• Check out the relaunch of our general collection, with classic designs and new ones by our very own Pissog!

SS all the way!

Hi! This isn't exactly my first post here, but it IS my first RMT.
This team is my first team EVER made on PO, which has stayed the same (albeit some move and item changes) ever since. Also, this was made before I gained quite some competitive battling knowledge, so chances are you'll see that there is some huge flaw with the team. Or not. Anywho, to the team!

The process
Before even starting to think about teammates, I first thought about who should be my lead. Since it was clear weather was dominating the OU tier, I decided to go with a weather lead. But what weather? Sun was too SR weak (and so is Hail), Rain was too broken and Sandstorm...hmm, Sandstorm was rather balanced. It had only two notable ability abusers and a fair amount of type abusers. Thus, Sand was my way to go. Now there are only two leads I could choose from, Tyranitar and Hippowdon. As far as advantages (and the favorite pokemon factor) go, Tyranitar had the advantage in diverse move pool, 50% Sp Defense bonus in a Sandstorm AND more overall awesomeness.
Spr_5b_248.png


Now, considering the fact that I'm not the only one using Mr. Spikes, I needed something that countered opposing Tyranitar, Tyranitar checks and counters AND at the same time many pokemon that are commonly seen on said opposing pokemon's team. Thus, everyone's (least) favorite Gliding Scorpion was called and enlisted in the team
Spr_5b_248.png
Spr_5b_472.png


However, this addition left a hole in my team: 2 Water weaknesses and 1 crippling 4x weakness to Ice. So, as important getting more powerful pokes in the team might have been, a synergy issue is far more important to resolve. So what could possible cover those weaknesses? A penguin, of course!
Spr_5b_248.png
Spr_5b_472.png
Spr_5b_395.png


Not only does Empoleon cover the weaknesses for these teammates, he also has perfect defensive synergy with Gliscor. Gliscor takes nada from Ground and Electric type attacks and handles Fighting type moves with ease, considering most of them are Physical. Empoleon takes Water type moves with hardly a care and takes Ice type moves even easier thanks to Water/Steel typing.
With a hole closed and a synergy issue resolved, I was free to choose team members, but didn't want anything susceptible to my weather and yet keep synergy issues from appearing in my team with identical typing. This seemed impossible, as Rock/Ground/Steel (dual) types where the only things not affected by a Sandstorm. Or so I thought...
Spr_5b_248.png
Spr_5b_472.png
Spr_5b_395.png
579.png


Reuniclus's ability of choice, Magic Guard, takes away weather damage, status damage, entry hazard damage and, best of all, recoil damage, which includes LO recoil. This means that you can use LO as much as you want, provided you don't get hit till you faint. Also helps combat those Fighting types that think they can do a number on my team when Gliscor is down. Similar typing issue resolved. Types aside, how about I add something to regain the upper hand in battle when I screw up? But, as the age old question goes, what? Volt Switchers are usually Electric types, so they get damaged after each turn. So that leaves one other offensive scouting move. U-turn. And with that move's mentioning, a certain pokemon came to mind, who is coincidentally Tyranitar's biggest nemesis...
Spr_5b_248.png
Spr_5b_472.png
Spr_5b_395.png
579.png
Spr_5b_212_m.png


Scizor, my scouter, revenge killer, Ferrothorn annihilator and whatever more my team basically needs, is very versatile. While he's either scouting (or OHKOing) switch ins, revenge killing foes foes or hitting a fleeing Scizor weak pokemon hard, he has no wrong time to switch in with his one weakness to Fire (which is bad for opposing Scizor. You don't know why? See my sig. It bound to fall upon you what my favorite type is.). Covering that lone and yet crippling weakness is quite helpful, though. So with that (and the SS immunity) in mind we come across my sixth and last team member.
Spr_5b_248.png
Spr_5b_472.png
Spr_5b_395.png
579.png
Spr_5b_212_m.png
Spr_5b_485.png


Heatran, last generation's Most Used pokemon, is a beast. With an amazing base 130 Sp Attack and a diverse move pool to abuse it, it's easy to see why said fact IS fact. Not too many pokemon like switching in Heatran or staying in on him for that matter. This is why having rocks on the opponent's field with Heatran is so rewarding. Even if I misspredict a move, if the opponent's switch in is a SR weak one, it's not going to mean much.


