This is the first time I posted a team here and the first time I think I'm satisfied with an OU team that actually kind of interests me. I'm not really here to work my way up the ladder, but more to get advice to make this team a little better. I would like to know alterations I could make to my team and view some things I considered that I have yet to test that may sound like a good idea. I've been trying this team out for a bit, and I've been satisfied for the most part, but there have been some problems
So OU Metagame is probably my least favorite of the tiers in the competitive bracket. The inspiration for this team was to actually completely reverse the thinking process of the metagame all together in order to completely mess with my foe's head. This is a hail based team that focuses on pressuring my opponent and sweep the floor when it gets the chance and the hail works more as a way to eliminate the threats of Multiscale and counter the weather instead of being reliant on it for typical stalling.
The team (preview)
Overview
So OU Metagame is probably my least favorite of the tiers in the competitive bracket. The inspiration for this team was to actually completely reverse the thinking process of the metagame all together in order to completely mess with my foe's head. This is a hail based team that focuses on pressuring my opponent and sweep the floor when it gets the chance and the hail works more as a way to eliminate the threats of Multiscale and counter the weather instead of being reliant on it for typical stalling.
The team (preview)
Mamoswine @ Life Orb
Trait: Thick Fat
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Def / 4 HP
Adamant Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Ice Shard
- Icicle Crash
- Earthquake
Abomasnow @ Expert Belt
Trait: Snow Warning
EVs: 252 HP / 172 SAtk / 84 Spd
Lonely Nature
- Ice Shard
- Wood Hammer
- Hidden Power [Fire]
- Earthquake
Jirachi @ Leftovers
Trait: Serene Grace
EVs: 252 SDef / 252 HP / 4 SAtk
- Thunder Wave
- Iron Head
- Wish
- Stealth Rock
Kyurem-Black @ Power Herb
Trait: Teravolt
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature
- Freeze Shock
- Fusion Bolt
- Outrage
- Roost
Alakazam @ Focus Sash
Trait: Magic Guard
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature
- Shadow Ball
- Focus Blast
- Psyshock
- Hidden Power [Fire]
Terrakion @ Choice Scarf
Trait: Justified
EVs: 252 Spd / 252 Atk / 4 HP
Jolly Nature
- Stone Edge
- Close Combat
- X-Scissor
- Rock Slide
Trait: Thick Fat
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Def / 4 HP
Adamant Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Ice Shard
- Icicle Crash
- Earthquake
Abomasnow @ Expert Belt
Trait: Snow Warning
EVs: 252 HP / 172 SAtk / 84 Spd
Lonely Nature
- Ice Shard
- Wood Hammer
- Hidden Power [Fire]
- Earthquake
Jirachi @ Leftovers
Trait: Serene Grace
EVs: 252 SDef / 252 HP / 4 SAtk
- Thunder Wave
- Iron Head
- Wish
- Stealth Rock
Kyurem-Black @ Power Herb
Trait: Teravolt
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature
- Freeze Shock
- Fusion Bolt
- Outrage
- Roost
Alakazam @ Focus Sash
Trait: Magic Guard
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature
- Shadow Ball
- Focus Blast
- Psyshock
- Hidden Power [Fire]
Terrakion @ Choice Scarf
Trait: Justified
EVs: 252 Spd / 252 Atk / 4 HP
Jolly Nature
- Stone Edge
- Close Combat
- X-Scissor
- Rock Slide
More in depth analysis
Mamoswine @ Life Orb
Trait: Thick Fat
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Def / 4 HP
Adamant Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Ice Shard
- Icicle Crash
- Earthquake
Here is the major inspiration around my team. This set is actually very standard for OU metagame but it's an amazing way to counter most set up sweepers such as Salamence, Gliscor, and Dragonite as well as having the option to set up stealth rocks to boot. The Icicle Crash is also a nice choice due to how some of my team has paralyses in order to get me out of a pinch. This guy has proven very helpful to break a common standard I find myself encountering often. Defense is invested to possibly take potential physical threats such as Infernape down where in areas the speed investment just hasn't really been helping me in most situations.
