First Posting - OU

[Vimol]

Hey there! I've browsed many topics on this site for a couple of years, but I always felt like I never had any input on here. I figure maybe I can at least try and add to the community a little and the best place to post my first thread was in the RMT area. I'm I fan of Ubers, UU, and most of all OU, so without further delay here's my first posted OU team.


The team at a glance:

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So given what we see at first, let's give the team a breakdown:

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Metagross “Cross” (Lead)
@ Occa Berry / Nature - Adamant

Ability: Clear Body
HP-252 / Attack-232 / Defence-12 / Speed 12
-Bullet Punch
-Earthquake
-Stealth Rocks
-Explosion

When I was first building my team, I concerned myself with what I new worked in the past, then smoothed out to what I could adjust properly too. During all that time, I never had to change Metagross from the team because it was just that good. With only a handful of leads it doesn’t like to see, Metagross is able to get its job done with Stealth Rocks, and still be an asset later in the game thanks to its stats or I can just Explode.
Type Coverage:
Fire - Infernape, Latias, Salamence

Ground - Latias, Salamence

Infernape “Ifrit”
@ Expert Belt / Nature - Naive
Ability: Blaze
Attack-252 / Speed-192 / S. Attack-64
-Close Combat
-Overheat
-Hidden Power (Ice)
-U-Turn

Infernape was one of the only members to have been originally be on my team, but not always…and not even this set. Infernape hopped on and off a few times, but in the end I think it’s the diversity of moves it can cover that made me stick with him in the end. Between switching into Stealth Rocks and Life Orb’s cost for power, I felt that Infernape was far too vulnerable to almost every thing, even a Bullet Punch from Scizor’s. This lead me to think that I might be in a bit of trouble, so I decided to stick with the Expert Belt, so that I can still change moves, but my opponent’s would still be wondering. U-Turn has been proven to be quite useful for scouting and those random switches into Starmie and Latias. I don’t really count on something lucky like that though

Type Coverage:
Ground - Latias, Salamence
Water - Latias, Salamence
Flying - Metagross.
Psychic - Latias, Metagross, Scizor

Scizor “Blitz”
@ Choice Band / Nature – Adamant
Ability: Technician
HP-248 / Attack-252 / Speed-8
-U-Turn
-Quick Attack
-Bullet Punch
-SuperPower

Simply put, Scizor is Scizor. Possibly the best physical attacker with the ability to KO with a Priority move, Scizor can switch into nearly anything and either scare it off or smack it around. To be honest I don’t feel there’s much to be said about. It’s not really a type covering pokemon so much as a revenge killer. I went with the Standard Choice Bander, choosing the Quick Attack over the Pursuit as the Bullet Punch CAN be the less preferable Priority attack. The best thing about Scizor is the fact I can switch him in easily to so many types.
Type Coverage:

Fire - Infernape, Latias, Salamence

Salamence “Tyrant”
@ Choice Scarf / Nature – Hasty
Ability: Intimidate
Defence-56 / Speed 252 / S. Attack 200
-Brick Break
-Draco Meteor
-Flamethrower
-Hydro Pump

I suppose this is a Mixmence. To be honest this is the most recent addition to the team. I was very concerned with being able to fend of a physical attack when switching it while being able to do special-type damage. On top of that I needed to be able to surprise opponents with the ability to outpace things I normally shouldn’t. Much to my surprise he’s working out quite nicely. Mostly I wanted to be able to hit physical walls without worry of getting shafted. With him being the newest member to the team I’m still not quite sure what all I can say about him though.
Type Coverage:
Ice - Infernape, Scizor, Metagross
Rock - Metagross
Dragon - Metagross, Scizor

Snorlax “Dreamer”
@ Leftovers / Nature – Adamant
Ability: Think Fat
HP-4 / Attack-252 / S. Defence-252
-Body Slam
-Crunch
-Earthquake
-Fire Punch

Snorlax is one of the later additions to the team. But he’s honestly my favourite member on the crew. Although he doesn’t really resist anything, he carries great traits in other ways. He’s one of very few who can shrug off Special Attacks like they are a joke and swing back with Physical power like it’s no body’s business. The real reason why I love him is the fact that he’s my real access for scaring away pokemon that start setting up on me but still can through his wall of fat. Even when switching in a physical wall against him they still run the risk of Parahax from the Body Slam. He often makes for a great early wall so that I can scare off pokemon and view more pokemon on the opposing team.
Type Coverage:
Fighting - Salamence, Latias

Latias “Rose”
@ Choice Scarf / Nature – Timid
Ability: Levitate
HP-4 / S. Attack-252 / Speed-252
-Draco Meteor
-Surf
-Thunder Bolt
-Trick

