ORAS OU The carp leaps over the Dragon Gate-ORAS OU Gyara Talonflame Offense

[Metallica126]

I dedicate this RMT to my favorite Pokémon in ORAS: Mega Gyarados.



Introduction

In the summer of 2024, during the RoAPL finals week, I was matched against NoName. At the same time, I entered the ORAS Cup final, also against NoName and another Indian player, Kingofking. Both of them were players whose teams were supplied by Ruffles, so their styles were very similar. While preparing for RoAPL, I noticed that NoName's teams always carried Slowbro or Seismitoad as the bulky water slot, and they generally leaned toward fat/stall-oriented builds. Generally, Mega Gyarados can find free DD opportunities against those teams and sweep them outright. After a full week of preparation, I built this team and went on to beat NoName and Kingofking three times in a row. Since then, I've tried to use this team or a variant of it in every tournament I play. This team is no secret anymore—everyone has the team or some its variants, so I'm going to post all my Gyarados + Talonflame teams and explain some of the better versions in detail.​

Team-building process

Gyarados is obviously the center piece of the team. Excadrill is the underlying code of ORAS, helping Gyarados deal with entry hazards, Electric-types, and Fairy-types. It can be slotted into the team without a second thought.​

Before Mew rose in popularity, I noticed Cresselia's excellent physical bulk and chose it as the team's physical wall to check Fighting-types. Its Pursuit weakness as a Psychic-type can actually be turned into an opportunity for Gyarados to set up, and Lunar Dance can give Gyarados a second life to set up.​

SR Excadrill was quite weak. In the regular season game, I had half my team swept by NoName's SD Garchomp, so I added SR + SD Chomp. Garchomp puts a lot of pressure as a rocker. It helps Gyarados overwhelm its checks like Clefable, Zapdos, and Skarmory, and also frees up Excadrill's moveslot.​

The team is very weak against Keldeo, so I chose fast bulky Serperior as the check, and it also serves as a switch-in to Rotom-Wash. Talonflame is the final piece of the team and has excellent synergy with other members. It is a very reliable Clefable answer. Its WOW further helps wear down bulky waters and Zapdos, and its powerful priority is also quite reliable against HO teams.



Team member analysis​

:gyarados-mega:

Gyarados-Mega @ Gyaradosite
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Dragon Dance
- Crunch
- Waterfall
- Earthquake

The core of the team. Adamant nature is chosen for greater power. During team building process I considered Substitute and Taunt as well, but in the end I chose EQ to hit Rotom-Wash and finish off Keldeo.

​

:excadrill:

Excadrill @ Leftovers
Ability: Mold Breaker
EVs: 36 HP / 20 Atk / 72 Def / 128 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- Earthquake
- Rock Slide
- Rapid Spin

Since we have Talonflame to handle Clefable, SD Excadrill can carry Rock Slide for Zapdos and Skarmory. It is one of the team's answers to stall. The bulk ensures it can survive from a Thundurus-T’s Focus Blast or a CB Weavile's Knock Off.​

:garchomp:
Garchomp @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Rough Skin
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- Outrage
- Swords Dance

I tried many sets, such as SD fast bulky Rock/Ground coverage and specially defensive SD, but in the end I went back to this somewhat weird-looking fast bulky Rocky Helmet SD set. It is fast enough to set up SR against Mew. I chose Outrage over the original Stone Edge to hit Tangrowth and Rotom-Wash, and the team already has Rock Slide Excadrill to deal with flying targets like Zapdos.

​

:cresselia:

Cresselia (F) @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 232 HP / 76 Def / 44 SpA / 156 Spe
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Lunar Dance
- Ice Beam
- Toxic
- Moonlight

Traditional Cresselia. I don't remember exactly why I distributed the EVs in this way. Toxic was chosen over TWave because it wears down Volcanion more effectively, and this team struggels to switch-in against Volcanion.

​

:serperior:

Serperior @ Lum Berry
Ability: Contrary
EVs: 112 HP / 144 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk / 30 SpA / 30 Spe
- Glare
- Synthesis
- Leaf Storm
- Hidden Power [Fire]

Fast bulky Serperior. With Synthesis, it can switch in multiple times to meet the team's defensive needs. Its bulk is enough to survive an uninvested Tornadus-T's Hurricane. Because of Gyarados’ existence, HP Fire is better than HP Rock for hitting Ferrothorn and Scizor, so I prefer this coverage. Lum Berry allows it to absorb various status conditions, especially TWave from Thundurus.

​

:talonflame:

Talonflame @ Leftovers
Ability: Gale Wings
EVs: 192 HP / 252 Atk / 64 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Brave Bird
- Swords Dance
- Roost
- Will-O-Wisp

Bulky SD Talonflame. As long as it is played well, once it finds a chance to set up, it can sweep the entire opposing team. No further explanation needed.

The six Pokémon above can have their sets adjusted. For example, SR Excadrill + SD 3A Garchomp, or Natural Gift Talonflame + standard bulky Garchomp, both saw good results in tournaments.


Variants
Variant 1​

Because Weavile is too annoying before Gyarados Mega Evolves, and Kyurem-Black's high bulk makes it hard for Gyarados to KO at +1, and considering that these two are often paired together, it would be difficult for a single Cresselia to handle both. So I cut Garchomp. The Stealth Rock role went to Excadrill, and the Garchomp slot was replaced by the niche Pokémon Cobalion.​

:cobalion:

Cobalion @ Choice Specs
Ability: Justified
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk / 30 Def
- Volt Switch
- Flash Cannon
- Focus Blast
- Hidden Power [Ice]

Choice Specs Cobalion can weaken Zapdos with HP ice alongside SR, also heavily damage Garchomp, and OHKO Lando-T. Focus Blast can hit Rotom-Wash and even Hippowdon hard. VS gives the team more flexibility. Its typing allows it to single-handedly take on an entire Beat Up team. It is a Pokémon worth using.

252 SpA Choice Specs Cobalion Hidden Power Ice vs. 248 HP / 0 SpD Zapdos: 168-198 (43.8 - 51.6%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery
252 SpA Choice Specs Cobalion Hidden Power Ice vs. 252 HP / 148 SpD Garchomp: 296-352 (70.4 - 83.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock
252 SpA Choice Specs Cobalion Hidden Power Ice vs. 252 HP / 8 SpD Lando-Therian: 364-432 (95.2 - 113%) -- guaranteed OHKO after Stealth Rock
252 SpA Choice Specs Cobalion Focus Blast vs. 248 HP / 0 SpD Rotom-Wash: 216-255 (71.2 - 84.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery​

:excadrill:

Excadrill @ Leftovers
Ability: Mold Breaker
EVs: 176 HP / 12 Atk / 28 Def / 252 SpD / 40 Spe
Careful Nature
- Toxic
- Rapid Spin
- Earthquake
- Stealth Rock

Specially defense Excadrill with Toxic can force poison onto Zapdos and can also go head-to-head against Mega Gardevoir and Alakazam.​

:talonflame:

Talonflame @ Leftovers
Ability: Gale Wings
EVs: 248 HP / 200 SpD / 60 Spe
Careful Nature
- Brave Bird
- Taunt
- Roost
- Will-O-Wisp

The original team used SD set, but because Cobalion provides much less pressure against stall than Garchomp, and Serperior's HP Fire was not easy to change, I tried specially defense Taunt Talonflame to strengthen the stall matchup. However, its sweeping ability decreases, so it can be changed back to SD.



Variant 2​

This version drops Talonflame and uses Victini and CB Tyranitar to strengthen the stall-breaking capability. Excadrill uses Sand Rush to make up for the weakened revenge-killing ability, but Excadrill's revenge-killing ability is still not on par with Talonflame's.

:victini:
Victini @ Colbur Berry
Ability: Victory Star
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- V-create
- Bolt Strike
- U-turn
- Will-O-Wisp
​

Victini @ Leftovers
Ability: Victory Star
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- V-create
- Bolt Strike
- Protect
- Will-O-Wisp

Non-Choice Victini with pre-nerfed WOW provides enormous offensive pressure. It can help the sand duo weaken Lando-T and Garchomp, and also help Gyarados weaken bulky waters. Colbur Berry or Protect helps deal with Pursuit. Both sets can be tried, and I am currently running the first one.



Variant 3

This was my earliest wild idea, but this version is currently quite bad. You'd better not use it.​

:diggersby:

Diggersby @ Assault Vest
Ability: Huge Power
EVs: 136 HP / 248 Atk / 92 SpD / 32 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Earthquake
- Return
- Quick Attack
- Fire Punch

I previously tried CB and SD Chople sets, but both were not very satisfactory. As an Electric immunity that is not 4x weak to Ice, Diggersby also has high immediate power, so I changed it to an AV set to trade HP with things like Thundurus and Clefable.

