ORAS OU Mega Heracross + AV Metagross Volt Turn Balance peaked around 1670

[Anish]

Introduction​

Hello, its Anish here, this time with a Mega Heracross + AV Metagross balance. I started building around Mega Heracross and I decide to partner it with AV Metagross, as it acts as a pursuit trapper who beats fairies, and soft checks a lot of other threats to M Hera such as Tornadus-T and even lures in things like Heatran. The team has done pretty well, and I am looking for some changes, which can optimize it further.

Teambuilding Process
​

This team was built around the M Heracross + AV Metagross core

I decided to add Rotom Wash, who is a answer to birds which are dangerous for Mega Heracross, such as Talon and Tornadus-Therian, as well as other physical attackers. It provides a pivot, and even sort of lures Latis, whom I can get a Volt Switch into Metagross.

The next Pokemon I added was Scarf Landorus-T, who is my revenge killer and is my switch into stuff like MB Excadrill and Gengar, who is a great cleaner, and acts as my revenge killer

I added Latios as a defogger , who would act as my check to waters, and then finished my team off with fast Heatran, to help be deal with Bisharp and Scizor a little bit better.

After some testing, I changed Latios into Latias as Defog felt really unnecessary as my team had a good mmatchup vs hazard stacks, while Healing Wish support really helped Mega Heracross and Metagross.

The Team

Heracross-Mega @ Heracronite
Ability: Skill Link
EVs: 248 HP / 76 Atk / 84 Def / 100 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Pin Missile
- Rock Blast
- Close Combat
- Substitute

Mega Heracross is one of the best stallbreakers in the metagame and its not hard to see why. With a great attack stat, and a good ability it is a powerhouse, and with some bulk investment, it can take hits easily. The speed on my set allows me to outspeed 8 speed Rotom Wash, and the bulk prevents Landorus-T's Earthquake from breaking my Substitute, allowing me to try to rescue lost games by praying for a Stone Edge miss, or taking a Rock Slide on the off chance he runs that, and also prevents Volt Switch from breaking my Substitute. It checks darks like Bisharp and Weavile , and sometimes switches into Mega Lopunnies, taking only 40% from Return.

Metagross @ Assault Vest
Ability: Clear Body
EVs: 248 HP / 96 Atk / 164 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Meteor Mash
- Earthquake
- Pursuit
- Bullet Punch

Assault Vest Metagross is a great Pursuit trapper because of its great special bulk, and also checks fairies very well, with the EVs in this set avoiding the 2HKO from Mega Diancie's Earth Power. Its main drawback is its lack of recovery, but Healing Wish helps remedy this. Earthquake helps it lure in Heatran, as it takes around 60% from Magma Storm and 40% from Lava Plume, while Bullet Punch gives it priority.

Rotom-Wash @ Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 Spe
Bold Nature
- Volt Switch
- Hydro Pump
- Will-O-Wisp
- Pain Split

Rotom Wash is a great pivot, and it checks almost all birds, which Mega Heracross greatly appreciates. It provides Volt Switch, which is good for Metagross and M Heracross, as they wouldnt need to take damage to come in, as they have no recovery. It helps luring in Latios, who sometimes switch into my Volt Switch , as well as checking Heatran and it can deal with stuff like LO SD Garchomp as well.It acts as my answer to Azumarill.

Landorus-Therian @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- Knock Off
- U-turn

Landorus-Therian is my revenge killer, and it also is my switch in to Mold Breaker Excadrill and Gengar, as well as a Pokemon who can sometimes help me in dealing with Rotom by knocking off his Leftovers, and it can function as a late game cleaner. It forms a VoltTurn core with Rotom, and can deal with a lot of Pokemon Rotom generally handles, in case I want to preserve Rotom, or it has fainted.

Heatran @ Leftovers
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Lava Plume
- Toxic
- Taunt
- Stealth Rock

Heatran is the Stealth Rock setter in my team, as well as my answer to non Earthquake Mega Charizard X, and it helps me pressure hazard stack teams, and baits Rotom Wash with Toxic. It loosens the burden off Metagross, and even checks non Low Kick Weavile and has a very spammable move in Lava Plume, which deters Mega Lopunny and Medicham into switching into it. It also checks Scizor, and outspeeds Bisharp, which can be vital if my opponent manages to weaken my counters to thos Pokemon.

