Striking a Balance [OU]

[wavedash]

After reading a RMT consisting of the five most-used OU Pokemon and the most-used lead ("The Face of OU"), I was surprised to see that the team was... good. My interest in the OU metagame was already waning. I decided to construct a team that was both competetively viable and used the "surprise" and "gimmick" sets one might find in the "New and 'Creative' Moveset" thread. Of course, constructing a solid team with only gimmick Pokemon is difficult, and the results are definitely below the average OU team. Using some of the more common OU Pokemon is nearly required for a team to be "good".

Striking a Balance - an OU tier RMT​

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Swampert @ Choice Specs
Ability: Torrent
164 HP / 92 Spd / 252 SpAtk
Modest (+SpAtk, -Atk)
- Earth Power
- Surf
- Ice Beam
- Stealth Rock

Why Specs Swampert? He has STAB Earth Power coming from 85 base SpAtk. The only Pokemon who can beat that are Camerupt (too slow, weak to Earthquake and Surf / Waterfall), Groudon, and Gastrodon (too slow). Nidoking also has 85 base SpAtk, but has weaknesses to Water, Ground, and Ice.

EVs: 92 Speed outpaces 8 Speed Metagross (with neutral natures). To be honest, I'm fairly sure that's not enough, but there aren't any statistics specifically for lead Pokemon.

Azelf: 2HKO with Surf. I survive a 0 Attack Explosion with 33%.
Metagross: Outspeed and OHKO with Earth Power, if no Shuca Berry.
Jirachi: Always OHKOs 80 HP / min defense Jirachi. 2HKO if Jirachi Tricked away my Specs.
Aerodactyl: 2HKO with Surf. Because he'll probably Taunt first turn, I take no damage.
Swampert: I outspeed and have a 94.48% chance of 2HKO max / min defense Swamperts with Leftovers.
Infernape: Takes a Fake Out and a Close Combat with 31% HP left. I'm 2HKOd by Close Combat, though, but to 2HKO me he doesn't get Stealth Rock up.
Roserade: I am either OHKOd by Leaf Storm or put to sleep by Sleep Powder. Bad. Switch to Jirachi to take the sleep, then Latias to resist and KO.
Hippowdon: Outspeed and OHKO max / 88 SpDef Impish Hippowdon.
Ninjask: Ehhhh. Ice Beam until he Baton Passes away, or Stealth Rock and switch out.
Smeargle: Switch to something (Latias / Jirachi) to take the sleep, go from there.

Scizor @ Choice Band
Ability: Technician
160 HP / 196 Atk / 152 SpDef
Adamant (+Atk, -SpAtk)
- Bullet Punch
- Bug Bite Pursuit
- Superpower
- U-turn

Priority blah blah type coverage blah scouting blah blah. This guy attracts Fire-type attacks, which Kindgra simply eats up, allowing me to set up Rain and do some heavy damage. Scizor's Bullet Punch is (especially) useful for this team, as without him, I lack speed (aside from my Latias).

Bug Bite hits like a truck. That truck being similar to SD Lucario's Close Combat.

EVs allow me to take any of Latias's non-HP Fire attacks and OHKO with Bug Bite.

Machamp @ Leftovers
Ability: No Guard
252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Spd
Adamant (+Atk, -SpAtk)
- Dynamicpunch
- Substitute
- Payback
- Stone Edge

When I first heard of SubMachamp, I knew I would have to make a team with him someday.
That day has come.

EVs and movepool are fairly straightforward. I decided against Ice Punch because I have a Scarf Latias to eat up Salamence. Gliscor is problematic, though.

How to Champ:
1. Switch into Blissey / Tyranitar
2. Substitute
3. Dynamicpunch the switch-in
4. Opponent has a 50% chance to hit my Sub.
4a. If Rotom / Gengar / Latias, Payback
4b. If opponent is weak to Fighting, repeat step 3
4c. If anything else, Stone Edge / Payback to reserve PP
5. SOMETHING DIES.

Kingdra @ Life Orb
Ability: Swift Swim
240 Atk / 16 Spd / 252 SAtk
Naughty (+Atk, -SpDef)
- Rain Dance
- Surf
- Waterfall
- Draco Meteor

My version of SubPetaya Empoleon. The only real difference is that I am walled by just about nothing but don't hit as hard.

Hydro Pump's accuracy makes me cry. Surf is STAB (really awesome STAB). Draco Meteor is STAB (incredibly awesome STAB). Waterfall is not affected by Draco Meteor's SpAtk drop and hits Blissey hard.

Speed EVs let me outspeed Scarf Heatran after a Rain Dance. Remaining EVs let me sweep. While I would like to outspeed stuff like Scarf Latias, it really isn't possible.

Jirachi @ Leftovers
Ability: Serene Grace
252 HP / 180 Spd / 76 SpDef
Timid (+Spd, -Atk)
- Substitute
- Calm Mind
- Psychic / Flash Cannon?
- Thunderbolt

The number of teams this little bugger has swept rivals my SD Lucario's kill count.

Psychic and Thunderbolt is resisted by Latias, Magnezone, and Blissey (let's be honest, Blissey resists all non-Fighting special moves). Latias is KOed by my Latias, and Blissey is bait for Machamp. Magnezone is ehhhh. Tyranitar takes laughable damage from Thunderbolt, but is also taken care of by Machamp.

Jirachi resists a lot stuff thanks to its fantastic typing, and combined with its decent defenses, can easily switch into a special attacker, set up, and sweep.

180 Speed EVs with Timid nature outspeeds base 100s with neutral nature. I also outspeed the standard 176 Speed Jirachi.

Latias @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Levitate
252 Speed / 252 SpAtk / 4 SpDef
Timid (+Speed, -Atk)
- Draco Meteor
- Hidden Power [Fire]
- Trick
- Thunderbolt

Revenge-killing Scarf Latias is fairly common in OU, and for a good reason. She approaches the barrier between +1 priority and +0 priority. Draco Meteor is an incredibly strong STAB Dragon-type attack, allowing me to take down threats like Salamence, Flygon, and the rising Dragonite. HP Fire incinerates Scizors who think they're funny with their Pursuits. I'm not sure about the last two moves, Trick and Thunderbolt. Trick is fairly common on Choice Pokemon, and is useful against Gliscor and other walls. Thunderbolt is filler, really.

TCG images from PokeBeach, cropped by me.

 

[wavedash]

THREAT LISTstolen from KG


Offensive Threats:

Azelf - Lead Azelf has already been mentioned.

Breloom - Sacrifice one of my Pokemon to Spore and bring in Latias.

Gengar - Scizor, Machamp, and even Jirachi don't take much from his attacks. Then hit back with Bullet Punch, Payback, or Psychic.

Gyarados - Latias outspeeds and OHKOs with Thunderbolt. Machamp can take a hit and KO with Stone Edge.

Heatran - Scarf versions aren't a big problem: Kingdra (and Latias) takes Fire Blasts, Scizor (and Jirachi) takes HP Ice, Latias takes Earth Power. Non-Choiced can be difficult to take down, prediction is required.

Infernape - Latias. Also Swampert, if he's still alive.

Jolteon - Latias, Jirachi, and even Swampert can handle Jolteon.

Latias - Scarfed variants are troublesome, especially if they carry HP Fire. Prediction is needed. Other versions are maimed by Draco Meteor.

Kingdra - If I outspeed with Latias, do that. If it runs Dragon Dance, Latias outspeeds even after +1 Speed. In Rain, speedy Kindgra are bad. Stalling out the rain with Scizor and Latias is one of my only options.

Lucario - Latias outspeeds and HP Fires. Jirachi and Scizor can attempt to damage it.

Machamp - Jirachi has Psychic and can avoid confusion with a Substitute. Latias outspeeds and has a 50% chance to hit with Draco Meteor.

Magnezone - Latias's HP Fire takes care of the giant magnet. Swampert can help out with Specs Earth Power.

Mamoswine - Scizor, Latias, Machamp, Swampert. Not a big problem.

Metagross - Leads are OHKOed by Swampert. Agiligross are more difficult, Latias HP Fires.

Salamence - Latias outspeeds and Draco Meteors +1 Speed Mence. Machamp threatens a 100% accurate Stone Edge.

Scizor - Latias's HP Fire. Machamp too, confusion is never fun.

Starmie - Jirachi walls Starmie to a degree. Latias's Thunderbolt also works.

Tyranitar - Machamp scares his pants off. After some damage, Scizor can OHKO non-Babiri Tyranitar with Bullet Punch.

Zapdos - Um... Machamp's Stone Edge OHKOs.


Defensive Threats:

Blissey - Machamp and to a degree Kingdra can handle Blissey. Swampert scares Blisseys (Blissies?) away.

Bronzong - Latias HP Fire, or just confuse him with Machamp.

Celebi - Jirachi's Subs aren't broken by HP Fire after a Calm Mind. Boost up, sweep.

Cresselia - People still use Cresselia? Uh, Machamp can do his usual Sub / Dynamicpunch / Payback. Or just hit with really strong attacks, who knows.

Forretress - Latias OHKOs with HP Fire, and Machamp sets up a Sub to block Explosion and confuses.

Gliscor - Swampert and Kingdra kind of take care of him. Gliscor makes me wish I had Ice Punch on Machamp. Yeah, I can't do much.

Gyarados - Thunderbolt still OHKOes, and I've got two of 'em, Jirachi and Latias.

Hippowdon - Swampert and Kingdra both Surf him for massive damage.

Jirachi - Latias outspeeds KOs with HP Fire. Machamp can fight through the stupid flinch hax and confuse him. Calm Mind versions are bad.

Rotom-A - Machamp hits hard with Payback. And that's about it. He walls most of my team.

Skarmory - Jirachi and Latias still have Thunderbolt. Also HP Fire.

Snorlax - Machamp makes him run away. Scizor can attempt a Superpower.

Suicune - If it gets too many boosts, I won't be able to Thunderbolt him.

Swampert - Ehhh... I'm kind of screwed. Kingdra can try to set up Rain and Surf. Otherwise, just hit him with my strongest attacks.

Tyranitar - Machamp. Swampert does a decent amount of damage with Surf.

Vaporeon - Latias and Jirachi. Bulky waters aren't a problem.

Zapdos - Machamp's Stone Edge and Swampert's Ice Beam (eeek, HP Grass) hurt.

 

[symphonyx64]

I'm a bit concerned with the offensive moves you have chosen for your Jirachi. With the combination of Psychic and Thunderbolt, you are completely walled by Tyranitar, Latias, and Celebi. Latias can start to set up Calm Minds, Tyranitar can use Dragon Dance, or essentially break your substitutes with Crunch or Earthquake. Then, proceed to wear your Jirachi down. Celebi, on the other hand, can end your sweep simply by using Perish Song.

To remedy this, I suggest replacing Psychic with Flash Cannon. That gives you an effective and STABed way to deal with those aforementioned Pokémon, and allowing Jirachi to proceed to sweep your opponents team. With this move change however, Swampet does completely wall you. But, Swampert isn't as big of a threat in today's metagame when compared to the likes of Latias, Tyranitar, and even Celebi.

Now, about your Latias. I suggest changing your Latias from Modest to Timid. With a Timid nature, you can speed tie other opposing Timid Scarfed Latias, and when you decide to Trick your Scarf onto an opposing Pokémon, you won't be at a disadvantage when up against non-Scarf variants of Latias. At worst, you again can speed tie. But, the majority of Latias are Timid today.

EDIT: I completely overlooked the fact that HP Fire requires a sacrifice of one speed IV, making the speed tie irrevlevent unless the opposing Latias also has Hidden Power Fire. In that case, you may want to replace HP Fire with Surf to secure a speed tie. Surf will get you better general overall coverage. Specifically, you won't be walled by Heatran and Tyranitar in particular. Just a thought.

But, with a Timid Nature, you are given the ability to outspeed a +1 Naive Salamence when Choice Scarfed, and naturally outspeed a +0 Naive Salamence when your Choice Scarf is tricked away. Just a nitpick, but in my opinion a very important one. The prominent purpose of Choice Scarfing a Pokémon is revenge killing, right? Even you said so yourself in your Latias' description. Otherwise, Salamence can attempt to sweep you entire team.

I view speed the more important stat than attacking power in most cases. When it comes down to it, many close matches are simply decided by the faster Pokémon, not the more powerful one.

 

[yond]

First off heres the synergy chart. Good Job.

First i would like to talk about scizor. With Latias, Rotom A, Blissey ,any pokemon that switch blissey you really need a pursuit poke. Scizor does this so well.

