Trying out an OU sand team - advice needed

[icyheart]

My first attempt on building a OU team, so go easy on me :nerd:

Hippowdon (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Sand Stream
EVs: 252 HP / 200 Atk / 56 Def
Relaxed Nature (+Def, -Spd)
- Earthquake
- Stealth Rock
- Slack Off
- Ice Fang

My sand starter. Reason I chose this over Ttar was due to recovery and better survivability. EQ is there for the STAB and ice fang to hit the damn dragons. Slack off is there for recovery and entry hazards are always nice to prevent opponent from excessive switching.

Tentacruel (M) @ Black Sludge
Trait: Liquid Ooze
EVs: 252 HP / 240 Def / 16 SAtk
Bold Nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Rapid Spin
- Scald
- Ice Beam
- Toxic Spikes
Originally blastoise, switched to tentacruel as it's more bulky and can setup hazards of it's own while hitting back with scald/ice beam. Scald instead of surf to cripple physical attackers with burn. Setting up 2 layers of toxic spikes help greatly in stalling the opponent out.

Mr. Krabs (Scizor) (M) @ Choice Band
Trait: Technician
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Bullet Punch
- U-turn
- Superpower
- Pursuit

U-turn allows Scizor to get some damage off and switch into a more favorable match up while a banded bullet punch with technician is incredibly powerful and enables Scizor to revenge kill many pokes.
Pursuit is to KO fleeing psychic types like Reuniclus and Starmie, or Lati@s after it uses draco.

pew (Latios) (M) @ Choice Specs
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Draco Meteor
- Thunderbolt
- Surf
- Energy Ball
My main check against water and dragon types. Energy ball is there to hit annoying Gastrodon. Being faster than most dragons, other than those scarfed, Latios is able to get off a Draco on them for an easy KO. Thunderbolt and surf is for coverage against water and ground types.

Salander (Salamence) (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Intimidate
EVs: 252 HP / 240 SDef / 16 Spd
Calm Nature (+SDef, -Atk)
- Wish
- Dragon Tail
- Flamethrower
- Protect
Standard wish-mence. Switched from Heatran as special wall as it's able to take the special water and grass hits that threaten rhyperior. Wasn't sure if I should use Calm or Sassy nature - will be trying them out. Wish/protect/dragon tail is there for stalling out stealth rocks and toxic spikes damage

Bawss (Rhyperior) (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Solid Rock
EVs: 108 HP / 200 Atk / 200 Def
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Ice Punch
- Curse
- Stone Edge
- Earthquake
603 attack and 519 defense after a curse. With solid rock, I'm able to take super effective physical hits all day. Ice punch is for unsuspecting gliscors who switch in. I don't go for rock polish as I'll probably have to setup 2 before it can outspeed many other pokes and curse over sd for the bonus def to take hits better after I get rid of their special attacker. It's weak special defense is somewhat compensated due to the sand. I've never seen curse rhyperior before, and it's been working well for me so far.

Thanks for reading! Kindly advise on where I can improve :)

 

[fearow23]

I'm not sure if Latias with Choice Specs is the best option. For the set you describe, Latios hits harder.

Scizor also doesn't need 252 speed evs. If you rely on Bullet Punch, your speed is already taken care of. The 252 doesn't give you anyone noteworthy you'll speed over, so it'll be best if you allocate some of those EV's into different stats to allow Scizor to take a hit better.

You need to support Rhyperior's weaknesses against special water and grass. I'm not saying switch him out, just maybe get a better Pokemon who can take on those threats. Heatran can take grass moves but water moves are a different story. Think about Gyrados, he's been good for me when I used a bulky one.

Your team isn't necessarily "entry hazard weak", but I recommend Tentacruel over Blastoise. He also gets rapid spin, can absorb toxic spikes on the switch, and resists many fighting Pokemon that are common. He can also hit back with Surf and Ice Beam.

 

[Camisado]

You have a minus attack nature on Blastoise, when you say Aqua Jet is his primary attack.

What are you trying to hit with Hippos Superpower that EQ doesn't hit?

A supereffective Superpower has a base 240; a neutral EQ hits with base 225.

Latios is going to play that Latias set better.

Those supereffective water and grass attacks you think you're going to tank are hitting you on your special side. You're so much better off with Rock Polish or Swords Dance.

When you get advice that tells you to change 4/6 of your team and won't, at least realize how wrong your doing even what your working with.

I'm sure as soon as you play a team with a bulky water with recovery, you'll learn fast. Slowbro/Suicune/Pringles/Gastrodon all crap on the majority of this team.

 

[icyheart]

I'm not sure if Latias with Choice Specs is the best option. For the set you describe, Latios hits harder.

Scizor also doesn't need 252 speed evs. If you rely on Bullet Punch, your speed is already taken care of. The 252 doesn't give you anyone noteworthy you'll speed over, so it'll be best if you allocate some of those EV's into different stats to allow Scizor to take a hit better.

You need to support Rhyperior's weaknesses against special water and grass. I'm not saying switch him out, just maybe get a better Pokemon who can take on those threats. Heatran can take grass moves but water moves are a different story. Think about Gyrados, he's been good for me when I used a bulky one.

Your team isn't necessarily "entry hazard weak", but I recommend Tentacruel over Blastoise. He also gets rapid spin, can absorb toxic spikes on the switch, and resists many fighting Pokemon that are common. He can also hit back with Surf and Ice Beam.

You have a minus attack nature on Blastoise, when you say Aqua Jet is his primary attack.

What are you trying to hit with Hippos Superpower that EQ doesn't hit?

A supereffective Superpower has a base 240; a neutral EQ hits with base 225.

Latios is going to play that Latias set better.

Those supereffective water and grass attacks you think you're going to tank are hitting you on your special side. You're so much better off with Rock Polish or Swords Dance.

When you get advice that tells you to change 4/6 of your team and won't, at least realize how wrong your doing even what your working with.

I'm sure as soon as you play a team with a bulky water with recovery, you'll learn fast. Slowbro/Suicune/Pringles/Gastrodon all crap on the majority of this team.

Thanks for the comments, I've made some changes after reading your suggestions :)