~((1UP!))~
It's been awhile, Smogon! I'd like to take this opportunity to present a team I've enjoyed many battles with on the UU suspect ladder during the month of November. Hitting that ladder (under the alias Del) was as tantalizing as grabbing an extra man. It's balance and ability to shift from defense to offense allowed it a 1UP over most challenges with ease. Witless ye be witness ~
Building 1UP!
I began this team by browsing the UU tier looking for strong pokemon in hopes of slapping 'em all together and if they had potential I'd work out the kinks later. Kingdra, being a favorite of mine from D/P starts us off
I remembered a method to Kingdra's onslaught that came with the aid of a dual screener support tank to covering its exceptional typing. With screens up, Kingdra was set to dance. I picked the sturdiest supporter I could remember (an older set of mine)
Next one that came to mind was Raikou. Always fun to play with, Rai's position was originally going to be a Sub CM set, but switched it up for life orb when I realized I wanted the immediate power
The purpose of dual screens is clearly to set up monstrous threats that nobody can take down. I'd learned about Scrafty, after having spent most of its time this generation basking in my neglect, I took a another look. This thing was made for dual screen support
I knew I needed something fast. ScarfMoxieCross was my impulse, but I needed something that could keep the momentum flowing. Heracross can't survive a residual laden metagame, so I opted for Meinshao on account of its trait
Then I needed a rocker, another special attacker, something to deal with Hera. Nidoking came up, but Nidoqueen it had to be
I remembered a method to Kingdra's onslaught that came with the aid of a dual screener support tank to covering its exceptional typing. With screens up, Kingdra was set to dance. I picked the sturdiest supporter I could remember (an older set of mine)
Next one that came to mind was Raikou. Always fun to play with, Rai's position was originally going to be a Sub CM set, but switched it up for life orb when I realized I wanted the immediate power
The purpose of dual screens is clearly to set up monstrous threats that nobody can take down. I'd learned about Scrafty, after having spent most of its time this generation basking in my neglect, I took a another look. This thing was made for dual screen support
I knew I needed something fast. ScarfMoxieCross was my impulse, but I needed something that could keep the momentum flowing. Heracross can't survive a residual laden metagame, so I opted for Meinshao on account of its trait
Then I needed a rocker, another special attacker, something to deal with Hera. Nidoking came up, but Nidoqueen it had to be
Synergy
Cresselia (Tank God) @ Light Clay
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 144 Def / 112 SDef
Bold Nature
- Light Screen
- Reflect
- Thunder Wave
- Moonlight
My lead most of the time was Cress for its ability to defend immediately, paralyze, and withstand many capable offensive leads such as Victini, Machamp, and Darmanitan. The set was a surprise to most and it usually allowed me to flip the game into my hands early. After screens are set up as per needed, the next switch was entirely relative. Cress's ability to use moonlight in an environment devoid of weather allows it to reliably survive and cripple at least two pokemon per match (typically) and support with screens. My status absorber and fodder.
Threatened by Sub stat-uppers (in all forms), Taunt, Heracross, Chandelure (specs)
Kingdra (Queendra) @ Lum Berry
Trait: Swift Swim
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 Spd / 252 Atk / 4 Def
Adamant Nature
- Dragon Dance
- Substitute
- Waterfall
- Outrage
You might be surprised how far one Lum berry goes in thwarting a whole team. It's as if Gen V suddenly woke up to the fact that toxic is the shit and scald is the best weapon a bulky water could ever have asked for. Under screens scald is laughable with quad resistance to both water and fire, it's easy to pull into a sub and set up on bulky waters, not to mention Overheat rotom-h and the ability to tank Flare Blitz like a champ. Sadly, Blastoise usually packs roar. Still relatively easy to get two DD's on this thing while having a sub up. Letting it tear through a team who's last ditch effort to stop you was to take away your Lum berry with a lame status switch in. If you can save that Lum berry, you can continue that Outrage. Usually Kingdra would come in and take charge early. Thing is a monster and wouldn't be out of place in BL considering how 1 DD is pretty much enough to wreck most of UU as it is!
