Song: 2 Minutes to Midnight by Iron Maiden
Hey everyone, HigherPlaces and PinkDragonTamer here. We built this team around a Tyrantrum-Sylveon offensive core and the goal was to build a balance team that is difficult to switch into while retaining a lot of our own switch-ins. It fares best against balance and bulky offense teams and has a good matchup with stall. It is weakest to HO teams, but in our experience we can still deal with them fairly well. We made it to about 1580 on the Ladder at ~80% GXE and only stopped their because of the Salamence suspect. In our opinion, this team is well prepared for the higher laddder and once the suspect is over we will try to make it into the mid 1600s.
I (HigherPlaces) apologize for any formatting issues as this is my first time writing an RMT, or posting anything on Smogon for that matter. Without further ado, here is our team:
Hey everyone, HigherPlaces and PinkDragonTamer here. We built this team around a Tyrantrum-Sylveon offensive core and the goal was to build a balance team that is difficult to switch into while retaining a lot of our own switch-ins. It fares best against balance and bulky offense teams and has a good matchup with stall. It is weakest to HO teams, but in our experience we can still deal with them fairly well. We made it to about 1580 on the Ladder at ~80% GXE and only stopped their because of the Salamence suspect. In our opinion, this team is well prepared for the higher laddder and once the suspect is over we will try to make it into the mid 1600s.
I (HigherPlaces) apologize for any formatting issues as this is my first time writing an RMT, or posting anything on Smogon for that matter. Without further ado, here is our team:
Tyrantrum @ Choice Band
Ability: Rock Head
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Head Smash
- Outrage
- Superpower
- Earthquake / Dragon Dance
HigherPlaces: Like Sylveon, Tyrantrum deals devastating neutral damage with a STAB that few types resist. It forms a very strong dual choiced wallbreaker core with Sylveon and 2HKO’s almost every mon in the UU metagame. For the most part this set allows you to click head smash freely and 2HKO defensive walls pokemon such as Suicune, Cresselia, Alomomola, etc. Super power and earthquake allow Tyrantrum to do respectable chip damage to common mons that do resists its stab combo such as Empoleon, Cobalion, Doublade, Mega Steelix, and Mega Aggron. 252 Speed EV’s are used to ensure we outspeed timid Sylveon and jolly Crawdaunt. Dragon dance is another option in case you lose your choice band so that you can still break defensive walls.
PDT:
Suicune: This set is a soft check to Calm Mind Suicune, but we do have other ways of beating it. It comfortably 2HKO’s it, unless we get the unfortunate Scald burn, but that’s what Heal Bell Umby is for.
Sylveon: Adamant Tyrantrum outspeeds Timid Sylveon by one point, and OHKOs most offensive variants with Head Smash. It can offensively check Sylveon, but is by no means a switch in to it. Be sure to scout for a more defensive set, in which case Tyrantrum might not OHKO it.
252+ Atk Choice Band Tyrantrum Head Smash vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Sylveon: 361-426 (91.6 - 108.1%) -- 50% chance to OHKO
Mega Aggron: Mega Aggron is one of the biggest checks to Tyrantrum, but even it is easily worn down by the sheer power of it. Aggron can only switch in 2 times unless we get get low rolls. It is also worn down from this so that Sylveon can easily 2HKO it.
252+ Atk Choice Band Tyrantrum Head Smash vs. 252 HP / 16+ Def Mega Aggron: 82-97 (23.8 - 28.1%) -- 94.1% chance to 4HKO
Mega Steelix: Mega Steelix is one of the biggest problems for this team in terms of being able to switch into many of our main attacks. We can no longer click Head Smash freely as it only does around ~11%. Earthquake is a 3HKO however, so a little predicting should do the trick. Steelix is also easily worn down, so it isn’t a huge problem unless played skillfully on stall.
Suicune: This set is a soft check to Calm Mind Suicune, but we do have other ways of beating it. It comfortably 2HKO’s it, unless we get the unfortunate Scald burn, but that’s what Heal Bell Umby is for.
