ORAS OU Tale of 2 Stars!

[Zontanossey]

Hey guys, this is my first RMT on Smogon. I've done many RMTs on Pokémon Showdown on the 'Competitive Tutoring' room. I wanted to make a thread, but didn't know if it will help. I wanted to build a team around Staraptor. Please tell me what you think of my team so far; I'm open to any suggestions.

Valor (Staraptor) (F) @ Choice Band
Ability: Reckless
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Brave Bird
- Double-Edge
- Close Combat
- U-turn

Like I said, I wanted to build a team around Staraptor. I watched someone use it a couple of days ago, but didn't know if it was "OU worthy". I decided to give her the usual choice band set. Close Combat can help with slower rock and ice types, that give her problems. Double-Edge is a good stab with the reckless ability. I did some calcs and it either OHKOs or 2HKOs a number of common pokémon.

Sceptimas (Sceptile-Mega) (M) @ Sceptilite
Ability: Lightning Rod
EVs: 66 Atk / 252 SpA / 192 Spe
Naive Nature
- Leaf Storm
- Dragon Pulse
- Earthquake
- Hidden Power [Fire]

I noticed Staraptor is weak to Ice, Rock and Electric. I figured Mega Sceptile fits perfectly with Staraptor's needs. After he mega evolves, he can take incoming electric attacks with his Lightning Rod ability. Since he's part grass, he can handle the rock pokémon. I decided to give him HP Fire and Earthquake, instead of Focus Blast. HP Fire should help take care of steel and other grass types; while Earthquake helps with Rock and opposing Heatrans.

Hayabusa (Scizor) (M) @ Choice Band
Ability: Technician
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Bullet Punch
- Superpower
- Knock Off
- U-turn

Scizor is one of my favorite pokémon to use since BW2, its been reliable. Normally, I do the 3 attacks + roost set, but I decided to go with choice band. Since both Staraptor and Mega Sceptile are weak to Ice types, I needed an ice check. Scizor can also handle some rock types as well. U-turn comes in handy for slow switches and to gain some momentum. I don't know if I should replace choice band for Leftovers or a Lum Berry.

Aquarius (Starmie) @ Life Orb
Ability: Analytic
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Hydro Pump
- Psyshock
- Ice Beam
- Rapid Spin

Since I have a flying Pokémon, I need a rapid spinner or a defogger. I decided to use Starmie over Mew and Latias. I wanted a fast check to Fire, Rock, Keldeos and Ice types like Mamoswine. I thought about replacing Ice Beam for Thunderbolt, but I didn't go with it.

Krakatoa (Heatran) (F) @ Air Balloon
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 248 HP / 8 SpA / 252 SpD
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Stealth Rock
- Lava Plume
- Earth Power
- Protect
After looking at my team, I needed another Pokémon to handle Fire, Dragon, Fairy, etc. I figured Heatran is a good fit to the team. I originally had leftovers, but I thought Air Balloon was the safest route. I also had Toxic along with Protect, but I replaced it with Stealth Rock. I thought I needed a special wall and Heatran helps with that.

Voltergeist (Rotom-Wash) @ Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 248 HP / 216 Def / 44 Spe
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Hydro Pump
- Volt Switch
- Will-O-Wisp
- Pain Split

I thought I needed another Ground, Fire and Electric check. Rotom-W help cover those, it also provides a physical wall to handle Mamoswine, Keldeo (to a degree) and Talonflame. Rotom-W carries Will-O-Wisp and Pain Split to help against fighting types and stall. Rotom-W comes with Volt Switch to complete the 'Volt Turn' core.

Threatlist

Just to name a few

 

[Snowy]

Hey, very nice team fren! I would just like to show you some glue you could implement to fill and fix some of the holes I have found within your team. As you have mentioned in your threat list Mega-Metagross and Thundurus can really tear apart your team with the right sets and damage required (I don't really find the other pokemon mentioned to be of much threat). Who or what can deal with this combination without reconstructing you team? Quagsire. Implementing Quagsire over Rotom-W applies many advantages as it already completes the majority of things you need Rotom-W to do in checking most fire,water and electric types, is a physical wall that can handle non freeze dry mamoswine and Keldeo with no problem, can burn your targets with scald or poison them with toxic also deal with nearly every single physically offensive mon in the game and prevents you from getting swept by said mons. Finally I would implement Leftovers over Air Balloon, as lefties allows the longevity of Heatran to increase were as Air Balloon is more suited to more Specially Offensive Heatrans that can actually pose a threat of the get go.

Set + Info:

Hide

Quagsire @ Leftovers
Ability: Unaware
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Relaxed Nature
- Scald
- Earthquake
- Recover
- Toxic

As I have already stated this set deals for the large portion of Physical attackers in the meta game, does Rotom-w job equally except for the lack of priority and can deal with the two major threats to your team.

Hope you were able to gain something from my rate and I wish for you and your teams success in the future!

 

[Zontanossey]

Hey, very nice team fren! I would just like to show you some glue you could implement to fill and fix some of the holes I have found within your team. As you have mentioned in your threat list Mega-Metagross and Thundurus can really tear apart your team with the right sets and damage required (I don't really find the other pokemon mentioned to be of much threat). Who or what can deal with this combination without reconstructing you team? Quagsire. Implementing Quagsire over Rotom-W applies many advantages as it already completes the majority of things you need Rotom-W to do in checking most fire,water and electric types, is a physical wall that can handle non freeze dry mamoswine and Keldeo with no problem, can burn your targets with scald or poison them with toxic also deal with nearly every single physically offensive mon in the game and prevents you from getting swept by said mons. Finally I would implement Leftovers over Air Balloon, as lefties allows the longevity of Heatran to increase were as Air Balloon is more suited to more Specially Offensive Heatrans that can actually pose a threat of the get go.

Set + Info:

Hide

Quagsire @ Leftovers
Ability: Unaware
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Relaxed Nature
- Scald
- Earthquake
- Recover
- Toxic

As I have already stated this set deals for the large portion of Physical attackers in the meta game, does Rotom-w job equally except for the lack of priority and can deal with the two major threats to your team.

Hope you were able to gain something from my rate and I wish for you and your teams success in the future!

Yeah, the first Pokémon that came to mind that was a huge threat was HP Ice Thundurus. Mega Metagross is really annoying, even though I've fought against maybe 3-5 teams with Mega Metagross. I haven't used Quagsire since my balanced Mega Venusaur team, mid XY. I didn't know Air Balloon was for attacking Heatrans, good to know. Do you think having 2 choice band Pokémons is a good idea? Thanks for your import, HeiDoe.

 

[Snowy]

Yeah, the first Pokémon that came to mind that was a huge threat was HP Ice Thundurus. Mega Metagross is really annoying, even though I've fought against maybe 3-5 teams with Mega Metagross. I haven't used Quagsire since my balanced Mega Venusaur team, mid XY. I didn't know Air Balloon was for attacking Heatrans, good to know. Do you think having 2 choice band Pokémons is a good idea? Thanks for your import, HeiDoe.

In regards to the issue of having two choice banded pokemon on one team. I believe although you are able to do this, that running Scarf on Staraptor would allow you to gain a form of speed control and the ability to have a fast and reliable momentum user on your team. This is perks would benefit your team a lot as it makes revenge killing and late game cleaning a lot easier for you.