SM OU Let's Break It Down (Bulky Offense) Ft. Zygarde + Pinsir + Zone

JadedJellicent · May 17, 2017

Introduction

I'm back with another RMT after a few weeks of suspect testing. With Metagross being banned to Ubers, the common core of Tangrowth - Toxapex - Lando should return to its former glory. Coupled with the arrival of new Megas like Heracross, Houndoom and more on the way, I built this team to test their viabilities and archetypes.

Teambuilding Process

The offensive potential was too great to pass up. Pinsir + Zygarde handles each other's checks and counters.

The defensive backbone of Ferro + Fini provides hazard control and pivoting potential.

Zone + Marowak can break most defensive cores, paving the way for Zygarde + Pinsir.

The Team

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Zygarde is one of the most difficult threats for OU to deal with at this stage. So Wynaut? Band is my favorite set right now since it packs huge breaking power immediately without setup. Thousand Arrows for obvious reasons, E-speed gives strong reliable priority. Outrage is there for secondary-STAB, but most of the time it's gonna be clicking Arrows. Toxic is for catching Tangrowth on the switch. Adamant damage from Zygarde really punishes common switchins like Lando and Fini, weakening them for Pinsir in the back, as well as revealing their EV spreads.

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Pinsir synergizes incredibly with Zygarde since it breaks walls like Tangrowth or faster attackers like Medicham. This is just a basic SD set for early-game breaking or late-game sweeping. Hyper Cutter is used on unevolved Pinsir so as to prevent Lando from switching in safely. Playing aggressively with this offensive core can easily corner the opposing defensive switchins.

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Then we move on to the backbone of the team. Ferrothorn offers a reliable Steel-type and the much needed Spikes support for the two above. Leech Seed to punish switchins, double STAB to hit both Fairies and bulky Waters. The EVs maximize damage of Gyro Ball while minimizing damage from the common EQ. I chose Relaxed over Sassy because common Special Attackers are not that threatening to the team, while Chomp and Lando are.

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Of course, when you use a Mega Pinsir, you gotta have hazard control. While I usually avoid using Fini since it's Volcarona food, it seemed like the best option for the team composition. Taunt and Defog go hand in hand, preventing things like Chomp from spamming rocks. Moonblast hits decently hard and Hydro Pump covers Tran and Houndoom. 68 Speed EVs outspeed defensive Lando, with the rest invested in physical bulk.

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The few things that Pinsir + Zygarde can't break reliably, specifically Ferrothorn and Mega Scizor, Zone can trap and deal with. While Specs instantly get rid of those mons, Assault Vest provides more usefulness to the team, such as soft-checking Lele. The Speed investment allows to outspeed most Scizors in the meta right now, barring the uncommon fast SD, and max Speed Marowak, because that's a thing now I guess.

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Finally, I needed something to deter Medichams from spamming HJK. Marowak also deals with the aforementioned Steel-types should Zone be tasked with Fairies. This also handles Stall decently along with Zygarde + Zone. While I would prefer Substitute in the last slot, most of the time it's going to spam attacks anyway, so setting rocks on switchins is a fair trade. 44 Speed EVs creep above other Marowaks and Chanseys.

While Zygarde does deal with Heatran, none of the team members can safely switch into Bloom Tran. Most of the time it's either doubling into Zygarde or sacking the least needed of Ferro + Fini.

Since the fastest thing on this team is Mega Pinsir at 105 base, anything faster can pose a huge threat, namely HP Fire Latios. Ferro + Fini can pivot to scout its set and tank hits accordingly.

Marowak can dent this team pretty hard since my switchins include Fini and Zygarde, both taking about 45%. My best bet is chipping it with hazards and pick it off, or hard switch into Zygarde if HP is not necessary for the game.

6-0ed. Gone. While Fini + Ferro can somewhat deal with Mamo, the sheer pressure it puts on is overwhelming.

The newly released Mega Houndoom literally does the same thing as Mamo to this team. It 6-0s. Answers include Hydro with Fini and not flinching with Zygarde.

Conclusion

While the team does have notable flaws like not having a Bloom Tran check, it functions well enough on the current ladder to warrant a spotlight. I'm still testing it until mid-June when other Megas are released so there might be fixes along the way. Any feedback on this build is appreciated, and thanks for reading. C:

Zygarde @ Choice Band
Ability: Aura Break
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Thousand Arrows
- Extreme Speed
- Outrage
- Toxic

Pinsir-Mega @ Pinsirite
Ability: Aerilate
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- Return
- Quick Attack
- Close Combat

Ferrothorn @ Leftovers
Ability: Iron Barbs
EVs: 248 HP / 88 Def / 172 SpD
Relaxed Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Spikes
- Leech Seed
- Power Whip
- Gyro Ball

Tapu Fini @ Leftovers
Ability: Misty Surge
EVs: 248 HP / 192 Def / 68 Spe
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Taunt
- Hydro Pump
- Moonblast
- Defog

Magnezone @ Assault Vest
Ability: Magnet Pull
EVs: 80 HP / 252 SpA / 176 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Volt Switch
- Thunderbolt
- Flash Cannon
- Hidden Power [Fire]

Marowak-Alola @ Thick Club
Ability: Rock Head
EVs: 208 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 44 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Flare Blitz
- Shadow Bone
- Bonemerang
- Stealth Rock

SM OU Let's Break It Down (Bulky Offense) Ft. Zygarde + Pinsir + Zone

JadedJellicent