Champion (An OU RMT)

Well, hello there. Seeing as you've dropped in to read, I would imagine you're here to rate as well. Please don't judge too harshly on my team-making abilities with this team; it's only in beta testing as of now. And, I would imagine that you would also like to read the team, instead of listening to my boring prattle. So, here it is.


Azelf @ Focus Sash
252 Spe/252 Sp.A/4 HP
Timid
-Fire Blast
-Grass Knot/HP Ground/HP Fighting
-Psychic
-Stealth Rock

A standard offensive Azelf lead. Has excellent coverage with Fire Blast and Psychic alone. Grass Knot wipes out the Swampert lead without it making a single move, and 2HKO's Tyranitar. I'm considering putting HP Ground or HP Fighting, which will both deal with Heatran, and HP Fighting will remove T-Tar without him getting anything up. HP ground is a better Heatran killer, although many variants run Shucca Berry. HP Ground also deals with Infernape leads, although Psychic will OHKO them. HP Ground will also kill any Jolteons who want to snag a free +1 Sp.A, as well as Scizors who predict SR.

I'm considering running this set:

Metagross @ Lum Berry
220 Spe/104 Atk/184 Sp.D
Jolly
-Earthquake
-Bullet Punch
-Explosion
-Stealth Rock

Why this set? Well, the EV's are my own spread. They allow me to survive a Timid Azelf's Fire Blast 100% of the time, outspeed all non-scarf Modest Heatran by one point, 2HKO Aerodactyl, while still retaining the classic moveset. Sure, I'll loose out on some defensive bulk, but in all honesty, almost nothing will OHKO a metagross (Bar STAB fire), and with 135 Base Attack to work with, and good coverage with EQ/Bullet Punch, not to mention access to an insanely powerful explosion, this is a great lead. Matchup:

Aerodactyl: Bullet Punch twice. If it Taunts, no SR for them. If it SR's, then I'm free to explode or set up SR on the next poke.
Azelf: Easily handled with my EV spread, I can Bullet Punch it to death, or Explode second turn if it's offensive.
Roserade:Explode. The most troublesome lead. I'm forced to explode right off the bat.
Ninjask:Bullet punch, don't let off the pressure, and don't give it a Swords Dance. Explode on the switch-in.
Metagross: EQ it to death. Easy.
Machamp: First turn, SR, second turn, explode. Will NEVER be OHKO'd by Payback or Dynamicpunch, and will always outspeed.
Swampert:SR and explode. See above.
Hippowdon:See above. I love those bulky leads. :D

Kingdra @ Chesto Berry
144 HP/152 Atk/172 Spe/40 Sp.D
Adamant
-Rest
-Dragon Dance
-Outrage
-Waterfall

Pretty much a standard ChestoRest Kingdra set. I took out 8 EV's from Attack and put them in Speed, to outspeed any Kingdras who happen to have the same set, and those who put 1 extra Speed to outspeed those. If you're unfamiliar with ChestoRest Kingdra, the premise is to use his good defensive stats to eat damage for a turn or two, or eat a Will 'O Wisp, while using Dragon Dance. Then you Rest off any damage or status, while your Chesto Berry cures sleep. Chest Berry is superior to Lum Berry because any status users will think they have beaten you, while you go back to full health and KO back with a +2 Waterfall.

Infernape @ Life Orb
252 Spe/128 Sp.A/128 Atk
Naive
-Close Combat
-Fire Blast
-Stone Edge
-Mach Punch

Alright, this is pretty much a standard MixApe. I tweaked the EV's a bit, which is the main change. I'm considering, however, HP Ice over Stone Edge, because it's rediculously easy to predict Flygon switches, and Flygon will absolutely run through my team. The ONLY thing that can stop a Scarf Flygon locked into EQ is Machamp, who only has a 50/50 shot at killing it, depending on paralysis or not. Also, the only Flying-types I'm concerned about killing are Gyarados, who will be killed with HP ice fairly quickly, or grass knot. Intimidate renders Stone Edge useless. Expert Belt is to bluff Choice item.

Tyranitar @ Choice Scarf
252 Spe/252 Atk/4 HP
Jolly
-Crunch
-Stone Edge
-Earthquake
-Superpower

To be honest, he's the one member in my team I'de be happiest to trade out. He really feels like a weak link, with all the Scizors and Scarfrachi's everywhere. Not to mention he takes 4x damage from fighting, which is a problem, and is weak to the omnipresent EQ. He's also mowed down by Flygon's EQ, yet again. But, when he's not busy getting massacred, he does a good job at killing off pesky Starmies, etc.

Rotom-C @ Leftovers
252 HP/108 Def/148 Sp.A
Bold
-Substitute
-Will 'o Wisp
-Thunderbolt
-Shadow ball

This set functions as bait: Basically, I lure out anything nasty while I sub, and either Will 'o wisp or use one of my attacking moves. 252 HP for bulk, Bold and 108 Def for physical bulk, and 148 Sp.A for simply more power. So far, it's working decently, but I'm apt to replace it soon. It's not really my favorite right now, but perhaps it'll show it's worth soon. I'm willing to trade this guy easily.

Jirachi @ Leftovers
252 Spe/252 Sp.A/4 HP
Timid
-Calm Mind
-HP Ground
-Psychic/Flash Cannon
-Thunderbolt

Ahhhh, Superachi. This thing gets a good amount of surprise kills, as well as a free CM almost every time. Everyone, without fail, switches to a steel/water type, which are always handled easily by HP ground and Thunderbolt. Psychic is there for a great STAB, although Flash Cannon is a great replacement STAB, which will also remove Tyranitar. It's basically a +1/+1 Jirachi every time, with great type coverage.


That concludes my RMT. I'll add pictures ASAP; my computer is acting funny.
 
Feeling better now, so here is my rate:

Just to let you know, you have three ground-weaknesses, and one immunity (assuming Azelf is defeated). Rotom checks most common Ground users well, and Kingdra can deal with most of them, so there really isn't a huge problem- unless Rotom is down.

Gengar with Focus Blast, Shadow Ball and HP Fire can cripple this team as well if Tyranitar is defeated. Oh yes, and you said Flygon gave you trouble.

Except for Gengar, which I have no clear answer too, Gliscor solves most of your problems. It can laugh at a ScarfGon Earthquake, and poisin/deal damage to the switch-in, or set up (depending on set). I would suggest replacing Kingdra or Jirachi with Gliscor, as you have two set-up sweepers as it is. Gliscor could also make a solid lead over Azelf, as it is bulky enough to come back later in the game.

Have a nice day.
 
Hey Asploder, this is a nice team.

- Regarding your Azelf moveset, you definitely want Explosion in the last slot. Taunt deserves a spot over Psychic or Fire Blast as well.
- Your Infernape wants Stone Edge and a Life Orb. HP Ice only really hits Dragonite now that Salamence has gone, although you could probably use it for predicted ScarfGon switches. However, Stone Edge hits Dragonite, Gyarados, Zapdos etc harder. You should probably use Mach Punch over Grass Knot as well. The changes I will be making, might make you slightly more open to Tyranitar.

Ok, onto the threats. Scizor is able to come in and do 60% minimum to all of your Pokes, whether that be via Superpower or U-turn. As you said, you also lack a solid Flygon switch-in. Gyarados sweeps you cold, DDNite has a similar chance and Kingdra will do A LOT of damage to your team. Infernape 2HKOes your entire team comfortably as well. Metagross is another big problem.

Anyway, keeping with the synergy, I would like you to try Scarf Tyranitar over your current version. ScarfTar can trap Rotom, Starmie, Azelf, and sometimes Celebi quite comfortably. All of these Pokemon are huge threats to an Infernape / Kingdra sweep. By using ScarfTar, you can potentially remove your opponent's primary Ape check, and you can then abuse Infernape to the maximum.

Tyranitar @ Choice Scarf
Jolly | Sandstream
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Crunch / Stone Edge / Pursuit / Superpower

However, Tyranitar does not solve all of your weaknesses. A defensive Rotom would work nicely over your Machamp. Rotom acts as a solid switch-in to Agility Metagross, Gyarados and Scizor. It can also act as an emergency Infernape check should it be above 80%. The reason I suggest defensive Rotom, and not a scarf variant, is because you really need something to switch into Scizor's U-turns which can decimate your team. Rotom gives you a solid fighting-resist, something you also lack, and by using the set I list below, you do not lose too much offensive pressure.

Rotom @ Leftovers
Bold | Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 108 Def / 148 Spe
Substitute / Pain Split / Will-o-wisp / Thunderbolt

With Substitute and Pain Split, Rotom is able to put a lot of pressure onto opposing teams even if it is operating with a weak 248 SpAtk stat. Will-o-wisp and Pain Split work wonders with Tyranitar. You can burn the Blissey, Pain Split it, then go to Tyranitar and pretty much force it to switch, opening up a huge chance at a Superrachi sweep.

By making these changes, you are left slightly open to Tyranitar, so you have to play cautiously against it. A quick fix would be to use LeadGross over Azelf as that acts as a solid Tyranitar counter and can sponge +1 Dragonite Outrages comfortably. Just something to consider.

Good luck!
 
Great team.

Threats

  • LO Flygon
  • Substitute Gengar
  • Offensive Shaymin
  • Slight bulky water weakness
Life orb Flygon, although a very scarcely used Pokemon, greatly troubles this team as nothing id going to want to switch into a Dragon Claw or Outrage; even Rotom can't successfully check it because its 2HKOd by Outrage and often it can be 2HKOd by Dragon Claw if it has taken about 20% of previous damage. Gengar, also presents a serious threats as it can easily grab a Substitute on Tyranitar's earthquake or Superpower and proceed to inflict heavy damage to the rest of your team. Also, offensive L Shaymin can also present a huge concern to this team's effectiveness as it can easily, without and set-up, massively damage your team with pretty much nothing other than its strong, STAB, Seed Flare attack; Jirachi, who is basically your premiere check to Shaymin falls quickly to Earth Power or Hidden Power Fire, so Shaymin does prove to be a real threat. Finally, bulky water types like offensive Suicune, LO Starmie and to an extent, Vaporeon all present minor problems to this team if given a chance to set-up on the likes of Tyranitar or Infernape.

Solutions

  • Choice Scarf Flygon
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Flygon @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 Atk/252 Spd/4 SpDef
Jolly nature (+Spd,-SpAtk)
- Earthquake
- Outrage
- Thunderpunch
- U-turn[/box]
Luckily, there is one Pokemon which can easily take on all of the aforementioned Pokemon, while also having great synergy with your team and improving the overall structure: Choice Scarf Flygon (I recommend using Flygon over Tyranitar which seems to be the least useful Pokemon in the team, in my view). The recommended set is shown below. Flygon can easily revenge kill all of the threats I mentioned, courtesy of its great move pool allowing the moves in its move set to have great coverage between each other. Opposing Flygon and Gengar are easily dispatched with Outrage or Dragon Claw while offensive Shaymin are easily 2HKOd by Outrage (or easily KOd by U-Turn if Shaymin is around 50% health). It should be noted that Shaymin is a bit difficult to defeat, so you must play around it to succeed in eliminating it. Lastly, bulky waters like Starmie and Suicune are covered by Thunderpunch which also helps the slight Gyarados weakness your team has. I hope this rate has helped, and good luck!
 
sash Azelf has so many counters as a lead now, it doesn't work very well anymore. Explosion is the only reason you'd pick Azelf over Aerodactyl: otherwise Aero is faster and has better coverage with QuakeEdge.

Here's an Azelf set I ran for a while, and worked decently:
Azelf @ Life Orb
252 SpA 252 Spe
Naive
-Psychic
-Grass Knot
-Explosion
-Stealth Rock

Life Orb means you can be OHKOed, but you can OHKO many leads, like Hippowdon, Swampert, and Machamp. You still lose to Infernape, Metagross and Heatran, but it at least garuantees you beat certain leads and still get SR up. Grass Knot can also 2HKO Tyranitar in SS, and you won't be KO'd from Pursuit if you stay in.

You probably want to change the Mixape EV spread to 252Atk/64SpA/192 Spe as you still outrun base 100s, and hit harder with physical attacks. 64 Evs is usually enough to KO Agiligross with Fire Blast, and other Steel types are KOed by a wider margin. Also, Stone Edge is better at killing Flyers than HP Ice: HP Ice doesn't OHKO Dragonite, Flygon will outspeed and KO you, and Gyarados really laughs at it. Grass Knot only does about 40%, so you're better off with Stone Edge: which can actually 2HKO even at -1.

Also, SuperRachi is not a solution to Tyranitar. It's outsped and 2HKO by ScarfTar, and OHKO from CBTar. DDTar can set up with good deal of health left, and EQ (Fire Punch is little short of KO, but does 82% max) for the KO.

For the same set, I'd rather use Rotom-W over Rotom-C, and use Hydro Pump over Shadow Ball:
1) Hydro Pump is as powerful as Shadow Ball, factoring STAB
2) Hydro Pump has better coverage with Tbolt than Leaf Storm
3) Hydro Pump can be used repeatedly, thanks to lack of SpA drop

Hydro Pump still hits TTar harder over 2 turns: and easily gets it in KO range for Infernape's Mach Punch after one.

Well played Szicor (with TTar support) or opponent's Kingdra setting up before yours will be very problematic for you. Scizor is better handled using Rotom-W over Rotom-C, and as for the Kingdra, Infernape can KO it, but it'll probably be dead afterwards, which leaves you open against DDTar now. For that reason, I'd use this Rotom-W set:
Rotom-W @ Leftovers
252 HP/168 Def/88 Spe (outrun DDTar)
Bold
-Discharge
-Hydro Pump
-Substitute
-Pain Split

It does exactly what the other set does, yet counters other threats easily.

Hope this helped.
 
For your Azelf, I suggest you run Explosion, because after you finish wreaking havoc among enemy ranks, you'll want to leave a mark, and what's better a move than Explosion
 
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