Team "Zero Force"

[Zero_X54321]

TEAM ZERO FORCE
(not like lack of force, but My [Zero] Force)

First Glance:

Fearless Leader:

Azelf @ Choice Scarf
Jolly Nature
252 Spe, 252 Atk, 6 HP
Stealth Rock
Trick
Grass Knot
Flamethrower

I recently threw Azelf on this team to try it out. but not wanting to use the regular setup, i decided to go for a Trick Variant, so that i can keep it in the game for later with someone else' leftovers or the like, I went for Grass knot to help me deal with the only real threat to my team, Swampert. Since including Azelf, i only have two checks. I also chose flamethrower for those annoying steel types i meet up with (flinchhax Rachi). I have found this to be an extreme upgrade to Aerodactyl, as now my team has one less weakness to Ice, and one more way to keep one of my least prepared for threats in check.

Infantry:

Vyse (Scizor) @ Choice Band
Adamant Nature
248 HP/252 Atk/ 10 SpE
Technician
Bullet Punch
U-Turn
SuperPower
Pursuit
Do I really need to go into detail about this beast? (The rules of the forum say yes, so...) Scizor is the most used Pokemon in the game, and rightfully so, His only weakness is fire, and i have found that to be one of the least common attack types, his BP is one of the most powerful priority moves in the game, and he can simply outpower any other option, He works well countering the ground types that might give Raikou trouble (though The other attackers on the team do this better) and he can be used to scout a counter with U-turn.I have found this Pokemon to be extremely reliable, and able to take on much more than expected by some people.

Air Force:

Red L (Latias) @ Choice Scarf
Modest
252 SpA, 208 Spe, 50 HP
Grass Knot
Dragon Pulse
T-Bolt
HP Fire
I noticed something in IRC while we were helping some random out with his team. My team has no pert check. so I decided to add this baby in. Latias has long been one of my favorite Pokemon, so I decided to try and make my own set, one that would take out a Swampert with Ease by switching in on an EQ or something similar, and scaring it away. I'm still in the process of testing this team, so I will post more when I find out more.
I added a Choice Scarf to this set because of Ninjask, and my hatred for it, so i gave it just enough speed to outspeed a ninjask without a boost.

Gliscor @ Leftovers
Impish Nature
252 HP / 40 Def / 216 Spe
Earthquake
Roost
Taunt
Toxic
Set Suggested by KnightoftheWind
I am unfimiliar with Gliscor, and have actually never faced one in battle before, so I guess I will just quote what Knightofthewind said to me:

Gliscor provides a full stop to most Tyranitar and Lucario out there, walling them and Roosting off any damage. Choice Band Tyranitar can 2HKO Gliscor with Stone Edge, but Gliscor can outspeed Tyranitar and Roost to gain a Rock immunity. It also has excellent synergy with Vaporeon, taking the Electric and Grass attacks aimed at Vaporeon whilst Vaporeon shaking off the Water and Ice attacks directed to Gliscor.

Fenfir (Salamence) @ Life Orb
Naive
232 ATK, 252 SPE, 24 SPA
Dragon Dance
Earthquake
Outrage
Fire Blast

This Pokemon, is the single most powerful Pokemon in the OU Meta. his checks are half reliable, and his power is unrelenting. one wrong move, and you could be sunk. I have used Salamence with all of my competitive teams, and have found great success with him. He is a great late game cleanup crew, and is even better when he gets that one ever important Dragon Dance. My strategy with him is to keep him hidden until it is just him and Vaporeon, in order to have a way to heal in case things go awry. and when the time comes to finally pull him out, he at least gets one kill. and if not, then I'm not sure i could've won that match to begin with.


"Medic!":

Poseidon (Vaporeon) @ Leftovers (Gasp! Item Clause!)
Bold Nature
190 HP/252 Def/68 Spe
Water Absorb
Wish
Protect
Surf
HP Electric
Not Sure if this is a spin off a set that's listed, or if it is a carbon copy, but I use it. Though he isn't offensively powerful, Vaporeon finds strength in passing on the healing effects of it's wish, and stalling for damage against poisoned opponents, I use him for exactly that purpose, and because of that, his body count is on par with that of my lead (who gets ~1 kill per game sometimes) and because of that, I find this Vaporeon to be an extremely effective wall. He is able to survive most hits thrown at him, and in turn, slap you in the face with either a dying wish to keep someone healthy, or a poisonous last strike. either way, Vaporeon is a Staple on this team.

Looking Back:
I have found this to be the best team I have used. I see no Glaring weaknesses that Need to be addressed, and everything's checks seem to be covered. If you plan on posting, make it constructive and please add your logic, I enjoy knowing how other people tick.

EDITS:

Replaced with Gliscor.

Replaced with Latias
​

 

[Sheshi]

Just a few nitpicks.

Raikou @ Lefties
Modest Nature
252 SpA/252 Spe/6 HP
Pressure
Calm Mind
Shadow Ball
HP Ice
Thunderbolt​

I suggest a Timid Nature over the Modest Nature you have already. Also, Substitute over Shadow Ball if you are worried about status.

