Trace - OU

[NikLink]

This team is an mixed team who's major asset is that it can develop into many different playstyles, whether it be offensive or defensive. Its flexibility allows me to consistently counter the opponent's attempts, even though usually the strategy consists of a set up Weavile sweep (more on that later). Being a rookie at competitive Pokemon, this team has taken many twists and turns. I originally had a physical Empoleon as a lead, imagine that. Anyway, at a glance:

Infernape (M) @ Focus Sash
Ability: Blaze
EVs: 64 Atk/192 Spd/252 SAtk
Naive nature (+Spd, -SDef)
- Stealth Rock
- Fire Blast
- Fake Out
- Close Combat

I start off with the typical Sash Nape lead, whom I prefer for its ability to prevent opposing SR leads from setting it up, breaking enemy sashes, and even easily conducting an early game sweep, leaving one or two Pokemons wounded and putting them into KO range, and sometimes being preserved for a revenge kill. Definitely, this lead has its advantages.

Celebi @ Leftovers
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 252 HP/176 Spd/80 SAtk
Timid nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Leech Seed
- Substitute
- Recover
- Psychic

Subseed Celebi is the main staller on my team. With an 18% recovery each turn, even super-effecive attacks do 10-15%, which can be easily shrugged off with Recover. And if the opponent can't break through a Sub in a single turn, they are almost definitely dead. I've seen it stall pretty much anything, from Heatran to Dusknoir, and even without a defense EV investment it remains a bulky sponge.

Rotom-c @ Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 168 Def/88 Spd/252 SAtk
Timid nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Leaf Storm
- Thunderbolt
- Shadow Ball
- Will-o-wisp

Rotom-c makes a very nice special sweeper/revenge killer/burn inflictor. Its fantastic movepool gives him an awesome type coverage, which allows me to use it anywhere, basically, and while its not exactly the most used ember of my team, it always comes in handy sometime.

Weavile (M) @ Focus Sash
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 6 HP/252 Atk/252 Spd
Jolly nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Night Slash
- Swords Dance
- Brick Break
- Ice Shard


And here we have the star of the team! The general strategy is having it get in the game on a free switch in (no SR/Spikes) and SD'ing up while your opponent brings you down to 1 HP (but hey, if you want to do less damage feel welcome). Now facing a faster, +2 Attack Weavile, your opponent's reaction is most likely to be 'OH SHIIIIII-'. Thanks to Ice Shard priority and amazing type coverage, Weavile almost always easily rips through the team. The reason why I don't run Band in here is to have the ability to freely switch between attacks to match the next Pokemon, and while it sounds awfully risky and gimmicky, I've seen it kill 3 or 4 Pokemons in a row too frequently to not keep this. Wait, but what if the are entry hazards up? Well, that's where...

Donphan (M) @ Wide Lens
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 252 HP/4 Atk/252 Def
Impish nature (+Def, -SAtk)
- Rapid Spin
- Earthquake
- Roar
- Stone Edge

...Donphan comes in. Of course, it's not only a Spinner, it's also a Phazer and a stab EQ or Stone Edge. The reson for Wide Lens is precisely that; to prevent possible hax from tampering woth its low accuracy, bringing it's chance to hit up to 88% (thus avoiding many 'OMG WTF HAX' moments). Filling in a number of support roles AND inflicting damage, Donphan is an asset to my team, and plays akey role in seting up a Weavile sweep.

Latias (F) @ Light Clay
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP/4 Def/252 Spd
Timid nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Dragon Pulse
- Wish
- Reflect
- Light Screen


And finally, we have a wall/wish passer/screen setter named Latias. Although excelling more at taking special attacks, ther has been many a time where Latias has comfortably taken the role of a physical wall, setting the respective wall to let my team, for example, survive a switch in and net a kil on the next turn. Or giving Donphan another chance to Stone Edge that Gyara, for example. Basically, Latias holds up as the team's nurse and wall, giving me a lot more survivability.

