I decided to play the game again ever since a hiatus from February. Certainly, the metagame has changed since Genesect was banned, but occasionally I find the challenges of team building alluring since one has to construct a team with respect to the constraints imposed by the metagame, create offensive or defensive synergy within the team, and justify the choice of teammate and moves relative to the next best choice (the opportunity cost of selecting a move over another). I like to play each game tactically by making what I perceive to be tactical exchanges while maintaining my flexibility (or "momentum"). I eschew speed and power for finesse.
Although I do not have a strong competitive drive, I like to play intermittently since I like to test my ideas and tactics and understand the various reasons why my team succeeds or fails. I wanted to make something different from the Lando-T, Rotom-W, and Assault Vest Conkeldurr balanced core I had back in January.
I decided to make the team based on an offensive Latios as a coverage sweeper, which is different from its support role as a defogger. Unfortunately, the Pokemon on this team are all familiar, but I originally had a Sylveon (low OU) instead of Azumarill as a quick means of having an additional means to deal with Offensive Charizard X. Hopefully, even though the Pokemon may be rather trite, I hope this team has a different flavor and approach.
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Latios (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature
- Draco Meteor
- Psyshock
- Thunderbolt
- Surf
Although Latios is hampered by his uncomplimentary dual STABs and Special Attack drop to be considered to be a consistent sweeper and wallbreaker, I realized the potential of a sweeping Latios that leverages its good speed and exceptional SpAtk as opposed to its usual role as a support defogger.
First, its attacks have increased utility in the Gen 6 metagame. Thunderbolt hitting new victims such as Azumarill, Mandibuzz, Mega-Pinsir, Charizard-Y, and Togekiss and its old victims such as Keldeo, Skarmory and Gyarados. (I searched to usage statistics to see if there is a Thunderbolt user on a "fast" Pokemon that isn't vulnerable to Sucker Punch due to lack of bulk and/or bad typing and I couldn't find any.) Surf hits Landorus-T/I, Heatran, Gliscor, Excadrill, Hippowdon, and TTar (for about 30% if IIRC). Psyshock is a little more useful this Gen as it is a tool that Latios can use to get past Fairies and a weakened Chansey. While Draco Meteor is much less spammable due to Fairies, it can hit a neutral target for massive damage at full power; indeed, the coverage moves reduces its reliance on Draco Meteor so he can reserve it on a more appropriate target. The modus operandi is for Latios to come in on something it can KO with Psyshock, Thunderbolt, or Surf and then hit the switch-in with Draco Meteor. This Latios certainly has the potential to sweep once its checks have been eliminated due to its coverage and ability to switch attacks.
Here are the calcs:
Of course, I have to be observant against Landorus-T, Excadrill, Garchomp since they are often Scarfed or in Sand.
Second, the presence of Surf and Thunderbolt is almost certainly anti-correlated as Latios it often uses only one coverage move in addition to its STABs and Defog, and a player would likely assume that after I use either Surf or Thunderbolt, it would not be running the other. This means that this Pokemon can act as a pseudo-lure. The combination of its speed and coverage prevent it from being set-up bait for many Pokemon.
Third, this Pokemon has enough bulk to withstand unboosted, non-super effective priority attacks although it falls to Choice Band Talonflame's Brave Bird.
Still Pokemon possessing powerful priority, faster or Choiced Pokemon have to be eliminated before it can sweep. Unfortunately, I do not have Substitute to play mind games with Sucker Punch users. While it can retreat after it scores a kill during the middle game, it needs to stay hidden (as the etymology of "Latios" suggests) when there are potential Pursuit users around. Defensive Pokemon such as Chansey or Ferrothorn need to be eliminated too.
This works well with Mega Scizor since I can potentially bring it in safely against predicted switches and it can threaten Fairies with its Technician Bullet Punch. Also the Superpower users help against Bisharp, Ferrothorn, and Chansey.
