MZ
And now for something completely different
Introduction
Hey everybody, my name is Bippy, although you probably have seen me playing under my main alt, Megazard Z. As a tier, PU is more stale than any other, despite many players frocking to it as a "breath of fresh air from bog-standard OU". Seriously? There are 10 pokemon that appear on 95% of every single team: Sneasel, Throh, Musharna, Gourgeist, Avalugg, Poliwrath, Zebstrika, Raichu, Barbaracle, and Garbodor (except sand teams). Although this team originally began as one annoyed player's way to blow off steam, it has performed very well, consistently keeping me within the top 20, and I feel ought to be shared so that a better player can give it the success that I can't, still being relatively new and inexperienced. I'm not just asking for help improving this team, I encourage anybody who can to try to use it themselves. In addition, I won't be including a team building process in this RMT. That being said, it's time to get into
The only PU hyper offense team
I'm Megazard Z
The team at a glance
I'm Megazard Z
The team at a glance
Dead Head (Misdreavus) @ Eviolite
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 76 Def / 180 Spe
Bold Nature
- Destiny Bond/Magic Coat
- Taunt
- Will-O-Wisp
- Shadow Ball
Dead Head is essentially this team's version of a suicide lead. Just from the team preview, it's evident that the team is rather weak to hazards, one of the main issues with running PU hyper offense as there are no good offensive spinners or defoggers. Since nearly everybody in this tier leads with hazards, having a taunt/wisp user is amazing, with enough defensive EVs to survive a Jolly LO Sneasel's knock off from full health, and the rest to outspeed all common hazard users. It comes in, disrupts an opponent's team (sometimes giving me my own hazards) and gives me the beginning offensive momentum that I need.
Like a boss (Raichu) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Lightningrod
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Volt Switch
- Thunderbolt
- Focus Blast
- Hidden Power [Ice]
Raichu forms the first half of the volt/turn core, and is pretty effective at his job of keeping momentum for the team, being able to force out plenty of bulky mons such as Carracosta, Pelliper, and Avalugg. It typically gets used for weakening stuff so that another mon can sweep, but can be used to just thunderbolt its way through an opposing team late game. The spread and moveset is fairly standard, and needs no deviation (seriously, surf is a straight up inferior coverage move in PU).
Gillette 2.0 (Scyther) @ Eviolite
Ability: Technician
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Wing Attack
- U-turn
- Brick Break
- Quick Attack
The second half of the volt/turn core, scyther is probably the best supporting pokemon in PU. Its ability to threaten fighting types comes in handy for Sneasel and Barbaracle, while eviolite is used over band or scarf to change up moves and actually tank a few hits. Once again the moves need no explanation (and seriously, wing attack is the same thing as aerial ace, but cooler), but scyther is an essential part of the team, and one of the two mons that I began building the team around.
Luftwaffe (Flareon) @ Choice Band
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Flare Blitz
- Superpower
- Quick Attack
- Heal Bell
The other member of the original duo, Flareon is here to NUKE THE SHIT OUT OF EVERYTHING. Base 130 attack + choice band + 120 base power moves means that only quad resists are spared the 2HKOs of Flareon's moves (only a slight over exaggeration). Most of the switching and volt/turning that goes on is to get a free switch into Flareon and get another KO on the opponent. While toxic orb is an option, it sacrifices a lot of longevity, especially since you'll be losing so much health from Flare Blitzes. The moves and EVs are fairly regular, although I have never actually used heal bell while playing with this team. Whatever you put in the last moveslot, you won't need it (although if anybody has any suggestions, I'm all ears). The ability to come in and guarantee that your opponent has one less wall to take you on is invaluable, and it can still switch in on several walls by itself, such as Gourgeist, and Avalugg lacking EQ.
Santa's claws (Sneasel) @ Life Orb
Ability: Inner Focus
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Knock Off
- Ice Punch
- Ice Shard
- Low Kick/Taunt/Fake Out
Oh boy, more standard four attacks sets! Sneasel is indisputably one of the best pokemon in PU, and easily deserves its S ranking for its sheer speed and power. EVs and first three moves are fairly obvious, while the last slot changes depending on what mood I'm currently in (honestly cannot make up my mind). Low kick hits Avalugg for slightly more damage as well as opposing Sneasel, Barbaracle, Bastiodon, and Piloswine, taunt is great for stopping Poliwrath and Avalugg from resting/recovering making them less of a problem as well as stopping Garbodor from setting up all over you, while Fake Out's extra damage often comes in handy. Sneasel also has the gifts of knock off and ice typing, one getting rid of all the eviolites in the tier, and the other threatening all the grass types that normally annoy Barbaracle. Swords dance is another possible option, but I find on life orb sets, it is both unnecessary and almost impossible to set up against better players.
Shrimp on the (Barbaracle) @ White Herb
Ability: Tough Claws
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Shell Smash
- Razor Shell
- Aerial Ace/X-Scissor
- Stone Edge
Of course, what HO team is complete without the best sweeper in the tier? Barbaracle is ridiculously strong after a shell smash, easily running through teams once opposing walls have been weakened. In several games, I've sacked my other five mons just to weaken two pokes and take out another, only for Barbaracle to take the game from a 5-1 to a 1-0. Jolly nature is another option for outspeeding scarfed Raichu and Electabuzz at +2, but the extra power of Adamant is fairly essential for grabbing KO's on Avalugg and Musharna, two of the team's biggest problems.
Conclusion
This team still needs work, but I've basically reached the limit of my capabilities to improve it. Every pokemon in the tier is a threat when you play hyper offense in PU, and making it work is difficult. However, with a bit more improvement, I feel this team can prove that the practically unknown play style of hyper offense can flourish in the tier, despite the amount of teams running Avalugg/Musharna/Lickilicky/Throh/Gourgeist-XL/Sneasel (come on, you know it's true).
Dead Head (Misdreavus) @ Eviolite
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 76 Def / 180 Spe
Bold Nature
- Destiny Bond
- Taunt
- Will-O-Wisp
- Shadow Ball
Gillette 2.0 (Scyther) @ Eviolite
Ability: Technician
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Wing Attack
- U-turn
- Brick Break
- Quick Attack
Like a boss (Raichu) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Lightningrod
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Volt Switch
- Thunderbolt
- Focus Blast
- Hidden Power [Ice]
Luftwaffe (Flareon) @ Choice Band
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Flare Blitz
- Superpower
- Quick Attack
- Heal Bell
Shrimp on the (Barbaracle) @ White Herb
Ability: Tough Claws
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Shell Smash
- Razor Shell
- Aerial Ace
- Stone Edge
Santa's claws (Sneasel) @ Life Orb
Ability: Inner Focus
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Knock Off
- Ice Punch
- Ice Shard
- Low Kick
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 76 Def / 180 Spe
Bold Nature
- Destiny Bond
- Taunt
- Will-O-Wisp
- Shadow Ball
Gillette 2.0 (Scyther) @ Eviolite
Ability: Technician
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Wing Attack
- U-turn
- Brick Break
- Quick Attack
Like a boss (Raichu) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Lightningrod
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Volt Switch
- Thunderbolt
- Focus Blast
- Hidden Power [Ice]
Luftwaffe (Flareon) @ Choice Band
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Flare Blitz
- Superpower
- Quick Attack
- Heal Bell
Shrimp on the (Barbaracle) @ White Herb
Ability: Tough Claws
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Shell Smash
- Razor Shell
- Aerial Ace
- Stone Edge
Santa's claws (Sneasel) @ Life Orb
Ability: Inner Focus
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Knock Off
- Ice Punch
- Ice Shard
- Low Kick
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