I apologize if I posted this in the wrong area, I'm still a little new here and I figured since this was an OU team, this is the best fit. ^_^
Before I begin, a bit of a background on myself: I've been playing Pokemon (probably like the most of you) for almost 12 years now, though I never really got into the whole competitive battling thing until a year or two ago. I had my first tournament back in April, which I got third place in (it was battle factory style). I really enjoy battling with other people and friends, and I win some, and lose some, and I figured it was time to try my hand at a second tournament, hence this post:
The reason I'm posting is because I'm in a little predicament for my first tournament. I've been pondering for weeks and have come up with this team, but I figured why not see what the extremely smart people at Smogon have to say! This tournament I'm entering is a little different than your standard tournament. I'll explain. I'm essentially entering a mock Pokemon League, with 8 gym leaders, and four elite four. Each gym leader has a type that they cannot differentiate from, and the elite four have two types that they cannot differentiate from. I'm not so much worried for the gym leaders, because you can swap Pokemon in and out, but the elite four (as per the game) you are stuck with the six you use.
The rules are standard battling rules, but the Item Clause is thrown in there as well, which limits me a little bit to what I put together.
So before putting together this team, I looked at the types that the elite four were using:
Member 1: Ghost/Grass
Member 2: Bug/Water
Member 3: Rock/Fighting
Member 4: Dragon/Steel
Without further ado, here is my team:
Azelf @ Focus Sash
Naive
Levitate
4 HP/252 SpA/252 Speed
- Stealth Rock
- Psychic
- Explosion
- Fire Blast
Azelf is one of my favorite leads of all time. I've beaten many common leads with it, and it outspeeds most lead Pokemon that I've encountered. The only real lead I've had major problems with is Aerodactyl, because it outspeeds with Taunt, and then sets up it's own SR, or (assuming it has it) Crunches me to death, while Psychic fails to KO it in one hit. Even if it doesn't run Crunch, Stone Edge will 2KH0 before Psychic will. Fire Blast is for Metagross and Scizor, Explosion to go out with a big bang.
The replacements I've been considering are Aerodactyl, Ambipom, Froslass, Bronzong and Swampert.
Scizor @ Choice Band
Adamant
Technician
4 HP/252 Attack/252 Speed
- U Turn
- Bullet Punch
- Superpower
- Pursuit
As common as this little bugger is, the power it brings is undeniably beautiful. STAB CB Bullet Punch w/ Technician? Yes please! I've accounted for his sad weakness to fire later in my team, but he's won me so many games by just KO'ing frail sweepers, or revenge killing weakened Pokemon. Plus, the mind games you can play on other players just by having Pursuit is a lot of fun! U turn for scouting, and Superpower is for Blissey, or Magnezone/other steel types who may try to ruin my fun.
Salamence @ Life Orb
Adamant
Intimidate
4 HP/252 Attack/252 Speed
- Dragon Dance
- Earthquake
- Outrage
- Stone Edge
The beastly bugger himself! I use him to force switches, get a free DD, and sweep away. I've been considering using Roost instead of Stone Edge, but I'm not 100% on that just yet. Barring Weavile/Mamoswine Ice Shard to the face, I've never really lost a battle after getting one DD off. My main Physical Sweeper. Outrage is the main sweeping move for just pure power, Earthquake/Stone Edge to complete the coverage as best as I can.
Heatran @ Choice Scarf
Timid
Flash Fire
4 Def/252 SpA/252 Speed
- Fire Blast
- Earth Power
- Explosion
- Dragon Pulse
Though I also have Scarf Heracross and Scarf Porygon - Z at my disposal, one of the big reasons I chose it was the synergy it provided with Scizor. Being able to take incoming Fire type attacks with Flash Fire, and gain that boost is quite nice to have. One of my favorite revenge killers for sure, Fire Blast for massive STAB, Earth Power for other Heatran, Metagross, Magnezone, etc. Explosion if I want to guarantee a kill on something I hate with a passion (cough Blissey), and Dragon Pulse for those pesky Dragon types (especially Kingdra, guhhhh). I've been considering replacing it for the aforementioned Porygon - Z/Heracross, but the synergy with Scizor is just too good.
Dusknoir @ Leftovers
Careful
Pressure
252 HP/4 Def/252 SpD
- Will O Wisp
- Earthquake
- Ice Punch
- Pain Split
Dusknoir is one of my favorite crippler walls. I actually just recently put in EQ/Ice Punch, in favor of Fire Punch and Shadow Sneak, for extra power and also more reliability against OU (that's what I find, anyway). Pain Split is great to abuse with his low speed, whilst most Pokemon don't enjoy a burn to the face thanks to Will O Wisp. As much as I love Dusknoir though, I've been considering other Pokemon, notably Hippowdon, Suicune, Swampert, Tentacruel.
Starmie @ Choice Specs
Timid
Natural Cure
- Surf
- Thunderbolt
- Ice Beam
- Psychic
Last but not least, the beastly toolbox special sweeper Starmie. Great speed, and Choice Specs to boost my Special Attack even higher. Surf/Psychic for my STAB attacks, and the infamous Boltbeam combo for coverage. I've also been considering an Expert Belt, because there's really not much I won't get a super effective hit on, but don't know if it's worth the considerable drop in special attack.
Now, the main problems that I see are:
- Only one Pokemon (Azelf) that can set up an entry Hazard.
- Lack of a rapid spinner to take out other entry hazards (for Salamence especially)
One issue I have as well, is though the last Elite Four member is a Steel type, I do not have an EV trained Magnezone at my disposal for steel killing purposes.