Mamoswine
Mamoswine @ Life Orb
Trait: Thick Fat
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Def / 4 HP
Adamant Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Ice Shard
- Icicle Crash
- Earthquake
Here is the major inspiration around my team. This set is actually very standard for OU metagame but it's an amazing way to counter most set up sweepers such as Salamence, Gliscor, and Dragonite as well as having the option to set up stealth rocks to boot. The Icicle Crash is also a nice choice due to how some of my team has paralyses in order to get me out of a pinch. This guy has proven very helpful to break a common standard I find myself encountering often. Defense is invested to possibly take potential physical threats such as Infernape down where in areas the speed investment just hasn't really been helping me in most situations.
Abomasnow
Abomasnow @ Expert Belt
Trait: Snow Warning
EVs: 252 HP / 172 SAtk / 84 Spd
Lonely Nature
- Ice Shard
- Wood Hammer
- Hidden Power [Fire]
- Earthquake
OK, can I really have a hail team without this Pokemon? What's he for? My weather machine of course. Sometimes I use him as a lead, and sometimes, I don't ;) The best time to use as a lead is when the opponent has no other weather Pokemon like Ninetales or Palpitoad. However, it's most effective when the other team members eliminate the potential threat of my opponent taking charge of the weather and eliminating my team with their set-up. Otherwise, it's pretty self explanitory how to use it, the options definitly show for this Pokemon, use it when the opportunity shows.
Trait: Snow Warning
EVs: 252 HP / 172 SAtk / 84 Spd
Lonely Nature
- Ice Shard
- Wood Hammer
- Hidden Power [Fire]
- Earthquake
OK, can I really have a hail team without this Pokemon? What's he for? My weather machine of course. Sometimes I use him as a lead, and sometimes, I don't ;) The best time to use as a lead is when the opponent has no other weather Pokemon like Ninetales or Palpitoad. However, it's most effective when the other team members eliminate the potential threat of my opponent taking charge of the weather and eliminating my team with their set-up. Otherwise, it's pretty self explanitory how to use it, the options definitly show for this Pokemon, use it when the opportunity shows.
Jirachi
Jirachi @ Leftovers
Trait: Serene Grace
EVs: 252 SDef / 252 HP / 4 SAtk
- Thunder Wave
- Iron Head
- Wish
- Stealth Rock
Wait a sec, two Pokemon with Stealth rocks? Yes, I feel they're vital to make sure my fast and priority Pokemon can finish off my opponent on the switch so the more oppurtunity to set up Stealth rock, the better. Well, you guys should know about this little thing. He's cute, he's a troll, and he's ready for action. With the T-wave, both my Terrakian and my Mamoswine are placed at a great advantage due to flinching of whatever decides to switch into Jirachi. The wish works great to set up sweeping of primary attackers of this team. And the Iron Head is there so that it can actually attack just in case of those taunters flying around.
Trait: Serene Grace
EVs: 252 SDef / 252 HP / 4 SAtk
- Thunder Wave
- Iron Head
- Wish
- Stealth Rock
Wait a sec, two Pokemon with Stealth rocks? Yes, I feel they're vital to make sure my fast and priority Pokemon can finish off my opponent on the switch so the more oppurtunity to set up Stealth rock, the better. Well, you guys should know about this little thing. He's cute, he's a troll, and he's ready for action. With the T-wave, both my Terrakian and my Mamoswine are placed at a great advantage due to flinching of whatever decides to switch into Jirachi. The wish works great to set up sweeping of primary attackers of this team. And the Iron Head is there so that it can actually attack just in case of those taunters flying around.
Kyurem-B
Kyurem-Black @ Power Herb
Trait: Teravolt
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature
- Freeze Shock
- Fusion Bolt
- Outrage
- Roost
Oh no! You're noobish, you have Freeze Shock in your Kyurem-B set! I have a little thing I like to do. When I make a team, I try one set that I don't think anyone has made and I try to make it freaking work. From what I've been able to do, I found this somewhat effective and rather unpredictable. The idea of this set is when you can set up this Kyurem, utilize the Power Herb's potential if the opponents team can't make a safe switch into a powerful ice type move. Once the move is used, it will make a Skarmory crying for it's mom especially when your opponent thinks it can make a safe switch and even so, the foe has a chance of suffering paralysis. After the Herb is used, you can either attempt to save the Kyurem, or go right for the outrage depending on the current situation. If used right, this Kyrum has potential to sweep the other team due to it's very powerful physical moves. The Fusion Bolt is there (and also because of it's barren movepool) if the foe does have Pokemon to switch into either dragon or ice moves such as forretress in order to give it more room to put the foe at disadvantage. The roost is thrown in there for the hell of it, you might get something out of it but there are other options I'm considering such as a HP or something from it's special moveset. But a pretty unexpected move-set that can really deal damage if used properly.
Trait: Teravolt
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature
- Freeze Shock
- Fusion Bolt
- Outrage
- Roost
Oh no! You're noobish, you have Freeze Shock in your Kyurem-B set! I have a little thing I like to do. When I make a team, I try one set that I don't think anyone has made and I try to make it freaking work. From what I've been able to do, I found this somewhat effective and rather unpredictable. The idea of this set is when you can set up this Kyurem, utilize the Power Herb's potential if the opponents team can't make a safe switch into a powerful ice type move. Once the move is used, it will make a Skarmory crying for it's mom especially when your opponent thinks it can make a safe switch and even so, the foe has a chance of suffering paralysis. After the Herb is used, you can either attempt to save the Kyurem, or go right for the outrage depending on the current situation. If used right, this Kyrum has potential to sweep the other team due to it's very powerful physical moves. The Fusion Bolt is there (and also because of it's barren movepool) if the foe does have Pokemon to switch into either dragon or ice moves such as forretress in order to give it more room to put the foe at disadvantage. The roost is thrown in there for the hell of it, you might get something out of it but there are other options I'm considering such as a HP or something from it's special moveset. But a pretty unexpected move-set that can really deal damage if used properly.
Alakazam
Alakazam @ Focus Sash
Trait: Magic Guard
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature
- Shadow Ball
- Focus Blast
- Psyshock
- Hidden Power [Fire]
I actually originally had Reuniclus till I found out what this team is better at doing. xD Alakazam just simply checked more Pokemon that originally gave me issues which is good. Anyway, he's pretty strait forward. Though with his focus sash and no spinner as of now, Magic Guard is an amazing way to utilize both as a lead and possible attacker. This guy is also pretty good due to the use of an HP fire to get rid of hazard Pokemon such as Ferrothorn, Skarmory, or even Forretress, Focus blast for those Mamoswines, Psyshock for those Tentacruels and more. The Focus Sash will ensure it can live one hit on such Pokemon just in case and eliminate threats like that before they can set up too many hazards. If Pokemon like that are already eliminated or even better, there are no Pokemon like that, it can work as a solid lead or an effective revenge killer.
Trait: Magic Guard
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature
- Shadow Ball
- Focus Blast
- Psyshock
- Hidden Power [Fire]
I actually originally had Reuniclus till I found out what this team is better at doing. xD Alakazam just simply checked more Pokemon that originally gave me issues which is good. Anyway, he's pretty strait forward. Though with his focus sash and no spinner as of now, Magic Guard is an amazing way to utilize both as a lead and possible attacker. This guy is also pretty good due to the use of an HP fire to get rid of hazard Pokemon such as Ferrothorn, Skarmory, or even Forretress, Focus blast for those Mamoswines, Psyshock for those Tentacruels and more. The Focus Sash will ensure it can live one hit on such Pokemon just in case and eliminate threats like that before they can set up too many hazards. If Pokemon like that are already eliminated or even better, there are no Pokemon like that, it can work as a solid lead or an effective revenge killer.
