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OU DPP OU Teambuilding Competition

Aerialace110

I’d change Ice Beam to Tri Attack bc you already have Icy Wind, but overall a very sound team.

Shout out to Dridri for thinking out of the box with Agility, although I disagree with Wacan Gyara & have it be lefties if using Taunt Gyara. (Also change Latias to Specs for Healing Wish)
 
It makes me giddy seeing so many Porygon-Z teams in one place. Thank you all very much for your submissions. And thank you mikellazzo for choosing this theme. I greatly enjoyed seeing how others approach building my favourite pokemon. If only this resource had been here when I first joined smogon last year ^^;; Shoutout to mjfblaze for creating the first modern PZ structure I could find featuring his agility PZ team for an agility teambuilding competition some time ago.

I wanted to do a little review of each of the teams before casting my vote. The criteria is going to be somewhat vibes based (out of 10), with some feedback on what I like and dislike to see alongside PZ. I did give each team a number of ladder games, some more than others.

Without further ado, we'll start with:

Dridri457's Agility Pory​

Solid team, hazard stacking with PZ is fine direction to take. By nature of how ladder games play out, hazard stacking will definitely get some quick and easy wins. I think this team does win more games without PZ than with. I had the most success with using PZ as an early breaker when rocks are up before Gyara can come in. With that said, it doesn't quite have the punching power to soften up teams when used this way and rarely PZ gets to sweep at the end (either you're already winning regardless, or it dies to priority).

Lum berry PZ is a good choice with any setup based set, agility is no different. Using Mag, defensive Mie, and even Clef sometimes to setup is really nice. I think download would've been a better option than adaptability here (a common theme we'll see in these reviews). More often than not tri attack just isn't your best option. A different moveset with download could allow PZ to get more mileage, but it's not a big deal the moveset is acceptable.

I'm not a huge fan of lead offensive Skarm alongside PZ, it can make good matchups even better, but losing control of some games from t1 is miserable. It wouldn't be better here, but I think lead PZ with offensive shed shell skarm in the back could be explored more.

Verdict: 5/10. Solid team, just with a Porygon-Z on it. Fun to use though, one of the easiest teams to get wins with. +Replay

Munchie2ff's Pory Paraspam​

I actually quite like PZ on paraspam so I'm glad to see someone build around that idea. I hadn't considered BandTar lead over lead PZ, but I kind of like the vision! It's very frustrating to build with though while covering all your many counters; good opponents can safely keep at least one faster threat unparalyzed. There are several concerns I have with the team. The lack u-turn receivers for one, nothing is happy to take a u-turn here. PZ not having a particularly threatening moveset for Rotom leaves a bad taste too. No ice type attacks means lum DDNite is probably 6-0ing the team. Rachi being the only fire attack and 270 speed instead of 280 is worrisome for Lucario. Could be fixed somewhat by running timid PZ instead of modest. Nevertheless, being paraspam, it's a fun team to use; setting up a PZ sweep is delightful.

Verdict: 3/10. Good vision for a PZ team, but relies heavily on good matchups. +Replay

Planet's Hazard Stack Specs PZ​


Another solid hazard stack team. There's a lot of stuff I like about this team. Double rockers is a great solution to handle Skarm only getting a single hazard up. I also really like running special focused mixed tar, solves the lum/chople delimma for rotom/gar. Chople is generally my prefered way of running Tar with PZ, so this is a great tech. Also a big fan of HP fighting Latias as a Tar lure. I'm not a huge fan of trick on PZ, but it works here I think; losing trick on Rotom does seem like a neccessary sacrifice on this squad. As mentioned before, I think download is still a better ability than adaptability, even with tri attack. We don't have u-turn to best take advantage of download, but I think it's still better overall.

One way to get around normal being a poor offensive stab is to just not run a normal move. Boltbeam hp ground with download hit very hard. With that said, modest specs (with or without adaptability) is one the best users of tri attack of any PZ sets, so I can give a bonus point for running that.

Verdict: 6/10. Solid team with some nice tech added in to support PZ. Well done. +Replay

SalvatoreSesso's Forre PZ Offense​

I really want to like this team more than how good it is. I loved playing this team a lot; MixedNite+PZ is a strong combo. The lack of rock and electric resist really hurts the team though. Forretress barely counts as a pseudo resist and can only do it once. I will admit that the team is fast and strong enough to win despite that.

I love offensive sucker punch Gar with PZ teams, useful in so many situations. Custap berry tends to work very well with PZ teams, and custap Forre might be something I have to look at more. I like seeing double wincon with DDGyara and PZ. I always feel scared when I have to rely on ScarfTran as my scarfer, but it's definitely a good fit for this squad.

