ORAS OU Return to OU: A Bulky Offense RMT

[Simperheve]

Hi all,

So I've made a return to the OU format after departing for a while to play in VGC. Since then i've formulated a team on the basis of my somewhat outdated knowledge and took it onto the ladder. I've been gaining little nuggets of knowledge and have updated my team accordingly, but feel i'm not really using the pokemon I've selected all that well. Here's a rundown of the team I have so far:

Weavile @ Life Orb
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Knock Off
- Fake Out
- Ice Punch
- Low Kick

Weavile provides me with a decent offensive lead, with its access to Fake Out being important for neutering setups, supports and provides some offensive momentum. Fake Out's damage will often be negligible, but enough to push opponents into the 1 or 2HKO range. Knock Off allows Weavile to rid pesky opponents of Leftovers and Choice Items. In one such match there it knocked the Scarf off of a Rotom-W, allowing Weavile to go first and KO it the next turn. Low Kick gives coverage and the ability to at least take on Heatran and other steel types if the situation really demands it.

Altaria @ Altarianite
Ability: Cloud Nine
EVs: 248 HP / 168 SpA / 92 Spe
Modest Nature
- Hyper Voice
- Fire Blast
- Roost
- Earthquake

Altaria was a strange Mega that looks pretty great on paper, so I decided to use it as my Mega. The Fairy coverage is important for countering the large amounts of Dark, Fighting and Dragon types that run around. Altaria also gains access to Earthquake, which is great for beating Heatran. Not knowing an awful lot about M-Altaria, I went for a special based Hyper Voice set as it seemed easy to use. Fire Blast gives additional coverage against Grass/Poison types who will eat Hyper Voices and Earthquakes.

Heatran @ Leftovers
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 248 HP / 192 SpD / 68 Spe
Calm Nature
- Lava Plume
- Flash Cannon
- Taunt
- Stealth Rock

Heatran provides me with a Bulky lead in the instances where Rocks could be easily set up at the beginning of the game. It also comes with Taunt to prevent Pranksters from causing too much mischief. Lava Plume is a powerful enough Fire STAB which retains decent accuracy. Flash Cannon helps Heatran break down Rock Types and Scare away those frail Fairies who rely on their special attacks. Leftovers helps Heatran to shrug off damage and stay in longer.

Breloom @ Toxic Orb
Ability: Poison Heal
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Drain Punch
- Seed Bomb
- Protect
- Mach Punch

Poison Heal Breloom is a personal favourite of mine, so I thought I'd use it as part of an FWG core for the team. Breloom sports decent bulk and great attack, so this set makes use of those traits to run a set aimed at having it constantly restoring its health to stay in the game. Weakened opponents can then be finished off with Mach Punch to give free turns for Poison Heal to work its magic. Seed Bomb provides a grass STAB for taking out water types, most notably those annoying Swamperts.

Rotom-Wash @ Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 248 HP / 8 SpA / 252 SpD
Calm Nature
- Thunder Wave
- Will-O-Wisp
- Hydro Pump
- Volt Switch

Rotom-W finishes off the FWG core and provides Electric coverage, something which this team needs. This Rotom has the choice of using Will-O-Wisp to cripple and wear down Physical attackers or provide speed control with Thunder Wave, both of which can be beneficial to this team. Volt Switch allows Rotom to slow-turn in other pokemon in the team, enabling checks and counters to perform their job without fear of being worn down by a coverage move. Hydro Pump is a STAB for hitting dents in Pokemon where Volt Switch can't be used.

Donphan @ Assault Vest
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 172 HP / 252 Atk / 84 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Rapid Spin
- Earthquake
- Knock Off
- Ice Shard

Donphan, to be completely honest is around because I wanted a spinner/defogger in the team and didn't want any type clashes between team members. Donphan's decent Bulk and attack made it a good candidate for an Assault Vest, and it's various coverage moves mean it isn't totally dead weight in the team. Ideally I would like to replace this for something better, but i'm coming up blank with my choices. If anyone's got any fun ideas, let me know!

Ideally the team needs to be replaces with some faster pokemon or provide more speed control. Also, rock coverage is something I should really look at fitting on this team as well.

Thanks in advance!

 

[temp]

Hello, Simperheve ! Solid looking team, however there are flaws. let's dig into that, shall we?

I would run Ice Shard over Fake Out here. STAB priority is useful for taking on Breloom easier and Fake Out on Weavile is bad in general. I would also recommend Icicle Crash > Ice Punch here. You will find yourself liking the power AND flinch chance much more useful than the accuracy, trust me.

I would run Swords Dance > Protect here, as it makes netting your KOs much easier. Swords Dance also improves Breloom's matchup against defensive teams, allowing it to break through its usual checks, such as Mega Sableye, Celebi, and Jirachi.

I would definitely run Volt Switch > Thunder Wave, as it gives momentum to the team. That is greatly appreciated from what I can see. It also provides a decent STAB. Of course, if you want a Thunder Wave user (or just a speed controller), try out Thundurus. It is faster and stronger and has the access to Prankster T Wave.

Thundurus Set

Thundurus @ Life Orb / Leftovers
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Thunder Wave
- Thunderbolt
- Hidden Power Ice
- Focus Blast / Psychic

This Thundurus is a simple special attacker and thus requires maximized Special Attack and Speed. A Timid nature is recommended to make Thundurus as fast as possible, and while a Naive nature is an option for a slight boost in U-turn damage, the boost is arguably negligible, so it is fine to use it with Timid. As this set does not employ physical attacks and relies on Prankster to give priority to Thunder Wave, you shouldn't really consider Defiant.

Life Orb gives Thundurus a sharper edge, allowing him to force switches more often and potentially rack up even more entry hazard damage. It lets it 2HKO Latios after Stealth Rock damage, OHKO Garchomp, OHKO Landorus-T, 2HKO Quagsire, 2HKO most Zapdos, and much more. Leftovers is an equally useful option that grants Thundurus more longevity, allowing him to come in, attack, and cripple things more often. Finally, Expert Belt is a decent compromise between the aforementioned items, providing Thundurus significant power for super effective attacks while not affecting longevity. Expert Belt's boost is less than Life Orb's, but it nevertheless lets Thundurus achieve some very important KOs that he can't with Leftovers; for instance, Hidden Power Ice can now OHKO 4 HP / 0 SpD Garchomp and 252 HP / 4 SpD Landorus-T and 2HKO Latios. Expert Belt-boosted Focus Blast also OHKOes Ferrothorn after it takes one Thunderbolt, even after one turn of Leftovers.

Donphan isn't very good in the OU meta. Being slow, and easily outclassed by the likes of bulkier ground types and a faster and more efficient Spinner; Excadrill. It is faster, has an overall better ability and a solid defensive typing. This can help soak up hits from the Lati twins or be a very fast spinner. I will provide 2 possible sets below.

Possible Excadrill Sets

Excadrill @ Leftovers
Ability: Mold Breaker
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpD
Careful Nature
- Earthquake
- Iron Head
- Rapid Spin
- Toxic / Stealth Rock

While full HP and Special Defense investment might look odd on Excadrill, the EVs allow it to tank some special hits it otherwise couldn't, including some super effective ones such as Clefable's Flamethrower and support Heatran's Lava Plume. It is also able to switch into Draco Meteors from Latios quite consistently and can tank a Fire Blast from Mega Altaria if required. Some Speed investment in order to outrun standard Rotom-W, which normally hits 219 Speed, and hit it with Earthquake may be run if desired. Mold Breaker allows Excadrill to ignore Mega Sableye's Magic Bounce and hit Levitate users, such as Rotom-W. Leftovers gives Excadrill passive recovery.

Excadrill @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Mold Breaker
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant / Jolly Nature
- Earthquake
- Iron Head
- Rock Slide
- Rapid Spin

Running max speed without a Jolly nature gives you a solid 412.5 speed, giving you key outspeeds on opposing Talonflame and Weavile. It also provides maximum damage output while being fairly fast. However a Jolly nature can help when trying to outspeed other scarfers such as an Adamant Victini and getting off the OHKO. It can't get as many switchins as the SpDef Excadrill can, but is a fast rapid spinner and gets off tons of damage. Mold Breaker also assists with Latios' Levitate or Rotom-Wash's. It can also ignore many other abilities as well.

Potential Threats and Possible Additions | Additions are Green and Threats are Red

Hello, this section of my RMT is here because I do not want to make too many changes. here are some options you may want to consider. Of course, I have some threats to your team as well. These are threats I noticed right off the bat, and I have provided some tips you may find helpful when dealing with these threats. The potential additions have an explanation of what Pokemon it should be used over, why and a moveset(s). Feel free to consider these ideas if you feel the need to at some point!

This could make for a decent addition over your Weavile. It provides a pivoting element, as well as great speed and power. This can also lead into a VoltTurn core with Rotom-Wash if you decide to keep that.

Tornadus-Therian @ Life Orb
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 76 Atk / 216 SpA / 216 Spe
Naive Nature
- Hurricane
- Superpower
- U-turn
- Taunt

I advise the Life Orb set here because it has more damage potential, instead of an Assault Vest set. If you decide for the SpDef Excadrill, use this in my opinion. If the Scarf set, I would advise the Assault vest set for a Latios check.

Tornadus-Therian @ Assault Vest
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 132 HP / 160 SpA / 216 Spe
Timid Nature
- Hurricane
- Focus Blast
- Knock Off
- U-turn

Mega-Venusaur...walls your entire team. This adds another reason to possibly add Tornadus-Therian. Mega Altaria can just not deal with it at all. Heatran can't even wall it if it carries the leech seed. So to actually deal with this, I would probably add on Tornadus-Therian. It is your preference though.

That is all I have for the team. Good team and good luck! :]

 

[Simperheve]

Thanks very much for the feedback! I was thinking of Excadrill, but I was worried about the extra fighting/ground weakness. Tornadus-T should mitigate those, so i'll give it a go!

I'm quite liking the Choice Scarf set simply because at the minute the team lacks a lot of speed, so this will help bring the speed of the team up a bit. Also, it'll let me destroy that scarfed Rotom-W that seems to be so popular lately....

In regards to Rotom-W though, he's already running Volt Switch on the 4th slot. Should I perhaps get rid of Thunder Wave and go for Thunderbolt instead?

I'll try SD on Breloom. Originally I had protect on for Scouting purposes/ giving Toxic Orb a turn to activate, though absorbing more through Drain Punch will certainly be handy!

 

[Snou]

Hi! Nice team here! Unfortunately it needs some fixes that it could help to make it more efficent to the actual and current metagame.
First of all I suggest you to change that Subtoxic Breloom with Chesnaught: same typing, different role but it offers more bulkyness and above all spikes, other than helping you to handle dangerous pokemons like Mega Lopunny!

The set I'm suggesting is the one you find in the spoiler:

Hide

Chesnaught (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Bulletproof
EVs: 208 HP / 252 Def / 28 SDef / 20 Spd
Impish Nature (+Def, -SAtk)
- Drain Punch
- Spikes
- Spiky Shield
- Leech Seed

On second place I suggest you to remove Flash Cannon from Heatran because it doesn't damage much without a choice item and a proper evs spread, so replace it with a move between Toxic/Earthpower/Roar or Protect.

As it has already been told you Ice Shard is better than Fake Out on Weavile, expecially in lategame.

Also Rotom-W in ORAS OU is used with an obviously defensive spread because it has to resist to many things, expecially in your team where Metagross could severely damage you by taking advantage to Donphan's AV which lacks leftovers and to tank Lopunny.

Hide

Rotom-W @ Leftovers
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 248 HP / 216 Def / 44 Spd
Bold Nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Will-O-Wisp
- Volt Switch
- Hydro Pump
- Pain Split

In synthesis here's the changes I suggest:

---->

----> Defensive

----> Change Flash Cannon in Toxic/Earthpower/Roar/Protect

----> Ice Shard > Fake Out

Hope I've helped and that you've appreciated the proposed fixes! :)

 

[Simperheve]

Thanks very much for the suggestions! I've been experimenting with them and have made the following changes:

-- Weavile has now been replaced with Tornadus-Therian! I needed to retain a decent level of power, so I went with the life orb set.

Tornadus-Therian @ Life Orb
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 76 Atk / 216 SpA / 216 Spe
Naive Nature
- Hurricane
- Superpower
- U-turn
- Taunt
-- Rotom-W has had its set updated to be more defensive. Pain split shenanigans are great fun!

Rotom-W @ Leftovers
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 248 HP / 216 Def / 44 Spd
Bold Nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Will-O-Wisp
- Volt Switch
- Hydro Pump
- Pain Split

-- Heatran now has Earth Power instead of Flash Cannon, so now he can take on other Fire types and such without being completely useless. At the minute I feel he's lacking a bit of direction, so I may have to see about a better set (SubTran Maybe?)

-- I tried Chesnaught but really didn't get on with him. He often ended up being dead weight on the team and didn't do much other than perhaps set 1 layer of spikes. So I brought Breloom back.

-- Donphan is gone forever and has been replaced with the mighty Scarfcadrill!

Excadrill @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Mold Breaker
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Earthquake
- Iron Head
- Rock Slide
- Rapid Spin

I chose Adamant to Maximise his damage output.

I'll get some replays together and post them so you can see how they're doing!