!!Team Dragonite!!
Changes in Yellow!!!
<<Introduction>>
Changes in Yellow!!!
Hey guys, this is my second RMT here on smogon and I will be totally honest with you, after my last team, I have been expirementing with many different pokemon and different strategies and could not come up with even a half-way decent team. Then, one day I was eating dinner and I realized that what I needed to do was go back to the basics and stop trying to be too flashy or rely too much on prediction. So with the help of all the tools at my disposal including the Marriland Team Builder and Serebii's type chart, I set out to create a team that was somewhat generic, with pokemon that worked well together, I had experience with, and still packed a little bit of surprise factor while keeping the offensive pressure on the opposing team, here it is... ENJOY
P.S. This is by far the single most successfull team I have ever built, winning 186/200 (yes I kept track) matches, mainly due to either hax or dumb luck.
- - Team Building - -
Okay I have rated a few teams already, so I know how long and boring this can get so i'll try to keep it as short and sweet as possible.
Well I wanted to start from the basics remember? So I thought, "Who easier to use and more basic and destructive then Salamence?" But I remembered his horrible defenses and I have always been a fan of bulk rather than frailness, so I decided to go with Salamences half-brother, DRAGONITE.
Now, from my previous usage of Salamence, I knew Dragonite's weaknesses and most common counters, so I needed somebody who could counter all of these pokemon as consistently as possible, my immediate thought was obviously magnezone, but to be honest, I never really liked the steel frisbee, so I went with my favorite steel type who can also walk all over the ever common scizor, HEATRAN.
Well I had already established that I was going to use Gengar as my lead as opposed to my favorite LO set, because night is weak to rocks and Gengar can get a fast taunt off and come out on top against almost all of the OU leads, But since this team is built around Dragonite, I fealt i needed someone to rid my team of stealth rocks just for those select few leads that can get stealth rock up against Gengar (**cough Aero cough Metagross**), so I looked through the list of OU spinners and nobody appealed to me so I dug a little deaper and found the long forgotten Gen 1 starter, BLASTOISE.
Okay now I had my core, so I looked around trying to find a good solid sweeper that could compliment most of the members at my team and add to the team's synergy and immediately though Celebi, and even though it shared an ice weakness, it sounded good, but it also shared weaknesses with gengar, and just couldnt cut it, so I was stumped. For a couple of days I literally could not come up with ANYTHING, until I was hangin on Shoddy and decided to watch someone's UBER Battle...forgot who it was...and saw Shaymin-S set up and do considerable damage, so I thought, why not try something similar in OU, and with great success, in went SHAYMIN.
- - Final Look - - 
Okay now I had my core, so I looked around trying to find a good solid sweeper that could compliment most of the members at my team and add to the team's synergy and immediately though Celebi, and even though it shared an ice weakness, it sounded good, but it also shared weaknesses with gengar, and just couldnt cut it, so I was stumped. For a couple of days I literally could not come up with ANYTHING, until I was hangin on Shoddy and decided to watch someone's UBER Battle...forgot who it was...and saw Shaymin-S set up and do considerable damage, so I thought, why not try something similar in OU, and with great success, in went SHAYMIN.
Now I was stumped once again since I wanted another Electric resist, but I didnt want to add any weaknesses to my team. The first pokemon that came to my mind when I though Electric resist was the one and only flying scorpion, but he shared another Ice weakness which, along with Shaymin and Dragonite, I simply could not have so I bid farewell to Gliscor, and proceeded back to the drawing boards. I went back a little bit and thought Jolteon from my previous teams, but he is just to frail for a team that relies on strategy so I settled on Electivire, and though he shares a weakness with Heatran, works well with Blastoise and I boast three ground resists so he has worked adequately, but is admittedly the weakest link.
<<Weakness Chart>>
<<Meet The Stars>>
LEAD:
Swampert@Leftovers
Relaxed Nature
Ability: Torrent
252 Hp / 252 Def/ 4 Atk
Moves:
-Stealth Rock
-Earthquake
-Ice Beam
-Roar
Why?
Ah good ol' Gengar. The EV's allow for Shadow Ball to do max damage and for max speed.Gengar is an amazing lead. partially because of its speed and access to many moves great for a lead, partially because of his surprise factor. He is able to take down the majority of leads in OU, anything slower than him can basically just roll over and die, and he also provides the ever valuable Ground Immunity.
Moves
Taunt:Taunt is a great move on any lead, especially one as fast as Gengar, especially with his surprise factor. Most people dont know what to do or expect from Gengar as a lead so they just SR on the first turn, being shut down by Taunt.
Shadow Ball: Shadow Ball coupled with a 130 base SpAtk is something to be feared by anything that doesnt resist it, and works wonders at getting the offensive pressure going. Also.
Destiny Bond: Destiny Bond is another one of those great moves that makes Gengar so succesfull as a lead. After Being Taunted, many pokemon begin to attack thinking to crush my frail little Gengar, and once the Focus Sash activates, they eat a Destiny Bond.