Terrakion
Terrakion @ Choice Scarf
Trait: Justified
EVs: 252 Spd / 252 Atk / 4 HP
Jolly Nature
- Stone Edge
- Close Combat
- X-Scissor
- Rock Slide
And here we come to the final member of my team. Due to the fast Pokemon that seem to cause me problems, this is my answer to that call. When pitting against weather teams, I try to assume that they are going to use that Pokemon and not expect me to use this guy. When that happens and they see me use Terrakion, this causes them problems due to Terrakions nice movepool and how they don't want to switch in. I've eliminated about 95% of a Ninetales before with a close combat due to how close combat did neutral damage to the rest of the team. But if rock did neutral, that would have spelled even worse due to the OHKO. This causes such teams to either sac their weather which I would later bring out my weather putting them at a disadvantage or another one of their teamates to get sac still causing disadvantage. Due to Politoed's mediocre defense artributes, this can cause trouble for rain teams as well. It's surprisingly a very nice unexpected surprise for a lead though depending on situation, another lead would be considered. The main role is to finish off the job with Terrakion's powerful physical moves and his great speed with the choice scarf and also works as a solid revenge killer.
This team generally focused around options in order to finish off the opponent with it's many possible leads, a nice amount of priority, good fire-power, this team can get rather unpredictable and can work out very well from what I've tried so far.
Counters I found to be an issue so far
Just those freaking Mach punches, nuff said. The only way I've found myself beating them is through via revenge kill with my Alakazam
This is the only Pokemon that takes neutral damage from Ice Shards and has Dragon Dance set ups. Terrakion can potentially take care of it through revenge killing but they can easily set up taking away the strategy of Ice-Shards to eliminate such set ups. It's a pain
Oh how much I hate Infernape. Most physical Fire threats don't become too much of an issue, but Infernape has the STAB Mach Punch to accommodate that really hurts and giving him the most potential to kill off my team. It also doesn't help that my team has no safe switches what so ever. >.<
It's another one of those cases where there is easy set up potential and almost no safe switches. Terrkian can Check it if it sets up but that's about it.
Sword dances, Priority super effective Bullet-Punches, not a good thing. Alakazam can check it with the focus sash, but other then that, they can be a problem and have serious potential to ruin the plan and sweep my teams.
That's what I gathered off my team for weaknesses so far, I'll update later. :3
So if anyone wants to give suggestions to the current set up, I wouldn't mind and I'll take them into consideration. For now, I really enjoy this team. Feel free to give it a try if you want.
I'll update when I gather more info on the set up.
Trait: Justified
EVs: 252 Spd / 252 Atk / 4 HP
Jolly Nature
- Stone Edge
- Close Combat
- X-Scissor
- Rock Slide
And here we come to the final member of my team. Due to the fast Pokemon that seem to cause me problems, this is my answer to that call. When pitting against weather teams, I try to assume that they are going to use that Pokemon and not expect me to use this guy. When that happens and they see me use Terrakion, this causes them problems due to Terrakions nice movepool and how they don't want to switch in. I've eliminated about 95% of a Ninetales before with a close combat due to how close combat did neutral damage to the rest of the team. But if rock did neutral, that would have spelled even worse due to the OHKO. This causes such teams to either sac their weather which I would later bring out my weather putting them at a disadvantage or another one of their teamates to get sac still causing disadvantage. Due to Politoed's mediocre defense artributes, this can cause trouble for rain teams as well. It's surprisingly a very nice unexpected surprise for a lead though depending on situation, another lead would be considered. The main role is to finish off the job with Terrakion's powerful physical moves and his great speed with the choice scarf and also works as a solid revenge killer.
Verdict
This team generally focused around options in order to finish off the opponent with it's many possible leads, a nice amount of priority, good fire-power, this team can get rather unpredictable and can work out very well from what I've tried so far.
Counters I found to be an issue so far
That's what I gathered off my team for weaknesses so far, I'll update later. :3
So if anyone wants to give suggestions to the current set up, I wouldn't mind and I'll take them into consideration. For now, I really enjoy this team. Feel free to give it a try if you want.
I'll update when I gather more info on the set up.
