Well, this RMT was going to by my 100th post but I signed up for the LNT without remembering. I'm still calling this my 100th post though ;-)
Oh well, the show must go on. As anyone who has battled against me in the past month or so knows, I absolutley love Sub CM Raikou. I won alot of matches just because I managed to get Raikou a CM or two, and my opponent just didn't have the needed checks. However I wanted to create a team that would allow me to both draw out and deal with the main threats to my Raikou. So this is my team building process and the in-depth look at how exactly the team fares in actual play.
First step, who stops Raikou from setting up? The most notable threats are these unholy Pokemon.
Latias can only stop me if it has recover, and while not every one carries it enough of them do that it causes me problems. So, with those four in mind lets get started. The first choice is obviously Raikou....
Ok, looking at the four main counters to Raikou it is pretty obvious that three of them are easily beaten by Infernape.
Well, that leaves Latias. Infernape happens to be a Latias magnet so it works out pretty nicely. Main problem is that Raikou really doesn't like sand, so Ttar isn't really an option for this team. I had CB Scizor to take out Latias, but too many surprised me with HP Fire. So I decided on a more unorthadox Pursuit user, Metagross.
So, the Pokes that manage to stop Raikou are more or less taken care of. Now onto my own weaknesses, and the first thing you see is three Ground weaks. Well, I can take care of that and the lead with one Pokemon. Gliscor.
Gliscor is an all around good lead, stopping SR on slower leads and breaking sashes with U-turn on faster ones like Azelf as they Taunt. Gliscor is asking to be set up on by the likes of DD Mence and Gyarados, so next up is one of my favorite UUs out there, Porygon2
While Porygon2 isn't immune to Earthquake naturally he does trace Flygons Levitate, making him a pretty safe switch on my EQ weak team. That leaves one final Pokemon. Over the course of my testing it's been Zapdos, Salamence, Latias and Starmie. But one Pokemon I just started testing and so far am pretty impressed with is Machamp.
Latias can only stop me if it has recover, and while not every one carries it enough of them do that it causes me problems. So, with those four in mind lets get started. The first choice is obviously Raikou....
Ok, looking at the four main counters to Raikou it is pretty obvious that three of them are easily beaten by Infernape.
Well, that leaves Latias. Infernape happens to be a Latias magnet so it works out pretty nicely. Main problem is that Raikou really doesn't like sand, so Ttar isn't really an option for this team. I had CB Scizor to take out Latias, but too many surprised me with HP Fire. So I decided on a more unorthadox Pursuit user, Metagross.
So, the Pokes that manage to stop Raikou are more or less taken care of. Now onto my own weaknesses, and the first thing you see is three Ground weaks. Well, I can take care of that and the lead with one Pokemon. Gliscor.
Gliscor is an all around good lead, stopping SR on slower leads and breaking sashes with U-turn on faster ones like Azelf as they Taunt. Gliscor is asking to be set up on by the likes of DD Mence and Gyarados, so next up is one of my favorite UUs out there, Porygon2
While Porygon2 isn't immune to Earthquake naturally he does trace Flygons Levitate, making him a pretty safe switch on my EQ weak team. That leaves one final Pokemon. Over the course of my testing it's been Zapdos, Salamence, Latias and Starmie. But one Pokemon I just started testing and so far am pretty impressed with is Machamp.
And with that I present to you...
Team Sabertooth!
After Pirika's suggestion and some testing Breloom found his way onto the team over Infernape. This doubles up on some weaknesses (Fire, Flying, Psychic, and Ice) but it's not really a big deal. He also does even better at taking out Tyranitar, as he doens't fear any of his attacks at all.
After Pirika's suggestion and some testing Breloom found his way onto the team over Infernape. This doubles up on some weaknesses (Fire, Flying, Psychic, and Ice) but it's not really a big deal. He also does even better at taking out Tyranitar, as he doens't fear any of his attacks at all.
The Lead
"Freaky" Gliscor @Lum Berry
Ability: Sand Veil
Nature: Jolly
EVs: 252 HP, 40 Def, 216 Spe
-Stealth Rock
-Taunt
-Earthquake
-U-turn
"Freaky" Gliscor @Lum Berry
Ability: Sand Veil
Nature: Jolly
EVs: 252 HP, 40 Def, 216 Spe
-Stealth Rock
-Taunt
-Earthquake
-U-turn
Gliscor is one of my favorite leads because he is one of the most reliable. He can usually manage to set up Stealth Rocks and often keeps my opponent from doing the same. If I play him properly he can come back in later and force out walls with Taunt. U-turn is on over Roost to get some damage in on Azelf and break his sash. Stealth Rocks isn't vital to a Raikou sweep usually, but it does help everyone else break walls and stop sweepers more effectivley. Here's how he fares against Septembers top 10 leads.
Azelf: Pretty easy really, I U-turn immediatley to Metagross to finish him off. He either Taunts or sets up Rocks. Either way, he's dead. 
Metagross: Usually taunt as they try to SR, then Earthquake to be safe as they likely switch in Gyarados. No biggy here. 
Jirachi: So annoying to face, but as I don't fear Thunder Wave it's not as bad as it could be. If Trick is coming I usually let Gliscor take it as I SR. Gliscor doesn't really mind a Scarf. 
Aerodactyl: U-turn to Metagross, he's in the same boat as Azelf 
Swampert: Tough one to be honest. I usually Taunt on turn one as they try to get SR up, or I get wasted.