Azumarill @ Assault Vest
Ability: Huge Power
EVs: 248 HP/ 252 Atk / 8 Spd
Adamant Nature
- Aqua Jet
- Play Rough
- Waterfall
- Superpower
I originally had this as Sylveon, but I needed this for its ability to check offensive variants of Mega Charizard-X (although it does little against the bulky variants) in order to reduce the burden of this task from Thundurus and Landorus-T. Charizard's cannot use Dragon Claw, so it has to use Earthquake or Flare Blitz; while they do a similar amount of damage, Flare Blitz has a significant amount of recoil. The HP investment help it deal with physical attacks even though it does compromise its special bulk with Assault Vest. With Superpower, it also "checks" Bisharp barring the 30% flinch rate of Iron Head and can weaken Ferrothorn enough for the team to finish the job.
Azumarill possess nice offensive and defensive properties. The Dragon immunity makes it easier to play around with Choiced Dragon Pokemon and Outrage users, especially when they are accompanied by Pokemon possessing Ground immunities too. Aqua Jet allows Azumarill to pick off weakened Pokemon so I do not have to expose Latios and Thundurus to Stealth Rock, Life Orb recoil, powerful priority users, Pursuit trappers. More specially, it can revenge kill most STAB Earthquake users that threaten and/or kill Heatran since they are vulnerable to Aqua Jet or in Garchomp's case Play Rough. This ability to dispose of Ground type can facilitate a Thundurus sweep although Azumarill is quite impotent against Quagsire and Gastrodon.
Thundurus (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 4 HP/ 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Naive Nature
- Thunder Wave
- Superpower
- Thunderbolt
- Hidden Power [Ice]
I chosen Thundurus for multiple reasons. One metagame relevant reason is the presence of Double flying type hyper-offensive teams, and this Pokemon resists their Flying stab while being able to hit them super-effectively with Thunderbolt. It has just enough speed to punish all Adamant Talonflame (or those content with outspeeding Jolly Mega Pinsir). Its speed also allows me to check Charizard Y, and Gengar, pick off the weakened Lati twins. Its STAB Thunderbolt will be appreciated when up against Mandibuzz.
As one can see, a team issue is a lack of hazard removal. However, I also used a Leftovers Thundurus-I (without Focus Blast), also without Rapid Spin or Defog support, but it gets walled by Excadrill, Heatran, and the blobs, forcing me to switch out, while also taking Stealth Rock damage. Life Orb and Superpower are the defining aspects of this set: with Life Orb, I can now use Superpower since it enables it to do enough damage to OHKO non-bulky variants of Excadrill, do much as Focus Blast to Heatran, and does around 50% to Chansey. The blobs are considered high-valued targets for this team. 115 Attack and access to Superpower are a gift that allows it to be a mixed attacker. The lack of an accuracy issue is surely welcomed. Furthermore, Life Orb also gives me access to critical OHKOs with HP Ice: Standard Gliscor is always KOed, even without Stealth Rock; Landorus-I/T are OHKOed, unless they use Assault Vest or invest in Special Defense; Mega Garchomp is KOed under Stealth Rock and has an 81.3% of a KO without Rocks. The ability to reliably power through its checks seems to be well-worth the price of Life Orb recoil and lack of passive recovery, otherwise it would be rendered impotent and would either die from an attack or take damage from Stealth Rock again if it switches back-in.
Latios and Thundurus largely have redundant roles and shared weaknesses, such as a weakness to faster special sweepers such as Mega Manectric and Greninja, but they complement each other albeit imperfectly. This functional redundancy allows some diffusion of their responsibilities and more aggressive usage of the more appropriate sweeper during the middle game. Thundurus generally supports Latios since it can weaken Chansey/Blissey and paralyze something that it cannot outspeed
Landorus-Therian (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 Spd
Adamant Nature
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- Superpower
- Stealth Rock
Superpower is now Knock Off; I had Superpower as a surprise factor when I did not have Azumarill. It forces me to switch out and concede momentum too often due to the detrimental aftereffects. Often my opponents Ferrothorn and Chansey are not even in KO range for it. Knock Off adversely affects Chansey for the duration of the match and Knock Offs the Scarves on Garchomp, Excadrill, and Landorus-T that prevent the sweeps of Latios and Thundurus.