Sylveon: Adamant Tyrantrum outspeeds Timid Sylveon by one point, and OHKOs most offensive variants with Head Smash. It can offensively check Sylveon, but is by no means a switch in to it. Be sure to scout for a more defensive set, in which case Tyrantrum might not OHKO it.
252+ Atk Choice Band Tyrantrum Head Smash vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Sylveon: 361-426 (91.6 - 108.1%) -- 50% chance to OHKO
Mega Aggron: Mega Aggron is one of the biggest checks to Tyrantrum, but even it is easily worn down by the sheer power of it. Aggron can only switch in 2 times unless we get get low rolls. It is also worn down from this so that Sylveon can easily 2HKO it.
252+ Atk Choice Band Tyrantrum Head Smash vs. 252 HP / 16+ Def Mega Aggron: 82-97 (23.8 - 28.1%) -- 94.1% chance to 4HKO
Mega Steelix: Mega Steelix is one of the biggest problems for this team in terms of being able to switch into many of our main attacks. We can no longer click Head Smash freely as it only does around ~11%. Earthquake is a 3HKO however, so a little predicting should do the trick. Steelix is also easily worn down, so it isn’t a huge problem unless played skillfully on stall.
Sylveon @ Choice Specs
Ability: Pixilate
EVs: 72 HP / 40 Def / 252 SpA / 144 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Hyper Voice
- Baton Pass
- Psyshock
- Shadow Ball / Calm Mind
PDT: After Sylveon was introduced into UU, it immediately took its place as one of the best special wallbreakers in the entire tier. Hyper Voice, Psyshock, and Shadow Ball were the chosen coverage moves allowing it to hit the majority of the tier. Calm mind is another option as it’s difficult to break stall teams if you get knocked off. It has a very limited amount of switch ins, all of which are threatened by the rest of the team. The spread guarantees that Sylveon lives a hit from Jolly Mega Swampert in rain, which is a huge threat to this team. It can grab momentum with Baton Pass, and rip holes through most teams with Hyper Voice. Teams lacking a solid check to Sylveon pretty much automatically lose versus this team.
PDT:
Blissey: Blissey is usually annoying for Sylveon as it can eat up Hyper Voices, but if the opponent has a Blissey, usually Baton Pass is the correct play. Both Tyrantrum and Cobalion destroy Blissey, so we can easily swing the match up in our favor.
Empoleon: Empoleon is quickly becoming more popular because of its ability to switch into Sylveon’s Hyper Voices, but it is worn down, and after a few Hyper Voices, we can Baton Pass into Tyrantrum or Cobalion and finish up the job.
Other Steels: Sylveon does a good job of wearing down other Steel Types for the rest of the team. Tyrantrum then has a clean path to go and destroy lives with things like Aggron and Steelix being significantly worn down.
Blissey: Blissey is usually annoying for Sylveon as it can eat up Hyper Voices, but if the opponent has a Blissey, usually Baton Pass is the correct play. Both Tyrantrum and Cobalion destroy Blissey, so we can easily swing the match up in our favor.
Empoleon: Empoleon is quickly becoming more popular because of its ability to switch into Sylveon’s Hyper Voices, but it is worn down, and after a few Hyper Voices, we can Baton Pass into Tyrantrum or Cobalion and finish up the job.
Other Steels: Sylveon does a good job of wearing down other Steel Types for the rest of the team. Tyrantrum then has a clean path to go and destroy lives with things like Aggron and Steelix being significantly worn down.
Cobalion @ Leftovers
Ability: Justified
EVs: 224 Atk / 32 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- Substitute
- Close Combat
- Iron Head
HigherPlaces: Cobalion is a UU staple that I’ve always hated using due to its low attack stat, but this set really ties this team together. Substitute and Swords Dance allow Cobalion to deal with mons that it normally loses to such as Sableye, Suicune, Cresselia, and Alomomola. The 32 SpD EV’s guarantee that an uninvested Cresselia’s moonblast will not break its substitute. It also compensates for Sylveon and Tyrantrum’s weakness to steel types as this set beats every steel type in the tier bar Doublade and Mega Steelix.
