SM OU RMT New to Gen 7

[Blindmonkey]

Hi All,

I'll try and make this brief. I haven't properly played OU since BW and I thought I'd jump back into the battling. I've been doing a bit of research, but still a little fresh, especially with the Megas, Z-Powers and terrain changes. I've played a little bit on Showdown and I've noticed I've had to completely redevelop my play-style. I was classically quiet aggressive and enjoyed running through teams after setting up; however, I've noticed that this doesn't fly as much in the new generation so my style has naturally become more defensive, often switching between pokemon and checking opponents and I've now moved to a more balanced approach.

Here's a team I've been working on; please, feel free to walk me through anything you think I'm doing wrong, any advice is welcomed.

Tapu Koko @ Choice Specs

Ability: Electric Surge
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk / 30 Def
- Thunderbolt
- Dazzling Gleam
- Volt Switch
- Hidden Power [Ice]

Landorus-Therian @ Leftovers

Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 248 HP / 216 Def / 28 SpD / 16 Spe
Impish Nature
- Earthquake
- U-turn
- Knock Off
- Defog

Magearna @ Assault Vest

Ability: Soul-Heart
EVs: 248 HP / 8 SpA / 252 SpD
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Fleur Cannon
- Flash Cannon
- Hidden Power [Fire]
- Volt Switch

Chansey @ Eviolite

Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 244 HP / 252 Def / 12 SpD
Bold Nature
- Seismic Toss
- Toxic
- Stealth Rock
- Soft-Boiled

Greninja-Ash @ Choice Specs

Ability: Battle Bond
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Hydro Pump
- Dark Pulse
- Water Shuriken
- Spikes

Medicham-Mega @ Medichamite

Ability: Pure Power
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- High Jump Kick
- Ice Punch
- Fake Out
- Bullet Punch​

One of the main things I feel I've been lacking is a lead. It was a big thing back in OU BW, but it might not be now. Is that the case or should I really be looking for a solid lead?

A little run down of the team:

Tapu Koko

I'm using him for his crazy speed and power, with choice specs and strong STAB moves I felt he could be a decent hard hitter.

Landorus-Therian

I decided to go with a defensive Landorus-T to add a little bit of bulk and sustainability for the function he is providing in the squad. His main purpose is to remove entry hazards and act as an initial stall-breaker against defensive pokemon using Knock-Off.

Magearna

A bulky versatile pokemon with a ridiculous number of resistances. To be honest, she's the main one I've been thinking of removing, but I think it's only because I don't know how to play with her.

Chansey

I've hated Chansey/ Blissey for the longest time, but I was looking for a SpD wall and so I picked Chansey and in the few games I've used her she has been really good. Currently use her for Stealth Rocks and crippling teams with Toxic, although I have considered Heal Bell as an alternative option.

Greninja-Ash

Plays a very similar role to Tapu Koko, but instead also sets-up Spikes. I have considered changing his or Tapu Koko's roles so they don't clash.

Medicham-Mega

Chose this Mega for coverage, it's priority moves and for the gigantic damage from a STAB High Jump Kick with Pure Power.

Please let me know what you think and as I said any advice is welcomed, thank you.

 

[DKM]

Hey dude, this is a pretty cool team. Medicham + Tapu Koko is a great core. There are a few weaknesses on the team though. Firstly the team might struggle with stall, since the only thing to hit Chansey is Medicham, who gets walled by Sableye and Clefable. Secondly the team has no scarfer which might be an issue against some setup sweepers like Zygarde, Volcarona etc. I'll suggest some changes to hopefully improve the team


MAJOR CHANGES

> : The first change I suggest is using Heatran over Chansey. Chansey is a strange pick on this team imo, since this is an offensive team and Chansey might lose you momentum. Heatran allows you to trap things like opposing Chansey and Toxapex on stall and balance teams which can be helpful in beating them.


> : The next change I made is Tapu Bulu over Magearna. With Heatran added to the team, opposing water types like Ash-Greninja become more threatening and Bulu is better at taking them on. Bulu also helps your matchup against rain teams and Tapu Koko. Lastly, Bulu gives you a second ground resist and Grassy Terrain support for Heatran.

​

MINOR CHANGES

> , Fly > Knock Off: The next change I suggest is using Z-Fly on your defensive Landorus. This helps you against Hawlucha, which can be a problem since your Tapu Koko doesn't have Roost. Z-Fly also helps against Venusaur who could be annoying for this team to face.

> : As I mentioned, this team might struggle with setup sweepers due to it having no scarfer. You already have Specs Koko so I think Scarf Greninja works here. I suggest the standard set with both U-turn and Spikes support and then Ice Beam and Rock Slide as attacks.

Jolly > Adamant, T-Punch > B-Punch: I believe Jolly should always be the nature on Medicham, to outspeed Kyurem-B, Tapu Lele and Zygarde while also reaching a speed tie of other base 100s. Secondly I recommend Thunder Punch over Bullet Punch, as you already have Fake Out as priority. Thunder Punch in Electric Terrain allows you to 2HKO Sableye and potentially Clefable who would otherwise wall you. This opens up for Greninja to setup Spikes vs stall.




To finish I just wanted to say, you don't always need a dedicated lead, atleast not on teams like this. Your lead against alot of teams might be Koko or Greninja since they're your fastest mons, but this isn't always the case.

I hope these change were helpful and good luck with the team :]

Importable

​

 

[Blindmonkey]

Damn, that's some detailed advice, thank you.

Makes perfect sense, I'm pretty unaware of threats in the metagame at the moment, but thanks for pointing out those holes. I've been walled by Mega-Venusaur a few times already, so that's flippin perceptive of you.

I was thinking of Heatran, and he was in my original squad plans, but that 4x weakness to ground worries me too much; but then again I just gotta learn how to play with him, which will take time.

Anyways, thank you, I'll start trying this suggested amendments and see how I get on.