Hey Smogon, I'm new to the forums, but I've been around the Pokemon Online server for a few days now. I've got a team that works relatively well, but I'll post it here for evaluation. Without further ado, here we go!
Mienshao @ Life Orb
Nature: Adamant
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 252Atk/4Def/252Speed
-Fake Out
-Stone Edge
-Hi Jump Kick
-U-Turn
Evaluation
A fairly standard LeadShao. Works absolutely swimmingly vs. Ferrothorn Leads as well as Shed Shell Foretress leads and other common ones like Tyranitar, Metagross and pals. The basic strategy is to use Fake Out for the flinch followed by U-Turn for a Hit-and-run approach. If the pokemon is something that can be easily dealt with, I'll usually keep Mienshao in to deal with it. Ferrothorn with an Impish nature will be OHKOed from full HP. The Life Orb works absolutely excellently in tandem with Regenerator, granting essential free power boosts with U-Turn switches.
Has problems with
Lead Bulkymence (Have encountered 1-2), TrickScarf Jirachi, Scizor, and common Ghosts such as Jellicent, Chandelure, and Dusclops, Sigilyph.
Ferrothorn @ Leftovers
Nature: Sassy
Ability: Iron Barbs
EVs: 252HP/8Def/248SpDef
-Leech Seed
-Stealth Rock
-Power Whip
-Gyro Ball
Evaluation
Ferrothorn, oh Ferrothorn, how obnoxiously threatening you are to other teams. This guy has pulled me out of a lot of tight spots. He's very bulky, can take Fire Blasts like a champ, and even lays up Stealth Rocks. Again, very, very standard. I would put Spikes on it if I could, but they're illegal in tandem with Stealth Rock. Power Whip for Tyranitar that thinks it can switch in with impunity, and Gyro Ball for Deoxys - Speed form and other fast pokemon that might set up for a sweep.
Problems with:
Heatran, Chandelure, Bulk Up Conkeldurr, Swords Dance Lucario, Infernape, Sigilyph.
Jellicent @ Leftovers
Nature: Bold
Ability: Cursed Body
EVs: 252HP/252Def/4SpDef
-Scald
-Ice Beam
-Shadow Ball
-Recover
Evaluation
I really like Jellicent, like, a LOT. It has a great ability, big HP, and passable defenses along with a fantastic typing. It helps to cover the gaping Fighting and Fire weaknesses of Ferrothorn, making for an excellent defensive duo. In turn, Ferrothorn will take the Dark, Ghost, Electric, and Grass attacks that Jellicent cannot. With Scald to provide strong STAB as well as a chance to burn those pesky physical Dark types that think they can use it as a punching bag, Shadow Ball for secondary STAB, and Ice Beam for rounded off coverage, Jellicent is actually a force to be reckoned with. Reliable recovery in...well...recover, is also absolutely excellent. All in all, I love it. I had originally pondered Scarf Chandelure for the position here, but I decided that Jellicent's superior walling ability was more useful here.
Problems with:
Dragon Dance Salamence/Tyranitar, Specs Latios/Hydreigon, CB Weavile, Sigilyph.
Thundurus @ Leftovers
Nature: Timid
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 8HP/248SpATK/252Spe
-Substitute
-Nasty Plot
-Hidden Power [ICE]
-Thunderbolt
Evaluation
This thing has won me so very many games it's almost ridiculous. It might just be my current standing on the ladder that isn't pairing me up with too many good players, but when my Thundurus comes in, it usually tears up teams. Substitute+Nasty Plot with Prankster guarantees safety from surprise threats like Thunder Wave Ferrothorn, or even standard threats to a sweep, like Toxic Heatran or Will-o-Wisp Rotom forms. Prankster also lets me scout to see if they have a super-effective/status move. The general strategy is to sub, and then get up as many NPs as I can. There have been several games where I brought this thundurus in on their lead Forry/Deoxys-D/Skarmory and proceeded to set up and win 6-0. Easily one of the forces on my team to be reckoned with.
Problems with
Anything that resists both attacking moves, Blissey (if 0 Nasty Plots are up), Eviolite Chansey (Although at +6, thunderbolt is a 2 or 3 hit KO.)
Garchomp @ Choice Scarf
Nature: Adamant
Ability: Sand Veil
EVs: 4HP/252Atk/252Spe
-Crunch
-Outrage
-Earthquake
-Fire Fang
Evaluation
The legendary ScarfChomp returns! With Garchomp running rampant again in OU I decided that he would fit the good role of my revenge killer as well as Trick absorber. Once opposing Ferrothorns/Steel+Psychics are taken care of, Earthquake from this demon can tear through teams. I usually try and keep him in the wings unless I really need him. The Adamant nature is just for added KO power.
Problems with:
Ferrothorn, Bronzong, Jolly ScarfMence/Chomp, Scarf Lati@s, Sigilyph.
Latios @ Life Orb
Nature: Hasty
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 216Atk/40SpAtk/252Spe
-Dragon Dance
-Earthquake
-Outrage
-Hidden Power [FIRE]
Evaluation
Dragon Dance Latios is...unpredictable, to say the least. A very effective sweeper based more physcially, but with HP Fire for those pesky Ferrothorns and Bronzongs. However, he hasn't been doing as well as I had hoped. If anyone on my team was to be forsaken, it would probably be this guy. He occasionally helps weaken a team for a sweep, but hasn't been able to do it as consistently as I had hoped.
