Team Dervish [OU Offense!]

[Triskadancer]

Edits are going to be in blue!
A quick overview- my team is intended as an offensive team, primarily working off immunities and resistances to soak attacks rather than dedicated walls. I also attempted to use favorite pokemon of mine, rather than just going for the usuals (Blissey, Scizor, Salamence, etc). I've won several matches against local friends and trainers, but am considering using this team online, and would love some tips.

Original Team

At A Glance

The Lead

Gliscor @ Leftovers (Vladimir)
Nature: Jolly [+Speed -Sp.Attack]
EVs: 252 HP / 40 Def / 216 Spe
- Earthquake
- Taunt
- Stealth Rock
- Roost

A recent swap from Aerodactyl to Gliscor, per MetaNite's advice. I agree, this does look a lot better for combating Lucario, and actually seems to suit the team a little better- a suicide lead just isn't as intimidating (or useful) as a lead who can stick around and possibly cause some pain. I actually like Gliscor as well, so I'm fine with changing Aero.


Physical Attacker

Breloom @ Toxic Orb (Roo)
Ability: Poison Heal
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Nature: Jolly [+Speed -Sp.Attack]
- Spore
- Seed Bomb
- Superpower
- Facade

Breloom! I know he's very popular online, but many of the local fighters here have no idea how incredible this little mushroom is. He's an integral part of my team- he destroys bulky Waters and cleans up foes easily. He can also act as a status absorber once he's Poisoned. I doubt I'll ever swap him out. I went with this rather than the SubSeeder set- I much prefer an offensive style of play rather than stall.

Special Sweeper

Heatran @ Life Orb
Ability: Flash Fire
Nature: Naive
EVs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
IVs: 26 Atk
-Fire Blast
- Earth Power
- Hidden Power Grass
- Explosion

Replacing Houndoom is... basically the uglier OU version of Houndoom! Better typing allows for better survival, and higher base stats means a higher chance of KOs. Thanks to MetaNite for suggesting this switch.

Bulky Water

Vaporeon @ Leftovers (Maelstrom)
Ability: Water Absorb
EVs: 188 HP / 252 Def / 68 Spe
Nature: Bold [+Def -Attack]
- Surf
- Hidden Power Electric
- Wish
- Protect

Vaporeon, in some form, has been in my games since Blue version. She fills the role of bulky water brilliantly, and counters the one water type that scares Breloom- Gyarados- with HP Electric. She can take the water attacks aimed at Heatran, can heal Heatran's Life Orb damage (and anyone else's damage!) with Wish, and Protect herself to scout attacks and buy herself time.

Revenge Killer

Flygon @ Choice Scarf (Glitter)
Ability: Levitate
Nature: Jolly [+Speed -Sp.Attack]
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Nature:
- Outrage
- Earthquake
- Thunderpunch
- U-turn

The quirky Dragon/Ground made a great addition to the team- another Ground immunity is always welcome, and a way to deal with the inevitable Dragons is completely necessary. Decent attack type coverage and the Choice Scarf means Flygon can hit opponents hard and fast, then retreat and wait for another opportunity. Another star of the team, she's saved me quite often from all sorts of threats. U-Turn is a recent addition- originally I had her running Fire Punch in that slot, but it proved less useful.
Jolly + Thunderpunch, in order to cover Salamence/Gyarados, is a great idea that I honestly didn't even think of. Thanks to MetaNite for the advice.

Special Sweeper 2

Empoleon @ Choice Specs (Alexander)
Ability: Torrent
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Sp.Atk / 4 Spe
Nature: Modest
- Surf
- Ice Beam
- Grass Knot
- HP Electric

I decided to run the Choice Specs set- I dislike having to sacrifice 75% of a sweeper's health in order to sweep. This set fits the offensive team theme better, IMO. Empoleon will help in sponging Ice attacks with Heatran and cover most necessary types- and Flygon, Gliscor and Heatran can help absorb Electric attacks aimed at Vaporeon and Empoleon.
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[MetaNite]

Hi there.

Your team seems quite offensive and as such may have some trouble with Dragon Dance Salamence, Gyarados, and Lucario. First off, I suggest changing Flygon's nature to Jolly, in order to tie with max Speed +1 Salamence who are becoming increasingly common. And instead of Stone Edge, I think you'd be better off with ThunderPunch on Flygon. Reason? To revenge kill Gyarados without having to risk missing or fearing a bulky Gyarados.

I also feel Houndoom can be replaced by a sturdier attacker, such as Heatran. While Houndoom does get Nasty Plot, it will have a lot of trouble sweeping with it since it is quite frail and many Pokemon outspeed it. Too easily revenge killed, while the same can be said about Heatran, instead of wasting a turn Nasty Plotting you'd be hitting the foe extremely hard.

Heatran @ Life Orb
Nature: Naive / EVs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
IVs: 26 Atk
~ Fire Blast / Earth Power / Hidden Power Grass / Explosion

With Life Orb equipped, Heatran can defeat or severely damage a boatload of Pokemon with a little prediction. Between Stealth Rock and Fire Blast, even Gyarados can be killed. Hidden Power Grass will OHKO Swampert and do at least 40% to most Suicune and Vaporeon. Explosion is a last ditch move but will be especially useful against Blissey, as with Blissey gone your Jolteon can clean up the foe without a second thought. In order to solve your Lucario weakness, you can replace Aerodactyl with Gliscor:

Gliscor @ Leftovers
Nature: Jolly / EVs: 252 HP / 40 Def / 216 Spe
~ Earthquake / Taunt / Stealth Rock / Roost

This Gliscor can prevent many leads from setting up much like Aero, namely Metagross, Skarmory, and Forretress. Stealth Rock is obligatory while Earthquake is how you eliminate Lucario and Roost will keep you healthy. Gliscor also gives you a good counter to Scarf Tyranitar who may prove troublesome, trying to counter and kill your Jolteon and Houndoom (or Heatran). Good luck to you.

 

[Triskadancer]

MetaNite- thanks for the advice! Great ideas, I didn't even consider most of what you suggested. Also, I'll definitely work on a Heatran to test in place of Houndoom- I don't really like him, but he will most likely improve the team.

Anyone else have suggestions?

 

[dan3067]

I agree, Houndoom is outclassed by Heatran in OU.

I really don't feel like Jolteon is a great choice. Gliscor is immune to electricity (ground type, in case you didn't know, as you said it has an elec-weakness o.O). As is Flygon.

I think it is more important that you deal with your ice weakness: Gliscor (4x weak), Flygon (4x weak), and Breloom (2x weak). In my opinion, this would prompt me to seriously change my team, but for starters, I might switch Jolteon with a pokemon such as Jirachi, who resists ice attacks. His fire weakness is covered by Heatran (or Houndoom if you choose to keep it) and Vaporeon, he provides a Dragon resist to cover Flygon's weakness, and due to your two levitators and Breloom's grass typing, his ground weakness is not a big deal (two immunities and a resist).

Jirachi can be used for support, revenge, or just annoying with a combination of moves. Some interesting things to use with Jirachi would be wish, body slam, iron head, and calm mind. If you go for a physical or mixed sweeper, he has access to elemental punches for good coverage, but he can also function as a great special sweeper with Thunderbolt, Water Pulse (which gets 40% confuse rate with Jirachi's ability), Psychic, and Flash Cannon, to name a few.

tl;dr: You are ice weak, Jirachi might help, there are lots of options on how to use him.

 

[Triskadancer]

Dan- WOW, I feel moronic. I made the edits rather early in the morning, I must have not been paying attention. XD; Thanks for pointing out the silly Gliscor error. I'll keep Jirachi in mind, too- though he's certainly not my favorite Steel type.

Do you think Empoleon might make a worthy team addition instead? He's got a ton of resistances, including a double resistance to Ice. He could probably replace Jolteon easily.

 

[dan3067]

Empoleon seems like a good idea as well. You could keep the same theme as Jolteon by giving him Choice Specs with Surf/Hydro Pump, Grass Knot, Ice Beam, and HP Elec. Another option is the popular sub-petaya set, which is pretty effective in the late game.

Despite the two waters (Vaporeon and the possible Empoleon addition), your ground types and Heatran don't really mind taking the t-bolts aimed at Vaporeon/Empoleon.