SM PU anund

[ManOfMany]

anund

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PREFACE

Welcome to what is probably my last RMT. I've been enjoying the SM PU meta quite a bit, although I haven't really had many teams I've become particularly attached to. This is the exception. Although it may not be the best team ever, it plays effectively, is fun to use, and combines with some unique personal quirks from both me and Dibs The Dreamer. This idea started out in early PU beta, when I was experimenting around with Oricorio-Pom Pom. I was mainly using a stallbreaker set of Taunt + Toxic + Roost, and I combined it with bulky cores such as Gastro + Clef + Bronzor. I passed along this core idea to Dibs The Dreamer, and he greatly expanded it, creating a number of awesome teams using the Pom Pom + Gastro + Clef core and using it in tournaments like Not PU Open. Eventually, the meta changed enough that some sets and members of the team were no longer in the tier, or effective in the metagame. Despite that, I was able to adapt this build with slight changes in sets so that it continues to be effective even many months later. I used different versions of it in PU seasonal to general success and tested in friendly matches and roomtours until I finally decided on the best version. I can't give a proper Teambuilding Process because this has been far too long and undergone too many changes for me to even remember, but I hope that by reading the rest it will all fit together!​

THE_TEAM

Oricorio-Pom-Pom @ Flyinium Z
Ability: Dancer
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Calm Mind
- Revelation Dance
- Hurricane
- Roost

The star of the team. Pom-Pom is a pretty rare, niche pokemon often considered to be outclassed by Oricorio-Sensu. While it is true that it is definitely not on Sensu's level, Pom- Pom has attributes make it more useful for my team in particular. First off, it provides me a bit of a more reliable win condition with Calm Mind. Not being hit super-effectively by Sucker Punch or Shadow Sneak is surprisingly useful, and Pom-Pom can even avoid being revenged by certain Archeops sets. My team is also more than a bit weak to Dark-types, so not stacking weaknesses is helpful. Pom-Pom is running an offensive Calm Mind set here with its dual STAB of Revelation Dance and Hurricane. Just like Sensu, at +1 with Flyinium Z Hurricane, it can be a fearsome wallbreaker and shatter even flying resists. Pom-Pom can set up on pokemon like Gurdurr and Eelektross, who are as good as ever right now, and even Ferroseed if you can tolerate a bit of Leech Seed stalling. Pom-Pom provides me a hard check to Lilligant, and an additional check to Fighting-types who are always threats to slower balance teams such as this. Ideally, Pom-Pom should be played late-game when Flying and Electric resists have been worn down, but you can use it to switch in throughout the battle on Grass and Fighting-types. If you play smart you can also set up Pom-Pom on passive Toxic users like Gastrodon and Altaria and overwhelm them, and then use Heal Bell with Clefairy later on so you don't have to sack it. In some games, Pom-Pom can be fairly useless due to its mediocre dual STAB giving it problems with Togedemaru and Lanturn, and in those cases you just have to accept that it won't put in much work unless you can get those pokemon off the field.

Clefairy @ Eviolite
Ability: Magic Guard
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Sassy Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Soft-Boiled
- Knock Off
- Seismic Toss / Moonblast
- Heal Bell

Clefairy is the special wall. Clef switches into countless special threats, such as Mesprit, Pyroar, Magmortar, and Abomasnow for me, many of which could easily dismantle this team otherwise. It also helps out vs. passive special attackers like Lanturn and Altaria a great deal by getting an almost free switch and absorbing Toxic. Although I already have two pokemon who are immune to Toxic, it never hurts to have a third when you are relying on pokemon like Gastrodon and Pom-Pom. Furthermore, Clefairy even carries Heal Bell here to help out the rest of the team- Bronzor needs it to wake up from Rest, Gastrodon can easily get Toxic'd by pokemon like Regirock and Togedemaru, while Pom-Pom may run into problems with Toxic when trying to setup and overwhelm other bulky teams. Heal Bell Clefairy helps them win games in the long run. If the opponent doesn't know the team it can be a surprise to them and bring a statused pokemon another life, and let you play more aggressively early in the game. I'm running no status Clef here because I wanted to run both Knock Off and Seismic Toss. This is because Clef would be the only Knock Off user for the team and this is always helpful for tricky pokemon like AV Eel and Gurdurr. Seismic Toss is a great move to provide consistent attacks, especially in the face of Taunt, although Moonblast is an alternative that helps with Fighting and Dark-type pokemon like Passimian.

