ORAS NU Oxymoron (peaked #1)

[carcy]

Oxymoron (peaked #1)

Introduction
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Hello, I'm carcy and this is my first RMT. Ever since Sceptile left NU, Lanturn's usage has been increasing, and with good reason: not much can compress so many roles in one slot like the fish can. It can be very annoying to play against, which is why I suggested my friend Orphic we build a team using the one true Lanturn counter: CB Water Absorb Quagsire. Surprisingly, the team proved to be quite consistent - I went 47-5 on my test alt (Cthru) and it quickly became one of my favourite teams. I topped the ladder with it on my main, and got 5 more alts to top 10 (although this wasn't the only team I used, but it was the main one). Anyway, I thought I'd share it so everyone can enjoy countering Lanturn.
Edit: This team went through some changes after May drops (one major change was replacing Quagsire), but it's still very consistent.

Proof of peak

kleh, Klehtest, gimme lessons, C thru and slase are the other alts I used.

The Team
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damp meme (Quagsire) @ Choice Band
Ability: Water Absorb
EVs: 96 HP / 252 Atk / 160 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Waterfall
- Earthquake
- Ice Punch
- Stone Edge
The star of the team. One of the best Lanturn counters, but it also checks other Water-types that lack a Grass move (Barbaracle, Samurott, Kabutops), as well as providing a useful Electric immunity. Waterfall and Earthquake are STAB, Ice Punch hits Grass-types such as Shiftry and Lilligant hard and Stone Edge is useful for Scyther, Mantine and Pelipper. The Speed EVs let you tie with 40 EVs base 50s.

damp meme v2 (Gastrodon) @ Leftovers ​

Ability: Storm Drain
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpA / 4 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Earth Power
- Scald
- Sludge Wave
- Recover

With the new tier shifts, Quagsire rose to OU which meant I had to find a suitable replacement. Fortunately, Gastrodon dropped and it does Quag's job perfectly. It's a safe switch in for most Lanturn, but also helps check Aggron, Steelix and even Rotom if absolutely necessary. TTFTW suggested this set and it's been putting in work. It has good coverage with it's STABs alone, only missing out on Grass types. The third slot is a choice between Ice Beam and Sludge Wave. I chose Sludge Wave because it only misses out on Roselia, Vileplume and Gourgeist, while hitting Ludicolo, Abomasnow and Audino-Mega super effectively. Recover in the final slot improves Gastro's durability, letting it do its job more consistently during the match.

shagmortar (Magmortar) @ Assault Vest
Ability: Vital Spirit
EVs: 40 HP / 252 SpA / 216 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk / 30 SpA
- Fire Blast
- Thunderbolt
- Hidden Power [Grass]
- Flame Charge

Magmortar was the obvious second pick, since it greatly appreciates Lanturn gone and covers Grass-types that come in trying to revenge Quagsire. It also gives me a nice Jynx check. Fire Blast is a high-powered STAB while Thunderbolt covers Water-types such as Mantine. Hidden Power Grass is used over Focus Blast because I really don't want to miss vs a Rhydon. Flame Charge makes Magmortar a good late game cleaner, 216 Speed EVs ensure it outspeeds Swellow at +1.

try not to (Xatu) @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Magic Bounce
EVs: 252 HP / 240 Def / 16 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Psyshock
- Roost
- Thunder Wave Grass Knot
- U-turn

Xatu is the first half of my hazard control duo. It gives me a fighting check, a good pivot and Speed control for Quagsire to take advantage off. With Rocky Helmet it beats Steelix 1v1 and makes other contact attackers take chip damage, such as Primeape and Hitmonchan. Psyshock is my choice over Psychic to hit Hariyama harder, Roost is reliable recovery, Thunder Wave slows down Pokemon like Tauros in a pinch, and U-turn generates momentum.
edit: swapped out Thunder Wave for Grass Knot, helps a lot with luring and KOing Rhydon. Also 2HKOes CB Aggron after rocks so it isn't a free switch in.

handshake (Scyther) @ Eviolite
Ability: Technician
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- U-turn
- Aerial Ace
- Swords Dance
- Roost

Scyther is my second Fighting resist and my wincon. It appreciates Quagsire beating most Rock- and Steel-types, while also getting a free switch and possibly setup on Grass-types. This set is standard bulky SD, Roost increases longevity, U-turn hits Psychic- and Dark-types hard while gaining momentum. Swords Dance + Aerial Ace sweep when Scyther checks are weakened.

really old spice (Skuntank) @ Black Sludge
Ability: Aftermath
EVs: 252 SpA / 108 SpD / 148 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Dark Pulse
- Acid Spray
- Fire Blast
- Defog

Skuntank is an another form of hazard control because Scyther really needs no Stealth Rock up on its side of the field. It's also a Psychic immunity, Shiftry check and CM Musharna/Mega Audino check. I chose Black Sludge over Expert Belt or Life Orb for more longevity. Dark Pulse is a reliable STAB, Acid Spray is a nice tech to beat Calm Mind Pokemon as well as break through passive walls such as Cradily. Fire Blast is mandatory on special Skuntank to hit Steelix and Vileplume hard.

regi to rock (Regirock) @ Leftovers
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 252 HP / 44 Atk / 16 Def / 196 SpD 252 HP / 16 Def / 240 SpD
Impish Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Stone Edge
- Thunder Wave
- Earthquake ​

Regirock is my Normal resist, Fire resist, Knock Off sponge and Stealth Rock setter. I chose the standard EV spread from the Smogon analysis, although it could probably use some optimization. Again, Stone Edge is a good STAB that hits Xatu hard, Thunder Wave helps vs faster threats, which is important since scyther is my fastest Pokemon. Earthquake is mostly filler, but it chips Steelix and does decent damage to Hitmonchan.
edit: changed the Regirock set like PrinceLucian suggested, the 44 Atk EV's weren't as beneficial as being able to check Charizard/Pyroar/Magmortar more consistently.

Threatlist

Samurott/Ludicolo - Water-types that can get past Quagsire can be difficult to deal with, especially special Samurott. Playing around them requires a lot of doubling and scaring them out.
Fun fact: 252+ Atk Choice Band Quagsire Earthquake vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Ludicolo: 135-159 (44.8 - 52.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock

Dual Dance Rhydon - the biggest threat to this team, sets up on 4/6 members. Only way of beating it is keeping Quagsire healthy or hoping it tries to set up on Magmortar

Importable

damp meme v2 (Gastrodon) @ Leftovers
Ability: Storm Drain
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpA / 4 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Earth Power
- Scald
- Sludge Wave
- Recover

shagmortar (Magmortar) @ Assault Vest
Ability: Vital Spirit
EVs: 40 HP / 252 SpA / 216 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk / 30 SpA
- Fire Blast
- Thunderbolt
- Hidden Power [Grass]
- Flame Charge

try not to (Xatu) @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Magic Bounce
EVs: 252 HP / 240 Def / 16 Spe
Timid Nature
- Psyshock
- Roost
- Grass Knot
- U-turn

handshake (Scyther) @ Eviolite
Ability: Technician
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- U-turn
- Aerial Ace
- Swords Dance
- Roost

really old spice (Skuntank) @ Black Sludge
Ability: Aftermath
EVs: 252 SpA / 108 SpD / 148 Spe
Modest Nature
- Dark Pulse
- Acid Spray
- Fire Blast
- Defog

regi to rock (Regirock) @ Leftovers
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 252 HP / 16 Def / 240 SpD
Impish Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Stone Edge
- Thunder Wave
- Earthquake

Conclusion

This is by no means the best team, but it's extremely fun. I've gotten some quite positive feedback from TTFTW and Prince Lucian when they tried it out which actually lead to this RMT. I also encourage everyone to give it a shot and/or suggest potential changes. Happy rating!

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[PrinceLucian]

Hello ma boi Carcy, this is already a solid team so obviously there isnt much to change,ill just drop few little things to help with threats like DD Rhydon and bop some water types a bit better, CB Quagsire is pretty cool set and there arent many teams with it, serves as lanturn counter which is helpful for balanced teams like this,and it hits pretty hard.

Sturdy > Clear Body , sturdy has proven to be really useful in many games I played with regirock and lets it stop set up sweepers that may threaten the team with thunder wave, clear body isnt that useful as regirock is played very defensively. I swapped the spread and removed atk Evs as they arent helping much and having a bit more special bulk is always useful.

set

regi to rock (Regirock) @ Leftovers
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 252 HP / 16 Def / 240 SpD
Impish Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Stone Edge
- Thunder Wave
- Earthquake

Grass Knot > Thunder Wave , I find grass knot to be pretty good option over thunder wave as it stops Rhydon and bops water types that try to switch into xatu, thunder wave is a nice move that support balanced teams as well but its a good option to try out.

:]

 

[TTFTW]

tfw the star of your team moves out of the tier the second you rmt this :( maybe like gastro over quag to fix the lanturn weakness you'd have by replacing quag with any other water

 

[carcy]

I would like to thank both of you, TTFTW and PrinceLucian, for your rates and suggestions - I implemented all of them and tested them on the ladder. They proved extremely helpful in making the team more consistent: for example, there has been a good number of Rhydons that Grass Knot Xatu lured in and KOed. Although I was sceptic at first, Gastrodon has also been working really well - I've found a lot of teams unprepared to take it on due to its bulk, decent power and reliable recovery.

One more thing I wanted to say: I believe this team is handling the new drops (Aggron, Smeargle and Gastrodon) decently. Smeargle usually can't get past Xatu, even if it has Nuzzle. Aggron doesn't get free switches on any Pokemon except Scyther, who can U-turn out on the switch. Gastrodon may seem problematic, but between HP Grass on Magmortar and Grass Knot on Xatu, it's checked relatively well. If anyone else has any thoughts on this, feel free to share them.

 

[Praeda]

Been using the team and it's going pretty well. Just wondering if you have a proper way in dealing with sun/rain teams? Pokemon like Ludicolo really rek this team so it requires you to predict a lot to stall out the weather before you can win the game. Iunnooooo, have you had this issue Carcy?

 

[carcy]

Been using the team and it's going pretty well. Just wondering if you have a proper way in dealing with sun/rain teams? Pokemon like Ludicolo really rek this team so it requires you to predict a lot to stall out the weather before you can win the game. Iunnooooo, have you had this issue Carcy?

Hello, Praeda. You have a pretty good matchup vs sun with Magmortar, Skuntank and even Sturdy Regirock in a pinch. You can usually afford to sack Gastrodon vs those kinds of teams to gain momentum and play aggressively with Xatu to keep hazards off. Scyther also can chew a HP Fire from sth like Exeggutor and KO back.

Rain teams are trickier to deal with, especially with Quag gone. Usually you keep Scyther as healthy as possible cause it chews a hit from Ludicolo and KOs back. That implies, however, that you keep hazards off with Xatu. In the same vein, if you keep Regirock at max health, you can Thunder Wave one of the opponents rain abusers. Gastrodon is key to deal with Kabutops and non HP Grass Omastar, so you need to keep it as healthy as possible. Preferably use Skuntank to deal with the opponents Rain setters, maybe even prevent sth like Mesprit from getting Stealth Rock up. Magmortar usually doesn't do much vs that kind of teams, so don't be afraid of sacking it. It's still a relatively tough matchup, but definitely not unwinnable.

In general, weather teams struggle vs stuff they can't OHKO, so sacking Pokemon that are not important and keeping those important healthy usually wins you the match. However, don't sack without a reason - you need to know what you're gaining by doing so and if it's worth it.