ORAS NU Rhyturne - An Odyssey of Offense

[nv]

Hi forums, it's NV again. I am back this time with a NU team that I have had some relative success with and overall fun. As per the title, the team is built around a core I found to have some very cool synergy, Rhydon and Cacturne.

Let's start with the teambuilding process...

Teambuilding Process

These two were the basis of the team as I noticed they had decent offensive synergy and could cover each other's weaknesses somewhat well.

I noticed that these two really appreciated hazards as they can force a lot of switches and Rhydon was running its Double Dance set meaning it lacks Stealth Rock. I decided on Lead Crustle as with a particular item it can beat opposing leads and set up hazards.

Next I needed a Water-type that could provide a nice set of coverage while also giving some natural bulk to the team. I chose Life Orb Samurott as it fulfilled both and even had access to an Torrent-boosted Aqua Jet.

Next I needed a Scarfer that could provide momentum and a solid way to beat opposing Fighting-types as I had a noticeable weakness to them. Rotom-S fit the bill and even had the added utility of Trick to cripple opposing Pokemon.

Lastly I added Life Orb Mesprit as another Fighting-type check and for Healing Wish support, which can give my Pokemon a second attempt at sweeping.

I noticed after awhile that my team was super weak to Sneasel, so I decided to replace Samurott with Special Poliwrath as it was a solid check to Sneasel and even had access to supereffective priority.

Thanks to Karane's suggestion, I lacked a solid way to beat the spinners that beat up on Crustle, losing my hazards and making it a horrible 6v5 with my opponent in favor to win. He suggested Mismagius over Mesprit to spinblock and hit the spinners really hard with a STAB Shadow Ball while Eeyore suggested Taunt which I have been using to outboost CroDino while also blocking Defog from slower mons.

The Team
**CHANGES IN MAROON ITALICS**

Dusty Morals (Rhydon) (M) @

Ability: Lightning Rod
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
-

Swords Dance
-

Stone Edge
-

Earthquake
-

Rock Polish

Rhydon's Double Dancing set is so threatening in the current meta; being able to wallbreak or sweep all in one set is a pretty big boon. It also has amazing physical bulk thanks to Eviolite and base 120 Defense stat while having ok special bulk, letting it take neutral special hits while setting up. Having STAB EdgeQuake combo helps Rhydon sweep weakened teams as both hit very hard coming off a fully invested positive natured base 130 Attack stat.

Voodoo Doll (Cacturne) (F) @

Ability: Water Absorb
EVs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Rash Nature
-

Dark Pulse
-

Giga Drain
-

Sucker Punch
-

Destiny Bond
Cacturne is a great Pokemon with great mixed 115 attacking stats allowing it to surprise a lot of its common checks, since most Cacturne tend to be the Swords Dance set. Dark Pulse 2HKOs a lot of physical walls such as Weezing or Vileplume while Giga Drain can provide easy recovery and hit a lot of Water-types such as Seismitoad and Quagsire a lot harder than Seed Bomb. The last slot is a toss up between Substitute and Spikes, but I ultimately opted for Substitute as Cacturne can force a ton of switches meaning it can get a free Substitute up and proceed to get a free hit off on the Pokemon the opponent tries to send in to revenge Cacturne. After some testing, I have noticed that Destiny Bond is way more effective as it still gives me the switch advantage of Substitute since Cacturne is pretty slow meaning whatever switches in has to deal with dying since Destiny Bond lasts until Cacturne acts again while also giving me an emergency check to slow boosters such as CroDino like Karane said.

Weighin' Down (Crustle) (M) @

/

Ability: Sturdy
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
-

Spikes
-

Stealth Rock
-

Rock Blast
-

Shell Smash /

Knock Off /

X-Scissor​

This thing is so much fun to play with. The fact that it can run multiple items and different moves in its 4th slot means I can change it at a whim without changing the overall goal of Lead Crustle. Crustle is my goto Pokemon to make sure I get hazards up and since it can threaten all Defoggers means hazards almost always can stay up. Shell Smash means I can beat Xatu incoming on obvious hazards which also means they lose their way of beating hazards, allowing Crustle to make it a 6v5 and getting hazards up. Knock Off means I can get rid of items if I really want to while X-Scissor means I can beat out Xatu trying to Roost on Crustle. Mental Herb is really nice as it allows Crustle to beat the other common leads such as Taunt Archeops while Custap Berry allows me to get off a free Rock Blast or hazard if I can.

In A Stupor (Poliwrath) (M) @

Ability: Water Absorb
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
-

Hydro Pump
-

Ice Beam
-

Focus Blast
-

Vacuum Wave​

Poliwrath has been an awesome replacement for Samurott and I will admit I haven't looked back. Backed by a resistance to Dark allows Poliwrath to check Sneasel, an otherwise major threat to this team. Special Poliwrath is also a bit of surprise as by its stats it looks like a better physical attacker; however, with higher power STABs and higher power coverage, it can surprise a lot of Pokemon in NU. Vacuum Wave is amazing in the last slot as it allows Poliwrath to easily revenge kill Sneasel while providing a bit more priority, albeit weak priority, on this team.

