Kite Flying (OU)

[Gem]

■■■■■Kite Flying ■■■■■​

‘Kite Flying’ is an OU team based around Gyarados and Jolteon. This team tries to take advantage of their great synergy while simultaneously wearing the opponent’s team down. This team has a bulky offensive build made by some of the several hard hitters in OU. I tried using some sets I’ve never tried out before, such as the variation of a standard Heatran’s lead set, or using Choice Specs Jolteon. So far, this team has won several battles, only losing a few times in between. Not only that, but it’s very funny to play with. Feel free to rate or criticize anything you may disagree with on this team.

Team Specs
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• All Pokemon (barring Gyarados) are hit neutrally or for ineffective damage by Stealth Rock

• Two Pokemon are hit by Toxic Spikes

• Four Pokemon are hit by Spikes

• Every type (barring Rock) is resisted at least twice

• Three Choice Pokemon are used on this team

• One form of entry hazard is used

At a Glance
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A Closer Look​

Heatran @ Shuca Berry

Timid (+Spe/-Atk)
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EVs: 252 SpA252 Spe/4HP
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~Magma Storm
~Earth Power
~Taunt
~Stealth Rock

Why Heatran?

I first saw this set used on another team in Smogon’s ‘Rate My Team’ section. After a while, I decided to test it. It has functioned as one of the best leads I’ve ever used since. The set is a slightly different take on a lead Heatran’s set modified to act more as an anti-lead. Magma Storm has horrific accuracy, but destroys most Focus Sash users. Taunt seems odd on something as slow as Heatran, but with it I can stop Metagross, Bronzong, and Swampert leads from ever setting up their own Stealth Rocks. Earth Power rounds out the set as a more accurate solution to 2HKOing Metagross and can also hurt other Heatran.

VS. Common Leads

■ Usually accomplishes its task
■ Can have a few problems with accomplishing its task, but can somewhat accomplish it most of the time
■ The lead is not able to accomplish its task

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Azelf: If Magma Storm doesn’t miss, Azelf will meet a swift death.
Metagross: Taunt, maybe set up Stealth Rock, and Magma Storm or Earth Power it to death.
Heatran: Speed ties with it will be a pain, but if I win most of them, I will usually come out in the end.
Gliscor: Most will either Earthquake or Taunt. I can hit it very hard with Magma Storm, but usually I’ll have to switch out.
Roserade: Switch out to Machamp to absorb Sleep Powder, then come back in and kill it with Magma Storm.
Mamoswine: Shuca Berry does not prevent the OHKO from Earthquake. I’m usually forced to switch out.
Swampert: Taunt and Stealth Rock. I will usually switch out to Gyarados and threaten to start setting up.
Infernape: I am usually forced to switch out to Latias or Gyarados because Close Combat can OHKO.
Jirachi: While Thunder Wave can be annoying, Magma Storm destroys every single form of lead Jirachi.
Hippowdon: Taunt and Stealth Rock. I will usually switch out to Gyarados and threaten to start setting up.

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Gyarados @ Leftovers

Adamant (+Atk/-SpA)
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EVs: 156 HP/72 Atk/96 Def/184 Spe
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~Taunt
~Dragon Dance
~Return
~Waterfall

Why Gyarados?

Bulky Gyarados synergizes perfectly with this team. It not only presents itself as a threatening sweeper, but a deterrent to set-up sweepers and stall as well. Gyarados works very well with Jolteon, who can scout for Blissey and other walls for which Gyarados can set-up on. While this Gyarados may not hit as nearly as hard as an offensive variant, its ability to live much longer than those variants outweighs the power and speed offensive Gyarados supply. Gyarados usually acts more as a wall than sweeper in the earlier phases of a battle; but as the battle progresses, Gyarados will be finding itself more as sweeper who can easily pick off weakened Pokemon.

Jolteon @ Choice Specs

Timid (+Spe/-Atk)
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EVs: 252 Spe/252 SpA/4 Def
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~Thunderbolt
~Hidden Power (Grass, 70)
~Shadow Ball
~Baton Pass

Why Jolteon?

Jolteon may seem slightly out of place in a team full of naturally bulky Pokemon, but it fits in perfectly. Not only does it rid my team if its annoying Rotom-A weakness, but it synergizes well with Gyarados; forming the infamous ‘GyaraJolt’ combination. Jolteon is useful for dealing quick bursts of damage to the opponent or scouting for Blissey and other walls. Jolteon works very much in the same way as Latias does; the two help break down the opponent’s team easily and work as great counters to several threatening Pokemon. With them out of the way, Gyarados can begin to sweep.

Latias @ Choice Scarf

Timid (+Spe/-Atk)
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EVs: 4HP/252 Spe/252 SpA
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~Draco Meteor
~Thunderbolt
~Surf
~Trick

Why Latias?

With a Choice Scarf, Latias become a utility counter to several notable threats, such as Choice Scarf Heatran or Dragon Dance Salamence. Latias is so essential to this team that if it were to be knocked out carelessly in the beginning of the battle, I’d likely not be able to recover from it. However, fortunately, Latias plays with a hit-and-run style. While it may not be living too long anyway with Scizor and Tyranitar prowling around, the ability to use Latias later in the game to absolutely nuke something with a Draco Meteor or cripple a wall makes this set very appealing.

Machamp @ Leftovers

Adamant (+Atk/-SpA)
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EVs: 252HP/252 Atk/4 Spe
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~Dynamic Punch
~Payback
~Rest
~Sleep Talk

Why Machamp?

Like Jolteon, Machamp seems a little out of place. While all the other members on the team are heavy hitters, this Machamp variant is used more as a bulky status absorber that also doubles as a utility counter. Being one of my better counters for Tyranitar or Blissey, Machamp has to run a set that can recover off damage while scaring off these threats. Of course, the Rest Talk set straight off Smogon’s analysis on Machamp seemed to fit that request the best. Machamp, oddly enough, is not seen too often during the early phases of a battle. It is usually kept hidden until an opponent reveals a Blissey or any Pokemon it counters appears. Once Machamp gets on the field, it causes utter mayhem. Dynamic Punch is nice to spam with because even Machamp’s ‘counters’ may likely end up hurting themselves.

Scizor @ Choice Band

Adamant (+Atk/-Spa)
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EVs: 248 HP/252 Atk/8 Spe
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~U-turn
~Bullet Punch
~Superpower
~Pursuit

Why Scizor?

A better question to ask instead would be, “Why NOT Scizor?” Scizor can be seen on literally all of my teams as a good source of priority and a good counter for Salamence and Tyranitar. Being a scout also helps to wear down an opponent’s threats. Scizor picks off weakened sweepers and can even be frightening to most Pokemon even at full HP. Without Scizor, this team can easily fall apart because it is my only safe counter to Latias and is my secondary counter to most Tyranitar. Although I wouldn’t call Scizor the most valuable player on this team, it’s pretty close to it.

Changes

-Running Stone Edge over Return on Gyarados

 

[reyscarface]

Hello! Nice team and nice presentation buddy.

First of all, your team looks well built and solid, with not many things troubling you at first sight. We can replace some movesets here and there though and make the pokes work better at what you want them to do.

First change, remove Return on Gyarados for Stone Edge. Stone Edge allows Gyarados to dipose of Flying-types such as Zapdos, Salamence, and various others. Return gives good neutral coverage, yes, but in this metagame you will need much more than that, since if you get a DD and a Salamence comes in, you're basically forced to switch out because you cant hurt it at all, same applies to Gyarados and even Zapdos. For this reason I think a better move to have there is Stone Edge. Not only it helps you hit the aforementioned threats, but also gives you pretty good neutral coverage and its better to do a quick sweep and threaten the opponent.

Next, Specs Jolteon hits hard but its too much of set-up fodder for it to work correctly. Being locked into Thunderbolt makes you become set-up fodder for ground types like Gliscor, since they can Swords Dance or Toxic a switch-in and proceed to stall with Taunt, Swampert and Hippowdon, which can Curse and get SR up, and pretty much everything that resists its STAB attack. Locked into Shadow Ball means Steel types like Lucario, Scizor and Magnezone have no worries at all, and locked with HP Grass is just calling Salamence and again, Steel types to sweep you. Instead of that set, which indeed hits hard, you can use a Full offensive Charge Beam set. After one boost you have the same power as the Specs set, but you keep the ability to shift moves and threaten more things than the ones that fer Thunderbolts. The set if you are interested is:

Jolteon @ Leftovers / Life Orb | Volt Absorb
Timid | 4 HP / 252 Spe / 252 SpAtk
Thunderbolt | Charge Beam | HP Grass | Shadow Ball

This set is very versatile and can hit very hard after one single boost. HP Grass says bye to things like Swampert and Hippowdon that may want to stop you, and its chosen over HP Ice because you already hit Salamence and Dragonite very hard with boosted Thunderbolt, and Shadow Ball hits Latias. Shadow Ball also hits Rotom, which is something you wanted. The item pick is pretty much what you like more. Leftovers is good to stand up more time, and possibly stop being revenged by Extremespeed from Lucario or Bullet Punch from Scizor. Life Orb works well too if you manage to get on an electric attack because the recoils will be healed, and it allows you to, at +1, OHKO max HP Rotom after Stealth Rock, OHKO Standard Latias 41% of the time after SR, OHKO 248 HP and 160 SpDef Scizor 60% of the time after SR, and the list goes on, but you lose survability. The EVs are self explanatory, max / max for offensive power.

