So, this is my third competitive team and my first in gen 6, and I have high hopes for this team. Like the title implies, I have no hazard Pokemon (cause I'm a little tired of hazards after using them with Ferrothorn so much last gen), and I'm really just dipping my toe into the new metagame. I would appreciate any feedback. Thanks everyone!
Charizard Y @ Charizardite Y
Ability: Drought
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spe
Naive Nature
- Fire Blast
- Solar Beam
- Flare Blitz
- Focus Blast
This is the Pokemon I have most doubts with. I plan on using CharY as my lead, thus avoiding traps like stealth rock that could potentially cripple it while checking common hazard leads such as Ferrothorn, Galvantula, and Skarmory. Problem is, I'm not sure how effective it is using CharY instead of a hazard lead. Last gen I used Ferrothorn, but this gen I wanted to do something different (i.e. roll without any hazards). I would really like some input on this choice. Anyway, I have Solar Beam to counter Greninja, Cloyster, Vaporeon, and all the other water types running rampant in the metagame (Drought really helps me take them on without taking too much damage), and I'm going with a Naive set in order to have better coverage against specially bulky Pokemon. Focus Blast hits hard against any Rock types that may threaten Charizard (Not that there are really that much in the metagame right now, but it definitely helps), but most importantly allows it to counter Tyranitar, which currently seems to be one of its biggest threats.
Aegislash @ Life Orb
Ability: Stance Change
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def
Adamant Nature
- Shadow Sneak
- King's Shield
- Swords Dance
- Iron Head
Aegislash serves the same purpose everyone else's Aegislash seems to. I'll switch in Aegislash onto one of its many resistances, set up turn 1 with Sword Dance, and proceed to either Shadow Sneak or Shield depending on the situation. Aegislash's primary purpose on my team is to serve as a physical attacker with monstrous power due to the life orb, thus having a very viable Shadow Sneak even if it can't get off a Swords Dance, and the ability to switch in in its defensive form to avoid damage is the icing on the cake. Iron Head is there for hitting last after switching in, thus allowing it to stay in Shield form until the other Pokemon has already been dealt damage, and then proceeding to use Shadow Sneak to finish it off. The next turn, I go back into Shield Form, and repeat the process. If I can get a Swords Dance off somewhere in there, even better.
Sylveon @ Leftovers
Ability: Cute Charm
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SAtk
Bold Nature
- Substitute
- Calm Mind
- Moon BLast
- Shadow Ball
Sylveon serves as my Special Wall, and its Fairy type gives it the boon of being able to switch in to Dragon type attacks. Sylveon will set up witch substitute, which works very well due to solid HP and nature boosted Defense, and then Calm Mind to raise the power of Moon Blast and Shadow Ball. Sylveon will be incredibly hard to take down by any special attacker after one Calm Mind boost, and Substitute will give me some maneuverability against even physical Pokemon. Cute Charm also gives me the chance to infatuate an opponent's male physical Pokemon- unlikely, but it may force a switch, giving me another turn to set up.
Haxorus @ Focus Sash
Ability: Mold Breaker
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Spe / 4 HP
Adamant Nature
- Dragon Dance
- Dragon Claw
- Earthquake
- Poison Jab
Haxorus serves as my primary sweeper, with access to dragon dance. I didn't want to get stuck in Outrage when there are fairy pokemon in the metagame, so I went with the safer option Dragon Claw. Focus Sash is there because I plan on sending it out after all elemental hazards have been dealt with, thus allowing it to get at least one DD off. My team depends a lot on Haxorus setting up with Dragon Dance, as it is the only Pokemon on my team that can sweep with both speed and attack, as I only have one Pokemon with speed over 100, and the mon has a choice item, making it hard to sweep. Poison Jab also allows me to counter Togekiss, as it is immune to both Earthquake and Dragon Claw, and also allows it to switch into slower Fairy types and take them down with a surprise factor.
Starmie @ Choice Specs
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 252 SAtk / 252 Spe / 4SpD
Timid Nature
- Thunderbolt
- Surf
- Rapid Spin
- Ice Beam
My Rapid Spinner. Starmie is there for either rapid spinning and getting out (in case stealth rock is up and Charizard/Haxorus is still alive) or wreaking destruction through its moveset. Ice Beam is there because dragons like Garchomp, Salemence, and Dragonite still lurk in the metagame, and I'd rather face them with Starmie than with Sylveon, as Starmie is faster than all of those options unboosted and can hit for 4x damage. While it may seem a little strange that I have Starmie in even though CharY makes it weaker due to Drought, I can still hit Fire types with a STAB Hydro Pump, albeit severely weakened, and since Drought only lasts five turns it allows Starmie to remain viable on my team. Really, I can wait out those five turns and then send out Starmie to spin out those hazards, as long as I send it out before Haxorus or Charizard enter (or, in Charizard's case, re-enter) the battle.
Bisharp @ Choice Band
Ability: Defiant
EVs: 252 Atk/ 252 Spe / 4 Def
Jolly Nature
- Knock Off
- Sucker Punch
- Pursuit
- Iron Head
My "experimental" Pokemon. I'm just testing out how well Bisharp can do in the new metagame, especially with the Knock Off boost and the emergence of Sticky Web. If Sticky Web is up on the field, Bisharp can switch in and get a free attack boost from it, and thus make its already Choice Band enhanced Sucker Punch nearly unstoppable. Knock Off's boost this generation gives Bisharp a move that is powerful enough that, even if it is stuck in a Choice Band pattern, can do major damage to Pokemon that resist it as well. I'm not quite sure on the EV spread on Bisharp, as its speed is too low for it to outspeed much of anything in the OU metagame even with full EVs in speed, so I'm wondering if it would be better to put those EVs into defense.
Charizard Y @ Charizardite Y
Ability: Drought
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spe
Naive Nature
- Fire Blast
- Solar Beam
- Flare Blitz
- Focus Blast
This is the Pokemon I have most doubts with. I plan on using CharY as my lead, thus avoiding traps like stealth rock that could potentially cripple it while checking common hazard leads such as Ferrothorn, Galvantula, and Skarmory. Problem is, I'm not sure how effective it is using CharY instead of a hazard lead. Last gen I used Ferrothorn, but this gen I wanted to do something different (i.e. roll without any hazards). I would really like some input on this choice. Anyway, I have Solar Beam to counter Greninja, Cloyster, Vaporeon, and all the other water types running rampant in the metagame (Drought really helps me take them on without taking too much damage), and I'm going with a Naive set in order to have better coverage against specially bulky Pokemon. Focus Blast hits hard against any Rock types that may threaten Charizard (Not that there are really that much in the metagame right now, but it definitely helps), but most importantly allows it to counter Tyranitar, which currently seems to be one of its biggest threats.
Aegislash @ Life Orb
Ability: Stance Change
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def
Adamant Nature
- Shadow Sneak
- King's Shield
- Swords Dance
- Iron Head
Aegislash serves the same purpose everyone else's Aegislash seems to. I'll switch in Aegislash onto one of its many resistances, set up turn 1 with Sword Dance, and proceed to either Shadow Sneak or Shield depending on the situation. Aegislash's primary purpose on my team is to serve as a physical attacker with monstrous power due to the life orb, thus having a very viable Shadow Sneak even if it can't get off a Swords Dance, and the ability to switch in in its defensive form to avoid damage is the icing on the cake. Iron Head is there for hitting last after switching in, thus allowing it to stay in Shield form until the other Pokemon has already been dealt damage, and then proceeding to use Shadow Sneak to finish it off. The next turn, I go back into Shield Form, and repeat the process. If I can get a Swords Dance off somewhere in there, even better.
Sylveon @ Leftovers
Ability: Cute Charm
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SAtk
Bold Nature
- Substitute
- Calm Mind
- Moon BLast
- Shadow Ball
Sylveon serves as my Special Wall, and its Fairy type gives it the boon of being able to switch in to Dragon type attacks. Sylveon will set up witch substitute, which works very well due to solid HP and nature boosted Defense, and then Calm Mind to raise the power of Moon Blast and Shadow Ball. Sylveon will be incredibly hard to take down by any special attacker after one Calm Mind boost, and Substitute will give me some maneuverability against even physical Pokemon. Cute Charm also gives me the chance to infatuate an opponent's male physical Pokemon- unlikely, but it may force a switch, giving me another turn to set up.
Haxorus @ Focus Sash
Ability: Mold Breaker
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Spe / 4 HP
Adamant Nature
- Dragon Dance
- Dragon Claw
- Earthquake
- Poison Jab
Haxorus serves as my primary sweeper, with access to dragon dance. I didn't want to get stuck in Outrage when there are fairy pokemon in the metagame, so I went with the safer option Dragon Claw. Focus Sash is there because I plan on sending it out after all elemental hazards have been dealt with, thus allowing it to get at least one DD off. My team depends a lot on Haxorus setting up with Dragon Dance, as it is the only Pokemon on my team that can sweep with both speed and attack, as I only have one Pokemon with speed over 100, and the mon has a choice item, making it hard to sweep. Poison Jab also allows me to counter Togekiss, as it is immune to both Earthquake and Dragon Claw, and also allows it to switch into slower Fairy types and take them down with a surprise factor.
Starmie @ Choice Specs
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 252 SAtk / 252 Spe / 4SpD
Timid Nature
- Thunderbolt
- Surf
- Rapid Spin
- Ice Beam
My Rapid Spinner. Starmie is there for either rapid spinning and getting out (in case stealth rock is up and Charizard/Haxorus is still alive) or wreaking destruction through its moveset. Ice Beam is there because dragons like Garchomp, Salemence, and Dragonite still lurk in the metagame, and I'd rather face them with Starmie than with Sylveon, as Starmie is faster than all of those options unboosted and can hit for 4x damage. While it may seem a little strange that I have Starmie in even though CharY makes it weaker due to Drought, I can still hit Fire types with a STAB Hydro Pump, albeit severely weakened, and since Drought only lasts five turns it allows Starmie to remain viable on my team. Really, I can wait out those five turns and then send out Starmie to spin out those hazards, as long as I send it out before Haxorus or Charizard enter (or, in Charizard's case, re-enter) the battle.
Bisharp @ Choice Band
Ability: Defiant
EVs: 252 Atk/ 252 Spe / 4 Def
Jolly Nature
- Knock Off
- Sucker Punch
- Pursuit
- Iron Head
My "experimental" Pokemon. I'm just testing out how well Bisharp can do in the new metagame, especially with the Knock Off boost and the emergence of Sticky Web. If Sticky Web is up on the field, Bisharp can switch in and get a free attack boost from it, and thus make its already Choice Band enhanced Sucker Punch nearly unstoppable. Knock Off's boost this generation gives Bisharp a move that is powerful enough that, even if it is stuck in a Choice Band pattern, can do major damage to Pokemon that resist it as well. I'm not quite sure on the EV spread on Bisharp, as its speed is too low for it to outspeed much of anything in the OU metagame even with full EVs in speed, so I'm wondering if it would be better to put those EVs into defense.
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