Hello, folks! I'm getting back into the OU scene after having some poor luck with Battle Spot Singles on DS, and I need some help shoring up my team's weaknesses.
Here we go:
Mouserat (Azumarill) @ Sitrus Berry
Ability: Huge Power
EVs: 92 HP / 252 Atk / 164 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Belly Drum
- Aqua Jet
- Play Rough
- Superpower
Mouserat is a normal Belly Drum Azumarill, meant to set up on an enemy that can't KO him and "go off", so to speak. He usually gets at least one kill per game, and occasionally sweeps entire teams. His position is negotiable, but I'm quite fond of him. Superpower is chosen over Knock Off because at the moment, I have multiple other knock off users, and need Azumarill to be able to 1-shot a Ferrothorn after a belly drum.
Princess Di (Diancie) @ Diancite
Ability: Clear Body
EVs: 32 Atk / 224 SpA / 252 Spe
Naive Nature
- Diamond Storm
- Moonblast
- Earth Power
- Protect
This regal lady is my first line of defense against entry hazards, like stealth rock, which are a real issue for my team. She also answers things like Defensive Garchomp, non-Scarf Heatran, Magnezone and Talonflame. Diamond Storm and Moonblast for STAB coverage, Earth Power primarily for Heatran, Bisharp, Magnezone and other Diancies.
Mustache Dog (Landorus-Therian) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Earthquake
- U-turn
- Stone Edge
- Knock Off
This pokemon has had mixed results. He exists to serve as a revenge killer and a u-turn pivot, able to take physical hits other pokemon don't want to take...but I'm always wondering, is there something else that could fill this role in a superior way? Stone Edge is chosen over Rock Slide to be able to OHKO bulkier Thundurus, but this might be a mistake.
Dark Helmet (Bisharp) @ Life Orb
Ability: Defiant
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Knock Off
- Sucker Punch
- Iron Head
- Swords Dance
Pretty Typical Bisharp. My goal has been to make a team that's "threat dense", so that even if my opponent counters many (or even most) of my pokemon, SOMETHING will get through, which it often does. All of my pokemon carry 350 or higher speed OR a powerful priority move they can use to sweep through weakened (or otherwise unsuspecting teams). Bisharp often comes in against something like Clefable, sets up (or Iron Heads, depending on what sort of Clefable I seem to be facing), and goes to town.
Name Me Pls (Latias) @ Life Orb
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Defog
- Healing Wish
- Thunderbolt
- Draco Meteor
This is my "wild card" slot, the one that has kept changing most often. I've tried Sash-Breloom, LO Thundurus, AV Raikou, Chesnaught, all to limited success. Right now, her main purpose is to switch in against Rotom-W and absorb a scald or hydro pump, while being able to hit back for significant damage. She's also my last line of defense against entry hazards, should Diancie fail to bounce back stealth rocks for any reason. This is the slot I most need help figuring out. Thunderbolt is used over Psyshock because I have enough ways to deal with fighting and poison pokemon, but not enough ways to stop an Azumarill from ruining my day. I also need a name for this pokemon, if it doesn't get replaced.
THE BIRDENING (Talonflame) @ Choice Band
Ability: Gale Wings
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Brave Bird
- Flare Blitz
- U-turn
- Tailwind
Choice-Banded Brave Bird machine. I understand other builds of Talonflame may be "superior", but this one is my cleaner, and often takes 2-3 pokemon with him, which is usually enough to win the match in question. It's also one of my favorite pokemon on the team, and has consistently overperformed (especially when I can prevent Stealth Rock from landing on my side of the field). That said, I'm open to changing him, but not replacing him, as I DEFINITELY want my final build to have a talonflame on it.
SERIOUS PROBLEMS
These pokemon have been a serious problem for me, both in terms of frequency and difficulty, and I need help shoring up my team against them:
Scizor (mega or otherwise): Mega-Diancie is extremely weak to bullet punches, and I don't really have a pokemon that can tank Scizor well while also hitting back hard enough to kill it. When I bring in Talonflame, Scizor always switches out. It's gotten bad enough that I've considered Magnezone as an answer, but sometimes Scizors carry Superpower, which prevents even that option from doing its job.
Rotom-W: This pokemon hits half my team for super-effective damage (a defensive weakness I'd like to work on if possible), and currently only Latias can come in safely against it...of course, then the Rotom switches out, and I've got
Ferrothorn: Often comes down to mind games. I bring in Talonflame, and have to choose between a risky flare blitz (which will kill the ferrothorn), or a U-turn which will preserve momentum against whatever the ferrothorn switches out for. I've been leaning more towards Flare Blitz as the optimal choice lately, because very often if the Ferrothorn user predicts a U-turn, it's game over for both Talonflame and my entire plan. Azumarill can also beat Ferrothorn if it's not carrying Power Whip, which I can usually find out by using a protected Diancie as a scout, but a leech seed or thunder wave on Azumarill is a real issue.
Unaware Quagsire: Very rare, but I have no way to beat it. It's basically an auto-forfeit. Something like a Breloom or a Serperior might do me some good.
So, which of these illustrious pokemon will be getting the ax? Help me butcher my babies! I'm more than prepared to hear that half my team needs to be replaced in order to shore up weaknesses, so if that's your advice, so be it!
