Hello all! I'm a relative newcomer to Showdown, having only been on the competitive battling scene for a couple of months now, and I would like to submit for your evaluation the team I threw together when I was brand new.
It's not doing terribly, currently boasting a 28-14 win-loss streak, but like I say, this team was pretty much thrown together. I'd very much appreciate some feedback!
Dragonite @ Weakness Policy
Ability: Multiscale
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Dragon Dance
- Dragon Claw
- Earthquake
- Fire Punch
Oh, yeah. Ever since I saw Alex from the Dex (props to anyone who gets the reference) demonstrate WP Dragonite, I just knew I needed to have one on my team. Dragonite usually comes out when he can get a free-switch in on a super-effective move, Dragon Dances while the WP activates, and sweeps. Fire Punch over ExtremeSpeed to deal with certain Steel types (i.e. Skarmory, Ferrothorn) and because not many things outspeed +1 Dragonite with the Speed investment.
Charizard @ Charizardite Y
Ability: Solar Power
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Flamethrower
- SolarBeam
- Air Slash
- Dragon Pulse
Quite possibly my favourite Mega right here. Sun-boosted STAB Flamethrower and instant SolarBeam with 154 Sp. Atk is nothing to scoff at. I often find that trainers switch in or leavin in their Water types against Charizard... do they not expect or underestimate SolarBeam. Anyway, it's pretty self-explanatory. Dragon Pulse is there for super effective hits on a type that resists Fire and Grass, and Air Slash is there for the STAB as well as the flinch rate.
Tyranitar @ Assault Vest
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Stone Edge
- Dragon Tail
- Crunch
- Earthquake
I didn't realise until recently that Sandstorm boosts the Sp. Def of Rock-type Pokemon by 50%. This, coupled with Assault Vest, means that Tyranitar soaks up a lot of special hits. Stone Edge and Crunch for the STAB and Earthquake are kind of obvious, but Dragon Tail is a nasty surprise for anything that thinks it can set up on Tyranitar, or just anything that it doesn't particularly want to face. Usually my lead, since he can set up for Excadrill or blow away the enemy lead with Dragon Tail.
Excadrill @ Focus Sash
Ability: Sand Rush
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Rapid Spin
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- Iron Head
Since Dragonite and Charizard are ruined by Stealth Rock, I figured I needed a Rapid Spinner on my team, and Excadrill stands out as the only one considered OU. If Excadrill gets out in a Sandstorm, and survives after setting up a Stealth Rock or blowing one away (he usually does, thanks to Focus Sash), he has a few turns to sweep using Earthquake and Iron Head backed up by a huge Attack stat. If the opponent isn't packing Stealth Rock, nor do they particularly fear it, then he'll probably just go right for the sweep. The downside is that Excadrill really depends on either a timely switch or for Tyranitar to go down fairly early, so he's a pretty awkward play. Now that I think about it, immunity to Toxic and Thunder Wave helps slightly with that. Blissey counter?
Greninja @ Life Orb
Ability: Protean
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Scald
- Ice Beam
- Dark Pulse
- Grass Knot
The single most used Pokemon in OU. I shouldn't have to explain much here - Greninja comes in, Greninja outspeeds stuff, Greninja hits STAB super-effective hits until Greninja goes down. I guess the set might need some explaining though. Scald lacks power compared to Surf and Hydro Pump, but the 30% chance has won me a few games, and Hydro Pump's accuracy makes it a no-no. Ice Beam and Dark Pulse are fairly standard, but Grass Knot earns a spot by being a surprisingly able counter to enemy Water types.
Sylveon @ Leftovers
Ability: Pixilate
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpA
Bold Nature
- Calm Mind
- Hyper Voice
- Shadow Ball
- Psyshock
Another set straight from the Dex. Sylveon's EV investment isn't a common one as far as I'm aware, but it makes him capable of taking all sorts of hits. However, it does mean that his attack power is somewhat underwhelming, even after a Calm Mind boost. Pixilate-boosted Hyper Voice, Psyshock for the specially bulky and Shadow Ball for coverage is a decent set, but there just isn't much power there unless Sylveon sets up. If one Pokemon on this team needs a makeover, it might be this one
It's not doing terribly, currently boasting a 28-14 win-loss streak, but like I say, this team was pretty much thrown together. I'd very much appreciate some feedback!
