Prankster Taunt helps to shutdown set-up sweepers or defensive boosters and can keep SR at bay so it doesnt break Dnites multiscale. Sometimes I use him as a lead, when its obvious someone is eager to set up SR with Ferrothorn or another SR lead
Suprisingly, despite Sableyes mediocore defensive stats, he can take on a quite a beating. Most physical attackers are afraid of a prankster WoW, so he mostly gets hit by Talonflame or Conkeldurr. He can take a Brave Bird or Flare Blitz from Talonflame, and follow up with a Foul Play which I believe KOs after SR and recoil damage. Foul Play also helps with DD Charizard X, or SD Talonflame, if I can predict properly
I'm told Conkeldurr is mostly running Guts with AV this gen, so should I not have Sableye out against them? Phyisical M-Venusaur can take him on pretty well, but idk If im better off burning or not.
I run 8 speed to outspeed opposing Sableye, but I'm not sure its necessary.
Tentacruel @ Black Sludge
Ability: Clear Body
EVs: 252 HP / 240 SDef / 16 Spd
Calm Nature
- Scald
- Knock Off
- Rapid Spin
- Toxic
Main Role: Special Wall/Spinner/Utility
Tentacruel has served me pretty well. Investing in SDef with Calm nature allows him to take some pretty hard hitting special attacks. He's a good switch in to Heatran, and can take volt-switches from Rotom-W too. He can take special hits from Aegislash, who comes in to spinblock, while threatening the knock off and burn from Scald. Also provides knock-off/toxic support
Clear Body is the ability of choice because it served me well in the early XY meta when everyone was using sticky web, but maybe Liquid Ooze would be a good alternative to take GigaDrains from M-venusaur? Dunno.
Jolteon @ Air Balloon
Ability: Volt Absorb
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature
- Thunderbolt
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Substitute
- Baton Pass
Main Role: SubPasser
Here's one I'm afraid may not be pulling its weight. :/ I really like Jolteon as a pokemon, but I'm not sure its meshing well with the team. Pretty standard set I think. It can hit pretty hard, and can OHKO common 4x weak to ice pokemon. Air Balloon allows it to switch into Garchomp and Gliscor without fearing the EQ, and forces them to switch out because of HP ice. Most of the time, its use is to set up a Sub while the opponent switches, fearing the Tbolt or HPice, then passing the sub to Dnite, who can take hits like a champ behind a sub while setting up, or to pass it to a poke to switch in without getting hit. It can act as a revenge killer sometimes, but that may be something better filled by another mon.
Mamoswine @ Focus Sash
Ability: Thick Fat
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spd
Adamant Nature
- Earthquake
- Ice Shard
- Icicle Crash
- Stealth Rock
Main Role: SR setter/Physical Attacker
Totally standard sash Mamoswine here. He can come out as a lead and set up SR without fear thanks to SR. As of now he is my only source of priority in Ice Shard, which may be a problem. EQ and Icicle Crash are hard hitting STAB attacks that can take out or put a dent in a lot of threats with proper prediction. (Which i tend to be bad at)
Venusaur @ Venusaurite
Ability: Chlorophyll
EVs: 252 HP / 8 Spd / 56 SAtk / 192 Def
Bold Nature
- Giga Drain
- Sludge Bomb
- Synthesis
- Sleep Powder
Main Role: Utility/Special Attacker
Definitely my favorite Mega. Standard set but I think this EV spread may be a bit weird. I think SDef is more common but the Def investment helps me deal with Conkeldurr/U-Turn Scizor and others I was having problems with.
This guy is the answer to a lot of things, like Azumarill, Conkeldurr, Rotom-W, and Manaphy. With 364/276/236 defenses(Before mega even) this thing is a major tank. He can take hits as well as dish them out, all while recovering with GigaDrain and Synthesis, and threatening the SleepPowder on switch ins.
Dragonite @ Lum Berry
Ability: Multiscale
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Adamant Nature
- Outrage
- Fire Punch
- Extreme Speed
- Dragon Dance
Main Role:Set Up/CleanUp Sweeper
Last but not least, good ol Dnite. Standard DD set and spread. My strategy usually involves saving him for last, taking out threats and fairy types so he can sweep with outrage. Unfortunatly, I've been finding that he is about my only answer to the Lati Twins besides maybe Mamoswine, sometimes forcing me to send him out prematurely. Lum Berry allows him to come in and set up safely on things that would otherwise status him.
Conclusion:
All in all, I think I'm okay for a relatively recent comer to the competitive scene. I just play for fun and tend not to take it too seriously, but still I want to have a good competitive presence. I reached a peak just over 1500 ELO in OU with this team, but I'd like to hear where it can improve. I like the team and the way it plays a lot but I'm not sure it can stand up what I've been seeing higher up the ladder in OU if I want to keep getting better.
Thanks guys (:
This is a team that has evolved from my gen5 OU team as I've learned the metagame. I like to use pokemon I like of course, but I'm not sure if this is cutting it or what I can do to improve. I'm not sure the team as a whole works that well cohesively, or if some mons may not be pulling their weight. I'm not too knowledgeable, since I have mostly learned by repeated failures. So i'm hoping you guys could help me out. I'm totally open to suggestions and I wanna learn the meta better. (:
This is essentially a balanced team, revolving around defensive/utility mons Tentacruel, Sableye, and Mega-Venusaur whittling down and taking out threats for Dnite to come in and sweep.
