I've been using this team for a while and it's gotten to the point where changes I make don't improve it, and I end up going back to the original set up. I was wondering if anyone else had any ideas to improve it, or if this is the best my team will be.
Azelf @ Focus Sash
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Stealth Rock
- Reflect
- Light Screen
- Taunt
Used to be Deoxys-S before its ban. I use Azelf as my lead, except when I suspect a priority Taunt user on the other team. Azelf's speed and moveset allow it to outpace a large portion of the metagame, and set up Stealth Rock (dual screens are a bonus) while preventing an opponent set up with Taunt. Stealth Rock is vital to this team to break Sturdy, Focus Sash and Dragonite's Multiscale, as well make the sweeper's job easier by providing a bit of previous damage.
Gorebyss (F) @ White Herb
Ability: Swift Swim
EVs: 252 HP / 76 SpD / 180 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Shell Smash
- Substitute
- Baton Pass
- Hydro Pump
Gorebyss is probably the most consistent passer of Shell Smash in OU, which is why it's on the team. Speed EVs are enough to outpace Mega Manectric when at +2, and I've chosen Hydro Pump over Surf to OHKO that and other common switch-ins to this set, such as Heatran and Skarmory (after Stealth Rock). Substitute is to block status and to generally provide one of the sweepers with a damage-free entry.
Whimsicott (F) @ Focus Sash
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 252 HP / 40 SpA / 216 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Taunt
- Moonblast
- Tailwind
- Memento
Whimsicott is on the team to make Gorebyss' job as easy as possible, by using one of its priority status moves. The speed EVs are enough to outpace Thundurus, and Taunt it before Thundurus can do the same. Memento is essentially there to force the opponent out when Gorebyss comes in, gaining a free Shell Smash. Taunt is to stop all status moves, primarily Defog, Taunt and Whirlwind/Roar. Tailwind is there in case passing Shell Smash is no longer an option, and one of my sweepers needs a speed boost. Moonblast may look out of place, but it serves specific purposes such as OHKOing Crawdaunt after Stealth Rock and 2HKOing multiple threats such as Terrakion, Garchomp and Smeargle.
Landorus @ Life Orb
Ability: Sheer Force
EVs: 104 HP / 52 Def / 252 SpA / 100 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Earth Power
- Focus Blast
- Sludge Wave
- Psychic
Landorus is, from my experience, the best sweeper in OU when given a Shell Smash. This moveset allows it to OHKO almost every Pokemon in the tier after Stealth Rock. The speed EVs allow it to outpace Choice Scarf Latios when at +2, while the HP EVs almost guarantee minimum SpA Rotom-W's Hydro Pump won't OHKO at full health. The defence EVs are there to cushion priority attacks against Landorus.
Bisharp (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Defiant
EVs: 192 HP / 252 Atk / 12 Def / 52 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Sucker Punch
- Knock Off
- Iron Head
- Stone Edge/Low Kick
Used to be Aegislash before its ban. Primarily a backup sweeper, Bisharp is there to sweep when Landorus cannot. This includes scenarios involving multiple strong priority users, Ice Shard users or special tanks such as Goodra which Landorus cannot OHKO after a boost. The speed EVs are enough to outpace Greninja when at +2, the HP EVs give it a bigger cushion to take attacks (while giving it a Life Orb number in HP), and the leftover defence EVs are there to again help take attacks. Sucker Punch takes care of most faster Pokemon, while Knock Off and Iron Head are standard STAB moves. I've been using Stone Edge to handle Gyarados and Mandibuzz, but I sometimes switch to Low Kick to reliably OHKO Ferrothorn and opposing Bisharp. I've settled on Stone Edge recently though.
