Hey There. I am finally back in SV OU with a RMT after a long time (for more than a year now) and this time its with Special Salamence on sand. The sand is with Tyranitar and Excadrill - the bread and butter of sand. The old titans Salamence and Tyranitar have showcased their class even in gen 9 OU and they have still got it . I hit top 500 after a long time in SV OU and hit 450 on the ladder. Anyway lets get right into the team
https://pokepast.es/02719909915e1a7d
Salamence - Salamence is my favourite pseduo legendary and I used him for both personal and tacitical reasons on this team. I felt i needed a resist to fighting, water, bug, grass and fire. Salamence fit the bill for all of this and had intimidate. We could not afford to run Dragonite here as sand breaks multiscale and Salamence's speed with intimidate is a big plus point. I went for special and choice specs so that it can dish out more damage and the set is Air Slash, Fire Blast, Hydro Pump and Draco Meteor. I went for Air Slash over Hurricane as Air Slash is more accurate and can flinch and still koes Great Tusk. Fire Blast is for Corvknight and other steels not named Heatran. Hydro Pump is cool and is ohkoed Landos and Moltreses often. Draco Meteor is strong stab. Intimidate also gives Salamence big defensive utility and Salamence's bulk while not amazing is still kind of decent at 95/80/80. Salamence serves as a check to Rillaboom and Corviknight and an interim measure against Ogerpon-wellspring. I went for Tera Fire for a strong fire blast but i am open to other teras on Mence. Standard ev spread of max spa and max speed with timid. Salamence is the ground immunity of the team. Special Salamence is a catch of guard set with respectable special attack even more than Dragapult and gets so mant random kills when the opponents dont see it coming. This is especially useful against defensive fatties who think your physical.
Tyranitar - The sand setter and the physical wallbreaker. Choice Band is a monster who needs no introduction since gen 4. It has bulk and power with Knock Off, Stone Edge, Earthquake and Ice Punch. Knock Off and Stone Edge are strong stabs and Stone Edge is so strong that it can 2hko Corviknight often. Ice Punch for Lando and Gliscor of course and hits Dragonite just as hard as Stone Edge. Earthquake is for steels and Gargnacl and other poison types. Tera Bug to take fighting hits and grass hits better. Standard offensive spread with adamant for more power. Its the future sight immunity and the main fire resist of the team. Tera Flying is another consideration. Banded Stone Edge nukes practically every birb in the game.
Excadrill - The sand rush sweeper and the speed control under. Standard Swords Dance set with Earthquake, Iron Head and Rapid Spin. I went for jolly in order to out speed scarf Meowscrada and Greninja. Earthquake and Iron Head are stabs. Air Baloon is the recommended item and went for tera dragon here but I don't which tera is best for it. Rapid Spin is for hazard removal as we dont have any other form and gives Excadrill a speed boost too. Blocks toxic and resists fairy. Standard offensive spread. Excadrill is of course the electric immunity here.
Iron Crown - The choice scarfer and initial speed control of the team. Standard set for Volt Switch for pivoting and damage, Tachyon Cutter for Steel stab and denying Ribombee webs because of scarf and anti-leading Glimmora. Psychic Noise for stab and denying recovery. This mon is the fairy resist and grass resist too and toxic blocker. Standard offensive spread with timid and our special attacker. Tera Steel here as I did not what else I could use here. Also is immune to poison along with Excadrill and can live a hit from Iron Valiant.
Azumarill - The potential breaker or sweeper depending on the situation. Azumarill is the team's dragon immunity and second fighting resist. Belly drum set with 164 evs to Outspeed uninvested base 70s like Skarmory or any one else and at least outspeed Corv with a bit of bulk on it. Adamant for max power here and Play Rough and Liquidation are stab and Aqua Jet and Tera Water for strong priority. Azumarill is the fighting, ice and water resist of the team. Sitrus berry for Belly Drum.
