Insert Team Name (OU RMT)

[Vapor Trails]

Limelight (OU RMT)

Hello, I am txrdriftking and this is the OU team I've been using on Shoddybattle for around one month right now.
As far as I've seen, I've either done very well or completely terrible.
I'm looking to chancge that to almost always excellent.
Therefore, I need your (Smogon's help.)

~Team Building Process~
I first wanted to start off with the best pokemon in the OU metagame;
That is, of course, Scizor. Scizor's role was to be late-game sweeper.

(Current Team: Scizor.)

Next, I was looking up stuff that went well with Scizor, and I decided on Swampert. Swampert was designated the mixed attacker of the team:

(Current Team: Swampert, Scizor.)

Next, I wanted a stall team destroyer. The best one I've used was Infernape, so the obvious choice was Infernape.


(Current team: Infernape, Swampert, Scizor.)

I realized that I had no real defensive Pokemon, just attacking ones.
The next Pokemon came to me in a flash; Celebi, one of my favorites.
So, I decided on Celebi as one of the defensive pokemon of my team.

(Current team: Celebi, Infernape, Swampert, Scizor.)

I still thought I needed another defensive pokemon that had some attacking capability, and the first pokemon that came to my mind were the Rotom formes.
I decided on Rotom-H, as it took care of most of the other threats that Celebi had a weakness to.

(Current team: Rotom-H, Celebi, Infernape, Swampert, Scizor.)

The final slot, the leadoff, was the hardest decision I had to make. After trying a couple different leads out, I wnet with the one that I thought had to most potential; Azelf.

(Current team: Azelf, Rotom-H, Celebi, Infernape, Swampert, Scizor.)

After some recommendations and my own testing, Celebi was replaced with Suicune.
So far, the change has helped.

(Final Team: Azelf, Rotom-H, Suicune, Infernape, Swampert, Scizor.)

Here is the team:



The Lead:

Azelf @ Focus Sash
Nature: Naive
Ability: Levitate
EV's: 4 Atk / 252 Sp.Atk / 252 Speed
~Taunt
~Flamethrower
~Explosion
~Stealth Rock

My reliable Stealth Rock set-upper and lead.
A lot of people use Azelf for it's unpredictability, and that's the main reason I use it.
Taunt is to prevent slower leads from setting up SR, most notably Metagross/Swampert.
Flamethrower gives me some more fighting capability than Psychic would; I prefer Flamethrower over Fire Blast for the accuracy.


Defender/Attacker #1

Rotom-H @ Leftovers
Nature: Bold
Ability: Levitate
EV's: 200 HP / 164 Def / 48 Sp.Atk / 96 Speed
~Discharge
~Shadow Ball
~Overheat
~Will-O-Wisp

I use Rotom for two main reasons; 1)It acts as aguablt\y the greatest Rapid Spin blocker in Standard play; and 2) It gives me a reliable Will-O-Wisp inflicter, which is crucial for stopping Tyranitar.
The Speed EV's are odd because the higher speed is useful against opposing Rotoms.
I chose Discharge over Thunderbolt because I think the higher paralysis rate is more useful.
EDIT: The EV's have been changed around a bit from the previous set.
Sp.Atk is now boosted to provide some easier KO's.
EDIT:
Resister

Suicune @ Life Orb
Nature: Timid
Ability: Pressure
EV's: 4 HP / 252 Sp.Atk / 252 Speed
~Calm Mind
~Surf
~Ice Beam
~Hidden Power [Electric]

Celebi has been replaced by Suicune after some recommendations, and some testing.
The CroCune set was suggested, but from my testing the Offensive set works a lot better.
Calm Mind boosts the attacking capabilities of Suicune, and the moves counter Suicune's usual counters.
Suicune provides more synergy with the rest of the team than Celebi did.
Although I am sorry to see Celebi go, it was for the best of the team.

For reference, the previous set is contained below.

Hide

Defender #2

Celebi @ Leftovers
Nature: Bold
Ability: Natural Cure
EV's: 252 HP / 220 Def / 36 Speed
~Reflect
~Grass Knot
~Recover
~Earth Power

Celebi is here as a Gyarados resist.
It also has the ability to raise the total defense of my team, which helps Rotom out a lot.
Recover is for self-healing.
I prefer Grass Knot over Leaf Storm, due to the fact that the drop in Sp.Atk from LS isn't really welcomed on this Celebi set.
Earth Power is a surprise for Heatran, and can do some damage to many of the common threats in the OU metagame.

Main Stall Breaker

Infernape @ Life Orb
Nature: Naive
Ability: Blaze
EV's: 64 Atk / 252 Sp.Atk / 192 Speed
~Flamethrower
~Grass Knot
~Close Combat
~Hidden Power [Ice]

In my opinion, this is the best stall breaker there is in the OU metagame today.
Blisset gets blasted into orbit with one (occaisionaly 2) Close Combat(s).
Infernape is so incredibly disruptive against stall teams. that it's not funny.
The EV's allow me to outspeed other MixApes, and get some damage on them if's it's neccessary.
bxchink89 has suggested I keep the EV's like the standard MixApe set.
As far as I can tell, it's worked.

Mixed Attacker

Swampert @ Leftovers
Nature: Relaxed
Ability: Torrent
EV's: 248 HP / 216 Def / 44 Sp.Atk
~Ice Beam
~Surf
~Earthquake
~Protect

The focus of this Swampert is to provide some resistances for Scizor, and to attack and destroy the main counters of Scizor.
Ice Beam rips into any Dragon/Flying/Ground-type pokemon; Surf allows me to take care of most of Scizor's common threats, along with Earthquake, and Protect allows me to scout what the opponent is giong to do next.


The Sweeper

Scizor @ Choice Band
Nature: Adamant
Ability: Technician
EV's: 248 HP / 248 Atk / 12 Speed
~U-Turn
~Bullet Punch
~Superpower
~Pursuit

We all know who it is... The most common threat in the OU metagame is here!
My Scizor is mainly a late-game sweeper; however if the need arises it can be used earlier.
Bullet Punch helps accomodate for Scizor's mediocre base Speed stat.
Superpower and U-Turn complement Scizor well and can help Scizor force a lot of switches.
Pursuit helps deal with opposing Cresselias very well.


Here is the team record so far: 32-12 (win/loss)

As you can see, the overall record is good; but many of the losses were 3-0, 4-0, and even 5-0's.
Even with the switch of Suicune instead of Celebi, I still think there is something missing. I still need help/suggestions, so please do so.
Please rate/critique.
All image credit goes to arkeis.com.
Thanks for reading my RMT!

 

[Vapor Trails]

Potential Threats and their common answers: (From FrostFree's thread.)
Minor threats are in Orange: Major threats are in Red.

Aerodactyl: If it's a lead, I switch out to Swampert and proceed to destroy.

Azelf: Unpredictabiliy has cost me some matches when dealing with Azelf.
Most of the time, I just attack with my own.

Blissey: The fat pink blob is massacred by Infernape.

Breloom: I've never faced one but I know whne I face one it's going to be tough.
No particular stategies yet.

Bronzong: Murdered by either Azelf, Infernape or Rotom.

Celebi: Infernape or Rotom trash it.

Cresselia: Scizor normally takes care of it, but Rotom can if needed.

Dragonite: Swampert/Suicune are the preferred attackers against Dragons.

Dusknoir: Dusknoir is annying, but it's offensive power isn't great.
My new Rotom set can defeat it, but it takes time.

Electivire: Rotom burns it, and then Overheats it.

Empoleon: These are annoying but they can be defeated if I predict right.

Flygon: See Dragonite.

Forretress: Toasted by Infernape or Rotom.

Gengar: Gengars are quite annoying. Prediction is the main way to defeating these.

Gliscor: This is an easy one; Swampert easily defeats them.

Gyarados: Rotom or Suicune takes care of it.

Heatran: Infernape and Suicune/Swampert take care of it easily.

Heracross: About the easiset thing I've faced. EVER. 5 of my pokemon can easily kill it.

Hippowdon: Swampert or Celebi easily defeat it. Even Scizor can do it if needed.

Infernape: Not a major threat anymore. Suicune and Swampert handle it easily.

Jirachi: Blasted into orbit by Infernape, Rotom, or Scizor.

Jolteon: I'll take it out with Scizor, I suppose.

Kingdra: Rotom can take care of it, but it's difficult. Suicune can if needed.

Latias: Swampert/Suicune is the common switch-in.

Lucario: See Heracross.

Machamp: It depends on the set; if it's No Guard, burn it; Guts is harder, but it can be done.

Magnezone: It's annoying if it revenge kills Scizor,and that's why I try to save Scizor for late-game. Infernape normally takes it down, but if it lost Magnet Rise, Celebi can score a 2HKO.

Mamoswine: See Heracross/Lucario.

Metagross: Infernape massacres it.

Ninjask: Easily taken down by Azelf.

Porygon-Z: Scizor takes it down to the ground.

Roserade: Rotom is the preferred switch-in.

Rotoms: My own Rotom outspeeds the standard sets.
Otherwise, Scizor.

Salamence: See Dragonite/Flygon.

Scizor: Revenge killed by Infernape.

Skarmory: Rotom defeats it easily if it stays in, otherwise Infernape finishes it.

Smeargle: Never faced one.
See Breloom.

Snorlax: Much like Blissey, befor it uses Curse.

Starmie: Kind of annoying. It's become easier to take down due to the Rotom changes.

Suicune: Still a bit difficult. My own Suicune, Rotom, and Scizor handle it.

Swampert: Infernape and Scizor finish it.

Tentacruel: Kind of the same as Suicune.

Togekiss: Swampert handles it.

Tyranitar: Rotom burns it, then Infernape or Suicune finish it.

Vaporeon: Kind of the same as Tentacruel/Suicune.

Weavile: Most of the time, is OHKO'd by Infernape's Close Combat.

Zapdos: Swampert doesn't enjoy Toxic, so prediction is the key.

 

[darkfireslash]

If the typing's not an issue, why not use Dusknoir over Rotom-H? Dusknoir has Willowisp and Pain Split too, so you might want to try it out.

If celebi has another ground type option that's physical, try that over Earth Power and use Leaf Storm over Grass Knot. Also, I think SD Scizor will set up in your face and Pursuit you to death. Forretress can also do that, but it won't have Pursuit.

 

[Vapor Trails]

If the typing's not an issue, why not use Dusknoir over Rotom-H? Dusknoir has Willowisp and Pain Split too, so you might want to try it out.

The typing is an issue, and is also one of the key reasons I use Rotom-H.
Rotom is the best fit for the team I've seen, because the electric attacks were something I needed when I first built the team.

If celebi has another ground type option that's physical, try that over Earth Power and use Leaf Storm over Grass Knot. Also, I think SD Scizor will set up in your face and Pursuit you to death. Forretress can also do that, but it won't have Pursuit.

Celebi doesn't have a physical ground type option as far as I know.
If it did, i'd probably use it straightaway.
The only option I saw was Earth Power, since I needed something other than Swampert and Infernape to counter Heatran.
I stated the reasons for using Grass Knot over Leaf Storm in the description.
Thanks for the advice though.
I am debating whether to change Rotom-H to an attacking version, as it provides some easier KO's; advice on that is needed.

 

[yeoldknight]

I can't help but notice that in your threat list, half of the pokemon are dealt with by prediction and the other half are minor and major threats when they should have nothing on you. This leads me to beleive that you haven't tested your team very much.

Breloom: You shoul have found one before posting. How is it a major threat exactly?

Heracross: Swampert can take any attack from choice scarfed Heracross which is the most common type. Scizor can easily take it with Bullet Punch. Infernape and Rotom can take any non choice scarfed one with fire moves.

Lucario: My favourite pokemon. Celebi can't be OHKOd and can KO back with Earth Power. Rotom is one of the best counters. Swampert takes it easily. Scizor can handle it with BP assuming a bit of prior damage. Infernape can take any unboosted ES and KO. If you play your team right there is no way for Lucario to set up apart from Scizors Pursuit.

Mamoswine: Are you kidding? Mamoswine? Scizor, Infernape, Azelf, Swampert. Mamoswine doesnt have the best defences or typing. Any of your team can take it, outspeed it, hit is for super effective damage.

Suicune: Celebi, Rotom, Infernape all have high damaging moves. I admit Suicune isn't easy to take down for anyone but with all those pokemon you should come out on top.

Weavile: No frickin way! Scizor owns it, Swampert walls it, Infernape resists both STABs and can OHKO. What the hell is wrong with you?

Just wanted to let you know how weird your threats are. I don't beleive you've tested this team out much. I also dont beleive your win lose ratio and I think you made it up, not because its particularly good, but because I can just tell and I credit myself with being very clever so...
Expand your descriptions or this is getting locked by Haunter any minute.

 

[Left Face of Maradou]

You say that Infernape is a stallbreaker, but you have no way to defend yourself against and entry hazards, with exception to maybe a first turn Stealth Rock. I can really see well built stall teams giving you a lot of trouble. Besides Infernape, you have no mixed sweepers so things like SkarmBliss will wall you. You also lack Wish support so things will wear down.

PS: Your threat list is somewhat misleading. You say that Rotom defeats Skarmory but you have no way to actually defeat Skarmory unless it stays in against Rotom xD

 

[Vapor Trails]

I can't help but notice that in your threat list, half of the pokemon are dealt with by prediction and the other half are minor and major threats when they should have nothing on you. This leads me to beleive that you haven't tested your team very much.

Fixed.
Sorry about that, the threat list was from some other poster's thread and copied (with his permission, of course.)
I guess I forgot to edit some of the threat list for myself.
For me, entry hazards aren't that much of a problem, but can be annoying.
Toxic Spikes is the main worry, since only 2 of my pokemon are immune to Spikes/Toxic Spikes.
SR doesn't seem to be a problem, except for Infernape.
After 10 more matches, Celebi seems to be the weak link in my team.
If Celebi needs to be replaced, suggestions are welcomed.

 

[bxchink89]

Imma disagree with Left Face about the SkarmBliss combo being the bane of ur team. In this metagame, the Standard Mixape uses 192 EVs which is equivalent to ur team. So I would change the EV's to 64 Atk/ 252Speed/ 192 Sp.A. Although u lose the need edge in Sp. A, u can easily OHKO a frail opposing Infernape and beat out a Salamence after 1 Dragon Dance with 176 Speed Evs. But dude...I'm srry to say, but Salamence could srsly fck up ur team. It can stop alot of ur team members if u dont act fast and if it gets 2 DD's up (which happens alot), then nothing in ur team can counter it. Not even scizor if salamence carries Fire Blast. A Fatmence is a weird Salamence that can replace Celebi or a Crocune which can counter Dragons and be a reliable check to scizor. It is never OHKO by Magnezone due to its bulkiness and access to Calm Mind can make it a sweeper.

 

[Vapor Trails]

Imma disagree with Left Face about the SkarmBliss combo being the bane of ur team. In this metagame, the Standard Mixape uses 192 EVs which is equivalent to ur team. So I would change the EV's to 64 Atk/ 252Speed/ 192 Sp.A. Although u lose the need edge in Sp. A, u can easily OHKO a frail opposing Infernape and beat out a Salamence after 1 Dragon Dance with 176 Speed Evs.

Alright, that might help.

But dude...I'm srry to say, but Salamence could srsly fck up ur team. It can stop alot of ur team members if u dont act fast and if it gets 2 DD's up (which happens alot), then nothing in ur team can counter it. Not even scizor if salamence carries Fire Blast. A Fatmence is a weird Salamence that can replace Celebi or a Crocune which can counter Dragons and be a reliable check to scizor. It is never OHKO by Magnezone due to its bulkiness and access to Calm Mind can make it a sweeper.

So you are suggesting a CroCune?
I'll try it out and see how it works.

 

[Left Face of Maradou]

Imma disagree with Left Face about the SkarmBliss combo being the bane of ur team. In this metagame, the Standard Mixape uses 192 EVs which is equivalent to ur team. So I would change the EV's to 64 Atk/ 252Speed/ 192 Sp.A. Although u lose the need edge in Sp. A, u can easily OHKO a frail opposing Infernape and beat out a Salamence after 1 Dragon Dance with 176 Speed Evs.

I don't get it.

Salamence could srsly fck up ur team

Salamence fucks up almost every team. In fact, Salamence fucks up CroCune pretty badly. I don't understand why you think CroCune can "counter" dragons...its only damaging attack is surf.

 

[Vapor Trails]

Salamence fucks up almost every team. In fact, Salamence fucks up CroCune pretty badly. I don't understand why you think CroCune can "counter" dragons...its only damaging attack is surf.

This is why I decided to go with the Offensive set instead.
After testing different sets of Suicune I have decided the offensive set will replace Celebi.

 

[Vapor Trails]

*BUMP*
Anyone?