This team's strength lies in its offensive capability as well as its ability to counter most of OU. Hope you enjoy the RMT and please give valuable feedback :)
Team at a glance:
(Lead) (Rest-talker) (CBzor) (Sub-Rise) (Scarf) (DDmence)
Azelf @ Focus Sash ** Clix
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 4 Atk / 252 Spd / 252 SAtk
Hasty Nature (+Spd, -Def)
- Explosion
- Flamethrower
- Psychic
- Stealth Rock
Standard Azelf lead. Flamethrower over Fire Blast for 4 reasons: 1) 2HKOes Occagross. 2) Bronzong leads are uncommon. 3) 2HKO all Naive Azelf leads, most likely 2HKO all Hasty Azelf. 4) Accuracy (obviously). I thought Azelf would start things off nicely as he reliably sets up Rocks and is unpredictable (U-Turn, Taunt, Choice items, screens and the such).
Dealing with most common OU leads:
Azelf: Flamethrower until low, then Stealth Rock. I've used a hasty nature as opposing Flamethrowers have a chance to 3HKO, while Fire Blast users risk the 27.5% chance at least one Fire Blast misses, which is fairly high if you ask me.
Metagross: Easy. Flamethrower. If Meteor Mash variant, Zone comes in after Sash allows survival. If EQ variant, Stealth Rock follows their own Stealth Rock. Choiced variants are trapped by Zone after taking a Flamethrower.
Swampert: A hard matchup, but doable. After laying down rocks, all I can do is to predict. I hardly ever explode as lots of Swampert utilise Protect.
Jirachi: Swampert initially switches into U-Turn or Iron Head. Azelf is free to SR later, Zone traps Jirachi easily.
Aerodactyl: Psychic. If he used Taunt, I Psychic again. If he used Rock Slide, I switch to Swampert. An annoying lead as Stealth Rock is a pain to get down.
Infernape: Swampert switches into Fake Out. Earthquake follows. Azelf can get rid of him later with Stealth Rock.
Roserade: Thank goodness sleeper leads are relatively uncommon. It's too risky to switch Swampert into a Leaf Storm, so I Psychic hoping Sleep Powder misses. If it hits, I usually finish him off with Scizor in the hope my opponent doesn't pack Magnezone.
Heatran: Stealth Rock, then all I can do is predict.
Tyranitar: Switch to Swampert in the hope I can get rocks up later. Sandstream breaking the sash makes this much harder.
Gliscor: Stealth Rock, then prediction.
Breloom: Swampert takes Spore. Scizor and Salamence resist grass and grass+fighting respectively, Gengar is immune to fighting, Magnezone and Swampert resist rock.
Hippowdon: Stealth Rock, Scizor, Magnezone and Gengar are effective at dealing with him in tandem.
Swampert (M) @ Leftovers ** Tank
Trait: Torrent
EVs: 240 HP / 52 Atk / 216 Def
Impish Nature (+Def, -SAtk)
- Avalanche
- Earthquake
- Rest
- Sleep Talk
Whatever defense this team needs Swampert handles. Self-explanatory set. Avalanche deals with DDmence and DDnite easily. 52 attack EVs 2HKOes most CM Jirachi factoring in Leftovers recovery. Threats this Swampert covers for in particular include CMachi, Flygon (even Toxic-stallers), Electivire, Grass Knot-less Infernape, Mamoswine, Metagross, Aerodactyl, Gliscor and HP Electric-less Zapdos.
Scizor (M) @ Choice Band ** Overpowered
Trait: Technician
EVs: 220 HP / 252 Atk / 36 SDef
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Bullet Punch
- Pursuit
- Superpower
- U-turn
Useful for just about every team. For this team in particular, Scizor is one of the valuable offensive forces of the team. U-turn is vital for keeping offensive momentum (or regaining it). Scizor unfortunately is my only Celebi counter. He only works if Celebi doesn't have HP Fire. A lot of the time I switch Scizor into Leech Seed, Grass Knot or Recover, then switch Mence in if it's mid game to get a free DD. This is risky, however, as if they have a steel left they can wall Outrage quite easily. It all depends if I can deal enough damage to whatever is left. Scizor's my Mence and Ttar check and is essential for countering Brelooms after Swampert takes Spore.
