It's a Revolving Door of Pokemon!
a Volt-Turn team by Speed Boost
OU Top 100
At a Glance
This is a Volt-Turn Team that I have been working on since last year. It is finally to the point were I fell it is complete and I wanted to share it with you. I would say that I'm a pretty descent battler. This team has gotten me into into the Top 100 on the Showdown Ladder. However, for me it isn't about rankings. I test teams on the same account I ladder on. I just enjoy competing and this team suits the way I like to play to perfection. Even though the team itself might not be perfect. I would be honored if you guys would give it a try and tell me what you think.
Hidoran (Heatran) (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Flash Fire
EVs: 248 HP / 100 SDef / 160 Spd
Calm Nature (+SDef, -Atk)
- Stealth Rock
- Lava Plume
- Toxic
- Roar
Heatran has a few different roles he can play depending on the what type of match up the opponent's team presents. It's most important job against almost every team is to setup Stealth Rocks. Lava Plume allows Heatran to take on other steel types, and to fish for burns on predicted switches. Toxic is a more consistent method of inflicting status to get passive damage on the opponents Pokemon. Roar allows me to break up Baton Pass, and cripple Pokemon weak to Stealth Rock. Its also great against setup sweepers. Dragonite, for instance, will scare out most Heatran with the threat of an Earthquake, and 90% of the time they will Dragon Dance on that predicted switch only to be roared out when I stay in instead. This is a very effective strategy, particularly the first time you use it in a match. Heatran will typically lead against Drought teams. Since he almost always will be facing a Ninetales he can setup rocks and start phazing with Roar. Holding the Air Balloon it can take on Volcarona with HP Ground and other Heatran. Against other teams Heatran is primarily a defensive pivot that sets up Rocks and inflicts status as often as possible.
EDIT: Testing leftovers recommended by CZ. for more staying power to keep rocks up against Drought teams, Volcarona and Gyarados.
Rotomu (Rotom-W) @ Leftovers
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 168 HP / 252 SAtk / 88 Spd
Modest Nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Volt Switch
- Hydro Pump
- Hidden Power [Grass]
- Pain Split
Rotom Wash is definitely one of my favorite Pokemon of the Black and White metagame. Its is also the first part of my three Pokemon Volt-Turn core. I have a hard time creating an OU team without this Pokemon. That being said, I rarely need to create a new team, because of how much I love battling with this one. This is a slightly more bulky version of the "Bulky Attacker" set here on Smogon. It allows me to spung more attacks against Drizzle teams than the standard set, and it gives it a better chance of getting off a Pain Split. Even with the added bulk I routinely will have to fodder of Gliscor or Heatran against Drizzle teams to get switch initiative. Volt-Switch is there to allow me to continue to put pressure on the opponent while maintaining switch initiative. Hydro Pump to lets me poke holes in the opponents team and force switches. I choose Hidden Power Grass instead of more common Ice or Fire, because I already have two fire types, and Infernape is running HP Ice. Also, Rotom is completely walled by the likes of Swampert, Gastrodon and the random Quagsire so it seems to make more sense. Especially, because most people run Hidden Power Ice/Fire or Wil-O-Wisp on the standard set. I rarely see someone predict the HP Grass even when I switch in on one of these Water/Ground Pokemon.
Kinogassa (Breloom) (F) @ Toxic Orb
Trait: Poison Heal
EVs: 12 HP / 244 Atk / 252 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Spore
- Seed Bomb
- Focus Punch
- Substitute
Sub-Punch Breloom is a monster on this team. I think this is because the Volt-Turn core of Rotom, Scizor and Infernape applies pressure that forcing switches into bulkier Pokemon that are to typically slow. These Pokemon are to slow to threaten Breloom before he can put them to sleep with a Spore. In turn, the pressure of a predicted Spore allows Breloom to get a free Sub and then Spore or attack whatever the opponent brings in on the switch. When Breloom is behind a Sub with Poison Heal activated it is a hard Pokemon to deal with. It isn't surprising when it KOs 2-3 Pokes in a match, because it happens so frequently. Seed Bomb is my coverage move of choice for know. Although, I have given some thought to exchanging it for Stone Edge to help Breloom against Gliscor, but 75% accuracy just isn't acceptable. It comes up to small, to frequently at the worst times. Focus Punch Wrecks Shit All Day, Every Day! Move Bitch, Get Out The Way! I love the way the Breloom fits into the offensive flow of this team. It doesn't have any stat boosting moves, its not fast, but it is my setup sweeper. It is also far superior to the Bulk Up version I started with.
