Team Friendship ^__^ (OU) Bulky Offense

[mixmaster.mewthree]

Team Friendship ^__^

Team Friendship ^__^

Here's a somewhat new team with I've been laddering with for a few days. So far I've gotten to a rating of around 1550, but I've been stopped at that point. It's a pretty good team imo, but I feel like it could be better and that it's missing something. Generally, the main strategy behind this team is to wear the opponents team as much as possible with residual damage, remove Scizors counters, then hopefully go for a sweep.

Any rates/comments/suggestions are appreciated!

Tyranitar @ Chesto Berry
Adamant nature (+Atk, -SpA)
252 HP / 32 Atk / 224 SpD
Sand Stream
- Payback
- Stone Edge
- Stealth Rock
- Rest

Tyranitar is one of my favorite leads, by far. It can defeat many of the top leads, only losing to fools like Infernape, Mamoswine, Jirachi, Swampert, Metagross, etc. Alright, so it loses to quite a few leads but it's nothing that Starmie, Rotom-H, or Skarmory can't handle. Payback allows me to KO annoying sleep leads like Smeargle and Roserade, and come out on top regardless due to the special defense EVs and Chesto Berry. Payback + Sandstorm can KO Azelf, the #1 lead atm. Payback and Stone Edge get nice coverage and STAB. Tyranitar can use Stealth Rock quite effectively since it can come in on things like Rotom-a, Blissey, and other slow walls and use Stealth Rock then use Rest as needed. Chesto Berry + Rest gives an automatic 100% recovery of health and status, which can make Tyranitar a very effective Rotom-a and Zapdos counter later in the game, two Pokemon that my SD Scizor would otherwise have trouble with.

Rotom-H @ Choice Scarf
Timid nature (+Spe, -Atk)
4 HP / 252 Spe / 252 SpA
Levitate
- Thunderbolt
- Shadow Ball
- Overheat
- Trick

Rotom-H serves as a check to some pretty scary pocket monsters including Gyarados, Lucario, Scizor, etc. It also blocks Rapid Spin, can stop setup sweepers like CurseLax and CM Jirachi with Trick, and provides some nice immunities to fighting, normal, and ground which work well with Tyranitar. Thunderbolt and Shadow Ball are two strong STAB moves, and Overheat allows me to OHKO SD Scizor and Lucario even through Light Screen. Timid nature ensures that I outspeed all Gyarados after a DD, regardless of if they have a speed boosting nature or not.

Skarmory @ Shed Shell
Careful nature (+SpD, -Atk)
252 HP / 32 Spe / 224 SpD
Keen Eye
- Taunt
- Roost
- Spikes
- Whirlwind

Thanks to the very specially bulky spread, Skarmory can come in on things like Vaporeon and Blissey (which would normally be able to beat Skarmory with Flamethrower or Surf/HP Electric) and setup Spikes on them. Taunt can stop slower walls and also turn them into setup fodder, and can stop things from setting up on Skarmory. Whirlwind is great for adding up residual damage and general phazing, and Roost helps to restore HP while setting up. Skarmory does not really mind losing the defense in favor for special defense that much, as it still is able to soak up attacks from CBZor, and boosted Outrages from Salamence, and is all over still a good physical wall. It can also setup on Latias now by taking advantage of the -2 SpA from Draco Meteor and Roosting off any damage as needed.

Heatran @ Leftovers
Timid nature (+Spe, -Atk)
4 HP / 252 Spe / 252 SpA
Flash Fire
- Fire Blast
- Earth Power
- Substitute
- Toxic

Heatran provides many key resistances to the team, and a nice immunity to fire. If it can manage to get a Flash Fire boost (which is usually somewhat easy), Heatran can do a lot of damage. Fire Blast and Earth Power get pretty good coverage by themselves, and a STAB + Flash Fire boosted Fire Blast does some massive damage. Against slower things that might status me or things that I know will switch out, Substitute can be useful. Salamence, Gyarados, Tyranitar, and Latias are some of the most common switchins to Heatran. Toxic can cripple all of them and greatly limit their staying power.

Starmie @ Leftovers
Timid nature (+Spe, -Atk)
136 HP / 156 Def / 216 Spe
Natural Cure
- Rapid Spin
- Thunderbolt
- Surf
- Recover

Starmie serves as my Rapid Spinner, Infernape counter, and secondary Gyarados check. Leftovers and Recover are useful since Starmie is almost always going to be under Sandstorm conditions, and if it's going to be switching in, taking entry hazard and sand damage, attempting a spin usually, and potentially having its spin blocked to have to switch out, the damage can add up pretty quickly. Surf is its strongest STAB attack, and Thunderbolt gets the best coverage alongside it. I don't really mind not having Ice Beam for dragons since Salamence gets worn down by residual damage then Scizor can revenge kill with Bullet Punch, and I have Latias pretty safely covered already.

Scizor @ Leftovers
Adamant nature (+Atk, -SpA)
252 HP / 200 Atk / 56 Spe
Technician
- Swords Dance
- Bullet Punch
- Brick Break
- Roost

After everything has been significantly weakened by entry hazards and its counters have been (hopefully) removed, Scizor can very easily sweep a team. Swords Dance boosts its already high attack stat, then it has STAB Technician Bullet Punch and Brick Break to sweep with (I don't like Superpower, the atk drop is annoying and I like to be able to break screens with Brick Break). Roost and Leftovers can really help its staying power, allowing it to setup and take hits much easier. Scizor is also pretty needed to KO Salamence, as if Salamence somehow got a DD up it would be quite an annoyance if I didn't have Scizor waiting to KO it.

Thanks for reading and stuff. Hope it was enjoyable. ;0

 

[Curtains]

A few nit picks.

Change T-tar's item to a lum berry. If t-tar survives with it intact it will help against countering opposing rotom later in the game.

Take off rapid spin for ice beam. Non of your pokemon really suffer from stealth rocks.

 

[Polywrath]

1)You really don't need a rapid spinner and you really don't need a defensive Starmie.

Its no fun playing the Rapid Spinner vs Spin blocker game, especially when you dont even need to have it in the first place. So yea like Curtians said, but Ice beam in.

2)Also I'd use a more offensive EV spread, something like Timid 216 Spe / 120 HP / 172 SAtk.

3)On another note Scizor cant have its current EV spread (I dont know if it was a mistake)
It is currently 252 HP / 252 Atk / 56 Spe. Which isn't possible

I'm guessing by th moveset that is is a bulky SDancer, so the EVs you want are 200 HP / 252 Atk and 56 Spe.
(again probably just a typo)

4) Run a higher speed on Skarmory
Between 56-72 preferable.
There are a few important threats in that span.

Other than that, pretty good team.
Im not sure about the effectiveness of Chesto-Rest on Tyranitar but it seems fine.

 

[mixmaster.mewthree]

Yep, Scizor EV spread was just a typo. It's 200 / 252 / 56.

/testing offensive Starmie and Skarmory with more speed right now

Thanks for the suggestions so far~

 

[Bad Ass]

Nice team, Spikes is always a really good thing to have on a balance team. You seem to do a good job in keeping them up, being able to set them up, and covering most threats in the metagame. First, what I want you to do is change around Starmie a little bit. I think a more offensive spinner version to 2hko defensive Rotom would work better. I believe the evs are 184 SAtk | 216 Spe | 108 Def, and you'll have to use Hydro Pump over Surf. The power/accuracy trade off is an issue of course, but you shouldn't be missing Surf that much. You get some notable OHKOes and 2HKOes with the added attack investment and Hydro Pump. Don't worry about Gyarados, Rotom already covers him really well, plus Starmie still does great against him.

That's all I have, and if I think of anything else I'll edit it in. Good luck with the team!

