SS OU Kartana OU

[amogus]

Hi, this is one of my first teams, and it has worked ok for me, but I think it could have some blind spots I'm not seeing, namely fairy and ice type coverage moves.

https://pokepast.es/e026323cca1d6e83


Zapdos @ Leftovers
Ability: Static
EVs: 252 HP / 184 Def / 72 Spe
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Discharge
- Heat Wave
- Defog
- Roost

Coverage for a number of pocket monsters, including Corviknight, Tornadus-T, Celesteela, Ferrothorn, etc. as well as Water types like Tapu Fini, Toxapex, Urshifu, Barraskewda. Also covers bulky Grass types like bulky Tangrowth, and Amogus, but only when the imposter is being sus.

Kartana @ Life Orb
Ability: Beast Boost
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
- Swords Dance
- Sacred Sword
- Leaf Blade
- Smart Strike

My intended later-game sweeper. Smart strike for Tapu Koko. Need the Life Orb so I am not limited to one move by scarf or band. Not fast but the high physical atk + beast boost and the typing made me pick. Maybe switch for a priority sweeper like belly drum Azumarill.

Gastrodon-East @ Leftovers
Ability: Storm Drain
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpA
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Ice Beam
- Protect
- Toxic
- Scald

Physically defensive wall. Ice Beam for Landorus-T, Hydreigon, and Dragapult. Coverage for fire types like Charizard, Heatran.

Heatran @ Leftovers
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 252 HP / 128 SpD / 128 Spe
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Magma Storm
- Earth Power
- Taunt
- Stealth Rock

Like Zapdos, Heatran is also coverage for steel-type walls that give Kartana trouble. I think it could also check opposing Zapdos as well with Magma Storm, and Tapu Koko due to Earth Power.

Hatterene @ Leftovers
Ability: Magic Bounce
EVs: 252 HP / 128 Def / 128 SpD
Quiet Nature
IVs: 0 Atk / 0 Spe
- Aromatherapy
- Dazzling Gleam
- Giga Drain
- Psyshock

I'm not sure if this is a good pick but I put it in to try to balance things. It covers Dragon types like Dragapult, Hydreigon, Garchomp. Also has Aromatherapy. I think I might switch for a hazard setter like Landorus-T or a wall like Ferrothorn, but I think I need fairy types so I put it here.

Blaziken (F) @ Focus Sash
Ability: Speed Boost
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Blaze Kick
- Close Combat
- Swords Dance
- Thunder Punch

Wall breaker for Toxapex, Ferrothorn. I think it could be a revenge killer with Close Combat and also another potential sweeper with Swords Dance + Speed Boost. Maybe switch for a Talonflame, but talonflame is very weak to rock.


thanks very much

 

[Fc]

Hi welcome to smogon. I think this team has a solid foundation to it, I think the first 4 mons are alright together and can cover quite a bit, but the last 2 are fairly mediocre mons that need specific support I don't think the team has, so I think changing those 2 and fixing up a few sets will help quite a bit.

Major Changes:
-->
One offensive fairy to the next, I think Calm Mind Clefable is a much better fit for this team. One important thing is that it almost always dodges a 2HKO from Specs Dragapult Shadow Ball, something that the team somewhat struggles to take on since Heatran can't do anything back. Leftovers > Life Orb to make that roll much more in Clef's favour, and since there's another rocker offensive seems like the play. It's a stronger fairy after boosting as well, strong coverage you said was lacking from the original one since Dgleam hatt isn't the strongest thing out there.

Set

Clefable @ Leftovers
Ability: Magic Guard
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
- Calm Mind
- Moonblast
- Soft-Boiled
- Thunderbolt

-->
I don't think Blaziken is that good rn, and especially on a balance like this it won't get many chances to set up and actually break meaningfully. Alternatively, with the team being built around SD Kartana I think Rillaboom is the starter of choice to go with here. Choice banded has insane power, and Kartana can SD to break down walls like Corviknight and chipped Zapdos/Moltres enough for Rillaboom to clean later on. They synergize extremely well, and I think it's a better physically offensive presence here.

Set

Rillaboom @ Choice Band
Ability: Grassy Surge
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Knock Off
- U-turn
- Grassy Glide
- Wood Hammer

Minor Changes:

-->
EV Spread Change

Since Zapdos is weak to rocks and is the only defog mon, Boots will always be a better choice as an item to leftovers. It increases its longevity a ton and improves the mon a lot overall. The EV spread is changed to the standard one on the dex, it has enough speed for Adamant Rillaboom and then the rest is just Phys.Def like normal.