Guraion (Gliscor) (F) @ Toxic Orb
Trait: Poison Heal
EVs: 252 HP / 160 Def / 96 Spd
Impish Nature (+Def, -SAtk)
- Earthquake
- Toxic
- Substitute
- Protect
Gliscor is a physical tank if there ever was one. Even super-effective hits on the physical side rarely take it down in two hits. When you combine its fantastic physical bulk with Poison Heal and Protect you get the best physical wall in the game. Being able to shrug off stone edges and close combats with relative ease has benefits other than making Gliscor a great defensive pivot. That bulk frequently allows it to get off multiple Sword Dances and sweep through weakened and unprepared teams. Earthquake is the STAB of choice while Ice Fang provides coverage and the occasional flinch hax. This set can take most physical attackers one on one if Gliscor hasn't been badly weakened earlier in the battle. For instance, if Conkeldurr comes in after I KO one the opponents other Pokemon I can switch in Gilscor, start Swords Dancing and most of the time I can win that one on one. The same hold true for DD Dragonite and Salamence.
EDIT: Testing Sub/Toxic Gyarados set recommended by Jimbon to help combat my weakness to Gyarados.
Hassamu (Scizor) (M) @ Choice Band
Trait: Technician
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- U-turn
- Bullet Punch
- Pursuit/Quick Attack
- Superpower
The second member of my Volt-Turn core. It is hard not to make a team with the Scizor and Rotom core these days. There offensive synergy is top notch. Scizor is one of those pokemon that takes some skill to use effectively. When I first started playing competitive Pokemon I knew Scizor was a good Pokemon, but I had trouble using it effectively. Now I see what a well timed U-Turn can do for the momentum of a battle. I see that I can trap Gengar, Latio, Latias and Alakazam with Pursuit. I see that Bullet Punch can clean up everything that is left once the steel and water types are gone. In the rare case I have to fire off a Superpower, I see that shit too! Scizor allows me to put major pressure on one of the biggest treats in today's metagame, Terrakion. Since Terrakion has to respect the Bullet Punch or be OHKO'd it allows me to fire off U-Turns on the predicted switch keeping the all important switch initiative in my favor. This is what make Scizor #1. Scizor has great offensive synergy with Rotom and Infernape. Lets say Terrakion is in against my Scizor. I can threaten it out with Bullet Punch as previously mentioned. The opponent is obviously going to try to bring in a Pokemon that can take a Bullet Punch or U-Turn well. If they bring in a Steel type Scizor can U-Turn out to Infernape. However, if they bring out a water type Scizor can U-Turn out to Rotom, and because both Rotom and Infernape have Volt-Turning moves this pressure can continue if the opponent isn't able to counter. It you couple this with there great variety of coverage, Scizor and Rotoms bulk, and Infernapes speed and ability to hit from both sides you get an offensive core that is very fun to use.
EDIT: Testing Quick Attack over Superpower or Pursuit to help with weaknesses to Gyarados and Volcarona. This was recommended by Alice.
Gokazaru (Infernape) (M) @ Choice Scarf
Trait: Blaze
EVs: 108 Atk / 148 SAtk / 252 Spd
Naive Nature (+Spd, -SDef)
- Fire Blast
- Close Combat
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- U-turn
Last but not least by any stretch of the imagination, is the third member of the Volt-Turn core, the "glue" to my team. Previous versions of this team all had the other five Pokemon, but this sixth slot has seen a few different faces. It wasn't until I tried this set that I felt like I finally had the right Poke. Scarfed Infernape is usually the fastest Pokemon on the battle field. Fire Blast gives Infernape a powerful special attack with STAB. Close Combat give him a powerful physical attack with STAB. This sets ability to hit hard and fast from both sides is what makes it so great. Hidden Power Ice is the perfect coverage move. Holding the Choice Scarf Infernape can out sped an OHKO +1 DD Salamence with HP Ice. It can stay in on the predicted DD from Dragonite and 2HKO. It can OHKO Landorus and Gliscor as well. Another great thing about this set is its surprise value. There aren't a lot of people using it so your opponents don't see the HP Ice coming more often than not. U-Turn rounds out this set nicely, keeping that momentum going on the predicted switch.
Importable:
a Volt-Turn team by Speed Boost
OU Top 100
At a Glance
This is a Volt-Turn Team that I have been working on since last year. It is finally to the point were I fell it is complete and I wanted to share it with you. I would say that I'm a pretty descent battler. This team has gotten me into into the Top 100 on the Showdown Ladder. However, for me it isn't about rankings. I test teams on the same account I ladder on. I just enjoy competing and this team suits the way I like to play to perfection. Even though the team itself might not be perfect. I would be honored if you guys would give it a try and tell me what you think.
Hidoran (Heatran) (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Flash Fire
EVs: 248 HP / 100 SDef / 160 Spd
Calm Nature (+SDef, -Atk)
- Stealth Rock
- Lava Plume
- Toxic
- Roar
Heatran has a few different roles he can play depending on the what type of match up the opponent's team presents. It's most important job against almost every team is to setup Stealth Rocks. Lava Plume allows Heatran to take on other steel types, and to fish for burns on predicted switches. Toxic is a more consistent method of inflicting status to get passive damage on the opponents Pokemon. Roar allows me to break up Baton Pass, and cripple Pokemon weak to Stealth Rock. Its also great against setup sweepers. Dragonite, for instance, will scare out most Heatran with the threat of an Earthquake, and 90% of the time they will Dragon Dance on that predicted switch only to be roared out when I stay in instead. This is a very effective strategy, particularly the first time you use it in a match. Heatran will typically lead against Drought teams. Since he almost always will be facing a Ninetales he can setup rocks and start phazing with Roar. Holding the Air Balloon it can take on Volcarona with HP Ground and other Heatran. Against other teams Heatran is primarily a defensive pivot that sets up Rocks and inflicts status as often as possible.
EDIT: Testing leftovers recommended by CZ. for more staying power to keep rocks up against Drought teams, Volcarona and Gyarados.
Rotomu (Rotom-W) @ Leftovers
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 168 HP / 252 SAtk / 88 Spd
Modest Nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Volt Switch
- Hydro Pump
- Hidden Power [Grass]
- Pain Split
Rotom Wash is definitely one of my favorite Pokemon of the Black and White metagame. Its is also the first part of my three Pokemon Volt-Turn core. I have a hard time creating an OU team without this Pokemon. That being said, I rarely need to create a new team, because of how much I love battling with this one. This is a slightly more bulky version of the "Bulky Attacker" set here on Smogon. It allows me to spung more attacks against Drizzle teams than the standard set, and it gives it a better chance of getting off a Pain Split. Even with the added bulk I routinely will have to fodder of Gliscor or Heatran against Drizzle teams to get switch initiative. Volt-Switch is there to allow me to continue to put pressure on the opponent while maintaining switch initiative. Hydro Pump to lets me poke holes in the opponents team and force switches. I choose Hidden Power Grass instead of more common Ice or Fire, because I already have two fire types, and Infernape is running HP Ice. Also, Rotom is completely walled by the likes of Swampert, Gastrodon and the random Quagsire so it seems to make more sense. Especially, because most people run Hidden Power Ice/Fire or Wil-O-Wisp on the standard set. I rarely see someone predict the HP Grass even when I switch in on one of these Water/Ground Pokemon.
Kinogassa (Breloom) (F) @ Toxic Orb
Trait: Poison Heal
EVs: 12 HP / 244 Atk / 252 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Spore
- Seed Bomb
- Focus Punch
- Substitute
Sub-Punch Breloom is a monster on this team. I think this is because the Volt-Turn core of Rotom, Scizor and Infernape applies pressure that forcing switches into bulkier Pokemon that are to typically slow. These Pokemon are to slow to threaten Breloom before he can put them to sleep with a Spore. In turn, the pressure of a predicted Spore allows Breloom to get a free Sub and then Spore or attack whatever the opponent brings in on the switch. When Breloom is behind a Sub with Poison Heal activated it is a hard Pokemon to deal with. It isn't surprising when it KOs 2-3 Pokes in a match, because it happens so frequently. Seed Bomb is my coverage move of choice for know. Although, I have given some thought to exchanging it for Stone Edge to help Breloom against Gliscor, but 75% accuracy just isn't acceptable. It comes up to small, to frequently at the worst times. Focus Punch Wrecks Shit All Day, Every Day! Move Bitch, Get Out The Way! I love the way the Breloom fits into the offensive flow of this team. It doesn't have any stat boosting moves, its not fast, but it is my setup sweeper. It is also far superior to the Bulk Up version I started with.
Guraion (Gliscor) (F) @ Toxic Orb
Trait: Poison Heal
EVs: 252 HP / 160 Def / 96 Spd
Impish Nature (+Def, -SAtk)
- Earthquake
- Toxic
- Substitute
- Protect
Gliscor is a physical tank if there ever was one. Even super-effective hits on the physical side rarely take it down in two hits. When you combine its fantastic physical bulk with Poison Heal and Protect you get the best physical wall in the game. Being able to shrug off stone edges and close combats with relative ease has benefits other than making Gliscor a great defensive pivot. That bulk frequently allows it to get off multiple Sword Dances and sweep through weakened and unprepared teams. Earthquake is the STAB of choice while Ice Fang provides coverage and the occasional flinch hax. This set can take most physical attackers one on one if Gliscor hasn't been badly weakened earlier in the battle. For instance, if Conkeldurr comes in after I KO one the opponents other Pokemon I can switch in Gilscor, start Swords Dancing and most of the time I can win that one on one. The same hold true for DD Dragonite and Salamence.
EDIT: Testing Sub/Toxic Gyarados set recommended by Jimbon to help combat my weakness to Gyarados.
Hassamu (Scizor) (M) @ Choice Band
Trait: Technician
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- U-turn
- Bullet Punch
- Pursuit/Quick Attack
- Superpower
The second member of my Volt-Turn core. It is hard not to make a team with the Scizor and Rotom core these days. There offensive synergy is top notch. Scizor is one of those pokemon that takes some skill to use effectively. When I first started playing competitive Pokemon I knew Scizor was a good Pokemon, but I had trouble using it effectively. Now I see what a well timed U-Turn can do for the momentum of a battle. I see that I can trap Gengar, Latio, Latias and Alakazam with Pursuit. I see that Bullet Punch can clean up everything that is left once the steel and water types are gone. In the rare case I have to fire off a Superpower, I see that shit too! Scizor allows me to put major pressure on one of the biggest treats in today's metagame, Terrakion. Since Terrakion has to respect the Bullet Punch or be OHKO'd it allows me to fire off U-Turns on the predicted switch keeping the all important switch initiative in my favor. This is what make Scizor #1. Scizor has great offensive synergy with Rotom and Infernape. Lets say Terrakion is in against my Scizor. I can threaten it out with Bullet Punch as previously mentioned. The opponent is obviously going to try to bring in a Pokemon that can take a Bullet Punch or U-Turn well. If they bring in a Steel type Scizor can U-Turn out to Infernape. However, if they bring out a water type Scizor can U-Turn out to Rotom, and because both Rotom and Infernape have Volt-Turning moves this pressure can continue if the opponent isn't able to counter. It you couple this with there great variety of coverage, Scizor and Rotoms bulk, and Infernapes speed and ability to hit from both sides you get an offensive core that is very fun to use.
EDIT: Testing Quick Attack over Superpower or Pursuit to help with weaknesses to Gyarados and Volcarona. This was recommended by Alice.
Gokazaru (Infernape) (M) @ Choice Scarf
Trait: Blaze
EVs: 108 Atk / 148 SAtk / 252 Spd
Naive Nature (+Spd, -SDef)
- Fire Blast
- Close Combat
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- U-turn
Last but not least by any stretch of the imagination, is the third member of the Volt-Turn core, the "glue" to my team. Previous versions of this team all had the other five Pokemon, but this sixth slot has seen a few different faces. It wasn't until I tried this set that I felt like I finally had the right Poke. Scarfed Infernape is usually the fastest Pokemon on the battle field. Fire Blast gives Infernape a powerful special attack with STAB. Close Combat give him a powerful physical attack with STAB. This sets ability to hit hard and fast from both sides is what makes it so great. Hidden Power Ice is the perfect coverage move. Holding the Choice Scarf Infernape can out sped an OHKO +1 DD Salamence with HP Ice. It can stay in on the predicted DD from Dragonite and 2HKO. It can OHKO Landorus and Gliscor as well. Another great thing about this set is its surprise value. There aren't a lot of people using it so your opponents don't see the HP Ice coming more often than not. U-Turn rounds out this set nicely, keeping that momentum going on the predicted switch.
Importable:
Hidoran (Heatran) (M) @ Air Balloon
Trait: Flash Fire
EVs: 248 HP / 100 SDef / 160 Spd
Calm Nature (+SDef, -Atk)
- Stealth Rock
- Lava Plume
- Toxic
- Roar
Rotomu (Rotom-W) @ Leftovers
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 168 HP / 252 SAtk / 88 Spd
Modest Nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Volt Switch
- Hydro Pump
- Hidden Power [Grass]
- Pain Split
Kinogassa (Breloom) (F) @ Toxic Orb
Trait: Poison Heal
EVs: 12 HP / 244 Atk / 252 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Spore
- Seed Bomb
- Focus Punch
- Substitute
Guraion (Gliscor) (F) @ Toxic Orb
Trait: Poison Heal
EVs: 252 HP / 184 Def / 72 Spd
Impish Nature (+Def, -SAtk)
- Earthquake
- Ice Fang
- Swords Dance
- Protect
Hassamu (Scizor) (M) @ Choice Band
Trait: Technician
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- U-turn
- Bullet Punch
- Pursuit
- Superpower
Gokazaru (Infernape) (M) @ Choice Scarf
Trait: Blaze
EVs: 108 Atk / 148 SAtk / 252 Spd
Naive Nature (+Spd, -SDef)
- Fire Blast
- Close Combat
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- U-turn
Trait: Flash Fire
EVs: 248 HP / 100 SDef / 160 Spd
Calm Nature (+SDef, -Atk)
- Stealth Rock
- Lava Plume
- Toxic
- Roar
Rotomu (Rotom-W) @ Leftovers
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 168 HP / 252 SAtk / 88 Spd
Modest Nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Volt Switch
- Hydro Pump
- Hidden Power [Grass]
- Pain Split
Kinogassa (Breloom) (F) @ Toxic Orb
Trait: Poison Heal
EVs: 12 HP / 244 Atk / 252 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Spore
- Seed Bomb
- Focus Punch
- Substitute
Guraion (Gliscor) (F) @ Toxic Orb
Trait: Poison Heal
EVs: 252 HP / 184 Def / 72 Spd
Impish Nature (+Def, -SAtk)
- Earthquake
- Ice Fang
- Swords Dance
- Protect
Hassamu (Scizor) (M) @ Choice Band
Trait: Technician
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- U-turn
- Bullet Punch
- Pursuit
- Superpower
Gokazaru (Infernape) (M) @ Choice Scarf
Trait: Blaze
EVs: 108 Atk / 148 SAtk / 252 Spd
Naive Nature (+Spd, -SDef)
- Fire Blast
- Close Combat
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- U-turn
