Balanced RMT (Peaked at 1400 CRE)

[Mithril]

Here is my latest OU team, that has peaked at 1400 on the Smogon Ladder. Although that is not all that good, it is the best I have been able to do in a while. It is more of a balanced team, where all 6 members are able to deal good amounts of damage to the opponent. The team itself does a pretty good job covering each others weaknesses, has only 1 weak to Stealth Rock, and 2 weak to Toxic Spikes. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Heatran
Naive @ Shuca Berry
4 HP/252 SpA/252 Spe
-Fire Blast
-Earth Power
-Stealth Rock
-Explosion
Heatran has become one of my favorite leads in the few weeks. Although it does not always get stealth rock down, it does so against the majority of leads. Also, it provides a nice dragon resist, as well as the ability to use flash fire later on in the battle. Evs and Shuca Berry allow it to survive Earthquake from Swampert, Tyranitar, and Metagross, meaning that Stealth Rock will normally be set up. The main leads that I struggle facing are Roserade, Tyranitar, Infernape, Mamoswine, and Aerodactyl. However, the rest of my team does a good enough job against these leads to not worry me.

Synergy:
Ground moves go to Latias, Flygon, or Gyarados
Fighting moves go to Latias or Gyarados
Water moves go to Latias, Gyarados, or Tyranitar if a Starmie

Tyranitar
Jolly @ Choice Scarf
4 HP/252 Atk/252 Spe
-Stone Edge
-Crunch
-Pursuit
-Superpower
This was initially a Scizor, but I switched to Tyranitar in order to become more specially bulky. ScarfTar is extremely important to my team, as it is my check to Latias, Gengar, Starmie, Azelf, etc. I opted to go with Superpower over Earthquake because it does more damage to other Tyrantar and Blissey, who could both be great annoyances to this team. Crunch, Pursuit, and Stone Edge are pretty much staples on choice Ttar, and help ScarfTar do its job for this team. The only issues I have with ScarfTar at the moment is the fact it is easy set up bait for my opponents, and it also does not have the priority move that Scizor provided for the team.

Synergy:
Ground moves go to Flygon, Latias, or Gyarados
Fighting moves go to Latias or Gyarados.
Water Moves go to Gyarados or Latias.
Bug moves go to Gyarados, Heatran, or Infernape.
Steel Moves go to Heatran, or Gyarados.
Grass Moves go to Heatran, Infernape, or Latias.

Flygon
Jolly @ Choice Scarf
4 HP/252 Atk/252 Spe
-Earthquake
-U-Turn
-Stone Edge
-Outrage
Flygon plays the role of the all important revenge killer for my team. It plays the important roles of checking DD Salamence, DD Gyarados, Jolteon, Tyranitar, and more. It is also the only thing on my team that can outspeed an Empoleon after Agility, which allows me to get the revenge kill as long as its sub is down. U-Turn is extremely helpful for scouting out the opponents team, Stone Edge is used for Gyarados, and Salamence some of the time, and Earthquake and Outrage are obvious choices for Flygon. Finally, Flygon is used as my main check attempt at Kingdra, as it can hit it for super-effective damage.

Synergy:
Ice moves go to Tyranitar, Gyarados, Heatran, or Infernape.
Dragon Moves go to Heatran or Tyranitar normally.

Latias
Timid @ Expert Belt
4 HP/252 SpA/252 Spe
-Dragon Pulse
-Grass Knot
-Thunderbolt
-Hp Fire
Expert Belt Latias has started to become a staple on my teams. It does a fantastic job of killing opposing Scizors who switch in after a Dragon Pulse or a Grass Knot. Also, Latias is one of my two switch ins to opposing Gliscor, as it resists EQ and can respond with Dragon Pulse, severely denting the opposing Gliscor. Latias is also the only pokemon on my team that seems to stand a change against Vaporeon, who gives this team major problems. Latias serves the important role of countering both Infernape for this team, who could otherwise give me some problems. Finally, Grass Knot helps to deal with opposing Swamperts, who are otherwise a bother, and hits incoming Ttars for a 2hko, meaning if they Pursuit i surive and come back with the KO.

Synergy:
Ice moves go to Tyranitar, Heatran, Infernape, or Gyarados.
Bug moves go to Heatran, Infernape, or Gyarados.
Dragon moves go to Heatran or Tyranitar normally.
Ghost moves go to Tyranitar or Heatran.
Dark moves go to Tyranitar, Heatran, or Infernape

Gyarados
Adament @ Leftovers
156 HP/72 Atk/96 Def/184 Spe
-Dragon Dance
-Earthquake
-Waterfall
-Stone Edge
I knew that I needed a physically bulky pokemon on this team, but did not want to slow down its offensive style. I decided upong Bulky Gyarados, as it is able to check both Lucario and Scizor, two of the biggest physical threats in todays metagame. . Gyarados is the only pokemon on my team weak to Stealth Rock, so I do not feel that a Rapid Spinner is necessary. I initially had Bulky Taunt Gyarados, but have decided that Earthquake is much more useful for this team. It provides me with a surefire check to Empoleon, while also making Gyarados a more effective sweeper after a Dragon Dance or two.

Synergy:
Electric moves go to Flygon, Latias, or Tyranitar.
Rock moves go to Tyranitar or Flygon.

Infernape
Naive @ Life Orb
64 Atk/252 SpA/192 Spe
-Fire Blast
-Close Combat
-Mach Punch
-HP Ice
The team itself was built around Infernape, although it is more of a balanced play style overall. Infernape plays the role of the all important stall breaker, as it is the only mixed attacker on my team. Also, I went with HP Ice in order to hit the Latias switch ins, and the Salamence that think they can stay in on me. Unfortunately, Infernape suffers from the lack of survivability, so I normally attempt to keep it hidden until the last possible moment, when the opponent has already been sufficienty weakened. Although Mach Punch may seem slightly out of place, it is extremely useful to hit opposing Scarf Tar that have already been weakened. Also, it provides the team with a prioity move, which is almost a necessity in the metagame today. Finally, Mach Punch also allows me to revenge kill Lucario if it begins to sweep my team.

Synergy:
Water moves go to Latias, Gyarados, or Tyranitar if Starmie.
Ground moves go to Latias, Flygon, or Gyarados.
Psychic moves go to Tyranitar, Heatran, or Latias.
Flying moves go to Heatran or Tyranitar.

So there is my completed team. I may or may not get a threat list up later, depending on how much time I have in the coming days. Any rates would be much appreciated, and all suggestions will be tested thuroughly. Thanks for your time and consideration.

-Dukefan5

 

[Plus]

Hello

Apart from Heatran who usually explodes early in the game, your team lacks some resistances to Dragon type moves from pokemon such as Mixmence, DDMence, Flygon, and Latias. Specs Latias can come in on Infernape and Draco Meteor or Surf, which forces out your Tyranitar. Your Tyranitar would then take quite a heap of damage from Draco Meteor, and you would be left with a 50/50 shot to kill Latias. Salamence can come in on your Flygon EQ and dent your switch ins hard with Draco Meteor as well, or it can attempt to Dragon Dance, where your best shot at killing it then would be speed tying with Flygon or wearing it out by switching around.

While Flygon is a decent Revenge killer, I feel that Scarf Jirachi is a viable alternative to your team, effectively checking Empoleon, Salamence, Gyarados, Tyranitar, even Jolteon with Iron Head hax. The dragon resist your team needs is pretty important -- I think Jirachi fits the bill for you.

Jirachi @ Choice Scarf
Jolly 252 ATK | 252 Spe | 6 HP
Iron head/ Fire Punch/ ThunderPunch/ U-turn or trick

Should Jirachi encounter a Salamence after a Fire Punch or whatnot, then you can switch to Latias, which surprisingly does well as it fakes Choice Scarf, so most people would be inclined to switch should you bring it in. Jirachi, Latias and Gyarados have great synergy together, and it would flow easier on your team since it gets a Dragon resist, something really needed in today's metagame.

Good luck, hope you aim higher with the changes :)

 

[Mithril]

Thanks for the rate. I am currently testing the Jirachi in place of Flygon. However, I currently have mixed feelings about it. It does help as a dragon resist, and the added type coverage and flinch hax is nice, but i notice a major problem. By losing flygon, I have lost my revenge killer for Heatran and Agiligross. If heatran starts Earth Powering after Latias and Gyarados go down, the rest of my team is screwed. However, I will continue testing and see how it goes.

Any other rates would be much appreciated. Thanks,

Dukefan5

 

[Mithril]

I believe I get one bump....so BUMP. Any help at all would be much appreciated. Also, I decided to keep Flygon for now. Jirachi is just not doing enough for the team. The loss of a ground resist, as well as Earthquake is too painful right now.

 

[3v3rnoob]

As a person who uses a heatran lead, I'll tell you right now that the one you're currently using is complete and utter garbage for two reasons

1. It runs Shucca berry
While it's true that EQ is a common move on a lead, the Succa berry on a heatran is next to useless. Even with the 1/2'd damage, to be honest, you get OhKOd by Swamperts, Mamoswines, Aerodactyls, and even other Heatrans using Earth power. That being said, the superior item to rum is a Lum berry. It gives you an edge on sleep leads, allowing you to kill them as they watch in horror as their sleep powder or spore ploy utterly fails. Now you're probably thinking, "but don't most sleeper leads run sashes?", well that leads us to the other reason.

2. You're running fire blast
While it's a better move than flame thrower, having much more damage, albeit a lesser hit rate, there is in fact a better move that you could be using in it's stead: magma storm. Smogon has completely forgot about this move altogether, which could be the only reason the term "Fire blast" is mentioned anywhere on the Heatran page. The fact of the matter is, Magma storm has the same power AND hit ratio as fire blast, AND deals 1/16 or the foe's HP as damage for a set number of turns after it's use. Long story short, SASHERS WILL DIE, because Magma storm damages them twice, making the proper Heatran lead the bane of Smeargle, Azelf and Roserade.

All in all, the only reason to use a Heatran lead is to wreak Sash leads. If you're against anything else (which will likely be carrying EQ) you have to just switch out.

That's all I had to . GL with the team, HF with the game, and go rape some sash leads.

 

[IK.]

As a person who uses a heatran lead, I'll tell you right now that the one you're currently using is complete and utter garbage for two reasons

1. It runs Shucca berry
While it's true that EQ is a common move on a lead, the Succa berry on a heatran is next to useless. Even with the 1/2'd damage, to be honest, you get OhKOd by Swamperts, Mamoswines, Aerodactyls, and even other Heatrans using Earth power. That being said, the superior item to rum is a Lum berry. It gives you an edge on sleep leads, allowing you to kill them as they watch in horror as their sleep powder or spore ploy utterly fails. Now you're probably thinking, "but don't most sleeper leads run sashes?", well that leads us to the other reason.

2. You're running fire blast
While it's a better move than flame thrower, having much more damage, albeit a lesser hit rate, there is in fact a better move that you could be using in it's stead: magma storm. Smogon has completely forgot about this move altogether, which could be the only reason the term "Fire blast" is mentioned anywhere on the Heatran page. The fact of the matter is, Magma storm has the same power AND hit ratio as fire blast, AND deals 1/16 or the foe's HP as damage for a set number of turns after it's use. Long story short, SASHERS WILL DIE, because Magma storm damages them twice, making the proper Heatran lead the bane of Smeargle, Azelf and Roserade.

All in all, the only reason to use a Heatran lead is to wreak Sash leads. If you're against anything else (which will likely be carrying EQ) you have to just switch out.

That's all I had to . GL with the team, HF with the game, and go rape some sash leads.

What?
1. Shuca Berry works on Heatran because it allows it survive Ground-type attacks from just about every other lead other than Mamoswine.
Standard MixPert vs ShucaTran - 69.1% - 82.1%
Standard ShucaTran vs ShucaTran - 64.2% - 75.9%
Standard LeadAero vs ShucaTran - 55.6% - 65.4%
Shuca Berry lets Heatran survive all of these, I don't know where you're getting your calcs from but they are far from accurate.

2. Fire Blast is the better option on Heatran. Magma Storm and Fire Blast don't have the same accuracy actually, Fire Blast is 85% and Magma Storm is 70%. Though Magma Storm on Heatran does have some merit, Fire Blast is generally the better option.

Now, onto your team. This is a nice team without many weaknesses, but as Plus pointed out earlier, you have a gaping weakness to Dragon types. I propose you change your ScarfTar back to the standard Choice Band Scizor instead. This gives you a nice Dragon resist and nice check to many of the Dragons. With Scizor, you have a decent check to both Latias and Salamence, both who give this team many problems. You have absolutely nothing to switch into Latias or Salamence's Draco Meteors, and if Mence gets a DD up, you can only hope Flygon wins the speed tie. With Scizor, you get a good Dragon resist and a decent check to the Dragons that destroy your team currently, not to mention priority which is always helpful. Scizor also has excellent synergy with your team, as every other member of your team resists its Fire-type weakness and can use it to it's advantage.

Other than that, your team seems pretty solid. Gl, and I hope I helped.

 

[Mithril]

While I would agree that I have a DD Salamence weakness, I do not have a Latias weakness. Scarftar is the best Latias counter in the metagame. Latias is no problem at all for my team. While saying that, I will test out Scizor to see how it goes.

Also, to 3v3rnoob...Shucatran is not garbage, and IK. explained why. That is all.

Any more rates would be greatly appreciated, and I will see how Scizor does.