Gen 7 National Anthem - Hone Claws Z-Kyurem Black BO

[Clementine]

Sup everyone, I recently got drafted for the French Community League as the SM OU player for the Three-Eyed Quagsires (s/o Sageau, ily man).
I knew I was going to face some kind of bulky / Balance team on week 2 of this tournament, and built with the rest of our team a squad that I thought was extremely cool and had a great MU against everything I thought my opponent was going to bring.
Unfortunately for me, my opponent brought a Toxic Spikes Balance team that I wasn't prepared enough for, and played extremely well to the point where I couldn't do anything.
But I was still in love with the team we built, and decided to edit it in order to improve the MU against things that beat it during test games.
The team was built around Sub Hone Claws Kyurem-Black, made to absolutely smack fatter builds as well as being completely Ditto-proof.

GODS & MONSTERS (Kyurem-Black) @ Icium Z
Ability: Teravolt
EVs: 56 HP / 228 Atk / 224 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Substitute / Roost
- Hone Claws
- Freeze Shock
- Fusion Bolt​

The first member of the squad is obviously Kyurem-Black. KB has the potential to completely tear apart Balance teams, which is, as stated in the Overview, what this team is supposed to be good against. I'm running here a very special Kyurem-Black, utilizing the sheer power of its STAB Freeze Shock, powered up to even crazier levels thanks to Icium Z. Substitute allows you to bypass the possible prediction factor when forcing a switch out, as well as keeping you immune to Ditto's Impostor ability. You can easily set-up a sub in front of Pokemon like Toxapex, Rotom-Wash or Zapdos, or while forcing out foes Kyurem Black threatens, like Gliscor, slow Landorus-Therian, Pelipper or even Kommo-o. Freeze Shock hits everything not named bulky Heatran extremely hard, having 50% chance to OHKO standard Ferrothorn after a Hone Claws boost, for example. Fusion Bolt gives extremely good coverage, and OHKOs Toxapex after a boost and Stealth Rock, has a 50% chance to 2HKO defensive Heatran without hazards. Roost is an option if you don't feel the need to run Subsitute, giving Kyurem more longevity throughout the game, allowing it to come in on a variety of resisted hits, like Surf from Ash-Greninja, Thunderbolt from Tapu Koko or even Earthquake from unboosted Gliscor.
224 Speed EVs along with a Jolly Nature allow you to outspeed non-scarfed max speed Landorus-Therian and everything below 310 speed. 56 EVs in HP allow you to hit the magic number of 404 HP in order to create 101 HP Substitutes to live Seismic Tosses. The rest of the EVs is put into Attack to maximize Kyurem's Power.

This Pokemon absolutely wrecks defensive teams and pretty much 6-0s Stall on its own, thanks to the Teravolt Ability ignoring Unaware from Quagsire or Clefairy. Not much can switch into Kyurem-Black in the first place, but nothing appreciates a boosted Freeze Shock, and Subzero Slammer will ohko pretty much everything in sight.

LUCKY ONES (Jirachi) @ Leftovers
Ability: Serene Grace
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 248 HP / 152 SpD / 108 Spe
Careful Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Iron Head
- U-turn
- Toxic​

Spdef Rachi is going to be the next member of the team, running a very classic Stealth Rock set. Iron Head is there for STAB and allows Jirachi to wear down slower defensive mons thanks to its boosted flinch chance. U-Turn makes Jirachi act like a slow pivot and gives momentum in the face of dangerous threats like Tapu Lele or Mega Alakazam. Toxic is there to punish Volcarona and Mega Latias, both of which would otherwise be able to set-up on Rachi.
The EV spread is pretty common, 108 EVs in Speed allow Jirachi to outspeed paralyzed Scarf Kartana, as well as Modest Heatran, Swords Dance Gliscor, Tapu Fini and defensive Landorus-Therian. The rest is invested into HP and Special Defense, making Rachi our designated psychic switch-in on the team.

RIDE (Ferrothorn) @ Leftovers
Ability: Iron Barbs
EVs: 252 HP / 24 Def / 232 SpD
Impish Nature
- Spikes
- Leech Seed
- Thunder Wave
- Power Whip​

Kyurem's second teammate is Ferrothorn, running a very classic set. Ferro is our designated Spikes setter, making KB even more threatening, either thanks to the chip inflicted by Spikes themselves, or by being pretty safe to enter the field in the face of certain Defog users, such as Gliscor and Defensive Landorus-Therian. Power Whip allows you to OHKO Ash-Greninja and to pressure mons like Tapu Koko or Tapu Lele, making Ferrothorn a rain check on the team that pairs well with Kyurem-Black. Leech Seed provides us with some passive recovery, chipping Heatran and Celesteela on the switch, as well aw allowing a teammate to come in more safely against more powerful attacks. Thunder Wave prevents Kartana to set-up in Ferro's face, and helps slow down faster opponents such as Tornadus-Therian or Mega Alakazam to help Kyurem break more easily.
The EV spread is extremely classic, the Defense investement allows Ferrothorn to not be 2HKO by offensive Landorus-Therian's Earthquake, and maximizes Special Defense to better check Ash-Greninja.
It is important to not be too passive while facing mons like Greninja, since letting them set-up multiple layers of Spikes severely reduces Ferrothorn's staying power in the game.