Perhaps the most interesting thing is the lack of U-Turn, normally a staple on Lando-T as indicated by the usage statistics (a weighted 89% on the 1825 stats), but U-Turn is generally weak without STAB (and it is not worth using on Ferrothorn in order to wear it down) and it is a contact move, making it a liability in a metagame where Rocky Helmet is ubiquitous. I had problems with Gliscor on another team and at least Knock Off will allow me to strip off Toxic Orb.
Well, this also serves as a means to counter the birds and Excadrill. Being able to alternate EdgeQuake is quite effective against many teams without a counter such as a Skarmory or Ferrothorn and it is harder to play around than being Choiced-locked into one or the other. Stone Edge just terminate any Talonflame, particularly those that want to set-up.
Adamant max attack allows me to OHKO Mega Mawile with Earthquake without Lando-T being Intimidated. Also, Gyarados and Dragonite are KOed after Stealth Rock. It also allows me to put maximum offensive pressure on Fairies and the Blobs. 8 Speed Evs allow me to creep 44 Speed Rotom-W.
I can argue that this is the best Stealth Rock setter in OU due to its ability to handle relevant metagame threats with the exception of Rotom-W and Genesect, especially if one is concerned about Excadrill and Talonflame: Ferrothorn is forced out by Heatran and Talonflame, and its user often has to predict against Fire type switches with Thunder Wave; Heatran fears Excadrill and Landorus-T's Earthquake and Rotom-W's Hydro Pump; Tyranitar is an Earthquake, fighting and Burn liability, not to mention it compounds the recoil that Latios and Thundurus suffer. Garchomp as a Stealth Rock setter makes me vulnerable to Scarfchomp and Latios/Latias.
Heatran @ Leftovers
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 40 Spd / 252 HP / 216 SDef
- Lava Plume
- Roar
- Toxic
- Stealth Rock
Toxic can be substituted for Will-O-Wisp since I originally had it then when I had a Protect/Wish Sylveon to stall. Taunt can be a good option too, especially because Heatran is respectably fast.
I put this in as a means to counter Talonflame and Ferrothorn and to act as a second Stealth Rock user. This is probably the best Ferrothorn counter in the game since it can come in if it doesn't have Thunder Wave and its Lava Plume is satisfactory in a metagame that does not resemble Seattle. Since it is not Choiced, it is harder to counter (unlike something such as Choice Band Victini/Entei).
Heatran's Lava Plume from its base 130 SAtk, good offensive typing, perfect accuracy, and 30% chance of a burn is one of the best uninvested attacks in the metagame while just being slightly weaker than Sylveon's Pixilate Hyper Voice (that can bypass Subs), possessing similar utility to Rotom W's Volt Switch.
Roar is quite invaluable since I can use it as a means to scout out set-up sweepers, such as Sub Gyarados, although this requires on a willingness to risk Heatran, but I have other Pokemon that can check it them if they are unboosted so it is not a completely risky or unsound countertactic (and can be the best option if one does not want to give a free turn by setting-up). Roar can provide some counter-momentum against predicted U-Turns and disrupt Wish passing. Moreover, Roar + Two Stealth Rock users is a good means to accumulate residual damage to soften Pokemon for the sweepers to clean up.
Two Stealth Rock users allows me to exert more positional pressure and diffuse the pressure from Landorus-T.
Scizor @ Scizorite
Ability: Technician
EVs: 164 HP / 252 Atk / 92 Spd
Adamant Nature
- Bullet Punch
- Aerial Ace
- U-turn
- Roost
Mega Scizor has great natural physical bulk, as much as Skarmory's, but its defensive typing is suboptimal since it does not have a valuable Earthquake immunity or Flying resistance. The set squanders its potential as a sweeper in order to act as a bulky pivot that can function through the duration of the match if I play carefully around any potential Pokemon with Fire coverage moves. Aerial Ace, with Pseudo-STAB due to Technician, hits more things than it is usually expected (such as Conkeldurr, Mega Heracross, Keldeo), hits stallish Grass types such as Mega-Venusaur, Chesnaught, and Amoonguss, and prevents it from being set-up bait for Mega Pinsir). Also, it allows me to chain an attack against a faster Pokemon with Bullet Punch. Unlike the Choice Band Scizor, this is more deadly against Fairies since they cannot reliably scout Bullet Punch with Protect and play around since I could potentially switch to U-Turn.
