Hey, if anyone wants to help out, here is the basic format for the individual entries on playstyles (think of this as a threatlist of sorts, except dealing with playstyles rather than Pokemon).
Once you complete a section I'll edit it into the OP.
Please also post with suggestions on what existing entries to improve as well as more playstyles to write entries on, and I'll consider them. Thanks!
Introduction
Competitive Pokemon battling is a strategy game, and like any other strategy game, the patterns exhibited can be simplified into broader categories and groups. In Competitive Pokemon battling, these strategies are known as playstyles, and although the playstyles are often most visibly showcased in the battles themselves, they are almost always reflected in the teams themselves even before the battle begins. Knowing the basic frameworks of the playstyles involved in any metagame will help you to analyze your battles and teambuild with an objective in mind, two skills that vastly increase your potential to succeed. This guide will introduce you to the common playstyles present in the OU metagame, as well as describe the Pokemon present in them and their strengths and weaknesses.
Offensive Playstyles
Rain Offense
Identifying Pokemon: Rain Offense is always seen carrying Politoed, as it can set up rain just by switching in thanks to Drizzle. Another common teammate on Rain teams is a rain lead, usually seen in the form of Deoxys-S, as it can set up both rain and Stealth Rock, as well as Taunt. Kabutops and Kingdra tend to be the most common Swift Swim users, though Ludicolo and Omastar are also usable. Mega Manectric, Mega Ampharos, Thundurus-T, Tornadus, Tornadus-T, and Gyarados are other common Pokemon.
Description: This strategy utilizes Pokemon with Swift Swim and other rain attackers that, when under rain, are extremely fast and hit extremely hard. Usually, these team archetypes have a dedicated lead that can set up both hazards and rain quickly. They then proceed to send out a Swift Swim user or other rain attacker to wreck havoc on the opponent's team. These teams also use Politoed as a pivot switch in order to continually set rain back up. Usually, these teams will focus on breaking common counters, such as Ferrothorn, in order for one rain sweeper to finish up the game.
Strengths and Weaknesses: The main strength of these teams is the ability to use extremely fast attackers, which can really put the hurt on more frail, offensive teams. Not only is speed gained, however, but also power. Water-type attacks, when boosted by rain, boosting items, and possible stat boosts, hit incredibly hard. You also get to use moves with higher overall Base Power, such as Hurricane and Thunder, which have 100% accuracy in rain. Some downsides include the general fraility of these teams, meaning the user has to sac Pokemon throughout the match. They need to know who to sac, what Pokemon they need to break other Pokemon, and what Pokemon are needed for a late-game sweep, meaning this team style isn't the easiest to play. Another problem rain teams have is the poor accuracy of many of their moves; Hydro Pump, Stone Edge from Kabutops, Hypnosis from Politoed, and Hurricane and Thunder outside of rain all have a good chance to miss, which could potentially cost the game.
Sand Offense
Identifying Pokemon: Excadrill is ALWAYS present, alongside Tyranitar (common) or Hippowdon (rare) to set up sand. Look for strong checks or lures to Azumarill, Rotom-W, and Skarmory. Gyarados can round off a good offensive core with Tyranitar on these teams.
Description: As the name implies, Sand Offense relies on Excadrill and its ability Sand Rush to outspeed and sweep the opponent's team with powerful attacks. Generally, the team is designed around a late-to-mid-game sweep, and the teammates are either designed to soften walls prior to the sweep or clean up afterwards. Lures are often hugely successful on these teams seeing as natural counters to Sand Rush Excadrill like Quagsire and Rotom-W can easily be disposed of by Pokemon like Salac Berry Natural Gift Talonflame. On the other hand, a strong check to these Pokemon, such as Celebi, can get a free switch out of these Pokemon and can function well with Excadrill itself acting as lure.
Strengths and Weaknesses: The primary strength of Sand Offense teams is that with sand up, Excadrill has an excellent matchup against the majority of offensive and balanced teams, and becomes one of the most excellent sweepers and cleaners in the game. It also requires very little direct support - Tyranitar and Excadrill can fit in with a vast array of teammates, and don't force the user to give up a mega evolution slot. However, the main fault of sand offense teams is that they lose a significant win condition if the sand setter is eliminated prematurely. The main players in a sand offense team - Tyranitar and Excadrill - do not fare well against stall, necessitating solid answers to and plays against stall teams. Being a weather-based playstyle, it must be prepared to enter into a difficult weather war against Rain teams.
Mega Charizard Y
Sash Offense
Identifying Pokemon: Powerful, fast attackers paired with a Defog user, usually Latias or Latios. Looks like a typical offensive team, but without a dedicated hazard setter (e.g. Deoxys-D/S).