Gastrodon @ Leftovers
Ability: Storm Drain
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Scald
- Earth Power
- Clear Smog / Toxic
- Recover

Gastrodon, the tank. Gastrodon pairs excellently with Clefairy, tanking the physical attackers while Clefairy tanks most special attacks. Gastrodon switches into Archeops, Kangaskhan, Hitmonchan, Skuntank, Scarf Primeape and other pokemon while at full health. Gastrodon is not only a physical tank though- it has great mixed bulk and functions excellently vs. special attackers like Raichu-A and Scarf Oricorio-Sensu, and just anything that gets out of hand. Gastrodon can also crucially tank Knock Off without too many problems, since Knock Off is such a great threat to Bronzor and Clefairy. While other members of the team are more useful for their specific typing and abilities, Gastrodon is just fat and it's great to have a pokemon to just sit around and tank random hits and spread around Scald mindlessly. Clear Smog as the first slash on this set might be unusual, but it is specifically to help with bulky setup like Type:Null and CroTomb as it is my only real counterplay. Gastrodon can be swapped out for Palossand to provide a counter to Passimian and Gurdurr, but this makes the team quite a bit weaker to Water-types.

Bronzor @ Eviolite
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 248 HP / 108 Def / 152 SpD
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Psywave
- Stealth Rock
- Rest
- Toxic

Bronzor fills the position as a Stealth Rock setter and emergency check to dangerous pokemon. Although it doesn't get much usage, its unique typing is actually a godsend for many roles in the meta. Bronzor's main function on this team is as the team's best check to Normal and Ice-types wallbreakers, such as Stoutland and Aurorus, both of which can easily come in on many members of the team. It also should prevent Jynx from getting out of hand, unless you get severely unlucky with sleep turns. Bronzor also is able to function as a secondary check to pokemon like Archeops, Dugtrio-Alola, Togedemaru, and Mesprit. Between Psywave and its immunity to Toxic, Bronzor actually can be threatening to many bulkier teams as well. Bronzor's main problem is that it is extremely passive. As said earlier, its only way of damaging Dark-type pokemon is Toxic, and Skuntank is even immune to this. It is also highly vulnerable to Knock Off and can be a momentum suck when forced to Rest. Against certain teams, it is best to avoid bringing Bronzor in other than to set Rocks and maybe sack it for Toxic on a certain threat.

Bronzor is probably the most flexible moveslot on the team. Ferroseed is a possible swap, as it is much less passive and helps with Type:Null and Munchlax, although it makes the team even weaker to Fighting-types. You can even swap it for Sableye, who helps out with Passimian a great deal and can annoy stallier teams with Taunt. However, this makes the team much weaker to certain wallbreakers like Stoutland, Jynx and Aurorus.

Skuntank @ Rocky Helmet / Black Sludge
Ability: Aftermath
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Sucker Punch
- Defog
- Poison Jab
- Crunch

Skuntank fills its classic role for this team, providing utility in Defog and priority and checking important attackers. Defog is crucial for this team as Pyroar and Pom-Pom really appreciate the hazard removal so they can switch in and out throughout the entire game. Physical Skuntank is honestly not the best at Defogging throughout the game, considering it cannot deal with Palossand, Regirock, or Ferroseed. That being said, it is not difficult to wear down these pokemon over the course of the game with Toxic and passive damage from Bronzor and Clef, and eventually Skuntank can come in where it should be able to Defog without losing momentum. Physical Skunk also provides too much utility for me to consider using another slot. I have no Choice Scarf user so Sucker Punch is a much needed emergency check to faster pokemon like Jynx and Togedemaru. Skuntank's typing is perfect for the team, letting me absorb Toxic Spikes while providing an additional check to Ghost and Dark-types who threaten the Bronzor/Clef duo. Rocky Helmet is chosen here to improve Skunk's matchup against opposing physical Dark-type attackers, including opposing Skuntank. Combined with Aftermath and smart play it can prevent pokemon like SD Absol and BD Zangoose from getting out of hand. Crunch is chosen over Pursuit here because my team lacks in straightforward attacking power in general.