OFF TO THE RACES (Lopunny-Mega) @ Lopunnite
Ability: Limber
Happiness: 0
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Frustration
- High Jump Kick
- Fake Out
- Healing Wish​

Lopunny is one of my favorite Megas to use in OU thanks to its ability to terrorize offensive teams, and its sheer power alongside unresisted STAB combination in the tier. Frustration and HJK hit extremely hard and compltement each other really well, making Lopunny an effective late-game cleaner, especially with Spikes up. Fake Out gives some much needed speed control, making it possible to pick off weakened faster foes, such as Mega Alakazam, Scarf Greninja and helps stall out some rain or sand turns if needed. Healing Wish is there mainly to heal Kyurem-Black, allowing you as a player to play a bit more recklessly without the need to fear every possible status. It also helps against Toxic Spikes reliant bulky teams to bring KB back after Defogging hazards away from the field, especially if you're not running Roost on the latter.

MILLION DOLLAR MAN (Gliscor) (M) @ Toxic Orb
Ability: Poison Heal
EVs: 244 HP / 244 SpD / 20 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Earthquake
- U-turn / Knock Off
- Roost
- Defog​

Gliscor is our designated Heatran check on the team, being able to stomach even Inferno Overdrive based on Magma Storm from Modest Heatran. It also helps the team by providing some hazards control, being immune to Spikes and able to Defog while forcing switches, such as against the aforementioned Heatran, or Rocks setters like Tyranitar and defensive Kommo-os fearing Toxic. Roost provides longevity throughout the game, and allows Gliscor to come in multiple times on weaker moves. U-Turn helps the team keep momentum and safely brings in Kyurem Black against bulky waters it can threaten with Fusion Bolt, such as a weakened Tapu Fini or Toxapex. Knock Off is an alternative move it can run to pressure defensive teams even more and to punish switch ins by removing Leftovers from Defensive Landorus-T or Tapu Fini.
The EV spread is very classic, the 20 speed EVs alongside a Jolly nature allow Gliscor to outspeed Modest Heatran, threatening it thanks to its STAB Earthquake. 244 EVs in HP allow Gliscor to hit 352 HP, maximizing Poison Heal recovery. The rest is put in Special Defense, allowing Gliscor to better check threats such as Tapu Koko, Mega Alakazam, Magnezone and Magearna lacking Ice Beam.

NATIONAL ANTHEM (Volcarona) @ Iapapa Berry
Ability: Flame Body
EVs: 248 HP / 112 Def / 148 Spe
Timid Nature
- Quiver Dance
- Flamethrower
- Bug Buzz
- Roost​

Volcarona is the last member of the squad, running a more defensive Spread to check monsters such as Kartana, Mega Mawile and Mega Medicham. The Iapapa Berry allows Volcarona to come in on stuff it checks in a pinch even if Rocks are up. Flamethrower and Bug Buzz are its STABs and most optimal options, especially once Heatran has been removed from the opposing team. Quiver Dance allows Volc to boost its Speed and Special Defense making it even more bulky, while boosting its Special Attack to make it a fearsome bulky late-game sweeper. The spread allows Volcarona to outspeed Adamant Mega-Medicham and everything below 300 Speed, while the rest is put into HP and Defense to maximize bulk.

Threatlist

Kartana is extremely threatening in conjunction with Mawile, because they share Volcarona as a check. If your opponent manages to pressure Volcarona by maintaining rocks on the field, Kartana and Mawile can easily run through your defensive core, severely weakening the team.

Ash-Greninja is not that big of a problem in itself, since you can easily revenge kill it with Lopunny, and Ferrothorn checks it quite well. Thing is, Greninja can easily take advantage of Gliscor if forced to click Defog, and can set-up Spikes for itself later in the game. Don't hesitate to be agressive against it, as a bad prediction can cost you a game.

​

Garchomp can be a huge problem if played correctly against this team. Ice Punch can be a decent option on Lopunny to revenge kill it, but it's generally inferior to Healing Wish in some mus. A bulky spread consisting of 244 HP / 52 Def / 76 SpD / 136 Spe on Gliscor alongside Ice Fang on U-Turn help to keep it checked a little bit better.

Importable

GODS & MONSTERS (Kyurem-Black) @ Icium Z
Ability: Teravolt
EVs: 56 HP / 228 Atk / 224 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Substitute
- Hone Claws
- Freeze Shock
- Fusion Bolt

LUCKY ONES (Jirachi) @ Leftovers
Ability: Serene Grace
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 248 HP / 152 SpD / 108 Spe
Careful Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Iron Head
- U-turn
- Toxic

RIDE (Ferrothorn) @ Leftovers
Ability: Iron Barbs
EVs: 252 HP / 24 Def / 232 SpD
Impish Nature
- Spikes
- Leech Seed
- Thunder Wave
- Power Whip

OFF TO THE RACES (Lopunny-Mega) @ Lopunnite
Ability: Limber
Happiness: 0
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Frustration
- High Jump Kick
- Fake Out
- Healing Wish

MILLION DOLLAR MAN (Gliscor) (M) @ Toxic Orb
Ability: Poison Heal
EVs: 244 HP / 244 SpD / 20 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Earthquake
- U-turn
- Roost
- Defog

NATIONAL ANTHEM (Volcarona) @ Iapapa Berry
Ability: Flame Body
EVs: 248 HP / 112 Def / 148 Spe
Timid Nature
- Quiver Dance
- Flamethrower
- Bug Buzz
- Roost