Hi, this is my first post on RMT and this is my first attempt at building a competitive team. I'd describe my team as being balanced as it's not built around any specific Pokemon. Instead the Pokemon work together to setup and check threats. The team is mostly offensive and it's made up of 1 bulky special sweeper, 1 physically defensive Pokemon, 2 bulky physical sweepers and 2 fast physical sweepers. Any and all advice is much appreciated. Thank you in advance!
Togekiss @ Light Clay
Ability: Serene Grace
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Reflect
- Light Screen
- Dazzling Gleam
- Fire Blast
I send Togekiss out first to set up Reflect and Light Screen. I'm not sure if I need both. My team are mostly bulky or fast physical sweepers so perhaps I only need light screen to mitigate damage from special attacks? Dazzling Gleam is a strong STAB move and Fire Blast is used to check steel types such a Ferrothorn and Corviknight. I'm not sure I'm making the most of Togekiss's Serene Grace ability with this moveset but it's other abilities don't seem to have much utility either.
Tyranitar @ Smooth Rock
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Dragon Tail
- Crunch
- Earthquake
- Brick Break
Tyranitar can force the opponent to switch using Dragon Tail. This works great after having used Toxapex and Ferrothorn to set up Toxic Spikes and Spikes respectively. Ferrothorn is immune to sandstorm but the rest of my team are damaged by it. I'm not sure if there is any point using Smooth Rock to extend sandstorm, I'm considering Assualt Vest instead for extra damage output. Crunch is a strong STAB move and Eathquake and Brick Break are for coverage. Brick Break also removes screens but there might be a better way to do this.
Toxapex @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Atk / 252 Def
Impish Nature
- Substitute
- Toxic Spikes
- Knock Off
- Pain Split
Toxapex is physically defensive. He could lead but I usually send out Togekiss first to set up screens. I use Substitute and then set up two layers of Toxic Spikes. Knock Off is for coverage and I like being able the remove my opponents hold item but I'm not sure if it's worth taking up a moveslot for. For a defensive build I'm not sure I'm adequately checking Pokemon that threaten Toxapex. Pain Split works really well with Substitute. Rocky Helmet punishes Pokemon that use contact moves against Toxapex.
Ferrothorn @ Focus Sash
Ability: Iron Barbs
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 SpD
Brave Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Spikes
- Curse
- Gyro Ball
- Power Whip
Spikes stacks with Toxapex's Toxic Spikes and Tyranitar can force switches using Dragon Tail. Curse further lowers Ferrothorn's speeds and makes Gyro Ball a powerful STAB move that checks several OU favourites (Clefable, Cloyster etc.) Power Whip is another powerful STAB move and I find it useful to have at least one Pokemon with a grass move. Ferrothorn is 4x weak to fire and I don't know what to do about it, hence the Focus Sash. Perhaps an Occa berry to halve damage from a super effective fire attacks would be better.
Cloyster @ Leftovers
Ability: Skill Link
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Shell Smash
- Protect
- Icicle Spear
- Rock Blast
Shell Smash raises Atk and Spe by 2 which compliments Cloyster's EV spread. Skill Link allows Icicle Spear and Rock Blast to hit 5x for 125 base damage each. Icicle Spear is also a STAB move and Rock Blast provides coverage. Protect and Leftovers help Cloyster to last longer in battle but regardless he seems to have a lot of weaknesses and it's not uncommon for him to get OHKO'd.
Cinderace @ Life Orb
Ability: Blaze
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Bulk Up
- Pyro Ball
- High Jump Kick
- U-turn
Cinderace was the last Pokemon I added to the team. Initially I had Clefable but I decided it wasn't a good idea to have two Fairy type Pokemon. I don't really like that Cinderace is a pure fire type because I think it makes him quite vulnerable. Due to this and his high Atk and Spe I've opted for a fast physical sweeper spread. Life Orb and Bulk Up allows Cinderace to maximise damage. Pyro Ball is a power STAB move and High Jump Kick is for coverage (checks super-effective Rock types). U-turn is also for coverage and allows me to switch while also doing damage if Cinderace HP begins to get low.
Togekiss @ Light Clay
Ability: Serene Grace
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Reflect
- Light Screen
- Dazzling Gleam
- Fire Blast
I send Togekiss out first to set up Reflect and Light Screen. I'm not sure if I need both. My team are mostly bulky or fast physical sweepers so perhaps I only need light screen to mitigate damage from special attacks? Dazzling Gleam is a strong STAB move and Fire Blast is used to check steel types such a Ferrothorn and Corviknight. I'm not sure I'm making the most of Togekiss's Serene Grace ability with this moveset but it's other abilities don't seem to have much utility either.
Tyranitar @ Smooth Rock
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Dragon Tail
- Crunch
- Earthquake
- Brick Break
Tyranitar can force the opponent to switch using Dragon Tail. This works great after having used Toxapex and Ferrothorn to set up Toxic Spikes and Spikes respectively. Ferrothorn is immune to sandstorm but the rest of my team are damaged by it. I'm not sure if there is any point using Smooth Rock to extend sandstorm, I'm considering Assualt Vest instead for extra damage output. Crunch is a strong STAB move and Eathquake and Brick Break are for coverage. Brick Break also removes screens but there might be a better way to do this.
Toxapex @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Atk / 252 Def
Impish Nature
- Substitute
- Toxic Spikes
- Knock Off
- Pain Split
Toxapex is physically defensive. He could lead but I usually send out Togekiss first to set up screens. I use Substitute and then set up two layers of Toxic Spikes. Knock Off is for coverage and I like being able the remove my opponents hold item but I'm not sure if it's worth taking up a moveslot for. For a defensive build I'm not sure I'm adequately checking Pokemon that threaten Toxapex. Pain Split works really well with Substitute. Rocky Helmet punishes Pokemon that use contact moves against Toxapex.
Ferrothorn @ Focus Sash
Ability: Iron Barbs
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 SpD
Brave Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Spikes
- Curse
- Gyro Ball
- Power Whip
Spikes stacks with Toxapex's Toxic Spikes and Tyranitar can force switches using Dragon Tail. Curse further lowers Ferrothorn's speeds and makes Gyro Ball a powerful STAB move that checks several OU favourites (Clefable, Cloyster etc.) Power Whip is another powerful STAB move and I find it useful to have at least one Pokemon with a grass move. Ferrothorn is 4x weak to fire and I don't know what to do about it, hence the Focus Sash. Perhaps an Occa berry to halve damage from a super effective fire attacks would be better.
Cloyster @ Leftovers
Ability: Skill Link
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Shell Smash
- Protect
- Icicle Spear
- Rock Blast
Shell Smash raises Atk and Spe by 2 which compliments Cloyster's EV spread. Skill Link allows Icicle Spear and Rock Blast to hit 5x for 125 base damage each. Icicle Spear is also a STAB move and Rock Blast provides coverage. Protect and Leftovers help Cloyster to last longer in battle but regardless he seems to have a lot of weaknesses and it's not uncommon for him to get OHKO'd.
Cinderace @ Life Orb
Ability: Blaze
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Bulk Up
- Pyro Ball
- High Jump Kick
- U-turn
Cinderace was the last Pokemon I added to the team. Initially I had Clefable but I decided it wasn't a good idea to have two Fairy type Pokemon. I don't really like that Cinderace is a pure fire type because I think it makes him quite vulnerable. Due to this and his high Atk and Spe I've opted for a fast physical sweeper spread. Life Orb and Bulk Up allows Cinderace to maximise damage. Pyro Ball is a power STAB move and High Jump Kick is for coverage (checks super-effective Rock types). U-turn is also for coverage and allows me to switch while also doing damage if Cinderace HP begins to get low.
