Hello. I noticed that there havent been a lot of RU RMT's this gen and wanted to change that as I enjoy reading about indepth explanations behind the building processes of good teams. I thought it would be a good idea to do a team that I and others had a lot of success with from a metagame not that long ago, especially one that has a lot of unique picks for the time and that overall has a style that you dont really see in sv all that much. Traditional, wishpass balance structures i think are a little bit of a thing of the past as sv builders have opted for either more offensive styles (yanmega HO, armarouge BO etc...) , or the bulky, stall teams that are completely reactive (think hjkhj). The probable reason is that wish pass is simply too passive for the tera-centric metagame but I think this team strikes a fantastic balance between longevity, breaking power, and proactivity.
<-paste
Scream Tail @ Leftovers
Ability: Protosynthesis
Tera Type: Poison
EVs: 252 HP / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Dazzling Gleam
- Encore
- Wish
- Protect
so scream tail. This pokemon was, and still is, unranked in our current VR. Not everything can be ranked of course though, and this is the only team in this metagame that scream tail was actually quite good in, so its absence is reasonable. The reason why its not viewed highly is due to its matchup into steel types like jirachi and revavroom, which both bring their own threat and utility, and being completely passive into those two is often too much. It is the same reason why Sylveon or Florges aren't highly regarded either. Scream tail also offers no means of making any sort of progress really, with a weak dazzling gleam being its only damage dealing move. Other wishpassers can at least threaten a stab foul play + toxic (umbreon) or scald burns (vaporeon). Despite this, the other qualities of scream tail I believe make up for its shortcomings in progress making. The main draw of scream tail, as a pokemon entirely I believe, is its 111 speed stat encore, coupled with insane natural bulk (115/99/115), being one of few fast encore users with the bulk to switch into most attacks freely. To add to this quality, it also runs reliable recovery to give longevity to this maneuver. Since scream tail can so easily trap pokemon to repeat their set up moves, typical fat breakers like NP Mew, CM Rouge, NP Thundy, and others can be nullified rather easily unless the opponent successfully wears down the scream tail. Even against attackers that normally can beat scream tail, like Bisharp, the threat of an aggressive switch to scream tail on an SD or Bulk Up can deter the opponent from clicking those dangerous moves. There are a number of applications of a fast encore user, I don't need to list them all, the general idea is that with a team that can take advantage of these encore trapped pokemon, opportunities can arise for dangerous breakers, like CB Okidogi, to switch in freely and break. The other advantage of scream tail is the fact that it is very difficult to 1v1, especially when it tera poisons. Since encore deters set up moves, this means the most optimal way to defeat scream tail 1v1 is through breakers with big attack stats to overcome its insane natural bulk. However, since tera allows scream tail to flip its matchup spread entirely, it can end up handling most of these breakers. It can also utilize protect to scout for choice attacks, before deciding to stay in, switch out, or click tera, making the task of defeating scream tail 1v1 even more impossible. The most optimal way to defeat scream tail then is through hazards and pivoting, which is what the next slot aims to prevent...
Talonflame @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Flame Body
Tera Type: Ghost
EVs: 248 HP / 28 Def / 232 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Brave Bird
- Will-O-Wisp
- Roost
- Defog
Talonflame looks to directly rectify many of scream tail's immediate weaknesses. Firstly, the main idea which started the teambuilding process for this six, is the natural synergy for talonflame to punish Jirachi iron head. This, rather effectively, deters jirachi from mindlessly going in on scream tail and clicking iron head. However, as the talonflame user, going talonflame on jirachi is not automatic because body slam can be clicked, and talonflame also takes the role of speed control on this team. The second benefit from flame body is punishing mindless uturns from slither wings, meinshaos, zapdos-gs, etc... This enables scream tail even further as now, simply pivoting around to wear down scream tail is made much more difficult. The last thing that Talonflame synergizes is hazard removal in the form of defog. Most hazard stacks look to take advantage of cyclizar as a removal option, but talonflame handle most of the various tricks common structures look to use to keep hazards up. I've heard a lot of people say that talonflame is a bad defogger, which i don't exactly agree with. It has good match ups into the most common stealth rock options (Hippo, jirachi, krook to an extent) and is also good into the most common spiker, which is chesnaught (though like krook, mindfulness of knock off is necessary). An unfortunate weakness of this team is that talonflame is the primary form of speed control, which is only 5 speed points better than speed control cyclizar teams. That being said, there were successful teams with cyclizar as speed control in this metagame, so talonflame being the fastest option on this isn't as bad as you might expect. Through brave bird, it still has a very solid move to finish off attackers. I also want to highlight talonflame's match up into bisharp as that match up is significantly easier due to talonflame's presence.