HigherPlaces:
Sableye: Even with sylveon Sableye can be quite a nuisance for the rest of our team so we needed another way to deal with it. As it is a somewhat common switch-in to Cobalion, substitute allows us to deal with it very easily as it has no way to break our sub.
Arcanine: Arcanine has been a lot more common ever since sylveon dropped and because we have substitute it is very easy to set up on the defensive sets after baiting a Will-O-Wisp.
Cresselia: With our 32 SpD EV’s, we basically full sweep if a Cresselia even comes in if we can bait a T-Wave on our substitute unless Cresselia is running Psychic. If it is the standard Psyshock/Moonblast set we can easily set up until it switches out.
Swampert/Suicune: These are a couple of the most common Roar users that will switch into Cobalion most of the time if your opponent has them. If either comes in on the same turn we substitute, there’s not much we can do other than CC once then switch. If they come in the turn after we Substitute as we set up a Swords Dance, any Swampert set is 2HKO’d and Suicune is 2HKO’d after rocks.
Sableye: Even with sylveon Sableye can be quite a nuisance for the rest of our team so we needed another way to deal with it. As it is a somewhat common switch-in to Cobalion, substitute allows us to deal with it very easily as it has no way to break our sub.
Arcanine: Arcanine has been a lot more common ever since sylveon dropped and because we have substitute it is very easy to set up on the defensive sets after baiting a Will-O-Wisp.
Cresselia: With our 32 SpD EV’s, we basically full sweep if a Cresselia even comes in if we can bait a T-Wave on our substitute unless Cresselia is running Psychic. If it is the standard Psyshock/Moonblast set we can easily set up until it switches out.
Swampert/Suicune: These are a couple of the most common Roar users that will switch into Cobalion most of the time if your opponent has them. If either comes in on the same turn we substitute, there’s not much we can do other than CC once then switch. If they come in the turn after we Substitute as we set up a Swords Dance, any Swampert set is 2HKO’d and Suicune is 2HKO’d after rocks.
Umbreon @ Leftovers
Ability: Synchronize
EVs: 252 HP / 68 Def / 188 SpD
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Foul Play
- Wish
- Protect
- Heal Bell
PDT: We added Umbreon as our blanket special check to most of the tier. We also needed a cleric to help our matchup against stall and longer matches in general. Most of the team lacks recovery so we needed wish support and heal bell support to retain longevity for the rest of the Pokemon. Foul Play can be a last ditch effort against set up sweepers, and used to chip others. 188 SpD EVs and a Calm Nature allow Umbreon to safely survive two Choice Specs Fire Blasts from a Chandelure, and stall it with WishTect. The rest of the EVs were dumped into Defense which makes it a nice Specially Biased Mixed Wall. It checks threatening attackers like Chandelure, Mega Sceptile, Mega Blastoise.
HigherPlaces:
Mega Blastoise: This is really our only switch into Blastoise and not really the best one as it just barely avoids getting 2HKO’d by Mega Blastoise. If Mega Blastoise comes in, we’re forced to wish/protect up and get the occasional foul play off. We can also double to Sylveon on the Aura Sphere, but our Sylveon will be severely weakened or get knocked out after two scalds if they predict our double.
Doublade: This is one of the biggest threats to our team and Umbreon is the only mon other than pert that can deal with it somewhat reliably. If Doublade sets up a Swords Dance, we have a 31% chance to OHKO it before rocks and a 68% chance to OHKO it with rocks damage. This spread guarantees that we can take a +2 Sacred Sword if we do not OHKO, giving us a chance to protect and live the +2 Shadow Sneak after leftovers and take Doublade out.
Tornadus: Physical variants of Tornadus have been fairly common lately on Sticky Web teams because it can get the Defiant boost by predicting Defog. Our spread allows us to switch in on acrobatics and then protect for leftovers recover in order to survive and wish on the incoming Superpower as long as it doesn’t get two max rolls. It’s generally preferably to switch Umbreon into Tornadus rather than Swampert, as some of them carry grass knot.
