I haven't been playing competitively since generation 4. I found gen 5 focused too heavily on weather and the main game is so boring so I skipped it. With the introduction of mega evolutions and the new fairy type, I've rekindled my interest in competitive battling. Being away from competitive battling for such a long time, I have to adjust quite a bit before I can create a decent team. I have tried out this team a bit and it is working quite well for me. So far, I have reached 1873 on PS. Therefore, I decided to post my team here to get some opinions on how to improve my team.
Tyranitar @ Tyranitarite
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 252 HP / 6 Atk / 252 SDef
Careful Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- Crunch
There is only a few pokemons that can learn Stealth Rock before Pokebank. I have considered using Mamoswine to set up the rocks but I often find that it does little beside setting up rocks. Then, I tried out Mega-Tyranitar and it works perfectly. It is quite bulky and is able to tank special hits. The Attack isn't too shabby even without investments. Stone Edge and Crunch is for STAB coverage. I have considered Pursuit in place of Crunch but I think it's not too reliable. I prefer more power. Earthquake has nice neutral coverage with Stone Edge. Tyranitar is also my Tylonflame counter, which is everywhere in this metagame. The EV is to maximize special defense. Tyranitar is actually quite useful in deterring special attackers when in sand.
Roserade @ Black Sludge
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 252 HP / 120 Def / 136 SDef
Calm Nature
- Sleep Powder
- Spikes
- Giga Drain
- Sludge Bomb
My main sweeper for this team is Talonflame and Azumarill. I often find that they do not quite hit hard enough to eliminate the opponents' pokemons. I think maybe some more entry hazards will help. That is why I add Roserade to my team as a Spiker. Roserade also counter Azumarill quite well as it resists both of the Water fairy STABs. Roserade is also my status absorber too. I always lead with Roserade when I see Smeragle in the team review and it works like charm. Smeragle will be unable to cripple one of my pokes! Sleep Powder + Spikes is now legal in this generation, which is so great. It makes Roserade's job in putting up Spikes so much easier. Giga Drain is to replenish Roserade's health and to make it lasts longer. I am deciding between Sludge Bomb and Hidden Power Fire in the last spot. But with the nerf in Hidden Powers in this generation, I just think it's too weak.
Talonflame @ Life Orb
Ability: Gale Wings
EVs: 88 HP / 252 Atk / 168 Spd
Adamant Nature
- Brave Bird
- Flare Blitz
- Roost/Tailwind
- Swords Dance
The first of my sweeper. The EV spread gives it enough speed to out-speed Excadrills and the rest is pour into its HP to increase is bulk. I use Brave Bird for the Flying STAB because there is no Flying gem in pre Pokebank OU, and I don't want to use Acrobatics on a itemless Talonflame. Flare Blitz is the fire STAB. I often find myself just firing off Brave Bird. However, when sometimes I can predict that my opponents may switch out, I can Swords Dance and Talonflame becomes so deadly. A +2 attack with 120 base power and priority also is amazing. It is useful in picking up weakened pokemons. I find myself rarely using Roost because Talonflame is just too frail. I may switch it out for Tailwind to boost my team's speed before my fire bird dies. I have been trying out Tailwind for a few battles. It gives speed to pokes like Azumarill and Excadrill, which can start a sweep.
Azumarill @ Choice Band
Ability: Huge Power
EVs: 168 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def / 84 Spd
Adamant Nature
- Aqua Jet
- Play Rough
- Superpower
- Waterfall
The second of my sweeper. I find that Talonflame often faints itself from recoil after fainting 1-2 of the opponents pokemon. Therefore, I need another sweeper that can last longer. Azumarill is one of my favorite pokemon to use in gen 4. It can hit hard while taking hits. This gen blesses Azumarill with the new Fairy typing and it becomes so much better. It is my go-to Dragon counter. I can just come in on Dragon attacks and kills with Play Rough. The coverage moves of Dragons often don't do enough to finish me off. Priority Aqua Jet can pick up faster weakened opponents. Superpower is mainly for Ferrothorn. I find the Choice Band set more suited to my team than the Belly Drum set. There is no real walls in my team so I can't afford to lose half of the HP myself.
Gengar @ Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature
- Substitute
- Disable
- Shadow Ball
- Focus Blast
I still think that this is the best Gengar set. Gengar is immue to Fighting and Groud type attacks. Often, the opponents will only have one move that can hurt the mighty ghost. Substitute and Disable is so annoying that sometimes the opponent would just rage quits! I find that this set is quite effective in countering Mega-Kangaskhan. Often Kangaskhans only have Sucker Punch to hit Gengar with, I can substitute when my opponent thinks that he can finish me off with a Sucker Punch. Then, I usually can force out the Kangaskhan with my sub intact.
Excadrill @ Air Balloon
Ability: Sand Rush
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Adamant Nature
- Swords Dance
- Rapid Spin
- Earthquake
- Rock Slide
I need a Rapid Spinner with Talonflame in my team. I don't want my Talonflame losing half of its health just by coming in. It is the most reliable rapid spinner in the OU metagame. I use the offensive spinner set because it can also benefit from the sand that my Tyranitar brings. In sand, it outspeeds most of the OU metagame and can threaten to kill with its 135 base Attack. Earthquake and Rock Slide provide good neutral coverage. Air Ballon allows Excadrill to escape Ground attacks, which often gives it a free turn to spin away hazards or get off a Swords Dance.