Hypnosis: Hypnosis is great for providing both team support in late game if Gengar survives, and to catch the switch in off guard and cripple them, but is fairly useless afterwards.
Magic Guard: HAHAH Magic Guard. Whats not to love? This is the single best move there is for countering status leads such as Roserade and Smeargle. I usually run Hypnosis, but Magic Guard is more fun and more reliable than Hypnosis, but again, is fairly useless once used because the opponent learns to expect it.
Synergy
Ghost: Heatran
Dark: Heatran
Psychic: Heatran
Yeah Yeah, I know, synergy for this guy kinda sucks, but he really doesnt need it that much because Heatran takes all attacks directed at him, and Focus Sash is really his synergy because its always follo wed by a Destiny Bond, en ding him then and there.
SPINNNER:
Starmie@Leftovers
Timid Nature
Ability: Natural Cure
136 Hp / 156 Def / 216 Spe
Moves:
-Hydro Pump
-Ice Beam
-Rapid Spin
-Recover
Why?
I have alway had a soft spot for blastoise, but was never able to use him succesfully in OU for lack of a good moveset and spread. So when I saw i needed a spinner, I set out to create one. He is a reliable Physical Wall, and the EV's give him the most physical bulk possible. He also functions as a Spinner, and provides sleep support.
Moves
Hydro Pump: When I began making this moveset, I knew he was going to be a wall/spinner so he wouldnt boast much attack and needed a powerful STAB move to make up for it, hence, Hydro Pump. It does a suprising amount of neutral damage and destroys anything weak to it.
Ice Beam: This was actually the last move to join the set, and has proved itself over and over...and over again. This is really my only answer to Salamence since any Mence I have seen hasn't been able to KO this beast with a +1 Outrage.
Rapid Spin: Obvious I hope. Gives me away to rid myself of the late game Stealth Rocks that Dragonite hates o so much, as well as spikes.
Yawn: This is what pulls this set together, and allows it not to be walled by the likes of CroCune and other bulky waters. It provides Sleep support that is extremely helpful to this team since both Electivire, Heatran, and Dragonite(Before A DD) are lacking in the speed factor.
Synergy
Grass: Heatran, Dragonite, Shaymin
Electric: Electivire, Shaymin
As well as spinning the likes of rocks and spikes away, Blastoise works as an EXCELLENT lure for Electric attacks for Electivire, since for some reason people only expect Electivire with a Gyarados, which I use to my advantage as much as possible.
SWEEPER #1:
Shaymin@Life Orb
Timid Nature
Ability: Natural Cure
4 Hp / 252 Spe / 252 SpAtk
Moves:
-Growth
-Seed Flare
-Hidden Power(Ice/Fire)
-Earth Power
Why?
Shaymin o poor little underestimated Shaymin. Ever since she made her appearance on this team, she has become one of my favorite and most succesfull pokemon I have ever used. The EV's allow for maximum speed and SpAtk which surprises people becuase if Shaymin is seen at all, it is a wall. As well as being a devastating sweeper, Shaymin provides a crucial Ground, Electric, and grass resist.
Moves
Growth: Growth is a great move on any Shaymin, and boosts its SpAtk into sweeping range and once I get one in, which is easy due to the unpredictability causing switches, only something faster than her not named Scizor can take her down.
Seed Flare: This move is so good its almost unfair. It is the staple of this Shaymin set, and for good reason. Once she gets in one Growth, Seed Flare destroys practically anything that doesnt resist it, for example every Gyara I have come across has been KO'd by a +1 Seed Flare.
Hidden Power (Ice/Fire): Hidden Power provides great coverage on this set, and I am constantly switching between Ice and Fire. Both of them have their clear advantages, both allow Shaymin to combat other Grass types, but each also offers it own coverage on one poke in particular. Hidden Power Fire provides me away to deal with Scizor so long as I havent taken more than 30% Life Orb Damage, and Ice Gives me a way to deal with Mence's that constantly try to set up on me, and is usually my choice of preference because I have another answer to Scizor, but not Mence once it DDs is dangerous.
Earth Power: Once of the major problems most Shaymin have in OU is being completely walled and KO'd by Heatran, which was a major problem when testing this set. Then, I added Earth Power and all my problems were solved. It is my attack of preference if I see a switch coming, for more than half of the time it is to Heatran.
Synergy
Ice: Heatran, Blastoise
Fire: Heatran, Blastoise, Dragonite
Bug: Heatran, Gengar
This guy not only provides excellent resistances to the team, but fits perfectly into it with all her major weaknesses covered by the teams core members. Not much to say here.
SWEEPER/SUPPORT
Heatran@Leftovers
Timid Nature
Ability: Flash Fire
4 Hp / 252 Spe / 252 SpAtk
Moves:
-Substitute
-Lava Plume
-Earth Power
-Toxic
Why?
Does Heatran really need a reason to be on any team? HAHA alright um he provides a great and reliable counter to Scizor, a GREAT fire switch in...obviously...and resistances and immunities to many moves that my team would otherwise be weak to. I know the set is a little wierd, I saw it somewhere, cant remember where, tell me if it was you and il give you credit for it, but it performs wonderfully, and the EV's give it max speed and SpAtk, because he doesnt need much bulk behind a sub now does he?
