My Zany OU Team - Plz rate, I'm New (Shoddy)

[Andalusia]

*Intended for Platinum*

SORRY NO PICS -

This all started when I wanted my 2 favourites on a team, Lucario and Weavile. Unfortunately that's already a bunch of fighting and fire weakness so I had to build around that. I've gone 9-1 so SOMEHOW it's working. Tentacruel doesn't seem to fit, but I needed Toxic Spikes and a spinner (I'm have little in the way of stall but it still wins games). Please comment and throw ALL suggestions forward, I'm a big noob to this so I've probably done many dumb things. (For example I have no electric resistance, which hasn't been a problem yet but...ehhh) Quite a bit of Toxic spike resist too. A real drawback is no ghost to ignore rapid spin.

LEAD

Weavile @ Focus Sash
Jolly Nature
Ability: Pressure
EV: 252 Str, 252 spe, 6 hp

Ice Shard
Fake Out
Counter
Taunt

First move fakeout is a given. Fake out + Ice shard are doing good things to common leads like Aerodactyl. If I expect trick, knock off, stealth rock, etc. then I go for the taunt. Really this lead is just an annoyer. If I'm facing heracross or anything that threatens a physical OHKO I have a surprise focus sash/counter for them. Ice share is for priority and revenge killing if I back him out - Better than Ice Punch for me since it's my only real attack, and Garchomp's long gone. Good counter to most things, definately not the build anyone expects on a Weavile.

SPECIAL SWEEPER

Heatran @ Shuca Berry
Timid Nature
Ability: Flashfire
EV: 252 SpA, 252 spe, 6 hp

Stealth Rock
Fire Blast
Earth Power
Explosion

Because this guy normally comes second I figured I'd explain him second. I needed a special sweeper who could take fire hits and Heatran fills the gap nicely(with immunity at that). One surprise is definately the stealth rock-I can always survive the first turn so I don't mind taking hits - The explosion will either kill or dent any real threats. Fire blast for Steels, Earth Power for Electivire, Jolteon, Non-Levitating steels, enemy Heatrans (Though they'll likely outspeed me :/) Explosion to take something down with me. I'll often do it a little early if I predict a ghost, because they know it's coming. Shuca is there to prevent getting OHKO'd.

SPINNER

Tentacruel @ Leftovers
Calm Nature
Ability: Liquid Ooze
EV: 252 HP, 120 Def*, 138 SpA
*Smogon's site recommended this but I dont understand why. Anyone want to tell me? Is this supposed to be SpD?

Surf
Toxic Spikes
Ice Beam
Rapid Spin

As explained earlier, I needed everything this guy has. Special defence, Water/Ice damage (Weavile's not enough), Toxic Spikes, and definately a spinner. If I cant spin off the spikes this team is in trouble. Leftovers keep him alive, Ice beam and Surf is decent coverage...He's here for the spikes, otherwise I'd opt for a different spinner (Namely Starmie for some lightning damage). Wish he had better abilities.

WALL

Skarmory @ shed shellImpish Nature
Ability: Sturdy.
EV: 252 HP, 64 Atk, 176 Def, 18 Spe

Drill Peck
Roost
Spikes
Whirlwind

I hate magnezone; I hate not being able to switch. Shed shell gets rid of that annoyance. Considering this is my all or nothing Physical Wall I cant afford to lose any extra HP from brave bird (especially without leftovers) so Drill Peck is there. Roost is for healing, Spikes irritates enemies even more on the switch-in. Whirlwind is obviously to force the switch-in. No one even tries OHKO'ing this guy but I guess I should just stick with Sturdy just incase.

PASSER

Scizor @ Salac Berry
Adamant Nature
Ability: Technician
EV: 252 HP, 84 Atk, 174 Spd.
Bullet Punch
Swords Dance
Baton Pass
Endure

Another trick up the sleeve. People dont seem to understand that Scizor can still Baton Pass since he's the most overused sweeper ever now. Throwing in Scizor nets you a free swords dance while they switch to their big fire guns. I endure them to activate Salac and Baton pass the boosts to Lucario who then sweeps like a madman (he's broken with speed, let alone attack). Bullet punch is there for priority and because it still is able to do rediculous damage even on a passer(Thanks Technician).

SWEEPER

Lucario @ Choice Band
Adamant Nature
Ability: Inner Focus
EV: 252 Atk, 252 Spe, 6 HP

Close Combat
Extremespeed
Ice Punch
Stone Edge

Ah, my favourite pokemon. Until he got ice punch I always prefered Specs Lucario, but well, he has ice punch here in Platinum, and I love it. Close Combat beats all those normal walls after the baton pass, and wrecks just about anything. Ghosts ruin my plan but Lucario doesn't come out until lategame when I've likely beaten them up enough to kill them on the switch-in. Ice punch is for the ever-popular dragons (Dragonite, Garchomp, Flygon) Stone edge is one of the few things here that can take down Gyarados (Yep, no lightning...) and Extremespeed is good for priority but I havent had much use for it yet.