Again, priority also lets this act as somewhat of a revenge killer. Still, its power is rather weak since Bullet Punch could not kill a Gengar whose sub has been destroyed after one round of Leftovers recovery.
Speed EVs are just enough to outspeed uninvested Rotom-W and allow me to U-Turn (although it often runs 44 Speed). The speed also lets me creep most Mega Mawile and Mega Venusaur.
===
Major Problematic Pokemon:
Most Special Sweepers:
Greninja
Mega Manectric
Thundurus-I
Latios
This is a problem because I only have priority to deal with those Pokemon and they outspeed Latios and Thundurus (or risk a tie). At least Thundurus is not a complete dead weight against Greninja but Sacrificing Thundurus to Greninja may not be an advantageous trade off . Moreover, Heatran and Landorus-T's Water weakeness is problematic since it allows Greninja to resist this team's priority users. Mega Manectric intimidate and resistance to Bullet Punch makes it more difficult to revenge kill.
Quagsire and Gastrodon:
My only Special STAB that can hit them is Draco Meteor (as Psyshock really isn't a Special Attack). And Azumarill can only break through them if it is Choiced.
Scizor: Can set-up on anything I have except Heatran.
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Proposed changes:
Conkeldurr for Landorus-T -- makes me weaker to Mega Mawile, bird teams, Landorus-I and Aegislash, but it can deal with the special sweeper problem.
ScarfChomp or ScarfLando may be better than Conkeldurr, but I am opposed to Scarfers in general. I rather try Conkeldurr first on another test run before I consider using them.
Maxing out Heatran's speed to Timid would be interesting even though Heatran does not exceptional speed it is nevertheless useful, as this allows it to outspeed all Bisharp and Breloom (it can take a Mach Punch), Adamant, unboosted Excadrill, and bulky Landorus-T. It turns it into a much more reliable Scizor check since now all I have to worry about is it using Agility (if it ever does that) or getting a Baton Pass boost. Most Special Attackers of OU can deal with Heatran, for example, Landorus-I, Greninja, Keldeo, Thundurus with a Fighting coverage move, Venusaur with Earthquake, and Aegislash with Sacred Sword, so I do not see much utility for a Special Defensive set in this meta. Lava Plume suffices for its offensive capability (although I am open to calculations for attacks such as Fire Blast), and its coverage moves for very specific Pokemon and its other special STAB, Flash Cannon, does not add additional coverage and it is a low base 80 attack with a side effect of limited value. Its support moves are better.
Although I do not have a strong competitive drive, I like to play intermittently since I like to test my ideas and tactics and understand the various reasons why my team succeeds or fails. I wanted to make something different from the Lando-T, Rotom-W, and Assault Vest Conkeldurr balanced core I had back in January.
I decided to make the team based on an offensive Latios as a coverage sweeper, which is different from its support role as a defogger. Unfortunately, the Pokemon on this team are all familiar, but I originally had a Sylveon (low OU) instead of Azumarill as a quick means of having an additional means to deal with Offensive Charizard X. Hopefully, even though the Pokemon may be rather trite, I hope this team has a different flavor and approach.
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Latios (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature
- Draco Meteor
- Psyshock
- Thunderbolt
- Surf
Although Latios is hampered by his uncomplimentary dual STABs and Special Attack drop to be considered to be a consistent sweeper and wallbreaker, I realized the potential of a sweeping Latios that leverages its good speed and exceptional SpAtk as opposed to its usual role as a support defogger.