Magnezone @ Leftovers ** Volthaul
Trait: Magnet Pull
EVs: 40 HP / 216 Spd / 252 SAtk
Modest Nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Hidden Power [Grass]
- Magnet Rise
- Substitute
- Thunderbolt
Traps just about everything that would destroy this team including CBzor, Jirachi and Bronzong. If their Blissey, Snorlax and/or Gliscor are out of the picture, this thing gets some good sweeping going. HP Grass is for Swampert and other ground types such as Hippowdon.
Gengar (M) @ Choice Scarf ** Sly Joker
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Spd / 252 SAtk
Modest Nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Hypnosis
- Shadow Ball
- Thunderbolt
- Trick
Special sweeper, revenge killer, Machamp counter. Hypnosis initially disguises the scarf and incapacitates one of the opponent's Pokemon (hopefully Tyranitar or Scizor trying to trap). Scarftar is actually disadvantaged switching into this Gengar. He risks an 84% chance of being immobilised for the match (probability of at least one Hypnosis to hit out of 2 attempts). Scarf Tbolt counters DDgyara.
Salamence (M) @ Life Orb ** J DoGG
Trait: Intimidate
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Hasty Nature (+Spd, -Def)
- Dragon Dance
- Earthquake
- Fire Blast
- Outrage
After the other members of the team eliminate Salamence's counters (for e.g. CBzor), DDmence easily cleans up. Definetely the best sweeper in OU. Hasty nature to tie with Scarf Flygon after a DD.
Problems: Gliscor, Suicune, Raikou, CM Jirachi
*List of threats to be included in next post. Hope you enjoyed the RMT and please credit me if you use the team. Feedback is appreciated.
Team at a glance:
(Lead) (Rest-talker) (CBzor) (Sub-Rise) (Scarf) (DDmence)
Azelf @ Focus Sash ** Clix
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 4 Atk / 252 Spd / 252 SAtk
Hasty Nature (+Spd, -Def)
- Explosion
- Flamethrower
- Psychic
- Stealth Rock
Standard Azelf lead. Flamethrower over Fire Blast for 4 reasons: 1) 2HKOes Occagross. 2) Bronzong leads are uncommon. 3) 2HKO all Naive Azelf leads, most likely 2HKO all Hasty Azelf. 4) Accuracy (obviously). I thought Azelf would start things off nicely as he reliably sets up Rocks and is unpredictable (U-Turn, Taunt, Choice items, screens and the such).
Dealing with most common OU leads:
Azelf: Flamethrower until low, then Stealth Rock. I've used a hasty nature as opposing Flamethrowers have a chance to 3HKO, while Fire Blast users risk the 27.5% chance at least one Fire Blast misses, which is fairly high if you ask me.
Metagross: Easy. Flamethrower. If Meteor Mash variant, Zone comes in after Sash allows survival. If EQ variant, Stealth Rock follows their own Stealth Rock. Choiced variants are trapped by Zone after taking a Flamethrower.
Swampert: A hard matchup, but doable. After laying down rocks, all I can do is to predict. I hardly ever explode as lots of Swampert utilise Protect.
Jirachi: Swampert initially switches into U-Turn or Iron Head. Azelf is free to SR later, Zone traps Jirachi easily.
Aerodactyl: Psychic. If he used Taunt, I Psychic again. If he used Rock Slide, I switch to Swampert. An annoying lead as Stealth Rock is a pain to get down.
Infernape: Swampert switches into Fake Out. Earthquake follows. Azelf can get rid of him later with Stealth Rock.
