Hi all, this is my first RMT, despite me having played for a while now, so I’m sorry about making such long descriptions. This has been one of my more successful teams, and will beat most styles of play, as long as I don’t do something stupid. Simply put, it’s pure offense, utilizing a traditional lead alongside two of OU’s best Dragon Dancers and 3 other fast sweepers, in the vein of Team STRONGBOTS and Kevin, Please Come Home.
Note: This team is entirely used on Shoddy battle, so any changes are easy to implement
At a Glance
Frankly, it’s unoriginal, there are a couple of less used Pokémon and sets on it, but it’s all on smogon. It is basically two powerful sweepers surrounded by Pokémon who punch holes in the enemy’s team to enable a full sweep. My most common strategy is to set up with one of the dancers and attempt to sweep as early as possible, eliminate any physical walls if it fails, then go back for a second try. Both of the Dragon Dancers having similar checks and counters often means that, should I not break them the first time, I will the second run through. The other fast sweepers on the team clean up whatever is left after the main sweepers blaze through. This team actually has relatively few major issues with one or two Pokémon, but I am hoping to hammer out as many of them as possible with this RMT. One of the most important things with this team is controlling the game,if I lose control, there is a good chance I will lose the game.
So there it is, please try to be constructive, don't just criticise or praise it, it can always be improved, and while some members are effectively permanent, Gyara, Starmie and Azelf, all movesets are open to change, and all the other Pokemon are also variable
Note: This team is entirely used on Shoddy battle, so any changes are easy to implement
At a Glance
Frankly, it’s unoriginal, there are a couple of less used Pokémon and sets on it, but it’s all on smogon. It is basically two powerful sweepers surrounded by Pokémon who punch holes in the enemy’s team to enable a full sweep. My most common strategy is to set up with one of the dancers and attempt to sweep as early as possible, eliminate any physical walls if it fails, then go back for a second try. Both of the Dragon Dancers having similar checks and counters often means that, should I not break them the first time, I will the second run through. The other fast sweepers on the team clean up whatever is left after the main sweepers blaze through. This team actually has relatively few major issues with one or two Pokémon, but I am hoping to hammer out as many of them as possible with this RMT. One of the most important things with this team is controlling the game,if I lose control, there is a good chance I will lose the game.
The Lead
Azelf @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 8 HP/4 Atk/252 Spd/244 SAtk
Naive nature (+Spd, -SDef)
- Stealth Rock
- Psychic
- Trick
- Explosion
Scarfzelf is the best OU lead I have ever used, guaranteed to get up Stealth Rock, and crippling many opposing leads along the way. Traditional leads get laden with a useless choice scarf, while anti-leads are all outsped, granting me at least Stealth Rock before it goes down. In addition, if it survives with it’s scarf intact, it can come in and explode in the face of a DD mence at +1, or something similar.
Key member of the team, as many of the sweepers loose many OHKOs without stealth rock. I do not want to take out Azelf unless someone develops a lead capable of beating it regularly.
I would like to thank Atticus for team STRONGBOTS and this set, which contributed significantly to this team.
The Dancers of Death
Gyarados (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 156 HP/72 Atk/96 Def/184 Spd
Adamant nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Dragon Dance
- Waterfall
- Stone Edge
- Taunt
Gyarados is my primary sweeper and, in my opinion, OU’s best boosting sweeper. The bulky spread allows it to always get at least 1 DD, usually 2 or more. If I manage 3+, it is almost equivalent to saying gg, barring Stone Edge missing, unreliable bastard of a move that it is. On the subject of Stone Edge, I run it over any other move for two reasons, and those reasons are named Zapdos and Salamence, both of which are OHKO’d after one and two dances respectively, factoring in Stealth Rock and intimidate, hitting opposing Gyarados super effectively is also a plus. Taunt is run in order to shut down stall, phaze and status attempts. The only common Pokémon that resist the Water-Rock combo are Empoleon and Breloom, both of which are non-issues. Gyarados also works as a general physical sweeper buffer with intimidate, allowing other members of my team to take the following hit and KO back. Gyarados is my surefire check to Scizor, completely walling it, taking a max of 14% from a banded bullet punch, factoring in intimidate.
