Balance? What?

[Colloquy]

Hi, there. I've been experimenting with this team on the suspect ladder, and it fares decently, 8-2. I originally designed it to be an offensive team with a Porygon2 anti-lead, but that didn't work as well as this, balanced team.

The main strategy is to cripple as many opponents as possible with Porygon2, and then follow up with a sweep. Mixed sweepers and mixed walls provide better coverage than just straight up attackers.

Anyhow, this team works well in Platinum, judging by the testing, so I figured it was worthy enough to be a full-time OU team, for Wifi. And, an awesome HP Ice 70 Mixape is just lying around. So...to the the team itself.

Porygon2 @ Leftovers
Ability: Trace
EVs: 252 HP/120 Def/40 SpA/96 SpD
Nature: Bold (+Def, -Atk)
- Ice Beam
- Discharge
- Magic Coat
- Recover

This brilliant Anti-Lead set is just amazing. Ice Beam and Discharge are for great coverage, and the fact they OHKO Gyarados and Mence. Magic Coat reflects Hypnosis back to Yanmega and Bronzong, and I Recover any lost damage to come back later in the match. The only bad thing is that Azelf can get up his Rocks, and I'm almost helpless against Weavile leads. The EVs are designed so that this can take a Salamence's Draco Meteor, and all of Gyarados, Bronzong, and Yanmega's attacks.

Celebi @ Leftovers
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 252 HP/176 Def/40 SpA/36 Spe
Nature: Bold (+Def, -Att)
- Light Screen
- Thunder Wave
- Grass Knot
- Recover

Celebi is my physical wall, and answer to Swampert and Suicune. Thunder Wave gives me some nice paralysis support, letting Tyranitar sweep easier. Light Screen gives my team a nice answer to Zapdos and Infernape, and Recover is just there for letting me give more switch-ins, and support more. This is also a nice check on bulky grounds, and fast sweepers.

Tyranitar @ Leftovers
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 252 HP/42 Att/28 Spe/188 SpA
Nature: Quiet (+SpA, -Spe)
- Substitute
- Focus Punch
- Ice Beam
- Dark Pulse

The first Mixed Attacker is TyraniBoah. Sub-Punch to hit Blissey and Snorlax, and Dark Pulse to hit Cresselia and other Psychic friends. Ice Beam covers Gliscor. I originally had Thunderbolt over Dark Pulse, but the STAB and ability to hit Cress trumped coverage. Dark Pulse is way more viable over Crunch because it hits Cress harder with these EVs, and looks cooler on Wifi. :P

Infernape @ Life Orb
Ability: Blaze
EVs: 26 Att/232 Spe/252 SpA
Nature: Naive (+Spe, -SpD)
- Close Combat
- Flamethrower
- Grass Knot
- Hidden Power Ice

Mixape. The number one wall breaker in D/P, is back for another round in Platinum. This guy forces switches, and can land hits on almost everything. Close Combat for Blissey, Tyranitar, Snorlax and others. The other 3 moves provide solid coverage, except against opposing Gyarados, which I have Porygon2 for.

Gyarados @ Leftovers
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 156 HP/108 Att/102 Def/ 144 Spe
Nature: Adamant (+Att, -SpA)
- Dragon Dance
- Waterfall
- Earthquake
- Taunt

Bulky Gyarados gives my team another sweeper, and a tank. Intimidate, Defensive EVs, and a typing that has only one physical weakness allows Gyara to live through a ton of onslaught. Dragon Dance up, and sweep. Taunt slower PHazers like Swampert, to prevent the Roar. Counters Heatran very well, but wouldn't Suicune do this, but better? : /

Bronzong @ Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP/86 Att/80 Def/92 SpD
Nature: Sassy (+SpD, -Spe)
- Stealth Rock
- Hypnosis
- Gyro Ball
- Earthquake

The last Pokemon on my team happens to be Bronzong. I'm still using Hypnosis because Bronzong has enough defense to take a few hits if Hypnosis misses. Not much to say here except that it sets up my Stealth Rock, and is a good switch in almost every time. 0 Speed IV for Gyro Ball.

Threat List:

Zapdos: Even with my Light Screen up, I still can't deal with this well.

Kingdra: A pain to deal with, luckily it isn't seen much.

 

[Articanus]

How does your team fare against any sort of Infernape without relying yon your own? Especially a Fire Blast/SE/ CC variant with max attack and Stealth Rock support would eaily be able to run through your team, killing one pokemon at a time till there's nothing left. The last move, for shits and giggles, can be Slack off, meaning you can't rely on it to die of its own LO recoild from "smart switching".

How many do you see running around? not many, to be honest, but people should because I do and I find it running though multitudes of teams very similar in structure to this one.

I think you should be more focused on causing switches and gaining momentum, as the sets you put in the team are what it leads me to believe based on your playing style. Take off Heal Bell and HP Ice on Celebi, and use Recover and Light Screen. I may seem silly to say Light Screen, but it will in fact save your ass against the kind of Infernape I just mentioned, and will of course have the "wtf" element on incoming Heatran, allowing you to easily set up Gyarados and set up for a sweep.

Edit: I just realized you had a problems list. lol.

Light Screen on Celebi would also help with Zapdos a bit, as it doesn't give it as many free switch-ins. Give Bronzong Explosion over Hypnosis, as Hypnosis' 60% accuracy is too low currently and it will help out in troublesome scenarios against suicune and Kingdra.

 

[Colloquy]

How does your team fare against any sort of Infernape without relying yon your own? Especially a Fire Blast/SE/ CC variant with max attack and Stealth Rock support would eaily be able to run through your team, killing one pokemon at a time till there's nothing left. The last move, for shits and giggles, can be Slack off, meaning you can't rely on it to die of its own LO recoild from "smart switching".

Yes. This is why I stated the problem in advance. :/

How many do you see running around? not many, to be honest, but people should because I do and I find it running though multitudes of teams very similar in structure to this one.

That's why I have one, and others don't. How is this helping me?

I think you should be more focused on causing switches and gaining momentum, as the sets you put in the team are what it leads me to believe based on your playing style. Take off Heal Bell and HP Ice on Celebi, and use Recover and Light Screen. I may seem silly to say Light Screen, but it will in fact save your ass against the kind of Infernape I just mentioned, and will of course have the "wtf" element on incoming Heatran, allowing you to easily set up Gyarados and set up for a sweep.

Edit: I just realized you had a problems list. lol.

Light Screen on Celebi would also help with Zapdos a bit, as it doesn't give it as many free switch-ins. Give Bronzong Explosion over Hypnosis, as Hypnosis' 60% accuracy is too low currently and it will help out in troublesome scenarios against suicune and Kingdra.

So, that's where you were going. I like the suggestion. I'll change it.

EDIT: Explosion over Hypnosis doesn't help my team much, seeing as I need Bronzong for taking the hits.

 

[Colloquy]

Made needed corrections. I'm thinking about going Wacan Berry on Gyara, and putting Earthquake over Stone Edge to make it a better counter to Zapdos and Heatran. It counters Zapdos because if 'dos thinks it can just Roost, I hit it with a SE Earthquake.

 

[McGrrr]

Sand stream is detrimental to 4 team members. What do you usually switch Tyranitar into? Can you find a replacement? Because I would not be surprised if it loses you a significant number of battles. Another (perhaps more desirable) option is to replace something with another sand resist. Infernape looks the most expendable because it has very little switch in value and suffers the most from Sand stream.

 

[Colloquy]

Sand stream is detrimental to 4 team members. What do you usually switch Tyranitar into? Can you find a replacement? Because I would not be surprised if it loses you a significant number of battles. Another (perhaps more desirable) option is to replace something with another sand resist. Infernape looks the most expendable because it has very little switch in value and suffers the most from Sand stream.

Well, I kinda need Tyranitar for the best coverage with my team. Isn't it normally your job to find replacements for my team?

Also, Sand Steam doesn't hurt me, at all. At least, when I was testing, it didn't.

 

[The Death Owl]

Gyarados @ Leftovers
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 156 HP/108 Att/102 Def/ 144 Spe
Nature: Adamant (+Att, -SpA)
- Dragon Dance
- Waterfall
- Earthquake
- Taunt

Tyranitar @ Leftovers
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 252 HP/42 Att/28 Spe/188 SpA
Nature: Modest (+SpA, -Atk)
- Substitute
- Focus Punch
- Ice Beam
- Dark Pulse

 

[Colloquy]

Gyarados @ Leftovers
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 156 HP/108 Att/102 Def/ 144 Spe
Nature: Adamant (+Att, -SpA)
- Dragon Dance
- Waterfall
- Earthquake
- Taunt

Tyranitar @ Leftovers
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 252 HP/42 Att/28 Spe/188 SpA
Nature: Modest (+SpA, -Atk)
- Substitute
- Focus Punch
- Ice Beam
- Dark Pulse

Uhh...reasons? And I've already said I'm going Earthquake on Gyara.

 

[Famine]

lol, good thing deoxys-S is uber as it would ruin you most likely. Since that's gone you honestly don't have any true problems besides the two you named and Skymin who's always a problem, I mean you have Gyarados for infernapes. I mean Infernape can get 4/6 but you have a counter for it, so a team that gives only one weakness is still solid in my eyes.. So good job.

