Welcome to my UU team thread, in which I ask you for some help improving my team whilst showing it off. I made this account just for that, to be honest. I've been playing UU, almost solely, since the dawn of BW on several accounts, and I recently returned after a long break. You can probably tell from the team, but eh. You're probably already bored with all these introductions, so here it is.
spooky lights (Chandelure) @ Leftovers
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 112 HP / 140 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Fire Blast
- Shadow Ball
- Substitute
- Calm Mind
Chandy is a personal favorite of mine. She benefited greatly from Choice Scarf in her prime time, but now it seems she has been all but forgotten. She works perfectly with fire-baiter Forretress, as Flash Fire just racks up the damage. The EV spread is completely standard for SubCM Chandy, to allow her sub to never be broken by the likes of Florges, survive Dark Pulses from Hydreigon after a boost, outspeed relevant threats and hit back hard. I'm still doubting Fire Blast over Flamethrower, it's like it wants to miss at the worst of times.
no good names (Forretress) @ Leftovers
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Relaxed Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Rapid Spin
- Spikes
- Gyro Ball
- Volt Switch
Forretress serves as a spiker and a wall, maxing out SpD to better handle the icy attacks that half my team can't handle themselves. I've run Red Card / Sturdy Forretresses before with moderate success, but it is important he survives for long enough to aid Chandy and Zygarde do their jobs, as well as keeps rocks away from under Crobat. Relaxed and 0 spe IVs to deal max Gyro Ball damage. He is my first response to Alakazam, Espeon and a good number of other fast special threats.
le spiky saur (Nidoqueen) @ Life Orb
Ability: Sheer Force
EVs: 128 HP / 252 SpA / 128 Spe
Modest Nature
- Sludge Wave
- Earth Power
- Stealth Rock
- Ice Beam
Nidoqueen is bulk incarnate and backs it up with a fantastic ability in Sheer Force and a decent special stat. EVs are completely standard offensive SR, they allow her to outspeed relevant threats and OHKO several of them. Even with fairly little bulk investment, she can almost always lead and tank a hit whilst setting up Stealth Rocks, and most of the time she can retaliate quite harshly. I don't need her to stay alive any longer than the threats she checks, but she almost always does. She has Ice Beam over Fire Blast because Chandelure does it better anyway. Ice Beam also allows for some SE coverage of Flying types and Dragons, who I have an issue sending in Zygarde and Ampharos on.
BRObat xDDDDDDD (Crobat) @ Choice Band
Ability: Infiltrator
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Brave Bird
- U-turn
- Cross Poison
- Sleep Talk
Crobat is one of the fastest mons in the tier, at least before Mega Alakazam dropped. It's extremely powerful wearing a Choice Band, and I'm baffled at how I never saw that before now. She singlehandedly destroys offensive threats such as Nidoking, and I spend a lot of time spamming Brave Bird until it dies. U-turn allows it to retain momentum, should it be switched in the same turn as another or to revenge kill, which she does very well. Sleep Talk to absorb Spores and Sleep Powders and hit back when they don't expect the Brave Bird. Cross Poison is coverage, although it gets very limited use.
legend snek (Zygarde) @ Lum Berry
Ability: Aura Break
EVs: 252 HP / 200 SpD / 56 Spe
Careful Nature
- Substitute
- Coil
- Dragon Tail
- Earthquake
The bulkiest snake, the best snake, Zygarde completely walls dangerous physical threats like Darmanitan. He also does good work when it comes to special attacks, and though he's not as good as setting up on them, he gets the job done and proceeds to wreck face. I tried him with DD Lum Berry, and it was a horrible idea. Sub Coil has won me too many matches to count. Dragon Tail is also my only phazing move, so his presence is a blessing after rocks and spikes have been set up. 56 Speed EVs to outspeed base 70 invested mons and hit them with a quick EQ.
it has hair (Ampharos) @ Ampharosite
Ability: Static
EVs: 192 HP / 252 SpA / 64 Spe
Modest Nature
- Thunderbolt
- Dragon Pulse
- Focus Blast
- Volt Switch
L'Oreal, you're worth it, blah blah blah, Ampharos has turned into a right beast with its upgraded stats after Mega Evolution. She absolutely destroys anything that doesn't resist it and happily takes a punch back. With no way to recover, it is important that the field is clean when she enters, as the SR damage does rack up.
TEAMBUILDING
My absolute favorite mon in BW UU was Chandelure, an absolute beast when it comes to special attacks and wallbreaking. She packs quite the punch in STAB Fire Blast and Shadow Ball, although the popular playstyle has changed from ScarfLure to SubCM, which I have tried and tested.
