My Team has Gaps

[jtafoya96]

Hey I've got a team that I've been play testing a bit and I feel that it's good but might have some gaps that need fixing. The basic idea of the team is Parafusion-Flinch with Jirachi Machamp combo. In play testing I've had ok results but I think there are some wholes that can be filled.

My Team: Machamp, Jirachi, Gyarados, Mamoswine, Jolteon, Gengar

Machamp
Item/Lum Berry
Ability/No Guard
Nature/Adamant
EV Spread: 4 HP/252 Atk/252 Spd
Moveset:
Dynamic Punch
Bullet Punch
Payback
Stone Edge

Machamp's job is pretty simple, hit with Dynamic punch and get the confusion so I can switch into Jirachi. However I usually find that if I can two hit KO something or get the KO with priority Bullet Punch then I'll just stay in and get the KO. I can also out predict my oponent and hit Ghosts on the entrance when they switch to take Dynamic Punch. I haven't found that I use Payaback much though, but I can't figure out what to get to replace it. I want to because Payback is useless since if I'm outsped then I'm probably KO'd. Suggestions?

Jirachi
Item/Leftovers
Ability/Serene Grace
Nature/Adamant
EV Spread: 216 Atk/32 Def/252 Speed
Moveset:
Iron Head
Ice Punch
U-turn
Thunder Wave

Jirachi's job is also pretty simple, get the T-Wave off after the switch in from Machamp and then start Iron Heading for the flinch, para or confusion hax. I can also U-turn out back to Machamp if a new poke comes out or just stay in and T-Wave. Ice Punch is nice for Dragons and Grounds. Really I don't know that I would change anything with Jirachi but I'll take suggestions.

Gyarados
Item/Lum Berry
Ability/Intimidate
Nature/Naive
EV Spread: 4 HP/252 Atk/252 Spd
Moveset:
Ice Fang
Bounce
Waterfall
Dragon Dance

Gyarados is really just a sweeper, I can bring him in if the Machamp Jirachi combo fails and typically do well. Waterfall is a good STAB while Ice Fange can hit pretty hard against Dragons and Flyers. Dragon Dance for nice setup, but I'm finding Bounce to be pretty useless. It misses a lot and I can never hit a super effective hit, I'm thinking of switching it with Earthquake to hit Electrics. I know this moveset with Earthquake works well because I used it when I played through my Diamond game. Suggestions?

Mamoswine
Item/Life Orb
Ability/Thick Fat
Nature/Adamant
EV Spread: 228 Atk/28 Def/252 Spd
Moveset:
Ice Shard
Icicle Crash
Earthquake
Stone Edge

Mamoswine is another physical sweeper and I really like this set. Icicle Crash and Earthquake are good STABs while Ice Shard is a really nice priority to finish off weak pokemon. Stone edge for some nice coverage. I find that this set can really work and can sweep through most teams nicely and weaken them down. Suggestions?

Jolteon
Item/Focus Sash
Ability/Volt Absorb
Nature/Modest
EV Spread: 4 Def/252 SpAtk/252 Spd
Moveset:
Volt Switch
Thunderbolt
Agility
Shadow Ball

Jolteon is one of my special sweepers and I find he can work well by getting the kill with sash. T-bolt for a good stab and I can Agility when I predict a switch. Volt Switch to help scout and shadow ball for some coverage. I find that this set can sometimes work but obviouisly is walled by Grounds. I don't know if Agility really works because it doesn't boost special attack. I can also switch in to him when I predict an Electric attack and take it with Volt Absorb. Suggestions?

Gengar
Item/Focus Sash
Ability/Levitate
Nature/Timid
EV Spread: 252 SpAtk/4 SpDef/252 Spd
Moveset:
Sludge Bomb
Shadow Ball
Pain Split
Hidden Powe (Fire)

Gengar is my final special sweeper and I like this set pretty well. Sludge Bomb and Shadow Ball for awesome STABs, Pain Split for some regeneration because I can outspeed a lot of things, and HP Fire for some coverage along with being able to switch in and surprise things like Genesect and Scizor. I also find that I can switch in if I predict an Earthquake on Jirachi or Jolteon. I can also switch if I predict a Fighting move on anyone. Overall I like this set on Gengar a lot. Suggestions?



As you can see this is more of a hybrid stall/offensive team. To be fair though I got most of the team from someone that I played against who used it and I found it to be pretty good against me. I have a lot of options but also this team relies heavily on predicting your opponent and I have to say that I struggle with this sometimes, staying in with Machamp on a faster Flying type trying to go for the Stone Edge, or a Psychic. Or I make stupid switch ins, overall though, I think this team works fairly well and I just think that there are a few kinks that need to be taken care of. I'll be happy to take any suggestions as long as they are productive.

 

[Shiny Charizard]

Hey! I got your request. Here's what I have to say.

Nice team. Lead Machamp is a fun destructive Pokemon to use. Machamp is a really slow Pokemon that can't really outpace anything in OU, so rather than spending the EV's on Speed, go for a bulky EV spread.

