The Children of Atom [OU Explosion Team]

[100kvolts]

I decided to fashion an explosion team because I wanted to try offense for once. I happen to think this team is well built, as most of the losses seem to come from blowing up too early. I of course need help finding/fixing problems that are present within the team. I was able to patch some of the major problems after a little bit of testing.

It should be worth noting that Tyranitar can give me problems. Though I am unsure of how to deal with it without ruining my offense. I could run Hariyama over someone, but every memeber is valuable. Gengar is needed for stopping numerous fast threats, Tyranitar allows me to punish ghost switch ins, and Wanda is needed for hitting on the special side of the spectrum. Snorlax would probably be the most expendable member of my team, though his "explosion" is the strongest one in the game.

Megaton (Metagross) @ Shuca Berry
Ability: Clear Body
EVs: 152 HP/252 Atk/104 Spd
Adamant nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Agility
- Earthquake
- Explosion
- Meteor Mash

Shuca Berry goes over life orb as extra insurance against Tyranitar. Agility catches many people by surprise, because many people expect the Trick lead.

Metagross can be highly destructive, taking out several Pokemon in one go. Explosion can take out a handful of Pokemon that try to shut down my offense.
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Prometheus (Heatran) (M) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 4 HP/252 Spd/252 SAtk
Naive nature (+Spd, -SDef)
- Earth Power
- Explosion
- Flamethrower
- Hidden Power [Ice]

The standard Heatran and my primary switch in to Scizor/Heatran and other steel types. One of my most valuable Pokemon in terms of taking hits for the team.
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Dusk (Gengar) (M) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 40 Atk/252 Spd/216 SAtk/
Naive nature (+Spd, -SDef)
- Explosion
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Shadow Ball
- Trick

A slight variation of the standard scarf-gar. The 40 attack ev's are for a stronger explosion. Trick is used endgame granted Gengar is still alive. Gengar is my main answer to Salamence, and can still do a number to Gyarados with Explosion.
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Fuji (Snorlax) (M) @ Choice Band
Ability: Thick Fat
EVs: 4 HP/252 Atk/252 SDef
Adamant nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Crunch
- Earthquake
- Return
- Selfdestruct

According to the analysis, Selfdestruct has a chance to 1hko Skarmory. In other words, Selfdestruct is an almost guaranteed KO on any Pokemon not 4x resistant to it.

CB Return cripples anything neutral to it making it a safe move for the most part. Earthquake can hit Steel types for heavy damage if Heatran happens to be down. Snorlax is another one of my switch ins to Heatran.
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Vicious (Tyranitar) (M) @ Lum Berry
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 44 HP/212 Atk/252 Spd
Careful nature (+SDef, -SAtk)
- Crunch
- Dragon Dance
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge

This was originally the CB set. A lot of ghosts don't flee from Tyranitar because they expect Pursuit. Dragon Dance punishes them for staying in, while Lum Berry prevents them from hitting me with status. A pretty destructive set.

Pursuit + Dragon Dance is an illegal combination so don't suggest it.
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Wanda (Azelf) @ Life Orb
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 36 Atk/220 Spd/252 SAtk
Naive nature (+Spd, -SDef)
- Explosion
- Flamethrower
- Psychic
- U-turn

Another exploding Levitate Pokemon. Azelf is mainly used for taking Ground type attacks. It is pretty fast, making it a threat for teams without choice scarf on their side. When it is at its limits it can simply Explode taking out another Pokemon on the opponents team.
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[Orion]

Interesting concept. However, Steel and Ghost Pokémon ruin this completely, but that is a very easy fix: add Magnezone and Pursuit.

You have three possible Pursuit-users in Tyranitar, Snorlax and Metagross. I'd say the latter two are preferable, as Gengar can easily Focus Blast Tyranitar if it's not locked on another move. Simply replacing Crunch with Pursuit on your Snorlax will do the trick.

Then, it's Magnezone. It fits your strategy perfectly, being able to trap and destroy almost all steels, and then Exploding when it's done. I'd say Metagross or Tyranitar are the Pokémon that should probably go, and the set that should be used is something like:

Magnezone@Life Orb
[Hasty/Naïve]
216 Speed, 252 Spatt, 40 Attack
- Magnet Rise
- Hidden Power Fire
- Explosion
- Thunderbolt

Nature and EVs outspeed Adamant Scizor. Magnet Rise to dodge Metagross' and Bronzongz EQs.

Then, to your overall synergy. I would say leading with Azelf is a better option. Azelf has the possibility of setting up Stealth Rocks, which ruins all Focus Sashers, who otherwise will live your Explosions.

Also, Heatran may prove a problem, so use good prediction and hammer it with Earthquake when you have the chance!

 

[Wedge]

I'm agreeing with Orion. Azelf is probably a better lead for you. It will do two things for you:

1. Set up stealth rocks which makes sure most Pokemon don't survive Explosion (Skarmory in particular, which can be OHKOd by Snorlax Self Destruct with SR up).
2. It can explode, also hopefully taking out a Pokemon.
3. It can U-Turn to Magnezone if a steel shows up

Use this set on Azelf:

Azelf @ Focus Sash
[not really sure of an EV Spread atm, but you can use 252 SpA/252 Spe/6 Atk]
Jolly Nature
-Stealth Rock
-U-Turn
-Explosion
-Fire Blast/Psychic

Azelf is part one of your Steel Killer team, being able to switch directly to Magnezone if a steel shows its ugly face.

