Roll Of Thunder, Hear My Cry! - OU RMT by Justinawe and YoshiThePirate

[YTP]

Roll Of Thunder, Hear My Cry!

Intro:

Kk I'm not good at intros... so I'm not gonna drag this on forever. So a few days ago I was on shoddy wanting to make a new team. I saw Justinawe was on so I asked him for a bit of help making a new team. I told him I wanted to base it around something unexpected. He asked me what and for a moment I had to think. Then I remembered how August was talking about Raikou being the best electric type so I said him. We started working and this is the result! Oh and august helped a bit too so thanks to him. MAJOR thanks to Justinawe because without him... this team would've never happened.

In Depth:
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Roserade (F) @ Focus Sash
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 4 HP/252 Spd/252 SAtk
Timid nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Leaf Storm
- Sleep Powder
- Hidden Power [Ground]
- Toxic Spikes

YoshiThePirate: Roserade is such a good pokemon. Supporting this team in many ways. Roserade can set up Toxic Spikes... which not only ease Raikous sweeping but it also helps out the second nature of this team which is stalling. This team is pretty defensive through just pure typing meaning I can stall long enough to defeat my opponent. Not only does Roserade set up Toxic Spikes... but she also absorbs them. This is vital to this team as Toxic Spikes tear Raikou and Swampert apart rather easily. Especially Raikou as he needs Substitute as a start for sweeping. Due to this, I prefer to keep Roserade alive instead of just saccing her right from the start just to get up two layers of spikes which could be absorbed (some teams bother running other grounded poison types than Roserade such as Drapion and Nidoqueen).

Justinawe: Roserade has been one of the most common leads lately in the DPPt Metagame, and that is certainly for good reason. Reaching 306 speed and having a special attack stat of 349 certainly help it when he's leading. Usually Sleep Powder first turn is the best choice, just have to be wary of the 25% miss. Toxic Spikes are not only great for a reliable status affliction, but it helps wear down Raikou's counters like Blissey and Snorlax far more easily. Leaf Storm give him a great 210 base power attack off of his huge special attack. With HP Ground Heatran leads are not as troublesome, and gives him great coverage on many other pokemon. Overall one of the best leads I have used in the game. Max speed and special attack EVs to let it do its job as well as possible.

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Swampert (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Torrent
EVs: 252 HP/252 Def/4 SAtk
Relaxed nature (+Def, -Spd)
- Earthquake
- Ice Beam
- Roar
- Stealth Rock

YoshiThePirate: Swampert was one of the last pokemon added to this team. Basically we needed something to set up Stealth Rock and counter DDTar, which is something Scizor can't do because of Babiri Berry. As well as a TTar counter Swampert gave us a phazer and a dragons check. This addition allows us to counter Salamence through the combo of Scizor and Swampert. Swampert is part of the defense on this team. With this defensive EV spread, Swampert can function as a nice tank. Being able to take hits from the likes of Salamence and Tyranitar and dish back powerful hits is something that this team loves. Rotom loves the safety cushion of Swampert when Tyranitar comes in to attempt to ruin the fun. Also, Swampert can sponge the rock attacks coming from pokemon, something that this team really lacks. Just good ole reliable Pert :).

Justinawe: Defensive rock of the team, and the main Ttar/Dragon counter. EQ and Ice Beam give it great coverage in just two moves, hitting everything but Bronzong and Shedinja(lol) for neutral damage. SR in general just helps wear down switches, which is nice given the stallish nature of this team. Roar helps with the entry hazard damage and is just in general a great move to possess. Max HP and Defense EVs lets him take many hits well, and give him excellent survivability.