Zamazenta - In the last slot, I went with Zamzenta. I tried so many options here like Lycanroc midday, Cinccino (because we wanted to anti lead hisuain samurott) but they all failed and why wanted an interim Measure to Lowkix and Kingambit. So Zamazenta was the one went for. I went for Crunch, Stone Edge, Close Combat and Wild Charge. I still went for Tera Fighting for a strong CC but I am considering tera electric for a strong wild charge. Crunch is for Peachurunt and Ghost/Psychics like Gholdengo and Deoxys respectively, Stone Edge is for Moltres and Zapdos and Close Combat is strong stab and Wild Charge is for waters and stuff like Tornadus and does decent to Alamamola. Provides solid defensive and offensive pressure and checks Kingambit for the end game. Zama posses a valuable resistance to rock, bug and dark. It also serves as a pseudo form of speed control. Life Orb for power and AOA sets.
Screenshots for proof
Replays
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9ou-2415948995 - Proof of Peak at 1728. I know i almost made a mess of this when I could have just clicked psychic noise and won the game. I misclicked and still won. I dont know if my opps Zamzenta was max speed or not so it depends if I won the speed tie but nevertheless I think sometimes it happens like this and we deserved the win with the journey we had.
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9ou-2415939688 - Vs Mandibuzz and Sinistcha fat
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9ou-2415928900?p2 vs clef and Hydrapple balance
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9ou-2415945165-5r7p4xoquqevgb10uoyxykpo9s32oh1pw vs webs HO
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9ou-2415942268-0bjkeemk73v8rxcoihunca7l5qt3q3qpw vs Weavile and Deo-S BO Salamence showing up with Draco
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9ou-2415926782-y8nxgvld163ksc1bfl6bk2tc4ur2b5apw?p2 vs Gliscor, Moltres and Tinkaton balance
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9ou-2415924186-h4pwa39jv54qirgcf88ysji2fjtt9typw?p2 Salamence ohkoes Lando with Draco and wins the game
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9ou-2415369192-yiw9ydfmvqvjnaix3gloac7nuv8cuqupw?p2 Azu destroys screens HO
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9ou-2415362984-7780c3mrk6fg9q8n670a0uu8tpnwe74pw vs Latios and Mence is a good interim measure to Zama here
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9ou-2415361731-te7ddv0bif0s0yt1j225gaovoxxyb2ypw Azu destoys Mola, Ting Lu and Peach balance
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9ou-2415349912-bvq4l9sj50geda6b7infl0fn3tl561jpw Rain finished off early and Salamence kills Peli on turn 1
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9ou-2415346805-ynmtee0t7vctr0pnbs2u8cgemobgcy2pw
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9ou-2415344300-8njpew2sv5r1d5fwjmbdd3ror5911fnpw?p2 Salamence and Crown come in clutch in end game
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9ou-2415326921-trb1xxku1xtrqprod6elnqvtt7aicnppw vs Raging Bolt HO and Mence kills Lando on turn 1 with Hydro
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9ou-2415310213-1kfrsxqkkxde45dwlyuqm7k4mbttkk3pw?p2 Salamence keeping Rillaboom at bay
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9ou-2415305953-tqpoiap6a5b58dby3iltg8ehrt398o5pw
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9ou-2415339130?p2 vs Dragonite and Kingambit HO
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9ou-2415298781?p2 Salamence teraing and winning
Threats
Offensive
Hisuain Samurott - I have manged it well but barely. I am not always able to tell if its a sash or scarf. Salamence intimidate and Azu deal with it. Also, early game I dont want Zamazenta taking damage unecessary. Most H-Sam players are keen to prioritise spikes but when they see Salamence they might want to switch.
Garchomp - not common but it can easily get up rocks on my team and live hits. Intim from Mence + Azu and Zama can keep it at bay but still I have to look out for it. I didnt face that many Garchomps though.
Wisp Hex Dragapult - Dragapult is mostly fine except for the wisp hex as we have 4 physical attacks and only 2 special ones.
Lokix - Salamence with intim and management of Zama is the only way otherwise Lokix just clicks first impression.
Deoxys-Speed with Life Orb - Life Orb Deoxys is a threat of sorts and I might have to loose a mon if its tera ghost.
Defensive
Pecharunt - It can parting shot on my physical attackers and pivot in and would force a tera on my azu. Salamence and Iron Crown are needed here.
