Initially, I wanted to build around a Specs Raging Bolt, but I wasn't satisfied with the Raging / Dragapult pair. So I went with a Specs Valiant instead, which also brings an interesting dual typing to the team.
Iron Valiant @ Choice Specs
Ability: Quark Drive
Tera Type: Fairy
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Moonblast
- Shadow Ball
- Thunderbolt
- Trick
In the end, Valiant can also hit with Specs Thunderbolt, although you'll often just spam Moonblast. Trick in the last slot allows you to remove Heavy-Duty Boots from an opposing Pokémon.
Samurott-Hisui (F) @ Black Glasses
Ability: Sharpness
Tera Type: Dark
EVs: 252 Atk / 40 SpD / 216 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Ceaseless Edge
- Swords Dance
- Sucker Punch
- Aqua Cutter
I initially tried a version with Aqua Jet and the item that boosts Water-type moves because I wasn't feeling confident about the matchup against Iron Moth. But with Moltres also on the team, we've got that covered. Black Glasses Sucker Punch comes in handy against Ogerpon-W, as it can one-shot it after a Swords Dance and it is also good damage against Kyurem (one-hit KO after stealth rock at +2).
Ogerpon (F) @ Chesto Berry
Ability: Defiant
Tera Type: Grass
EVs: 240 HP / 88 Atk / 180 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Ivy Cudgel
- Rest
- Spikes
- Encore
Ogerpon is used here as a strong support Pokémon that can hit hard and provide speed control after Terastalizing. I find it a bit of a waste to run Heavy-Duty Boots on Ogerpon, as they don't bring much to the table for it, and it misses out on the Attack boost when Sticky Web is up. And with that, instead of Synthesis, I went with Rest + Chesto Berry. Synthesis can also be unreliable when weather like rain or snow is active, which is common due to Alolan Ninetales or the Slowkings that are frequently seen in the tier.
Since Samurott-H is our setup sweeper, it's difficult for it to get all three layers of Spikes down by itself during a match, so Ogerpon can help in that role.
In the last slot, I chose Encore to prevent opposing Pokémon from setting up too freely.
88 Attack EVs with an Adamant Nature allow Ogerpon to one-shot Weavile after Terastallizing with Ivy Cudgel.
180 Speed EVs give it a speed stat of 301, which is enough to outspeed Great Tusk.
Thanks to its Grass typing and HP investment, it’s a solid switch-in to Ground-types like Ting-Lu and Great Tusk.
Moltres @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Flame Body
Tera Type: Fairy
EVs: 248 HP / 248 Def / 12 Spe
Bold Nature
- Flamethrower
- U-turn
- Roar
- Roost
Moltres serves as the team’s defensive pivot and brings valuable resistances that are crucial for the team’s overall balance. Additionally, it can take advantage of the entry hazards with its move Roar, which helps rack up chip damage and prevents opposing Pokémon from setting up.
Iron Treads @ Leftovers
Ability: Quark Drive
Tera Type: Water
EVs: 84 Atk / 232 SpD / 192 Spe
Careful Nature
- Earthquake
- Heavy Slam
- Stealth Rock
- Rapid Spin
I see Iron Treads as fulfilling a role similar to Excadrill back in Gen 6 — it's extremely useful and provides everything the team is missing, such as Stealth Rock, Rapid Spin (which is especially important when running Moltres), and a solid Ground/Steel typing that helps check threats like Raging Bolt.
I went with Heavy Slam mainly to win the 1v1 against Clefable, and 84 Attack EVs ensure a 2HKO on bulky Gholdengo.
192 Speed EVs allow it to outspeed Iron Crown, and the remaining EVs are invested in Special Defense to improve its bulk and better tank Draco Meteors.
Dragapult (F) @ Eject Pack
Ability: Infiltrator
Tera Type: Ghost
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Draco Meteor
- Hex
- Will-O-Wisp
- Thief
Finally, I find Dragapult to be a great fit for this team, as it brings much-needed Speed and a Ghost typing that blocks Rapid Spin. I'm running a somewhat unconventional set with Draco Meteor + Eject Pack, which lets Dragapult pivot out once during the game. After that, it can potentially remove an opposing item—mainly Heavy-Duty Boots—using Thief.
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