First OU Team

[dobbums]

This is my first attempt at a competitive team that will succeed in the OU environment. However I am still rather inexperienced so it's not exactly the greatest. Therefore a little help on the construction and on countering certain threats would be very helpful. But anyway, here is my team.

TEAM AT A GLANCE:

THE DETAIL:

Metagross @ Occa Berry
Ability: Clear Body
EVs: 200 HP/252 Atk/12 Def/46 Spd
Adamant nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Bullet Punch
- Earthquake
- Meteor Mash
- Stealth Rock
The Lead. Standard LeadGross. He hits hard, and he's sturdy enough to set up rocks, and that's what he fills this position. Stealth Rock is to chip away at the other team from the start. Meteor Mash is used to hit hard. It's also able
to knock Aerodactyl, Azelf and other suicide leads down to low enough health for Bullet Punch to KO.
BP used for priority. Earthquake for coverage against LeadTran and other Fire Types, coupled with Occa Berry to try and ensure this.

Gyarados (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 156 HP/186 Atk/168 Spd
Jolly nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Dragon Dance
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- Waterfall

Mid-Game Sweeper. Gyarados is able to come in on it's resistances, set up a DD and cause some damage.
Intimidate is able to force further switches, so gives a better chance to pull off a DD as well as racking up SR damage. Jolly is picked to outrun some key threats after a DD such as SpecsJolt that otherwise easily KO. Watefall picked as a reliable STAB move that does decent damage. The 20% flinch rate also helps against some walls. Earthquake provides coverage against electrics, Stone Edge provides converage against flyers such as Salamence, Zapdos and other Gyaras.

Cresselia (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP/200 Def/56 SDef
Bold nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Rest
- Sleep Talk
- Ice Beam
- Thunder Wave

General Wall/Status Absorber. This spot was once occupied by a SD Scizor, but after seeing how it was outclassed by Lucario, it was replaced by this to weaken some of Lucario's counters before it comes in at the end. I chose RestTalk over Moonlight because TTar cripples it with only 25% recovery for the rest of the game. Thunder Wave is used to stop opposing sweepers, as well as limiting the effectiveness of other walls. Ice beam is picked as teh attacking move for it is often a OHKO on Salamence, who could run wild otherwise.

Jolteon (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Volt Absorb
EVs: 4 HP/252 Spd/252 SAtk
Timid nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Baton Pass
- Substitute
- Thunderbolt
- Hidden Power [Ice]

SubPasser. Jolteon's speed allows it to fire off quick Subs in order to block any status attacks fired at it. This can then either be used to scout and attack, or be baton passed to either Gyara, Lucario, or Latias. Can be paired up with Gyara as well to lure in electric attacks to heal Jolteon, allowing for more Subs. Leftovers also aids this. Thunderbolt chosen as a STAB move with good coverage. Hidden Power Ice was picked to help cover against Dragons. However There is already a fair bit of cover against these, so I have been considering whether to pick Hidden Power Grass instead for Swampert, which has been a problem.

Lucario (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Inner Focus
EVs: 6 HP/252 Atk/252 Spd
Jolly nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Close Combat
- Extremespeed
- Crunch
- Swords Dance

Late-Game Sweeper. The powerhouse of the team. Often called the best late-game sweeper in OU, and with good reason. After one SD this thing has enough power to defeat walls such as Bronzong in one hit, and Skarmory in two. Close Combat picked as the main STAB move, for it combines high power and great accuracy. Extremespeed chosen for priority, helpful against threats such as MixApe. I debated whether to have Crunch or Ice Punch, but i felt I had enoguh coverage against Dragons so Crunch was chosen. This deals with Ghost and Psychic walls such as Dusknoir and Cresselia, who cannot touch Lucario if he is behind a Sub from Jolteon. Jolly picked to help outrunthings ES cannot OHKO.

Latias (F) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 6 HP/252 Spd/252 SAtk
Timid nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Draco Meteor
- Surf
- Thunderbolt
- Trick

Revenge Killer. Scarfed Latias was chosen for its good stats, powerful hit and run STAB move in Draco Meteor, and Trick. Trick can ruin so many good walls such as Blissey by trapping them into either attacking or defending. Infamous BoltBeam combo picked to provide good coverage against all. Timid chosen so Latias can still outspeed Gengar after it has lost its scarf, for otherwise it can be a threat for it OHKO's Lucario with HP Fire.


There it is. Threats I have noticed through testing have been Swampert, Machamp, and CBScizor. Suggestions to counter these threats would be welcomed. I have also noticed the need for a PHazer at times to defeat Pokemon that set up, for Latias's Trick is the only real counter I have currently, so help here would also be appreciated.

Thank you for reading, and please rate.

 

[franky]

Problems:

synergy

How to fix:

Hey, really solid team with a unique synergy behind a Lucario sweep. Since Lucario might be a mild problem (switch-in on Rest from Cresselia) and proceed to SD where Thunder Wave is your only hope, you'd generally want to try Gliscor over Jolteon to Baton pass a Sub as well as checking Lucario:

Gliscor
@ Yache Berry
Jolly Nature (Spe+ / SpA-)
252 Hp / 40 Def / 216 Spe

- Substitute
- Swords Dance
- Baton Pass
- Taunt

This is a slight variation of the original Baton pass set but instead you have your move Sub for Agility. Why this guy over Jolteon? Well since they both share common weakness to Ground-type attacks, the Sub would break after you pass it. What you need to do is compliment its typing, so Gliscor does the trick. No one in the right mind would EQ Gliscor. Ice-types attacks are directed at it, so Lucario can resist an ice hit. Taunt is the best move on the set, as it prevents Skarmory or Swampert from blowing away your boosts. Yache ensures you survive any unSTAB ice hits. This guy would be better than Jolteon.

Consider a Taunt over Earthquake on Gyarados to deal with your issue with Swampert. Roar is a pain I know, so Taunt prevents it from doing much and proceed to DD.

As for other options go, Adamant secures a KO on Skarmory and such. Jolly is not really needed, especially when you have to rely on Lucario sweeping lategame. Forget Jolly nature. The only time u should be using that is with Ice Punch to outpace it. Trying Scarf Rotom over Cress can help deal with your minor problem to Taunt Gyarados and adds a solid Fighting immunity to guys like champ (you mentioned). The added Pursuit bait also helps Lucario set up if your original plan fails. overall gl.

As

 

[A2ZOMG]

I have one thing to add to what the guy above me said.

If you have an electric type on your team, I honestly don't see the point in running Stone Edge on Gyarados. Stone Edge for the most part is only significantly better against other Gyarados and Starmie. Ice Fang would be more useful, being better at sweeping other threats like Celebi and Dragons for instance.

If you're super concerned about type coverage on your Gyarados, the strategy I like to use to eliminate Gyarados's counters is running Natural Gift with a Liechi Berry or Wacan Berry (this move I would put in place of EQ). This gives you an 80 BP Grass or Electric Attack respectively. The former is overall better since Lanturn and Bulky water ground/rock types are obliterated by it (not to mention Liechi Berry attack boost if you don't need to eliminate a counter), but the latter deserves mention against opposing Gyarados and Empoleon.