First, its attacks have increased utility in the Gen 6 metagame. Thunderbolt hitting new victims such as Azumarill, Mandibuzz, Mega-Pinsir, Charizard-Y, and Togekiss and its old victims such as Keldeo, Skarmory and Gyarados. (I searched to usage statistics to see if there is a Thunderbolt user on a "fast" Pokemon that isn't vulnerable to Sucker Punch due to lack of bulk and/or bad typing and I couldn't find any.) Surf hits Landorus-T/I, Heatran, Gliscor, Excadrill, Hippowdon, and TTar (for about 30% if IIRC). Psyshock is a little more useful this Gen as it is a tool that Latios can use to get past Fairies and a weakened Chansey. While Draco Meteor is much less spammable due to Fairies, it can hit a neutral target for massive damage at full power; indeed, the coverage moves reduces its reliance on Draco Meteor so he can reserve it on a more appropriate target. The modus operandi is for Latios to come in on something it can KO with Psyshock, Thunderbolt, or Surf and then hit the switch-in with Draco Meteor. This Latios certainly has the potential to sweep once its checks have been eliminated due to its coverage and ability to switch attacks.
Here are the calcs:
252 SpA Life Orb Latios Surf vs. 4 HP / 0 SpD Excadrill: 364-429 (100.5 - 118.5%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252 SpA Life Orb Latios Surf vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Landorus-T: 309-364 (80.8 - 95.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
252 SpA Life Orb Latios Surf vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Gliscor: 322-382 (90.9 - 107.9%) -- 50% chance to OHKO
252 SpA Life Orb Latios Surf vs. 4 HP / 0 SpD Landorus: 309-364 (96.5 - 113.7%) -- 81.3% chance to OHKO
252 SpA Life Orb Latios Surf vs. 252 HP / 252 SpD Hippowdon: 250-294 (59.5 - 70%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
252 SpA Life Orb Latios Thunderbolt vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Mandibuzz: 268-317 (63.2 - 74.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
252 SpA Life Orb Latios Thunderbolt vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Skarmory: 343-406 (102.6 - 121.5%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252 SpA Life Orb Latios Thunderbolt vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Mega Pinsir: 278-330 (102.5 - 121.7%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252 SpA Life Orb Latios Thunderbolt vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Azumarill: 307-361 (75.9 - 89.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252 SpA Life Orb Latios Thunderbolt vs. 4 HP / 0 SpD Mega Charizard Y: 229-270 (76.8 - 90.6%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252 SpA Life Orb Latios Surf vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Landorus-T: 309-364 (80.8 - 95.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
252 SpA Life Orb Latios Surf vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Gliscor: 322-382 (90.9 - 107.9%) -- 50% chance to OHKO
252 SpA Life Orb Latios Surf vs. 4 HP / 0 SpD Landorus: 309-364 (96.5 - 113.7%) -- 81.3% chance to OHKO
252 SpA Life Orb Latios Surf vs. 252 HP / 252 SpD Hippowdon: 250-294 (59.5 - 70%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
252 SpA Life Orb Latios Thunderbolt vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Mandibuzz: 268-317 (63.2 - 74.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
252 SpA Life Orb Latios Thunderbolt vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Skarmory: 343-406 (102.6 - 121.5%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252 SpA Life Orb Latios Thunderbolt vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Mega Pinsir: 278-330 (102.5 - 121.7%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252 SpA Life Orb Latios Thunderbolt vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Azumarill: 307-361 (75.9 - 89.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252 SpA Life Orb Latios Thunderbolt vs. 4 HP / 0 SpD Mega Charizard Y: 229-270 (76.8 - 90.6%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
Of course, I have to be observant against Landorus-T, Excadrill, Garchomp since they are often Scarfed or in Sand.
Second, the presence of Surf and Thunderbolt is almost certainly anti-correlated as Latios it often uses only one coverage move in addition to its STABs and Defog, and a player would likely assume that after I use either Surf or Thunderbolt, it would not be running the other. This means that this Pokemon can act as a pseudo-lure. The combination of its speed and coverage prevent it from being set-up bait for many Pokemon.
Third, this Pokemon has enough bulk to withstand unboosted, non-super effective priority attacks although it falls to Choice Band Talonflame's Brave Bird.
