SM OU Ash and Alan BFF (1500 ELO)

[Vinsader]

Sup guys, this will be my first RMT on smogon. I've been playing competetive for years, but started to take it more seriously on showdown only in gen6. Honestly, i prefer playing on cart and in prebank meta, but decided to go into OU bank because the bank arrived. I'm switching accounts each time i'm having a tilt/horrifying luck with hydro pump, so i only peaked at 1500 elo. I do think this team can go even higher.

teambuilding process

Both Ash-Greninja and Alan-Charizard having the same problem of Tapu Fini, and i thought how with steel/grass i can easly complete a FWG core and almost a DFS core too.

At first i thought about Kartana, but i needed a good rocker too AND something that can go into Lele without hidden power fire and threaten her. Ferrothorn can do that and pressure Fini. I needed a fairy too for completing the DFS core tho.

After that, i needed a defogger for Charizard. Tapu fini is the best defogger right now, and she also complete a "true" FWG and DFS cores (Ash-Greninja can't take a hit for life). Fini with Nature Madness can weaken stuff enough for Greninja/Zard to sweep.

I also wanted something against poisons type like Toxapex and a wallbreaker. Decided to go with Tapu Lele with mind plate. bluffing a specs set and punching holes. Also allowed me to reset Misty terrain for Charizard and allowed him to not be picked by priority.

After that i needed a speedy scarfer that can take a Zard-X, Volcarona, Scarf Garchomp and etc. Nihilego can do that, and can also become an amazing sweeper after steels and ground are weakened/removed. it's also enjoy Psychic terrain to not be afraid of Scizor.

​

Greninja-Ash @ Choice Specs
Ability: Battle Bond
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Dark Pulse
- Hydro Pump
- Water Shuriken
- U-turn​

Ahh, Ash-Greninja. Pretty much my favorite addition of Gen7. It's the regular set of Ash-Greninja. Choice Specs for getting the kill far more easly, Dark pulse for strong dark STAB, Water-Shuriken is for Priority, and can pick off weakened Roach even untransformed. U-Turn is for momentum against it's main counter (Fini)

Charizard-Mega-X @ Charizardite X
Ability: Tough Claws
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Flare Blitz
- Dragon Claw
- Dragon Dance
- Roost​

Mega-Zard X. In a way i hate it because of the anime, but i still love this stupidly good thing. it's having a good synergy with Ash-Greninja, as they can pressure each of their checks and counters together, and pressure Fini enough so that one of them can go for sweep. Flare Blitz for sheer power, Roost for staying alive and setting up on things, Dragon Claw is not as reliable as previous gen, but still good enough.

Tapu Lele @ Mind Plate
Ability: Psychic Surge
EVs: 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Psyshock
- Moonblast
- Shadow Ball
- Hidden Power [Fire]



​

Tapu Lele is one of the strongest Pokemons right now in OU. The sheer amount of power is insane. With mind plate, Lele can bluff a specs set and punish the shit out of bulky walls. Psyshock is for Chansey, Moonblast for Dark types who think they can go for free, Shadow Ball is only Metagross, but only on the switch. Hidden power Fire is to hit Scizor and Ferro.

Ferrothorn @ Leftovers
Ability: Iron Barbs
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Atk / 252 SpD
Impish Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Power Whip
- Gyro Ball
- Stealth Rock
- Leech Seed

​

Ferrothorn is my rock setter, and another Pokemon that can pressure Fini for Ash-Greninja and Charizard. Powerwhip allow it to hit far more harder than most can expect, GyroBall is removing speedy stuff and hitting most fairy type really hard. Leech seed is for recovery and because the switches Ferrothorn is making. spread is for taking most of Lele attacks, but still having more than enough physical bulk.

Tapu Fini @ Leftovers
Ability: Misty Surge
EVs: 248 HP / 192 Def / 16 SpD / 52 Spe
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Nature's Madness
- Defog
- Scald
- Moonblast​

Tapu Fini is the best defogger in OU, which Charizard needed to even think of doing something. Spread is the classic one, mostly because how good it is. Nature's Madness allow it to weakened stuff and make the life of Greninja far far more easier. Defog is a must, Scald is for burn chance against Bulu/Koko/Lele, and Moonblast is for other Ash-Greninja.

