Slow and Steady OU TR Team [1800+ and rising]

[Dietcoke101]

INTRODUCTION:

Hey, I'm back with yet another OU RMT! It's actually been quit some time since my last RMT so I thought it was time for another. This time I have a special treat, a TR Team! It's my first TR team and it's been a whole lot of fun. The only downside is that laddering is a real chore. But, I still managed to get 1800+ and it's still rising up, up, up! Anyway, lets get started!

TEAM AT A GLANCE:

TEAM BUILDING PROCESS:

So, I needed to start off with a nice defensive pokemon who I knew could get up my hazards and set up a TR to start sweeping. Who better than Bronzong?

Next, I added a super powerful, yet extremely slow pokemon that could do some real sweeping. With great type coverage and insane attack power Conkeldurr was perfect for the spot.

Now I wanted another sweeper, but I also wanted someone would was able to set up TR again once my first one ran out. I also wanted to make sure this one was a special sweeper, as opposed to a physical sweeper, and it needed some bulk since it most likely would be coming in on hits to set up TR. Reuniclus immediately popped into my mind.

I wanted to keep the sweepers going since this would be a very offensive TR team, and I had heard that LO Slowking was great so I wanted to try him out.

Now, I wanted someone who could do well under TR but still be ok if TR wasn't up, just incase I ran out of pokemon to set up TR. I wanted Scizor since he's basically a boss regularly, and with his poor base speed TR would actually help him even more. I tried out LO SD Scizor but I liked the CB Scizor much more.

Lastly, I decided to have one more pokemon to set up TR, and another TR sweeper. However, I wanted this one to be different. I wanted a set up sweeper, and Cofagrigus was perfect. A good amount of bulk, TR, poor speed, and Nasty Plot to set up.

While testing with my team I found Slowking to be rather redundant with Reuniclus on the team, and he kept dying from taking all that life orb damage. In addition to that I would have to switch out, wasting valuable TR turns if I wanted to heal up with regenerator. All this made me want a new sweeper, and a friend suggested I use Victini. He can set up TR and is great at spamming moves.

Although Cofagrigus was doing great at set up sweeping I had a huge weakness to water, having no pokemon immune or even any that resisted water. Jellicent covers Cofagrigus niche perfectly, only adding an immunity to water (thanks to Stone Alchemist).

THE TEAM:

Bronzong @ Leftovers
Trait: Heatproof
EVs: 252 HP / 184 Def / 72 SDef
Sassy Nature
IVs: 0 Spd
- Explosion
- Stealth Rock
- Trick Room
- Gyro Ball

The O-so-lovely Bronzong. Not too much to say here. It's basically your standard Rock setting - dimension twisting Bronzong that lasts on average 3 turns. The usual Stealth Rock -> Trick Room -> Explosion works extremely well. There is however the rare time I choose to Gyro Ball the opponent to death or save my Explosion if it will be useless. Most of the other stuff is self-explanatory for a TR Bronzong...

But what's this? Heat Proof? What? That's right! And it works wonderfully. It's like having 2 less weaknesses. Nobody, and I mean nobody uses ground moves on Bronzong. The only downside is taking spikes damage, but Bronzong is a suicide lead so even that doesn't matter. And I can't tell you how many times I have one up against Ninetails only to see my opponent cringe, realizing they can only 3 HKO my Bronzong at best, giving me time to do my stuff.

One I have successfully Exploded, giving myself a free switch in I examine the opponent's team and send in my most effective sweeper for the match. His usually isn't Scizor, he stays for late game cleanup and priority if necessary.

Conkeldurr @ Life Orb
Trait: Sheer Force
EVs: 140 HP / 252 Atk / 116 SDef
Brave Nature
IVs: 0 Spd
- Drain Punch
- Ice Punch
- Fire Punch
- ThunderPunch

My personal favourite sweeper on the team. Conkeldurr usually ends up killing majority of the opponents pokemon. He has such good coverage it's unreal. The set is obviously set up for a TR team, full attack, and the rest in bulk to help it last longer. I usually tend to avoid Drain Punch on the first turn, just to avoid showing my opponent that I'm running a LO set, but basically once TR is up it's spam super effective moves with some prediction involved.

Reuniclus @ Life Orb
Trait: Magic Guard
EVs: 192 HP / 64 Def / 252 SAtk
Quiet Nature
IVs: 0 Spd
- Trick Room
- Psyshock
- Focus Blast
- Shadow Ball

Another of the 4 main sweepers. Basically the standard offensive TR set for Reuniclus. It works really quite well, especially for dealing with Psychic, and Ghost types which Conkeldurr can't do much to. However, unlike Conkeldurr, Reuniclus can set up its own TR and start sweeping. Very good at late sweeping and can be retreated at low health and still come in and sweep even when hazards are up due to its Magic Guard ability.

Jellicent @ Leftovers
Trait: Water Absorb
EVs: 252 HP / 248 Def / 8 SDef
Quiet Nature
IVs: 0 Spd
- Scald
- Shadow Ball
- Trick Room
- Recover

Jellicent is another member of the team who can set up TR. However, Jellicent has the unique role of being a bulky-recovering TR pokemon. The EVs and nature are to give Jellicent huge defensive capabilities, and to make sure it stays slow. The moves lot is pretty self-explanatory. TR to set up TR whenever I run out. Recover so it can stay on the field for a long period of time. And Shadow Ball and Scald are STAB attacking moves for taking things out. The real reason Jellicent was chosen instead of Cofargrigus is the huge water weakness my team had. And since rain teams are so common a water weakness is nothing to laugh about. Jellicent fulfills its role quite nicely, although I was sad to see Cofagrigus go, I am quite content with Jellicent.

Victini @ Expert Belt
Trait: Victory Star
EVs: 252 Atk / 248 HP / 8 SDef
Brave Nature
IVs: 0 Spd
- V-create
- Bolt Strike
- Trick Room
- Brick Break

Victini, the 4th and final TR sweeper. Victini is the newest member of the team, (I swapped out Slowking for it) and is working very well. Victini isn't the slowest TR sweeper which is both good and bad. It can outspeed things like CB Scizor, and kill them with a V-Create. Not only that, when Victini uses V-Create it can actually help it become slower, faster in TR, and become a better sweeper. I chose the Expert Belt over the Flame Plate mainly because Victini has decent coverage and the Expert Belt guarantees an OHKO on Politoed with Bolt Strike.

Scizor @ Choice Band
Trait: Technician
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 SDef
Adamant Nature
- Bullet Punch
- U-turn
- Pursuit
- Superpower

Scizor, at least how I see it, is not one of my 4 main sweepers. I don't get up TR and automatically send out Scizor. I keep him for late game cleaning up, he might as well be equipped with a mop Mop, cause that's what he does: cleans up. Anyway, he is my only priority and is basically the standard CB Scizor. He is slow enough to be good under TR but strong enough to do well out of TR. U-Turn also gives my team some momentum, allowing for late game TRs.
​

THREAT LIST:

Specs-Toed:

Ugh is all I can say for this guy. I ran into it one time only to make a huge misplay (that I sure won't make again). I SRed on my first turn with Bronzong, hoping to survive and use TR like I would with all Politoeds, but nope not this guy. The guaranteed 2HKO, even with lefties screwed me over and then swept my team (literally, 6 pokemon in a row, 7 Hydro Pumps). It can be prevented however. Just to be on the safe side, I always TR first against Politoed, because when TR is up it's easy to deal with. Both Conkeldurr and Victini are guaranteed OHKOs with Thunder Punch and Bolt Strike respectively.

