This isn't an RMT I'm really going for anything as I'm pretty much only mediocre at OU and really need to get a nice team together for possible tourneys later. Hopefully this'll be able to shape up any weaknesses I have!
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Kingdra and Heatran weren't in either Pokemon Pinball sadly :(
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This team started out as a pretty basic DP offense team, but as I went further I ended up putting Substitute on more than half of my Pokemon one way or another. The roots of this team go all the way back to the Garchomp era so I really don't want to bore people with the teambuilding process :) It's my work in progress team so to speak that never really stops being edited. Now that Salamence is gone, I'm hoping that I can get additional help here!
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Machamp@Lum Berry - Adamant
252 HP / 136 Atk / 96 SpD / 24 Spe
~ DynamicPunch
~ Payback
~ Ice Punch
~ Bullet Punch
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Jolteon@Leftovers - Timid
4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
~ Substitute
~ Wish
~ Thunderbolt
~ Hidden Power [ICE]
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Gengar@Life Orb - Timid
4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
~ Substitute
~ Pain Split
~ Shadow Ball
~ Focus Blast
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Jirachi@Leftovers - Impish
240 HP / 160 Def / 76 SpD / 32 Spe
~ Body Slam
~ Iron Head
~ Wish
~ Stealth Rock
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Kingdra@Lum Berry - Adamant
88HP / 184 Attack / 232 Speed
~ Dragon Dance
~ Substitute
~ Waterfall
~ Outrage
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Heatran@Life Orb - Timid
4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
~ Substitute
~ Fire Blast
~ Earth Power
~ Hidden Power [GRASS]
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Kingdra and Heatran weren't in either Pokemon Pinball sadly :(
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This team started out as a pretty basic DP offense team, but as I went further I ended up putting Substitute on more than half of my Pokemon one way or another. The roots of this team go all the way back to the Garchomp era so I really don't want to bore people with the teambuilding process :) It's my work in progress team so to speak that never really stops being edited. Now that Salamence is gone, I'm hoping that I can get additional help here!
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Machamp@Lum Berry - Adamant
252 HP / 136 Atk / 96 SpD / 24 Spe
~ DynamicPunch
~ Payback
~ Ice Punch
~ Bullet Punch
Why these EVs/Item? - Standard lead Machamp with some speed creep added :) They allow him to survive an Azelf Psychic and beat it back with Payback + Bullet Punch, assuming it isn't holding a Colbur Berry. The rest is dumped into Attack. Lum lets me beat sleep leads who otherwise would hamper me pretty badly.
Why these moves? - DynamicPunch and Payback have almost perfect coverage alone. Ice Punch completes by hitting Dragonite for a OHKO, and Bullet Punch is the priority that allows Machamp to beat the common Focus Sash leads.
Why this Pokemon? - There is a reason why Machamp recently took a second spot in the lead position. He really gives a lot of leads a lot of trouble, even with the anti-leading that's being done to prevent the damage he is able to cause. So many players complain of the damage this set does to their teams. It gains early momentum for my team a mass majority of the time and overall is an awesome lead for pretty much any team.
Why these moves? - DynamicPunch and Payback have almost perfect coverage alone. Ice Punch completes by hitting Dragonite for a OHKO, and Bullet Punch is the priority that allows Machamp to beat the common Focus Sash leads.
Why this Pokemon? - There is a reason why Machamp recently took a second spot in the lead position. He really gives a lot of leads a lot of trouble, even with the anti-leading that's being done to prevent the damage he is able to cause. So many players complain of the damage this set does to their teams. It gains early momentum for my team a mass majority of the time and overall is an awesome lead for pretty much any team.
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Jolteon@Leftovers - Timid
4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
~ Substitute
~ Wish
~ Thunderbolt
~ Hidden Power [ICE]
Why these EVs? - Quite simple: 252 Spe and a Timid nature ensure I beat or tie everything in OU bar Ninjask, while max Special Attack packs quite a punch behind 110 Special Attack. Leftovers gives me a chance to obtain more Substitutes and add general survivability, as well as the added bonus of canceling sandstorm damage.
Why these moves? - Thunderbolt and Hidden Power [ICE] give almost unresisted coverage together. HP Ice also has the bonus of catching Flygon who like to try and switch in on the common SpecsJolt. Substitute and Wish allow for pretty crazy shenanigans with the rest of the team. I chose HP Ice over Grass because in general Heatran lures and kills Swampert better than Jolteon does and taking out Flygon who otherwise is a giant pain the the neck.
Why this Pokemon? - Jolteon is a star with its amazing Speed score which lots of the time allows it to either pass a Substitute or maul stuff with a STAB Thunderbolt coming off 110 base SpA. It also checks every sort of Gyarados bar Jolly offensive DD variants which is really handy. Luring and hopefully killing Flygon is a nice bonus also because a well played ScarfGon tears apart my team through Uturn, EQ, and Outrage.
Why these moves? - Thunderbolt and Hidden Power [ICE] give almost unresisted coverage together. HP Ice also has the bonus of catching Flygon who like to try and switch in on the common SpecsJolt. Substitute and Wish allow for pretty crazy shenanigans with the rest of the team. I chose HP Ice over Grass because in general Heatran lures and kills Swampert better than Jolteon does and taking out Flygon who otherwise is a giant pain the the neck.
Why this Pokemon? - Jolteon is a star with its amazing Speed score which lots of the time allows it to either pass a Substitute or maul stuff with a STAB Thunderbolt coming off 110 base SpA. It also checks every sort of Gyarados bar Jolly offensive DD variants which is really handy. Luring and hopefully killing Flygon is a nice bonus also because a well played ScarfGon tears apart my team through Uturn, EQ, and Outrage.
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Gengar@Life Orb - Timid
4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
~ Substitute
~ Pain Split
~ Shadow Ball
~ Focus Blast
Why these EVs/Item? - Standard offensive spread, nothing really new here. Speed tying with other Gengar is a necessity sometimes so I really like the Speed. It also hits really dang hard with a Life Orb and max Special Attack.
Why these moves? - Sticking with the perfect coverage in two moves thing here. STAB Shadow Ball has the potential to hurt a lot of common stuff in todays metagame, and Focus Blast hits the Steels and Tyranitar that resist Shadow Ball. Pain Split is necessary to take care of Blissey who like to rain on my team's party, while Substitute blocks any nasty status and prevents me from getting picked off by priority.
Why this Pokemon? - I think if people could choose the three Pokemon they hated most this metagame, they would be 1) Jirachi, 2) Gengar, 3) Machamp. I happen to carry all three. So, so many teams are deathly weak to SubGar as of now. It hits ridiculously hard and can bypass many of its common counters with Substitute and Pain Split.
Why these moves? - Sticking with the perfect coverage in two moves thing here. STAB Shadow Ball has the potential to hurt a lot of common stuff in todays metagame, and Focus Blast hits the Steels and Tyranitar that resist Shadow Ball. Pain Split is necessary to take care of Blissey who like to rain on my team's party, while Substitute blocks any nasty status and prevents me from getting picked off by priority.
Why this Pokemon? - I think if people could choose the three Pokemon they hated most this metagame, they would be 1) Jirachi, 2) Gengar, 3) Machamp. I happen to carry all three. So, so many teams are deathly weak to SubGar as of now. It hits ridiculously hard and can bypass many of its common counters with Substitute and Pain Split.
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Jirachi@Leftovers - Impish
240 HP / 160 Def / 76 SpD / 32 Spe
~ Body Slam
~ Iron Head
~ Wish
~ Stealth Rock
Why these EVs? - The Speed is designed to beat Jolly Tyranitar so I can come in and handily counter it. The Defense is designed to take two +1 LO Dragonite Outrages without dying after Lefties recovery. The rest is dumped into SpD.
Why these moves? - Body Slam is handy for spreading paralysis which can potentally help out Heatran to outspeed more middle-tier speed Pokemon while also paralyzing Scarfers (flygon again) that might want to try their luck switching in. Iron Head is standard fare for STAB and flinch hax, especially after a Body Slam paralysis. In a way it also works as a pseudo-Protect on a slower foe after a Wish. I was also missing Stealth Rock anywhere else on my team, so I stuck it here. Not sure if I should replace that with U-turn or not though...
Why this Pokemon? - I was in dear need of a defensive Steel type, especially during the Mence meta. Jirachi fills a defensive and offensive role at the same time in a way while also giving Kingdra or Heatran (fire type moves) or Gengar (ground type moves) 50% of their health back to continue Subbing and creating holes. Jirachi acts as my glue in a way while not being totally useless.
Why these moves? - Body Slam is handy for spreading paralysis which can potentally help out Heatran to outspeed more middle-tier speed Pokemon while also paralyzing Scarfers (flygon again) that might want to try their luck switching in. Iron Head is standard fare for STAB and flinch hax, especially after a Body Slam paralysis. In a way it also works as a pseudo-Protect on a slower foe after a Wish. I was also missing Stealth Rock anywhere else on my team, so I stuck it here. Not sure if I should replace that with U-turn or not though...
Why this Pokemon? - I was in dear need of a defensive Steel type, especially during the Mence meta. Jirachi fills a defensive and offensive role at the same time in a way while also giving Kingdra or Heatran (fire type moves) or Gengar (ground type moves) 50% of their health back to continue Subbing and creating holes. Jirachi acts as my glue in a way while not being totally useless.
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Kingdra@Lum Berry - Adamant
88HP / 184 Attack / 232 Speed
~ Dragon Dance
~ Substitute
~ Waterfall
~ Outrage
Why these EVs/Item? - 232 Speed beats base 130s after a Dragon Dance, and 88 HP EVs let him take two Starmie Ice Beams/Thunderbolts so he can DD once then OHKO with Outrage. Lum Berry is great for getting past Jirachi's that want to ThunderWave, Rotoms that WoW, or in a pinch a potentially game-breaking Outrage confusion. I can set up a Dragon Dance while they status me and then Sub to block the next onslaught, essentally giving me another free Dragon Dance.
Why these moves? - Two moves with near-unresisted coverage again. Dragon Dance is a great boosting move of course, while Substitute blocks secondary status and gives me a barrier to Dragon Dance behind.
Why this Pokemon? - Kingdra is my Starmie switch in a pinch, who otherwise can hurt me a lot. He can also set up on many of the other Bulky Waters that hang around the tier as long as they don't carry Roar. After a couple Dragon Dances he's pretty much unstoppable also.
Why these moves? - Two moves with near-unresisted coverage again. Dragon Dance is a great boosting move of course, while Substitute blocks secondary status and gives me a barrier to Dragon Dance behind.
Why this Pokemon? - Kingdra is my Starmie switch in a pinch, who otherwise can hurt me a lot. He can also set up on many of the other Bulky Waters that hang around the tier as long as they don't carry Roar. After a couple Dragon Dances he's pretty much unstoppable also.
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Heatran@Life Orb - Timid
4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
~ Substitute
~ Fire Blast
~ Earth Power
~ Hidden Power [GRASS]
Why these EVs? - Many people don't expect a Timid Heatran I believe, and I can get away with outspeeding some slower Suicune and Vaporeon, as well as Modest Heatran, to hurt them with HP Grass or Earth Power. Heatran hits like a truck with max SpA and a Life Orb.
Why these moves? - Substitute again serves as a utility scouting move, as well as blocking ThunderWaves that might come my way. Fire Blast is an immensely powerful STAB that, if I can come in on a Fire Move, becomes basically a win condition. Earth Power rounds out the coverage quite well, as well as catching other Heatran who might like to switch in on a Fire Blast. Hidden Power Grass does a number to any bulky water switch in, especially Starmie who can be troublesome sometimes.
Why this Pokemon? - In my opinion, no good team in the non-Mence metagame can go without a Heatran. Its resistances are too handy, it's ability is nice, and it's Special Attack is insane. Heatran is definitely the best Pokemon in this round of OU, there's no doubt in my mind. Apparently the public agrees with me too.
Why these moves? - Substitute again serves as a utility scouting move, as well as blocking ThunderWaves that might come my way. Fire Blast is an immensely powerful STAB that, if I can come in on a Fire Move, becomes basically a win condition. Earth Power rounds out the coverage quite well, as well as catching other Heatran who might like to switch in on a Fire Blast. Hidden Power Grass does a number to any bulky water switch in, especially Starmie who can be troublesome sometimes.
Why this Pokemon? - In my opinion, no good team in the non-Mence metagame can go without a Heatran. Its resistances are too handy, it's ability is nice, and it's Special Attack is insane. Heatran is definitely the best Pokemon in this round of OU, there's no doubt in my mind. Apparently the public agrees with me too.
