Team Power Crush
Team Power Crush focuses mainly on wearing down opponents with powerful sweepers and clearing the way for a sweep from Offensive Dragon Dance Dragonite.
Team Building
With my favorite pokemon banned from Standard play, I needed to make a new team. I have an odd need to keep some sort of dragon on my teams, and Dragonite is my favorite Dragon-type still in OU. It also performs Salamence's old jobs almost as well, so Dragonite was guaranteed a spot. I decided to use Offensive Dragon Dance Dragonite because I really liked using Dragon Dance Salamence and the two play in a fairly similar manner.
Steel-types are the most annoying things for Dragon Dance Dragonite to face, so I needed something that could get rid of them. Magnezone kills most steels quite easily. It also has great typing synergy with Dragonite, forming a good defensive combination.
I wanted a secondary sweeper to provide more type coverage and possibly wear down Dragonite's counters, so I chose Dragon Dance Tyranitar. He has good typing synergy with Dragonite, and, just like Dragonite, Tyranitar hates Scizor and Bullet Punch, so Magnezone helps clear the way for Tyranitar as well.
Gengar helps cover Tyranitar’s weaknesses and also appreciates the support Magnezone can provide. Life Orb Gengar works well as a spin blocker and can easily lure out Scizor and cause severe damage to the opposing team with powerful special attacks. It also has great synergy with Tyranitar.
Since most of my pokemon are focused on offense and lack recovery, I chose Vaporeon as a Wish passer and general-purpose bulky Water-type. Vaporeon also worked well to wear down other bulky Water-types with Toxic.
Finally, I chose Swampert as a lead because it is very reliable and almost always manages to set up Stealth Rock. It also provided some great bulk later in the game and gave me a pseudo-hazer.
I wasn't satisfied with Swampert's performance as a lead so I replaced it with Gliscor to gain Taunt and a Lucario counter.
The two 4x Ice weaknesses really caused a problem, so I swapped Gliscor for Mamoswine, which gave me a priority attack, although I lost the ability to use Taunt in the process.
At that point, I had 3 Grass weaknesses, so I replaced Vaporeon, who was not really fast-paced enough for my team, with Gyarados.
Update:
After going through an enormous period of change, I have switched Mamoswine for an anti-lead Infernape set I made and have replaced Gyarados with Swampert to gain a bulky Pokemon and a check to various setup sweepers. The team currently looks like this:
Weaknesses and Resistances
In Depth
Infernape (M) @ Focus Sash
Ability: Blaze
EVs: 56 Atk/200 Spd/252 SAtk
Naive nature (+Spe, -SDef)
- Fake Out
- Fire Blast
- Close Combat
- Grass Knot
Overview: Infernape has been a brilliant lead so far. I developed this set specifically to deal with bulky Pokemon that cause my team problems. It matches up excellently against every common lead and has plenty of utility later in the game as well. I moved 8 EVs from Attack into Speed to outrun standard lead Infernape and sets trying to outrun it by one point.
Moves: Fake Out breaks Focus Sashes, and with Infernape's high Speed, it can usually strike first and often destroys the opposing lead before it can do anything. Fire Blast is excellent STAB and gets good coverage with the rest of Infernape's moves. Close Combat is also great STAB and allows Infernape to function as a mixed attacker, breaking down walls with ease. Grass Knot over Stealth Rock is what really makes this set unique, and I added it for 3 Pokemon that give me trouble: Swampert, Hippowdon, and Suicune. Each of these Pokemon can stop Dragonite or Tyranitar from sweeping, so having them out of the way is a top priority. Grass Knot from a lead Infernape is almost entirely unexpected and allows me to cripple defensive Pokemon from the outset. To illustrate Grass Knot's effectiveness, I have run the following calculations:
Grass Knot on 240 HP / 52 SDef Swampert: 77.8% - 91.8%
Grass Knot on 252 HP / 216 SDef Swampert: 59.4% - 70.3%
Grass Knot on 252 HP / 88 SDef Hippowdon: 62.4% - 73.8%
Grass Knot on 176 HP / 248 SDef Hippowdon: 54.4% - 64.3%
Grass Knot on 252 HP / 0 SDef Suicune: 41.1% - 48.5%
Grass Knot on 4 HP / 0 SDef Suicune: 48.5% - 57.3%
Grass Knot almost always at least 2HKOs these Pokemon and usually weakens them to the point where another member of my team can KO them later, keeping them from inhibiting a sweep.
Synergy: Infernape takes Ice-type attacks for Dragonite, Fire-type attacks for Magnezone, Steel-type, Grass-type, and Bug-type attacks for Tyranitar, Grass-type attacks for Swampert, and Dark-type attacks for Gengar.