Lastly, on Scizor, you mentioned his purpose is "picks off weakened sweepers and can even be frightening to most Pokemon even at full HP. Without Scizor, this team can easily fall apart because it is my only safe counter to Latias and is my secondary counter to most Tyranitar", and to accomplish this you are better off with a Trapper set. This set will allow you to trap Tyranitar, Latias, Rotom, Gengar, and company much much easier thanks to the added bulk, and it also adds you a lot of staying power because of the resistances Scizor has and the recovery move Roost. It will also still revenge most threats like Salamence at 55%~, a Tyranitar after SR, etc. The set is:

Scizor @ Life Orb | Technician
Adamant | 248 HP / 56 Atk / 180 SpD / 24 Spe
Bullet Punch | Roost | U-Turn | Pursuit

This set provides what you mentioned in you Scizor description, while still doing most things you want him to do, and also the ability to restore HP. The EVs give you tremendous bulk, with enough attacking power and the Speed is to win a speed war vs other Scizors, Tyranitars that outspeed 12 or 16 Speed Scizors, and company. Bullet Punch is for weakened pokes and your main priority, while Pursuit will trap things like Scarf Gengar, Scarf Latias, Scarf Rotom and Scarf Starmie that may want to stop a Jolteon or Gyarados sweep. U-Turn is an excellent move that will let you scout your opponent and also hit hard pokes that dont resist it.

Thats pretty much everything I can tell you, good team, and good luck!

 

[ginganinja]

Something to make a point of, if latias is so important to this team then bewere of Scizor which (from experiance) comes in after a revenge kill and kills or severaly damages with Pursuit. The point is obvious i know but it is always important to be able to counterattack when scizor it locked into a Pursuit.
For this reason I also agree with using the Charge Beam set as Jolteon can come in and fire off a charge beam on the switch in, get the boost and put your opponient on the defensive again.

 

[Gem]

Jolteon is my direct switch-in to Rotom. If it takes me a stat boost to KO it, I think I'll just stick with Specs. Rotom-A is that much a threat to this team. Stone Edge on Gyarados is something I've always wanted to test, but is the accuracy and power drop really worth it? Also, that set you posted for Scizor lookes fine and all, but what exactly will it hit harder? Gliscor is still annoying to this team, and losing the ability to 2HKO it will really cost me a lot.

 

[reyscarface]

Uh, you cant 2HKO Gliscor with CB Scizor anyways, since on Jolly ones the max you will do is 40%, and on even more defensive ones possibly 35%. Gliscor would just roost the damage from your Scizor until a good point to hit you with Earthquake, and then repeat with roost. At least with this Scizor you can roost the EQ damage, and the purpose of the Scizor set I posted is to deal better with the things you said that trouble you, aka Latias and Tyranitar. Your Scizor will be left at like 20% after dealing with one of those, not even both, which is horrible if you say your Scizor is so important, which is why bulk added in exchange of a bit of power is so important.

CB Scizor BP vs Standard Gliscor: 127 - 151 (35.88% - 42.66%)
Yeah im not joking when I say you cant beat Gliscor with Scizor.

LO Latias Surf vs CB Scizor: 152 - 179 (44.31% - 52.19%)
Your so important member is 2HKOd always after SR against a common Latias.

LO Latias Surf vs Trapper Scizor: 118 - 139 (34.40% - 40.52%)
With this set LO Latias can never 2HKO you, even after SR, while you OHKO all Latias always. This set also lets you survive Choice Specs Surf always without SR and 75% of the time with SR up (136 - 160 (39.65% - 46.65%)), which means you are safe against Latias.

How is Rotom a problem to you when you have a Rest Talk Machamp with Payback, and no, you need a boost to OHKO defensive Rotom, Offensive variants can be OHKOd by LO Shadow Ball after SR. And if you dont OHKO the Rotom... what exactly is it doing to you, Shadow Ball from defensive Rotom is a 3HKO at best on Jolteon, while you charge beam, and then OHKO it. You also wont get locked which means you are way more useful after dealing with Rotom than with a Specs set.

LO Jolteon Shadow Ball vs Defensive Rotom: 192 - 226 (63.16% - 74.34%)
With a Boost thats a OHKO, and not only that, but Rotom isnt doing anything to you as shown in the next calc.

Defensive Rotom Shadow Ball vs Jolteon: 99 - 117 (36.40% - 43.01%)
Cant even 2HKO you with SR up, so I dont see what you are thinking Rotom is going to do to you.

LO Jolteon Shadow Ball vs Offensive Rotom: 192 - 226 (79.34% - 93.39%)
As you can see you have a big chance of OHKOing Offensive Rotom with Shadow Ball after SR, 41% to be precise, and not only that, but if the Rotom has taken 8% prior damage, like SS or anything, its a sure fire OHKO.

And what drop of power are you talking about Stone Edge and Return? Return has 102 Base Power, Stone Edge has 100. Are you really willing to lose all that coverage and possibly games for 2 miserable points in Base Power?

+0 Gyarados Return vs 4/0 Mence: 125 - 148 (37.65% - 44.58%)
Not even close to a KO even with SR, while Salamence can OHKO you with either LO Outrage or Draco Meteor.

+1 Gyarados Return vs 252/216 Zapdos: 141 - 167 (36.72% - 43.49%)
Heck this ones even more away from a KO, even at +1, while Zapdos OHKOs you with Thunderbolt.

Now lets take a look at Stone Edge:

+0 Gyarados Stone Edge vs 4/0 Mence: 246 - 290 (74.10% - 87.35%)
OHKO 87% of the time after SR, even after Intimidate. As you can see Stone Edge's boost in power is insanely good compared to Return.

+1 Gyarados Stone Edge vs 252/216 Zapdos: 276 - 326 (71.88% - 84.90%)
You OHKO bulky Zapdos 75% of the time with Stone Edge as well.

So are you sure you want to keep your sets as they are now?

Edit: Oh sorry man, I thought you completely discarded these ideas. I think I misunderstood your post and I apologize for that, all in all good luck testing.

Edit 2: Also, you can possibly use CB Scizor with the EV Spread I showed you, you keep the power of CB while getting bulk.

 

[Gem]

I never said I wanted to keep them the way they were, I just needed further reasoning behind why you suggested those sets. I agree with you now, but I still think CB Scizor may be better. I'll still test your sets, however. I'm just a little skeptical about those sets because I've never used or even seen them before. Thanks for all your help.

EDIT: I agree, I'll test a bulky CB set right away!

EDIT 2: After a few battles, I'm already disliking the Jolteon. It's hard to use it with the lack in power and it's even harder to find time to set up. As with Scizor, I think I'll change it back. I don't like the lack in power at all.

 

[ChaosBlazken]

I can't seem to edit the previous post, so here's why I say SD Scizor: Bcos Pro.

Full Reason: because Swords Dance Scizor, even without SD up, still does what you wanted from CB Scizor, [provided LO] according to what you told me outside of Smogon, whilst being able to switch attacks. What I recoomend is what I run, which is standard EVs/Nature/Ability with Swords Dance/Bullet Punch/U-Turn/Roost.

 

[iliketurkeybacon]

I'm not saying that you definitely should use Charge Beam Jolteon over Specs, but with Life Orb, you are doing 87% of the damage you would with Specs, plus you have the ability to switch attacks and boost your Special Attack further. Losing HP with each and not having Baton Pass to scout counters and escape Pursuit users are shortcomings, but the set's unboosted attacks have similar power to attacks from the Specs set.

What I recoomend is what I run, which is standard EVs/Nature/Ability with Swords Dance/Bullet Punch/U-Turn/Roost.

I think you would want Bug Bite on a Swords Dance set.

 

[Gem]

Can't I just go ahead and run a similar set to Specs that is basically the same with Life Orb?

 

[supermarth64]

Can't I just go ahead and run a similar set to Specs that is basically the same without Life Orb?

It wouldn't have enough power behind it. SpecsJolt can literarly OHKO or 2HKO most of the tier. Without Specs or Life Orb + Charge Beam, it won't have enough power to do so.

 

[Gem]

I'm having problems with this team, to be honest. It used to work pretty well. Usually its because my team is too much of set-up fodder for dangerous things like Breloom.

 

[Gem]

24 Hour Bump