Team Muramasa (OU)

[Kabuto Mushi]

Hi! This is basically a balanced team where I’m trying to get a sweep with either Gyrados or Heracross, simply by either setting up or just surprise attacking their fast pokes with my scarf. This is a simple concept, for sure, but I feel the team has fairly decent synergy, specifically in the way it can take a few hits. I don’t really have any answers to special attacks in the way of a dedicated special wall, so I just use prediction to take the sting out of a lot of moves. Anywho, on with the show!

Please post suggestions if you can come up with them for improving the team! I realize it might seem pretty weak overall (it's not quite as successful yet as my last one), but that doesn’t mean it can’t wreck some teams as well. =]

Gallade @ Focus Sash (aka. muramasa)

Ability: Steadfast
EVs: 56 HP/252 Atk/200 Spe
Adamant nature (+atk, -sp.atk)
-Close Combat
-Shadow Sneak
-Destiny Bond
-Taunt

Standard anti-lead, but man is this thing fun to use. In OU, it has a huge surprise factor going for it. Typically I just view him as a “tool” of sorts, to either taunt slower leads and then get out, or take out a powerful sweeper later on. If I use Destiny Bond on the turn BEFORE I am killed, I’ll take the opponent out with me, as you may recall. A lot of people seem to forget about this! He’s also important for dealing with troublesome Baton Pass teams. Close combat is the standard power attack (I’ll use it first on stuff like lead Champ) and Shadow Sneak is great for finishing off speedy guys. Taunt of course stops things from setting up (SR) and ruining Gyra’s fun. Some things still succeed in getting their rocks up, but nothing gets by unscathed.

Heracross @ Choice Scarf (aka. masamune)
Ability: Guts
EVs: 252 atk/252 spe/6 hp
Adamant nature (+atk, -sp.atk)
-Megahorn
-Close Combat
-Stone Edge
-Night Slash

As always (almost =P) Hera makes an appearance. I love this guy, for his ability to get in and take care of some of the metagame’s most powerful and speedy threats. I ended up putting Night Slash over Pursuit or Toxic… both of those options seemed somewhat underpowered? Plus, I feel I am pretty weak to Rotom forms. Overall he’s a great revenge killer though. Somehow a lot of teams seem unprepared to deal with Heracross… as if just throwing Gliscor in there somewhere will just completely stop it for good or something…

Gyrados @ Leftovers
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 HP/ 224 Def/32 Spe
Impish nature (+def, -sp.atk)
-Waterfall
-Dragon Dance
-Rest
-Sleep Talk

My new favorite Gyrados set. This guy is an even better answer to Scizor and friends than I could have ever imagined! The guy I’ve found is VERY safe to fall back on… in fact in Gyrados faints chances are I’ve lost the battle completely. He even sweeps pretty well while asleep, if the Sleep Talk Gods look kindly upon me. xD Serves as my status sponge, set-up sweeper, and defensive wall all in one.

Tangrowth @ Leftovers
Ability: Chlorophyll
EVs: 252 HP/228 Def/28 Spe
Impish nature (+def, -Sp.atk)
-Power Whip
-Leech Seed
-Knock Off
-Sleep Powder

There are a couple of reasons for this guy to be here. He provides a good switch-in to stuff Gallade and Hera have trouble dealing with, like opposing Gyra and Swampert (he out speeds most lead pert, if you didn’t know). He give my team status support and knocks off items making the flow of battle easier to control for me (A switching in Heatran’s scarf, for example). He even works well with Gyra and Jolteon, covering some weaknesses of his. Overall, he can usually hold his own and given the chance can stall the weakened remains of a team right into a win.

Jolteon @ Salac Berry
Ability: Volt Absorb
EVs: 252 Sp.atk/252 Spe/6 HP
Timid nature (+spe, -atk)
-Thunderbolt
-Shadow Ball
-Substitute
-Baton Pass

A recent addition I made to the team because I thought I could use some more special attack and speed. Shadow ball is here to help with ghosts (rotoms) that give my team a lot of trouble. I can also baton pass subs around the team for interesting results. I considered maybe using the standard specs jolt here as well… I could use some imput on these last two members.

Swampert @ Leftovers
Ability: Torrent
EVs: 240 HP/216 Def/52 Sp atk
Relaxed nature (+def, -spe)
-Earthquake
-Ice Beam
-Stealth Rock
-Roar

Yet another wallish type thing that has felt rather outdated as of late. I could use a little help deciding how to best fill this spot. Originally, I liked how Swampert could set up rocks and roar away threats trying to set up on me. His job is at least easier now thanks to Gyrados, who takes Bandzor’s U-turn like a champ. However, this guy really has not been pulling his weight as much lately, and I’ve had some trouble coming up with something that would complement the other members. He feels a bit too slow, perhaps, for this team?

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OK, so that is the complete team. I’m really excited to get fresh sets of eyes on this! As I mentioned above, the team has trouble with Rotom forms and occasionally salamence. Sandstorm teams and stall are sort of a pain sometimes as well.

Thank you very much for comments and suggestions!

 

[franky]

Interesting concept and the team is unique, I will admit that cause' ya got Heracross on it which is a rare sight nowadays. To proceed with the rate, you can improve Heracross / Gyarados sweep like you want to. The first thing I noticed is that bulky waters like Suicune, Vaporeon, etc really need some adressing to do to help Gyarados sweep with much ease. Toxic Spikes has always been the best combo to battle bulky waters, thankfully Roserade can do thsi job exceptionally well. I think you could replace Gallade over Roserade, as it currently stands it looks like it was just slapped in as a 'anti-lead' and not much of a contributor to Gyarados / Heracross' sweep.

