Mono-Choice [OU]

locopoke

Banned deucer.
Well, with Latias coming out of Uber and joining the OU Metagame, that left me with some team building to do. I quickly through some ideas together and made a rather poorly built team out of it. This team looked pretty offensive and had 4 Pokemon holding Choice Items, of course it wasn't perfect. But it was better than I had expected it to be, but I knew I needed to do some more work. After a few more battles with that team, I realized the Pokemon that really stood out were the ones with Choice Items. This got me thinking. I thought for a while and then I came up with the idea of creating a Mono-Choice team for OU. Now if you don't know what that means, it means a team with every Pokemon carrying a Choice Item. Now I know you may be thinking " Rofl wtf, that's so stupid, how is that actually gonna work?!" I thought that too for a little bit, until I actually made a team and tested it out. I found it to have some potential, and with a little bit of work it could actually be a good team. Of course, that's where you guys come in. Hopefully you can give me some good suggestions to make this team what I want it to be. Now I'm finally gonna stop explaining stuff and show you the team.

Team at a Glance

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In Depth

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Tyranitar @ Choice Band
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 252 Atk/252 HP/6 Spd
Adamant nature
- Pursuit
- Crunch
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge

My lead, and a pretty good one too. Yes, it's CB-TTar. I felt he'd make a great lead to this team for many reasons. The first being that he does a great job killing off one of the metagames newest threats: Latias. Not only that, but he fits perfectly into the team, being that it is a Mono-Choice team. But, lately Tyranitar hasn't been doing his job very well. Sure, he's great for killing off leads like Azelf and Gengar, but he just hasn't been working out. Things like Flygon totally stop him. Pretty much he's just been dead weight on this team. I'm thinking of actually replacing him with possibly Flygon.



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Latias @ Choice Specs
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 Spd/252 SAtk/6 HP
Timid nature
- Draco Meteor
- Dragon Pulse
- Trick
- Surf

Here's my main Special Attacker, Latias. This Latias is basically like a SpecsMence with a Speed Boost. With the EVs and Nature provided, it comes out to 350 Speed, which can match un-Scarfed Gengar. Not only that, but Latias has great Special Attack, which means a Draco Meteor from her is deadly. Of course, with a Mono-Choice team, I figured I'd need Pokemon to have Trick, since it goes great with Choice Items, that's why i chose Trick over Recover on this set. It gives me many more options with Latias. That, and it can completely cripple a Pokemon if used correctly. As you can guess, this Latias has the obvious problems, such as Magnezone, Tyranitar and Heracross. Even with Specs, Surf can't really do much to Tyranitar, so my only option is to switch out. Overall I think Latias does great on this team, and I wouldn't even consider switching her out for another Pokemon.



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Heracross @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Guts
EVs: 252 Atk/252 Spd/6 HP
Adamant nature
- Megahorn
- Close Combat
- Pursuit
- Stone Edge

It's the standard ScarfCross, back and ready for action! I felt he was perfect for this team. As always, ScarfCross makes a great addition to any offensive team. Not only that, but it's another great Latias counter, as it can 1HKO with Megahorn (assuming it hits). Not much else to say here. He makes a great status absorber as always, and if I can switch him into a Will-o-wisp then that'd be great.



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Gengar @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 SAtk/252 Spd/6 HP
Timid nature
- Shadow Ball
- Focus Blast
- Thunderbolt
- Trick

This is really a great Pokemon to use. With the ability to outrun Gyarados after 1 Dragon Dance and strike back with Thunderbolt, he is a great addition to any offensive team, including this one. Standard TrickGar here, and it's been working fine. Like I mentioned above, a Mono-Choice team definetely needs some Pokemon with Trick, for the obvious reasons.



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Magnezone @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Magnet Pull
EVs: 252 SAtk/252 Spd/6 HP
Timid nature
- Thunderbolt
- Hidden Power [ice]
- Flash Cannon
- Signal Beam

Here it is, the Scarfed Magnezone. He doesn't have very many advantages with Scarf, seeing as he's pretty slow, his speed only hits 360. A few good things, though, are the ability to outrun Gengar, along with some other common OU threats that he normall doesn't outrun. He does a great job stopping Latias, and can 1HKO Celebi with Signal Beam (a move that nobody expects coming from him). He has occasional problems with some Pokemon, such as Tyranitar, but overall he isn't bad. Oh, and I forgot to mention all the times he's trapped Skarmory and Jirachi, and stopped them dead in their tracks. But you all could have guessed that.