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Scizor (M) @ Choice Band
Ability: Technician
EVs: 248 HP/252 Atk/8 Spd
Adamant nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Bullet Punch
- Superpower
- U-turn
- Pursuit

YoshiThePirate: Scizor is arguably the best pokemon in OU. Thats just my opinion... and by my next RMT it will probably change. But seriously, with stats like Base 130 Atk, Base 100 Def, Base 80 SDef, and typing that only gives Scizor one weakness, Scizor is definately one of the top prospects for bulky offensive teams such as this. Scizor brings priority to the table, which allows us to revenge kill threats such as DDMence and DDTar (provided it doesn't have Babiri Berry). Scizor also brings a bit of scouting to the table. U-Turn is a great move that allows us to build up residual damage very fast putting our opponents in a tight spot. With this aggressive play we can generally make matches end fairly quickly just because Raikou gets set up early. U-Turn also helps in prediction; allowing me to see what my opponent does when put in a specific situation allws me to set up rather easily.

Justinawe: This pokemon still sees usage at #1, and for some great reasons. Bullet Punch has 90 base power, which proves to be remarkable for a priority attack. 130 base attack is also very awesome, and helps him dish out plenty of damage. Superpower picks off many weakened steels, and is an easy ko on pokemon like Heatran and Magnezone. U-Turn in the early game really is amazing to abuse, getting a free switch in to the pokemon of your choice. Pursuit rounds out the set taking care of pesky ghosts/latias/random things weak to dark. EVs allow it to take hits pretty well, while still having that huge 394 attack stat.

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Gyarados @ Leftovers
EVs: 156 HP / 108 Atk / 100 Def / 144 Speed
Nature: Adamant
~ Dragon Dance
~ Taunt
~ Waterfall
~ Stone Edge

YoshiThePirate: Ah, Gyarados. One of my faves makes his way onto this team to defend myself against big threats such as Scizor and Lucario. This Gyarados is a great physical tank and somewhat mixed. Justin uses Dragon Dance RestTalk in a Crocune like manner, boosting up while my opponent is gradually drained by the spikes. I, however, use Stone Edge to successfully counter opposing Gyarados thanks to my bulkyness.

Justinawe: I was never really a fan of Restalk Dos, until I actually tried it. This guy can sweep teams late game all by himself if he has to. I don't what Yoshi is thinking with SE, as this is the far superior moveset. You basically lose a little bit of coverage on flying types, but you gain a "boosting wall", so to speak. Waterfall for an accurate STAB attack, although unfortunately Vaporeon walls this all day. Main status absorber of the team, taking care of Sporing Breloom, T-waving Bliss, or my favorite, WoWing Heatran. >.> Just the fact he can cover many offensive threats like Infernape, Lucario, and Scizor, 3 of the top 15 most used pokemon, is amazing. The EVs provided give him very great bulk overall, and let him reach a Leftovers #.

Yes, you do have Raikou and Rotom-H for Skarmory, and Gyarados as well as Scizor for Blissey but that doesn't them from setting up entry hazards or switching out for that matter. Gyarados can do very little damage to Forretress, and thus simply lets it set up. By the time Gyarados gets enough Dragon Dances to do some damage, Skarmory will have come in and Roared it away. On top of this, Forretress will often get rid of Roserade's entry hazards when Roserade is KOed. Yes, you could switch in Rotom-H, but chances are Forry has Payback to 2HKO you, while you hit back with a measly 75 base power Charge Beam.

I fixed this problem by using BulkyGyarados with Taunt to prevent this from happening.

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Rotom-h @ Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 64 SpA / 192 Speed
Timid nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Substitute
- Charge Beam
- Shadow Ball
- Hidden Power [Fighting]

YoshiThePirate: I originally ran Scarfed Rotom in this slot just for the sake of revenge killing. However, when I showed the team to august he said that I should try this set as it breaks the game right open for Raikou. This set easily beats Blissey as they struggle breaking the substitute while they are drained by Toxic Spikes + my attacks. Charge beam allows me to just set up and finally finish Blissey off with HP Fighting. Once Bliss is gone... well stall teams can pretty much start saying GG as Rotom or Raikou will have an easy time walking right through them. As well as beating Bliss, this set weakens up tyranitar a bit as well which is an extremely big plus. I see why this set is used in a lot of RMTs now... it works so well!

