As the sun sets on the battle, the heroes walk away victorious...

[moleman]

INTRODUCTION


My first few attempts at competitive battling teams were awful to put it bluntly. I was too focused on trying to put too many pokemon I liked in the team at once without any regard for strategy. I had this pointed out to me once and so I set about searching for a strategy, deciding this time to stick to just one of my favourites, Charizard. I didn't want to use the most powerful pokemon, at least not as my main threats, nor the most common strategies, so I settled on what I felt was a slightly obscure one; Sunnyday.

I have made numerous changes to the first versions of this team and feel that before I get to the team in detail, it would be useful (and maybe even interesting for some of you haha) to know my process for reaching the final team, which I hold could still be improved, maybe even substantially.

THE EVOLUTION OF THE TEAM

So, to start things off I decided I wanted it to be a sunnyday team focused on Charizard. The obvious set that jumped out, which takes full advantage of sunnyday is the Sunnyzard set so I settled on him as my special sweeper.

Next I was going to need a physical sweeper... but not another fire because I wanted the team to have some diversity to begin with. So I did some research and found the chlorophyll ability, settling on Tangrowth because of its beastly attack stat from all of the Chlorophyll pokemon. It even had a solid, bulky defence to go with it so things looked pretty good for Tangrowth once the sun was up!

With my two sweepers in hand, I was going to need a sunnyday set up from both sides of the defensive spectrum. Enter Snorlax and Claydol. Maybe not who you were expecting at all, but Snorlax gives me the special defensive coverage that I need to set up a sunnyday and even has some bite to fight back. Claydol meanwhile combines physical sturdiness with the ability to rapid spin which would otherwise be a problem for my charizard.

Okay, so sweepers check, walls check... Definitely need a utility guy to back this team up and offer me a diverse range of moves I haven't yet received from any of my pokes so far. I could also use some Stealthrock support of my own... So I decided to choose a bulky water with a good defensive typing: Swampert. His physical ability and movepool give him the ability to be a threat to common OU pokemon without the need of a sunnyday set up... his support is incase this plan is weather phased by a tyranitar or pokemon who whips up a snowstorm etc.

So finally, I could do with an annoying lead pokemon. Initially I went with Yanmega because he's a pretty reliable lead and in all the battles I had used him in he caused a lot of problems for foes with the protect, hypnosis combo. So that was the team chosen!

Or so I thought. I began to struggle setting up the sunnydays effectively as Yanmega did very little (read:nothing) to help in this area, so I found myself a pokemon behind when I was only just setting up. Not to mention I'm unable to set stealthrocks straight away which is incredibly useful... so I dropped Yanmega sadly... :(

Not only that, but I began to play around with the idea of converting Charizard to a Bellyzard. He is arguably the best belly drummer in the game and his blaze-STAB-bellydrummed fire punch is lethal... imagine what it could do in the SUN!?! I wanted to try this power out, but if I were to it would leave me short of a sweeper of the special variety... I got thinking and eventually conceded that I would have to use Infernape in the mixape form, moving Swampert up to the lead spot.

The team does feel a lot more rounded like this though and I have noticed it in battle instantly. So let's get to the details without further ado:

THE TEAM IN DETAIL

THE BULKY MUD-FISH​

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Swampert [Kipper] (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Torrent [Impish]
Evs: 240 HP/52 Att/216 Def
- Stealth Rocks
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- Avalanche​

Typically I start with Stealth rocks since it is unlikely he will be killed or in danger in the first turn before they've set up. Next I decide what the best course of action is. Avalanche is a very powerful, physical ice move that takes advantage of double power if the user is attacked. Perfect for the bulky Swampert to take out powerful dragon types. Stone edge can help with taking out a Skarmory and Earthquake is an obvious STAB choice to badly injure, or kill, Tyranitars and other powerful rock types that could cause my fire types problems later.​

THE BADASS SPINNING OWL​

Claydol [Pigeon] @ Heat Rock
Ability: Levitate [Bold]
EVs: 252 HP/144 Def/114 Sp.Att
- Earthpower
- Psychic (changed from Stealthrocks)
- Sunny Day
- Rapid Spin​

