Team development:
After finishing Team Torments and Suffering, I felt I needed a different type of team. What I came up with was a team that started with an Anti-lead, and followed through with team synergy as best as I could put it. Obviously, I tried to make the team be able to stop recurring threats in OU, but also, my idea, "cooking the books", is a simple one. Make my opponent be on his toes the entire match through a mixup of many resistances and choice items; enjoy.
Starmie @ Life Orb
Timid
Natural Cure
252 sp. attk/252 spd/ 4 HP
-Ice Beam
-Hydro Pump
-Grass Knot(?)/Thunderbolt
-Rapid Spin
After much deliberation, I decided that Starmie is excellent opposition for common leads in the current metagame. Ice Beam kills dragons,and an early rapid spin to deal with SR, since most people seem to start with a Stealth rock early on. Hydro Pump over surf, simply because Surf misses KOs Hydro Pump accomplishes. At first, I had Thunderbolt in this last slot, but after more deliberation, I realized Grass Knot can take care of Swampert, while at the same time OHKOing most Lucario, and @2HKOing many, many others.
I thought, and I thought some more. What was a good partner for Starmie? After much thought, I came up with this:
Scizor @ Choice Band
Adamant
Technician
198 Hp/ 252 attk/ 60 spd
-Bullet Punch
-Superpower
-Pursuit
-U-turn
CB Scizor with HP EVs for that extra bulk. Basically, I made this in case Starmie, or any other of my Pokemon, felt threatened by an incoming Crunch, Stone Edge, etc. Scizor can come in and simply wreck; why else is he ranked no. 1 in usage? He's a beast, and good at finishing things off.
So, I decided I should invest in a phazer. Something with bulk that could be synergistic with Starmie and Scizor, and could help cover team weaknesses in general. I came up with these 2 at the same time:
Gyarados @ Lum Berry
Adamant
Intimidate
60 HP/252 attk/198 speed
-Dragon Dance
-Waterfall
-Bounce
-Stone Edge
Indeed, I contemplated a resTalker Gyarados, something that was very successful in my previous team. However, I decided on type coverage and investing in a late game sweeper in the end. Battling with my previous team, I noticed Celebi in particular annoyed me greatly with paralysis. In comes Bounce Gyarados late game to kick ass and take names. Not only can he take a Twave thanks to the lum, give me the Dragon Dance I need to sweep, and I would proceed to sweep away. I tried as hard as I could to create a set that outspeeds, for example, Starmie or Azelf with one Dragon Dance and, at the same time, have some form of HP asset due to no Leftovers.
I contemplated Gyarados weaknesses, and the fact that I still needed a phazer and an Srocker. After some searching, this one fit the suit perfectly.
Swampert @ Leftovers
Relaxed
Torrent
240 HP/194 defense/60 spA/ 8 spe
-Roar
-Stealth Rock
-Earthquake
-Ice beam
I looked at this Swampert at all angles, and decided that this is the best possible set for this team. A phazer, an Srocker, and a defensive tank all in one! Truly, this Swampert pulls the team together by covering it defensively, being able to absorb Twave, and absorbing electric attacks for Gyarados. Roar for phazing, Stealth rock for, well..yeah. EQ for STAB and type covering, and Ice beam for pesky dragons.
I asked myself, what do I need next? Something that causes switches, works well with the team, and can revenge kill, as well as shock and awe. Who's powerful enough to accomplish this? I came up with:
Salamence @ Choice Scarf
Naughty
Intimidate
252 attk/ 80 Spa/ 176 spe
-Outrage
-Fire Blast
-Earthquake
- Hydro Pump
A beast, and he certainly shocks and awes. Meant to surprise the opponent, Salamence fills the important role of Revenge killer, as well as adding the always welcome intimidate. Salamence will always provoke switches.
To be quite honest, I had no idea who to put in this last slot. However, after deliberating, I came up with this:
Rotom @ Leftovers
Timid
Levitate
128 HP/168 spA/ 212 spe
-Charge Beam
-Shadow Ball
-Substitute
- Hidden Power(Fight)
Rotoms best shot at a sweep. Should I get a sub up, this set is capable of setting up on and downing Blissey. Quite the sweep would ensue should I get a Charge Beam boost behind a sub. Hidden Power fight is also to OHKO most Tyranitar who think that they can try and pursuit me out.
That's the team.
Rate away, and please, feel free to switch out Pokemon if you think others would be better in the particular spot.
