ORAS OU Mega Tyranitar Returns - Balanced Team! (Peaked at 1601)

[DoctorA]

Hello everyone!

I was absent for quite a while (not from battling but from the forums) and now I tried a new team, and the result was actually awesome: since I considered myself a bad team builder, I actually peaked at 1601 with this team. It is based around preparing a sweep/supporting Mega-Tyranitar. Although I won most battles, I lost some very badly, so there is definitely space for improvement. I think I looked too much at defensive synergy (which is really great here), but my team doesn't have enough offensive presence, please keep this in mind while you read and I hope you guys can help me out!

So let's get right to it, shall we?

Heatran (F) @ Leftovers
Trait: Flash Fire
EVs: 248 HP / 192 SDef / 68 Spd
Calm Nature (+SDef, -Atk)
- Lava Plume
- Toxic
- Taunt
- Stealth Rock

I usually lead with Heatran, in order to get Stealth Rock up as early as possible. Basically, there is not much to say about this one, standard specially defensive EV-split, Lava Plume burns incoming Garchomp, Tyranitar and other Earthquake/'Random-fighting-type-move'-Users, obliterates Steel and Grass types, while the combination of Toxic and Taunt shuts down some common walls that don't have Steel typing.

Keldeo @ Choice Specs
Trait: Justified
EVs: 252 SAtk / 4 SDef / 252 Spd
IVs: 30 HP / 30 Atk / 30 Def / 30 SAtk / 30 SDef
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Hydro Pump
- Hidden Power [Flying]
- Secret Sword
- Icy Wind

Keldeo is still one of the premier wallbreakers since B/W times. I can't say too much about this one, too, straightforward Choice-Specs Keldeo, used to punch holes into the opponents team. Hydro Pump is a spammable STAB-move, Hidden Power Flying for covering Venusaur and some Fighting types [although I might drop it for Hidden Power Psycho for random Poison types, Psycho still covers Fighting types and Venusaur...]. Secret Sword kills Chansey, Ferrothorn, Tyranitar and friends, while Icy Wind nets a nice 2HKO on incoming Lati-twins, as well as other faster foes, after the switch-in.

Trevenant (M) @ Sitrus Berry
Trait: Harvest
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SDef
Careful Nature (+SDef, -SAtk)
- Phantom Force
- Leech Seed
- Substitute
- Will-O-Wisp

Although Trevenant has done a great job so far, this is the first thing I have to think about twice, I feel like it could have some more 'oomph', you get what I mean... Anyways, it's the standard Sitrus Berry Harvest mixed staller, burning physical threats on the switch, while the EV-spread makes it also specially bulky. The combination of the whole sets stalls out basically everything it can set up a free substitute on. Still, I hope you guys can give me some advice on this one, as I feel I might change something...

Tyranitar (M) @ Tyranitarite
Trait: Sand Stream
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Rock Slide
- Dragon Dance
- Earthquake
- Crunch

So, this is the MVP of the team. With rocks up, and one Dragon Dance boost under the belt, Mega-Tyranitar can and will sweep entire teams single-handedly, if his counters are gone or weakened. Mega-Tyranitar is so obscenely bulky, that it can set up even on some super effective STAB moves. Oh well... I chose Rock Slide over Stone Edge because of the accuracy, and don't try to convince me to change it because I won't. I know that I miss out on some important OHKOs at +1 (like Mandibuzz) but still, I prefer accuracy over power. Earthquake kills Steel types, while Crunch provides some more coverage. I might drop Crunch for Ice Punch, though, since Gliscor stopped my sweep rather often. Not much to say about the EV-spread, I think.

Skarmory (F) @ Rocky Helmet
Trait: Sturdy
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SDef
Impish Nature (+Def, -SAtk)
- Defog
- Roost
- Brave Bird
- Whirlwind

Skarmory is my Defogger, physical wall, and stops pokemon setting up in their tracks by phazing them out with Whirlwind. Roost is reliable recovery. I pack Brave Bird in order not to get Taunt bait. Rocky Helmet is the preferred item, I tried Leftovers, but Roost was always enough of recovery for me, so this is just a personal preference once again.

Serperior (F) @ Life Orb
Trait: Contrary
EVs: 252 SAtk / 4 SDef / 252 Spd
IVs: 30 Atk / 30 SAtk / 30 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Hidden Power [Fire]
- Leaf Storm
- Dragon Pulse
- Aromatherapy

Serperior... once dwelling in the depths of NU, Contrary Serperior definitely earns a shot at the higher tiers, and it is just as great as I thought. Its offensive presence rounds up my team very well, and although it is totally walled by Heatran, it makes a great job setting up and destroying stuff like Ferrothorn, Quagsire and random Dragon types. Aromatherapy is a great surprise for the opponent if used as a last resort move, when your opponent thinks he has already won by paralysing/burning your Keldeo and Tyranitar, or putting your walls asleep.​

Type coverage (offensive and defensive):
http://www.teammagma.net/teambuilder/?248m|485|709|647|497|227