The info
Spr_5b_248.png

Tyranitar (M) @ Focus Sash
Trait: Sand Stream
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Stealth Rock
- Stone Edge
- Crunch
- Earthquake
My personally made Tyranitar Lead set. Not only it is capable of ensuring SR up (if I deem it worthwhile), but is also capable catching many Tyranitar counters off guard. As you can see it is physical based, so Forretress, Skarmory and many other physical walls still stop it dead in its tracks. This set is so obscure that more often then not you'll be able to OHKO Deoxys S with Crunch after it's attack, who usually runs with a LO. While after this I might not be able to set up rocks, I will be relieved of playing a mind game. Stone Edge and EQ for STAB and coverage, respectively

Spr_5b_472.png

Gliscor (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Sand Veil
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 SDef / 4 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Earthquake
- Ice Fang
- Rock Polish
- Roost
Another self made set, this set is similar in terms of surprising effect and value to the Tyranitar set above. Setting up is quite simple. Come in on something that you can scare out, like opposing Scizor or Tyranitar without Ice Beam, and use RP. Thanks to this, Gliscor has often raped entire teams by himself. The Sp Defense EV's allow him to survive special attacks he otherwise couldn't, which significantly boosts his ability to sweep without stopping. Also, as you see, I don't use the Poison Heal ability. Why? For one reason and one reason only: Roost. This halves the damage from Ice type attacks, which can help stalling out the remaining PP for the attack, something that Poison Heal Gliscor wished he could do. EQ is there for obvious reasons, Ice Fang for opposing Gliscor and 4x Ice weak pokemon.

Spr_5b_395.png

Empoleon (M) @ Choice Scarf
Trait: Torrent
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Scald
- Ice Beam
- Hidden Power [Grass]
- Flash Cannon
Scarf Empoleon, a Scarf on a pokemon that seems forgotten. This explains why he is able to OHKO many unexpecting foes. This set is a mix of the Scarf set (well, the DP one anyway) and my own taste. With so many underestimating foes waiting to be destroyed, it's a waste not to use it. I used to run Grass Knot, but with the spike in terms of usage of rain teams (Which means DrizzleToad is running rampant), HP Grass is much more useful. Scald is run over Surf for the burn chance, which is especially helpful against something like Scizor when main options are down. Flash Cannon for STAB and Ice Beam for coverage.

579.png

Reuniclus (M) @ Life Orb
Trait: Magic Guard
EVs: 168 Def / 252 SAtk / 88 SDef
Quiet Nature (+SAtk, -Spd)
- Trick Room
- Psychic
- Focus Blast
- Shadow Ball
Ahh, Reuniclus. Where do I begin? The premise is rather simple. Come in on something that you scare, use TR and you're off. While TR Reuniclus isn't going to last as long as CM versions, the nearly guaranteed (re)gain of the upper hand in a short time is definitely worth it. Attack options are rather obvious. Psychic for STAB, FB for coverage against those immune/resistant against Psychic and SB for Psychic types who would otherwise wall you.

Spr_5b_212_m.png

Scizor (M) @ Choice Band
Trait: Technician
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- U-turn
- Superpower
- Bullet Punch
- Pursuit
The tried and true CB Scizor set. So well known it's almost redundant to explain it, but alas. U-turn for scouting and often also OHKOing switch ins, Superpower for Steel types, most notably Ferrothorn, Bullet Punch...too obvious it's for revenge killing and to finish, Pursuit for fleeing Psychic/Ghost types who think running way is a good idea. Can't really say something additionally here.

Spr_5b_485.png

Heatran (M) @ Air Balloon
Trait: Flash Fire
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Earth Power
- Fire Blast
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Dark Pulse
Air Balloon Heatran. The AB is for ensuring atleast one turn of attacking against a Ground type, Earth Power for opposing Heatran and coverage, Fire Blast for STAB, HP Ice for yet more coverage and DP is for eliminating the Lati twins and Ghost/Psychic types in general. The set is rather unoriginal, so once again, nothing for additional comments.

