My First Team [OU]

[A Flying Turnip]

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This is my first real team, so I apologize if I say something dumb/noobish. I have played with this team on Shoddy Battle and have had some success. I lost a couple battles just because I made a dumb move with my limited battling knowledge. The only pokemon I specifically remember giving me some serious trouble was a MixMence. Alright, well here goes...

Gliscor @ Leftovers
Ability: Sand Veil
EVs: 204 HP / 88 Atk / 216 Spe
Jolly Nature (+Spe, -Sp. Atk)
- Earthquake
- Roost
- Stealth Rock
- Taunt


I like Gliscor for my lead because it is able to taunt to stop a lot of other leads from setting up. Also, I am able to set up my own stealth rocks which is a great support to my team. Finally, I like being able to switch Gliscor back in later to help check against Lucario and others, as well as using Taunt to help break walls.

Gyarados @ Life Orb
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -Sp. Atk)
- Dragon Dance
- Waterfall
- Ice Fang
- Stone Edge


Gyarados is one of my main sweepers. I am sure he doesn't need much description to know how devastating he can be. Gyarados has a lot of synergy with Magnezone because they can cover each others weaknesses. Also, if Gliscor is still around I can always switch him in when I know/expect an electric attack coming. So, generally I try and save Gyarados until later when his counters are gone or have been weakened, but since I also have some good offensive capabilites with other team members I can still switch him in earlier if need be.

Porygon2 @ Leftovers
Ability: Trace
EVs: 252 HP / 216 Def / 40 Sp. Atk
Bold Nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Discharge
- Ice Beam
- Recover
- Hidden Power Ground


I really like Porygon2's ability to deal with some of the major metagame threats. He can help deal with DDmence and Gyarados, two very major threats. Also, he can switch in on Jolteon, Vaporeon, and Heatran pretty well, with the former two also helping to heal him. Hidden Power Ground allows Porygon2 to trap and KO Magnezone (at least before Magnet Rise) and it also gives Porygon2 a good move to deal with Heatran and Jolteon.

Latias @ Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 128 HP / 128 Sp.Atk / 252 Spe
Timid Nature (+Spe, -Atk)
- Calm Mind
- Recover
- Dragon Pulse
- Refresh


Latias is my other sweeping pokemon. I decided to go with the more defensive set because my team didn't have any pokemon that could take special hits too well. Also, I chose refresh over another attacking move because it is helpful to have a pokemon that can absorb status (minus sleep). Again, Magnezone has good synergy with Latias because he can trap and kill steel types, which would otherwise wall this set.

Magnezone @ Leftovers
Ability: Magnet Pull
EVs: 40 HP / 252 Sp. Atk / 216 Spe
Timid Nature (+Spe, -Atk)
- Substitute
- Magnet Rise
- Thunderbolt
- Hidden Power Ice


This is the basic steel trapper set. I went for extra speed to hopefully outrun most Scizor. I have already spoken a lot about how Magnezone helps out my sweepers. I chose to go with HP Ice because it gives better coverage, but I am considering HP Grass to help deal with Swampert.

Scizor @ Choice Band
Ability: Technician
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 Spe
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -Sp. Atk)
- Bullet Punch
- Superpower
- U-Turn
- Pursuit


The final member of my team, but that definitely doesn't mean he isn't important. He helps to deal with some common threats that would give my sweepers trouble, like Ttar, Blissey, opposing Latias, etc. Also, I really like pursuit to help take care of all the pokemon that are going to switch out when they see Scizor. I went with the CB set because I already have two pokemon with set up moves, so I would rather have a faster yet still hard hitting set.


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Well I hope everything is in order and follows all the forum rules and I hope that I explained everything properly and clearly. Thanks in advance for any and all help given :)

 

[Invader of Darkness]

Hi.I cant really help you much but I will try.First I have to say that your team is pretty sturdy.
You can change HP ice to HP fire on magnezone.Magnezone has the abillity to trap steel types but HP fire could kill them easier.
Latias can be your team supporter.The current set allows her to take hits very well but with the following she will also support her teammates by passing wish and the two barriers

Latias@light clay
nature:timid
EVs:252 HP / 252 Spe
-reflect
-light screen
-dragon pulse
-wish

Hope I helped.Good luck.

 

[A Flying Turnip]

Thanks for your suggestions. So you think it would be better for Latias to have a support role rather than being a sweeper??

Yeah and good point about HP Fire. That would surely make it easier to take out Scizor especially, which is my biggest concern.

^^^Nevermind after readingRhinosaur's post, I will just stick with HP Ice

 

[Rhinosaur]

Alternately, Hidden Power Fire can be used, mainly to OHKO Scizor, although it drops Latias's Speed; you can rectify this by running four more Speed EVs.

This is why that Latias spread is stupid. 128/128/252 should never be used by anything. Notice how the analysis says you can run four more Speed EVs than maximum?. Use a different spread. If you want a more defensive spread, make sure to at least run 180 Spe Timid in order to outrun the standard Infernape, as well as max Speed Naive Salamence and non-Scarfed max Speed Jolly Flygon.

On Porygon2, I have a suggestion. Since you are running Discharge, you can try Hidden Power (Ground) in the last slot instead of Thunder Wave. Jolteon and Heatran will really hate you for it, and you can revenge kill Magnezone by Tracing Magnet Pull and KOing it that way. This is just a suggestion, as I have had success with it before.

DON'T CHANGE MAGENZONE'S HIDDEN POWER! You have already stated that you have problems with MixMence. If you can lock him into Outrage, Magnezone can come in and take care of him with Hidden Power (Ice). STAB Thunderbolt already deals plenty of damage to any Steel not named Steelix. HP (Fire) is only more effective against Scizor (and you already have Gyarados) and Forretress (And you run Taunt on Gliscor). Here's why:

Thunderbolt power 95 x STAB (1.5) = 142.5
Hidden Power (Fire) power 70 x Supereffective (x2) = 140

Therefore, HP (Fire) will only be more useful against those that are 4x weak to it, namely Scizor, Forretress, and Abomasnow.

 

[A Flying Turnip]

I really like the idea of using HP Ground on Porygon2. That is a good way to use Magnezone's own ability against him! Plus, in one of my battles I was trying to take out Jolteon with my Porygon2, but it took my quite a while to whittle his health down with Ice Beam.

Also, good point about Magnezone's HP. I don't want to make my team any weaker to Salamence, plus Magnezone's Thunderbolt does a good amount of damage to Scizor.

As for the speed thing on Latias, is there a website I can use to calculate speed stats for me, or do I need to learn to calculate them on my own? I am still pretty new, so I haven't learned about all those calculations yet :(. Yeah, and I thought that was weird that they mentioned adding extra speed EVs when the set listed 252 Speed EVs =P

 

[A Flying Turnip]

Just wondering if someone could answer my question above. Plus, I would love some more input if anyone is willing :)

PS - I am considering running a Choice Scarf set on Magnezone. Would this be better than the set I have on him now??

 

[august]

You mention having trouble with MixMence, but you have all the tools to stop in already in your team. You have 2 steels to absorb Draco Meteors, an a Ground immunity / fire resistance in Latias. The bigger problem I am seeing here is Babiri Berry Tyranitar.

Babiri DDTar gets a very easy DD against Latias and an even easier DD against Porygon2, and can proceed to rip through your team. Magnezone cannot do much in return and is 2HKO'd by Fire Punch. Scizor is OHKO'd, Latias is as well and Gliscor cannot stand up to TTar with no Defense investment. I suggest Swampert over Gliscor. Swampert can actually handle Babiri DDTar, as well as giving you something that can easily live Mence's Draco Meteor and OHKO back. Swampert also provides a much more consistent rock resist, as right now your only rock resist is Magnezone. While Magnezone has decent defenses, it is not the pokemon you want taking continuous Choiced Stone Edges or Rock Slides.

Swampert (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Torrent
EVs: 236 HP/216 Def/56 SAtk
Relaxed nature (+Def, -Spd)
- Earthquake
- Ice Beam
- Stealth Rock
- Hydro Pump

Also provides a back up fire resist while still keeping the electric immunity. Roar can be used over Hydro Pump if you wish to phaze out troublesome mons or just rack up Stealth Rock damage in general to help late game.

I much perfer Jolly Life Orb DDGyara over your current one. There really isn't anything to lose other than a little bit of power, which is more than made up for with the ability to outspeed Max Speed + Speed Mamo, neutral 252 Lucario, and outspeed Jolteon after a Dragon Dance as well as neutral Scarf Rotom A. Bounce is also a very useful move on Gyarados to replace Ice Fang with.

I suggest running Jolly max speed Gyarados with Dragon Dance / Stone Edge / Waterfall / Bounce, for maximum offensive output.

With removing Gliscor, a Lucario weakness is opened up. This can be easily patched up by what you mentioned you were going to try before, Scarf Magnezone. Scarf Magnezone also revenge kills Scizor, etc. I also find it better at removing steels in general so Latias can have an easier time cleaning up late game.

Speaking of Latias, my last suggestion is to at least try Substitute > Refresh. It helps to scout random moves (like seeing if Scizor is going to U Turn your Sub, if it Bullet Punchs Magnezone traps it) and the substitute will often be up since not much can break Latias' sub after a CM. My second possible suggestion would be to run Grass Knot on Latias to help against Swampert (particularly Curse) and other bulky waters, should they prove to be troublesome.

Good luck with your team!

 

[A Flying Turnip]

I like your suggestions for Gyarados and Latias and I am going to give them a try and see how they work out. I'm not sure if I am too keen on Bounce though because won't the opponent just switch out to someone who could easily resist it?? I will give it a shot though and see how it works.

The only big question/concern I have is about replacing Gliscor with Swampert. I agree that he could serve my team better defensively and help against Ttar. I would just be concerned that since Swampert is such a slow lead, that the opponent would almost always get to set up SR. This could be problematic for my Gyarados since I don't have a rapid spinner. Also, I know he isn't as good as Swampert at this, but can Gliscor come in and revenge kill Ttar or not, I am just curious???

 

[august]

Well Gliscor takes 60.82% - 71.64% from a Dragon Danced Stone Edge, and it takes 79.82% - 94.15% from a CB Aqua Tail, and 53.22% - 62.87% from a CB Crunch. I wouldn't call that safe at all. Yes, Pert isn't always going to be able to prevent SR though, although it can beat most common Stealth Rock leads like Heatran, Metagross (usually), LeadApe, Mamoswine, SR TTar lead, and Jirachi and Azelf with smart playing (i'd always go to Mag3 at first sight of Jirachi though).

Also, Bounce is strong even when resisted. When something comes in after realizing Gyara has Bounced, it's going to take Bounce damage anyway as well as (barring a Scarf) another hit, which is still going to hurt regardless. Bounce also OHKOs Celebi and Latias, a nice plus.

 

[A Flying Turnip]

Alright, well I will give Swampert a try and see how he works out for me. Although, I was saying that Gliscor could at least revenge kill Ttar right?? Because it can outspeed and KO with Earthquake, or is it not strong enough to do that?? That was what I was wondering.

 

[august]

It could somewhat I guess if Tar was weakened.

Earthquake against 4/0 TTar- 61.29% - 72.14%

Earthquake against 176/0 TTar- 54.29% - 63.90%