Ting Lu - I have to get a 50-50 with my Azumarill on it like attack it or belly drum otherwise it would whirlwind. Ting Lu tanks hits from others except Azu and Zama.
Gargnacl - This mon is a giant problem because it teras so much and protect spams and uses salt cure.
Gliscor - This guy is stupid and cancerous. Banded Tyranitar with Ice Punch ohko all Gliscors and Hydro Pump from Salamence will ohko pdef gliscor but they can protect and I get scouted. It maybe worth to take a toxic from Gliscor from Ttar if it means ohkoing it.
Gholdengo - Now Salamence can fire blast it and Drill can EQ it but still its difficult to pivot into it.
Stall (Dondozo in particular) - I havent really faced stall (only once with this team) but Dozo will be a problem. However, if the Salamence set has not been revealed I could Draco Dozo for big damage and switch out later. Playing with Double switches or fishing for defence drops with Azu might be a way.
Additional Note -
I only faced stall only once with this team and I lost to it because my Tyranitar missed a second stone edge on Corv after doing 54 on the first one. I did beat stall with this kind of team when I had a Lycanroc but i forgot to save the replay and it was in low ladder. So if Tyranitar plus doubling would be the way to beat stall. Another potential weakness is inaccurate moves on this team as every user except Excadrill has an inaccurate move.
Conclusion
This team has been functioning well enough for me from 1470 to 1729 and I am satisfied with the progress made. Now I know we don't have any stealth rockers on this team and no reliable hazard removal but I felt we could still do without them as we are focused on attacking. Salamence with special is like a surprise factor as its killing Lando on turn 1 with Hydro Pump and phys def moltres or doing so much damage that Moltres is not going to be useful the next turn and does 90 - 107 to Corv with Fire Blast. I feel all the 6 mons complement each other and Salamence has done little more work as its taken care of several of Excadrills checks. This team is pretty interesting and I would say give this team a shot. We have often pressured hazard setters early. I am open to changing Azumarill, Iron Crown and Zamzenta on the team or even tweaking their sets. All of these mons have more than base 90 HP so none of these are actually frail except Excadrill. I prefer a tweak in sets more and in tera types because I was lost with which tera type would suit the team. But I definitely want to keep Salamence, Excadrill and Tyranitar. I am also open to any constructive criticism of the team. Appreciate your feedback on the team.
https://pokepast.es/02719909915e1a7d
Salamence - Salamence is my favourite pseduo legendary and I used him for both personal and tacitical reasons on this team. I felt i needed a resist to fighting, water, bug, grass and fire. Salamence fit the bill for all of this and had intimidate. We could not afford to run Dragonite here as sand breaks multiscale and Salamence's speed with intimidate is a big plus point. I went for special and choice specs so that it can dish out more damage and the set is Air Slash, Fire Blast, Hydro Pump and Draco Meteor. I went for Air Slash over Hurricane as Air Slash is more accurate and can flinch and still koes Great Tusk. Fire Blast is for Corvknight and other steels not named Heatran. Hydro Pump is cool and is ohkoed Landos and Moltreses often. Draco Meteor is strong stab. Intimidate also gives Salamence big defensive utility and Salamence's bulk while not amazing is still kind of decent at 95/80/80. Salamence serves as a check to Rillaboom and Corviknight and an interim measure against Ogerpon-wellspring. I went for Tera Fire for a strong fire blast but i am open to other teras on Mence. Standard ev spread of max spa and max speed with timid. Salamence is the ground immunity of the team. Special Salamence is a catch of guard set with respectable special attack even more than Dragapult and gets so mant random kills when the opponents dont see it coming. This is especially useful against defensive fatties who think your physical.
Tyranitar - The sand setter and the physical wallbreaker. Choice Band is a monster who needs no introduction since gen 4. It has bulk and power with Knock Off, Stone Edge, Earthquake and Ice Punch. Knock Off and Stone Edge are strong stabs and Stone Edge is so strong that it can 2hko Corviknight often. Ice Punch for Lando and Gliscor of course and hits Dragonite just as hard as Stone Edge. Earthquake is for steels and Gargnacl and other poison types. Tera Bug to take fighting hits and grass hits better. Standard offensive spread with adamant for more power. Its the future sight immunity and the main fire resist of the team. Tera Flying is another consideration. Banded Stone Edge nukes practically every birb in the game.
Excadrill - The sand rush sweeper and the speed control under. Standard Swords Dance set with Earthquake, Iron Head and Rapid Spin. I went for jolly in order to out speed scarf Meowscrada and Greninja. Earthquake and Iron Head are stabs. Air Baloon is the recommended item and went for tera dragon here but I don't which tera is best for it. Rapid Spin is for hazard removal as we dont have any other form and gives Excadrill a speed boost too. Blocks toxic and resists fairy. Standard offensive spread. Excadrill is of course the electric immunity here.
Iron Crown - The choice scarfer and initial speed control of the team. Standard set for Volt Switch for pivoting and damage, Tachyon Cutter for Steel stab and denying Ribombee webs because of scarf and anti-leading Glimmora. Psychic Noise for stab and denying recovery. This mon is the fairy resist and grass resist too and toxic blocker. Standard offensive spread with timid and our special attacker. Tera Steel here as I did not what else I could use here. Also is immune to poison along with Excadrill and can live a hit from Iron Valiant.
Azumarill - The potential breaker or sweeper depending on the situation. Azumarill is the team's dragon immunity and second fighting resist. Belly drum set with 164 evs to Outspeed uninvested base 70s like Skarmory or any one else and at least outspeed Corv with a bit of bulk on it. Adamant for max power here and Play Rough and Liquidation are stab and Aqua Jet and Tera Water for strong priority. Azumarill is the fighting, ice and water resist of the team. Sitrus berry for Belly Drum.
Zamazenta - In the last slot, I went with Zamzenta. I tried so many options here like Lycanroc midday, Cinccino (because we wanted to anti lead hisuain samurott) but they all failed and why wanted an interim Measure to Lowkix and Kingambit. So Zamazenta was the one went for. I went for Crunch, Stone Edge, Close Combat and Wild Charge. I still went for Tera Fighting for a strong CC but I am considering tera electric for a strong wild charge. Crunch is for Peachurunt and Ghost/Psychics like Gholdengo and Deoxys respectively, Stone Edge is for Moltres and Zapdos and Close Combat is strong stab and Wild Charge is for waters and stuff like Tornadus and does decent to Alamamola. Provides solid defensive and offensive pressure and checks Kingambit for the end game. Zama posses a valuable resistance to rock, bug and dark. It also serves as a pseudo form of speed control. Life Orb for power and AOA sets.
Screenshots for proof
Replays
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9ou-2415948995 - Proof of Peak at 1728. I know i almost made a mess of this when I could have just clicked psychic noise and won the game. I misclicked and still won. I dont know if my opps Zamzenta was max speed or not so it depends if I won the speed tie but nevertheless I think sometimes it happens like this and we deserved the win with the journey we had.
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9ou-2415939688 - Vs Mandibuzz and Sinistcha fat
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9ou-2415928900?p2 vs clef and Hydrapple balance
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9ou-2415945165-5r7p4xoquqevgb10uoyxykpo9s32oh1pw vs webs HO
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9ou-2415942268-0bjkeemk73v8rxcoihunca7l5qt3q3qpw vs Weavile and Deo-S BO Salamence showing up with Draco
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9ou-2415926782-y8nxgvld163ksc1bfl6bk2tc4ur2b5apw?p2 vs Gliscor, Moltres and Tinkaton balance
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9ou-2415924186-h4pwa39jv54qirgcf88ysji2fjtt9typw?p2 Salamence ohkoes Lando with Draco and wins the game
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9ou-2415369192-yiw9ydfmvqvjnaix3gloac7nuv8cuqupw?p2 Azu destroys screens HO
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9ou-2415362984-7780c3mrk6fg9q8n670a0uu8tpnwe74pw vs Latios and Mence is a good interim measure to Zama here
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9ou-2415361731-te7ddv0bif0s0yt1j225gaovoxxyb2ypw Azu destoys Mola, Ting Lu and Peach balance
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9ou-2415349912-bvq4l9sj50geda6b7infl0fn3tl561jpw Rain finished off early and Salamence kills Peli on turn 1
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9ou-2415346805-ynmtee0t7vctr0pnbs2u8cgemobgcy2pw
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9ou-2415344300-8njpew2sv5r1d5fwjmbdd3ror5911fnpw?p2 Salamence and Crown come in clutch in end game
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9ou-2415326921-trb1xxku1xtrqprod6elnqvtt7aicnppw vs Raging Bolt HO and Mence kills Lando on turn 1 with Hydro
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9ou-2415310213-1kfrsxqkkxde45dwlyuqm7k4mbttkk3pw?p2 Salamence keeping Rillaboom at bay
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9ou-2415305953-tqpoiap6a5b58dby3iltg8ehrt398o5pw
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9ou-2415339130?p2 vs Dragonite and Kingambit HO
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9ou-2415298781?p2 Salamence teraing and winning
Threats
Offensive
Hisuain Samurott - I have manged it well but barely. I am not always able to tell if its a sash or scarf. Salamence intimidate and Azu deal with it. Also, early game I dont want Zamazenta taking damage unecessary. Most H-Sam players are keen to prioritise spikes but when they see Salamence they might want to switch.