Azumarill (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Huge Power
EVs: 8 HP / 252 Atk / 248 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Aqua Jet
- Aqua Tail
- Play Rough
- Brick Break
Last but not least, Azumarill is the last sweeper to hopefully take care of situations neither Landorus nor Bisharp can handle. The speed EVs are enough to outpace base 130 speed Pokemon when at +2. I've gone with Aqua Tail over Waterfall for the chance to OHKO Skarmory after Stealth Rock when boosted. Play Rough is the other STAB move, while Brick Break is there to defeat standard Ferrothorn and Chansey after Stealth Rock. Aqua Jet is to deal with some faster Pokemon, such as Choice Scarf Excadrill, Mega Alakazam, Talonflame before it can Brave Bird, and although it's not faster, Thundurus before it can use a Priority Thunder Wave (after Stealth Rock).
Team synergies
- Gorebyss' weaknesses are covered by Landorus and Bisharp
- Between the 3 sweepers, every type except Fairy is resisted, which means with good prediction, switching in is made easier
- Landorus' Ice Shard weakness is resisted by Azumarill and Bisharp, while its Aqua Jet weakness is resisted by Azumarill. Its Talonflame Brave Bird 'weakness' is handled by both Azumarill and Bisharp
- Bisharp's Mach Punch (and Vacuum Wave haha) weakness is resisted by both Azumarill and Landorus
Weaknesses
-Perish Song/Haze
Both of these moves mean passing Shell Smash is futile. My only chance is to take out the user of the move with one of my attackers
-Priority Taunt on Gorebyss
Means Gorebyss can be easily revenge killed by something resisting Hydro Pump
-Mega Banette
Priority Will-o-Wisp/Destiny Bond means I won't be sweeping at all
-Klefki
Not only is priority Thunder Wave annoying, but priority dual screens means I can't sweep. The best I can do is stall out the screens, or break them with Brick Break from Azumarill
-Ditto
Ditto can come in and copy the boosts at any time, which means I won't even be attempting a sweep unless I'm behind a Substitute
-Rapid Spin
The easiest of the weaknesses to play around, it just means I have to damage the intended target before I attempt a sweep
Thanks for reading my somewhat hefty RMT, let me know what you think of the team, and feel free to offer any suggestions you might have.
Azelf @ Focus Sash
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Stealth Rock
- Reflect
- Light Screen
- Taunt
Used to be Deoxys-S before its ban. I use Azelf as my lead, except when I suspect a priority Taunt user on the other team. Azelf's speed and moveset allow it to outpace a large portion of the metagame, and set up Stealth Rock (dual screens are a bonus) while preventing an opponent set up with Taunt. Stealth Rock is vital to this team to break Sturdy, Focus Sash and Dragonite's Multiscale, as well make the sweeper's job easier by providing a bit of previous damage.
Gorebyss (F) @ White Herb
Ability: Swift Swim
EVs: 252 HP / 76 SpD / 180 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Shell Smash
- Substitute
- Baton Pass
- Hydro Pump
Gorebyss is probably the most consistent passer of Shell Smash in OU, which is why it's on the team. Speed EVs are enough to outpace Mega Manectric when at +2, and I've chosen Hydro Pump over Surf to OHKO that and other common switch-ins to this set, such as Heatran and Skarmory (after Stealth Rock). Substitute is to block status and to generally provide one of the sweepers with a damage-free entry.
Whimsicott (F) @ Focus Sash
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 252 HP / 40 SpA / 216 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Taunt
- Moonblast
- Tailwind
- Memento
Whimsicott is on the team to make Gorebyss' job as easy as possible, by using one of its priority status moves. The speed EVs are enough to outpace Thundurus, and Taunt it before Thundurus can do the same. Memento is essentially there to force the opponent out when Gorebyss comes in, gaining a free Shell Smash. Taunt is to stop all status moves, primarily Defog, Taunt and Whirlwind/Roar. Tailwind is there in case passing Shell Smash is no longer an option, and one of my sweepers needs a speed boost. Moonblast may look out of place, but it serves specific purposes such as OHKOing Crawdaunt after Stealth Rock and 2HKOing multiple threats such as Terrakion, Garchomp and Smeargle.
Landorus @ Life Orb
Ability: Sheer Force
EVs: 104 HP / 52 Def / 252 SpA / 100 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Earth Power
- Focus Blast
- Sludge Wave
- Psychic
Landorus is, from my experience, the best sweeper in OU when given a Shell Smash. This moveset allows it to OHKO almost every Pokemon in the tier after Stealth Rock. The speed EVs allow it to outpace Choice Scarf Latios when at +2, while the HP EVs almost guarantee minimum SpA Rotom-W's Hydro Pump won't OHKO at full health. The defence EVs are there to cushion priority attacks against Landorus.
Bisharp (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Defiant
EVs: 192 HP / 252 Atk / 12 Def / 52 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Sucker Punch
- Knock Off
- Iron Head
- Stone Edge/Low Kick
Used to be Aegislash before its ban. Primarily a backup sweeper, Bisharp is there to sweep when Landorus cannot. This includes scenarios involving multiple strong priority users, Ice Shard users or special tanks such as Goodra which Landorus cannot OHKO after a boost. The speed EVs are enough to outpace Greninja when at +2, the HP EVs give it a bigger cushion to take attacks (while giving it a Life Orb number in HP), and the leftover defence EVs are there to again help take attacks. Sucker Punch takes care of most faster Pokemon, while Knock Off and Iron Head are standard STAB moves. I've been using Stone Edge to handle Gyarados and Mandibuzz, but I sometimes switch to Low Kick to reliably OHKO Ferrothorn and opposing Bisharp. I've settled on Stone Edge recently though.
Azumarill (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Huge Power
EVs: 8 HP / 252 Atk / 248 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Aqua Jet
- Aqua Tail
- Play Rough
- Brick Break
Last but not least, Azumarill is the last sweeper to hopefully take care of situations neither Landorus nor Bisharp can handle. The speed EVs are enough to outpace base 130 speed Pokemon when at +2. I've gone with Aqua Tail over Waterfall for the chance to OHKO Skarmory after Stealth Rock when boosted. Play Rough is the other STAB move, while Brick Break is there to defeat standard Ferrothorn and Chansey after Stealth Rock. Aqua Jet is to deal with some faster Pokemon, such as Choice Scarf Excadrill, Mega Alakazam, Talonflame before it can Brave Bird, and although it's not faster, Thundurus before it can use a Priority Thunder Wave (after Stealth Rock).
Team synergies
- Gorebyss' weaknesses are covered by Landorus and Bisharp
- Between the 3 sweepers, every type except Fairy is resisted, which means with good prediction, switching in is made easier
- Landorus' Ice Shard weakness is resisted by Azumarill and Bisharp, while its Aqua Jet weakness is resisted by Azumarill. Its Talonflame Brave Bird 'weakness' is handled by both Azumarill and Bisharp
- Bisharp's Mach Punch (and Vacuum Wave haha) weakness is resisted by both Azumarill and Landorus
Weaknesses
-Perish Song/Haze
Both of these moves mean passing Shell Smash is futile. My only chance is to take out the user of the move with one of my attackers
-Priority Taunt on Gorebyss
Means Gorebyss can be easily revenge killed by something resisting Hydro Pump
-Mega Banette
Priority Will-o-Wisp/Destiny Bond means I won't be sweeping at all
-Klefki
Not only is priority Thunder Wave annoying, but priority dual screens means I can't sweep. The best I can do is stall out the screens, or break them with Brick Break from Azumarill
-Ditto
Ditto can come in and copy the boosts at any time, which means I won't even be attempting a sweep unless I'm behind a Substitute
-Rapid Spin
The easiest of the weaknesses to play around, it just means I have to damage the intended target before I attempt a sweep
Thanks for reading my somewhat hefty RMT, let me know what you think of the team, and feel free to offer any suggestions you might have.
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