The Sand Band

[BulbaSword]

This is my first RMT, but I've playing competitive pokemon for a long time. After using a successful rain team in 5th gen I decided to try out sand, and its done pretty well peaking at around 1350. This is a standard team with all top OU's. The name is a pun on the sand and how I have 2 choice band users.

The Team at a glance

The Team​

Terrakion @ Choice Band
Trait: Justified
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Stone Edge
- Close Combat
- X-Scissor
- Quick Attack

What can I say choice band terrakion is one of the hardest hitters in OU with very few counters. Its role on this team is to hit like a truck denting the opponent's walls and KOing their sweepers. It gets many opportunities to switch in because of the volt-turn I have going on here. The only thing that has been troubling me about this is I'm not sure if I should switch the nature to adamant instead of jolly. Being adamant would allow me to get some ohkoes I would like.

Rotom-W @ Choice Scarf
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Hydro Pump
- Volt Switch
- Trick
- Hidden Power [Fire]

Rotom-W is part one of the potent volt-turn combo. Its main job is to scout the opponents sets while getting residual damage on their team. Its secondary job is to dump its scarf on a poke that won't appreciate it like a wall. I have hp fire over hp ice because SD Scizor would walk all over this team without it and I usually don't have problems with dragons.

Scizor (M) @ Choice Band
Trait: Technician
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 SDef
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- U-turn
- Bullet Punch
- Superpower
- Pursuit

Scizor is Rotom's partner in crime on this team completing the volt-turn combo. Its first job is similar to rotom's scouting and getting residual damage on the other team. Its next job is to pick off the weakened pokes with its powerful STAB priority move. Its last job is to catch fleeing pokemon that are locked in to a move that can't hurt it such as landorus using hp ice predicting my Gliscor to come in.

Tyranitar (F) @ Chople Berry
Trait: Sand Stream
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SDef
Careful Nature (+SDef, -SAtk)
- Stealth Rock
- Crunch
- Pursuit
- Superpower

I wanted to use sand for a few reasons, mainly to stop opposing teams from being able to abuse their weather. I originally tried hippo as my weather inducer but found I liked ttar better. I chose to use specially defensive tar so my team would have some special bulk to back it up. Ttar's first job is to set up rocks which are a very important move in the metagame. Its second job is to trap special attackers and KO them. I chose chople berry over lefties so ttar could take on special attackers with focus blast such as gengar, alakazam, and hydreigon.

Gliscor (F) @ Leftovers
Trait: Sand Veil
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def
Impish Nature (+Def, -SAtk)
- Earthquake
- Roost
- Ice Fang
- Toxic

I chose Gliscor for my team because I wanted some defense on my team and it is one of the best defensive pokes in OU. Its role in the team is a defensive wall he is able to take hits from pretty much any physical attacker in the tier. Earthquake is my main attack and ice fang is for things that I can't hit with eq. I chose sand veil over poison heal for a few reasons, the first is I like having instant recovery in roost, and the second is the accuracy drop is really nice and has gotten me out of some tough spots.

Celebi @ Leftovers
Trait: Natural Cure
EVs: 176 HP / 152 SAtk / 180 Spd
Modest Nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Leaf Storm
- Hidden Power [Fire]
- U-turn
- Recover

Once I had the first five members of my team I saw I needed a strong special attacker on this team because my only special attacker was a scout. I originally had gengar in this slot, but at the suggestion of DestinyUnknown I switched it to celebi to deal with water types better. This celebi stops volt turn in its tracks and has u-turn to keep the momentum going in my favor. It has altogether turned out to be a great addition to my team patching up some holes I had.

Importable

Hide

Terrakion @ Choice Band
Trait: Justified
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Stone Edge
- Close Combat
- X-Scissor
- Quick Attack

Rotom-W @ Choice Scarf
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Hydro Pump
- Volt Switch
- Trick
- Hidden Power [Fire]

Scizor (M) @ Choice Band
Trait: Technician
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 SDef
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- U-turn
- Bullet Punch
- Superpower
- Pursuit

Tyranitar (F) @ Chople Berry
Trait: Sand Stream
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SDef
Careful Nature (+SDef, -SAtk)
- Stealth Rock
- Crunch
- Pursuit
- Superpower

Gliscor (F) @ Leftovers
Trait: Sand Veil
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def
Impish Nature (+Def, -SAtk)
- Earthquake
- Roost
- Ice Fang
- Toxic

Celebi @ Leftovers
Trait: Natural Cure
EVs: 176 HP / 152 SAtk / 180 Spd
Modest Nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Leaf Storm
- Hidden Power [Fire]
- U-turn
- Recover

All feedback is appreciated and please tell me how I did with the formatting of the RMT as well as the team itself.

 

[destinyunknown]

Hi BulbaSword!

Your team is really solid as it is, though it is a bit worrying not having any response to bulky water types, especially rotom (nothing on your team can take an Hydro Pump, even less if it's raining) so I think you should replace Gengar with Celebi, as it's a great pokemon to deal with water-type pokemon and it has U-turn to keep the momentum along Scizor and Rotom.

Celebi@Leftovers | Natural Cure
Nature Modest | 176 Hp / 152 SpA / 180 Spe
Leaf Storm / Hidden Power Fire / U-turn / Recover

Since this team is really offensive-minded, I think your current Gliscor set slows down too much the pace of the team. However, this can be easily fixed by using an AcroBat set, which is still a good check to pokemon like Terrakion (especially with Sand Veil) but it threaten the opponent too, something even more important considering Terrakion and Scizor can weaken the physical walls, allowing Gliscor to sweep.

Gliscor@Flying Gem | Sand Veil
Nature Adamant | 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Substitute / Swords Dance / Acrobatics / Earthquake

 

[BulbaSword]

Thanks for the rate I'll definitely take that celebi suggestion because I was noticing the same problem with water types. I'll test the Acrobat set and see if I like it and get back to you on that.

 

[blunder]

Got your request. This team is very solid and well built. The huge problem I see straight off is the weakness to Rain teams in general as well as a huge weakness to Tornadus as with a life orb it can OHKO 5 out of your 6 guys while outspeeding them all. I reccommend using Choice Scarf Latios over Gengar. Latios does what Gengar does as well as taking on fast threats and crippling walls with Trick. Another possibilty is Defensive Calm Mind Latias over Gengar as it can use refresh to take on Blissey and can easily set up. Hope this helps and good luck

Sets

Latios @ Choice Scarf | 252 SpA EVS | 252 Speed EVS | 4 HP
Draco Meteor | Surf / Thunderbolt | Hidden Power Fire | Trick / Psyshock

Latias @ Leftovers | 252 HP | 228 Def | 28 Speed / Calm Mind | Recover | Refresh | Dragon Pulse

 

[BTzz]

Hey, nice team. VoltTurn teams look like big threat to this team, particularly Rotom-W + Scizor chains. Rotom-W can switch into your Gliscor, and from there you have nothing to safely switch into Volt Switch barring Tyranitar, but since the team lacks a spinner, it'll get worn down quickly. Not to metion opposing Scizor are usually followed by Rotom-W if you switch Tyranitar into Volt Switch. I also feel like you could use some help against sun and rain teams as Growth Venusaur and Rotom-W can do some serious damage to the team in their respective weathers. Using an LO Tank Latias would be a good fix to these problems. Latias breaks Scizor + Rotom-W cores as it can switch into Rotom-W, and fry Scizor with an LO-boosted HP Fire. Latias can also handle Rotom-W in the rain along with a lot of sun sweepers. Latias fits really nicely with your team's bulky offense theme and does pretty much everything Gengar did for the team (such as luring in Tyranitar so your CB Terrakion / Scizor can fire off a strong attack), but with some added bulk and useful resistances. As for EVs, 152 HP is a LO number, while 180 Spe enables Latias to outspeed neutral natured base 100s.

Now for some minor changes, I suggest using Hidden Power Ice on Rotom-W. HP Ice is useful as Scizor's Bullet Punch isn't enough is most cases to take down DD Dragonite / Mence. LO Latias is an excellent way of taking out Ferrothorn, so Rotom's HP Fire won't be missed too much. With Scizor around, I don't feel like you need both Pursuit and Crunch on Tyranitar. I would drop Pursuit for Fire Blast with a Sassy nature of course. Fire Blast lets Tyranitar deal with Ferrothorn and Skarmory for your Terrakion and Gliscor (Terrakion can cleanly 2HKO Skarm after Tyranitar nails it with Fire Blast). Lastly, I recommend using Taunt on Gliscor over Ice Fang. Taunt somewhat compensates for your lack of spinner as Gliscor can now prevent guys like Skarm, Ferro and Forretress from setting up Spikes. Everything notable Ice Fang hits is pretty much covered by your revenge killing core of Scarf Rotom-W + Scizor.

Latias | Levitate | Life Orb
Modest | 152 HP / 176 SpA / 180 Spe
Draco Meteor | Surf | HP Fire | Recover

Hope this helps and gl with the team!

 

[BulbaSword]

EDIT I've replaced gengar with celebi at DestinyUnknown's suggestion. I tested celebi and the lati twins for a replacement for gengar and found I preferred celebi. Thanks for the feedback though.