 

[Colloquy]

lol, good thing deoxys-S is uber as it would ruin you most likely. Since that's gone you honestly don't have any true problems besides the two you named and Skymin who's always a problem, I mean you have Gyarados for infernapes. I mean Infernape can get 4/6 but you have a counter for it, so a team that gives only one weakness is still solid in my eyes.. So good job.

Thanks. Got anyway to counter Skymin, that still keeps the team?

 

[Darklord]

You shouldn't be having trouble with Zapdos. Tyranitar is one of the best counters you could find. It takes laughable damage from anything Zapdos throws at you thanks to the SpDef boost in the sandstorm.

If you are really worried about it though, I suggest a tweak to CB Tar. You could either use Stone Edge or Pursuit. Choice Banded pursuit does a whooping 70% to an offensive (fleeing) Zapdos. Add stealth rock and sandstorm and you have a dead thunderbird.

And as Kingdra is concerned you may find Explosion on Bronzong game-saving. They always try to set up on poor Zong lol.

 

[Colloquy]

You shouldn't be having trouble with Zapdos. Tyranitar is one of the best counters you could find. It takes laughable damage from anything Zapdos throws at you thanks to the SpDef boost in the sandstorm.

Well, it seems to always out-stall me with its resistance to my moves, and Roost.

If you are really worried about it though, I suggest a tweak to CB Tar. You could either use Stone Edge or Pursuit. Choice Banded pursuit does a whooping 70% to an offensive (fleeing) Zapdos. Add stealth rock and sandstorm and you have a dead thunderbird.

Well, my strategy is mostly to have mixed sweepers, but I'll test this.

And as Kingdra is concerned you may find Explosion on Bronzong game-saving. They always try to set up on poor Zong lol.

Most Kingdras either try to set up Rain, which is helpful for Gyro Ball, or can't do anything to Zong. : /

 

[RaikouLover]

Yeah Bronzong really beats Substitute Dragon Dance Kingdra... they're everywhere... and Gyro Ball doesn't do shit... I doubt it breaks the sub until they get 2 DDs... Kingdra has good defense and resists it.

Yeah, and Rain Dance Kingdra does a minimum of 50ish percent with Waterfall, his weakest Water attack..

 

[Darklord]

Well, no one claimed that Zong is a Kingdra counter. It's a set up fodder actually, unless you have explosion to break the sub and not allow it to stat up or just kill it if it's greedy enough to dance.

And Epidemic, you should really try out CB Tar. Aqua Tail(if you got access to it) 2HKO's Gliscor and Hippowdon. Cresselia doesn't even stand a chance to CB Stab dark attacks. Blissey and Snorlax have no bussiness with something with 604 Atk.

 

[Colloquy]

Yeah Bronzong really beats Substitute Dragon Dance Kingdra... they're everywhere... and Gyro Ball doesn't do shit... I doubt it breaks the sub until they get 2 DDs... Kingdra has good defense and resists it.

Yeah, and Rain Dance Kingdra does a minimum of 50ish percent with Waterfall, his weakest Water attack..

You have terrible taste in sarcasm. And, actually, they aren't everywhere. I've seen 1 in 20 games. That also doesn't even help me, at all. Thanks.

Well, no one claimed that Zong is a Kingdra counter. It's a set up fodder actually, unless you have explosion to break the sub and not allow it to stat up or just kill it if it's greedy enough to dance.

And Epidemic, you should really try out CB Tar. Aqua Tail(if you got access to it) 2HKO's Gliscor and Hippowdon. Cresselia doesn't even stand a chance to CB Stab dark attacks. Blissey and Snorlax have no bussiness with something with 604 Atk.

Thanks, I will. And, I'll test Explosion.

 

[6A9 Ace Matador]

Hyorinmaru (Kingdra) (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Sniper
EVs: 166 HP/200 Atk/144 Spd
Adamant nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Dragon Dance
- Substitute
- Waterfall
- Outrage
---
Thats what i use, put it over gyrados like i said on shoddy, takes less from Grass knot, isn't ohko'd by CC and in that time can DD and waterfall.
Also very hard to revenge kill after one or two DD's on roughly 36~ hp by priority moves.

 

[Alice]

You have terrible taste in sarcasm. And, actually, they aren't everywhere. I've seen 1 in 20 games. That also doesn't even help me, at all. Thanks.

Odd... I've seen 1 every 3 games... and they tend to be very unpredictable (since both Rain Dance and DD versions can run some variations to deal with different situations), so you should be concerned about it, at least in shoddy battle, because after 1 sub/DD 1 or 2 of your pokes are going down... (it it gets sub + DD or 2 DD, then it's pretty much GG)

 

[Nosferalto]

You kinda lack a special attacker, you can put shaymin in place of tyraniboah, since you already have a mixed sweeper (Infernape)