SM OU (OUTDATED) [SUMO OU] On Tapu the Game! | 85.0% GXE \ 1510 ELO \ 22-0 W/L

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ON TAPU THE GAME

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Introduction

Yo, it's -Latios-! Finally, Sun & Moon is here. We're miles away from having a somewhat stable metagame, as the meta just started a week ago. I've tried my best to make a somewhat decent Gen 7 team in the past week, and I believe that I've succeeded. ORAS is gone, so of course, the metagame is much different with all of the Z-moves and new moves/abilities/items. This isn't Pokebank OU, by the way! Anyways, let's begin, shall we?

Teambuilding Process

- I began with Tapu Bulu. This is definitely my favorite Pokemon right now, so I wanted to make another team around it.

- Eventually, I added on Aegislash, which actually turns out to be a great partner with Tapu Bulu typing wise, and it gets the nice Grassy Terrain support. Tapu Fini was added practically immediately after, noticing my weakness to fire and Greninja in particular.

- I considered Alolan-Marowak, but never used it, so I went with Magnezone. Magnezone was a nice slow Volt Switch user to give support to Tapu Bulu, and — with its moveset — can check Tapu Koko, which is threatening.

- Mandibuzz is a beautiful bird. It was added as a primary Aegislash switch-in, and can Taunt annoying Pokémon like Toxapex & Celesteela. It can remove items which is very beneficial to Tapu Bulu, as it likes when things get worn down.

- Mamoswine serves as my Stealth Rock user. It's great right now, as Mamoswine is very tough to switch in to safely, which is just what I need in conjunction with Tapu Bulu.

In-Depth Analysis
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Tapu Bulu @

| Ability: Grassy Surge
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe | Adamant Nature
Horn Leech | Wood Hammer | Superpower | Stone Edge

Moves

Horn Leech serves as a way of getting back any HP lost from switching in or from Wood Hammer recoil. It's much less powerful than Wood Hammer, but allows me to regain the HP from it and Grassy Terrain. Wood Hammer under Grassy Terrain 2HKOs basically everything in the metagame except a few. It becomes so powerful after STAB (1.5x boost) and Grassy Terrain (1.5x boost), that even resists take over 50%! Superpower & Stone Edge are mere coverage options that you'll barely ever click over Wood Hammer or Horn Leech, but they can be useful for OHKOs rather than 2HKOs.

Item, EVs, etc.

Choice Band is our item of choice here, as it allows Wood Hammer to hit as hard as possible. The EVs are straightforward, and the Adamant nature — again — allow me to hit as hard as possible. Grassy Surge is an amazing ability. As mentioned above, your grass- type moves gain a significant power boost, however there's more to it. It recovers HP overtime, and even halves ground- type damage, which is especially useful late-game for Aegislash.

Aegislash @

| Ability: Stance Change
EVs: 244 HP / 252 SpA / 12 Spe | Modest Nature | IVs: 0 Atk
King's Shield | Shadow Ball | Substitute | Flash Cannon / Toxic

Moves

King's Shield is amazing. It helps Aegislash scout, lower the attack upon contact and regain HP via Leftovers! Aegislash is the King of 50/50s, and King's Shield just proves it. It's a move that can win you a game or make you lose a game if you read wrong. Shadow Ball & Flash Cannon are, of course, STAB options; powerful ones at that. Substitute is used, as Aegislash commonly forces switches. After a King's Shield attack drop, some Pokémon can't even break your Substitute! Toxic is definitely an option to slowly cripple Pokémon like Mandibuzz upon switch-in, but isn't used on this team because of Tapu Fini's Misty Terrain.

Item, EVs, etc.