Krookodile: If Swampert faints Umbreon is the only switch-in to Krookodile. We can wish protect against Choice-Banded Earthquake with our spread and if they go for Super Power we can take one from full and then switch to Crobat or Sylveon. We can simply wish and foul play against any other Krookodile set.
Mega Blastoise: This is really our only switch into Blastoise and not really the best one as it just barely avoids getting 2HKO’d by Mega Blastoise. If Mega Blastoise comes in, we’re forced to wish/protect up and get the occasional foul play off. We can also double to Sylveon on the Aura Sphere, but our Sylveon will be severely weakened or get knocked out after two scalds if they predict our double.
Doublade: This is one of the biggest threats to our team and Umbreon is the only mon other than pert that can deal with it somewhat reliably. If Doublade sets up a Swords Dance, we have a 31% chance to OHKO it before rocks and a 68% chance to OHKO it with rocks damage. This spread guarantees that we can take a +2 Sacred Sword if we do not OHKO, giving us a chance to protect and live the +2 Shadow Sneak after leftovers and take Doublade out.
Tornadus: Physical variants of Tornadus have been fairly common lately on Sticky Web teams because it can get the Defiant boost by predicting Defog. Our spread allows us to switch in on acrobatics and then protect for leftovers recover in order to survive and wish on the incoming Superpower as long as it doesn’t get two max rolls. It’s generally preferably to switch Umbreon into Tornadus rather than Swampert, as some of them carry grass knot.
Krookodile: If Swampert faints Umbreon is the only switch-in to Krookodile. We can wish protect against Choice-Banded Earthquake with our spread and if they go for Super Power we can take one from full and then switch to Crobat or Sylveon. We can simply wish and foul play against any other Krookodile set.
Swampert @ Swampertite
Ability: Damp
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Atk / 252 Def
Impish Nature
- Scald
- Earthquake
- Stealth Rock
- Roar / Rest
HigherPlaces:
Mega Swampert: This is our only pokemon that isn’t 2HKO’d by Mega Swampert in the rain so if they have a Rainpert it’s extremely important to keep our pert healthy. The play is basically to hope we burn or get two hits off on their Mega Pert and revenge kill it. Umbreon can also stall rain out with wish and protect and barely avoid being 2HKO’d unless it gets high rolls/flinches, so this is really our best answer.
SD Lucario: If our opponent has a lucario we really have to keep Mega Swampert healthy as it’s the only thing that can take a +2 Close Combat. Cobalion can also deal with it as it eats +2 espeed, but it is preferable to use Mega Pert to deal with it most of the time.
Crocune/Curselax: It’s important to keep Mega Swampert healthy if our opponent has either of these bulky sweepers so that we have a way to phase them out if they set up a few too many times. Although TTrum and Sylveon can deal with these pokemon, neither of them enjoy switching in on scalds or body slams and getting statused.
Mega Swampert: This is our only pokemon that isn’t 2HKO’d by Mega Swampert in the rain so if they have a Rainpert it’s extremely important to keep our pert healthy. The play is basically to hope we burn or get two hits off on their Mega Pert and revenge kill it. Umbreon can also stall rain out with wish and protect and barely avoid being 2HKO’d unless it gets high rolls/flinches, so this is really our best answer.
SD Lucario: If our opponent has a lucario we really have to keep Mega Swampert healthy as it’s the only thing that can take a +2 Close Combat. Cobalion can also deal with it as it eats +2 espeed, but it is preferable to use Mega Pert to deal with it most of the time.
Crocune/Curselax: It’s important to keep Mega Swampert healthy if our opponent has either of these bulky sweepers so that we have a way to phase them out if they set up a few too many times. Although TTrum and Sylveon can deal with these pokemon, neither of them enjoy switching in on scalds or body slams and getting statused.
Crobat @ Sharp Beak
Ability: Infiltrator
EVs: 248 HP / 72 Def / 52 SpD / 136 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Brave Bird
- U-turn
- Defog
- Roost
HigherPlaces:
NP Lucario: Our team really gets destroyed by this set and Crobat can take it down to 20-30% health before fainting to flash cannon and after LO damage Lucario should be low enough that we can deal with it with the rest of our team. If Crobat is gone and it sets up to +2 we basically lose unless we pull off some clutch predictions.
