First UU Team (Can't Think of Interesting Title ;))

[Mr.Skittle]

So I've been wanting to get into competitive battling for a while and I've finally managed to come up with a team that does okay. Of course its not perfect or else I wouldn't be posting it here ;). Some more effective EV suggestions would be rad because honestly I'm crap at EVs. Anyways lets cut to the chase. I now present to you, my team:

TEAM AT A GLANCE:

The main idea of this team is to help my three sweepers sweep, by covering weeknesses, using Claydol and Milotic to take hits and by removing/preventing entry hazards and by preventing/absorbing status moves.

Ambipom@Silk Scarf
Jolly
Technician
EVs: 4 HP 252 Attk 252 Spd
-Fake Out
-Return
-Pursuit/U-Turn
-Taunt

Ambipom is the lead of my team and a fine one at that. STAB Technician Fake Out is nothing to laugh at and it is a great move for scouting switches and for dealing some free damage at the start of a match. Return is a powerful STAB move that allows Ambipom to finish off weakened opponents. Pursuit is there to hit fleeing enemies and to hit ghosts (mainly Froslass). It also benefits from Technician. Sometimes it is useful though at other times it seems like just a wasted moveslot. Some suggestions of what to put there would be great. My final move is Taunt and it's main use is to prevent entry hazards from being set up and to stop status moves. The Focus Sash is clearly there to prevent OHKOs and the EVS and nature allow for speed and power. All in all, a great member of my team.

Staraptor@Choice Band
Jolly
Intimidate
EVs: 4 HP 252 Attk 252 Spd
-Brave Bird
-Return
-U-Turn
-Close Combat

Staraptor is my replacement for Pinsir. It's Jolly nature adds speed as the Choice Band already gives loads of power. Return is my primary attacking move due to it's high power and no drawbacks. Brave Bird is a great move late game as it does loads of damage to anything that doesn't resist it. U-Turn is for scouting and Close Combat is to make Steels and Rocks think twice about switching in.

Sceptile@Choice Specs
Timid
Overgrow
EVs: 4 HP 252 SpAttk 252 Spd
-Energy Ball
-Dragon Pulse
-Hidden Power (Fire)
-Focus Blast

Sceptile (or should I say Spectile :naughty:) is my team's second Choice user. This thing is very fast and beats most of UU in speed. It's main move is Energy Ball, which is great for hitting Slowbro, Miltoic and several others. Energy Ball's consistent damage is preferred here over Grass Knots varied damges as I prefer to be able to hit every Pokemon for moderate damage rather than some for high and others for low. Dragon Pulse is there as a move to use when you're not sure what they're going to do as it is resisted by only one type (Steel.) Hidden Power Fire lets me hit hit the many Grass Types of UU for good damage and Focus Blast is there to hit Steels. I'm rather happy with Sceptile and I don't really want to replace him, not only because he is so useful but also beacause I really like Sceptile :D.

Arcanine@Life Orb
Lonely
Flash Fire
EVs: 252 Attk 4 SpAttk 252 Spd
-Flare Blitz
-Overheat
-Extremespeed
-Thunder Fang

Arcanine is a monster. Full stop. It has good Attack and Special Attack that let is perform well as a wall breaker aswell as a late game sweeper. Flare Blitz is there for STAB slaughters most things that dont resist it. Overheat is there for Pokemon with a higher defense stat (for example Steelix) that won't necessarily be OHKOd by Flare Blitz. Extremespeed is definately the signature move of this set and it is a wondeful move for late game clean up. It is also useful to have priority in situations where it is needed, such as stopping stuff that have raised their speed to insane levels. Thunder Fang is there for killing Waters and Flyings that Arcanine's other moves wont kill. Finally it's ability, Flash Fire, lets it take fire attacks aimed at Pinsir and Sceptile. Arcanine truly is an amazing Pokemon and is definately the star of my team.

Milotic@Leftovers
Calm
Marvel Scale
EVs: 252 HP 144 SpAttk 170 SpDef
-Surf
-Ice Beam
-Recover
-Hidden Power (Electric)

Milotic is my teams special wall. Not only does it do that but it can also dish out some damge with it's two damaging moves: Surf and Ice Beam. Recover lets Milotic stall and is a great asset during stall fests. Light Screen offers Team Support and means Claydol can invest in Defence because of the Screen halving Special damage. Milotic's EVs may seem strange but they allow it to survive most special attacks in UU. It will ALWAYS survive a Raikou's Thunderbolt if there is no residual damage and with Light Screen up it can take two (obviously ;)). Milotics ability is simply amazing. It allows Miltotic to take physical hits as well as act as a status absorber if need be. I'm currently looking at changing its EVs a bit perhaps as well as maybe replacing Light Screen for HP Electric.

Claydol@Leftovers
Relaxed
Levitate
EVs: 252 HP 144 Def 112 SpDef
-Earth Power
-Explosion
-Stealth Rock
-Rapid Spin

Finally, here is Claydol, my utility Pokemon/wall. Earth Power is there simply as a STAB move and if it gets the SpDef drop it can become quite useful. Stealth Rock is here mainly to aid my sweepers and it changes many 2HKOs into OHKOS. It also punishes my opponents for switching. Rapid Spin is there to remove my opponents rocks, spikes and toxic spikes which hinder my sweepers. Claydol has great typing for a rapid spinner, as it is immune to spikes and toxic spikes and resists Stealth Rock. Explosion is simply there as a last ditch attack to deal big damage to the opponent. It's EVs are a tad strange but with support from its nature and Milotics Light Screens they allow it to function as a mini-wall. Claydol is certainly a useful pokemon to have around and is a great team member


So there you have it, my team. Suggestions are most welcome, especially in the areas I've pointed out, but anywhere is fine.

Thanks in advance.

​

 

[Erazor]

Energy Ball is the better choice in UU, as the bulky waters are lighter in UU than OU.
On Ambipom, maybe you should try U-Turn instead of pursuit. It allows even more "free damage" while getting out of there. And it also allows you to scout for ghosts/counters.
Pinsir may be a beast, but I recommend trying out Choice Band Staraptor. It's pretty fast, and hits like a truck.

 

[Loquacity]

Above all else, I'd watch out for Gallade. Especially one with:

Close Combat
Psycho Cut
Ice Punch
Swords Dance

It's bulky enough to take a hit and rip through your team. And you are shit out of luck if someone passes it an Agility or Rock Polish.

These Calcs are from a +2 Adamant Life Orb Gallade versus your team:

Ice Punch vs your Ambipom: Damage: 109.97% - 129.21% (I don't even need to run calcs on Close Combat or Psycho Cut if Ice Punch OHKOs)
Psycho Cut vs your Pinsir: Damage: 118.08% - 138.75% (Ice Punch OHKOs with SR on the field
Close Combat vs your Pinsir: Damage: 100.74% - 118.45%
Sceptile is OHKO'd even without a Swords Dance under its belt
Ice Punch vs your Claydol: Damage: 108.02% - 126.85%

However, if your opponent doesn't pass Speed or you prevent it, most of your team outspeeds Scarf-less Gallade and you should be able to revenge it or outpredict it and kill it. In my opinion it's the scariest Pokemon in this new UU metagame. Only Spiritomb can handle Gallade, and even then a 252 HP / 252 Defense Impish or Bold Spiritomb is 2HKO'd by Ice Punch and if it carries Night Slash, it's good game. Even a critical hit from a rare Leaf Blade can spell the end of it. Also, if it switches Gallade into your Ambipom's Fake Out, it gets that free Speed Boost thanks to Steadfast, so be careful spamming that attack if you know Gallade is present on your opponent's team.

Since there's nothing that can exactly switch into Gallade, when it appears, be on the top of your game. Proper prediction is the key.

Also watch out for Staraptor who can devastate this team team pretty soundly. A smart player won't spam Brave Bird until the end of the match to extend Staraptor's livelihood until it can KO you without fear of the opponent living and capitalizing on the recoil. It can switch in on Pinsir and still lower its attack with Intimidate as Mold Breaker doesn't nullify it and take subpar damage from all of its attacks bar Close Combat which won't do as much at -1 and no STAB. A great deal of Staraptor are also Scarfed, which will outspeed and 2HKO with Return or more than likely OHKO with Brave Bird.

You're pretty safe on the Special side of the spectrum, just watch out for SubCMagius. If you have Light Screen up, you should be fine. Just be careful of switching Milotic into a boosted Shadow Ball.

 

[Frosty]

Some help with the EVs here:

A 252Hp, 144 SpAtk, 88 SpDef Calm spread on Milotic gives you the exact stats you have with 26 extra EVs to spare.

A 252hp, 144 Def, 112SpDef Relaxed spread on Claydol gives you the exact stats you have with a whooping 4 extra EVs to spare.

 

[Mr.Skittle]

Erazor: Thanks for the Staraptor suggestion I will try it out when I get a chance. I will also experiment with the Ambipom

Loquacity: Its very true that Gallade gives me problems though as you said speed is the best way to get around that, esspecially Arcanine's Extremespeed, though alot of the time it requires the sacrifice of a team member.

Frosty: Thanks for the EV suggestions I will experiment ASAP

 

[Heysup]

Well, first of all im going to start with Ambipom.

Ambipom with a focus sash is rather useless because you dont do ANY damage, to anything. You should also consider U-turn because it really helps you see your opponents next move, while doing damage. I recommend this set:

Ambipom@Life Orb/Silk Scarf
Jolly
Technician
EVs: 4 HP 252 Attk 252 Spd
-Fake Out
-Return
-U-turn/Pursuit
-Taunt

Milotic is fine if you fix the EVs. Id recommend 252 hp/ 176 Def/80 SDef with Bold. Or move some Def EVs into Satk.

Consider SD on Pinsir, as you have a very good revenge killer already.

Im loving that Arcanine, very nice.

Spectile is good too.

With Claydol, I would recommend Earthquake with Some Atk EVs if you are using Explosion anyway.


Be aware of Rampardos even though its very uncommon, it Mold Breaks Claydol and Milotic. Be also, very aware of Torterra as well.

 

[Mr.Skittle]

HeYsUp: I will try the Ambipom set and will use Earthquake on Claydol. I will also try the Milotic EVs, after I try the ones Frosty suggested.

I'm currently testing CB Staraptor over Pinsir and it's working out quite well so it looks like Pinsir might be leaving.

 

[legend of Krory]

A quick suggestion on move sets:

On Milotic, I suggest replacing Light Screen with HP [Electric] or Haze. I really don't think you need the Sp. Def boost on the last slot, and you get walled at times if you don't have HP [Electric]

You might consider removing Explosion on Claydol and keep replace it to Ice Beam. You might need Rapid Spin for the entire game due to the vast amount of spikers and Stall teams.

EV suggestion:

Claydol: If you are planning to take my suggestion on exchaning Explosion with Ice Beam, I'd go with this EV Spread

252 HP / 144 Def / 114 Sp. Atk

Smogon standard.

Or if you want to invest more Def than Special Attack, I'd go with

252 HP / 212 Def / 44 Sp. Atk