Finally we get to the last member of the team, Latias. Where Snorlax can take Special Attacks and return with physical, Latias return with Special Attacks. The Speed can’t really be beat by anything bar faster Choice Scarf pokemon, leaving Latias the fastest pokemon in the battles. Trick isn’t really something I end up using much, but it’s nice to cripple those more annoying status pokemon. I admit I was reluctant to add Latias at first, but after having her on the team, I’m glad I went with her. I really needed something with an Electric move that could out speed a Dragon Danced Gyarados, and the Draco Meteor gets the Dancing Dragon types as well. Surf just gives me a way to hit anything else that might be annoying.
Type Coverage:
Ice - Infernape, Metagross, Scizor
Ghost - Scizor, Snorlax
Dark - Infernape, Scizor
Dragon - Metagross, Scizor
Bug - Infernape, Scizor, Salamence






So there's the Team. I hope I got that done right. Please tell me what you think. Be kind, but honest
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[Nosferalto]

Hi. Welcome to Smogon!

Ok, so this team seems to lack a reliable answer to several offensive threats, those being Scizor, Metagross and Lucario.
Nothing on your team can risk switching-in on a CB U-Turn as Metagross takes 41.48% - 48.90%, Scizor 27.41% - 32.36%, Infernape 42.66% - 50.17%, Snorlax 58.13% - 68.55% and Latias is surely OHKOed. As you can see, nothing can take a U-Turn effectively; Salamence takes 21.45% - 25.38% with Intimidate factored from U-Turn but it's Stealth Rock weakness and lack of recovery move means it is unable to take on Scizor. After U-Turn, it will go to the appropriate counter to the Pokemon you switched in and take control of the match while slowly wearing your team down with U-Turn and residual damage. Scizor will also take advantage of Latias' Pursuit weakness and revenge kill it when locked onto the wrong move. It will also revenge kill Salamence with Bullet Punch and possibly Superpower Snorlax for the OHKO.
Agility Metagross massacres your team. It can set-up on Scizor locked onto Bullet Punch or Quick Attack or Salamence and Latias locked onto an Draco Meteor. After setting up, AgilGross outspeeds your whole team and murders Snorlax, Latias and Salamence negating Intimidate thanks to Clear Body; with Meteor Mash and Earthquake disposing of the rest. SD Lucario sets up in a similar manner to Metagross and will KO everything with the appropriate move after a SD.

So, the most effective fix to this problem would be to replace your Salamence with a Choice Scarf Rotom-H. Your Salamence wasn't really needed since your Scarf set wasn't effective and Latias was already doing what you were attempting to do with it. Here's the set:

Rotom @ Choice Scarf | Levitate
Timid | 232 HP / 26 SpA / 252 Spe
Thunderbolt | Shadow Ball | Overheat | Trick

The EV spread maximizes your bulkiness while the EV spread allows you to 2HKO Latias. This is a good special attack point to hit, more special attack lessens your chances on coming in on Gyarados' Waterfall and more less Special Attack leads to a Recover-Shadow Ball stall match with Latias.

Choice Scarf Rotom-H will provide a counter to the threats mentioned above. The EV spread allows you to be able to absorb a +1 Waterfall from Gyarados, out-speed it even after a DD and OHKO with Thunderbolt. Rotom-H is arguably the best Scizor counter, basically resisting everything it offers and threatening it with a x4 SE Overhear. Agility Metagross carries Meteor Mash, Earthquake, and either Thunder Punch or Explosion -- Rotom-H resists or is immune to those four moves and outspeeds after an Agility and hits it for SE damage with Overheat. SD Lucario is also checked since Rotom-H is immune to Extreme Speed, outspeeds and can OHKO with Overheat. However, the addition of Rotom-H makes Tyranitar a bit more threatening because of the Pursuit weakness so I would advise you to play cautiously for the best results.

Now, your team has three choice users. This is something that is generally not good since you will have to execute a lot of switches and take a lot of residual damage from SR and other entry hazards. Also, when being locked onto the wrong move when choiced, this will open up opportunities for set-up sweepers to set-up. With the addition of Rotom-H also covering DD Gyarados and Scizor on the team to check Salamence, Scarf on Latias isn't needed. I would reccomend using a three attack LO Latias which has much more versatility and still checks threats such as Infernape and Heatran even better thanks to Recover in addition to being a lot less vulnerable to Pursuit because it isn't choiced. Here's the set:

Latias @ Life Orb | Levitate
Timid | 4 HP / 252 SpAtk / 252 Spe
Draco Meteor | Surf | Thunderbolt | Recover

Dragon Pulse is an option over Draco Meteor or Thunderbolt.

On Infernape, consider using Mach Punch over HP Ice because it allows you to revenge kill DD Babiri Tyranitar since Scizor is unable to do so.

Good Luck with the team.

 

[Vimol]

Thanks for the welcoming, and thanks for the advice. I will try out your ideas and see how it turns out. Maybe smooth what I feel I need smoothed through testing.

Anyone else?