Offense is the Best Form of Defense { An OU RMT }
Hello everyone, this is ==BlazePWBT== here for my second OU RMT, third overall I believe. I'm really sad that all my other threads have only got a maximum of 4 rates each, a pitiful amount. Sure you could say that I'm not big here, like someone like IPL etc , but I'm just looking for some advice ( and giving it back to respective RMT's).
Anywayz, moving away from my sadness, onto the team. In OU, I generally excel with Weather teams, most notably Sandstorm though my favourite is UU and NU. This is the first Offensive team I've made, as most of my teams have been either Stall or Steady Balance. Obviously, beginner's luck isn't working out ( Im a beginner at Offense, I've played competitively for a very long time).
Objectives I tried to incorporate into this team was the ability to take down as many pokemon as possible as fast as possible. I also wanted pokemon that could rise against the population of China of pokemon like Latias, Breloom, Gyarados, Salamence etc. In short, all the OverUsed OU's. My objective was not only to KO them as fast as possible but also try to stop them setting up.
Im a person that likes Speed > Power in moderation. This team isn't the Usain Bolt of Pokemon, but they're not too shabby themselves. I will now talk you through the team building process I went through with this team.
NB: This team is for use for ShoddyBattle at the moment, if and when it is good enough to be used for wifi on my cartridge, then it is fine. Also, I have no Action Replay, so Rotom forms unfortunately are not a good idea to suggest. I wish I did, it would have been useful for this team IMO.
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Firstly, I'd like to thank the people that helped me a bit with this team, mostly regarding the damage calcs ( Jassim, Mander, Jahken - members of PWBT ). I started out thinking of a lead that could combat Stealth Rocks and setting up to an extent, ie: a Taunter. Azelf fitted that role well being relatively fast, able to explode and Taunt early. Next up were some strong sweepers that didn't need much setting up if any. MixMence immeadiately became a candidate with strong powerful attacks and not too bad speed. Being weak to Ice + Rock and not combatting against Steels well, Magnezone was a near perfect partner in sweeping due to its Magnet Pull ability which would help against common annoying steels such as Scizor, Forretress and Skarmory.
Now despite being an offensive team, I needed a pokemon that could take attacks but also dish out damage. Many pokemon came to my mind, but I chose Zapdos as its typing was good, only weak to a small number of attacks and has served me well in this sort of position.
I then realized I needed a strong physical sweeper since my team was more specially orientated and I chose Infernape since it had strong STAB’s, but mainly due to the synergy with my team members and its high speed would always help me in times of trouble. Also, with many different sets available, it wouldn’t be easy to combat with it.
Over time, I found that Zapdos wasn’t really working out for me at all and it shared problems and counters with Salamence. I chose Celebi to replace it as it was bulky enough to take hits, but strong enough to deal damage, and made a great counter for Tyranitar and other rock and bulky waters.
Having two Psychic Pokemon, Azelf and Celebi was a problem, hence I decided to ditch Azelf, for Aerodactyl. I chose it since it was faster, it could get off a quick taunt, but also, aid the team too as you will see in the detail of the team.
For my final pokemon I needed a finisher that just needed a small amount of set-up if any at all and could easily take down a weakened team, with a range of strong physical attacks. In the end I chose Gyarados simply due to its good synergy with the team, its strong attacks and its general power.
So there’s the team. To be honest, I wasn’t really sure how to present this Team Building Process as the pokemon that I picked were more or less the first that came into my mind when piecing it together. Also, I tried to start thinking about KO’ing as many pokemon as possible in the fewest moves, and all the pokemon I have used had the base stats and movepools to pull it off, so it wasn’t too hard of a building process.
After some rates, Aerodactyl was taken out and Metagross was replaced due to much better synergy as well as other reason as seen in Snorlaxe's post.
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Now despite being an offensive team, I needed a pokemon that could take attacks but also dish out damage. Many pokemon came to my mind, but I chose Zapdos as its typing was good, only weak to a small number of attacks and has served me well in this sort of position.
I then realized I needed a strong physical sweeper since my team was more specially orientated and I chose Infernape since it had strong STAB’s, but mainly due to the synergy with my team members and its high speed would always help me in times of trouble. Also, with many different sets available, it wouldn’t be easy to combat with it.
Over time, I found that Zapdos wasn’t really working out for me at all and it shared problems and counters with Salamence. I chose Celebi to replace it as it was bulky enough to take hits, but strong enough to deal damage, and made a great counter for Tyranitar and other rock and bulky waters.
Having two Psychic Pokemon, Azelf and Celebi was a problem, hence I decided to ditch Azelf, for Aerodactyl. I chose it since it was faster, it could get off a quick taunt, but also, aid the team too as you will see in the detail of the team.
For my final pokemon I needed a finisher that just needed a small amount of set-up if any at all and could easily take down a weakened team, with a range of strong physical attacks. In the end I chose Gyarados simply due to its good synergy with the team, its strong attacks and its general power.
So there’s the team. To be honest, I wasn’t really sure how to present this Team Building Process as the pokemon that I picked were more or less the first that came into my mind when piecing it together. Also, I tried to start thinking about KO’ing as many pokemon as possible in the fewest moves, and all the pokemon I have used had the base stats and movepools to pull it off, so it wasn’t too hard of a building process.
After some rates, Aerodactyl was taken out and Metagross was replaced due to much better synergy as well as other reason as seen in Snorlaxe's post.
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Team In-Depth
Metagross @ Lum Berry
Ability: Clear Body
Nature: Jolly
Ev’s: 252HP/236Attack/12 Defense/ 8 Speed
Stealth Rock
Meteor Mash
Bullet Punch
Explosion
Stealth Rock is of course the most important move, especially on an offensive team such as this one. Meteor Mash is for an amazing source of STAB, as well as having a 30% chance of raising Metagross's attack. This is a bigger deal than it sounds, as the attack boost can really help Metagross do more damage to opposing teams, especially stall teams, as most members are slower than Metagross. Earthquake is commonly run in that slot to deal with Heatran and opposing Metagross leads, but seeing as Gyarados handles Heatran and Magnezone handles Metagross, in my opinion your own Metagross doesn't need to carry Earthquake. Bullet Punch is an important move for picking off weakened, fast threats, and especially helps in picking off foes that have already eaten a Meteor Mash, and a combination of Meteor Mash and Bullet Punch easily handles all Focus Sash leads, no problem. Explosion is Metagross's last ditch move of choice, and is great for handling bulky threats or Pokemon that have gotten too many stat boosts, like Swords Dance Scizor or Dragon Dance Gyarados. Metagross's Explosion is so powerful that it can OHKO Choice Band Scizor and a Hippowdon, the supposed "physical wall to end all walls" of DPPt. Lum Berry is used on this Metagross as it allows Metagross to beat Smeargle and Rosearade leads extremely easily; they use a sleep move on the first turn, Lum Berry wakes Metagross up and Metagross uses Meteor Mash, their Focus Sash activates, and then they are easily picked off by Bullet Punch next turn. <------- (Taken from Snorlaxe's post. Credit to him. Thanks :) )
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Salamence @ Life Orb
Ability: Intimidate
Nature: Rash
Ev’s: 80Att/224SpAtt/206Speed
Draco Meteor
Earthquake
Fire Blast
Roost
This is a great pokemon that doesn’t need any set up to wreak havoc. With a STAB Draco Meteor coming off around 340 Sp.Att, it’s not something to laugh at. If you glance down to the damage calculations, you’ll see it severly dents if not KO many bulky pokemon that could pose a threat. As always with Salamence, Steels are a problem and the 2 middle attacks are to combat them by OHKO’ing Heatran and Metagross respectively. I’m still unsure about the last slot. Should Stealth Rock be on the field, roost makes a nice aid. Also against low power Ice/ Rock/ Electric attacks as well as others, Roost can save me and allow me to get maybe one more powerful attack in.
Draco Meteor v 252HP/ 0SpDef Swampert - 76.5% - 90.1% (309 – 364HP)
Draco Meteor v Standard Vaporeon – 65.8% - 77.7% (295 – 348HP)
Draco Meteor v All Bulky Gyara - 76.2% - 90% (282 – 333HP) 100% OHKO with Stealth Rock
Draco Meteor v 252HP/252SpDef (Positive) Latias - 92.9% - 109.3% (338 – 398HP) 100% OHKO with Stealth Rock
Draco Meteor v Crocune/ CM Cune - 61.9% - 73% (250 – 295HP)
Earthquake v Crocune and CM Cune – 21%-25% (86 – 102HP) < Draco Meteor + EQ + Stealth Rock = Decent Chance of 2HKO.
Fire Blast v 252HP/252SpDef (neutral) Skarmory - 95.2% - 112.6% (318 – 376HP) 100% OHKO with Stealth Rock
Fire Blast v 112HP/0SpDef Metagross - 107.6% - 127.1% (354 – 418HP)
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Magnezone @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Magnet Pull
Nature: Naive
Ev’s: 4Att/252SpAtt/252Speed
Thunderbolt
Hidden Power Ice (70)
Flash Cannon
Explosion
With the ever omnipresent steels, this makes a perfect counter, able to revenge kill Scizor, Metagross and others like Skarmory with HP Fire. Thunderbolt hits Metagross slightly harder than HP Fire as well as other pokemon. With the scarf, I reach 360 Speed, enough to outspeed base 110’s like Gengar and Latias most notably. Flash Cannon is mainly used for Tyranitar and other rocks like Shuckle and Explosion is there as a last-ditch resort either when low on health or when needed to counter a potential problem – OHKO’ing Blissey.
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Celebi @ Life Orb
Ability: Natural Cure
Nature: Modest
Ev’s: 232HP/ 244SpAtt/32 Speed
Grass Knot
Earth Power / Hidden Power Fire (70)
Thunder Wave/ Hidden Power Fire (70)
Recover
Despite this team being centred around offense, Celebi makes good use of its Base 100 stats to dish out damage as well as take some for the team – status too. Leaf Storm is able to KO Max HP Tyranitar, showing the true power of it. Earth power is there to combat steels and fire types, most notably Heatran who is easily OHKO’d. Thunder wave is useful to make threats slower enabling others to have an easier time sweeping. Recover is there so replenish the damage done to Celebi and keeps the sweep going. With these Ev’s, its makes Celebi’s ability to soak damage greater, while still have a strong special attack stat, and being fast enough to outspeed Jolly Tyranitar before it Dances.
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Infernape @ Choice Band
Ability: Blaze
Nature: Jolly
Ev’s: 4HP/252Att/252Speed
Close Combat
Flare Blitz
Stone Edge
U-Turn
One of the other powerhouses of the team. Choice Band Infernape packs a huge punch with two 180 power moves (inc. STAB) coming off over 550 Attack. As seen from the damage calculations, it even works well against its threats, showing its true prowess. Stone Edge is mainly there for flying pokemon such as Zapdos, Gyarados and Salamence who, without boosts, are easily outsped. For the final slot, I am still debating as to which attack to use. U-turn allows me to scout out easily and with Choice Band still does around 20% + to most pokemon not factoring in stealth rock. However, Mach Punch is useful in its own right, helping me against SD Luke and other varients before they can use Extremespeed. Help?
Close Combat v 252HP/252Def (positive) Swampert - 48.3% - 56.7% (195 – 229HP) Very likely 2HKO.
Close Combat v 188HP/252Def (positive) Vaporeon - 55.1% - 65.2% (247 – 292HP) 2HKO
Close Combat v 252HP/252Def (positive) Blissey - 127.7% - 150.4% (912 – 1074HP) OHKO!
Stone Edge v Bulky Gyara -82.2% - 96.8% (304 – 358HP) OHKO with Stealth Rock
U-Turn v Defensive CM Latias - 64.3% - 76.3% (214-254HP)
Mach Punch v 4HP/0Def Lucario - 79.7% - 94.7% (224 – 266) After SR + 1x Life Orb Recoil = 86% Left
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Gyarados @ Life Orb
Ability: Intimidate
Nature: Adamant
Ev’s: 4HP/252Att/252Speed
Dragon Dance
Waterfall
Stone Edge
Taunt
My true late game finisher. Once, everything is weakened by some factors like Stealth Rock, U-Turns and heavy damage, Gyarados is a perfect pokemon to have a one turn set-up and be prepared to sweep. Waterfall is there as primary STAB hitting many things hard with +1 Att. Stone Edge allows me to challenge flying types and opposing Gyarados (see damage calculations) to an extent. I chose Bounce as my final attack as it is only 7.5BP Less than Waterfall factoring in STAB for both. Also, it is able to OHKO most Latias after one Dragon Dance, a beat not many of the other attacks it can carry can achieve ( see damage calculations). Once everything is weakened, it usually is able to pull off a sweep, only really hindered by Stealth rock, should it be present. A clean, dramatic finisher.
Stone Edge v Bulky Gyara - 88.6% - 104.3% (328 – 386HP) OHKO after Stealth Rock
Stone Edge v Physically Bulky Salamence - 75.1% - 88.8% (296 – 350HP) OHKO after Stealth Rock
+1 Waterfall v Scarf Magnezone (outsped) 86.2% - 101.4% (243 – 286HP) Approx.50% OHKO with Stealth Rocks
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And that, is my team and I'm grateful to everyone who has read this far, so thanks. Overall, this team has been working out well for me winning most of my matches - around >80% which means on average, for every 4 I win, I lose one, not too shabby really.
Yeah, I would really appreciate suggestions. Anything really, especially where I've put either Slashes ( / ) or had a querie. As mentioned before, I do not really want the core of my team changing too much if any at all ( not in terms of the sets, but the pokemon themselves), but if you have a suggestion, by all means say it, nothing too drastic though please. Note that I do not want Rotom-A formes as this team is for use on Shoddy until it will be good enough to be used on both Shoddy and Wifi.
So, we're reaching the end and I'd like to thank you again should you have read this far. I can't wait for your rates and suggestions, and yes a threat list will definately follow shortly. It's a long one, around 100 + sets to think about, but hopefully this RMT will be worthwhile and get more than the measly 4 rates I usually get :(
Thanks Everyone! Happy New Year etc.
==BlazePWBT==
Threat list should come up at latest before the 24 hr. bump.