Threatened by Empoleon, Roar, other Kingdra, Priority, steel types when trapped in outrage, it's own confusion!
Raikou (Riku)@ Life Orb
Trait: Pressure
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 SAtk / 252 Spd / 4 Def
Timid Nature
- Calm Mind
- Thunderbolt
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Extrasensory
With Raikous speed and delicious stab thunderbolt's, he makes an excellent late game finisher. If I need a strong mid-game assault, I can usually throw Raikou in with success, softening up an enemies defense leaving the rest to the rest. 1 CM and you had better hope you resist his moveset. 2 CM and you had better have a scarf. Only downside is that this thing was fragile, easily worn down, and to be honest, likely the weakest link on the team.
Threatened by Scarf pokemon (Krookodile), Earthquake, ground pokemon with full health, bulky Rhyperior, (anything going faster than it really)
Scrafty @ Leftovers
Trait: Shed Skin
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SDef / 4 Atk
Careful Nature
- Bulk Up
- Crunch
- Drain Punch
- Rest
Monstrous stat upper even without screen support. Invulnerable to status if it can weather the enemies attacks and rest up. Capable of taking hits, bulking up and resting it all off, only to wake up and start its drain punch stall, or make foe rage outright. Whatever! Typing allows for unresisted dark/fighting stab combo. This thing isn't necessarily unpredictable but it wouldn't be out of place in BL along with Kingdra. DD set is too slow and not bulky enough. With this set, Scrafty's base capabilities are maximized with bulk up covering defense and the rest into special defense. Once this thing hunkers down, you have to play around it carefully, or else. I've beaten taunt/wow Sableye in stall wars with crunch, relying only on def drop. Survived Brave Birds and CC's after 1 or 2 bulk ups. And it's turned games I was on the brink of losing into wins.
Threatened by, Meinshao Hi Jump Kick (yikes!), Taunt, Heracross resists
Nidoqueen @ Life Orb
Trait: Sheer Force
EVs: 252 Spd / 252 SAtk / 4 Def
Modest Nature
IVs: 30 SAtk / 30 SDef
- Stealth Rock
- Sludge Wave
- Ice Beam
- Earth Power
Its ability is so amazing with LO support that it can 2HKO most Blastoise switch ins with sludge wave. Speed evs allow it to go faster than many things, as most people expect them to have been placed in HP. Nidoqueen does many things for 1UP including: absorbing toxic spikes, setting up stealth rock, eating toxic's/t-waves/will-o-wisps, and being an offensive pivot. If Cress can't lead, Nidoqueen probably can, like whenever I see a sableye. It's stab earth power is enough to OHKO steels and poison types reliably, with icebeam for other grounds that might wall it like gliscor.
Threatened by Bronzong, Milotic, Meloetta, Umbreon, earthquake
Mienshao @ Choice Band
Trait: Regenerator
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Spd / 4 Def
Jolly Nature
- Hi Jump Kick
- Drain Punch
- U-turn
- Stone Edge
One of the coolest pokes in OU, giving Heracross a run for its money. My strat with this thing? Bring it out whenever, it can handle itself. If a foe is setting up, I can be behind screens while pounding away with drain punch if I need to take something down that's putting up a fight. CB Hi Jump Kick is not something I would recommend being in the way of, even if you're a flying type. U-turn for momentum, and Stone Edge is complete filler. I must have used it at least 3 whole times since I've made the freaking team and it was still unreliable then. Jolly lets it outspeed so much of the meta already I thought, why not just give it a CB to compliment?
Threatened by Gliscor, Dusclops, Cofagrigus, Protect, Scarf
Additional
Every pokemon is neutral to SR, 3 can heal reliably, resistant to status, balanced typing, offensive leaning. It's weakness is usually a scarfed pokemon, or sub setter uppers. Rate away!