I've consistently used this team for Gen 5 OU (reached ~1570 before Gen 6 came out) and would like some suggestions for switching it over to Gen 6 OU.
Key flaws I've noticed with this team to keep in mind:
- Although it does fairly well against other weather teams, (Struggles a little with Rain) it has some difficulty clearing stall teams.
- Mienshao is the only Pokemon on my team which can properly deal with Rotom-Wash.
- Starmie is the only Pokemon on my team which can properly deal with Skarmory.
- Garchomp typically can only handle KO one Pokemon before being KO'ed.
Strengths to note:
- The team overall has little trouble switching out in accordance to predictions.
- Each member of the team is self-sufficient. By this, I mean that they can handle themselves well in 1v1 situations for the most part.
- My team can generally shirk off hazards set by the opposing team and trudge through it due to passive sustains and bulkiness which my team has.
Tyranitar w/ Choice Scarf
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature
- Stone Edge
- Crunch
- Earthquake
- Superpower
I debated largely on the usage of Tyranitar vs Hippowdon to set up Sandstorm. Since I figured that my team wasn't meant to be a stall team, I might as well go all/near aggressive when building it and I don't regret this choice at all. The combination of a Jolly T-Tar with BOTH a Choice Scarf and max Spd EVs make it extremely unpredictable when you encounter it. Initially seen as a slow, burdensome Pokemon purely meant for setting up Sandstorm and picking off slow, small fry, Tyranitar can easily outpace and OHKO weakened targets or OHKO/2HKO fresh targets (typically opposing Pokemon which induce weather) such as Ninetales and Arcanine, or better yet... Opposing Tyranitars.
Synergy:
[Flying, Fire] Garchomp
[Ghost, Psychic, Bug] Starmie
[Psychic, Fighting] Mienshao
[Steel] Tyranitar
Scizor w/ Choice Band
Ability: Technician
EVs: 248 HP / 232 Atk / 8 SDef / 20 Spd
Adamant Nature
- U-turn
- Bullet Punch
- Pursuit
- Aerial Ace
Quite possibly the best and most fun mid/late-game sweepers to use in my opinion. It's incredibly useful in taking care of hit-and-run sweepers such as Gengar (via Pursuit/Bullet Punch. This usually OHKO's) and bulky enough to, on most occasions, sponge enough damage to be 2HKO'ed. Aerial Ace is there to deal with the occasional Venusaur and other Grass-types; the bonus is that it works with conjunction with Technician!
Synergy:
[Fire, Grass] Starmie
[Ice] Garchomp
Garchomp w/ Life Orb
Ability: Rough Skin
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature
- Dragon Claw
- Earthquake
- Swords Dance
- Stealth Rock
Garchomp is a staple in many Sandstorm teams and this Garchomp is no different. Given 252 Atk, 252 Spd and a Choice Scarf, it's ideal in handling a wide variety of Pokemon. However, I feel that this is where the problem arises with Garchomp. There are far too many counters for Garchomp out there with the introduction of the Fairy-type and the ever annoying (Sorry Scizor!) Steel-types. Perhaps it's time to replace Garchomp with something fresh, like a Talonflame?
Synergy:
[Fire] Scizor
[Rock, Steel] Tyranitar
Mienshao w/ Life Orb
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 228 HP / 80 Atk / 200 Spd
Jolly Nature
- U-turn
- Hi Jump Kick
- Stone Edge
- Fake Out
Typically the starter for most battles which I have (thanks to Fake Out), it's key in scouting out what the rest of my opponent's team has and allows my powers of prediction and deduction to come into effect. It doesn't hurt that it can deal with Rock, Flying, and Psychic types as well (and most importantly, deal with that prick(ly) Ferrothorn). Regenerator+Life Orb work really well on it to allow a sort of hit-and-run maneuver to poke out the opposing team. Also good to note that it works great in conjunction with Scizor due U-Turn!
