OU Lanturn and Other Assorted Threats!

So. Its been a long time since I've actually posted anything on Smogon... I play competitively on the side and really like playing with this team I made a little while ago. I saw a thread about an OU Lanturn set and decided to put it onto my next team. I also saw somewhere that Salamence Gyarados and Heatran make great offensive partners. So with all of them on the team I looked at what else was needed and decided I needed a good effective lead and a spin blocker.

I posted the team a little while back and wanted to edit the first topic, but it wouldn't let me. So I just posted a new one. Some changes have been made and some changes still need to be made.

So here it is:
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Azelf @ Colbur Berry
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 8 Hp / 140 Att / 144 SpDef / 216 Spd
Jolly (+Spd -SpAtt)
- Stealth Rock
- Taunt
- U-turn
- Explosion
---
Ok, i love Azelf as a lead, but this Azelf lead is a little different. I originally had the standard Suicide lead but i found a different set that works so much better IMO. This lead has the ability to beat Machamp leads, thanks to colbur berry, by Stealth Rocking then U turning to Machamp. Machamp can then finish the enemy off unless i get really unlucky with confusion.




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Gyarados @ Leftovers
Ability: Inner Focus
EVs: 156 Hp / 72 Att / 96 Def / 184 Spd
Adamant nature (+Att, -SpAtt)
- Dragon Dance
- Waterfall
- Stone Edge
- Taunt
---
BulkyDos. On suggestion he's replacing Dragonite. I'm testing him currently so I'm not sure on how he's working out.

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Machamp @ Leftovers
Ability: No Guard
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Att / 8 Spd
Adamant nature (+Att, -SpAtt)
- Dynamic Punch
- Substitute
- Payback
- Stone Edge
---
On suggestion, I replaced Gyarados with Machamp and I think its been working. He sure is annoying to the enemy and as cheap as he is he does work well. He's just the standard SubMachamp.

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Heatran @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 4 Att / 252 SpAtt / 252 Spd
Naive nature (+Spd, -SDef)
- Explosion
- Flamethrower
- Earth Power
- Dragon Pulse
---
Standard ScarfRan. Gets the job of revenge killing and just special based attacking done quite nicely. Nice bait for Salamence or Gyarados to set up on and covers Mence's ice and dragon weakness. Choiced pokemon have always been a little intimidating to me, since being locked into a move seriously makes prediction a lot more important, but i've found that choice scarf Heatran great either way. If i really need to get rid of a threat, explosions there. Other than that, once again a pretty standard set.

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Rotom-C @ Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 164 SpAtt/ 92 Spd
Modest nature (+SpAtt, -Att)
- Thunderbolt
- Shadow Ball
- Will-O-Wisp
- Leafstorm
---
My Spin-blocker. Although he never really spin blocks... Nonetheless he's a very valuable member of the team, especially with his abillity to counter Swampert (switch in on EQ). Take note of the EVs, which are a little different than the standard set. I added 4 extra speed EVs to ensure i hit first on opposing Rotom, and i pumped the EVs from Def into SpAtt and switched the Nature. This Rotom is a pretty hard hitter and I admire him for that. Good member of the team.


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Lanturn @ Leftovers
Ability: Volt Absorb
EVs: 52 HP/ 252 SpAtt / 148 SpD / 56 Spd
Modest nature (+SpAtt, -Att)
- Substitute
- Charge Beam
- Hydro Pump
- Ice Beam
---
Surprisingly, this thing is amazing. I think the sheer surprise factor alone makes it hard to counter, and when it gets going (thanks to sub and SpAtt boosts from charge beam) it can net quite a few kills! I love it and its just so fun to use. Basically it just subs on something that can't really hurt it (Starmie, Blissey, Vaporeon) then charge beams away until it has enough boosts to sweep with Hydro Pump. It has 101 HP subs and left overs recovery lets it beat blissey! yay. Anyways, i usually use it as a mid game sweeper and i have yet to be let down.


Threat List:

Azelf: Mostly I see him as a lead, and he really doesn't seem to be a problem. I usually Fire Blast him with my own Azelf, because the opponent tends to SR first. Next Turn i switch to Heatran and absorb the incoming Fire blast or explosion and either scare him away or KO him with flamethrower.

