Importable - https://pokepast.es/671c0eff2250c89a
(There is no significance to the title. It was the song I had on repeat during laddering.)
Proof of Peak
https://pastebin.com/Zm22CveJ - This is the latest OU Tiering Survey where you can see my account OUVT Toshi at #74
This team also earned Suspect Test requirements for the Gliscor test.
Teambuilding Process
The team came about from looking at the Checks and Counters section of the 1695 OU Usage stats. I figured the best counter to Manaphy in the game was Ogerpon-W, so I started with that. Likewise, the “best” counter to Kingambit pre-Tera is Zamazenta. Ting-Lu was added to deal with Iron Moth and the many flavors of Dragapult. Iron Moth came in the picture to deal with Clefable and Sticky Web teams. Zapdos checks Fighting-types such as Iron Valient and Zamazenta, and with Hurricane it can take care of Great Tusk. I originally rounded out the team with Roaring Moon, but switched to Ursaluna after the Roaring Moon ban to absorb status, break fat, and deal with Gliscor.
(credit Senso88 for the image)
Ogerpon-Wellspring (F) @ Wellspring Mask
Ability: Water Absorb
Tera Type: Water
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- Ivy Cudgel
- Horn Leech
- U-turn
I built this team around Ogerpon-W given the success and eventual ban of Ogerpon-Hearthflame. While I do not find Ogerpon-W in the same tier, it has its qualities, namely as one of the better checks to Manaphy in the meta. It has an unorthodox set that I need to explain. I originally had Trailblaze in here because of its success on Hearthflame, but Wellspring plays differently. Swords Dance and Ivy Cudgel are there to break slower opponents. Horn Leech is over Trailblaze and Power Whip to maintain HP over the match, particularly against stall. U-turn is situational, but works well with getting in Ursaluna and chipping Rillaboom early game. It is also the move of choice against Amoonguss, Hoopa-Unbound, and Dragonite. Be selective when using Tera on Ogerpon-W, especially if Rillaboom is still alive. The boost in Special Defense should not be needed while Ting-Lu is available to sponge special attacks, especially because Water Absorb is a nice ability to have.
Zamazenta @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Dauntless Shield
Tera Type: Ice
EVs: 104 HP / 252 Atk / 152 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Tera Blast
- Heavy Slam
- Crunch
- Close Combat
Zamazenta comes in with some heat (or chill, if you would prefer). This was a set that I came up with during Gliscor’s reign and stuck with after it was banned. Although it does not have the sweeping potential of the Iron Defense + Body Press set, it can check things with Tera Blast that other set cannot, such as Dragonite, Garchomp, Zapdos, and Landorus-Therian. There are also times when Dondozo or Manaphy Tera Dragon and Tera Ice help against that, as well. Heavy Slam is key for nabbing Fairies such as Iron Valient and Clefable. Crunch is primarily for Gholdengo, but is a nice utility if Tera is not available. Close Combat almost OHKOs the Orgepon family, but not enough without a layer of hazards. This is probably one of the better Kingambit checks available, but it is not foolproof, especially if it does not have its Defense boost. Heavy Duty Boots is a godsend against Sticky Web teams and is one of the reasons I do not have to run hazard removal. The EV spread maximizes attack because there were too many situations where I wish I had more Attack instead of HP when testing. 152 speed EVs and a Jolly nature let it outspeed Ribombee, Greninja, and Weavile.
(credit DarkraiLady for the image)
Ting-Lu @ Leftovers
Ability: Vessel of Ruin
Tera Type: Ghost
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpD
Careful Nature
- Earthquake
- Ruination
- Stealth Rock
- Whirlwind
Ting-Lu has incredible special bulk and is a last resort for checking Booster Energy and setup Pokémon with Whirlwind. While this team was built in the Gliscor meta and Gliscor could have easily filled this role, Ting-Lu blanket checks Iron Moth, Gholdengo, and Dragapult. Be wary of Choice Band Dragapult as it 2HKOs this set with Tera Dragon Darts. It also is a nice wall for Psychic Terrain spam. Iron Valient carves through this team, but Ting-Lu can live one of its attacks and Whirlwind it out so it no longer has the speed boost from Booster Energy, making it more manageable. I find giving it the maximum special bulk is helpful in fulfilling its role as a special wall. The 4 EVs usually go in Defense, but I put them in Attack and have not missed them in Defense. I find Stealth Rock mandatory on every team, and this team is no exception. Ruination is key to breaking Gholdengo’s Air Balloon. I normally do not Tera Ting-Lu, but it is helpful to keep up hazards against Great Tusk or in last-ditch scenarios to Whirlwind away strong setup sweepers. Manaphy is a good example of this. If CB Dragapult becomes an issue, a spread of EVs: 252 HP / 68 Atk / 24 Def / 164 SpD with an Impish Nature will prevent a 2HKO from Tera'd Dragon Darts and 2HKO back with Earthquake.
