Team Spike N' Screen

[HR.]

Overview:

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Intro:
This is one of my most successful teams for platinum, and I was able to reach the leaderboard a few times with it. However, I haven't had much time to play anymore, and my ranking has gone down significantly. This team utilizes screens as well as spikes and rocks to slowly wear down opponents until they are in kill range.

The Team:

@ Leftovers

Ability: Pressure
EVs: 252 HP / 140 Def / 88 Spe / 28 SpD
Careful Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Spikes
- Recover
- Taunt

Deoxys is vital to the team, setting up spikes and rocks, and taunting any other leads. He makes it easier for my sweepers to get the KO’s. His bulky spread is so that he can get off both stealth rock and spikes, instead of settling for just one. Recovery is to help get down more layers of spikes.

@ Light Clay

Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 168 Def / 88 Spe
Bold Nature
- Light Screen
- Reflect
- Charge Beam
- Hydro Pump

Thanks to MetaNite for the suggestion. After a lot of testing, I found that Rotom-W was a much better fit than Bronzong because it serves as an excellent spin blocker. He is also the screener of the team. As much as I wanted to make it Restalk, the screens were an important part of my strategy, and I chose not to change it. It can take out any of the common spinners, and charge beam can boost its decent spatk.

@ Choice Scarf

Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Spe / 6 HP
Jolly Nature
- Trick
- U-Turn
- Explosion
- Zen Headbutt

After more testing, Scarf was more useful than Band, so I switched. It can still do a lot of damage. I try to always have 1 trick user on all of my teams, as it is just too good not to use, and really disrupts the opponent’s teams. His explosion always makes huge dents in teams. U-Turn, is for scouting, and does more damage that you would think. Zen Headbutt is for stab. I usually attack first, and save trick for the best opportunity possible, but Trick is the most important move on Azelf, and I always try to utilize it.

@ Leftovers

Ability: Serene Grace
EV's: 252 HP / 80 SpA / 176 Spe
Timid Nature
- Psychic
- Calm Mind
- Substitute
- Thunderbolt

My mid-late game sweeper. With screens down, he is very difficult to take out once his sub is up, and backed with rocks and spikes, he can sweep a whole team. I try to get him out early game and scout his counters, and once I take them out, I bring Jirachi back in and the sweeping begins.

@ Leftovers

Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 240 HP / 180 Def / 12 Atk /76 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Dragon Dance
- Outrage
- Earthquake
- Roost

Thanks to everyone for the suggestions, as Intimidate was too valuable to give up. I also found superpower to be a little counterproductive, as darklord said, and after testing this set, I found it to work much better. It serves as a wall and a sweeper, and can make huge dents in teams. Bronzong’s screens are extremely important to Salamence, as it is extremely difficult to take down with them up. A Choice Scarf Heracross does no more than 46% with Stone Edge, guaranteeing Salamence's survival even with a critical hit; Lucario's Life Orb and Swords Dance boosted Extremespeed will also never 2HKO, and this is all without screens! The EVs also attain 280 Speed, which is important to outrun Adamant Lucario so Salamence won't be OHKOed by Ice Punch; on the way, 280 Speed also outruns Timid Choice Scarf Heatran, Adamant Choice Scarf Heracross, and Shaymin-S after a Dragon Dance. Him and Jirachi are my two main sweepers, and they cover each other's weaknesses very well

@ Leftovers

Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 252 Def / 80 SpA / 176 SpD
Calm Nature
- Wish
- Protect
- Flamethrower
- Toxic

My wish passer and special wall, Blissey is vital to keeping everyone healthy, as well as stopping special sweepers in their tracks. Flamethrower for everything in the current OU environment that is weak to it, and Toxic helps immensely with stalling and weakening opponents.

Considering:

@ Choice Scarf
Ability: Steadfast
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Spe / 6 HP
Jolly Nature
- Close Combat
- Thunderpunch
- Ice Punch
- Trick

over Azelf to take out Tyranitar, timidscarftran, etc, who pose a huge threat to this team. any opinions?


Conclusion:
This is probably one of my favorite teams, and I have had a lot of success with it. I feel that it has potential, but it could definitely use some improvements. Thanks, and any help is greatly appreciated.

 

[MetaNite]

Interesting team, but I think it needs a Spin blocker:

name: RestTalk, Charge Beam
move 1: Charge Beam
move 2: Hydro Pump
move 3: Rest
move 4: Sleep Talk
item: Leftovers
nature: Bold
EVs: 252 HP / 136 Def / 88 Spe

Hydro Pump Donphan, Claydol, Armoldo, Charge Beam Starmie. This also poses as a nice status absorber. Would fit over Bronzong, and you can take out Rest/Sleep Talk and put in the Screens! Or will-o-wisp.

Definately leftovers on Dragonite. Although Dragonite is bulkier, I think Salamance would be better to Intimidate Scizor.

 

[HR.]

hmm, you're right, a spin blocker would be a good idea. I haven't really had much problem with spinners yet since not many people run them anymore, but a spin blocker is definetly a good idea on a team like mine, i'll test it. Also, leftovers is what I have been using and its definetly better, thanks. I would use mence, but superpower has been too useful to give up. Also, dragonite's bulkiness has also been great, but i'll test mence as well and see how it does. thanks for the help.

