OU MegaZardX Team [+1700]

[Mkushrom]

I have been a fan of Mega Charizard X since it was spoiled, so I wanted to make a team centered in it.

Team Preview:

As you can see, there is a pretty good typing synergy between the members of the team. Charizard is weak to Ground (resisted by Rotom and Mandi), Rock and Dragon (both resisted by Aegislash and Ferro); Aegislash is weak to Ground, Fire (resisted by Charizard, Rotom and Slowbro), Dark and Ghost (resisted by Mandibuzz); Rotom's and Slowbro's weakness to Grass is resisted by the rest of their team mates; Slowbro's weakness to Electric is also covered by MegaZard and Ferro and Bug is not a problem with Aegislash. Mandibuzz's weakness is the only pokemon weak to Ice and Fairy and they are walled by the two Steel types.

Team Details:

Charizard @ Charizardite X
Ability: Blaze
EVs: 144 HP / 240 Atk / 4 SDef / 120 Spd
Adamant Nature
- Flare Blitz
- Dragon Claw
- Dragon Dance
- Roost

This is the main attacker of my team. It's completely walled by Heatran and Azumarril, but with +1 DD it can deal with almost everything but those two and Scarfed Garchomp. I really like it as a physical attacker because of its inmunity to burns and its bulk. Adding Roost instead of EQ allow us to hit more than twice with Flare Blitz, but another option for this pokemon is Jolly with EQ, FB, DD and DC/Outrage and 252Atk / 252 Spd.

Aegislash @ Life Orb
Ability: Stance Change
EVs: 144 HP / 64 Atk / 252 SAtk
Quiet Nature
- Shadow Ball
- Sacred Sword
- Shadow Sneak
- King's Shield

I wanted Aegislash to be a mixed attacker. The lack of recovery is sometimes an issue, but it's nice hitting so hard with Saced Sword, which is impossible if you are using Spooky Plate. Those 64 Atk guarantee a 0HKO on TTar with Sacred Sword and a 2HKO with Shadow Sneak if Life Orb is knock offed. Sadly we have only a 76'6% chance to 2HKO Chansey if Rocks are not on the field. Aegialsh also works well absorbing Toxic.

Rotom @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Modest Nature
- Hydro Pump
- Volt Switch
- Will-o-Wisp
- Trick

Rotom-W is my main special threat. Being Water/Electric makes it very resistant to most of the metagame and Grass is covered by almost every team mate. WoW can deal with physical attackers such as Garchomp or TTar, Trick acts like a pseudo Taunt+Knock Off for Chansey or Porygon2. Hydro Pump deals with Heatran and VSwitch with Azumarril, two of the main fears of Charizard.

Slowbro @ Assault Vest
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 252 HP / 220 Def / 36 SDef
Bold Nature
- Scald
- Psyshock
- Ice Beam
- Fire Blast / Flamethrower

Slowbro is my main defense pivot. >300 in each defense and almost 400 HP at level 100 is quite difficult to deal with for many pokemon. Flamethrower is to 0HKO physically defensive Ferrothorn and Aegislash/Scizor switch ins, Ice Beam deals with Garchomp and Gliscor, Psyshock covers Poison and Fighting types and Scald spreads burn all day. Regenerator is also a great ability for a pivot, making Slowbro almost endless with good predictions.

Mandibuzz @ Leftovers
Ability: Overcoat
EVs: 252 HP / 234 Def / 20 Spd
Impish Nature
- Toxic / Knock Off
- Roost
- Defog
- Foul Play / Taunt / U-Turn / Toxic

Mandibuzz is my defogger and also my physical wall. It's also pretty good absorbing Spore and dealing with other walls thanks to Knock Off. The main issue I have with Mandibuzz is the 4th slot, since I feel all those attacks are somehow necessary. Foul Play deals with physical menaces all day, Taunt makes other walls useless, U-Turn gains momemtum and without Toxic I'll have no poison spreader in my team. I really need some advice for this pokemon.

Ferrothorn @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Iron Barbs
EVs: 48 Def / 252 HP / 208 SDef
Relaxed Nature
- Power Whip
- Thunder Wave
- Leech Seed
- Stealth Rock

Ferrothorn is one of the defensive stars of my team. It is my special wall, but Rocky Helmet makes it quite hard to deal with using physical attacks, and almost every pokemon that uses fire moves is walled by Charizard and Rotom-W. T-Wave makes Charizard deadlier, Leech Seed is a method of recovery, Stealth Rock helps the rest of the team 0-2HKO lots of pokemon and Powe Whip makes it not being completely crippled by Taunt.

 

[Mkushrom]

I have come with Toxic on Mandibuzz and I have recently reached 1500 on Showdown. Still testing the team, but I'm quite happy with it right now. I'm also thinking about replacing WoW for HP Ice on Rotom-W.

 

[Timpsu]

Hey there!

I think you could consider using EQ instead of Flare Blitz. The reason to run a bulky spread is to gather more than once boost, thus hitting eventually harder. I think EQ offers better coverage than Flare Blitz, and you don't even have to concern yourself with recoil. I don't think King's shield is a good move on your Aegislash, as without Leftovers King's shield just loses too much momentum. You could replace it with either Flash Cannon or Pursuit, Flash Cannon for a powerful STAB and Pursuit traps bothersome Psychic-types. You could also consider running some Speed with an all-out attacking set. I would never run HP Ice on Rotom-W, since the main appeal of it are the dual STABs + a chance to burn something. I think Foul Play is mandatory on Mandibuzz, since it deters physical attackers from setting up. I also think you could switch Knock Off to Taunt, since, as you said yourself, it's a good move to use against opposing walls. Knock Off has nice utility value, but I don't feel it's as mandatory. I also don't think Toxic is all that necessary on Mandibuzz, as Taunt cripples oposing walls, but if it works then feel free to keep it. If you want to use balanced defenses on Ferrothorn, I suggest you run 252 HP / 120 Def / 136 SpD with Impish nature, because you don't take advantage from the speed drop of Relaxed nature, also physical defense is overall more beneficial than special bulk. With that spread you avoid 2HKO from Kyu-B's Ice Beam, and you can cripple it.

I think your bulky Pokemon have overall a decent synergy, but there are still a few threats you should watch out for. You really lack the means of hitting M-Venusaur hard, since you can only hit it with Psyshock, while he quit easily dismantles your other Pokemon. Also, Landorus can quite easily get past of your Pokemon once they are weakened sufficiently. But good luck with the team!

 

[Mkushrom]

Hi, and thanks for replying :)

I prefer Flare Blitz over EQ in Charizard because it gets boosted by Thougt Claws + STAB and thanks to Roost I don't have to worry too much about the recoil. EQ isn't usually enough to kill non-weak to ground pokemon, and I'd only consider using it if I'd use Outrage over Dragon Claw, but locking into Outrage does not seem a good idea for a bulkyZard anyways.

King's Shield's main use is crippling opponent's sweepers and gaining some momentum against burned and poisoned pokemon. It also allow us taking a second hit with Aegislash and then use SSword or SB without switching.

HP Ice on Rotom-W seems worst than burn since both check Garchomp and Dragonite, you are right. I'm still not sure if running Timid or Modest, though.

Mandibuzz is working so well, but since it's the first time I'm using it I'm open to suggestions. Foul Play seems so good but with the boost Knock Off it has become such a powerful move. Taunt seems also decent, but I usually prefer Toxic since Mandi will be my only poison spreader and it's so good with Roost, and Defog is mandatory because it's main role is support MegaZard and tank ghost moves. I think I'll try Foul Play instead of Knock Off and see wich one works better.

Ferrothorn needs to be Careful, you are right. I was using Gyro Ball before and I forgot to switch the nature. The speed difference is not usually a big deal but Careful is definetly better. I was not pretending to run mixed Ferro (in fact I wanted it as my special wall at first) but this set allow me to tank many special moves and thanks to Iron Barbs + Rocky Helmet few physical are going to be dealt to it on purpose.

As for the problems, Landorus is usually checked by Slowbro's Ice Beam, and bluffing it to U-Turn and then switching to Ferrothorn is so sweet. Rotom's Hydro Pump deals 106.8 - 126.1% wich is really powerful since we are faster unless it's scarfed. Venusaur is usually a problem if runs EQ, but if not MegaZardX deal with it with Flare Blitz if it's weakened enough, otherwise is a pain in the ass, but at least we can wall it for some time with Ferro if it has no HP Fire.

 

[Mkushrom]

I have been trying Foul Play instead of Toxic on Mandibuzz and I think it's going to replace it, since helps me dealing with Garchomp and other setup sweepers. I still miss Toxic, though, so I think I'll try to replace Knock Off with it.

 

[Mkushrom]

Rotom is somehow my special threat but I have thought many times about using it defensively. That would allow me to replace Mandibuzz for another dark special pokemon like Greninja or special/mixed TTar. Landorus-T seems fine too but since I'm a bit weak to Greninja too I don't think it's a good option.

 

[xJownage]

Youre right i had a memory stroke of using it in UU.

This is an interesting concept, feel like you are putting hyper offense and semistall together.

You have problems with stall and need a breaker for it.
Venutran and skarmblissquag isint fun for you. A DDTaunt poke, or just a better taunter, would be amazing for you.
Im not quite sure what can be done here. This team is either not far from being amazing or dommed to the midladder

 

[Mkushrom]

Thanks for the input! I've just peaked the 1600 on Showdown, so the team seems to work fine. The main concept is attacking with hyper offense and pivot with the semi stall when the opponent switch into a counter thanks to this defensive core, wich is also great for blocking status. As Charizard is my main physical thread I'm not afraid uf being burned and almost every status but Confusion is blocked by a team mate, so pivoting and good predictions are the key.

You're right on the Venutran part, but Skarmbliss is not usually a problem since Sacred Sword from Aegislash deals with Blissey and Skarmory is pretty easy to beat with Slowbro and Charizard with a bit of prediction (if you spect a Counter, use Dragon Claw to break the Sturdy and then Flare Bliz it to death). Heatran is rough if it's the specially defensive set, but with Slowbro and Rotom I can deal with it, but MSaur is a problem as long as it's carrying either EQ or HP Fire. I'm thinking about using Taunt on Mandy but I think a better taunter whould work too.

 

[pj]

Oh i forgot to mentioned i use


Charizard @ Charizardite X
Ability: Tough Claws
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / SDef / 252 Spd
Adamant Nature
- earthquake
- Dragon Claw
- Dragon Dance
- fire punch

 

[Mkushrom]

Oh i forgot to mentioned i use


Charizard @ Charizardite X
Ability: Tough Claws
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / SDef / 252 Spd
Adamant Nature
- earthquake
- Dragon Claw
- Dragon Dance
- fire punch

It's a nice set. When I use an all out attacker I usually swap FPunch for Flare Blitz and Adamant for Jolly but this one seems nice too. I wanted my Zard to be more bulky so it can usually take more than 2 hits since the main objective of the team is pivoting, but I'll try your set too just in case :)

 

[Mkushrom]

Peaked +1700 today. The team is still pretty good, but Batton Pass teams are a nightmare if they predict Rotom-W's Trick. I've tried Whirlwind on Mandibuzz instead of Toxic but when they do Ingrain you are doomed, though. I also tryed your Charizard, praj.pran , but Roost is too important in this kind of teams.

 

[daftmau5]

I would change Flamethrower to Fire Blast as it nets you a notable increase in power:

• 0 SpA Slowbro Fire Blast vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Aegislash-Blade: 272-322 (83.9 - 99.3%) -- 37.5% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock
  
• 0 SpA Slowbro Flamethrower vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Aegislash-Blade: 224-264 (69.1 - 81.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery

• 0 SpA Slowbro Flamethrower vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Mega Scizor: 260-308 (75.5 - 89.5%) -- 12.5% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock
  
• 0 SpA Slowbro Fire Blast vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Mega Scizor: 316-376 (91.8 - 109.3%) -- guaranteed OHKO after Stealth Rock
  
• 0 SpA Slowbro Fire Blast vs. 252 HP / 100 SpD Mega Scizor: 288-340 (83.7 - 98.8%) -- 68.8% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock

20 Speed on Mandibuzz is a good idea with Taunt as it outspeeds 40 speed Heatran to avoid Defog vs Toxic/SR wars. You can also outspeed and hit Max speed BD Adamant Azumarill with Foul Play at +6 for a good amount of damage.

 

[Mkushrom]

I would change Flamethrower to Fire Blast as it nets you a notable increase in power:

• 0 SpA Slowbro Fire Blast vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Aegislash-Blade: 272-322 (83.9 - 99.3%) -- 37.5% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock
  
• 0 SpA Slowbro Flamethrower vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Aegislash-Blade: 224-264 (69.1 - 81.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery

• 0 SpA Slowbro Flamethrower vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Mega Scizor: 260-308 (75.5 - 89.5%) -- 12.5% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock
  
• 0 SpA Slowbro Fire Blast vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Mega Scizor: 316-376 (91.8 - 109.3%) -- guaranteed OHKO after Stealth Rock
  
• 0 SpA Slowbro Fire Blast vs. 252 HP / 100 SpD Mega Scizor: 288-340 (83.7 - 98.8%) -- 68.8% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock

20 Speed on Mandibuzz is a good idea with Taunt as it outspeeds 40 speed Heatran to avoid Defog vs Toxic/SR wars. You can also outspeed and hit Max speed BD Adamant Azumarill with Foul Play at +6 for a good amount of damage.

Those are both great ideas. I tried Fire Blast some time ago but I changed it to Flamethrower because I had a Fire Blast Togekiss, but now seems like a good change.
I'm also trying other attacks instead of Toxic on Mandibuzz and Taunt might be good with that speed investment since it hates being poisoned and it'll help me killing Chansey with ease.

 

[AM]

Minor nitpick here. 248 HP on Mandibuzz to reduce Stealth Rock damage, that can go right into its defense stat. Also Roost is pretty important on Char X for recoil and such so I would just keep that. You have everything else to handle what Earthquake would cover on your team. Nice job.

 

[Lawrence Hamilton]

Hey man, your team looks very solid and I do not have many problems against threats. I congratulate you on the effort exerted to think and form a team so very hard and with great balance. You have helped great with any aid. For my part I can only help with this cast of EVs in MegaZard X:

Bulky Tank Zard X
Charizard-Mega-X @ Chardizardite
Ability: Tough Claws
EVs: 248 HP / 52 Atk / 208 Def
impish Nature
- Will-O-Wisp
- Dragon Claw / Fire Punch / Flare Blitz / Outrage
- Earthquake
- Roost

I think this set is the most can be adapted to your game plan. Rocky and defensive team appears therefore that set I see very good support for others.

 

[Mkushrom]

Minor nitpick here. 248 HP on Mandibuzz to reduce Stealth Rock damage, that can go right into its defense stat. Also Roost is pretty important on Char X for recoil and such so I would just keep that. You have everything else to handle what Earthquake would cover on your team. Nice job.

Thanks. I'll use 248 on Mandi (in fact, I don't know why did I put 252 evs).

Hey man, your team looks very solid and I do not have many problems against threats. I congratulate you on the effort exerted to think and form a team so very hard and with great balance. You have helped great with any aid. For my part I can only help with this cast of EVs in MegaZard X:

Bulky Tank Zard X
Charizard-Mega-X @ Chardizardite
Ability: Tough Claws
EVs: 248 HP / 52 Atk / 208 Def
impish Nature
- Will-O-Wisp
- Dragon Claw / Fire Punch / Flare Blitz / Outrage
- Earthquake
- Roost

I think this set is the most can be adapted to your game plan. Rocky and defensive team appears therefore that set I see very good support for others.

Thanks for the input. That MegaZard looks awesome, but not having a decent sweeper is something I'm not used to. I'll try it anyways, looks like fun. Could you explain me that exact ev spread, please?

I have been having some problems with Thundurus and Landorus because none of my pokes are decent switch ins for them. Should I switch Mandibuzz for a Specially Defensive TTar? The vulture is there mostly because of its dark and ghost resistance since only MegaZard is weak to rocks. I've been thinking about using Excadrill instead but it's too fragile.