Hey guys! I've recently been getting into battling in OU, and would really appreciate some advice on my team so far.
Now, my intention at first was to build a team around Talonflame. I might have strayed a bit away from that, but anyways...
Talonflame @ Choice Band
Ability: Gale Wings
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Brave Bird
- Flare Blitz
- Tailwind
- U-turn
Talonflame is the pokemon I basically built this team around. His set is pretty standard, and his primary purpose is to be a revenge killer. I gave him a Adamant nature figuring I wouldn't need all the speed, and am sort of considering on possibly removing some speed EVs. Flare Blitz is for pokemon such as Scizor and Ferrothorn which are always a problem for me, U-Turn is for scouting purposes, and Tailwind can be a last ditch effort when Talonflame is coming near its end of usefulness in battle.
Excadrill @ Air Balloon
Ability: Sand Rush
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- Earthquake
- Rapid Spin
- Iron Head
With Talonflame, the one thing I knew I needed to have is a rapid spinner. Excadrill was a pokemon I always wanted to use after hearing countless people praise its physical power. The set I'm running is meant primarily for sweeping, with swords dance to set up, Earthquake for its strong STAB, Iron Head for flinch chance and to take care of certain fairies and of course Rapid Spin.
I am considering on replacing Iron Head for Rock Slide, due to flying types being a problem for Excadrill to sweep teams.
Hippowdon @ Smooth Rock
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Impish Nature
- Whirlwind
- Stealth Rock
- Slack Off
- Toxic
Hippowdon is a pokemon I find to be great support for Excadrill. Sand Stream is its ability to help Excadrill outspeed my opponents, along with Stealth Rocks to help deal the nessecary damage for Excadrill to sweep.
I have considered replacing eithier whirlwind or toxic with earthquake. However, as a player I have a bad tendency to get set up on and whirlwind just helps me feel a lot safer. Toxic and Slack Off are used to basically stall out some large physical threats.
Rotom-Wash @ Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 4 SpA / 252 SpD
Calm Nature
- Will-O-Wisp
- Volt Switch
- Hydro Pump
- Pain Split
Rotom-Wash is a great pokemon with great typing. It is my go to switch for Talonflame and also supports the triple water weakness I have up to this point. Willo is to cripple my opponents, volt switch is to help me gain momentum, hydro pump is for good power, and pain split is to help heal Rotom while taking a nice chunk of their HP to help Excadrill sweep or Talonflame to revenge kill.
Alakazam @ Focus Sash
Ability: Magic Guard
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Psyshock
- Dazzling Gleam
- Shadow Ball
- Hidden Power [Fire]
Alakazam is also one of my teams revenge killers, it serves its role well with its high speed and special attack. I chose to go with the focus sash primarly because its safety. I am considering on using Mega Alakazam though because many Alakazam does seem to live a neutral special attack hit.
Psyshock is the primary stab of choice because Blissy and Chansey are always problems for me. Dazzling Gleam is added to deal with those bulky fighting types with high physical defense due to a lack of Psychic, along with being able to deal with Dragons. Shadow Ball is nice coverage for pokemon such as Gengar. Hidden Power Fire is to deal with stuff like Scizor and Ferrothorn without having to sacrifice a bunch of HP from my Talonflame.
Greninja @ Life Orb
Ability: Protean
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Grass Knot
- Scald
- Dark Pulse
- Ice Beam
Greninja and it's solid speed and its protean ability stuck out to me as a fairly good pokemon to help clean up KOs after my team. Scald is useful and its chance to burn is always nice. Dark Pulse is to help hit things such as Aegislash. Ice Beam is very useful for Garchomp, Latias, etc.
Grass Knot is the one move I'm considering on changing, seeing as it really gets use. I have also considered subbing Scald for Hydro Pump, but the low accuracy always makes me nervous.
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This team has been doing fairly well for me, but there are some things I'm somewhat concerened about.
(Things such as Mega Charizard Y and solorbeam, along with that glaring triple water weakness). Tips and advice would be highly appreciated! Thanks in advance!