Synergy:
[Dark, Psychic] Starmie
[Steel] Tyranitar
[Flying, Fire] Scizor
Starmie w/ Leftovers
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 252 SAtk / 4 SDef / 252 Spd
Timid Nature
- Surf
- Thunderbolt
- Psychic
- Ice Beam
The typical motto for everything else on my team: If you can't beat it, go to Starmie. Starmie was essential when dealing with Rain teams and capitalized on that with an Electric Gem, scaring off Politoeds and the like. It can also handle the Fighting types, most notably Conkeldurr and Machamp, which the rest of my team is afraid of. Starmie's synergy with the rest of the team is also something to be noted. When it comes face to face with a Special Wall, such as Blissey, it can turn to the rest of the team and have that Blissey walking away, crying in shame. Also, seeing as an Electric Gem is no longer possible for Gen 6, it got just a bit harder to handle Rain teams. Although Leftovers is an option for any Starmie, it doesn't quite fit the bill for my team.
Synergy:
[Fighting, Grass, Water] Tyranitar
[Flying, Fire] Scizor
[Psychic, Dark] Mienshao
Gliscor w/ Toxic Orb
Ability: Poison Heal
EVs: 220 HP / 220 Atk / 68 Spd
Jolly Nature
- Earthquake
- Ice Fang
- Protect
- Swords Dance
Serving as a semi-stall, Gliscor's key in handling physical sweepers that the rest of my team (namely Tyranitar and Garchomp) can't handle. Earthquake and Protect are both staples on any Gliscor. Ice Fang is there to deal with the pesky Air Balloon Heatran if it shows up and as an additional option to deal with Dragon types. Swords Dance is primarily there to help set up Earthquake in order to deal with Ferrothorn. As for the rather strange EV spread, the 68 Spd and 220 Atk is there to ensure that other Gliscors can be outpaced and dealt with.
Synergy:
[Ice, Dragon] Garchomp
[Water, Electric] Starmie
[Steel, Ground] Tyranitar
Well, there's my team. With that being said, I'd appreciate any constructive criticism and improvements you may have to offer for my team. :)
Currently being tested in replacement for Starmie:
Latios (M) w/ Life Orb
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 SAtk / 252 Spd / 4 HP
Timid Nature
- Draco Meteor
- Psychic
- Thunderbolt
- Ice Beam
Key flaws I've noticed with this team to keep in mind:
- Although it does fairly well against other weather teams, (Struggles a little with Rain) it has some difficulty clearing stall teams.
- Mienshao is the only Pokemon on my team which can properly deal with Rotom-Wash.
- Starmie is the only Pokemon on my team which can properly deal with Skarmory.
- Garchomp typically can only handle KO one Pokemon before being KO'ed.
Strengths to note:
- The team overall has little trouble switching out in accordance to predictions.
- Each member of the team is self-sufficient. By this, I mean that they can handle themselves well in 1v1 situations for the most part.
- My team can generally shirk off hazards set by the opposing team and trudge through it due to passive sustains and bulkiness which my team has.
Tyranitar w/ Choice Scarf
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature
- Stone Edge
- Crunch
- Earthquake
- Superpower
I debated largely on the usage of Tyranitar vs Hippowdon to set up Sandstorm. Since I figured that my team wasn't meant to be a stall team, I might as well go all/near aggressive when building it and I don't regret this choice at all. The combination of a Jolly T-Tar with BOTH a Choice Scarf and max Spd EVs make it extremely unpredictable when you encounter it. Initially seen as a slow, burdensome Pokemon purely meant for setting up Sandstorm and picking off slow, small fry, Tyranitar can easily outpace and OHKO weakened targets or OHKO/2HKO fresh targets (typically opposing Pokemon which induce weather) such as Ninetales and Arcanine, or better yet... Opposing Tyranitars.
Synergy:
[Flying, Fire] Garchomp
[Ghost, Psychic, Bug] Starmie
[Psychic, Fighting] Mienshao
[Steel] Tyranitar
Scizor w/ Choice Band
Ability: Technician
EVs: 248 HP / 232 Atk / 8 SDef / 20 Spd
Adamant Nature
- U-turn
- Bullet Punch
- Pursuit
- Aerial Ace
Quite possibly the best and most fun mid/late-game sweepers to use in my opinion. It's incredibly useful in taking care of hit-and-run sweepers such as Gengar (via Pursuit/Bullet Punch. This usually OHKO's) and bulky enough to, on most occasions, sponge enough damage to be 2HKO'ed. Aerial Ace is there to deal with the occasional Venusaur and other Grass-types; the bonus is that it works with conjunction with Technician!
