So I'm not quite sure how all this works.
As you can probably tell, I'm a bit new here, and a little late to the game as far as online battling is concerned, but I want to get some feedback on a team I've been using lately that I will hopefully start taking online in the near future. So, without further adieu, my Noble Beasts.
Edits in BLUE
Here's the deets:
Trickster
Jirachi (Hermes) @Choice Scarf
Serene Grace
Jolly
EVs: 252 Atk, 252 Spd, 4 HP
- Iron Head
- Trick
- Fire Punch
- Stealth Rock
Gen Inf on Hermes
So I went for a more conventional lead at Eggbert's suggestion and found that Rachi fit my team perfectly. If I can't go for the KO right off the bat (then switch out and come back in when able to set up SR), I can set up SR and switch in a counter due to Rachi's Spd and defenses, or trick the scarf onto my opponent and have free reign of the field (plus a focus sash or lefties to use as I will). The only downside is that the latter (and more likely) course of events leaves me stuck with SR on my side of the field, as I lost my spinner in Donphan... so the search is on for a new one. But all in all, very happy with Rachi, he covers many of the weaknesses (like technician Scizor) that I had before.
Shake and Break
Tyranitar (F, Typhos) @Leftovers
Sand Stream
Quiet
EVs: 252 HP, 50 Atk, 176 SpAtk, 30 Spd
- Substitute
- Focus Punch
- Thunderbolt
- Ice Beam
General info on Typhos
So, at Eggbert's suggestion, I removed Ty from my lead spot and have started running it as a stallbreaker/tankish lady to great success. She helped me sweep one of my friends in the first battle I used her in (with scarf-Rachi above). So she'll be staying there.
Basically a fairly typical TyraniBoah set, with stellar Focus Punch and BoltBeam coverage. Wrecks shop with setup, but causes a sandstorm. Thankfully, I can wash the sound out with RD from Kingdra or switch back into Rachi to endure it. Yay!
Bringing Rain to the desert
Kingdra (M, Hydra) @Life Orb
Swift Swim
Modest
EVs: 252 SpAtk, 252 Spd, 4 HP
- Rain Dance
- Dragon Pulse
- Signal Beam
- Surf
Gen Inf on Hydra
My main sweeper and remover of that destructive sand. Kingdra is, in my opinion, the most useful Swift Swim sweeper, period. His great resistances and fair defensive stats let him get in and set up on almost anything. Once the rain is up, Hydra's sweep begins: rain-boosted Surf, Dragon Pulse for good coverage, and Signal Beam to take out any unsuspecting bulky grasses that try to wall out my sweep. His speed boost from SS also lets him snipe out his one weakness: other dragons, which as far as I know are all outrun.
Final Thoughts
Not the strongest sweeper out there, but between the Life Orb SpAtk boosts and the rainy Spd boosts, Hydra can usually get a pretty good sweep going. The key is being able to set up rain, as without it, he's just another fish in a sandstorm.
All you need is a Wall
Togekiss (M, Zephos) @Leftovers
Hustle (Serene Grace would be infinitely better, but I kept the Hustler because I managed to breed a shiny (see this sprite, I couldn't find a moving shiny one for the above list) and it had a good nature so I kept it)
Calm
EVs: 192 HP, 116 SpAtk, 200 Spd
- Nasty Plot
- Air Slash
- Aura Sphere
- Roost
Gen Inf on Zyphos
Z, while not a wall in the strictest sense of the word, has come in super handy and ofter served as an excellent waller and stallbreaker. I originally ran Sub over Roost, but I wanted a little more HP-recovery on my team and Sub wasn't helping me much. The plan here is switch in, boost up, and let the hits fly. The flinches from Air Slash are great, and Aura Sphere covers almost everything else with 100% accuracy. Unfortunately, SE against Z runs rampant, and a STAB (or even high-statted) Stone Edge, Thunderbolt, or Ice Beam takes him out pretty easily. He does have Roost to recover though, and Ty and Poseidon are pretty good switch-in options on his counters.
Final Thoughts
As a shiny Togi, obviously my pride and joy, a huge threat once he can boost up with NP. He has some major weaknesses, but nothing other members of my team can't handle. All in all, a key component to this team, even without Serene Grace.
Tipping the Scales (Har har)
Hariyama (F, Atlas) @Leftovers
Guts
Adamant
EVs: 252 HP, 192 Atk, 84 Def
- Force Palm
- Payback
- Rest
- Sleep Talk
Gen Inf on Atlas
I originally ran Atlas as an attacking lead (Fake Out, Bullet Punch, Ice Punch, Close Combat with more EVs invested in Spd than Def and a Flame Orb to activate Guts), but found that I was losing too much to the burn damage that gave me the necessary Atk boost for Atlas to shine. I experimented with this set and loved it at once. Payback-Force Palm gets famously great coverage, and when I activate Rest-talk, his Atk goes up by 50%. The combination of coverage and recovery makes Atlas one tough sucker to deal with, especially when you account for the added paralysis of FP and extra damage of Payback with Atlas' low Spd.
Final Thoughts
Another key component of this team, who's scored me some great hits. As the above titles says it, he can really tip the scales in my favor when times are tough, but of course faces all of the draw backs fighting types, as well as a painfully low Spd (comes in handy with Payback, hurts for everything else).
Finally, Sweet, Sweet Revenge
Rotom-C (Blip) @Choice Scarf
Levitate
Timid
EVs: 252 SpAtk, 252 Spd, 4 Def
- Leaf Storm
- Trick
- Thunderbolt
- HP Ice
Gen Inf on Blip
Not sure if I'm better off running CScarf of CSpecs here, I've tried both and recently decided on Scarf so it can outspeed the few threats it couldn't already. Blip does a great job of covering my other 'mons' asses, switching in quick and hitting hard. Leaf Storm is mostly for the infamous Swamperts out there, but also hits slow-moving rock and ground types hard, which I appreciate. The Scarf can be Tricked off handily at a moment's notice, trapping a lot of potential threats in the setup stage and allowing me to switch out or go for the SpDef drop from Shadow Ball. Blip gets me some sweet revenge when I need it, throughout but especially late in the game.
Final Thoughts
Gets me out of a lot of tight situations with Spd and great coverage. Not bad on the Def side either, Blip can usually take a few hits. Dark and ghost types can be threats if Atlas goes down or if Blip loses his Scarf (respectively). I've used him to quickly eliminate late-game SR or Spikes setups like Starmie, Skarmory, and Tentacruel before too. A useful 'mon with fewer drawbacks than most on my team.
Final Final Thoughts
So that's my team. I don't have a threatlist, but I'd love it if you could give me some threats, as I know there are many I haven't encountered yet. I haven't lost yet with this team in my battling circle, but I know that doesn't mean much as we are a mere pool in the great battling ocean... which is why I'd love some challenges. I have several other OU 'mons I use, and I love love LOVE battling UU too, so get in touch if you want a match (I apologize if this isn't the place to post that, I didn't see anything about it in the required reading...).
So... that's my team. Feedback would be greatly appreciated!