Dragonite @ Weakness Policy
Ability: Multiscale
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Dragon Dance
- Dragon Claw
- Earthquake
- Fire Punch
Oh, yeah. Ever since I saw Alex from the Dex (props to anyone who gets the reference) demonstrate WP Dragonite, I just knew I needed to have one on my team. Dragonite usually comes out when he can get a free-switch in on a super-effective move, Dragon Dances while the WP activates, and sweeps. Fire Punch over ExtremeSpeed to deal with certain Steel types (i.e. Skarmory, Ferrothorn) and because not many things outspeed +1 Dragonite with the Speed investment.
Charizard @ Charizardite Y
Ability: Solar Power
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Flamethrower
- SolarBeam
- Air Slash
- Dragon Pulse
Quite possibly my favourite Mega right here. Sun-boosted STAB Flamethrower and instant SolarBeam with 154 Sp. Atk is nothing to scoff at. I often find that trainers switch in or leavin in their Water types against Charizard... do they not expect or underestimate SolarBeam. Anyway, it's pretty self-explanatory. Dragon Pulse is there for super effective hits on a type that resists Fire and Grass, and Air Slash is there for the STAB as well as the flinch rate.
Tyranitar @ Assault Vest
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Stone Edge
- Dragon Tail
- Crunch
- Earthquake
I didn't realise until recently that Sandstorm boosts the Sp. Def of Rock-type Pokemon by 50%. This, coupled with Assault Vest, means that Tyranitar soaks up a lot of special hits. Stone Edge and Crunch for the STAB and Earthquake are kind of obvious, but Dragon Tail is a nasty surprise for anything that thinks it can set up on Tyranitar, or just anything that it doesn't particularly want to face. Usually my lead, since he can set up for Excadrill or blow away the enemy lead with Dragon Tail.
Excadrill @ Focus Sash
Ability: Sand Rush
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Rapid Spin
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- Iron Head
Since Dragonite and Charizard are ruined by Stealth Rock, I figured I needed a Rapid Spinner on my team, and Excadrill stands out as the only one considered OU. If Excadrill gets out in a Sandstorm, and survives after setting up a Stealth Rock or blowing one away (he usually does, thanks to Focus Sash), he has a few turns to sweep using Earthquake and Iron Head backed up by a huge Attack stat. If the opponent isn't packing Stealth Rock, nor do they particularly fear it, then he'll probably just go right for the sweep. The downside is that Excadrill really depends on either a timely switch or for Tyranitar to go down fairly early, so he's a pretty awkward play. Now that I think about it, immunity to Toxic and Thunder Wave helps slightly with that. Blissey counter?
Greninja @ Life Orb
Ability: Protean
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Scald
- Ice Beam
- Dark Pulse
- Grass Knot
The single most used Pokemon in OU. I shouldn't have to explain much here - Greninja comes in, Greninja outspeeds stuff, Greninja hits STAB super-effective hits until Greninja goes down. I guess the set might need some explaining though. Scald lacks power compared to Surf and Hydro Pump, but the 30% chance has won me a few games, and Hydro Pump's accuracy makes it a no-no. Ice Beam and Dark Pulse are fairly standard, but Grass Knot earns a spot by being a surprisingly able counter to enemy Water types.
Sylveon @ Leftovers
Ability: Pixilate
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpA
Bold Nature
- Calm Mind
- Hyper Voice
- Shadow Ball
- Psyshock
Another set straight from the Dex. Sylveon's EV investment isn't a common one as far as I'm aware, but it makes him capable of taking all sorts of hits. However, it does mean that his attack power is somewhat underwhelming, even after a Calm Mind boost. Pixilate-boosted Hyper Voice, Psyshock for the specially bulky and Shadow Ball for coverage is a decent set, but there just isn't much power there unless Sylveon sets up. If one Pokemon on this team needs a makeover, it might be this one
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