Screwy for an OU team

[Lorenz]

A little disclaimer real quick, I play screwy. I don't use a full OU team. I limit myself to a maximum of 3. I've done it since way back in D/P and still doing it in Plat. I also don't use anything that can't be obtained from a Kanto pokemon. This is basically anything from R/B/Y or got an evo since then. Don't ask me why, its just the way I roll. Not even sure I know why I restrict myself so much in this game. I still do well enough. 158 wins to 95 losses just on Plat ain't bad in my opinion; that's not counting the absurd amount of DC'ers in Serebii and Gamefaqs. In all humility though I am interested in opinions and ideas that coincide with how I decide to play my team.

Nidoqueen @ Lum Berry
252HP/100SpDef/156Def
Bold, Poison Point
-Earth Power
-Flamethrower
-Stealth Rocks
-Toxic Spikes

My lead position swaps frequently, at the moment its Nidoqueen. Trying out Entry Hazard leads and liking the result so far. Earth Power for STAB. Flamethrower if it lives and I get to switch it in on Forretress or Scizor or something. Unless its a 4x weakness she's not OHKO'ing anything but it's not meant to anyway.

Porygon2 @ Leftovers
252HP/252Def/4SpDef (I think, been a couple years since I made this guy)
Bold, Trace
-Thunderbolt
-Thunder Wave
-Ice Beam
-Recover

I love this thing. Had it since D/P came out, hasn't let me down since. Gyarados? No problem. Salamence? Done for, even the Draco Meteor launchers can't OHKO this thing. He takes out Jolteon and Vaporeon. Can come in on Heatran if I predict right and Paralyzes the beast. So many useful Abilities for this thing to steal. He's been poisoned and jacked Poison Heal off of Breloom. Stolen Wonder Guard which is hilarious when Shedinja and Porygon2 can't touch each other. This thing holds it's own. He's reliable, he's sturdy enough, and I'm amazed it isn't used more often.

Weezing @ Black Sludge
252HP/252Def/4SpAtk
Relaxed, Levitate
-Flamethrower
-Thunderbolt
-Will o wisp
-Explosion

One of my issues has always been a problem with Fighting types. Thus Weezing was added. He helps me against Lucario, physical Infernape, Machamp (non Guts, though honestly I've never seen anyone not go for No Guard) and even helped out against Scizor and Skarmory if I could get him in soon enough. Only one weakness that I rarely see and Ground type attacks can't touch him outside Gravity, but I've seen that maybe twice in the whole time 4th gen has been out. I like him and he spreads Burn like herpes.

Umbreon @ Leftovers
252HP/156Def/100SpDef
Relaxed, Syncronize
-Payback
-Curse
-Moonlight
-Baton Pass

My favorite pokemon. As such he's gonna be on the team regardless, and this is the most useful set I've found to run on him. Get a Curse or two on him and the only thing I'm afraid of is critical hits. Even STAB Close Combat doesn't OHKO him, then I retaliate with boosted Payback (if predicted right naturally). He has enough natural SpDef that I'm not too worried about getting hit that side. I do rack my mind over Wish vs Moonlight though. I like Moonlight because its an instant recovery move and if I'm in a situation where I'm having to recover off damage to stall I'm more comfortable with it. The abundance of Sandstorm screws that up a bit though. Wish can offer more team support but I lose that instant recovery. And I don't want to take Baton Pass away from it to gain Protect.

Scizor @ Metal Coat
252HP/252Atk/4Def
Adamant, Technician
-Bullet Punch
-X Scissor
-Brick Break
-Swords Dance

Well, its Scizor. Need I say more? It fits in with my self-limitations and is a damn good priority attacker on a team that couldn't outrun a snail. I've been thinking of just Banding it. The only time I ever bring it out is with a Baton Pass from Umbreon after normally 2-3 Curses, then I just Bullet Punch. Metal Coat over Life Orb because I don't like the recoil damage on Scizor and Bullet Punch is used like 99.99999% of the time.

Zapdos @ Life Orb
252HP/156SpDef/100Def
Serious, Pressure
-Thunderbolt
-Drill Peck
-Roar
-Roost

Before you say it, yes I know this is like the most screwed up Zapdos ever ever. He's an experiment. Breloom was kicking my ass all over the place and I needed a check against him. I saw Zapdos just sitting in my box. I figured, "Flying type with speed, Drill Peck, and enough bulk to take a hit from Kanto.....that should do the trick". So why did I throw EVs into defenses only? Because Zapdos replaced Snorlax. And yeah.....its all sorts of wonky. It still survives, still outruns slower pokemon, and does the job I made it for against Breloom. However I know it's potential has not NEARLY been reached, any help with this would be greatly appreciated. I got one more Zapdos available to me in HG so that's the one I plan on embedding any useful advice on.