Category Five (Rotom-Fan) @

Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
-

Volt Switch
-

Air Slash
-

Thunderbolt
-

Trick
Rotom-S is probably one of the better Choice Scarf users in NU as it has a great momentum move, a secondary STAB to hit Electric immunities, and a way to cripple walls not named Mega Audino thanks to Trick. It also provides this team with an amazing Fighting resist which this team was pretty weak to at the moment. The great thing about Rotom-S is even if I happen to trick away my Scarf too early I can still use its reasonable bulk with the item I got from Trick (usually Leftovers) to continue being good.

Brewin' Trubel (Mismagius) (F) @

Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
-

Nasty Plot
-

Shadow Ball
-

Dazzling Gleam
-

Taunt​

Mismagius was a suggestion made Karane and a great one at that. Mismagius has been a huge threat to all the spinners who try to spin away Crustle's hazards while also blocking Defog from Pokemon that are slower than it such as Mantine, Prinplup, and so on. While Karane suggested Memento, I went with Eeyore's suggestion of Taunt as it allowed me to block Defog without losing my spinblocker and it also gave her setup opportunities to hit really hard.

Past Teammate

Golden Rule (Mesprit) @

Ability: Levitate
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
-

Psyshock
-

Signal Beam
-

Energy Ball
-

Healing Wish
This is standard Life Orb Mesprit, one of the most commonly used Pokemon and rightfully so with great stats and a great movepool geared to hitting other common Pokemon. Psyshock allows Mesprit to beat AV Hariyama, who sometimes switches in as Psychic 2HKOes, meaning I have to predict Hariyama coming in while Psyshock means I can stay in while it tries to go for the Knock Off. Psyshock also gets around special walls such as Mantine or regular Audino. Signal Beam OHKOes Malamar after Rocks while Energy Ball bops Seismitoad, allowing Mesprit to act as an anti-lead of sorts. Healing Wish means Mesprit can support its teammates once it has done its job, allowing Rhydon, Poliwrath, Rotom-S, or Cacturne another chance at sweeping.

And there is the team. I hope everyone can enjoy it and help me improve this team as much as possible.

Replays

http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/nu-220270207

Threatlist

Sneasel is a huge threat to this team once Poliwrath is down. Luckily Poliwrath doesn't die too easily and it has priority to scare off most Sneasels, but it is still a big threat.

Normal Spam is a big threat to the team once Rhydon is worn down as I have no way to stop it after that.

CroDino is a major threat as it can set up on most of my team and its natural physical bulk makes it hard to power through it on the physical side while it is boosting its special bulk.

I am pretty sure there are more so let me know if you find any.

Rhyturne (Importable)

Dusty Morals (Rhydon) (M) @ Eviolite
Ability: Lightning Rod
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Swords Dance
- Stone Edge
- Earthquake
- Rock Polish

Voodoo Doll (Cacturne) (F) @ Life Orb
Ability: Water Absorb
EVs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Rash Nature
- Dark Pulse
- Giga Drain
- Sucker Punch
- Destiny Bond

Weighin' Down (Crustle) (M) @ Mental Herb
Ability: Sturdy
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Spikes
- Stealth Rock
- Rock Blast
- Shell Smash

In A Stupor (Poliwrath) (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Water Absorb
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Hydro Pump
- Ice Beam
- Focus Blast
- Vacuum Wave

Category Five (Rotom-Fan) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Volt Switch
- Air Slash
- Thunderbolt
- Trick

Brewin' Trubel (Mismagius) (F) @ Life Orb
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Nasty Plot
- Shadow Ball
- Dazzling Gleam
- Taunt

 

[Karane]

this team is really hard to rate without significantly changing the team structure but I'll give it a shot anyway as there a few flaws that's stopping it from being its best. First obvious one is obviously a large weakness to Crodino. Crodino sets up a lot of stuff in this team like Cacturne, Crustle and Rotom Fan (or even Poliwrath as its your knock off switch in and its bound to get knocked off). One immediate solution is Destiny Bond > Substitute as you're using Life Orb and a sp.def lowering nature which makes Substitute not a worthwhile move. Destiny bond should provide you with more utility and an emergency check to slow boosters. Or you could try Calm Mind Mesprit w Psyshock over LO variant as it beats Crodino 1v1.

Sandslash and Cryogonal too look annoying as the former can spin pretty easily on Crustle itsel, Rhydon and choice locked Rotom while Cryo beats a lot of your team with Freeze dry and spins. Can you give Mismagius over Mesprit a whirl? Mismagius can help you against spinners while being equally as threatening with w Nasty Plot + Shadow Ball. Although you won't be getting Healing Wish support you could try Memento to give Rhydon a good shot as setting up.

The threats you mentioned in the threatlist can be neutralised pretty easily if you get the hazards up early w Crustle so you can Vacuum Wave Poliwrath can put in a lot of work and Rhydon can set up on those normal types if played correctly. And hope this helps!

Suggestions:

: Destiny Bond > Substitute

Mismagius

Mismagius @ Life Orb
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Nasty Plot
- Shadow Ball
- Dazzling Gleam
- Memento

 

[nv]

this team is really hard to rate without significantly changing the team structure but I'll give it a shot anyway as there a few flaws that's stopping it from being its best. First obvious one is obviously a large weakness to Crodino. Crodino sets up a lot of stuff in this team like Cacturne, Crustle and Rotom Fan (or even Poliwrath as its your knock off switch in and its bound to get knocked off). One immediate solution is Destiny Bond > Substitute as you're using Life Orb and a sp.def lowering nature which makes Substitute not a worthwhile move. Destiny bond should provide you with more utility and an emergency check to slow boosters. Or you could try Calm Mind Mesprit w Psyshock over LO variant as it beats Crodino 1v1.

Sandslash and Cryogonal too look annoying as the former can spin pretty easily on Crustle itsel, Rhydon and choice locked Rotom while Cryo beats a lot of your team with Freeze dry and spins. Can you give Mismagius over Mesprit a whirl? Mismagius can help you against spinners while being equally as threatening with w Nasty Plot + Shadow Ball. Although you won't be getting Healing Wish support you could try Memento to give Rhydon a good shot as setting up.

The threats you mentioned in the threatlist can be neutralised pretty easily if you get the hazards up early w Crustle so you can Vacuum Wave Poliwrath can put in a lot of work and Rhydon can set up on those normal types if played correctly. And hope this helps!

Suggestions:

: Destiny Bond > Substitute

Mismagius

Mismagius @ Life Orb
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Nasty Plot
- Shadow Ball
- Dazzling Gleam
- Memento

I am definitely swearing I put CroDino on the threatlist after before you mentioned, but yea it does dent the team as a whole. I do like Destiny Bond > Substitute for the reasons you stated, so I am definitely going to give it a try. Also Mismagius w/ Memento > LO Mesprit sounds very intriguing to not only wallbreak with a Nasty Plot backing it up, but the fact that it allows for set up opportunities for Rhydon, so I will definitely look into that. Thanks fren :)

 

[Eeyore]

How does the team fare against Lilligant and Pyroar? I'm seeing some pseudo-checks, but I would wonder your strategy for these fast and special mons.

 

[nv]

How does the team fare against Lilligant and Pyroar? I'm seeing some pseudo-checks, but I would wonder your strategy for these fast and special mons.

Lilligant looks like a p big problem but usually I just catch it before it sets up, but I can see why my team can lose to it pretty easily. As for Pyroar, I have Scarf Rotom who i tend to weaken with Volt Switch or Air Slash then revenge kill it with Poliwrath as Poliwrath's Vacuum Wave 2HKOes (OHKOes after Rocks + 1-2 rounds of Life Orb damage). I was wondering, do you have any thoughts as to how to change the team and allow me to check these threats a lot better?

 

[Eeyore]

Lilligant looks like a p big problem but usually I just catch it before it sets up, but I can see why my team can lose to it pretty easily. As for Pyroar, I have Scarf Rotom who i tend to weaken with Volt Switch or Air Slash then revenge kill it with Poliwrath as Poliwrath's Vacuum Wave 2HKOes (OHKOes after Rocks + 1-2 rounds of Life Orb damage). I was wondering, do you have any thoughts as to how to change the team and allow me to check these threats a lot better?

First off, Pyroar is used typically with Scarf, so Poliwrath is a good check, but with Poli gone, if that ever happens, it whittles your team pretty significantly. Just watch for it because it's really powerful. Your team seems to be pretty good, but I guess I was just adding more of a warning than anything else.

Now that I look deeper with calcs and stuff, Sucker Punch and Dark Pulse with Cacturne alongside of Rotom's Air Slash would be the way to go. However, you're right, if it does set up, you're pretty boned, as HP fire does more damage and it WILL be faster.

Honestly, I'd go with Mismagius as well, but add TAUNT to it. This more or less checks Lilligant, and many players will switch out, giving you a free Nasty Plot. I'd honestly do that over Memento. With as many sweepers as you have, I'm not sure you need the Memento to allow Rhydon to sweep if Mismagius can do it as well. Fast taunt will be more valuable as it stops Stealth Rock set up, as well as Sleep Powder from Lilligant and Quiver Dance.

Mismagius also ends that Normal spam you mentioned in threatlist, as well as cold stopping CroDino. Besides that, it ends ANY sort of set-up, which no team really likes, and any Substitute, BP, Defog (which helps Crustle as well) or Wish shenanigans. Though Mesprit is strong, I'm not sure you really need it.

 

[Lilligant for OU]

LOOKIN SOLID

 

[nv]

LOOKIN SOLID

Much team rate :^P

 

[Lilligant for OU]

Much team rate :^P

You're god damn right

 

[nv]

Ok update time...I replaced LO Mesprit with LO Mismagius as per Karane's suggestion along with using Taunt as per Eeyore's suggestion. I also added Destiny Bond to Cacturne because of what Karane said about it. I really like this team and I feel it has improved a lot even with the few changes that have happened to it :)