I just rejoined the metagame after taking a break and I've been playing around with the different pokemon that got buffs in ORAS. After plenty of time looking at the different megas, I discovered that no one got a bigger buff (other than Greninja, that is) than my man, Diggersby. I also found a great offensive core built around him, but have been having trouble finding the defensive mons that would help this team do better. That being said, I have been having some success with this team and wanted to share it with you and get your feedback on the defensive core.
The Squad
Doug (Diggersby) (M) @ Expert Belt
Ability: Huge Power
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Earthquake
- Fire Punch/U-Turn
- Knock Off
- Ice Punch
Where do I begin with the threat that is Diggersby. It got a huge movepool buff that changes it from a floundering BL mon to a legit threat in OU. I usually use it as a sweeper with a scraf, but I decided to make this one a wall-killer. I don't like the term wall-breaker for it because it does a lot of damage to some of the most common wall cores (Calcs at the end of this comment). Earthquake is there for stab and it is an amazing move overall. Fire Punch is there to break steel types like Ferrothorn, Skarmory, Bulky Mega-Scizor, etc. Knock off is great coverage and hits regular Slowbro hard. Ice Punch is there to hit defensive Landorus-I, Gliscor, Togekiss, as well as just being a great coverage move.
252 Atk Expert Belt Huge Power Diggersby Fire Punch vs. 252 HP / 88+ Def Ferrothorn: 312-370 (88.6 - 105.1%) -- 25% chance to OHKO
252 Atk Expert Belt Huge Power Diggersby Fire Punch vs. 248 HP / 116 Def Mega Scizor: 322-379 (93.8 - 110.4%) -- 56.3% chance to OHKO
-1 252 Atk Expert Belt Huge Power Diggersby Ice Punch vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Landorus-T: 240-283 (62.8 - 74%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
252 Atk Expert Belt Huge Power Diggersby Ice Punch vs. 248 HP / 0 Def Togekiss: 242-286 (64.8 - 76.6%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
Marshawn (Azumarill) (M) @ Assault Vest
Ability: Huge Power
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Waterfall
- Aqua Jet
- Knock Off
- Play Rough
This thing does not need much of an explanation. Assault vest Azumarill is incredibly standard because it is incredibly good. It gets decent coverage with its 4 moves and works well with Diggersby (hence the bunnyspam title). This helps open up doors for my two sweepers to go to work late game.
Magic Man (Alakazam) @ Alakazite
Ability: Magic Guard
EVs: 40 HP / 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 212 Spe
Timid Nature
- Psyshock
- Shadow Ball
- Focus Blast
- Substitute
If you have not had the privilege of bringing up this underrated gem from UU into OU, you are missing out. It hits like a truck with one of the highest special attack stats in the game and outspeeds or speed ties every viable thing in OU. The first three moves give it perfect neutral coverage. Substitute is the move that makes this thing work. You can bring it in on any physical wall and sub on the switch. Then, you can 2-hit KO any sweeper and most physical walls. It works great as a late game sweeper and revenge killer.
Wing Man (Talonflame) @ Sharp Beak
Ability: Gale Wings
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Brave Bird
- Flare Blitz
- Tailwind/Roost
- Swords Dance
Very standard for a reason. Talonflame is, in my opinion, the pin the metagame is balancing on. Without this thing, so many megas would be banned. Luckily, Talonflame is here to stay and serves as the prime sweeper on my team. It can also revenge kill a number of threats, including Mega-Gallade, Mega-Lopunny, Mega-Metagross, and Keldeo. Tailwind is the only non-standard thing on this set and has not come in handy too often, as this is usually the last thing left, but it could help Diggersby and Azumarill outspeed stuff and notch even more kills.
Steel Yo Girl (Scizor) @ Leftovers
Ability: Technician
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Atk / 252 Def
Impish Nature
- Defog
- Roost
- Bullet Punch
- U-turn
I would be lying if I said that this is the best Scizor set. However, it does work well and I needed a defogger, preferably one not weak to rocks. Normally i use Latias in this role, but i already have a psychic type, so the coverage would get redundant. This thing can take some hits and still has a very good attack stat so it can dish out some damage while keeping initiative with U-turn.
Loretta (Milotic) (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Marvel Scale
EVs: 252 HP / 4 SpA / 252 SpD
Calm Nature
- Scald
- Ice Beam
- Recover
- Mirror Coat
I am using this thing for two reasons: It works well with Scizor and it has access to mirror coat. Incase you couldn't tell, my team has some trouble with electric types. Not a gaping hole, but a small issue. Milotic can take the hits and mirror coat the damage right back to an incoming threat. It helps soften the load for the rest of my team. Recover+Mirror Coat is a great combination for a specially defensive mon and can do some huge damage.
So that's the team. Feel free to leave your comments and experiences with the team below. I am open to any suggestions, especially when it comes to the defensive core. I'm not super high on the ladder yet (around 1400) so I'll ladder with this team and might post some replays or changes to the team once that happens. In the mean time, LET THOSE BUNNIES GO TO WORK!
The Squad
Doug (Diggersby) (M) @ Expert Belt
Ability: Huge Power
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Earthquake
- Fire Punch/U-Turn
- Knock Off
- Ice Punch
Where do I begin with the threat that is Diggersby. It got a huge movepool buff that changes it from a floundering BL mon to a legit threat in OU. I usually use it as a sweeper with a scraf, but I decided to make this one a wall-killer. I don't like the term wall-breaker for it because it does a lot of damage to some of the most common wall cores (Calcs at the end of this comment). Earthquake is there for stab and it is an amazing move overall. Fire Punch is there to break steel types like Ferrothorn, Skarmory, Bulky Mega-Scizor, etc. Knock off is great coverage and hits regular Slowbro hard. Ice Punch is there to hit defensive Landorus-I, Gliscor, Togekiss, as well as just being a great coverage move.
252 Atk Expert Belt Huge Power Diggersby Fire Punch vs. 252 HP / 88+ Def Ferrothorn: 312-370 (88.6 - 105.1%) -- 25% chance to OHKO
252 Atk Expert Belt Huge Power Diggersby Fire Punch vs. 248 HP / 116 Def Mega Scizor: 322-379 (93.8 - 110.4%) -- 56.3% chance to OHKO
-1 252 Atk Expert Belt Huge Power Diggersby Ice Punch vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Landorus-T: 240-283 (62.8 - 74%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
252 Atk Expert Belt Huge Power Diggersby Ice Punch vs. 248 HP / 0 Def Togekiss: 242-286 (64.8 - 76.6%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
Marshawn (Azumarill) (M) @ Assault Vest
Ability: Huge Power
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Waterfall
- Aqua Jet
- Knock Off
- Play Rough
This thing does not need much of an explanation. Assault vest Azumarill is incredibly standard because it is incredibly good. It gets decent coverage with its 4 moves and works well with Diggersby (hence the bunnyspam title). This helps open up doors for my two sweepers to go to work late game.
Magic Man (Alakazam) @ Alakazite
Ability: Magic Guard
EVs: 40 HP / 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 212 Spe
Timid Nature
- Psyshock
- Shadow Ball
- Focus Blast
- Substitute
If you have not had the privilege of bringing up this underrated gem from UU into OU, you are missing out. It hits like a truck with one of the highest special attack stats in the game and outspeeds or speed ties every viable thing in OU. The first three moves give it perfect neutral coverage. Substitute is the move that makes this thing work. You can bring it in on any physical wall and sub on the switch. Then, you can 2-hit KO any sweeper and most physical walls. It works great as a late game sweeper and revenge killer.
Wing Man (Talonflame) @ Sharp Beak
Ability: Gale Wings
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Brave Bird
- Flare Blitz
- Tailwind/Roost
- Swords Dance
Very standard for a reason. Talonflame is, in my opinion, the pin the metagame is balancing on. Without this thing, so many megas would be banned. Luckily, Talonflame is here to stay and serves as the prime sweeper on my team. It can also revenge kill a number of threats, including Mega-Gallade, Mega-Lopunny, Mega-Metagross, and Keldeo. Tailwind is the only non-standard thing on this set and has not come in handy too often, as this is usually the last thing left, but it could help Diggersby and Azumarill outspeed stuff and notch even more kills.
Steel Yo Girl (Scizor) @ Leftovers
Ability: Technician
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Atk / 252 Def
Impish Nature
- Defog
- Roost
- Bullet Punch
- U-turn
I would be lying if I said that this is the best Scizor set. However, it does work well and I needed a defogger, preferably one not weak to rocks. Normally i use Latias in this role, but i already have a psychic type, so the coverage would get redundant. This thing can take some hits and still has a very good attack stat so it can dish out some damage while keeping initiative with U-turn.
Loretta (Milotic) (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Marvel Scale
EVs: 252 HP / 4 SpA / 252 SpD
Calm Nature
- Scald
- Ice Beam
- Recover
- Mirror Coat
I am using this thing for two reasons: It works well with Scizor and it has access to mirror coat. Incase you couldn't tell, my team has some trouble with electric types. Not a gaping hole, but a small issue. Milotic can take the hits and mirror coat the damage right back to an incoming threat. It helps soften the load for the rest of my team. Recover+Mirror Coat is a great combination for a specially defensive mon and can do some huge damage.
So that's the team. Feel free to leave your comments and experiences with the team below. I am open to any suggestions, especially when it comes to the defensive core. I'm not super high on the ladder yet (around 1400) so I'll ladder with this team and might post some replays or changes to the team once that happens. In the mean time, LET THOSE BUNNIES GO TO WORK!
