With the recent advent of Pokelab's UU ladder option (and Pokelab itself, what a fine system that is!), I decided to try one more time at the UU metagame. Before, I hadn't really gotten too far into UU, but this time I decided to base a team off of my favorite pokemon, Sceptile. The mixed set caught my eye as I recall suggesting something similar a few years ago to try in OU, but alas, Mixed Sceptile didn't fit in too well. So why not try it here?
Of course, Sceptile needs some back up to finish off teams, so without further ado...EDITS IN BOLD
Alakazam (M) @ Focus Sash
Ability: Inner Focus
EVs: 4 HP/252 Spd/252 SpAtk
Modest nature (+SpAtk,-Atk)
- Focus Blast
- Psychic
- Signal Beam
- Taunt
Apparently this guy is only # 7 on top most used UU leads. I don't understand why. Inner Focus and the ability to Taunt makes him able to counter a good majority of the top 10 leads...
1. Ambipom: Most I've seen lead using a Life Orb set with Fake Out. This means I can take the hit, survive with sash, and hit back with a Psychic or Focus Blast for the OHKO with recoil.
2. Uxie: Taunt and then proceed to Signal Beam. Alakazam's insane SAtk hits Uxies surprisingly hard to start. U-Turn means I get to see their team early, so I can switch as needed.
3. Mesprit: Pretty much the same as Uxie, though his U-Turn hits harder. Focus Sash helps though.
4. Omastar: Haven't seen this yet. Taunt to prevent Rain Dance and then Focus Blast or Psychic as I see fit.
5. Qwilfish: He seems quite common so far. I start with Taunt to prevent spikes, though if he explodes that means I wasted my move.
6. Spiritomb: My entire team actually has a problem with Spiritomb in general. A switch to Registeel or Houndoom might be in order, but I'd like to avoid the burn for the former. Suggestions?
7. Alakazam: I go to my Houndoom and Pursuit.
8. Scyther: U-Turn scares me. I find using Focus Blast to hit the switch pretty effective. Registeel switches prove effective, but ONLY if he stays in.
9. Hippo: lol. Sandstorm means Rhyperior gets a boost, and that it means the opponent's team is probably resistant to Sand for the most part. This means Sceptile and Houndoom/Slowbro can pick off the Ground/Rock and Steel types, respectively.
10. Cloyster: Taunt the spikes and hit hard (he has low SDef). I can survive explosion with the sash.
---
Sceptile (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Overgrow
EVs: 252 Atk/176 Spd/80 SpAtk
Hasty nature (+Spd,-Def)
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Leaf Blade
- Leaf Storm
- Rock Slide
Ah, the basis of the team. Sceptile checks Milotic quite well as he can come in on Surfs aimed at Houndoom or Rhyperior and hit back with Leaf Storm (or Leaf Blade should it pack Light Screen). He also breaks walls down so the bulkier members of my team can take what is left. I went for Rock Slide because Moltres switch ins needed a check, and it was a good safe guard in case Slowbro was down/poisoned for Arcanine. HP Ice allows for coverage on Venusaur, Torterra, Altaria and other grass/flying Sceptile might struggle with.
Note: I am NOT willing to change Sceptile, but I AM willing to change this set or any of the other pokemon on the team to accomodate him.
---
Rhyperior (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Solid Rock
EVs: 140 HP/252 Atk/32 Def/84 Spd
Adamant nature (+Atk,-SpAtk)
- Earthquake
- Megahorn
- Stone Edge
- Substitute
Rhyperior compliments Sceptile and Slowbro well as they resist his weaknesses, while he reists most of theirs. Stealth Rock was already covered by Registeel, so I went with Substitute. Why? Substitute has, time after time, saved me from...
WoW burns
Dugtrio and several other revenge kills
Leech Seed
Sleep Powder
Toxic
And etc. The point is Rhyperior generally forces a great deal of switches, and Substitute matches very well with that aspect as it lets me safely scout the opposing team while protecting him from moves that would otherwise cripple him. A sub from such high HP is pretty rough to break through as well.
---
Slowbro (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Own Tempo
EVs: 252 HP/252 Def/4 SpDef
Bold nature (+Def,-Atk)
- Psychic
- Slack Off
- Surf
- Toxic
Slowbro takes Fighting moves aimed at Rhyperior, Houndoom and Registeel and laughs them off while slowing the majority of the opposing team. Water type also compliments Sceptile, Houndoom and Rhyperior as well. Stopping Moltres, Donphan and Blaziken, while walling (for the most part) and threatening Claydol has also been useful as well.
---
Houndoom (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 154 Atk/224 Spd/132 SpAtk
Hasty nature (+Spd,-Def)
- Dark Pulse
- Nasty Plot
- Flamethrower
- Sucker Punch
Houndom completes the Water/Fire/Grass core of my team by supplying Sceptile and Registeel with a much needed Flash Fire while stopping the likes of Alakazam, Venusaur and Mismagius from ruining my game with it's set up abilitiesI actually have a bit of trouble using this guy, so any suggestions would be much appreciated! T
~ The 154 EVs in attack are to OHKO Dugtrio with a Sucker Punch 100% WITHOUT Stealth Rocks.
---
Registeel @ Leftovers
Ability: Clear Body
EVs: 252 HP/4 Def/252 SpDef
Careful nature (+SpDef,-SpAtk)
- Iron Head
- Seismic Toss
- Stealth Rock
- Thunder Wave
I can't imagine this team without Registeel. Paralyzes MORE threats (thinking about going Toxic on this one), sets up Rocks, walls anything else not previously covered (Mismagius for one). I went with Iron Head because Shadow Claw didn't seem to be doing enough for me; Paraflinch hax seemed the better way to go.
---
TOP 10 (most used) THREAT CHECK.
This list covers the top 10 threats as of August 2010 on Smogon's Shoddy Battle server.
1. Milotic: Sceptile is my main check as he can kill physical variants with Leaf Storm and Light Screen versions with Leaf Blade. He can switch in on Surfs aimed at Rhyperior or Houndoom as well.
2. Venusaur: Registeel walls it while Houndoom threatens/kills it with Overheat. However, the fact that Sleep Powder renders Registeel useless makes me a bit weary. Houndoom or even Sceptile can generally come in after 1-2 Leaf Storms since Sludge Bomb's power will be reduced.
3. Spiritomb: Again, I have trouble with this one. Houndoom can absorb WoWs and resist Dark moves, but against the Calm Mind variant there really isn't too much I can do considering Registeel and Rhyperior risk being burned.
4. Mismagius: Registeel walls it, Houndoom revenges it.
5. Registeel: Rhyperior walls it to hell and only fears Toxic.
6. Arcanine: Slowbro and Rhyperior wall it pretty well; I only have to worry about Toxic.
7. Uxie: Alakazam's Taunt renders it pretty much useless, Houndoom scares it to death.
8. Clefable: Alakazam's Taunt works again, and Registeel generally walls it.
9. Alakazam: Registeel walls it for the most part, Sceptile threatens a speed tie and a dangerous Leaf Blade to boot. Houndoom has Pursuit.
10. Rhyperior: Slowbro walls it pretty well, Sceptile scares it with a Leaf Storm or Leaf Blade.
The two other threats that should be considered are Moltres and Heracross. Moltres is beaten by Slowbro and Rhyperior and Sceptile's Rock Slide/Stealth Rocks can catch it on the switch. Heracross is a bit different; Rhyperior only walls it so well because it can't take many Close Combats in a row. Houndoom can revenge kill it though, but it wouldn't surprise me if the opponent had a Flash Fire pokemon to take the Overheat.
Any suggestions at all are much appreciated!
Of course, Sceptile needs some back up to finish off teams, so without further ado...EDITS IN BOLD
Alakazam (M) @ Focus Sash
Ability: Inner Focus
EVs: 4 HP/252 Spd/252 SpAtk
Modest nature (+SpAtk,-Atk)
- Focus Blast
- Psychic
- Signal Beam
- Taunt
Apparently this guy is only # 7 on top most used UU leads. I don't understand why. Inner Focus and the ability to Taunt makes him able to counter a good majority of the top 10 leads...
1. Ambipom: Most I've seen lead using a Life Orb set with Fake Out. This means I can take the hit, survive with sash, and hit back with a Psychic or Focus Blast for the OHKO with recoil.
2. Uxie: Taunt and then proceed to Signal Beam. Alakazam's insane SAtk hits Uxies surprisingly hard to start. U-Turn means I get to see their team early, so I can switch as needed.
3. Mesprit: Pretty much the same as Uxie, though his U-Turn hits harder. Focus Sash helps though.
4. Omastar: Haven't seen this yet. Taunt to prevent Rain Dance and then Focus Blast or Psychic as I see fit.
5. Qwilfish: He seems quite common so far. I start with Taunt to prevent spikes, though if he explodes that means I wasted my move.
6. Spiritomb: My entire team actually has a problem with Spiritomb in general. A switch to Registeel or Houndoom might be in order, but I'd like to avoid the burn for the former. Suggestions?
7. Alakazam: I go to my Houndoom and Pursuit.
8. Scyther: U-Turn scares me. I find using Focus Blast to hit the switch pretty effective. Registeel switches prove effective, but ONLY if he stays in.
9. Hippo: lol. Sandstorm means Rhyperior gets a boost, and that it means the opponent's team is probably resistant to Sand for the most part. This means Sceptile and Houndoom/Slowbro can pick off the Ground/Rock and Steel types, respectively.
10. Cloyster: Taunt the spikes and hit hard (he has low SDef). I can survive explosion with the sash.
---
Sceptile (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Overgrow
EVs: 252 Atk/176 Spd/80 SpAtk
Hasty nature (+Spd,-Def)
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Leaf Blade
- Leaf Storm
- Rock Slide
Ah, the basis of the team. Sceptile checks Milotic quite well as he can come in on Surfs aimed at Houndoom or Rhyperior and hit back with Leaf Storm (or Leaf Blade should it pack Light Screen). He also breaks walls down so the bulkier members of my team can take what is left. I went for Rock Slide because Moltres switch ins needed a check, and it was a good safe guard in case Slowbro was down/poisoned for Arcanine. HP Ice allows for coverage on Venusaur, Torterra, Altaria and other grass/flying Sceptile might struggle with.
Note: I am NOT willing to change Sceptile, but I AM willing to change this set or any of the other pokemon on the team to accomodate him.
---
Rhyperior (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Solid Rock
EVs: 140 HP/252 Atk/32 Def/84 Spd
Adamant nature (+Atk,-SpAtk)
- Earthquake
- Megahorn
- Stone Edge
- Substitute
Rhyperior compliments Sceptile and Slowbro well as they resist his weaknesses, while he reists most of theirs. Stealth Rock was already covered by Registeel, so I went with Substitute. Why? Substitute has, time after time, saved me from...
WoW burns
Dugtrio and several other revenge kills
Leech Seed
Sleep Powder
Toxic
And etc. The point is Rhyperior generally forces a great deal of switches, and Substitute matches very well with that aspect as it lets me safely scout the opposing team while protecting him from moves that would otherwise cripple him. A sub from such high HP is pretty rough to break through as well.
---
Slowbro (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Own Tempo
EVs: 252 HP/252 Def/4 SpDef
Bold nature (+Def,-Atk)
- Psychic
- Slack Off
- Surf
- Toxic
Slowbro takes Fighting moves aimed at Rhyperior, Houndoom and Registeel and laughs them off while slowing the majority of the opposing team. Water type also compliments Sceptile, Houndoom and Rhyperior as well. Stopping Moltres, Donphan and Blaziken, while walling (for the most part) and threatening Claydol has also been useful as well.
---
Houndoom (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 154 Atk/224 Spd/132 SpAtk
Hasty nature (+Spd,-Def)
- Dark Pulse
- Nasty Plot
- Flamethrower
- Sucker Punch
Houndom completes the Water/Fire/Grass core of my team by supplying Sceptile and Registeel with a much needed Flash Fire while stopping the likes of Alakazam, Venusaur and Mismagius from ruining my game with it's set up abilitiesI actually have a bit of trouble using this guy, so any suggestions would be much appreciated! T
~ The 154 EVs in attack are to OHKO Dugtrio with a Sucker Punch 100% WITHOUT Stealth Rocks.
---
Registeel @ Leftovers
Ability: Clear Body
EVs: 252 HP/4 Def/252 SpDef
Careful nature (+SpDef,-SpAtk)
- Iron Head
- Seismic Toss
- Stealth Rock
- Thunder Wave
I can't imagine this team without Registeel. Paralyzes MORE threats (thinking about going Toxic on this one), sets up Rocks, walls anything else not previously covered (Mismagius for one). I went with Iron Head because Shadow Claw didn't seem to be doing enough for me; Paraflinch hax seemed the better way to go.
---
TOP 10 (most used) THREAT CHECK.
This list covers the top 10 threats as of August 2010 on Smogon's Shoddy Battle server.
1. Milotic: Sceptile is my main check as he can kill physical variants with Leaf Storm and Light Screen versions with Leaf Blade. He can switch in on Surfs aimed at Rhyperior or Houndoom as well.
2. Venusaur: Registeel walls it while Houndoom threatens/kills it with Overheat. However, the fact that Sleep Powder renders Registeel useless makes me a bit weary. Houndoom or even Sceptile can generally come in after 1-2 Leaf Storms since Sludge Bomb's power will be reduced.
3. Spiritomb: Again, I have trouble with this one. Houndoom can absorb WoWs and resist Dark moves, but against the Calm Mind variant there really isn't too much I can do considering Registeel and Rhyperior risk being burned.
4. Mismagius: Registeel walls it, Houndoom revenges it.
5. Registeel: Rhyperior walls it to hell and only fears Toxic.
6. Arcanine: Slowbro and Rhyperior wall it pretty well; I only have to worry about Toxic.
7. Uxie: Alakazam's Taunt renders it pretty much useless, Houndoom scares it to death.
8. Clefable: Alakazam's Taunt works again, and Registeel generally walls it.
9. Alakazam: Registeel walls it for the most part, Sceptile threatens a speed tie and a dangerous Leaf Blade to boot. Houndoom has Pursuit.
10. Rhyperior: Slowbro walls it pretty well, Sceptile scares it with a Leaf Storm or Leaf Blade.
The two other threats that should be considered are Moltres and Heracross. Moltres is beaten by Slowbro and Rhyperior and Sceptile's Rock Slide/Stealth Rocks can catch it on the switch. Heracross is a bit different; Rhyperior only walls it so well because it can't take many Close Combats in a row. Houndoom can revenge kill it though, but it wouldn't surprise me if the opponent had a Flash Fire pokemon to take the Overheat.
Any suggestions at all are much appreciated!
