Rate my team: OU, Heavy on sweepers.

[DJT]

I am new to playing Pokemon competitively, but I'm giving it a go, as ?I had a blast playing with this team for a while now. This is for Standard OU, but I would like to keep it legal for Item Clause as well, in case it comes up.


AT A GLANCE:

(Jolteon) (F) @ Zap Plate
Ability: Volt Absorb
EVs: 6 HP/252 Spd/252 SAtk
Timid nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Thunderbolt
- Baton Pass
- Agility
- Yawn

Lead of the team. TB to open on anything I think I can 1/2HKO... yawn-agility-BP otherwise. Seems to have done well against most opening pokemon I've seen so far, and not going with a choice item makes it flexible between attacking and prepping the BP (usually for marowak :D) as my prediction skills see fit.


---
(Vaporeon) (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Water Absorb
EVs: 252 HP/68 Spd/190 SAtk
Modest nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Surf
- Ice Beam
- Substitute
- Baton Pass

Strong, high hp, BPs some subsitute (even better if jolt BPs some agiity first), good type coverage. Not much to say that hasn't you guys don't already know. I tend to play him later in the fight if I don't have a good reason to switch him in, as most my team sweeps better.


---
(Kingdra) (F) @ Draco Plate
Ability: Sniper
EVs: 42 HP/216 Atk/252 Spd
Adamant nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Dragon Dance
- Outrage
- Waterfall
- Swagger

DD-outrage has been just destructive for me so far, and while it could be better with life orb, the HP lost from it has killed this guy earlier then I like. I usually don't touch waterfall often, so Draco Plate is the current choice for me. Swagger is a personal favorite move, and it fit well here... not consistant I know, but if something is going to 2HKO kingdra, swagger-eat a hit-they get hurt via confusion-outrage usually does the job and keeps kingdra on the field. Haven't seen much that hard counters this so far, so this is my go-to-guy when i can't think of a better choice resistance-wise.


---
(Mesprit) @ Light Clay
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 120 HP/200 Def/190 SDef
Bold nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Thunderbolt
- Ice Beam
- Reflect
- Stealth Rock

Personally, I have been having harder time vs physical sweeping then special... so extended reflect-stealthrock-boltbeam nonsense keeps mespirit alive through fighting... or minimizes pursuit damage. It's not Azelf strong, but it will get the job done in a pinch, and seems sturdier overall.


---
(Marowak) (M) @ Thick Club
Ability: Rock Head
EVs: 6 HP/252 Atk/252 Spd
Adamant nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- Fire Punch
- Substitute

LOVE... THIS... POKEMON! So jolteon maybe gets my yawn-agility-BP combo off... not many people see this guy coming. Lots of strong physical damage, fire punch covers the grass types i otherwise have trouble dealing with... but after an agility or two, marowak will outspeed them also. Sub is even stronger given that after i BP him in from jolteon, Sub to open vs anything thatll swap out, and he just becomes a pain in the ass. Loving the results from this guy so far, and he fills my hole of a strong earthquake very very well.


---
(Absol) (F) @ Life Orb
Ability: Super Luck
EVs: 6 HP/252 Atk/252 Spd
Jolly nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Sucker Punch
- Pursuit
- Psycho Cut
- Stone Edge

I don't get why people don't use this guy more often. Life orb and the moveset make my intentions with him obvious, but late in the game... he can put a large dent in a team similar to marowak.




Other Thoughts:

Keeping in mind I want to stay Item Clause capable, my item choices as is seem close to being good for me. I considered choice items on some of my sweepers, but the lack of flexibility, and my lack of rapid spin will get needless switches that rack up damage i cant recover. The team is meant to be a bit of a surprise team, but I kept it all capable in its own right. Not full of the normal OU powerhouses, but seems to handle most of them... while throwing some people for a spin as to just how strong marowak and absol really will hit for. Paralysis is a big concern, but most the types that can cause it can be 1HKO'd before they get it off if i play smart.

Thanks for any input, and I'll try to keep improving!

-DJT

 

[DJT]

@Magnet:

It increases the para chance? http://www.smogon.com/dp/items/magnet doesn't mention it. Both Items give a 20% boost.

@Vaporeon's baton pass:

It's to BP the subsitute.
e.g. I had vaporeon out for a while, I get a sub off that you haven't killed, and I just killed one of your pokemons. You switch in something thats a HUGE threat, maybe jolteon or something electric? BP marowak, and he has a cushion to come in safely and force a new switch out that he can handle, since his moveset is pretty varied.

@Dragon Fang:
Same bonus as Draco Plate, or did I miss something? Both give 20% boost I believe.



thanks for the input though, the team is for shoddy battle, as i dont have the time or means to fully train a team on my DS. Feel free to find me on their sometime though.

 

[Wolfie92]

I'd personally recommend switching jolteon from being your lead as it falls to the most common leads. Swampert, Metagross, Heatran and a host of others will be able to get rocks up on you and can easily dispose of Jolteon. If your trying to be original I respect that but you should look up the most common leads/sets to make a lead that is original and effective. If it works then stick with it though. Is this team meant for Shoddy or wifi btw?

 

[Greenisgood18]

Pretty good so far, but just a few suggestions:

Throw a magnet on the Joteon, it's much better than zap plate and increases chance of paralysis w/T-Bolt. No

Take Baton Pass off of Vaporeon if it doesn't have a stat-boosting moove, it's a huge waste of a moveslot. Substitute Wish instead. You BP the wish.

Swap out dragon Fang for Draco Plate on Kingdra. Life Orb.

I would like to battle you sometime - check my profile

My bad to the OP for not fully rating his team, just dont take this guys advice. No disrespect intended Chanterlad.

So, Run this
Kingdra @ Life Orb
Swift Swim ---works better if a RD team comes up, but Sniper is viable is you want the hax.
252 Atk / 252 Spe
-Dragon Dance
-Outrage
-Waterfall
-Yawn

DD Outrage is deadly, Waterfall for STAB. Yawn will force out counters or let them get ko'd.

 

[Splodey]

I would swap out swagger. Also don't run a draco plate. Just smack a life orb on Kingdra.

Jolteon as a lead? Like some of the others said, it is easily OHKOed by a ton of leads. If anything slap a focus sash on there if you really want to get the agility up and pass.

 

[DJT]

@Life Orb for Kingdra:

I was running that for a bit, but commiting 10% hp a turn, for a few turns in a row... if i jump in on stealth rock, and then that.... im basically 1HKO by almost any sweeper at that point, regardless of typing

But i did think of that, so if i end up using waterfall more often ill switch right back.... but the hp lost for 10% more power on already stupidly strong move.... cant justify it right now... same reason i dont life orb my jolteon


@Yawn on Kingdra

But considering the speed difference, you dont think jolten serves that purpose better? or do you mean both have it (sleep clause and all)? i thought about yawn over swagger.... it was either way.... but ill try yawn instead (especially since my swagger got my ass killed once lol)

@jolteon running as lead

I was worried about what leads were common.... but so far i fought some non-threats, or threats that jolteon easily outran and i just BP'd into something resistant

thats something ill change as i hit teams running leads that ruin my strategy i think.... but going sash-agility-BP onto someone sounds awesome

just wanna keep jolteon devastating with t-bolt.... if things dont work out with him though ill give that a try!



the team is for ShoddyBattle btw, names DJT on there also, i dont have the time to EV train or anything on the DS :(


thanks for all the help so far!

TL:DR

-swagger got swapped for yawn
-not using life orb(kingdra) until i start using waterfall often enough to warrant it
-jolteon still running lead, but that new sets in mind if i need to change him up to fit the job better