After a small hiatus I came back to Smogon with the fever to play some Pokemon. I really wanted to make a new OU team, especially with the metagame shifts caused by HG and SS. After reading a few threads about the viability of Toxic Spikes in OU as well as the advent of Head Smash Aggron, I decided to create a team that can take advantage of both of these things.
The Lead
iCheer (Roserade) (F) @ Focus Sash
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 4 HP/252 Spd/252 SAtk
Timid nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Sleep Powder
- Toxic Spikes
- Leaf Storm
- Hidden Power [Fire]
---
When you think of offensive ways to lay down the Toxic Spikes, think no further than Roserade. Roserade is a very solid and proven lead in since its move up to OU and needs no introduction. Sleep Powder despite its somewhat shaky (and always frustrating) accuracy is vital to the teams success. A successful sleep always leads to at least one layer of Toxic Spikes, and with Sash, if needed I can force down 2. I opt for Leaf Storm over Grass Knot for the extra power and the ability to hit Vaporeon harder. Hidden Power Fire comes in handy when the greedy Scizor switches in. Against common leads like Taunt Leads like Azelf, its often correct to simply go for the leaf storm and break the Sash as they almost always waste a turn Taunting. Against Crobat you can often go straight to Aggron and either take the Taunt, or the Brave Bird with little problem. Against Metagross its always a 50/50 on weather they have Occa Berry, or Lum, and can lead to some problems. Overall I am satisfied with Roserade, but its hard to get any momentum if Sleep Powder misses.
Smash and Dash
iSmash (Aggron) (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Rock Head
EVs: 252 Atk/252 Spd/4 SDef
Adamant nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Rock Polish
- Head Smash
- Earthquake
- Stealth Rock
---
With the Advent of HG/SS Aggron gets the much needed Head Smash. Head Smash packs the biggest wallop when unresisted including 2HKOing the ever present Skarmory, who often tried switching in to absorb the hit. If you can manage a free switch in, and get a rock polish in, you are in for a world of hurt. I opted for Stealth Rock here as I couldn't find a good slot for it anyone else, but often times I don't have time to set it up or would simply rather Rock Polish up. Despite the initial experiment to use Aggron I'm not to sure about it. I wonder if there is another Pokemon that I could use in this slot, potentially that could set up Stealth Rock more easily, while still being a threat.
The Right Choice
iUber (Latias) (F) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 4 HP/252 Spd/252 SAtk
Timid nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Draco Meteor
- Surf
- Thunderbolt
- Trick
---
Since Latias's move down to OU it has become a premiere check to the most common Dragon Dancers in Gyarados and Salamence. In addition it gives me a great revenge killer for many pokemon that can quickly get out of hand. With Roserade leaving down Toxic Spikes, the catch all special wall Blissey has a much harder time simply switching in and taking repeated blows especially with the option to Trick the scarf. Latias's biggest problem is Scizor trapping it, especially on a Draco Meteor as there is little to no way to prevent it. I think something to help take out the Tyranitar and Scizors of the world would prove useful.
Tried and True
iPunch (Scizor) (M) @ Choice Band
Ability: Technician
EVs: 248 HP/252 Atk/8 Spd
Adamant nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- U-turn
- Superpower
- Bullet Punch
- Pursuit
---
There is a large reason Scizor is the #1 most used Pokemon in OU, it just works. Scizor comes in and traps so many pokemon with Pursuit, scouts with U-turn to get a better feel for what I'm up against, and can revenge and devastate with what is essentially a 90 BP priority attack. Scizor's resistances are invaluable to this as well as its ability to hamper Blissey to stop my special attackers. Additionally, Salamence and Latias's ability to come in on Fire type attacks is a huge plus and compliment the steel bug very well.
Wall Breaker and Check
iDragoon (Salamence) (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 84 Atk/212 Spd/212 SAtk
Mild nature (+SAtk, -Def)
- Draco Meteor
- Earthquake
- Fire Blast
- Outrage
---
Salamence is one of OU's Premier wall breakers. With the ability to hit hard with STAB from both sides of the spectrum Salamence makes switching into it a hard task. In addition it provides one of my few checks to Scizor, though that can be somewhat hampered by Stealth Rock. If players try to use Choiced Latias assuming I will Dragon Dance, they are often met with a STAB Draco Meteor. In addition its typing makes it a nice compliment to Scizor as it can come in on any Heatran threatening it and Scizor can come in and take a STAB Dragon attack for it.
Resistances? Not so Futile
iPenguin (Empoleon) (M) @ Petaya Berry
Ability: Torrent
EVs: 12 HP/12 Def/232 Spd/252 SAtk
Modest nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Agility
- Substitute
- Surf
- Ice Beam
---
SubPetayaAgiliEmpoleon, one of my favorite sweepers. This is usually my last pokemon revealed, and with good reason. Once its checks are dealt with (usually Blissey) it can literally tear through a team single handedly (I've surprised my self and come back from 5-2 or 4-1 to win with this puppy. With the second most resistances of any fully evolved pokemon, the chances it can come in on a resisted attack, Agility up and Sweep are quite high. Toxic Spikes from Roserade compliment Empoleon nicely, hampering almost all its counters. Additionally, Empoleon resists almost all priority moves, save Vacuum Wave and Mach Punch, neither of which are seen much outside of Breloom and Infernape, both of which are OHKOed by Empoleon.
