SS OU Hippowdon + Magearna Balance (EDITED)

Greetings everyone! So it seems like my last post here had some success, and the team was working really well for me on the ladder. However, I eventually got tired of just spamming the same team over and over again and I kept complaining about how utterly broken Cinderace and Magearna are in the current metagame. To solve this problem, I decided to make a new team. I didn't know where to start, but then I saw this guy on the OU chatroom on showdown saying that Slowbro pairs well with Magearna. I decided to might as well try that out.

Teambuilding process:
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As I mentioned, I decided to start with Slowbro and Magearna as my backbone. Slowbro to beat Cinderace and Excadrill and to spread status for Magearna to take advantage of.

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Obviously, why not add Urshifu as it gives me a physical wallbreaker? I figured it would help me in the long run, as it hits almost everything in the metagame with the Choice Band set, and it covers up for Magearna as well. Very solid pick.

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Another obvious pick here is Dragapult, serving as a very versatile speed control and check to common threats like Volcarona and non-Sucker Punch Cinderace. It helps me maintain my momentum with the move U-Turn, forming a pivoting core with Magearna's Volt Switch.

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Still being an incredible utility pick despite its decline after the DLC drop, Clefable sets up Stealth Rocks and cripples the opposing team with Thunder Wave. This also helps me beat dragons like Dragapult and Kommo-o even after Magearna is down. Helps solidify the team a ton.

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Being a balance team, we of course need a defogger and another pivot to maintain momentum throughout the whole game. Mandibuzz also helps me beat the likes of Rillaboom, as it is walled and is threatened out by a Foul Play or a chunk from U-Turn.

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Realizing that I need more firepower (pun intended), I decided to replace Urshifu with Cinderace to cover things up much better. I also have better speed control for this team, helping me gain control over games much easier.

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I tried the team a few times on ladder, and I had quite some success. When I asked for help somewhere else however, someone told me that I had nothing for Volt Switch. I agreed with this, knowing that the statement was correct. I examined Slowbro's purpose to beat Cinderace and Excadrill, and realized that Hippowdon can do the same while being immune to Volt Switch and also being able to defeat the likes of Bisharp and Zeraora. I replaced Slowbro for Hippowdon to help deal with more stuff.

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Edit: After asking for more advice about the team, I figured that Toxapex can pressure this team really easily. I replaced Dragapult with Zeraora in response to this, using the Volt Switch set to maintain momentum. Finding out that I have no switchins to Choice Specs boosted Fleur Cannon from Magearna, I also decided to replace Clefable with Toxapex.

Updated Team Import: https://pokepast.es/2b590c1845a7aff9

The Team:

hippowdown.gif
Rocky Helmet icon


Hippowdon (M) @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Impish Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- Slack Off

- Toxic

Originally Slowbro, Hippowdon is the Stealth Rock user of the team and the member designed to beat the likes of Cinderace, Excadrill, Zeraora, and Bisharp. It also helps wear down the enemy team with Sand Stream, status with Toxic, and pressures physical attackers with Rocky Helmet. Being a Ground type also helps it deal with Volt Switch, which the team was originally very weak to. It cripples and checks things that Magearna can't, therefore making a very solid core with it in this team. Slack Off is an obvious choice for recovery purposes.

magearna.gif
Choice Specs icon


Magearna @ Choice Specs
Ability: Soul-Heart
EVs: 212 HP / 156 SpA / 140 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Fleur Cannon
- Volt Switch
- Trick

- Focus Blast

Arguably one of the most broken in the current metagame, Magearna is currently one of if not the best special wallbreaker in the tier. Being able to nuke teams with Specs-powered Fleur Cannons, it can pressure the opponent to predict really well or suffer consequences in return. Chansey and Blissey you say? Not a problem, Magearna learns Trick and can lock them into Choice Specs. This is really crucial in defeating stall as well, as it cripples everything bulky big time. Focus Blast is there for coverage to beat things like Excadrill on the switch, and to 1v1 the likes of Ferrothorn.

cinderace.gif
Heavy-Duty Boots


Cinderace (M) @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Libero
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Pyro Ball
- Zen Headbutt
- Gunk Shot

- U-turn

The king of coverage himself, Cinderace has just way too many options to hit different things in the metagame. Getting Gen 6 Greninja flashbacks yet? Look no further, this is just part 2 of that. Well... except that Cinderace just hits much much harder. With the release of Libero, all of Cinderace's attacks basically now have STAB or same type attack bonus, making everything hit harder. Figuring out that the team is weak to Primarina, I decided to go with the Gunk Shot set to keep it in check. U-Turn is also there to help with momentum.

Edit: I replaced Sucker Punch with Zen Headbutt to help defeat Toxapex.

zeraora.gif
Heavy-Duty Boots


Zeraora @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Volt Absorb
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
Naive Nature
- Volt Switch
- Plasma Fists
- Knock Off

- Close Combat

Replacing Dragapult as the speed control for this team, I figured that Zeraora takes care of Toxapex and prevents it from pressuring me as much as it used to before this edit. Volt Switch lets me pivot around safely, maintaining momentum throughout the battle. Heavy Duty Boots allows it to pivot in without fear of hazards chipping it down everytime it switches in.

Edit: P.S. This used to be Dragapult. Later got replaced by Zeraora to help defeat Toxapex.


topapex.gif
Black Sludge icon


Toxapex (M) @ Black Sludge
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 252 HP / 64 Def / 192 SpD
Bold Nature
- Scald
- Knock Off
- Toxic

- Recover

Toxapex had to replace Clefable for the sole purpose of switching into Choice Specs Magearna. I went Knock Off over Haze or Baneful Bunker to punish anything who tries to switch into it, as common threats like Magic Guard Clefable and Steel types are immune to Toxic. Toxic is an obvious choice to help wear down opposing teams and pressures them into doing certain moves. Common bulky threats such as Mandibuzz are forced to Roost their HP back up, giving you a free turn.

Edit: P.S. This used to be Clefable, but was phased out for Toxapex to deal with Magearna better.

mandibuzz.gif
Heavy-Duty Boots


Mandibuzz (F) @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Overcoat
EVs: 252 HP / 240 Def / 16 Spe
Impish Nature
- Foul Play
- Roost
- Defog

- U-turn

Mandibuzz has recently outclassed Corviknight as the best defogger in the metagame due to the existence of Urshifu ravaging the lands of the OU tier. Overcoat immunes it from every existing powder move, being able to switch into Spores continuously, and into Tangrowth's Sleep Powder barring the potential Knock Off. Foul Play lets it place a reverse card against the likes of Rillaboom and Bisharp after a Swords Dance, threatening them to an extent. The 16 Speed EVs let Mandibuzz outspeed Adamant 252 Speed Azumarill and take it down with Foul Play after Stealth Rock damage, Belly Drum, and Sitrus Berry restore on a roll.

Threats:

diggersby.gif
Life Orb icon


Diggersby just straight up hits everything this team for free after a Swords Dance. The only counterplay I saw to this was to get in Hippowdon for free and hope to land a Toxic to wear it down.

hawlucha.gif
Grassy Seed icon


Although manageable by Hippowdon, Toxapex, and Magearna, Hawlucha can become a huge problem if it's running the Substitute set. After a Swords Dance, it can wreck the team entirely in some situations.
 
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