Possible replacements
Reuniclus, Sigilyph, any reliable Special sweeper, Terrakion.
Final Glance:
Mienshao @ Life Orb
Nature: Adamant
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 252Atk/4Def/252Speed
-Fake Out
-Stone Edge
-Hi Jump Kick
-U-Turn
Evaluation
A fairly standard LeadShao. Works absolutely swimmingly vs. Ferrothorn Leads as well as Shed Shell Foretress leads and other common ones like Tyranitar, Metagross and pals. The basic strategy is to use Fake Out for the flinch followed by U-Turn for a Hit-and-run approach. If the pokemon is something that can be easily dealt with, I'll usually keep Mienshao in to deal with it. Ferrothorn with an Impish nature will be OHKOed from full HP. The Life Orb works absolutely excellently in tandem with Regenerator, granting essential free power boosts with U-Turn switches.
Has problems with
Lead Bulkymence (Have encountered 1-2), TrickScarf Jirachi, Scizor, and common Ghosts such as Jellicent, Chandelure, and Dusclops, Sigilyph.
Ferrothorn @ Leftovers
Nature: Sassy
Ability: Iron Barbs
EVs: 252HP/8Def/248SpDef
-Leech Seed
-Stealth Rock
-Power Whip
-Gyro Ball
Evaluation
Ferrothorn, oh Ferrothorn, how obnoxiously threatening you are to other teams. This guy has pulled me out of a lot of tight spots. He's very bulky, can take Fire Blasts like a champ, and even lays up Stealth Rocks. Again, very, very standard. I would put Spikes on it if I could, but they're illegal in tandem with Stealth Rock. Power Whip for Tyranitar that thinks it can switch in with impunity, and Gyro Ball for Deoxys - Speed form and other fast pokemon that might set up for a sweep.
Problems with:
Heatran, Chandelure, Bulk Up Conkeldurr, Swords Dance Lucario, Infernape, Sigilyph.
Jellicent @ Leftovers
Nature: Bold
Ability: Cursed Body
EVs: 252HP/252Def/4SpDef
-Scald
-Ice Beam
-Shadow Ball
-Recover
Evaluation
I really like Jellicent, like, a LOT. It has a great ability, big HP, and passable defenses along with a fantastic typing. It helps to cover the gaping Fighting and Fire weaknesses of Ferrothorn, making for an excellent defensive duo. In turn, Ferrothorn will take the Dark, Ghost, Electric, and Grass attacks that Jellicent cannot. With Scald to provide strong STAB as well as a chance to burn those pesky physical Dark types that think they can use it as a punching bag, Shadow Ball for secondary STAB, and Ice Beam for rounded off coverage, Jellicent is actually a force to be reckoned with. Reliable recovery in...well...recover, is also absolutely excellent. All in all, I love it. I had originally pondered Scarf Chandelure for the position here, but I decided that Jellicent's superior walling ability was more useful here.
Problems with:
Dragon Dance Salamence/Tyranitar, Specs Latios/Hydreigon, CB Weavile, Sigilyph.
Thundurus @ Leftovers
Nature: Timid
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 8HP/248SpATK/252Spe
-Substitute
-Nasty Plot
-Hidden Power [ICE]
-Thunderbolt
Evaluation
This thing has won me so very many games it's almost ridiculous. It might just be my current standing on the ladder that isn't pairing me up with too many good players, but when my Thundurus comes in, it usually tears up teams. Substitute+Nasty Plot with Prankster guarantees safety from surprise threats like Thunder Wave Ferrothorn, or even standard threats to a sweep, like Toxic Heatran or Will-o-Wisp Rotom forms. Prankster also lets me scout to see if they have a super-effective/status move. The general strategy is to sub, and then get up as many NPs as I can. There have been several games where I brought this thundurus in on their lead Forry/Deoxys-D/Skarmory and proceeded to set up and win 6-0. Easily one of the forces on my team to be reckoned with.
Problems with
Anything that resists both attacking moves, Blissey (if 0 Nasty Plots are up), Eviolite Chansey (Although at +6, thunderbolt is a 2 or 3 hit KO.)
Garchomp @ Choice Scarf
Nature: Adamant
Ability: Sand Veil
EVs: 4HP/252Atk/252Spe
-Crunch
-Outrage
-Earthquake
-Fire Fang
Evaluation
The legendary ScarfChomp returns! With Garchomp running rampant again in OU I decided that he would fit the good role of my revenge killer as well as Trick absorber. Once opposing Ferrothorns/Steel+Psychics are taken care of, Earthquake from this demon can tear through teams. I usually try and keep him in the wings unless I really need him. The Adamant nature is just for added KO power.
Problems with:
Ferrothorn, Bronzong, Jolly ScarfMence/Chomp, Scarf Lati@s, Sigilyph.
Latios @ Life Orb
Nature: Hasty
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 216Atk/40SpAtk/252Spe
-Dragon Dance
-Earthquake
-Outrage
-Hidden Power [FIRE]
Evaluation
Dragon Dance Latios is...unpredictable, to say the least. A very effective sweeper based more physcially, but with HP Fire for those pesky Ferrothorns and Bronzongs. However, he hasn't been doing as well as I had hoped. If anyone on my team was to be forsaken, it would probably be this guy. He occasionally helps weaken a team for a sweep, but hasn't been able to do it as consistently as I had hoped.
Possible replacements
Reuniclus, Sigilyph, any reliable Special sweeper, Terrakion.
Final Glance:
