Hey there. I am here to post a unique, unorthodox HO which I used for almost a year and a half in SS OU from Jan 2021 - Present. I've used it often for laddering and I've often stayed in the range between 1600-1730 with it. This team has 3 OU mons and 3 mons from the lower tiers which makes it an interesting combo. Okay, so lets start
https://pokepast.es/23b6755f2837f38e
Sceptile - Now the reason I chose Sceptile because its my favourite starter and pokemon of all time. Its swords dance due to hyper offence. Leaf Blade is for stab, Earthquake is for steels, electrics, fires and the big one being Heatran. Acrobatics is for Buzzwole and opposing grasses. Rock slide is an option to hit Zapdos and other birds like Torn hard but I think Acro is more feasible. Now I accept its outclassed by Hawlucha as a unburden sweeper and Kartana or Rillaboom as an offensive grass. However, Sceptile is faster that Hawlucha by 2 points which means Hawlucha cant revenge Sceptile. Sceptile also isn't halted by Tapu Fini or the slow twins which are one of the few minor points I noticed. Additionally, Sceptile helps vs unaware quagsire. The speed evs are to out speed adamant max speed Hawlucha and the rest are in HP. Its also a potential wincon in some matchups. The ability is unburden and the item is electric seed, which triggers unburden in electric terrain and gives a defence boost.
Salamence - I like some spice and some things different. Everyone says Salamence is a Btech Dragonite and I can understand it but Salamence does have a few perks in my opinion. Salamence has a better speed tier outspeeding water shifu and scarf lele (after a dragon dance) and moxie which helps it snowball after a dragon dance and a kill. I used to run Naive Salamence with fire blast for Ferrothorn and Corv but I changed it to Jolly and put sub over fire blast because of how common toxic Landorus is on the ladder. Sub is an attempt to turn Lando into set up opportunities and sub is the freest move to click vs Heatran and Toxapex. Dragon Dance is for set up, Dual Wingbeat is for stab and flying is a strong offensive type. Gone for Jolly to out speed base 95's like Lele after a DD. Earthquake is for Heatran, Koko and gives good neutral coverage with flying. I went for boots as my hazard control isn't very dedicated.
Excadrill - This mon is my suicide lead. It sets up rocks and spins opposing rocks wherever possible. Now Banded Weavile and Water Urshifu deny Excadrill from getting up any rocks but I don't lead with Drill when I see water shifu on team preview. Earthquake is for stab and Toxic is for Lando, Zapdos and Slowbro. All annoying mons basically. I used to run rock tomb to lower speed but toxic is much better in the current meta. Excadrill is also the electric immune, so I want necessary sack it early in case I see a Regieleki on team preview. Focus sash to guarantee rocks or at least a toxic on Landorus, Zapdos or Slowbro.
Tapu Koko - This mon is the screen setter of the team. It provides screens and electric terrain. The other reason I picked it as the screen setter is having a fast taunt + screens + electric terrain in one slot. Outspeeding ribombee and denying webs is so nice in my opinion. I went for volt switch to deal with torn and chip damage and also to surprise pelipper who think screens Koko is U-turn. This Koko maybe walled by ground types but its not too much of a big deal for me personally. Plus with 252 HP its able to pivot into buzzwole without earthquake at least twice. Light clay is for increasing the screens turns on Koko.
Magnezone - Magnezone is the team's special breaker. It also traps corviknight, skarmory, defensive scizor, melmetal locked into double iron bash and defensive celesteela which are vital for my Salamence, Sceptile and even Weavile to make big progress. It hits pretty hard with specs and specs flash canon 2hkoes spdef Landorus most of the time. Volt switch is for momentum, Thunderbolt to hit as hard as possible, Flash canon for stab and steel beam is a powerful nuke to catch Garchomp on the switch. Its also the teams answer to calm mind clefable and unaware clefable as well. Its played a big role vs stall for me. I've gone for modest to hit as hard as possible. I cant remember what 8 HP is for but I think it was to take a knock off better.
Weavile - Weavile is the fast sweeper cum breaker of the team. I've gone with sword dance + life orb to be a big threat at +2. A + 2 Tripe Axel with life orb kos corviknight most of the time after stealth rocks. Knock off does solid damage, removes items and not many want to take it. Stab knock off always stings. Ice shard is for priority ohkoing Dragapult at +2 and revenging scale shot Chomp. In general, Weavile is the teams birb killer destroying Zapdos, Mandibuzz, Dragonite with axel. Also smashes Lando. I went for jolly to out speed Tornadus-Therian. Weavile used to be banded before with low kick, but later felt that SD is more appropriate for this kind of team. Weavile also covers the 3 personal super annoying mons in Zapdos, Blissey and Garchomp in one swoop. Its is also a dark type which is essential to block future sight.