If you haven't gotten used to reading this yet, I still think download works best on this PZ set, but I'm once again glad to see lum berry being used.

Verdict: 5/10. Really fun team to use, really held back by its poor defensive profile. Encapsulates the PZ experience of insane offensive potential. +Replay

robertshortgrass' Specs PZ + Chople Tar​

Our first and only Hyper Beam team!
\o/
hyperbeamPZ.png


Glad someone submitted it. I think hyper beam is viable on some team styles, though I haven't really organized my thoughts yet on when I want to run it. If nothing else it is a TREAT to click. Ever crit a Blissey with hyper beam before? 252+ SpA Choice Specs Porygon-Z Hyper Beam vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Blissey on a critical hit: 639-753 (89.4 - 105.4%) -- guaranteed OHKO after Stealth Rock. I wish I remembered to save the replay. Was it the right play? No, not at all. Would I do it again? Yes. Yes I would. Thank you for running download btw.

So this team looks pretty decent on paper, it just hopes to throw enough good stuff at the enemy to win. I think the lack of a definite wincon hurts the team's prospect though. But PZ's raw power paired with a clever Rachi set can get the job done.

Chople Tar is a great pairing with any PZ, and especially PZ running double normal moves appreciate it. Icy wind is an excellent move but given that we have Gar I question its necessity. Still a good move though, no doubt about that.

I'm a fan of your Rachi set. I've enjoyed wish passing Rachi in the past with PZ, but have struggled with putting it on teams. Healing wish is probably a better alternative than what I've run. You could possibly even drop u-turn just by running it. But I'm pretty loath to give up u-turn as well.

Gengar feels like a bit of weak link on the team, I get its there for it's useful resistances, I've just had a hard time of getting value out of it. DDTar and Zor can be difficult mons for PZ teams to answer and Gengar isn't helping much out there. I've had issues defeating Rotom, especially when dealing with an unknown set. Might just be a skill issue though.

Verdict: 6.5/10. HYPER BEAM BONUS POINT AND A HALF! +Replay (no hyper beam clicked sorry, I'll update if I get a good one).

Lady Bug's PZ​


There is a lot I like about this team, no really, there is. It's just... how do I put this... why?? WHYY?? WHYYYYYYY!!!?? This team could've rated so much higher with any other PZ set.

Let's start with what I like; good reliable rocker WITH u-turn? Check. Ground type? Check. Can't believe it took this long for a ground type to appear. Pursuit? Check. Multple fighting AND u-turn resists? Check. It has all the tools needed for a strong PZ team.

I am a big fan of mixed/special Swampert with PZ. HP electric is really nice bring too, I'm going to try to fit it more often. Wish it had bit more SpAtk investment, but I'm probably using it wrong. The spread looks intentional so I'm sure it has purpose.
Love the duo of PZ and Gyara. Life Orb Gyara continues to surprise me with how much extra damage it does. I'm curious about your reasoning for dropping EQ though.

I really really really really love ScarfHera here. I haven't used it much; I'm sure it has massive flaws, but I freaking LOVE the ability to switch into will-o-wisp with confidence. Yeah the pursuit is weak, but I don't care, chip is chip, and PZ loves chips (either kind). Really cool bring and I'm going to try to make it work.

Offensive Gar is cool.

. . . sigh.
So. PZ. I kinda see the vision of pain splitting Clef? But like, PZ doesn't care about Clef? Your used spread of Modest LO is likely to 2hko. Other sets can already set up on it (with lum or sub up), specs tri attack just outright 2hkos it at worst. Download boosted specs boltbeam also has a chance to 2hko 252+ SpDef Clef, and lots of Clefs aren't even running max SpDef these days. As for Rachi, I just don't see it ever working? Unless it's specifically physdef wish protect or something I'm pretty any Rachi set beats this. It's not even download so we can't even get a boosted tbolt. Maybe I'm missing something. If you want a weird PZ set, SpDef, Nasty Plot, Recover isn't amazing, but surely it's better than this. At least that doesn't lose to Rotom. Do you know how many times I subbed up just for Rotom to come in, making me reveal I'm running pain split and still have to switch out? Skill issue you say? Fair enough.

This could've been like an 8/10 team btw. -5 points for the PZ set. I'll give you half a bonus point for the novelty though. Okay, and another half for the really cool Hera. Deal?

Verdict: 4/10. +Replay

Afterburn's Porygon-F​

Afterburn. I've tried for a while to build an Aboma PZ team that I like. I haven't succeeded yet. But you certainly did. This is amazing. There is so much to love about this team. Don't tell me you just put this together in like 5 minutes. It at least looks like you put a lot of thought into everything. I'm genuinely impressed. I can't praise this team enough. It's so much fun to use.

To me, it looks like cutting u-turn and pursuit support is what you had to sacrifice to make this unlikely duo work. But you kept all the necessary PZ fundamentals despite that. Dual steel, priority, explosions, u-turn receivers, a ground type (I really can't stress enough how important this is). You're even running download ;'). ScarfKing is a stroke of genius. I've tried a little bit to pair PZ and Nidoking together. I didn't even consider putting them together with Aboma. There's no way this team can work without it right? Incredible. Did I mention I can't praise this team enough? Maybe the Nido spread could be improved a bit if I had to critique something; blizzard kinda hits like a mildly wet towel. Maybe it's enough. It has been so far, but who knows.

You're absolutely correct in saying that blizzard is more spammable than tri attack. It's flat out a better move 99/100. Okay, maybe 70/100 outside of hail. Agility is great pairing for it on PZ. I think if I had one critique for the PZ set is that tbolt is probably just better than dark pulse here. It's really not a big deal though.

Custap Aboma is SUPER cool too. I haven't even particularly had to try to activate it much. It just works. The sheer amount of checks and table flips to deal with Tar, Zor, Nape, Tran and Gar is frankly as close to perfect as I see it getting. I'm taking notes. I really really really thought it might be impossible to pull off. Thank you for proving me wrong.

Verdict: 10/10. I can fully recommend playing this team. +Replay

And yes, I'm voting for Afterburn.

Thank you again everyone.
 
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aerialace110 said:

Afterburn's Porygon-F​

Afterburn. I've tried for a while to build an Aboma PZ team that I like. I haven't succeeded yet. But you certainly did. This is amazing. There is so much to love about this team. Don't tell me you just put this together in like 5 minutes. It at least looks like you put a lot of thought into everything. I'm genuinely impressed. I can't praise this team enough. It's so much fun to use.

To me, it looks like cutting u-turn and pursuit support is what you had to sacrifice to make this unlikely duo work. But you kept all the necessary PZ fundamentals despite that. Dual steel, priority, explosions, u-turn receivers, a ground type (I really can't stress enough how important this is). You're even running download ;'). ScarfKing is a stroke of genius. I've tried a little bit to pair PZ and Nidoking together. I didn't even consider putting them together with Aboma. There's no way this team can work without it right? Incredible. Did I mention I can't praise this team enough? Maybe the Nido spread could be improved a bit if I had to critique something; blizzard kinda hits like a mildly wet towel. Maybe it's enough. It has been so far, but who knows.

You're absolutely correct in saying that blizzard is more spammable than tri attack. It's flat out a better move 99/100. Okay, maybe 70/100 outside of hail. Agility is great pairing for it on PZ. I think if I had one critique for the PZ set is that tbolt is probably just better than dark pulse here. It's really not a big deal though.

Custap Aboma is SUPER cool too. I haven't even particularly had to try to activate it much. It just works. The sheer amount of checks and table flips to deal with Tar, Zor, Nape, Tran and Gar is frankly as close to perfect as I see it getting. I'm taking notes. I really really really thought it might be impossible to pull off. Thank you for proving me wrong.

Verdict: 10/10. I can fully recommend playing this team. +Replay

And yes, I'm voting for Afterburn.

Thank you again everyone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse...
i initially wanted conversion Ice and then spam STAB blizzard, but man its hard to get a free turn with this mf lol, and then ice by itself is such a poor defensive typing that id get sniped by Scizor BP Far easier.

So I wimped out and replaced it with Agility, tbh should’ve stuck with Conversion, because when it did pull it off, nothing was switching into those Blizzards even while resisted, and Agility can be just as hard to pull off, others who I shared the team with told me the same. It was previously LO, Blizzard, Ice Beam, HP Ground, Conversion.

As the Porygon Z connoisseur, I’m glad you liked it.
 
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In a landslide vote of 8 to 3, the winner of the porygon-z teambuilding competition was Aerialace110!

:Porygon-Z: :Scizor: :Metagross: :Latias: :Flygon: :Dragonite:
From Aerialace110: https://pokepast.es/8587609aa73246e0

Since the next competition is an odd numbered one, the next theme can be any Pokémon from the top 30 of the VR (link), and will be chosen by the winner as a reward for winning the last competition. If they don’t want to choose, or don’t choose by 20/08/26, then I’ll post a theme by 21/08/26 (GMT).
Once it's announced you win the competition, comment your choice in a new post with the new theme at the top of the message.