Breloom: Not a problem really, unless it somehow gets the chance to set up. Dragonite works well, and so does Rotom-C. coming in on focus punches (both) and seed bomb (mence). The problem with him is the sleep, as i don't have a sleep absorber.

Celebi: Between Azelf, Mence, Heatran, Rotom, and Lanturn, i'm pretty sure Celebi isn't really a threat

Dugtrio: Well if its revenge killing, there's not much i can do but i can usually revenge kill it back or set up with one of my own Pokemon, so i'm not to afraid of it.

Electivire: I can revenge it with Heatran pretty easily, and I haven't really run across it but i'm pretty sure It wouldn't be too much of a problem.

Empoleon: If given the chance to set up, i could be screwed, but even after an agility, it really can't do much to lanturn, but i can boost on it and eventually kill it with charge beam.

Flygon: Not to hard to predict around, sure they're annoying with scarfed Uturns, but eventually i can catch one when it switches in. and if i have a few DDs up i can even outspeed it.

Gengar: Well there isn't much i can just switch in, but i can usually lure it to use Thunderbolt and switch to lanturn. Hydro pump does a fair amount of damage and if i don't kill it with lanturn i can get it with a revenge kill.

Gliscor: destroyed by Lanturn, and crippled by rotom. Also its kinda slow so i can out predict and out speed it.

Gyarados: while its hard to switch into a an already dancing-dos, by utilizing intimate from my own gyarados and mence, i can weaken its attacks enough to be able to not die and kill it with lanturn / rotom.

Heatran: If its not scarfed its out paced very easily, and if it is i can play around it. if its locked into earthpower, i basically get free Dragonite setup.

Heracross: I haven't seen one of these guys in a long time, but fire moves and Azelf can take it down.

Infernape: If its a lead, i can just switch in Mence or Dos on the fake out and proceed to sweep. If its mixape and seen later in the game its a little harder to deal with. but if i can predict a fireblast and get Heatran in its goodbye ape.

Jirachi: Everything except the CM set is countered by Lanturn. If it is CM i'm in a little trouble...

Kingdra: Basically i get it locked into outrage and switch in heatran for the kill. Also i can WoW it occasionally and if i catch it on the switch its not to hard to beat.

Lucario: Heatran can usually take him out. if not i've got a mence with EQ and a Rotom with WoW.

Machamp: God i hate this thing, but i can work my way around it.

Magnezone: it does a pretty good job at taking out my heatran... but Lanturn can set up on it and it really isn't too hard to beat.

Mamoswine: Once again, i have a lot of fire moves. and Rotom can leafstorm it.

Metagross: Agiligross can cause me some problems, but i can usually take it out with my plethora of fire moves.

Ninjask: Azelf takes care of him pretty easily, i can usually switch out and SR later if necessary too.

Porygon-Z: I haven't really run into him but i can't think of anything that can really counter him on my team.

Rhyperior: Hydro Pump and other special based moves.

Roserade: Fire moves. sleep is a problem though.

Rotom-A: Pretty simple to play around. Lanturn can fire off a hydropump on him too.

Scizor: Heatran and Gyarados

Snorlax:could possibly be a problem, but i haven't seen to many of them. if worse comes to worse i do have explosion though.

Starmie: Lanturn!

Suicune: CM sets can be scary, but Lanturn can get a few hits on him, and so can Rotom.

Togekiss: Rotom and Lanturn can get him. basically i have to predict a Twave and get lanturn in. then sub it up and beat him out. it doesn't work so well when it body slams though...

Tyranitar: EQ from mence and explosion from others can hurt him bad.

Weavile: Heatran can get him (except brick break)

Yanmega: Fire Moves! but he's a little scary to fight. his Bug Buzz can hurt.

Zapdos: Lanturn can set up on him. Also SR wears him out pretty quickly.


Thank you in advance to anyone who helps me with this!
 