Replays
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8ou-1455631757-ik5azgi96me4r6i9ywy3h03bu1lf0u9pw - Win vs storm zone
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8ou-1456293509-vrbrffgploii7lpi6hqk5rwt55mz86bpw - Proof of peak 1820
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8ou-1706329146-jn0yw5veqpvdqve5hehub68xq6w1urcpw - Peak overridden recently on 9 Nov 2022 at 1823
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8ou-1471902617-gc86tylyct5o4hqbedegjr6tvhy5v6kpw - Sceptile sweeping
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8ou-1470568913-2jrnqz9giub9621cr44tbaxb5rba4ispw - stall
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8ou-1428882526-omggcsa3bwf2efwmt4145nogjd2z6s1pw - sand
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8ou-1473257068-hlfagpxwqz0tdbd6vtcetc3taujxop2pw - rain
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8ou-1374053389 - win in OLT
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8ou-1372812693 - win in OLT
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8ou-1502855434-uhhc1eq99yd8af5nzmro4dcakg8vrvipw - vs opposing HO
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8ou-1502854201-iie9tzyizct9iqr4v0gcr0brypyd1otpw - vs fat
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8ou-1500299580-vm6s642fk1j3wgb6scygi2lfbw86qgvpw Mence taking advantage of Lando and Pex
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8ou-1500244078-jyuugpxovvfz6phsyufj2h6hvhdc4m1pw vs Hail
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8ou-1492220656-gzv9qvr90ij9rs7dmoorytt3t2dvxkppw vs rain
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8ou-1430874833-x47asinptu3etope0i31vqo29qoq883pw - vs sand
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8ou-1411844174-nbggmqi1t2kmrdn8nue4i02bgislxj6pw - vs sun
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8ou-1438319707-hoxiqotr57f3riqzu5qtae6oopztunspw - vs screens HO
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8ou-1430881859-u3wcgjzl7e55ebhpwpwoochj7oxxh71pw - vs webs
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8ou-1430211875-3kqntn3ivf4eq424zpwen8rhf8p13h0pw vs hail
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8ou-1472196368-d2v8xxi51mv0949kskvwjje20vuyw7rpw
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8ou-1557967152-ar5jhbtzacs88f6eynorpb391b7lyj9pw vs stall
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8ou-1470678829-ifo9wj1jjkkjg2styc01vz2k1mx3iekpw vs HO
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8ou-1559842383-ojwgoge56pblw8xpii94wfuwwjtds21pw most recent replay
Threats
Defensive
Ferrothorn - I have to taunt it early game to stop hazards and gyro ball variants are problematic for this team. Its hard to break Ferro unboosted.
Zapdos - Weavile can take care of it but risks para contact in trying to kill Zapdos. Excadrill can also toxic it but if Weav and Excadrill goes down. Its over.
Melmetal - This team has often required to gang up on Melm and outplay it.
Tapu Fini (to an extent) - Fini protects Lando from Weavile and Salamence. Salamence is mostly not able to 2hko fini with a +1 wingbeat due to fini's phys def investment. Sceptile can set up and deal with it and so can mzone but mzone has to predict right.
Shed shell corv - Mostly seen on stall but random shed shell corv can halter progress forcing me to sack weavile and trap it with mzone.
Unaware Clef - Have to taunt it with Koko and keep up offensive pressure otherwise its an L. Magenzone will it smash with flash canon or steel beam and life orb axel 2hkoes but still a problem.
Offensive
Garchomp - Garchomp is so annoying as it anti leads excadrill thanks to its high bulk, speed and rough skin. Weavile and ice shard is there but Chomp can switch out even after sding or scale shoting it.
Opposing Weavile - My team cant handle adamant banded weavile well as there is no a switch in. Cant let weavile sd up for free as I have to risk a speed tie with my own weavile.
Scarf Tapu Lele and Kartana -Scarf Lele is annoying for my Salamence and Weavile. I have to reflect up with Koko early to prevent scarf Kart from snowballing.
Baloon Heatran - Annoying early game and my only fire resist is Salamence. But we have 3 earthquake users so Heatran wasn't that annoying.