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Gyarados @ Choice Band
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 Atk/252 Spd/6 HP
Adamant nature
- Waterfall
- Ice Fang
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge

This Gyarados is a mother fucking beast. Waterfall deals a minimum of 45% to anything that doesn't resist it. Choice Band gives him a whopping 574 Attack, allowing him to rip through some common physical walls, such as Skarmory and Forretress. The only thing that can really stop this beast are Pokemon such as Vaporeon, Suicune, and Starmie. Other than that, he definetely helps this team to no end.






Please comment and give suggestions. Thanks in advance.
 
You're one of the first users that doesn't use CB Scizor with a whole team full of Choice users. This does look gimmicky from the first view, but when you look closer into it, it could actually work. With only 1 resistence to SR, you'll be switching a lot, so Stall Team can screw you over. They can SR Spikes and T-Spikes stalls you, and keep switching to counters as you try to kill off their Pokemon. For that single reason alone, I recommend either CB/CScarf MixApe or CScarf Mence someone on the team. It'll help deal with those pesky Stalls.
 
Your team has serious issues with Skarmory + Blissey + Bulky Water which is on pretty much any stall team. Your opponent can literally just switch around between these three pokemon and watch Stealth Rock, Spikes, and Sandstorm slowly rip your team to shreds. Having Trick on Gengar and Latias helps but ultimately Blissey can still do her job with a Scarf and while it'll be harder, she can still wall your special attackers all day.

To fix this I would probably put CBSalamence over something... probably Gyarados as they have pretty similar functions. It will still require some prediction to get Skarmory with a Fire Blast but at least you can now nail those bulky waters with a CB Dragon Claw which should 2HKO the vast majority, and Skarmory can't take CBOutrages forever.

Another very important issue is the lack of Stealth Rock. To be honest, I don't think a team can actually be successful in DPPt without Stealth Rock, its just that gamebreaking, and it will really help you deal with mence/gyara/zapdos. I also don't really like Tyranitar very much on this team as Sandstorm is really going to wear down all your Choice users very quickly, so instead Metagross might be an interesting choice. It can Trick its item, lay down Stealth Rock, Explode, or attack first with Bullet Punch and just provides good general utility. The only issue I see with this is that you become pretty Fire weak, but with Latias shutting down Heatran and Infernape I doubt it would be that debilitating.

just some things to consider =)

Edit: ack I cannot believe i said you have a skarmory problem when you have MAGNEZONE ahhh top 10 stupidest things ive ever said. but anyway what i said was mostly just referring to physical wall + special wall i think you got it but wow that was stupid
 
To help battle SkarmBliss, I'd consider using CB Dugtrio. Your Magnezone can already take down Skarmory, at least as long as it lacks Shed Shell, but most stall teams run multiple Physical walls, as Blissey can take pretty much all special comers save NPMixApe, MixMence, and Tyranniboah. If you can plow a hole through Blissey with Dugtrio, you can drive your Latias or Gengar through that hole and wreck the rest of the team.

Also, consider HP Ice over something on Gengar. In addition to outrunning Gyaras after 1 DD, you outrun Salamences after 1 DD. The ability to take down DDMence is going to be pivotal for your team, especially as so many choice items is going to make you switch a lot.
 
Danyul said:
Your team has serious issues with Skarmory + Blissey + Bulky Water which is on pretty much any stall team. Your opponent can literally just switch around between these three pokemon and watch Stealth Rock, Spikes, and Sandstorm slowly rip your team to shreds. Having Trick on Gengar and Latias helps but ultimately Blissey can still do her job with a Scarf and while it'll be harder, she can still wall your special attackers all day.

To fix this I would probably put CBSalamence over something... probably Gyarados as they have pretty similar functions. It will still require some prediction to get Skarmory with a Fire Blast but at least you can now nail those bulky waters with a CB Dragon Claw which should 2HKO the vast majority, and Skarmory can't take CBOutrages forever.