Infernape: NP infernape also does quite a lot of damage to our team, but Crobat can outspeed it and OHKO it with Brave Bird. Unfortunately because we don’t really have a reliable switch-in to all Infernape sets, this often requires sacrificing something or predicting a set-up move.
Suicide-Lead Azelf: Crobat does a great job against this pokemon as we can Brave Bird into u-turn to knock it out or even Brave-bird then double to Swampert to set-up rocks and then knock Azelf out while taking minimal damage since Damp prevents it from using Explosion.
NP Lucario: Our team really gets destroyed by this set and Crobat can take it down to 20-30% health before fainting to flash cannon and after LO damage Lucario should be low enough that we can deal with it with the rest of our team. If Crobat is gone and it sets up to +2 we basically lose unless we pull off some clutch predictions.
Infernape: NP infernape also does quite a lot of damage to our team, but Crobat can outspeed it and OHKO it with Brave Bird. Unfortunately because we don’t really have a reliable switch-in to all Infernape sets, this often requires sacrificing something or predicting a set-up move.
Suicide-Lead Azelf: Crobat does a great job against this pokemon as we can Brave Bird into u-turn to knock it out or even Brave-bird then double to Swampert to set-up rocks and then knock Azelf out while taking minimal damage since Damp prevents it from using Explosion.
Threat list: Mega Swampert(Rain Sweeper), Mega Blastoise, Sylveon, Feraligatr, Crawdaunt, Lucario, Nasty Plot Infernape, Switcheroo/Trick users (microwave oven wtf is wrong with you)
Tyrantrum @ Choice Band
Ability: Rock Head
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Head Smash
- Outrage
- Superpower
- Earthquake
Sylveon @ Choice Specs
Ability: Pixilate
EVs: 72 HP / 40 Def / 252 SpA / 144 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk / 30 SpA / 30 Spe
- Hyper Voice
- Baton Pass
- Psyshock
- Calm Mind
Swampert @ Swampertite
Ability: Damp
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Atk / 252 Def
Impish Nature
- Scald
- Earthquake
- Stealth Rock
- Roar
Umbreon @ Leftovers
Ability: Synchronize
EVs: 252 HP / 68 Def / 188 SpD
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Foul Play
- Wish
- Protect
- Heal Bell
Cobalion @ Leftovers
Ability: Justified
EVs: 224 Atk / 32 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- Substitute
- Close Combat
- Iron Head
Crobat @ Sharp Beak
Ability: Inner Focus
EVs: 248 HP / 72 Def / 52 SpD / 136 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Brave Bird
- U-turn
- Defog
- Roost
Ability: Rock Head
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Head Smash
- Outrage
- Superpower
- Earthquake
Sylveon @ Choice Specs
Ability: Pixilate
EVs: 72 HP / 40 Def / 252 SpA / 144 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk / 30 SpA / 30 Spe
- Hyper Voice
- Baton Pass
- Psyshock
- Calm Mind
Swampert @ Swampertite
Ability: Damp
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Atk / 252 Def
Impish Nature
- Scald
- Earthquake
- Stealth Rock
- Roar
Umbreon @ Leftovers
Ability: Synchronize
EVs: 252 HP / 68 Def / 188 SpD
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Foul Play
- Wish
- Protect
- Heal Bell
Cobalion @ Leftovers
Ability: Justified
EVs: 224 Atk / 32 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- Substitute
- Close Combat
- Iron Head
Crobat @ Sharp Beak
Ability: Inner Focus
EVs: 248 HP / 72 Def / 52 SpD / 136 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Brave Bird
- U-turn
- Defog
- Roost
Replays:
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/uu-399314578 vs. Sacri' s/o for playing with us :]
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/uu-390812019
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/uu-390806058
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/uu-390823238 (Double freezes can’t stop us)
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/uu-391790608
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/uu-392633695
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/uu-392629982
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/uu-392638445
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/uu-392640424 hax - r - us
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/uu-392644592 watch this if you want to burn in hell