I may try to make a threats list, but as I've just recently come back I'm having a hard time finding my weak points. I know Machamp can cause me fits if left unchecked, as can SubPunching Breloom. Fighting pokemon as you can see, cause me fits as my only good switch in is often Salamence, who is hampered by Stealth Rock.
Team at a Glance
The Lead
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 4 HP/252 Spd/252 SAtk
Timid nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Sleep Powder
- Toxic Spikes
- Leaf Storm
- Hidden Power [Fire]
---
When you think of offensive ways to lay down the Toxic Spikes, think no further than Roserade. Roserade is a very solid and proven lead in since its move up to OU and needs no introduction. Sleep Powder despite its somewhat shaky (and always frustrating) accuracy is vital to the teams success. A successful sleep always leads to at least one layer of Toxic Spikes, and with Sash, if needed I can force down 2. I opt for Leaf Storm over Grass Knot for the extra power and the ability to hit Vaporeon harder. Hidden Power Fire comes in handy when the greedy Scizor switches in. Against common leads like Taunt Leads like Azelf, its often correct to simply go for the leaf storm and break the Sash as they almost always waste a turn Taunting. Against Crobat you can often go straight to Aggron and either take the Taunt, or the Brave Bird with little problem. Against Metagross its always a 50/50 on weather they have Occa Berry, or Lum, and can lead to some problems. Overall I am satisfied with Roserade, but its hard to get any momentum if Sleep Powder misses.
Smash and Dash
Ability: Rock Head
EVs: 252 Atk/252 Spd/4 SDef
Adamant nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Rock Polish
- Head Smash
- Earthquake
- Stealth Rock
---
With the Advent of HG/SS Aggron gets the much needed Head Smash. Head Smash packs the biggest wallop when unresisted including 2HKOing the ever present Skarmory, who often tried switching in to absorb the hit. If you can manage a free switch in, and get a rock polish in, you are in for a world of hurt. I opted for Stealth Rock here as I couldn't find a good slot for it anyone else, but often times I don't have time to set it up or would simply rather Rock Polish up. Despite the initial experiment to use Aggron I'm not to sure about it. I wonder if there is another Pokemon that I could use in this slot, potentially that could set up Stealth Rock more easily, while still being a threat.
The Right Choice
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 4 HP/252 Spd/252 SAtk
Timid nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Draco Meteor
- Surf
- Thunderbolt
- Trick
---
Since Latias's move down to OU it has become a premiere check to the most common Dragon Dancers in Gyarados and Salamence. In addition it gives me a great revenge killer for many pokemon that can quickly get out of hand. With Roserade leaving down Toxic Spikes, the catch all special wall Blissey has a much harder time simply switching in and taking repeated blows especially with the option to Trick the scarf. Latias's biggest problem is Scizor trapping it, especially on a Draco Meteor as there is little to no way to prevent it. I think something to help take out the Tyranitar and Scizors of the world would prove useful.
Tried and True
Ability: Technician
EVs: 248 HP/252 Atk/8 Spd
Adamant nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- U-turn
- Superpower
- Bullet Punch
- Pursuit
---
There is a large reason Scizor is the #1 most used Pokemon in OU, it just works. Scizor comes in and traps so many pokemon with Pursuit, scouts with U-turn to get a better feel for what I'm up against, and can revenge and devastate with what is essentially a 90 BP priority attack. Scizor's resistances are invaluable to this as well as its ability to hamper Blissey to stop my special attackers. Additionally, Salamence and Latias's ability to come in on Fire type attacks is a huge plus and compliment the steel bug very well.
Wall Breaker and Check
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 84 Atk/212 Spd/212 SAtk
Mild nature (+SAtk, -Def)
- Draco Meteor
- Earthquake
- Fire Blast
- Outrage
---
Salamence is one of OU's Premier wall breakers. With the ability to hit hard with STAB from both sides of the spectrum Salamence makes switching into it a hard task. In addition it provides one of my few checks to Scizor, though that can be somewhat hampered by Stealth Rock. If players try to use Choiced Latias assuming I will Dragon Dance, they are often met with a STAB Draco Meteor. In addition its typing makes it a nice compliment to Scizor as it can come in on any Heatran threatening it and Scizor can come in and take a STAB Dragon attack for it.
Resistances? Not so Futile
Ability: Torrent
EVs: 12 HP/12 Def/232 Spd/252 SAtk
Modest nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Agility
- Substitute
- Surf
- Ice Beam
---
SubPetayaAgiliEmpoleon, one of my favorite sweepers. This is usually my last pokemon revealed, and with good reason. Once its checks are dealt with (usually Blissey) it can literally tear through a team single handedly (I've surprised my self and come back from 5-2 or 4-1 to win with this puppy. With the second most resistances of any fully evolved pokemon, the chances it can come in on a resisted attack, Agility up and Sweep are quite high. Toxic Spikes from Roserade compliment Empoleon nicely, hampering almost all its counters. Additionally, Empoleon resists almost all priority moves, save Vacuum Wave and Mach Punch, neither of which are seen much outside of Breloom and Infernape, both of which are OHKOed by Empoleon.
I may try to make a threats list, but as I've just recently come back I'm having a hard time finding my weak points. I know Machamp can cause me fits if left unchecked, as can SubPunching Breloom. Fighting pokemon as you can see, cause me fits as my only good switch in is often Salamence, who is hampered by Stealth Rock.
