This team originally started as a Belly Drum Azumarill team, but after a while I decided to switch it over to Linoone.
Surprisingly enough this team has done very well for me in OU play. So far I've only lost about five out of twenty battles with it, but I'm sure some tweaking could be done to make it better, because a lot of my wins have been very close and by a little luck.
Roserade @ Focus Sash
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 6 hp/ 252 speed/ 252 special attack
Nature: Timid
-Sleep Powder
-Toxic Spikes
-Leaf Storm
-Hidden Power (Fire)
Main reason I like Roserade is because I'm almost guaranteed to put something to sleep, set up toxic spikes and switch out, usually with full health. I generally keep him alive for later in the game, where Hidden Power Fire can help take out the likes of Scizor, a big threat once Linoone is set up. Another good use for Roserade is to take out the three weather changer leads, Tyranitar, Hippowdon and Abomasnow. I can almost always OHKO any of these three, meaning that once I cange the weather their team is crippled and I get no residual damage that could KO my Linoone.
Heatran @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 4 hp/ 252 speed/ 252 Special Attack
Nature: Naive
-Fire Blast
-Earth Power
-Explosion
-Hidden Power (Ice)
This guy is my main steel killer, and I can generally switch into oncoming fire attacks directed at Forretress or Roserade. After the flash fire boost Fire Blast can do some serious damage. However, I generally can't get him into play too often and he more often than not gets killed in the first few swich ins. Probably just bad prediction on my part.
Kingdra @ Life Orb
Ability: Swift Swim
EVs: 252 attack/ 16 speed/ 240 special attack
Nature: Naughty
-Rain Dance
-Waterfall
-Hydro Pump
-Drack Meteor
Kingdra is my main wall breaker, and not much outspeeds it after a rain dance is set up. Rain Dance can also be helpful to eliminate a continuous sandstream/hail, since that could easily chip away at my Linoone once it's set up. Kingdra almost seems out of place on my team though, and I've been thinking of switching him out for a good Special Wall to help wear down the opponents team though. However, I've nearly swept entire teams with this guy, so maybe Heatran would be a better candidate for replacement.
Forretress @ Leftovers
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 252 hp/ 112 attack/ 144 defense
Nature: Relaxed
-Spikes
-Rapid Spin
-Gyro Ball
-Earthquake
I put Forretress on my team mainly to spin things away when the need arose, and then if I get the chance set up some spikes to ensure some KOs late in the game. However, with the high number of Levitators and Flyers it doesn't do much good. And so far entry hazards haven't really been set up because of Roserade putting things to sleep. So again, I might replace this with something able to survive longer with a reliable recovery move.
Uxie @ Light Clay
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 hp/ 76 speed/ 180 Special Defense
Nature: Calm
-Light Screen
-Reflect
-Stealth Rocks
-Memento
This is really only here to make sure Linoone gets set up. Switch in when I know I can survive, set up the appropriate screen to make sure I survive (Reflect for Weavile, Light Screen for Alakazam, etc.) and then Memento to force a switch. Usually I set up Stealth Rocks, because after killing things with Linoone it racks up some damage on the pokemons coming in. He's specially inclined but I'm always too timid to use it as a Special wall because I really need him to set up Linoone.
Linoone @ Salac Berry
Ability: Gluttony
EVs: 116 Speed/ 252 Attack/ 140 Speed
Nature: Adament
-Belly Drum
-Extremespeed
-Seed Bomb
-Shadow Claw
This is the main piece to the team, which it's all based around. After one Belly Drum the Salac is activated and I can proceed to sweep anything that isn't steel. Extremespeed generally KOs anything non-resistant, and can even do a hefty chunk of damage to Empoleon. Seed Bomb takes out ground/rock/water types well, and Shadow Claw is for ghosts.
Once Linoone is set up and steels are out of the way, I can almost guarantee victory. Only once has something beaten me that wasn't steel, and that was a Salamence that was insanely bulky. It switched in, lowered my attack, and then switched back out to something else, came in and survived my extremespede due to the two intimidate cuts.
The main threats to the team are mostly defensive. The list includes:
Empoleon: This thing is a pain in the side for this team, and generally takes out two or three of my pokemon before I can take it down. Especially the swords dance sweeper set, because nothing on my team can safely switch in to KO it.
Salamence: Salamence isn't a huge threat, but Intimidate cuts and just general power can be a big problem to my team.
Scizor: Probably the biggest threat of all, easily able to eliminate my Linoone with Bullet Punch and able to take a hit from him too. It's hard to get anthing in due to the fear of switching and having a SD set up. Usually I can get my Roserade in before it's too late, but if I've lost some HP my sash is useless and I'm generally slaughtered. As stated before, usually my Heatran is dead by late game when this guy shows up.
Cresselia: Main problem Cresselia presents is the set up of the duel screens. Once set up everything on my team has a harder time killing, and even Linoone can't do as much after the screens are set up. Cress usually has Lunar Dance too, which brings back one of the opponents pokes to full health.
Scarmory: Scarmory is really only a problem if he shows up after Linoone has been set up, seeing as how Linoone can't do anything to it and gets Whirlwinded away, getting rid of the belly drum and making him useless.
Lucario: Lucario is also a pain to kill, having coverage that could potentially sweep my entire team (which has happened). Main hope I have is to get him to sleep with Roserade, but usually something else is sleeping and Sleep Clause means I can't do anything.
Heatran: With the fire moves I rely on to take out steals, Heatran is a common switch in. I have my heatran to keep him in check, by usually when I try to kill it with Earth Power they switch into a levitator, usually Rotom-H, which does a good job at countering my Heatran.
Rotom-H: As stated above, this thing is hard to take down with most of my team, and when used with Heatran against my team in the beggining it takes a while to kill.
Please keep in mind I like my three UU/NU pokemon I use on this team, and would prefer to keep them there unless you really have suggestions for something that completely outclasses them at what they do.
So here's the team:
Surprisingly enough this team has done very well for me in OU play. So far I've only lost about five out of twenty battles with it, but I'm sure some tweaking could be done to make it better, because a lot of my wins have been very close and by a little luck.
Roserade @ Focus Sash
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 6 hp/ 252 speed/ 252 special attack
Nature: Timid
-Sleep Powder
-Toxic Spikes
-Leaf Storm
-Hidden Power (Fire)
Main reason I like Roserade is because I'm almost guaranteed to put something to sleep, set up toxic spikes and switch out, usually with full health. I generally keep him alive for later in the game, where Hidden Power Fire can help take out the likes of Scizor, a big threat once Linoone is set up. Another good use for Roserade is to take out the three weather changer leads, Tyranitar, Hippowdon and Abomasnow. I can almost always OHKO any of these three, meaning that once I cange the weather their team is crippled and I get no residual damage that could KO my Linoone.
Heatran @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 4 hp/ 252 speed/ 252 Special Attack
Nature: Naive
-Fire Blast
-Earth Power
-Explosion
-Hidden Power (Ice)
This guy is my main steel killer, and I can generally switch into oncoming fire attacks directed at Forretress or Roserade. After the flash fire boost Fire Blast can do some serious damage. However, I generally can't get him into play too often and he more often than not gets killed in the first few swich ins. Probably just bad prediction on my part.
Kingdra @ Life Orb
Ability: Swift Swim
EVs: 252 attack/ 16 speed/ 240 special attack
Nature: Naughty
-Rain Dance
-Waterfall
-Hydro Pump
-Drack Meteor
Kingdra is my main wall breaker, and not much outspeeds it after a rain dance is set up. Rain Dance can also be helpful to eliminate a continuous sandstream/hail, since that could easily chip away at my Linoone once it's set up. Kingdra almost seems out of place on my team though, and I've been thinking of switching him out for a good Special Wall to help wear down the opponents team though. However, I've nearly swept entire teams with this guy, so maybe Heatran would be a better candidate for replacement.
Forretress @ Leftovers
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 252 hp/ 112 attack/ 144 defense
Nature: Relaxed
-Spikes
-Rapid Spin
-Gyro Ball
-Earthquake
I put Forretress on my team mainly to spin things away when the need arose, and then if I get the chance set up some spikes to ensure some KOs late in the game. However, with the high number of Levitators and Flyers it doesn't do much good. And so far entry hazards haven't really been set up because of Roserade putting things to sleep. So again, I might replace this with something able to survive longer with a reliable recovery move.
Uxie @ Light Clay
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 hp/ 76 speed/ 180 Special Defense
Nature: Calm
-Light Screen
-Reflect
-Stealth Rocks
-Memento
This is really only here to make sure Linoone gets set up. Switch in when I know I can survive, set up the appropriate screen to make sure I survive (Reflect for Weavile, Light Screen for Alakazam, etc.) and then Memento to force a switch. Usually I set up Stealth Rocks, because after killing things with Linoone it racks up some damage on the pokemons coming in. He's specially inclined but I'm always too timid to use it as a Special wall because I really need him to set up Linoone.
Linoone @ Salac Berry
Ability: Gluttony
EVs: 116 Speed/ 252 Attack/ 140 Speed
Nature: Adament
-Belly Drum
-Extremespeed
-Seed Bomb
-Shadow Claw
This is the main piece to the team, which it's all based around. After one Belly Drum the Salac is activated and I can proceed to sweep anything that isn't steel. Extremespeed generally KOs anything non-resistant, and can even do a hefty chunk of damage to Empoleon. Seed Bomb takes out ground/rock/water types well, and Shadow Claw is for ghosts.
Once Linoone is set up and steels are out of the way, I can almost guarantee victory. Only once has something beaten me that wasn't steel, and that was a Salamence that was insanely bulky. It switched in, lowered my attack, and then switched back out to something else, came in and survived my extremespede due to the two intimidate cuts.
The main threats to the team are mostly defensive. The list includes:
Empoleon: This thing is a pain in the side for this team, and generally takes out two or three of my pokemon before I can take it down. Especially the swords dance sweeper set, because nothing on my team can safely switch in to KO it.
Salamence: Salamence isn't a huge threat, but Intimidate cuts and just general power can be a big problem to my team.
Scizor: Probably the biggest threat of all, easily able to eliminate my Linoone with Bullet Punch and able to take a hit from him too. It's hard to get anthing in due to the fear of switching and having a SD set up. Usually I can get my Roserade in before it's too late, but if I've lost some HP my sash is useless and I'm generally slaughtered. As stated before, usually my Heatran is dead by late game when this guy shows up.
Cresselia: Main problem Cresselia presents is the set up of the duel screens. Once set up everything on my team has a harder time killing, and even Linoone can't do as much after the screens are set up. Cress usually has Lunar Dance too, which brings back one of the opponents pokes to full health.
Scarmory: Scarmory is really only a problem if he shows up after Linoone has been set up, seeing as how Linoone can't do anything to it and gets Whirlwinded away, getting rid of the belly drum and making him useless.
Lucario: Lucario is also a pain to kill, having coverage that could potentially sweep my entire team (which has happened). Main hope I have is to get him to sleep with Roserade, but usually something else is sleeping and Sleep Clause means I can't do anything.
Heatran: With the fire moves I rely on to take out steals, Heatran is a common switch in. I have my heatran to keep him in check, by usually when I try to kill it with Earth Power they switch into a levitator, usually Rotom-H, which does a good job at countering my Heatran.
Rotom-H: As stated above, this thing is hard to take down with most of my team, and when used with Heatran against my team in the beggining it takes a while to kill.
Please keep in mind I like my three UU/NU pokemon I use on this team, and would prefer to keep them there unless you really have suggestions for something that completely outclasses them at what they do.