Moves
Substitute: I guess when you look at it this set is similar to the SubTran set actually. Substitute is a move to use on the switch and give you a free turn to either paralyze, burn(maybe) or decide whether or not to combat the switch-in.
Lava Plume: Lava Plume is here as a reliable STAB, and is my preference over flamethrower with this set because it can burn Heatran's switch in which is EXTREMELY helpful and has literally won games for me.
Earth Power: Earth Power is pretty much standard on every Heatran nowadays. It works very well with Lava Plume and provides good coverage on many of Heatran's switch-in's.
Toxic: Toxic is just one of those moves that this team would have problems with out, and is the ONLY thing stopping this set from being completely walled by the dreaded pink blob, as well as bulky waters such as Suicune and Vaporeon once behind a sub.
Synergy
Ground: Dragonite, Gengar, Shaymin
Fighting: Gengar, Dragonite
Water, Shaymin, Dragonite, Blastoise
The switch to a reliable counter is really the staple of this pokemon, because it allows me to bring in another pokemon such as the one and only Dragonite or Shaymin to come in and set up.
***CREDIT TO Dummy007 FOR THIS SET***
EARLY GAMER:
Gengar@Expert Belt
Timid Nature
Ability: Levitate
4 Hp / 252 Spe / 252 SpAtk
Moves:
-Thunderbolt
-Shadow Ball
-Hidden Power [Fire]
-Focus Blast
WHY?
Well to start off, I was in need of another Electric resist, and when I looked at my team I knoticed it was mainly Special Sweepers so I needed a Physically based Electric resist, and couldnt afford another Ice weakness, so I *settled* on Electivire. The EV's allow for Max attack and enough speed to sweep without a Motor Drive boost, and give him some bulk. He has performed adequately and is probably one of the only members of my team I havent been impressed with and would consider replacing.
Moves
Thunderpunch: Sigh, this is probably the only set on my team that predictable...Ayway Thunderpunch is here to serve as mainly a powerful STAB that is my main choice for neutral damage.
Earthquake: Have no fear, EARTHQUAKE IS HERE! Haha, alright EQ is here mainly to serve as a way to deal with the Electric type pokes I am always switching in on, and also has a great BP and when coupled with 123 base Atk is something to fear.
Ice Punch:Ice Punch is a great attack because it allows me to deal with Dragons and Grounds in one slot. It actually catches some players off guard...somehow...and worked wonders.
Cross Chop: Besides Electric pokes, this beast also comes in on Blissey's predicted Thunderwave and can easily deal with here with this last slot, and it also provides a way to counter Ttar, and even ScarfTar after a motor drive boost.
Synergy
Ground: Dragonite, Shaymin, Gengar
Besides sweeping, Electivire also helps lure in pokemon for Dragonite to set up on, and when the Ground type comes in, I can either chose to Ice Punch it, or switch to Dragonite, which does give up a hard earned Motor Drive boost but whatever.
THE All STAR!!!:
Dragonite@Leftovers
Jolly Nature
Ability: Inner Focus
76 Hp/ 252 Atk / 180 Spe
Moves:
-Substitute
-Dragon Claw
-Earthquake
-Dragon Dance
Why?
Ah Dragonite. Okay well first of all, as you know, I liked Salamence but in my opinion he is WAY to fragile to ever be of good use to me. So I went with Dragonite, and have been blown away by his success. This is another set that I came up with and The EV's are meant to make him fast and bulky, and his large Hp allows his Subs to have enough bulk to get up more than one DD against many neutral attacks.
Moves
Substitute: Substitute is the Staple of this set, and works wonders paired with maxed Hp. I would say that if the opponent switches on the sub, I can get in at least 2 DDs.
Dragon Claw: Dragon Claw is another move necessary to this sets success. While most people prefer Outrage, especially on Dragonite, Dragon Claw works much better for this set not to be walled, and once I get in a DD or two, it has more than enough power to muscle through the opponent.
Earthquake: Okay, so Fire Blast was originally here, before I learned how well this set fairs against Scizor, and after that, I switched it to Earthquake because I knew I could easily combat Scizor and Earthquake provides better coverage with him out of the picture.
Dragon Dance: Um haha what can I say here? Dragon Dance is necessary to Dragonite and Salamence sweeps alike. It boosts both Dragonite's massive attack to insane levels, and his speed enough to outspeed even base 130's after one Dance.
Synergy
Ice: Blastoise, Heatran
Dragon: Heatran
The reason I dont have another Dragon resist is because first, I dont like having too many of the same type on one team...I know Stupid...but the second, and more logical, is by time they can switch a Dragon in, I have Danced and can outspeed it, and with Latias, I get in another DD on the first Draco Meteor, and then ouspeed it and ko with Dragon Claw
Whew...Okay that was longer than I expected...Thanks in advance for any and all rates.
