ME AND THE BOYS TEAM
Team: https://pokepast.es/a553f64c9a47e27d
A while back, I was surfing over the web when I had an epiphany to binge watch some of FSG’s “How good was this Pokemon actually?!” videos when I rewatched a remake of a video essay about Rhydon/Rhyperior. As evident by the vid during the DPP analysis on Rhyperior did BKC (Yes, he’s the writer of the vid) mention the combination of CB T-Tar + SubPerior combo.
Another influence dawned on me when innovating a new team was Gazpacho’s RoA on Rhyperior, I even added in a comment on a few proposed changes to consider.
Without further a due, let’s review:
Zapdos (Leftovers)
Bold Nature
248 HP/228 Def/32 Spd
-Thunderbolt/Discharge
-Roost
-HP Grass/Ice
-U Turn/Thunder Wave
We can’t have a paraspamming team without Zapdos, the legendary bird found in, the power plant of Kanto for so long has partnered with Machamp; exiled to the land of Ubers for his confusion spamming crimes.
Zapdos’s excellent typing provides solid defense against fighters, Gyarados, & ground immunity. Zapdos’s options on movesets depends if Zap offers pivoting utility with Discharge or spread paralysis to any Pokemon that isn’t Ground.
HP Ice is important on discouraging Flygon, Dragonite, or Gliscor from giving you trouble. I prefer HP Grass since there isn’t a Pokemon that could reliably eliminate Swampert. Zapdos does encourage Swampert only to get surprised with HP Grass.
Now with a Flying type on our team, we need a reliable spinner such as:
Starmie (Leftovers)
Timid nature
252 HP/40 Def/216 Spd
-Surf
-Thunder Wave
-Recover
-Rapid Spin
Starmie is arguably the best spinner of DPP OU, which is overall mixed due to Starmie’s issues being T-Tar food (& Scizor) & the overwhelming checklist on passive damage; sand & entry hazards be damned.
I’d advise not using Starmie so foolhardy, be smart using Starmie & only Rapid Spin IF you have the opportunity. Remember that Starmie has plenty of tricks to dissuade Tyranitar from simply pursuiting for fear Starmie could stay in.
Empoleon (Leftovers)
Calm nature
252 HP/252 Sp Def/4 Spd
-Surf
-Protect
-Knock Off
-Stealth Rocks
“Wait a minute, this is a paraspamming team, shouldn’t there be a Jirachi?!”
Yes, Jirachi can theoretically work on paraspamming teams bc of Serene grace. However, Excal argued amidst the Machamp crusade, pointed out that Jirachi is insufficient on Paraspamming teams bc you’d have a harder time dealing with the opposing Jirachi’s Iron head spam. It doesn’t help that the combination of Rhyperior & Tyranitar stacks water weakness on my team, even a weak Surf is enough to wash my house of cards.
Empoleon’s main duty is to provide my team with a Steel backbone, as any standard team should run in OU since ADV. The power of Knock off enables that bulky waters such as Suicune & Milotic will be worn down by Sand periodically. Protect is needed since my team has no Wishpasser, so Empoleon needs Protect to passively recover. Stealth Rocks are available to provide chip damage.
Rhyperior (Leftovers)
Adamant nature
136 HP/208 Atk/164 Spd
-Stone Edge
-Earthquake
-Ice Punch
-Substitute
The star of the theme team & the epitome of power, Rhyperior is back in OU as tribute to when he was a young lieutenant Rhydon serving in the Kanto civil war of OU!
Rhyperior is a tricky Pokemon to squeeze, though Rhyperior’s gifts via movepool & Solid Rock is a delight, Rhyperior is plagued with a cursed typing & a middling Special defense.
Simply put, Rhyperior is a very straightforward Pokemon demanding an army of 5 others to assist him for battle. Sand is a necessity to patch up Rhyperior’s short end of his defense. Rhyperior’s rewards players with his offensive firepower, but will pay should they misuse or even 1 member doesn’t contribute. (Cough, Laurel’s Hera/Perior team, cough)
Tyranitar (Choice Band)
Adamant nature
180 HP/252 ATK/76 Spd
-Stone edge
-Crunch
-Pursuit
-Superpower
The Tyrannus Tenebrosus who preys on Spirits & Psychics is back with a vengence, this time to aid his Rock Golem kin with his endless sand for defense.
Banded Tyranitar provides an overwhelming firepower against the likes of Skarmory & other physical bulky threats that can wall on Rhyperior for days. As a pursuitor, it is best advised you take the life of your victim so long as you’re able to get away with it. Tar also provides some defense against Heatran, mainly Specs ran, from punching holes onto your team.
Latias (Choice Scarf)
Timid Nature
204 Hp/124 Sp Atk/180 Spd
-Draco Meteor
-Thunderbolt
-Trick
-Recover
The Queen of all Dragons in DPP OU is Latias herself, this time serving as the speed check for my team to prevent Dragon Dancers from rampaging my team.
The spread here is to provide a bit of defense as Healing Wish is rather mixed due to DPP mechanics, rather Latias can instead trick slower teams & can run Recover in late game scenarios.
Latias complements this team well in order to keep Gyara & Dragonite at bay, since Zap can be worn down easily given the Sand & Rocks.
Threats:
Bulky Waters: Milotic by far is the scariest match up should you run a Rhyperior team, she can switch into Rhyperior’s stabs with aplomb & can spam Recover in your face. SubCune is also dangerous unless if Empoleon knocks off the lefties on the switch. Swampert is by far the least scary, but the lack of Celebi means you need to rely on Zap for HP Grass. Best case for both Milo & Cune is to use Empo for Knock off. Try to double switch on the Pert as Pert can be worn down enough for Tar to finish off with a Crunch.
Gengar: Specifically SubGengar is a stuff of nightmares that you need to play around arduously to make progress, best case is using Empo to stall out Gar’s Focus Blast & not send Tar in recklessly.
Bronzong: Bronzong can set up Rocks to clip Zap’s wings & can Explode to punch holes in your defensive core. Try to wear it down with Banded Tar or make aggressive reads if possible.
Mixed Dragons:
Once again, make hard reads, find openings from your opponents, & weigh your options in when making mid plays. Although Flygon is much scarier to deal due to the sheer unpredictability on wether it’s Scarf or Mixed.
Abomasnow:
An underrated threat on this list, Abomasnow can interrupt Tyranitar’s sand with Hail, affecting even Steels such as Empoleon from recovery. The combination on Wood Hammer & Leech Seed can disorient my team.
T-Spikes:
Just try to play around them, get rid of it if possible lol
Video on my team against a 1317 Elo player with Roserade team:
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen4ou-2304855851-u7a6j3sbv0qwpguxqy7d6oqavbmxhvepw?p2
EDIT: I changed Latias to Utility Celebi, realizing that Latias exposes me more towards Tyranitar.
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