Another very important issue is the lack of Stealth Rock. To be honest, I don't think a team can actually be successful in DPPt without Stealth Rock, its just that gamebreaking, and it will really help you deal with mence/gyara/zapdos. I also don't really like Tyranitar very much on this team as Sandstorm is really going to wear down all your Choice users very quickly, so instead Metagross might be an interesting choice. It can Trick its item, lay down Stealth Rock, Explode, or attack first with Bullet Punch and just provides good general utility. The only issue I see with this is that you become pretty Fire weak, but with Latias shutting down Heatran and Infernape I doubt it would be that debilitating.

just some things to consider =)
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I agree with all your suggestions. Some of these things you're mentioning are so obvious, I don't know how I didn't think of them before. I'm definetely adding a ScarfMeta as my lead, and I'll try CBMence and see how it works.
 
Just some minor nitpicks

Run 80 Speed on CBTar, itll allow you to outspeed Skarmory, and also consider Aqua Tail to 2HKO Hippo leads and basically have the power to severely hamper a stall team right off the bat.

Scarf Mag hits 361 Speed without Hp Fire by the way, just enough to tie Starmie.

*consider* Hp Fire on Latias, itll allow you to give SkarmBliss a little more trouble, Tricking off the specs to Bliss and 2hkoing Skarm with Hp Fire. Im not sure what your going to be using more, since i am not you nor have i seen this team play, but id probably replace Dragon Pulse.

I also see a small problem in the department of switching into MixApe. You open yourself up to it when you Pursuit with CBtar or Hera, hp ice / flash cannon with Magnezone or Ice fang with gyara, and from there you are at the bane of your opponents predictions. Id recommend SpecsStar here, not only to help against MixApe and tear holes through your opponents core with Hydro Pump, but also to Rapid Spin. It desnt appear you have any particular use for Trick, since you have 2 trickers already, and Grass Knot / Psychic doesnt really fit a niche, so id use Rapid spin last slot, its much more valuable with 2 pursuit users clearing out spin blockers, and it will help you from losing health from spikes or stealth rock, especially since youll be switching around a lot with 6 choiced users. Good luck, and cool team
 
august said:
Just some minor nitpicks

Run 80 Speed on CBTar, itll allow you to outspeed Skarmory, and also consider Aqua Tail to 2HKO Hippo leads and basically have the power to severely hamper a stall team right off the bat.

Scarf Mag hits 361 Speed without Hp Fire by the way, just enough to tie Starmie.

*consider* Hp Fire on Latias, itll allow you to give SkarmBliss a little more trouble, Tricking off the specs to Bliss and 2hkoing Skarm with Hp Fire. Im not sure what your going to be using more, since i am not you nor have i seen this team play, but id probably replace Dragon Pulse.

I also see a small problem in the department of switching into MixApe. You open yourself up to it when you Pursuit with CBtar or Hera, hp ice / flash cannon with Magnezone or Ice fang with gyara, and from there you are at the bane of your opponents predictions. Id recommend SpecsStar here, not only to help against MixApe and tear holes through your opponents core with Hydro Pump, but also to Rapid Spin. It desnt appear you have any particular use for Trick, since you have 2 trickers already, and Grass Knot / Psychic doesnt really fit a niche, so id use Rapid spin last slot, its much more valuable with 2 pursuit users clearing out spin blockers, and it will help you from losing health from spikes or stealth rock, especially since youll be switching around a lot with 6 choiced users. Good luck, and cool team
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I think I'll try out the suggestions above first, but I'll definetely take yours into consideration as well.
 
How does a team with magnezone have issues with Skarm-Bliss? >.>

I'd say put enough attack on Magnezone to 1hko bliss with explosion. Then even if they have skarm-bliss, problem is solved on the second round.

Also I'd say that Careful TTar and Return/Double Edge Gyarados are worth consideration. Super Power > Earthquake is also worth a thought on TTar due to all the enemy ttar leads.
 
He means Gyarados hits 474 Atk with a Jolly nature and Choice Band. I think you mis-understood. But 7ay, thanks for the advice, but I enjoy Gyaradoss' massive attack while Adamant natured. ^_^
 
If Heracross is your status absorber, I would give him a CB. Paralysis basically ruins the purpose of Scarf, making Scarf Heracross a poor Paralysis absorber, nor do you have any other pokemon on your team that can absorb Paralysis. Pursuit's damage is also pifitul on Scarf Heracross. Azelf only takes 32.30% - 38.49% damage - not even a guaranteed 3HKO. Gengar takes 40.46% - 48.09% damage - not even a 2HKO.

Also, you already have 4 Choice Scarf users - some extra power could be used to back up your team.

By the way, congrats on your 2527.15965716 rating in Ubers.
 
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