OU RMT
Well, I've been playing competitive pokemon for quite a while, so I have pretty much already established for myself that OU really wasn't for me. However, with the upcoming Smogon tour X, I realised that I really need to put together a decent OU team, just so that I don't get pummelled in the first round. I've been using this team for a while in OU and even though I don't get far on the ladder (Peaked at roughly 1300), I've enjoyed playing with it. There are definitely some improvements to be made and i'm hoping that people could offer me some advice on how to make this team better.
The Team at a Glance..
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In Depth Analysis
Dragonite {DracoKnight} @ Life Orb
Ability: Inner Focus
EVs: 252 Atk/252 SpA/4 Spe
Quiet Nature (+Spatk,-Spe)
- Draco Meteor
- Fire Blast
- Earthquake
- Extremespeed
This is anti-lead dragonite. The main purpose of it is to destroy the opposing lead through a combination of *insert move* + Extremespeed. Azelf gets Meteor'd, Metagross gets Earthquaked, Machamp gets Draco Meteor'd etc. Dragonite fairs well at destroying opposing leads and usually won't fall unless hit with an Ice move. The problem with dragonite is that I won't be able to get up Stealth rocks at the beginning of the battle, and that is quite annoying at times.
Heracross @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Guts
EVs: 252 Atk/4 Def/252 Spe
Adamant Nature (+Atk,-Spatk)
- Close Combat
- Megahorn
- Stone edge
- Night Slash
Heracross is the first part of my core of two sweepers. With Heracross, I'll generally try to eliminate its counters and then sweep with a Close Combat or Megahorn. With an Adamant nature Heracross reaches an outstanding 404 Speed outspeeding + Speed Base 130s, this also allows me to OHKO bulky Gyarados, without Intimidate, with Stone Edge after SR damage. Close Combat is a misnomer. It's there for STAB and with a Guts boost OHKOS everything in sight, even dealing roughly 70% to defensive Forretress. Megahorn is also for STAB but is less used mainly because of its poor coverage and accuracy. Stone edge is for the flying types that resists the dual STAB and night slash is to net the OHKO on Rotom-A on the switch. Usually after everything is weakened a CC sweep will net me the win.
Raikou {RawR} @ Choice Specs
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 4 HP/252 SpA/252 Spe
Timid Nature (+Spe,-Atk)
- Thunderbolt
- Shadow Ball
- Hidden Power (Grass)
- Extrasensory
Raikou is my second sweeper, with its beastly 115 Special Attack boosted by Choice specs coupled with its outstanding 115 Base speed, thunnderbolt is definitely capable of sweeping an entire team. Thunderbolt is for STAB, ther rest (shadow ball, hidden power and extrasensory) are for coverage. Raikous movepool is quite poor, which makes it difficult to run a choiced set. However, a Choice specs boosted Thunderbolt does OHKO a lot of the OU metagame when unresisted. This Raikou generally attempts a sweep after Heracross's sweep is over, however even with its amazing speed, it is outrun by most Choice Scarfers and easily Revenge-killed.
Infernape {Inferno} @ Life Orb
Ability: Blaze
EVs: 252 Atk/64 SpA/192 Spe
Naive Nature (+Spe,-SpD)
- Close Combat
- Stone Edge
- U-turn
- Overheat
This is physically-based MixApe, and is my primary wall-breaker. Generally with Infernape, I try to weaken or eliminate the walls that stop Heracross and Raikou from sweeping. Close Combat is for Wall breaking, Stone edge is for all those flying types, U-turn is for scouting and Overheat is for the Physical Walls. Salamence used to fill this spot but since it's now banned from OU, I must resort to Infernape. It does a decent job and can clean up the opposing team if Raikou and Heracross have both been incapacitated.
Bronzong @ Light Clay
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP/152 Atk /8 Def /96 SpD (0 Spe IVs)
Relaxed Nature (+Def,-Spe)
- Reflect
- Light Screen
- Stealth Rock
- Gyro Ball
Perhaps the iffiest member on my team. I needed something to set up SR and help with team support. Bronzong pretty much filled this spot by setting up an 8 turn screen per switch in and getting the Stealth rocks up, that I so desperately needed. Bronzong also acts as a pivot to allow safer switches for other team members like Infernape and Raikou. Gyro ball fills up the last spot so that Bronzong doesn't 'struggle' after a taunt. With my team, it was vital that one member carry some support, to aid with other offensive teams. Bronzong does its job, but not very well and I wouldn't mind if it was replaced by something else.
Snorlax {Sleepy} @ Leftovers
Ability: Thick Fat
EVs: 4 HP/252 Atk/252 SpD
Adamant Nature (+Atk,-SpA)
- Body Slam
- Earthquake
- Fire Punch
- Pursuit
Snorlax's purpose is solely for the removal of ghost and psychic types, providing Heracross with a higher chance for sweeping. The EVs are located on the specially defensive spectrum to aid Snorlax in walling and eliminating Special attackers. Body Slam is for STAB and the 30% paralysis rate, Earthquake and Fire punch are mainly for coverage. Offensive Lax is extremely helpful in removing Special attackers like Starmie and Gengar who will probably threaten an OHKO on Infernape with Surf and Shadow ball respectively. Snorlax acts as a check to these threats and eases prediction when switching out.
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So there it is, the team. As you can probably see, it has quite a few weaknesses and I'd greatly appreciate it, if anyone could offer me some advice on how to improve this team.
Well, I've been playing competitive pokemon for quite a while, so I have pretty much already established for myself that OU really wasn't for me. However, with the upcoming Smogon tour X, I realised that I really need to put together a decent OU team, just so that I don't get pummelled in the first round. I've been using this team for a while in OU and even though I don't get far on the ladder (Peaked at roughly 1300), I've enjoyed playing with it. There are definitely some improvements to be made and i'm hoping that people could offer me some advice on how to make this team better.
The Team at a Glance..
________________________________________________________
In Depth Analysis
Dragonite {DracoKnight} @ Life Orb
Ability: Inner Focus
EVs: 252 Atk/252 SpA/4 Spe
Quiet Nature (+Spatk,-Spe)
- Draco Meteor
- Fire Blast
- Earthquake
- Extremespeed
This is anti-lead dragonite. The main purpose of it is to destroy the opposing lead through a combination of *insert move* + Extremespeed. Azelf gets Meteor'd, Metagross gets Earthquaked, Machamp gets Draco Meteor'd etc. Dragonite fairs well at destroying opposing leads and usually won't fall unless hit with an Ice move. The problem with dragonite is that I won't be able to get up Stealth rocks at the beginning of the battle, and that is quite annoying at times.
Heracross @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Guts
EVs: 252 Atk/4 Def/252 Spe
Adamant Nature (+Atk,-Spatk)
- Close Combat
- Megahorn
- Stone edge
- Night Slash
Heracross is the first part of my core of two sweepers. With Heracross, I'll generally try to eliminate its counters and then sweep with a Close Combat or Megahorn. With an Adamant nature Heracross reaches an outstanding 404 Speed outspeeding + Speed Base 130s, this also allows me to OHKO bulky Gyarados, without Intimidate, with Stone Edge after SR damage. Close Combat is a misnomer. It's there for STAB and with a Guts boost OHKOS everything in sight, even dealing roughly 70% to defensive Forretress. Megahorn is also for STAB but is less used mainly because of its poor coverage and accuracy. Stone edge is for the flying types that resists the dual STAB and night slash is to net the OHKO on Rotom-A on the switch. Usually after everything is weakened a CC sweep will net me the win.
Raikou {RawR} @ Choice Specs
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 4 HP/252 SpA/252 Spe
Timid Nature (+Spe,-Atk)
- Thunderbolt
- Shadow Ball
- Hidden Power (Grass)
- Extrasensory
Raikou is my second sweeper, with its beastly 115 Special Attack boosted by Choice specs coupled with its outstanding 115 Base speed, thunnderbolt is definitely capable of sweeping an entire team. Thunderbolt is for STAB, ther rest (shadow ball, hidden power and extrasensory) are for coverage. Raikous movepool is quite poor, which makes it difficult to run a choiced set. However, a Choice specs boosted Thunderbolt does OHKO a lot of the OU metagame when unresisted. This Raikou generally attempts a sweep after Heracross's sweep is over, however even with its amazing speed, it is outrun by most Choice Scarfers and easily Revenge-killed.
Infernape {Inferno} @ Life Orb
Ability: Blaze
EVs: 252 Atk/64 SpA/192 Spe
Naive Nature (+Spe,-SpD)
- Close Combat
- Stone Edge
- U-turn
- Overheat
This is physically-based MixApe, and is my primary wall-breaker. Generally with Infernape, I try to weaken or eliminate the walls that stop Heracross and Raikou from sweeping. Close Combat is for Wall breaking, Stone edge is for all those flying types, U-turn is for scouting and Overheat is for the Physical Walls. Salamence used to fill this spot but since it's now banned from OU, I must resort to Infernape. It does a decent job and can clean up the opposing team if Raikou and Heracross have both been incapacitated.
Bronzong @ Light Clay
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP/152 Atk /8 Def /96 SpD (0 Spe IVs)
Relaxed Nature (+Def,-Spe)
- Reflect
- Light Screen
- Stealth Rock
- Gyro Ball
Perhaps the iffiest member on my team. I needed something to set up SR and help with team support. Bronzong pretty much filled this spot by setting up an 8 turn screen per switch in and getting the Stealth rocks up, that I so desperately needed. Bronzong also acts as a pivot to allow safer switches for other team members like Infernape and Raikou. Gyro ball fills up the last spot so that Bronzong doesn't 'struggle' after a taunt. With my team, it was vital that one member carry some support, to aid with other offensive teams. Bronzong does its job, but not very well and I wouldn't mind if it was replaced by something else.
Snorlax {Sleepy} @ Leftovers
Ability: Thick Fat
EVs: 4 HP/252 Atk/252 SpD
Adamant Nature (+Atk,-SpA)
- Body Slam
- Earthquake
- Fire Punch
- Pursuit
Snorlax's purpose is solely for the removal of ghost and psychic types, providing Heracross with a higher chance for sweeping. The EVs are located on the specially defensive spectrum to aid Snorlax in walling and eliminating Special attackers. Body Slam is for STAB and the 30% paralysis rate, Earthquake and Fire punch are mainly for coverage. Offensive Lax is extremely helpful in removing Special attackers like Starmie and Gengar who will probably threaten an OHKO on Infernape with Surf and Shadow ball respectively. Snorlax acts as a check to these threats and eases prediction when switching out.
___________________________________________________________________________
So there it is, the team. As you can probably see, it has quite a few weaknesses and I'd greatly appreciate it, if anyone could offer me some advice on how to improve this team.