IMPORTABLE:

Bronzong @ Normal Gem
Trait: Heatproof
EVs: 252 HP / 184 Def / 72 SDef
Sassy Nature
IVs: 0 Spd
- Explosion
- Stealth Rock
- Trick Room
- Gyro Ball

Conkeldurr @ Life Orb
Trait: Sheer Force
EVs: 140 HP / 252 Atk / 116 SDef
Brave Nature
IVs: 0 Spd
- Drain Punch
- Ice Punch
- Fire Punch
- ThunderPunch

Reuniclus @ Life Orb
Trait: Magic Guard
EVs: 192 HP / 64 Def / 252 SAtk
Quiet Nature
IVs: 0 Spd
- Trick Room
- Psychic
- Focus Blast
- Shadow Ball

Jellicent @ Leftovers
Trait: Water Absorb
EVs: 252 HP / 248 Def / 8 SDef
Quiet Nature
IVs: 0 Spd
- Scald
- Shadow Ball
- Trick Room
- Recover

Scizor @ Choice Band
Trait: Technician
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 SDef
Adamant Nature
- Bullet Punch
- U-turn
- Pursuit
- Superpower

Victini @ Expert Belt
Trait: Victory Star
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 SDef
Brave Nature
IVs: 0 Spd
- V-create
- Bolt Strike
- Trick Room
- Brick Break

REPLAYS:

FULL OUT REUNICLUS SWEEP:
http://pokemonshowdown.com/replay/ou-50880008

JELICENT SEMI-SWEEP:
http://pokemonshowdown.com/replay/ou-50880827

CONKELDURR SWEEP:
http://pokemonshowdown.com/replay/ou-50882111

CONKELDURR IS UNSTOPPABLE:
http://pokemonshowdown.com/replay/ou-51111890

LATE GAME SCIZOR CLEANUP (Semi-lame):
http://pokemonshowdown.com/replay/ou-50883134

*NOTE: Changes recorded in black.

 

[md5793]

Im not that good with trick room teams, but I could suggest running Hammer Arm over drain punch for the extra power, and the speed drop raises your speed under Trick Room. Drain punch can be good for recovery, but most of the special sweepers in OU wont have you using Drain Punch on them, and they will either die to an attack or OHKO you regardless. Physical sweepers again will not touch you due to your bulk, so it doesnt matter that much being hit constantly, so no need for recovery!
Just a suggestion :D

 

[Dietcoke101]

Thanks for the rate :)

That might work out well actually. After 1 Hammer Arm I can outspeed (under TR), Slow Forretress, Neutral Ferrothorn and Neutral Escavalier, and 2 Spd IV Bronzong. After 2 Hammer Arms, I can outspeed Slow Reuniclus, Slow Slowbro, and Slow Snorlax. And after 3 Hammer Arms I'm even slower than a Slow Ferrothorn or Slow Escavalier. Hammer Arm does have 150 Power after STAB, and Drain Punch only has 112.5 Power after STAB, but the recovery is very helpful, and I'm fearful of the 90% Acc. I'll have to test it out though. Thanks again for rating.

 

[Trevorpoke42]

Max atk over the defense EVs on bronzong, you don't always need to use the smogon suggested spread :) You want your explosion to be hitting very hard. Also, try out Levitate and normal gem so then you can deal with Lando T's better, and do big damage to everything with explosion, especially politoed. Sorry for the short rate :(

 

[Dietcoke101]

That's ok. Any rates no matter the length are appreciated. I will for sure try out the max attack and Normal Gem over Lefties, but I'm not changing to Levitate. There's absolutely no need to. In all the 50+ battles I've done with this team, EQ has been used on me once, but Heat Proof has saved me from Ninetails and other fire pokemon endless times.

@md5793, I think I'll just stick with Drain Punch over Hammer Arm. Conkeldurr is already slow but it takes all of my TR turns trying to out speed a Ferrothorn in TR. Also, the 90% Acc is something I just can't deal with, it's so frustrating when you miss. On top of that, the point of Drain Punch is to keep up Conkeldurr's health up so he can come in for multiple sweeps and so the LO isn't as bad. Thanks for the suggestion though.