Justinawe: Another great late game sweeper, as well as breaking the mid game wide open. This has been seen in many RMT's lately, and for good reason. It simply can sweep very well, as Blissey has quite a time breaking the subs and still trying to stay in good health. Sub blocks status and makes setting up so much easier. Charge Beam is THE move that allows this guy to boost its already good Special Attack. Shadow Ball and HP Fighting not only give this ghost perfect coverage, they give it a way to take care of many top pokemon. The EVs in HP allow so Blissey can never break the sub with Ice Beam or Flamethrower. The Special Attack EVs and Speed EVs are required for a sweeper of this caliber, and fit very well.


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Raikou @ Leftovers
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spe
Timid nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Calm Mind
- Thunderbolt
- Substitute
- Hidden Power [Ice]

YoshiThePirate: Oh man... if you haven't tried this guy... then you really should... oh wait don't because the more unexpected... the better. This guy is almost unstoppable when he gets set up. His speed, defenses, typing, EVERYTHING about this guy makes him the perfect late game sweeper. Substitute up... 1 CM... non LO Gengar can't touch the substitute. august gave us the EVs so thats what they were designed to do. After a substitute I am protected from Scarf Flygon that tend to roam about for just about the entire match. Thunderbolt will put a serious hurting on anything that doesnt resist it. Calm Mind wars are generally won by me as my opponent runs out of PP :).

Justinawe: The Main Event. The Icon. The SHOWSTOPPER. This beast comes out late game when the opposing team is suffering hard from toxic spikes damage, and their main counter is down, this is when Raikou shows itself. Calm Mind and Substitute lets it set up with ease against most special attackers, and after a few just becomes nearly impossible to beat. Thunderbolt provides a reliable STAB attack, while HP ice gives it the classic "boltbeam" like attacking combination of electric+ice. I don't know what the EVs really do to be honest, but they were suggested by August, so Yoshi and I have used them ever since. :P

 

[Justinawe]

Defensive Threats:

Blissey - Gyarados can set up on this so easily, it's not even funny. :l Rotom if needed can set up on it and take it out. Scizor can come in and scare it out.

Bronzong - The only thing this guy walls is Roserade, so it's not a problem. Rotom can set up so easily on it, as can Gyara. Both can live an explosion as well.

Celebi - Rotom can set up on the defensive one very easily, unless it has Perish Song, which means it usually doesn't have HP Fire. Go to Zor, get a free U-Turn.

Cresselia - Scizor can come in and get a free U-Turn. Rotom scares her out with set up. Raikou could PP Stall it out if needed.

Forretress - Rotom takes the Payback-less versions, otherwise go to Gyara. The best Forretress can do is explode, which only does about 50%.

Gliscor - Can be a bit of trouble switching in the right guy. If Raikou can get in unscathed, Gliscor is screwed.

Gyarados - Rotom takes care of Defense versions very easily, as does Raikou if it hasn't got a DD at all.

Hippowdon - Can be a bit of trouble. Roserade can threaten out with Leaf Storm, as well as sleep it. Toxic Spikes should wear it down by late game when Rotom or Gyara attempt a sweep.

Jirachi -Rotom takes care of Body Slamming ones. Roserade can get a quick sleep on it and leave it as bait for one of the 3 set up sweepers. Swampert does fine against it as well.

Rotom-A - Raikou can come in and set up so easily on this. Most defensive Rotom only carry an electric attack, so Raikou just needs to CM once, and it has no chance of breaking the sub then.

Skarmory -Rotom and Raikou take care of it very easily, with Raikou not even needing a boost.

Snorlax -Gyarados sets up on Restalk ones. For Curse ones, Scizor can come in on a +1 and launch a Superpower for big damage.

Suicune - Rotom and Raikou can set up alongside it, although Rotom should really only be used as a last resort.

Swampert - Roserade easily knocks out lead versions, although late game when Rose is out, this can be a bit problematic. Gyara can set up against Roar-less ones.

Tyranitar - Swampert, probably the best counter to this. Gyara can be used as a last resort counter, with its great defense investment.

Vaporeon - Raikou has a field day with it. Just needs one CM for a sure OHKO. Rotom can set up on this nicely as well.