THINGS I AM CONSIDERING:
-Changing Rotom's Leaf Storm to Overheat and Celeb's Psychic to Grass Knot.
-Giving Rotom a Choice Specs

I APPRECIATE YOUR HELP!
​

 

[NikLink]

CHANGES TO THE TEAM:
REPLACED ROTOM WITH SCARF HEATRAN
SWITHCED DONPHAN'S WIDE LENS TO LEFTOVERS
REPLACED CELEBI'S GRASS KNOT WITH PSYCHIC.

as of this moment Smogon is for some reason crashing when I try to edit the OP, so until I figure it out here are the changes

 

[ArcticxWolf]

Change psychic to grass knot definitely. If you do get grass knot, that allows you to get overheat, but don't get overheat if you don't get grass knot or else a swampert will own your team like crazy. And personally, I wouldnt use a weavile sweep simply because bullet punch will own you. Ice shard does pretty much nothing to Lucario and Scizor, even with 2x attack.

 

[Jess Mii]

Let me start off by saying that you have a phenomenal team on your hands.

I have one suggestion. If you're looking to revenge kill with rotom-c, or just sweep or just inflict burns, I think you should use someone a little better at the job. If you're in it for the revenge killing business, Dugtrio is a nice addition with arena trap and choice scarf. If you're interested in Rotom-C's wide movepool, a Gengar can do the job just as well, while still keeping your ability to levitate. A Gengar with T-Bolt, Shadowball, HP Fire, and if you'd like, have will o wisp in there. If will o wisp doesnt tickle your fancy, then trick is a viable option, in which case Gengar becomes a wall breaker. Equip him with choice scarf and trick away on a susceptible wall. Trick isn't expected very often, so it can be a nasty surprise. Then again, I recommend life orb for the will o wisp set. If you want another attacking move, focus blast is a very good option.

Well, great team, and good luck!

 

[RCrayons]

You have Zero resistances to Dragon Types. This can cause you some major problems when you're battling an offensive team. Usually, a mixed dragon like MixMence will find room to KO your entire team with the exception of maybe celebi. (which may still be KO'd by other team members)

Your lead will likely take damage at the start of the battle, so even its focus sash will not save you. Mixmence carries strong special attacks, annihlating your donphan, who has very little special defense. If Rocks are up, with lack of donphan, your weavile will suffer from lack of focus sash, and, being frail, will be KO'd by most attacks.

In short: Sweepers carrying a dragon type move will rip holes in your team and make it much easier to be swept by other pokemon.

I strongly reccommend that you drop rotom. Rotom doesnt do much for your team. You would be much better off with:

Heatran @ Choice Scarf
Naive - 4 HP / 252 SPA / 252 SPE
Flamethrower
Earth Power
Explosion
Hidden Power Ice


The reason for this is that it resists dragon type attacks. Though dragons typically carry Earthquake also, this will usually outspeed them and be able to KO the 4x weak Salamence, Dragonite, and Flygon with HP Ice, But also will handle opposing celebi. Heatran is an extremely powerful sweeper and I highly reccommend it. Explosion is for when you know you have no other chances and just want to go out with a bang. It will typically finish off anything that doesnt resist it.

and:
Stone edge on Donphan + Wide lens = Screen door on a battlesh- err, submarine.
Use Ice Shard and Leftovers. :D

 

[Lee]

It seems pretty odd to have a team focused on a Weavile sweep and yet have no reliable way to remove Scizor. If you don't want to use Magnezone then slap HP Fire on Celebi or Latias - Scizor loves to switch into both of them so they're effective lures.

Life Orb > Focus Sash on Weavile...it assures a lot of important KOs (Infernape and Hippowdon for example are not KO'd unless you have LO). Sandstream is so common that Sash will be useless even with Rapid Spin support and you should be able to set up anyway with screen support.

Leftovers > Wide Lens on Donphan because he's the only thing on your team that can switch into CBTar without getting scalped and the recovery will be a lot more appreciated than a paltry boost to Stone Edge's accuracy. In fact, just drop Stone Edge all together and use Ice Shard for insurance against Salamence. Now you're free to use Ice Punch on Weavile for the extra power.

Rotom's EVs of of Timid 168 Def/88 Spe/252 SpA are inefficient. Modest 168 Def/180Spe/140 SpA produces the exact same stats but with 22 EVs spare. That said, it's a poor spread anyway due to Rotom's low HP...be sure to put any defensive investment straight into his HP. If you want to keep the semi-offensive setup go with Modest 252 HP/112 SpA/144 Spe or something to that effect. If you want a more defensive spread (which might be worth considering as you're quite Scizor weak), go with the standard Bold 252 HP/168 Def/88 Spe and of course Overheat.

Might also be worth a more defensive spread on Celebi because DDGyara flat out runs over you and isn't exactly short on setup opportunities.