Latias @ Life Orb
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 72 HP / 184 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Draco Meteor
- Psyshock
- Roost
- Healing Wish​

Latias is my final mon, and its role is largely utility. It checks waters like Starmie, Keldeo, Rotom-Wash and Volcanion, grasses like Breloom, and electrics like Thundurus, Mega Manectric and Raikou, as well as providing Healing Wish support. Life Orb Draco Meteors coming from a 110 base special attacks are no joke, and it can evade pursuit trapping by using Healing Wish into one of my weakened Pokemon.

Threats​

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Fightings like Mega Lopunny and Mega Medicham can Ice Punch on predicted switches into Landorus-T and can wear Mega Heracross and Latias down. They are afraid of switching directly into Heatran, in the fear of the Lava Plume burn, and take considerable damage from Metagross's Meteor Mash, so they have to rely on Volt Turn, or sac Pokemon to have truly free switches.

Darks like Bisharp and Weavile are also threats, as they are mainly checked by only Heracross who isnt too hard to wear down. However they lose the 1v1 against Rotom-Wash, Heatran, and Scarf Landorus-T(if its at full health) and cannot freely switch into Latias or Metagross.

Mega Charizard X, especially Earthquake variants, is an issue as I have nothing which can outspeed it after a boost, and it gets free switches onto Rotom-Wash, and Metagross as well as forcing 50/50s with Mega Heracross. Non Earthquake variants struggle to break past Heatran, while Earthquake variants can be worn down, due to there weakness to Stealth Rocks and lack of recovery.

I have no true switch ins to Gengar, with Landorus taking massive damage from Shadow Ball, and Heatran fearing the Focus Blast. While Gengar can massively damage one of my Pokemon after a free switch in, it is frail and requires support to get the switch in, allowing me to let one of my Pokemon take damage and leave it at that.

Rotom Wash (especially when paired with a trapper) is an issue as it switches in to most of my team (Heatran, Metagross and Landorus) and can easily pivot out again, wearing down my switch in (if its paired with a pursuit trapper forcing me to switch into either Mega Heracross or my Rotom in particular).

Importable

Heracross-Mega @ Heracronite
Ability: Skill Link
EVs: 248 HP / 76 Atk / 84 Def / 100 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Pin Missile
- Rock Blast
- Close Combat
- Substitute

Metagross @ Assault Vest
Ability: Clear Body
EVs: 248 HP / 96 Atk / 164 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Meteor Mash
- Earthquake
- Pursuit
- Bullet Punch

Rotom-Wash @ Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 Spe
Bold Nature
- Volt Switch
- Hydro Pump
- Will-O-Wisp
- Pain Split

Landorus-Therian @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- Knock Off
- U-turn

Heatran @ Leftovers
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Lava Plume
- Toxic
- Taunt
- Stealth Rock

Latias @ Life Orb
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 72 HP / 184 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Draco Meteor
- Psyshock
- Roost
- Healing Wish

 

[Scotti]

Hey AnishSomani

.......​

Cool team you have here. I have built a lot of teams similar to this, so I have a great idea on how to cover the threats to your team. Some threats to your are firstly offensive fighting types. Offensive fighting types obviously give your team trouble, as Ice punch can get past Landorus-T. However, if you play carefully with Landorus-T you should be fine against them. The biggest threats to your team in my opinion, are offensive dark types. You really only have one dark resist in the form of Mega Heracross, one of your main win conditions, so letting it getting weakened just to check dark types really blows. You can take hits from them, but a well played Weavile or Bisharp can break through your team. That last huge threat to your team is Charizard X. A very common problem with offensive builds is that people just slap on Landorus-T and think they have a check to Mega Charizard X. This is true if you are using a Defensive Set, that doesn't get destroyed by +1 Flare Blitz. Though most of the time, the Zard X check tends to be Scarf Landorus-T, luckily it hasn't been used much lately. You also have a hard time breaking through stall, as Mega Heracross can't break through well without running a more offensive set.