Fenfir (Salamence) @ Lum Berry
Adamant Nature (thought about Jolly with a LO instead)
252 Atk/252 Spe/6 HP
Dragon Dance
Earthquake
Stone Edge/Fire Fang (not sure here, help me out please)
Outrage/Dragon Claw​

I recommend the EV spread of 232 ATK, 252 SPE, 24 SPA. Also, I would use the moves Dragon Dance, Earthquake, Outrage and Fire Blast. Naive Nature is also useful. Definately use Life Orb as the item.​

Poseidon (Vaporeon) @ Leftovers (Gasp! Item Clause!)
Bold Nature
190 HP/252 Def/68 Spe
Water Absorb
Wish
Protect
Surf
Toxic
I suggest using HP Electric over Toxic so Vaporeon isn't Gyarados set-up bait.​

 

[Aura Guardian]

Aerodactyl, the most used lead in the game (to my knowledge)

Actually, that would be Azelf as the most common lead.

You may wish to use Quick Attack on Scizor instead of Pursuit. Pursuit may catch opponents as they flee, but Quick Attack is reliable priority when BP is NVE (Read: Gyarados, Swampert, any water type, any electric type). Generally, all you have to do is keep Scizor alive long enough and force your opponent to keep a BP-vulnerable pokemon in. That will work better, I have found, than Pursuit. BP already does massive damage to opponents you would Pursuit if they stay in. If they flee, the switch-in takes some damage.

DD Gyarados seems to do a number on this team if Raikou is KOed. You may wish to use Stone Edge and Outrage on Salamence. Stone Edge destroys the fliers while Outrage hits anything not named Bronzong, Skarmory, Forretress, or Shedinja like a truck. EDIT: Draco Meteor works fine, and Sheshi's advice for your Salamence is quite sound.

 

[Zero_X54321]

Actually, that would be Azelf as the most common lead.

read that right after posting this, and also put in "To my knowledge" as an insurance, because with competitive, i am wrong a lot.

@ Sheshi's comment

I will work on getting Raikou's Nature and Salamence's stats changed, and Substitute seems smart on Raikou. but taking Toxic off of Vaporeon would be removing half of it's usefulness, would it be wise to take off Surf instead, to just throw people off? I know the Importance of STAB when using a single attack on a Pokemon such as Vaporeon, but I find that No one want's to keep a Poisoned Pokemon in when they can't seem to get rid of the opposing one. and with Toxic, I do just that, Wishtect, after poisoning. and since both of Gyara's typical attacking moves do just pver 50% HP after one DDance, I feel that that is plenty of time to cast Toxic and wish before kicking the bucket. keep in mind that I am not totally saying no to your idea, I am offering a solution that involves less work on my end (Since this is my cartridge team as well)

EDIT: and even after three DDances, Gyara doesn't do enough Damage with any attack to OHKO (Assuming that Aerodactyl did it's job, and stopped rocks from hitting the field)

 

[KnightoftheWind]

There are two Pokemon that are rather troublesome for your team, Tyranitar and Lucario.

Choice Band Tyranitar looks like it can rip your team apart, especially since you have three Pokemon weak to Rock and no Rock resists. Aerodactyl, Raikou, Zapdos and Salamence are all OHKOed by Stone Edge, Scizor has a chance of being OHKOed and Vaporeon is 2HKOed. Dragon Dance Tyranitar is just as much of a threat, setting up on a Pursuit from your Scizor and cleaning your team up easily. Scizor can't do that much back either, since DDTar often carries Babiri Berry to soften the blow and take Scizor out with Fire Punch. Lucario is just as much of a threat, getting a Swords Dance on Scizor's Pursuit and proceding to plow through your team. Salamence is the only thing you've got that can stand up to Lucario, but it only barely survives a +1 Extremespeed after Stealth Rock.

Due to these threats, some changes will be needed. Zapdos seems to be the least useful, since you already have Raikou, who is actually faster than Zapdos (115 vs. 100). I suggest you replace Zapdos with Gliscor.

Gliscor @ Leftovers | Impish
252 HP / 40 Def / 216 Spe
Earthquake / Roost / Taunt / Toxic

Gliscor provides a full stop to most Tyranitar and Lucario out there, walling them and Roosting off any damage. Choice Band Tyranitar can 2HKO Gliscor with Stone Edge, but Gliscor can outspeed Tyranitar and Roost to gain a Rock immunity. It also has excellent synergy with Vaporeon, taking the Electric and Grass attacks aimed at Vaporeon whilst Vaporeon shaking off the Water and Ice attacks directed to Gliscor.

You should also change Scizor's EV spread. You should never run max HP with Scizor, as it makes him vulnerable to residual damage. An EV spread of 162 HP / 180 Atk / 168 SpD is ideal, because it gives Scizor extra durablity against Latias and Gengar whilst still hitting hard.

Salamence should run a set of Dragon Dance / Outrage / Earthquake / Fire Blast. Fire Blast hits Bronzong and Skarmory much harder than Fire Fang does. This is especially important because you don't have a Magnezone on your team, so it is not recommended that you run Fire Fang.

Good luck with your team.

 

[Headache]

Just a minor nitpick, but scizor should have 248ev's in hp instead of 252 so that it takes less damage from sr. put the 4 remaining ev's into speed to give 8 in total. i assume that the 6hp is suppose to be speed of something

 

[Zero_X54321]

Thanks, I will try out the Gliscor, and make the change to the EV's on Scizor, and playtest them.