No Defense - OU RMT

[Pwnage21]

UPDATE: Added this Celebi in place of Metagross which greatly helps me soak electric attacks and threaten Gastrodon.

Celebi @ Leftovers | Natural Cure
232 HP / 240 SpA / 36 Spe
Modest Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Leaf Storm
- Recover
- Hidden Power Fire

Introduction

Hi there, I'm a beginner player on Pokemon Showdown. I've been playing the games since the original Red and Blue were released (although I've taken several extended breaks) and I've only recently begun to discover competitive battling. I decided to name this team "No Defense" because it is pretty much just all offensive, due to my impatience. As it is my first RMT (and my first post on Smogon), I acknowledge the fact that my team is probably not the greatest and I would really appreciate some help. Thanks.

Team

Metagross @ Occa Berry
Ability: Clear Body
EVs: 218 HP / 252 Atk / 40 Spe
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SpA)
- Stealth Rock
- Meteor Mash
- Earthquake
- Explosion

Metagross has been one of my favourite Pokemon since it was released due to it's uniqueness as a pseudo-legendary. I decided to choose Metagross for my team mainly because my previous teams were always screwed by Tyrannitar, or always let Tyrannitar set up Stealth Rock as a lead. Metagross, with 40 EVs invested into Speed, outspeeds most Tyrannitar leads and and OHKOs most of them with a STAB Meteor Mash. It can then proceed to set up Stealth Rock. If it's facing a faster, more offensive-oriented T-tar, Occa Berry allows it to take a Fire Blast/Fire Punch without much worry. Occa Berry also allows Metagross to beat most Heatran, as it can take a STAB Fire Blast and OHKO back with an Earthquake. Explosion is for taking out, or badly damaging Pokemon Metagross would normally have trouble with like Zapdos, Gyarados, Thundurus-T and Volcarona. One Pokemon my team particularly does not like is Gastrodon and Explosion will either OHKO or very badly damage it. Last, but not least, it's Psychic/Steel typing allows it to resist both the Lati twins' STAB attacks and Meteor Mash will do a chunk of damage in return.

Rotom-W @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 48 HP / 252 SpA / 208 Spe
Modest Nature (+SpA, -Atk)
- Volt Switch
- Hydro Pump
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Trick

Rotom-W was one of the most annoying Pokemon I faced as an opponent, so I decided to try and incorporate it into my team. His fantastic typing with Levitate gives him practically no weaknesses (Grass-type attacks aren't very common from my experience). 146 SpD with Choice Scarf allows him to outspeed base 115 Pokemon and Choice Scarf Tyrannitar. Volt Switch is for hitting Water-types and for scouting, Hydro Pump is a powerful all-purpose STAB and Hidden Power Ice is mainly for dragons. Trick I mainly use for Pokemon who try to power up or for defensive Pokemon like Ferrothorn and Chansey/Blissey.

Scizor @ Metal Plate
Ability: Technician
EVs: 212HP / 252 Atk / 44 Spe
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SpA)
- Bullet Punch
- Superpower
- Bug Bite
- Swords Dance

I've been having a fetish for Steel-types lately so here's the second one on my team: Scizor. I prefer the Swords Dance version because the Choice Band one relies too much on prediction, which I am not great at, and the Life Orb version takes too much recoil damage. The attacks are pretty standard, Bullet Punch for Terrakion and priority, Superpower for Magnezone and other Scizor and Bug Bite for Slowbro and Reuniculus. I opted for Metal Plate because I use Bullet Punch as my attack most of the time anyway. Secondly, due to the lack of recoil or leftover recovery, most people think my Scizor is a banded one, which opens up some new options. EVs are pretty standard, 12 SpD is just to outspeed some other Scizor.

Volcarona @ Leftovers
Ability: Flame Body
EVs: 216 HP / 252 SpA / 34 Spe
Modest Nature (+SpA, -Atk)
- Quiver Dance
- Fiery Dance
- Bug Buzz
- Hidden Power [Ground]

When I first began playing, I got swept by Volcarona countless times partially due to unfamiliarity and due to it's pure power. This set is pretty standard, and with 34 Spe, +1 Volcarona outspeeds all base 115 Pokemon and at +O, will outspeed the fastest non-choice Tyrannitar, in case it needs to revenge kill. Pretty standard attacks, I had Hurricane in place of Hidden Power Ground before, but I was annoyed by it's poor accuracy and the fact that this Volcarona would be walled by Heatran fairly easily. Fiery Dance for Steels, Grass types and usually my standard attack as it has a 50% chance of raising my SpA by 1 stage, and Bug Buzz I usually use for Psychics, or my all-purpose move against rain teams.

