This is the team I've been using in the current ou ladder. It works ok, netting about 70% wins, but I'm not exactly sure what i can do to improve it. Ive tried making some adjustments of my own, but they have only lowered performance. The current team is this.
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Greninja @ Life Orb
Ability: Protean
EVs: 4 HP/ 252 Atk/ 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Power-Up Punch
- Water Shuriken
- Rock Slide
- U-turn
Most people don't expect and are not really ready for a greninja lead. If they do expect and are ready for it, they do not expect physical variants. I chose the moves for fairly obvious reasons. Power-up punch on the first turn gives it the +1 boost, but gives away its physical set. U-turn and Rock Slide are available for STAB coverage moves, and water shrunken gives (fairly weak) priority. The EVs are kinda boring, but being able to outspend almost everything is nice, and this thing won't take many hits even with some defensive investment. Im not really sure about the item, but it seems to be the most reliable way of increasing damage output. The goal for this mon is to weaken anything that is switched into it enough for the rest of the team to take out easily.
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Ferrothorn Leftovers
Ability: Iron Barbs
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Nature: Relaxed
- Stealth Rocks
- Spikes
- Thunder Wave
- Gyro Ball
This is as standard as it gets. Not much to explain. This thing's job is to come in, tank the hell out of just about any physical hit, lay down as many hazards as possible, t-wave if possible, then get the hell out. Instead of going with the standard 252 HP / 48 Def / 208 SpD variation, i decided to fully invest in defense. I figured it wasn't going to stay in against many special attackers anyway. I choose gyro ball over power whip because I personally consider it a better move.
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Aegislash@ Kasib Berry
Ability: Stance Change
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 SpA / 4 Spe
Nature: Rash
- Shadow Ball
- Shadow Sneak
- Sacred Sword
- Hidden Power (Grass)
My mixed attacker. I hate King's Shield because it is WAY too easy to predict. This set is useful for coming in on something it walls, hitting the switch, and then killing with priority. I have Kasib berry here because otherwise you are often killed by opposing Aegislash if you lose the speed tie. Sacred Sword is in here for coverage. HP Grass is what i mainly don't know what to replace with. It hits ground types, but i very rarely end up using it. Also, Aegislash doubles as a spin-blocker, which is nice.
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Starmie@ Choice Specs
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Nature: Timid
- Hydro Pump
- Psyshock
- Ice Beam
- Rapid Spin
With a team with as little bulk as mine, I really need a spinner, and Starmie is the best. It is also the only of my special attackers that has any really coverage. The EVs are really boring, but why would you run anything else? Basically, I have two reliable STABs and a coverage move. Ive debated putting a little defensive investment to give it survivability, but couldn't decide where.
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Tyranitar@ Tyranitarite
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpD
Nature: Careful
- Pursuit
- Crunch
- Earthquake
- Dragon Dance
I know but I find myself relying on this a lot. Unlike my others, this one doesn't have any offensive investment. Its main role is to push out any special attackers and weaken anything that comes in. Late game, it can set up a DD and sweep. My only problem with t-tar is half my team is hit by sandstorm, so it can really only come in situationally.
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Chandelure@ Leftovers
Ability: Flame Body
EVs: 68 HP / 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 184 Spe
Nature: Modest
- Substitute
- Fire Blast
- Energy Ball
- Will o wisp
Before this, I had a Jolteon, but i found that i was walled like hell by steel types. The best fire type I've tried so far is chandelure. I find that the substitute variety works best, allowing for it to survive much longer. Fire blast is the most powerful move on my team, and energy ball gives hella coverage. Will o wisp cripples any physical attacker, which is needed because my only physical wall is ferrothorn. This is the pokemon I'm most looking to replace with something more useful.
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Conclusion: This team is pretty good, but not great. Im really looking for any feedback at this point, but I'm especially looking for a good replacement for chandelure.
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Greninja @ Life Orb
Ability: Protean
EVs: 4 HP/ 252 Atk/ 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Power-Up Punch
- Water Shuriken
- Rock Slide
- U-turn
Most people don't expect and are not really ready for a greninja lead. If they do expect and are ready for it, they do not expect physical variants. I chose the moves for fairly obvious reasons. Power-up punch on the first turn gives it the +1 boost, but gives away its physical set. U-turn and Rock Slide are available for STAB coverage moves, and water shrunken gives (fairly weak) priority. The EVs are kinda boring, but being able to outspend almost everything is nice, and this thing won't take many hits even with some defensive investment. Im not really sure about the item, but it seems to be the most reliable way of increasing damage output. The goal for this mon is to weaken anything that is switched into it enough for the rest of the team to take out easily.
======================================
Ferrothorn Leftovers
Ability: Iron Barbs
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Nature: Relaxed
- Stealth Rocks
- Spikes
- Thunder Wave
- Gyro Ball
This is as standard as it gets. Not much to explain. This thing's job is to come in, tank the hell out of just about any physical hit, lay down as many hazards as possible, t-wave if possible, then get the hell out. Instead of going with the standard 252 HP / 48 Def / 208 SpD variation, i decided to fully invest in defense. I figured it wasn't going to stay in against many special attackers anyway. I choose gyro ball over power whip because I personally consider it a better move.
========================================
Aegislash@ Kasib Berry
Ability: Stance Change
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 SpA / 4 Spe
Nature: Rash
- Shadow Ball
- Shadow Sneak
- Sacred Sword
- Hidden Power (Grass)
My mixed attacker. I hate King's Shield because it is WAY too easy to predict. This set is useful for coming in on something it walls, hitting the switch, and then killing with priority. I have Kasib berry here because otherwise you are often killed by opposing Aegislash if you lose the speed tie. Sacred Sword is in here for coverage. HP Grass is what i mainly don't know what to replace with. It hits ground types, but i very rarely end up using it. Also, Aegislash doubles as a spin-blocker, which is nice.
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Starmie@ Choice Specs
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Nature: Timid
- Hydro Pump
- Psyshock
- Ice Beam
- Rapid Spin
With a team with as little bulk as mine, I really need a spinner, and Starmie is the best. It is also the only of my special attackers that has any really coverage. The EVs are really boring, but why would you run anything else? Basically, I have two reliable STABs and a coverage move. Ive debated putting a little defensive investment to give it survivability, but couldn't decide where.
=====================================
Tyranitar@ Tyranitarite
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpD
Nature: Careful
- Pursuit
- Crunch
- Earthquake
- Dragon Dance
I know but I find myself relying on this a lot. Unlike my others, this one doesn't have any offensive investment. Its main role is to push out any special attackers and weaken anything that comes in. Late game, it can set up a DD and sweep. My only problem with t-tar is half my team is hit by sandstorm, so it can really only come in situationally.
=======================================
Chandelure@ Leftovers
Ability: Flame Body
EVs: 68 HP / 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 184 Spe
Nature: Modest
- Substitute
- Fire Blast
- Energy Ball
- Will o wisp
Before this, I had a Jolteon, but i found that i was walled like hell by steel types. The best fire type I've tried so far is chandelure. I find that the substitute variety works best, allowing for it to survive much longer. Fire blast is the most powerful move on my team, and energy ball gives hella coverage. Will o wisp cripples any physical attacker, which is needed because my only physical wall is ferrothorn. This is the pokemon I'm most looking to replace with something more useful.
==========================================
Conclusion: This team is pretty good, but not great. Im really looking for any feedback at this point, but I'm especially looking for a good replacement for chandelure.
