So,I'm back finally. All this time I've been making my first actual OU team that isn't chock full of NU and RU pokemon. As usual, I have tested this team and gotten mixed results, and I appreciate all of your thoughts and criticisms, but I do ask that you keep in mind that this is my first time making an OU team. Let's get started.
Empoleon @ Leftovers
Ability: Torrent
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Def / 252 SpD
Calm Nature
- Scald
- Roar
- Toxic
- Defog
Good lord, was this a tough choice to make. When looking for a hazard remover, it was a dead tie between Empoleon and the ever popular Tentacruel. In the end, I went with Empoleon for it's water/steel typing and bulk, which is less than Tentacruel's so far as special defense goes, but better physically and HP wise. Scald doesn't turn Mr.Empoleon into taunt bait, and makes physical attackers think twice about switchng in. Roar, Toxic and Defog are all used together, Poisoning and forcing out Set-up sweepers and hazard setters while removing entry hazards (Especially for Talonflame.) EVs in HP, Def and SpD allow the steel penguin to use it's bulk and poison/burn as much as possible.
Tangrowth @ Assault Vest
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Sassy Nature
- Giga Drain
- Knock Off
- Earthquake
- Rock Slide
And here we have the pokemon that is on my team because it is a favorite of mine (all of my teams have one of these.) and that would be Tangrowth. I was initially going to make him the usual physically defensive, HP stealing tank that I usually do, but I decided to take a different approach. Now, he serves as an all around tank, as opposed to being just physically defensive. Giga Drain, while not nearly as powerful as Leaf Storm, provides both STAB and a way of healing itself other than Regenerator. Knock Off takes opponents away from their precious items, and Earthquake with Rockslide fight back against Steel, Fire and Flying types that normally switch into him. The investments take advantage of his natural stats, as well as giving his special defense a very much needed boost when paired with the Assault Vest.
Talonflame @ Sharp Beak
Ability: Gale Wings
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Brave Bird
- Swords Dance
- Flare Blitz
- Roost
Talonflame only has one purpose in life, and that is for her to kill any and all that try to oppose her. With Gale Wings giving priority to Brave Bird and Roost, she has a means of dealing massive damage and healing before she gets hurt, with Flare Blitz causing horrid damage to anything that thinks they can just switch out. Swords Dance is something you do not want to see on an enemy Talonflame because it boosts her already terrifying attacks. One dance gives the attack a little extra oomph, Two dances force your opponents to think carefully, and Three dances usually mean death. EV investments are optimized to outspeed and slaughter all who come to pass.
Sableye-Mega @ Sablenite
Ability: Magic Bounce
EVs: 252 HP / 114 Def / 144 SpD
Careful Nature
- Recover
- Will-O-Wisp
- Foul Play
- Knock Off
Here we have the mega that I am unsure about, which is a Sableye. Here to outlive opponents with Recover, and cripple physical atttackers with Will-O-Wisp, Mega Sableye serves it's job as a wall well enough, though at times he falls short. Knock Off further helps it's chances against opponents by removing their items, Foul Play punishes physical sweepers, and he punishes status users with his ability. His EVs are meant to try and take full use of his high defenses.
Gengar @ Black Sludge
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 8 HP / 248 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Hex
- Taunt
- Toxic
- Sludge Wave
Much like Tangrowth, I've tried an entirely different approach with Gengar than what I usually do, making her a dedicated Status user as opposed to a special sweeper. Hex allows her to use statused enemies to her advantage, as they receive double damage and STAB damage when hit by it. Taunt shuts down anything that tries to set-up on her, and Toxic gets an enemy statused if one of her comrades was unable to do so. Sludge Wave is a form of STAB that hits Normal types, and is useful when the extra power is needed because there is no time to Status. Her EVs give her a little more survivability, as well as a greater Spe and SpA to further boost Hex.
Heliolisk @ Life Orb
Ability: Dry Skin
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Glare
- Volt Switch
- Hyper Voice
- Surf
Finally, the surfing lizard is here as a special sweeper. I chose Heliolisk over other electric types for two reasons: Glare and Surf, two advantages over ground types that other electric types do not have. Glare is used against Ground types who don't fear T-wave, and will let her switch outspeed anything she may not have before. Volt Switch allows her to cause damage while leaving, if needed, and Hyper Voice provides a decent (and unexpected) STAB attack. Surf is here for Ground types, Fire types, and Rock types that resist Hyper Voice. Investments in SpA and Spe let it use her advantages to her best abilities.
Once again, this is my first OU attempt, so yeah. Any criticisms and thoughts are appreciated, and I thank you for your time.
Empoleon @ Leftovers
Ability: Torrent
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Def / 252 SpD
Calm Nature
- Scald
- Roar
- Toxic
- Defog
Good lord, was this a tough choice to make. When looking for a hazard remover, it was a dead tie between Empoleon and the ever popular Tentacruel. In the end, I went with Empoleon for it's water/steel typing and bulk, which is less than Tentacruel's so far as special defense goes, but better physically and HP wise. Scald doesn't turn Mr.Empoleon into taunt bait, and makes physical attackers think twice about switchng in. Roar, Toxic and Defog are all used together, Poisoning and forcing out Set-up sweepers and hazard setters while removing entry hazards (Especially for Talonflame.) EVs in HP, Def and SpD allow the steel penguin to use it's bulk and poison/burn as much as possible.
Tangrowth @ Assault Vest
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Sassy Nature
- Giga Drain
- Knock Off
- Earthquake
- Rock Slide
And here we have the pokemon that is on my team because it is a favorite of mine (all of my teams have one of these.) and that would be Tangrowth. I was initially going to make him the usual physically defensive, HP stealing tank that I usually do, but I decided to take a different approach. Now, he serves as an all around tank, as opposed to being just physically defensive. Giga Drain, while not nearly as powerful as Leaf Storm, provides both STAB and a way of healing itself other than Regenerator. Knock Off takes opponents away from their precious items, and Earthquake with Rockslide fight back against Steel, Fire and Flying types that normally switch into him. The investments take advantage of his natural stats, as well as giving his special defense a very much needed boost when paired with the Assault Vest.
Talonflame @ Sharp Beak
Ability: Gale Wings
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Brave Bird
- Swords Dance
- Flare Blitz
- Roost
Talonflame only has one purpose in life, and that is for her to kill any and all that try to oppose her. With Gale Wings giving priority to Brave Bird and Roost, she has a means of dealing massive damage and healing before she gets hurt, with Flare Blitz causing horrid damage to anything that thinks they can just switch out. Swords Dance is something you do not want to see on an enemy Talonflame because it boosts her already terrifying attacks. One dance gives the attack a little extra oomph, Two dances force your opponents to think carefully, and Three dances usually mean death. EV investments are optimized to outspeed and slaughter all who come to pass.
Sableye-Mega @ Sablenite
Ability: Magic Bounce
EVs: 252 HP / 114 Def / 144 SpD
Careful Nature
- Recover
- Will-O-Wisp
- Foul Play
- Knock Off
Here we have the mega that I am unsure about, which is a Sableye. Here to outlive opponents with Recover, and cripple physical atttackers with Will-O-Wisp, Mega Sableye serves it's job as a wall well enough, though at times he falls short. Knock Off further helps it's chances against opponents by removing their items, Foul Play punishes physical sweepers, and he punishes status users with his ability. His EVs are meant to try and take full use of his high defenses.
Gengar @ Black Sludge
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 8 HP / 248 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Hex
- Taunt
- Toxic
- Sludge Wave
Much like Tangrowth, I've tried an entirely different approach with Gengar than what I usually do, making her a dedicated Status user as opposed to a special sweeper. Hex allows her to use statused enemies to her advantage, as they receive double damage and STAB damage when hit by it. Taunt shuts down anything that tries to set-up on her, and Toxic gets an enemy statused if one of her comrades was unable to do so. Sludge Wave is a form of STAB that hits Normal types, and is useful when the extra power is needed because there is no time to Status. Her EVs give her a little more survivability, as well as a greater Spe and SpA to further boost Hex.
Heliolisk @ Life Orb
Ability: Dry Skin
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Glare
- Volt Switch
- Hyper Voice
- Surf
Finally, the surfing lizard is here as a special sweeper. I chose Heliolisk over other electric types for two reasons: Glare and Surf, two advantages over ground types that other electric types do not have. Glare is used against Ground types who don't fear T-wave, and will let her switch outspeed anything she may not have before. Volt Switch allows her to cause damage while leaving, if needed, and Hyper Voice provides a decent (and unexpected) STAB attack. Surf is here for Ground types, Fire types, and Rock types that resist Hyper Voice. Investments in SpA and Spe let it use her advantages to her best abilities.
Once again, this is my first OU attempt, so yeah. Any criticisms and thoughts are appreciated, and I thank you for your time.
