agslash23
Banned deucer.
Hello and welcome to an RMT post about a team that I have been trying out recently on the ladder with decent-to-good success. The team is based on the offensive core of Bulk Up Zeroara and Swords Dance + Scale Shot Garchomp, and the other members have been chosen to enable this core to break/sweep/clean effectively. So, without any further ado, let me get started with the team thought process.
Team-Building Process
Core members of the team, Zeraora and Garchomp form a great setup sweeping core that attempt to overwhelm shared checks like Buzzwole, Tangrowth, Landorus-T etc.. (More details about their synergy). Usually, Garchomp breaks and sweeps early game. While SD + Scale Shot Garchomp can sweep very well by itself, Zeraora cleans up whatever Garchomp couldn't late-game, and uses BU to act as a late game wincon.
I needed a teammate who baits in its checks, then pivots out of its check to bring in core members safely, granting them an easy sweeping opportunity. Scizor fits the bill very well and is a great partner to both Zeraora and Garchomp. Scizor synergises well with Zeraora by U-Turning out and bringing it in against Corviknight and Tapu Fini, while it does the same for Garchomp by bringing it in against Heatran, Volcarona etc.. Most importantly, Scizor baits in Toxapex for both Zeraora and Garchomp. Additionally, Scizor is itself a setup sweeper that can switch into Weavile, Rillaboom, Kyurem etc.., mons that can trouble the core.
Next, I needed Stealth Rock to aid the setup sweeping. I further needed checks to opponent electric and ground types (It would be awful to swept by opponent Zeraora and Garchomp, ngl). Only one mon fits this bill, the mon that can fit any bill - Landorus-T
The team needs checks to Dragapult, Urshifu-R, Volcarona, as well as secondary Weavile and Heatran checks to alleviate pressure on Scizor and Garchomp/Lando-T respectively. The team also needs a stallbreaker to deal with fat teams due to lack of immediate power yet. Tapu Fini can do all of this thanks to its incredible typing, stats and access to Taunt + Nature's Madness + Whirlpool. Access to Nature's Madness further means that it breaks holes early game for Zeraora, Garchomp and Scizor to capitalize and sweep.
Finally, the team needed a Blacephalon check, immediate wallbreaking and a secondary switch in to Dragapult's Shadow Ball. Hydreigon ticks all these boxes. Here, it drops Earth Power for Flamethrower to be an immediate threat of Ferrothon, Buzzwole etc..
Threatlist
- While SpDef Lando checks it, it lacks recovery and thus can get overwhelmed long-term. If it faints, Koko toys with this team. The only way of beating it then would be to keep Zeraora or Scizor very healthy and setup.
- None of the mons in this team like to switch into Victini. SpDef Lando can take a few hits, but gets overwhelmed. Thankfully, Victini is easy to revenge kill here with Zeraora and Garchomp
- CB Melmetal can 2HKO every mon in this team with Double Iron Bash, including Scizor who is Physically Defensive and resists the move. Further, Melmetal's huge bulk means that it can win supposed 50-50s as well. Best way to deal with CB Melmetal is pivoting around Lando-T and Scizor, and then brining in Garchomp or Hydreigon to RK Melmetal with EQ or Flamethrower.
- Rain can be dealt with using Tapu Fini and Scizor, but it does force my team to always play on the backfoot as Barraskewda outspeeds even Zeraora in rain.
Credits
ausma - Well, what can I say, but thank you for helping me understand a lot about team-building. You have been really patient with me on Discord RMTs (Remember when I had asked you to rate like 4 CB Ttar teams in 1 week - I just wanted to make CB Ttar work anyhow), being available almost every time I wanted your help, while critiquing my team in a really logical and fun manner. We have built many fun heat teams like this, and would continue to do so
Finchinator - You have rated my teams on various servers in spite of your busy schedule. Further, your effort towards Smogon is unparalleled, and the varied resources you publish here (like VR and Sample Teams) are really too good. Really appreciate your dedication to the community
Abhi Katy Windingsss Tysonslayer Magnum airfare Gomi - The various projects you guys host on Smogon have provided me with a very interesting perspective of teambuilding . Further, these projects have helped make this an awesome community to hang out within.
adsam - While you are a NatDex player, working with you on improving my NatDex teams has helped me understand the process of general team-building better. This has made a better SS OU builder/player overall
Replays
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8ou-1391193208-adg330yyqg3q1wnz90j752itzc57vq0pw
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8ou-1391203667-jq07y01jmm90gimrb3ujwez8xd7hqxwpw
Success with this team so far
Closing Comments
This was a really fun team to play with, and I would like you all to try out this team and let me know how the team is working for you all. Feel free to suggest any changes (However, I wouldn't be changing Zera and Chomp)
Hope you have fun with this team :)
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