There are some rules as to what you are able to pick.
- For every odd teambuilding competition, you can pick any Pokémon from the top 30 of the VR (link).
- For every even teambuilding competition, you can pick anything you want with no restrictions.

These rules are in place to ensure that we don’t get too many difficult mons to build with in a row, which has caused inactivity in the past.
You can also choose a set or a theme to build with instead of a Pokémon. E.g., Build with banded tyranitar, or build with water spam. You can choose more difficult themes if you wish, but please exercise discretion.

Once picked, your choice can't be changed, so bear that in mind.
 
Thank you for your votes everyone! And thank you everyone for your participation, I had a lot of fun. I hope to still see new PZ teams sometime.

I genuinely don't know what to pick now that the best possible theme has been completed. I had half a mind to say the theme is conversion/conversion2. But I shouldn't (or even can't?) be that cruel. Maybe another time if I'm ever allowed to win again.
Instead of picking an objectively inferior pokemon, I'll choose the generic theme of building around special offence. The majority of the team should have special attacks. For example, 1 special attacker and 3 mixed attackers would be allowed. If there's a better/more accepted definition of special offence, I'm amiable to any corrections. Not really the flashiest theme, but maybe more than 1 PZ team will show up. Teehee.
 
:Hariyama::Heatran::Metagross::Suicune::Latias::Gengar:

Prior to the sleep ban, this team had Breloom over Yama, and it was one of my favorites to use. I recently tried to revamp it by adding Yama and also changing nearly every set from what they used to be. I haven't played mons much this last month, so I don't really have a good idea of how solid the team is, so keep that in mind if you end up using it. I also have some alternate sets & spreads that I am experimenting with that I will share below.
Hariyama @ Toxic Orb
Ability: Guts
EVs: 240 Atk / 184 SpD / 84 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Fake Out
- Close Combat
- Payback
- Ice Punch

This spread has an ~56% chance to live modest Lati's Draco from full and just outruns Clefable. Lead Specs Lati isn't too common right now, but it's always on my mind.
Heatran @ Shuca Berry
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 252 HP / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
- Fire Blast
- Earth Power
- Explosion
- Stealth Rock

I've considered a faster Heatran set to be better against Fast SD Scizor, AgiliGross, and other Heatran.
Metagross @ Iron Ball
Ability: Clear Body
EVs: 252 HP / 64 Atk / 164 Def / 28 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Earthquake
- Meteor Mash
- Explosion
- Trick

Trick-Ball Gross but with more defense to be better against CB Tar and physical attackers. However, with less attack investment it is much worse against Skarm.

64+ Atk Metagross Earthquake vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Skarmory: 124-146 (37.1 - 43.7%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Stealth Rock

vs

184+ Atk Metagross Earthquake vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Skarmory: 136-160 (40.7 - 47.9%) -- 55.5% chance to 2HKO after Stealth Rock

Metagross @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Clear Body
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Meteor Mash
- Earthquake
- Thunder Punch
- Trick

Scarf Meta is what I had originally because I wanted to run Specs Lati and because I love Scarf Meta. I've shifted towards Trick-IB Meta because I wanted to pack this team with Explosion, and Scarf has a hard time fitting it in its moveset.
Gengar @ Black Sludge
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Shadow Ball
- Focus Blast
- Taunt / Knock Off
- Will-O-Wisp

Gengar can use Taunt, the most trusted option for its third moveslot, or even Knock Off, as Jirachi has a hard time keeping up when it is burned and Knocked, and Clefable becomes much easier to handle when it has no leftovers.
Latias (F) @ Choice Specs
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
- Draco Meteor
- Surf
- Healing Wish
- Trick

My go-to Specs Latias moveset, with a Modest nature because we are going all in on the Special Offense this time around.
 
https://pokepast.es/96ea01229f1b897f
:azelf: :latias: :gyarados: :heatran: :scizor: :gengar:

I've been building too many sd lorb scizor teams and this one has 3 special offensive mons so i guess it counts.

Sd zor is amazing but in order to beat zap and gyara rocks have to be up, so i added zelf to win the hazards game vs slow rockers and gar to keep them up vs phan and 50/50 vs mie.

Then lati, tran and gyara act as the offensive core with the defensive backbone. Eq jolly gyara to beat mag at +1 and kill tran before they boom. Passho tran to boom on specs lati, kingdra or starmie in a 1v1. And lorb modest lati to kill stuff with hwish to bring back something.

The team doesn't have a scarfer so it really needs rocks to weaken the dders. Still, it has taunt gyara and scizor bp. With that in mind, the team is weak to dd dnite so maybe sucker gar instead of sub could be added to get some chip so bullet punch can kill.
 
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