After finishing Team Torments and Suffering, I felt I needed a different type of team. What I came up with was a team that started with an Anti-lead, and followed through with team synergy as best as I could put it. Obviously, I tried to make the team be able to stop recurring threats in OU, but also, my idea, "cooking the books", is a simple one. Make my opponent be on his toes the entire match through a mixup of many resistances and choice items; enjoy.
Starmie @ Life Orb
Timid
Natural Cure
252 sp. attk/252 spd/ 4 HP
-Ice Beam
-Hydro Pump
-Grass Knot(?)/Thunderbolt
-Rapid Spin
After much deliberation, I decided that Starmie is excellent opposition for common leads in the current metagame. Ice Beam kills dragons,and an early rapid spin to deal with SR, since most people seem to start with a Stealth rock early on. Hydro Pump over surf, simply because Surf misses KOs Hydro Pump accomplishes. At first, I had Thunderbolt in this last slot, but after more deliberation, I realized Grass Knot can take care of Swampert, while at the same time OHKOing most Lucario, and @2HKOing many, many others.
I thought, and I thought some more. What was a good partner for Starmie? After much thought, I came up with this:
Scizor @ Choice Band
Adamant
Technician
198 Hp/ 252 attk/ 60 spd
-Bullet Punch
-Superpower
-Pursuit
-U-turn
CB Scizor with HP EVs for that extra bulk. Basically, I made this in case Starmie, or any other of my Pokemon, felt threatened by an incoming Crunch, Stone Edge, etc. Scizor can come in and simply wreck; why else is he ranked no. 1 in usage? He's a beast, and good at finishing things off.
So, I decided I should invest in a phazer. Something with bulk that could be synergistic with Starmie and Scizor, and could help cover team weaknesses in general. I came up with these 2 at the same time:
Gyarados @ Lum Berry
Adamant
Intimidate
60 HP/252 attk/198 speed
-Dragon Dance
-Waterfall
-Bounce
-Stone Edge
Indeed, I contemplated a resTalker Gyarados, something that was very successful in my previous team. However, I decided on type coverage and investing in a late game sweeper in the end. Battling with my previous team, I noticed Celebi in particular annoyed me greatly with paralysis. In comes Bounce Gyarados late game to kick ass and take names. Not only can he take a Twave thanks to the lum, give me the Dragon Dance I need to sweep, and I would proceed to sweep away. I tried as hard as I could to create a set that outspeeds, for example, Starmie or Azelf with one Dragon Dance and, at the same time, have some form of HP asset due to no Leftovers.
I contemplated Gyarados weaknesses, and the fact that I still needed a phazer and an Srocker. After some searching, this one fit the suit perfectly.
Swampert @ Leftovers
Relaxed
Torrent
240 HP/194 defense/60 spA/ 8 spe
-Roar
-Stealth Rock
-Earthquake
-Ice beam
I looked at this Swampert at all angles, and decided that this is the best possible set for this team. A phazer, an Srocker, and a defensive tank all in one! Truly, this Swampert pulls the team together by covering it defensively, being able to absorb Twave, and absorbing electric attacks for Gyarados. Roar for phazing, Stealth rock for, well..yeah. EQ for STAB and type covering, and Ice beam for pesky dragons.
I asked myself, what do I need next? Something that causes switches, works well with the team, and can revenge kill, as well as shock and awe. Who's powerful enough to accomplish this? I came up with:
Salamence @ Choice Scarf
Naughty
Intimidate
252 attk/ 80 Spa/ 176 spe
-Outrage
-Fire Blast
-Earthquake
- Hydro Pump
A beast, and he certainly shocks and awes. Meant to surprise the opponent, Salamence fills the important role of Revenge killer, as well as adding the always welcome intimidate. Salamence will always provoke switches.
To be quite honest, I had no idea who to put in this last slot. However, after deliberating, I came up with this:
Rotom @ Leftovers
Timid
Levitate
128 HP/168 spA/ 212 spe
-Charge Beam
-Shadow Ball
-Substitute
- Hidden Power(Fight)
Rotoms best shot at a sweep. Should I get a sub up, this set is capable of setting up on and downing Blissey. Quite the sweep would ensue should I get a Charge Beam boost behind a sub. Hidden Power fight is also to OHKO most Tyranitar who think that they can try and pursuit me out.
That's the team.
Rate away, and please, feel free to switch out Pokemon if you think others would be better in the particular spot.