Sableye @ Leftovers
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 252 HP / 248 Def / 8 Spd
Impish Nature
- Foul Play
- Will-O-Wisp
- Recover
- Taunt
Main Role: Physical Wall/Utility/Stallbreaker
I love this guy. He can be annoying to face, but fun to use. This is his standard set, but physically defensive. Prankster Taunt helps to shutdown set-up sweepers or defensive boosters and can keep SR at bay so it doesnt break Dnites multiscale. Sometimes I use him as a lead, when its obvious someone is eager to set up SR with Ferrothorn or another SR lead
Suprisingly, despite Sableyes mediocore defensive stats, he can take on a quite a beating. Most physical attackers are afraid of a prankster WoW, so he mostly gets hit by Talonflame or Conkeldurr. He can take a Brave Bird or Flare Blitz from Talonflame, and follow up with a Foul Play which I believe KOs after SR and recoil damage. Foul Play also helps with DD Charizard X, or SD Talonflame, if I can predict properly
I'm told Conkeldurr is mostly running Guts with AV this gen, so should I not have Sableye out against them? Phyisical M-Venusaur can take him on pretty well, but idk If im better off burning or not.
I run 8 speed to outspeed opposing Sableye, but I'm not sure its necessary.
Tentacruel @ Black Sludge
Ability: Clear Body
EVs: 252 HP / 240 SDef / 16 Spd
Calm Nature
- Scald
- Knock Off
- Rapid Spin
- Toxic
Main Role: Special Wall/Spinner/Utility
Tentacruel has served me pretty well. Investing in SDef with Calm nature allows him to take some pretty hard hitting special attacks. He's a good switch in to Heatran, and can take volt-switches from Rotom-W too. He can take special hits from Aegislash, who comes in to spinblock, while threatening the knock off and burn from Scald. Also provides knock-off/toxic support
Clear Body is the ability of choice because it served me well in the early XY meta when everyone was using sticky web, but maybe Liquid Ooze would be a good alternative to take GigaDrains from M-venusaur? Dunno.
Jolteon @ Air Balloon
Ability: Volt Absorb
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature
- Thunderbolt
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Substitute
- Baton Pass
Main Role: SubPasser
Here's one I'm afraid may not be pulling its weight. :/ I really like Jolteon as a pokemon, but I'm not sure its meshing well with the team. Pretty standard set I think. It can hit pretty hard, and can OHKO common 4x weak to ice pokemon. Air Balloon allows it to switch into Garchomp and Gliscor without fearing the EQ, and forces them to switch out because of HP ice. Most of the time, its use is to set up a Sub while the opponent switches, fearing the Tbolt or HPice, then passing the sub to Dnite, who can take hits like a champ behind a sub while setting up, or to pass it to a poke to switch in without getting hit. It can act as a revenge killer sometimes, but that may be something better filled by another mon.
Mamoswine @ Focus Sash
Ability: Thick Fat
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spd
Adamant Nature
- Earthquake
- Ice Shard
- Icicle Crash
- Stealth Rock
Main Role: SR setter/Physical Attacker
Totally standard sash Mamoswine here. He can come out as a lead and set up SR without fear thanks to SR. As of now he is my only source of priority in Ice Shard, which may be a problem. EQ and Icicle Crash are hard hitting STAB attacks that can take out or put a dent in a lot of threats with proper prediction. (Which i tend to be bad at)
Venusaur @ Venusaurite
Ability: Chlorophyll
EVs: 252 HP / 8 Spd / 56 SAtk / 192 Def
Bold Nature
- Giga Drain
- Sludge Bomb
- Synthesis
- Sleep Powder
Main Role: Utility/Special Attacker
Definitely my favorite Mega. Standard set but I think this EV spread may be a bit weird. I think SDef is more common but the Def investment helps me deal with Conkeldurr/U-Turn Scizor and others I was having problems with.
This guy is the answer to a lot of things, like Azumarill, Conkeldurr, Rotom-W, and Manaphy. With 364/276/236 defenses(Before mega even) this thing is a major tank. He can take hits as well as dish them out, all while recovering with GigaDrain and Synthesis, and threatening the SleepPowder on switch ins.
Dragonite @ Lum Berry
Ability: Multiscale
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Adamant Nature
- Outrage
- Fire Punch
- Extreme Speed
- Dragon Dance
Main Role:Set Up/CleanUp Sweeper
Last but not least, good ol Dnite. Standard DD set and spread. My strategy usually involves saving him for last, taking out threats and fairy types so he can sweep with outrage. Unfortunatly, I've been finding that he is about my only answer to the Lati Twins besides maybe Mamoswine, sometimes forcing me to send him out prematurely. Lum Berry allows him to come in and set up safely on things that would otherwise status him.
Conclusion:
All in all, I think I'm okay for a relatively recent comer to the competitive scene. I just play for fun and tend not to take it too seriously, but still I want to have a good competitive presence. I reached a peak just over 1500 ELO in OU with this team, but I'd like to hear where it can improve. I like the team and the way it plays a lot but I'm not sure it can stand up what I've been seeing higher up the ladder in OU if I want to keep getting better.
Thanks guys (:
