Medisweep - A UU Team

[Ekko]

So, this is my first RMT, and the team itself seems to be working very well. I am having a couple of problems, so I hope the raters here can help me work out the kinks in the build. I designed this build to work in the Underused tier.

Changes are italicized.

Team Medisweep

This build centers around using Smeargle to pass Belly Drum to Medicham for a sweep at the end of the match. The rest of the team is designed to take out potential counters to the Medicham sweep, as well as setting up entry hazards to prevent Focus Sashes.

The Lead

Electrode @ Focus Sash
Ability: Static
EVs: 4 HP/252 Atk/252 Spd
Hasty nature (+Spd, -Def)
- Screech
- Taunt
- Thunderbolt
- Explosion​

Electrode is a great lead - it out-speeds everything that's not Scarfed, and can easily throw a taunt to cripple other leads. Screech helps to wear down Normal-resistant pokemon for Explode, and Thunderbolt kills things until Electrode's sash is broken. When Electrode is no longer protected by the sash, he Explodes to guarantee at least one (and probably two) KOs.

The Mixed Wall

Gastrodon (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Sticky Hold
EVs: 252 HP/128 Def/128 SDef
Impish nature (+Def, -SAtk)
- Stockpile
- Recover
- Toxic
- Earthquake​

Gastrodon is an amazing wall. Stockpile is easy to set up, because Gastrodon can take a hit from most attacks before he has one up. Stockpile and Recover are great to stall out enemies as they die from Toxic damage. Earthquake adds some STAB, and can attack Poison types that are immune to Toxic. With all 3 Stockpiles, Gastrodon can shrug off a STAB Energy Ball like it was nothing.

Screen Support

Uxie @ Light Clay
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP/180 Def/76 Spd
Impish nature (+Def, -SAtk)
- Reflect
- Light Screen
- Memento
- Stealth Rock​

Uxie provides the necessary Stealth Rock support for this team, as well as Reflect and Light Screen to protect Medicham from priority attacks, and to ease Smeargle's set up. Memento is great for this team, because it easily forces switches - not much wants to stay around with -2 in both attacking stats - or it reduces the enemy's threat to Smeargle. After Memento, switch straight into Smeargle and start setting up the sweep.

The Spiker

Qwilfish (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Poison Point
EVs: 252 HP/252 Atk/4 Spd
Adamant nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Spikes
- Waterfall
- Poison Jab
- Explosion​

Qwilfish adds Spike Support to the team, to make it even easier for Medicham to sweep if something goes wrong. He has two STAB attacks to take out foes himself, and can Explode if he needs to get rid of something.

The Baton Passer

Smeargle (M) @ Salac Berry
Ability: Own Tempo
EVs: 244 HP/12 Def/252 Spd
Jolly nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Spore
- Substitute
- Belly Drum
- Baton Pass​

Smeargle is critical for this team. He provides the Belly Drum and the speed boost to Medicham that is needed for the sweep to work. This set is very easy to use : Switch Smeargle in on a slow opponent or a foe that Uxie has Memento'd. Throw Spore on the foe (or whatever it switches to) to sleep it. As the Sleeping foe switches out, put up Substitute to protect Smeargle for the pass. Use Belly Drum next, as the opponent breaks the substitute (though, its better if they don't manage to break it, obviously). The Speed boost from your Salac Berry should activate now, letting you use Baton Pass to switch for Medicham.

The Sweeper

Medicham (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Pure Power
EVs: 4 HP/252 Atk/252 Spd
Adamant nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Brick Break
- Psycho Cut
- Thunderpunch
- Ice Punch​

Medicham is a beast when Smeargle has Baton-Passed everything to him. What move he uses depends largely on what the enemy has left at this point. Use Brick Break unless the enemy has a Ghost alive, and use Psycho Cut if they have a Ghost, but not a Dark type. Either of these attacks can OHKO absolutely anything in UU, including pokemon that 4x resist them. If the enemy has a Ghost and Dark, or if you don't know what some of their pokemon are, use Ice Punch - it will OHKO most anything in UU (as nothing 4x resists it), but certain resistant pokemon will give you trouble. Thunderpunch just provides coverage if something happens to Smeargle before the sweep. With the speed boost passed by Smeargle, it outspeeds everything besides Jumpluff with 2 speed boosts or other boosted Choice Scarfers.

Some Notes and Information​

While most other teams are designed to switch pokemon in and out, this team follows a pretty fixed order. Electrode starts, and is followed by either Qwilfish or Uxie. Next comes the other support pokemon, or Gastrodon, depending on the enemy's pokemon. Whichever of the three hasn't fought yet comes in after that, and the Uxie switches in if it can to use Memento and refresh Stealth Rock or the screens. Smeargle comes in after Memento, and then passes to Medicham for the sweep.

This team has problems with Rain and Sunny Day teams, to some extent. Both teams have very fast pokemon (either from Chlorophyll or Swift Swim), and they can outspeed Smeargle most times, messing up the sweep. I'm not sure how I can prevent this.

