This team is one of the most solid I've built in my short career as a player. Any feedback would be much appreciated.
A Closer Look
Swampert @ Leftovers
Torrent
Relaxed (+Def, -Spe)
252 HP/252 Def/4 Spe
Earthquake
Ice Beam
Stealth Rock
Roar
In my opinion, Pert is one of the best leads around at the moment. It can very reliably lay down Stealth Rock, a priority for any team. What sets Swampert out from the average suicide lead, though, is the sheer amount it can contribute to a team. With its excellent defenses and typing, it can support the rest of the team extremely effectively. It helps check many important physical sweepers but its use extends further – its ability to phaze and cycle through teams is incredibly useful. Lucario’s Extremespeeds are more dangerous when the opponent’s team has taken a couple of rounds of SR damage, Gyarados’ relative lack of power is somewhat mitigated and, in general, the more of the opposing team I know the better I can plan for the turns to come. Swampert does so many things incredibly well and the Electric immunity is the icing on the cake for the unsung hero of the team.
Scizor @ Choice Band
Technician
Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
248 HP/252 Atk/8 Spe
Bullet Punch
U-Turn
Pursuit
Superpower
Ah, Scizor, Scizor, Scizor. As metal bugs go, it’s not too shabby. It gives this team what it gives every other team – bulk, resistances and a multipurpose check to everything that doesn’t resist Steel. In some ways it’s similar to Swampert – when the endgame arrives and Lucario is spraying Extremespeeds, it helps a lot if U-Turn damage has accumulated. Scizor also helps take out troublesome Ghosts and Psychics. If Tyranitar is down, it serves as an auxiliary Pursuit user. It also lures out Rotom-A – the labour-saving Ghost has to be taken out for a sweep to take place and it often comes in to flaunt its resistances to Steel and Bug. When U-Turn brings Tyranitar in for free, the tables are rapidly turned.
Rotom-H @ Choice Scarf
Levitate
Modest (+SpA, -Atk)
4 HP/252 SpA/252 Spe
Thunderbolt
Shadow Ball
Overheat
Trick
Rotom-H was the last of the team to be added but it really is excellent at supporting its comrades and holding everything together. It helps patch up my weakness to Gyarados and also eliminates bulky Water-types by denting them with STAB T-Bolt or crippling them with Trick. Its fast, powerful Shadow Balls can even help kill enemy Rotom, while it lures in Pursuit users like Scizor and T-Tar for Lucario to set up on.
Tyranitar @ Choice Scarf
Sand Stream
Jolly (+Spe, -SpA)
4 HP/252 Atk/252 Spe
Stone Edge
Crunch
Pursuit
Earthquake
Tyranitar is the catalyst that unlocks the explosive potential of my sweepers. Its pace and power let it easily crush Latias, Celebi, Scarf Starmie/Gengar and most importantly Rotom-A. Once these are removed, the way forward is far easier for Gyara and Luke. Furthermore, Tar helps Gyarados more subtly – many bulky variants of the serpent would be called on to check things like Lucario. It’s nice for it to bring that to a team, but the damage does add up and hurts Gyara’s chances of sweeping late-on. Tyranitar can take care of these threats without having to let that damage accumulate.
Gyarados @ Leftovers
Intimidate
Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
156 HP/168 Atk/184 Spe
Dragon Dance
Taunt
Waterfall
Stone Edge
Taunt Gyarados is incredibly powerful and shifts in the metagame have carved it an excellent niche. I’ve lost count of the number of RMTs I’ve seen recently where one footnote was ‘I’m Gyara weak’. It can easily set up on many walls and attackers alike before laying into a team with strong attacks. Its typing is perhaps its biggest asset – it resists Scizor’s Bullet Punch, while potential DD checks such as Tyranitar are annihilated by STAB Waterfall. The team is built around weakening or killing its checks and counters – when successful, Gyara can wreak havoc and tear through opponents. The spread I’m using allows for as much attacking potential as is possible while still retaining exellent bulk and the ability to outspeed positively-natured Base 115s like Starmie when at +1.
Lucario @ Life Orb
Inner Focus
Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
4 HP/252 Atk/252 Spe
Swords Dance
Close Combat
ExtremeSpeed
Crunch
Once the opposing team is weakened, Lucario is a nightmare to face. Boasting good type synergy with Gyarados, it can take advantage of the removal or weakening of bulky Psychic- and Ghost-types by cleaning up the opponent’s team. Once these problem pokémon are removed, Lucario can shatter the majority of faster enemies with Extremespeed while hammering through most walls with Close Combat. Gyarados can easily set up on some of the few remaining stops to Luke, such as Hippowdon (and, to a lesser extent, Swampert). Suicune and Vaporeon are capable of taking both on, but Close Combat will severely weaken both and let Gyarados take them out later. As well as helping Gyara, Lucario can follow in its wake, cleaning up ravaged opponents. It fits into the team very nicely and is one of its most important pokes behind Gyarados and Tyranitar.