Smeargle: Lum berry lets me taunt them after they spore, then get my rocks up. Everyone else is faster than Smeargle, so once Gliscor is safe it's not a problem.
Infernape: I knock him down to his sash after he uses FO and SR, the likely die. Not a favorite by any means.
Roserade: Same boat as Smeargle for the first turn, except instead of SR on turn two I U-turn to break the sash after their Leaf Storm barely misses the KO.
Ninjask: Taunt after they sub, then SR. If they protect first turn then something gets a +1 speed when they BP to avoid the Taunt, but its almost never a problem. 
Heatran: Earthquake right out of the gate, they'll either SR and get taken to sash, or take me out and go to their sash. The Bulk
"CyberDuck" lvl100 Porygon2 @Leftovers
Ability: Trace
Nature: Bold
EVs: 252 HP, 216 Def, 40 SpA
-Thunderbolt
-Thunder Wave
-Ice Beam
-Recover
Porygon2 comes in on the likely Gyarados that forces Gliscor out on turn two. With any luck, my opponent says something along the lines of "Psssh, he brings in a UU Pokemon on my Gyarados? Time to sweep" to himself and gets taken out with Tbolt while doing pitiful damage. He also is an amazing check to DD Mence without Draco Meteor (DM will likely KO), and any Pokemon whose ability blocks their STAB move like Jolteon, Vaporeon, Flygon, and Heatran. Trace is also just fun to play with. Grabbing swift swim or levitate is fun, but the best I've ever gotten was Arena Trap to KO Dugtrio (who wasn't included in Raikous counters because no one uses him anymore) and Clefables Magic Guard. Pory2 is simply awesome.
"Goro" lvl100 Machamp @Leftovers
Ability: No Guard
Nature: Adamant
EVs: 252 HP, 252 Att, 4 Spe
-Rest
-Sleep Talk
-Dynamic Punch
-Payback
Machamp is an all around beast, and another way for me to deal with Blissey and Tyranitar. Rest allows me to throw all status moves that the rest of my team doesn't like at Machamp, who could not care less about them. He also makes sure the Breloom doesn't really do much to the team by absorbing Spore and threatenig to KO if he stays in. Also is the perfect Blissey counter, as she can't threaten Machamp at all. Not too much else to say about this guy, as he hasn't had extensive testing with the team yet.
The Wall Breakers
"Luigi" lvl100 Breloom @Toxic Orb
Ability: Poison Heal
Nature: Jolly
EVs: 252 Att, 252 Spe, 4 HP
-Spore
-Substitute
-Focus Punch
-Seed Bomb
Well, Breloom has replaced my Infernape to add a much needed Ground resist to the team while still taking out Tyranitar, Blissey, and Swampert. I chose this set because it is probably the most reliable despite being the most predictable. He doesn't have the speed to sweep on his own (Mach Punch can't save him from everyone) so this set is nice to mess with my opponents team. He's almost guranteed to KO something and still live to come back in to do what this team needs him to do. Knock down some walls.
"Megatron" lvl100 Metagross @Expert Belt
Ability: Clear Body
Nature: Adamant
Ability: 252 HP, 220 Def, 36 Spe
-Meteor Mash
-Earthquake
-Pursuit
-Explosion/Bullet Punch
Metagross is my answer to Latias. He comes in on the Surf that is likey coming at Infernape, takes less damage then is needed to 2HKO (usually) and hits Latias hard with Pursuit as she bails fearing Meteor Mash. Then, after my opponent sees how much damage Pursuit did and the lack of lefteovers, he brings in a Pokemon like Lucario to try and set up on my CB Pursuit. Needless to say a quick and satisfying KO happens next. I switch between Explosion and Bullet Punch, and both have their merits. Explosion is a nice Oh Shit button, while Bullet Punch is my only priority on the team.
The Sabertooth Tiger
"Sabertooth" lvl100 Raikou @Leftovers
Ability: Pressure
Nature: Timid
EVs: 252 Spe, 252 SpA, 4 HP
-Substitute
-Calm Mind
-Hidden Power Ice
-Thunderbolt
Sub, CM Raikou. I could sit here for half the day talking about this thing, but I don't have the time. Anyway, I bring Raikou in ideally after his counters have bee weakened or take care of and set up a few calm minds. I chose not to run the standadrd EVs listed in the smogon analysis because I like being able to outspeed Modest Starmie and non-Latias, and hit as hard as possible. The EV investment in bulk didn't make much of a difference when I tested it. In any case, Raikou can easily sweep a team that doesn't have a counter for it, or a scarfed Pokemon with Earthquake. Base 115 speed and special attack is something to be feared after even one Calm Mind. The only things that outspeed Raikou are;
Aerodactyl: Almost always a lead, never survives to see Raikou
Jolteon: No threat at all to Raikou
Crobat: Hypnosis would suck, but I usually try to stay behind a sub at all times anyway. Not a potent threat
I believe that is all in OU that can outspeed. Being resistant to Bullet Punch allows me so survive CB Scizor and KO with Thunderbolt after one Calm Mind with SR damage, and LO Lucario cannot OHKO with ES either. Thunderbolt and HP Ice hit alot of OU for super effective damage, and those that it doesn't are usually KO'd anyway. Raikou can also act as a revenge killer if it has too, but I usually try to save him for the closing moments of a match.
Well, that is Team Sabertooth. I personally think it does a pretty good job at opening a Raikou sweep, while maintaining a good core defense to keep the team from being swept itself. So, have at it. Rate, Hate, Steal, do as you will. I'm willing to accept good advice, but obviously Raikou is here to stay.