 

[Nglittleguy]

if u lose to specstoed, u essentially lose to all water pokes in rain. I guess you can try jellicent. also, I would encourage the use of heatproof on zong in higher ladder plays, as everyone expects levitate. Also, u shouldnt be trying to outspeed ferro under tr, u should be trying to ohko it

 

[RotomPoison]

Just 2 quick questions before I can rate completely:

1. Any particular reason you didn't just put max HP on Reuniclus and Conkeldurr? Is there anything specific those let you live?

2. I understand the IVs for Cofagrigus except HP, why set it to 2 when you dont have to.

 

[Qualna]

Bronzong should have Normal Gem over Leftovers, Leftovers is pointless for a suicide lead. If you really want survivabilty, Sitrus Berry is the superior choice but Normal Gem is the better choice.

I would suggest to give Reuniclus Psychic over Psyshock, because there will be more pokémons that will stall reuniclus under TR if you use Psyshock, the only reason to use Psyshock is to smack Gastrodon and Terrakion in the Sand. Blissey/Chansey isn't even a problem for your team since practically every member of your team can defeat them.

I do not understand Cofagrigus HP IV, just lower Atk IV instead of HP.
31/2/30/30/30/2 is just the same, except with more survivability.


Also, the Def boost in Victini is negligible, so just place them on SpDef to prevent the downloading antics of Porygon-Z.

And yes, CBand Scizor should NOT be a sweeper.
Scizor should have a spread of 248HP/252Atk/8SDef it takes less damage from hazards with that spread.

That's all and I hope this helps. :) :3

 

[Dietcoke101]

Thanks so much for the awesome rates everyone!

@dbz, Ok so here's the dealio. I really suck at EV spreads so for Reuniclus I copied the standard smogon suggestion set, and for Conkeldurr I took off the extra 20 Spd IVs from the suggested set and added them to HP. Also, the Cofagrigus thingy was a mistake, thanks for noticing it should be 31/2/30/30/30/2.

@Qualna, I have been trying out the Normal Gem and it does work quite nicely, the only benefit of Lefties is surviving 3 Fire Blasts from a Ninetails and things of that nature. I will test out Psychic and see how it works, I'll let you know what I decide on. Thanks for catching the IV mishap on Cofagrigus. For Scizor I'll prolly switch to that EV spread, as I said before EV spreads aren't my thing. For Victini, you're right I should probably change that.

Thanks again :D

 

[Stone Alchemist]

I got your request.

I'm not good at Trick Room teams at all, but I'll give it a shot. This looks like a pretty damn good team, congrats on making it. The fact that you have no water resistances at all really hurts, since Rain really dominates the metagame nowadays, (on about 20% of teams). In fact, the fact that this team lacks much defensive presence and overly relies on Trick Room always being up is its main flaw. I would recommend Trick Room Jellicent over Cofagrigus to remedy this problem. Jellicent is slow, has access to Trick Room, but most importantly has not just a resistance to water, but an immunity to it. It also takes care of Scizor who is quite a threat to your team.

I might suggest having a Choice Scarfer somewhere on your team for the cases where Trick Room isn't up and you really need a revenge killer, but I don't know what would be replaced and it might be redundant to your team, so it's fine if you don't follow this.

Good luck with your team, sorry for the relatively short rate!

 

[Dietcoke101]

Awesome! Thanks, Stone! I'll for sure try out TR Jellicent over Cofagrigus. Rain is only a problem if Bronzong is dead --> which is a lot of the time, but yeah I do sorta need a water resistance. It also still fulfills the spin blocking niche (not too big of a deal on a huge offensive team like this), and still leaves me with somewhat of a special sweeper, although not a set up sweeper. Like always, I'll tell you what I what I decide on.

 

[Dietcoke101]

Alright, I did a whole ton of testing. I found out:
- I like Jellicent more than Cofagrigus, thanks Stone Alchemist for the suggestion.
- Psychic > Psyshock most of the time, thanks Qualna for the suggestion.
- Normal Gem > Lefties on Bronzong, thanks Trevor and Qualna.

Thanks guys.