Pyroar @ Choice Specs
Ability: Unnerve
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Fire Blast
- Hyper Voice
- Flamethrower
- Hidden Power [Grass]

Pyroar was a great last fit on this team as a way to bring both strength and power. With Choice Specs equipped, it serves as the only real strong attacker on this team, andthe only one that can just click buttons and watch things die easily. Pyroar is also the fastest pokemon on the team, so it can easily revenge stuff like Swanna, Sensu, non-choice Primeape, and Liepard that other members may not be able to. Pyroar can be played as a wallbreaker, breaking down pokemon like Regirock for a late-game sweep with Pom-Pom. On the other hand, since Pyroar is the fastest member of the team, sometimes it is useful to save it for later until it can just get a clean sweep against other balance teams. Try to get up Stealth Rock as early as possible with Bronzor so that Pyroar can break through stuff like Altaria and Lanturn easier. Pyroar also helps my team check certain passive pokemon like Ferroseed and Weezing, and also serves as a soft check to Magmortar and other choice-locked Pyroar (which can be dangerous if Clefairy is worn down or Taunted).



THREATLIST

Type:Null/Munchlax: These fat normal types are very threatening since my team is mainly special-based. Keep spamming Clear Smog with Gastrodon if you're running that, or force them to take a Knock Off with Clefairy and do your best to overpower them with Pom-Pom and Pyroar.

Dark-types: both Bronzor and Clef are complete sitting bait for Skunk so it's naturally a threat to my team, especially Band or Acid Spray variants. Luckily, there's Gastrodon to tank and you can revenge kill it with Pyroar or Oricorio. SD Dark-types like Absol and Ret are harder though because of their sheer power, you just have to do your best to play around Sucker Punch and avoid giving them setup opportunities.

Passimian: Passimian is so strong that it can click CB Close Combat and not click any other move and still do well vs my team. Nothing avoids the 2HKO from Adamant CC, and Pom-Pom is too frail to be a great check, but if you limit Passimian's switch-in capabilities it can be played around. Most likely you will have to sack one or even two of the fatter mons for chip damage and then revenge kill.

Eelektross: While Eelektross isn't overly powerful, it usually carries Knock Off, and that messes up both Clefairy and Bronzor. Pom-Pom can actually tank every hit but gets pivoted on by Volt Switch and can't do much back besides setup. The key to playing Eelektross is to pivot properly- go Skunk on Knock Off, go Gastro on Volt, go Pom-Pom on Giga, etc. Of course, that's much easier said than done.

hard stall: Unfortunately, this is just tough to beat unless you play flawlessly. Especially if they are running Carbink, Pyukumuku, and SpD Toxic Clef. Do your best with CM Pom Pom while Heal Belling with Clef whenever necessary, play some stall games of your own, and try to clean up with Specs Pyroar if an opportunity comes.

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IMPORTABLE

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Oricorio-Pom-Pom @ Flyinium Z
Ability: Dancer
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Calm Mind
- Revelation Dance
- Hurricane
- Roost

Clefairy @ Eviolite
Ability: Magic Guard
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Sassy Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Soft-Boiled
- Knock Off
- Seismic Toss
- Heal Bell

Gastrodon-East @ Leftovers
Ability: Storm Drain
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Scald
- Earth Power
- Clear Smog
- Recover

Bronzor @ Eviolite
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 248 HP / 108 Def / 152 SpD
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Psywave
- Stealth Rock
- Rest
- Toxic

Skuntank @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Aftermath
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Sucker Punch
- Defog
- Poison Jab
- Crunch

Pyroar (M) @ Choice Specs
Ability: Unnerve
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Fire Blast
- Hyper Voice
- Flamethrower
- Hidden Power [Grass]

CONCLUSION
yeah, i have nothing more to add here. This team is pretty good, struggles against some big threats in the meta but then again that's what makes them big threats. It has the tools to beat a lot of common builds and most of all, it's cute and aesthetically pleasing. Again, it's not perfect, but I like using it and I hope others do too Finally, shoutouts to PU for being an awesome tier and community for three straight years.

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Shoutouts

Dibs The Dreamer- not only the cutest user around, helped me fall in love with Pom Pom
My PU guys- galbia Anty Megazard HJAD TJ rwby LordST ShuckleDeath Taskr allstarapology jklioe Aaronboyer UberSkitty Akir Teddeh ZeitoKrabby Solar Flare Charles A. Theist Dundies Tonda Gossa! GeneralAnnoyance Broken Phobias Slowbroth Haund Raiza Robert Alfons amber lamps Twix Plans@GenZeon
everyone else- avocado EviGaro Randomnick cyanize teachable eifo spookysocialist roman ggggd lax PursuitOfHappiny Raseri Leru Arifeen passion Merlouvynis Arii Stella Pearl and everyone who i teamed up with for a team tournament and talked to in Discord
sorry if i missed anyone, I still love you all