Roserade
@ Focus Sash
Timid Nature (Spe+ / Atk-)
4 Hp / 252 SpA / 252 Spe

- Sleep Power
- Toxic Spikes
- Leaf Storm
- Hidden Power Fire

This fits in nicely over Gallade, as it provides good Toxic Spikes to deal with bulky waters. Sleep Power is great on a metagame where bulkier leads are really popular. Leaf Storm over Energy Ball because it can actually OHKO Hippowdon who can survive Energy Ball. Hidden Power Fire smashes Scizor who try to score a free U-turn. It also hurts opposing Foretress leads and Skarmory switch-ins.

Personally, I like to maximize Swampert's EVs to 252 Hp / 252 Def / 6 SpA to get the best out of physical walling. When the smogon site updates, it should be standard soon. The needed defense help check Salamence and Tyranitar much better than before. The extra HP ensures you take Scarf Heatran at least 3 times.

Jolteon's spot seems really out of place as it just comes in on Gyarados' attacks. I think Scarf Rotom could fit in because it checks Lucario as well as having good Speed and SpA like you wanted. Timid Nature and EVs are 236 HP / 20 SpA / 252 Spe moveset is Thunderbolt / Overheat / Shadow Ball / Trick. This way you can check Lucario with Stone Edge - as well as maintaing a good switch-in to Scizor with Overheat. 20 SpA 2HKOs Latias with Shadow Ball. Trick helps cripple Blissey and Snorlax. Thunderbolt is STAB and can act as a check to Gyarados.

As for other options, I think SD on Heracross should do fine to improve your sweeping capabilities. Rotom serves as an easy pursuit bait to the foe, giving Hera a free SD. And since Gligar with Aerial Ace is almost non existent today, you can probably get a couple of more SD's and 2-OHKO with Close Combat. overall gl.

 

[musiquev24]

I'm going to agree with Franky that you could benefit fairly well from Toxic Spikes. Roserade works great in this spot, but if your team could also make good use of a specially defensive Forretress, given that no one on your team can take a Draco Meteor. Jolteon should definitely change to Scarf Rotom-h. It looks as though Lucario is quite the threat to this team, and should it find a time to Swords Dance, it will probably be the end of you.

If you're upset with Mixpert and how he holds down offensive teams (which can be the case sometimes), and if you decide to use Forretress, you could change Swampert to Choice Band Flygon and put SR on Forretress. He could add a great offensive pace to the team that you think Swampert holds back.

Anyway, here is the Forretress should you decide to use it.

Forretress @ Shed Shell
Ability: Sturdy
EV's: 252 Hp / 6 Def / 252 SpDef
Nature: Careful
~ Payback
~ Toxic Spikes
~ Stealth Rock
~ Rapid Spin / Explosion

You could also use Spikes over either of the last two slots, depending on if you run continue to run Swampert and/or if you feel you'll have time to setup both T-Spikes and Spikes, but I feel its unlikely. If you'd rather try and keep Forretress around longer, run Rapid Spin over Explosion, but if you'd rather just do your job and then get rid of him, Explosion can be really nice and is always a nice surprise. Payback is to hit Latias.

You also should make the EV spread change to Swampert if you continue running Swampert. The SD Hera suggestion is a good one as well, and it will work well late game, but Scarf Hera isn't doing you any harm by any extent.

I hope this helps!

 

[Kabuto Mushi]

Ah, just what I needed. Thanks for you input guys. I'll probably try elements from each of your ideas. I agree that Toxic Spikes would be very helpful in dealing with bulky waters, so first I'll try musique's forry idea, and then franky's roserade idea. Don't get me wrong, I know from experiance that roserade is a great lead, I just don't feel like getting rid of Gallade juuust yet.

As for rotom, I agree it might be a better choice. It could even block Explosion from taunted Meta leads! Unfortunately, I really want this to be a wifi team some day... so maybe Gengar could work? It's not as bulky, but it does have thunderbolt... or maybe Starmie?

I might even try CB Flygon over Swampert is I have T-spikes and SR elsewhere. Musique, I have to say that I really don't have much of a Luke weakness unless Gyra is fainted: at full health he kills the heck out of him.

Thanks again. :)

 

[musiquev24]

I wouldn't say you don't have a Lucario weakness, as without Earthquake your Gyarados isn't a for sure means of getting rid of Lucario. Your non Boosted Waterfall can only manage 50% - 58% against Lucario while he has a 90% chance to 2HKO you with Extreme Speed, assuming Gyarados has taken no previous damage (meaning if Gyarados has taken previous damage, Lucario wins for sure.) He can then proceed to OHKO everyone on your team with Extreme Speed or Close Combat. That is why Rotom would be so helpful.

However, I understand your Wi-Fi problem. If you want to put the team on WiFi, you could run a more standard defensive Gyarados and then run Dusknoir. That way you still have a tanky Spin Blocker and you have a Lucario counter.

Also, if anything, I'd say get rid of Gallade, I don't see what he's doing for you. Him and Jolteon seem like weak links, as none of them really help your cause of getting rid of/softening things for Heracross or Gyarados, and they also are not defensive threats that counter other threats. Neither of them are particularly scary sweepers either, and so for all of those reasons, they seem confused on the team.