This Gyarados has issues with Mixmence that come in after a single Dragon Dance, and Draco meteor is capable of OHKOing it. Jolteon and Aerodactyl with a speed boosting nature will still outspeed Gyarados after a dragon dance, and are important, if rare threats. Stone Edge’s accuracy is a major issue, as it has killed me more often than anything else. Scarf Rotom is another big issue, as it will outspeed and OHKO with Thunderbolt after a single Dragon Dance. Scarf Flygon with Stone Edge can cause problems if I have taken damage, but is destroyed after 2 Dragon Dances, and is unable to OHKO, even with Stealth Rock.
Almost certainly my MVP, Gyarados is usually what ends the game, and has been the cause of more than one early rage quit, Gyarados will not be vacating this spot any time soon, however, Stone Edge may be vacating its.
---
Kingdra (M) @ Lum Berry
Ability: Swift Swim
EVs: 180 HP/252 Atk/76 Spd
Adamant nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Rain Dance
- Dragon Dance
- Waterfall
- Outrage
Double Dance Kingdra is a very powerful sweeper, easily doing as much damage as Gyarados. As such, it serves as my backup sweeper when Gyarados has been defeated or incapacitated, i.e. statused, or is unable to safely set up. In the rain, Kingdra outspeeds everything without a choice scarf, and all scarfed base 100s with a neutral nature, and base 87s with a boosting nature. The rain also boosts waterfall’s power. After a dragon dance, it outspeeds even base 130s with a scarf and a boosting nature, and almost doubles waterfall’s normal power. This is why I use it over another sweeper, as doubling speed in a single turn allows it to sweep very early game, regardless what Pokémon my opponent has in the wings. It is not really walled by anything other than defensive Empoleon and Skarmory, who will usually take heavy damage before phazing it, and with a single weaknesses, it, can often get off several dragon dances before it has to attack, enabling it to steamroll through. In addition, if there is a +1 Pokémon unable to 2HKO, I can bring it in, rain dance, and then (usually) OHKO back.
I really have not found any Pokémon that particularly give it trouble. Anything with a powerful STAB ice, grass or electric attack can usually 2HKO it, but as long as they are worked around, Kingdra is very versatile and will defeat most enemies 1 v 1. It is immune to status due to the lum berry it holds, which I use over leftovers because more often then not, I find that Outrage’s confusing effect or a burn will cause Kingdra far more grief than any opposing Pokémon.
While it functions very well within the team, I am open to a replacement to Kingdra, as long as it is similarly bulky, and powerful. However, I also like the Dragon Dancing theme of the team.
The Scarfers
Flygon (M) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 4 HP/252 Atk/252 Spd
Jolly nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Earthquake
- Outrage
- Fire Blast*
- U-turn
I had originally had a banded Flygon in this slot, but scarf Flygon checks a huge number of threats to this team, including Dragon Dancing and the rare scarf Salamence, who would otherwise rip this team apart, I sometimes have to risk a speed tie, but it usually comes through for me. Flygon’s STAB Earthquakes also check a good number of enemies, including Electrivire, agiligross and Subpetaya Empoleon, who can give this team a bit of trouble, outspeeding them even after a boost. Flygon also checks Heatran, Gengar, and a few others. Flygon also provides a much needed electric immunity, and a useful pivot, with his fast U-turn easing prediction.
Flygon has issues with anything faster than it, as well as anything that can survive and hit back. A CB Scizor’s Bullet Punch will do upwards of 60%, however, Flygon does not like Scizor in general. Anything with a STAB ice shard will absolutely destroy it, but fortunately Weavile and Mamoswine are fairly rare now.
Flygon provides this team a much needed answer to fast sweepers with either a choice scarf or a +1/2 boost under their belt, but I am open to a replacement, if there is an alternative Pokémon who can check the same Pokémon that Flygon does, feel free to recommend it. I am also open to running another move over dragon claw
*After some advice, calculations, and playtesting, I have replaced Dragon Claw with Fire Blast, as Dragon Claw fails to OHKO many of its intended targets without a band, and Skarm is a huge bastard to this team.
---
Heracross (M) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Guts
EVs: 252 Atk/4 Def/252 Spd
Jolly nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Close Combat
- Megahorn
- Stone Edge
- Night Slash
Swords Dance Heracross was actually the original Pokémon that I wanted to make this team for, and the focus shifted to the dragon dancers later. I had had my ass handed to me by Latias one too many times, broken bitch that she is, and decided I wanted to make a team with something to annihilate it, and Heracross was the obvious answer. Heracross is capable of OHKOing any variant without reflect active 100% of the time. Heracross can also take almost any unboosted hit Latias can throw at it, unlike Scizor, only being OHKO’d by a specs Draco Meteor, or the rare LO HP fire or Psychic, which Latias does not tend to throw around randomly.
Now that I am done ranting about Latias, I will explain why I use Heracross. Scizor has been the premier revenge killer ever since Platinum. As such, most players do not know how to handle Heracross properly, or bother with a counter/check. It has much better overall coverage than Scizor and absolutely loves burns, the bane of both my primary sweepers. Night Slash is run over pursuit in order to OHKO Gengar and less defensive variants of the Rotom forms. Heracross also takes care of psychics, steels, DDTar, Mixmence, Gyarados lacking bounce and other threats, such as Suicune. An issue that could be addressed is that Timid Scarf Rotom can outspeed Heracross and OHKO with Overheat.
Heracross is an important member of this team, as it checks several threats that would otherwise sweep much of this team fairly easily. However, looking at the threat list, if there is a similar check to the same Pokémon, I am open to it.
The Token Special Sweeper
Starmie @ Life Orb
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 4 HP/252 Spd/252 SAtk
Timid nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Hydro Pump
- Ice Beam
- Thunderbolt
- Rapid Spin/Recover
Yet another contribution from Atticus’ team, this Starmie outspeeds and destroys most of the metagame, destroying all but the most dedicated special walls. Fortunately, Heracross’ Close Combat and Megahorn covers Blissey and Latias respectively. Flygon’s Outrage will always OHKO Latias and 2HKO Blissey most of the time and both of the dragon dancers can use different variants of Blissey as setup bait.
Many fast offensive threats such as Salamence, Gengar and Infernape are all outsped and OHKO’d by their respective super effective move or a hydro pump in the case of Gengar. The choice between Rapid Spin or Recover really varies depending on whether I am facing more stallish or offensively orientated teams at the time of the latest review of the team. However, rapid spin does a lot for this team, as the only stealth rock resister on this team is Flygon, and both variants of spikes hit Heracross and Kingdra hard, severely shortening their life.
Definitely a key member of this team, not likely to be replaced.
---
Azelf @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 8 HP/4 Atk/252 Spd/244 SAtk
Naive nature (+Spd, -SDef)
- Stealth Rock
- Psychic
- Trick
- Explosion
Scarfzelf is the best OU lead I have ever used, guaranteed to get up Stealth Rock, and crippling many opposing leads along the way. Traditional leads get laden with a useless choice scarf, while anti-leads are all outsped, granting me at least Stealth Rock before it goes down. In addition, if it survives with it’s scarf intact, it can come in and explode in the face of a DD mence at +1, or something similar.
Key member of the team, as many of the sweepers loose many OHKOs without stealth rock. I do not want to take out Azelf unless someone develops a lead capable of beating it regularly.
I would like to thank Atticus for team STRONGBOTS and this set, which contributed significantly to this team.
The Dancers of Death
Gyarados (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 156 HP/72 Atk/96 Def/184 Spd
Adamant nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Dragon Dance
- Waterfall
- Stone Edge
- Taunt
Gyarados is my primary sweeper and, in my opinion, OU’s best boosting sweeper. The bulky spread allows it to always get at least 1 DD, usually 2 or more. If I manage 3+, it is almost equivalent to saying gg, barring Stone Edge missing, unreliable bastard of a move that it is. On the subject of Stone Edge, I run it over any other move for two reasons, and those reasons are named Zapdos and Salamence, both of which are OHKO’d after one and two dances respectively, factoring in Stealth Rock and intimidate, hitting opposing Gyarados super effectively is also a plus. Taunt is run in order to shut down stall, phaze and status attempts. The only common Pokémon that resist the Water-Rock combo are Empoleon and Breloom, both of which are non-issues. Gyarados also works as a general physical sweeper buffer with intimidate, allowing other members of my team to take the following hit and KO back. Gyarados is my surefire check to Scizor, completely walling it, taking a max of 14% from a banded bullet punch, factoring in intimidate.
This Gyarados has issues with Mixmence that come in after a single Dragon Dance, and Draco meteor is capable of OHKOing it. Jolteon and Aerodactyl with a speed boosting nature will still outspeed Gyarados after a dragon dance, and are important, if rare threats. Stone Edge’s accuracy is a major issue, as it has killed me more often than anything else. Scarf Rotom is another big issue, as it will outspeed and OHKO with Thunderbolt after a single Dragon Dance. Scarf Flygon with Stone Edge can cause problems if I have taken damage, but is destroyed after 2 Dragon Dances, and is unable to OHKO, even with Stealth Rock.
Almost certainly my MVP, Gyarados is usually what ends the game, and has been the cause of more than one early rage quit, Gyarados will not be vacating this spot any time soon, however, Stone Edge may be vacating its.
---
Kingdra (M) @ Lum Berry
Ability: Swift Swim
EVs: 180 HP/252 Atk/76 Spd
Adamant nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Rain Dance
- Dragon Dance
- Waterfall
- Outrage
Double Dance Kingdra is a very powerful sweeper, easily doing as much damage as Gyarados. As such, it serves as my backup sweeper when Gyarados has been defeated or incapacitated, i.e. statused, or is unable to safely set up. In the rain, Kingdra outspeeds everything without a choice scarf, and all scarfed base 100s with a neutral nature, and base 87s with a boosting nature. The rain also boosts waterfall’s power. After a dragon dance, it outspeeds even base 130s with a scarf and a boosting nature, and almost doubles waterfall’s normal power. This is why I use it over another sweeper, as doubling speed in a single turn allows it to sweep very early game, regardless what Pokémon my opponent has in the wings. It is not really walled by anything other than defensive Empoleon and Skarmory, who will usually take heavy damage before phazing it, and with a single weaknesses, it, can often get off several dragon dances before it has to attack, enabling it to steamroll through. In addition, if there is a +1 Pokémon unable to 2HKO, I can bring it in, rain dance, and then (usually) OHKO back.
I really have not found any Pokémon that particularly give it trouble. Anything with a powerful STAB ice, grass or electric attack can usually 2HKO it, but as long as they are worked around, Kingdra is very versatile and will defeat most enemies 1 v 1. It is immune to status due to the lum berry it holds, which I use over leftovers because more often then not, I find that Outrage’s confusing effect or a burn will cause Kingdra far more grief than any opposing Pokémon.
While it functions very well within the team, I am open to a replacement to Kingdra, as long as it is similarly bulky, and powerful. However, I also like the Dragon Dancing theme of the team.
The Scarfers
Flygon (M) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 4 HP/252 Atk/252 Spd
Jolly nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Earthquake
- Outrage
- Fire Blast*
- U-turn
I had originally had a banded Flygon in this slot, but scarf Flygon checks a huge number of threats to this team, including Dragon Dancing and the rare scarf Salamence, who would otherwise rip this team apart, I sometimes have to risk a speed tie, but it usually comes through for me. Flygon’s STAB Earthquakes also check a good number of enemies, including Electrivire, agiligross and Subpetaya Empoleon, who can give this team a bit of trouble, outspeeding them even after a boost. Flygon also checks Heatran, Gengar, and a few others. Flygon also provides a much needed electric immunity, and a useful pivot, with his fast U-turn easing prediction.
Flygon has issues with anything faster than it, as well as anything that can survive and hit back. A CB Scizor’s Bullet Punch will do upwards of 60%, however, Flygon does not like Scizor in general. Anything with a STAB ice shard will absolutely destroy it, but fortunately Weavile and Mamoswine are fairly rare now.
Flygon provides this team a much needed answer to fast sweepers with either a choice scarf or a +1/2 boost under their belt, but I am open to a replacement, if there is an alternative Pokémon who can check the same Pokémon that Flygon does, feel free to recommend it. I am also open to running another move over dragon claw
*After some advice, calculations, and playtesting, I have replaced Dragon Claw with Fire Blast, as Dragon Claw fails to OHKO many of its intended targets without a band, and Skarm is a huge bastard to this team.
---
Heracross (M) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Guts
EVs: 252 Atk/4 Def/252 Spd
Jolly nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Close Combat
- Megahorn
- Stone Edge
- Night Slash
Swords Dance Heracross was actually the original Pokémon that I wanted to make this team for, and the focus shifted to the dragon dancers later. I had had my ass handed to me by Latias one too many times, broken bitch that she is, and decided I wanted to make a team with something to annihilate it, and Heracross was the obvious answer. Heracross is capable of OHKOing any variant without reflect active 100% of the time. Heracross can also take almost any unboosted hit Latias can throw at it, unlike Scizor, only being OHKO’d by a specs Draco Meteor, or the rare LO HP fire or Psychic, which Latias does not tend to throw around randomly.
Now that I am done ranting about Latias, I will explain why I use Heracross. Scizor has been the premier revenge killer ever since Platinum. As such, most players do not know how to handle Heracross properly, or bother with a counter/check. It has much better overall coverage than Scizor and absolutely loves burns, the bane of both my primary sweepers. Night Slash is run over pursuit in order to OHKO Gengar and less defensive variants of the Rotom forms. Heracross also takes care of psychics, steels, DDTar, Mixmence, Gyarados lacking bounce and other threats, such as Suicune. An issue that could be addressed is that Timid Scarf Rotom can outspeed Heracross and OHKO with Overheat.
Heracross is an important member of this team, as it checks several threats that would otherwise sweep much of this team fairly easily. However, looking at the threat list, if there is a similar check to the same Pokémon, I am open to it.
The Token Special Sweeper
Starmie @ Life Orb
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 4 HP/252 Spd/252 SAtk
Timid nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Hydro Pump
- Ice Beam
- Thunderbolt
- Rapid Spin/Recover
Yet another contribution from Atticus’ team, this Starmie outspeeds and destroys most of the metagame, destroying all but the most dedicated special walls. Fortunately, Heracross’ Close Combat and Megahorn covers Blissey and Latias respectively. Flygon’s Outrage will always OHKO Latias and 2HKO Blissey most of the time and both of the dragon dancers can use different variants of Blissey as setup bait.
Many fast offensive threats such as Salamence, Gengar and Infernape are all outsped and OHKO’d by their respective super effective move or a hydro pump in the case of Gengar. The choice between Rapid Spin or Recover really varies depending on whether I am facing more stallish or offensively orientated teams at the time of the latest review of the team. However, rapid spin does a lot for this team, as the only stealth rock resister on this team is Flygon, and both variants of spikes hit Heracross and Kingdra hard, severely shortening their life.
Definitely a key member of this team, not likely to be replaced.
---
So there it is, please try to be constructive, don't just criticise or praise it, it can always be improved, and while some members are effectively permanent, Gyara, Starmie and Azelf, all movesets are open to change, and all the other Pokemon are also variable