 

[franky]

hello philo,

Okay, Salamence shreds this team apart with ease. The same goes for Dragonite. It has many opportunities to set up on: choiced Overheat from Rotom, Heatran, Skarmory, and Tyranitar to a lesser extent (assuming you want to keep it lategame). I find Starmie to be the "weak" link of the team atm. Spin support is not really needed on this team, as it really doesn't hinder the team as much. However, a much needed check to Salamence and Dragonite is required. Defensive Suicune over Starmie will do the trick in terms checking these threats. As an added bonus, Suicune can check Heatran -- a serious threat to SD Scizor, sufficiently better tan Starmie. I'm thinking 252 Hp / 252 Def / 6 SpD with Surf / Ice Beam / Calm Mind / Roar. If you want, you can go for Hp Electric over Roar to smack Gyarados immedietly. Basically this set checks many physical threats while acting like a sweeper lategame. Roar is needed for extra phazing. Ice Beam smacks Dragon-types mostly who certainley give you troubles.

As for other options, I'd go for 252 HP/126 Atk/12 Spd/120 SDef as the EV spread on Tyranitar. Your Tyranitar reminds of Philip's Tyranitar, and it seems like Phillip hit the nail in the coffin with the given EVs. Basically, Stone Edge will always OHKO Roserade and Azelf trying to sleep you. Sandstorm renders Focus Sash. I'd consider Pursuit over Payback because Rotom and Latias are serious threats to a portion of your team the entire match. With these guys gone, Scizor can freely switch with Swords Dance under its belt with Scarf Rotom ruining the party. overall gl.

 

[Itsuki]

Hello Philosoraptor, nice team you got here! Anyways it seems you have quite a problem to Electric attacks and the aforementioned Salamence. I feel that Latias can help out a lot with this:

Latias @ Life Orb
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 SpA / 252 Spe / 4 HP
Timid nature (+Spe, -Atk)
- Draco Meteor / Dragon Pulse
- Thunderbolt
- Surf
- Roost

With Spikes support from Skarmory, Tyranitar and Scizor become less of a problem to Latias and she can 2HKO with Surf. Draco Meteor versus Dragon Pulse is a matter of preference. Draco Meteor deals massive damage to most Pokemon barring Blissey and Steel types but hinders your ability to 2HKO the aforementioned threats. Dragon Pulse is conisistent and power and also hits what you need to. Latias helps out a lot against the weakness to MixMence however DD Salamence is a problem but switching around with your Steel types might help to an extent.

Also as for the Tyranitar EV spread j. franky posted an EV spread for then Anti-Lead Lum Tyranitar. However I suggest an alternate spread of 252 HP / 4 Atk / 240 SpD / 12 Spe - Adamant because with this current spread you gain a few more points in Special Defense whilst achieving its goal.

Careful - 252 HP / 126 Atk / 120 SpD / 12 Spe
Stats: 404 / 335 / 256 / 203 / 292 / 161

Adamant - 252 HP / 4 Atk / 240 SpD / 12 Spe
Stats: 404 / 335 / 256 / 203 / 296 / 161

 

[animenagai]

I'll give this a shot.

1. You're decently stall weak. Your strategy of eliminating the counters for scizor is decent, but I don't see this team having the tools to pull it off. If you want to stick with this strat, you need reliable ways of trapping the likes of gyara, skarm and rotom, either that or pokes that could at least lure in the counter and do big damage to it with a kamikaze. Alternatively, you can just load the team up with stall breakers like mixmence and ape, but you don't seem to have that in your team either.

2. You have no rock resist, therefore tyranitar's stone edge automatically rapes you. Get one.

3. A simple T-tar/scizor + lucario combo absolutely rapes you. Your only real luke counter is pursuit weak. It then proceeds to set up on T-tar and perhaps starmie after a sac and sweeps you.

Alright, so with that in mind, what should we do?

I would start with removing Tar. It really doesn't do much for you on this team. Give skarm SR instead over taunt or spikes. That clears up an extra slot for you. I would then replace scizor with trick scarf jirachi and plug in a mence, making things easier for you against stall. You can then replace rotom's set if you want, seeing as you already have a trick scarfer. The standard resttalk version may work.

Good luck.