Zapdos - Raikou sets up very easily on Roar-less versions of this. Swampert can play mind games with Ice Beam and EQ against HP grass less ones.

Offensive Threats:

Azelf - Scizor comes in on a resisted hit for a BP, or if I'm feeling ballsy, I will Pursuit. Raikou can go for the speed tie if needed.

Breloom - Let Gyara take the sleep, then go to Rotom. Scizor can revenge easily with BP.

Gengar - Requires a bit of playing around, but Raikou can generally take it out if it gets a CM in. Scizor easily knocks it out with either BP or Pursuit.

Gyarados -If it gets a DD, going to Rotom is the best option. Has the potential to be the biggest threat to the team. Swampert can Roar it out to put it at 50% next time it comes in.

Heatran - Swampert is a great counter to this. If an explosion seems to be coming, Rotom gets a free switchin.

Infernape - GYARADOS! One of the best reasons to have Restalk Gyara is to counter this Ape right here. No one in their right mind would leave this in on a Gyarados.

Jolteon - Swampert can come in on HP grass ones with ease and cause some hurt with EQ. Raikou can CM up against Charge Beam ones and ultimately win due to PP Stall.

Latias - Raikou CM's right alongside it, and most likely wins due to pressure. Scizor can come in and deliver a BP or Pursuit for a KO.

Kingdra -With only one steel on the team, taking Outrage can be tough. Gyara can Intimidate, then go to Scizor to take a resisted Outrage. U-Turn to there to Swampert, who can KO after with EQ. Just one of a few scenarios that has happened before in a match.

Lucario -Gyara walls pretty much every Luke set, besides T-Punch. Seriously though, who even uses that? Rotom can come in and deal pain with HP Fighting. Swampert can barely survice a CC if needed and KO with EQ.

Machamp - Gyara has a lot of fun with this. Comes in on the DP and sets up a DD, while he SE's. Restalking this out and you will win 1 on 1.

Magnezone - 2 electric resists proves to be very nice for the team. Raikou can CM up with ease against it, and Rotom takes the boom.

Mamoswine - Gyara once again proves its worth by walling this nicely. Scizor can come in and deliver a nice KO with BP if needed.

Metagross - Rotom setting up on this is almost too easy. Gross has to rely on a resisted attack with less then perfect accuracy to even have a chance at beating this. Swampert takes care of this nicely as well.

Salamence - Well, there's no dragons on this team. There's also only one steel though. Mixmence is taken care of via Raikou coming in after a Draco. DD Mence can be checked nicely by Pert, or be taken out by CB Zor if it is around 60%, not too hard to get it at.

Scizor - Gyarados once again beats this all the time. Rotom has fun setting up on it as well.

Starmie - Scizor takes it out nicely with Pursuit. Raikou outspeeds standard versions and will usually get a free CM in. Rotom can take out if neccessary, also blocks the spin.

Tyranitar -Swampert takes care of every offensive set there is. Never has this team been beaten by a Tyranitar. Scizor also has it checked with BP.

Zapdos - Raikou loves setting up on offensive versions, as they often don't carry Roar. After just one CM, they have lots of trouble trying to just break the sub, while Kou can easily get +6.

 

[Friar]

Hello there,

This team is very solid at the moment Yoshi/Justin. I just wanted to say a few things.

First- I suggest Dragon Dance on the Gyarados set. This means you still have a very strong boosting sweeper on your hands, especially deadly with Toxic Spikes allowing you to slowly break your counters. This also somewhat takes Rotom's place as the boosting sweeper as I'm going to change Rotom's set.

Rotom- You need your entry hazards up at all costs. You also lack a status absorber. These two together make RestTalk Rotom the better choice. It is bulkier and can heal, allowing you to keep up hazards throughout the match. This set laughs at Blissey with Toxic Spikes up as well, as she can't do anything to you. You can do this because you already have a good counter to Lucario in Gyara, as well as having a check in Jirachi (coming soon).

Rotom-H @ Leftovers
Bold
Levitate
252 HP/200 Def/56 Sp Def.

Discharge
Will O Wisp
Rest
Sleep Talk

Makes for an insanely Bulky Pokemon that can easily hold it's own against even powerful Sp. Attackers like Zapdos while still having amazing physical bulk.

Finally, and I hate doing this to you, but I think SubCM Jirachi would help more than SubCM Raikou. This gives you a second steel (aka dragon resist), making you much less weak to Magnezone + Dragon teams and Dragon Types in general. With Toxic Spikes in play, Jirachi is almost unstoppable, easily able to kill of any specially based attackers and also able to outstall and kill maybe would be threats.

Jirachi @ Leftovers
Timid
Serene Grace
252 HP/80 Sp. Attack/176 Speed

Substitute
Calm Mind
Flash Cannon
Thunderbolt (it still has Thunderbolt at least)

Thats all i have, good luck with your team.

 

[YTP]

SubCM Jirachi will be tested... but I dunno. I built the team (and the title) around Raikou.

I'll definately test the Rotom though as it seems like a good idea... also increasing the longevity of this team. I'm also gonna test the scizor we discussed earlier.

Thanks!

 

[Witnessed]

Cool Team.

This looks a lot like my RMT a couple of days ago featuring SubCM Raikou. Because I know how Raikou works, I will go against Friar's idea of using SubCM Jirachi. The only thing Jirachi has over Raikou is a a plethora of resistances and is bulkier. Raikou hits harder and has one huge niche over Jirachi, in Speed. It can force Speed ties with Starmie and Azelf whearas Jirachi is looking at being severly damaged or crippled. Also, Raikou really needs max speed. You could move the Special Defense EV's into Defense, because your Special Defense will constantly be boosted.

Your team looks excellent, I can't spot any huge weaknesses, except you need to be certain that Magnezone is out of your way before Raikou gets onto the battlefield. I have learned that from using it.

EDIT: Meta, Most Gyarados carry Lefties now, so I think Ice Beam is the better choice. He has more ways of dealing with Gyarados anyways. They could change Rotom to the scarf variant to counter Gyara.

Hope I helped and Good Luck!

Go Raikou!

 

[MetaNite]

Hello!

Just a couple weeks ago, I meant a team extremely similar to this one, but with BulkyGyara over your current Gyarados, and Rock Polish Metagross over Scizor. From that experience I can safely say that this is a good team, but will have trouble handling stall teams.

Yes, you do have Raikou and Rotom-H for Skarmory, and Gyarados as well as Scizor for Blissey but that doesn't them from setting up entry hazards or switching out for that matter. Gyarados can do very little damage to Forretress, and thus simply lets it set up. By the time Gyarados gets enough Dragon Dances to do some damage, Skarmory will have come in and Roared it away. On top of this, Forretress will often get rid of Roserade's entry hazards when Roserade is KOed. Yes, you could switch in Rotom-H, but chances are Forry has Payback to 2HKO you, while you hit back with a measly 75 base power Charge Beam.

I fixed this problem by using BulkyGyarados with Taunt to prevent this from happening.

Gyarados @ Leftovers
EVs: 156 HP / 108 Atk / 100 Def / 144 Speed
Nature: Adamant
~ Dragon Dance
~ Taunt
~ Waterfall
~ Stone Edge

Now you can really set up on Blissey and Skarmory and Forretress too, while also posing an offensive threat. Taunt is also very useful for getting in Raikou or your own Rotom-H in on maybe an enemy Rotom-A without being burned. Between Gyarados, Swampert, and Scizor, you should have most physical threats down.

Another Pokemon who will really give you some trouble is enemy Gyarados, especially when you don't have Stone Edge on your own Gyarados. Since you do not have a defensive Rotom-H, it is very likely that a Life Orb Gyarados will OHKO your Gyarados counter! Even without Life Orb, Adamant Gyarados has a 28% chance of OHKOing your Rotom after Stealth Rock. If you've made a Substitute previously you are as good as dead.

I suggest testing Stone Edge instead of Ice Beam on Swampert, and then changing the nature to Impish. Stone Edge will easily 2HKO Gyarados, assuming you are countering it, and after Life Orb recoil, may even OHKO. This allows Swampert to do something other than simply Roar it away. Stone Edge still hits Salamence pretty hard, but I think you'd be better off going to Scizor against Life Orb DDMence anyway.

Another option is to change Rotom-H's EV spread. 252 HP / 64 SpA / 192 Speed allows you to survive a Waterfall and still outspeed Adamant Lucario.

I'm not really sure what Raikou is trying to do with that EV spread. It obviously wants to make itself bulkier, but that is simply mimicking Jirachi. I suggest taking a more offensive route. 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Speed is a simple and effective EV spread. Most of what you are going to try and set up on, you still can, and other stuff is just going to switch out. Max Speed allows you to revenge kill Starmie as well which is helpful, and also allows you to use Substitute before Scarf Magnezone Explodes (unlike your current EV spread). The extra power is also much welcomed, giving you an easier time killing Hippowdon, Swampert, and Scizor as well. For instance, you can now OHKO Scizor after a single Calm Mind if it has come into Stealth Rock twice, which is very helpful late game.

(Btw, when I tried Jirachi in place of Raikou, I found its power underwhelming and being weak to Fire-type attacks and slower than some Salamence certainly not helpful.)

Good luck to both of you!

 

[YTP]

Thanks for the rate MetaNite!

I'll try to get past my bulky gyara hate to test that out and I'll definately try out the new EV spreads.

 

[Bad Ass]

hey, this is a nice team! raikou is seriously underrated pokemon in ou, people should start preparing for him more. but, i feel you are using raikou incorrectly. raikou should be used as a more offensive version of subcm jirachi, otherwise it is outclassed as others have pointed out in this thread already. i have the perfect set for raikou, created by raikoulover a few months ago. it tears up everything, ohkoing tyranitar, magnezone, rotom, latias, scizor, heatran, and metagross among many others after a single cm and stealth rock damage.

Raikou @ Life Orb
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 252 Spd/252 SAtk/4 Def
Timid nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Hidden Power [Fighting]
- Thunderbolt
- Shadow Ball
- Calm Mind


it may look odd at first, but while playing with it you realize just how good it is. hp fighting looks out of place, but hp ice really isnt much better. scarfgon still outspeeds you and salamence is ohkoed by tbolt. shadow ball is a godsend, it hits a bunch of tbolt resists for super effective damage. rotom and latias are both ohkoed after sr damage ^_^. i hope you at least test this out, gl with the team!

 

[_Flygon_]

great team, but you really have a huge life orb latias weakness, i'll suggest trying a much bulkyer spread on scizor, focussed on sdef to solve this problem, this will help you against mixmence too. i'd then rather play se/roar on gyarados for salamence earlygame since raikou cleans up anyway.

 

[franky]

Problems:

Hippowdon

How to fix:

Really great team dude, especially since you work it around Raikou which is something hard to do. Well anyways I run a similar team minus Gyarados and except Raikou, Jolteon. Let me first say Stall Teams and Hippowdon in particular with really mess you up. None of your attacks will dent it while it constantly uses Slack Off or Roar to rack up SR damage, especially Gyarados who doesn't like it one bit. I've been swept by it before and what I meant by that is it came down to a point where I cant even damage it. Since Roserade is serving as a counter, its regarded a suicide sorta, so you might lose it early.

Since I wont suggest any Pokes because it might ruin the core, but have you really just considered going for the standard Taunt Gyarados? I mean with Rotom semi-checking Lucario and potentially forcing it to switch-out, well its not a big problem. Taunt Gyarados works in the same manner with good bulk also but has Taunt in its arsenal to ruin Hippowdon and legit phazers. My second thought is trying Synthesis over Hidden power Ground. Heatran is already handled by Swampert and co. while Metagross is handled by Rotom. Synthesis might just help by sticking Roserade around for a long tiem to prevent Hippowdon from doing much. I dont know it may be odd but give it a shot. but Im all for Taunt Gyarados on this one.

 

[YTP]

Thanks for your rates guys. I'll be sure to test everything. Keep rating...

 

[YTP]

Changed Gyara to bulky and changed two ev spreads.