Are unorthodox items viable?

[Astrith01]

Not sure if this had been said yet, however, Lead Swampert with a Rindo Berry is very good at KOing most other leads and getting Rocks down, maybe more even. I made a set that only take an average of 40% from a 252 SAtk Naive Infernape.

Swampert (M) @ Rindo Berry
Ability: Torrent
EVs: 252 HP/176 Atk/80 SDef
Careful nature (+SDef, -SAtk)
- Avalanche
- Earthquake
- Stealth Rock
- Roar
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Unforutnately, becaucse most Lead Ape hold a sash, it occasionally loses to them, although, the only lead Ape I have encountered that DIDN'T have a sash, DID have Grass Knot, all the others didn't....Generally with lead Ape, I go for Earthquake or Roar.

 

[cim]

The set is pointless, you're just going to trade 1 for 1 every time, I guess usually something with Close Combat or Steel? It just seems like a waste of turns, time, and effort to kill nothing in particular. To be honest it seems like you just made the set up now to try and use an item with very few uses rather than reporting back the results of a few days' of experience and its competitive niche that other Pokemon can't fill. (which is kind of what you've done for years i guess so whatever)

 

[cantab]

I've found Lum Berry to be the best option on DDMence with screens support. Life Orb recoil leaves me too prone to getting revenge killed, or worn down by stuff that's not OHKOed. With screens up and me not losing 10% a turn I have a better chance to survive non-ice attacks.
Fairly often I can bring in mence, dance as they switch, dance again as they try to status, then sweep. If my opponent DOESN'T status, it means I get two outrages in a row, which is generally devastating.

I've tried Yache berry, which lets me take an ice attack with screens up (and a weak ice attack even without them), but it seems people try and status me more often. And the Yache Berry is worthless if I don't take any ice attacks, whereas Lum helps whether or not my opponent statuses.