I appreciate the time you guys will take to read this, and thanks in advance for any advice you may give!
Before I begin, a bit of a background on myself: I've been playing Pokemon (probably like the most of you) for almost 12 years now, though I never really got into the whole competitive battling thing until a year or two ago. I had my first tournament back in April, which I got third place in (it was battle factory style). I really enjoy battling with other people and friends, and I win some, and lose some, and I figured it was time to try my hand at a second tournament, hence this post:
The reason I'm posting is because I'm in a little predicament for my first tournament. I've been pondering for weeks and have come up with this team, but I figured why not see what the extremely smart people at Smogon have to say! This tournament I'm entering is a little different than your standard tournament. I'll explain. I'm essentially entering a mock Pokemon League, with 8 gym leaders, and four elite four. Each gym leader has a type that they cannot differentiate from, and the elite four have two types that they cannot differentiate from. I'm not so much worried for the gym leaders, because you can swap Pokemon in and out, but the elite four (as per the game) you are stuck with the six you use.
The rules are standard battling rules, but the Item Clause is thrown in there as well, which limits me a little bit to what I put together.
So before putting together this team, I looked at the types that the elite four were using:
Member 1: Ghost/Grass
Member 2: Bug/Water
Member 3: Rock/Fighting
Member 4: Dragon/Steel
Without further ado, here is my team:
Azelf @ Focus Sash
Naive
Levitate
4 HP/252 SpA/252 Speed
- Stealth Rock
- Psychic
- Explosion
- Fire Blast
Azelf is one of my favorite leads of all time. I've beaten many common leads with it, and it outspeeds most lead Pokemon that I've encountered. The only real lead I've had major problems with is Aerodactyl, because it outspeeds with Taunt, and then sets up it's own SR, or (assuming it has it) Crunches me to death, while Psychic fails to KO it in one hit. Even if it doesn't run Crunch, Stone Edge will 2KH0 before Psychic will. Fire Blast is for Metagross and Scizor, Explosion to go out with a big bang.
The replacements I've been considering are Aerodactyl, Ambipom, Froslass, Bronzong and Swampert.
Scizor @ Choice Band
Adamant
Technician
4 HP/252 Attack/252 Speed
- U Turn
- Bullet Punch
- Superpower
- Pursuit
As common as this little bugger is, the power it brings is undeniably beautiful. STAB CB Bullet Punch w/ Technician? Yes please! I've accounted for his sad weakness to fire later in my team, but he's won me so many games by just KO'ing frail sweepers, or revenge killing weakened Pokemon. Plus, the mind games you can play on other players just by having Pursuit is a lot of fun! U turn for scouting, and Superpower is for Blissey, or Magnezone/other steel types who may try to ruin my fun.
Salamence @ Life Orb
Adamant
Intimidate
4 HP/252 Attack/252 Speed
- Dragon Dance
- Earthquake
- Outrage
- Stone Edge
The beastly bugger himself! I use him to force switches, get a free DD, and sweep away. I've been considering using Roost instead of Stone Edge, but I'm not 100% on that just yet. Barring Weavile/Mamoswine Ice Shard to the face, I've never really lost a battle after getting one DD off. My main Physical Sweeper. Outrage is the main sweeping move for just pure power, Earthquake/Stone Edge to complete the coverage as best as I can.
Heatran @ Choice Scarf
Timid
Flash Fire
4 Def/252 SpA/252 Speed
- Fire Blast
- Earth Power
- Explosion
- Dragon Pulse
Though I also have Scarf Heracross and Scarf Porygon - Z at my disposal, one of the big reasons I chose it was the synergy it provided with Scizor. Being able to take incoming Fire type attacks with Flash Fire, and gain that boost is quite nice to have. One of my favorite revenge killers for sure, Fire Blast for massive STAB, Earth Power for other Heatran, Metagross, Magnezone, etc. Explosion if I want to guarantee a kill on something I hate with a passion (cough Blissey), and Dragon Pulse for those pesky Dragon types (especially Kingdra, guhhhh). I've been considering replacing it for the aforementioned Porygon - Z/Heracross, but the synergy with Scizor is just too good.
Dusknoir @ Leftovers
Careful
Pressure
252 HP/4 Def/252 SpD
- Will O Wisp
- Earthquake
- Ice Punch
- Pain Split
Dusknoir is one of my favorite crippler walls. I actually just recently put in EQ/Ice Punch, in favor of Fire Punch and Shadow Sneak, for extra power and also more reliability against OU (that's what I find, anyway). Pain Split is great to abuse with his low speed, whilst most Pokemon don't enjoy a burn to the face thanks to Will O Wisp. As much as I love Dusknoir though, I've been considering other Pokemon, notably Hippowdon, Suicune, Swampert, Tentacruel.
Starmie @ Choice Specs
Timid
Natural Cure
- Surf
- Thunderbolt
- Ice Beam
- Psychic
Last but not least, the beastly toolbox special sweeper Starmie. Great speed, and Choice Specs to boost my Special Attack even higher. Surf/Psychic for my STAB attacks, and the infamous Boltbeam combo for coverage. I've also been considering an Expert Belt, because there's really not much I won't get a super effective hit on, but don't know if it's worth the considerable drop in special attack.
Now, the main problems that I see are:
- Only one Pokemon (Azelf) that can set up an entry Hazard.
- Lack of a rapid spinner to take out other entry hazards (for Salamence especially)
One issue I have as well, is though the last Elite Four member is a Steel type, I do not have an EV trained Magnezone at my disposal for steel killing purposes.
I appreciate the time you guys will take to read this, and thanks in advance for any advice you may give!