Dragonite @ Leftovers
Ability: Multiscale
EVs: 66 HP / 252 Atk / 196 Spe
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SpA)
- Dragon Dance
- Extremespeed
- Dragon Claw
- Fire Punch

Probably the most powerful Pokemon on my team. Multiscale is a ridiculous ability, allowing me to almost always set up a Dragon Dance. Dragon Claw is the all-purpose move and takes out other dragons, Fire Punch is for Steels especially Scizor, Ferrothorn and Forretress, and Extremespeed allows me to finish off faster Pokemon that a Dragon Claw might not have fainted. Once again, 196 Spd allows it to outspeed base 115's (I sound so repetitive). Unfortunately, this version gets completely walled by Heatran. I originally tried Earthquake, but that meant taking out E-Speed or Fire Punch. Without E-Speed, I couldn't finish off certain Pokemon and without Fire Punch I was screwed against Steels. Have also tried experimenting Outrage in place of Dragon Claw with mixed results, it gave me some important OHKOs, but I lost some potential sweeps due to me getting stuck in Outrage.

Starmie @ Expert Belt
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 6 Hp / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature (+Spe, -Atk)
- Hydro Pump
- Thunderbolt
- Ice Beam
- Rapid Spin

Starmie is just a beautiful, wonderful Pokemon. Out of all the Pokemon, it is probably the one that hasn't changed a bit since 1st Gen. I use Expert Belt over Leftovers for power over durability. Hydro Pump I chose over Surf because, despite the annoying accuracy, it gives me some important OHKOs and 2KOs. Standard Bolt-Beam combination for things like Gliscor, Celebi, Skarmory and Virizon. Rapid Spin is crucial for my team as it absolutely cripples Volcarona and voids Dragonite's multiscale. Starmie is all in all, probably the backbone of the team, providing wide coverage and rapid spin support.

Weaknesses

My team struggles with a lot of Pokemon, particularly fast, electric Pokemon in rain. A Choice Specs Jolteon in rain can just fire Thunder over and over again, as nothing on my team resists it. I also have an issue with Thundurus-T, who with a Nasty Plot, wreaks havoc on my team. Other issues include Gastrodon, who is extremely annoying and walls pretty much everything on my team. I am reduced to tricking it with Rotom-W or exploding with Metagross on it. Scarf Terrakion also presents a problem sometimes, with Stone-Edge, Close Combat and X-Scissor all KOing or heavily damaging my team. Finally, rain teams and Sun Teams usually do well against this team, as they can abuse their weather advantage while I can't really do anything about it.




Thanks for taking the time to read this RMT, really appreciate it and hopefully you can give me some sound advice. Flame away.

Note: Credit to Sayonara's "Fade to Black" RMT. I didn't really know how to make a proper RMT, so I kind of copied his format. Thanks.

Importable:

Hide

Green Onion (Celebi) @ Leftovers
Trait: Natural Cure
EVs: 232 HP / 240 SAtk / 36 Spe
Modest Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Leaf Storm
- Recover
- Hidden Power Fire

The Machine (Rotom-W) @ Choice Scarf
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 48 HP/ 252 SAtk / 208 Spe
Modest Nature
- Volt Switch
- Hydro Pump
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Trick

A Bug's Life (Scizor) @ Metal Plate
Trait: Technician
EVs: 212 HP / 252 Atk / 44 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Swords Dance
- Bullet Punch
- Superpower
- Bug Bite

Firebug (Volcarona) @ Leftovers
Trait: Flame Body
EVs: 216 HP / 252 SAtk / 34 Spe
Modest Nature
- Fiery Dance
- Quiver Dance
- Bug Buzz
- Hidden Power [Ground]