Okidogi (M) @ Choice Band
Ability: Toxic Chain
Tera Type: Fighting
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Close Combat
- Gunk Shot
- Knock Off
- Psychic Fangs
CB Dogi is the breaker of the team that takes advantage of scream tail's encores, not that it has a particularly difficult time switching in anyway as it boasts great bulk and a great natural typing. Not to mention, it is also stupid powerful, especially with the choice band intact. I don't need to present the different calc's of this thing's power and bulk, so I will explain what it does that is unique to this team, and ultimately why it couldnt be replaced after it left the tier. Firstly, Okidogi is the sole dark resist and is one of two knock off absorbers for the team. This punished cyclizars thinking they could freely knock scream tail, talon, gligar, or goodra, all of which depend on their items, as then they are letting an okidogi come in which can force progress, as it is still just as threatening without a choice band. Okidogi also benefits from scream tail's wishpass so that it also has the longevity to take knock offs throughout the game. Opposing okidogi are usually difficult for balance structures such as this, so having a max speed okidogi with a choice band to switch in to its stabs/knock off is helps alleviate this match up. Some may point to this reason being percisely why okidogi was banworthy, of which seems obvious considering its recent sentencing to UUBL, but I really do not believe okidogi was restricting, for both offense and even balance. I attributed the centralized state of the tier due to lack of good role compression pokemons rather than an effect caused by either thundy or okidogi. I believe, with time and with thundy and okidogi both in the tier, the current tier would be more open and more diverse than it is now. Teams such as this prove my point as there is no fighting type in the tier that has the specific role compression of Okidogi within the tier. No other fighitng type can both be a knock off absorber and also be a powerful breaker, and also contain a poison immunity and a decent speed tier. That is why attempts of this team with Toxicroak or Conkeldurr have failed and why a team like this can only exist with okidogi present in the tier. Now, im left frustrated with the tier as there are so little offensive role compression pokemons, for what I believe little reason as I never believed that either okidogi or thundy were close to being banworthy.
Goodra-Hisui @ Leftovers
Ability: Sap Sipper
Tera Type: Water
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 44 Def / 164 SpD / 44 Spe
Careful Nature
- Heavy Slam
- Dragon Tail
- Rest
- Sleep Talk
So this set... In games on the ladder and test games, this set proved itself to be very good and I honestly thought more people would adopt it as this set allows for goodra to be that special wall while also having some longevity and status absorption, but in actual tour games this was quite disappointing. I still believe it is a neat set though. The combination of heavy slam + dragon tail is really difficult to handle and take advantage of, as the steel-type heavy slam naturally synergizes against fairy-types who look to be immune to dragon tail. They are both stab attacks and they are coming off a decently strong 100 bas hp. Resttalk is restalk, both a blessing and a curse depending on what moves are willed. I generally try to minimize variance in my teams, however this pokemon is the one element that is deeply effected by luck. Dragon tail is a huge plus as well into set up, which complements scream tails encore in completely detering set up moves; Goodra in return, benefits from scream tail's wish pass. Goodra is also the main form of fezandipiti counterplay as scream tail and balances in general can struggle against it. In general, scream tail and goodra inverse each other's match up chart into special attackers. The other major benefit of this set is very good counterplay into opposing choice specs goodra, as draco is unable to 2hko and the other moves do minimal damage. The ev spread is quite exotic; 44 speed evs bring it to 167 which outspeeds umbreon and vaporeon; 44 defense evs helps into krookodile eq; the 4 atk evs do something of which i cannot remember; and the rest are dumped into HP and special defense. Sap Sipper is nice as it boosts your attack so hslam and dtail are even more difficult to switch into while also supporting goodra for tera water, only leaving goodra with one weakness after it teras.
