XY OU Zard-Y OU Team

Bocki · Sep 5, 2014

Hey so I took some time and tried to build a team around Zard-Y. I used this guide to build it: http://www.smogon.com/forums/threads/force-of-nature-an-in-depth-guide-to-zard-y.3501476/

I'm not really experienced in building teams so this could be total shit, but that's why I am here right x).

Team building process:

Started with Zard-Y.

Since Zard-Y is really weak to SR I needed a spinner.

Next I chose Bisharp as a Pursuit Trapper.

Lucario checks Steel types and makes a great offensive role.

Ttar checks Bird spam and works great with Excadrill.

Hippowdon packing SR works great as a Bulky Ground with Ttar and Excadrill.

The Team In-Depth:

Charizard @ Charizardite Y
Ability: Blaze
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
- Fire Blast
- Solar Beam
- Focus Blast
- Roost

I chose Zard-Y because he is a very strong pick in this meta. He can OHKO many enemies if he has a bit support, like a Rapid Spinner. It covers many other Pokemon and can survive some attacks too. A Fire Blast in the Sun hits like a rock (if it hits :3), Solar Beam checks it's water enemies and Focus Blast hits hard on Steel and Rock types, that maybe want to hit him with Stone Edge or Rock Slide. Pretty much the standart Zard-Y setup.

Excadrill @ Life Orb
Ability: Mold Breaker
EVs: 120 HP / 136 Atk / 252 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Rapid Spin
- Earthquake
- Iron Head
- Rock Slide
Excadrill supports my Zard-Y with Rapid spin. Zard-Y and Excadrill work great together, because Zard-Y resists Fight/Ground/Fire and Excadrill Rock/Electric, Zard-Y's weaknesses, and Zard-Y's sun helps Excadrill against water attacks. Mold-Breaker Excadrill can hit hard on enemies with Levitate, like Rotom-W.

Bisharp @ Life Orb
Ability: Defiant
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Sucker Punch
- Pursuit
- Knock Off
- Iron Head

Bisharp is my offensive Pursuit Trapper, that checks Lati@s. Sucker Punch checks offensive frail enemies. Knock Off will help to break through walls and Iron Head is another powerful STAB with a flinch chance. He has a big weakness to Fight-Types, but other than that he can hit his enemies hard packing a Life Orb. Also he checks Fairy-Types with Iron Head.

Lucario @ Life Orb
Ability: Justified
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Swords Dance
- Close Combat
- Earthquake
- Extreme Speed

Lucario is my Fighting-type. He resists Steel so that's great already. He breaks through Chansey/Blissey and I use him to switch into Bisharp, that he can destroy. Extreme Speed is a Priority Move that helps me revenge killing. With Swords Dance Lucario can also sweep through enemies like butter. Life Orb adds even more damage.

Tyranitar @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Pursuit
- Crunch
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge

Ttar is my answer to Bird Spam. His Sand Stream hurts enemies, while I can switch into Excadrill or Hippowdon. Also it doesn't hurt Zard-Y too much, since Zard-Y can change the weather. Crunch and Stone Edge are his powerful STABs, Pursuit helps me if Bisharp is somehow down. EQ is pretty standart. Packing a Choice Scarf makes Ttar reach much needed Speed, with that he can outspeed many threats.

Hippowdon (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 240 HP / 192 Def / 76 SpD
Impish Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- Toxic
- Slack Off

Hippowdon is my Bulky Ground-Type. He can stall enemies to death with Toxic and Slack Off, even better when a Sand Storm is up. He is mostly my lead setting up SR. Even if it's another weakness to water, he eats up attacks and can survive them. I chose a mixed EV Spread since I don't really have a special wall.

So this is my team, I tested it on PS and did quite well with it. Also note that this would be a team I can breed on my 2DS, otherwise I would pack Keldeo and Thundurus, but I can't breed these. I see a few weaknesses, like 4 types are weak to water, and that this team is really really offensive. So if you could leave a comment on how I could improve it I'd be happy :)

EDIT: In recent battles I saw that I have a heavy weakness to Landorous :/

Rebuilt Team after advices:

Charizard @ Charizardite Y
Ability: Blaze
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
- Fire Blast
- Solar Beam
- Focus Blast
- Roost
Stays the same

Excadrill @ Assault Vest
Ability: Sand Rush
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Swords Dance
- Earthquake
- Iron Head
- Rock Slide

No longer my Rapid Spinner. Now it's offensive to abuse Sand Rush. Therefore Rapid Spin was replaced with SD.

Latios @ Life Orb
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Draco Meteor
- Psyshock
- Defog
- Thunderbolt

Replaced Bisharp with Latios to check Fighting-Types and as a new Defogger. Thunderbolt to check Azumarill.

Keldeo @ Choice Specs
Ability: Justified
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Hydro Pump
- Scald
- Secret Sword
- Icy Wind

Replaced Lucario with Keldeo as my Fighting-Type. Ttar checks Keldeos counters and makes a good team.

Tyranitar @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Pursuit
- Crunch
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge

Stays the same

Hippowdon (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 240 HP / 192 Def / 76 SpD
Impish Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- Toxic
- Slack Off

Stays the same

WaffleTitan · Sep 5, 2014

I noticed your team has 4 pokemon weak to fighting, and no moves to cover that weakness. I suggest that you take out focus blast and add in air slash on charizard Y. As for your Landorus weakness, you could run a mixed ttar with ice beam or you could just add ice punch. If you do I suggest taking out pursuit, you have bisharp for that.

Bocki · Sep 5, 2014

WaffleTitan said:
I noticed your team has 4 pokemon weak to fighting, and no moves to cover that weakness. I suggest that you take out focus blast and add in air slash on charizard Y. As for your Landorus weakness, you could run a mixed ttar with ice beam or you could just add ice punch. If you do I suggest taking out pursuit, you have bisharp for that.

Makes total sense, Air Slash on Zard-Y adds another STAB, and to replace Pursuit with Ice Beam/Punch also seems good, thanks :)

Abrams · Sep 5, 2014

Hey Bocki, nice team you have there but there are some things you should consider to change. First of all, your weakness to fighting type attacks is really a problem, as well as your weakness to Keldeo. It will always get a kill when it comes in. So I think you should eventually replace Bisharp with Defog Latios and make Excadrill fully offensive as a Sand Rush abuser. This way you don´t lose your ability to remove Stealth Rocks and additionally you can effectively counter Keldeo. I would also suggest to run Thunderbolt on Latios because of Azumarill. It should be OHKOed most of the time after SR and one turn of SS damage. ScarfTar already has Pursuit and the bulk to switch into multiple Draco Meteors thanks to the SS-boost. You should also consider replacing Lucario with Keldeo. Thanks to Tyrantiar´s trapping move you should be able to remove the biggest Keldeo counters and possibly set up a sweep.

Latios @ Life Orb
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 29 HP
- Draco Meteor
- Psyshock
- Defog
- Thunderbolt

Keldeo @ Choice Specs
Ability: Justified
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Hydro Pump
- Scald
- Secret Sword
- Icy Wind

Hope this helped you. Feel free to ask me if there are any questions.

GusTheNewKid · Sep 5, 2014

Bocki said:
Makes total sense, Air Slash on Zard-Y adds another STAB, and to replace Pursuit with Ice Beam/Punch also seems good, thanks :)

I wouldn't replace anything with air slash if i was you. That is the best coverage you can get with three moves and you don't want to replace roost. Char is your best switch in to heatran and if you replace f miss with roost it's useless against heatran.

Earthquake and cc are terrible coverage... you should replace eq for ice punch to nail gliscor and lando on the switch. (or just use keldeo)

I really feel that your lack of keldeo switch in is alarming. it 6-0's you with rocks up. lando is equally threatening to your team.

If you used latios with psyshock, draco, hidden power fighting (if you don't want to be pursuit trapped) (hp fire if you hate ferro) and roost, it will help your team in a lot of ways. ev's should be max special attack max speed timid.

What to replace it with is the question. it's a tough one, but i feel that t tar is the weakest mon (beside lucario) and should be replaced with latios.

