Project Break This Team NatDex edition

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Jho

Jho

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Format stolen from SMOU version of the thread that i found somewhere that stole it from somewhere else

Welcome to Break This Team National Dex edition! The purpose of this thread is to analyze popular teams and find cores of viable Pokemon that have an excellent matchup into said team. Hopefully, this project will help out with teambuilding and team analysis practice!

  • Every Tuesday a popular NatDexOU team will be posted by myself.
  • Posting will last 4-5 days where you will have the chance to post a Pokemon or core or simply discuss the team at hand.
  • When the week is up, there will be a voting period of 1-2 days in which you decide, which Pokemon or core "Breaks This Team", most effectively. The winner makes the hall of fame
  • On a side note, please don’t be insulted if your nomination doesn’t make the OP.
Rules (Must read)
  • Reservations must be followed up within 12 hours. If not another user may take the core you reserved. Please do not make a habit out of not following up on your reservation.
  • Please post only Pokémon that are viable in NatDexOU. This means they should be listed on the Viability thread. NOTE: With this rule, I will more than willing to exercise leniency but dont take it for granted. If a pokemon backed up by an OU partner is genuinly threatening and a proper explanation is given I'll accept it. Trash like Arcanine + specs florges will get deleted as will cores who function as little more then memes.
  • Make sure the combination of Pokemon you've submitted, have viable sets and can also present itself as the backbone for a well-constructed team.
  • When posting a Pokemon or core, please explain yourself. Calculations and replays tho encouraged aren't necessary, but please have a coherent thought process or reasoning as to why you chose the core you did. Please also make sure to include a moveset and EV spread.
  • If you choose not to post a mon or core but rather just discuss them team thats fine but make sure your points are well reasoned
  • Please be respectful of others
:latios-mega: + :kyurem: by Jordy breaking this team
:kyurem: by Solaros & Lunaris breaking this team
 
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The first team up to break is a build by Jordy that is a variant of the very common Zygarde + Mega Metagross balance
:sm/metagross-mega: :sm/zygarde: :sm/tangrowth: :sm/tapu-fini: :sm/rotom-heat: :sm/hydreigon:
click the mons for the pokepaste
Mega Metagross + Zygarde is an extremely potent core due to the fact that they share so many checks and are easily able to wear them down for each other. Zygarde can often force Toxic onto Slowbro and Tangrowth which allows itself and Metagross to overwhelm them very easily. Tangrowth and Tapu Fini make for a very effective defensive backbone offering checks to Zygarde and Mega Blastoise respectively. Physically defensive Tangrowth is used as Tapu Fini offers sufficient counterplay to Pokemon such as Ash Greninja, so the better Metagross Matchup is preferred here. Rotom-H offers the team with a Tornadus-T check, as well as alleviates pressure from Tapu Fini by being able to soft check Choice Scarf Darmanitan-G and also offers a strong pivot which is able to bring in Zygarde and Mega Metagross easily after forcing Pokemon such as Heatran and Tyranitar in. This particular spread allows Rotom-H to outpace Zygarde and OHKO it at +2. Choice Scarf Hydreigon rounds out the team and offers the team another way to alleviate pressure from Tapu Fini by being able to soft check Heatran, whilst also providing the team's breakers with another U-turn user. Hydreigon is used due to its ability to outpace Choice Scarf Galarian Darmanitan, as well as its ability to breakthrough Pokemon such as Aegislash, Slowbro, and Mega Metagross.
 
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Sub-Disable Dragapult and SpDef Mega Venusaur
:Dragapult: :Venusaur-Mega:

Dragapult @ Leftovers
Ability: Infiltrator
EVs: 100 HP / 156 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Will-O-Wisp
- Hex
- Substitute
- Disable

Venusaur-Mega @ Venusaurite
Ability: Chlorophyll
EVs: 252 HP / 240 SpD / 16 Spe
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Leech Seed
- Sludge Bomb
- Earth Power
- Synthesis

I've got some explaining to do with this one because I know as good as anyone that its extremely weird.

SubDisable Dragapult was a thing for a little bit in Galar Dex OU, and its not bad here. It's definitely a very unconventional Dragapult, but it has its uses. In this specific case, its main use is just barely dealing with Mega Metagross and sitting on Zygarde. Will-O-Wisp cripples the above Mega Metagross set, insuring that both mons above avoid the 2HKO. Hexing a Will-O-Wisped Mega Metagross also OHKOs it in return. It requires very clever switching and prediction, as neither can switch in safely, but with Substitute up it can work, and they could come in as Mega Metagross attempts to set up Stealth Rock. Choice Band Zygarde is obviously wrecked by the above Dragapult set and doesn't like Mega Venusaur much either. Most of the targets that Mega Venusaur was running Defense EVs for last Gen (like Mega Mawile and Tapu Bulu) are nowhere near as good now, so I felt comfortable pumping the Special Defense EVs. Mega Venusaur destroys both Fini and Tang, and Drei can't do much to it either. It's also worth noting that Hydreigon loses to Sub+Disable Pult if Dragapult is behind a Sub. Finally, we come to Rotom-Heat. The reason I bolstered the SpDef EVs on Mega Venusaur was to avoid the OHKO from a +4 Rotom-H Overheat. SubPult kinda messes with it as well. Sludge Bomb 3HKOs in return. Earth Power hits Mega Metagross harder and also has general use in hitting Heatran and most other Steel-types.

This is really weird, I know, but in a metagame like this Sub+Disable Pult has some merit. And I didn't want to just slap Ice Punch on Mega Metagross and counter it with my own Gross+Toxic Zyg so I tried to branch out.
 
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Substitute + Toxic Zygarde + Mega Scizor

:sm/zygarde: :sm/scizor-mega:
Zygarde @ Leftovers
Ability: Aura Break
EVs: 236 HP / 160 SpD / 116 Spe
Careful Nature
- Thousand Arrows
- Coil / Protect
- Substitute
- Toxic

Scizor @ Scizorite
Ability: Light Metal
EVs: 248 HP / 244 Def / 16 SpD
Impish Nature
- Bullet Punch
- U-turn
- Curse
- Roost

Mega Scizor and Zygarde form a constricting balance core for this team - not only does the team get walled mostly by Mega Scizor but Zygarde covers Rotom-Heat and sits on its "counters" spamming Toxic and Substitute. Coil (or Dragon Dance) is used simply to get boosts on Tapu Fini so that Zygarde can continually force out Tapu Fini and Tangrowth to the point that one either dies of Toxic damage or Thousand Arrows damage. Protect is also useful here for sitting out Misty Terrain so that Toxic is more effective but this is a better strategy with hazard support.
 
I honestly haven't found this team to be weak to any one core in particular, as cores consisting of two Pokemon can really only go so far. However, there are Pokemon I've experienced as issues if supported properly in general. What I'm trying to get at is that I don't think this project should be limited to cores specifically.

:sm/latios-mega:
Latios-Mega (M) @ Latiosite
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Hasty Nature
- Psychic
- Earthquake
- Draco Meteor / Ice Beam
- Recover
This team relies a lot on juggling around with Mega Metagross and Hydreigon to deal with Psychic-types. Mega Latios is by far the hardest Psychic-type to deal with, as it can take advantage of Rotom-H and Tangrowth quite handily, and you're always forced into very unfavorable mindgames from there.

:sm/kyurem:
Kyurem @ Metronome
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 56 HP / 200 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Freeze-Dry
- Earth Power
- Substitute
- Roost
Kyurem is perhaps an even bigger issue for this team to deal with. It can consistently take advantage of Tangrowth, and really benefits from the current trend of Rotom-H; which it can PP stall and otherwise quickly wear down. Tapu Fini can't even properly check it because of Freeze-Dry.

Ofcourse, these Pokemon do require some support to effectively break down this team. Both can be forced out by Mega Metagross if it manages to switch into them safely, so checks to it can prove to be useful. Beyond that, you'll definitely need a way to keep Tapu Fini in check too, as, though they can overwhelm it, they can't really afford to try and beat it one-on-one. Hydreigon can also prove to be an issue, especially to Mega Latios, so you'll want a Fairy-type like Clefable or Magearna.
 
:sm/scizor-mega: + :sm/heatran:

Scizor-Mega @ Scizorite
Ability: Light Metal
EVs: 248 HP / 136 Def / 124 SpD
Impish Nature
- Curse
- Bullet Punch
- Knock Off
- Roost

Heatran @ Leftovers
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 252 HP / 136 SpD / 120 Spe
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Lava Plume
- Toxic
- Earth Power
- Protect

Mega Scizor is really annoying if its Knock Off because it can catch Rotom-H on the switch and thus making easier to wear down with Stealth Rocks in the long run. Scarf Hydreigon can't dip below 50% or else it can be pick off by +1 BP roll. Heatran on the other hand puts pressure on Hydreigon and can scare off Rotom-H of fear of being Toxic'd. Heatran also threatens Tangrowth (especially if a teammate is put asleep) while Tapu Fini doesn't want to switch in repeatably if it gets Knocked by Scizor (Fini doesn't even like dealing with Scizor anyway). It can even be cheeky and attempt to burn Zygarde on the switch if Misty Terrain isn't up.
 
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Sorry for the hiatus, I meant to revive this after the Toise suspect but got busy and then another suspect happened and here we are. Anyway Jordy won the last round, congrats to them!

This week, we'll be looking at the Rain Team that is terrorizing the suspect ladder!
:ss/pelipper: :ss/swampert-mega: :ss/greninja-ash::ss/manaphy::ss/tornadus-therian::ss/ferrothorn:
originally by Ske , adapted for the National Dex meta by Guardsweeper
Click the Mons for the Import

here is their description of the team:
Guardsweeper said:
Basically one of the very few reliable hyper offensive builds post-Mega Blastoise meta, and braindead enough to serve as your means of conquering Mega Metagross reqs. Manaphy is the star of the show, easily taking on the common TangFini balances as well as the ubiquity of Stall teams, making it quite capable of bulldozing through ladder games. It's also one of the few options rain has to punish ungabunga for clicking its Ice-STAB. Speed EVs are to outpace standard Rotom-H, everything else is quite standard and should require no explanation
Click to expand...
 
:sm/charizard-mega-y:
Charizard-Mega-Y @ Charizardite Y
Ability: Blaze
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Flamethrower
- Focus Blast
- Solar Beam
- Roost

Mega Charziard is annoying for Rain for obvious reasons. The fact that it weakens the one type that makes rain function is bad enough but it also turns Tornadus-T's Hurricane into a coin flip and it also wins Leads vs Pelipper. Although getting in can be risky it basically gets free entry when Ferrothorn is on the field. This Rain is so common on the ladder that I generally have been thinking about running HP Electric but being walled by Gastrodon is not ideal.
 
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:ss/kyurem:
Kyurem @ Metronome
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 56 HP / 196 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Freeze-Dry
- Earth Power
- Substitute
- Roost

Kyurem is pretty difficult to deal with once it gets a Sub up vs Peli, Ferro or a greedy Mana. It reaches max power Freeze-Dry surprisingly fast because everything except Ferrothorn is weak to Freeze-Dry. You can simply stall Ferro out of Gyro Balls and then overpower it. Something to make this easier would be Magnezone or AshGren, but they dont really need to be submitted here.
 
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1590295850002.png


Alakazam-Mega @ Alakazite
Ability: Magic Guard
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Psychic
- Focus Blast
- Energy Ball
- Recover

The concept here is simple, get Mega Alakazam in on Swampert, either off a double switch, a sac, or a U-Turn so it can trace Swift Swim. From there, Alakazam OHKO's or 2HKO's the entire team. Swampert, Greninja, and Pelipper are all OHKO'd by the coverage at this Pokemon's disposal (Peli is after rocks chip). Ferrothorn does not pack Gyro Ball, which is the only move capable of coming close to knocking out Mega Alakazam. Of the Pokemon Mega Alakazam 2HKO's none can OHKO Zam in return, even under rain. Manaphy comes close, but can only do 90% max with rain-boosted Surf. Tornadus's Hurricane does ~70, but Zam has a chance to OHKO Torn after rocks with Psychic.
 
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Spr_2c_251.png

Celebi @ Leftovers
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 240 HP / 172 Def / 72 SpA / 24 SpD
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Recover
- Giga Drain
- Magic Coat
- Thunder Wave

Celebi completely walls Mega Swampert. It cannot be 2HKOed by Ice Punch, even with a crit, and Natural Cure means that even a freeze isn't the end of the world. It can take a Dark Pulse from Greninja (before Battle Bond) after Rocks (with lefties recovery) and hit back with a Giga Drain or a Thunder Wave. It walls Manaphy, and Tornadus can't switch into Thunder Wave. Magic Coat is so that Ferrothorn is walled, and you can get hazards up against it. The only Pokemon that comes in on this safely is Pelliper, which is 3HKO'd by Giga Drain with Stealth Rocks up.
 
:ss/Ferrothorn:

Ferrothorn @ Leftovers
Careful Nature
Ability: Iron Barbs
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
- Spikes/Stealth Rock
- Leech Seed
- Protect/Spikes/Toxic/Power Whip
- Power Whip/Gyro Ball/Knock Off

(Sorry for all the slashes)

Ferrothorn pretty much walls this team rather well. Torn-T hates Leech Seed + Iron Barbs and can't keep hazards off the field reliably since it isn't running Heat Wave or Focus Miss, especially if Ferro opts for Gyro Ball. Ash Greninja can be a bit of a pain with D-pulse flinches, but Ferro typically walls it fine enough, especially with Protect. Manaphy and Pert don't exactly wanna stay in either in fear of Power Whip and since the opposing Ferro isn't running Knock in the Paste, it can't punish this Ferro for hazard stacking, meaning you can easily wear this team down. While Manaphy can potentially eliminate Ferrothorn with its Z move after a Tail Glow, Protect does let you waste it if you predict correctly.
 
:ss/Kommo-o:

Kommo-o @ Salac Berry
Ability: Bulletproof
EVs: 52 HP / 204 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Belly Drum
- Substitute
- Drain Punch
- Thunder Punch


Once Kommo-o is in versus Ferrothorn, there isn't much this team can do to prevent Kommo-o from sweeping. Substitute, which cannot be broken by Power Whip, allows Kommo-o to use Belly Drum without being leech seeded or badly poisoned. With 52 HP, Greninja only has a 31.3% chance to break Kommo-o's substitute in the rain with 3 hits. Thunder Punch may not even be necessary as +6 Drain Punch 2HKO's Pelipper upon switching in, and OHKO's Manaphy despite Kommo-o's Atk EV's not being maximised. Mega Swampert in the rain is the only mon on this team that outspeeds Kommo-o after it's Salac Berry speed boost, and must rely on flinching it with Waterfall in order to revenge kill it. As this set would only function on a hyper offensive team, Kommo-o is likely to be paired with Dual Screens and suicide leads, allowing further set up opportunities and enabling Kommo-o to OHKO Tornadus-T with Drain Punch after prior Stealth Rock damage.
 
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