I would HIGHLY suggest it over bug bite, and i'm sure you have considered it.

If you don't want to though i see it as beneficial to your team to consider pursuit > U-turn.


As for the threat list you highlight certain pokes and dont explain how they hurt your team.

the set below is to deal with Pert, other bulky waters,and get a more successful sweep in general.(this is because you dont have to keep rain dancing of course.)

Kingdra@Lum Berry
adamant/Swift Swim
4 hp/252 atk/252 speed
Moves
-Substitute
-Dragon Dance
-Outrage
-Waterfall

I can say that this is the most successful kingdra set and it will work well with your team and also deal with pert hopefully better than before.
The key is to get a good poke to lure in on. Pert can be a good poke to do this on.

Lum berry because outrage will be a good idea when combating pert, vaporeon, cune, etc.

As for Mence you better hope that he doesnt get latias in before hes DD'd twice or your swept. But thats true for every team. (just noticing your comment on the threat list).

If anything else comes to my attention i will try and mention it.

Edit: After looking over SymphonyX64's comments i did not even realize that your latias was a modest nature. I agree with everything stated by him and it should be reason enough.

 

[MrIndigo]

I'm going to second the use of Pursuit over Bug Bite. Pursuit gives you an amazing insurance for a number of common threats, and Bug Bite isn't really that necessary; U-Turn and Bullet Punch already hit like a truck. In fact, in the early game, U-Turn gives you much more momentum than Bug Bite, and lategame Bullet Punch is preferred due to the priority.

 

[wavedash]

To remedy this, I suggest replacing Psychic with Flash Cannon. That gives you an effective and STABed way to deal with those aforementioned Pokémon, and allowing Jirachi to proceed to sweep your opponents team. With this move change however, Swampet does completely wall you. But, Swampert isn't as big of a threat in today's metagame when compared to the likes of Latias, Tyranitar, and even Celebi.

One of the reasons I didn't use Flash Cannon is because of Electric-type Pokemon, who I already have some trouble with.

Now, about your Latias. I suggest changing your Latias from Modest to Timid.

Hrm. That's a typo, she should be Timid, thanks!

First i would like to talk about scizor. With Latias, Rotom A, Blissey ,any pokemon that switch blissey you really need a pursuit poke. Scizor does this so well.

I would HIGHLY suggest it over bug bite, and i'm sure you have considered it.

I suppose having Pursuit just for hitting Blissey and Rotom is reason enough. I'll try it.

the set below is to deal with Pert, other bulky waters,and get a more successful sweep in general.(this is because you dont have to keep rain dancing of course.)

Kingdra@Lum Berry
adamant/Swift Swim
4 hp/252 atk/252 speed
Moves
-Substitute
-Dragon Dance
-Outrage
-Waterfall

I can say that this is the most successful kingdra set and it will work well with your team and also deal with pert hopefully better than before.
The key is to get a good poke to lure in on. Pert can be a good poke to do this on.

I tried this set a while ago, but I don't like Outrage (just in general) because of the locking-in thing. And it's pretty much a weaker Salamence with Waterfall. Nonetheless, I'll try this too.

 

[symphonyx64]

True.

But, the only physical-attacking Electric Pokémon that you will likely encounter is Electivire. Even then, not all of them carry Earthquake.

The Rotom appliances, Jolteon, and Raikou all attack from the special side of the spectrum. So, with some luck, you may be able to outstall them with a combination of Calm Minds and Substitutes barring Rotom's Overheat. If you have Calm Minds already up before they bring in an Electric Pokémon, they can't do a thing to your Jirachi.

You do have Latias, however, to somewhat keep them at bay with Scarfed Draco Meteors.

In the end, its totally your call.

 

[wavedash]

Electivire, Jolteon, and Raikou aren't big problems (usage and frail defenses). The omnipresent Rotom-A are what trouble me. I suppose if I give Scizor Pursuit, then I wouldn't have to worry about him (as much).

Opinions on lead? Speed EVs, in particular?

 

[yond]

In general Kingdra will be in for more than a few turns. And after one draco meteor surf/draco are really unreliable with his mediocre spA. Waterfall is easily walled by any bulky water or tank really.

Sub DD though allows you to boost speed and attack and have two good stabs. Lum berry solves the confusion problem is waterfall is more reliable after attack boosts.