This team also fears priority moves during the lategame period, and lacks a very effective way to deal with the deadly Ghost and Dark types that can impede the power of this sweep.

The only pokemon who are required for this team are Smeargle and Medicham, but Uxie is very helpful because of both Stealth Rock and Memento.

So, fellow Smogonites, please rate my team!

 

[locopoke]

Electrode @ Focus Sash
Ability: Static
EVs: 4 HP/252 Atk/252 Spd
Hasty nature (+Spd, -Def)
- Screech
- Taunt
- Thunderbolt
- Explosion​

Electrode is a great lead - it out-speeds everything that's not sashed, and can easily throw a taunt to cripple other leads.

First of all, I think you mean Scarfed, not sashed. Anyway, you never specified what tier this is for. I need to know if I want to do a full rate.

 

[Ekko]

First of all, I think you mean Scarfed, not sashed. Anyway, you never specified what tier this is for. I need to know if I want to do a full rate.

Yeah, I meant Scarf. Good catch.

It's a UU team, it says so in the title: "Medisweep - A UU Team."

 

[Wyzra]

I don't get it. Why is your end target a Scarf Medicham? Wouldn't you be better off using higher power moves AND having the choice to pick what to use? Medicham is a horribly overrated BP target. Try something like Azumarill (Aqua Jet works wonders) or something naturally fast (there are tons of choices). It seems horribly wasteful to pass to a Scarfed Pokemon.

You can also pull this strategy off easier for an early game sweep. Maybe get a p.haze lure (Pokemon with Sub work great) or a back-up option to Azumarill. Really, this design concept has been done so many times before.

 

[locopoke]

Yeah, I meant Scarf. Good catch.

It's a UU team, it says so in the title: "Medisweep - A UU Team."

rofl, I'm a complete idiot sometimes. Sorry, I'm just kinda tired. Anyways, to be honest, I don't see why your reciever has scarf. I think you should find somebody who can pass agility or something, and pass some speed AND attack to a different reciever, maybe marowak.

 

[Ekko]

I don't get it. Why is your end target a Scarf Medicham? Wouldn't you be better off using higher power moves AND having the choice to pick what to use? Medicham is a horribly overrated BP target. Try something like Azumarill (Aqua Jet works wonders) or something naturally fast (there are tons of choices). It seems horribly wasteful to pass to a Scarfed Pokemon.

I went with Medicham because he has the potential for the highest Attack stat in UU. Medicham isn't affected by Reflect because of Brick Break, and the only types that are super-effective against him are Ghost and Flying, which don't have priority moves. The use of a Choice Scarf is because it gives him the ability to outspeed almost anything, so that he's safe. I don't need any more damaging moves - Medicham can literally OHKO anything with Belly Dance.

You can also pull this strategy off easier for an early game sweep. Maybe get a p.haze lure (Pokemon with Sub work great) or a back-up option to Azumarill. Really, this design concept has been done so many times before.

The reason I'm using a late game sweep is because it lets me get rid of or scout for Ghosts and Darks and break Focus Sashes. You could use this same team for an early sweep, by just seizing an opportunity on a slow opponent.

EDIT: After checking speed tiers, dropping the Choice Scarf for a Life Orb (or, maybe even a Focus Sash, as he already has a lot of offensive power and could use the safeguard for the opening when he's Baton Passed in) still has him outspeed anything slower than a +Spd nature Altaria/Grumpig/Kabutops/Venasaur with 1 Speed boost. If I drop the Scarf, what should I replace it with?

 

[Relictivity]

Medicham isn't affected by Reflect because of Brick Break, and the only types that are super-effective against him are Ghost and Flying, which don't have priority moves.

Erm... Shadow Sneak could cause a problem. Same with Sucker Punck and Extreme Speed, even though you are neutral.

 

[Pisti]

If you keep the Scarf, after you sacrifice Uxie and most of Smeargle, if Medicham is locked into Brick Break/Psycho Cut, Mismagius/Honchkrow say hi. Spiritomb loves coming in too.

Like mentioned before, an Azumarill could be helpful with Aqua Jet, or possibly a Hitmontop.

 

[Erazor]

First of all, remove the Scarf from Medicham. If you're locked into the wrong move, then all the boosts get cancelled, and Smeargle won't get a second chance. Instead, replace it with Lum berry, to make sure that Status doesn't hinder the sweep.

I'm not too familiar with Medicham, does it really need Psycho Cut? If not, then give it Bullet Punch. The priority is really helpful when that Azumarill comes to Aqua Jet you.

 

[locopoke]

I went with Medicham because he has the potential for the highest Attack stat in UU. Medicham isn't affected by Reflect because of Brick Break, and the only types that are super-effective against him are Ghost and Flying, which don't have priority moves. The use of a Choice Scarf is because it gives him the ability to outspeed almost anything, so that he's safe. I don't need any more damaging moves - Medicham can literally OHKO anything with Belly Dance.