+6 252+ Atk Huge Power Azumarill Aqua Jet vs. 4 HP / 0 Def Latios: 191-225 (63.2 - 74.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252 Atk Aerilate Mega Pinsir Quick Attack vs. 4 HP / 0 Def Latios: 118-139 (39 - 46%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
252 Atk Aerilate Mega Pinsir Quick Attack vs. 4 HP / 0 Def Latios: 118-139 (39 - 46%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
Still Pokemon possessing powerful priority, faster or Choiced Pokemon have to be eliminated before it can sweep. Unfortunately, I do not have Substitute to play mind games with Sucker Punch users. While it can retreat after it scores a kill during the middle game, it needs to stay hidden (as the etymology of "Latios" suggests) when there are potential Pursuit users around. Defensive Pokemon such as Chansey or Ferrothorn need to be eliminated too.
This works well with Mega Scizor since I can potentially bring it in safely against predicted switches and it can threaten Fairies with its Technician Bullet Punch. Also the Superpower users help against Bisharp, Ferrothorn, and Chansey.
Azumarill @ Assault Vest
Ability: Huge Power
EVs: 248 HP/ 252 Atk / 8 Spd
Adamant Nature
- Aqua Jet
- Play Rough
- Waterfall
- Superpower
I originally had this as Sylveon, but I needed this for its ability to check offensive variants of Mega Charizard-X (although it does little against the bulky variants) in order to reduce the burden of this task from Thundurus and Landorus-T. Charizard's cannot use Dragon Claw, so it has to use Earthquake or Flare Blitz; while they do a similar amount of damage, Flare Blitz has a significant amount of recoil. The HP investment help it deal with physical attacks even though it does compromise its special bulk with Assault Vest. With Superpower, it also "checks" Bisharp barring the 30% flinch rate of Iron Head and can weaken Ferrothorn enough for the team to finish the job.
Azumarill possess nice offensive and defensive properties. The Dragon immunity makes it easier to play around with Choiced Dragon Pokemon and Outrage users, especially when they are accompanied by Pokemon possessing Ground immunities too. Aqua Jet allows Azumarill to pick off weakened Pokemon so I do not have to expose Latios and Thundurus to Stealth Rock, Life Orb recoil, powerful priority users, Pursuit trappers. More specially, it can revenge kill most STAB Earthquake users that threaten and/or kill Heatran since they are vulnerable to Aqua Jet or in Garchomp's case Play Rough. This ability to dispose of Ground type can facilitate a Thundurus sweep although Azumarill is quite impotent against Quagsire and Gastrodon.
Thundurus (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 4 HP/ 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Naive Nature
- Thunder Wave
- Superpower
- Thunderbolt
- Hidden Power [Ice]
I chosen Thundurus for multiple reasons. One metagame relevant reason is the presence of Double flying type hyper-offensive teams, and this Pokemon resists their Flying stab while being able to hit them super-effectively with Thunderbolt. It has just enough speed to punish all Adamant Talonflame (or those content with outspeeding Jolly Mega Pinsir). Its speed also allows me to check Charizard Y, and Gengar, pick off the weakened Lati twins. Its STAB Thunderbolt will be appreciated when up against Mandibuzz.
As one can see, a team issue is a lack of hazard removal. However, I also used a Leftovers Thundurus-I (without Focus Blast), also without Rapid Spin or Defog support, but it gets walled by Excadrill, Heatran, and the blobs, forcing me to switch out, while also taking Stealth Rock damage. Life Orb and Superpower are the defining aspects of this set: with Life Orb, I can now use Superpower since it enables it to do enough damage to OHKO non-bulky variants of Excadrill, do much as Focus Blast to Heatran, and does around 50% to Chansey. The blobs are considered high-valued targets for this team. 115 Attack and access to Superpower are a gift that allows it to be a mixed attacker. The lack of an accuracy issue is surely welcomed. Furthermore, Life Orb also gives me access to critical OHKOs with HP Ice: Standard Gliscor is always KOed, even without Stealth Rock; Landorus-I/T are OHKOed, unless they use Assault Vest or invest in Special Defense; Mega Garchomp is KOed under Stealth Rock and has an 81.3% of a KO without Rocks. The ability to reliably power through its checks seems to be well-worth the price of Life Orb recoil and lack of passive recovery, otherwise it would be rendered impotent and would either die from an attack or take damage from Stealth Rock again if it switches back-in.