Chandelure's ability makes it perfect to pair with a mon that baits fire attacks like no tomorrow. I also needed something to control hazards, and Forretress does this whilst setting hazards itself, which makes it an optimal partner for Chandy, who can come in and force switches like no tomorrow.
Chandelure isn't as bulky as you would expect, and I needed something to handle some physical threats while posing a threat itself. Nidoqueen is bulky, deals massive damage and can demolish balance teams like no tomorrow, and she even has access to Stealth Rock, which makes Chandy's time that much more pleasurable.
Another mon I used a lot during both BW, BW2 and beginning of XY was Crobat, the possibly best stallbreaker in the tier. She also has access to Defog and Roost, which caused her usage to skyrocket early on. After going through the forums, I found that I'd best be using her for some heavy Physical damage, which the team desperately needs right now. (Outside Forretress' Gyro Ball)
This team has no chance of ever taking out special walls like Blissey, nor does it stand a chance against physical threats like Darmanitan (what is even up with its usage right now?), and I spent some time looking for a bulky Darm counter. Crocune came to mind - it could probably take out Blissey after a million boosts, but I went with Zygarde, his SubCoil set looked too good.
Last, but definitely not least, a bulky pharaoh, that not only looks good, but deals immense amounts of damage on top. She resists even boosted SE damage like a boss, she is: Mega Giraffe aka Ampharos!
This team has been tested with Darmanitan in Zygarde's place, Mienshao and Yanmega, but none seemed to work like this one. I went to top 40, lost 3 matches, went back up there somewhere, down again, and now I'm sitting here crying to you, Smogon Forum-goers, hoping you'll help me be the very best...
THE TEAM
My absolute favorite mon in BW UU was Chandelure, an absolute beast when it comes to special attacks and wallbreaking. She packs quite the punch in STAB Fire Blast and Shadow Ball, although the popular playstyle has changed from ScarfLure to SubCM, which I have tried and tested.
Chandelure's ability makes it perfect to pair with a mon that baits fire attacks like no tomorrow. I also needed something to control hazards, and Forretress does this whilst setting hazards itself, which makes it an optimal partner for Chandy, who can come in and force switches like no tomorrow.
Chandelure isn't as bulky as you would expect, and I needed something to handle some physical threats while posing a threat itself. Nidoqueen is bulky, deals massive damage and can demolish balance teams like no tomorrow, and she even has access to Stealth Rock, which makes Chandy's time that much more pleasurable.
Another mon I used a lot during both BW, BW2 and beginning of XY was Crobat, the possibly best stallbreaker in the tier. She also has access to Defog and Roost, which caused her usage to skyrocket early on. After going through the forums, I found that I'd best be using her for some heavy Physical damage, which the team desperately needs right now. (Outside Forretress' Gyro Ball)
This team has no chance of ever taking out special walls like Blissey, nor does it stand a chance against physical threats like Darmanitan (what is even up with its usage right now?), and I spent some time looking for a bulky Darm counter. Crocune came to mind - it could probably take out Blissey after a million boosts, but I went with Zygarde, his SubCoil set looked too good.
Last, but definitely not least, a bulky pharaoh, that not only looks good, but deals immense amounts of damage on top. She resists even boosted SE damage like a boss, she is: Mega Giraffe aka Ampharos!
This team has been tested with Darmanitan in Zygarde's place, Mienshao and Yanmega, but none seemed to work like this one. I went to top 40, lost 3 matches, went back up there somewhere, down again, and now I'm sitting here crying to you, Smogon Forum-goers, hoping you'll help me be the very best...
THE TEAM
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 112 HP / 140 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Fire Blast
- Shadow Ball
- Substitute
- Calm Mind
Chandy is a personal favorite of mine. She benefited greatly from Choice Scarf in her prime time, but now it seems she has been all but forgotten. She works perfectly with fire-baiter Forretress, as Flash Fire just racks up the damage. The EV spread is completely standard for SubCM Chandy, to allow her sub to never be broken by the likes of Florges, survive Dark Pulses from Hydreigon after a boost, outspeed relevant threats and hit back hard. I'm still doubting Fire Blast over Flamethrower, it's like it wants to miss at the worst of times.
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Relaxed Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Rapid Spin
- Spikes
- Gyro Ball
- Volt Switch
Forretress serves as a spiker and a wall, maxing out SpD to better handle the icy attacks that half my team can't handle themselves. I've run Red Card / Sturdy Forretresses before with moderate success, but it is important he survives for long enough to aid Chandy and Zygarde do their jobs, as well as keeps rocks away from under Crobat. Relaxed and 0 spe IVs to deal max Gyro Ball damage. He is my first response to Alakazam, Espeon and a good number of other fast special threats.
Ability: Sheer Force
EVs: 128 HP / 252 SpA / 128 Spe
Modest Nature
- Sludge Wave
- Earth Power
- Stealth Rock
- Ice Beam
Nidoqueen is bulk incarnate and backs it up with a fantastic ability in Sheer Force and a decent special stat. EVs are completely standard offensive SR, they allow her to outspeed relevant threats and OHKO several of them. Even with fairly little bulk investment, she can almost always lead and tank a hit whilst setting up Stealth Rocks, and most of the time she can retaliate quite harshly. I don't need her to stay alive any longer than the threats she checks, but she almost always does. She has Ice Beam over Fire Blast because Chandelure does it better anyway. Ice Beam also allows for some SE coverage of Flying types and Dragons, who I have an issue sending in Zygarde and Ampharos on.
Ability: Infiltrator
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Brave Bird
- U-turn
- Cross Poison
- Sleep Talk
Crobat is one of the fastest mons in the tier, at least before Mega Alakazam dropped. It's extremely powerful wearing a Choice Band, and I'm baffled at how I never saw that before now. She singlehandedly destroys offensive threats such as Nidoking, and I spend a lot of time spamming Brave Bird until it dies. U-turn allows it to retain momentum, should it be switched in the same turn as another or to revenge kill, which she does very well. Sleep Talk to absorb Spores and Sleep Powders and hit back when they don't expect the Brave Bird. Cross Poison is coverage, although it gets very limited use.
Ability: Aura Break
EVs: 252 HP / 200 SpD / 56 Spe
Careful Nature
- Substitute
- Coil
- Dragon Tail
- Earthquake
The bulkiest snake, the best snake, Zygarde completely walls dangerous physical threats like Darmanitan. He also does good work when it comes to special attacks, and though he's not as good as setting up on them, he gets the job done and proceeds to wreck face. I tried him with DD Lum Berry, and it was a horrible idea. Sub Coil has won me too many matches to count. Dragon Tail is also my only phazing move, so his presence is a blessing after rocks and spikes have been set up. 56 Speed EVs to outspeed base 70 invested mons and hit them with a quick EQ.
Ability: Static
EVs: 192 HP / 252 SpA / 64 Spe
Modest Nature
- Thunderbolt
- Dragon Pulse
- Focus Blast
- Volt Switch
L'Oreal, you're worth it, blah blah blah, Ampharos has turned into a right beast with its upgraded stats after Mega Evolution. She absolutely destroys anything that doesn't resist it and happily takes a punch back. With no way to recover, it is important that the field is clean when she enters, as the SR damage does rack up.
WHAT THEY DO
The team's main focus is to keep hazards under control. Once their hazard setter is gone, Forretress' priority is to wipe away remaining hazards to allow free movement for the powerhouses like Chandelure and Ampharos. They, and Nidoqueen, lure out their spinner and take it down withh Forretress' spike support. Assuming that is done without casualties, Crobat can come in to sweep and wear down Zygarde's and Chandelure's threats.
At least, that's what I hope for every game. In reality it goes something more like:
Nidoqueen sets up SR, destroys its opposition with a OHKO, takes out the next mon or severely damages it, switch to Forretress or Chandy to either set up more hazards or block spins, continue to die or kill depending, Crobat comes in and goes 3 for 1, leaving Zygarde to boost unless they baited him out earlier. Then I press killswitches. It works most times.
The team's main focus is to keep hazards under control. Once their hazard setter is gone, Forretress' priority is to wipe away remaining hazards to allow free movement for the powerhouses like Chandelure and Ampharos. They, and Nidoqueen, lure out their spinner and take it down withh Forretress' spike support. Assuming that is done without casualties, Crobat can come in to sweep and wear down Zygarde's and Chandelure's threats.
At least, that's what I hope for every game. In reality it goes something more like:
Nidoqueen sets up SR, destroys its opposition with a OHKO, takes out the next mon or severely damages it, switch to Forretress or Chandy to either set up more hazards or block spins, continue to die or kill depending, Crobat comes in and goes 3 for 1, leaving Zygarde to boost unless they baited him out earlier. Then I press killswitches. It works most times.