Description: Sash offense relies largely on the item Focus Sash, which prevents Pokemon from being OHKO'd by any move (provided they're at full health). With the insurance that it can take any hit, a Focus Sash-holding Pokemon is able to retaliate back against the opponent, often unexpectedly, and often costing the opponent major losses by striking back at important targets. Many of these Pokemon will receive a "second chance" to attack the opponent, allowing the user far more opportunities to do damage, and a sashed Pokemon often acts as a win condition even against boosted sweepers.
Strengths and Weaknesses: Properly played, a Focus Sash team has a great matchup against offensive teams because the attackers holding Focus Sash are tough to revenge kill and can always hit back after being hit themselves. However, the most obvious limitation is that entry hazards will make Focus Sash useless, so the user must utilize Defog as well as offensive pressure to prevent hazards from ruining the strategy.
VoltTurn
SmashPass
Bulky Offense
Type-Based Offense (Flying, Electric, Bug)
Balanced Playstyles
Balanced
Specialized
Identifying Pokemon: A clearly identifiable late-game sweeper (e.g. Mega Charizard X, Mega Gyarados, Mega Tyranitar) with all of the other Pokemon dedicated to supporting it.
Description: Specialized teams aim to set up an easy sweep for one of its members late-game. Oftentimes, these teams are centered around only one such sweeper, and the other 5 members all aim to support it in some way. Lures, wallbreakers, hole-punchers, hazard setters, status inducers, and hazard removers can all be a part of a successful specialized team. Although their composition may appear similar to a balanced or offensive team, they play differently, as sacs are much less frequent due to the specialized nature of each team member, and the late-game sweeper is generally preserved at high health until the endgame. Depending on the sweeper at hand, the team members will be very different, and specialized teams will often employ strategies from other playstyles, such as VoltTurn. However, it is the presence of a dedicated late-game sweeper with teammates specifically meant to support it that separates specialized teams from most others.
Strengths and Weaknesses: On one hand, specialized teams have a strength in that the late-game sweeper is extremely well supported, much more so than the ones found on other teams, and therefore have a higher chance of success. However, because all of the effort is focused on one Pokemon, these teams may have more trouble getting past other teams that happen to carry a hard counter to that Pokemon (e.g. Mega Tyranitar vs. Quagsire), and care must be taken to ensure that these counters can be removed.
Stall Playstyles
Mega Venusaur
Mega Charizard X
Other Mega Evolutions
Semistall Playstyles
Stall with a Finisher
Identifying Pokemon: Stall Pokemon (walls), plus late-game sweepers such as Suicune or Calm Mind Clefable.
Description: This unique version of Semistall blends the traditional stall tactic of wearing the opponent down with the offensive tactic of a late-game sweep. The teams often look similar to full stall teams, however, making use of multiple walls and support Pokemon to wear down the opponent while not getting worn down themselves. However, this form of semistall sacrifices one of its walls or support units for the ability to run a late-game sweeper like Suicune or Calm Mind Clefable, allowing it to "clean" the opponent's team late-game after most Pokemon have been removed or heavily weakened. The Pokemon used to clean are usually bulkier and boost slower, although faster cleaners with more immediate power may also be used.
Strengths and Weaknesses: Unlike regular stall teams, the presence of a finishing Pokemon gives the team a clear win condition, especially against other stall teams, as some of them may have trouble dealing with the finishers. On the other hand, by sacrificing a teamslot that could have otherwise gone to a wall, these teams lose some of the walling power of a traditional stall team, and are slightly more vulnerable to being overwhelmed.
Offensively-inclined Stall
Niche Playstyles (rare or hard to use)
Trick Room
Identifying Pokemon: Reuniclus and Porygon2 are the most universal setters. Look out for slow, but extremely powerful attackers.
Description: There are a plethora of slow yet hard-hitting Pokemon available, yet most of them are forced into lower tiers as their low speed means they must take many hits before attacking. The move Trick Room, however, makes slower Pokemon attack first, allowing these slow, powerful Pokemon the opportunity to act as sweepers. Trick Room teams usually have a mix of Trick Room setters (Pokemon who can reliably use the move Trick Room) and Trick Room sweepers (powerful, slow Pokemon that can take advantage of the Trick Room turns). Some Pokemon, such as Reuniclus, act as both. Because Trick Room only has 4 usable turns before it wears off, it's important that a Trick Room team has a good balance of sweepers and setters.
Strengths and Weaknesses: The primary strength of Trick Room teams is that the sweepers are typically far bulkier, more powerful, and "faster" than normal sweepers, giving the user a massive advantage over other offensive teams when Trick Room is up. However, the main weakness in Trick Room teams is that Trick Room must be set up every 5 turns or else the sweepers may be easily outsped. This is why some people consider Trick Room to be a "gimmick" - against a good player, it may be hard to continually set up Trick Room turns.
Sun Offense
Mini Baton Pass
Once you complete a section I'll edit it into the OP.
Please also post with suggestions on what existing entries to improve as well as more playstyles to write entries on, and I'll consider them. Thanks!
Introduction
Competitive Pokemon battling is a strategy game, and like any other strategy game, the patterns exhibited can be simplified into broader categories and groups. In Competitive Pokemon battling, these strategies are known as playstyles, and although the playstyles are often most visibly showcased in the battles themselves, they are almost always reflected in the teams themselves even before the battle begins. Knowing the basic frameworks of the playstyles involved in any metagame will help you to analyze your battles and teambuild with an objective in mind, two skills that vastly increase your potential to succeed. This guide will introduce you to the common playstyles present in the OU metagame, as well as describe the Pokemon present in them and their strengths and weaknesses.
Offensive Playstyles
Rain Offense
Identifying Pokemon: Rain Offense is always seen carrying Politoed, as it can set up rain just by switching in thanks to Drizzle. Another common teammate on Rain teams is a rain lead, usually seen in the form of Deoxys-S, as it can set up both rain and Stealth Rock, as well as Taunt. Kabutops and Kingdra tend to be the most common Swift Swim users, though Ludicolo and Omastar are also usable. Mega Manectric, Mega Ampharos, Thundurus-T, Tornadus, Tornadus-T, and Gyarados are other common Pokemon.
Description: This strategy utilizes Pokemon with Swift Swim and other rain attackers that, when under rain, are extremely fast and hit extremely hard. Usually, these team archetypes have a dedicated lead that can set up both hazards and rain quickly. They then proceed to send out a Swift Swim user or other rain attacker to wreck havoc on the opponent's team. These teams also use Politoed as a pivot switch in order to continually set rain back up. Usually, these teams will focus on breaking common counters, such as Ferrothorn, in order for one rain sweeper to finish up the game.
Strengths and Weaknesses: The main strength of these teams is the ability to use extremely fast attackers, which can really put the hurt on more frail, offensive teams. Not only is speed gained, however, but also power. Water-type attacks, when boosted by rain, boosting items, and possible stat boosts, hit incredibly hard. You also get to use moves with higher overall Base Power, such as Hurricane and Thunder, which have 100% accuracy in rain. Some downsides include the general fraility of these teams, meaning the user has to sac Pokemon throughout the match. They need to know who to sac, what Pokemon they need to break other Pokemon, and what Pokemon are needed for a late-game sweep, meaning this team style isn't the easiest to play. Another problem rain teams have is the poor accuracy of many of their moves; Hydro Pump, Stone Edge from Kabutops, Hypnosis from Politoed, and Hurricane and Thunder outside of rain all have a good chance to miss, which could potentially cost the game.
Sand Offense
Identifying Pokemon: Excadrill is ALWAYS present, alongside Tyranitar (common) or Hippowdon (rare) to set up sand. Look for strong checks or lures to Azumarill, Rotom-W, and Skarmory. Gyarados can round off a good offensive core with Tyranitar on these teams.
Description: As the name implies, Sand Offense relies on Excadrill and its ability Sand Rush to outspeed and sweep the opponent's team with powerful attacks. Generally, the team is designed around a late-to-mid-game sweep, and the teammates are either designed to soften walls prior to the sweep or clean up afterwards. Lures are often hugely successful on these teams seeing as natural counters to Sand Rush Excadrill like Quagsire and Rotom-W can easily be disposed of by Pokemon like Salac Berry Natural Gift Talonflame. On the other hand, a strong check to these Pokemon, such as Celebi, can get a free switch out of these Pokemon and can function well with Excadrill itself acting as lure.
Strengths and Weaknesses: The primary strength of Sand Offense teams is that with sand up, Excadrill has an excellent matchup against the majority of offensive and balanced teams, and becomes one of the most excellent sweepers and cleaners in the game. It also requires very little direct support - Tyranitar and Excadrill can fit in with a vast array of teammates, and don't force the user to give up a mega evolution slot. However, the main fault of sand offense teams is that they lose a significant win condition if the sand setter is eliminated prematurely. The main players in a sand offense team - Tyranitar and Excadrill - do not fare well against stall, necessitating solid answers to and plays against stall teams. Being a weather-based playstyle, it must be prepared to enter into a difficult weather war against Rain teams.
Mega Charizard Y
Sash Offense
Identifying Pokemon: Powerful, fast attackers paired with a Defog user, usually Latias or Latios. Looks like a typical offensive team, but without a dedicated hazard setter (e.g. Deoxys-D/S).
Description: Sash offense relies largely on the item Focus Sash, which prevents Pokemon from being OHKO'd by any move (provided they're at full health). With the insurance that it can take any hit, a Focus Sash-holding Pokemon is able to retaliate back against the opponent, often unexpectedly, and often costing the opponent major losses by striking back at important targets. Many of these Pokemon will receive a "second chance" to attack the opponent, allowing the user far more opportunities to do damage, and a sashed Pokemon often acts as a win condition even against boosted sweepers.
Strengths and Weaknesses: Properly played, a Focus Sash team has a great matchup against offensive teams because the attackers holding Focus Sash are tough to revenge kill and can always hit back after being hit themselves. However, the most obvious limitation is that entry hazards will make Focus Sash useless, so the user must utilize Defog as well as offensive pressure to prevent hazards from ruining the strategy.
VoltTurn
SmashPass
Bulky Offense
Type-Based Offense (Flying, Electric, Bug)
Balanced Playstyles
Balanced
Specialized
Identifying Pokemon: A clearly identifiable late-game sweeper (e.g. Mega Charizard X, Mega Gyarados, Mega Tyranitar) with all of the other Pokemon dedicated to supporting it.
Description: Specialized teams aim to set up an easy sweep for one of its members late-game. Oftentimes, these teams are centered around only one such sweeper, and the other 5 members all aim to support it in some way. Lures, wallbreakers, hole-punchers, hazard setters, status inducers, and hazard removers can all be a part of a successful specialized team. Although their composition may appear similar to a balanced or offensive team, they play differently, as sacs are much less frequent due to the specialized nature of each team member, and the late-game sweeper is generally preserved at high health until the endgame. Depending on the sweeper at hand, the team members will be very different, and specialized teams will often employ strategies from other playstyles, such as VoltTurn. However, it is the presence of a dedicated late-game sweeper with teammates specifically meant to support it that separates specialized teams from most others.
Strengths and Weaknesses: On one hand, specialized teams have a strength in that the late-game sweeper is extremely well supported, much more so than the ones found on other teams, and therefore have a higher chance of success. However, because all of the effort is focused on one Pokemon, these teams may have more trouble getting past other teams that happen to carry a hard counter to that Pokemon (e.g. Mega Tyranitar vs. Quagsire), and care must be taken to ensure that these counters can be removed.
Stall Playstyles
Mega Venusaur
Mega Charizard X
Other Mega Evolutions
Semistall Playstyles
Stall with a Finisher
Identifying Pokemon: Stall Pokemon (walls), plus late-game sweepers such as Suicune or Calm Mind Clefable.
Description: This unique version of Semistall blends the traditional stall tactic of wearing the opponent down with the offensive tactic of a late-game sweep. The teams often look similar to full stall teams, however, making use of multiple walls and support Pokemon to wear down the opponent while not getting worn down themselves. However, this form of semistall sacrifices one of its walls or support units for the ability to run a late-game sweeper like Suicune or Calm Mind Clefable, allowing it to "clean" the opponent's team late-game after most Pokemon have been removed or heavily weakened. The Pokemon used to clean are usually bulkier and boost slower, although faster cleaners with more immediate power may also be used.
Strengths and Weaknesses: Unlike regular stall teams, the presence of a finishing Pokemon gives the team a clear win condition, especially against other stall teams, as some of them may have trouble dealing with the finishers. On the other hand, by sacrificing a teamslot that could have otherwise gone to a wall, these teams lose some of the walling power of a traditional stall team, and are slightly more vulnerable to being overwhelmed.
Offensively-inclined Stall
Niche Playstyles (rare or hard to use)
Trick Room
Identifying Pokemon: Reuniclus and Porygon2 are the most universal setters. Look out for slow, but extremely powerful attackers.
Description: There are a plethora of slow yet hard-hitting Pokemon available, yet most of them are forced into lower tiers as their low speed means they must take many hits before attacking. The move Trick Room, however, makes slower Pokemon attack first, allowing these slow, powerful Pokemon the opportunity to act as sweepers. Trick Room teams usually have a mix of Trick Room setters (Pokemon who can reliably use the move Trick Room) and Trick Room sweepers (powerful, slow Pokemon that can take advantage of the Trick Room turns). Some Pokemon, such as Reuniclus, act as both. Because Trick Room only has 4 usable turns before it wears off, it's important that a Trick Room team has a good balance of sweepers and setters.
Strengths and Weaknesses: The primary strength of Trick Room teams is that the sweepers are typically far bulkier, more powerful, and "faster" than normal sweepers, giving the user a massive advantage over other offensive teams when Trick Room is up. However, the main weakness in Trick Room teams is that Trick Room must be set up every 5 turns or else the sweepers may be easily outsped. This is why some people consider Trick Room to be a "gimmick" - against a good player, it may be hard to continually set up Trick Room turns.
Sun Offense
Mini Baton Pass
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