Nihilego @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Beast Boost
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Power Gem
- Sludge Wave
- Thunderbolt​

Nihilego is a very, very underrated Scarfer, and it's amazing by how good it is after Steel and Ground type are weakened/removed. With beast boost, it's also becoming a nuke. It can outspeed and OHKO most Volcarona after quiver dance, and OHKO most of DDance Megazard. it's also outspeeding Lele, Landorous, Garchomp and other scarfers below 102 speed which is really good. it also bulky on the special side, so it can take a non psychic hit from Lele and OHKO her after rocks.

threats

/

Greninja. Both of them. If Fini and Ferrothorn are weakened enough, i'm in huge problem. if it's Protean with hidden power fire, i'm also in a wild ride.

Pheromosa. Any of her sets is a problem. If psychic terrain is up and it's scarfed/got speedboost, i'm in a world of pain.

/

Z-Move Lando/Salamence. Jesus christ how the fuck do i even wall them without Skarmory/Zapdos? Revenge killing is not a problem tho, the problem is that i'm going to lose something.

Dugtrio. I fucking hate Arena Trap so much. If it's sash is borken, sure thing, but if not it's just going to remove Nihilego/Lele

Magnezone. Ferro just hate it. So do i. it's also making a problem for Lele and Fini.

Tapu Lele. I think anyone who won't think "oh shit it's Tapu Lele" at team preivew is an absolute madman.
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That's all. I hope you guys can tell me what to improve and what to change.

importable

Greninja-Ash @ Choice Specs
Ability: Battle Bond
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Dark Pulse
- Hydro Pump
- Water Shuriken
- U-turn

Charizard-Mega-X @ Charizardite X
Ability: Tough Claws
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Flare Blitz
- Dragon Claw
- Dragon Dance
- Roost

Tapu Lele @ Mind Plate
Ability: Psychic Surge
EVs: 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Psyshock
- Moonblast
- Shadow Ball
- Hidden Power [Fire]

Ferrothorn @ Leftovers
Ability: Iron Barbs
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Atk / 252 SpD
Impish Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Power Whip
- Gyro Ball
- Stealth Rock
- Leech Seed

Tapu Fini @ Leftovers
Ability: Misty Surge
EVs: 248 HP / 192 Def / 16 SpD / 52 Spe
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Nature's Madness
- Defog
- Scald
- Moonblast

Nihilego @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Beast Boost
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Power Gem
- Sludge Wave
- Thunderbolt

​

 

[ThePirate]

I don't think Tapu Lele adds much to this team. Sure, it's a great wallbreaker, but it just doesn't help containing threats or adding resistances like an offensive Pokemon should do in a good balanced team. I recommend replacing it with Flyinium Z Landorus-T.

This provides you a Z-Move abuser, a check to multiple threats, retains Tapu Lele's wallbreaker function but most importantly it has a Ground and Electric immunity, meaning opposing Ground Pokemon can't spam Earthquake against your team. This is particularly helpful against opposing Z-Move Landorus-T, because you can now pivot into Ferrothorn for Rockium Z variants, and you can force Flyinium Z variants to use Fly after their crystal get used. It helps against Magnezone or Tapu Koko too, meaning they have to think before just spamming Volt Switch so they don't lose their momentum completely, and also because Zard X can setup against both. Flyinium Z hits Tapu Fini and Ferrothorn for a ton of damage so Greninja has an easier time sweeping.

Landorus-T

Landorus-Therian @ Flyinium Z
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Earthquake
- Stealth Rock
- Fly
- Swords Dance

Landorus-T is one of the most reliable SR users in the metagame because it easily pressures Defog users and other Stealth Rock users. We can't say the same about Ferrothorn with Heatran, SD Landorus-T and Nature's Madness Tapu Fini around. However, since Ferrothorn is a really important glue here, just some small changes to optimize its defensive potential will benefit this team a lot. Running Landorus-T, Protect over Stealth Rock on Ferrothorn is the main small change I would recommend. One extra turn of recovery from Leftovers/Leech Seed can make a lot of difference when it comes to keeping Ferrothorn healthy and it helps a lot scouting some specific Pokemon such as HP Fire Greninja or Tapu Lele, Hammer Arm Metagross and choiced Pheromosa. A 252 HP / 88 Def / 168 SpD EV spread is better than your current one, allowing you to avoid the 2HKO from Jolly LO Excadrill after SR and still surviving two Ice Beams from +3 Manaphy.

Ferrothorn

Ferrothorn @ Leftovers
Ability: Iron Barbs
EVs: 252 HP / 88 Def / 168 SpD
Relaxed Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Gyro Ball
- Leech Seed
- Protect
- Power Whip

Nice team.

 

[Vinsader]

I don't think Tapu Lele adds much to this team. Sure, it's a great wallbreaker, but it just doesn't help containing threats or adding resistances like an offensive Pokemon should do in a good balanced team. I recommend replacing it with Flyinium Z Landorus-T.

This provides you a Z-Move abuser, a check to multiple threats, retains Tapu Lele's wallbreaker function but most importantly it has a Ground and Electric immunity, meaning opposing Ground Pokemon can't spam Earthquake against your team. This is particularly helpful against opposing Z-Move Landorus-T, because you can now pivot into Ferrothorn for Rockium Z variants, and you can force Flyinium Z variants to use Fly after their crystal get used. It helps against Magnezone or Tapu Koko too, meaning they have to think before just spamming Volt Switch so they don't lose their momentum completely, and also because Zard X can setup against both. Flyinium Z hits Tapu Fini and Ferrothorn for a ton of damage so Greninja has an easier time sweeping.

Landorus-T

Landorus-Therian @ Flyinium Z
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Earthquake
- Stealth Rock
- Fly
- Swords Dance

Landorus-T is one of the most reliable SR users in the metagame because it easily pressures Defog users and other Stealth Rock users. We can't say the same about Ferrothorn with Heatran, SD Landorus-T and Nature's Madness Tapu Fini around. However, since Ferrothorn is a really important glue here, just some small changes to optimize its defensive potential will benefit this team a lot. Running Landorus-T, Protect over Stealth Rock on Ferrothorn is the main small change I would recommend. One extra turn of recovery from Leftovers/Leech Seed can make a lot of difference when it comes to keeping Ferrothorn healthy and it helps a lot scouting some specific Pokemon such as HP Fire Greninja or Tapu Lele, Hammer Arm Metagross and choiced Pheromosa. A 252 HP / 88 Def / 168 SpD EV spread is better than your current one, allowing you to avoid the 2HKO from Jolly LO Excadrill after SR and still surviving two Ice Beams from +3 Manaphy.

Ferrothorn

Ferrothorn @ Leftovers
Ability: Iron Barbs
EVs: 252 HP / 88 Def / 168 SpD
Relaxed Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Gyro Ball
- Leech Seed
- Protect
- Power Whip

Nice team.

I tried both changes, and i kinda like them! Ferro is actually pressuring lot's of stuff and i can get rocks far more easly with Lando

However, i don't like how lando is little stuck with EQ as it only attack, and i have no idea when to abuse Flynium Z for maximum effect.

 

[Joycap]

Ferrothorn @ Leftovers
Ability: Iron Barbs
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Atk / 252 SpD
Impish Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Power Whip
- Gyro Ball
- Stealth Rock
- Leech Seed

​

Ferrothorn is my rock setter, and another Pokemon that can pressure Fini for Ash-Greninja and Charizard. Powerwhip allow it to hit far more harder than most can expect, GyroBall is removing speedy stuff and hitting most fairy type really hard. Leech seed is for recovery and because the switches Ferrothorn is making. spread is for taking most of Lele attacks, but still having more than enough physical bulk.

​

threats

Dugtrio. I fucking hate Arena Trap so much. If it's sash is borken, sure thing, but if not it's just going to remove Nihilego/Lele

Magnezone. Ferro just hate it. So do i. it's also making a problem for Lele and Fini.

​

​

So... maybe trying Shed Shell? Also i'd recommend Knock Off over Power Whip, as knocking off the odd lefties etc. might help break down certain walls and things, and help AshGren find a kill to transform with.