Roserade: Thank goodness sleeper leads are relatively uncommon. It's too risky to switch Swampert into a Leaf Storm, so I Psychic hoping Sleep Powder misses. If it hits, I usually finish him off with Scizor in the hope my opponent doesn't pack Magnezone.
Heatran: Stealth Rock, then all I can do is predict.
Tyranitar: Switch to Swampert in the hope I can get rocks up later. Sandstream breaking the sash makes this much harder.
Gliscor: Stealth Rock, then prediction.
Breloom: Swampert takes Spore. Scizor and Salamence resist grass and grass+fighting respectively, Gengar is immune to fighting, Magnezone and Swampert resist rock.
Hippowdon: Stealth Rock, Scizor, Magnezone and Gengar are effective at dealing with him in tandem.
Swampert (M) @ Leftovers ** Tank
Trait: Torrent
EVs: 240 HP / 52 Atk / 216 Def
Impish Nature (+Def, -SAtk)
- Avalanche
- Earthquake
- Rest
- Sleep Talk
Whatever defense this team needs Swampert handles. Self-explanatory set. Avalanche deals with DDmence and DDnite easily. 52 attack EVs 2HKOes most CM Jirachi factoring in Leftovers recovery. Threats this Swampert covers for in particular include CMachi, Flygon (even Toxic-stallers), Electivire, Grass Knot-less Infernape, Mamoswine, Metagross, Aerodactyl, Gliscor and HP Electric-less Zapdos.
Scizor (M) @ Choice Band ** Overpowered
Trait: Technician
EVs: 220 HP / 252 Atk / 36 SDef
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Bullet Punch
- Pursuit
- Superpower
- U-turn
Useful for just about every team. For this team in particular, Scizor is one of the valuable offensive forces of the team. U-turn is vital for keeping offensive momentum (or regaining it). Scizor unfortunately is my only Celebi counter. He only works if Celebi doesn't have HP Fire. A lot of the time I switch Scizor into Leech Seed, Grass Knot or Recover, then switch Mence in if it's mid game to get a free DD. This is risky, however, as if they have a steel left they can wall Outrage quite easily. It all depends if I can deal enough damage to whatever is left. Scizor's my Mence and Ttar check and is essential for countering Brelooms after Swampert takes Spore.
Magnezone @ Leftovers ** Volthaul
Trait: Magnet Pull
EVs: 40 HP / 216 Spd / 252 SAtk
Modest Nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Hidden Power [Grass]
- Magnet Rise
- Substitute
- Thunderbolt
Traps just about everything that would destroy this team including CBzor, Jirachi and Bronzong. If their Blissey, Snorlax and/or Gliscor are out of the picture, this thing gets some good sweeping going. HP Grass is for Swampert and other ground types such as Hippowdon.
Gengar (M) @ Choice Scarf ** Sly Joker
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Spd / 252 SAtk
Modest Nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Hypnosis
- Shadow Ball
- Thunderbolt
- Trick
Special sweeper, revenge killer, Machamp counter. Hypnosis initially disguises the scarf and incapacitates one of the opponent's Pokemon (hopefully Tyranitar or Scizor trying to trap). Scarftar is actually disadvantaged switching into this Gengar. He risks an 84% chance of being immobilised for the match (probability of at least one Hypnosis to hit out of 2 attempts). Scarf Tbolt counters DDgyara.
Salamence (M) @ Life Orb ** J DoGG
Trait: Intimidate
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Hasty Nature (+Spd, -Def)
- Dragon Dance
- Earthquake
- Fire Blast
- Outrage
After the other members of the team eliminate Salamence's counters (for e.g. CBzor), DDmence easily cleans up. Definetely the best sweeper in OU. Hasty nature to tie with Scarf Flygon after a DD.
Problems: Gliscor, Suicune, Raikou, CM Jirachi
*List of threats to be included in next post. Hope you enjoyed the RMT and please credit me if you use the team. Feedback is appreciated.