Here we go:
Mouserat (Azumarill) @ Sitrus Berry
Ability: Huge Power
EVs: 92 HP / 252 Atk / 164 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Belly Drum
- Aqua Jet
- Play Rough
- Superpower
Mouserat is a normal Belly Drum Azumarill, meant to set up on an enemy that can't KO him and "go off", so to speak. He usually gets at least one kill per game, and occasionally sweeps entire teams. His position is negotiable, but I'm quite fond of him. Superpower is chosen over Knock Off because at the moment, I have multiple other knock off users, and need Azumarill to be able to 1-shot a Ferrothorn after a belly drum.
Princess Di (Diancie) @ Diancite
Ability: Clear Body
EVs: 32 Atk / 224 SpA / 252 Spe
Naive Nature
- Diamond Storm
- Moonblast
- Earth Power
- Protect
This regal lady is my first line of defense against entry hazards, like stealth rock, which are a real issue for my team. She also answers things like Defensive Garchomp, non-Scarf Heatran, Magnezone and Talonflame. Diamond Storm and Moonblast for STAB coverage, Earth Power primarily for Heatran, Bisharp, Magnezone and other Diancies.
Mustache Dog (Landorus-Therian) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Earthquake
- U-turn
- Stone Edge
- Knock Off
This pokemon has had mixed results. He exists to serve as a revenge killer and a u-turn pivot, able to take physical hits other pokemon don't want to take...but I'm always wondering, is there something else that could fill this role in a superior way? Stone Edge is chosen over Rock Slide to be able to OHKO bulkier Thundurus, but this might be a mistake.
Dark Helmet (Bisharp) @ Life Orb
Ability: Defiant
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Knock Off
- Sucker Punch
- Iron Head
- Swords Dance
Pretty Typical Bisharp. My goal has been to make a team that's "threat dense", so that even if my opponent counters many (or even most) of my pokemon, SOMETHING will get through, which it often does. All of my pokemon carry 350 or higher speed OR a powerful priority move they can use to sweep through weakened (or otherwise unsuspecting teams). Bisharp often comes in against something like Clefable, sets up (or Iron Heads, depending on what sort of Clefable I seem to be facing), and goes to town.
Name Me Pls (Latias) @ Life Orb
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Defog
- Healing Wish
- Thunderbolt
- Draco Meteor
This is my "wild card" slot, the one that has kept changing most often. I've tried Sash-Breloom, LO Thundurus, AV Raikou, Chesnaught, all to limited success. Right now, her main purpose is to switch in against Rotom-W and absorb a scald or hydro pump, while being able to hit back for significant damage. She's also my last line of defense against entry hazards, should Diancie fail to bounce back stealth rocks for any reason. This is the slot I most need help figuring out. Thunderbolt is used over Psyshock because I have enough ways to deal with fighting and poison pokemon, but not enough ways to stop an Azumarill from ruining my day. I also need a name for this pokemon, if it doesn't get replaced.
THE BIRDENING (Talonflame) @ Choice Band
Ability: Gale Wings
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Brave Bird
- Flare Blitz
- U-turn
- Tailwind
Choice-Banded Brave Bird machine. I understand other builds of Talonflame may be "superior", but this one is my cleaner, and often takes 2-3 pokemon with him, which is usually enough to win the match in question. It's also one of my favorite pokemon on the team, and has consistently overperformed (especially when I can prevent Stealth Rock from landing on my side of the field). That said, I'm open to changing him, but not replacing him, as I DEFINITELY want my final build to have a talonflame on it.
SERIOUS PROBLEMS
These pokemon have been a serious problem for me, both in terms of frequency and difficulty, and I need help shoring up my team against them:
Scizor (mega or otherwise): Mega-Diancie is extremely weak to bullet punches, and I don't really have a pokemon that can tank Scizor well while also hitting back hard enough to kill it. When I bring in Talonflame, Scizor always switches out. It's gotten bad enough that I've considered Magnezone as an answer, but sometimes Scizors carry Superpower, which prevents even that option from doing its job.
Rotom-W: This pokemon hits half my team for super-effective damage (a defensive weakness I'd like to work on if possible), and currently only Latias can come in safely against it...of course, then the Rotom switches out, and I've got
Ferrothorn: Often comes down to mind games. I bring in Talonflame, and have to choose between a risky flare blitz (which will kill the ferrothorn), or a U-turn which will preserve momentum against whatever the ferrothorn switches out for. I've been leaning more towards Flare Blitz as the optimal choice lately, because very often if the Ferrothorn user predicts a U-turn, it's game over for both Talonflame and my entire plan. Azumarill can also beat Ferrothorn if it's not carrying Power Whip, which I can usually find out by using a protected Diancie as a scout, but a leech seed or thunder wave on Azumarill is a real issue.
Unaware Quagsire: Very rare, but I have no way to beat it. It's basically an auto-forfeit. Something like a Breloom or a Serperior might do me some good.
So, which of these illustrious pokemon will be getting the ax? Help me butcher my babies! I'm more than prepared to hear that half my team needs to be replaced in order to shore up weaknesses, so if that's your advice, so be it!
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