I suggest you run Swords Dance over Substitute on Mega Heracross. I actually enjoy running substitute on Heracross, as it really helps vs offensive teams. However, your team can't break through defensive teams well. Swords Dance Mega Heracross completely destroyed standard stall, unless it is running Doublade or you don't play well with Mega Heracross. It also helps against balanced teams, that you may have had trouble breaking through, because of power. However, breaking through balance is not just about power, but also about speed. That is why I recommend you change your Mega Heracross spread to a spread of 40 Hp | 252 Atk | 216 Spe | : Jolly Nature. Besides being able to out pace a lot of threats on balance teams, the main reason for running this EV spread is out pace Max Spe Jolly Bisharp. Bisharp is a major threat to this team, so being about out pace it and not get destroyed by a +2 Iron Head is very helpful.

The next change is suggest, is replacing AV Metagross with Scarf Jirachi. Firstly, pursuit does not pair that well with Heracross, because Heracross destroy most psychic types anyway. Sure pursuit helps against ghost types, but the only ghost type Mega Heracross needs help with is Doublade, and Pursuit does shit to it. The only useful thing Metagross offers is a fairy resist. Which is exactly why I added Jirachi, because of its great match up against fairy types. Scarf Jirachi also completes a volt turn core with Landorus-T and Rotom-W, and lures in threats that Mega Heracross can set up on. It also offers a second Healing Wish pokemon if you want or you can run Trick instead to help against fatter teams. You can also just Healing Wish on Jirachi, and replace Healing Wish on Latias for more coverage.

The next change I recommend is running Defensive Landorus-T over your current set. Your team is extremely weak to Physical Fighting types, such as Terrakion, Mega Medicham, Mega Lopunny, and Mega Heracross. Defensive Landorus-T really helps against these threats, as Rocky Helmets and intimidate can put Physical Fighting Types in range of Scarf Jirachi's Iron Head or Heart Stamp. Another benefit of running Defensive Landorus-T, is that you have a solid check to Offensive Zard X. Also you can weakened opposing Landorus-T with your Rocky Helmet, allowing Mega Heracross to be more of a threat.

The final change I suggest is running Calm Mind Twave Clefable over Heatran. Now that you have a solid check to most fairies, and another pokemon to use rocks, Heatran is not really needed as much. Not only that, but you are also extremely weak to Electric Types. Latias is a good check to electric types, but with pursuit being a common thing, having more than just latias is a necessity. Clefable also gives a second check to fighting types, just in case they get past Landorus-t and a great check to Weavile and other dark types. Thunder Wave also helps your team a ton against faster teams, as it can slow downs faster threats to Heracross, allowing it to sweep through Offensive and Faster Balance Threats with just one Swords Dance.

.......​

Sets

Jirachi @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Serene Grace
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Iron Head
- Heart Stamp / Fire Punch (fire punch is here just in case Mega Scizor becomes a large threat)
- U-turn
- Healing Wish / Trick / Fire Punch

Landorus-Therian @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 248 HP / 244 Def / 8 SpD / 8 Spe
Impish Nature
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- U-turn
- Stealth Rock

Clefable @ Leftovers
Ability: Magic Guard
EVs: 252 HP / 172 Def / 84 SpD
Calm Nature
- Calm Mind
- Moonblast
- Soft-Boiled
- Thunder Wave

I hope I helped :]

 

[Anish]

Thanks Scotti!

Your rate was great, and the problems you stated, were actually similar to the ones I mentioned in the team preview. My only issue really, was that you were removing Metagross for Jirachi (whom I had built the team around, so I am a little hesitant in removing it). While you mention that Mega Heracross didn't exactly need Pursuit support, and I sort of agree with you there, but a lot of common offensive Psychics (Latios, Latias,Starmie,Mega Alakazam) are the best things that balanced/offensive teams have for Heracross, especially since I don't have Substitute and it's bulk against some offensive threats like Heatran Tornaus Therian and Gengar is also pretty valuable.Additionally, the support works wonders for Rotom Wash, so I feel that a core of Mega Heracross + Metagross + (Rotom-Wash) has some definite niches over a Scarf Jirachi build, and is slightly less standard. I will definitely keep your Scarf Jirachi build but would look for another way how to make this work. I was considering changing my Heatran to the Magma Storm variant with Stealth Rocks>Earth Power, and was also looking for a spread which would make Mega Heracross (slightly prefer Substitute, as it beats Sp D Talonflame stalls, as well as helping me vs more balanced teams but either works) better equipped to take on stall.

Thanks again.