"The Beast" (Dragonite) @ Leftovers
Trait: Multiscale
EVs: 66 HP / 252 Atk / 196 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Dragon Dance
- Dragon Claw
- Extremespeed
- Fire Punch

Shining Star (Starmie) @ Leftovers
Trait: Natural Cure
EVs: 6 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Hydro Pump
- Thunderbolt
- Rapid Spin
- Ice Beam

 

[alkinesthetase]

i'm not much for rating teams, but just a quick reminder on format: Spe stands for speed where as SpD stands for special defense. Spd is ambiguous and generally avoided. you might want to correct the writing of those spreads to avoid any confusion between these two. standard export/import format uses SAtk and SDef as the abbreviations to prevent any confusion

 

[Pwnage21]

i'm not much for rating teams, but just a quick reminder on format: Spe stands for speed where as SpD stands for special defense. Spd is ambiguous and generally avoided. you might want to correct the writing of those spreads to avoid any confusion between these two. standard export/import format uses SAtk and SDef as the abbreviations to prevent any confusion

Thanks, I'll correct them now!

 

[Joeyboy]

Cool team man!

So I've got a few tweaks first off. I recommend running a more classic EV spread on your Rotom-W, specifically 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe. This allows Rotom-W to more effectively revenge kill threats like +1 Dragonite and Gyarados.

Next I believe your Volcarona could serve to run a more offensive EV spread as well. While Volcarona does run a very good bulky set, the crux of that set is its ability to recovery health. So if you really like the bulky EVs you have now, I'd recommend running Roost over HP Ground, on the other hand if you want to keep HP Ground(my personal choice :) I recommend you run 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe with a Timid Nature.

While on the subject I suggest running 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe.

Metagross is also not terribly good in this meta, so I want to recommend a different SR setter, one who still gives Tyranitar real problems. The set to replace Metagross:

Hide

Terrakion @ Focus Sash
Ability: Justified
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature (+Spe, -SpA)
- Close Combat
- Stone Edge
- Stealth Rock
- X-Scissor

Hope this helps, good luck!

 

[Pwnage21]

Cool team man!

So I've got a few tweaks first off. I recommend running a more classic EV spread on your Rotom-W, specifically 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe. This allows Rotom-W to more effectively revenge kill threats like +1 Dragonite and Gyarados.

Next I believe your Volcarona could serve to run a more offensive EV spread as well. While Volcarona does run a very good bulky set, the crux of that set is its ability to recovery health. So if you really like the bulky EVs you have now, I'd recommend running Roost over HP Ground, on the other hand if you want to keep HP Ground(my personal choice :) I recommend you run 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe with a Timid Nature.

While on the subject I suggest running 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe.

Metagross is also not terribly good in this meta, so I want to recommend a different SR setter, one who still gives Tyranitar real problems. The set to replace Metagross:

Hide

Terrakion @ Focus Sash
Ability: Justified
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature (+Spe, -SpA)
- Close Combat
- Stone Edge
- Stealth Rock
- X-Scissor

Hope this helps, good luck!

Thanks for the rate! Hmm... played a couple of games with Terrakion as lead and did pretty well. One of my previous faults with my team was not having a single fighting attack (tried Hammer Arm on Metagross for a while but was not too effective). The Focus Sash / Stealth Rock combo seems to fool people as well. Your Rotom-W suggestion seems fine, but I simply can't take HP Ground off Volcarona, or it will be completely walled by Heatran and even Tentacruel. I will try the EV sets though.

 

[PDC]

Hey, this looks like a pretty solid team!

Now the first thing I would suggest changing is your Starmie. Now Starmie with Expert Belt sounds like a great idea, but it really works best with either Life Orb or Leftovers. To go with the team I suggest trying out Life Orb over Expert Belt. You should also use a Timid Nature on Volcarona, as Jolly only decreases it's effectiveness.

Now I do notice how stuff like Scarf Thundurus and Jolteon can both do a number to this team. You don't have much to fair against them, and they can really do a number, especially if SR is not down. Gastrodon also is scary as you have nothing to really hit it with. To keep Stealth Rock on your team and cover up part of the problem, I would personally suggest trying out Celebi to provide a safe check to Rotom-W, Gastrodon, and Thundurus, while still providing Stealth Rock. I suggest using this over Metagross, who is just to outclassed in this metagame to be a great Pokemon anymore.

sets

Celebi @ Leftovers | Natural Cure
232 HP / 240 SpA / 36 Spe
Modest Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Leaf Storm
- Recover
- Hidden Power Fire / U-Turn

Good luck!

 

[Pwnage21]

Hey, this looks like a pretty solid team!

Now the first thing I would suggest changing is your Starmie. Now Starmie with Expert Belt sounds like a great idea, but it really works best with either Life Orb or Leftovers. To go with the team I suggest trying out Life Orb over Expert Belt. You should also use a Timid Nature on Volcarona, as Jolly only decreases it's effectiveness.

Now I do notice how stuff like Scarf Thundurus and Jolteon can both do a number to this team. You don't have much to fair against them, and they can really do a number, especially if SR is not down. Gastrodon also is scary as you have nothing to really hit it with. To keep Stealth Rock on your team and cover up part of the problem, I would personally suggest trying out Celebi to provide a safe check to Rotom-W, Gastrodon, and Thundurus, while still providing Stealth Rock. I suggest using this over Metagross, who is just to outclassed in this metagame to be a great Pokemon anymore.

sets

Celebi @ Leftovers | Natural Cure
232 HP / 240 SpA / 36 Spe
Modest Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Leaf Storm
- Recover
- Hidden Power Fire / U-Turn

Good luck!

Thanks for the rate! I've tried out LO Starmie with mixed feelings and while it does hit harder and gives me some important OHKOs and 2KOS, it dies faster as well. I meant in my original post to give Volcarona Modest Nature but somehow I put Jolly . I'll try out Timid soon. Celebi honestly sounds like a great idea: it checks most of the threats I mentioned in my OP, thanks. The only issue is that it gets murdered by Tyrannitar, especially those with Pursuit.

 

[TGMD]

Hey pwnage21, nice team!

Although I agree with PDC's suggestion of Celebi over Metagross this leaves you quite alot weaker to Dragonite. Although Dragonite can only really safely set up on Celebi and unboosted Volcarona, after 1 DD it outspeeds your entire team and after Stealth Rocks damage it can OHKO everything on your team except for Scizor with Outrage, but Scizor is OHKOd by Fire Punch and can only hit Dragonite back with a somewhat weak Bullet Punch. A spread of; 48 HP / 252 SAtk / 208 Spe over your current Rotom-W's spread allows you to outspeed all +1 Adamant Dragonite.

In the weaknesses section you mentioned you're a bit weak to rain, I once had a team that was weak to rain and I ran a very similiar Scizor to the one you're currently using but I found bulky Politoed irksome when I was trying to sweep with Scizor, you may want to run a spread of 212 HP / 252 Atk / 44 Spe over your current one to outspeed and KO Bulky Politoed before they can Perish Song or just Scald if you're within KO range. This should hopefully help make Scizor's sweeps more efficient as well as making you a bit less weak to rain.

Anyway, I hope this rate helped and GL with the team :)

 

[Pwnage21]

Hey pwnage21, nice team!

Although I agree with PDC's suggestion of Celebi over Metagross this leaves you quite alot weaker to Dragonite. Although Dragonite can only really safely set up on Celebi and unboosted Volcarona, after 1 DD it outspeeds your entire team and after Stealth Rocks damage it can OHKO everything on your team except for Scizor with Outrage, but Scizor is OHKOd by Fire Punch and can only hit Dragonite back with a somewhat weak Bullet Punch. A spread of; 48 HP / 252 SAtk / 208 Spe over your current Rotom-W's spread allows you to outspeed all +1 Adamant Dragonite.

In the weaknesses section you mentioned you're a bit weak to rain, I once had a team that was weak to rain and I ran a very similiar Scizor to the one you're currently using but I found bulky Politoed irksome when I was trying to sweep with Scizor, you may want to run a spread of 212 HP / 252 Atk / 44 Spe over your current one to outspeed and KO Bulky Politoed before they can Perish Song or just Scald if you're within KO range. This should hopefully help make Scizor's sweeps more efficient as well as making you a bit less weak to rain.

Anyway, I hope this rate helped and GL with the team :)

Thanks for the rate! Maybe I could possibly run Hidden Power Ice on Celebi instead of fire to counter Dragonite? I don't really need to eliminate the likes of Forretress or Ferrothorn with Celebi as I already have Volcorona and Dragonite for that. But it does lead me vulnerable to a Scizor Pursuit. I think I like your Rotom-W set better than mine and Joeyboy's. Scizor set sounds great as well, I am annoyed by Politoeds who resist Bullet Punch really well even after +2/+4 and burn my Scizor with Scald.

 

[Pwnage21]

Updated team from fellow poster's suggestions (in bold).

 

[Pwnage21]

Delete this post please sorry messed up.

 

[chimpact]

Your Dragonite would definitely benefit from Lum Berry. It absorbs status, allows you to use Outrage or dragon clawand protect it from the confusion, and it could help you bluff a choice set. Leftovers will only really help you maintain your multiscale against sandstorm if they dont set up rocks. I would also recommend putting AT LEAST 220 speed EVs to outpace Tornadus-T.

I would also recommend a Hydreigon over your current Volcarona set. Your team is very vulnerable to common rain threats. It resists the water/electric attacks, has great coverage and the potential to help with your volturn combos.

Hydreigon @ Life Orb
Trait: Levitate
Modest
4 Atk / 252 SpAtk / 252 Spe
-Dragon Pulse
-Fire Blast
-Surf
-Roost/U-turn

 

[peng]

The other raters have done a good job here, but I just want to nitpick one thing. Your Rotom-W EV spread is still pretty poor, only hitting 390 Speed with a scarf. It seems overly specialized to beat Dragonite, and EVing it to only hit 390 when there are a bunch of other Pokemon in the 390 - 406 speed range is pretty ridiculous. I'd recommend just running 252 SAtk / 4 SDef / 252 Spd as the EV spread, as this now allows you to outspeed +1 Adamant Gyarados, Timid Scarf Politoed, +1 Adamant Kingdra, Jolteon, and some other random stuff like +2 Modest Gorebyss, +2 Modest Tangrowth and Aerodactyl. After tricking away your Choice Scarf, you are still able to outspeed all +Spd nature Heatran, Politoed and Breloom (admittedly pretty uncommon), which your current EV spread cannot.

I see no reason not to run 252 Speed on Modest Scarf Rotom-W, as the bulk gained by 48 HP EVs is negligible but you outspeed a ton more notable Pokemon. Outspeeding Jolteon in particular is important, as you highlighted it as a threat. Although Celebi can take Thunders, it just rolls over and dies to the common Signal Beam (and 2HKOd by Shadow Ball), so the extra speed will really help there.

Volcarona has weird Speed investment too. Non-Scarf Jolly Tyranitar is non-existent in BW, and you only Speed tie at best with Defensive Celebi, Jirachi, and Zapdos (i.e. 32 Spd base 100s) as well as 72 Spd Gliscor. Since these Base 100s tend to run a little over that, generally 36 / 40 Spd, I'd recommend switching up your Volcarona EVs to 216 HP / 248 SAtk / 44 Spd, which also takes into account 8 EVs you missed off your Volcarona in the first place. However, generally 252 SAtk / Spd is preferred for 3 Attacks Volcarona.

You may have some problems with full stall if they get hazards up very early, so maybe try LO Scizor and enough Speed to beat Skarmory (I believe you need at least 76 Spd EVs to do this, or alternatively you could just max speed to screw over stuff like Specially Defensive Heatran). This allows you to weaken Skarmory with Scizor to pave way for a Dragonite sweep vs stall, or vice-versa. As someone else said, you should use Lum Berry, Outrage and 252 Spd on Dragonite to stop your sweep being ended by a random Will-o-Wisp, Thunder Wave, Toxic, Flame Body burn etc, and also cures Outrage confusion in a pinch.

tl;dr:
- 252 SAtk / 4 SDef / 252 Spd on Rotom-W
- 216 HP / 248 SAtk / 44 Spd on Volcarona (max satk / speed is generally better if you aren't using Roost though!)
- Life Orb Scizor, at least 76 Spd EVs
- Lum Berry, Outrage , 252 Spd Dragonite


Good luck.