Hello! For some background, I haven't played competitive Pokemon in two years, but my interest in it has become rekindled recently. Unfortunately, I have no idea what most Gen 7 pokemon are capable of (past the Smogon analyses and the slow learning through Pokemon Showdown). So I've made a team and tested it out, and since there's still much for me to learn, I'd love for you guys to critique my first balanced OU team back. Technically, it's more defensive, but it's not a stall team.
----------------------------------------------------
Sableye @ Sablenite
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Atk / 252 SpD
Careful Nature
- Will-O-Wisp
- Knock Off
- Recover
- Protect
Mega Sableye! Your typical anti-lead. I've grown accustomed to anti-leads more than I have actual hazard-setters. This Sableye is especially dangerous in that unless the enemy has a Clefable or a fire type, there is no really good switch into a Will-o-Wisp.
----------------------------------------------------
Landorus-Therian @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- U-turn
- Explosion
Landorus-T is my physical attacker / sweeper of choice. He works well as a revenge killer and as late-game cleanup. Landorus serves as amazing pressure to most fast sweepers, because every move he has threatens their lives.
----------------------------------------------------
Celesteela @ Leftovers
Ability: Beast Boost
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Def
Relaxed Nature
- Leech Seed
- Protect
- Heavy Slam
- Flamethrower
Celesteela covers Sableye's bases. He's the response to those pesky fairy types who love to destroy my life. He's the quintessential steel wall that teams with defensive aspects have most of the time.
----------------------------------------------------
Volcarona @ Buginium Z
Ability: Flame Body
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Quiver Dance
- Bug Buzz
- Flamethrower
- Psychic
Volcarona is both my special attacker and my response to walls. She also covers the vulnerability to ice that seems to be going around, as well as being a good response to fairy types as well. This Volcarona is an especially good pick into Clefable (provided she has not set up stealth rocks). The Buginium-Z gives Volcarona a massive one-time attack to eliminate threats that I find too pressing for the team to be able to handle reliably.
----------------------------------------------------
Rotom-Wash @ Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 204 Def / 52 Spe
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Hydro Pump
- Volt Switch
- Pain Split
- Defog
Meet Rotom, my defogger and sort-of wall. It would be awful to not have a defogger, because then my Volcarona would be useless. He's the response to Heatran, Landorus, and all else that the rest of my team couldn't reliably deal with, being a water type. I decided to not give him will-o-wisp since Sableye already has it. Pain Split makes it extremely difficult for non-regenerative walls to do their job, and volt switch allows me to predict switches more reliably, as it will always go after the switch.
----------------------------------------------------
Tangrowth @ Assault Vest
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Sassy Nature
- Giga Drain
- Knock Off
- Earthquake
- Hidden Power [Ice]
When building the team, I noticed my team had a massive weakness to Greninja (and water in general, but mostly Greninja). So I wondered-- who would be the best Greninja check? Chansey, perhaps, but I already have enough stalling with Sableye and Celesteela. Not to mention that the rest of my team has a weakness to Electric types except Landorus-T, but even then, every offensive electric type in OU carries HP Ice in their standard sets.
----------------------------------------------------
I guess I made a more defensive team since I'm not comfortable in my ability to play offensive / hyper offense teams quite yet, but I'll get there. I just need to relearn my game, especially with this team. Thank you to anyone who critiques my team!
----------------------------------------------------
Sableye @ Sablenite
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Atk / 252 SpD
Careful Nature
- Will-O-Wisp
- Knock Off
- Recover
- Protect
Mega Sableye! Your typical anti-lead. I've grown accustomed to anti-leads more than I have actual hazard-setters. This Sableye is especially dangerous in that unless the enemy has a Clefable or a fire type, there is no really good switch into a Will-o-Wisp.
----------------------------------------------------
Landorus-Therian @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- U-turn
- Explosion
Landorus-T is my physical attacker / sweeper of choice. He works well as a revenge killer and as late-game cleanup. Landorus serves as amazing pressure to most fast sweepers, because every move he has threatens their lives.
----------------------------------------------------
Celesteela @ Leftovers
Ability: Beast Boost
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Def
Relaxed Nature
- Leech Seed
- Protect
- Heavy Slam
- Flamethrower
Celesteela covers Sableye's bases. He's the response to those pesky fairy types who love to destroy my life. He's the quintessential steel wall that teams with defensive aspects have most of the time.
----------------------------------------------------
Volcarona @ Buginium Z
Ability: Flame Body
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Quiver Dance
- Bug Buzz
- Flamethrower
- Psychic
Volcarona is both my special attacker and my response to walls. She also covers the vulnerability to ice that seems to be going around, as well as being a good response to fairy types as well. This Volcarona is an especially good pick into Clefable (provided she has not set up stealth rocks). The Buginium-Z gives Volcarona a massive one-time attack to eliminate threats that I find too pressing for the team to be able to handle reliably.
----------------------------------------------------
Rotom-Wash @ Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 204 Def / 52 Spe
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Hydro Pump
- Volt Switch
- Pain Split
- Defog
Meet Rotom, my defogger and sort-of wall. It would be awful to not have a defogger, because then my Volcarona would be useless. He's the response to Heatran, Landorus, and all else that the rest of my team couldn't reliably deal with, being a water type. I decided to not give him will-o-wisp since Sableye already has it. Pain Split makes it extremely difficult for non-regenerative walls to do their job, and volt switch allows me to predict switches more reliably, as it will always go after the switch.
----------------------------------------------------
Tangrowth @ Assault Vest
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Sassy Nature
- Giga Drain
- Knock Off
- Earthquake
- Hidden Power [Ice]
When building the team, I noticed my team had a massive weakness to Greninja (and water in general, but mostly Greninja). So I wondered-- who would be the best Greninja check? Chansey, perhaps, but I already have enough stalling with Sableye and Celesteela. Not to mention that the rest of my team has a weakness to Electric types except Landorus-T, but even then, every offensive electric type in OU carries HP Ice in their standard sets.
----------------------------------------------------
I guess I made a more defensive team since I'm not comfortable in my ability to play offensive / hyper offense teams quite yet, but I'll get there. I just need to relearn my game, especially with this team. Thank you to anyone who critiques my team!
