Gonna share some unconventional sets/picks that I've been running as of late on various teams with some success, with a brief blurb about why I've been using them -
Glimmora @ Black Sludge
Ability: Toxic Debris
Tera Type: Ground
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Spiky Shield
- Sludge Bomb
- Power Gem
- Earth Power
Purely offensive non-SR Glimmora has been a blessing for several of my teams lately. I prefer other rock setters, so I've been running this variant with Spiky Shield + Two STABS and Earth Power for coverage. You're probably asking why this set instead of the lead variant? Three reasons in particular - First, Black Sludge gives Glimmora additional game longevity to reset Toxic Debris's Toxic Spikes if they get cleared and gives Trick mons such as Gholdengo, Grimmsnarl, Iron Valiant, and Meowscarada a nasty surprise that damages them each turn rather than the expected security of Focus Sash they were counting on. Second, Spiky Shield with three attacks allows me to be more flexible with prediction and also chips anything using a contact move which can be game-defining in some cases. Third, not having to worry about setting up Rocks usually means you can get some free damage off of a predicted Taunt coming your way. Its Tera Type is for additional STAB on Earth Power (which I find myself clicking more than its other STAB moves).
Noivern @ Choice Specs
Ability: Infiltrator
Tera Type: Ghost
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Draco Meteor
- Hurricane
- Focus Blast / Flamethrower
- Super Fang
Noivern is the fastest unboosted Dragon type (barring Dragapult) that you can use in OU (including Cyclizar, who has base 121, while Noivern has base 123). In combination with Infiltrator, it puts pressure on Shed Tail spam by boosting its power with Specs and hitting right through Substitute. STAB Draco Meteor and STAB Hurricane are your main moves of choice. Your coverage option is either Focus Blast, but if you hate the accuracy, you can go with Flamethrower/Heat Wave, which still maims Steel types as well as being able to hit Ghosts that Focus Blast cannot. Super Fang is a phenomenal tech option that allows Noivern to halve the HP of anything that it cannot kill (really useful when you need to sac Noivern and take advantage of its phenomenal speed).
Ceruledge @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Flash Fire
Tera Type: Fighting
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Flame Charge
- Close Combat
- Shadow Claw
- Bitter Blade
One of my favorite Chi-Yu lures at the moment. Flash Fire provides immunity towards one STAB, while Terastylizing into Fighting type provides a Dark type resistance. Flame Charge allows Ceruledge to boost its speed from a lackluster 295 to a respectable 442 in one go, outspeeding numerous scarf users. Fire / Ghost is a phenomenal offensive and defensive typing if you play it right, and having the ability to switch to pure Fighting type works wonders as well.
252 Atk Tera Fighting Ceruledge Close Combat vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Chi-Yu: 458-542 (182.4 - 215.9%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252 SpA Chi-Yu Dark Pulse vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Tera Fighting Ceruledge: 67-79 (23 - 27.1%) -- 53.8% chance to 4HKO
STAB Bitter Blade's recovery is phenomenal as well and helps with Ceruledge's longevity (especially important given its Stealth Rock weakness when in Fire/Ghost base mode).
Baxcalibur @ Expert Belt
Ability: Thermal Exchange
Tera Type: Ghost
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Dragon Dance
- Icicle Spear
- Earthquake
- Iron Head
A unique tech version of Baxcalibur that I've been having a lot of fun with for a few reasons. STAB Icicle Spear is one of those reasons; thanks to Baxcalibur's fantastic base 145 Attack and access to Dragon Dance, Icicle Spear will almost always break Shed Tail subs and result in additional damage putting your opponent in a tight spot where they'll either have to sac a mon or switch into something like Slowbro. Earthquake is necessary coverage, while Iron Head is specifically for luring Iron Valiant (along with having a Ghost Tera type for Fighting immunity), but other options can be used instead.
Bellibolt @ Leftovers
Ability: Electromorphosis
Tera Type: Water
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpA
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Volt Switch
- Slack Off
- Chilling Water
- Discharge
I love this guy; I think he has serious potential for, at the very least, a small OU niche. Reliable recovery, a great ability to boost its Electric STAB after a hit, very useful mono-electric typing, and a slow Volt Switch. In addition, I've been using Chilling Water for some predicted switch-ins like Great Tusk / Iron Treads. Don't sleep on it, one of the few Pokemon that can reliably use Chilling Water IMO. Tera Water is a surprise tech that boosts Chilling Water along with giving Earthquake spam neutrality rather than weakness (originally, I had been experimenting with Tera Flying, but that Tera typing makes it Garganacl fodder, and Tera Steel's defensive utility wasn't as useful since both Steel and Electric are weak to Ground).
(To those who talked to me on Showdown, I'm still trying to find viable niches in OU for Dachsbun, Bombirdier, and Klawf. When I find decent success with set variants, I'll talk about them here).
It's not as free as it might look since they can simply taunt you in Grimmsnarl's case, so you have to switch in in the turn they use parting shot, possibly giving a free switch to Cyclizar (a fairly common ally of Grim) or another threat that can beat Cinderace. I'm sure it'll have its uses, but I don't think it's that strong
Good point on Parting Shot/Taunt; for some reason, despite facing it constantly, I keep forgetting that because of Spirit Break/Screens spam