Leftovers helps me get back health after Substitute & King's Shield. The EVs allow me to outspeed 0 speed, neutral natured Celesteela, which is pretty rare but worth covering. Modest is the nature of choice to maximize our special attack, as we lack physical moves. If you are running a physical move, forget the speed EVs and run Relaxed.
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Tapu Fini @

| Ability: Misty Surge
EVs: 252 HP / 184 Def / 16 SpA / 56 Spe | Bold Nature | IVs: 0 Atk
Calm Mind | Defog / Taunt | Surf | Moonblast

Moves

Calm Mind allows Tapu Fini to get special attack & defense boosts, which are useful for tanking hits from Pokémon like Tapu Koko and for dealing out powerful STAB attacks. Defog lets Tapu Fini remove screens and hazards for the team, which is vital, as this team hates being worn down. Surf is used over Scald because of Misty Terrain, which makes it so that you cannot status. Moonblast is boosted in Misty Terrain, making it a powerful STAB move.

Item, EVs, etc.

Leftovers, as usual, are used for recovery. These EVs are certainly a bit more complex than the previous ones. With 56 speed, you can outspeed potential Jolly base 50 speed Pokémon like Azumarill. They're very rare, but can potentially come into play. I can OHKO Tapu Koko at +2 after rocks with my 16 SpA EVs, and I can take numerous hits after a Calm Mind boost or two. The rest is put into defense for additional physical bulk. The Bold Nature adds onto that.

Magnezone @

| Ability: Magnet Pull
EVs: 168 HP / 252 SpA / 88 Spe | Modest Nature | IVs: 0 Atk / 30 SpA / 30 Spe
Mirror Coat / Thunderbolt | Volt Switch | Flash Cannon | Hidden Power [Fire]

Moves

Mirror Coat is a very odd move choice, but it's very vital. It helps me live certain hits lategame and retaliate with a powerful attack that Thunderbolt wouldn't be able to match. You can use Thunderbolt so that you're not forced to switch vs. Celesteela or Toxapex for example. Volt Switch lets Magnezone become a slow momentum gainer. Flash Cannon functions as my primary STAB move, and can hit all of the recently introduced fairy- types. Hidden Power Fire, of course, nails opposing Magnezone and Scizor.

Item, EVs, etc.

The Assault Vest lets me take on special hits from Tapu Koko. The EVs are the same as on the specs set, 88 speed to outspeed neutral-nature, base 70 speed Pokémon. Magnet Pull, as usual, allows me to trap steel- types that could annoy Tapu Bulu.​

Mandibuzz @

| Ability: Overcoat
EVs: 248 HP / 28 Def / 216 SpD / 16 Spe | Careful Nature
Foul Play | Roost | Taunt | Knock Off

Moves

Foul Play allows me to punish set-up sweepers and Pokémon with an overall high attack stat. Roost, of course, gives me recovery. Taunt can shut down the likes of Pyukumuku and Toxapex pretty easily, and can stop slow status users. Knock Off removes items, which is excellent for Tapu Bulu. It's great to get that chip and remove items like Leftovers. Tapu Bulu loves when Pokémon become worn down, as switch-ins slowly become limited.

Item, EVs, etc.

Leftovers gives Mandibuzz some passive recovery, saving me from some 2HKOs. My EVs are, once again, complicated. I took the EVs from the analysis and refined them a bit for this team and Gen 7 in general. With 216 SpD, I live Life Orb, neutral natured Tapu Koko Thunderbolt in Electric Terrain. I'm also only 3HKOd by Battle Bond, Life Orb Greninja's Ice Beam & Hydro Pump.
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Mamoswine @

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| Ability: Thick Fat
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe | Jolly Nature
Stealth Rock | Icicle Crash | Earthquake | Ice Shard

Moves

Stealth Rock allows me to get off that chip damage on Pokémon, allowing my offensive Pokémon — primarily Tapu Bulu — shine. Icicle Crash functions as a powerful STAB option that's not negated by Grassy Terrain. It also targets pesky ground immunes. Earthquake allows Mamoswine to nail steel- types like Magnezone and Aegislash. Ice Shard grants me priority for picking off frail Pokémon like Pheromosa. Look out for Psychic Terrain, though, as it completely blocks this move!

Item, EVs, etc.

The Life Orb item is used to give Mamoswine that additional firepower. Focus Sash is an option, as it lets it get up the rocks guaranteed (unless fast taunt or magic bounce / coat). Rindo Berry can let you take on electric types carrying Grass Knot like Tapu Koko or Xurkitree. It can certainly catch them off guard, but in my opinion, it's not worth running on this team. The EVs are straightforward, and my Jolly nature allows me to hit max speed.
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Threatlist

- Electric types in general give me trouble. My only way of beating them is Magnezone for the mostpart, and it actually does a good job at that. It can't hold on for long, unfortunately, so I need to play around them correctly — potentially wearing them down. Mandibuzz can come in when they're low, take a hit and kill with Knock Off or Foul Play.

- Be it Protean or Battle Bond, Greninja is a 100% threat. My only counter is Mandibuzz if they're Battle Bond, but if they run Scald over Hydro Pump, Magnezone can come in more comfortably.

- Aegislash is really tough for me to beat, even with Mandibuzz. If my Mandibuzz ever gets worn down enough, a Flash Cannon can kill. Just ensure that if Aegislash is alive on the opposing team, don't let Mandibuzz take unnecessary damage or die.

- Kartana, after it sets up or gets a Beast Boost, is nearly unstoppable. I have to rely on outplaying my opponent to get around it.

- Mamoswine really forces switches, and it turns into a case of bringing Tapu Bulu in to setup Grassy Terrain, allowing Aegislash to live EQs easier.

- Never had to face it, but — on paper — it looks super annoying with its STABs and coverage options.

Replays (friendlies)​

http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7ou-484611306 - Playing around Tapu Koko late game.
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7ou-484626541 - Mamoswine destroys me.
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7ou-484636612 - I play Tapu Bulu pretty poorly early on, but I still come on top.

Thanks to all that let me test. I forgot to save any replays while laddering. Oops.

Proof of Rank

Importable

Tapu Bulu @ Choice Band
Ability: Grassy Surge
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Horn Leech
- Wood Hammer
- Superpower
- Stone Edge

Aegislash @ Leftovers
Ability: Stance Change
EVs: 244 HP / 252 SpA / 12 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- King's Shield
- Shadow Ball
- Substitute
- Flash Cannon

Tapu Fini @ Leftovers
Ability: Misty Surge
EVs: 252 HP / 184 Def / 16 SpA / 56 Spe
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Calm Mind
- Defog
- Surf
- Moonblast

Magnezone @ Assault Vest
Ability: Magnet Pull
EVs: 168 HP / 252 SpA / 88 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk / 30 SpA / 30 Spe
- Mirror Coat
- Volt Switch
- Flash Cannon
- Hidden Power [Fire]

Mandibuzz @ Leftovers
Ability: Overcoat
EVs: 248 HP / 28 Def / 216 SpD / 16 Spe
Careful Nature
- Foul Play
- Roost
- Taunt
- Knock Off

Mamoswine @ Life Orb
Ability: Thick Fat
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Icicle Crash
- Earthquake
- Ice Shard

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Conclusion

Overall, this is just a really fun team I made! It's really helped me understand the meta a lot more — doing calcs to determine EV spreads, noticing threats and playing around them. All I have to say is this:

I'm on Tapu the game.
No you're not. It's just a pun for a lame title.

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[0verloud]

Trust me, you don't need to worry about Eggsecutor-A, he's trash. BUT! Kartana walks through your team. You honestly don't need to worry much about any electric types other than Xurkitree, because he's faster than bulu. I'm sorry about your aegislash loss, so you'll have to work around that. But honestly, even with Fini, the fire weakness is REAL. I know aegi's gone now, so you might want to throw on a dragon type, maybe tag out mamoswine for garchomp, and maybe a faster mon that hits real hard, like a rally fast fighting type. Maybe gallade as your mega, if he's back, I haven't checked. But yeah, average looking team. Props to you.

 

[Gensokyo's Tourist]

This is a really cool-looking team! In lieu of Aegislash, have you tried Heatran? It offers a much-needed fire immunity, as well as being able to lure in water, ground, and fighting-types for Bulu.

Maybe gallade as your mega, if he's back, I haven't checked. But yeah, average looking team. Props to you.

Almost 100% positive we don't have M-Gallade yet.