Importable:

Heatran (F) @ Leftovers
Trait: Flash Fire
EVs: 248 HP / 192 SDef / 68 Spd
Calm Nature (+SDef, -Atk)
- Lava Plume
- Toxic
- Taunt
- Stealth Rock

Keldeo @ Choice Specs
Trait: Justified
EVs: 252 SAtk / 4 SDef / 252 Spd
IVs: 30 HP / 30 Atk / 30 Def / 30 SAtk / 30 SDef
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Hydro Pump
- Hidden Power [Flying]
- Secret Sword
- Icy Wind

Trevenant (M) @ Sitrus Berry
Trait: Harvest
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SDef
Careful Nature (+SDef, -SAtk)
- Phantom Force
- Leech Seed
- Substitute
- Will-O-Wisp

Tyranitar (M) @ Tyranitarite
Trait: Sand Stream
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Rock Slide
- Dragon Dance
- Earthquake
- Crunch

Skarmory (F) @ Rocky Helmet
Trait: Sturdy
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SDef
Impish Nature (+Def, -SAtk)
- Defog
- Roost
- Brave Bird
- Whirlwind

Serperior (F) @ Life Orb
Trait: Contrary
EVs: 252 SAtk / 4 SDef / 252 Spd
IVs: 30 Atk / 30 SAtk / 30 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Hidden Power [Fire]
- Leaf Storm
- Dragon Pulse
- Aromatherapy

Thank you very much for reading!

PS: I am not a native English speaker, so I'm sorry for grammar mistakes/typos! Please correct me if you like!​

 

[Chatter]

Not a very good rater ... but I'll give it a shot

It seems that, as you said, Trevenant doesn't have as much offensive presence as you would like it. If you like Trevenant where it is and don't want to remove it, an option is replacing Will-o-Wisp with Shadow Claw and replacing Phantom Force with Curse. This allows you to whittle down the opponent much faster than with Will-o, as well as begin attacks of your own without waiting for Phantom Force's 2 turns. And, of course, the combination of Curse and Substitute cause you to get to your Sitrus Berry faster, therefore causing your health to be a little higher than you would expect it.

Another option is simply replacing it with a scarfer or a priority user. I'm not too sure what pokemon would be good there, but I feel like a good option for your team would be Sand Force Landorous. With Sand force boosted Earthquakes as well as the momentum gaining U-turn, this could be a good addition to replace Trevanant. Of course, this gives you another water weakness ... A option for priority would be a carrier of Bullet Punch. Perhaps Swords Dance Scizor? I'm not too sure about these two categories of team building as I'm not that experience on rating ... just some ideas! (I gave it my all ...)

Sets

Trevenant @ Sitrus Berry
Ability: Harvest
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpD
Careful Nature
- Substitute
- Leech Seed
- Curse
- Horn Leech/Shadow Claw

Landorus @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Sand Force
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Earthquake
- Knock Off
- Stone Edge / Rock Slide
- U-turn

Scizor @ Lum Berry
Ability: Technician
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Bullet Punch
- X-Scissor
- Swords Dance
- Protect

 

[DoctorA]

Hey, thanks for the rate, appreciate it!

I will try and run Shadow Claw and Curse on Trevenant, this sounds very tempting, although I probably will miss the utility of Will-O-Wisp.

Running Lando over Trevenant doesn't make sense to me, since my team is already weak to water, and most water mons also pack Ice type moves (Serperior), which would be a big weakness, as you mentioned.
Scizor would make me very susceptible to fire, Mega-Charizard X, and the rare Darmanitan would have a field day, so this also won't work for me.

 

[Disciple_1]

Yo interesting team, don't see trevenant around these days..... But as you said it does lack the oomph, so I would recommend using sableye. It may not have the oomph you want but it's far more useful than trevenant. With prankster wow and taunt it shuts down so many threats. You also seem to be weak to unaware clefable which totally ignores all the set up you do. If you decide to use sableye, you can run Flash Cannon on tran instead of toxic or taunt. Another small thing is that you could replace HP Fire with HP ground. Cause as it is your serperior is totally walled by heatran. Actually, your entire team is kinda heatran weak. Also run giga drain over aromatherapy because you need to regain the health lost due to lo.

Rain and sand teams wreak havoc on your team and in your current team I don't see any answers. Sableye answers this perfectly. With priority wow, it's good bye swampert / excadrill.

Sets

Sableye @ Leftovers
Ability: Prankster
EVs:248 HP / 252 SpD / 8 Atk
Careful Nature
-Will-O-Wisp
-Taunt
-Knock Off
-Recover

You could also take advantage of ttars sand stream and use sand rush excadrill.

Hope I helped glhf battling ;)

 

[Radio_Active]

Maybe you could run a Trevanant with no attack moves, as your current trevanant does almost no damage against some threats(I used your team) or you can run Sableye. Or you can give up and run CB Azumarill. Run HP Electric>HP Flying on Keldeo or Gyarados Walls it.

Sets

Trevenant @ Sitrus Berry
Ability: Harvest
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpD
Careful Nature
- Substitute
- Leech Seed
- Curse
- Will-O-Wisp

 

[Lufia]

Hey Doctor A :)

Hey cool team you have. Maybe I have a couple of improvement suggestions.

I would run defensive nastypass celebi over trevenant. It is capable of tanking hits and is a good status absorber. if you pass that +2 to celebi or heatran something is going to die :) I think it can also beat a lot of fighting and water types like your trevenant but provides more offensive pressure. Celebi pairs rly well with heatran so thats another advantage.

Disciple_1 suggested sand rush excadrill. I think rapid spin 3 attacks Excadrill could fit your team very well. Now you can run Spikes over defog on Skarmory which help your team wearing down defensive teams better. Another benefit is its speed you can outspeed opposing scarfers etc (ecxcadrill replaces serperior)

A big threat to your team is Tornadus T. it outspeeds every single member and is able to ohko or nearly ohko them. so you could run AV excadril to survive any hit.

Im kinda new to smogon so I have no clue how to hide sets ^^


Celebi @ Leftovers
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 240 HP / 176 Def / 60 SpD / 32 Spe
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Giga Drain
- Nasty Plot
- Baton Pass
- Recover

Excadrill @ Assault Vest / Life orb
Ability: Sand Rush
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Earthquake
- Iron Head
- Rock Slide
- Rapid Spin

Skarmory @ Leftovers
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Impish Nature
- Whirlwind
- Brave Bird
- Spikes
- Roost

PS Scarf keldeo would be better imho ( maybe with Hp electric)

Best of luck on the ladder :) may the scald burns be with you

 

[Disciple_1]

Hey Doctor A :)

Hey cool team you have. Maybe I have a couple of improvement suggestions.

I would run defensive nastypass celebi over trevenant. It is capable of tanking hits and is a good status absorber. if you pass that +2 to celebi or heatran something is going to die :) I think it can also beat a lot of fighting and water types like your trevenant but provides more offensive pressure. Celebi pairs rly well with heatran so thats another advantage.

Disciple_1 suggested sand rush excadrill. I think rapid spin 3 attacks Excadrill could fit your team very well. Now you can run Spikes over defog on Skarmory which help your team wearing down defensive teams better. Another benefit is its speed you can outspeed opposing scarfers etc (ecxcadrill replaces serperior)

A big threat to your team is Tornadus T. it outspeeds every single member and is able to ohko or nearly ohko them. so you could run AV excadril to survive any hit.

Im kinda new to smogon so I have no clue how to hide sets ^^


Celebi @ Leftovers
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 240 HP / 176 Def / 60 SpD / 32 Spe
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Giga Drain
- Nasty Plot
- Baton Pass
- Recover

Excadrill @ Assault Vest / Life orb
Ability: Sand Rush
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Earthquake
- Iron Head
- Rock Slide
- Rapid Spin

Skarmory @ Leftovers
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Impish Nature
- Whirlwind
- Brave Bird
- Spikes
- Roost

PS Scarf keldeo would be better imho ( maybe with Hp electric)

Best of luck on the ladder :) may the scald burns be with you

Counter > brave bird imo... Helps against physical sweepers

 

[DoctorA]

Thanks for all the feedback!

Chatter I tried running Shadow Claw and Curse on Trevenant... As I expected, Will-O-Wisp provides much more utility than curse, since foes simple switch out / use U-turn/Volt Switch and thus stop the effect of Curse. It worked 50% of the time, but I prefer Will-O-Wisp. Still, it is a very cool strategy I might use on another team, so thanks for that!

Disciple_1 I'll try running Counter on Skarmory, sounds like a very cool idea! And I will definitely try Sableye>Trevenant. While Trevenant is a cool pokemon, it just doesn't seem to fit the team. I'll let you know, thanks for the suggestion!

Radio_Active I prefer running HP Flying, since I like to cover Venusaur, which is big menace.... but as I already mentionend, I will give Sableye a try.
The Revenant set looks pretty cool, but it doesn't fit the team, since I need some more offensive pressure. But I will definitely try it on another team!
Using Azumarill over Trevenant is an interesting thought, it would be a solid answer to sand sweepers, and have it's Water type STABs enhanced in Rain.
I test around a bit, and let you know! Thanks for the rate!

Lufia Thanks, I'm glad you like it! Nastypass Celebi sounds very nice, could pass to Serperior, giving it more immediate offensive power!
Dropping Defog on Skarmory is never going to happen, since my team is very prone to Spikes stacking! As I already mentioned, adding another Steel type (in this case Excadrill), would make me even weaker to Fire types. Still, I will test your suggested sets, maybe turns out not as bad as I think! ;) Although I will miss Aromatherapy Serperior... Maybe run Heal Bell on Celebi over Recover, since Nasty Plot boosted Giga Drain seems like a more or less reliable recovery...