Hello, Smogoners. I've been working on a team and at first I wanted it to be bulky offense. But then I realized that it wasn't that at all! It was a balanced team with an effective lead, a few walls, revenge killers and the best Setup Sweeper in the game. I'm going to put as much effort into this RMT as possible; With a team building process, Pictures, colored text and a threat list. So, without further ado, on to the RMT!
Team Building Process
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Well all teams need to have a goal. I decided right off the bat that I would use the best Setup Sweeper in the game to sweep the weakened members of their team. I chose SD Lucario. It has fantastic type coverage, a strong priority move and LOTS of attack power.
Now I needed a lead. I don't like suicide leads, and I don't want my SR user to be out on the first turn, not knowing if he can get an SR or not. I chose a sleeper lead. There are three viable choices: Roserade, Butterfree and Breloom. Roserade is inaccurate, and Butterfree is pretty much useless after it uses sleep powder, so obviously, Breloom is in.
Since Breloom can't setup SR, I wanted to bring a Poke that could lay SR, but be useful after. Celebi, Gliscor and Heatran came to mind. Celebi was my first choice, but soon after I replaced it for Heatran, who soaks up my fire type weakness, whilst Celebi just adds to it. Gliscor wasn't chosen because unlike Heatran, it can't take Ice Beams for my Latias and doesn't let me have a Fire immunity for my three weakness' although it does resist it.
As for my next member, here's how I chose it. I was looking at an RMT called "Team of Torment". It had an interesting Latias set, so I took it, tweaked it, and loved it. Latias is on almost all of my teams and with good reason. Lots of resists, instant recovery and an amazing movepool.
I wanted something that could stop Earthquakes and Close Combats aimed at Luke and Tran. While Latias resists them, she has rather poor Physical defense. I chose Rotom-A because not only does it have immunity to those moves, it also has a decent Defense stat.
I noticed my team had quite a few Special attackers, so I wanted to make the last one physical. At first I used Physical Mixape, but it wasn't working out so I went with something that is surprisingly effective, but not too common: Heracross.
You've seen it from afar, but its time to take
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Well all teams need to have a goal. I decided right off the bat that I would use the best Setup Sweeper in the game to sweep the weakened members of their team. I chose SD Lucario. It has fantastic type coverage, a strong priority move and LOTS of attack power.
Now I needed a lead. I don't like suicide leads, and I don't want my SR user to be out on the first turn, not knowing if he can get an SR or not. I chose a sleeper lead. There are three viable choices: Roserade, Butterfree and Breloom. Roserade is inaccurate, and Butterfree is pretty much useless after it uses sleep powder, so obviously, Breloom is in.
Since Breloom can't setup SR, I wanted to bring a Poke that could lay SR, but be useful after. Celebi, Gliscor and Heatran came to mind. Celebi was my first choice, but soon after I replaced it for Heatran, who soaks up my fire type weakness, whilst Celebi just adds to it. Gliscor wasn't chosen because unlike Heatran, it can't take Ice Beams for my Latias and doesn't let me have a Fire immunity for my three weakness' although it does resist it.
As for my next member, here's how I chose it. I was looking at an RMT called "Team of Torment". It had an interesting Latias set, so I took it, tweaked it, and loved it. Latias is on almost all of my teams and with good reason. Lots of resists, instant recovery and an amazing movepool.
I wanted something that could stop Earthquakes and Close Combats aimed at Luke and Tran. While Latias resists them, she has rather poor Physical defense. I chose Rotom-A because not only does it have immunity to those moves, it also has a decent Defense stat.
I noticed my team had quite a few Special attackers, so I wanted to make the last one physical. At first I used Physical Mixape, but it wasn't working out so I went with something that is surprisingly effective, but not too common: Heracross.
You've seen it from afar, but its time to take
An In-Depth Look
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Breloom (M) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Poison Heal
EVs: 4 HP/252 Atk/252 Spd
Jolly nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Spore
- Stone Edge
- Superpower
- Seed Bomb
Description: This is my sleeper lead. I always use Spore to start off and it works on every lead bar Aerodactyl and Ninjask. Stone edge lets me hurt non-Ice Fang Gyarados, speed tying it after 1 DD. Superpower lets me kill non-Scarf Heatran, which I've been seeing more of lately. Seed bomb is a tryhard attempt at a bulky water killer, but is really just Filler.
EV's: Max speed along with Choice scarf lets me speed tie +1 Gyarados, and let me outrun all non scarfs besides positive natured base 130's and higher. Max attack is to allow harder hits later in the game, where it could become crucial to get an OHKO on certain threats.
Opinion: From Roserade to Butterfree and now to Breloom, I liked all three sleeper leads. I feel that Breloom is the most reliable in the early game, and still reliable in the late game, as it can absorb Toxic and revenge kill some of the more frail pokemon.
Heatran (F) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 4 Atk/252 Spd/252 SAtk
Naive nature (+Spd, -SDef)
- Earth Power
- Flamethrower
- Explosion
- Stealth Rock
Description: This usually comes in after Breloom sleeps the other lead, sets up SR, and gets out. The reason I have Choice scarf is because without it my team is even more Lucario weak, and it sometimes let me bluff ShucaTran because if I SR on the switch, they don't know what set I run.
EV's: Max Speed to outrun base 130's and neutral natured Scarfed Base 85's. Max SpA to do the most amount of damage.
Opinion: ScarfTran is amazing. It covers tons of threats like Scizor, Lucario, Heatran, Heracross and Magnezone. Flamethrower over Fire Blast because I don't want my team to get swept by Luke just because I missed.
Heracross (M) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Guts
EVs: 4 HP/252 Atk/252 Spd
Adamant nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Close Combat
- Megahorn
- Night Slash
- Stone Edge
Description: Heracross acts as my other Revenge Killer. Close Combat and Megahorn are both 120BP STAB moves with fairly good coverage, and are further complimented by Night Slash and Stone Edge. I use this to absorb Will-O-Wisps to get Guts boosts and prevent other status. Fire attacks aimed at it can go to Heatran, and Ground attacks aimed at Tran can go to Cross.
EV's: Again, max Atk for max damage, max Spd to outspeed nonscarf base 130's and scarfed base 70's like Breloom.
Opinion: This is a great poke, sadly Lucario can switch in on all the moves bar CC, SD up, and attempt a sweep. Other than that, this thing is beastly. 383 Atk, 403 Spd, and nearly perfect type coverage make this a great sweeper. Don't forget about burns actually INCREASING his attacking power, this is a great sweeper.
Latias (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 76 HP/180 Def/252 SDef
Calm nature (+SDef, -Atk)
- Recover
- Roar
- Dragon Pulse
- Calm Mind
Description: Special Wall Phazing Latias. This thing is a BEAST. I saw a similar set on an RMT called Team of Torment, and instead of Bold Nature and 252Def EV's, switched it to a pure special defender, but it has a bit of physical bulk too. I love imagining the look on my opponents face as they see that Ice Beam can barely manage 20%, and Calm Mind. As they think they are about to kill me, BAM! Recover. It's a Blissey with half the HP, resistances and attacks.
EV's: Max S.Def to surpass even Blissey, Def Ev's so I'm not totally helpless against physical attacks and HP Ev's for bulk
Opinion: I've always used Latias on all my teams, and it was always a scarfer. This Latias is vastly superior being able to stall, semi-sweep and Phaze. The only thing I have to watch out for is switching in on a Dragon Pulse from Heatran, other than that I'm safe.
Rotom-h @ Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP/168 Def/88 Spd
Bold nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Shadow Ball
- Discharge
- Will-o-wisp
- Overheat
Description: Physical Defensive Rotom. Can take quite a beating before going down, and cripple sweepers in the process. Overheat lets me take out Scizor, while Bullet Punch does ~15% to me. Discharge beats Gyarados and other Flyings. Shadow Ball is basic STAB.
EV's: 88 Spd EV's let me outspeed Adamant Scizor, HP and Defense EV's add to bulk. Not much to say.
Opinion: This is a great wall. If it had an instant recovery move, it would make it the best wall ever. I struggle to keep it alive, because this has to counter things that my other members can't.
Lucario (F) @ Life Orb
Ability: Inner Focus
EVs: 4 HP/252 Atk/252 Spd
Adamant nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Swords Dance
- Close Combat
- Extremespeed
- Crunch
Description: You all know this set. And you all fear it. This can sweep entire teams, 6-0 even the best synergy, and all it needs is one free turn. Adamant over Jolly because Luke counters usually outspeed Jolly anyway. CC for STAB and a strong attacking move, taking a huge chunk out of most of the metagame, Extremespeed so I don't get demolished by Mach Punch Infernape or Jolly Dugtrio. Crunch over Ice Punch because I want Ghosts to fear me, and Gliscor is always EV'd to outspeed at least Adamant Luke so it's just a waste of a slot.
EV's: Max atk for most damage, and Max speed to outspeed lots of threats. Very little to say
Opinion: Best. Sweeper. Ever. No contest between any OU pokemon and Luke. I love this thing with all my heart.
Gyarados: Rotom
Heatran: Non-scarf is killed by mine. Scarf is Revenge killed by Heracross as long as they don't use a fire move.
Heracross: Ugh. Adamant is outsped by Heatran, not sure about KO'ing it though. Jolly is... Weaker, and Rotom can dent it with Overheat. Non CS versions are checked by Heatran.
Infernape: Latias
Jirachi: Rotom doesn't mind having a scarf, and can seriously hurt it with Overheat, Heatran is good too.
Kingdra: This is always a pain to take out, but Heracross's CC and then Luke's ES
Latias: Heracross, Latias
Lucario: Heatran. I need some better ways to check this beast, if he CC's as I switch in, I lost.
Machamp: Crippled by WoW
Magnezone: Heracross, Breloom, Heatran
Mamoswine: Heracross, Breloom
Metagross: Heracross 2HKOS with CC, Heatran can finish it off if Hera dies.
Ninjask: On the leads I switch to Lati and Phaze. Later in the game SR is up and they aren't a threat
Porygon-Z: Heracross, Breloom
Rotom-A: Hera, if it dies then I can try Lati.
Salamence: This is really tough to take out. I usually try to Explode on it, or cripple it with WoW. SR helps in taking it out. This is a pretty big threat.
Scizor: Rotom, Heatran
Snorlax: Heracross, Luke
Starmie: Heracross
Suicune: Latias
Togekiss: Rotom, Heracross, Breloom
Tyranitar: Heracross, Lucario, Breloom
Weavile: Heracross
Yanmega: Breloom, Heracross
Zapdos: Heracross, Breloom
Defensive Threats
Blissey: Lucario Setup Bait, Heracross
Bronzong: Usually a lead, Breloom spores, Heatran, Heracross
Celebi: Heracross
Cradily: Heracross, Lucario? I haven't seen this at all lately
Cresselia: Lucario can setup on Toxic versions, Heracross, Lati can Phaze
Crobat: Rotom
Donphan: Never seen one, I imagine that Breloom could kill it
Drapion: Heatran, Heracross
Dusknoir: Heracross can take the Will-O-Wisp and 3HKO, Rotom
Empoleon: Heracross, Breloom, Latias
Forretress: Heatran
Gliscor: This one is kind of tough. Latias walls it though, taking 30% from U-Turn, easily recovering off the damage
Gyarados: Rotom
Hariyama: I don't know. My team can't hit it SE, but it can't do much to me either. Cripple Thick Fat with WoW, and Guts versions with various special attacks
Heatran: Heatran, Heracross, Latias.
Hippowdon: Breloom
Jirachi: Rotom, Heatran
Latias: Heracross
Ludicolo: Heracross
Machamp: Crippled by WoW
Magnezone: Heracross, Breloom, Heatran
Metagross: Heracross 2HKOS with CC, Heatran can finish it off if Hera dies.
Rotom-A: Hera, if it dies then I can try Lati.
Salamence: This is really tough to take out. I usually try to Explode on it, or cripple it with WoW. SR helps in taking it out. This is a pretty big threat.
Skarmory: Heatran, Lucario sets up
Suicune: Luke Sets Up, Latias can Phaze
Swampert: Breloom
Tyranitar: Breloom, Heracross, Lucario
Vaporeon: Breloom, Latias on non-toxic versions, Luke can setup sometimes
Zapdos: Heracross, Breloom
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Breloom (M) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Poison Heal
EVs: 4 HP/252 Atk/252 Spd
Jolly nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Spore
- Stone Edge
- Superpower
- Seed Bomb
Description: This is my sleeper lead. I always use Spore to start off and it works on every lead bar Aerodactyl and Ninjask. Stone edge lets me hurt non-Ice Fang Gyarados, speed tying it after 1 DD. Superpower lets me kill non-Scarf Heatran, which I've been seeing more of lately. Seed bomb is a tryhard attempt at a bulky water killer, but is really just Filler.
EV's: Max speed along with Choice scarf lets me speed tie +1 Gyarados, and let me outrun all non scarfs besides positive natured base 130's and higher. Max attack is to allow harder hits later in the game, where it could become crucial to get an OHKO on certain threats.
Opinion: From Roserade to Butterfree and now to Breloom, I liked all three sleeper leads. I feel that Breloom is the most reliable in the early game, and still reliable in the late game, as it can absorb Toxic and revenge kill some of the more frail pokemon.
Heatran (F) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 4 Atk/252 Spd/252 SAtk
Naive nature (+Spd, -SDef)
- Earth Power
- Flamethrower
- Explosion
- Stealth Rock
Description: This usually comes in after Breloom sleeps the other lead, sets up SR, and gets out. The reason I have Choice scarf is because without it my team is even more Lucario weak, and it sometimes let me bluff ShucaTran because if I SR on the switch, they don't know what set I run.
EV's: Max Speed to outrun base 130's and neutral natured Scarfed Base 85's. Max SpA to do the most amount of damage.
Opinion: ScarfTran is amazing. It covers tons of threats like Scizor, Lucario, Heatran, Heracross and Magnezone. Flamethrower over Fire Blast because I don't want my team to get swept by Luke just because I missed.
Heracross (M) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Guts
EVs: 4 HP/252 Atk/252 Spd
Adamant nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Close Combat
- Megahorn
- Night Slash
- Stone Edge
Description: Heracross acts as my other Revenge Killer. Close Combat and Megahorn are both 120BP STAB moves with fairly good coverage, and are further complimented by Night Slash and Stone Edge. I use this to absorb Will-O-Wisps to get Guts boosts and prevent other status. Fire attacks aimed at it can go to Heatran, and Ground attacks aimed at Tran can go to Cross.
EV's: Again, max Atk for max damage, max Spd to outspeed nonscarf base 130's and scarfed base 70's like Breloom.
Opinion: This is a great poke, sadly Lucario can switch in on all the moves bar CC, SD up, and attempt a sweep. Other than that, this thing is beastly. 383 Atk, 403 Spd, and nearly perfect type coverage make this a great sweeper. Don't forget about burns actually INCREASING his attacking power, this is a great sweeper.
Latias (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 76 HP/180 Def/252 SDef
Calm nature (+SDef, -Atk)
- Recover
- Roar
- Dragon Pulse
- Calm Mind
Description: Special Wall Phazing Latias. This thing is a BEAST. I saw a similar set on an RMT called Team of Torment, and instead of Bold Nature and 252Def EV's, switched it to a pure special defender, but it has a bit of physical bulk too. I love imagining the look on my opponents face as they see that Ice Beam can barely manage 20%, and Calm Mind. As they think they are about to kill me, BAM! Recover. It's a Blissey with half the HP, resistances and attacks.
EV's: Max S.Def to surpass even Blissey, Def Ev's so I'm not totally helpless against physical attacks and HP Ev's for bulk
Opinion: I've always used Latias on all my teams, and it was always a scarfer. This Latias is vastly superior being able to stall, semi-sweep and Phaze. The only thing I have to watch out for is switching in on a Dragon Pulse from Heatran, other than that I'm safe.
Rotom-h @ Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP/168 Def/88 Spd
Bold nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Shadow Ball
- Discharge
- Will-o-wisp
- Overheat
Description: Physical Defensive Rotom. Can take quite a beating before going down, and cripple sweepers in the process. Overheat lets me take out Scizor, while Bullet Punch does ~15% to me. Discharge beats Gyarados and other Flyings. Shadow Ball is basic STAB.
EV's: 88 Spd EV's let me outspeed Adamant Scizor, HP and Defense EV's add to bulk. Not much to say.
Opinion: This is a great wall. If it had an instant recovery move, it would make it the best wall ever. I struggle to keep it alive, because this has to counter things that my other members can't.
Lucario (F) @ Life Orb
Ability: Inner Focus
EVs: 4 HP/252 Atk/252 Spd
Adamant nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Swords Dance
- Close Combat
- Extremespeed
- Crunch
Description: You all know this set. And you all fear it. This can sweep entire teams, 6-0 even the best synergy, and all it needs is one free turn. Adamant over Jolly because Luke counters usually outspeed Jolly anyway. CC for STAB and a strong attacking move, taking a huge chunk out of most of the metagame, Extremespeed so I don't get demolished by Mach Punch Infernape or Jolly Dugtrio. Crunch over Ice Punch because I want Ghosts to fear me, and Gliscor is always EV'd to outspeed at least Adamant Luke so it's just a waste of a slot.
EV's: Max atk for most damage, and Max speed to outspeed lots of threats. Very little to say
Opinion: Best. Sweeper. Ever. No contest between any OU pokemon and Luke. I love this thing with all my heart.
Threat List
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Offensive Threats:
Azelf: Heracross, Leads are beaten by Breloom, Rotom
Breloom: Heracross, Heatran
Celebi: Heracross, Heatran, Rotom
Dugtrio: Heatran outspeeds CB versions, and CS versions are weak enough to die to Heracross
Electivire: Heatran, with Motor Drive activated, Rotom beats physical versions and Latias beats special versions.
Empoleon: Latias comes in and Phazes/CM's
Flygon: Rotom can Will-O-Wisp, crippling it.
Gengar: Non CS versions get OHKO'd by Hera, and CS versions can be revenge killed depending on their move.
Gliscor: Latias walls it, but this is a pretty big threat
Azelf: Heracross, Leads are beaten by Breloom, Rotom
Breloom: Heracross, Heatran
Celebi: Heracross, Heatran, Rotom
Dugtrio: Heatran outspeeds CB versions, and CS versions are weak enough to die to Heracross
Electivire: Heatran, with Motor Drive activated, Rotom beats physical versions and Latias beats special versions.
Empoleon: Latias comes in and Phazes/CM's
Flygon: Rotom can Will-O-Wisp, crippling it.
Gengar: Non CS versions get OHKO'd by Hera, and CS versions can be revenge killed depending on their move.
Gliscor: Latias walls it, but this is a pretty big threat
Gyarados: Rotom
Heatran: Non-scarf is killed by mine. Scarf is Revenge killed by Heracross as long as they don't use a fire move.
Heracross: Ugh. Adamant is outsped by Heatran, not sure about KO'ing it though. Jolly is... Weaker, and Rotom can dent it with Overheat. Non CS versions are checked by Heatran.
Infernape: Latias
Jirachi: Rotom doesn't mind having a scarf, and can seriously hurt it with Overheat, Heatran is good too.
Kingdra: This is always a pain to take out, but Heracross's CC and then Luke's ES
Latias: Heracross, Latias
Lucario: Heatran. I need some better ways to check this beast, if he CC's as I switch in, I lost.
Machamp: Crippled by WoW
Magnezone: Heracross, Breloom, Heatran
Mamoswine: Heracross, Breloom
Metagross: Heracross 2HKOS with CC, Heatran can finish it off if Hera dies.
Ninjask: On the leads I switch to Lati and Phaze. Later in the game SR is up and they aren't a threat
Porygon-Z: Heracross, Breloom
Rotom-A: Hera, if it dies then I can try Lati.
Salamence: This is really tough to take out. I usually try to Explode on it, or cripple it with WoW. SR helps in taking it out. This is a pretty big threat.
Scizor: Rotom, Heatran
Snorlax: Heracross, Luke
Starmie: Heracross
Suicune: Latias
Togekiss: Rotom, Heracross, Breloom
Tyranitar: Heracross, Lucario, Breloom
Weavile: Heracross
Yanmega: Breloom, Heracross
Zapdos: Heracross, Breloom
Defensive Threats
Blissey: Lucario Setup Bait, Heracross
Bronzong: Usually a lead, Breloom spores, Heatran, Heracross
Celebi: Heracross
Cradily: Heracross, Lucario? I haven't seen this at all lately
Cresselia: Lucario can setup on Toxic versions, Heracross, Lati can Phaze
Crobat: Rotom
Donphan: Never seen one, I imagine that Breloom could kill it
Drapion: Heatran, Heracross
Dusknoir: Heracross can take the Will-O-Wisp and 3HKO, Rotom
Empoleon: Heracross, Breloom, Latias
Forretress: Heatran
Gliscor: This one is kind of tough. Latias walls it though, taking 30% from U-Turn, easily recovering off the damage
Gyarados: Rotom
Hariyama: I don't know. My team can't hit it SE, but it can't do much to me either. Cripple Thick Fat with WoW, and Guts versions with various special attacks
Heatran: Heatran, Heracross, Latias.
Hippowdon: Breloom
Jirachi: Rotom, Heatran
Latias: Heracross
Ludicolo: Heracross
Machamp: Crippled by WoW
Magnezone: Heracross, Breloom, Heatran
Metagross: Heracross 2HKOS with CC, Heatran can finish it off if Hera dies.
Rotom-A: Hera, if it dies then I can try Lati.
Salamence: This is really tough to take out. I usually try to Explode on it, or cripple it with WoW. SR helps in taking it out. This is a pretty big threat.
Skarmory: Heatran, Lucario sets up
Suicune: Luke Sets Up, Latias can Phaze
Swampert: Breloom
Tyranitar: Breloom, Heracross, Lucario
Vaporeon: Breloom, Latias on non-toxic versions, Luke can setup sometimes
Zapdos: Heracross, Breloom
Conclusion
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Thats it for this team. Keep in mind that my CRE is fairly low(1100) So I don't get high level experience. Tell me if I need to make changes to movesets, EV's or entire Pokes. Thanks for rating
