Hello! This is my first gen 7 RMT and my first RMT period in like 6 years or something, I really don't remember. I last played Pokemon seriously during gen 4, and I only barely dabbled in the generations since then. I don't know what inspired me to open up Pokemon Showdown and give this gen a try, but that was a few weeks ago and I'm hooked. This OU metagame is quite fun, and it gives me an opportunity to build a team around one of my favorites: Mamoswine!
I can't really post a teambuilding process because just about every slot other than Mamo has been switched around quite a lot. I came into this gen quite late so I've had to learn the meta on the fly, for a while I couldn't even remember the names/types of the beasts or Tapus. So yeah it's been a process, but I'm feeling confident now in my metagame knowledge and I think I've got this team to a solid point. It's not perfect, but I'm positive that it is competently built and could get a player to high elos.
I've only peaked around 1600, but I think that's a matter of player skill as I'm just not that great at maximizing my turns and making predictions. I'm getting better and better all the time, and I've gotten to decent spots during some of the OU tournaments that are regular ran in the OU room. I believe a more skilled player could take this team quite high, but still I'm hoping someone out there could help with some details I've overlooked and make this the best team it can be! The only untouchable mon is Mamo.
So let's take a look at the team:
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Clefable @ Leftovers
Ability: Magic Guard
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Protect
- Wish
- Stealth Rock
- Moonblast
This set has been changed so many times and I don't know if I'll ever set on one specific favorite. I've ran stuff like Flamethrower, Calm Mind, Stored Power, Softboiled, Cosmic Power, Heal Bell, Knock Off, Toxic, Thunder Wave...you can seriously take Clefable in so many different directions. No matter what you use, its primary job is to use its excellent typing and ability to take on a multitude of threats while hitting back with a decently strong Moonblast and supporting the team in a variety of ways. I really like the Wish passing set because it provides invaluable support to the various members of my team that can't heal themselves, like Mamo and Heatran. Giving Mamo extra chances to break the opponent's walls is extremely good, and awesome for me because anytime I get to knock out a Poke with Mamo makes me happy. I'm also running rocks on Clef, but that is definitely something that could change. Currently this set functions decently well but its extremely passive, and fitting Calm Mind or something into the set to make it more self-sufficient in certain situations could be very valuable to the team.
Scizor @ Scizorite
Ability: Light Metal
EVs: 248 HP / 64 Atk / 124 Def / 16 SpD / 56 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Swords Dance
- Bullet Punch
- U-turn/Knock Off/Pursuit if you're feeling spicy
- Roost
Easily my favorite mega in the meta right now, Scizor functions as an amazing blanket check to so many things and a very threatening lategame sweeper when certain checks have been worn down enough. I can't count how many times a single Swords Dance has led to a Bullet Punch sweep. This thing is very hard to KO without a fire move or stuff like rain-boosted Hydro Pumps. The EV spread I've heard may be outdated, but I haven't seen another one so I'm not sure what's best and if anyone knows that would be awesome. I'm not great at maximizing stats like that, so I'd need help on this front. SD/BP/Roost are non-negotiable obviously, but the final slot has some flex options. U-turn is extremely strong because Scizor forces hella switches, and it allows him to function as a great pivot that can do some serious damage with the stab on U-turn. Knock Off is also a great utility option, as many of Scizor's best switch-ins hate to lose their item like Toxapex and Ferrothorn. The third option which I see no one else run is Pursuit, which to some is a horrible idea but personally I've netted many nasty KOs with it and it's quite fun to run sometimes. Plus many teams are starting to tech against U-turn, running stuff like Rocky Helmet Lando or Static on Zapdos to punish you for spamming the attack. It's definitely a powerful option and Pursuit probably isn't optimal, but boy is it tasty to get a free kill on a number of low-ish health mons that want to switch out on you.
Gastrodon @ Leftovers
Ability: Storm Drain
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Sassy Nature
- Scald
- Earthquake
- Toxic
- Recover
Gastrodon fits into the team because it gives me a blanket check to so many imposing mons, boasting an immunity to both water and electric which are extremely common attacking types in the meta right now. The specially defensive set makes it very hard to break since grass special moves are not that common. This thing just so easily switches into stuff like Heatran, Greninja, Magearna, and Tapu Koko and can heal itself back up, throw out a Toxic to cripple a switch-in like Tangrowth, or just mindlessly throw out Scalds and hope for burns on the physical threats that Gastro can't really take on uninvested. Really this is just a great bulky set that role compresses like a beast, and I highly recommend that many teams consider it. Obviously it competes with Toxapex for the slot, but I got so tired of my Pex getting Heatran trapped or Psychium-Z'd that I switched over to Gastro and haven't looked back.
Mamoswine @ Icium Z/Metronome
Ability: Thick Fat
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Icicle Crash
- Earthquake
- Ice Shard
- Knock Off
The mon I tried to "build around" though Mamo isn't really a Poke you build around since he's very self-sufficient and will punch holes in just about any team out there. This thing seriously nukes a lot of teams around right now. There are very few good switch-ins to this guy, and even of those few you can cripple them with Knock Off or go for the massive damage chunk by clicking Subzero Slammer. An alternative that I've ran to great success is Metronome. Mamo's STABs are quite spammable, and even his best checks can be broken once you've Metronome'd your way up to a huge boost. Subzero Slammer is incredibly useful though, as it gets many checks into range of another Icicle Crash or a simple Ice Shard. In general a powerful Ice stab is ridiculously good, as there are so many threatening Pokemon that are weak to it as you all know. Zygarde is a bitch. Other than the three obvious moves, I'm running Knock Off in the final slot as an excellent option when I'm predicting a switch to one of the few mons that can wall Mamo, nearly all of which hate losing their item like Ferrothorn or Celesteela. That slot can definitely be changed, but I've had some seriously powerful turns by clicking Knock Off. Overall this Pokemon is amazing, it's one of the best and coolest (pun intended) wallbreakers I've ever had the pleasure to use, and the only thing that can be changed about him is his set. He's staying on the team, end of story.
Zapdos @ Leftovers
Ability: Static
EVs: 248 HP / 240 Def / 20 Spe
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Thunderbolt
- Roost
- Heat Wave
- Defog
Another personal favorite Pokemon of mine, Zapdos performs incredibly well in this current meta. I've even had it wall entire teams before, being just unkillable with constant Roosts and Paralyzes coming through. I know some prefer Pressure but I absolutely swear by Static, especially because Zapdos is my primary switch-in when I'm expecting my opponent to spam U-turn. I can't count the number of times I've gotten a juicy Paralyze on a Scarf Lando or something which completely cripples it for the rest of the game and allows Mamo to more freely spam Icicle Crash. Since I'm running Static I prefer Thunderbolt for the extra power, and other than that the set is quite standard. I've ran a Roost+3 Attack set before to great success, but seeing as how I have a dedicated Ice spammer I thought Hidden Power Ice was unneeded, and obviously Zapdos functions as an excellent Defogger which is important for my team because I have multiple members that don't like hazards. Mamo especially doesn't want to be switching into Rocks, Spikes, and TSpikes, so Zapdos is crucial to keeping that shit off the field. An alternative Defogger is definitely worth considering, but Zapdos' ability to spam decently strong electric attacks is still very important for my team, otherwise stuff like Gyarados could set up on me and dominate with Z-Fly.
Heatran @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Fire Blast
- Flash Cannon
- Earth Power
- Stone Edge/HP Ice/HP Grass
Just a fantastic glue mon that can switch into half the metagame and respond with various powerful attacks, while the scarf lets me revenge kill a wide variety of spooky threats like SD Kartana. Few people run or expect Scarf Heatran nowadays, so I can even net some surprise KOs with this against opponents that thought they would outspeed and KO me first. Fire Blast and Earth Power are pretty obvious, offering amazing coverage and serious power in the case of the former. Flash Cannon is a nice STAB move that punishes the abundant Fairies in the tier. The final slot can be a lot of different things, Stone Edge is kind goofy and is only ran for one mon which is Volcarona. Unless Volc has HP Ground, Heatran can tank a hit and OHKO with Stone Edge even uninvested, which is great. A Hidden Power has its uses instead though Fire Blast generally nukes a lot of stuff. HP Ice would only really be for like Zygarde, though +1 Zyg outspeeds which is unfortunate. Overall I love ScarfTran, he's damn strong and quick enough to outspeed most of the unboosted meta. Alternatively I could slap Metronome on Mamo and run a Z-Heatran set, but I lose some speed control there and Z is easier to expect out of Heatran.
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So yeah that's the gist of things. I'm not really into posting a dedicated "threat list" because a lot of times there's a scary mon that I have 1-2 answers for and over the course of a game you never know what'll happen, like maybe someone lands a crit on my Mamo and bam I have no real answer to a boosting Zygarde anymore, so yeah there's a lot of scary things in OU and you just have to play your best. I'm not that great at the game but for anyone that is I think you could take this team far. Any comments or set suggestions or Pokemon changes are welcomed and I will test every single thing posted. Thank you for reading this novel of text, and have a great day!
Clefable @ Leftovers
Ability: Magic Guard
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Protect
- Wish
- Stealth Rock
- Moonblast
Scizor @ Scizorite
Ability: Light Metal
EVs: 248 HP / 64 Atk / 124 Def / 16 SpD / 56 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Swords Dance
- Bullet Punch
- U-turn
- Roost
Gastrodon @ Leftovers
Ability: Storm Drain
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Sassy Nature
- Scald
- Earthquake
- Toxic
- Recover
Mamoswine @ Icium Z
Ability: Thick Fat
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Icicle Crash
- Earthquake
- Ice Shard
- Knock Off
Zapdos @ Leftovers
Ability: Static
EVs: 248 HP / 240 Def / 20 Spe
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Thunderbolt
- Roost
- Heat Wave
- Defog
Heatran @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Fire Blast
- Flash Cannon
- Earth Power
- Stone Edge
Ability: Magic Guard
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Protect
- Wish
- Stealth Rock
- Moonblast
Scizor @ Scizorite
Ability: Light Metal
EVs: 248 HP / 64 Atk / 124 Def / 16 SpD / 56 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Swords Dance
- Bullet Punch
- U-turn
- Roost
Gastrodon @ Leftovers
Ability: Storm Drain
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Sassy Nature
- Scald
- Earthquake
- Toxic
- Recover
Mamoswine @ Icium Z
Ability: Thick Fat
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Icicle Crash
- Earthquake
- Ice Shard
- Knock Off
Zapdos @ Leftovers
Ability: Static
EVs: 248 HP / 240 Def / 20 Spe
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Thunderbolt
- Roost
- Heat Wave
- Defog
Heatran @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Fire Blast
- Flash Cannon
- Earth Power
- Stone Edge