The reason I'm using a late game sweep is because it lets me get rid of or scout for Ghosts and Darks and break Focus Sashes. You could use this same team for an early sweep, by just seizing an opportunity on a slow opponent.

EDIT: After checking speed tiers, dropping the Choice Scarf for a Life Orb (or, maybe even a Focus Sash, as he already has a lot of offensive power and could use the safeguard for the opening when he's Baton Passed in) still has him outspeed anything slower than a +Spd nature Altaria/Grumpig/Kabutops/Venasaur with 1 Speed boost. If I drop the Scarf, what should I replace it with?

Just replace the scarf with Life Orb, you need to make sure Ice/Thunder Punch OHKO's 252 HP/252 Def Mono-Attacking Spiritomb, seeing as Spiritomb is immune to Psycho Cut and Brick Break.

edit: Erazor, Bullet Punch is horrible without STAB. Even with Belly Drum and the massive attack that Medicham carries, there are many things it won't be able to OHKO. I believe that with STAB, Psycho Cut works very well with Medicham and I'd reccommend that he keep it.

 

[diinbong]

First of all, remove the Scarf from Medicham. If you're locked into the wrong move, then all the boosts get cancelled, and Smeargle won't get a second chance. Instead, replace it with Lum berry, to make sure that Status doesn't hinder the sweep.

I'm not too familiar with Medicham, does it really need Psycho Cut? If not, then give it Bullet Punch. The priority is really helpful when that Azumarill comes to Aqua Jet you.

The point of having Medicham as a Baton Pass recipient is the idea that it can OHKO all Pokemon in UU after a Belly Drum, so Lum Berry is largely pointless. Go with a Life Orb or Expert Belt if you're really worried about priority.

Why would you use Bullet Punch on a bulky Pokemon resistant to it?

edit: But you're going to get an attack on t either way, so why Bullet Punch? Anyway, not arguing about it.

 

[Erazor]

Why would you use Bullet Punch on a bulky Pokemon resistant to it?

Because it would still hurt after a belly drum, especially if Azumarill switches in on Ice Punch. Maybe Azumarill was a bad example, but my point is to ensure priority users(who are quite common) don't end the sweep prematurely.

 

[Ekko]

Because it would still hurt after a belly drum, especially if Azumarill switches in on Ice Punch. Maybe Azumarill was a bad example, but my point is to ensure priority users(who are quite common) don't end the sweep prematurely.

I've gotten hit with Extremespeed and Shadow Sneak on Medicham and survived them, my problem with priority is with Smeargle. If they hit Smeargle with priority before he can set up a Substitute or use Spore, the set up is in trouble.

Should I put Psychic on Uxie (instead of Memento or one of the screens) to take out Ghosts and to break Substitutes before bringing in Smeargle?

 

[locopoke]

Ekko, I think your team is just the way it is. There's no way to deffend against all the priority abuse in UU if you want to continue using your strategy with Smeargle. To be honest, I don't think it's that great, because so many things can screw it up in one hit, but it's your choice.

 

[Ekko]

Ekko, I think your team is just the way it is. There's no way to deffend against all the priority abuse in UU if you want to continue using your strategy with Smeargle. To be honest, I don't think it's that great, because so many things can screw it up in one hit, but it's your choice.

Yeah, I've noticed that. It's really fun when it works, and I must have been lucky the first day or two of testing this. I'm going to retire this team, sadly. Thanks for all of the help, everyone.

 

[locopoke]

That's the thing, really. When using strategies like the one you use, you get addicted to using it. Even though it may not work very well, the times that it actually does work, and successfully sweeps a team, are so satisfying that you forget about all the times that it has messed up. lol believe me, the UU team I use is somewhat like yours, and it had a lot of major weakness' but I didn't notice them until weeks later. I finally decided to put some sturdy defensive Pokemon in there and that seemed to fix the problem.

 

[TeaBag]

diinbong is wrong, you definitely want Lum Berry on Medicham. You have Stealth Rocks and Spikes to ensure any possible OHKO you may not net, though I doubt you'll miss out on any with the amount of power Medicham poses. Lum Berry is beneficial in cases like these

1. Smeragle Spores a slow wall
2. Smeargle Substitues, opponent switches something with Thunder Wave, Will-o-Wisp, etc.
3. Smeargle Belly Drums, opponent breaks Sub
4. Smeargle Baton Passes, opponent uses said status on Medicham

in this case you get the shaft.

Of course, if your opponent carries strong priority a la Sucker Punch Absol, Aqua Jet Azumarill, etc. or carries a Choice Scarfer you didn't catch, you're almost guaranteed to lose.

For this reason alone, I recommend you replace Gastrodon (because you really don't need to stall anyone out) with a reliable backup sweeper such as Calm Mind Mismagius or Calm Mind Petaya Berry Drifblim.

However, if you do opt for Gastrodon, Careful 252 / 208 / 48 nets stats of 426 / 224 / 255 respectively, a slightly more efficient distribution of EVs than Impish 252 / 128 / 128 which nets 426 / 224 / 252. Remember, always try to use a boosting nature in your highest base stat.