I know there's bound to be problems everywhere, I've even named a few. I hope I followed all the rules on this post. Please give me feedback, ANY feedback. Tell me the things that will wreck me. So far I'm thinking Infernapes, Heatrans, and anything Electric. I wont know my errors until you tell me, and my winning streak on Shoddy is making me cocky about this team. Put me in my place!

Just one last thing...please dont suggest I remove Lucario or Weavile..I don't mind altering their builds but...they're my favourite!

 

[Shigen]

No one even tries OHKO'ing this guy but I guess I should just stick with Sturdy just incase.

Yeah... OHKO moves are banned, so go with Keen Eye, in case someone ever actually tries using an accuracy reducing move on a passive wall (a passive wall whos most common ability will make it fail, no less).

 

[Thorns]

I don't get why you think SR is a threat to your team - only Weavile takes SE.
I can see how Infernape rips through this team, a well played Nape coming in after SR is up will 2HKO everything at least. You could consider Scarf Flygon over Scizor, Baton Passing doesn't seem like a good strategy with this team.

hope I helped!

 

[Solidus]

Welcome to Smogon!

My first piece of advice is for Weavile, which is running a more offensive attack over Ice Shard, because Ice Shard is mainly for revenge killing and it lacks power. Running Ice Punch > Ice Shard will enable you to effectively damage Aerodactyl, which is a common lead. Night Slash is also a possibility to consider depending on if you want to hit SE against more common leads like Azelf and Gengar. Focusing on the set you're running on Heatran, it looks like a moveset that lead Tran would usually run. I recommend giving it more of a 'non-lead' set. Shuca Berry is a helpful item on Heatran, but I believe a Choice Scarf variant will work better in this situation. Another thing is that when Heatran are running Explosion, using a Naive nature instead of a Timid one will allow it to Explode with greater power. Run Fire Blast/Earth Power/Explosion, and for the last slot, Hidden Power Grass for bulky Waters, or Hidden Power Ice if you're more worried about Gliscor, Mence, and other Dragons. I'm also noticing a big Fire weakness in your team. I'll give further recommendations as to lessen that vulnerability later. For now, I suggest replacing Tentacruel with a Spin Starmie:

Starmie @ Leftovers
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 136 HP/156 Def/216 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
~ Surf
~ Rapid Spin
~ Recover
~ Thunderbolt/Ice Beam

This is basically similar to the set you were running with Tentacruel, except without Toxic Spikes support. Starmie can easily switch into Spikes, Spin it away, and Recover off any damage that it lost while having the ability to switch out and recover from any status infliction thanks to Natural Cure. Surf is there to provide a STAB attack. The last slot is up to you. Thunderbolt will enable you to hit Gyarados and other bulky Waters, such as Vaporeon. Ice Beam will easily OHKO Dragons such as Salamence. It all just depends on your personal preferences. Going along with the rest of your team, replace Salac Berry with a Life Orb on Scizor. His EV's should be more along the lines of 32 HP/252 Atk/224 Spe, and running Brick Break/X-Scissor over Baton/Endure. A CB Machamp might be better over Lucario's current position, and even though you didn't want it taken out of your team, you won't be as Fire weak. Here is the set:

Machamp @ Choice Band
Ability: Guts
EVs: 128 HP / 252 Atk / 128 Spe
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
~ Close Combat/Dynamic Punch
~ Payback
~ Ice Punch
~ Stone Edge

For the first slot, using Close Combat would be the better option since its stronger, and the drop in your defenses that happens while using CC doesn't matter too much since this set is meant to attack then switch out. If you prefer to use Dynamic Punch, use No Guard over Guts instead, but if you manage to switch in at the right moment and get statused while using Guts, your attacks will be devastating. Payback is there to hurt Psychic and Ghost Pokemon. Ice Punch allows you to fight off Gliscors. Obviously Stone Edge is there for Flying types. Skipping to your Skarmory, I could see Hippowdon or Azelf possibly replacing that spot, to set up Stealth Rock. Swampert is another Pokemon that can set up SR and can lessen your teams Fire weakness. Try these out and see how they work for you. Anyways, I don't have any other comments to make. Here is the preview of the new team:

Weavile/Heatran/Starmie/Skarmory/Scizor/Machamp

Good luck with your team, and I hope this advice helps you out! :D

 

[Andalusia]

I really like to surprise enemies, and lately on shoddy this Weavile build is taking down 1-2 enemies at least...And I do actually revenge kill with his ice shard, I know he shouldn't last long but he has been. I will give Night Slash a try, as you know what you're saying better than I do :)

I was always wanting Starmie instead of tenta, and the spikes hasnt helped me a lot. Thanks for advising this switch, I need a lightning attack anyway. (I dont have problems with a lot of common dragons or TTAr)

So I am replacing my skarmory with hippowdon (no ice fang) and tentacruel with starmie (thunderbolt). Everything else stays essentially the same except weavile and heatran is now a specs user. I think the bases are covered :)

 

[boundersting1]

looks like magnzeone could be a problem to you team. trapping scizor and koing with hp fire im sure. Trapping lucario, again koing. and you said heatran is now a specs user, if this magnezone had hp ground it will kill it then kill skarm with hp electric. so hippowdown helps

 

[Thorns]

looks like magnzeone could be a problem to you team. trapping scizor and koing with hp fire im sure. Trapping lucario, again koing. and you said heatran is now a specs user, if this magnezone had hp ground it will kill it then kill skarm with hp electric. so hippowdown helps

LOL. First of all, Magnezone cannot run multiple types of Hidden Power at the same time. Secondly, without a Scarf, Zone cannot kill Heatran. Also, Lucario can just CC Magnezone. You arent taking down the majority of his team without a Scarf and Gameshark. Lastly, who needs HP Electric when you have, yes, THUNDERBOLT.

Why rate when you can't even rate properly?

 

[Solidus]

weavile and heatran is now a specs user.

On Weavile, did you seriously give it Specs? That's a really bad idea. Weavile isn't going ANYWHERE as a Special Attacker. I'm going to assume you meant Scarf. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

looks like magnzeone could be a problem to you team. trapping scizor and koing with hp fire im sure. Trapping lucario, again koing. and you said heatran is now a specs user, if this magnezone had hp ground it will kill it then kill skarm with hp electric. so hippowdown helps

No offense, but it seems as though you aren't familiar with the current metagame, judging from that post. For one, why would Magnezone use HP Electric over Thunderbolt?

 

[Peachfuzz]

I don't understand why you would pass all those boosts to a Choice Bander. You will be forced out pretty easily when a ghost switches in on Close Combat, or a steel on Extremespeed. Yes you say "lategame when I've likely beaten them up" yet you don't have any way to guarantee that. Weavile doesn't even have a dark move. For this reason, a Life Orb would be better over Choice Band.

If you use the Starmie mentioned on post #4, replace Tentacruel for a Nidoqueen. Nidoqueen can get the spikes down, and counter Lucario who may be a bitch to your team. Starmie and Tentacruel would be accomplishing similar tasks (countering Mixape and rapid spinning).

 

[Luxormaniac]

Congrats on your indoctrinization into smogon. Sort of.

My recommendation: Have you read the smogon analyses? I hope so. I assume you changed heatran's moveset now that its specs (see its analysis).

I don't see why to run a Scarfvile lead (I ran one as a later game guy for lolz once tho). He'll just get raped by any sashed lead, which is all of them. So go with your original set there.

Specstran is used much less than scarftran, but the fact that it almost always creates a switch could give specstran an advantage. Just don't predictably spam Fire Blast, cuz then a scarftran comes in and Earth power ruins your fun. I don't have any experience with tran tho so someone can correct me if I'm wrong.

If you want something physical wally...
I'd say don't use skarm. I just think skarm is lame, and for no real reason. Cress is an excellent mixed wall, if played correctly, and retains that EQ immunity. Metagross has no such immunity (sadly) but 'zone is never going to dream of switching in on him. Plus, Metagross has the power to actually do something back. Try this set.


Metagross @ Leftovers/Life Orb
Adamant nature (+Atk, -Spa)
252 Atk/ 208 Spe/ 48 HP
Clear Body
-Agility
-Meteor Mash
-Earthquake
-Explosion

Speed EV's allow him to outrun tons of stuff after an agility. Normally this thing goes in on revenge and agilities on the switch. It can take hits well, and Meteor Mash and EQ hit stuff hard. Explode when something you can't take comes out. As Gyarados is the most common switch in, you can run Thunderpunch, but as for other coverage I've found that Explosion is markedly better.

Take endure off that scizor. That scizor could work with metagross, you could replace endure with agility and baton pass everything meta needs. Or you could run that Scarf Flygon Thorn mentioned, with outrage from plat he's quite formidable.

And run starmie over tentacreul. Or better yet something else.

Your Luke's OK. But...

But don't use pokemon just because their your favorites. Too many noobs have fallen for that trap.
And machamp sounds like a great fit for you, I'd run it over Lucario. But I prefer this over Choice Band:


Machamp @ Leftovers
No Guard
Adamant
252 HP/ 252 Atk/ 4 Spe
-Rest
-Sleep Talk
-Dynamicpunch
-Stone Edge

It's not outrunning anything, so no sense for Speed EV's. No guard gives Dpunch and Stone Edge 100% accuracy, so don't worry about that. Resttalk makes it nice and bulky. Dynamicpunch's side effect of always causing confusion means he's practically counterless (except for ghosts, who stone edge hits hard anyway.) Great sleep absorber. A nice all around choice for any team.

Hope this helps.

Btw atm DD gyara will hit your team pretty hard. So starm would help with that.