Replays
Garchomp version
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/smogtours-gen6ou-808512?p2 vs feen oras circuit
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/smogtours-gen6ou-809471 vs xray oras circuit
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen6ou-2171920184-21ket48ft631gfd8fv6yhx38sjlkg1ipw vs kingofking oras cup final
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/smogtours-gen6ou-783830 vs noname roapl final
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/smogtours-gen6ou-783840 vs noname oras cup final
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/smogtours-gen6ou-879134 vs white atoq oraspl semifinal
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/smogtours-gen6ou-900802 vs lpz oras ssnl
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/smogtours-gen6ou-890772 vs hacker oras invitational
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/smogtours-gen6ou-916742 vs mgdos spl
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/smogtours-gen6ou-940795?p2 white atoq vs ninjadog wcop
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/smogtours-gen6ou-806923?p2 acr vs geemick oras invitational
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/smogtours-gen6ou-889886?p2 destro vs crying oras invitational
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/smogtours-gen6ou-955265 destro vs spitfire oraspl
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/smogtours-gen6ou-892546?p2 ox vs acr invitational
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/smogtours-gen6ou-893123 chaos vs paprikaflow oupl
Cobalion version
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/smogtours-gen6ou-848018 wcop
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/smogtours-gen6ou-846444 vs devin roapl
Victini version
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/smogtours-gen6ou-885463 vs attribute masters
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/smogtours-gen6ou-888166 meru vs noname oupl
Diggersby version
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/smogtours-gen6ou-812097?p2 acr vs c0mp oras invitational
This team is the most successful team I have ever built, at least so far, and nothing else comes close. I really like this team, so I wrote this RMT as a memento. Thank you to all my friends who played ORAS with me. See you next year.

Especially thanks Splendid Silver Star help me translate this RMT from Chinese!

Also thanks Ruffles Seasons Lusa ImperialH Sna ACR1 Destro16 Paprikaflow polish team idea with me to make the final version since this team building, maybe i forgot some oras friend cuz people too much sry :(

Team Weakness
Mainly say :garchomp: version cuz that is best one version.
Beat Up Offense :weavile::kyurem-black:
If use coba version can solve it, but other version before gyara mega lack relieable weav switch in, solve it need mega gyara earlier or use talon trade weav in early games, when gyara start dance beat up team almost hard switch in.
Electric :thundurus::manectric-mega::zapdos::rotom-wash:
Both can free volt-switch without any pressure, thundy can click twave limit two sweeper very much, mane overspeed everymon, zap hard kill and static is annoying, washtom hard wall talon and eq less gyara, when pair them we need did make a good game plan to trade/overwhelm them.
Bird Spam :pinsir-mega::dragonite::talonflame:
Team's fly resist is excadrill, bird spam team will give you big pressure, pair azelf lead can use exca lead spin brainless, pair mew lead can use chomp set rock if you use chomp version.
Tangrowth+Serp/Talon counter :tangrowth:
AV set hard counter serp and check gyara/grounds, psydef hard counter gyara and grounds and can trade talon, if have soild defense core team will hard break opp, vs this mu try make chomp have chance sd to hit tang hard.



Team paste links
https://pokepast.es/e686617799072a2a :garchomp:
https://pokepast.es/62e220796358e63b :cobalion:
https://pokepast.es/e1c804aff75bc0bd :victini:
https://pokepast.es/68f123870c063a6a :diggersby:​

 

[Paprikaflow]

Already one of the most iconic oras teams we have.
I remember when we were teamed up in BDPL and you tested the first version of that team vs me. I thought then it was a cool team, but I wouldn't have imagined how popular it would get. It rightfully was sample team for a long time and immortalizing it as an RMT is only logical.

It is one of the best Cresselia Offenses and it works to this day. It also is the best Cresselia + Mega Gyarados combination I have seen.
It also is a nice test of your own skill, because this team does not let you play too passive and run it down, not unless you want to win. It rather forces a proactive playstyle.

It is great to see how far this team has developed and how many different versions of it exist.
Thank you my friend for sharing

 

[Yuudachi0811]

Metallica126,my GOAT