Pigeon... Owl... who gives a... I'll tell you who! This Badass Owl-Pigeon hybrid thing! He comes in and blows the other teams stealth rocks away allowing for my Charizard not to get owned. He can then, or maybe even start off with if they don't set stealth rocks up, use Sunny day. This is boosted by Heat Rock for eight turns. Next I can either try to predict and switch in to either my Tangrowth or Infernape, of try and fight my way through them. Ideally, he leaves after one sunny day so that the sweepers get full advantage of the sun.​

THE SLEEPY SHINY SUN MAN​

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Snorlax [Lax] (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Thick Fat [Careful]
EVs: 168 HP/90 Def/252 Sp.Def
- Fire Punch (changed from Curse)
- Sunny day
- Return
- Rest​

I tend to use Snorlax as the go to sunny day set up once the sun dies for the first time. He can obviously take a hit on the switch in and then set a sunny day up. The Fire punch is boosted by the sun giving him to very powerul attacks to go along with rest for longevity. I have considered using Explosion over Return so he comes in, sunny days and blows his way out of theirs to avoid a switch, but longevity always proves more valuable I think. ​

THE VINEY FACED JUNGLE-MAN

Tangrowth [Whipu] (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Chlorophyll [Jolly]
EVs: 4 hp/252 Att/252 Spd
- Power Whip
- Earthquake
- Swords Dance
- Rock Slide​

The title I gave him may not be politically correct, but who cares when he can out speed a timid scarf-tran and KO it. His STAB power whip after a swords dance is pretty powerful to say the least... its amazing how good this pokemon becomes in the sun. Rock slide is there to take care of any flying types that try to ruin my parade, and Earthquake is just an obvious choice for any physical sweepers.​

THE SMOKIN' MONKEY

Infernape [Monkey] (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Blaze [Naive]
EVs: 64 Att/252 Sp.Att/192 Spd
- Hidden Power Ice
- Grass Knot
- Close Combat
- Fire Blast​

Usually, a Mixape comes with a life orb, but I figure since he's getting a boost from the sunny already, why waste HP? I decided to make him a Mixape and give up on a having a pure special sweeper because it’s very difficult to pass up on the power of a STAB close combat on such a fast Pokemon. I feel the moves I gave him cover the greatest variety of pokemon. Ice for dragons and pesky birds, grass for those bulky waters, close combat to own tyranitar and fire blast to hit neutrals for STAB Sunny day power.​

THE BELLY SCRATCHER​

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Charizard [Braveheart] (M) @ Salac Berry
Ability: Blaze
EVs: 252 Att/4 Def/252 Spd
- Belly Drum
- Fire Punch
- Substitute
- Earthquake​

My prized possession. The whole reason this team exists. Charizard, as I've said, is arguably THE BEST BELLYDRUMMER IN THE GAME. And even though its very hard to set up, just imagine how lethal he is. I don't need to. I've seen it pwn many a n00b. The power from his Fire punch is enough to rip through teams with sunnyday up, blaze activated and belly drum set. The salac is for obvious reasons, the speed boost. He is kind of at the mercy of their squad as he can be walled quite easily, but Fire Punch will be killing neutrals with its power from the upgrades.​

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So, there’s the team guys. I hope it’s in depth enough for you guys to understand why I chose these pokemon, and while I’m up for any suggested changes, try to remember I wasn’t going for Heatran’s and the like for a reason. It’s more fun to use different pokemon that don’t always get used by others! I got the beta version of this team rated on here a few weeks back, and after a lot of changes and battling I felt this was effectively a new team since it had changed a lot. So please rate and let me know of any changes! Thanks. :)​

 

[Emerald Blaze]

Hay there what's up?

Why do you have 2 stealth Rockers? One shold be enough.

Snorlax may not be the best setter up of Sunny Day. At least a curse set isn't the best option. You could replace Curse with Fire Punch which gets sun support, or Crunch to eat ghost types. You might also want to replace the item for a Heat Rock.

You could try Crobat or Jumpluff for a fast set up. If you want a bulkier set up, you could use Regirock. Any of these options can replace either Pert or Lax.

Sunny Day teams are not easy in OU, but I always like seeing people try them. Good luck with it.

 

[moleman]

Good question, and I had that initially because I want Stealth Rocks up, but if I'm using that first turn with Swampert seems like a wasted move slot on Claydol, you're right.

Hm, yeh, I'll drop curse for Fire Punch otherwise he's setting up two different things which doesn't seem practical once he's put the sun up + his fire punch is boosted anyway so I'll do that.