Gligar @ Eviolite
Ability: Immunity
Tera Type: Water
EVs: 252 HP / 200 SpD / 56 Spe
Careful Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- U-turn
- Toxic
Oh how I love gligar, sort of. At the time, it was only behind krook as the best ground type in the tier as it had advantageous match ups into the allegedly broken okidogi and thundurus and wasnt a sitting duck like hippo. Since then, things have changed and gligar has gotten worse. Gligar serves a number of functions on this team as it is one of few viable role compression pokemons. The most important functions are toxic and pivoting. Just getting a toxic off on any pokemon is massive as this team possesses the longevity to outlast poisoned mons and its not like heal bell/aromatherapy exist. Its role as a pivot is also crucial for getting CB dogi opportunities. It has enough speed to outpace magnezone which can be annoying for balances, especially ones with a scream tail. its toxic immunity through its ability immunity is also very helpful into fezandipiti. I think gligar is unique on this team as usually we associate gligar with bulky offenses as its role compression is generally more valuable on those teams and BO's can hide gligar's lack of natural longevity. Despite this, I still went with gligar as I valued the extra ground immunity, toxic, and pivoting. There are other pokemon like slowbro and goodra which can handle the more serious attacks, which lets gligar perform its primary functions better as that pressure of taking hits partially removed. It also benefits from wishpass from scream tail, but I have found that this comination is not exactly necessary for the functionality of the team--the team does not depend on this relationship for success.
Slowbro @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Regenerator
Tera Type: Poison
EVs: 252 HP / 236 Def / 20 Spe
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Calm Mind
- Scald
- Psychic Noise
- Slack Off
Slowbro gives this team a regen pokemon, of which I think is necessary in this tier for any balance as otherwise cyclizar and other pivots exploit the slow pacing too much. Slowbro also provides a bulky set up option and a more properly defined wincon for the team. I generally prefer boots on CM slowbro as it means less time clicking recover and more time clicking CM. 20 speed evs are just to creep other slowbros to win psynoise battles. Slowbro serves as the premier physical wall for the team which means exactly that. You throw this into physical attacks and it either walls or you pivot into something that can manage the attacks.
That is pretty much it. This team basically has a solid structure that is supported by a bunch of synergies within the team to get the most out of scream tail. I think this team benefits from being unconventional as most players arent exactly certain on the best way to approach the team. Its weird structure makes it fantastic into teams that look to take down the more standard bike, hippo, rachi structures that were prevalent in the tier. As for individual pokemon that threaten this team, zoroark-hisui can be scary as there is no ghost resist. he match up is still playable due to goodra's insane special bulk and tera poison scream tail is very advantageous into hzoro as it does outspeed it. This team also benefits from Golurk not really being relavent yet. There is one game were I got 6-0ed by suicune very early so that is a problem match up, but i doubt there are many balancesthat are actually good into that pokemon. Outside of that one game, this team was undefeated in tour play.
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9ru-2212105289-m7vsx469ryk994cpdbfwglh41i7xebxpw RU penta r1 (L)
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9ru-2201422372-bo3fkzj6qrbymg5ha6ljr97ehsa7r0wpw RU ssnl r6 (W)
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/smogtours-gen9ru-792438 RU ssnl r8 (W)
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9ru-2212126568-ca6txysy0bc5g3hcb4654u191un0kugpw RU ssnl r8 (W)
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9ru-2212131909-9i92qf0rxzj60mpjnm8vy54am7in3ucpw RU ssnl r8 (W)
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/smogtours-gen9ru-793303 RU ssnl r8 (W)
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/smogtours-gen9ru-793141 RUWC quarterfinals (W)
hope you all enjoyed reading and hope to see some other rmts. also cant be bothered to check for grammar, ping if smth is unclear.
