Ok so this is an OU team i've made for a Gen IV tournament between me and some friends on ds. The premise for the first round was that we pick four types from a hat (you can get the same type two or more times) and have to use a pokemon from each of those types plus two 'mystery' pokes. The rules are:
-Species Clause: No more than one of the same Pokemon on a team.
-Sleep Clause: No two Pokemon may be put to sleep at the same time.
-No OHKOs: Fissure, Guillotine, Horn Drill and Sheer Cold are all banned.
-No Evasion: Double Team and Minimize are banned.
Our unique rules are no legendaries and you can only use pokemon from the first two gens, however gen IV movesets etc are allowed. Battlers were advised to use somewhat unique/interesting movesets or pokemon. Use of rain dance and sunny day is banned.
The types I drew from the hat were: dark, water, bug and normal.
The Lads (and Ladettes)
Allow me to take you on a journey... in depth
Machamp (M) @ Lum Berry
Trait: No Guard
EVs: 240 HP / 248 Atk / 16 SDef / 4 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- DynamicPunch
- Encore
- Payback
- Substitute
This is the first of my two mysteries and my lead for this team. Whilst it may seem to be quite a 'cheap' choice for a supposedly original team, Machamp is one of my all time favourite pokemon and, let's be honest; it kind of owns. My team isn't too hindered by entry hazards either so whilst Machamp allows their lead to set them up, encore guarantees I can set up a sub or switch to something appropriate to get the momentum of the battle going in my favour from the off. The sub and lum berry combo is there for sleep leads... totally screws over scarfers :). Also the given EVs mean it is never OHKOd by Azelf's psychic, whilst Machamp OHKOs with payback. Payback also OHKOs Gengar, most Starmies and 1 or 2HKOs all rotoms that switch in to sponge/avoid its lethal dynamic punch. You may be beginning to see why I love it so.
Tyranitar (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Sand Stream
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SDef / 4 Atk
Careful Nature (+SDef, -SAtk)
- Crunch
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- Substitute
This my dark type choice which, again probably seems a powerful and typical pokemon to use. However what's different with this Tyranitar is that I use it as a special wall (hence the nature and EVs) in sandstorm because of the +1 spD boost and sandstream ability. I can switch it into most special attacks (barring Starmie's hydro pump/surf or focus blasts/aura spheres) and on the first time of doing this sub to check out what their counter is. I can then select the appropriate attack to wear the counter down for next time around whilst gaining some leftover recovery as they break the sub if they decide to attack. I generally bring this thing in early game to see whether my opponent is willing to overpredict straight away, because if they are and switch they're counter straight out Tyranitar is left with a sub and whatever switches in takes a nasty dent from either earthquake or STAB stone edge or crunch. Even if I switch Tyranitar into Alakazam's psychic or Gengar's shadow ball hoping they're choiced, i generally only take around 65% damage from dual screen Alakazam'sfocus blast, leaving me enough health to carry out the sub on that turn and then gain some leftovers whilst netting the KO with crunch on the next. Although I'm forced to switch if my sub's broken against their counter, my next pokemon has great defensive synergy with tyranny...
Slowbro (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Own Tempo
EVs: 252 HP / 200 Def / 56 SAtk
Bold Nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Psychic
- Slack Off
- Surf
- Thunder Wave
This li'l defensive tank is my water choice. Finally, you may be thinking, onto some underrated pokemon. Psychic, slack off, surf and thunder wave. This set looks extremely straightforward and it bloody well is. I switch into a physical fighting type attack aimed at Tyranitar and t-wave if the opponent is faster than tyranitar or I think he'll switch (e.g. if I switch Slowbro into a scarfed Primeape locked into close combat he's extremely likely to switch unless he doesn't mind losing it to my STAB psychic). Surf and psychic are there for wearing down opponents' switch ins after I t-wave their sweeper or anything looking to dragon dance/ agility that tend to come in on Slowbro as if it's some kind of set up fodder. And whilst I don't often end up using the fourth move slot slack off has come in extremely useful whilst I've been testing this team if I switch into the wrong move or an opponent has a semi-stall team that relies on wearing mine down slowly. It's additionally valuable due to sandstorm thrown up by Tyranitar cancelling out my leftovers.
Venomoth (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Tinted Lens
EVs: 192 HP / 88 SAtk / 228
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Bug Buzz
- Roost
- Sleep Powder
- Sludge Bomb
Oh Venomoth. I do love you Venomoth. This is my bug type choice. Again, something unexpected that I absolutely love despite it not really having the bulk or speed to be a non-scarf sleeper in OU. Tinted lense is what sets Venomoth apart from the rabble, multiplying 'not very effective' moves used by Venomoth by two... giving this winged beast almost 100% neutral coverage across the metagame. With a base 90 special attack, no boosting nature, leftovers and little EV investment, this Venomoth is clearly not made to sweep. But every little helps ya know. It's 90 base speed with a timid nature and 228 EVs however takes it to 300 speed at level 100. This isn't exactly exemplar, but a sleep powder at this speed can be dangerous - outspeeding prominent neutral base 100 pokemon (ty hamlunches). The HP investment allows it to take nearly all unboosted neutral STAB attacks in case I make a poor switch or sleep powder misses or Venomoth turns out to be slower than it's opponent. Which is nice. Not too much more to say on this choice apart from it can sleep any unexpectedly dangerous pokemon on my opponent's side of the field and encourage more switches to keep things going my way.
Kangaskhan (F) @ Choice Band
Trait: Scrappy
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Aqua Tail
- Hammer Arm
- Return
- Sucker Punch
Behemoth. Absolute tank. This thing is simply a beast. "It's not how hard you can hit, it's how hard you can get hit. And keep coming back." Kangaskhan embodies this Rocky quote by absorbing hits around the board with its 105 / 80 / 80 defences and coming back with a banded, adamant, base 95 attack STAB 153 base return. Bulky water types such as lapras take a snotty look at my kangaroo-omon as if she's not worth their time before being rolled over and smashed onto the rocks by its awesome might. Although a lot of the time I shy away from using choice banders (especially normal types), Kanga's scrappy ability ensures she won't get walled by ghost types when she's either loyally throwing around her weight with return or battering rock and steel types with the relentless pounding of her hammer arm. I think I'm a bit wet after writing that. I was ecstatic when I drew normal type because of how creative I could get with the amount of viable choices out there. And I must say I'm rather proud. Kangaskhan works well early game by making deep inroads into teams with return and also makes an exciting last ditch effort at stopping sweepers late game with sucker punch if it looks like it's gonna go to the wire. Fannnnnn-tastic.
Gengar (F) @ Life Orb
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Modest Nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Explosion
- Focus Blast
- Shadow Ball
- Thunderbolt
Ok, so I sold out a little for a my final mystery choice. But I looked at my team objectively and decided that I was relying too heavily on Slowbro for both making sure my whole team isn't outsped and swept and for absorbing fighting attacks aimed at Tyranitar. So, naturally, a fast ghost type with stellar special attack fitted in perfectly. I wanted to see how powerful I could actually make this thing so I went against all advisable advice (I'm a wordsmith; I know) and chose modest over timid. Just wow. The damage this ghoul does is phenomenal. I used Gengar a lot in battles in GSC so I felt confusedly like I was betraying it somehow by giving it a fourth gen move rather than sludge bomb (don't ask why) but decided focus blast was needed as it ruins, absolutely RUINS opposing Tyranitar. I've lost count of the amount of times only today an opponent switches Tyranitar in to take a shadow ball that does around 17%, and then stays in to get roasted by focus blast for the KO. Something nags at my brain everytime I switch Gengar in that I'm gonna get outsped and die and everything will die and my whole team will die if it's not timid, but to be honest, until the time I get swept specifically because my Gengar is modest, I aint gawna change it.
Overall
My initial reaction the first time I looked at this team all written down and everything I realised A) it's got absolutely superb resistances as a whole
and B) oh testicles it's got a weakness to electric with no resists. However, after seeing a choice specs Jolteon do 26% to my Tyranitar with thunderbolt, the knot in my stomach quickly morphed into a rising feeling of joy and I sat back and marvelled at what I had created: a special wall on par with the most popular Blissey set.
Any comments/congratulations/suggestions/questions are extremely welcome and I'll try to reply promptly. I'm aware the guidelines state I should post a threat list, I think I'll leave it a while before seeing what the community makes of my team. I need some fresh eyes to take a look at it first.
-Species Clause: No more than one of the same Pokemon on a team.
-Sleep Clause: No two Pokemon may be put to sleep at the same time.
-No OHKOs: Fissure, Guillotine, Horn Drill and Sheer Cold are all banned.
-No Evasion: Double Team and Minimize are banned.
Our unique rules are no legendaries and you can only use pokemon from the first two gens, however gen IV movesets etc are allowed. Battlers were advised to use somewhat unique/interesting movesets or pokemon. Use of rain dance and sunny day is banned.
The types I drew from the hat were: dark, water, bug and normal.
The Lads (and Ladettes)
Allow me to take you on a journey... in depth
Machamp (M) @ Lum Berry
Trait: No Guard
EVs: 240 HP / 248 Atk / 16 SDef / 4 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- DynamicPunch
- Encore
- Payback
- Substitute
This is the first of my two mysteries and my lead for this team. Whilst it may seem to be quite a 'cheap' choice for a supposedly original team, Machamp is one of my all time favourite pokemon and, let's be honest; it kind of owns. My team isn't too hindered by entry hazards either so whilst Machamp allows their lead to set them up, encore guarantees I can set up a sub or switch to something appropriate to get the momentum of the battle going in my favour from the off. The sub and lum berry combo is there for sleep leads... totally screws over scarfers :). Also the given EVs mean it is never OHKOd by Azelf's psychic, whilst Machamp OHKOs with payback. Payback also OHKOs Gengar, most Starmies and 1 or 2HKOs all rotoms that switch in to sponge/avoid its lethal dynamic punch. You may be beginning to see why I love it so.
Tyranitar (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Sand Stream
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SDef / 4 Atk
Careful Nature (+SDef, -SAtk)
- Crunch
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- Substitute
This my dark type choice which, again probably seems a powerful and typical pokemon to use. However what's different with this Tyranitar is that I use it as a special wall (hence the nature and EVs) in sandstorm because of the +1 spD boost and sandstream ability. I can switch it into most special attacks (barring Starmie's hydro pump/surf or focus blasts/aura spheres) and on the first time of doing this sub to check out what their counter is. I can then select the appropriate attack to wear the counter down for next time around whilst gaining some leftover recovery as they break the sub if they decide to attack. I generally bring this thing in early game to see whether my opponent is willing to overpredict straight away, because if they are and switch they're counter straight out Tyranitar is left with a sub and whatever switches in takes a nasty dent from either earthquake or STAB stone edge or crunch. Even if I switch Tyranitar into Alakazam's psychic or Gengar's shadow ball hoping they're choiced, i generally only take around 65% damage from dual screen Alakazam'sfocus blast, leaving me enough health to carry out the sub on that turn and then gain some leftovers whilst netting the KO with crunch on the next. Although I'm forced to switch if my sub's broken against their counter, my next pokemon has great defensive synergy with tyranny...
Slowbro (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Own Tempo
EVs: 252 HP / 200 Def / 56 SAtk
Bold Nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Psychic
- Slack Off
- Surf
- Thunder Wave
This li'l defensive tank is my water choice. Finally, you may be thinking, onto some underrated pokemon. Psychic, slack off, surf and thunder wave. This set looks extremely straightforward and it bloody well is. I switch into a physical fighting type attack aimed at Tyranitar and t-wave if the opponent is faster than tyranitar or I think he'll switch (e.g. if I switch Slowbro into a scarfed Primeape locked into close combat he's extremely likely to switch unless he doesn't mind losing it to my STAB psychic). Surf and psychic are there for wearing down opponents' switch ins after I t-wave their sweeper or anything looking to dragon dance/ agility that tend to come in on Slowbro as if it's some kind of set up fodder. And whilst I don't often end up using the fourth move slot slack off has come in extremely useful whilst I've been testing this team if I switch into the wrong move or an opponent has a semi-stall team that relies on wearing mine down slowly. It's additionally valuable due to sandstorm thrown up by Tyranitar cancelling out my leftovers.
Venomoth (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Tinted Lens
EVs: 192 HP / 88 SAtk / 228
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Bug Buzz
- Roost
- Sleep Powder
- Sludge Bomb
Oh Venomoth. I do love you Venomoth. This is my bug type choice. Again, something unexpected that I absolutely love despite it not really having the bulk or speed to be a non-scarf sleeper in OU. Tinted lense is what sets Venomoth apart from the rabble, multiplying 'not very effective' moves used by Venomoth by two... giving this winged beast almost 100% neutral coverage across the metagame. With a base 90 special attack, no boosting nature, leftovers and little EV investment, this Venomoth is clearly not made to sweep. But every little helps ya know. It's 90 base speed with a timid nature and 228 EVs however takes it to 300 speed at level 100. This isn't exactly exemplar, but a sleep powder at this speed can be dangerous - outspeeding prominent neutral base 100 pokemon (ty hamlunches). The HP investment allows it to take nearly all unboosted neutral STAB attacks in case I make a poor switch or sleep powder misses or Venomoth turns out to be slower than it's opponent. Which is nice. Not too much more to say on this choice apart from it can sleep any unexpectedly dangerous pokemon on my opponent's side of the field and encourage more switches to keep things going my way.
Kangaskhan (F) @ Choice Band
Trait: Scrappy
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Aqua Tail
- Hammer Arm
- Return
- Sucker Punch
Behemoth. Absolute tank. This thing is simply a beast. "It's not how hard you can hit, it's how hard you can get hit. And keep coming back." Kangaskhan embodies this Rocky quote by absorbing hits around the board with its 105 / 80 / 80 defences and coming back with a banded, adamant, base 95 attack STAB 153 base return. Bulky water types such as lapras take a snotty look at my kangaroo-omon as if she's not worth their time before being rolled over and smashed onto the rocks by its awesome might. Although a lot of the time I shy away from using choice banders (especially normal types), Kanga's scrappy ability ensures she won't get walled by ghost types when she's either loyally throwing around her weight with return or battering rock and steel types with the relentless pounding of her hammer arm. I think I'm a bit wet after writing that. I was ecstatic when I drew normal type because of how creative I could get with the amount of viable choices out there. And I must say I'm rather proud. Kangaskhan works well early game by making deep inroads into teams with return and also makes an exciting last ditch effort at stopping sweepers late game with sucker punch if it looks like it's gonna go to the wire. Fannnnnn-tastic.
Gengar (F) @ Life Orb
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Modest Nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Explosion
- Focus Blast
- Shadow Ball
- Thunderbolt
Ok, so I sold out a little for a my final mystery choice. But I looked at my team objectively and decided that I was relying too heavily on Slowbro for both making sure my whole team isn't outsped and swept and for absorbing fighting attacks aimed at Tyranitar. So, naturally, a fast ghost type with stellar special attack fitted in perfectly. I wanted to see how powerful I could actually make this thing so I went against all advisable advice (I'm a wordsmith; I know) and chose modest over timid. Just wow. The damage this ghoul does is phenomenal. I used Gengar a lot in battles in GSC so I felt confusedly like I was betraying it somehow by giving it a fourth gen move rather than sludge bomb (don't ask why) but decided focus blast was needed as it ruins, absolutely RUINS opposing Tyranitar. I've lost count of the amount of times only today an opponent switches Tyranitar in to take a shadow ball that does around 17%, and then stays in to get roasted by focus blast for the KO. Something nags at my brain everytime I switch Gengar in that I'm gonna get outsped and die and everything will die and my whole team will die if it's not timid, but to be honest, until the time I get swept specifically because my Gengar is modest, I aint gawna change it.
Overall
My initial reaction the first time I looked at this team all written down and everything I realised A) it's got absolutely superb resistances as a whole
and B) oh testicles it's got a weakness to electric with no resists. However, after seeing a choice specs Jolteon do 26% to my Tyranitar with thunderbolt, the knot in my stomach quickly morphed into a rising feeling of joy and I sat back and marvelled at what I had created: a special wall on par with the most popular Blissey set.
Any comments/congratulations/suggestions/questions are extremely welcome and I'll try to reply promptly. I'm aware the guidelines state I should post a threat list, I think I'll leave it a while before seeing what the community makes of my team. I need some fresh eyes to take a look at it first.
