"Hazards Ahead": An OU RMT

[mail]

So this is the first team I have posted, but i have been floating around the ladder for a while. I started plying competatively shortly after Platinum came out; so overall not too long. And now I have finally found, as the DPPt metagame comes to a close, the strategy that works best for me. A mainly defensive team (not stall) that uses entry hazards and light offense to chip away at opponents. Well here it is. (Pictures may or may not be displayed)

And so you know my team before I made a few modafications was:
Uxie Flygon Gengar Empoleon Forretress Vaporeon

Forretress

Careful @ Leftovers
Evs: 252 HP/ 4 Def / 252 SpD
-Stealth Rock
-Spikes
-Rapid Spin
-Payback

So as noted above Forretress used to occupy a non-lead spot in this team. In this postion I reallized it was hard to get those entry hazards up. And and as my team became more and more defensive (first with the addition of Rotom-W) that was all the more important. I get Stealth Rock up first and then Spikes. If I get one layer up thats not bad. And he can always switch back in and get healed by wish. Its a standard set but i find it effective.

Flygon

Jolly @ Choice Scarf
Evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
-Outrage
-Earthquake
-U-Turn
-Fire Blast

So Flyogon was also on the previous version of this team. I chose him because he fulfilled my criteria of "revenge killer with an electric immunity" which Empoleon and Vaporeon greatly apriciate. He's taken on a slightly more offensive role since Gengar left however. I chose Jolly because I found opposing Flygon were killing me with Outrage, this way at least I have a 50% chance. He also benefits greatly from the phazing of my team because its hard to use basicly all his moves (bar U-Turn) without knowing what pokemon the opponent has. Fire Blast is there for Skarmory and Forretress, but really I just find it more useful than Stone Edge.

Rotom-W

Timid @ Choice Specs
Evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
-Hydro Pump
-Thunderbolt
-Shadow Ball
-Trick

When I got rid of my trick Uxie lead I wanted to retain the ability to trick, just not in the lead spot. Also this was my defensive replacment for Gengar and it pulls off trick much better. Specs requires more prediction than Scarf, but is more benificial. Rotom also benefits from phazing because alot of his attacks become OHKOs and because if I expect a Blissey switch (from a Blissey that has been roared out earlier) I can trick it on the switch.

Empoleon

Modest @ Petya Berry
Evs: 16 Def / 252 SpA / 240 Spe
-Agility
-Substitute
-Grass Knot
-Surf

This is the offensive weapon on my team and the longer I wait the more effective it is. I have won without even revaeling it before. Not only does my opponent wonder what it is, but I get to learn my opponents team. This is very important do to the lackluster type coverage of two moves. I chose Grass Knot over Ice Beam because coverage on water types is two crucial to lose. However, this set it then walled by Dragons and Grass types (as well as Vaporeon due to its low wieght). I have considered Hydro Pump simply because it OHKOs Breloom after the Petya (and therfore Torrent) boost, but considering Breloom will most likely be behind a sub...yeah. And i run 8 more evs than normal in speed just to outspeed other Empoleons.

Heatran

Calm @ Leftovers
Evs: 248 HP / 132 SpD / 128 Spe
-Lava Plume
-Rest
-Sleep Talk
-Roar

After I removed Uxie as a lead Heatran uccupied the lead spot on this team for a short time. I enjoyed the typing he brought to the team and so I used this set to fulfill a more defensive role. I chose ResTalk becuase if there is one less thing Vaporeon needs to pass Wish to thats good. And Lava Plume because who doesnt like a 30% burn rate. And roar because thats the whole point of this team. The evs allow me to outspeed certain threats such as Vaporeon.

Vaporeon

Bold @ Leftovers
Evs: 188 HP / 252 Def / 68 Spe
-Wish
-Protect
-Surf
-Roar

This is my favorite bulky water do to its ability to pass wish. Surf is there so I dont get shut down by Tuant and if I cant Roar. Forretress appriciates Wish the most in case he gets a sub-par amount of entry hazards up. And roar because this a phazing / entry hazards based team.
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So thats it. Open to recomendations. I would like to keep the same type of strategy and I dont want this to develop into a stall team. You may criticize the fact that I have three steel types on my team, but considering I do not reveal Empoleon until late this isnt so bad. Someone may use outrage not expecting a third steel type and then I can switch in and set up.

 

[thered1]

pretty solid, I must say. I must make either a rain dance team or a trick room team.(so that I can finally have a use for rampardoes, could even go chioce banded EQ becuase levitate won't do s***, but there's still flying types)

 

[Chrikke]

I would highly recommend you consider changing Vaporeon's Roar for HP Electric. You need something reliable for Gyarados from the looks of it, other than Rotom. If you really want two phazers, Stone Edge on Flygon. HP Electric also works on Empoleon, and serves exactly what you described plus it's more effective on Vaporeon.

Personally I'm a bit iffy on Forretress as a lead. You'll hardly ever get it all up, being Taunted by many suicide leads. Azelf, Infernape and Machamp could KO or severely dent you.

Though perhaps unorthodox, moving Flygon over to the first position might not be a bad idea. It'll take out several leads with ease or U-Turn safely out of harm's way.

It's vital you ensure that you get your hazards up, and keep them up. If Forretress is out then you're stuck with Vappy and Heatran, both sporting a rather useless set. Your lategame sweeper is something you want to keep hidden and lastly 2 choice item holders. That's not a good situation to be in.

Should you feel like replacing Forretress altogether, Roserade comes to mind, as does Skarmory. Spikes and Toxic Spikes aren't all that common, and nobody on your team is weak to SR. You got wish support and the team is bulky. Imo a spinner is totally not needed. If you want to keep it, consider using Explosion for the same reason. If everything is up and there's no need for it to stick around you can at least blow up on something.

Just my thoughts. I can definitely see that it works and it doesn't need major changes.

 

[george182]

Your team is almost identical to reyscarface's team, which made it to number one on shoddy. The main difference is that you have empoleon, where he had a Jirachi and I think you should use a sub calm mind Jirachi set, as it fits in well with the team and helps you out against bulky waters etc. because it can set up on them. It also helps you vs stall teams.

I also recomend thunderpunch on Flygon. It hit's skarmory for something, but it's main use is for Gyarados, as a taunt Gyarados could sweep you if Rotom is weakened and scarf flygon outspeeds all gyarados at +1 and some gyarados even at +2.