<-pasteScream Tail @ Leftovers
Ability: Protosynthesis
Tera Type: Poison
EVs: 252 HP / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Dazzling Gleam
- Encore
- Wish
- Protect
so scream tail. This pokemon was, and still is, unranked in our current VR. Not everything can be ranked of course though, and this is the only team in this metagame that scream tail was actually quite good in, so its absence is reasonable. The reason why its not viewed highly is due to its matchup into steel types like jirachi and revavroom, which both bring their own threat and utility, and being completely passive into those two is often too much. It is the same reason why Sylveon or Florges aren't highly regarded either. Scream tail also offers no means of making any sort of progress really, with a weak dazzling gleam being its only damage dealing move. Other wishpassers can at least threaten a stab foul play + toxic (umbreon) or scald burns (vaporeon). Despite this, the other qualities of scream tail I believe make up for its shortcomings in progress making. The main draw of scream tail, as a pokemon entirely I believe, is its 111 speed stat encore, coupled with insane natural bulk (115/99/115), being one of few fast encore users with the bulk to switch into most attacks freely. To add to this quality, it also runs reliable recovery to give longevity to this maneuver. Since scream tail can so easily trap pokemon to repeat their set up moves, typical fat breakers like NP Mew, CM Rouge, NP Thundy, and others can be nullified rather easily unless the opponent successfully wears down the scream tail. Even against attackers that normally can beat scream tail, like Bisharp, the threat of an aggressive switch to scream tail on an SD or Bulk Up can deter the opponent from clicking those dangerous moves. There are a number of applications of a fast encore user, I don't need to list them all, the general idea is that with a team that can take advantage of these encore trapped pokemon, opportunities can arise for dangerous breakers, like CB Okidogi, to switch in freely and break. The other advantage of scream tail is the fact that it is very difficult to 1v1, especially when it tera poisons. Since encore deters set up moves, this means the most optimal way to defeat scream tail 1v1 is through breakers with big attack stats to overcome its insane natural bulk. However, since tera allows scream tail to flip its matchup spread entirely, it can end up handling most of these breakers. It can also utilize protect to scout for choice attacks, before deciding to stay in, switch out, or click tera, making the task of defeating scream tail 1v1 even more impossible. The most optimal way to defeat scream tail then is through hazards and pivoting, which is what the next slot aims to prevent...
Talonflame @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Flame Body
Tera Type: Ghost
EVs: 248 HP / 28 Def / 232 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Brave Bird
- Will-O-Wisp
- Roost
- Defog
Talonflame looks to directly rectify many of scream tail's immediate weaknesses. Firstly, the main idea which started the teambuilding process for this six, is the natural synergy for talonflame to punish Jirachi iron head. This, rather effectively, deters jirachi from mindlessly going in on scream tail and clicking iron head. However, as the talonflame user, going talonflame on jirachi is not automatic because body slam can be clicked, and talonflame also takes the role of speed control on this team. The second benefit from flame body is punishing mindless uturns from slither wings, meinshaos, zapdos-gs, etc... This enables scream tail even further as now, simply pivoting around to wear down scream tail is made much more difficult. The last thing that Talonflame synergizes is hazard removal in the form of defog. Most hazard stacks look to take advantage of cyclizar as a removal option, but talonflame handle most of the various tricks common structures look to use to keep hazards up. I've heard a lot of people say that talonflame is a bad defogger, which i don't exactly agree with. It has good match ups into the most common stealth rock options (Hippo, jirachi, krook to an extent) and is also good into the most common spiker, which is chesnaught (though like krook, mindfulness of knock off is necessary). An unfortunate weakness of this team is that talonflame is the primary form of speed control, which is only 5 speed points better than speed control cyclizar teams. That being said, there were successful teams with cyclizar as speed control in this metagame, so talonflame being the fastest option on this isn't as bad as you might expect. Through brave bird, it still has a very solid move to finish off attackers. I also want to highlight talonflame's match up into bisharp as that match up is significantly easier due to talonflame's presence.
Okidogi (M) @ Choice Band
Ability: Toxic Chain
Tera Type: Fighting
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Close Combat
- Gunk Shot
- Knock Off
- Psychic Fangs
CB Dogi is the breaker of the team that takes advantage of scream tail's encores, not that it has a particularly difficult time switching in anyway as it boasts great bulk and a great natural typing. Not to mention, it is also stupid powerful, especially with the choice band intact. I don't need to present the different calc's of this thing's power and bulk, so I will explain what it does that is unique to this team, and ultimately why it couldnt be replaced after it left the tier. Firstly, Okidogi is the sole dark resist and is one of two knock off absorbers for the team. This punished cyclizars thinking they could freely knock scream tail, talon, gligar, or goodra, all of which depend on their items, as then they are letting an okidogi come in which can force progress, as it is still just as threatening without a choice band. Okidogi also benefits from scream tail's wishpass so that it also has the longevity to take knock offs throughout the game. Opposing okidogi are usually difficult for balance structures such as this, so having a max speed okidogi with a choice band to switch in to its stabs/knock off is helps alleviate this match up. Some may point to this reason being percisely why okidogi was banworthy, of which seems obvious considering its recent sentencing to UUBL, but I really do not believe okidogi was restricting, for both offense and even balance. I attributed the centralized state of the tier due to lack of good role compression pokemons rather than an effect caused by either thundy or okidogi. I believe, with time and with thundy and okidogi both in the tier, the current tier would be more open and more diverse than it is now. Teams such as this prove my point as there is no fighting type in the tier that has the specific role compression of Okidogi within the tier. No other fighitng type can both be a knock off absorber and also be a powerful breaker, and also contain a poison immunity and a decent speed tier. That is why attempts of this team with Toxicroak or Conkeldurr have failed and why a team like this can only exist with okidogi present in the tier. Now, im left frustrated with the tier as there are so little offensive role compression pokemons, for what I believe little reason as I never believed that either okidogi or thundy were close to being banworthy.
Goodra-Hisui @ Leftovers
Ability: Sap Sipper
Tera Type: Water
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 44 Def / 164 SpD / 44 Spe
Careful Nature
- Heavy Slam
- Dragon Tail
- Rest
- Sleep Talk
So this set... In games on the ladder and test games, this set proved itself to be very good and I honestly thought more people would adopt it as this set allows for goodra to be that special wall while also having some longevity and status absorption, but in actual tour games this was quite disappointing. I still believe it is a neat set though. The combination of heavy slam + dragon tail is really difficult to handle and take advantage of, as the steel-type heavy slam naturally synergizes against fairy-types who look to be immune to dragon tail. They are both stab attacks and they are coming off a decently strong 100 bas hp. Resttalk is restalk, both a blessing and a curse depending on what moves are willed. I generally try to minimize variance in my teams, however this pokemon is the one element that is deeply effected by luck. Dragon tail is a huge plus as well into set up, which complements scream tails encore in completely detering set up moves; Goodra in return, benefits from scream tail's wish pass. Goodra is also the main form of fezandipiti counterplay as scream tail and balances in general can struggle against it. In general, scream tail and goodra inverse each other's match up chart into special attackers. The other major benefit of this set is very good counterplay into opposing choice specs goodra, as draco is unable to 2hko and the other moves do minimal damage. The ev spread is quite exotic; 44 speed evs bring it to 167 which outspeeds umbreon and vaporeon; 44 defense evs helps into krookodile eq; the 4 atk evs do something of which i cannot remember; and the rest are dumped into HP and special defense. Sap Sipper is nice as it boosts your attack so hslam and dtail are even more difficult to switch into while also supporting goodra for tera water, only leaving goodra with one weakness after it teras.
Gligar @ Eviolite
Ability: Immunity
Tera Type: Water
EVs: 252 HP / 200 SpD / 56 Spe
Careful Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- U-turn
- Toxic
Oh how I love gligar, sort of. At the time, it was only behind krook as the best ground type in the tier as it had advantageous match ups into the allegedly broken okidogi and thundurus and wasnt a sitting duck like hippo. Since then, things have changed and gligar has gotten worse. Gligar serves a number of functions on this team as it is one of few viable role compression pokemons. The most important functions are toxic and pivoting. Just getting a toxic off on any pokemon is massive as this team possesses the longevity to outlast poisoned mons and its not like heal bell/aromatherapy exist. Its role as a pivot is also crucial for getting CB dogi opportunities. It has enough speed to outpace magnezone which can be annoying for balances, especially ones with a scream tail. its toxic immunity through its ability immunity is also very helpful into fezandipiti. I think gligar is unique on this team as usually we associate gligar with bulky offenses as its role compression is generally more valuable on those teams and BO's can hide gligar's lack of natural longevity. Despite this, I still went with gligar as I valued the extra ground immunity, toxic, and pivoting. There are other pokemon like slowbro and goodra which can handle the more serious attacks, which lets gligar perform its primary functions better as that pressure of taking hits partially removed. It also benefits from wishpass from scream tail, but I have found that this comination is not exactly necessary for the functionality of the team--the team does not depend on this relationship for success.
Slowbro @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Regenerator
Tera Type: Poison
EVs: 252 HP / 236 Def / 20 Spe
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Calm Mind
- Scald
- Psychic Noise
- Slack Off
Slowbro gives this team a regen pokemon, of which I think is necessary in this tier for any balance as otherwise cyclizar and other pivots exploit the slow pacing too much. Slowbro also provides a bulky set up option and a more properly defined wincon for the team. I generally prefer boots on CM slowbro as it means less time clicking recover and more time clicking CM. 20 speed evs are just to creep other slowbros to win psynoise battles. Slowbro serves as the premier physical wall for the team which means exactly that. You throw this into physical attacks and it either walls or you pivot into something that can manage the attacks.
That is pretty much it. This team basically has a solid structure that is supported by a bunch of synergies within the team to get the most out of scream tail. I think this team benefits from being unconventional as most players arent exactly certain on the best way to approach the team. Its weird structure makes it fantastic into teams that look to take down the more standard bike, hippo, rachi structures that were prevalent in the tier. As for individual pokemon that threaten this team, zoroark-hisui can be scary as there is no ghost resist. he match up is still playable due to goodra's insane special bulk and tera poison scream tail is very advantageous into hzoro as it does outspeed it. This team also benefits from Golurk not really being relavent yet. There is one game were I got 6-0ed by suicune very early so that is a problem match up, but i doubt there are many balancesthat are actually good into that pokemon. Outside of that one game, this team was undefeated in tour play.
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9ru-2212105289-m7vsx469ryk994cpdbfwglh41i7xebxpw RU penta r1 (L)
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9ru-2201422372-bo3fkzj6qrbymg5ha6ljr97ehsa7r0wpw RU ssnl r6 (W)
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/smogtours-gen9ru-792438 RU ssnl r8 (W)
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9ru-2212126568-ca6txysy0bc5g3hcb4654u191un0kugpw RU ssnl r8 (W)
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9ru-2212131909-9i92qf0rxzj60mpjnm8vy54am7in3ucpw RU ssnl r8 (W)
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/smogtours-gen9ru-793303 RU ssnl r8 (W)
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/smogtours-gen9ru-793141 RUWC quarterfinals (W)
hope you all enjoyed reading and hope to see some other rmts. also cant be bothered to check for grammar, ping if smth is unclear.