A Last Look:
Team Building
I started with one main pokémon in mind – Gyarados is one of OU’s strongest sweepers. It sets up on so many things and, with Tyranitar and Scizor being the metagame’s primary revenge killers, it has never been more effective.
Gyarados pairs perfectly with one pokémon in particular – Tyranitar. Not only do they have good type synergy, but Tar also helps eliminate Gyara’s checks and counters. Rotom, Latias, Celebi and Starmie are all easily eliminated by powerful Crunches and Pursuits.
Next I needed a secondary sweeper, a cleaner that could take advantage of the havoc Gyarados can wreak – one that would be able to dent the bulky waters that shut Gyara down. Lucario fulfils this description to the letter and also benefits from the removal of obstacles such as Rotom and Latias. Meanwhile, Gyarados resists all of its weaknesses while in return Luke quad resists Rock.
The next poké chosen was Scizor. It brings so much to any team and checks a number of threats which the team could not otherwise consistently answer. Its good typing helps resistance-wise and U-Turn is an invaluable scouting tool that also racks up residual damage.
Stealth Rock was the next consideration. I needed a strong lead that could reliably set it up. Swampert is a good fit in this role, synergising with Gyarados and the rest of the team as well as providing a valuable stop to many physical sweepers.
The final poké rounding out the team was initially a MixMence. It could deal damage, weaken bulky waters, contribute resistances and help break stall.
However, having two key Rock-weak pokés was a problem without a Taunt lead or a Spinner – Sandstorm didn’t help. I also found I was having a hard time setting Lucario up; nothing on my team really encourages Scizor to start throwing Bullet Punches around or Tyranitar to let loose Choiced Pursuit. I was beginning to realise how many issues opposing Dragon Dance Gyarados were able to cause. To bait Pursuit, weaken Water-types and deal better with enemy Gyara, Rotom-H was added.
I started with one main pokémon in mind – Gyarados is one of OU’s strongest sweepers. It sets up on so many things and, with Tyranitar and Scizor being the metagame’s primary revenge killers, it has never been more effective.
Gyarados pairs perfectly with one pokémon in particular – Tyranitar. Not only do they have good type synergy, but Tar also helps eliminate Gyara’s checks and counters. Rotom, Latias, Celebi and Starmie are all easily eliminated by powerful Crunches and Pursuits.
Next I needed a secondary sweeper, a cleaner that could take advantage of the havoc Gyarados can wreak – one that would be able to dent the bulky waters that shut Gyara down. Lucario fulfils this description to the letter and also benefits from the removal of obstacles such as Rotom and Latias. Meanwhile, Gyarados resists all of its weaknesses while in return Luke quad resists Rock.
The next poké chosen was Scizor. It brings so much to any team and checks a number of threats which the team could not otherwise consistently answer. Its good typing helps resistance-wise and U-Turn is an invaluable scouting tool that also racks up residual damage.
Stealth Rock was the next consideration. I needed a strong lead that could reliably set it up. Swampert is a good fit in this role, synergising with Gyarados and the rest of the team as well as providing a valuable stop to many physical sweepers.
The final poké rounding out the team was initially a MixMence. It could deal damage, weaken bulky waters, contribute resistances and help break stall.
However, having two key Rock-weak pokés was a problem without a Taunt lead or a Spinner – Sandstorm didn’t help. I also found I was having a hard time setting Lucario up; nothing on my team really encourages Scizor to start throwing Bullet Punches around or Tyranitar to let loose Choiced Pursuit. I was beginning to realise how many issues opposing Dragon Dance Gyarados were able to cause. To bait Pursuit, weaken Water-types and deal better with enemy Gyara, Rotom-H was added.