Set

Zapdos @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Static
EVs: 248 HP / 220 Def / 40 Spe
Timid Nature
- Discharge
- Roost
- Heat Wave
- Defog

Smart Strike --> Knock Off
This one is more optional since there isn't an always better option, but I think Knock Off typically provides better support than Smart Strike. Pretty much every fairy is getting dropped by +2 Leaf Blade already especially in terrain, and knocking items is really good especially for Rillaboom if you make that change. Kartana also didn't have a nature in the paste which I'm assuming was a mistake, but Jolly nature on it is best.


Ice Beam --> Recover
Protect --> Earthquake
Optional but preferred: Storm Drain --> Sticky Hold
Gastrodon 100% of the time needs recover, the defenses don't matter if it can't sustain itself over time. Earth Power is just standard strong STAB which is chosen over Earthquake since that is weakened by grassy terrain, and protect doesn't benefit it a ton. The team already has some solid anti water mons with grass spam, so absorbing Knock off and Clefable Trick could be very important with Sticky Hold as well.

Set

Gastrodon-East @ Leftovers
Ability: Sticky Hold
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Relaxed Nature
- Scald
- Earth Power
- Recover
- Toxic

Updated RMT (pokepast.es)
Here's the updated paste, cool looking team. The core 4 at the beginning were really interesting to try and work around, and I think just changing up the fairy and the physical breaker in the last two slots could go a long way, hope it does well for you if you try it out!

 

[amogus]

Hi welcome to smogon. I think this team has a solid foundation to it, I think the first 4 mons are alright together and can cover quite a bit, but the last 2 are fairly mediocre mons that need specific support I don't think the team has, so I think changing those 2 and fixing up a few sets will help quite a bit.

Major Changes:
-->
One offensive fairy to the next, I think Calm Mind Clefable is a much better fit for this team. One important thing is that it almost always dodges a 2HKO from Specs Dragapult Shadow Ball, something that the team somewhat struggles to take on since Heatran can't do anything back. Leftovers > Life Orb to make that roll much more in Clef's favour, and since there's another rocker offensive seems like the play. It's a stronger fairy after boosting as well, strong coverage you said was lacking from the original one since Dgleam hatt isn't the strongest thing out there.

Set

Clefable @ Leftovers
Ability: Magic Guard
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
- Calm Mind
- Moonblast
- Soft-Boiled
- Thunderbolt

-->
I don't think Blaziken is that good rn, and especially on a balance like this it won't get many chances to set up and actually break meaningfully. Alternatively, with the team being built around SD Kartana I think Rillaboom is the starter of choice to go with here. Choice banded has insane power, and Kartana can SD to break down walls like Corviknight and chipped Zapdos/Moltres enough for Rillaboom to clean later on. They synergize extremely well, and I think it's a better physically offensive presence here.

Set

Rillaboom @ Choice Band
Ability: Grassy Surge
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Knock Off
- U-turn
- Grassy Glide
- Wood Hammer

Minor Changes:

-->
EV Spread Change

Since Zapdos is weak to rocks and is the only defog mon, Boots will always be a better choice as an item to leftovers. It increases its longevity a ton and improves the mon a lot overall. The EV spread is changed to the standard one on the dex, it has enough speed for Adamant Rillaboom and then the rest is just Phys.Def like normal.

Set

Zapdos @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Static
EVs: 248 HP / 220 Def / 40 Spe
Timid Nature
- Discharge
- Roost
- Heat Wave
- Defog

Smart Strike --> Knock Off
This one is more optional since there isn't an always better option, but I think Knock Off typically provides better support than Smart Strike. Pretty much every fairy is getting dropped by +2 Leaf Blade already especially in terrain, and knocking items is really good especially for Rillaboom if you make that change. Kartana also didn't have a nature in the paste which I'm assuming was a mistake, but Jolly nature on it is best.


Ice Beam --> Recover
Protect --> Earthquake
Optional but preferred: Storm Drain --> Sticky Hold
Gastrodon 100% of the time needs recover, the defenses don't matter if it can't sustain itself over time. Earth Power is just standard strong STAB which is chosen over Earthquake since that is weakened by grassy terrain, and protect doesn't benefit it a ton. The team already has some solid anti water mons with grass spam, so absorbing Knock off and Clefable Trick could be very important with Sticky Hold as well.

Set

Gastrodon-East @ Leftovers
Ability: Sticky Hold
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Relaxed Nature
- Scald
- Earth Power
- Recover
- Toxic

Updated RMT (pokepast.es)
Here's the updated paste, cool looking team. The core 4 at the beginning were really interesting to try and work around, and I think just changing up the fairy and the physical breaker in the last two slots could go a long way, hope it does well for you if you try it out!

thanks a lot!