Lead Matchups:
Magnezone @ Leftovers
Ability: Magnet Pull
EVs: 36 HP/220 Spd/252 SAtk
Timid nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Substitute
- Thunderbolt
- Hidden Power [Grass]
- Magnet Rise
Overview: Magnezone’s main job is trapping and killing problematic Steel-types, and it does this very well. Scizor especially causes significant problems for Dragonite, Tyranitar, and Gengar. Magnezone has no trouble switching in on a Choice Banded Bullet Punch, or, if necessary, a Choice Banded Pursuit. At that point, Magnezone can set up a Substitute and KO Scizor with Thunderbolt. Choice Scarf Jirachi also causes problems for my team, and Magnezone can deal with it in much the same way as Scizor. After the Substitute is up, Magnezone can scout the switch-in and hit it with a STAB Thunderbolt, then switch to an appropriate counter when the Substitute is broken. Leftovers helps me recover HP for additional bulk and Substitutes. Magnezone also helps break down bulky Water-types with its resistance to Water-type, Electric-type, and Ice-type attacks, the three attacking types which most bulky Water-types normally carry. The 220 Speed EVs let me outrun Magnezone with the standard 216 Speed EVs.
Moves: Substitute allows me to scout and blocks status and flinches. Thunderbolt provides STAB. Hidden Power Grass allows me to hit Swampert and Hippowdon, as well as Roosting Gliscor. Magnet Rise allows me to avoid Ground-type attacks.
Synergy: Magnezone can take Steel-type attacks aimed for Tyranitar, Gengar, and Dragonite. It also shrugs off Dark-type attacks meant for Gengar, Rock-type attacks directed at Infernape and Dragonite, and Water-type and Grass-type attacks intended for Swampert and Tyranitar. It also doesn’t mind taking Ice-type attacks for Dragonite, Ghost-type attacks for Gengar, and Bug-type attacks for Tyranitar either. Magnezone also doesn't care one bit about Flying-type or Psychic-type attacks meant for Infernape.
Swampert (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Torrent
EVs: 240 HP/228 Def/40 SDef
Adamant nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- Avalanche
Overview: Swampert has been a key member of my team so far. He is my best check for Dragon Dance Gyarados, Dragonite, and Tyranitar and a great defensive Pokemon in general, as well as another check to Lucario. The moves have been selected specifically to handle the Dragon Dancers mentioned above. Swampert also gives me a nice midgame user of Stealth Rock and has saved me defensively on several occasions.
Moves: Stealth Rock provides the one entry hazard that almost every team must have. Earthquake gives me a solid STAB move and a way to dispose of Lucario. Stone Edge is my best bet against Gyarados and completes the QuakeEdge/EdgeQuake coverage (I know somebody is going to rage no matter what order I put the two in).
Stone Edge on 4 HP/ 0 Def Gyarados: 57.4% - 67.7%
Stone Edge on 156 HP / 96 Def Gyarados: 45.9% - 54.1%
These calculations were done without factoring in Intimidate. With Intimidate, Stone Edge will not 2HKO 156 HP / 96 Def Gyarados, but will still 2HKO 4 HP / 0 Def Gyarados assuming Stealth Rock is in play.
Avalanche gives me a weapon against Dragon Dance Dragonite and helps me hit Grass-type switch-ins.
Avalanche on 252 HP / 0 Def Dragonite: 67.4% - 79.8%, a possible OHKO after Stealth Rock and Sandstorm.
Avalanche on 4 HP / 0 Def Dragonite: 80.5% - 95.4%, a definite OHKO with Stealth Rock.
Synergy: Swampert has brilliant defensive typing. It can take Fire-type attacks aimed for Magnezone, Steel-type attacks aimed for Tyranitar and Dragonite, Rock-type attacks aimed for Infernape and Dragonite, and almost any other weak neutral attack due to being bulky.
Gengar (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 4 Def/252 Spd/252 SAtk
Timid nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Shadow Ball
- Focus Blast
- Substitute
- Pain Split
Overview: Gengar makes a great Special sweeper and stallbreaker. It causes huge amounts of damage to almost anything it faces and works as an excellent partner for the rest of my team as well. Gengar is quite frail, but is immune Fighting-type, Normal-type, and Ground-type attacks, allowing it plenty of free switch-ins. Gengar works well luring out Scizor for Magnezone, which helps facilitate a sweep for Tyranitar or Dragonite later on.
Moves: Shadow Ball gives me a good STAB move. Focus Blast completes the coverage with Shadow Ball. Substitute eases prediction considerably and allows me to escape from Scizor. Pain Split helps me heal and break down walls.
Synergy: Gengar is immune to Fighting-type attacks aimed at Magnezone and Tyranitar, as well as the Ground-type attacks meant for Magnezone, Infernape, and Tyranitar. These two immunities make it extremely useful, although it has few other useful resistances, barring the Bug-type and the Grass-type.
Changes: On GaRgAnt's suggestion, I now use Substitute / Pain Split Gengar, which is brilliant at breaking down stall and just about everything else. Tyranitar and Infernape become excellent stallbreaking partners with this set.
Tyranitar (M) @ Lum Berry
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 4 HP/252 Atk/252 Spd
Jolly nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Dragon Dance
- Stone Edge
- Earthquake
- Taunt
Overview: Dragon Dance Tyranitar is my second Dragon Dance sweeper and helps to weaken the opponent’s team for Dragonite. He helps to lure out Scizor and Jirachi, so he definitely appreciates Magnezone’s support. After a Dragon Dance, Tyranitar hits very hard and outruns quite a few Pokemon. Lum Berry allows it to set up despite Will-O-Wisp from Rotom-A or Thunder Wave from Celebi. The biggest problem with using this Tyranitar is Sand Stream, which wears down my other Pokemon. I use Taunt on Tyranitar to allow it to set up on Pokemon like Blissey and Skarmory. Taunt cripples several walls and allows me to set up free Dragon Dances as they switch out.
Moves: Dragon Dance is my setup move. Stone Edge provides STAB. Earthquake completes the standard QuakeEdge/EdgeQuake coverage and makes sure I'm not walled by Lucario or Empoleon. Taunt is the real selling point of this set, since it can cripple stall with almost no problems. This Tyranitar can easily set up on Skarmory and Blissey, allowing to sweep an opponent's team with very little trouble.
Synergy: Tyranitar can take the Fire-type attacks aimed at Magnezone easily. It doesn’t mind the Rock-type attacks intended for Infernape or Dragonite, or the Ghost-type, Psychic-type, and Dark-type attacks directed toward Gengar either. It also has no trouble taking Ice-type attacks for Dragonite or Flying-type and Psychic-type attacks for Infernape.
Dragonite (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Inner Focus
EVs: 4 HP/252 Atk/252 Spd
Jolly nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Dragon Dance
- Outrage
- Earthquake
- Extremespeed
Overview: Dragonite is definitely the star of the team. While he’s not as fast as Salamence, he hits almost as hard on the physical side and can really cause some damage after a Dragon Dance. This set often surprises airborne Steel-types such as Skarmory and Bronzong that expect the BulkyDD set and think they can wall me. The 20-point difference in Base Speed between Dragonite and Salamence has been a pretty big problem though, since it can’t Speed-tie with positive-natured, Scarfed base 100s such as Jirachi or Flygon. Still, Dragonite can be devastating for unprepared teams. The biggest advantages this set has over the BulkyDD set are its unexpected speed and power. It outruns non-Choice Scarfed Heatran before a Dragon Dance (and all Heatran after a Dragon Dance) and can KO them before they use Explosion.
Moves: Dragon Dance allows me to set up. Outrage gives me a powerful STAB attack. It can 2HKO most bulky Water-types and Hippowdon with ease after a Dragon Dance. Earthquake gives me a good way to hit Steel-types that resist Outrage, as well as providing excellent coverage. Extremespeed gives me a priority move and solves some of my problems with faster attackers. Extremespeed has, overall, been a very helpful change and is worth the loss in coverage.
Synergy: Dragonite shrugs off Fire-type attacks aimed at Magnezone, Fighting-type attacks aimed at Magnezone and Tyranitar, Water-type attacks directed toward and Tyranitar, and Bug-type and Grass-type attacks intended for Tyranitar. It can take Grass-type attacks for Swampert as well. Dragonite is also immune to Ground-type attacks.
Wanted:
The only real problem this team has is a lack of healing. Something that uses Wish would be beneficial, but I don't know what I could get rid of in exchange.
Threat List: Top 29 Pokemon in OU
Pokemon in Green are easily dealt with.
Pokemon in Orange are problems.
Pokemon in Red are significant threats.
Pokemon in Green are easily dealt with.
Pokemon in Orange are problems.
Pokemon in Red are significant threats.
Dragonite can handle any Infernape without Stone Edge or the appropriate Hidden Power. Gengar can switch in on Close Combat and OHKO with Shadow Ball. Swampert can take Infernape without Grass Knot.