Just posting to say I'm really happy to see an RMT with that Lanturn set =)

Your team looks very well balanced on the whole. By the way, you say in your threat list that Machamp gives you problems; keep in mind Lanturn is a great lure for Machamp, and that Hydro Pump is a 2HKO against it (no need to worry about missing because of No Guard!). So if you Sub on the turn they switch-in Machamp you should be able to fire off two Hydro Pumps. I can see switching into Machamp being a problem though, but that's a problem for most teams unfortunately. I personally use a ResTalk Gyarados, which partners very well with Lanturn. Maybe you want to try that out :)
 
Thanks for the suggestion, but actually I had a gyarados where the machamp on me team is now, overall i'd say the machamp is doing a better job than gyarados was, but that still leaves me with the machamp problem. i usually end up sacrficing Rotom to kill those darned machamps. I hate dealing with confusion.
 
Oh, i updated my Azelf lead. It is no longer the Standard lead Smogon has and ends up working pretty well. Although i'm becoming disenchanted with him and I think i could be in need of a better lead... Any suggestions?
 
I'm really starting to hate Colbur Azelf. It fucks up my Machamp...T.T

I suggest running Bulky Gyara/Dnite. It lures in Electric attacks for Lanturn. It's faster than Dragonite. It still gets good synergy with Rotom/Heatran. Ground Immunity. It can taunt Forretress and the like, to prevent more Entry Hazards from screwing up Lanturn (because stuff with Substitute dislikes entry hazards (and Lanturn is neutral to all of them)).
 
" I also saw somewhere that Salamence Gyarados and Heatran make great offensive partners."

Where did you see this, and why do they make great offensive partners?
 
Actually, thats not how that azelf beats machamp. Azelf sets up rocks while they payback and then your blow up on them.
 
Hi, your team looks pretty good already but I have a few suggestions:

The first suggestion I have for you is to change your Azelf to the standard Focus Sash lead. Props for using a unique set that no one expects, but I don't think it is worth it in this situation. Against Machamp, you will actually lose regardless of whether or not a Colbur Berry is used: A max attack Machamp will do 82.3% - 96.9% with the Colbur Berry factored in, and Bullet Punch will deal 32.8% - 38.9% the next turn. Azelf will faint even if Machamp gets minimum damage using both attacks! So that said, I suggest you use a Focus Sash instead of a Colbur Berry as well as a spread of 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe. While not completely necessary, I do recommend that you use a spread more along the lines of Stealth Rock / Fire Blast / Psychic / Explosion, changing 252 Atk to 252 SpA, which is generally more useful for Azelf. You may use Taunt if you wish, but more often than not your opponent will expect the Taunt and attack.

The next suggestion I have is change your Bulky DD Gyarados to a RestTalk Gyarados. It looks like Gyarados is your only counter/check to several physical threats such as Machamp, Infernape, etc. Your Bulky Gyara can check these physical threats, but it will only be able to come in a few times due to no recovery move (and no wish support) as well as the annoying Stealth Rock weakness which Azelf may or my not prevent. For those reasons, I think you should use a Gyarados with the following set:

Gyarados @ Leftovers | Careful
EVs: 252 HP / 188 Def / 12 Spd / 56 SDef
Rest / Sleep Talk / Waterfall / Roar

The spread above allows you to beat NP Infernape as well.

The last suggestion I will make is change your Rotom-C to a Shaymin. This may seem like an odd change, but Rotom-C doesn't seem to do much for your team besides burn a few physical attacks and kill of Swampert. Shaymin has excellent synergy with Gyarados and Heatran, forming the Water/Fire/Grass core that works quite well in today's metagame. Shaymin does well against most Water-types as well, just like Rotom-C. I suggest that you use something similar to the set below:

Shaymin @ Life Orb | Timid
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Seed Flare / Hidden Power Ice / Earth Power / Rest

With Rest, Shaymin won't die so quickly from Life Orb damage, Spikes, Toxic Spikes, etc., and with Natural Cure, Shaymin won't be asleep when it comes back in. Hidden Power Ice makes sure that Salamence and Dragonite don't have a chance to set up.

That's all I have for now, good luck with your team!
 
As far as lanturn is concerned, you can also run Petaya berry on it. SubPetaya workes nicely, and is a little more reliable than Chargebeam boosts. But its all preference.
 
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