Synergy:
[Fire, Grass] Starmie
[Ice] Garchomp
Garchomp w/ Life Orb
Ability: Rough Skin
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature
- Dragon Claw
- Earthquake
- Swords Dance
- Stealth Rock
Garchomp is a staple in many Sandstorm teams and this Garchomp is no different. Given 252 Atk, 252 Spd and a Choice Scarf, it's ideal in handling a wide variety of Pokemon. However, I feel that this is where the problem arises with Garchomp. There are far too many counters for Garchomp out there with the introduction of the Fairy-type and the ever annoying (Sorry Scizor!) Steel-types. Perhaps it's time to replace Garchomp with something fresh, like a Talonflame?
Synergy:
[Fire] Scizor
[Rock, Steel] Tyranitar
Mienshao w/ Life Orb
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 228 HP / 80 Atk / 200 Spd
Jolly Nature
- U-turn
- Hi Jump Kick
- Stone Edge
- Fake Out
Typically the starter for most battles which I have (thanks to Fake Out), it's key in scouting out what the rest of my opponent's team has and allows my powers of prediction and deduction to come into effect. It doesn't hurt that it can deal with Rock, Flying, and Psychic types as well (and most importantly, deal with that prick(ly) Ferrothorn). Regenerator+Life Orb work really well on it to allow a sort of hit-and-run maneuver to poke out the opposing team. Also good to note that it works great in conjunction with Scizor due U-Turn!
Synergy:
[Dark, Psychic] Starmie
[Steel] Tyranitar
[Flying, Fire] Scizor
Starmie w/ Leftovers
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 252 SAtk / 4 SDef / 252 Spd
Timid Nature
- Surf
- Thunderbolt
- Psychic
- Ice Beam
The typical motto for everything else on my team: If you can't beat it, go to Starmie. Starmie was essential when dealing with Rain teams and capitalized on that with an Electric Gem, scaring off Politoeds and the like. It can also handle the Fighting types, most notably Conkeldurr and Machamp, which the rest of my team is afraid of. Starmie's synergy with the rest of the team is also something to be noted. When it comes face to face with a Special Wall, such as Blissey, it can turn to the rest of the team and have that Blissey walking away, crying in shame. Also, seeing as an Electric Gem is no longer possible for Gen 6, it got just a bit harder to handle Rain teams. Although Leftovers is an option for any Starmie, it doesn't quite fit the bill for my team.
Synergy:
[Fighting, Grass, Water] Tyranitar
[Flying, Fire] Scizor
[Psychic, Dark] Mienshao
Gliscor w/ Toxic Orb
Ability: Poison Heal
EVs: 220 HP / 220 Atk / 68 Spd
Jolly Nature
- Earthquake
- Ice Fang
- Protect
- Swords Dance
Serving as a semi-stall, Gliscor's key in handling physical sweepers that the rest of my team (namely Tyranitar and Garchomp) can't handle. Earthquake and Protect are both staples on any Gliscor. Ice Fang is there to deal with the pesky Air Balloon Heatran if it shows up and as an additional option to deal with Dragon types. Swords Dance is primarily there to help set up Earthquake in order to deal with Ferrothorn. As for the rather strange EV spread, the 68 Spd and 220 Atk is there to ensure that other Gliscors can be outpaced and dealt with.
Synergy:
[Ice, Dragon] Garchomp
[Water, Electric] Starmie
[Steel, Ground] Tyranitar
Well, there's my team. With that being said, I'd appreciate any constructive criticism and improvements you may have to offer for my team. :)
Currently being tested in replacement for Starmie:
Latios (M) w/ Life Orb
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 SAtk / 252 Spd / 4 HP
Timid Nature
- Draco Meteor
- Psychic
- Thunderbolt
- Ice Beam
Last edited:
