XY OU My first attempt at a competitive team: Balanced (Hopefully?)

GoreGross

Shuckle (M) @ Mental Herb
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
- Sticky Web
- Stealth Rock
- Encore
- Infestation

Shuckle is somewhat of an answer to being outsped - something my team is highly susceptible to. The Mental Herb almost guarantees the Sticky Web set up. Stealth Rock is both for teams that are very resistant to Sticky Web, and to be set up along Sticky Web where possible, which Mental Herb usually helps with. Encore and Infestation are great on their own but being able to trap other pokemon with Shuckle makes him more annoying than just a hazard setter.

Suicune @ Leftovers
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpA
Bold Nature
- Calm Mind
- Scald
- Rest
- Sleep Talk

Suicune, based pretty much entirely on the CroCune set, plays a mixed role. Suicune can go from Physical/Special Wall to late game sweeper, and Leftovers serve to increase its longevity. 8 times out of 10, Suicune is amongst the last three alive on my team, hopefully able to set up in a way that it becomes almost unstoppable to a crippled enemy team.

Heracross (M) @ Heracronite
Ability: Guts
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Close Combat
- Pin Missile
- Rock Blast
- Substitute

Heracross is the physical sweeper. Since Mega Heracross packs a punch by itself, I have not opted for Swords Dance - I believe that, since speed is such a major factor in the meta, a substitute does me more good if I can set one up, so that I can at least poke some holes in fast threats. As soon as Heracross is behind a sub, the coverage that Rock Blast provides for general damage, the stab of Pin Missile guaranteed to hit 5 times because of Mega's Skill Link, and of course CC are meant to keep Heracross hyper-offensive.

Thundurus-Therian @ Leftovers
Ability: Volt Absorb
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Nasty Plot
- Thunderbolt
- Hidden Power [Flying]
- Focus Blast

Thundurus, is my special sweeper, and my intention for it is to put holes into whatever Heracross can't. It's quite frail, so it only gets swapped in when I am sure I can set up a nasty plot and outspeed whatever I'm switiching into. Shuckle's Sticky Web should hopefully be serving to neuter potentially faster threats.

Sylveon (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Pixilate
EVs: 252 HP / 220 Def / 36 SpD
Bold Nature
- Hyper Voice
- Wish
- Protect
- Heal Bell

Sylveon is my special wall - not quite a staller, but given how reliant my team is on some quite frail attackers, Slyveon's Heal Bell serves to rid them of Status Effects, Hyper Voice does decent damage to many things, Protect can serve to increase survivability in tandem with wish and leftovers, and I even use Sylveon as a scout when I don't know what to expect.

Alakazam (M) @ Focus Sash
Ability: Magic Guard
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Psychic
- Focus Blast
- Shadow Ball
- Hidden Power [Fire]

Alakazam is the revenge killer - with magic guard and focus sash, it can swap in on hazards and get at least two attacks pretty much guaranteed, and its speed is rivaled by few. Psychic is for STAB, Focus Blast to OHKO threats like Tyranitar and Bisharp, Shadow Ball and Hidden Power for coverage. When all else fails, Alakazam has special sweeping potential on a crippled team.



I hope my team makes sense. It's my first attempt at a full, competitive team and it's been rough trying to work it around Suicune and Heracross - two of my favorite Pokemon.
 
Hey there cool team I like the use of suicune. There are some errors so i'll just correct things. Once shuckle's, dead(considering it's your lead it probably will be) your team is really weak to bird spam and you can't do anything about it. A much better option is a defensive pivot Lando. Eats Brave birds all day long. I've also noticed your very physically lacking. Making your team very suceptible to the likes of chansey once Heracross is dead. Alakazam seems a little out of place on this team to me. May I suggest Life Orb Latios. Much more bulky then alakzam and provides better coverage for this team. Also you actually would get swept by a special sweeper such as Mega Charizard Y and Mega latios. So to help this I would change sylveons set to a more specially defensive set considering that if you are threatened by physical attackers switch to a defensive geared pokemon (Lando). Also could you add a importable that makes raters lives alot easier.
 
Xaister said:
Hey there cool team I like the use of suicune. There are some errors so i'll just correct things. Once shuckle's, dead(considering it's your lead it probably will be) your team is really weak to bird spam and you can't do anything about it. A much better option is a defensive pivot Lando. Eats Brave birds all day long. I've also noticed your very physically lacking. Making your team very suceptible to the likes of chansey once Heracross is dead. Alakazam seems a little out of place on this team to me. May I suggest Life Orb Latios. Much more bulky then alakzam and provides better coverage for this team. Also you actually would get swept by a special sweeper such as Mega Charizard Y and Mega latios. So to help this I would change sylveons set to a more specially defensive set considering that if you are threatened by physical attackers switch to a defensive geared pokemon (Lando). Also could you add a importable that makes raters lives alot easier.
Click to expand...

Hey man. I was pretty sure this was importable - I just copy/pasted from PS import/export - could you just clarify how I would go about making it importable?

I really appreciate the input. Pretty much all you stated has been a problem, which makes me much more open to implementing your suggestions. I like the addition of a more specially defensive Sylveon. I'll give it a shot. The better coverage on Latios is welcome indeed and it is only a little slower than Alakazam so I'm up for it. As for the Landorus, I'm assuming you mean the following set:

Landorus-Therian @ Leftovers
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 HP / 240 Def / 8 SpD / 8 Spe
Impish Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- U-turn
- Knock Off

Because I'm open to having on my team, but wouldn't that open up a pretty glaring weakness to ice in combination with Latios and Thundurus? Anyone who I could replace Thundurus with? I must admit, I feel Thundurus hasn't been having great synergy with the team anyway, though I may be using him wrong.

Thanks again.
 
Y not Arm Thrust>Close Combat as AT doesnt defence drop, does hav a chance to break Subs and due to Skill Link Roughly the same power, implement all the changes above
 
Radio_Active said:
Y not Arm Thrust>Close Combat as AT doesnt defence drop, does hav a chance to break Subs and due to Skill Link Roughly the same power, implement all the changes above
Click to expand...
Arm Thrust maxes out at 75 BP with Skill Link, CC clocks in at 120. Big difference.

As far as my thoughts, I would switch out Shuckle for mixed Hippodown, as it gives you a more reliable setter, a Talon answer, and it also has recovery. EdgeQuake, Slack Off, and Rocks is probably the best mix for your team. I would also use Thundurus-I over its Therian counterpart. The drop in power isn't that noticable, and the extra 10 speed is vital. It allows you to outspeed Lati@s, Mega Metagross, Mega Diancie, Mega Gallade, and Garchomp among others. Beating the 110 speed mark is huge in the meta right now.

Hippowdon @ Leftovers
Ability: Sand Force
EVs: 252 HP / 144 Def / 112 SpD
Impish Nature
- Earthquake
- Stealth Rock
- Slack Off
- Stone Edge

Thundurus @ Leftovers
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Nasty Plot
- Thunderbolt
- Hidden Power Flying
- Focus Blast
 
[URL='http://www.smogon.com/forums/members/goregross.201294/' said:
GoreGross[/URL]]Because I'm open to having on my team, but wouldn't that open up a pretty glaring weakness to ice in combination with Latios and Thundurus? Anyone who I could replace Thundurus with? I must admit, I feel Thundurus hasn't been having great synergy with the team anyway, though I may be using him wrong.
Click to expand...
Perhaps chandelure w choice scarf
 
Celticpride said:
Arm Thrust maxes out at 75 BP with Skill Link, CC clocks in at 120. Big difference.

As far as my thoughts, I would switch out Shuckle for mixed Hippodown, as it gives you a more reliable setter, a Talon answer, and it also has recovery. EdgeQuake, Slack Off, and Rocks is probably the best mix for your team. I would also use Thundurus-I over its Therian counterpart. The drop in power isn't that noticable, and the extra 10 speed is vital. It allows you to outspeed Lati@s, Mega Metagross, Mega Diancie, Mega Gallade, and Garchomp among others. Beating the 110 speed mark is huge in the meta right now.

Hippowdon @ Leftovers
Ability: Sand Force
EVs: 252 HP / 144 Def / 112 SpD
Impish Nature
- Earthquake
- Stealth Rock
- Slack Off
- Stone Edge

Thundurus @ Leftovers
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Nasty Plot
- Thunderbolt
- Hidden Power Flying
- Focus Blast
Click to expand...

In terms of replacing Shuckle, would Landorus-T be as good or better than Hippowdon, as it also sets up rocks and is good for eating Brave Birds? I'm open to adding Hippowdon but I'm curious as to whether their roles would be similar. They're both weak to ice and that is another primary concern.
 
GoreGross said:
In terms of replacing Shuckle, would Landorus-T be as good or better than Hippowdon, as it also sets up rocks and is good for eating Brave Birds? I'm open to adding Hippowdon but I'm curious as to whether their roles would be similar. They're both weak to ice and that is another primary concern.
Click to expand...
Hippo is less Ice weak (it is EVed to take an HP Ice or two from most targets as well) and has recovery. Defensive Landorus-T is great, but gets worn down more easily.

252 Atk Sharp Beak Talonflame Brave Bird vs. 252 HP / 144+ Def Hippowdon: 120-142 (28.5 - 33.8%) -- 97.4% chance to 4HKO after Leftovers recovery
-1 252 Atk Sharp Beak Talonflame Brave Bird vs. 252 HP / 240+ Def Landorus-T: 90-106 (23.5 - 27.7%) -- possible 5HKO after Leftovers recovery

Hippo is better for longevity, Landorus-T is better for a blanket physical check due to Intimidate. It's more preference. As far as shoring up the Ice weakness, you could try Weavile instead of Alakazam. It's not bulky, but it resists Ice and can revenge and clean as well as Zam. Suicune is a great check to virtually any Ice type in the tier anyways, so it shouldn't be too much of a concern. You only have two things weak to Ice as well (Ground type and Thundy) so it's not too big a deal.
 
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