I think one of my biggest threats in Aegislash. I often switch Talonflame in when I encounter one. But the King's Shield mind game makes it difficult to force out Aegislash reliably. Excadrill can be switched in but it is afraid of the super effective Sacred Sword. I hope you guys can give me some opinion on how to improve my team. :)
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 252 HP / 6 Atk / 252 SDef
Careful Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- Crunch
There is only a few pokemons that can learn Stealth Rock before Pokebank. I have considered using Mamoswine to set up the rocks but I often find that it does little beside setting up rocks. Then, I tried out Mega-Tyranitar and it works perfectly. It is quite bulky and is able to tank special hits. The Attack isn't too shabby even without investments. Stone Edge and Crunch is for STAB coverage. I have considered Pursuit in place of Crunch but I think it's not too reliable. I prefer more power. Earthquake has nice neutral coverage with Stone Edge. Tyranitar is also my Tylonflame counter, which is everywhere in this metagame. The EV is to maximize special defense. Tyranitar is actually quite useful in deterring special attackers when in sand.
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 252 HP / 120 Def / 136 SDef
Calm Nature
- Sleep Powder
- Spikes
- Giga Drain
- Sludge Bomb
My main sweeper for this team is Talonflame and Azumarill. I often find that they do not quite hit hard enough to eliminate the opponents' pokemons. I think maybe some more entry hazards will help. That is why I add Roserade to my team as a Spiker. Roserade also counter Azumarill quite well as it resists both of the Water fairy STABs. Roserade is also my status absorber too. I always lead with Roserade when I see Smeragle in the team review and it works like charm. Smeragle will be unable to cripple one of my pokes! Sleep Powder + Spikes is now legal in this generation, which is so great. It makes Roserade's job in putting up Spikes so much easier. Giga Drain is to replenish Roserade's health and to make it lasts longer. I am deciding between Sludge Bomb and Hidden Power Fire in the last spot. But with the nerf in Hidden Powers in this generation, I just think it's too weak.
Ability: Gale Wings
EVs: 88 HP / 252 Atk / 168 Spd
Adamant Nature
- Brave Bird
- Flare Blitz
- Roost/Tailwind
- Swords Dance
The first of my sweeper. The EV spread gives it enough speed to out-speed Excadrills and the rest is pour into its HP to increase is bulk. I use Brave Bird for the Flying STAB because there is no Flying gem in pre Pokebank OU, and I don't want to use Acrobatics on a itemless Talonflame. Flare Blitz is the fire STAB. I often find myself just firing off Brave Bird. However, when sometimes I can predict that my opponents may switch out, I can Swords Dance and Talonflame becomes so deadly. A +2 attack with 120 base power and priority also is amazing. It is useful in picking up weakened pokemons. I find myself rarely using Roost because Talonflame is just too frail. I may switch it out for Tailwind to boost my team's speed before my fire bird dies. I have been trying out Tailwind for a few battles. It gives speed to pokes like Azumarill and Excadrill, which can start a sweep.
Ability: Huge Power
EVs: 168 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def / 84 Spd
Adamant Nature
- Aqua Jet
- Play Rough
- Superpower
- Waterfall
The second of my sweeper. I find that Talonflame often faints itself from recoil after fainting 1-2 of the opponents pokemon. Therefore, I need another sweeper that can last longer. Azumarill is one of my favorite pokemon to use in gen 4. It can hit hard while taking hits. This gen blesses Azumarill with the new Fairy typing and it becomes so much better. It is my go-to Dragon counter. I can just come in on Dragon attacks and kills with Play Rough. The coverage moves of Dragons often don't do enough to finish me off. Priority Aqua Jet can pick up faster weakened opponents. Superpower is mainly for Ferrothorn. I find the Choice Band set more suited to my team than the Belly Drum set. There is no real walls in my team so I can't afford to lose half of the HP myself.
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature
- Substitute
- Disable
- Shadow Ball
- Focus Blast
I still think that this is the best Gengar set. Gengar is immue to Fighting and Groud type attacks. Often, the opponents will only have one move that can hurt the mighty ghost. Substitute and Disable is so annoying that sometimes the opponent would just rage quits! I find that this set is quite effective in countering Mega-Kangaskhan. Often Kangaskhans only have Sucker Punch to hit Gengar with, I can substitute when my opponent thinks that he can finish me off with a Sucker Punch. Then, I usually can force out the Kangaskhan with my sub intact.
Ability: Sand Rush
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Adamant Nature
- Swords Dance
- Rapid Spin
- Earthquake
- Rock Slide
I need a Rapid Spinner with Talonflame in my team. I don't want my Talonflame losing half of its health just by coming in. It is the most reliable rapid spinner in the OU metagame. I use the offensive spinner set because it can also benefit from the sand that my Tyranitar brings. In sand, it outspeeds most of the OU metagame and can threaten to kill with its 135 base Attack. Earthquake and Rock Slide provide good neutral coverage. Air Ballon allows Excadrill to escape Ground attacks, which often gives it a free turn to spin away hazards or get off a Swords Dance.
I think one of my biggest threats in Aegislash. I often switch Talonflame in when I encounter one. But the King's Shield mind game makes it difficult to force out Aegislash reliably. Excadrill can be switched in but it is afraid of the super effective Sacred Sword. I hope you guys can give me some opinion on how to improve my team. :)
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