I also really don't understand why you have mold breaker excadrill on a sand team ?
You should use sand rush drill with 252 attack 252 speed with and adamant nature to check bird spam and rk +1 char x.. Moves should be eq rock slide iron head and rapid spin (sd instead of spin if you have defog on lati instead of hidden power)

Bocki · Sep 5, 2014

Abrams said:
Hey Bocki, nice team you have there but there are some things you should consider to change. First of all, your weakness to fighting type attacks is really a problem, as well as your weakness to Keldeo. It will always get a kill when it comes in. So I think you should eventually replace Bisharp with Defog Latios and make Excadrill fully offensive as a Sand Rush abuser. This way you don´t lose your ability to remove Stealth Rocks and additionally you can effectively counter Keldeo. I would also suggest to run Thunderbolt on Latios because of Azumarill. It should be OHKOed most of the time after SR and one turn of SS damage. ScarfTar already has Pursuit and the bulk to switch into multiple Draco Meteors thanks to the SS-boost. You should also consider replacing Lucario with Keldeo. Thanks to Tyrantiar´s trapping move you should be able to remove the biggest Keldeo counters and possibly set up a sweep.

Latios @ Life Orb
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 29 HP
- Draco Meteor
- Psyshock
- Defog
- Thunderbolt

Keldeo @ Choice Specs
Ability: Justified
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Hydro Pump
- Scald
- Secret Sword
- Icy Wind

Hope this helped you. Feel free to ask me if there are any questions.

Hey Abrams, thanks for the advices :). Yeah I already thought about replacing Lucario and that I had to do something against Landorous and Fighting types^^. So with Bisharp removed I have no Priority Move, e.g. Sucker Punch. Is that alright? I feel that makes me vulnerable to enemies just sweeping through. Also what do you think should I give Excadrill instead of Rapid spin, since I have Latios as defogger now?

Also I like using Keldeo, but what are actually reasons for that?

Bocki · Sep 5, 2014

GusTheNewKid said:
I wouldn't replace anything with air slash if i was you. That is the best coverage you can get with three moves and you don't want to replace roost. Char is your best switch in to heatran and if you replace f miss with roost it's useless against heatran.

Earthquake and cc are terrible coverage... you should replace eq for ice punch to nail gliscor and lando on the switch. (or just use keldeo)

I really feel that your lack of keldeo switch in is alarming. it 6-0's you with rocks up. lando is equally threatening to your team.

If you used latios with psyshock, draco, hidden power fighting (if you don't want to be pursuit trapped) (hp fire if you hate ferro) and roost, it will help your team in a lot of ways. ev's should be max special attack max speed timid.

What to replace it with is the question. it's a tough one, but i feel that t tar is the weakest mon (beside lucario) and should be replaced with latios.

I also really don't understand why you have mold breaker excadrill on a sand team ?
You should use sand rush drill with 252 attack 252 speed with and adamant nature to check bird spam and rk +1 char x.. Moves should be eq rock slide iron head and rapid spin (sd instead of spin if you have defog on lati instead of hidden power)

Didn't think about Sand Rush Excadrill, shows that I'm not that experied :D Thanks for that!

Abrams · Sep 5, 2014

Bocki said:
Hey Abrams, thanks for the advices :). Yeah I already thought about replacing Lucario and that I had to do something against Landorous and Fighting types^^. So with Bisharp removed I have no Priority Move, e.g. Sucker Punch. Is that alright? I feel that makes me vulnerable to enemies just sweeping through. Also what do you think should I give Excadrill instead of Rapid spin, since I have Latios as defogger now?

I think you have 2 options:

1.) Keep Excadrill and run the basic Sand Rush sweeper with Earthquake/Rock Slide/Iron Head/Swords Dance Life Orb set and make sure that sandstorm is up everytime you need it to revenge kill a threat. Under sand you shouldn´t have any speed problems.

2.) You replace Excadrill with a form of speed control. This could be Prankster Thundurus or a priority user.

It´s totally up to you which playstyle suits you better, just make sure to try them out.

Bocki · Sep 5, 2014

Abrams said:
I think you have 2 options:

1.) Keep Excadrill and run the basic Sand Rush sweeper with Earthquake/Rock Slide/Iron Head/Swords Dance Life Orb set and make sure that sandstorm is up everytime you need it to revenge kill a threat. Under sand you shouldn´t have any speed problems.

2.) You replace Excadrill with a form of speed control. This could be Prankster Thundurus or a priority user.

It´s totally up to you which playstyle suits you better, just make sure to try them out.

I see, I think I have to try out and see what works better for me :). Prankster Thundurus looks great