If I were to use Crobat, I'd have to drop Swampert however, I just felt that since I had my 3 sweepers it would be better if the other three were bulky, I'm not sure Crobat offers enough for the team to offset losing a bulky water. I'll see how many people agree though before I make the decision.

Thanks a lot for rating my team, really appreciate it. :)

 

[moleman]

I've added some changes to the moves, anymore feed back would be great thanks. :)

 

[Red Rain]

Firstly, your a brave man to use Charizard in this SR essential metagame. Firstly, I really like the idea of your lead not setting up the Sunny Day, and rather it serves to make sure you have the best possible start, so that SD can be set up easier later on.

The team itself is really diverse for a SD team, and thank god someone is utilising Tangrowth. I truly believe this Pokemon should not be NU, and hopefully it can rise in the future. On Charizard, you may want to remove Salac Berry for Charti Berry or Passho Berry. Although Salac Berry is usually the norm, you may want to reduce incoming super-effective Rock or Water attacks. Zard is speedy enough anyway, so I never see Salac as a must have, but it's entirely up to you.

Good luck with this OU Sunny Day team and I just did my first ever thorough-ish RMT, haha. I can see this team functioning well if Charizard can set up Belly Drum effectively. :)

 

[moleman]

Hey, thanks for leaving your feedback. I really considered your berry idea but then it occured to me that the main reason people insist on Salac, as opposed to the other berries you mentioned, is because with him investing so much HP into maxing his attack, it would be awful for something to come in that has a higher speed and just kill it. It wouldn't take much to do. Salac activation ensures that he has max attack and boosted speed so that he cannot be outsped or outgunned (though I'm sure somethings still outspeed him but they're pretty rare lol).

Thanks again for the feedback! :D

 

[Pirika]

I suggest you replacing your rapid spinner to Hitmontop. With a Sunny Day team you always need to have a effective way to deal with Tyranitar, Hitmontop does a great job blowing stealth rocks away, coutering Tyranitar and with Intimidate can face many physical threats. Claydol is weak to Pursuit and always have to switch when a anti-spinner comes.

If you still want to keep Claydol in your team you can replace Snorlax for Hariyama. Haryama has Thick Fat too, a lot of HP and is another excellent counter to Tyranitar.

I would replace your lead for something that could prevent your opponent from setting stealth rocks, most of teams sets Stealth Rocks with the leads. If you can stop them before they do it you increase your chances of sweeping with BellyZard. There's a lot of anti-leads or taunt leads. Aerodactyl and Azelf are good ones as they can taunt and use Stealth Rocks. Choice Scarf Breelom can be a good choice too, putting fast leads like azelf or aerodactyl to sleep in the begging of the game almost always prevents your opponet from using Stealth Rocks. Also, it can work as an effective revenge killer after that.

 

[moleman]

I really like your Aerodactyl and Hitmontop suggestions and am in the process of getting a set for the two together and testing them against my other team members to decide which is best.

I'm very tempted to change aspects of this team to being one that supposts Bellyzard as the main sweeper as opposed to sunnyday being the main strategy...

I reckon this would support the Bellyzard set up very well.

Uxie @ Light clay
Ability: Levitate [Impish]
EVs: 252 HP/180 Def/76 Spe
- Lightscreen
- Reflect
- Sunny Day
- Momento

(used in battle in that order)

I reckon the support that provides would greatly increase the chances of a Bellyzard sweep and the sun also supposts Tangrowth and Infernape... I think I'll run this Uxie instead of Snorlax. I'm interested to hear what others think?​

 

[Pirika]

Memento Uxie is a good way to support Bellyzard. But you must be careful on the rigth time for using Memento. If your opponent switch to Blissey, for example, you waste your sacrife because Sesmic Toss will always break Charizard substitue regardless of the atk drop. Also Blissey can paralyze Charizard with thunderwave breaking your strategy.

Another good Memento user for this team is Jumpluff. Jumpluff has the advantage of being faster, able to use Sleep Powder and it gains a speed boost under the sun. But Uxie is much bulkier yet.

SubPass Jolteon is another good support for BellyZard. Jolteon tends to attract Earthquake users, you can pass a intact substitute to Charizard thanks to its ground immunity.

Wish support is always good too.