Definitely use Orion's Magnezone set since its your best way for killing Steels.

Metagross isn't really doing too much for your team as it is, so you can take that out for Magnezone.

With Snorlax, change Crunch to Pursuit and Return to Body Slam. It's always better to be safe than sorry on fleeing ghosts, and if you suspect a WoW, switch to Heatran to take it. Body Slam supports your slower members by the possiblity of paralysis which is always a good thing.

Tyranitar... Choice Band with 252 HP/216 SpD/40 Attack. Definitely. This is a great Gengar counter since you can survive a Timid LO Focus Blast and OHKO back with Pursuit. Crunch, Earthquake and Stone Edge should be your other moves. Change to Sassy Nature and put Ice Beam over Crunch if you find you are having trouble with some bulkier ground types such as Hippowdon and Gliscor.

Heatran should have Fire Blast over Flamethrower since Naive has significantly less power than Modest. Dragon Pulse should be used over HP Ice for added insurance against Kingdra.

Also, you don't need Magnezone to be endorsed by an "official" team rater to have it work. Try it out, and if you don't like it/can't use it, then just switch back. It's as simple as that.

 

[I3east]

Prometheus (Heatran) (M) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 4 HP/252 Spd/252 SAtk
Naive nature (+Spd, -SDef)
- Earth Power
- Explosion
- Flamethrower
- Hidden Power [Ice]

I hope you don't mind but I highly, highly, HIGHLY recommend putting Overheat on this set, as with Overheat, not only are you only sacrificing 5% accuracy but you're increasing the damage done by a considerable amount.

Calculations (All done on a Dusknoir, No EVs or anything, just needed them all to be neutral and on equal footing, so I believe)
Fire Blast: Turn 1: 153-180 Damage
Fire Blast: Turn 2: 153-180 Damage
Adds up to: 306-360 Damage

Flamethrower: Turn 1: 122-143 Damage
Flamethrower: Turn 2: 122-143 Damage
Adds up to: 244-286 Damage

Over Heat: Turn 1: 178-210 Damage
Over Heat: Turn 2: 91-106 Damage
Adds up to: 269-316 Damage

Conclusion: While sacrificing next to none accuracy (In my personal opinion 5% is a accuracy difference that I could care less about), you get far more damage on the first turn, and then on the second team does a bit less, but since Heatran is scarfed then I don't think the drops will matter too much.

This is your choice, thought I'd provide the calc.s for you and let you know my opinion. Although, when I did the calcs I found Over Heat not to be as good as I thought it'd be but either way, something to consider.

 

[Stathakis]

if the only good ideas came from "official" team raters, then there would be no new ones. aanyways, I have experimented a bit with explosion teams in the recent past, so I think i can say a thing or two here.

personally, I don't really see the need for magnezone on this team at all, because the only steels who even give you trouble at all are skarmory and bronzong, and even then azelf switches in on them with pretty much impunity and they find it quite difficult to switch in. then you've also got multiple explosions wearing them down and things like tran and azelf. I'm much more concerned about ghosts, as any type of rotom form can seriously piss you off. what I would do personally is switch back to cbtar to take out ghosts, as you have plenty good lategame sweepers in azelf, gengar, and heatran, who all find it very easy to sweep once their respective counters have been broken (especially heatran, since blissey and bulky waters really have no place against this team). if you wanted, you could even go for one of those really bulky cbtars to help you take hits like gengar's focus blast among other things.

I'm not exactly in the best of moods at the moment, so I'm probably not thinking very clearly, so sorry for the brief and rather lacking rate. by the way, all this overheat stuff is nonsense. have fun trying to lategame sweep with -6 sp.a (aka go flamethrower or fire blast)

 

[Orion]

personally, I don't really see the need for magnezone on this team at all, because the only steels who even give you trouble at all are skarmory and bronzong, and even then azelf switches in on them with pretty much impunity and they find it quite difficult to switch in.

Azelf can not take Gyro Ball, and Heatran can't take much beating from EQ, so if the opponent is a player able to predict, or gets lucky, they won't live very long.

then you've also got multiple explosions wearing them down and things like tran and azelf.

They won't be living many Explosions, but they will at least live one, meaning a Pokémon was wasted. What Magnezone does is effectively trap and kill both of them, without taking much, if any, damage, and then it can blow up when they send in something like Blissey or Swampert to take it on.

I'm much more concerned about ghosts, as any type of rotom form can seriously piss you off. what I would do personally is switch back to cbtar to take out ghosts

CBtar needs to be Careful 252/220 to be able to live a Timid Life Orb Gengars Focus Blast, and even then it can take no residual damage, and has to be at full health to live it 100%. Therefore, putting Pursuit on Snorlax is a safer bet. Also, for the bulky Ghosts; the only think they can do to Snorlax is Will-o-Wisp, meaning Heatran gets a boost and rapes with Flamethrower.