Hail to the King (OU team featuring Slaking)

Naarly117

This is my first time posting in RMT, so any advice is appreciated. If someone could tell me how to add pictures to this, that'd be great :). Anyway, let's get started:

Slaking @ Choice Band
Ability: Truant
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature
- Return
- Hammer Arm
- Ice Punch
- Earthquake

The centerpiece of the team, and a freaking monster of an offensive 'mon. This thing hits like a truck. Return OHKO's almost everything that doesn't resist it, the rest of the moves are for coverage. Choice Band is there because there's literally no reason not to, due to Truant; Slaking's only good for one shot before tagging out.

Landorus-Therian (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SDef
Impish Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- U-turn

Landorus-T is a Pokemon that I used to use a lot back in Gen 5, and he's still pretty good this generation. The EV spread is standard for physical bulk, which he pulls off nicely coupled with Intimidate. I gave him Stealth Rock because every team needs that move, Earthquake for STAB, U-turn to maintain offensive momentum, and Stone Edge for coverage.

Talonflame @ Choice Band
Ability: Gale Wings
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature
- Brave Bird
- Flare Blitz
- U-turn
- Roost

One of the most overused 'mons of Gen 6 so far, and for good reason. Priority Brave Bird makes him an amazing revenge killer, and helps dispose of nuisances like Mega Venusaur and Scarfed opponents. Flare Blitz provides secondary STAB, which comes in handy since his high Speed allows him to outspeed most threats even without priority. U-turn is there to maintain offensive momentum, as with Landorus-T, and Roost is just there as filler. I had Aerial Ace there for a little while, but never had any use for it.

Latias (F) @ Life Orb
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 72 HP / 184 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature
- Defog
- Psyshock
- Healing Wish
- Draco Meteor

Latias provides great team support with Defog and Healing Wish: Defog is necessary mostly to eliminate Stealth Rock for Talonflame, and Healing Wish has saved me numerous times by bringing back a wounded Slaking or Keldeo. Offensive moves are standard STAB. 72 HP EVs provides a magic Life Orb number, the rest is put into offense. A pretty standard build overall, but one that provides the necessary support.

Tyranitar @ Tyranitarite
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature
- Dragon Dance
- Crunch
- Stone Edge
- Earthquake

Tyranitar has been my personal favorite Pokemon ever since the days of Gold and Silver, and this generation gave him a nice boost in the form of a Mega Evolution. After one Dragon Dance, Mega TTar can outspeed almost everything without a Choice Scarf, and he hits like a truck. Moveset is standard for STAB and coverage, EV spread is standard for offense.

Keldeo @ Choice Specs
Ability: Justified
EVs: 252 SAtk / 4 SDef / 252 Spd
Timid Nature
- Hydro Pump
- Secret Sword
- Icy Wind
- Hidden Power [Dark]

Keldeo was one of my biggest enemies in Gen 5, so naturally I wanted that kind of power on my side in this gen. With two strong STABs, Icy Wind for coverage, and Choice Specs, he can blow through pretty much anything he outspeeds with ease. His typing provides good synergy with the rest of the team, as well. Hidden Power Dark is there as filler, I used to have Scald but never used it so I figured I'd ditch it for some extra coverage, but I'm open to suggestions for replacements.

Threat List:

Sableye - Priority Will O' Wisp is a pain for anyone but Talonflame
Bulky Water types - I have nothing to hit them super-effectively, but Slaking can usually punch a hole through them
Fairys - same deal as Waters
Choice Scarf users - Towards the end of the match, these can sweep me if Talonflame's gone or if he can't OHKO with priority Brave Bird.

Other than those, I haven't really run across anything that's given me too much trouble yet. I haven't spent a ton of time in the game yet though, so as I play-test I'll update the threat list.


Replays:

http://pokemonshowdown.com/replay/ou-130181334
http://pokemonshowdown.com/replay/ou-130192909
http://pokemonshowdown.com/replay/ou-130197024
 
The team looks well-constructed and all, but we can't tell anything from those battles. The teams you were playing against look like they belong in the "silly things you have seen on the OU ladder" thread.
 
Neutral Huge Power Diggersby has an equivalent of 418 Attack, only 1 less than Slaking. He's a bit slower but doesn't need to switch out after every attack, and it gets STAB on Earthquake and whatever normal move you're using. It also gets priority in Quick Attack if you're desperate but I'm so unfamiliar with Diggersby I don't even know what other options it has outside of Return / EQ / Stone Edge / Wild Charge / Swords Dance. If you insist on using Slaking, at least use Giga Impact along side Return over Ice Punch or Hammer Arm. The recharge turn doesn't matter since it can't attack anyway. Return allows you the luxury of switching if you need, but Giga Impact is a nuke when you need it.
 
kabbes, I know the replays aren't great, but I just started playing with this team and I'm at the bottom of the ladder. I'll put better ones up when they happen. And thanks for the tip about those threads, that Weakness Policy Sturdy Magnezone with Tri Attack probably belongs there haha

NixHex, I built the team around Slaking, but I'll give Diggersby a shot I guess. I use Return on Slaking because most people see his recharge turn as a setup opportunity, and I can counter that by switching. I've had multiple people throw Quiver Dance Volcarona or some other setup sweeper at him, only for me to switch into Talonflame and OHKO them. Also, it preserves Slaking's longevity - if he OHKOs an enemy and immediately switches out, he doesn't lose any health. The only pokemon who have survived a Return so far are Milotic and Focus Sash users, and Giga Impact would only help against Milotic out of those
 
You're right about Giga Impact, since Return already KOs a ton of crap. Also, generally for this forum, you should have a much higher ranking when you submit an RMT. Prove that your team is worthy against higher ranked players so the team raters have a better idea of what your team is truly lacking and what improvements can be made. I'd say at least 1600 but ideally 1700+ Also, to insert an image, just use the button on the task bar that looks like a mountain, then enter the url of the image.
 
FWIW, I think it's an imaginative use of Slaking, that attempts to play around his truant rather than bulldoze through it. Latias' healing wish seems like it has some good synergy too, getting the big guy back in the game. It's never going to be top ladder as it's too easy to mess with, but it's a clever attempt at working within some restrictive parameters, which is what makes the game fun.
 
May I suggest a revenge killer other than Talonflame? I have used Slaking in the past with a scarfed Retaliate (70bp*2 if ally dies previous turn)*1.5 STAB = 210 bp < 225 bp Giga impact. The power of retaliate is not much less than giga impact (which can miss) and you can still switch out like return, but the only downside is it can be only used to revenge kill with the powerful move. In other cases, you can run pursuit to take down Gengar or Latios. Ice Punch for coverage on dragons and Landoruses.
Jolly 252 Atk Slaking Earthquake vs. 0 HP / 0- Def Mega Metagross: 200-236 (66.4 - 78.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
Jolly 252 Atk Slaking Retaliate vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Mega Gyarados: 247-292 (74.6 - 88.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
Jolly 252 Atk Slaking Retaliate vs. 92 HP / 0 Def Azumarill: 322-379 (88.4 - 104.1%) -- 25% chance to OHKO
+6 252+ Atk Huge Power Azumarill Aqua Jet vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Slaking: 318-375 (72.1 - 85%) -- guaranteed 2HKO Sad it doesn't hurt that much at +6
+2 252 Atk Sharp Beak Talonflame Brave Bird vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Slaking: 342-403 (77.5 - 91.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO Who runs sharp beak?
+2 252+ Atk Bisharp Sucker Punch vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Slaking: 280-330 (63.4 - 74.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO Don't intimidate this guy or slow u turn into him with Landorus-T
+2 252+ Atk Technician Mega Scizor Bullet Punch vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Slaking: 240-283 (54.4 - 64.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO Don't try to revenge kill this guy, unless you are running fire punch instead of pursuit.
+2 252 Atk Technician Breloom Mach Punch vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Slaking: 392-464 (88.8 - 105.2%) -- 31.3% chance to OHKO This one hurts a lot
+2 252 SpA Lucario Vacuum Wave vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Slaking: 342-404 (77.5 - 91.6%) -- guaranteed 2HKO Retro pain
252 Atk Slaking Ice Punch vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Multiscale Dragonite: 200-236 (61.9 - 73%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

Most common priority users fail to kill Slaking when he revenge kills with mostly Retaliate and the occasional earthquake and elemental punches. He gets sucker punch, but you have a scarf so too bad, it doesn't matter. Try not to keep him in for too long. Caution: he is not a lategame cleaner due to him revenge killing with a scarf. He lacks the power of the band, but can outspeed key pokes like Scarf Lando, Ttar, Magnezone, Rotom-W, Speed tie with Jirachi, Manaphy, Celebi. It does major damage to stall, but I don't recommend it because of its one-shot wonder in Retaliate and having to let something die to stall will weaken your team. Have fun outspeeding all those annoying dragon dance users and avenging fallen teammates!
 
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