Latios and Thundurus largely have redundant roles and shared weaknesses, such as a weakness to faster special sweepers such as Mega Manectric and Greninja, but they complement each other albeit imperfectly. This functional redundancy allows some diffusion of their responsibilities and more aggressive usage of the more appropriate sweeper during the middle game. Thundurus generally supports Latios since it can weaken Chansey/Blissey and paralyze something that it cannot outspeed
Landorus-Therian (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 Spd
Adamant Nature
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- Superpower
- Stealth Rock
Superpower is now Knock Off; I had Superpower as a surprise factor when I did not have Azumarill. It forces me to switch out and concede momentum too often due to the detrimental aftereffects. Often my opponents Ferrothorn and Chansey are not even in KO range for it. Knock Off adversely affects Chansey for the duration of the match and Knock Offs the Scarves on Garchomp, Excadrill, and Landorus-T that prevent the sweeps of Latios and Thundurus.
Perhaps the most interesting thing is the lack of U-Turn, normally a staple on Lando-T as indicated by the usage statistics (a weighted 89% on the 1825 stats), but U-Turn is generally weak without STAB (and it is not worth using on Ferrothorn in order to wear it down) and it is a contact move, making it a liability in a metagame where Rocky Helmet is ubiquitous. I had problems with Gliscor on another team and at least Knock Off will allow me to strip off Toxic Orb.
Well, this also serves as a means to counter the birds and Excadrill. Being able to alternate EdgeQuake is quite effective against many teams without a counter such as a Skarmory or Ferrothorn and it is harder to play around than being Choiced-locked into one or the other. Stone Edge just terminate any Talonflame, particularly those that want to set-up.
Adamant max attack allows me to OHKO Mega Mawile with Earthquake without Lando-T being Intimidated. Also, Gyarados and Dragonite are KOed after Stealth Rock. It also allows me to put maximum offensive pressure on Fairies and the Blobs. 8 Speed Evs allow me to creep 44 Speed Rotom-W.
I can argue that this is the best Stealth Rock setter in OU due to its ability to handle relevant metagame threats with the exception of Rotom-W and Genesect, especially if one is concerned about Excadrill and Talonflame: Ferrothorn is forced out by Heatran and Talonflame, and its user often has to predict against Fire type switches with Thunder Wave; Heatran fears Excadrill and Landorus-T's Earthquake and Rotom-W's Hydro Pump; Tyranitar is an Earthquake, fighting and Burn liability, not to mention it compounds the recoil that Latios and Thundurus suffer. Garchomp as a Stealth Rock setter makes me vulnerable to Scarfchomp and Latios/Latias.
Heatran @ Leftovers
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 40 Spd / 252 HP / 216 SDef
- Lava Plume
- Roar
- Toxic
- Stealth Rock
Toxic can be substituted for Will-O-Wisp since I originally had it then when I had a Protect/Wish Sylveon to stall. Taunt can be a good option too, especially because Heatran is respectably fast.
I put this in as a means to counter Talonflame and Ferrothorn and to act as a second Stealth Rock user. This is probably the best Ferrothorn counter in the game since it can come in if it doesn't have Thunder Wave and its Lava Plume is satisfactory in a metagame that does not resemble Seattle. Since it is not Choiced, it is harder to counter (unlike something such as Choice Band Victini/Entei).
Heatran's Lava Plume from its base 130 SAtk, good offensive typing, perfect accuracy, and 30% chance of a burn is one of the best uninvested attacks in the metagame while just being slightly weaker than Sylveon's Pixilate Hyper Voice (that can bypass Subs), possessing similar utility to Rotom W's Volt Switch.
Roar is quite invaluable since I can use it as a means to scout out set-up sweepers, such as Sub Gyarados, although this requires on a willingness to risk Heatran, but I have other Pokemon that can check it them if they are unboosted so it is not a completely risky or unsound countertactic (and can be the best option if one does not want to give a free turn by setting-up). Roar can provide some counter-momentum against predicted U-Turns and disrupt Wish passing. Moreover, Roar + Two Stealth Rock users is a good means to accumulate residual damage to soften Pokemon for the sweepers to clean up.
Two Stealth Rock users allows me to exert more positional pressure and diffuse the pressure from Landorus-T.
Scizor @ Scizorite
Ability: Technician
EVs: 164 HP / 252 Atk / 92 Spd
Adamant Nature
- Bullet Punch
- Aerial Ace
- U-turn
- Roost
Mega Scizor has great natural physical bulk, as much as Skarmory's, but its defensive typing is suboptimal since it does not have a valuable Earthquake immunity or Flying resistance. The set squanders its potential as a sweeper in order to act as a bulky pivot that can function through the duration of the match if I play carefully around any potential Pokemon with Fire coverage moves. Aerial Ace, with Pseudo-STAB due to Technician, hits more things than it is usually expected (such as Conkeldurr, Mega Heracross, Keldeo), hits stallish Grass types such as Mega-Venusaur, Chesnaught, and Amoonguss, and prevents it from being set-up bait for Mega Pinsir). Also, it allows me to chain an attack against a faster Pokemon with Bullet Punch. Unlike the Choice Band Scizor, this is more deadly against Fairies since they cannot reliably scout Bullet Punch with Protect and play around since I could potentially switch to U-Turn.
Again, priority also lets this act as somewhat of a revenge killer. Still, its power is rather weak since Bullet Punch could not kill a Gengar whose sub has been destroyed after one round of Leftovers recovery.
Speed EVs are just enough to outspeed uninvested Rotom-W and allow me to U-Turn (although it often runs 44 Speed). The speed also lets me creep most Mega Mawile and Mega Venusaur.
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Major Problematic Pokemon:
Most Special Sweepers:
Greninja
Mega Manectric
Thundurus-I
Latios
This is a problem because I only have priority to deal with those Pokemon and they outspeed Latios and Thundurus (or risk a tie). At least Thundurus is not a complete dead weight against Greninja but Sacrificing Thundurus to Greninja may not be an advantageous trade off . Moreover, Heatran and Landorus-T's Water weakeness is problematic since it allows Greninja to resist this team's priority users. Mega Manectric intimidate and resistance to Bullet Punch makes it more difficult to revenge kill.
Quagsire and Gastrodon:
My only Special STAB that can hit them is Draco Meteor (as Psyshock really isn't a Special Attack). And Azumarill can only break through them if it is Choiced.
Scizor: Can set-up on anything I have except Heatran.
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Proposed changes:
Conkeldurr for Landorus-T -- makes me weaker to Mega Mawile, bird teams, Landorus-I and Aegislash, but it can deal with the special sweeper problem.
ScarfChomp or ScarfLando may be better than Conkeldurr, but I am opposed to Scarfers in general. I rather try Conkeldurr first on another test run before I consider using them.
Maxing out Heatran's speed to Timid would be interesting even though Heatran does not exceptional speed it is nevertheless useful, as this allows it to outspeed all Bisharp and Breloom (it can take a Mach Punch), Adamant, unboosted Excadrill, and bulky Landorus-T. It turns it into a much more reliable Scizor check since now all I have to worry about is it using Agility (if it ever does that) or getting a Baton Pass boost. Most Special Attackers of OU can deal with Heatran, for example, Landorus-I, Greninja, Keldeo, Thundurus with a Fighting coverage move, Venusaur with Earthquake, and Aegislash with Sacred Sword, so I do not see much utility for a Special Defensive set in this meta. Lava Plume suffices for its offensive capability (although I am open to calculations for attacks such as Fire Blast), and its coverage moves for very specific Pokemon and its other special STAB, Flash Cannon, does not add additional coverage and it is a low base 80 attack with a side effect of limited value. Its support moves are better.
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