ORAS OU My First Team

[Curivia]

Hi everyone, I'm new to competetive battling and wanted your input on this team I created. I've tried it out a bunch on PokemonShowdown and it does pretty good, but I have some issues with it. In general, I went with some of my favourite Pokemon, so I'm not really looking for a change of Pokemon (except maybe one). Anyways....



Latias @ Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 248 HP / 68 Def / 192 Spe
Calm Nature
- Defog
- Toxic
- Recover
- Dragon Pulse

Toxi-staller and hazard killer. Very tankish once ice/fairy threats are away, and can still get off a quick toxic before switching out when threats are present. I'm very happy with this set; it easily tanks most pokemon while wearing them down, with Dragon Pulse to bring out some extra STAB damage.

Gliscor (F) @ Toxic Orb
Ability: Poison Heal
EVs: 244 HP / 8 Def / 200 SpD / 56 Spe
Impish Nature
IVs: 30 Atk / 30 SpA / 30 Spe
- Earthquake
- Swords Dance
- Roost
- Aerial Ace

Physical tank and my baby/ favourite pokemon. Unless the other team has active ice-move users, this baby tanks and heals anything thrown at it, while setting up with SD in-between heals. Once fast ice users are gone, this baby will sweep their team after SD.

Gengar (F) @ Black Sludge
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Serious Nature
IVs: 30 Atk / 30 SpA / 30 Spe
- Sludge Bomb
- Protect
- Disable
- Haze

Scouter/ F***upper. Protect/disable combo is excellent for eliminating the most threatening moves and stopping Outrages (mind you, I can't switch in to Genger during an outrage, and instead have to wait until one of my other Pokemon dies from it). Haze to get rid of those pesky sweepers stat boosts, although if they have +spd then I'm screwed most of the time. Sludgebomb for strong STAB and to kill Fairies. This set is useful but definitely has some issues, and I feel it doesn't suit Gengar. Looking for suggestions here; but if you want to remove haze I need a sweeper-counter somewhere else on the team.

Lucario (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Inner Focus
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Water Pulse
- Flash Cannon
- Nasty Plot
- Vacuum Wave

Special sweeper. I know most Lucarios run a physical set, but the sheer surprise factor of this set has won me many battles. Flash Cannon for strong STAB, Vacuum Wave to get the few that out-speed me, NP for boosts to sweep, and I honestly can't remember why I originally put Water Pulse. It IS useful though, providing further coverage and hitting them with a move they would never expect.

Weavile (F) @ Choice Band
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Ice Shard
- Knock Off
- Icicle Crash
- Pursuit

Revenge killer, straight and simple. Ice shard for the very few that out-speed, Knock-off to truly devastate anything carrying an item (and even those without), Icicle Crash for strong ice STAB against dragons, etc., and pursuit to get the switches from ghosts and psychics. This set has saved me many times.

Swampert-Mega (M) @ Swampertite
Ability: Damp --> Swift Swim
EVs: 104 HP / 252 Atk / 152 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Rain Dance
- Stealth Rock
- Power-Up Punch
- Waterfall

Physical sweeper/ the toss-up. So this guy is on my team because I like Swampert, but I find he hasn't been pulling his weight. Typical play is I start with this guy (unless they have Ferrothorn) and get off the mega-evolve + stealth rock off the bat. Then, if I'm facing an advantageous pokemon I'll go for a rain dance to get sweeper-status and sweep with waterfall + power-up punch when useful to get that +Att. This guy requires too much of a set-up though and is screwed the second they sent out a grass type. Simply not living up to his potential, so I'm open for a swap out to another pokemon that would fit my team better. Preferably Swellow, Vaporeon, Mew, Celebi, Charizard, Lapras, or Absol, but if none of these work I'm open to more suggestions.

 

[Adeleine]

Welcome! Lets see what I can find.

You'll probably want Substitute instead of disable on Gengar. Protect can become predictable and doesn't really have too much use, Substitute blocks him from any status and such, as well as giving him the ability to tank an extra hit. Its not like many things will outrun Gengar anyways. If you are running support Gengar, you probably want Clear Smog over Haze. While this move can't hit Steel types, it is not stopped by taunt and actually deals a bit of damage, making it the superior option. You could also definitely consider Will O Wisp to cripple physical attackers and destiny bond to suicide-kill dangerous threats.

To be honest, I can't see why you run Lucario. There are many options in OU that are better suited for the job of nasty plot sweeping. One of them is Thundurus-Incarnate. While it does not have Vacuum Wave, it has many other advantages. It has a more powerful STAB attack in Thunderbolt, is faster, has greater attack power, and is even slightly more bulky. Thundurus also has prankster Thunder Wave to cripple offensive Pokemon, and good coverage with HP Ice and Focus Blast.

I'd recommend Life Orb to give Weavile more general flexibility and utility, but Band is definitely not an unviable option.

You probably are right about Swampert not pulling its weight. You're not the only one who loves the sound of Power Up Punch, but from my personal experience it has usually been a poor option. He just doesnt seem to help your team much. You could definitely use Mega Charizard X Dragon Dance to add a speed and physical sweeper to the team. Just make sure you get rid of Rocks.

 

[Scorpion056]

Just a few things dragon flying types set up on swampert so get rid of stealth rock and run ice punch.
I dont know about gliscors set instead of sd run st its speed stat isnt meant for sweeping
Last run aura sphere over water pulse

 

[Adeleine]

Just a few things dragon flying types set up on swampert so get rid of stealth rock and run ice punch.
I dont know about gliscors set instead of sd run st its speed stat isnt meant for sweeping
Last run aura sphere over water pulse

95 speed isn't too bad for a bulky sweeper

 

[Curivia]

Thanks for the replies.

How exactly do I use Substitute Gengar? He doesn't have the best HP or defenses, so wouldn't a substitute be destroyed as soon as I use it? I was contemplating Clear Smog vs Haze but forgot to include it in the post, though you bring up good points so I will try that out. I'll also try out a Will-o-wisp or Destiny Bond; I know it's useful but I hate the idea of just sacrificing my Pokemon (in a sense) :p.

I originally ran a Lucario set for type coverage, and it he just became a useful member. I'm fairly happy with how he is now, though I might try out that Aura Sphere. If I find he isn't working I'll try out Thundurus-Incarnate.

I'll try out Life Orb on Weavile too. I chose Band because multiple times that I've used Weavile to revenge kill he's had low HP, so a Life Orb would kill him off, preventing another revenge kill. However, because Band locks me in it forces me to switch, causing more damage for my other Pokemon.

I definitely like the idea of Mega Charizard X. I'll try him out. Thanks.

Lastly, Glicor isn't a glass cannon sweeper but more a bulky sweeper. So she'll get hit for sure by faster Pokemon, but her crazy defenses + Roost negate those hits, and she OKHOs must Pokemon after one SD. Try her out, she's very useful :p.

 

[Adeleine]

Thanks for the replies.

How exactly do I use Substitute Gengar? He doesn't have the best HP or defenses, so wouldn't a substitute be destroyed as soon as I use it? I was contemplating Clear Smog vs Haze but forgot to include it in the post, though you bring up good points so I will try that out. I'll also try out a Will-o-wisp or Destiny Bond; I know it's useful but I hate the idea of just sacrificing my Pokemon (in a sense) :p.

I originally ran a Lucario set for type coverage, and it he just became a useful member. I'm fairly happy with how he is now, though I might try out that Aura Sphere. If I find he isn't working I'll try out Thundurus-Incarnate.

I'll try out Life Orb on Weavile too. I chose Band because multiple times that I've used Weavile to revenge kill he's had low HP, so a Life Orb would kill him off, preventing another revenge kill. However, because Band locks me in it forces me to switch, causing more damage for my other Pokemon.

I definitely like the idea of Mega Charizard X. I'll try him out. Thanks.

Lastly, Glicor isn't a glass cannon sweeper but more a bulky sweeper. So she'll get hit for sure by faster Pokemon, but her crazy defenses + Roost negate those hits, and she OKHOs must Pokemon after one SD. Try her out, she's very useful :p.

With Sub Gar, use it when you expect the other pokemon to use a support move, the other pokemon to be locked into an attack, the other pokemon to switch, and stuff like that. Pretty much whenever you would use protect. You're right about destiny bond, but I've used MegaGar in Ubers and can relate. It can sometimes be really useful to get rid of something bringing you problems.

I mean, if Lucario's working for you, that's great, and maybe he helps something in your team I haven't caught. What you said is probably a good idea. If it doesn't work, you can always use something else.

Both good points. If Life Orb recoil is really a problem, you could consider something like ExpertBelt or maybe even Liechi berry (though that may be a stretch).

I totally agree with Gliscor there.

 

[Acebob11]

Overall, I like your team. However, I see a few minor problems with your team. For one, why the IV changes on Gliscor and Gengar? Attack, Special Attack, and Speed are some of the most important stats, and I don't see a reason they need to be decreased, other than Gengar's unused attack stat for the rare foul play. This might be for something, and if it is, I'm a noob :) . Also, as mentioned above, run aura sphere over water pulse. Yes, water pulse gives unique coverage and a confuse chance, but with a power of 60, it's just not enough. Otherwise, great team!

 

[Curivia]

So I made two new-ish teams. One with Mega Charizard X (DD, Roost, Flare Blitz, Dragon Claw) in place of M-Swampert, and taught Lucario Aura Sphere instead of Water Pulse. This set has been heavenly; Charizard really pulls her weight. Azumarill gives me issues, but a DDd Charizard X does some nice damage and Life Orb Gengar takes it out. Other set is Ferrothorn to deal with fairies that Gengar has trouble with, to set up, and to deal with water types (particularly Azumarill). Then Charizard Y in place of Lucario. This set it okay, but doesn't work as well as the first. Might need to make some modifications.

Acebob11, I have no idea why my IVs weren't perfect and why Gengar had a Serious nature lol. Fixed that, must have clicked something my accident.

OH, I also changed the Gengar moveset to Sludgebomb, Disable, Destiny Bond, and Substitute. Substitute is very useful, though with only one damage move to use afterwards Gengar doesn't reach its potential especially when they switch in a Steel type. Disable is useful but very niche and requires good predictions, and Destiny Bond I thought would be more useful but when you're facing a DDd Mega Charizard X that's sweeping your team, even my max Spd Gengar can't get of a Destiny Bond before it's killed. I might scrap Destiny Bond and give Gengar either Shadow Ball for neutral coverage on Steel and Rock types or Infestation to trap and set-up.

Anyways, thanks. Your advice has greatly helped.