Now, my intention at first was to build a team around Talonflame. I might have strayed a bit away from that, but anyways...
Talonflame @ Choice Band
Ability: Gale Wings
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Brave Bird
- Flare Blitz
- Tailwind
- U-turn
Talonflame is the pokemon I basically built this team around. His set is pretty standard, and his primary purpose is to be a revenge killer. I gave him a Adamant nature figuring I wouldn't need all the speed, and am sort of considering on possibly removing some speed EVs. Flare Blitz is for pokemon such as Scizor and Ferrothorn which are always a problem for me, U-Turn is for scouting purposes, and Tailwind can be a last ditch effort when Talonflame is coming near its end of usefulness in battle.
Excadrill @ Air Balloon
Ability: Sand Rush
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- Earthquake
- Rapid Spin
- Iron Head
With Talonflame, the one thing I knew I needed to have is a rapid spinner. Excadrill was a pokemon I always wanted to use after hearing countless people praise its physical power. The set I'm running is meant primarily for sweeping, with swords dance to set up, Earthquake for its strong STAB, Iron Head for flinch chance and to take care of certain fairies and of course Rapid Spin.
I am considering on replacing Iron Head for Rock Slide, due to flying types being a problem for Excadrill to sweep teams.
Hippowdon @ Smooth Rock
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Impish Nature
- Whirlwind
- Stealth Rock
- Slack Off
- Toxic
Hippowdon is a pokemon I find to be great support for Excadrill. Sand Stream is its ability to help Excadrill outspeed my opponents, along with Stealth Rocks to help deal the nessecary damage for Excadrill to sweep.
I have considered replacing eithier whirlwind or toxic with earthquake. However, as a player I have a bad tendency to get set up on and whirlwind just helps me feel a lot safer. Toxic and Slack Off are used to basically stall out some large physical threats.
Rotom-Wash @ Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 4 SpA / 252 SpD
Calm Nature
- Will-O-Wisp
- Volt Switch
- Hydro Pump
- Pain Split
Rotom-Wash is a great pokemon with great typing. It is my go to switch for Talonflame and also supports the triple water weakness I have up to this point. Willo is to cripple my opponents, volt switch is to help me gain momentum, hydro pump is for good power, and pain split is to help heal Rotom while taking a nice chunk of their HP to help Excadrill sweep or Talonflame to revenge kill.
Alakazam @ Focus Sash
Ability: Magic Guard
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Psyshock
- Dazzling Gleam
- Shadow Ball
- Hidden Power [Fire]
Alakazam is also one of my teams revenge killers, it serves its role well with its high speed and special attack. I chose to go with the focus sash primarly because its safety. I am considering on using Mega Alakazam though because many Alakazam does seem to live a neutral special attack hit.
Psyshock is the primary stab of choice because Blissy and Chansey are always problems for me. Dazzling Gleam is added to deal with those bulky fighting types with high physical defense due to a lack of Psychic, along with being able to deal with Dragons. Shadow Ball is nice coverage for pokemon such as Gengar. Hidden Power Fire is to deal with stuff like Scizor and Ferrothorn without having to sacrifice a bunch of HP from my Talonflame.
Greninja @ Life Orb
Ability: Protean
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Grass Knot
- Scald
- Dark Pulse
- Ice Beam
Greninja and it's solid speed and its protean ability stuck out to me as a fairly good pokemon to help clean up KOs after my team. Scald is useful and its chance to burn is always nice. Dark Pulse is to help hit things such as Aegislash. Ice Beam is very useful for Garchomp, Latias, etc.
Grass Knot is the one move I'm considering on changing, seeing as it really gets use. I have also considered subbing Scald for Hydro Pump, but the low accuracy always makes me nervous.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This team has been doing fairly well for me, but there are some things I'm somewhat concerened about.
(Things such as Mega Charizard Y and solorbeam, along with that glaring triple water weakness). Tips and advice would be highly appreciated! Thanks in advance!
