XY OU The Team Of Balance

[Spook Mane]

The Team Of Balance​

Hey, this is a team I have been using for a while and have found it to be pretty effective. I often win with it, so I thought I would post it and see what you guys think of it, and maybe I can get help to make it even better. Here is the current team:

Azelf @ Light Clay
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 Attack, 252 Speed, 4 HP
Jolly Nature
- Reflect
- Light Screen
- Taunt
- Explosion

This Azelf functions as a suicide lead, and I almost always lead with it. Its job is to set up screens, and then explode (or die before that). Taunt is useful to stop opponents from setting up, but is often predictable. If the opponent has a ghost, rock or steel type out, I usually opt to switch rather than waste a perfectly good explosion/another screen setup later. The main job for this Azelf is to stop set-ups and to get screens up, which greatly help my team. The screens help Mega Scizor to set up, and allow easy switch-ins.

Skarmory @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 252 HP, 252 Defense, 4 Special Defense
Impish Nature
- Brave Bird
- Stealth Rock
- Roost
- Whirlwind

My Skarmory acts as a physical wall, a Stealth Rock user, and a good Pseudo-Hazer. It can also get a lot of chip damage, thanks to rocky helmet. I was considering running spikes over Brave Bird, but I didn't want to be Taunt bait, and Spikes are too gimmicky. This Skarmory can really annoy the opponent if they don't have any good counters for it. It's also immune to Toxic. Whirlwind is crucial to stop Pokemon from setting up, and can save games.

Zapdos @ Leftovers
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 252 HP, 168 Defense, 68 Special Attack, 20 Speed
Bold Nature
- Thunderbolt
- Heat Wave
- Toxic
- Roost

My Zapdos works as a secondary physical wall that doesn't have the fire/electric type weaknesses that Skarmory has. This Zapdos can spread Toxic on Pokemon that could otherwise be impossible to kill. Thunderbolt and Heat Wave have fairly decent coverage. This Zapdos can also get lucky and spread burns and paralyze with Heat Wave and Thunderbolt respectively, though I don't rely on this. It can help counter Heatran's main weaknesses (ground, water and fighting) by being immune to ground attacks, hitting water types with thunderbolt, and resisting fighting type attacks. This Zapdos is also useful for absorbing Thunder Wave's. This Zapdos also works as a great counter to Gyarados, who can wall and beat most of my time.

Heatran @ Choice Specs
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 252 Special Attack, 200 Speed, 56 HP
Modest Nature
- Heat Wave
- Flash Cannon
- Earth Power
- Overheat

This Heatran is a monster. It acts as a powerhouse, and a switch-in for when I expect someone to use a fire type attack on Scizor or Skarmory, which grants the Flash Fire boost. Choice Specs Overheat dents anything hard that doesn't resist it, especially after a Flash Fire. Heat Wave is more reliable because it doesn't have a special attack drop. Flash Cannon is great for rock and fairy types. I also have plenty of switch-ins for Heatran's main weaknesses. For his biggest weakness which are Ground-type attacks, I have 4 Pokemon immune to Ground type attacks and another that absorbs them very well. For Water type attacks, I have Latios and Zapdos to absorb them (they also don't fear Scald), and hit back with thunderbolt. For Fighting type attacks, I have Zapdos and Latios to resist, and Scizor and Skarmory to wall without resisting (bar special fighting type attacks, which are rare). This Heatran can also absorb Wil-o-Wisp, which otherwise cripples Scizor. This Heatran can also resist Ice-type attacks, which threaten Zapdos and Latios.

Scizor @ Scizorite
Ability: Technician
EVs: 252 HP, 252 Attack, 4 Special Defense
Adamant Nature
- Bullet Punch
- X-Scissor
- Swords Dance
- Roost

Mega Scizor is the most potent sweeper on my team, and if he can successfully set up while avoiding a burn, he can sweep a whole team. Technician Bullet Punch is obviously a staple for Mega Scizor, X-Scissor provides a good stab option, Swords Dance is to boost his attack to monstrous levels, and Roost is for HP recovery. Scizor is a big threat, but has a good amount of counters. I have Heatran on my team to stop his big weakness, fire types. And Heatran is also a good switch in for other steel types, since Mega Scizor has trouble getting past those.

Latios @ Life Orb
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 Special Attack, 252 Speed, 4 HP
Timid Nature
- Psyshock
- Draco Meteor
- Thunderbolt
- Surf

My Latios acts as a revenge killer and check to several of my Pokemon's counters. It can switch in to most of Heatran's counters (mainly ground types like Garchomp) and 1 hit KO with its wide variety of attacks. It can also resist fire type attacks, It also resists both of Skarmory and Scizor's weaknesses. The biggest weakness to this Latios are Dark type's (especially ones with sucker punch), and DD boosted Dragon types. Skarmory can absorb the Dragon Types well and pseudo haze, and Scizor can switch into the Dark Types and hit with a X-Scissor.

Type Coverage​

Weaknesses:
Dark(2), Bug(2), Ghost(2), Fire(2), Ice(2), Electric, Rock. Ground, Fighting, Water, Fairy, Dragon,

Resistances:
Psychic(5), Grass(5), Bug(4), Steel(4), Fighting(3), Normal(3), Flying(3), Dragon(3), Fairy(3), Ice(2), Fire, Water, Electric

Immunities:
Ground(4), Poison(3), Fire​

Threats to my Team​

The Biggest threat I have encountered to my team is Greninja. It outspeeds all of my Pokemon, and can one shot most of them. The only chance to beat it is to revenge kill it with Scizor's bullet punch, or survive an ice beam on Zapdos and kill it with Heat Wave. My team also dislikes Gengar (speed ties with Latios), and Volcarona after a Quiver Dance (Heatran can usually beat though, unless it has Hidden Power Water or Ground).

Import​

Azelf @ Light Clay
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Reflect
- Light Screen
- Taunt
- Explosion

Skarmory @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Impish Nature
- Brave Bird
- Stealth Rock
- Roost
- Whirlwind

Zapdos @ Leftovers
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 252 HP / 168 Def / 68 SpA / 20 Spe
Bold Nature
- Thunderbolt
- Heat Wave
- Toxic
- Roost

Heatran @ Choice Specs
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 56 HP / 252 SpA / 200 Spe
Modest Nature
- Heat Wave
- Flash Cannon
- Earth Power
- Overheat

Scizor @ Scizorite
Ability: Technician
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Bullet Punch
- X-Scissor
- Swords Dance
- Roost

Latios (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Psyshock
- Draco Meteor
- Thunderbolt
- Surf

 

[Alfalfa]

Dual Screens is meant to be used on hyper offense teams, not balanced.

Skarmory needs Shell Shell + Counter, Counter allows it to beat Bisharp and Mega Pinsir, two things it is supposed to handle, and SHed Shell prevents it from getting trapped by Magnezone. I will probably give this a full rate later or tomorrow.

 

[Dokkerich]

You should run Bug Bite over X-Scizor on Scizor cause its stronger thanks to technician ability

 

[Spook Mane]

Dual Screens is meant to be used on hyper offense teams, not balanced.

Skarmory needs Shell Shell + Counter, Counter allows it to beat Bisharp and Mega Pinsir, two things it is supposed to handle, and SHed Shell prevents it from getting trapped by Magnezone. I will probably give this a full rate later or tomorrow.

My team is fairly offensive, and balanced at the same time. I still think the screens work well for this team.

I honestly don't think I need to worry about Bisharp or Mega Pinsir. I already wall them unless they are Swords Danced, and in that case I can just use whirlwind. Plus I have other Pokemon to deal with them (both get checked by Zapdos w/ Thunderbolt/Heat Wave). If I replaced Brave Bird with counter, then I lose a chance to KO Heracross and Breloom.

Also, I don't consider Magnezone a big enough threat to use Shed Shell over Rocky Helmet. If I see the opponent has a Magnezone, then I'll avoid using Skarmory until he has been KO'ed. I barely see a team with a Magnezone as a threat anyways.

You should run Bug Bite over X-Scizor on Scizor cause its stronger thanks to technician ability

That is a good point. I'll have to switch that out (going to be annoying to find a Scyther with Bug Bite, since I need a BW2 Move Tutor but seems worth it.)

Overall I would like some more constructive criticism for this team, so more replies would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Vxy]

Hi, before I start off, just want to say I'm not an expert rater, but I will try my best :) Just let me know if I'm talking nonsense, lol.

So if the main point of dual screens is to helps Scizor set up easier, then running its STABs alone is not enough coverage. You're walled by pretty much any relevant Fire or Steel type in OU. Heatran and Magnezone would surely take advantage of that to switch in and nail you, should you not switch to Heatran. But switching kind of ruins your Scizor's point, right? So my suggestion is either replace Roost with Knock Off/Superpower/Brick Break, or make Mega-Scizor your win condition and late-game cleaner. Imo, that is what Mega-Scizor is best at (or at least really good at), which is being a win condition. The set for that would be a physically defensive set with SD/Bullet Punch/Roost and either coverage or Defog, if you need that.

Next, if you decide to make Scizor your wincon, Azelf has no real use on your team unless you want screens for something else which isn't really needed. If you want to replace Azelf, then as you said, Greninja is a big threat, so replacing Azelf with Assault Vest Azumarill isn't a bad idea. Having a switch-in to many other OU special attackers (like Landorus and Keldeo) is never a bad thing either. It can also complete a Steel/Fairy/Dragon core with Heatran and Latios. The moves are your preference, but Aqua Jet/Waterfall/Play Rough/Knock Off is the most common one.

Lastly, is there any reason to run Heat Wave over Flamethrower? Heat Wave CAN miss at the worst times, like when you need to kill that Scizor or whatever. The 5 base power less doesn't make that much of a deal, unless there's something noticeable that Heat Wave kills and Flamethrower doesn't?

 

[Spook Mane]

Hi, before I start off, just want to say I'm not an expert rater, but I will try my best :) Just let me know if I'm talking n onsense, lol.

So if the main point of dual screens is to helps Scizor set up easier, then running its STABs alone is not enough coverage. You're walled by pretty much any relevant Fire or Steel type in OU. Heatran and Magnezone would surely take advantage of that to switch in and nail you, should you not switch to Heatran. But switching kind of ruins your Scizor's point, right? So my suggestion is either replace Roost with Knock Off/Superpower/Brick Break, or make Mega-Scizor your win condition and late-game cleaner. Imo, that is what Mega-Scizor is best at (or at least really good at), which is being a win condition. The set for that would be a physically defensive set with SD/Bullet Punch/Roost and either coverage or Defog, if you need that.

Next, if you decide to make Scizor your wincon, Azelf has no real use on your team unless you want screens for something else which isn't really needed. If you want to replace Azelf, then as you said, Greninja is a big threat, so replacing Azelf with Assault Vest Azumarill isn't a bad idea. Having a switch-in to many other OU special attackers (like Landorus and Keldeo) is never a bad thing either. It can also complete a Steel/Fairy/Dragon core with Heatran and Latios. The moves are your preference, but Aqua Jet/Waterfall/Play Rough/Knock Off is the most common one.

Lastly, is there any reason to run Heat Wave over Flamethrower? Heat Wave CAN miss at the worst times, like when you need to kill that Scizor or whatever. The 5 base power less doesn't make that much of a deal, unless there's something noticeable that Heat Wave kills and Flamethrower doesn't?

While I do agree that Scizor can't handle Fire or Steel types, I don't usually worry about them (except Magnezone of course). If a Heatran comes out, I usually send out my own Heatran and then KO it with Earth Power (my Heatran is faster than most Heatran's). And honestly I usually use Scizor late game anyways, but I find that Bullet Punch and a Bug Type move work well enough. My other Pokemon can often hit other fire/steel types for heavy damage anyways, and Roost comes in handy for Mega Scizor.

I'm definitely trying out Azumarill though. Do you have any suggested EV spreads for AV Azumarill? I'm going to run Adamant nature and the moves you listed. Though the only problem with Azumarill I see is that A) It adds another Electric-type weakness to my team, which is a problem because I have also noticed my team is weak to Mega Manetric. and B) It adds another Pokemon to my team that is weak to burns. I hate burns, and I also hate Intimidate, so I tried to limit the physical attackers on my team.

As for the Heat Wave vs. Flamethrower debate, I'm not too sure on that one, but I was also considering even running Fire Blast over Heat Wave. Fire Blast has less accuracy but it could really help with late game cleaning, since it has no special attack drop. But overall the real debate is Flamethrower vs. Heat Wave vs. Fire Blast. For now I'll probably just stick to Heat Wave, though. But I would like to hear other peoples opinions about if Fire Blast is worth running.

 

[Vxy]

While I do agree that Scizor can't handle Fire or Steel types, I don't usually worry about them (except Magnezone of course). If a Heatran comes out, I usually send out my own Heatran and then KO it with Earth Power (my Heatran is faster than most Heatran's). And honestly I usually use Scizor late game anyways, but I find that Bullet Punch and a Bug Type move work well enough. My other Pokemon can often hit other fire/steel types for heavy damage anyways, and Roost comes in handy for Mega Scizor.

I'm definitely trying out Azumarill though. Do you have any suggested EV spreads for AV Azumarill? I'm going to run Adamant nature and the moves you listed. Though the only problem with Azumarill I see is that A) It adds another Electric-type weakness to my team, which is a problem because I have also noticed my team is weak to Mega Manetric. and B) It adds another Pokemon to my team that is weak to burns. I hate burns, and I also hate Intimidate, so I tried to limit the physical attackers on my team.

As for the Heat Wave vs. Flamethrower debate, I'm not too sure on that one, but I was also considering even running Fire Blast over Heat Wave. Fire Blast has less accuracy but it could really help with late game cleaning, since it has no special attack drop. But overall the real debate is Flamethrower vs. Heat Wave vs. Fire Blast. For now I'll probably just stick to Heat Wave, though. But I would like to hear other peoples opinions about if Fire Blast is worth running.

I think Heatran can handle Manectric pretty easily, and also, Latios isn't even 2HKO by most Mega-Manectric's HP Ice. But yeah, Azu doesn't like burns or Intimidate, but Idk I would still try it out if I were you. As for EVs, 16 HP/ 252 Att/ 240 SpD is the most common, as Azu can tank special hits better than 248 HP/ 252 Att/ 8 whatever.