Garchomp - not common but it can easily get up rocks on my team and live hits. Intim from Mence + Azu and Zama can keep it at bay but still I have to look out for it. I didnt face that many Garchomps though.
Wisp Hex Dragapult - Dragapult is mostly fine except for the wisp hex as we have 4 physical attacks and only 2 special ones.
Lokix - Salamence with intim and management of Zama is the only way otherwise Lokix just clicks first impression.
Deoxys-Speed with Life Orb - Life Orb Deoxys is a threat of sorts and I might have to loose a mon if its tera ghost.
Defensive
Pecharunt - It can parting shot on my physical attackers and pivot in and would force a tera on my azu. Salamence and Iron Crown are needed here.
Ting Lu - I have to get a 50-50 with my Azumarill on it like attack it or belly drum otherwise it would whirlwind. Ting Lu tanks hits from others except Azu and Zama.
Gargnacl - This mon is a giant problem because it teras so much and protect spams and uses salt cure.
Gliscor - This guy is stupid and cancerous. Banded Tyranitar with Ice Punch ohko all Gliscors and Hydro Pump from Salamence will ohko pdef gliscor but they can protect and I get scouted. It maybe worth to take a toxic from Gliscor from Ttar if it means ohkoing it.
Gholdengo - Now Salamence can fire blast it and Drill can EQ it but still its difficult to pivot into it.
Stall (Dondozo in particular) - I havent really faced stall (only once with this team) but Dozo will be a problem. However, if the Salamence set has not been revealed I could Draco Dozo for big damage and switch out later. Playing with Double switches or fishing for defence drops with Azu might be a way.
Additional Note -
I only faced stall only once with this team and I lost to it because my Tyranitar missed a second stone edge on Corv after doing 54 on the first one. I did beat stall with this kind of team when I had a Lycanroc but i forgot to save the replay and it was in low ladder. So if Tyranitar plus doubling would be the way to beat stall. Another potential weakness is inaccurate moves on this team as every user except Excadrill has an inaccurate move.
Conclusion
This team has been functioning well enough for me from 1470 to 1729 and I am satisfied with the progress made. Now I know we don't have any stealth rockers on this team and no reliable hazard removal but I felt we could still do without them as we are focused on attacking. Salamence with special is like a surprise factor as its killing Lando on turn 1 with Hydro Pump and phys def moltres or doing so much damage that Moltres is not going to be useful the next turn and does 90 - 107 to Corv with Fire Blast. I feel all the 6 mons complement each other and Salamence has done little more work as its taken care of several of Excadrills checks. This team is pretty interesting and I would say give this team a shot. We have often pressured hazard setters early. I am open to changing Azumarill, Iron Crown and Zamzenta on the team or even tweaking their sets. All of these mons have more than base 90 HP so none of these are actually frail except Excadrill. I prefer a tweak in sets more and in tera types because I was lost with which tera type would suit the team. But I definitely want to keep Salamence, Excadrill and Tyranitar. I am also open to any constructive criticism of the team. Appreciate your feedback on the team.
Last edited:
