Semi-Stall(?) Team
I started this team wanting to explore Sinistcha as the dedicated setup sweeper, and so the rest of the team is centered around checking its threats and creating openings for Sinistcha to come in and finish the game. I've had mixed success with it, but I believe it has the makings of a solid team with the proper adjustments.
The Team
Sinistcha @ Leftovers
Ability: Heatproof
Tera Type: Grass
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpA
Bold Nature
- Calm Mind
- Strength Sap
- Matcha Gotcha
- Shadow Ball
The central piece and main win condition, I chose Sinistcha due to its amazing longevity, alongside a solid neutral coverage and good defensive typing. Being a curveball in the OU meta allows it to catch people off guard in how much it can take with the HP and Def EVs, allowing for setup openings where even just one CM is enough to OHKO most frail threats and 2HKO most of the rest, while healing in the process with Matcha Gotcha. The main threats to it are Toxic status and strong Dark and Ice types like Darkrai and Kyurem, so it's important to be careful when bringing it in, especially considering the risks of a stray Knock Off hitting it.
Clefable @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Unaware
Tera Type: Steel
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
- Moonlight
- Calm Mind
- Moonblast
- Thunder Wave
Clefable works as a great check against Dark types, and its Unaware ability helps to hold the line against opposing setup sweepers. Its varied movepool can make it unpredictable, which works as well with switch-ins. Due to the overall low speed of the team, Thunder Wave is very helpful to allow Sinistcha to make a clean sweep in the late game, and even Clefable itself has the potential to sweep thanks to CM. This pair is why I see this team as more Semi-stall than Balanced, because they are both capable of being very grindy.
Great Tusk @ Booster Energy
Ability: Protosynthesis
Tera Type: Ice
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Ice Spinner
- Close Combat
- Headlong Rush
- Knock Off
Instead of the usual role of hazard setter + rapid spinner, here Great Tusk's is to get rid of threats. With its Ice, Fighting, and Ground coverage, Great Tusk can deal with most of the main threats to Sinistcha. Thanks to the Protosynthesis speed boost, it can even outspeed and OHKO +1 Dragon Dance Dragonite with Tera Ice, or just a straight normal Ice Spinner with chip damage. It also takes care of Gliscor, Kingambit, Cinderace, and other fast/strong threats to clear the path towards the late-game sweep.
Glimmora @ Power Herb
Ability: Toxic Debris
Tera Type: Flying
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Mortal Spin
- Meteor Beam
- Earth Power
The real hazard/spin of the team is Glimmora, which also works as a nuke button/suicide lead. With Toxic Debris, it's not unusual to get Stealth Rock + 2 Toxic Spikes by the time it faints, which brings a huge advantage to the team due to the grindier nature of the sweepers. I chose Glimmora because of its access to the Power Herb + Meteor Beam combo, which is amazing at dealing with specific high-threat targets when they're not expecting it. Any Flying-type lead like Gliscor or Landorus-T can be taken down in one hit if it doesn't play carefully on the first turn. Corviknight, which can be an annoyance for the team, also goes down OHKO with it.
Gholdengo @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Good as Gold
Tera Type: Fairy
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Trick
- Shadow Ball
- Make It Rain
- Focus Blast
Gholdengo's Good as Gold, plus its amazing typing, is the best spin/defog blocker there is, making it an essential member of the team's grind strategy with hazards. With Choice Scarf, it becomes an effective revenge killer and speed control, which the team also lacks without it. Lastly, Trick is a great tool to shut down walls, setups, and overall annoying Pokémon that I may lack better tools to deal with. It's just an overall amazing Pokémon to have in most teams.
Ogerpon-Wellspring @ Wellspring Mask
Ability: Water Absorb
Tera Type: Water
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Ivy Cudgel
- U-turn
- Encore
- Knock Off
Lastly, Ogerpon-Wellspring(which I wish had an animated sprite
) is the dedicated pivot and knocker of the team. I felt the team lacked a fast pivot for scouting and forcing switches, and Ogerpon felt like a good fit. With access to Knock Off and Encore, it can support by removing boots to advance the hazard game, and also shut down threats with Encore for safer switches and force switches from the opponent as well. Its role is more of a support, but it can still pack a punch when needed, thanks to Ivy Cudgel.The Threats
Kyurem
Choice Specs Kyurem, especially, destroys Sinistcha in most situations, and it's also a threat to most of the team. Great Tusk can OHKO with a Close Combat, but only if it has the Protosynthesis speed boost. Gholdengo is the main answer, but it can't take an Earth Power on the switch-in, and Clefable, though immune to Dragon attacks, can be 2HKO by its Ice coverage. It's a tough mon to deal with, and with such a varying move pool it is also hard to predict.
Rillaboom
With high Atk and a strong priority move, Rillaboom is also difficult to deal with. Outside of Sinistcha itself, the team lacks a strong physical wall and coverage against grass types. The best bet here is a match gorilla vs green tea, but it's risky to let Sinistcha out early, being one of the main winning conditions.
Besides these, I've had difficult times against Pivot cores due to the high speed control of the teams. Predicting is very important in these matchups.
Besides these, I've had difficult times against Pivot cores due to the high speed control of the teams. Predicting is very important in these matchups.
Final Thoughts
I wouldn't say I've had a deep dive with this team yet, but I've enjoyed it so far, and would like to see it shine brighter with the opinions of better players than myself.
Please leave your comments below with any glaring weaknesses I might be missing, and which swaps of moves/members might be needed to deal with those.
Thank you all in advance, and I hope you liked the team as well!