So there. Here's what I've been owning (and losing) with for quite some time now. Do not try to counter team me, cause I WILL defeat you in spite of it. As my first RMT, I'm kind of nervous of what you think. Any notable pokemon that can rape my team or move/ability suggestions? Grammar/spelling error? Post!


 
you have a very strong fighting weakness on your team, basically if reuniclus goes down you are at the mercy of any fighting attacks, although gliscor resists them, your entire roost strategy to reduce the ice weakness will also nullify this resistance to fighting, and he really cant counter a fighting pokemon sinc he lacks a flying move. Also i dont understand why you use rock polish on gliscor, that doesnt make much sense, because he doesnt have a great attack stat, so doubling his speed doesnt help you all that much. i think you have to get rid of empoleon and replace him with something not weak to fighting moves. a much better revenge killer that fits this is latios:

Latios @ choice scarf
timid
4hp/252 sp att / 252 speed
draco meteor
surf
hidden power fire/psyshock/psychic
trick/recover/psyshock
(these last two move slots has lots of room for you to play with, as latios has a gigantic movepool)
 
This seems like a good team build although you do have some pretty big problems. Other weather cores in general are going to be a problem especially drizzle based teams that pack Thundurus or choiced Politoed. Empoleon is really the weakest link of this team. Although it is a very good dragon resist and can come in handy in some cases, it will more often than not give free set up to the likes of Skarmory, Excadrill, and even Thundurus if you're locked onto the wrong move. My first suggestion is to change Empoleon to Gastrodon. Gastrodon really helps out in taking down bulky waters and stopping more poweful sweepers on drizzle teams so that you can have control in these types of games. Leftovers with max special defense and hp, with a set of scald / ice beam / recover / toxic is probably your best bet.

With that change, I'd say that Scizor is pretty out of place on this team. Every other role that it fulfills is pretty much left up to your other team members. I would use this chance to run Skarmory over Scizor. Skarmory, when paired with Gastrodon and Heatran makes a really good defensive unit that can break down weather cores very easily not to mention you have Tyranitar to change the weather in your favor as well. Leftovers with 252 HP / 216 Def / 40 Spe, with a set of spikes / roost / brave bird / whirlwind would probably be your best bet on Skarmory as it allows you to roost on cb TTar before it stone edges.

I'd really try running calm mind Reuniclus on this team over the trick room variant. Your team sets up very well for a sweep with the calm mind version between Skarmory and Gliscor winning against Tyranitar while Heatran can beat taunt + wow Mew. A set with calm mind / psychic / focus blast / recover, leftovers, with max hp and defense and a bold nature would work best. Tyranitar would really work well as a scarf variant on this team. Scarf Tyranitar provides you with a good check to specially based threats such as the lati twins, Heatran, Starmie, and Gengar which your current one has trouble doing. A set with crunch / pursuit / superpower / stone edge, with maximum speed and attack, and a jolly nature would work. Finally, I'd switch Heatran to the specially defensive variant as it allows you to win against chesto rest Volcarona and gives you a stealth rock supporter. Leftovers, 248 HP / 252 SpDef / 8 Spe, with a set of flamethrower / toxic / stealth rock / roar, and a calm nature would work well.

After all of those changes, this team is looking extremely solid. Good Luck.
 
I do see both your points and will adjust the team to see how it goes.
Thanks for the rates! (will try to update the team shown here ASAP)
 
Scald on a scarfed pokemon just seems weird. Most scarfed pokemon try to hit hard and get out of there so scald just seems like a weird choice. I'd go with hydro pump or surf.
 
empoleon is a fat ass.. at 60 base speed ur barely gonna outspeed any threats your trying to even think of outspeeding. if you want to cover your water weakness I would suggest Huge Power banded Azumarill. which does basically the same job if not better.

Heatran: If you want to run a scarfer I would suggest using heatran. I've used scarftran many times and its just sooo good dude, I would switch the moveset to

- Earth Power
- Fire Blast
- Hidden Power [Grass]
- Dragon Pulse


Tyranitar: I dont get your tyranitar.. I would try running Adamant @ Choice Band if your set on using it as a attacker, the set runs as so:

Tyranitar @ Choice Band
EV's: 252 Attack/252 Speed
Jolly/Adamant
- Crunch/Pursuit
- Stone Edge
- Earthquake
- Superpower

or you can try Tyraniboah which is:

Tyranitar @ Leftovers
EV's: 252 HP/252 Sp. Def
Calm/Sassy
- Fire Blast
- Ice Beam
- Stealth Rocks
- Pursuit/anything really

Rock types also get their Sp. Def boosted in the sand making this a sexy ass sp. def wall
 
Back
Top