ORAS OU A Courtesy Call for Stunfisk

[Vengeance417]

Oh boy. I got some explaining to do with this one >_>

Hello guys, and welcome to my third RMT! This team's still a WIP, but I feel I have something really fun to play with with what I already have. This team's centered around QD Volcarona + Stunfisk + DD Refresh Altaria. Yes, you heard me. Stunfisk. I can see you rolling your eyes.

team building process

I like to call this core the "No Touchie" duo. Volcarona has Flame Body and Stunfisk has Static, which gives a 30% chance to burn or paralyze the foe upon contact, respectively. I didn't make this core just for that reason, however. Volcarona loves an answer to the myriad of Flying spam in OU, and Starmie later on likes a solid switchin to Electric types. Stunfisk handles Talonflame, opposing Tornadus-Therian, Mega Manectric, Raikou (even avoiding the 2HKO from Specs HP Ice as you'll see in the set later) and Thundurus with ease. Volc also likes rocks to be up on the opposing side of the field for potential KOs, which Stunfisk provides.

Next, I needed a hazard remover for Volcarona. I didn't want to go with a Defogger because I want rocks to stay on the opposing side of the field, and Excadrill doesn't synergize well with Volc and Stunfisk, making me very water weak. Starmie was easily the best answer for me as a spinner. Great speed tier and fantastic power backed up by Analytic when the opponent switches out.

Despite having Starmie, I still felt threatened by opposing Water types, and I felt a switch in to that which would also give me a physical attacking win-con would be nice for me. Also, both forms of Mega Charizard become a humongous problem. Enter DD Refresh Mega Altaria.

Even though I have Volcarona as a switchin to Fairies, they still become a problem with the 4 mons I had so far. Mons like opposing Mega Altaria, if given the chance to set up, and Rock Polish Mega Diancie would wreck my shit in. Banded Mega Scizor easily handles both of those Pokemon, and gives me a second fairy switchin, something very important now that Clefable is running rampant.

The last mon has gone through a few revisions. I originally had Chesnaught on here to be a nice Ground resist, something my team is quite weak to, but it just didn't do anything for this kind of team build, and lost me a lot of momentum when I needed it the most.

I then tried Scarf Lando. The issue with this? I became VERY water weak. Starmie can't take multiple hits throughout the game, and Mega Altaria doesn't like coming in on a Scald and getting burned despite having Refresh because then I have to waste a turn removing the status, losing me yet more momentum.

And now we're finally here. AV Torn-T was the solution I was looking for. He can take special hits very well and pivot out with U-Turn. Not only does it give me a ground immunity, but it also helps me matchup better vs Keldeo and Mega Venusaur, two very huge issues to this team without him.

Heeeeyo
Here comes the danger up in this club
When we get started and we ain't gonna stop
We're gonna turn it out until it gets too hot
Everybody sing


The Sets:

Mothra (Volcarona) @ Passho Berry
Ability: Flame Body
EVs: 72 HP / 252 SpA / 184 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 1 Atk / 30 SpA / 30 SpD
- Quiver Dance
- Fire Blast
- Bug Buzz Hidden Power [Ground]
- Giga Drain

Heeeeeeyo
Tell 'em turn it up until they can't no more
Let's get this thing shaking like a disco ball
This is your last warning
A Courtesy Call

Volcarona is just an amazing Pokemon in this metagame, and in all honesty, not a lot of teams prepare for the Sun God. With access to one of the best set up moves in the game with Quiver Dance, it can just plow through teams when given the chance.

What makes Volcarona so good that not a lot of people talk about is its ability; Flame Body. This gives priority users, such as Bisharp, Azumarill and Scizor a risk of a 30% chance of a burn, so even if Volc goes down, it can leave a nasty surprise in its demise.