Swampert @ Leftovers
Torrent
Relaxed (+Def, -Spe)
252 HP/252 Def/4 Spe
Earthquake
Ice Beam
Stealth Rock
Roar
In my opinion, Pert is one of the best leads around at the moment. It can very reliably lay down Stealth Rock, a priority for any team. What sets Swampert out from the average suicide lead, though, is the sheer amount it can contribute to a team. With its excellent defenses and typing, it can support the rest of the team extremely effectively. It helps check many important physical sweepers but its use extends further – its ability to phaze and cycle through teams is incredibly useful. Lucario’s Extremespeeds are more dangerous when the opponent’s team has taken a couple of rounds of SR damage, Gyarados’ relative lack of power is somewhat mitigated and, in general, the more of the opposing team I know the better I can plan for the turns to come. Swampert does so many things incredibly well and the Electric immunity is the icing on the cake for the unsung hero of the team.
Scizor @ Choice Band
Technician
Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
248 HP/252 Atk/8 Spe
Bullet Punch
U-Turn
Pursuit
Superpower
Ah, Scizor, Scizor, Scizor. As metal bugs go, it’s not too shabby. It gives this team what it gives every other team – bulk, resistances and a multipurpose check to everything that doesn’t resist Steel. In some ways it’s similar to Swampert – when the endgame arrives and Lucario is spraying Extremespeeds, it helps a lot if U-Turn damage has accumulated. Scizor also helps take out troublesome Ghosts and Psychics. If Tyranitar is down, it serves as an auxiliary Pursuit user. It also lures out Rotom-A – the labour-saving Ghost has to be taken out for a sweep to take place and it often comes in to flaunt its resistances to Steel and Bug. When U-Turn brings Tyranitar in for free, the tables are rapidly turned.
Rotom-H @ Choice Scarf
Levitate
Modest (+SpA, -Atk)
4 HP/252 SpA/252 Spe
Thunderbolt
Shadow Ball
Overheat
Trick
Rotom-H was the last of the team to be added but it really is excellent at supporting its comrades and holding everything together. It helps patch up my weakness to Gyarados and also eliminates bulky Water-types by denting them with STAB T-Bolt or crippling them with Trick. Its fast, powerful Shadow Balls can even help kill enemy Rotom, while it lures in Pursuit users like Scizor and T-Tar for Lucario to set up on.
Tyranitar @ Choice Scarf
Sand Stream
Jolly (+Spe, -SpA)
4 HP/252 Atk/252 Spe
Stone Edge
Crunch
Pursuit
Earthquake
Tyranitar is the catalyst that unlocks the explosive potential of my sweepers. Its pace and power let it easily crush Latias, Celebi, Scarf Starmie/Gengar and most importantly Rotom-A. Once these are removed, the way forward is far easier for Gyara and Luke. Furthermore, Tar helps Gyarados more subtly – many bulky variants of the serpent would be called on to check things like Lucario. It’s nice for it to bring that to a team, but the damage does add up and hurts Gyara’s chances of sweeping late-on. Tyranitar can take care of these threats without having to let that damage accumulate.
Gyarados @ Leftovers
Intimidate
Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
156 HP/168 Atk/184 Spe
Dragon Dance
Taunt
Waterfall
Stone Edge
Taunt Gyarados is incredibly powerful and shifts in the metagame have carved it an excellent niche. I’ve lost count of the number of RMTs I’ve seen recently where one footnote was ‘I’m Gyara weak’. It can easily set up on many walls and attackers alike before laying into a team with strong attacks. Its typing is perhaps its biggest asset – it resists Scizor’s Bullet Punch, while potential DD checks such as Tyranitar are annihilated by STAB Waterfall. The team is built around weakening or killing its checks and counters – when successful, Gyara can wreak havoc and tear through opponents. The spread I’m using allows for as much attacking potential as is possible while still retaining exellent bulk and the ability to outspeed positively-natured Base 115s like Starmie when at +1.
Lucario @ Life Orb
Inner Focus
Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
4 HP/252 Atk/252 Spe
Swords Dance
Close Combat
ExtremeSpeed
Crunch
Once the opposing team is weakened, Lucario is a nightmare to face. Boasting good type synergy with Gyarados, it can take advantage of the removal or weakening of bulky Psychic- and Ghost-types by cleaning up the opponent’s team. Once these problem pokémon are removed, Lucario can shatter the majority of faster enemies with Extremespeed while hammering through most walls with Close Combat. Gyarados can easily set up on some of the few remaining stops to Luke, such as Hippowdon (and, to a lesser extent, Swampert). Suicune and Vaporeon are capable of taking both on, but Close Combat will severely weaken both and let Gyarados take them out later. As well as helping Gyara, Lucario can follow in its wake, cleaning up ravaged opponents. It fits into the team very nicely and is one of its most important pokes behind Gyarados and Tyranitar.
A Last Look:
