First Competitive OU Team

Turtlehoop

Hey guys. I've been doing a lot of thought lately about exactly WHAT my team needs and have made a few changes, but I'm still falling short quite often to multiple things. I'm not sure what it is, so I'm looking for advice on what I COULD do. I'm not asking for replacements, but just what's wrong with the current team or how well the current team is put together. I have my 6 that I'm currently using as well as alternatives I've used to decent success as well.

The Lead;

Azelf @ Focus Sash
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 6 Atk/252 Spd/252 SAtk
Naive nature (+Spd, -SpecDef)
- Explosion
- Flamethrower
- Psychic
- Stealth Rock

The Standard Azelf lead, I believe. I originally had my Crobat leading for the longest time, but I really didn't like losing speed ties to Aerodactyl and THEN having to set up Stealth Rock at a later time with what was then a defensive Swampert, which I didn't like a whole lot. I do like this set, however. If I predict the Taunt from Aero/Crobat leads, I'll just attack them, and on Crobat I usually can score an OHKO depending on EVs, which is just sick. Being Sash'd allows me to allows me to almost always get up rocks depending on the situation. I must say that this is probably the best lead I've had in a while, as it's very good and Exploding is fun as hell.


Racer X (Metagross) @ Leftovers
Ability: Clear Body
EVs: 100 HP/252 Atk/88 Spd/70 SDef
Adamant nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Bullet Punch
- Meteor Mash
- Thunderpunch
- Agility

AgiliGross, Ho! I love this guy. The speed EVs allow me to outspeed all Non-Scarfed pokes in the format that aren't Electrode and Ninjask, and this includes Aero, Jolteon, etc. Thunderpunch is AWESOME against Gyarados and gives me a solid hit on him, and then I can usually KO with Bullet Punch if I don't OHKO with T Punch, depending on the Gyarados EVs. I think my EVs for the special defense should probably be put into Defence...At least, that's what I think. I love leftovers on this set, and the only other thing I can really think of to put on him is Occa Berry, but I have other things to switch into on fire moves (to an extent).


Gengar (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 6 HP/252 Spd/252 SAtk
Timid nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Focus Blast
- Shadow Ball
- Thunderbolt
- Substitute

I'm considering changing out either a) Sub for Destiny Bond or b) Life Orb for Leftovers. I think one of them needs to be done, I'm just not sure which. That said, Gengar is great. Focus Blast deals with annoyances that are weak to fighting and can still do a decent chunk to Blissey with Life Orb. Thunderbolt covers Gyarados, Skarmory, and Aerodactyl with a Sub up, and Shadow Ball is the very good STAB Move. I can deal a good deal of damage to Latias with Shadow Ball, and after Stealth Rock I've OHKO'd a few times due to Life Orb and winning the Speed Tie. I can also switch him in to a predicted Earthquake and set up a Sub if I predict a switch, which is never a bad thing.


IFlingPoopv2 (Infernape) (M) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Blaze
EVs: 38 HP/252 Atk/220 Spd
Adamant nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Close Combat
- Flare Blitz
- Stone Edge
- U-turn

Ah, Ape. I love Ape. I believe the Choice Scarf Variant is awesome. The speed EVs put me at 460 speed, which means I outrun a single DD'd Gyarados and Mence that are running Adamant Natures. I also outrun non-speed nature Scarfs for the most part. Jirachi is an annoyance if it's Timid/Jolly and TrickScarfing, but I've only encountered this twice and I still ended up winning those battles. Flare Blitz is awesome, but I'm considering changing it to Overheat or FirePunch due to the Recoil. He's pretty fragile, and if I were to switch moves the EVs would go to 252 Speed. I think the HP EVs are probably random, but I haven't had too much of a problem with it yet (Outside of ScarfJirachi).


Twinkletoes (Blissey) (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 252 HP/252 Def/6 SDef
Calm nature (+SDef, -Atk)
- Counter
- Seismic Toss
- Softboiled
- Thunder Wave

CounterBliss is so much fun. Max HP and Max defence minus the nature, which is only like +11 defense stats or something to that extent, whereas I get a bigger boost for having a Calm Nature. ThunderWave is for crippling Sweepers, as I've found it much more satisfying than Toxic when I don't have Protect to stall out with. Softboiled is a staple I believe, and Seismic Toss is to deal the solid 100 damage to whatever I want. Standard set, I believe, and it works.


Scizor (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Technician
EVs: 80 HP/252 Atk/178 Def
Adamant nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Bullet Punch
- Swords Dance
- Brick Break
- Roost

I hate Scizor. I hate using him, I hate facing him, but he's SOOOOO Good. He's a bit on the bulky side, too, with 178 defense EVs and Roost, but it's needed I believe with Life Orb. Brick Break is to help against things that are weak to fighting, and I've done some major damage to Heatran on the switch with Brick Break. This is probably my least solidified pokemon on the team because there really is a lot that can be done with him, but he does his job well.



OTHER POKES I'VE USED AND CONSIDERED;

Crobat (F) @ Wide Lens
Ability: Inner Focus
EVs: 166 HP/92 Atk/252 Spd
Jolly nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Hypnosis
- Roost
- Taunt
- U-turn

My Original lead. He really is awesome. Max speed to abuse Hypnosis/Taunt and to go for the speed tie with against Suicide Aero. Roost is great and allows me to gain back HP for Hypnosis again, and then I just U-turn out. The EVs allow a 2HKO against the standard Azelf if I ever need it, and it's been to my benefit for the most part. I think this set is somewhat fragile, however, and the Hypnosis/Taunt should probably be replaced with Brave Bird.


Coconut (Venusaur) (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Overgrow
EVs: 252 HP/6 SAtk/252 SDef
Calm nature (+SDef, -Atk)
- Energy Ball
- Leech Seed
- Sleep Powder
- Sludge Bomb

Venasaur is by far one of my favorite pokemon I've ever used. I've literally swept teams with this little booger. There's obvious flaws to having this UU Pokemon in the OU Metagame, but his unique typing is to both benefit and mistake, but setting up a Leech Seed on a Blissey, or anything for that matter, to force a switch is never really a bad thing, and the HP that is gained back (ESPECIALLY on a Blissey) is a wonderful thing. He also absorbs Toxic Spikes, how awesome is that?!


Salamence (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 200 Atk/26 Def/252 Spd/32 SDef
Naughty nature (+Atk, -SDef)
- Dragon Dance
- Outrage
- Fire Blast
- Earthquake

...Mence. Pretty standard, somewhat bulky EVs, but they should probably be just 252 speed/252 atk, but whatever. Decent coverage on the set. Not much to say, he absorbs a lot of attacks very well but dies pretty quickly to Latias.


And there it is! I'd just like some standard feedback guys.
Thanks.
 
Hello, here's a few things I'd like to say with your team.

Metagross

I'm not really sure why you chose to have Bullet Punch on an Agility using Metagross, it's pretty redundant. I suggest you swap Bullet Punch for Earthquake so you're able to hit Pokemon like Heatran and opposing Metagross since you can't do much towards them. This way, you have a decent late-game sweeper.

Gengar

I suggest you use Destiny Bond over Substitute. It works pretty well in conjunction with Life Orb recoil, and it works great to score those surprise OHKOes on stat boosting threats like Suicune and Jirachi, not to mention that you have a chance at beating Blissey.

Scizor

I suggest that you change Scizor into a Choice Bander, since you don't really have a way to deal heavy damage right off the bat with your team. A powerful Bullet Punch can really save you when it comes to threats that are trying to boost on you, like Salamence for example. Try this set:

Scizor @ Life Orb
Ability: Technician
EVs: 112 HP / 252 Atk / 86 Def / 60 Spe
Adamant nature (+Atk, -SpA)
-Bullet Punch
-U-turn
-Superpower
-Pursuit

These EVs are more on the bulky side instead of the physical side. The Speed EVs given allow you to outspeed the standard Skarmory and doing some heavy damage with Superpower, while max Attack EVs is needed for the power. The remainder are dumped into Scizor's Defensive side so it can take hits from the likes of Metagross, Scizor, Tyranitar, and Salamence.

Nothing really sparks out at me when I look at your team as a whole, but there are a few things that can be a challenge to take down.

Breloom: Breloom can be a bit of trouble if it's capable of Sporing one of your Pokemon and setting up Substitute. Focus Punch nails more than half of your team, cutting off large chunks of HP. Gengar is your only hope at stopping it, but you can't rely on Gengar, since it won't live for too long with Life Orb recoil, but you do have a chance at using Destiny Bond.

Metagross: AgiliGross in particular can cause you some trouble, as it can beat up atleast 4 of your Pokemon, only to be stopped by ScarfApe or getting lucky with a Counter from Blissey. You need to be careful when it comes to fighting one, since it can be a bit of trouble.

Jirachi: Jirachi can easily parahax your whole team, excluding Infernape unless it happens to be paralyzed. Blissey loses to Iron Head, Scizor dies to Fire Punch as with Metagross, Gengar loses to Zen Headbutt or Iron Head, and Azelf loses to Iron Head aswell. Jirachi can easily Thunder Wave any of your Pokemon without worrying of immunity and proceed to mess around with your team.

These are just a few things that I see you could have problems with. If you wanted to fix this, I recommend using Celebi since it can switch in on any of these threats and paralyze them with Thunder Wave, excluding Breloom with Toxic Orb, and proceed to finish them off from there with Hidden Power Fire.
 
Thanks, what you say makes a lot of sense. I'm going to play between Metagross and Salamence in that spot for now and see what I can come up with, but I'll definitely try out the EQ on Gross, I've wanted that for a long time. Another thing is I don't want two Steels due to Magnezone raping me, but with EQ on Mence I may be able to live an HP Fire and counterkill.
I do have a ChoiceBand Scizor made, but to be honest I've liked the Orb Scizor more, as it gives me more versatility and I don't like having two Choice items on the same team. Will never hurt to try again, though.

When you listed threats I agree with you. I've never had a problem with Metagross yet, as Azelf actually poses a serious threat to it and can cripple it, and Blissey generally lives Meteor Mash and can CounterKill. Breloom and Jirachi, though, do give me some serious problems. Celebi I spaced on, and you're probably right when I could use it to pretty good degree.
I'm also noticing a problem with Rotom-H. It's just annoying as crap =<

Thanks, I really appreciate your input.
 
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