The EV spread is simple; outpace Scarf Landorus-T at +1 and OHKO it with Fire Blast. Invest the rest in bulk. Rocks aren't even needed to be up for Scarf Lando to perish. It's that strong, even at Timid. Fire Blast hits tremendously hard when boosted by QD, while Giga Drain along with the water-weakening Passho Berry lets Volcarona have a shot at beating most water types such as Keldeo and non-banded Azumarill. Lastly, Hidden Power Ground means I'm not walled to hell and back by Heatran.

The Underfish (Stunfisk) @ Leftovers
Ability: Static
EVs: 228 HP / 100 Def / 136 SpA / 44 SpD
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Stealth Rock
- Yawn
- Earth Power
- Discharge

I am not afraid
Of the storm that comes my way
When it hits it shakes me to the core
And makes me stronger than before!

You gotta love it when someone judges a book by its cover. I can't count how many times people see this beauty in Team Preview and insult me for using a "shitmon". Well you know what?

Fuck you, racists.

I'm afraid I'm not the OG pioneer of this amazing Pokemon's set. That title belongs to Skup. In the OU Viability Rankings, he made a phenomenal post regarding why Stunfisk should be ranked in OU here, which will give you further insight on its capabilities.

Anyways, on to why Stunfisk is on THIS team. As I said earlier, Volcarona loves to be partnered up with a birdspam check, especially one that can set up rocks and effectively fight to keep them up. You'll look at this team and think, "why can't he just use Hippowdon who checks the same shit?" Well guess what? Stunfisk checks Flying spam a whole lot better than Hippo can, and here's how.

This Pokemon has amazing bulk. 109/84/99 is fat as hell verses both sides of the attacking spectrum. This allows you to live almost any one hit and get up Stealth Rocks. Thanks to its Electric typing, you resist Flying type attacks, unlike Hippo. This makes Talonflame and opposing Tornadus-T hopeless in breaking this thing. If either want to U-Turn or use any of their contact moves on you, they're risking getting paralyzed by Static. This mon is better at combating specially defensive variants of Talonflame better than Hippo variants who forego stone edge for whirlwind, especially if it's the stall breaker Talonflame set with Taunt. Stunfisk just repeatedly hits Talonflame with Discharge until Talon has to roost, where you nab him with an Earth Power.

Stunfisk is also good at preventing Zapdos from defogging with Yawn, keeping your rocks on their side of the field. If it stays in, you put it to sleep and it can no longer do its job. Keep clicking T-bolt until it has to roost and once again, Earth Power on the Roost.

The EV spread looks like a Frankenstein's monster, but it means well. 228 HP gives Stunfisk a leftovers number of 416. 44 SpDef lets Stunfisk prevent the 2HKO from Specs Raikou's HP Ice and Mega Diancie's Moonblast. 136 SpA and Modest OHKOs Mega Manectric and Mega Diancie after rocks, 2HKO SpDef Talonflame with either STAB option and have a good chance to 2HKO AV Raikou after rocks. The rest of the EVs go to Defense to give Stunfisk extra mixed bulk.

Sorry this section was a bit of a mouthful, but people need to understand that this mon is the definition of underrated for no reason. I highly recommend trying this set out for yourselves. It's better than you think.

Patrick (Starmie) @ Life Orb
Ability: Analytic
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 29 HP / 0 Atk / 30 SpA / 30 Spe
- Rapid Spin
- Scald
- Ice Beam
- Hidden Power [Fire]

I think it might wash away tonight
Awaken from this never ending
fight
It takes more than meets the eye
This war we're fighting is not just rotting

With the first two Pokemon being quite water weak with one of them being quad weak to Rocks, I needed a hazard remover that synergizes well with water-weak Pokemon. I didn't want a Defogger because I aim to keep rocks on the opposing side of the field and not attract the likes of Bisharp and Serperior who bank on the evasion drop Defog provides. Starmie fit the bill for this job perfectly.

The move set seems odd, but I have my reasons. I want to be able to beat the premier Stealth Rockers of the tier; Heatran, Ferrothorn, Landorus-T and Garchomp. Heatran dies to water STAB (you can opt for Hydro Pump over Scald, but Scald burns are always nice too), Ferrothorn to HP Fire and Garchomp to Ice Beam. There are times I miss Psychic STAB for things like Keldeo and Venusaur, but there's a teammate you'll see later that handles those two anyway.

Simple 252/252 EV spread for now.

Puff (Altaria-Mega) @ Altarianite
Ability: Pixilate
Happiness: 0
EVs: 248 HP / 20 Atk / 64 Def / 176 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Dragon Dance
- Refresh
- Roost
- Frustration

Heeeeyo
Here comes the danger up in this club
When we get started and we ain't gonna stop
We're gonna turn it out until it gets too hot

Everyone knows Mega Altaria is a threat, and DD Refresh can be tough to break down. This set, thanks to Refresh, can easily come in on Scald users and not care about the burn as you can simply wish it away with a single click. You could also opt for Heal Bell if you want to heal the rest of your team's status conditions as well, but it has way less PP.

The EV spread is simple-ish. Max HP, enough speed to outpace base 70s naturally such as Bisharp and Breloom and enough Defense investment to prevent the 2HKO from LO Latios's Psyshock and to survive a LO Weavile's Icicle Crash when at full health (I did that last investment for Weavile by accident o-O it was just for Latios at the time of its development).

Beats Paper (Scizor) @ Choice Band
Ability: Technician
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Bullet Punch
- U-turn
- Superpower
- Pursuit

There's a rumble in the floor
So get prepared for war
When it hits it'll knock you to the ground
When it shakes up everything around

Banded Scizor is my saving grace from the dreaded fairy types of OU (I hope Puff didn't hear that... >_>). Mons like RP Diancie, opposing Mega Altaria, Mega Gardevoir and Clefable can be quite troublesome to this team, and Scizor ensures me they can be checked.

Nothing much to really see here in terms of movepool that you haven't already seen. Bullet Punch is for priority and gets STAB and Technician boosted, U-Turn is for momentum gaining and hits hard thanks to band, Superpower is for Heatran and Ferrothorn switchins and Pursuit is nice for getting rid of pesky psychics like Latis and Megagross and locked Choice users. I run 8 speed for opposing banded Scizor.

Hurricane Andrew (Tornadus-Therian) (M) @ Assault Vest
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 96 HP / 160 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Hurricane
- Focus Blast
- Knock Off
- U-turn

But survival is a must
So will you stand with us
Can you feel it, make it real
Make me feel it

AV Tornadus-T is the perfect glue for this team. Keldeos and Mega Venusaurs better beware of Hurricane Andrew. This is the reason I didn't go for Psychic STAB on Starmie earlier and went with the moves I did.

To be perfectly honest, I could use a better EV spread though, if anyone has any better ones they'd like to throw my way. Right now, it's the standard one, but I'm not too familiar with using Torn-T all that much.

Hurricane is for STAB and it hits hard. Focus Blast is for Ferrothorn, Heatran, Tyranitar and Bisharp. Knock Off and U-Turn are here for utility purposes and they help a lot at what they do.

Importable

Mothra (Volcarona) @ Passho Berry
Ability: Flame Body
EVs: 72 HP / 252 SpA / 184 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 1 Atk / 30 SpA / 30 SpD
- Quiver Dance
- Fire Blast
- Hidden Power [Ground]
- Giga Drain

The Underfish (Stunfisk) @ Leftovers
Ability: Static
EVs: 228 HP / 100 Def / 136 SpA / 44 SpD
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Stealth Rock
- Yawn
- Earth Power
- Thunderbolt

Patrick (Starmie) @ Life Orb
Ability: Analytic
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk / 30 SpA / 30 Spe
- Rapid Spin
- Scald
- Ice Beam
- Hidden Power [Fire]

Puff (Altaria-Mega) @ Altarianite
Ability: Pixilate
Happiness: 0
EVs: 248 HP / 20 Atk / 64 Def / 176 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Dragon Dance
- Refresh
- Roost
- Frustration

Beats Paper (Scizor) @ Choice Band
Ability: Technician
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Bullet Punch
- U-turn
- Superpower
- Pursuit

Hurricane Andrew (Tornadus-Therian) (M) @ Assault Vest
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 96 HP / 160 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Hurricane
- Focus Blast
- Knock Off
- U-turn

Replay Dump

http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/ou-240046596 Not a particularly GREAT replay, but it shows how Stunfisk can force something deadly out with Yawn and put up rocks because of it. Also, this is the game I discovered that my Altaria spread can live a LO Weavile's Icicle Crash from full. Also, hi BlazeLatias :]

The rest of the replays are by my good friend akelly96.

http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/ou-240296748 A good representation of Stunfisk's bulk, taking nothing from Mega Manectric's HP Ice turn 20.

http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/ou-240306174 A good replay showing Stunfisk's ability to shuffle hazard damage with Yawn.

Shoutouts:

Skup for pioneering this Stunfisk set.

akelly96 for testing the team and doing very well with it.

BlazeLatias for watching my battle and finding appreciation for this team.

Threatlist:

;_;7

siiiiiigh :/ What team ISN'T threatened by this sexy Mega nowadays? My best bet is to have Mega Altaria already be mega'd before Mega Zard X gets the chance, and Stunfisk can handle it to an extent as long as I'm healthy (like....100% :/ ).

Not nearly as much as an issue as Zard X is, but can still be a bitch to switch in to. Again, Altaria has to be healthy for this thing.

Not a lot of switchins here. My best one is....Scizor...

Playing around Weavile can be problematic, as it just wrecks like 4 of my mons, and Scizor can't come in very well on a Knock Off. Volc is no Knock Off switchin either.

Sash Zam can be scary. Life Orb, while harder to switch in to, not so much, as BP from Scizor OHKOs. Also, Torn-T is a decent switchin who also outspeeds.

I know I have Torn. But god dammit, Hurricane. HIT D: If Torn's down, playing around Mega Venusaur isn't very fun.

This, and ground spam in general, can be a real pain. Scarf Lando can be an issue in terms of switchins. I just flat out lose to Double Dance unless Scizor comes in on a Rock Polish.

+

/

Sand Offense just flat out impregnates me. Best thing for me to do is to have Scizor be healthy for a Superpower to kill Excadrill.

Switchins are, again, limited verses this thing. This is the reason why I pack Refresh Altaria and Passho Berry Volcarona. Otherwise, I flat out lose to this.

Tell me how you think :]

 

[Vengeance417]

#Shamelessbump

 

[Reisuke]

Unless stunfisk has some hidden capability of hitting flying types with a ground move, i don't think that's possible
EDIT: sorry my fault.

 

[Vengeance417]

Unless stunfisk has some hidden capability of hitting flying types with a ground move, i don't think that's possible

You hit them when they're Roosting. When a Flying type Roosts, at that moment, they lose their Flying typing, making them vulnerable to Ground type attacks.

This only works ON THE SAME TURN Roost was used, however, and the opponent using Roost has to go first. Stunfisk is a good user of this trick since he's slow, while the main Roost users it would go up against, such as Talonflame and Zapdos, are both faster.

 

[Flygonial]

It's nice to see people capitalizing on Stunfisk being brought out of the shadows so soon and not laughing it off. This team seems quite solid as of now, although I would like to suggest a few more minor optimizations for your team:

I would suggest changing MAlt's EV spread to 248 HP / 20 Atk / 64 Def / 4 SpD / 176 Spe, the last four SpD EVs allowing you to avoid the 2HKO from Timid Mega Charizard Y's Fire Blast ignoring prior damage - I personally believe that Modest is superior but preparing for that would take an impractical amount of change in the EV spread. I would also recommend running Cloud Nine on Mega Altaria to switch into 'Zard Y before Mega Evolving better, while also helping you negate weather against slower weather sweepers although it's use is greater against 'Zard Y.

Also, you mentioned that Torn-T outspeeds Alakazam, but it cannot do so with the current EV spread you're running. Therefore, I would recommend changing the EV spread to 96 HP / 160 SpA / 252 Spe (You only need 248 Spe but I believe that being able to speed tie with opposing max Spe Torn-T and Mega Pidgeot is worth more than just the extra defense EV).

Hope I helped!

 

[DennisEG]

Hey man, nice to see some unothodox mon in a OU team, so i saw ur threat list and and only a few of then can really threat ur team like ScarfLando-T, Weavile( This 6-0 u cuz ur only switch is a scizor which take almost half for knock off), Rotom-W is really annoying for ur team, Sand Off and Azu. I think u struggle against those mons. I leave a cople suggestion than might help u

• First i suggest the Flygonial set for Torn-t
• Another option that could help u a lot is Defog Scizor > CB Scizor simply because u need a lil bit of bulk and not to much power tbh, scizor fuction seem to me be a pursuit trap + dealing with fairies but pursuit isnt needed cuz every mon u can trap have safe switch ins for those without risking scizor and u always deal with fairies without CB and they lack of fire type moves. This set give u an Azu switch if isnt CB, a Weavile check / switch and a lando switch too.
• You should change the Stunfisk Ev Spread to this 252 HP / 168 Def / 88 SpD Bold nature this give u the maximum bulk u can get, also Toxic > Yawn, this help more to deal agaisnt some threats and put on timer or u also can run T-wave > Yawn and Tbolt > Discharge depends on u.
• And last i think u can try Lure Mew > Starmie, simply because it is a lil more slow bbut is more bulkier so can take a couple of hits and more unpredictable than LO starmie, leave the set down below

sets

Scizor @ Leftovers
Ability: Technician
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpD
Impish Nature
- U-turn
- Roost
- Bullet Punch
- Defog

Mew @ Colbur Berry
Ability: Synchronize
EVs: 116 HP / 208 SpA / 184 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Aura Sphere
- Fire Blast
- Roost / Ice Beam
- Psychic

U can lure some weaviles, bisharps, scizor, bulky chomp, scarf tar, lando-t etc that ur altaria / volc struggle agaisnt

Hope i help u

 

[Vengeance417]

It's nice to see people capitalizing on Stunfisk being brought out of the shadows so soon and not laughing it off. This team seems quite solid as of now, although I would like to suggest a few more minor optimizations for your team:

I would suggest changing MAlt's EV spread to 248 HP / 20 Atk / 64 Def / 4 SpD / 176 Spe, the last four SpD EVs allowing you to avoid the 2HKO from Timid Mega Charizard Y's Fire Blast ignoring prior damage - I personally believe that Modest is superior but preparing for that would take an impractical amount of change in the EV spread. I would also recommend running Cloud Nine on Mega Altaria to switch into 'Zard Y before Mega Evolving better, while also helping you negate weather against slower weather sweepers although it's use is greater against 'Zard Y.

Also, you mentioned that Torn-T outspeeds Alakazam, but it cannot do so with the current EV spread you're running. Therefore, I would recommend changing the EV spread to 96 HP / 160 SpA / 252 Spe (You only need 248 Spe but I believe that being able to speed tie with opposing max Spe Torn-T and Mega Pidgeot is worth more than just the extra defense EV).

Hope I helped!

Hi, and thank you for helping me out :D

Nice call on Cloud Nine and the EV spread for Torn-T! I'll change those (I've been looking for a new AV Torn spread, helps me out a bunch :] )

Lastly, I can't run that Malt spread without dropping 4 points in attack, since I already have all the EVs used up. So the one I have right now is 248 HP / 16 Atk / 64 Def / 4 SpD / 176 Spe.

Hey man, nice to see some unothodox mon in a OU team, so i saw ur threat list and and only a few of then can really threat ur team like ScarfLando-T, Weavile( This 6-0 u cuz ur only switch is a scizor which take almost half for knock off), Rotom-W is really annoying for ur team, Sand Off and Azu. I think u struggle against those mons. I leave a cople suggestion than might help u

• First i suggest the Flygonial set for Torn-t
• Another option that could help u a lot is Defog Scizor > CB Scizor simply because u need a lil bit of bulk and not to much power tbh, scizor fuction seem to me be a pursuit trap + dealing with fairies but pursuit isnt needed cuz every mon u can trap have safe switch ins for those without risking scizor and u always deal with fairies without CB and they lack of fire type moves. This set give u an Azu switch if isnt CB, a Weavile check / switch and a lando switch too.
• You should change the Stunfisk Ev Spread to this 252 HP / 168 Def / 88 SpD Bold nature this give u the maximum bulk u can get, also Toxic > Yawn, this help more to deal agaisnt some threats and put on timer or u also can run T-wave > Yawn and Tbolt > Discharge depends on u.
• And last i think u can try Lure Mew > Starmie, simply because it is a lil more slow bbut is more bulkier so can take a couple of hits and more unpredictable than LO starmie, leave the set down below

sets

Scizor @ Leftovers
Ability: Technician
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpD
Impish Nature
- U-turn
- Roost
- Bullet Punch
- Defog

Mew @ Colbur Berry
Ability: Synchronize
EVs: 116 HP / 208 SpA / 184 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Aura Sphere
- Fire Blast
- Roost / Ice Beam
- Psychic

U can lure some weaviles, bisharps, scizor, bulky chomp, scarf tar, lando-t etc that ur altaria / volc struggle agaisnt

Hope i help u

Thank you so much for your input. Definitely trying those sets. Looks fun, especially that Mew set.

 

[Flygonial]

Hi, and thank you for helping me out :D

Nice call on Cloud Nine and the EV spread for Torn-T! I'll change those (I've been looking for a new AV Torn spread, helps me out a bunch :] )

Lastly, I can't run that Malt spread without dropping 4 points in attack, since I already have all the EVs used up. So the one I have right now is 248 HP / 16 Atk / 64 Def / 4 SpD / 176 Spe.



Thank you so much for your input. Definitely trying those sets. Looks fun, especially that Mew set.

Oh yeah, sorry about that little error there, I thought that you had 24 Atk EVs...

 

[Vengeance417]

Mew @ Colbur Berry
Ability: Synchronize
EVs: 116 HP / 208 SpA / 184 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Aura Sphere
- Fire Blast
- Roost / Ice Beam
- Psychic

U can lure some weaviles, bisharps, scizor, bulky chomp, scarf tar, lando-t etc that ur altaria / volc struggle agaisnt[/hide]Hope i help u

Ok so I've been using this set and the Defogger Scizor and I'm starting to notice that with my current team, I just sorta lose to Manaphy...

I'm considering running Expert Belt > Colbur Berry and Energy Ball > Psychic on this set to better handle Tail Glow Manaphy, but at the same time, my matchup vs Weavile will go back to the shitter.

I'm sorta in a bind here :/

 

[DennisEG]

Ok so I've been using this set and the Defogger Scizor and I'm starting to notice that with my current team, I just sorta lose to Manaphy...

I'm considering running Expert Belt > Colbur Berry and Energy Ball > Psychic on this set to better handle Tail Glow Manaphy, but at the same time, my matchup vs Weavile will go back to the shitter.

I'm sorta in a bind here :/

U can Go Timid Full Speed on Volc, and i think u can handle it + Torn and Mew, cuz Mana really cant set up freely on neither of ur team except scizor but still u can click u-turn and go to Volc or mew