Machamp @ Lum Berry
EV's: 248 Attack, 240 HP, 16 Special Defense, 4 Speed
Ability: No Guard
Nature: Adamant
Moves:
-Dynamicpunch
-Bullet Punch
-Payback
-Stone Edge

No Guard Dynamicpunch is awesome. Speed becomes near not important at all with priority Bullet Punch. Payback actually has some use for you now that you are bulky and won't get 0HKO'd. Stone Edge is a lot more reliable with No Guard and takes down most flying types or levitators.

Since your team is all out offense and you lack defense, Jirachi can help make up for some of that. This set supports your other sweepers and can wall.

Jirachi @ Leftovers
EV's: 252 HP, 220 Special Defense, 36 Speed
Ability: Serene Grace
Nature: Careful
Moves:
-Body Slam
-Iron Head
-Wish
-Protect

Body Slam and Iron head have a 60% chance to paralyze (Body Slam) or flinch, (Iron Head) while still dealing damage. Wish can heal other team mates, and when combined with Protect, can heal the Pokemon itself.

Like you said, on Gyarados you want Earthquake over Bounce. Also, Stone Edge could be used instead of Ice Fang, but Ice Fang is what I suggest.

On Mamoswine, you want the EV's to be 252 Attack, 252 Speed, 4 HP on Adamant. Your moves are perfect the way they are.

On Jolteon, you should keep it as one of the fastest Pokemon in the meta game.

Jolteon @ Life Orb
EV's: 252 Speed, 252 Special Attack, 4 HP
Ability: Volt Absorb
Nature: Timid
Moves:
-Thunderbolt
-Volt Switch
-Shadow Ball/Signal Beam
-HP Grass

Thunderbolt is powerful STAB, Volt Switch is a STAB move you can scout with, Shadow Ball or Signal Beam can KO Alakazam, while Shadow Ball KO's Gengar and Signal Beam KO's Tyranitar. HP Grass does effective damage on Bulky Waters, but more importantly, hits Ground types and Gastrodon/Quagsire.

Although Sludge Bomb is a nice powerful STAB, Poison is a horrible attacking type with so many Pokemon resisting it and only grass types weak to it. Instead, you should go for Focus Blast to hit Tyranitar. Every one of Gengar's main sets have Substitute, while your Gengar is just sweeper, so you might catch the opponent off guard as they try to counter a Sub Gengar, which you won't be using.

CONCLUSION

The only problems with your team are that it is too much offense and too little defense, and Team Preview. Even with bulky Jirachi, your team is a bit too much on the offense. Also you don't have entry hazards, which are helpful to weakening your opponent's team. To fix that I recommend using a Defensive Spikes Skarmory.

Team Preview could be quite the problem for you. The opponent gets to see your team, and you get to see theirs. Gyarados paired with a Volt Absorber, ground type, or Motor Driver is a 4th gen strategy that was very common and predictable. As such, the opponent will be able to predict when you are going to switch out from Gyarados to Mamoswine or Jolteon and will respond with an Earthquake, or something. Therefore, you will need to be predict what they will do carefully.

That's all, and good luck with the team!

-Best Wishes,
Shiny Charizard


(PM ME IF YOU NEED A RATE!)

 

[youngjake93]

There are Pokemon that carry Thunderbolt AND Earthquake? There aren't even Pokemon that carry Thunderbolt and Earth Power other than some Nidoking... I think the combo will work just fine.
Things like Magnezone and Rotom W can't afford to not use their electric move against you as their other attacks won't do anything and they could risk giving you a free KO. You then proceed to sweep at +1.
For example, Jolteon can survive a hydro pump, heals on electric moves, and resists Flash Cannon.

I agree with those proposed changes though.

Rock Polish Landorus/Lando-T would completely decimate this team. I think you would be at an advantage to swap Gengar for Trick Room Offensive Bronzong. It fits your strong offense playstyle, but it has the bonuses of being bulky and screwing over speed boosters.

 

[undisputed]

Hey!

Your team looks like a DPP team, haha. There are couple things you can do that I think will give you some more success.

First, you should definitely put Stealth Rock on your Mamoswine instead of Stone Edge. Stealth Rock is so important in today's metagame for a variety of reasons. Your team will force a lot of switches (to avoid Para-Fusion, Jirachi flinches, or whatever), so Stealth Rock will capitalize on that. Mamoswine is the ideal user because it serves a supporting role for your team.

After that, since you're running a Paralysis team, you need more Paralysis! Gyarados is actually a pretty cool Thunder Wave user. Use the Bulky DD EV Spread which is 176 HP / 128 Atk / 204 Sp, and try the moves Waterfall / Bounce / Thunder Wave / Dragon Dance. Early game, just use Thunder Wave to paralyze incoming Gyarados counters/checks. Then if Gyarados is still around late game, set up and try to sweep. At the very least, Machamp and Jirachi will be able to take advantage of Gyarados' work.

Next, Jolteon is the fastest Pokemon in the OU Tier. It doesn't need Agility at all. Try a Timid Nature with Hidden Power Ice instead of Agility. Thunderbolt and Hidden Power Ice give you unresisted coverage which is a big plus for a Special Sweeper.

Finally, use Focus Blast instead of Sludge Bomb on Gengar. Sludge Bomb is a pretty terrible move. It can't hit Steel types like Ferrothorn, which Focus Blast can. Focus Blast and Shadow Ball also give perfect move coverage. Despite Focus Blast's 70% accuracy, I think you'll find it much more useful in many more matches.

Good luck!