ORAS OU "Balanced" Team w/ Two Variations, Which Is Better?

[TheEvi1Tw1n]

Hey guys, I just made a quick change to a team I was planning to do a RMT on. Since I don't know which team is better, I'll just show the outline of both teams (but only do a RMT on the newer one and receive suggestions about which is better).

Previous team:

Newer team:

The team:

Sableye (M) @ Sablenite
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
- Recover
- Calm Mind
- Will-O-Wisp
- Shadow Ball

I recently changed this set from the utility set with Knock Off and Foul Play instead of Shadow Ball and Calm mind because I felt like I needed a stronger special attacker/stallbreaker. The EVs are for maximum physical bulk so I can switch in reliably on many hazard setters and physical hitters. Recover is for much needed recovery, Calm Mind to set up, Wisp for physical attackers/residual damage, and Shadow Ball for sweeping.

Heatran (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 252 HP / 4 SpA / 252 SpD
Calm Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Toxic
- Taunt
- Lava Plume

Heatran, part one of my defensive core. Everyone knows why Heatran is used; its typing, utility, and movepool. This is just a classic specially defensive Heatran set. Rocks for that damage on the switch, Toxic to catch people by surprise that try to switch in, Taunt to prevent enemies from setting up, and Lava Plume for damage. Pretty standard.

Keldeo @ Life Orb
Ability: Justified
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Hydro Pump
- Scald
- Secret Sword
- Icy Wind

Keldeo is one of the new additions to this team, replacing Slowbro. The reason why I did this is because I felt like my team needed a bit more offensive presence, especially specially offensive, so what better Pokemon is there than Keldeo for that role? EVs for sweeping, with a standard Hydro Pump/Scald/Secret Sword/Icy Wind moveset. Life Orb for tons of damage.

Amoonguss (M) @ Black Sludge
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 252 HP / 136 Def / 120 SpD
Bold Nature
- Spore
- Giga Drain
- Sludge Bomb
- Foul Play/Synthesis

Amoonguss is part two of my defensive core. It serves as my fairy/Rotom Wash/water mon counter. Again, pretty standard set. Spore is for putting enemies to sleep that may give me trouble, Giga Drain for a nice STAB and healing, Sludge Bomb for damage and fairies, and for the last moveslot it was recommended by a friend that I run Foul Play, but I'm not sure. The original set had Synthesis, and I'm not sure which would be better.

Zapdos @ Leftovers
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 248 HP / 172 Def / 68 SpA / 20 Spe
Bold Nature
- Roost
- Defog
- Thunderbolt
- Hidden Power [Ice]

Zapdos is pretty much here for Azumarill and other Pokemon that may give me trouble. I'm not sure how well it synergizes with the team because I just needed a defogger with good offensive presence. I previously had Latias, but I replaced it with this. Again, I'm not sure which is better. There probably is a defogger that fits better in this team than Zapdos. EVs are for physical bulk and a bit for damage and speed to take a 4x Aqua Jet and OHKO with Thunderbolt. Standard.

Landorus-Therian (M) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Earthquake
- Rock Slide
- Knock Off
- U-turn

Lastly, I have Lando T. Overall great Pokemon that, when scarfed, can wreak havoc on teams. EVs are for damage and speed. EQ/Rock Slide/Knock Off/U-turn, nothing special here. This is basically all my physical offensive presence, probably something that needs to be fixed (replace Zapdos with a Scizor with defog?) but it hasn't given me too many problems. This is just really great to have on the team.

So which team is better? Is there a better defogger that goes better with this team than Zapdos, keeping in mind I have three Ice weaknesses? How's the balance? What changes should I make? I appreciate any feedback. Thanks!

 

[AD impish john]

Hmm The 2nd one gives more offense while the 1st one is more like stall both are good in there ways. But the newer version is better. Other wise nice team.

Suggestions:(my opinion)

Heatran: Make heatran have air balloon to resit ground type while it can the moveset is fine.

Lando-T:Stone Edge>Rock Slide I understand if your afraid of missing but stone edge does way more damage.

Everything else: Fine

 

[TheEvi1Tw1n]

Hmm The 2nd one gives more offense while the 1st one is more like stall both are good in there ways. But the newer version is better. Other wise nice team.

Suggestions:(my opinion)

Heatran: Make heatran have air balloon to resit ground type while it can the moveset is fine.

Lando-T:Stone Edge>Rock Slide I understand if your afraid of missing but stone edge does way more damage.

Everything else: Fine

Oh hey, I've seen you on Showdown a lot. Thanks for the feedback man.

 

[Disciple_1]

Nice team man. A couple of things I wanted to point out is lati@s will be a better defogger than zapdos because defogger which have a weakness to SR is a bit counterproductive. Another thing is that I would suggest running expert belt on keldeo rather than life orb this is a perfect bluff of specs or scarf. Amoonguss is better used on stall teams so why don't you try venusaur out instead?? All you are losing is the regenerator ability.

Hope I helped :)

 

[TheEvi1Tw1n]

Nice team man. A couple of things I wanted to point out is lati@s will be a better defogger than zapdos because defogger which have a weakness to SR is a bit counterproductive. Another thing is that I would suggest running expert belt on keldeo rather than life orb this is a perfect bluff of specs or scarf. Amoonguss is better used on stall teams so why don't you try venusaur out instead?? All you are losing is the regenerator ability.

Hope I helped :)

Yeah, since this post I replaced Zapdos with Latios. Which is better for the team, Latios or Lati@s?

 

[TheEvi1Tw1n]

Nice team man. A couple of things I wanted to point out is lati@s will be a better defogger than zapdos because defogger which have a weakness to SR is a bit counterproductive. Another thing is that I would suggest running expert belt on keldeo rather than life orb this is a perfect bluff of specs or scarf. Amoonguss is better used on stall teams so why don't you try venusaur out instead?? All you are losing is the regenerator ability.

Hope I helped :)

Also, I like Amoonguss' bulk, but I don't like how he doesn't do much damage on neutral targets. If I were to have a Venusaur, what would be the set? Maybe like a mixed bulk set?

 

[Fiat500]

I really like this balanced team but I have a few pointers I think you could consider:

Sableye

Dark Pulse > Shadow Ball Simply because Normal type has immunity to Shadow Ball so a Mega Lopunny could switch into one, Fake Out followed by Hight Jump Kick could be fatal for Sableye before you have the chance to bust out a Will-O. Otherwise Dark Pulse has the same 2x offensive presence and is still STAB. Yes its resisted by fairies but in all honesty would you leave a Sableye in on a Sylveon?

Heatran

I know that lava plume is standard for damage but i feel like it doesn't go well with Toxic. These are status inducing moves so there isn't much point having a defensive Heatran opt for both. So my recommendation would be Magma Storm > Lava Plume for a trapping Heatran :) these things will literally take down anything Heatran walls. This would be well accompanied by Protect > Taunt which would leave the target taking incrementing toxic damage and the Magma Storm damage, and you don't have to worry about Lava Plume not putting in the work due to lack in special attack investment.

Trapping Heatran

Heatran @ Air Baloon
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 248 HP / 8 SpA / 252 SpD
Calm Nature
- Stealth Rocks
- Magma Storm
- Toxic
- Protect

Keldeo

I recommend (as was mentioned in previous posts) not to use Life Orb because it whittles down Keldeo and opponents will now he isn't scarfed straight away and try to outspend it somehow. Yes Icy Wind helps but it isn't worth the Life Orb recoil. So definitely using Expert Belt or possibly going scarfed as a late game sweeper/revenge killer when your bulkier pokemon have done the work of whittling the opponents down. Either way I commend your use of Scald + Hydro Pump, a reliable duo! but I'd consider HP Electric or Flying because otherwise Keldeo is easily walled by bulky grass types and bulky water types, and being your only offensive output, you don't want that to happen.

Amoongus

not much to say here..
Venosaur is only viable if Mega, as it has more bulk than normal Venosaur and Thich Fat.

Zapdos

Defenitely go Heat Wave > HP Ice because your team has a crippling 3 member weakness to Ice (Zapdos, Landorus, Amoonguss). You lose some leverage over Garchomp but in all honestly Jolly Garchomp outspends so not much you can do there :(

Lando-T

Also not much to say here, pretty standard.
Maybe you might want to use a Focus Sash Swords Dancing Garchomp instead, to take out other dragon types that are a big THREAT to your team? I'll leave a sample set below for you to consider

SDChomp

Garchomp @ Focus Sash
Ability: Rough Skin
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Stealth Rock / Iron Head / Stone Edge
- Earthquake
- Dragon Claw
- Swords Dance

The Stealth Rocks are a viable strategy as they are guaranteed with the sash, but as you already have Heatran it isn't necessary. Iron Head or Stone Edge serve as good coverage. This set is truly great if you set up at the right time. Also it would be complimented by scarfed Keldeo so you still have a reliable scarfed mon :)

Overall hope this helped!!

 

[Disciple_1]

The choice between latias and latios is basically at whether glued are looking for an offensive defogger or not. Latios seems to work here. Amoonguss is more of a stall poke hmm on and in a balanced / offensive team he's quite out of place. Yeah mixed attacker will cover its phenomenal weakness to heatran so go for it.

 

[Sablenite]

Expert Belt Keldeo is fine, but try the Sub-Mind set.