 

[BlakBlastoise]

Before you say it, yes I know this is like the most screwed up Zapdos ever ever. He's an experiment. Breloom was kicking my ass all over the place and I needed a check against him.

You know, Zapdos learns Heatwave. You might also want to redo fire red and get a zapdos that's not serious nature. It's not that hard to SR for and should not take very long to get to.

 

[Lorenz]

I was gonna SR in HG at the Power Plant. Or is it locked to one nature in HG?

 

[MegaKick]

well than, why didn't you wait to post the team after you has SR'ed Zapdos? This implies you have not tested.
And tyranitar is everywhere. Moonlight on umbreon will be near useless. Use wish in that slot.
And since you have toxic spikes, why not run subroost zapdos? Goes well with your current umbreon.
Speaking of Umbreon, scizor is the only one who would really want the boots passed to him, and most fire attacks are speciel. Why not heal bell over baton pass? It makes umbreon an excellent standalone sweeper. However, umbreon doesn't really work in OU. Pherhaps a yawn-protect-baton pass-wish set? Provides team support. If scizor or flygon switch in on the yawn, theyll try to u-turn. Protect to stop it and theyll fall asleep. As they switch, baton pass away to whoever hasd the advantage. Can later use wish to support nidoqueen and weezing

 

[Lorenz]

And tyranitar is everywhere. Moonlight on umbreon will be near useless. Use wish in that slot.

I am beginning to see the light on that. Everyone I've played so far on Smogon has a T-Tar, and I'm noticing a bigger need to combat Sandstorm on this site. Heck most of the RMTs have something to do with Sandstorm, whether a weather team or just having T-tar. Regarding Zapdos, I want to get a firm idea for a strategy before I go catch a SpDef nature and get better advice for a SpAtk version or something. Only got one more available to me, don't wanna mess it up too bad.

 

[TheValkyries]

You know, Zapdos learns Heatwave. You might also want to redo fire red and get a zapdos that's not serious nature. It's not that hard to SR for and should not take very long to get to.

You know... Drill Peck is x4 effective and a STAB.

 

[Lorenz]

You know... Drill Peck is x4 effective and a STAB.

That was my thought when I initially brought it in. But he has me thinking. What in the current metagame is Drill peck gonna hit hard? Breloom, Heracross, Ninjask, MAYBE Celebi. Most bugs we see aren't solo typed. Scizor and Forretress have Steel typing to neutralize Flying attacks. Lucario has Steel typing to neutralize Flying attacks. Most of what I can think of would be hit just the same or harder from a fire move. Of course you're right that a STAB physical move would help. After all running bolt and wave leaves me open to Swampert. But then again Drill Peck won't OHKO him anyway. I could go in many many circles over this. Mostly because without Drill Peck I do lose some more physical offense which would make Blissey that much more a pain for me.

 

[BlakBlastoise]

You know... Drill Peck is x4 effective and a STAB.

You know, Flying type is not a very useful stab...
You know, Zapdos' special attack is pretty high, and it's attack is not.
You know, Zapdos will always OHKO the standard Breloom with Heatwave, after SR damage and OHKO most of the time without SR damage.

Just because something get's stab doesn't mean you should use it. A prime example is Gengar. Sludge bomb gets STAB, yet nobody uses it. The metagame is full of steels, which resist Poison, and they also resist Zapdos' pitiful Drill Peck attack.

That was my thought when I initially brought it in. But he has me thinking. What in the current metagame is Drill peck gonna hit hard? Breloom, Heracross, Ninjask, MAYBE Celebi. Most bugs we see aren't solo typed. Scizor and Forretress have Steel typing to neutralize Flying attacks. Lucario has Steel typing to neutralize Flying attacks. Most of what I can think of would be hit just the same or harder from a fire move. Of course you're right that a STAB physical move would help. After all running bolt and wave leaves me open to Swampert. But then again Drill Peck won't OHKO him anyway. I could go in many many circles over this. Mostly because without Drill Peck I do lose some more physical offense which would make Blissey that much more a pain for me.

Blissey will beat Zapdos 1v1 even if you have drill peck. Zapdos has no business staying in VS Blissey.