Heracross pass OU Singles

Shinnmaru

Hello,
Before I begin, thank you for taking a look at my team. The goal of my team is to lead with either scolipede or meowstic and then go with two different strategies:
If I lead with scolipede I will try to set up speed boosts and swords dance to pass to heracross and attempt to sweep their team with his mega. I have gotten fantastic results from this setup and heracross is usually capable to take down at least three pokemon before going down. However, if the oppontent leads with talonflame or some special sweeper that would destroy my mega heracross, I use scolipede to stall for speed boosts and pass to goodra, who takes special hits well and appreciates the speed boost.
If I predict that the opponent will lead with a entry hazard lead/ prankster lead or trick room lead, I will start the battle with meowstic and lock them into a move by tricking choice scarf onto them.
The rest of the team is mostly bulky support with skarmory as a defensive wall and goodra as a special wall/ attacker. Starmie is reserved as a special sweeper and counter to fire types that might threaten my team.
I have noticed that while my passing combo is great, other parts of my team seem awkward at times and do not work very synergistically. Many times I have trouble dealing with aegislash.
My Team:
Scolipede@ Black Sludge
Ability: Speed Boost
Nature: Jolly
EVs: 252 HP/ 4 Def/ 252 Speed
-Baton Pass
-Substitute
-Protect
-Swords Dance
As stated in the intro, Scolipede is usually my lead and his sole purpose in life is to setup in order for heracross to sweep or for goodra to try and counter. The EV spread gives him more bulk in the invested HP and also allows him to be faster after a speed boost than most pokemon.
I am currently using a swords dance set, but have been thinking about using iron defense instead because I sometimes think heracross might like the defensive boost more than the attack boost. Any input would be appreciated.
Heracross@ Heracronite
Ability: Moxie
Nature: Adamant
EVs: 164 HP/ 252 Atk/ 92 Speed
-Swords Dance
-Pin Missile
-Close Combat
-Rock Blast
Heracross is the physical sweeper on my team and is usually a recipient of scolipede's baton pass. The speed boosts from the pass allow him to take down common counters like talonflame. The adamant nature and Attack EVs give him risiculous attack, especially after swords dance.
Pin missile STAB hits grass, psychic and dark types hard and will usually 1 hit KO most of them. Rock blast allows me to take care of flying types and fire types like volcarona, charizard, togekiss and talonflame. Close combat hits bulky steel types especially hard
Goodra@ Assault Vest
Ability: Gooey
Nature: Modest
EVs: 200 SpA/ 252 SpD/ 52 Spe
-Dragon Tail
-Dragon Pulse
-Thunderbolt
-Fire blast
Goodra functions as a special wall and attacker. Most times I am able to switch goodra in and absorb a special attack safely. Gooey allows Goodra to outpace most things that hit it and the EV spread and vest ensure that goodra can take hits and dish them out.
As for moves, dragon pulse is the main STAB attack. Thunderbolt takes care of water and flying types like gyrados. Fire blast is used to counter ice or steel types that might try to switch in. Dragon tail is for emergency evacuation in case a pokemon is seting up and gets greedy, I can switch it out with dragon tail and get rid of the danger.
Skarmory@ Leftovers
Ability: Sturdy
Nature: Impish
EVs: 252 HP/ 252 Def/ 4 SpD
-Brave Bird
-Roost
-Stealth Rock
-Whirlwind
Standard set defensive skarmory. Impish nature and investment in HP and DEF EVs help skarmory stick around. He is mainly used as a defensive switch in to absorb a hit, then set up stealth rock when the opponent switches. after that, either get out and switch with goodra to absorb a special hit or whirlwind to rack up stealth rock damage.
Brave bird is there to fight back against fighting types and when skarmory is taunted. Roost is to regain that all to important HP.
Meowstic M@ Choice Scarf
Ability: Prankster
Nature: Calm
EVs: 252 HP/ 180 Def/ 76 Spe
-Trick
-Toxic
-Thunder Wave
-Light Screen
As stated in the intro, Meowstic is my alternative lead in order to trap other pranksters or setup leads with choice scarf. The calm nature and investments in HP and Def help meowstic to stick around a bit and support. The speed EVs help it to outspeed faster pranksters and priority move users like mamoswine and whimsicott.
Light screen is for when meowstic is about to die and the opponent already has a status effect. In that case, meowstic helps it allies with the boost.

Starmie@ Life Orb
Ability: Natural Cure
Nature: Timid
EVs: 252 SpA/ 4 SpD/ 252 Spe
-Rapid Spin
-Surf
-Ice Beam
-Thunderbolt
Starmie is used a fast rapid spinner/ special attacker. The investment in SpA and Spe are for maximum speed and power. The bolt-beam combo provides excellent coverage against most pokemon except mamoswine and magnezone. Surf allows starmie to deal with the above threats.
And that is my team. I have been thinking of replacing starmie with something and maybe replacing skarmory with mandibuzz but I don't know. Any input, advice, replacements and alterations are most welcome.
Thank you
 
On scolipede could appreciate some more defense investments and perhaps a bold nature, out speeding the opponents is not crutial on the first turn, it would be covered by speed boost if you use protect the first turn, and zero IVs in attack to minimize confusion and foul play damage.

Heracross does not appreciate swords dance very well, hearcross' typing is pretty poor and takes super effective hits from many things. I would replace it with rockslide/stone edge, earthquake or bullet seed. Rock slide/stone edge lets you hit flying and fire types hard. Earthquake can give you general coverage. Bullet seed can utilize mega heracross' ability nicely and give it some nice coverage.

Hydration may be prefered more than gooey due to the fact that status ailments like toxic can really hurt you in the long run, but that all depends if your opponents carries rain dance. I'd replace thunderbolt/dragon pulse with toxic. Trust me. It can force some switches saving you the game. Replace the 252 EVs in Special Defence in HP because you take less percent damage that way. Goodras assualt vest might be outclassed by leftovers, for some form of recovery.

Meowstic's trick is a risky move there, if the opponent already used it's item, lets say a berry or such, trick is rendered useless and you are left with a choiced status move, not a good thing. If you are running light screen it can be a dual screener and replace scarf with light clay

Hope my suggestions help
 
SwagMasterJack said:
On scolipede could appreciate some more defense investments and perhaps a bold nature, out speeding the opponents is not crutial on the first turn, it would be covered by speed boost if you use protect the first turn, and zero IVs in attack to minimize confusion and foul play damage.

Heracross does not appreciate swords dance very well, hearcross' typing is pretty poor and takes super effective hits from many things. I would replace it with rockslide/stone edge, earthquake or bullet seed. Rock slide/stone edge lets you hit flying and fire types hard. Earthquake can give you general coverage. Bullet seed can utilize mega heracross' ability nicely and give it some nice coverage.

Hydration may be prefered more than gooey due to the fact that status ailments like toxic can really hurt you in the long run, but that all depends if your opponents carries rain dance. I'd replace thunderbolt/dragon pulse with toxic. Trust me. It can force some switches saving you the game. Replace the 252 EVs in Special Defence in HP because you take less percent damage that way. Goodras assualt vest might be outclassed by leftovers, for some form of recovery.

Meowstic's trick is a risky move there, if the opponent already used it's item, lets say a berry or such, trick is rendered useless and you are left with a choiced status move, not a good thing. If you are running light screen it can be a dual screener and replace scarf with light clay

Hope my suggestions help
Click to expand...


Thank you for reviewing my team. I will take note on the scolipede and will try to make him more bulky as you suggested. For Heracross I already have rock blast so I don't need rock slide or stone edge. However, I notice that I usually dont use heracross's swords dance much and will probably replace it with earthquake to have coverage against aegislash.

I will also try toxic on goodra and the dual screen meowstic
 
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