The Science Behind Team Building: An Attempt at Understanding the Gen VI Meta

[Rafael J. Feliciano]

I like the team but would just like to re-emphasize that rotom-h and zapdos have redundant coverage, and they both dont like stealth rocks, I just dont think they belong together. I happen to think that thundurus is one of the best pokes in OU, so putting him on a team would pretty much always be an improvement. But that being said I dont like scizor with leftovers at all, I just find that he never gets to take advantage of it as he would problem just defog and either switch or u-turn out anyway. So with that in mind I dont think itd be the worst idea to band scizor and still use defog...its not as reliable but if your decision is between leftovers and band I would say band, because like I said early to mid game he would just defog and then switch anyway.

These are just some ideas but another thing would be maybe to have a dedicated sweeper, because as the team stands you get your wins from wearing down the other team and blasting holes in them with rotom and mawile, and while that is all good, I think if you had another pokemon that could use a free switch in to use a boosting move and sweep. You'd have more success with this team. So this brings me back to thundurus-i, if you just use nasty plot/hp ice/tbolt/focus blast....that gives you perfect coverage and you outspeed most pokes.


So TL;DR maybe consider thundy-i >zapdos choice band defog scizor>lefties scizor

I prefer LO on Thundy-T to OHKO Suicune 50% of the time. I've even run Nasty Plot on it which makes people cry. I've seen HP flying before, but coverage moves are really all about testing to see what you can and can't handle already with your other team members. Rafael did a great job of coming to the RMT prepared, and to make suggestions we should do the same and test some of this out, or simply take a look at what coverage we have. I'll definitely be getting back to you guys.

Hey all,

Thanks once again for the awesome input.

Before we put Zapdos to bed, seeing as that is the route we seem to be taking, allow me to play Devil's Advocate.

Though it is true that Zapdos AND Rotom-H don't appreciate Stealth Rock and is redundant to a degree, lets point out some things in Zapdos favor:

1. Since we have him AND Scizor on this team, an opponent can't assume that Zapdos is the defogger cause, though not as popular, he could be running a Modest set, possibly with Substitute. Thanks to his Special Bulk and Typing, Zapdos can switch in take the SR damage and a hit and still able to reliably Defog. He also forces Stealth Rockers with Steel typing to think twice, forcing some favorable switches, especially in concert with Volt Switch.

2. Bisharp loves to switch into Defog to get the Defiant Boost, however, Zapdos is one of the handful of Defog users who carries Heat Wave and thus, with a little prediction can score an efficient OHKO on the Neo Nazi Commandant. Sure, Thundurus-I and Thundurus-T pack Focus Blast, but raise your hand if you syfh when Focus Blast Misses Wide Left... (raising hand reluctantly over here)

3. Speaking of other sets, has anyone tried using a different sets for Zapdos? Modest? Sub w/ HP Ice - Heat Wave - Thunderbolt? Obviously for the last one, it would dictate changing Scizor into our Defogger but that can be managed. Would really like to get more info on this point.

Anyways, thought I would float these thoughts out to get your input on it.

 

[Phaenon]

I appreciate you trying to save your team members, it's sign you put a lot of thought into this. I think in a meta-game where Deo-Sharp play and hazards are becoming so strong for Hyper Offense to apply pressure, Zapdos as your only reliable solution isn't a very good idea. This is a problem when both Stall and Deo-Sharp (Hyper Offense) give your team trouble. You have many solutions, it seems like. You can either take the route of replacing Zapdos with Thundurus and putting Defog on Scizor, you could put Defog on something new like Lat@s, Mew, or Empoleon. You can ditch the idea of Defog and go with a Rapid Spin user (which would better justify your use of Stealth Rock on Landorus over a coverage move) like Excadrill, Tentacruel (which would have special bulk, and a potential way of burning Bisharp), or Starmie. That being said, you need to think of both ends of the spectrum and recognize the issue with bulky waters, especially the ones that can set up in your face. In any case, if any of these things I threw out appeal to you, I can think about how we can integrate them into the team. Let me know. (:

 

[Rafael J. Feliciano]

I appreciate you trying to save your team members, it's sign you put a lot of thought into this. I think in a meta-game where Deo-Sharp play and hazards are becoming so strong for Hyper Offense to apply pressure, Zapdos as your only reliable solution isn't a very good idea. This is a problem when both Stall and Deo-Sharp (Hyper Offense) give your team trouble. You have many solutions, it seems like. You can either take the route of replacing Zapdos with Thundurus and putting Defog on Scizor, you could put Defog on something new like Lat@s, Mew, or Empoleon. You can ditch the idea of Defog and go with a Rapid Spin user (which would better justify your use of Stealth Rock on Landorus over a coverage move) like Excadrill, Tentacruel (which would have special bulk, and a potential way of burning Bisharp), or Starmie. That being said, you need to think of both ends of the spectrum and recognize the issue with bulky waters, especially the ones that can set up in your face. In any case, if any of these things I threw out appeal to you, I can think about how we can integrate them into the team. Let me know. (:

LOL... well I DID preface my post by saying i was going to play Devil's Advocate... but alas... I know Zapdos (Nickame: Zappa Dappa Do on PS) will most likely be sent off to the sunset to marvel at his once amazing glory atop RBY & GSC.

Deo-Sharp is definitely something that needs to be accounted for and will need to do some research... at this point its just a matter of what changes should be made versus if one should be made.

Inside the RMT: When I originally built this team I kinda knew that Zapdos and Scizor would receive the most scrutiny from posters. However, I am very appreciative of the well thought out responses that came with it. Thanks once again to all who replied. If anything I will reply to all of you when the OP has been updated. Thanks Again.