Psychic spam rmt

ass_lord

Hi! I’ve been playing vgc for a long time now, and I want to try OU. I made a psychic spam team featuring my favorite Pokémon, alakazam. Here is the team and descriptions:





Tapu Lele @ Choice Specs

Ability: Psychic Surge

EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe

Timid Nature

IVs: 0 Atk

- Psychic

- Psyshock

- Moonblast

- Focus Blast



Tapu lele is my terrain setter of choice. It is one of the hardest hitters in my team, especially with specs. Psychic is for stab, psyschock is for things like blissey and g-slowking. Moonblast is fairy stab, and focus blast is good coverage.

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Alakazam @ Life Orb

Ability: Magic Guard

EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe

Timid Nature

IVs: 0 Atk

- Expanding Force

- Shadow Ball

- Focus Blast

- Nasty Plot



Alakazam has alway been a favorite of mine, and after using him on this team, I like him every more! Expanding force is absolutely monstrous in terrain. Shadow ball and focus blast are good coverage moves, and nasty plot is to set up and sweep. Stall is extremely easy to beat because a magic guard prevents all passive forms of damage.

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Magnezone @ Choice Specs

Ability: Magnet Pull

EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe

Modest Nature

IVs: 0 Atk

- Thunderbolt

- Flash Cannon

- Body Press

- Volt Switch



Magnezone’s role is to trap steel types that wall lele and alakazam. I still run into problems against scizor, but most other steel types are wrecked by zone. I was not sure about the items or spread, so I used the most popular ones on pikalytics.



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Landorus-Therian (M) @ Leftovers

Ability: Intimidate

EVs: 248 HP / 8 Def / 252 SpD

Careful Nature

- Earthquake

- U-turn

- Defog

- Toxic



Lando-t is pretty standard, it helps me beat a lot of threats like heatran and zeraora. I put defog over rocks because I already had rocks and defog seemed nice to prevent chip on lele.

461-0.png


Weavile @ Heavy-Duty Boots

Ability: Pressure

EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe

Jolly Nature

- Knock Off

- Triple Axel

- Ice Shard

- Swords Dance



I wanted another offensive threat on the team, but couldn’t figure out what to choose. After a lot of testing, I found weaving had the best results. It can easily take out bulky psychics that was my other 2 attackers, and it can clean games when lele and Sam have weakened most other mons.

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234.png


Swampert @ Leftovers

Ability: Damp

EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpD

Careful Nature

- Flip Turn

- Stealth Rock

- Earthquake

- Toxic



My stealth rocker of choice, and the one Pokémon that I am the most unsure of on this team. I chose it because it could flip turn into lele after setting rocks, and it provided an additional counter to heatran.



What do you think I should add or remove?
 
Hey ass_lord, welcome to Smogon. I’m here to rate your team and suggest some changes.

Psyspam can be a cool idea as Tapu Lele :tapu lele: is an excellent offensive threat in the current SS OU metagame. Alakazam :alakazam: is extremely rare however, but I don’t think it can’t have its niche. Expanding force is nasty with Psychic Terrain support and Magic Guard is an incredible ability. Magnezone :magnezone: helps a lot this duo as both Tapu Lele and Alakazam may be annoyed by Steel types like Corviknight and Ferrothorn. Landorus-T :landorus-therian: is a staple in this metagame, and SpD variant are becoming more and more popular as they act as a nice Dragapult and Heatran check. Speaking of staple, Weavile :weavile: is one of the best offensive threat. It can fit here as a Ghost resist and a physical breaker to support the Lele + Zam duo. The last pick which is Swampert :swampert: is a bit odd. I don’t think that you need a SpD Swampert when you already have a Landorus-T that does pretty much the same job but better. You rather have another bulky Water type here that brings a more than needed Water resistance.

Thus, the team is great overall. The base idea is nice, and you’ve understood how to support the psyspam core of the team. I have some changes to suggest especially on some of your sets and on Swampert slot. Let’s dive into it!


Major changes:

:swampert: -> :tapu fini:: Already talked about it in the intro, but Swampert is rather mediocre right now, and here he doesn’t bring anything as it does the same job than Landorus-T. This team may struggle against Urshifu-R (you have no Surging Strikes switch-ins, and Urshifu-R comes on your Weavile) and Weavile (Magnezone can switch-in but not often and it can come in to threaten Tapu Lele and Alakazam). Moreover, removing Swampert means the team may have troubles dealing with Heatran as Landorus-T can’t check it repeatedly. Thus, I think that Tapu Fini, which is a good check to the three aforementioned threats would fit very well here. As the team lacks a bit of speed with Alakazam as your fastest Pokemon, I would suggest using a Choice Scarf offensive Tapu Fini set. You can also fit Defog in this set, so that you can keep a Rocker with Lando-T. Here is the set I would use:

tapufini.gif

Tapu Fini @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Misty Surge
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Hydro Pump
- Moonblast
- Defog
- Trick


Minor changes:

:alakazam:: This thing hits hard with a Life Orb, but on a Nastly Plot set, I think that a Focus Sash would be interesting, it can ease a setup attempt for a late game sweep when faster foes are removed and it makes it way harder to revenge kill. Shadow Ball is an interesting coverage option, but Dazzling Gleam could be a nice move too as it helps against Dark types without risking a Focus Blast miss. Shadow Ball has some advantages, but as Slowking is way less common now, it doesn’t feel mandatory so Dazzling Gleam could be an option.

alakazam.gif

Alakazam @ Focus Sash
Ability: Magic Guard
EVs: 252 SpA /4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Nasty Plot
- Expanding Force
- Focus Blast
- Shadow Ball / Dazzling Gleam


:magnezone:: Specs Magnezone hits hard, but I don’t think you need its firepower here and you rather be able to trap and efficiently remove Ferrothorn, while having some defensive utility in case Tapu Fini gets overwhelmed. I would use an Iron Defense Body Press set with the classic spread that is just below:

magnezone.gif

Magnezone @ Leftovers
Ability: Magnet Pull
EVs: 172 HP / 252 Def / 84 Spe
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Iron Defense
- Body Press
- Thunderbolt
- Substitute


:landorus-therian: Specially defensive Lando-T fits well in this team (and in most balance), and you can just change Defog for Rocks as Tapu Fini is your Defogger in this new version of the team.


:tapu lele:: The moveset is fine and I would just suggest using Modest Tapu Lele instead of Timid because there’s not much things you’ll outspeed with a Timid nature and the little power boost is great. But that’s not a big deal to be fair.


That’s all for the changes, here is the past of the new team, feel free to try it out:

Tapu Lele @ Choice Specs
Ability: Psychic Surge
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Psyshock
- Moonblast
- Focus Blast
- Psychic

Alakazam @ Focus Sash
Ability: Magic Guard
EVs: 252 SpA /4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Nasty Plot
- Expanding Force
- Focus Blast
- Shadow Ball

Magnezone @ Leftovers
Ability: Magnet Pull
EVs: 172 HP / 252 Def / 84 Spe
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Iron Defense
- Body Press
- Thunderbolt
- Substitute

Landorus-Therian (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Careful Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- U-turn
- Toxic

Tapu Fini @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Misty Surge
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Hydro Pump
- Moonblast
- Defog
- Trick

Weavile @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- Triple Axel
- Knock Off
- Ice Shard

Hope this was helpful, have a nice day!
 
ironwater said:
Hey ass_lord, welcome to Smogon. I’m here to rate your team and suggest some changes.

Psyspam can be a cool idea as Tapu Lele :tapu lele: is an excellent offensive threat in the current SS OU metagame. Alakazam :alakazam: is extremely rare however, but I don’t think it can’t have its niche. Expanding force is nasty with Psychic Terrain support and Magic Guard is an incredible ability. Magnezone :magnezone: helps a lot this duo as both Tapu Lele and Alakazam may be annoyed by Steel types like Corviknight and Ferrothorn. Landorus-T :landorus-therian: is a staple in this metagame, and SpD variant are becoming more and more popular as they act as a nice Dragapult and Heatran check. Speaking of staple, Weavile :weavile: is one of the best offensive threat. It can fit here as a Ghost resist and a physical breaker to support the Lele + Zam duo. The last pick which is Swampert :swampert: is a bit odd. I don’t think that you need a SpD Swampert when you already have a Landorus-T that does pretty much the same job but better. You rather have another bulky Water type here that brings a more than needed Water resistance.

Thus, the team is great overall. The base idea is nice, and you’ve understood how to support the psyspam core of the team. I have some changes to suggest especially on some of your sets and on Swampert slot. Let’s dive into it!


Major changes:

:swampert: -> :tapu fini:: Already talked about it in the intro, but Swampert is rather mediocre right now, and here he doesn’t bring anything as it does the same job than Landorus-T. This team may struggle against Urshifu-R (you have no Surging Strikes switch-ins, and Urshifu-R comes on your Weavile) and Weavile (Magnezone can switch-in but not often and it can come in to threaten Tapu Lele and Alakazam). Moreover, removing Swampert means the team may have troubles dealing with Heatran as Landorus-T can’t check it repeatedly. Thus, I think that Tapu Fini, which is a good check to the three aforementioned threats would fit very well here. As the team lacks a bit of speed with Alakazam as your fastest Pokemon, I would suggest using a Choice Scarf offensive Tapu Fini set. You can also fit Defog in this set, so that you can keep a Rocker with Lando-T. Here is the set I would use:

View attachment 374112
Tapu Fini @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Misty Surge
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Hydro Pump
- Moonblast
- Defog
- Trick


Minor changes:

:alakazam:: This thing hits hard with a Life Orb, but on a Nastly Plot set, I think that a Focus Sash would be interesting, it can ease a setup attempt for a late game sweep when faster foes are removed and it makes it way harder to revenge kill. Shadow Ball is an interesting coverage option, but Dazzling Gleam could be a nice move too as it helps against Dark types without risking a Focus Blast miss. Shadow Ball has some advantages, but as Slowking is way less common now, it doesn’t feel mandatory so Dazzling Gleam could be an option.

View attachment 374110
Alakazam @ Focus Sash
Ability: Magic Guard
EVs: 252 SpA /4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Nasty Plot
- Expanding Force
- Focus Blast
- Shadow Ball / Dazzling Gleam


:magnezone:: Specs Magnezone hits hard, but I don’t think you need its firepower here and you rather be able to trap and efficiently remove Ferrothorn, while having some defensive utility in case Tapu Fini gets overwhelmed. I would use an Iron Defense Body Press set with the classic spread that is just below:

View attachment 374111
Magnezone @ Leftovers
Ability: Magnet Pull
EVs: 172 HP / 252 Def / 84 Spe
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Iron Defense
- Body Press
- Thunderbolt
- Substitute


:landorus-therian: Specially defensive Lando-T fits well in this team (and in most balance), and you can just change Defog for Rocks as Tapu Fini is your Defogger in this new version of the team.


:tapu lele:: The moveset is fine and I would just suggest using Modest Tapu Lele instead of Timid because there’s not much things you’ll outspeed with a Timid nature and the little power boost is great. But that’s not a big deal to be fair.


That’s all for the changes, here is the past of the new team, feel free to try it out:

Tapu Lele @ Choice Specs
Ability: Psychic Surge
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Psyshock
- Moonblast
- Focus Blast
- Psychic

Alakazam @ Focus Sash
Ability: Magic Guard
EVs: 252 SpA /4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Nasty Plot
- Expanding Force
- Focus Blast
- Shadow Ball

Magnezone @ Leftovers
Ability: Magnet Pull
EVs: 172 HP / 252 Def / 84 Spe
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Iron Defense
- Body Press
- Thunderbolt
- Substitute

Landorus-Therian (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Careful Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- U-turn
- Toxic

Tapu Fini @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Misty Surge
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Hydro Pump
- Moonblast
- Defog
- Trick

Weavile @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- Triple Axel
- Knock Off
- Ice Shard

Hope this was helpful, have a nice day!
Click to expand...

I know it's a little old now but what about Toxic > Sub on Magnezone? Sub pins it in most MU's especially VS Landorus and your only two defensive checks Fini and Landorus get worn down between Toxic / Knock Off and EQ. This also makes it harder to keep rocks out, which isn't an issue for your offensive threats, rather Landorus and Fini as their recovery is very limited and rocks slowly chip them to limited turns. Toxic advances progress for Zone to be more threatening to the rest of the members of an opposing team once Landorus is gone, which is very good in MU's with plenty of steels and zone checks.
 
Smashburn said:
I know it's a little old now but what about Toxic > Sub on Magnezone? Sub pins it in most MU's especially VS Landorus and your only two defensive checks Fini and Landorus get worn down between Toxic / Knock Off and EQ. This also makes it harder to keep rocks out, which isn't an issue for your offensive threats, rather Landorus and Fini as their recovery is very limited and rocks slowly chip them to limited turns. Toxic advances progress for Zone to be more threatening to the rest of the members of an opposing team once Landorus is gone, which is very good in MU's with plenty of steels and zone checks.
Click to expand...

Hey Smashburn,

Substitute's main use on Magnezone is to avoid taking a Leech Seed against Ferrothorn as you are traping it, but also ending the one vs one boosted and behind a Sub against it. Now, it's true that when the opponent doesn't have a Ferrothorn Substitute is not that much useful. Toxic is an option over it, but I think that Flash Cannon is a better one. This is because you can chip Landorus-T faster while threatening some Pokemon like Clefable for instance. Here, as Landorus-T is already able to click Toxic on opposing Landorus, Flash Cannon would make more sens if you want to replace Substitute on Magnezone.
 
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