Conclusion - Overall a fun team with unorthodox stuff. I found it to be a high risk high reward team. I am open to any tweaks or constructive criticism on the sets. I would really like a feedback on this squad as well.
https://pokepast.es/23b6755f2837f38e
Sceptile - Now the reason I chose Sceptile because its my favourite starter and pokemon of all time. Its swords dance due to hyper offence. Leaf Blade is for stab, Earthquake is for steels, electrics, fires and the big one being Heatran. Acrobatics is for Buzzwole and opposing grasses. Rock slide is an option to hit Zapdos and other birds like Torn hard but I think Acro is more feasible. Now I accept its outclassed by Hawlucha as a unburden sweeper and Kartana or Rillaboom as an offensive grass. However, Sceptile is faster that Hawlucha by 2 points which means Hawlucha cant revenge Sceptile. Sceptile also isn't halted by Tapu Fini or the slow twins which are one of the few minor points I noticed. Additionally, Sceptile helps vs unaware quagsire. The speed evs are to out speed adamant max speed Hawlucha and the rest are in HP. Its also a potential wincon in some matchups. The ability is unburden and the item is electric seed, which triggers unburden in electric terrain and gives a defence boost.
Salamence - I like some spice and some things different. Everyone says Salamence is a Btech Dragonite and I can understand it but Salamence does have a few perks in my opinion. Salamence has a better speed tier outspeeding water shifu and scarf lele (after a dragon dance) and moxie which helps it snowball after a dragon dance and a kill. I used to run Naive Salamence with fire blast for Ferrothorn and Corv but I changed it to Jolly and put sub over fire blast because of how common toxic Landorus is on the ladder. Sub is an attempt to turn Lando into set up opportunities and sub is the freest move to click vs Heatran and Toxapex. Dragon Dance is for set up, Dual Wingbeat is for stab and flying is a strong offensive type. Gone for Jolly to out speed base 95's like Lele after a DD. Earthquake is for Heatran, Koko and gives good neutral coverage with flying. I went for boots as my hazard control isn't very dedicated.
Excadrill - This mon is my suicide lead. It sets up rocks and spins opposing rocks wherever possible. Now Banded Weavile and Water Urshifu deny Excadrill from getting up any rocks but I don't lead with Drill when I see water shifu on team preview. Earthquake is for stab and Toxic is for Lando, Zapdos and Slowbro. All annoying mons basically. I used to run rock tomb to lower speed but toxic is much better in the current meta. Excadrill is also the electric immune, so I want necessary sack it early in case I see a Regieleki on team preview. Focus sash to guarantee rocks or at least a toxic on Landorus, Zapdos or Slowbro.
Tapu Koko - This mon is the screen setter of the team. It provides screens and electric terrain. The other reason I picked it as the screen setter is having a fast taunt + screens + electric terrain in one slot. Outspeeding ribombee and denying webs is so nice in my opinion. I went for volt switch to deal with torn and chip damage and also to surprise pelipper who think screens Koko is U-turn. This Koko maybe walled by ground types but its not too much of a big deal for me personally. Plus with 252 HP its able to pivot into buzzwole without earthquake at least twice. Light clay is for increasing the screens turns on Koko.
Magnezone - Magnezone is the team's special breaker. It also traps corviknight, skarmory, defensive scizor, melmetal locked into double iron bash and defensive celesteela which are vital for my Salamence, Sceptile and even Weavile to make big progress. It hits pretty hard with specs and specs flash canon 2hkoes spdef Landorus most of the time. Volt switch is for momentum, Thunderbolt to hit as hard as possible, Flash canon for stab and steel beam is a powerful nuke to catch Garchomp on the switch. Its also the teams answer to calm mind clefable and unaware clefable as well. Its played a big role vs stall for me. I've gone for modest to hit as hard as possible. I cant remember what 8 HP is for but I think it was to take a knock off better.
Weavile - Weavile is the fast sweeper cum breaker of the team. I've gone with sword dance + life orb to be a big threat at +2. A + 2 Tripe Axel with life orb kos corviknight most of the time after stealth rocks. Knock off does solid damage, removes items and not many want to take it. Stab knock off always stings. Ice shard is for priority ohkoing Dragapult at +2 and revenging scale shot Chomp. In general, Weavile is the teams birb killer destroying Zapdos, Mandibuzz, Dragonite with axel. Also smashes Lando. I went for jolly to out speed Tornadus-Therian. Weavile used to be banded before with low kick, but later felt that SD is more appropriate for this kind of team. Weavile also covers the 3 personal super annoying mons in Zapdos, Blissey and Garchomp in one swoop. Its is also a dark type which is essential to block future sight.
Replays
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8ou-1455631757-ik5azgi96me4r6i9ywy3h03bu1lf0u9pw - Win vs storm zone
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8ou-1456293509-vrbrffgploii7lpi6hqk5rwt55mz86bpw - Proof of peak 1820
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8ou-1706329146-jn0yw5veqpvdqve5hehub68xq6w1urcpw - Peak overridden recently on 9 Nov 2022 at 1823
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8ou-1471902617-gc86tylyct5o4hqbedegjr6tvhy5v6kpw - Sceptile sweeping
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8ou-1470568913-2jrnqz9giub9621cr44tbaxb5rba4ispw - stall
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8ou-1428882526-omggcsa3bwf2efwmt4145nogjd2z6s1pw - sand
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8ou-1473257068-hlfagpxwqz0tdbd6vtcetc3taujxop2pw - rain
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8ou-1374053389 - win in OLT
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8ou-1372812693 - win in OLT
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8ou-1502855434-uhhc1eq99yd8af5nzmro4dcakg8vrvipw - vs opposing HO
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8ou-1502854201-iie9tzyizct9iqr4v0gcr0brypyd1otpw - vs fat
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8ou-1500299580-vm6s642fk1j3wgb6scygi2lfbw86qgvpw Mence taking advantage of Lando and Pex
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8ou-1500244078-jyuugpxovvfz6phsyufj2h6hvhdc4m1pw vs Hail
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8ou-1492220656-gzv9qvr90ij9rs7dmoorytt3t2dvxkppw vs rain
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8ou-1430874833-x47asinptu3etope0i31vqo29qoq883pw - vs sand
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8ou-1411844174-nbggmqi1t2kmrdn8nue4i02bgislxj6pw - vs sun
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8ou-1438319707-hoxiqotr57f3riqzu5qtae6oopztunspw - vs screens HO
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8ou-1430881859-u3wcgjzl7e55ebhpwpwoochj7oxxh71pw - vs webs
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8ou-1430211875-3kqntn3ivf4eq424zpwen8rhf8p13h0pw vs hail
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8ou-1472196368-d2v8xxi51mv0949kskvwjje20vuyw7rpw
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8ou-1557967152-ar5jhbtzacs88f6eynorpb391b7lyj9pw vs stall
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8ou-1470678829-ifo9wj1jjkkjg2styc01vz2k1mx3iekpw vs HO
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8ou-1559842383-ojwgoge56pblw8xpii94wfuwwjtds21pw most recent replay
Threats
Defensive
Ferrothorn - I have to taunt it early game to stop hazards and gyro ball variants are problematic for this team. Its hard to break Ferro unboosted.
Zapdos - Weavile can take care of it but risks para contact in trying to kill Zapdos. Excadrill can also toxic it but if Weav and Excadrill goes down. Its over.
Melmetal - This team has often required to gang up on Melm and outplay it.
Tapu Fini (to an extent) - Fini protects Lando from Weavile and Salamence. Salamence is mostly not able to 2hko fini with a +1 wingbeat due to fini's phys def investment. Sceptile can set up and deal with it and so can mzone but mzone has to predict right.
Shed shell corv - Mostly seen on stall but random shed shell corv can halter progress forcing me to sack weavile and trap it with mzone.
Unaware Clef - Have to taunt it with Koko and keep up offensive pressure otherwise its an L. Magenzone will it smash with flash canon or steel beam and life orb axel 2hkoes but still a problem.
Offensive
Garchomp - Garchomp is so annoying as it anti leads excadrill thanks to its high bulk, speed and rough skin. Weavile and ice shard is there but Chomp can switch out even after sding or scale shoting it.
Opposing Weavile - My team cant handle adamant banded weavile well as there is no a switch in. Cant let weavile sd up for free as I have to risk a speed tie with my own weavile.
Scarf Tapu Lele and Kartana -Scarf Lele is annoying for my Salamence and Weavile. I have to reflect up with Koko early to prevent scarf Kart from snowballing.
Baloon Heatran - Annoying early game and my only fire resist is Salamence. But we have 3 earthquake users so Heatran wasn't that annoying.
Conclusion - Overall a fun team with unorthodox stuff. I found it to be a high risk high reward team. I am open to any tweaks or constructive criticism on the sets. I would really like a feedback on this squad as well.
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