STANDARD GEN5 OU - "CALIFORNIA, HERE WE COME!"
Concept
Bulky offense has always seemed like (by far) the most effective method of winning pokemon battles. As a result, I made a team that retains decent bulk and defensive prowess while having hard hitters, inflicting status, and easily sweeping late game.
I wanted to start my team off with a bulky antilead that could hit hard, have priority, and set up rocks. Metagross seemed to be my "go-to-guy", with STAB Meteor Mash and Bullet Punch to 2KO sashed leads.
Next, I wanted a revenge killer that had decent type synergy with Metagross. I settled on Garchomp due to his ability to sweep late game with Outrage, utilize a scarf, and outspeed and KO common scarfers and Dragon Dancers (Gyarados, Tyranitar, Salamence, opposing SDChomp, Heatran, Flygon, Dragonite).
Next, I wanted a revenge killer that had decent type synergy with Metagross. I settled on Garchomp due to his ability to sweep late game with Outrage, utilize a scarf, and outspeed and KO common scarfers and Dragon Dancers (Gyarados, Tyranitar, Salamence, opposing SDChomp, Heatran, Flygon, Dragonite).
As my first two pokemon were exclusively physical, I wanted a special attacker that could switch in on a variety of moves, hit hard, and break through walls. I decided on a SubToxTran set. While losing the matchup against opposing BalloonTran, that hasn't proved to be an issue.
Next, I needed another stall-breaker capable of inflicting status and breaking through a myriad of walls. I settled on Breloom due to his 100% accuracy Spore and a powerful Focus Punch. Poison Heal also allows me to recover and sub up frequently.
For my next member of the team, I wanted a bulky water and a physically bulky phaser as I've had problems with Roobushin. I decided to go with RestTalk Cune.
Finally, I needed a set-up sweeper for late-game. I decided Zuruzukin would fit this need well, due to his massive defenses and HP, allowing him to soak up special attacks, counter Latias, and wreck special sweepers.
Movesets in Detail
CalTech (Metagross) @ Lum Berry
Trait: Clear Body
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Meteor Mash
- Stealth Rock
- Bullet Punch
- Earthquake
CalTech (Metagross) is one of my favorite leads. The EVs are standard, and are essential in providing maximum bulk, attack power, and a teeny bit of speed in order to prevent me from speed tying other base 70s. An Adamant nature is obvious, as it allows me max attack without any drawbacks. Meteor Mash is 120 BP STAB, and allows me to 2KO almost all of the non-bulky leads out there via first turn MM, followed up with a Bullet Punch. Bullet Punch is there mainly for finishing off sashers, as well as revenge killing late-game.
San Jose (Zuruzukin) (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Shed Skin
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SDef
Careful Nature (+SDef, -SAtk)
- Bulk Up
- Stone Edge
- Crunch
- Drain Punch
This Zuruzukin was a much more crucial member of my team when I ran Machamp, Breloom, and Burunkeru, as it provided a counter to Gengar, Shandera, and other Ghosts packing Psychic as a result of Roobushin's phenomenal impact on the GEN5 metagame. Now, it still retains the ability to counter those pokes, but is pitifully inferior to Roobushin (and I am considering switching to Roobushin). Shed Skin allows me to shed off burns and toxic occasionally, which is nice. 252 HP and SDef allow me to sponge special attacks, and then bolster my physical abilities with Bulk Up. Careful nature is to boost my SDef to an even more ridiculous level. Bulk Up raises both Attack and Defense, allowing me to become a pain to take down especially considering the recovery I get from boosted Drain Punches.
San Luis (Garchomp) (M) @ Choice Scarf
Trait: Sand Veil
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Earthquake
- Outrage
- Stone Edge
- Crunch
Garchomp is my revenge killer. He resists Electric moves directed at Suicune, and finishes off a vast majority of sweepers in the metagame. Sand Veil allows for some occasional hax just for giggles and ragequits. The EVs allow me to hit as hard as possible while getting the most out of my Choice Scarf, outspeeding neutral chomps, and guaranteeing that I outspeed Deoxys-A, +1 max speed Gyarados, Tyranitar, Dragonite, ScarfTran, and more. The Jolly nature ensures that other ScarfChomps don't get to Outrage me to oblivion (as well as +speed Scarf Flygon). EQ is for STAB, hits Heatran, Blaziken, Nape, Ninetales, Metagross, and other Steels hard (2KOs Scizor switchins). Outrage is generally used when all of the opposing pokemon are weakened with toxic and entry hazards, and is used for late game sweeping. Stone Edge is to hit Gyarados and other Flying types, and Crunch is the final piece of the puzzle, hitting Celebi, Rankurusu, and Ghost-types with only slightly less power and more reliability than Outrage. I'm considering switching this for Fire Fang / Fire Blast, or even Dragon Claw. Opinions?
Sacramento (Heatran) (M) @ Balloon
Trait: Flash Fire
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Modest Nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Substitute
- Toxic
- Lava Plume
- Earth Power
BalloonTran is incredible. It comes in on the many pokes that rely on EQ to take out Heatran, forces them to waste a turn popping my Balloon / switching out, by which point I've already set up a substitute, crippled them with Toxic, or hit them with Lava Plume / Earth Power. Flash Fire allows me to boost off of choiced Fire moves attempting to revenge-kill Metagross / Breloom, Sub up, and proceed to poison / burn other opposing pokes that come in. The EVs ensure I get my Sub up as quickly as possible so that I can successfully ToxiStall, while still making sure that Lava Plume and Earth Power hit as hard as possible. Substitute is crucial for status blocking, Toxic for walls, Lava Plume for physical attackers, and Earth Power for everything that resists Lava Plume. A pretty simple set, really.
Long Beach (Suicune) @ Leftovers
Trait: Pressure
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SDef
Bold Nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Rest
- Sleep Talk
- Surf
- Roar
This ResTalk Cune is an invaluable check to a lot of the physical pokemon that would otherwise run through this team. It's EVd to take +2 Adamant Doryuuzu EQs and phase it out. Also EVd for maximum physical bulk. Rest and Sleep Talk are an infallible combination that allows me to phase and inflict damage whilst asleep. Surf allows me a STAB move to deal consistent damage, and provides a nice move for Sleep Talk to hit - who could turn down 95 BP STAB while resting up to full health. Roar allows me to phase out sweepers who attempt to set up while I'm asleep. One advantage of the Sleep Talk / Roar combination is that I can "priority sleepshuffle" - basically, I can use Roar without the -1 priority as long as I hit it with Sleep Talk, allowing me to phase the opponent before they get a move in.
Obispo (Breloom) (M) @ Toxic Orb
Trait: Poison Heal
EVs: 236 HP / 252 Def / 20 Spd
Impish Nature (+Def, -SAtk)
- Substitute
- Spore
- Seed Bomb
- Focus Punch
This Breloom is an incredibly effective stallbreaker, thus earning its spot on the team. Toxic Orb and Poison Heal allow me to recover a great deal of HP every turn. The EVs let me switch in without fear on resisted physical attacks, and proceed to set up. Substitute lets me block status, take hits from faster pokemon without fear of being OHKOd, and fire off Focus Punches without fear of losing my focus. Spore lets me consistently put threats to sleep, rendering them useless. Seed Bomb hits the Bulky Waters that cause me so much pain, as well as the Ghosts that don't even get touched by Focus Punch. This Breloom set can also serve as a last-resort Dory counter, as it resists the infamous EdgeQuake combo.
Thanks for looking at the team! Please rate it, and point out any flaws you see that could be touched upon. Gogogo!