 

[Darklord]

MetalNite's post really summed up my thoughts. If you are using spikes then a rapid spin blocker is a must.

Also, Salamence might not be as bulky as Dragonite but it has intimidate and it's faster. With Salamence superior speed you can afford to put more EVs into the defences and still outspeed threats like Lucario and Heracross(both faster than Nite).

Do not worry about losing Superpower because it's counterproductive with a bulky set and Dragon Dance anyway.

 

[blasphemy1]

I think the others are right, and just about the only advantage Dragonite has over Mence is a mixed set, since Superpower OHKOs Blissey and Heatran.

Unfortunately, Scizor will run train through this team anyways. Whether it has CB to create huge dents, which it will with your only resist being weak to Stealth Rock, or a SDer which can KO Nite after Stealth Rocks with Bullet Punch. Salamence won't save you anyways, so I suggest a Heatran or Zapdos on this team.

 

[Venom]

Even with a Salamence replacing Dragonite, you should probably fit a Zapdos in here, as Salamence is 2HKO'd by a non-boosted Bullet Punch. Zapdos will also add some MixApe coverage, since this team really lacks some, but in order to do that you need Roost and Light Screen, with 252 HP / 220 Def / 36 Def @ Bold, the defense is to be able to handle Lucario and Scizor while keeping MixApe and Gengar in check, replacing Jirachi with Zapdos will be the best idea here. I'm guessing you won't "let your opponent set up Stealth Rocks and Spikes because I have a Taunt Deoxys", I guess I can assume you're safe with that theory, if not then you need a Rapid Spinner because Zapdos and Salamence / Dragonite will have a hard time switching in and doing their jobs. That Rotom suggested by somebody above will also work here, giving you a decent edge against MixApe and be a excellent Anti-Rapid Spinner, and replacing Azelf with it will probably be the best thing here.

If you decide to keep Azelf, I know how much we are trying to be original here, but CB Azelf won't work, you might as well replace it with a standard one or replace it with that Rotom-W, either one will do a better job than the current one is.

 

[HR.]

darklord - You're right, after more testing, I found Mence to be a better fit, as superpower proved to be a little too counterproductive, even though it was still very effective. Thanks

blasphemy/Venom - As much as I'd like to have Zapdos in here, I don't really want to replace anyone yet unless Scizor causes a lot of problems, which it honestly hasn't yet. With screens up, a lot of my pokemon can put huge dents in it without taking too much damage in return. I will test Zapdos in place of possibly Jirachi, but I don't expect to switch them. Also, CB Azelf has actually been very effective, putting huge dents in teams and tricking its CB to something that hates it, so for now, I'm going to keep it. Thanks for the help.

 

[Darklord]

Ok, after taking another look at your team I was wondering how do you deal with Tyranitar and ScarfTran.

Heatran gets walled by Blissey but you need Seismic Toss to hurt it.

Tyranitar seems that can come in and smash everything in it's way.

Deoxys, Rotom and Azelf are short work for Tyranitar. It can simply destroy them with its dark Stab moves and it will love the choice band(if it's not already holding one). Pursuit hurts Azelf with 80BP if it uses U-turn so it's not safe. Jirachi will fall to Earthquake and it cannot hurt Tyranitar much with Thunderbolt thanks to Tyranitars SpDef boost in the sand.

Salamence can come in and Intimidate which will scare Tyranitar away the first time but there is always the risk of switching into Stone Edge.

I don't wanna recommend another pokemon right now. A simple tweak in the movesets(fighting move?) might do the trick. Superpower on Deoxys, HP Fighting on Jirachi, it's your choice.

EDIT: If you are open to suggestions then I think Swampert would help a lot. A counter for Tyranitar, Zapdos(watch out for HP grass) and Heatran all in one slot.

 

[locopoke]

The name of this RMT really turned me on, but it didnt stop there! I think this team is pretty good, and I like what you're doing with Rotom. Although I think that Azelf should be changed to hold Choice Scarf, because Choice Band can help some Pokemon, while Choice Scarf disables a wider variety of pokemon.

 

[RaikouLover]

I think the others are right, and just about the only advantage Dragonite has over Mence is a mixed set, since Superpower OHKOs Blissey and Heatran.

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.... Agility anyone? Light Screen anyone? Thunderbolt?
Dragonite has a few perks Salamence can't touch!

I actually recommend a bulky RestTalk Gyarados on this team with Waterfall, RestTalk and either Stone Edge to help with other Dos' or Dragon Dance to help you get by those roosting Scizors and pose a late-game threat. Bulky Gyarados will help your Scizor problem substantially because Scizor has a very tough time getting past it. Just use Impish Nature with 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 Atk.

 

[HR.]

After more testing, I did find Scarf to be more useful than Band on Azelf, thanks

Restalk gyrados would be nice, but I don't really have anything I would be willing to give up for it =/. I will try it out over possibly azelf and see how it works, but I really want 1 trick user on this team. Thanks for the help

I'm actually considering

Gallade @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Steadfast
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Spe / 6 HP
Jolly Nature
- Close Combat
- Thunderpunch
- Ice Punch
- Trick

over azelf to take out tyranitar, timidscarf tran, etc. who pose a huge threat to this team. Any opinions?