You probably didn't need proof, but I'm meant to be getting up for work in three hours but I'm writing this instead of sleeping, so humour me.
Hi all,
So yeah, I thought I'd have another crack at Dream World, having not played the tier since the novelty when it first launched. This time I came back for a whole new novelty, hearing that Soul Dew Latios is available and better yet OU. The team isn't built around him per se, but a fair few of the team building decisions were won or lost on whether or not they could generate easy switches for Latios. However after a few games I rapidly realised that a team I had expected to be too gimmicky and fail was actually doing pretty well, and it wasn't long until I broke into the top 10. However even reaching the lofty heights of number 7, there's a lot of dead weight I know I can shed and proceed to reach even higher.
Anyway, enough preamble, onto the team;
At a Glance
In Detail
Hasty (Download)
252SpAtt/252Spe/6HP
U Turn
Thunderbolt
Flamethrower
Ice Beam
Description: A lead Genesect, I bet you've never seen one of those before! But seriously, this guy does an excellent job scouting opposing leads, breaking sashes and Sturdy, and generally maiming things with the free boosts it every time it switches in. With an excellent suite of resistances to switch in on, and a single weakness easily exploited by Latios, Genesect makes a great member of the team.
Moveset: Standard set is standard, I'm sure you know the drill. U Turn for STAB and scouting, with the remaining three moves providing absolutely stellar coverage. I originally had Bug Buzz over Ice Beam, but found very few situations where a Bug attack was called for and Download hadn't granted +1 Att, and the ability to KO Thundurus rapidly proved more beneficial.
Naive (Reckless)
252Att/252Spe/6SpAtt
Hi Jump Kick
U Turn
Hidden Power [Ice]
Stone Edge/Taunt
Description: The first piece of physical muscle comes in the form of a straight offence Mienshao. This set is pretty much here to carve large holes in the opposing team right off the bat. Reckless Hi Jump Kicks are just plain ridiculous, well worth giving up Regenerator for.
Moveset: Hi Jump Kick is obvious, an excellent STAB move made all the more lethal by Reckless, and capable of tearing holes in most things that don't resist it. U Turn is for early game scouting, with HP Ice reserved pretty much for Gliscor. The last slot is something I can't decide on. Stone edge rounds off the set's coverage and nails most things that HJK can't break through, while Taunt effectively shuts down stall, which admittedly rarely rears its ugly head in this tier. For that reason I'm leaning more towards Stone Edge, but other suggestions are welcome.
Jolly (Technician)
252Att/252Spe/6HP
Low Sweep
Bullet Seed
Mach Punch
Spore
Description: Holy Jesus this thing is awesome. What started out as another fit of "What other gimmicks can I stuff onto one team", quickly revealed itself to be an excellent member as the team got refined more and more. This guy picks up MVP just as often as Latios now, and is an absolutely sterling revenge killer. The Fire and Psychic attacks he attracts also provide ample switches for Latios.
Moveset: This is a set I came up with myself, and it's been working extremely well. General strategy is to spam Spore, as one would usually do with a breloom, and then throw out a Low Sweep on the switch. As well as being very painful coming off of a base 130 attack stat and gaining a Technician boost, if I remember correctly everything with a positive nature and less than base 115 speed is now outrun. From here it's just a case of choosing the right follow up move and grabbing the KO.
Timid (Cloud Nine)
252SpAtt/252Spe/6HP
Hydro Pump
Ice Beam
Signal Beam
Hidden Power [Dragon]
Description: Before you rage quit on my RMT, let it be known I agree with you- I haven't got a clue what this thing in doing here either. Quite literally the ugly duckling of the team, Golduck was borne of my severe OCD to stop weather teams from fucking me over. After a few games, it become rapidly apparent that it either wasn't necessary or wasn't working. Either way, he's pretty much dead weight or death fodder, but by the time I'd resolved to chuck him out I was verging on hitting the top 10 for the third time (I really need to stop searching for people outside of my rating by several thousand), the "if it ain't broke..." mentality had set in, and now I'm sitting at number 7 and he's still here. Help me make him go away please people.
Moveset: A pretty basic Specs set geared towards hitting some of the more prominent weather attackers not covered by Breloom's insane Mach Punch. Hydro Pump for STAB and to compensate for the relatively low stats, Signal Beam for Ludicolo and all manner of Grass type Chlorophyll sweepers, Ice Beam for dragons and genies, and Hidden Power for Kingdra.
Timid
252SpAtt/252Spe/6Def
Draco Meteor
Dragon Pulse
HP [Fire]
Psycho Shock
Description: I doubt this is a set that needs introduction. My eyes well and truly lit up at the prospect of abusing a poke as powerful of Latios with a free Calm Mind in permanent effect. That shit sounded awesome! However despite being nowhere near as broken as I was expecting, it's still bloody vicious, especially Draco Meteor which pretty much demolishes everything that doesn't resist it.
Moveset: You've seen the likes of this move set dozens of times, but I'll refresh your memories. Dual STAB for, well, STAB, with the former being used early came to rip things to shreds and the latter making for late game sweeps. HP Fire hits all manner of Steel types that my Dragon moves can't break through, with Psycho Shock rounding the set out with its ability to overcome the pink fat blobs. I've been contemplating adding Surf over Dragon Pulse, it rarely gets used and the threat of Heatran is ever looming, but I'm yet to come across one so the set's staying the same for now.
Jolly (Justified)
252Att/252Spe/6HP
Close Combat
Stone Edge
Swords Dance
Rock Polish
Description: Rounding out the team is a double dancing Terrakion, which to my enormous surprise has been pretty much useless. I love this guy in regular OU, ploughing through stuff left right and centre. But in this metagame I'm really struggling to find stuff for him to do every game, and I end up leaving him with a Scrabble board playing by himself in the corner. I think it would be better for both of us if he were to find somewhere else to play, but that begs the question, who gets chosen in his place?
Moveset: Another standard set, Dual STAB for attacking options with both Swords Dance and Rock Polish for whatever the situation calls for. Swords Dance craps on stall, while Rock Polish lets him get the jump on scarves foes (And Excadrill in the sand, which is nice). But like I said, I'm planning on scrapping him anyway, so it's not all that important.
Conclusion
So yeah, that's my team, hope you guys like it. General strategy is simple, rip as many holes in the opponent as possible early on, clean up with a combination of speed and priority once the fodder's cleared the field. All in all this team works excellently, and I know with a couple of more useful members in the place of the dead weight of Terrakion and Golduck, it could do even better. Thanks for your time and I welcome all questions and criticisms!
A Final Glance