(credit Senso88 for the image)
Iron Moth @ Booster Energy
Ability: Quark Drive
Tera Type: Fairy
EVs: 124 Def / 132 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Fiery Dance
- Sludge Wave
- Psychic
- Dazzling Gleam
I originally had Iron Moth on the team to come in on Clefable. It turned into the primary revenge killer on this team. Again, the moves and EVs are standard. It is possible to run Energy Ball or Substitute over Psychic or Dazzling Gleam, but I find the utility of hitting Toxapex, fairies, and dragons too big to deviate from this set. This is usually my lead against Webs teams where I let it take down as much as possible with Fiery Dance and let its teammates clean up afterwards. Tera Fairy is for out speeding and doing considerable damage to Dragonite and Dragapult. It can also catch the occasional Tera Dragon Dondozo and Poison / Dragon Tera Manaphy. Tera Fairy is also insurance for surviving Kingambit’s Sucker Punch at +2. Be careful not to Tera too early against Grassy Terrain teams as Rillaboom can sweep this team with Grassy Glide in the endgame if not careful. The EV spread is to make sure Iron Moth gets a +1 boost in Speed from using Booster Energy.
(credit Lhuin for the image)
Zapdos @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Static
Tera Type: Water
EVs: 248 HP / 108 Def / 152 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Discharge
- Hurricane
- Heat Wave
- Roost
Zapdos does what Zapdos has always done since Generation 1: wall physical threats, spread paralysis, and heal back with Roost. Its main targets are Great Tusk, Rillaboom, and Zamazenta without Stone Edge. It has a tricky matchup against Kingambit as +2 Kingambit wins with Sucker Punch, but it is possible to phish paralysis in desperation. Iron Valient is not a great matchup, either, but Hurricane does OHKO pre-Tera. I use Discharge over Thunderbolt or Volt Switch because paralysis is huge for this team as it does not have any priority moves. It does satisfactory damage to Samurott, Toxapex, Alomomola, Corviknight, and Hawlucha. Heat Wave’s main use is to 2HKO Kingambit. It also helps against Rillaboom (another 2HKO), Meowscarada, Scizor, and Breloom. Rain teams are tricky for this team to handle, especially overloading with Greninja. Tera Water is the best suppressant for them, as this allows Zapdos to take just about any hit from Greninja and OHKO back with Discharge.
The EV spread is standard. 152 Speed EVs allow Zapdos to outspeed non-boosted Great Tusk and OHKO back with Hurricane 70% of the time. The rest of the EVs go into Defense and HP to try to withstand attacks against Kingambit, Sneasler, and Rillaboom (emphasis on “try”, Kingambit OHKOs with Sucker Punch at +2 and Sneasler does the same with Gunk Shot).
(credit DavidsonCartoons for the image)
Ursaluna (F) @ Flame Orb
Ability: Guts
Tera Type: Fairy
EVs: 116 HP / 252 Atk / 140 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Swords Dance
- Facade
- Headlong Rush
- Fire Punch
The last slot was a revolving door of Pokémon. I settled on Ursaluna because previous iterations of this team struggled at breaking stall and absorbing status from Gliscor. Ursaluna excels at both with no issues. The set is standard, but I can provide some color as to how I use this set effectively on this team. Outside of U-turn from Ogerpon-W, there are no great ways to get Ursaluna in scot free. The best way is to come in on a double switch from Zapdos or Ting-Lu. Once Ursaluna is in, I use either Façade or Headlong Rush depending on the immunities my opponent has. Swords Dance and Fire Punch are reserved for Corviknight. I have had previous versions of this team where the EV spread was much bulkier (think 168 HP / 252 Atk / 88 Spe), but I got sick of losing to Skeledirge and upped my speed to the standard spread. Tera Fairy is for withstanding Draco Meteors from Dragapult and Walking Wake, along with catching the occasional slow Kingambit. There are times where Ursaluna has “YOLO” moments and takes 80% damage while dealing an OHKO in return. The best example is against Dragonite with broken Multiscale.
Threatlist (in no particular order)
• Cinderace
• Hazards
• Special Iron Valient
• Walking Wake
• Iron Defense Zamazenta
• The Many Flavors of Ogerpon
• Stall (be smart with Ursaluna)
• Grassy Terrain
• Dragapult
• Dondozo
• Greninja
• Maushold
• Garganacl
• Volcanion
Curated Replay Analysis
I have a lot of replays saved under my alts, OUVT Toshi and OUFC Toshi. Some of my favorites are linked below:
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9ou-1989316672 (Sticky Web)
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9ou-1991282248 (Sneasler HO)
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9ou-1993433354 (Greninja offense)
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9ou-1993450611?p2 (Sun)
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9ou-1993441772?p2 (Dragapult + Kingambit)
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