Overview
I was excited about making this team, mainly because I was able to use a lot of guys I haven't tried before (besides Gengar, who has been on basically all of my serious teams). Unfortunately, I suffered many losses today, a lot of them were pretty bad too. However, I revised the team many times, tried out many different sweepers and leads, and I found this lineup to be the most effective, as well as the most fun to use. I had a really hard time beating Zapdos, but I found Swampert + Jolteon to work quite effectively, since the huge increase in HP Grass has come about, I'm a bit hesitant to bring in the mudfish to all the Zapdos's I see. So far, I've found Oven Rotom to be fantastic, as it cripples a huge majority of the walls and tanks like Blissey and Skarmory (though the latter I just outright hit with Overheat). Scizor is fantastic, and I haven't had any disappointing games with him honestly. Overall, I think this was one of my better teams, but of course Smogon, I ask you to make it better :<
Aerodactyl @ Focus Sash
Jolly
252 Att/252 Spe/6 HP
Stealth Rock
Taunt
Stone Edge
Earthquake
I chose Aerodactyl as my suicide lead for many reasons. The main reason is that he's the fastest availible one, as well as being one of my favorite Pokemon overall. The other is that he's immune to Sandstorm, which is crucial since the old leads such as Azelf and Infernape had their Focus Sash's ruined by leadoff Tyranitars and leadoff Hippowdons. Taunt and Stealth Rock offer the greatest team support I could find. Stopping foes from deploying their own rocks or setting up Dual Screens is excellent, as it being able to 2HKO leadoff Gyarados and Salamence if I choose to take the risk. Miraculously, I haven't had trouble with foe Aerodactyl, who would make me very nervous about staying in.
Jolteon @ Choice Specs
Timid
252 SpA/252 Spe/6 HP
Thunderbolt
HP [Grass/Ice]
Shadow Ball
Baton Pass/Wish
Oh wow. This thing is such an underrated monster it's not funny. I always wanted to try this guy out, and my battles with him proved to be everything but amazing. He's my main Zapdos counter, as well as being able to nail Swampert and Hippowdon with HP Grass. Shadow Ball has the wonderful chance to drop Special Defense of my foes, as well as hit Cresselia and such harder than STAB Thunderbolt would. The choice between HP Grass/Ice is tricky, since Thunderbolt will OHKO Salamence after SR damage, 2HKO Zapdos, and do a hell of a lot to all things bar bulky Grasses such as Celebi (who is hit by Shadow Ball harder than HP Ice). HP Grass, however, rips through Swampert, Hippowdon, and does a fair amount to Tyranitar (not that much though). All three of them are very threatening to Specs Jolt, and for that reason, I'm thinking on staying with HP Grass. I'm probably gonna go with Wish, since Baton Pass isn't really doing much for me at all, but escaping Dugtrio and using Baton Pass on predicted Blissey switch ins to ultimately get a free Swords Dance for Scizor is interesting.
Swampert @ Choice Band
Adamant
252 HP/252 Att/6 Spe
Waterfall
Earthquake
Stone Edge
Avalanche
Another disgustingly underrated threat. CB Pert has done many great things for me, such as take out Blissey who expected Hydro Pump (lol Mixpert) or a weak EQ. Stone Edge 2HKO's most Gyarados after Stealth Rock, and Avalanche is there to nail Salamence, Flygon, and Dragonite who usually cannot OHKO me without a heavy investment in Attack and a few boosts. Sadly, Swampert has not been handling threats such as Tyranitar as kindly as I expected, which is why I was thinking about Choice Banded Machamp or even a Choice Banded Hariyama in this slot.
Rotom-H @ Choice Scarf
Bold
252 HP/252 Def/6 Spe
Trick
Overheat
Discharge
Reflect
Rotom-H is so much fun to use! Tricking a Scarf onto incoming Blissey or even opponent Rotom is frustrating...for them at least. Overheat makes this guy a decent Lucario, Heracross, and of course, Scizor counter. Discharge because paralysis support is most welcome, as is the chance to hit bulky waters such as Gyarados for super effective and for an OHKO. Reflect makes this wonderful to bring in against Gyarados since Reflect makes their Waterfalls do pathetic amounts, and Tricking a Scarf on brave Wacan Berry versions is quite fun as well. I've been wondering if the standard version with Thunder Wave or Shadow Ball > Trick could work, since I'm not always getting Lefties (which makes me sort of sad)
Gengar @ Choice Scarf
Timid
252 SpA/252 Spe/6 HP
Shadow Ball
Focus Blast
HP Ice
Thunderbolt
A lot of people run Trick on their Scarf Gengar, but I find him to still be a very accomplished revenge killer, and he needs all four slots in order to handle things like Salamence, Celebi, Gyarados, Suicune, etc...He's probably the oldest thing on my team, since I've been using him in basically all teams I've made due to his blistering Speed and very acceptable Special Attack. I've been having trouble with Focus Blast missing at crucial moments, which is always a drag >_>
Scizor @ Life Orb
Adamant
32 HP/252 Att/224 Spe
Swords Dance
X-Scissor
Bullet Punch
Roost
There's no other sweeper quite like Scizor. It went from being nearly unusable as a sweeper, to one of, if not the most threatening sweeper in OU. Most of Scizor's counters are weak to Stealth Rock, so once the rocks are up, this baby can lay a smack down to a lot of teams. Even after Intimidate, Bullet Punch OHKO's most Salamence after Stealth Rock is taken into account. Bullet Punch also destroys many resisted targets after a Swords Dance, 2HKOing Starmie and doing a good chunk to LO Gyarados. X-Scissor OHKO's all versions of Celebi after a Swords Dance, and OHKOs Cresselia as well. Roost is over Brick Break/Superpower sheerly for survival, and to come out on top of wars against Weavile and such. Scizor's place in this team is non-negotiable, especially with the abundance of Tyranitar who plague my team immensely. Overall, he's probably the key member of this team, as no one can sweep like him in late game (except for arguably SD Luke, but like I said, that's arguable).
Closing Thoughts
I really would like some opinions on who to replace and who to add. I've been having a very hard time trying to figure out who to put where. Rate my Team please!
I really would like some opinions on who to replace and who to add. I've been having a very hard time trying to figure out who to put where. Rate my Team please!